Original subtitles

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

Mary Jo, why don't you take a look at this?

Here's a guy that's been kidnapped by terrorists.

What I don't understand is these guys get kidnapped they look like professors,

you know, with dorky haircut and glasses.

But when they get released, they got beards and are rugged and sexy.

I mean, they're hot. You know.

Then the State Department gets ahold of them

they're released, get haircuts and makes them look like dorks again.

It's a national disgrace, isn't it?

Julia, I told you I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Suzanne, I don't think you have any idea what you've just done.

Becoming a foster parent, even if it is for a month,

is a serious responsibility.

Who's becoming a foster parent?

I thought you were at Reese's signing legal papers?

Well, we were.

But while we were there, Reese's partner Burton Riffel

asked if we just might happen to know anybody

who would like to keep a Vietnamese boat child for a month.

He's representing this couple in Birmingham who's adopting her,

but there's some legal problems can't have custody of her for four weeks.

So, Suzanne just pipes up and offers her services

like she's been doing this all her life.

Julia, for your information, I've probably raised more pets

than anybody in this room.

You mothers are all alike.

There's nothing mysterious about raising kids.

They're just like adults,

except they're smaller.

Right.

The most incredible thing of all is

this little girl is arriving today.

What? You mean, today, like in today?

You've got it.

So, that's no big deal.

I'll just call Consuela

and tell her to cook something real nice.

Maybe goose liver pate and duck with peppercorns.

Good choice. I know that those are two things

that my children just can't get enough of.

Have they called yet?

30 minutes ago they're on their way from the airport.

Where have you been?

I thought I should have a present for Li Sing, so I got her this briefcase.

Suzanne, kids don't carry briefcases, they have backpacks.

I mean, this is so big and heavy.

I'll get her a little luggage wheel, she can pull it to school.

They're here. Burton's car pulled up.

Oh, my gosh. I haven't even checked my make-up.

I'll be in the bathroom. Stall for me.

[DOORBELL RINGING]

Let's not all come at her at once.

Hello, everybody.

Hi, there.

Hi, y'all come in and sit down.

Now Li Sing, this is Julia. Hi, Li Sing.

My, that's such a pretty dress. Is it new?

Yes. My missionary mom made it for me. I'm a first Baptist.

You are? You are?

Isn't that something? So am I.

Hi, Li Sing. I'm Charlene.

I know a lot of songs. I know Jesus Loves Me.

We'll have to go to church and sing up a storm.

Hi, Li Sing. My name's Mary Jo.

Hi. And you know what?

I have a little boy named Quint and a little girl named Claudia

and we just can't wait for you

to come over to our house and play.

BURTON: There you are.

Suzanne, this is Li Sing.

I know who this is.

I've just been waiting for you all day.

So... How are you, Li Sing?

Mama!

I know a song about you.

You do? What is it?

♪ Oh, Susanna ♪

♪ Don't you cry for me ♪

♪ I'll be coming back From Alabama ♪

♪ With a banjo on my knee ♪

Well, that's very good.

No wonder they call you Li Sing.

Come on over here, honey.

Finish up your hot chocolate.

I like that sparkly stuff on your pajamas.

You do?

Maybe I'll get you some.

Oh, for crying out loud. My soul and body.

Look it there-- chipped my best nail.

Wow.

Where did you get all these crowns?

I won them in beauty pageants.

You must be the prettiest woman in the world.

Well, I like to think so.

Can I wear one?

Well, sure, you can.

Let's see. I'll pick you out a real nice one.

Now, this one here,

I got this when I was queen of the Azalea Festival.

Wow.

Is this your family?

Uh-huh. Let's see.

That's my mama with Julia when she was little.

That's my mama with me when I was little.

That's Julia's son Payne, and that's our grandmother.

My family's in heaven.

They are?

Mm-hmm.

Everybody went to heaven together but me and Noni.

Well, who's Noni?

My little brother.

He died at the orphanage,

but I know he's in heaven, too,

Because he played baby Jesus in the Christmas play.

Well, if I'm taking you to school tomorrow,

we better be getting to bed.

You sure you want to sleep with me?

I'm sure.

Oh, for crying out loud. My soul and body.

I'm sorry.

Oh, honey, that's all right.

Consuela will clean that right up. Come on.

"Dear little one, I wish two things--

To give you roots, to give you wings."

My grandmother gave that to me when I was your age.

What does it mean?

Well, it means...

Well...

It's a little hard to explain,

but you'll understand when you're older.

You come on. Get into bed.

Okay.

Oh, honey. You can't wear that to bed.

It's going to be uncomfortable to sleep in.

Oh, please. I promise I'll be careful.

All right.

But now, you got to lie on your back

if you're going to sleep in a tiara.

Not that I ever have.

They grow up so fast

when you have a birthday party every seven days.

I know y'all think I'm going overboard with this.

