Original subtitles

Well, don't go so fast.

You're acting just like a little madman.

Oh, no, mother! May I, please?

Yes.

I bet he'll remember.

Oh, son!

Hello, dad!

Hey!

Hey!

Whee!

The camels are coming, dad!

The camels are coming, da da da da

the camels are coming, da da

the camels are coming, da da da da

da Dee da da Dee

the camels are coming

oh. Hi, hilda.

Hello, Jay. Well, we've come, as promised.

Well, you've sort of grown up

in the last six months, haven't you, hey?

What's his height and weight now?

Oh, really, I don't know.

I imagine Dr. Geroma has the only record that's being kept.

I know. 3'10 and 5 stone.

There was a gadget on board ship.

3'10 and 5 stone, eh?

Listen, son, people over here say "70 pounds"

instead of "5 stone," you know?

Oh, yes, of course.

Mm-hmm.

Why the sudden making over, Jay?

After all, his father is English.

Well, your mother makes a hop American, doesn't she?

Now that I've decided to stay over here, well, there's --

ooh, yes, and that's just the trouble,

and in this neighborhood,

why, he won't have anyone to play with but the --

listen, listen, listen. Listen, son.

Excuse your mother and me a minute, will you?

Yeah. Here's your room. You can unpack your things.

There's an African hunting book there with a lot of pictures in it.

Oh, splendid!

These are jolly diggings you have here, dad.

Ha ha!

Well, his luggage arrived this morning.

Thanks for sending it.

Well, I'm sure there are a great many things

he'll have no use for here.

You're looking unusually well.

What are you gonna do with yourself, open a house uptown?

No.

Oh, and here are the keys, in case he wants anything.

Now, I'm going to fly for the season,

and then London in the spring.

London in the spring, eh?

Oh-oh, that seems a long time ago, doesn't it, hilda?

Yes. And I believe I was in love with you then.

You never really liked me, did you?

Liked you? I said I was in love with you.

Oh, yes, yes, but I mean "like."

Don't you see, my dear,

you came to England, met a down-to-heel architect

who was trying to build Christopher wren steeples

in a skyscraper world.

All very quaint and romantic to you, huh?

You never really saw my point of view, you know.

Oh, we've been over all this before, Jay.

We had everything two people could want.

We had money, position, friends all over the world.

Yes, your money, your position, and your friends,

but no time to do my work.

Yes, and because you're an impractical dreamer

and because I was foolish enough to allow the court

to give Claude to you for six months out of every year,

you're going to deprive him of everything my money can give.

Oh, no, no, not deprive.

Let's say, uh, balance, counteract, hmm?

Oh, do you want to counteract brilliance

and culture and refinement?

Oh, no, Jay. You're just selfish. That's all.

Why, his French is flawless.

He could have gone to school in Paris this year,

and it's just what he needs after England.

Well, there's an excellent public school, number 298,

just six blocks up the road.

A public school in this neighborhood.

Hilda, the character of a human being

is like a piece of architecture --

just the art of building wisely.

Here. Look at that skyline.

That's the architecture of the newest great nation on earth.

Everything that's coming, everything that's splendid,

is here, all around, just outside these windows.

Well, all I see is squalor and dirt...

And unpleasantly thwarted people.

Oh, now, hilda, let's face it. The world's changing.

Nothing that you or I can give Claude

will equip him for that change.

And he certainly won't find it

trailing your apron strings to Paris and biarritz and palm beach

or in a little male convent in Switzerland.

The next generation's finding itself out there,

down on the street.

And what's down there on the street?

Well, whatever you're looking for.

For a musician, a symphony. For a poet, an epic poem.

For a leader, tolerance, understanding.

Mm. And for a gentleman?

Oh, now, must he be a gentleman?

Daddy! Daddy! Dad!

There's a fire down the street

with lots of trucks and excitement!

Oh, so sorry!

Look! They're putting up the ladders now!

And here comes another truck!

Look, daddy! There's the chief!

Mother, I've definitely made up my mind

to be a fireman when I grow up.

Rubble.

Present.

Roberts.

Present.

Rocky.

Rocky.

Present.

Rabinowitz.

Present.

Ryan.

Present.

Cichowski.

Present.

Samuels.

Present.

Schneider.

Present.

Miss norville, this is a new pupil, Claude Pierce.

How do you do, Claude?

How do you do?

You'll find him up to the class.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, boys.

Good morning, Mr. Crusenberry.

I'll find a seat for you in a moment.

Stevens.

Stevens.

"Gig" ain't coming today.

Gig "isn't." What's his excuse this time?

It's his old man.

But his father's in the penitentiary.

They're gonna electrocute him tonight.

You may sit over there for the time being, Claude.

Thank you.

Simmons.

Present.

Simon.

Present.

Sobul.

Present.

Yes, Claude?

I beg your pardon.

I'm sorry I'm late.

It's all right, gig.

You'll have to share your seat

with Claude Pierce, the new boy, for today.

Taylor.

Here.

Towsy.

Here.

You didn't need to show up here today.

I had it all fixed for you.

I got lonesome.

If you need an extra pencil, I have several of them here.

How do you do?

It's a bit dirty, don't you think?

Eh, it's the same water you drink, ain't it?

Clean enough to Wade in if it's clean enough to drink.

But I don't drink it.

Then what kind of water do you drink?

Spring water.

And where does this come from?

From the catskills, of course.

Oh, a wise guy.

Hey, gig, a wise guy.

What time is it, buck?

Don't do you no good to worry about it.

I won't ask you no more after tonight.

Why are they going to electrify his father tonight?

He killed Joe Sullivan and the Connors brothers

in a gang fight.

Red Stevens is one of the toughest guys around here.

But he didn't have an alibi.

Oh, he had an alibi, all right.

The guy with him shot his face off.

Did what?

Squealed, you dope.

Oh, and then what happened?

Well, they're gonna give it to the squealer first.

I beg your pardon?

Remind me, will you, to bash your head

against the wall next time I see you?

Come on.

With a hi-ho and a cheerio!

Oh!

Hello, dad!

Well, back so soon? How did school go?

Splendidly.

Good. Make any friends?

Well, it's a little too soon to call them friends.

Some of the boys paid a great deal of attention to me.

I'm glad to hear that.

I thought you might find it hard going for a few days.

Well, they are a little bit difficult to understand,

but I'll be all right as soon as I get acclimated.

What's the matter, dad?

Here. Take your coat off.

I want to show you something.

Here you are. Look at that.

"K-i..."

Oh, I see. That is a trick!

Oh, you mustn't mind that.

That's just the American sense of humor.

Ooh! Yes, sir. Don't brush too hard.

Oh, sorry. Cheer up. Everything is gonna be all right, hmm?

Yes, I'm sure of it, dad.

