Original subtitles

[music playing]

[SINGING]: It's not the pale moon that excites me,

that thrills delights me.

Oh no.

It's just the nearness of you.

It isn't your sweet conversation that brings this sensation.

Oh no.

It's just the nearness of you.

Hi, dad.

Hi, son.

[SINGING]: When you're in my arms

and I feel you so close to me all my wildest

dreams come true.

I need no soft lines to enchant me if you only grant me

the right to hold you ever so tight

and to feel in the night, the nearness of you.

The nearness of you.

The nearness of you.

[audience applauding]

That's great, dad.

You know, every time you sing, it gives me a--

I don't know, a funny feeling inside.

You mean like the cramps?

What are you always getting your voice for?

You sing great. - Oh, come on.

Fair, maybe. But not great.

No I mean it.

You've got a terrific voice.

Oh come on.

Honestly, every time you sing you

seem to get better and better.

Oh why don't you cut that out.

I don't know how it is, dad.

But I mean, it's not just the tone and the phrasing

you put into a song.

It's the feeling, the heart.

You don't know what a compliment like that

means to a father.

I mean his son, his own flesh and blood

pays him such a compliment.

You know what a dad thinks right away?

What?

That his kid is about to put the bite on him.

[audience laughing]

Now, how much do you need?

Do you mean to tell me that you think I would stoop

so low as to pay you a phony compliment

because I want something?

In one ugly word, yes.

Well, I hope I never get so cynical

when people can't pay me a compliment

without me getting suspicious.

Now, just a minute.

Just a minute.

If I misjudged your motives, I'm sorry.

But you got to admit, I had to think

you were aiming for something.

After all, you were smearing me with the high priced spread.

[audience laughing]

I'm sorry if you've got that impression, dad.

Well, I'm sorry, too.

And I apologize.

And I withdraw my insinuation.

On second thought, there is something you can do for me.

I withdraw my withdrawal.

But, dad.

Get lost.

But-- Oh, you act like I have a criminal record or something.

You act like you haven't got one.

Well, dad, all I wanted to ask you

was if you could possibly record that song for me the way

you just sang it.

I thought maybe you could put it on tape for me.

Why would you want me to tape that song for you?

Because I'm proud of the way you sing it.

And I'd want all the guys to hear it.

But if that's too much trouble, then forget it.

Wait a minute.

Now, wait a minute.

That's a horse of a different color.

You want me to tape the song for you?

I will.

I'll do it with the band tomorrow night at the club

and I'll give you the tape. OK?

- You will? - Yeah.

Oh, that's swell, dad.

One of the guys is a portable tape recorder.

We can play it around the campfire

when we go on that overnight saddle

trip you're going to give me permission

to go on next weekend.

Thanks a million.

OK

[audience laughing]

I need no soft lights to--

What saddle trip am I going to give you permission to go on?

Rusty!

Did you call me, dad?

Yeah, I called you, dad.

What saddle trip am I giving you permission to go on?

Forget it.

We'll take a Crosby record.

Come back here.

Like my voice, huh? - Yes, sir.

- Like the way I sing? - Yes, sir.

- Like the tone, huh? - Yes, sir.

- The phrasing? - Yes, sir.

- Kind of gets you right here? - Yes, sir.

Wait till you hear this.

You're going to cry.

[SINGING]: It's not your soft words that delight me,

or your compliments that excite me.

Oh no.

It's just the nearness of you.

And cause I want you so near me, dear Russell, please hear me.

You can go on any saddle trip you phony schmo.

[audience laughing]

Dad, it just for the weekend.

All the guys are going.

Well goody for the guys.

And while they're on a saddle trip,

you can stay home and listen to my beautiful voice.

Give me one good reason why I can't go.

I'll give you a good reason.

Why couldn't you come in like a man

and be honest and say, dad, I'd like your permission

to go on a weekend saddle trip?

Then we wouldn't have to go through this whole bit.

No.

You could have said no right away.

You're not going I any weekend saddle trips.

Now, go on.

Cry if you want.

The better you cry than me.

Going on horseback riding in those mountains.

Nothing-- no sir.

You're not going to go.

Well, if you just get the facts

before you make up your mind--

The important fact is that I make the decision

on what you can or cannot do.

When am I going to be old enough to be allowed to make

a few decisions for myself?