I only have a month to make an imprint that will last a lifetime.

Suzanne, I for one think you're getting too involved with this child.

I just hope you'll be able to give her up next week.

Oh, Julia.

Just because I've enjoyed having Li Sing around...

[DOORBELL RINGING] ...doesn't mean I want to take her to raise,

for crying out loud.

I have a very full life of my own as it is.

Thank you very much.

Besides, we haven't gotten that close anyway.

Hi, sweetheart. How's my little pumpkin?

Fine.

Did Consuela pick you up on time?

Uh-huh. Guess what.

I made an "A" minus on my spelling test.

Oh, that's just great.

What's the minus for?

I misspelled tractor. The teacher said the "o" was an "e."

I can't believe that.

Looks like an "o" to me.

Doesn't that look like an "o"?

That could be an "o."

Could be? That is an "o."

I can't believe she counted off for this.

What you need to know something like that for anyway?

It's not like you're going to grow up to be a tractor driver.

Why can't they teach you something useful,

like how to spell panty hose?

Hey, everybody.

Anthony.

Excuse me, Suzanne. Have you seen Li Sing?

[CHUCKLES] I'm Li Sing.

Well, I can't believe it.

You look just like Suzanne.

[CHUCKLES] I know.

It's a good thing you straightened me out

because I might have given this to the wrong person.

Thank you.

Okay, we can open Anthony's present later.

First...

I want you to open this one.

Okay.

Wait till you see this. It's from me.

You're going to love it.

Do you know what that is?

Master charge!

I feel so foolish. I bought a doll.

Li Sing.

What do we say when we use our credit card?

Charge it!

Suzanne, I think we're going to have to have a little talk.

Excuse me, but I'm delivering a pony out back.

I got a pony. I got a pony. Yay.

You weren't supposed to say it out loud.

It's a surprise, for Pete's sake.

This is pretty disgusting, isn't it?

Really. A credit card for a kid?

No. Her limit. It's bigger than mine.

Yeah. Just be glad you have one.

How do you think it makes me feel?

I don't even have a credit card.

You don't have a credit card?

Well, I did have one until the accident.

What accident?

I accidentally gave it to a store clerk who called in for approval.

[LAUGHS]

Oh, for Pete's sake come on.

You'll have to come and see my pony.

[CHUCKLES] In a minute now, Li Sing.

But first you have to blow out your candles before all the ice cream melts.

Suzanne,

this thing is getting way out of hand.

She is never gonna want to go with those other people next week.

Julia, not now. It's Li Sing's birthday.

Go ahead, honey. You make a wish.

What should I wish for?

Anything you want.

I wish--I wish I could stay with you forever.

Julia, have you said anything to Suzanne

about, you know... Li Sing?

Yes, I have.

I was over there last night

at a picnic out in the back yard.

Of course it's difficult to prove a point

about spoiling a child

while bobbing up and down on a merry-go-round.

I don't know why more people can't raise their kids

the way Andy Taylor did.

I don't think I know Andy Taylor.

Well, sure you do. You know Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show?

I mean, Opie had to work for everything he got.

When he did make a mistake, or you know, he wanted to do something stupid

Andy never came out and said no.

Like the time Opie wanted to move out and he was 11, to his own place,

Well, Andy helped him save his allowance--

Which if I remember right, at the time, it was 50 cents a week.

Andy put that money in the bank, and instead of fighting about it,

Opie's was all the time thinking that someday he's going to own this house.

Even though Andy knew what the property values were in Mayberry,

at 50 cents a week,

you'd be 82 before you could afford the inside of an outhouse.

If you get right down to it, Andy tricked Opie.

I wish I hadn't started this. Now I'm upset.

Hi.

ANTHONY: Hi. JULIA: Hi, you two.

We stopped by on our way to the zoo.

Actually, Li Sing was upset because she forgot her teddy Ruxpin.

There he is.

Hey, wait a minute. Are you talking about this bear?

Uh-uh, this is my bear.

This is a personal friend of mine.

We ride to work, we dress alike, and have the same hairdo.

[CHUCKLING] This is my bear.

She's a cold woman.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

Sugarbaker's.

Yes, she is. Just a moment, please.

Julia, it's for you.

Thank you.

Hello.

Yes, Burton.

Yes, as a matter of fact, Suzanne and Li Sing are here right now.

You know what, Li Sing,

I have an ice-cream sandwich over there at the refrigerator would you like to take it?

Yes. Yes, what?

Yes, ma'am.

Bad manners are worse than having no money.

Oh, no.

It hadn't been a month yet.

Well, couldn't they just...

Oh, okay.

Yeah, I understand.

I'll tell her. Bye.

Well, the papers have been approved.

Li Sing's parents are coming tomorrow.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

I wish I could stay with you.

I know, but you can't, and we've been all through that.

I wish I could stay at this school. I like this school.

