Original subtitles

Jody, if you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

To have a racing car, a real one.

But you're not old enough to drive a real one.

What would be your first one?

I don't know.

If you were a girl, what would you wish?

To be a boy.

What about third?

My third wish... To

have a bull... like that.

Well, isn't that a beauty?

It's a scale model.

What are my father's boats?

How many does your father have?

Counting speed boats?

Counting everything.

Six. How many does your father have?

None, on account of he's an uncle.

He doesn't have any boats.

My name is George Wetherington III.

The third?

Are you triplets?

No, no. My grandfather is George Wetherington I.

My father is the second, and I'm the third.

I'm Jody Davis I.

And I'm Buffy I.

And I'm Sissy.

Do you want me to help you carry it? Then we can both sail it together.

No, Jody, there isn't time to play with the boat. You'd be late for dinner. He

could eat with me at some restaurant.

I have dinner when I feel like it.

Gee, that sounds nice.

I'll run home and ask Mr.

French.

You have to get permission to eat dinner?

Don't you?

I don't ask for anything.

My parents are permissive.

We're going to go to Jones Beach tomorrow.

If you wanted to go, you wouldn't even have to ask your parents.

No. I'd just go.

Gee, you're lucky.

Well.

Come on.

Bye.

Can you imagine not having to ask permission for anything?

And getting whatever he wants.

If he liked this park, his father would probably buy it for him.

Let's go.

Sissy.

Do I have to go even if I don't feel like it?

Yes, you have to go.

Hi. Uncle Bill.

You have fun?

Uh -huh. Do you know a man named George Wetherington II?

Yep. He makes electronics equipment.

We met his little boy. George Weatherington III.

He can do anything he wants. His parents are permissive.

We have to ask about everything.

I see.

You think we're too strict?

Oh, no.

You're not too strict. Not exactly.

There's too many rules, huh?

Well... Some of the rules are okay for real little kids.

But we're not real little kids anymore.

Ah, dinner is ready. All hands and faces washed.

Haven't we outgrown that one?

No.

I bet George III doesn't have to wash up for dinner.

Unless he feels like it, which he probably doesn't.

Isn't court too strict?

I don't know, sir.

Perhaps.

Natives are getting restless.

I must say, they do seem to be getting increasingly resentful of discipline,

sir.

All the experts say they're supposed to have a firm hand at that age.

It's my understanding, sir, that they not only need it, but they want it.

How do we convince them, name one?

Well, sir, I recall a story.

as a young lad in England.

Yeah?

Yes, my father used to relate it to me. It was concerning land of do -as -you

-please.

Land of do -as -you -please. I could take a couple of weeks there myself.

Oh, yes, but the point is that the children in that mythical kingdom can do

anything they wish.

That doesn't sound like much of a discipline.

Point is, sir, as in any utopia, Children finally grow tired of it, and

they demand to be disciplined.

Yeah, maybe that could happen.

Unfortunately, of course, it's only a nursery tale fantasy.

Okay, fantasy or not. Now, maybe if we give them total freedom, huh?

Well, now, sir, talking about it is one thing, but the children to run amok.

Well, we'll see if it works.

I'll explain it to them after a while when they get settled down.

That sort of looks like a racing car, Jody.

It's a taxi cab.

Uncle Bill, when will Buffy and I be able to take a cab without asking like

George III?

That's kind of hard to say.

About when?

Well, I think I'm going to let you decide that.

Then I decide now.

Okay.

Listen, if you could do anything you want, like your friend George III, would

you like that?

Sure, who wouldn't?

Okay, well, and if you'd be happier without any rules at all, fine.

From now on, you're going to live in the land of do as you please.

What's that?

I want to play a game, Uncle Bill.

No, no, it's not any game. We'll just say that this isn't New York anymore.

It's the land of do as you please and nobody bosses anybody.

Not even boss kids around?

You mean we can do anything we want?

Yep, that's the way it is in the land of do as you please.

Could I even take a cab?

Oh, sure, take a cab.

And I can have an ice cream soda before dinner?

Anytime you want.

No way. Mr. Davis, in view of the fact that we are rising early tomorrow, don't

you think it's time for the children to go to bed now?

Oh, that's up to them.

Oh, boy.

Want to go to bed?

Not me.

How about you?

Not me neither.

Okay.

But does doing as they please mean staying up all night?