I haven't made that decision yet.

When I do, I'll let you know.

Boy, talk about a dictatorship.

Don't you call me a dictator!

I'm a father who is concerned for his son's

welfare, not a dictator.

Now don't you say that again.

- Yes, sir. - OK

Heil!

Russ!

[audience laughing]

OK, wise guy!

Just for that, stay in your room.

And don't leave until I tell you to come out,

which may be a month from next [inaudible] Tuesday.

Hello.

What's that all about?

Your son and I had a little misunderstanding.

A little?

Be pretty hard to convince the neighbors that there

was anything little about that.

I could hear you a block away.

Look, [inaudible],, he got sassy

and I sent them to his room.

The question is, who runs this house, my son or I?

Well sending him to his room isn't

going to answer that question.

What else can I do?

He's getting too big to spank.

Either I got to send him to his room or I go to mine.

[audience laughing]

Why don't you have him stand in a corner facing the wall?

Ha ha ha.

Very funny.

Danny, it's a terrible thing to send a boy Rusty's

age to his room to punish him.

That's a terrible punishment, sending him to his room?

What is it?

Siberia?

He's got a beautiful room.

All you mothers kill me.

That's a horrible punishment.

In his room, he's got a television set,

hi-fi, a stack of books, radio.

If I'd have had such a room when I was his age,

I'd have never left it. Never.

And I'd still be there.

I'd have never met you.

I'd have never had him.

Oh, what a beautiful thought.

[audience laughing]

Well, you're stuck with both of us.

Oh, Danny, don't you realize that you

can't treat a boy Rusty's age like a naughty child.

It embarrasses him.

Isn't that too bad?

Whatever the problem is, can't you settle

it by talking to a man to man?

When he grows up and becomes a man,

I'll talk to him man the man.

Right now, I talk to him man to boy.

But, Danny--

Sweetheart, the courts of this nation

hold a father responsible for his son's behavior

until he reaches the age of 21.

Now, he is going to stay in his room

until he learns to respect my authority.

Think he's going to stay in his room until he's 21?

Come on, Irish.

Get off my back, will you?

Oh, honey, don't be so stubborn.

Cool off.

I mean, you're not going to get anywhere with Rusty

by treating him like a child.

So, why don't you just be a nice fella

and let him come out of his room?

All right.

He apologizes, I'll let them come out of this room.

Now, that's much more sensible.

OK.

Good.

Fine.

Well?

Well, what?

Well, he can't apologize to you if he's up in his room

and you're down here.

Oh.

Oh, yeah.

Russ?

Rusty?

You can come out of your room now.

Hear what I said?

You may come out of your room now.

RUSTY: I don't want to.

[audience laughing]

What do you mean you don't want to?

RUSTY: Just what I said.

I don't want to come out of my room.

See here, young fellow.

You are subject to my authority.

And you will obey my orders.

And my order to you right now is stay in your room.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]

This turkey is delicious.

Yes, it is.

Don't you like it, Danny?

Yeah. It's great.

Great.

How would you know?

You haven't even tasted it.

I remember from the last time.

You know, there's plenty of turkey left.

Why don't I fix up a sandwich and take it up to Rusty?

Nothing doing.

He wants room service, let him check in at a hotel.

Danny, this is getting serious.

No lunch, no midday snack, now no dinner.

Pretty soon, there'll be no Rusty.

[audience laughing]

Well, if you're not going to get him out of his room,

I will.

Now, just the minute, dear.

This argument is between my son and me.

Anybody gets him out of his room, it'll be me.

I'll do it. - Danny?

Yeah?

Be gentle.

All right, I'll be gentle.

And thoughtful.

All right, and thoughtful.

And tactful.

Just because I didn't go to a finishing school like you did

doesn't mean I can't be as tactful as you.

I'll be tactful.

[music playing]

You get your carcass out of here

before I break every bone in your body.

Now, come on. Get going.

Get up this minute, march down to the dinner table.

Let's go.

That's more like it.

Now, get out of here and let's make

believe that nothing happened. You understand?

Yes, sir.

Go right with the family and eat.

Oh, I'm not going to eat anything.

What does that mean?

It means you can make me go to the dinner table.

But you can't make me eat.

Oh.

You mean you're on a hunger strike?

Well, OK by me, laddie.