Of course, the boys were upset today.

One of their fathers is going to be electrified

up the river tonight.

Electrified up the river?

Yes, it's what they do to you

when you've shot someone in a gang war without an alibi.

It's gig Stevens' father.

Oh, I see.

Is gig Stevens one of the boys you like?

Oh, yes, sir, he's really a nice chap --

captain of the football team and all that.

You'd like him, I'm sure.

I'm sure I would.

Yes.

You know, I think I like them

a great deal better than they like me.

Oh, nonsense. They'll come around.

I hope so.

I think I want that more than anything else I ever wanted.

You'll get it. Now, about football.

You were going pretty well in England, I hear.

Well, this American game is altogether different.

Even the ball is different.

I'd have to get one and play with it

before I'd be any good over here.

Uh-huh.

You see, the American intercollegiate football

is, uh -- is much more pointed.

More -- it's more pointed, yes.

The intercollegiate ball is a little tough to handle

for grammar-school teams.

Now, this is the sort of a ball they use.

Nevertheless, I imagine there's more juvenile prestige

attached to the ownership of a regulation ball,

don't you think?

I -- well, you got me there, pal.

What I mean is, I think I'll take this one.

Might want to play with it myself, see?

I, uh -- okay, pal. The customer's always right.

Shall I wrap it up for a gift?

No, thanks. No.

I think I'll practice with it on the way home, mm-hmm.

Good night.

Good night.

Oh, well played!

Well, aren't you a little bit old to be on the team?

Oh, I'm only the coach.

My star halfback's doing his homework.

Oh, well, if he really is, then you're really a good coach.

Yes, I hope to be.

Well, goodbye.

Oh.

Oh, thanks.

Hello, aunt Rose.

Hello, gig.

Mom's in the kitchen.

Thanks.

Jennie, is there anything I can do for you?

No, there's nothing you can do.

Jennie, no matter what you think of me, I am your sister.

Yeah, and he's my husband.

He did the kind of stealing that lands a person in jail,

not the kind that lands them on park Avenue.

Tonight, they're -- they're gonna kill him

for being a murderer and a thief.

But I'd take him over you, Rose!

Yes, I would!

Jennie, please.

I am your sister. I just want to help you.

Yeah, and I don't -- I don't want any help.

Well, what about gig? I'm thinking of him, too.

Gig?

We'll get along somehow.

And as long as I have anything to say,

he won't touch a penny of your money.

Well, jennie, if you do change your mind...

I'll never change my mind.

But...

Hello.

What are you staring at?

You've seen cars like that before.

I wasn't looking at the car.

It was gig's aunt Rose. She's bawling.

A lot she's got to bawl about.

General pershing didn't raid a bus like that,

and we fought to make the world safe for them plutocrats.

Ohh.

Come on! Front and center!

I'll answer it.

What time is it, gig?

10 minutes to, mom.

What did he say, father?

There's no use.

He didn't say anything, then?

Yes -- he said, "father...

"In a couple of hours,

I'll know for sure what you're guessing."

Was that all?

He said he loved you.

Zero hour. Boy, how many times have I stood in the mud

at zero with red Stevens?

Do you know what he used to do, Jen?

He used to take your picture out and look at it.

Kept it in his cigarette case in a pocket over his heart.

Then he used to pull on his belt and say, "come on, murph. Let's go.

I'm gonna be a hard guy to kill."

Quiet. Quiet, please, Murphy.

Come on, gig. Let's go downstairs.

All right.

Well, the old man means all right.

Yeah, I guess so.

Come on! Snap out of it! Come on!

Come on.

Come on.

It's all right.

It's getting kind of cold out here.

I think I'll -- I'll go to bed.

Yeah. Me too.

Tell the folks I went home, will you?

So long.

See you in school.

Good night, gig.

Good night.

Good night, son.

Ohh. Ohh.

Oh, Jim.

Jim.

Ohh.

Mom.

Mom.

Mom.

Mom. Don't cry anymore.

Mom, he'd -- he'd laugh if he saw you crying like this.

Mom, don't cry anymore.

Mom.

Mom.

I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong.

Daddy.

Daddy! Daddy!

Yes, son? What is it? What's the matter?

I must have been dreaming.

Did you get to read the paper this morning?

No, I didn't. The old man's always talking to horses.

Hey, scram out of there, you kids!

You didn't read what my old man said, huh?

No, I didn't.

The squealer got it first, and my old man said,

"wipe off that chair. A rat just got through sitting in it."

Boy, he was plenty tough, you know?

I'll say he was tough. You know how long he was in the chair?

How long?

Nine minutes.

You know how many jolts it took to finish him?

No.

Four jolts of more than 2,000 volts.

Gosh, that's more electricity than it takes

to run this streetcar.

Gosh.

Just a minute, you three!

You three boys, come to my office!

Right away!

Hey, limey, you didn't see me throw that football.

You understand?

I didn't?

No. You know what we do to squealers around here?

Mnh-mnh.

We stuff them in a sack and drop them in the river.

You do? That seems rather drastic.

Come in.

Murphy, did you throw that football?

I don't know who threw it.

Stevens?

I don't know.

Pierce, this is your football, isn't it?

Yes, sir.

Did you throw it?

No, sir.

You know who threw it?

I really can't say, sir. I'm sorry.

I cannot overlook

deliberate lying and connivance to a falsehood.

Therefore, the three of you must stand punishment.

Have you any answer to make?

Murphy.

Stevens.

Pierce, I am surprised...

And, I must add, a little disappointed.

This is only your first week of enrollment, and already --

I beg your pardon, sir.

Yes?

It was I who threw the football.

You did?

Yes, sir. I should have admitted it in the first place.

That's all. You're excused.

Thank you.

Murphy! Stevens! I want a word with you.

Uh, I-I don't suppose, sir,

you'd want me to stay by any chance, would you?

You may go.

Thank you, sir. I didn't think you would.

Now, who threw that football?

I don't know.

Stevens?

I don't know.

I'm not going to punish you for breaking a pane of glass.

I am going to punish you

for refusing stubbornly and unreasonably to tell the truth.

Stevens.

You may go.

Murphy.

Put out your hand, Murphy!

Ow! Mr. Crusenberry! Don't hit me again!

Please don't kill me! Don't kill me!

Shh! Shh!

Please! Mr. Crusenberry, let me go!

Don't hit me! Don't kill me! Please don't!

What do you think your fellow students will think of you,

making a cowardly uproar like that?

Answer me!

They're gonna think it's awful funny,

a big guy like you hitting a kid like me.

Report to your teacher and remain after school

until you tell the truth about that football.

Mm.

Hi, buck.

Hey.

He sure kept you long enough.

Did you squeal?

I ain't squealing, even on myself.

Did you get it?

Come on. Let's go.

