Original subtitles

Aldrich Brown.

Name sounds familiar.

You read the papers, don't you, Judge?

And I collected the $2 ,000 reward last night in the city.

Returning, you pushed a bus driver from his car, drove to Carvel, ignoring

scheduled stops and the protests of the frightened passengers.

The form of charge is disorderly conduct, operating a bus without a

driving while intoxicated, a technical charge of grand theft, and kidnapping 17

people. Technicalities. It was only a celebration.

You believe it proper to ignore the rights of others because of that halo

wear around your head?

Let me tell you, young man, that a halo has to drop a very short distance before

it becomes a noose.

I fine you $100. I've got it right here in my pocket.

And 30 days in the county jail.

You got that in your pocket, too?

Court will recess for 30 minutes.

Take him away, deputy.

Hey, wait a minute now. Listen to...

Isn't every day we get a visit from our sister -in -law? Sit down.

This letter, James.

I thought I'd better bring it here.

From Dora Northcott?

She was Dora Martin.

You remember.

Yes, yes. I used to go with her before I met Emily.

Wasn't she the one?

Something about a Sunday school picnic and you two got lost?

We got left behind.

I'd almost forgotten that old scandal.

The truth is she'd lost her Indian blanket, and while we were looking for

the trolley car went off and left us.

The talk that caused.

Millie, I haven't been able to stand the sight of an Indian blanket since.

I always wondered what Emily thought.

She never said anything. She couldn't have heard.

You know, Millie, in every married life, there's one subject that just isn't

discussed.

And in the 30 years that Emily and I have been married, we've never once

mentioned that picnic.

That's why I brought the letter here.

Oh.

Oh, this is an invitation from Dora and Bill to visit their ranch.

That'd be a long way to go, wouldn't it?

We're in trouble, Millie.

We need help.

What Bill Northcott did for me when we were together in college means I'd go to

the ends of the earth to help him.

Now, let's see.

I can get Judge Bathgate from Lyndhurst to come over here and sit in my court

for me and... You'll have to go alone, James.

You'll never pry Emily loose from her spring renovating.

She's half crazy in an orgy of house cleaning.

Mother, have you seen the iron?

Iron?

Oh, I brought it down from the sewing room so Andy could fix the cord. Well, I

finished my dress and I want to press it before Dennis gets here.

Oh, for goodness sake, wait. I'll look.

At least I know how to look for things when I don't know where they are.

Oh, here.

Oh, thank you.

Mother, do you think my dress looks as though it weren't homemade?

You mean, will Mr. Dennis Hunt think so?

Well, he's been in New York a couple of months, and I want to look as nice as

that debutante.

Oh, running around with a debutante, was he?

Who told you?

Oh, he wrote me.

We tell each other everything. We believe in absolute frankness.

Things have changed since my young days.

We're sophisticated and modern, darling.

Hmm, maybe.

Don't forget to take the cord out when you finish with that iron.

And when Andy comes in, tell him to take those old clothes down to the Salvation

Army.

Oh, hiya, Polly.

I didn't know you were so tired.

Maybe we'd better not go swimming.

Gee, me tired? Why, say, I've got pep enough to swim the Atlantic Ocean.

Why'd you say that?

Well, usually you have enough energy to walk up the front steps and ring the

doorbell. Uh, you women are getting so you want to be waited upon all the time.

Just because you won your letter in basketball, don't think you can toot

horn and I'll come running. The day of the squaw is over. Here, take my suit.

Well, you're going to get a treat today anyway. I'm going to dive off the 20

-foot board.

Oh, Andy, you don't dare.

Why, the instructor says it's only for professionals.

Well, you watch me.

If you don't stop all this showing off and doing all these crazy things.

Well, I get away with them, don't I?

He'll kill himself.

Andy, I forbid you to die from that board.

Did they forbid Julius Caesar to cross the Alps? Did they forbid Alexander the

Great to conquer the world?

Andy, please.

destiny calls upon Andy Hardy to be a great diver, does Andy Hardy refuse the

golden crown?

No. A thousand times no.

Andrew, that's one of the prettiest dives I've ever seen.

But don't do it again.

Because if the dive doesn't break their neck, I will.

Don't you see, Andy? It's the principle of the thing. The principle of my swan

dive was okay.

Ever since you won that letter in basketball, I can't get you to be

me. You're so cute, Polly. How can I?

Don't you go acting like a college boy with me, Andy Hardy. Who do you think

are?

Well, for the moment, I'm America's gift to the fair sex.

Ah,

but I expect to find new worlds to conquer. Who knows?

History may record the name Andrew Hardy alongside of Washington, Lincoln,

Lindbergh, and... And Humpty Dumpty, who fell off the wall and nobody could put

the pieces together again.

Listen, little lady.

The day Andy Hardy breaks up an admiring public will flock to buy the little

pieces as souvenirs.

You're so conceited, you're impossible.

Conceited? Say, listen, I'm getting tired of that. Just because I have the

initiative to do what I want and I always come out on top.

Andy, please don't let's have a fight.

I'm only thinking of your own good.

And, well, besides, I'm having a party on the 5th.

A party?

Any special kind of party?

It's a costume party.

I've been trying to ask you all afternoon, but you've been so, so

there you go again, nagging.

Won't you women understand if there's one thing a man can't put up with, it's

nagging? Polly Benedict, you're henpecking me.

Listen, where a man's life is concerned, a woman's got to stay in the

background. A man's got to do what he feels he should do.

It's his destiny.

Very well, then.

Since you always do what you want to do, I hope for your sake you don't want to

go with me anymore.

Because I'm not going with you.

Yeah,

what do I care?

What's one girl to a bachelor who has a tuxedo in his own automobile?

Why don't you look where you're going?

What are you doing sitting over there in the dark?

What's all this junk?

That's a box of magazines that Mother wants you and Dad to carry out to the

garage. Gee, it looks like a cyclone hit the joint.

Well, you know Mother.

Spring housecleaning.

You, of course, wouldn't understand a woman's problems.

What's the matter? You had a fight with Dennis?

Certainly not.

Yeah, you always moon around when you're not.

Alone, alone on a night that was meant for love.

That's too childish even to notice.

Yeah, well, the children of today are the men of tomorrow. Remember that, my

dear sister. That was said by, uh... Well, somebody said it anyway.

Get out. I want to type a letter. I got a theme to write. Besides, the

typewriter's half mine.

Well, I saw it first. Do it by longhand.

Longhand? Why, you know my writing is as bad as yours.

Oh, I think you're mean.

Oh, well, she's screaming her head off because I got the typewriter first. Oh,

Marion, stop it. And you stop being a bully. I'm too tired to have any problem

children on my hands.