You stay right in your room.

And you go on your little hunger strike.

You think you're going to win this argument from old dad

by going on hunger strike, huh?

OK by me, skinny.

I'm not skinny.

No.

But after you lose this argument you will be.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]

Oh, come on, Kathy.

Keep your mind in the game, will you?

It's after 9 o'clock.

And that child hasn't had a bite all day.

Listen, you're going to pay attention to your children?

It'll drive you nuts.

Just forget about it.

Get him off your mind like I have.

I'm not thinking about him anymore.

Let's just play, shall we?

What are we playing?

We're playing gin.

What have we been playing?

With 24 cards?

Well, they're old cards.

They're sticky.

[audience laughing]

You haven't got him on your mind?

Not much.

Brat.

How can he hold out this long?

He loves to eat.

How could he stay this long without eating?

He-- When he was little, we used to put

a nipple over the refrigerator and say go.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]

Well, I'm full.

Shh.

They'll hear you.

If anyone finds out I sneaked up here with this food,

they'll just kill me.

Well, they won't find out from me.

I'm too stuffed to talk.

Aren't you going to finish your cake?

No.

I'll-- I'll eat that later.

Russ, why aren't you eating with the rest of us?

Because I'm on a hunger strike.

What's a hunger strike?

It's when you refuse to eat.

It's a way of protesting against unfair conditions.

Have you got an unfair condition?

Yeah.

The way dad treats me.

He won't even let me explain about the saddle trip

I want to go on.

He treats me like a child.

I know what you mean.

Sometimes he treats me that way, too.

[audience laughing]

How's he taking it?

Oh, he so upset, he didn't even eat his dinner.

Good.

Then I'll stay on this hunger strike till he faints.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]

Any news from Alcatraz?

Not a peep.

It's already 10:00.

You realize that?

The kid hasn't had anything to eat since lunch.

Since lunch, he has missed in between meal snacks.

He hasn't had any fruit, any candy, any cake, any pop.

He hasn't had his dinner.

No between dinner snacks, meals, he hasn't had anything

to-- this-- it's 10 o'clock and this kid

has already missed seven meals.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]

Where you going?

Do you want to play some cards?

Oh, not now.

I've got some sewing to do.

[music playing]

KATHY: Russ, can I come in?

Yeah.

Come on in, mom.

How do you feel?

Oh, I'm holding up OK.

Well, you're going to feel much

better after you have this.

[audience laughing]

There.

Thanks, mom.

Well, go ahead and eat.

You must be starved.

Oh, if you don't mind, I think I'll eat it later.

I don't feel much like eating right now.

Oh, Russ.

I know why you can't eat.

You do?

Yes.

Your tummy has shrunk.

Now, you're going to feel much better

after you have some food. - But, mom--

Now, Russell, I don't want to hear another word.

Please, just go ahead and eat.

I want you to eat every morsel on that dish.

And I'm going to sit right here and see that you do.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]

You feel better now?

Oh, yeah, lots.

You know, Russ, you've just got to stop this nonsense

and get things straightened out with your father.

Well I don't think it's nonsense

when a guy my age objects to being treated like a baby.

Why, I'm practically a man.

Look at that.

I've got three hairs on my chin already.

I know you don't think your father's being reasonable.

But really Rusty, he does have your best interests at heart.

Then how come he won't listen to my side of things?

Because he's stubborn.

And so are you stubborn.

Now we've got to find some way to settle this,

because I can't keep sneaking food up here to you.

Oh, well, strike headquarters getting

to be a pretty busy place.

[audience laughing]

I was just doing a little sewing for Rusty.

Oh, yes.

With that boy in his room all day,

I just clean forgot to change the sheets.

Oh.

Oh, Louise, don't tell Mr Williams

that I was in here with you.

Who?

Me?

Huh!

I ain't no strike breaker.

[audience laughing]

Rusty, get out of that bed and come right over here right now.

Why?

Well, how can I change the sheets with you on the bed?

Come on here, boy.

I bet you ain't never seen sheets like this before.

What's so special about those sheets?

Ha ha.

You just wait.

[audience laughing]

There.

Eat.

And there's plenty more where that come from.

Thanks, Louise. I'll eat it later.

I really-- - Listen, honey.

You can pull that hunger strike business on your father,

but you can't pull it on Louise.