Oh, that's up to them. And what if they decide not to go to school on Monday?

Let's just get through Sunday first, okay?

Well, the way things have started off, sir, I wonder if we shouldn't hastily

flee from the land of do as you please before it gets right out of hand.

How about you? You want to move into the land of do as you please?

No, thanks, Uncle Bill. I like it where I am.

Grand. Good night.

Good night, sweetheart.

and I do what I want to do.

If you do what I want now, sometime I'll do what you want.

Would you watch a monster movie with me?

What time does it come on?

11 .30.

Okay. They ought to show those good movies on earlier so regular kids could

watch.

On your mark, get set, go!

out, sir, that it's past midnight.

I know.

Well, do we still plan an early start for Jones Beach?

Yeah, we plan to have breakfast at seven. I don't know what they're

That's true, sir, but perhaps I should suggest they go to bed, sir.

Well, we made a deal. I will say goodnight to them.

Oh, perhaps we could suggest to them so that at least they'd turn down the

volume so that we could go to sleep.

I suppose we have got some rights around here, too.

It's time to get up.

I'll let her sleep.

I'll go now.

You all set to go to Jones Beach?

No, I'm too sleepy.

You should have made me go to bed early.

Oh, I can't make anybody do anything around here.

Well, I'll get up in a little while.

Sure.

The kids aren't going to be up for a while. It looks like they're having

first morning after.

In that case, sir, maybe we could have the picnic out on the terrace.

Yes, sir, if we do as you please children so desire.

Uncle Bill, Greg just called and some kids are driving up to Bear Mountain.

I go?

Yeah, go ahead.

Good, thank you. I knew you'd say yes, but I still thought I'd ask.

Unlike the mothers around here.

Mr. French, do you have something that I could take along with us on a picnic?

Oh, well, it just so happens that you're in luxury.

What is that?

Rock Cornish Hen.

Oh.

Well, I'll tell Greg it's chicken.

Now we're ready, Uncle Bill. We don't want any breakfast. We'll have hot dogs

Jones Beach.

Well, it's a little late for Jones Beach now, you know.

Traffic's terrible this time of day.

We'd just about get there and we'd have to turn around and come back.

But, Uncle Bill, you promised.

We've been thinking of the beach all week.

You said you wanted to sleep.

Sir, might I suggest the Bronx Zoo?

Who wants to go to any old zoo?

The zoo's not a fair trade for the beach.

Uncle Bill, are we still in the land of do -as -you -please?

Sure you are.

Then I'm not going to any old zoo.

What are we going to do, Jody?

Uncle Bill, I want a driving lesson.

You want a driving lesson at your age?

I've been watching you and Mr. French drive.

It's easy.

Land of do -as -you -please.

I don't have a driver's license, Uncle Bill.

That could mean trouble.

You might get stopped by the police.

Don't worry, Jody. I'll look out for the policemen.

Good. Let's go down and practice.

Are you sure the story came out all right the way your father told it?

Sure it did, sir.

In those days, eight -year -old children didn't drive motorcars.

My foot has to reach the brake.

Well, down there you can't see.

Come on.

Now I'm too high to reach the brake.

Want me to work the brake for you? Good idea, Buffy.

Okay.

One is the brake.

Okay. Now then, the other one's the gas, right? Do you think you can work the

brake and the gas?

Well, I don't know.

Why don't you work one and I'll work the other?

Then who'll steer?

I guess there's just not enough of us to drive.

We need somebody else.

We could do it, Buffy.

Trouble is, we might get in an accident.

I thought of that, too.

Funny thing Uncle Bill didn't think of it.

You notice one thing, of course.

He didn't give us the key.

I'm going over to the park. I'll see you guys later.

Where in the park?

Oh, I don't know. I'm just going to throw a ball around, I guess.

You go on and practice your driving. I'll find some other kids to play catch

with.

Hi, George III.

This is my Uncle Bill. How do you do, sir?

How you do, George?

Where'd you get all the equipment?

My father makes it.

I thought he made electronics.

He's a conglomerate.

That's why he never has time to play ball with me.

You want to play with us?

I'd like to, but I don't want to throw my arm out before my coach gets here.

Coach, huh?

Yes, sir. I have him every Sunday.

If I feel like it, of course.

Of course.

Sir, if you want Buffy and Jody to take lessons, I'll ask the coach if he has

spare time.

He doesn't charge much.