If you want to fight, go out in the backyard.

Of course, Mother.

Yeah.

Gee, this spring cleaning is getting Mom down, you know that?

I'll stay home all day tomorrow and help her.

Then I'll beat rugs till I drop.

There's Danch.

Hi, Dad.

Hello, Annie.

Hello, Marion.

See, I want to warn you, Dad. Man to man, Mom's on the warpath. I'm going to

upstairs and get out of sight.

Might even put on a clean shirt for dinner.

Well, what's all this?

Marion, James, supper's waiting.

There's only soup and bread because I'm spring cleaning. But that's good enough

for anybody.

What about Augusta? What?

Augusta, the cook.

Oh, she left.

Said she couldn't stay in a madhouse. Not that there's anything mad about

cleaning that I can see. Come on, come on, come on.

Come on, everybody, hurry up.

Why, this is good soup, Emily.

One thing about soup, at least it fills you up quick.

Bread, anybody?

No, thank you.

How's Dennis, Marion?

Fine.

I got a letter today from an old friend of ours.

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, Marion, what's the matter?

I just knocked over a plant. Boy, it couldn't have been lightning. There

any rain.

Now, just keep still, everybody. The lights will come on in a minute. They're

just switching the current in the powerhouse.

Well, gee, they got lights on next door. We must have blew out a fuse, Mom.

Oh. It's the electric iron. I forgot to disconnect it. Here we are.

Here are candles. Oh.

Here, Marion.

Take one of these candles.

Hurry along and retest that iron.

Marion, I warned you about that iron.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Mother. Really, I'm sorry.

I'll put in a new fuse, Mom.

Andy, honey, don't you touch another thing. Oh, I can fix it, Mom. We're out

fuses. Andy used the last one this morning trying to fix the washing

Andy! Now, now, now, Mother.

I thought I told you to bring some fuses.

Well, I forgot.

It's plain where the children get their poor memory.

I fixed it, Mom.

I fixed it.

I fixed it with a penny. A penny?

Andy Hardy, do you want to set fire to the house?

I can't get the simplest kind of help from anybody.

Everything that's not in this house I have to do myself.

But I'm not going to anymore.

If none of you are interested enough to cooperate, I don't see why I should kill

myself.

You were quite right, and we apologize.

I guess I'll rest a bit before I do the dishes.

I'll take care of them.

I'll wipe them, too, Mom. One at a time. No wet towels, either.

I can't understand it.

That's the first time my nerves have ever gotten the best of me.

Well, Emily, I believe you're entitled to that awful little steam.

You were so splendid when your mother was sick, and you came right back here

this house without any rest.

I think you need a little change.

Gee, any change from here would be swell, Dad.

That's a letter I was going to read to you.

That's from the Northcots.

They seem to be in a little trouble, and I believe I could help them.

Maybe going to their ranch would do us all some good.

A ranch?

Oh, boy, Dad, can I have a six -shooter? Will we leave right away?

Well, now, wait, wait, wait just a minute. You know, going to a ranch, that

means roughing it.

This experience we've just had with the lights, how helpless we were when the

electricity failed, well...

Maybe it would do us all some good if we went where they didn't have modern

conveniences. But, James, a ranch.

Ranches are all out west, aren't they?

Well, there seems to be more room out there.

We don't have any more trouble with the Indians, do we?

Indians?

Well, this is it.

It's so, so big, isn't it, out west?

My mother, this is only a small part of the 700 million acres of open country in

the United States.

Gee, I never saw such a wide place that went on for so long.

Plenty of room to rough it.

It's quite lonely, too, isn't it? No social life.

Here comes somebody.

Maybe it's a mirage.

Well, Jim Hardy, am I glad to see you. Bill, am I glad to see you.

Oh, now, cut, you're getting gray.

That from you, Hardy, you whited sepulcher.

You're right, you're right, boy.

Time's creeping up on us.

Oh, mother.

Mother, this is... I've been hearing about you for years, Mrs. Hardy.

And this must be your sister.

And Marion and Andrew.

Gee, Mr. Northcott, you got automobiles out here on the desert. I thought we'd

have to hop a camel to get to the nearest oasis.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, Andrew.

Well, my men will take your luggage. Shall we get going?

Yes, it'll do us good to go where we have no modern conveniences.

Nora! Nora!

We're such a charming family, James. I can understand why you look so well.

Of course, you'll want to freshen up a bit and have a nice cool tub.

Mr. Northcott!

What is it, Ray?

Excuse me, Mr. Northcott, but Bruxton shot our water off.

And there's over a thousand head of steer ready to ship in the North Corral.

Well, he can't do that yet. He wants his check every day in advance now.

He'll have it in an hour.

Thanks, boss. That beef sure needs water quick.

Gosh, who is that?

That's our foreman, Ray Holt.

A thousand head of steer in the North Corral.

Say, I'm going to like this place, partner. It's a man's country.

have to wash in old round tubs.

What did you say?

Oh, you wouldn't understand.

What on earth have you got up for?

Well, the rest of you tenderfeet can wallow in luxury if you want to. I'm

to be western if it kills me.

Well, you do too much horseback riding the first day, and it certainly will.

Well. Isn't it, darling?

Aunt Dora gave it to me.

Who? Well, I'm going to call Aunt Dora and Uncle Bill. Come on.

They seem to approve.

Marion, you look charming, dear. We'll have to keep you here to decorate the

place. I'm going outside and see everything.

But I thought we'd be camping out.

Let me show you around, Mrs. Hardy.

We'll start with the kitchen.

That's my department.

Here we are, right out. Well,

Jim, it's been a long time.

Shall we sit down and visit?

This room was made for that.

Mr. Bruxton is here. He's in the den.

Thank you, Jose.

Bruxton's the man who's trying to buy our ranch.

Buy it?

Well, I didn't know it was for sale.

He's trying to force us to sell.

And we can't sell, Jim. Our whole life is here.

There's another reason.

Bill doesn't know, but the doctor doesn't want him to go back east.

Bill?

No, Dora.

It's not too bad.

They say he could live to be 90 if he stays out in this climate.

Well, then he must stay.

That's why I had the courage to write to you, Jim.

After all, you know, you did introduce Bill and me.

Yes, I remember.

I brought him down to visit Carvel during the school vacation.

Tell me, what's this man Braxton's hold on the situation?

He owns the stream from which we get our water. And out here, unless you get

water.

Our contract with him expires next month. He won't renew. He wants to take

the place.

Oh.

Western racketeer, huh?

I don't know which way to turn.

That's why I wrote you, Jim. I thought with your experience on water rights...

Well, now, don't you worry.

At least not yet.