No, sir.

But, Louise--

Eat, I say, boy.

I'm going to stand right here until you

finish every crumb of it.

[music playing]

It's after 11 o'clock.

How long can he stand it?

How long can he go without food?

Danny, why don't we just forget it and go to bed.

Go to bed?

How can you think of sleep when at a time like this,

your son is in his room starving to death?

What kind of a mother are you?

I'm going up and see how he is.

Oh, Danny, don't go up there.

I mean, it's very late.

And he's probably fast asleep.

Stubborn mule.

Just like his father.

Yeah.

Got the heart of a lion.

[audience laughing]

I'm going up and see him.

Danny, don't you wake him up.

If he's asleep, I won't wake him.

[music playing]

[audience laughing]

Oh I'm sorry, son.

I--

[music playing]

[audience laughing]

Huh?

What?

Oh, did I wake you, son?

What's the matter?

Oh, nothing.

I-- look at you.

Just look at you.

All pale, eyes popping out.

Come on, boy.

You're so weak from hunger.

Now, I want you to come on downstairs

and wrap yourself around a couple of turkey sandwiches.

[crying]

[audience laughing]

Hunger pangs, eh?

All right now, Russ. Come on.

Let's go down and eat, hey son?

But dad, I don't want to eat.

Now, look, Russ.

Now, you got to stop being so stubborn.

There's a lot more at stake here than your

missing a couple of meals.

There's the very big question of whether or not you have

respect for me as your father.

Dad, you know I respect you.

Well let's just see if you do.

Now I order you to come downstairs with me right now.

Come on.

Let's go.

All right.

First, I'd like to ask a favor of you.

Why must you always be a reservation?

Please, dad.

Do me one favor.

All right, what is it?

Read this composition I wrote for American history.

Do I have to read it tonight?

Please?

All right.

Out loud.

Out loud?

Please?

Why do I have to read it out loud?

Because I want to hear how it sounds.

On December 16, 1773, a group of American colonists

disguised as Indians boarded some British vessels

anchored in Boston Harbor.

As a protest against unfair taxation,

they dumped the entire cargo of tea overboard.

This act, which history now knows as the Boston Tea Party,

might be considered in a sense, almost like a hunger strike.

[audience laughing]

The purpose of this act was to remind

the parent country that America was

no longer an infant country.

That it was now mature enough for some measure

of self-government.

But when the parent company refused to listen,

this marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

[audience laughing]

Is it OK?

No, it's not.

That's supposed to be a comma, not a semicolon.

[audience laughing]

OK, monkey.

The parent country is ready to listen.

Now, what's this about a saddle trip.

Well, we were going to go up in the mountains

near Sherwood Lake.

They got a stable up there and some swell horses.

And Johnny Adams' father knows the country.

He'll be in charge.

Johnny Adams' father is going along?

Yeah.

You mean you're going to have adult supervision?

That's right.

Oh boy.

You mean you made me go through a day like--

will you please give me one good reason why you didn't

say that in the first place?

You never gave me a chance.

[audience laughing]

I didn't ask for that good a reason.

[audience laughing]

Well, go ahead.

Finish your history lesson there.

Go ahead.

But it is finished.

No, it's not.

You got to add that the parent country learned a lesson

from the revolution and henceforth considered

the rights of the governed and wielded his authority

judiciously and well.

Then I can go?

Yeah, you can go.

Gee, thanks, dad.

Well, it's going to be supervised by an adult.

Why not?

Now, you want to do something for me?

You name it.

Anything.

You mean that?

Yes, sir.

Anything.

Let's go downstairs and have a nice, big turkey dinner.

[audience laughing]

Sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie heaped with--

[music playing]

That must be Russ.

Oh, you know I've missed that little monkey.

Long weekend.

I'll say.

Well--

Hi, boy.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]

Some parents you are, trying to kill your own son.

What?

Sending me off on a horse on-- for two days in the mountains?

You realize the only time I was out of the saddle

was to eat and sleep?

[audience laughing]

Oh.

Well, sorry son.

Sit down.

Tell us about it.

Now?

Yeah.

Sit down.

Sir, with all due respect to your authority as my father,

I'm afraid I cannot obey that command.

What command?

All I said was sit down.

I know, sir.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is sore.

[audience laughing]

[music playing]