Oh, hello, fellows. Want to play pass?

So, you broke the window, huh?

Trying to go on record as a wise guy.

Well, I know you think --

listen, Mr. Wise guy!

Happen you're walking down the same street as we are on the same side,

you'd better get on the other side quick.

You'll get your ears boxed down.

Come on.

Don't slap. Jab like this. One, two.

Oh, I see, yes.

One, two.

That's it. Get your shoulder in it.

You hit like a girl with a buggy whip.

One, two.

That's it.

Say, what made you want to learn to box anyway?

Well, there's a couple of fellows I'm afraid I'll have to lick.

Oh, street fighting, huh? That's different.

All you have to do is get in there and start swinging.

You may have to take a couple to get in there,

but once you're in there, the rest is easy.

Come on. Try it now.

That's it.

Do you think I'll learn it all right?

Why, sure.

Then you'll have to get something to get sore about.

Well, I've got that already.

Oh, you have?

Come on!

Come on! Throw it!

Give me that ball!

It's my ball.

And I'm very willing to let you fellows play with it

if I'm in the game, too.

What did I tell you would happen

if you were on the same side of the street as me?

Come on.

You can't make a rule like that. This is a free country.

Pretty smart, ain't you?

Listen, bugs, box this limey's ears down.

He's too small for me.

Oh, no, I'm not.

Go on.

Get him, buck!

Go on. What are you waving?

Hey, limey, keep your trap shut!

You squeal, and we'll knock your block off!

What was you saying to muldoon?

Nothing. I'd like my football, please.

Did he ask you who gave you that mouse?

Yes. A-A shiner, he called it.

And you went and told him, didn't you?

Of course not.

What do you think I'd be, a squealer?

Ahh...

Go on. Give him his ball.

Come on.

Come on if you're coming.

I don't like guys walking around in back of me.

Hiya, buck, old kid.

Hi, shivvy.

Talk to buck about it. That's a good proposition.

What is?

I'll tell you later.

What did you bring him along for?

What's the difference?

Well, if I was buck, I'd have gone back

and pasted his puss from here to the river orel.

Hi, buck.

Hi, gig.

What are you doing here?

What do you want?

The limey's in, you guys. Any arguments?

No.

How about you, bugs?

Okay.

All right. Sit down, dope.

Bugs, eh?

Ooh!

I'm sorry, fellows. I'm afraid I've broken the chair.

Come on. Give him a hand.

Get him out of the chair!

Ooh!

If you break that chair, I'll bust you one!

Shut up, bugs.

Bugs. That's an odd name, isn't it?

No. He eats bugs. That's all.

Go ahead. Eat a bug.

Find him a bug.

Here's one!

I say! A red ant.

What do they taste like?

Just kind of bitter.

You ate a bee once, didn't you?

Mm-hmm.

Didn't it sting you?

Nah. Ate a butterfly once, too,

and its wings were all dusty-like.

This is six-toes.

Six-toes?

Go ahead. Show him.

Why do they call him that?

Wait a minute, and you'll see.

Come here.

See?

By Joe!

I say, now, this is something!

Only about eight people in the world have feet like mine.

As soon as he learns to write and draw with them,

his old lady's gonna put him in the circus.

He'll go all over the world.

Yeah. She's getting mad 'cause I can't learn how to spell.

If you learn how to pronounce your words correctly,

it's very easy to spell.

The way you talk, I'll bet you'll never be able

to spell at all.

Hey, buck.

Yeah.

What do you want?

Shivvy said he'd give us a half a buck

for every tire we could get.

Good. We'll make a buck a day easy.

Yeah. I figured that, too.

But 80 bucks. That's 160 days.

$80? What do you want with 80 bucks?

I was looking at a tombstone for my old man.

I saw one, and the guy said it was 80 bucks.

160 days, it might be gone, and...

I'll give you my cut.

Thanks, but it'd take a long time anyway.

Why don't you ask your aunt Rose for the dough?

No. She -- she didn't like my old man.

Well, you don't have to tell her what it's for.

She's always trying to give you things anyway, isn't she?

I guess so.

Where does she live?

On park Avenue.

Ever been up there?

No.

Come on. Let's go up and ask her for the $80.

Well -- hey, where are you going?

I was just wondering where you fellows are going.

We're going way uptown.

In the subway?

No. We're taking a taxi.

Come on, let's scram. It ain't easy to hitch uptown.

There ain't many trucks.

Wait. I have 50 cents. We could take the subway.

Let's see it.

Hey, you think we got time for a soda?

Why not?

Let's go.

You talk too much.

I won't say a word.

It's a Rolls-Royce!

Yeah. They make them in the English islands.

I really can't see that they have any advantage

over our own American cars.

Hey, you kids keep out of here, now!

We're going to see my aunt Rose.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah! Yeah!

Well, you can't go inside.

You can't make a rule like that. This is a free country.

Go on, get outside!

Get!

You can't...

You boys can't come in here.

Hey, wait a minute!

Rose hawley lives here, don't she?

Why, yes, but --

well, she's my aunt, and she told me to come up and see her, see?

Come on! Get out of here!

Let go of me, you big flatfoot!

Wait a minute, my man.

I beg your pardon, but you're the concierge here, are you not?

Huh?

This is gig Stevens, and if you'll just kindly

announce him to his aunt, miss hawley?

Thank you.

Penthouse.

Guess that slows you up.

Master Stevens and two friends to see miss hawley.

Yes, master Stevens.

"Master Stevens"? What kind of a crack is that?

Oh, they must have got ahold of a hot piece of bread someplace.

Well, that's quite all right.

Very well. Elevator's over there.

Penthouse.

What's that?

It's a pomeranian.

I mean what's with it? I tell ya.

All right, all right, all right.

Come on in, kids!

Gee!

Oh, uh, thank you.

Aunt Rose!

Gig?

Yeah.

Hello, big boy.

How are you?

Just fine.

Well, well, well! What a lot of nice company.

You know buck.

Sure.

Hello, buck. How are you?

Swell.

We just thought we'd come down and see you for a while.

Perfect! Who's the other musketeer?

Oh, you mean him?

Mm-hmm.

I'm Claude. Claude Pierce.

Hello, Claude. How are you?

Molly, Molly, don't stand there glued to the floor.

Bring out some ginger ale or lemonade or cake or something.

Yes'm, yes'm!

Now, come on, everybody. Aunt Rose will give a party.

Now, you all sit down here.

We don't stand at any ceremony around here, do we, gig?

You know, she can turn cartwheels.

She can? I say! Bravo.

Bravo, eh?

Well, Mr. Bravo, and what can you do

to get a shiner like that?

Well, I, uh, sort of, uh --

I-I got it going after a football.

Yeah. Yeah, he'd make a good football player, too.

Football. Attaboy.