I didn't know girls took baseball lessons.

I didn't know boys did either. I want to, Uncle Bill. And if do as you please.

Sure, go right ahead.

How much money you got in your piggy bank?

Let's just play care.

late late show another monster movie i don't

feel like watching tv and what do you feel like doing i don't know what do you

feel like doing want to play ball it's dark outside i mean in here

we're not allowed to play ball inside we're allowed to do anything we want

well i don't want to play ball anyway Hey, let's go out to a movie.

Out? That's a good idea. Let's go get our money.

I've got over three dollars in my piggy bank.

So do I.

Only, if we take it all out for going to the movies, then we won't have anything

left for Sissy's birthday present.

Yeah, I forgot.

How about Chinese checkers?

That's no fun.

It was lots of fun the last time we played.

But that was with Uncle Bill.

Yeah. Let's go ask him if he'd like to play.

Okay.

Sir, I don't think it's working out as an object lesson. The children seem to

having the time of their lives.

I noticed that.

Well, sir, don't you think that it's, well, time that we admitted defeat?

We've adapted to the land of do -as -you -please as if they were born there.

Uncle Bill, are they Chinese checkers with us?

No, I don't feel like doing that.

Please.

No, see, the land of do -as -you -please goes for adults, too, and we don't have

to do anything we don't want to.

You didn't tell us that part of it.

Well, I guess I didn't want to.

Okay. I know what. Let's just go call George III and invite him over right

Sure. It won't matter to George what time it is. Come on.

Well, sir, for a moment there, I thought they were weakening.

Sounds for reinforcements.

But do we have a battle plan?

Perseverance. All we got left.

Uncle Bill?

Huh?

Are you doing anything right now?

No, I'm reading.

Would you take us over to play with George III?

I thought George III was coming over here. No, he's hoping to see his mother

father if they come home.

Well, it's time for bed.

But we're supposed to go to bed whenever we want.

No, I mean me.

I've got to be up early in the morning and go to work.

Couldn't you stay up to play just a little while?

You don't have to take us anyplace.

We could all play right here.

Well, you can play all night if you want to. I'm just going to read you out and

then go to sleep.

Good night, Uncle Bill. Good night.

Uncle Bill, you forgot to kiss us good night.

No, I didn't.

You mean you're not going to?

But you always kiss us good night.

Well, I just don't feel like it right now.

Don't you love us anymore, Uncle Bill?

Of course I do. I'm busy.

Hi. Hi.

How do you like Bear Mountain?

Oh, it's fabulous.

I see the night owls are still hooting. It's a school day tomorrow.

Yeah. Good night.

Good night.

Do you feel like playing Johnny's checkers?

No.

Me neither.

Buffy, I think I'll go in my room and read a book.

You mean in bed?

Mm -hmm.

I like to read a book in bed, even if I'm not sleepy.

It sure feels strange, though, going to bed without a goodnight kiss from Uncle

Bill.

I'll kiss you goodnight, Pa.

Okay.

If they don't get ready in 15 minutes, they're going to be late for school.

Yeah, better late than never.

Yes, but suppose they decide never.

Oh, I'm not going to let it get out of hand.

Well, it's in the story. The children surrendered.

But with Buffy and Jody, I'm afraid they may hang on for days.

It looks as if our noble experiment has failed.

Guess what we're having for breakfast this morning.

What? The new theory with the funny commercial.

Hey, that's something I want to tell you kids.

Uncle Bill, before you tell us, we want to tell you something first.

Okay, shoot.

You know what we want to do today in the land of do -it -your -please?

What? We want to get out of it, please.

We like things better the way they were.

Well, that's good. I'm glad to hear it.

Pay to change your minds, children, hmm?

It's not all that fun to do as you please.

If everybody else does what they please.

And George III, he can do anything he wants. But what fun is it?

And who cares about what happens to him?

Well, I guess his father cares.

Yeah, but he's always too busy doing what he pleases to pay any attention to

George.

I guess the land of those you please is a nice place to visit, but... We

wouldn't want to live there.

Right.

Yes, sir, and if you'll excuse me for that, I point out that if the children

not ready in ten minutes to leave for school, they'll be late. I shall go in

kitchen and prepare some toast.

Hear that?

Move out.

Yes, sir.

May we stay, Uncle Bill?

Bye -bye.

Bye. Uncle Bill?

Could we have another kiss?

You make up for last night.