I'll have a look at this stream of Bruxelles.

And, of course, I'll do everything that's humanly possible.

You seem to be happy and contented, Jim.

Well, Dora, I've been blessed with good fortune and the finest family to ever

live. And I would be ungrateful if I didn't try to save your happiness for

Oh, Dora, do you mind if I ask you...

Don't ever mention that picnic.

Mum's the word, Jim Hardy.

I'll see what I can do with him, Tex.

There's a horse you can ride now, Tex.

Good morning. You're Miss Marion.

And you're Mr. Holt, the foreman. I'm pleased to meet you, ma 'am. Can I show

you around the place?

Will you?

I sure will.

Isn't it a swell morning?

Say, I'll bet you're the foreman. Glad to know you, partner.

Like to see you brand some cattle sometime.

Marion? Ah, you don't look half bad. That is, for a girl that takes an hour

comb her hair.

I suppose you know this is my little brother, Mr. Holt.

Little brother.

Oh, she still thinks I'm in robbers.

Say, I'll bet you wish your boyfriend Dennis looked like Ray here.

Dennis is not my boyfriend.

Oh, I know. You had a fight with him, but you made up with him at the station

before you left. You said you were going to go buy a magazine, but I saw you

crying and him trying to kiss you.

It's too bad your brain hasn't developed as much as your tongue.

What a charming place.

What is it?

That's where Jake and me bunk.

Jake? Who's Jake?

My kid.

Hi, Jake. Come on out.

Jake!

I was setting the bread.

Jake, Miss Marion, and Andrew Hardy.

Howdy. Howdy. Howdy.

Well, I guess we can leave the children to amuse each other.

Children?

Would you like to see some desert, Miss Marion?

Oh, yes.

You two youngsters will get along fine.

Youngsters.

Gee, some girls don't know the difference between a 16 -year -old fella

little boy like yourself.

I ain't a boy.

I'm a girl.

A girl?

Sure, I'm a girl. And I can do anything you can do, 16 or no 16.

Oh, yeah?

How good can you ride?

What do you mean, a horse?

Oh, I don't win for horses much. Where I come from, people use mostly cars.

What's a car got that a horse ain't?

Well, I never saw a horse with an emergency brake.

This is Calico, my own private horse.

My baby.

Want to try him?

Oh, I don't know.

Maybe you can't ride. Maybe you're just a monkey -ward cowboy.

A what? A mail -order cowboy.

The kind that cuts a shine till they straddle a pony.

I am not. I can ride anything. There's nothing to it. Then why don't you?

I'm not in the mood.

Bet you two bits you can't ride Calico.

I bet you I can.

It's a bet.

Where's your dinero?

Dinero? Oh, dinero means dough, huh?

You're a funny kid.

Go on, ride him, cowboy.

That ain't the right side.

Oh, my, you're ignorant. Don't you know you're right from your left?

I mean to get on a horse.

I was just clowning.

Ain't scared, are you?

No. All right, ride him, cowboy.

Sonny, you don't need any emergency brakes. You need a parachute.

Listen, you heard my mom tell me to get off the horse, didn't you?

I'll take the Mazuma now.

Andy! Andy!

Oh, darling, are you hurt?

No, I'm all right, Mom.

Howdy, ma 'am.

Don't worry. We got the kind of horses that's fitting for your little boy.

Speed, partner.

Speed? Huh.

That's a fine name for this overgrown mud turtle. Don't these things ever get

out of low gear?

Go on and get going, Speed.

Step on the gas.

Shh.

Don't let him hear you.

Burbles go crazy when anybody mentions automobiles.

Are you all right? Are you hurt? I shouldn't have gone near him. He's a

horse, especially when he knows you're scared of him.

You shouldn't have done that, son. He's not your horse, and besides, you know

nothing about riding. Just a day or two of speed, and we'll promote you to a

nice, quiet old mare, Andy.

I'm not scared of any horse.

Surely a fellow who's a great basketball star can do anything a little kid like

Jake here can do.

We'll go into that later, in private.

Yes, sir.

It ain't his fault he's a tenderfoot, Judge.

He'll learn to ride.

Lots of other things to learn, too, Jake.

I'll see you tonight.

In the meantime, you both come along with me. I need you.

This is what we call Lupin.

Deep blue.

Deep as the sky, isn't it?

Have you always lived in this country?

My whole life.

It's a good country.

There's something about being a part of all this.

It kind of makes a lot of things seem mighty unimportant.

Yes, it does, doesn't it?

Does your wife like it here, too?

My wife died when Jake was born.

Oh, I'm sorry.

That adorable little girl of yours growing up without a mother.

Why do you call her Jake? That's a boy's name.

Because that was the last word her mother spoke.

She was only conscious a couple of minutes after the baby came.

She looked up at me.

And she said, is the little one all right?

And I said, yes.

And she said, well, everything's Jake.

And she closed her eyes and didn't open them anymore.

So I named the little baby Jake.

You don't think that's silly, do you?

I think it's beautiful.

Mr. Bruxton, in the deed by which the Northcots bought this ranch, you're...

The water contract is specifically referred to.

I maintain that implies an obligation on your part to continue to supply him

with water.

Contract is up on the 5th, Judge.

The authorities will, I believe, support my contention that you must renew it.

As a matter of fact, Judge, you're right.

I'm glad you aren't going to force us to go to court.

But there's no indication at what price I must continue to sell the water.

Water has suddenly become mighty valuable.

But the law is the law.

You can have all the water you want, but on and after the fifth, my price will

be $100 a gallon.

Your attorneys, Mr. Bruxton, are very shrewd men.

I thought they'd better be, Judge, with you on the other side of the case.

And any time you want to renew the contract at the new price, just let me

Good day, my friends.

We're licked, James.

We never should have signed such a contract in the first place.

But we checked it over from the map and... At least that map makes an

wall decoration.

It would be more attractive if an earthquake changed it.

Perhaps that's the answer.

All we can do now is pray for a miracle.

Maybe a cotton junction is the miracle we need.

That's as efficient as an earthquake and much less expensive.

Oh, I didn't know you were busy, Dad. Excuse me. No, no. If you want to talk

your father... Well, that's all right, Aunt Dora. Take your time. I can wait.

Why, gee, I could wait a month if necessary.

I was just going.

Thanks, James.

If you decide to stay up late again tonight, remember, ice boxes were made

raided.

Sit down.

Sit down, son.

Gee, Dad, could I help it if Jake's horse is nervous? Well, I'll bet you

off the first time you rode.

No, I was thrown.

Do you realize you might have been killed?

At least that horse might have been seriously injured.

Oh, the horse means more than I do.

To your mother and me, no.