Say, you don't live on the same block with gig and buck, do you?

Yes, with my dad.

Oh. Where's mother?

Well, uh, she's away in Florida.

You, uh, see, they're much happier

not living in the same house anymore.

They're divorced.

You know, I should definitely

like to see you turn cartwheels.

Definitely?

He means show him, aunt Rose.

Well, not since the winter garden,

and I'm liable to break a leg, and then you'd have to shoot me.

But here goes.

Ah!

Hooray!

Come on over, fellas.

Hawley and Stevens and 15 minutes of mirth and melody.

Say "ah."

Ah.

Say "ah."

Ah.

"Ah."

Ah.

When you feel below your par

and you've got no sock

and you don't know where you are

listen to the doc

ahem!

Say "ah"

say "ah"

ah!

When the doctor comes to save your hide

just open your mouth up, both big and wide

say "ah"

ah

say "ah-ah-ah-ah-ah"

say "ah!"

Ah!

Say "ah-ah-ah"

ah-ah-ah

oh, you feel so silly, you could yell

it's the thing to do to make you well

say "ahh-ahh!"

Ahh-ahh!

Say "ahh-ahh-ahh"

don't ever try to sing and swing

like folks on the radio

don't ever try, you can't get by

with a wahoo, baby, or a ho-ho-ho

say "ah"

ah! Ah! Ah!

Say "ah" ah! Ah!

All the medicine men, their lives devote

to get you on some phony note

so open up your throat

and say "ah ah ah"

Don't ever try, you can't get by

with a wahoo, baby, and a ho-ho-ho

say "ah"

ah!

Say "ah-ah-ah-ah-ah"!

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!

Oh, I got it!

Say "ah"

say "ah"

Do-do-la, do-do lay-hey

do-do-la, do-do-lay

bl-bl-bl-bl yippee!

Ahhhhh

ahhh

ahhhhhhhhhh

whoo-hoo! Whee!

Oh, miss Rose.

What is it?

Mr. Barkel wants you on the telephone.

Oh. What time is it?

It's past 3:00. He says you're late.

Oh, look. Tell him I'll call him back in a few minutes.

Yes.

Come on, fellas. Fall to. I've got to get dressed.

Aunt Rose.

Yeah?

Listen, could I ask you for something?

Sure, gig. What is it?

Well, could you give me $80?

$80?

That is a touch, mister. What do you want $80 for?

I just got to have it. That's all.

I know, but you can tell me what you want it for, can't you?

Gig, you're not in any trouble, are you?

Oh, no. It's -- it's nothing like that.

It's just that I got to have the 80 bucks.

That's on the level, honest.

But, you know, that's an awful lot of money, gig.

Now, listen, you know aunt Rose

would help you out of a jam if she could.

Come on. Tell me about it.

Well, I just need the 80 bucks.

You said that you'd help me if ever I needed it.

Yes, I know. I'd just love to help you.

But it's such a lot of money,

and I just can't give you $80 if you're --

I'm sorry, miss Rose, but Mr. Barkel said

he'll be by in a little spell and pick you up.

All right. Thanks. Well, now, fellas,

y-you'll have to excuse me, 'cause I've got to get dressed.

Now, listen, gig, the next time you come up here to see me,

you let me know in advance, and we'll have a real party, okay?

Listen, gig...

Gig, i-it's nothing about mother, is it?

Oh, no, no. Everything's all right, really, aunt.

All right, now, listen, you come up to see me

some afternoon next week, and we'll talk it all over, okay?

All right.

Okay. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Nice to see you.

Bye.

Bye-bye.

Thank you. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, kids.

Who was the loudmouth monkey on the telephone?

Mr. Barkel? Ma says he's her financial advisor or something.

Well, then maybe you should ask him for the money.

What do you need the $80 for, anyway, gig?

Listen, can't a guy get some money

for his old man's tombstone if he wants?

Oh, shut up, will you? Come on.

Hello, dad!

Hello, there!

Hot, isn't it?

Mm. Warm, eh?

Oh, I beg your pardon.

That's all right.

What are you doing, writing a letter?

Yes.

Well, do you have to?

Well, I --

Well, let's hear about it. Round by round, eh?

Well, the Bobby called it a shiner,

but buck said it was a mouse.

Ooh, I'm one of the gang now,

and they have a hideout in a lot of motorcar bodies,

and then later, gig took buck and me

to see his aunt Rose up on park Avenue.

What, gig has an aunt living on park Avenue?

In a very pretty flat. And she's very pretty herself.

And she wears pajamas, and she turned cartwheels

all over the drawing room.

Really, now?

Oh, it was a jolly visit,

but then Mr. Barkel called, and she had to leave.

Mr. Barkel, huh? Her husband?

Oh, no. Gig said he was her financial advisor.

Her finan--

oh, yes, yeah. Yes, of course.

And she played the piano and sang

just like she used to at the winter garden,

and buck danced, and gig played, too.

And, uh, we had ginger ale and, uh --

listen, now, son, I don't think

you ought to go down there anymore, if you don't mind.

You know, a fellow oughtn't to intrude on older people, huh?

Very well, sir, but if you could meet her,

I'm sure you'd think her a dreadfully nice person.

I'd be sure I should. Tell me about the fight.

Oh, well, it wasn't much of a fight,

and I was kind of glad when the Bobby came along.

Oh, uh, I say, dad,

about the bicycle you were going to buy me,

uh, would it cost as much as $80?

No, no, no. About $20, I imagine.

Well, that would be something.

You see, dad, I was thinking

that instead of buying a bicycle --

listen, now, son, I'm afraid we're gonna have to

put off that bicycle for a while.

You see, those plans come back for changes,

and we don't get paid till they're accepted,

and, well, we haven't very many $20

knocking about just now.

Y-You mean we're rather hard up?

I'm afraid so. If you can wait until, um --

y-you mean we're poor like gig and buck?

Well, very nearly.

Well, then, are we poor enough

so that I can buy a pair of corduroy pants?

Why, of course!

Oh, gee! That's swell! Shake, dad!

Hello.

Hello.

Hi, gig! Hi, buck!

The fellas are down at the hideout. Aren't you coming over?

No. We're busy.

Go on. Scram, limey. We got business.

What are you doing, fixing the tire?

Yeah, fixing it. Now, beat it, will you?

Hey, oh, he was a safe!

Oh, he was not!

It was a two-bagger!

It was not!

Oh, now, listen, you can't tell me!

He was out on second!

Hello! Hi!

Eh, you see, we'd have had that one

if you hadn't butted in.

Oh, uh, you mean the tire?

Oh, go on and spill it to him so he keeps his trap shut.

Well, we got to get that 80 bucks, see,

so shivvy, you know, is gonna give us a half a buck

for every tire that we can find.

Ohh.

A lemon!