There's this girl named Dora Maude,

and everyday in the lunchroom

She says, "Hey, Li Sing, you going to get you another

big ole biscuit?"

She's so cute.

I just love the way she talks.

You're going to make a lot of new friends

you like as well as the ones you made here.

I don't to want new friends. I want to stay with you.

Oh, go on. You're saying that because I give you presents.

No, I'm not.

If you let me stay, I'll give all the presents back.

Except, maybe, for the pony.

You're getting to be more and more like me every day.

Well, tomorrow's a big day,

so you better get into bed.

Okay, but I have to say my prayers.

All right.

Dear God, thank you for Jesus.

Thank you for Suzanne.

Please let me stay here,

but if I can't,

please help these people get my pony to Birmingham.

Amen.

Good night, Suzanne.

Good night.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

I love you.

I love you, too.

Well, I just can't imagine what's keeping Suzanne.

She's always late,

but never an hour and a half late.

Well, tell me, Mr. Shelton,

how long have you been a shoe salesman?

That is something that has always fascinated me.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

I'll get it.

Hello.

Julia, it's Suzanne.

Yes. I recognize the voice.

Well, we just stopped off at Kendell's for lunch.

Well, Li Sing's been playing their video machines,

and she's just racking up free games like crazy, and...

What's the problem?

Well, the problem is...

I don't want to bring her back.

I'll be right there.

Li Sing, it's all right.

It's going to be all right.

Now, would you please go over there

and play the video games a little bit more?

I want to talk to Suzanne.

Okay.

Don't cry. I'll be right back.

I sure made a mess of things this time, didn't I?

Not yet.

In a few more hours, they'll be talking kidnapping.

I wish I'd never met her.

She thinks I'm wonderful.

She even loves my cooking.

You don't cook.

Well, I know that, but she doesn't.

Li Sing's the first person

who's ever loved me just for me.

She's not the first.

She's the third.

You mean my ex-husbands? No, silly.

Mother and me.

We love you just for you.

Yes, but you don't think I can do anything.

That's not true.

I just said I didn't think

you were cut out to be a mother.

You mean unlike the four billion other women on earth?

Thanks a lot.

But you do something nobody else can do.

What?

I don't know what it is...

Exactly...

That you do.

I just know nobody else is doing it

or can do it...

Like you do.

You've given away your pillow?

Yeah.

I wanted Li Sing to have it,

since I'll probably never have a little girl.

I think grandmother would like that.

Yeah.

I remember when she made these for us.

Roots and wings.

We sure got our share, didn't we?

Suzanne,

I'm going to say something pretty harsh,

but I'm saying it because I love you.

Just once in your life,

don't put yourself first.

I'm not, Julia. I'm thinking of Li Sing.

No, you're not. You're not thinking at all.

You know in your heart

that she's better off with this couple.

If you truly love her,

like you say you do...

Give her wings.

I just didn't expect to fall in love with her.

I know. You're right.

[SNIFFLES] I know.

Okay, I--I'll do it.

I'm so happy for you.

Why?

Because...

Now you know what it feels like

to be a mother.

"It is my pleasure to give you my treasure."

Oh, look, Bill. Isn't this a beautiful card?

I'll say.

She made it for you last night.

She wrote the poem herself.

As you can see, both pleasure and treasure are spelt right.

This from a person they said couldn't spell tractor.

Very impressive.

Bill, it's getting late if you're going back

to Birmingham tonight, you better get going.

I'm awfully sorry we kept you waiting so long.

Well, that's all right.

I'm just glad we finally have her.

Look, Suzanne. A linen hanky.

That's a mark of good breeding.

Uh, Rosalind. Uh-huh?

There's a few things that I forgot to put on that list of instructions I gave you.

Well, that's all right.

We do have other children.

Oh, I know, but, uh...

These are special for Li Sing.

You see, now, if you have any silk sheets,

she's just crazy for them.

Also, we have hot chocolate every night, and

there's a little tiara in one of her suitcases

that she likes to sleep in.

Thank you. I'll remember that.

Oh!

And she just loves a little caviar on a saltine

just before bed.

But, uh, we can talk later.

I'll give you a call.

Please do.

We'd love to hear from you...

I think.

Well, I guess this is goodbye.

Thank you all again for everything.

Goodbye, Suzanne.

Goodbye.

Go.

Just go.

You know, this is a beautiful card.

We just might have to frame this.

No one told me you could draw so well.

I sing, too.

No! What can you sing?

Lots of things.

Yeah? Like what?

Well, like...

♪ Oh, Susanna ♪

♪ Don't you cry for me ♪

♪ I'm comin' back From Alabama ♪

♪ With a banjo On my knee ♪

♪ Oh, Susanna ♪

♪ Don't you cry for me ♪

♪ I'm comin' back From Alabama... ♪

["OH! SUSANNA" MUSIC PLAYING]