To the horse, yes.

I'm going to ask a favor that I have often granted you.

Okay. I mean, yes, sir.

I want to talk man to man.

Certainly.

Your actions have been insufferable ever since you received that basketball

letter that made you think you were over and above ordinary human beings.

Well, I was the star of the team. Even the paper said so.

You played a good game, yes, but... Good? Why, I was terrific.

You've been breaking all the rules that make it possible for people to live

together. Rules, rules.

Gee, with 100 ,000 million rules, a fellow's got to hide himself in the

to keep from breaking one.

Oh, you believe people should be allowed to do as they please, huh?

No, but you bossing a fellow all the time sort of makes him lose his

personality.

Well, maybe I'm wrong.

I'll tell you what we'll do.

For a week, you do as you please.

No rules, no don'ts. Boy, oh boy, Dad. Man to man, does that mean I can do as I

please? But do I get punished if I'm guilty of some slight error in judgment?

For the length of the experiment, there'll be no punishment. You're on

It's a deal.

Now, wait a minute.

It's only fair to you to tell you why I'm doing this.

This latest stage of your development is only a phase that all boys go through.

In my opinion, you give the average boy of your age enough rope and he'll hang

himself.

So without any rules or regulations, you're very liable to find that instead

being a conquering hero, you're still a little boy running home to his mother.

Oh, well, the day I come running home, I'll have two brass bands in back of me

and a million dollars in my pocket.

Oh, boy, Dad, now I know how the slaves felt when Lincoln signed the

Emancipation Proclamation.

Oh, excuse me.

James, I've only got a second. I want to warn you.

Warn me?

Marion's falling in love with that foreman, Ray Holt.

What? Oh, that's utterly ridiculous.

She had a fight with Dennis and Carl Holt.

Now she's got that look in her eyes.

You'd better do something.

I'd better do something? What can I do?

James, you're so much wiser than any of us.

Oh, now, see here, Millie, don't... Here she comes.

Don't tell her that I told you.

Hello, Father.

Oh.

Marion.

Yes, Father.

Marion.

Are you having a nice time?

Do you know what the great outdoors has made me realize?

That the qualities I admire most in a man are simple kindness and real

of character.

James, how do you get yourself up for dinner? Or do I have to wash back of

ears like I do Andy's?

Oh, James, I'm a new woman here where we've nothing to worry about.

That's fine, that's fine.

Hurry along, dear. Come on, Marion.

Mr. Hardy.

Uh -huh?

Mr. Hall, the foreman's on the phone.

Oh, yes.

Yes, Ray, what is it?

What was that?

Wait just a minute till I get this thing straight.

Is it all right for Andy to borrow your six -shooter tomorrow to kill

rattlesnakes?

Stand back there, Jake. Give me a little room.

That's it, girl.

Well!

Oh, you see?

Just a natural -born sharpshooter.

You suppose I could ever do that?

Well, I'd be afraid to let you try.

Now you see the difference between a fellow 16 and a little kid of 8 like

yourself.

Say, I'll bet you a quarter you can't even pull the trigger.

Maybe not the first time.

I tell you what I'll do. I'll bet you a half a dollar that you can't even hit

the can in three tries.

I couldn't afford to lose that much money.

Well, I lost a quarter to you. You can be a good sport about it.

Look, I'll bet you a dollar that you can't even hit the can in five tries.

A good sport?

Yeah. A woman's got to be a good sport, same as a man.

It's a bet.

Take the gun in the right hand of the lady?

Now just take a bead on it and rip right out.

Of course, you'll miss it the first time, but you're learning.

Why didn't you tell me that you got the...

Mr. Hardy.

You think you're smart, don't you?

Well, I'll make you look silly before I leave this joint.

Oh, forget it. Here, I'll give you your dollar back.

No, no, I'm no quitter. You just wait. I'll show you. You know, a man and woman

can be friends on equal basis.

Platonic, they call it. But once a woman steps out of line and humiliates a man,

he's got to wipe out the insult or he can't hold up his head again in the

You won't know it for years and years yet, but this is a man's world.

It's getting late. Better take you home.

Ray, you've almost avoided me for the last several days. If I hadn't asked you

to go walking with me tonight, we wouldn't be here.

Why? Please tell me, Ray.

That's why.

It ought to have better sense.

But it's all right, Ray.

I'm in love with you.

Well, when a girl like you says she loves me, there's only one thing for a

to do.

What?

When can I talk to your dad about marrying you?

Dad, oh, yes, that's right. I suppose we ought to... The sooner the better.

Well, I'll talk to him first.

Come on, let's go.

Northcote's told me of your fine record, Ray.

You're hardworking, honest, and you're good.

Mary knows how I feel about marriage.

To me, it's a 50 -50 partnership.

I know what you're willing to offer, Ray.

What about you, Donna?

Me? Yes, there's a lot more than just romance to being a wife out here in this

country. I was reading an article only the other day about trial marriage.

Trial marriage?

I don't hold to those new ideas, Judge. I don't think it's... Oh, I don't mean

carrying out the idea to the last letter.

No, what I mean is, Marion, why don't you try going to Ray's cottage every

morning and doing the housework, take care of Jake?

Face some of the problems you'll have to face after you're married.

I think that would be fun.

I know you. You think I'll fail.

Well, I'll show you.

Are you game?

Whatever you say.

We'll start tomorrow.

For breakfast?

For breakfast.

What time is breakfast?

Jake usually dishes up about a quarter to five.

Well, maybe that's too early for you. No, I'll be there on the dot. Well, I

wouldn't say anything to Mother about this. Love's positive.

Then you can tell her the good news.

All right, Dad.

But I know it'll work out.

You gonna be our biscuit shooter?

Your what?

Cook our chow regular.

That's the idea.

Breakfast's almost ready.

Couple of minutes, Ray.

I can make doll clothes, too.

Doll clothes? For who?

Haven't you got a doll?

No. Had one once, but I traded it in for a pair of spurs.

I'll make some cookies after breakfast.

You got any molasses?

Oh, here it is.

That ain't no molasses. That's varnish.

Varnish?

I'm glad you told me.

That's no place for the varnish.

Use the varnish can for a target.

Hey, Jake, will you dust off my boots?

Shall I?

No siree. Ray said to store by his boots.

Paid 40 bucks for them.

Where do you keep the sugar?

In the salt jar.

Why don't you keep it in the sugar jar?

Because the salt's in there.

Now, wouldn't it be much easier to keep the sugar in the sugar jar and the salt

in the salt jar?

Why?

Well, when you wanted the sugar, you wouldn't have to go to so much trouble.

I don't go to no trouble. I just go to the salt jar.