I like lemons!

Oh, yeah.

Birds of a feather are two of a kind.

He could be a lookout for us. You know that?

Yeah.

Can you whistle like this?

Of course.

Well, you stay here and whistle if anybody comes by.

You understand?

I know, but stealing tires --

oh, you're yellow, huh?

Oh, of course --

well, come on, limey, make up your mind.

Are you in or out?

Oh, I'm in.

Well, hurry up. We ain't got all day.

Come on.

Hello, Mr. Muldoon!

Hello, young fella.

Would you like a suck of lemon, Mr. Muldoon?

No, thanks. Never eat them.

Uh, can you whistle, Mr. Muldoon?

Sure. Why?

Well, I don't seem to be able to.

I can pucker, but nothing seems to come out.

You don't do it right. Try it like this.

Will you do it again, please, Mr. Muldoon?

Sure.

That's the way to do it!

Hey, mister, your tire!

Listen, what kind of a lookout are you?

Eh, swell lookout you make.

Yeah.

I don't want to be a lookout.

Besides, you'll never get $80 that way.

Well, what you got that's better, smart guy?

Why, why, that's quite simple.

Oh, it is?

Yes.

Don't steal from the poor.

Steal from the rich, like Mr. Ratwolf.

Ratwolf? What mob did he run with?

He didn't have to have a mob. He was a lone wolf.

Ah.

Yes.

Now, the idea is to steal things

that boys like us can dispose of without suspicion.

Like what?

Well, like toys and things.

Shall we go down to the hideout and make our plans?

How can we lose?

All right. Go on. Go on down to the hideout.

Are you sure there's nobody inside?

Of course. Can't you see?

It's all boarded up for the season.

Now, come on, then.

Now, act nonchalant.

Shh!

What's the matter?

I thought I heard a footfall.

I didn't hear anything.

Keep cool, men.

Now, you men help me over the top, and I'll help you over.

Come on. Come on.

Come on. Come on. Get up.

Come on, buck.

Come on, buck.

Now, you stand watch here and come when I whistle.

Right.

And you come over here.

Now, you stand watch here, and you come when I whistle, too.

Hey, limey. Limey!

Claude! Claude!

He done it.

Yeah.

Hey, wait, wait, wait. Wait a minute.

You know, breaking into a house,

w-we could get 20 years for this.

When you steal, you have to take chances.

Say, you men aren't afraid, are you?

Who? Me? Let's go.

Yeah. Let's go.

Yeah. Yeah.

Shh!

You'll have the whole of Scotland yard upon us.

How do you know whose yard it is?

I thought you said nobody was at home.

Shh. Tiptoe.

What are we going upstairs here for?

People always keep their valuables upstairs.

Why?

Well, uh, because.

Oh.

Now, we'll try this room in here first.

Now, the play rooms are usually about here.

Gee, are you cold, too, buck?

Yeah.

Just as I thought.

Gee! Look at that swell sled!

And there's a pair of skates, ain't they?

I'd like to be able to jump on those.

Where would you jump from?

I don't know.

We have no time to lose, men.

Only take what we can carry. We may have to make two trips.

Gee! Look at that engine!

My old man said once he was gonna get me one of those.

Aw, sissy junk.

Oh, uh, hello, officer.

Hi, muldoon.

Morning, boys.

Hey, this is it. Here it is.

Hey, mister! Mister, come here.

$60, $70, $80. Hey, mister, here's your 80 bucks.

I want it delivered to the lawn rest cemetery.

The man will tell you where to put it when you get it there.

I want "Stevens, James Edward Stevens,"

and I want you to put it down into the, uh --

just a minute, son. That's $80 down.

What do you mean, "down"? I'm putting it down, ain't I?

That's the first payment. It costs $500 all total.

$500?

That's right.

You've got to pay $50 monthly from now on,

and then the rest --

$500? You said 80 bucks. That's what you said. 80 bucks.

I told everybody. Now, you got to do what you --

isn't there one he could get for $80?

I could, uh, give you this one for that money.

Well -- well, could I have an angel on it

like -- like this one?

No, no. That, uh...

Uh, that wouldn't --

all right, son, I'll --

I'll give you an angel.

Okay.

It will be over there this week.

Well, I-I suppose it's all right,

as long as it's got an angel on it.

Of course, gig. That's what really counts.

Sure. Sure. Don't let anybody fool you.

An angel's the whole works.

Ah, thank you, jennie. Thank you.

I always used to say a cup of coffee is good for the soul,

no matter what time of day.

"Used to say"?

Well, I --

your soul doesn't need any more goodness in it, jennie.

Oh, well, it's very nice of you to say that, Paul.

Oh, my. I-I'll be late for work.

This is sale week, and there will be a rush tonight.

Just a minute, jennie.

Oh, honest, Paul.

Let me take care of you.

I certainly appreciate your saying that, Paul.

I know it seems a little soon, but we're old friends.

I want to adopt your boy as my own.

Jennie, I want to change your name.

Oh.

Well, I don't think gig would want to change his name.

Why, just as soon as he and I know each other

a little better, we'll be just like --

mom, there's something I'd like to tell you.

Well, my boy! Well, well, well, well.

Oh, gig, you remember Mr. Krumpp.

Well, you're getting to be a pretty big boy, I'll say.

Oh, uh, what was it you wanted to tell me, gig?

Oh, nothing in particular.

Does Mrs. Stevens live here?

Yeah.

Is she here now?

Yeah.

Go get her, will you?

What do you want with her?

Just get her, son. That's all.

Oh.

Oh, gig, uh, Mr. Krumpp wants to take care of us.

He wants to marry me. Isn't that nice?

There's another guy outside wants to see you.

Are you Mrs. James Stevens?

Yes.

Here's a citation. You're to bring your boy

down to hall of justice tomorrow morning at 10:00.

Hall of justice? Why -- well, what's he done?

It's all down there.

Burglary suspect. Him and two other boys.

10:00 tomorrow morning, sharp.

Oh, gig! Did you hear what he said?

Burglary! Oh, gig! What have you done?

I ain't saying a thing, mom.

Oh, gig, am I gonna have to go through with you

what I did with your father?

You ain't caring much about my father.

Just a moment, my boy, it was --

I ain't your boy!

Oh, gig! This is awful!

Gig, if you'll just tell us --

I ain't talking, see? I ain't saying a thing.

You understand? I ain't talking. That's all.

Ohh!

You ain't talking, eh? Well, we'll see about that.

Go ahead and see about it.

So, this is what I get.

Here I fought and bled

to make this country safe for democracy,

a decent place to live in,

and now my own flesh and blood

turns into a no-good, fresh rat, a thief!

And you won't talk, eh?

Well, we'll see about that, Mr. Won't talk.

Are you gonna talk?

Are you gonna talk?

Are you gonna talk?

How's that to help open your mouth?!

Jim Murphy! Jim Murphy!

What are you beating that boy again for?

You stop it!

You keep out of this!

Stop beating that boy!

Okay!

If you want to have given birth to a dirty little thief,

there it is.

To the police we go, 10:00 tomorrow morning.

Him and that Stevens kid

and that Claude Pierce, that blue blood!

Claude Pierce?

Yeah, that foreign element we're letting into the country.

Oh, Robert, Robert, what have you done?

Go ahead. Give him back his belt if he wants it, mom.

I ain't talking.

Robert, Robert! Oh, Robert!

I can't tell you a thing. Really, I can't.

Well, I'll possibly find out tomorrow, you know.

But -- but, dad,

you wouldn't want me to be a squealer, would you?

Listen, a fella's only a squealer

when he puts the blame on someone else

to save his own face, you know.

But -- but don't you see, dad...

I-I'm one of the gang now.

I don't wish to worry you. Truly I don't, dad.

But, you see, we have a code, and --

well, what about our code?

Are we supposed to have secrets from each other?

Dad, I --

truly, you just don't understand.

That's all.

Claude. Come here.

Sir?

Come here.

There's only one thing I want to know.

Examine yourself inside.

In your heart, have you done

anything dishonorable, anything to be ashamed of?

No, sir.

Right.

Then whatever it is, we'll see it through, huh?

Oh, I'm Claude Pierce.

Sit down.

Hi, buck.

Dad, this is buck.

I'm Claude's father.

Oh. Charmed to shake your hand, I'm sure.

How do.

English, eh?

That's it.

I was over there in '17. Proud little country, ain't it?

Yes. We were at the time, I imagine.

I was with the 77th, New York. What outfit was you in?

Sussex...

Sussex...

Nutty names you guys had.

I guess you were kind of glad to see us come over there at that, eh?

Yeah. We were very grateful.

Grateful? Well, that's one way of putting it.

Well, it's the best I can think of.

You see, you're the first American I've met so far

that's asked me that question.

It's certainly not nice meeting you this way, Mr. Pierce.

I don't know what's gotten into kids these days.

Heaven knows we've worked our fingers to the bone

to give buck the best of everything.

That Stevens brat's fault, 10 to 1.

Old red was a good soldier, okay,

but there's a streak there.

There's bad blood there, Mr. Pierce.

Why, if I --

here's gig.

Look who's with him.

Dad, this is miss hawley, gig's aunt Rose.

How do you do?

Oh, yes. Hello.

You're the lady who turns cartwheels, huh?

I'm afraid I am.

As well as you can catch a football?

Thanks.

Do you know what all of this is about?

No, I don't. Gig's gone foolish stubborn on me.

Has your star halfback done the same?

Yes. These fellas, they don't even realize --

Joseph Wilson, I usually pronounce sentence in chambers,

but your case is so flagrantly full of misdemeanors,

broken promises, open defiance to the law...

That I feel the whole court should listen

so that your contemporaries -- that is the young men

in this courtroom who might be tempted

into following your vicious example --

shall hear what action you have forced the state to take.

For two years, you've lied

to the probation officers who tried to help you.

You've lied to me.

But what's worse, you've lied to your mother --

stolen and lied

and succeeded in making her very miserable.

Therefore, it's my unpleasant duty

to sentence you on this date

to four years in the state reformatory.

Oh, no! Oh, no, judge! Oh, Joe, my baby!

Come on, son. Come on.

My baby! I'll come see you, darling!

I'll pray for you!

Oh, Joey, be a good boy, won't you?

Joey, be a good boy, won't you?

Next case in chambers.

Yes, sir.

Robert Murphy, James Stevens Jr.,

Claude Pierce, and their parents,

witnesses and officers in the case --

step this way, please.

Right in here, folks.

I hope they send us all to the same place.

As I see, your honor, you could have knocked me over

when officer muldoon questioned me about the toys.

I-I think I was over-generous on the deal, your honor.

They couldn't have got that price

from any other establishment.

That's all, Mr. Mulson.

Oh. Can I go now?

No. Be seated, please.

Now, according to this report,

none of you boys will help us or yourselves

by saying a word in this matter.

Is that right, Robert?

That's right.

Robert, look at me when you're talking.

Yes, sir. That's right.

James, can't you help us?

No.

"Sir."

Sir.

Claude, what about you?

Wouldn't you like to say something?

No, sir, your honor.

Now, I see that none of the parents recognize these toys

or that spending money was ever given

in sufficient amounts to allow for such purchases.

Is that correct, Mr. Murphy?

It is! I wouldn't spoil my son with such truck, your honor.

And if you let me have those kids for three minutes,

I'll show you how to get this thing out of them.

A good old-fashioned shellacking

has always put that one in his place.

There's no reason why the others shouldn't have the same.

Now, just a moment, Mr. Murphy.

Judge, I know what men are made of.

I went over the top a dozen times in the last big show.

I had an uncle who fought in Cuba,

and my wife's grandfather showed the Indians a thing or two

out in -- uh, what was that place that they --

Mr. Murphy, your boy is neither a German,

a spaniard, nor an Indian.

Judge, you don't understand --

now sit down, please.

Now, Mr. Murphy, I want to point out

that we have no actual complaint against these boys.

We only suspect from the evidence

that the parents are guilty of improper supervision,

and, in your case, it begins to appear we're correct.

Mr. Pierce...

Your affidavit concerning these toys is the same?

Yes, your honor.

Mrs. Stevens, you say you --

well, your honor, I --

if it pleases the court, this lady is not Mrs. Stevens.

No, I'm Rose hawley, his aunt, his mother's sister.

She couldn't be here this afternoon, so she --

well, she called me up and asked

for me to come here and take her place.

You see, she works from 4:00 until 11:00

at the universal outfitters on 14th street.

I see. What about James' father?

Couldn't he have --

oh, your honor.

Oh, yes. I remember now.

I'm sorry, James.

Miss hawley, you realize that when a boy

cannot be given adequate supervision at home,

he's usually better off in the care of --

no one can say anything against gig's mother, your honor.

She, well -- well, she stepped in-into quite a raw deal,

and I know she loves him,

and she's -- she's tried to teach him

a-and protect him from -- well, from things around him.

I-I don't want her to work, your honor.

Well, I've tried to give her money, but she just won't take it.

Why is that?

Well, I don't know.

I-I guess she's proud.

Yes, that's it, your honor. It's her pride.

As long as you're a woman of some means,

would you be in the position to have gig with you,

that is until his mother can obtain a position

that won't conflict with her proper guardianship?

Well, I... I could arrange it, your honor.

Where do you live?

645 park Avenue.

Will your husband consent to this?

I'm not married, your honor.

I see. You have an independent income.