Morning. Sorry to be late with breakfast.

But I had to help Mother get off this morning. She and Aunt Millie are going

down to the reservation to look at Indian blankets.

Oh!

Oh, Marion, I'm so sorry.

Hurt bad?

Not much now.

Good. Mush!

What's the matter, partner?

You'd cry too if you saw your father being ruined.

Your dad, has he lost his job or signed someone's note? No, that googie -eyed

sap sister of yours.

She's making up to him and the big lug is bleeding like an orphan calf.

Caught you.

I guess maybe I ought to be, but I don't have to be. You forgetting about our

deal, Dad?

Why don't you join me?

You're making an awful lot of noise with that celery.

Boy, this is some spread.

Celery? Chicken. Oh, boy.

Drumstick, Dad?

No. No, thanks. You keep it. Well, you can have it. No, no, no. You saw it

first. Oh, come on. Here, take it.

Oh, thanks, Andy.

Andy, what made you think of urging me to take this drumstick?

You wanted it.

Well, I guess maybe it's because I can do as I like and it puts me on equal

basis with you.

And somehow it kind of makes me want to be polite.

Isn't that funny?

Oh, it's only Marion.

Any other time, then we'll be fighting words.

But I'm too tired.

Is there any milk?

Milk? Sure, here's the whole pitcher full.

Well, really?

Oh, yeah.

Is Jake putting you through the hoops?

Why have I let you live this long?

Well, here's your health, gentlemen.

But there's one thing.

What?

I'm beginning to understand what people mean when they say you've got to grow up

with children, not take them at one fell swoop.

Well, James Hardy.

Well, Emily Hardy.

Emily, we're all in the same boat. We're all caught red -handed.

Just the same. I don't believe in eating before you go to bed. I don't either,

Mom. Gee, the chicken's swell.

Have a chair, Millie.

Thanks. Boy, do I like midnight suppers. Just as much fun as a picnic, only we

haven't got the ants.

They say there's no place like home.

Only where Mother is, that's home to us.

Pretty poor home before we left Carville.

Was not. It was swell.

I have an apology to make to the whole family.

I'm sorry I was such a cross over there.

I hope I didn't make things too miserable for you. You were just tired,

Even tired I like her better than any mother I know of. Now, Emily, no

postmortems. We don't allow that.

But poor Augusta, taking out my tiredness on her. All that.

Last thing I did before I left Carville, I hired Augusta back and paid her wages

till we got home.

Oh, Dad.

Pop's a magician.

Well, I wish I were.

Then I might solve this problem of Dora's here.

Think of it.

Dora and Bill losing this ranch.

Dad, that'll mean Ray will be out of a job.

Ray?

Oh, the foreman. Oh, don't worry, dear. He'll soon get another job.

But, James, you must try to do something to help the Northcuts.

Oh, I have. I've spent days in the courthouse and nights planning strategy

didn't work.

Only the day the court refused my petition for an injunction against

I guess Dora's right.

Miracles are answered.

My goodness gracious, Andy, you couldn't have done this on one of these horses?

Nope, I rode a fence rail and Uncle Bill tricked me in on the bronc with his

imported camera and a double exposure.

A pleasure.

The trouble with having you and Marion here is it's going to be so lonely when

you leave.

I wish we could have you for keeps.

Thanks, Uncle Bill.

I'm going to go mail this to Polly.

Wait till Carville gets a load of Daredevil Andy, the terror of the

Who's Polly?

A girlfriend.

You got a girlfriend?

I got several.

Can I be one?

What do you think I am, a cradle robber? Now go on, Van Moose Jake, I got an

important letter to write.

Thought you'd gone to bed.

I don't have to, remember?

I'm just stealing a few moments from my ranching activities to catch up with my

social correspondents.

Excuse me.

I'll try not to disturb you.

Doris said you wanted me. I know. I warned you about too much horseback

Have a chair. Have a chair with me.

Yeah.

Nice last cool water.

Dad, whenever you act like this, you've got some ideas in your mind.

You want something.

Yes, I do want something.

Emily,

Dora and Bill Northcott are licked.

Bruxton's going to take their ranch away from them, and I'm powerless to help

them. Oh, Dad.

It's not like you to give up so easily. I haven't given up. I've got one chance

left. It's a desperate one.

But it involves a decision that you've got to make for me.

It means risking everything we have, every dollar I can raise.

Well, do you think I'd understand if you told me about it?

When Bill and Dora Northcott bought this property, they signed an ironclad

agreement never to interfere with Bruxon driving his cattle across their land.

But this morning I discovered in order for Bruxon to get his cattle to the

railroad, he's got to cross another property that's owned by a rich old

Now, if some disinterested person could buy that Indian's property, he could

shut Bruxon off from the railroad.

Of course, Bill and Dora can't legally do it, but I can buy that land.

and fight fire with fire until such time as Bruxon agrees to give the North

Coast water at a reasonable rate.

But if something went wrong, we'd find ourselves owning a desert waste and I'd

be liable to Bruxon for all the damage he suffered.

Well, it's my idea that if you do something because you think it's the

thing to do, somehow or other it's bound to turn out right.

Where would the world be if it didn't?

Emily, you want me to do this?

James, how do you jump on your horse and go and buy that land right away? But

don't try to outsmart that rich old Indian.

My grandfather fought against the Indians, and he used to tell me that an

could horn -swoggle the shirt right off a white man's back.

Oh, but we mustn't breathe a word of this.

If Braxton could ever prove the Northcots knew what was going on, he'd

for everything they got, probably charge him with criminal conspiracy.

If I were to tell one half of what I know back home, the town of Carver would

break out in civil war.

Oh, Ma.

Oh, Mrs. Hardy, isn't it past your usual bedtime?

Don't scold me, honey.

I'm going right away.

Good night. Good night, Ma.

Oh, Mother.

Oh, honey, you're tired.

Mustn't overdo things.

Remember, you're a modern, sophisticated girl, not one of these, um, these

bronco -busters.

I'm remembering all right. Good night to you.

Good night, dear. Good night, Andy.

Good night, Mommy.

Hey, Marion.

The latest dope on horses.

Latest dope on horses.

Say, ain't science doing wonderful things nowadays for dumb animals?

Seeing as how you're going to marry a horse's nurse, you ought to know

about... Sure.

Oh, you're perfect this morning.

You won't regret it.

Sure, I performed.

Can I have a doll for my birthday?

We'll see.

I'll get everything straightened up. Let's see, you can start with... I

clean Ray's boots. He likes to look right smart when he goes to town

Well, I'll do it. It's my duty to learn how.

What do you use?

Polish?

If I was you...

I'd give them a good boiling first.