Yes, I have.

And what sort of income, miss hawley?

Well, your honor --

your honor, I should like to vouch for miss hawley's proper guardianship.

I've known miss hawley for some time,

quite a long time, in fact,

and if she arranges to take gig,

you can be sure he'll not have a better home

or wiser supervision anywhere.

Thank you, Mr. Pierce.

You may be seated, miss hawley.

Gig, will you come up here?

And, Robert, you too, please.

What do your friends call you -- "Bob"?

No.

"Sir."

No, sir. They call me "buck."

They call me "limey," sir.

Now, you keep your seat, Claude.

I want to talk to buck and gig for a moment.

Yes, sir.

Buck, eh? Ooh, that's a swell name.

They used to call me "stinky." You know why?

I guess so.

Well, that certainly leveled my chin that time.

No, buck.

I once tried some of my dad's bay rum on my hair,

and, well, I was apt enough to go to school that way.

Mm.

Now, see here, fellas, I've got a hunch about you two.

My hunch is that you and gig

know the real story behind these toys

and that Claude just found himself tagging along.

Isn't that right, gig?

You said it was your hunch, sir.

Now, look, fellas, the best fun I get

is making friends with the boys who come here to talk with me,

and I mean friendships that last,

but sometimes friendships go through a lot of trouble.

You know what I mean?

Oh, yes, sir.

They always come out all right if you persist, sir.

Now, Claude, you mustn't speak until I ask you to.

Yes, sir.

Now, since you both refuse to tell the simple truth,

I couldn't very well put you on probation, could I?

Because probation depends upon your word of honor.

What are you gonna do to us?

Well, you were out there and heard

where I had to send Joe Wilson?

Yes.

Well, now, if you keep refusing to tell the truth,

it'll only prove to me that you're starting

on the road to the same place.

Oh, I know, it seems like a merry old road

while you're on it.

You outsmart a lot of people,

you're big shots and have a lot of fun.

You won't squeal on others.

But then, suddenly, you land inside,

and then all the fun's gone, do you know that?

I ain't been there yet.

No getting out to play after school,

because it's school all the time up there.

No going home to see your folks, seeing your mother.

Gig, you love your mother, don't you?

Of course I do.

What guy don't love his own mom?

Well, then, isn't it best to talk this over?

I got nothing to say, I tell you!

Me neither.

I'm sorry for that attitude.

You're trying to leave me only one alternative.

Now, if you won't tell the truth, I'll have to --

if you please, sir, your honor, don't,

because, you see, I didn't tag along.

I planned the whole robbery, sir.

Robbery, Claude?

Yes, sir.

You see, gig needed $80, and, well,

I didn't think it was right for us to steal tires

when I knew a perfectly good house we could Rob all at once.

What house did you Rob?

Why, my own house, sir.

Your own house?

Yes, sir. Well, my mother's -- 26 east 68th street, sir.

She's away in Florida, but she left us the keys.

And, well, those are my own toys, sir.

I-I haven't told gig and buck until now, sir.

And why haven't you told them?

Well, there was the $80 needed,

and I suppose I just wanted to be raffles, that's all.

Raffles, hmm? I see.

Yes, sir, but raffles in a right way.

Mr. Pierce, this is all quite possible, I take it?

Oh, most probably, your honor.

If you wish, I can call the caretaker,

and he can show the house inventory.

But, dad, this is the truth.

Your honor, you do believe?

The court takes your word completely, Claude.

Then may we go now, sir?

No.

Just wait a moment now.

Gig, do you mind telling me what you did with the $80?

Well, you don't mind now, do you?

I don't mind telling anybody.

I don't care how I was fooled into getting it, either.

I bought a tombstone with it for my old man.

And you can't take it away from him 'cause it's bought and paid for.

Well, your honor, now that the barrage has lifted

and we've gained our little objective,

I reckon you won't be needing us anymore.

Sit down, Mr. Murphy.

Gig, buck...

Now, both of you fellas knew you were stealing something

that didn't belong to you or Claude.

Isn't that right?

Yes, sir.

Well, I'm glad to see the truth in you.

But just to remind you how important it is,

I'm going to put you both on probation for six months,

and I want that to mean simply this and only this --

you're to come to the probation officer once a month

and say to him, "I'm doing great,

and I'm never going to get into trouble again."

Is that understood?

Yes, sir.

Good. Case dismissed.

Now I'd like to speak to these three boys alone, please.

Sit down, fellas.

You fellas play football, don't you?

Yeah.

Sure.

When you don't like the quarterback's signals,

do you walk out on him?

The point is, fellas,

that times when parents don't seem to understand,

just can't understand at all,

now, that's the time I want you fellas to show me how tough you are.

How?

By pulling the switch on them and doing exactly as they say.

That's how.

Now, that's what makes a fella tough, being able to take it.

Why, you wouldn't want anybody

to call you "little devil," would you?

That's what they say about bad little sissies

who act naughty when they can't have their own way.

By the way, the devil is a weak sissy. You know that, don't you?

The devil?

Sure, because he was an angel once.

An angel?

Yeah, and an angel has to be tough in order to do his job,

and the devil couldn't be tough enough,

so they threw him out,

and he's been hiding down below ever since.

You know, I think the devil's a sissy.

Well, goodbye, gig.

Goodbye, sir.

Buck.

Yes, sir.

Goodbye, Claude.

Goodbye, sir.

Now, my friends, think it over, will you?

What a peculiar, nice gentleman for a judge.

Happen we meet, next time

you'll really get your ears knocked down.

Huh?

Raffles, huh?

Who are you trying to make a sap out of?

Now, listen. Get this into your dome, dope.

From now on, you're out of the gang.

See, we don't even know you're dead.

You can play a nice, long game of hot hands all by yourself.

Come on.

Hiya, buck.

Hi, buck.

What's the matter?

Oh, I was washing the dishes,

and I dropped the soup thing and woke up my old man.

My old man slaps in any place except on the ear.

He says it makes you deaf.

He can't make me deaf.

He's still burnt up about the toys, huh?

Oh, he's steaming 'cause the judge crawled up his back.

Tomorrow's Saturday, ain't it?

Sure.

Tomorrow's Saturday, ain't it, gig?

I guess so.

I mean, it's the first Saturday buck and you

have got to report to the probation officer, ain't it?

Maybe it is, and maybe it ain't.

What do you mean, it ain't?

You don't think I'm gonna report, do you?

What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna get out of here.

Where you gonna go?

Out west first to see the skeletons in death valley.

Africa, maybe.

When are you going?

No, sir -- no guy named Paul krumpp

is gonna hang around my house and call me his boy.

When are you gonna go?

Tonight. Tonight! That's when. Tonight after supper.

Yeah. Yeah, that's when we're going -- tonight.

Tonight, after supper.