They're special leather, you know, and boiling in baking soda keeps them soft.

Oh, really?

Yes, ma 'am.

Well, I don't know much about those things.

And then I'd advise you to set him out in the sun for a spell.

Ma, you look beautiful.

Ray will be so surprised.

See? You're sweet.

Well. I made it myself.

You know, it was awful, a little girl not having anything to wear but pants

overalls. Not a single dress to her name.

Look, I varnished the floor.

Well, that's just swell.

Come on now, we've got to hustle if we're going to get to town before the

get all jammed up. Jake, dear, go fetch your father's boots.

I cleaned them for you myself.

Be careful of the varnish.

It ought to be dry by now.

What kind of varnish did you use?

Smells sweet.

Varnish that Jake had in the molasses can.

Jake, you didn't put the molasses back in the molasses can. You told me to keep

things in the right places, didn't you?

But you didn't tell me that you changed them.

What in the jumpin' jahasa fat has happened to my boots?

Why, I just boiled them.

You boiled my boots?

Yes.

Boiled them?

Put them in water on the stove and boiled them?

Yes, with plenty of baking soda. But Mary and Boots are made of leather.

shouldn't be boiled in baking soda or anything.

Can I help it if I'm not a tough Wild West girl who knows all about Boots?

Dad, I was just being foolish and romantic again.

Dad.

Oh, Dad.

Yeah, I think it's easy now. You aren't going to faint, are you?

Dennis that I was going to marry someone else.

Now he'll think I'm second -hand if I... Does everyone pay for every impulsive

thing they do?

I always did.

I've got to eat humble pie.

I'll eat it and smear it all over my face if he wants me to.

I'll phone and do it long distance right now.

Someday I'll give you all the lurid details of my trial marriage.

Pretty terrible?

Was it?

Hooray. I boiled his pet boots.

Oh, Mary, no.

Now, this isn't going to hurt you, Calico. It's just to keep you from

while I'm in the saddle.

It's very simple. After a while, we'll get used to each other, and then I'll

teach you to jump the back fence and land right in front of Jake.

And boy, will her eyes pop open.

And guess she won't make any more cracks about my riding.

Now, whoa.

Whoa, horse. Hold still.

We're going for a nice, quiet little ride.

Hold still.

That's it.

Giddy -up!

Leg's broke, all right.

Nothing to do but shoot him.

Oh.

Honey, I'm sorry.

Please.

I'd like for Ray to shoot him.

We'll wait until he comes back.

Calico, baby.

It's maybe gonna hurt.

just a little minute.

But after that, I say, nothing will ever hurt you.

And I heard Miss Northcott say, she's sure horses get to heaven just like

anybody else. So just think, you'll have plenty of green pastures up there.

If we could only talk and let me know he's savvy.

I'll buy you another horse, Jake.

You've got hundreds of horses around the ranch here.

Better than Calico.

You don't savvy.

Did you ever have a dog?

Sure, I... I had a dog.

Cutest little tyke you ever saw.

Where is he now?

He's dead.

Truck run over him.

I cried a little.

I cried a lot.

Well, then maybe you can understand a tiny little bit of how I feel about

Calico.

There's just no sense in having to shoot Calico.

Just no sense.

Why don't you tell me you hate me? Why don't you tell me I'm a horse killer?

don't you beat me or something?

What's the matter, son?

Dad, you know that verse in the Bible that goes, pride goeth before a fall?

Well, I got mine.

Gee.

Tell me about it, Andy.

I can't talk about it yet. You'll know about it soon enough.

Look, I've got all my Christmas money saved up in the bank at home, and I

sell my roadster for about... 20 bucks, that's about $35.

And, well, I know how you feel about credit, Dad, but could you give me 35

and 15 to go with it to make $50?

$50?

That's a lot of money for anyone, let alone a... Must be a frightful emergency

to want that much money so badly.

Well, could I have it?

Of course.

Oh, you're swell, Dad.

As long as I've got anything, Andrew, it's yours, too.

Yeah, I've been an awful fool.

Gosh, everything you said about me since I got my basketball letter, ain't... I

mean, isn't a half of it.

Gee, I didn't have enough sense to see that you knew most everything about life

and kids. I don't know nothing at all.

Gee, I'm not even worth being your son.

But I'm cured, Dad, and you're going to find out.

Yeah, I'll never forget this.

You gotta promise me something. Don't shoot him till I get back.

Okay. I'll try and fix it, but I think you're plum loco. I don't care.

Surprise! For your den at home.

To hang on the wall across from the Catalina swordfish.

Well, that's mighty sweet of you, Emily.

Only I'm not awfully fond of Indian blankets.

Oh, you mean because of that picnic.

What do you mean, that picnic?

Don't you be coy with me, James Hardy. Why, it was the town scandal.

Did you know about that? I'll tell you a secret.

Before that, I hadn't really noticed you. But when I heard, well, you can put

down to my extreme youth, but you completely intrigued me.

I wanted to reform you. Reform me?

Of course, when I married you, I realized that gossip was ridiculous.

Well, after all, water can't run uphill.

Well, the whole scheme of the universe, women are the strangest creatures in it.

James, I never really believed that gossip because I took the trouble to

out it wasn't true.

I just think we've had all these years.

And Marion and Andy.

Yes.

James, you're hiding something from me to save me worry.

I can always tell.

Mother, it's Andy.

He's been missing all day. James. No, no, no, no.

But didn't you say he was out on the range with Ray Holt? Well, I just told

that to keep you from worrying because I hoped he'd turn up every minute.

No one has seen Andy since right after the accident at Calico.

Where did he go?

Where could he go?

Maybe he's running away from trouble, afraid to stick it out and face the

I can't believe Andy would ever do that. I don't believe it either, but the fact

remains he's disappeared.

No, no, no, no, Mother.

Bill's rounding up the cowboys, and we're going out and look for him just as

soon as the horses are saddled.

I can't believe it.

Things like this don't happen to us.

Oh, steady, Mother, steady.

You're going to see this through with me just as we've seen everything else

through.

I will, Dave.

I wouldn't worry too much, Judge. The boy's not really lost when he's with

Speed.

Look.

All right, men.

Let's go.

I'm sure I'm tenderfoot, you... Jake, Jake.

You, you undersized, crop -eared maverick.

I was never so glad to see anybody in all my life.

You ain't got the brains of a doodle -bug. Running away, were you?

I was not.

Might never have found you. Speed hadn't come in. And I figured from the wild

oats hanging from his bed, he'd been in this particular canyon.

Don't you know this country? You could wander in circles till you bellied up.

You could lay till the buzzards left nothing but your bones for the coyotes

chew on. Why, you, you, you ornery flat -brained smart aleck, you... You said

it. That ain't the half of it.

Speeder bucked me off.

Gee, I... I can't even write a jackass.

Well... First, I gotta decent you up a bit. Your mother'd faint away if I brung

you in looking like you'd been through a meat chopper.

Giddy up.

Have some java with me, Judge. Make you feel better to face the messes without

the boy.

Yes, I believe I will, Ray.

Andrew, where have you been?

Well, I was out... I'm straightening him up before I take him to his mom.

He's really in dreadful shape.

Do you realize your mother's been heart sick about you?

Were you running away?

Are you such a quitter that you couldn't stay and face the damage that you've

done? That ain't so, Judge.

It was all my fault. I went plum loco about Calico, and I kind of wandered out

on the range.

Say, I would have got ate up by coyotes and poisoned by rattlesnakes if Andy

hadn't followed me and brung me back.

Honest, Judge, Andy's a real tough hombre of a hero.

What are you making up a bunch of lies like that for, Jake?

It was me, Pop. I was the one that was lost, and I'd still be there yet if she

hadn't come and got me.

Here we are, kid.

Where's the horse with the broken leg?

In the barn.

In the barn.

Got here as soon as I could, like I promised.

What is all this, Andrew?

That's where I went, Dad, to get Dr. Hodge.

I read about him in a magazine.

He's got a new system, a hodge sling. It holds a horse up till his leg heals.

That's where you don't have to... You won't have to shoot Calico.

Andy, oh, you're a swell hombre.

Oh, that's where you're... I feel kind of tired, Dad.

Kind of sick.

I want my mom.

Yeah.

I'm very proud of Andy.

Maybe you think his father isn't.

Emily? Yes, Dad?

You were right.

We still do have trouble with the Indians.

Oh. Your plan didn't work?

Within an hour after I'd legally acquired that Indian's property, Bruxton

me with his court order.

That Indian and Bruxton have been in cahoots all the time.

They can prove that that road that leads to the railway is an old Mexican

-Indian trail been in use for nearly a hundred years.

Never can be closed to public traffic.

That's going to be bad news for Bill and Dora, isn't it?

We may lose our own home to make the payments on that worthless land.

Well, we'll go back to the little cottage where we were married.

You haven't been able to rent it since 1936 anyway.

It's taken us 30 years to get where we are.

We've still got everything we had 30 years ago and a great deal more.

Then we only dared to hope for happiness.

Now we've had it.

We've still got it. Nothing can ever take that away from us.

Let's not tell the children about this till we get home, huh?

Mother dearest, I love you because the only worry you have about tomorrow is

how clear is your conscience today.

Just imagine, a hammock for a horse.

It's called a Hodge sling, Mom. Dr. Hodge invented it. And it's going to fix

Calico's leg as good as new, isn't it, Uncle Bill? He'll be galloping in no

time. Marion!

Oh.

Jose asked me to tell you that you wanted on the telephone.

Long distance.

He said it's your boyfriend.

You're a swell guy, Ray.

Ow!

Well, we're going to catch our train.

Oh, Dora, we had such a lovely time.

Jim, it's been marvelous having you here. I wish we could say goodbye in a

happier mood.

You've done all any human being could do.

Don't take it to heart. We'll pull through all right.

Suppose we just say we needed a miracle.

Everybody knows the day of miracles has passed.

You two are the grandest friends in the world.

Well, we've got the whole ride to the station for goodbyes. Dora, you coming

with us?

I'm going to sit between Jim and Emily and squeeze their hands all the way just

to thank them for coming.

Well, come on, everybody. Come on. Come on, Andy. Oh, dear. Marion's on the

phone. I know we're going to miss that train.

I'll tell you when we get home.

And we're leaving for home now.

Adios, Jake.

Adios, partner.

As one last favor, what was the idea of making me out a hero yesterday when I

wasn't none at all? It's got to be that way.

The men folks got to get the credit, and the women folks got to stand back.

Even if they know they're bitter, they got to make it look like the men folks

are.

I ain't so sure you're right.

What's that got to do with you and me?

Well, I'm kind of particular to you.

You are?

Well... And I figured someday, oh, not for about five years maybe, but someday

you and me might get hitched, married.

have known Dennis was here when you're talking that soup and fish voice.

Listen, did you take a stack of mail off the hall table? There was only one for

you. From Polly, if I recognize that mold, paper, and gardenia perfume.

Goodness, the airs children put on nowadays.

My dear Miss Hardy, when was it you said that before?

Oh, yes, I remember. It was the first day that you kissed that cowboy.

I was going to tell you all about that, Dennis.

Good night.

Hello, Miss Polly Benedict, please.

Mr. Andrew Hardy calling.

You say Miss Benedict's giving a party tonight and she doesn't want to speak to

Mr. Hardy?

No,

no, no, no message.

Dad, can I... Could you... I need some advice on a subject very close to my

heart. A little later on, dear.

Just now, your father's got some bad news for you.

Bad news?

Yes, he... He's made some unfortunate investments.

Well, Andy, it may be necessary for us to economize.

perhaps curtail our activities.

Why, is that all?

Say, you can cut my allowance from a buck and a half, a dollar and a half a

to 50 cents.

I think we can still manage the buck and a half.

Look, Dad, I'm not a kid anymore.

It'd make me feel like I was really growing up if I could take things along

you grown -ups.

Oh, then you don't mind altering your mode of living?

It won't cramp your style?

Look, Dad, I've got troubles that'd make going to the poor house seem a

pleasure. Look, after you get through straightening out the family finances,

appreciate you helping me make up my mind whether the rest of my life I'm

to be a man or a mouse.

Yes, yes, of course, but... Oh, don't worry, Mom. Look, I can sell papers or

a job mowing the lawn or... Say, I could even get a job driving a truck.

Bless your heart, I believe you could.

And I know you would if we needed it, but we won't. So you just run along now

and not a word to your sister yet.

Okay, Dad.

I just realized something. Now that we're poor people, we certainly can't

me a stiff white collar every Sunday.

Ha -ha!

Well, now that's over and done with, maybe I'll get a little appreciation of

your lovely present.

Hmm?

That's very old and a unique design.

Looks familiar.

That's a map of the Northcote Valley.

See the stream?

That's nearly a hundred years old.

Jump in, G.

Hasselbeck. Goodness, do you like it that much? Mother, according to this

that stream has been diverted from its original course once it ran right

the Northcott property.

Mother, you're right. You saved the day.

Water can't run uphill.

Well, anybody knows that. I said so at the ranch.

Do you mean we saved the Northcott ranch? I mean you've saved everything,

Northcotts and ourselves.

Now the Northcotts got plenty of water, that desert land I bought can be

irrigated. Oh, James, I'm so happy.

I didn't want to remind you, but you remember that little house of ours

have any hot water? Now, you know you'd never be happy if you didn't have your

warm bath every night.

That's all. Pass now.

Oh, my, George, it's too late.

Dora and Bill's water contract expires today. They'll have sold out to Bruxton

before I could ever get there.

James, the telephone.

What? Use the telephone.

Oh!

long distance.

Give me the ranch of William Northcott in Medville, Arizona.

Yes, Judge.

Yes, sir.

Now, listen. I just found out that years ago, Bruxon had that stream diverted

off your property, and the law says that any time the cost of a stream is

changed and the water's being wasted, it's legal to turn the stream back to

original bed if it's necessary for the living and sustenance of the original

property owners.

Man doesn't bring forth the rains or the winter snow that feed the streams.

No man has the right to rob any other man of God -given water.

Doro, we're saved.

Jim Hardy saved us.

Bruxton, you go jump in your own stream, and quick, too, because I'm going to

take it away from you.

Bless you, Jim.

Why, with all that water, I can expand.

I'll buy that old Indian's property and irrigate it. You bet your life you will,

because I'm going to sell you that land for exactly what I paid for it.

Yippee! And another redskin bit the dust.

Goodbye and love to Dora.

I'll get that legal ruling off the bill right away.

James, I knew you'd find some excuse to get out of unpacking.

Andy, I'm so happy I'm not even going to make you do your own unpacking.

Listen, if I were you, I'd go and pay my respects to Miss Polly Benedict.

Pop, I know you're busy, but I think it's about time we had one of those man

-man talks.

We seem to get the best results that way, son.

Well, man -to -man, I've been jilted.

I beg your pardon?

Jilted, you know, tossed aside like an old pair of shoes or something.

Polly Benedict, I presume.

You bet, Polly Benedict.

But, you know, before we went out west, well, I had a row with Polly and, well,

I was riding kind of high about that time and... Go on.

Well, that's about all. I wrote her a letter from the ranch and she sent me

letter back and didn't even open it up.

Now she won't even speak to me over the phone.

Dad, you've got to help me out.

You must have had some trouble with women in your day.

Yes, I seem to remember some little difficulties.

She's going to have a party tonight, and, well, gee, she invited me to the

party, too. But, well, and she got fresh. I mean, I got fresh, and, well,

afraid she won't speak to me again after I've given her some of the best years

of my life.

Well, that is pretty serious.

It's things like this that puts gray hairs in a man's head.

You say Polly asked you to attend a party.

Certainly did.

Well, in that case, we have a contractual offer.

Were there any revocations?

Huh?

Did she take it back?

No, sir.

Then, well, I didn't get around to saying yes, I could come, and she didn't

around to saying I couldn't.

Very good.

Thus, we have the continuing of an offer which can ripen into a contract by the

mere fact of your acceptance.

You can accept by attending.

Technically, Andy, that's an overt act.

Constitutes the acceptance of an offer of a unilateral contract molding all the

entire negotiations into a valid contract with the necessary quid pro

that solves your problem.

Understand?

Does that mean I can go to the party?

Counsel recommends attendance.

What will I do, Dad, if I'm thrown out of the house?

That event will sue for assault and battery and lessening of your social

prestige.

Now, now, listen, son.

I see your trouble and I understand it perfectly, for believe it or not, I was

16 once myself.

Now, you go to the party and you act the humility and apology I see in you now,

and good luck to you.

Oh, boy, oh, boy.

Gee, Dad, am I glad you're a judge.

No, I can't go to the party.

Because it's a costume party and I haven't got a costume.

Oh, wait, I've got an idea.

Why don't you... Evening, Mr. Hardy.

Good evening, Ambrose.

Oh, there's Andy Hardy.

Hi, Andy. How you doing, Andy?

Mr. Hardy.

I hardly recognized you in that costume.

Your hat, sir?

No, thanks, Ambrose. I may need it in a hurry. Yes, sir.

If you're always telling me things like that, I'm getting so I can't believe a

word you say. No, really, Polly, I mean it.

Shall we?

Excuse me, please.

All right.

Good evening, Mr. Hardy.

Good evening, Miss Benedict.

Kind of surprised to see me at your party, ain't you?

Aren't you? Yes, I am.

You invited me.

Did I?

Yeah. Don't you remember?

Oh, I suppose I must have.

For I'm sure Judge Hardy's son is too well -bred to come where he's not

Oh. A glass of punch?

No.

Shall I ask one of the girls to dance with you? No.

Polly.

Darling, what about our dance? Oh, I'm so sorry, Cliff, dear. I'll only be a

minute. I had my duties as a hostess, you know.

Especially toward the neighbor's children.

I'll give you one minute, honey.

Well?

Polly. Who was that?

Cliff Thomas.

Isn't he handsome?

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Oh, you don't sound as if you meant it.

Sure I do. Geez.

He's one of the handsomest white men I ever saw.

Cliff is Father's New York representative.

Father says he's the most promising young man in the corporation.

He does, does he?

He's promising, huh?

Of course.

Nobody's supposed to know it yet, but... But what?

Well, he and... Oh.

Shh,

here he comes.

Oh, Cliff, dear, I'd like you to know Mr. Hardy. Mr. Hardy, Mr. Thomas. How do

you do?

How do you do?

I've been telling Mr. Hardy about you, Cliff.

It's still a secret, but Cliff's going to Europe for father's firm.

And he has the loveliest wife and the two most adorable children.

Gee, Mr. Thomas, glad to know you. Gosh, a wife and babies is what every man

should have.

Thanks. Say, you're the Andy Hardy Polly's always talking about, the star

basketball team.

Gee, Mr. Thomas, things like that get exaggerated and cause a lot of harm.

Gosh, I wouldn't have been able to make a single goal all season if the other

fellas hadn't put the ball right in my hands. You're too modest.

Go to work on him, Polly.

That's strange talk for a man of destiny.

That's right, Polly.

Go ahead, rub it in.

I've got it coming to me.

There's something I want to talk to you about. Come with me.

What was in that letter you wrote to me, Andy?

Oh, nothing. It just said... I mean, I just said that, well, I was sorry and

that I wanted you to forgive me and a lot of other things.

What things?

Oh, nothing. Just things.

Darling. Before I left Carville, I was sure I cared enough for you.

Now I know I do.

How did you know I wrote that?

I steamed your letter open and read it before I sent it back to you.

And I want that picture of you on the Bronco.

Gee, Polly, that wasn't me at all.

That was a double exposure.

That's not the kind of kiss I'd expect from the terror of the rain.