I'm telling you, ain't I?

Sure.

Say, I-I want to stop by the cemetery first and see it.

It's there now, and I haven't seen it yet.

Yeah, yeah, sure. We'll stop on the way.

To go to Africa, you got to have guns.

You got to have one of those funny-looking hats

with a towel hanging down the back.

We'll get guns! We'll get one of those hats if we need them, too.

Hello, fellows.

I stopped by after school and got this crackerjack.

Oh, uh, want some?

No!

Gig?

Nah.

Six-toes?

Yeah.

And it had this whistle in it as the prize.

See?

Ever see a heel talking to itself?

Yeah.

Happen we come back in 50 years, he might be gone.

Come on.

What did they mean by that?

They're running away, to Africa, maybe.

Y-You mean they're not going to report

to the probation officer tomorrow?

No, they're beating it tonight, right after supper.

They're gonna stop by the cemetery first, though,

so gig can see his old man's tombstone.

Boy, this is good, huh?

Well, hello, there!

It might be a Christmas Turkey, but it isn't his toys.

Come right in!

Grand of you to stop by! Hey, what's all this about?

I brought back the damaging evidence.

Oh, you shouldn't have done that.

Oh, but I should. Oh, but, please, don't tell gig about it.

He'll be off of me for butting in.

Shall I wait, madam?

Oh, yes, yes. I'm going right out.

No, no. You'll do nothing of the sort.

Hey, driver. How much is it?

Oh, wait. It's my taxi.

No, no. It's my surprise and good fortune.

Well, it's only 80 cents for me.

And a couple of beers to grow on, eh?

Thank you, mister!

Here, give me the umbrella. That's fine.

Now, come on, take off your hat and coat.

Okay.

Yes. I still have a bit of tea.

Or something stronger if you'd like.

Oh, no. Tea would be grand.

Yeah? Oh, that's fine.

I'll do something about boiling water.

Claude ought to be here any minute.

An untidy place, but just make yourself at home, huh?

Hope you can find your way about.

Looks like it might rain, doesn't it?

Yes, if you look closely.

Say, what's all this? I thought you were an architect.

I'm supposed to be,

but thank heavens there's an art dealer in town

silly enough to want to buy my lithographs,

and it seems Claude wants a bicycle.

Oh, I see.

It's fun, though, every now and then.

Say, this is swell.

Pretty hard to do, too, hmm?

I get a kick out of it.

Really?

Lithographs, architecture...

Pretty pictures, thoughts.

I've been a long way from things like that.

That sounded a little melodramatic, didn't it?

Oh, but -- but if you think I'm going to wail, forget it.

I gave up wailing when I was 7.

Good. Claude will get a great kick out of seeing you here.

He thinks you're about top.

Ahh. Now, there is a boy for you.

I hope he can re-establish himself with gig and buck.

Do you mean to tell me that you're not worried

about his being with those two little hoodlums?

Why, I'm selfish about those two little hoodlums.

That trio can give a lot to each other.

Yeah, you would say something like that,

and I know it does the kids good to be with Claude.

Well, park Avenue's not so far away that, uh -- that, uh --

Claude can come down

and, um, get some benefit from them -- from them.

Well, i-I'm not on park Avenue anymore.

No?

No. I've -- I've taken a little --

little room on 4th street,

and I'm happier than a hornet on Halloween.

Well, I hope the room is big enough to turn cartwheels in.

You know, I didn't come down here today to bring those toys.

I came down here to tell you

how swell you were the other day in court.

It all sort of stuck in my throat a little

because I was afraid that you'd sort of hop in

with asking the story of my life

and be very sad and sympathetic

about what bad little girls are made of,

but you didn't do that, and I like you for it.

You like me?

Yes.

That's very strange.

Why?

Ohh, I was just thinking of something I said

in this very room.

Hello, son! Look who's our visitor!

Oh, hello. Hello, miss hawley.

Hello, halfback.

She brought your toys back for you. Look.

What? Oh, uh, thanks. Thanks so much, miss hawley.

Claude, I wouldn't tell the boys about it.

Dad, what would happen if the boys didn't report

to their probation officers?

Well, they'd come and find them and make them report.

Mm-hmm.

Hey, your feet are sopping wet.

What happened to your rubbers?

Oh, I-I left them at school, I imagine.

Yeah. Do you feel off your feet, old man?

I'm afraid he's got a fever.

No, dad. I'm all right. I've just been running.

Look here. You've got the beginning of some nice cold bug.

Come on. Into bed with you, and we'll whip this thing.

But he needs something for his chest.

Yes, that's right. Uh, in the bathroom.

Medicine chest. There's some of that mustard thingamabob.

Would you mind?

But, dad, miss hawley's --

oh, miss hawley will stay put from it.

Here. Off with those trousers.

Are you sure it's here?

Oh! Oh, it's toothpaste.

Toothpaste? It's a tube of chrome-yellow paint.

I've been looking all over the place for it.

Ah, here we are.

Oh, good!

Aha. I don't know where the scissors are.

Oh, well, now I'll show you

why you save your old razor blades.

Come on, now, cover up, or you'll get more cold.

Your mother would raise the deuce of me

if she thought I wasn't keeping you fit.

Dad, do I have to go back with mother?

Why, of course, at the end of six months.

Why can't I stay here with you?

Well, because your mother loves you

and wants you with her, same as I do, hmm?

You love your mother, too, don't you?

Oh, of course, but if we're always on boats or in Europe,

I don't get a chance to get to know boys

like buck and gig and six-toes.

Why, you'll be back here again at the end of six months.

Oh, I know, but, dad, couldn't I hide when the time came,

and you could say you didn't know where I was?

Well, now, that would fix things.

Listen, though, son --

we don't solve our problems by running away.

We stay and face them.

Do you think you'd be happy if you made your mother unhappy?

She would be, you know? Would you?

Oh, no, sir.

That's the thing to remember.

You'll never find any happiness

by running away from the things you're supposed to do.

But I --

oh, here you are. Made to measure.

Ah, excellent tailoring, hmm?

What he needs is some supper.

Oh, yes.

We were going out to dinner tonight.

Well, I'll go down to the corner and get some hot broth.

Hey, wait a minute!

Dad!

Yes?

What would happen if they ran away?

Who?

Gig and buck.

Say, you know, I wouldn't put it past them.

Yeah, what's all this about?

Oh, nothing. Nothing.

I was just wondering what would happen if they did.

I'll tell you what would happen.

You heard what the judge said. They'd be sent to reform school.

This is swell of you. Here.

Oh, no. This is on me.

No, not a chance.

You've played lady bountiful long enough.

Now, listen, you stay here and mind your patient.

I've got a loose, lonely quarter just dying for company.

No, nonsense. I wouldn't let you do that.

Look, dad, why don't you go along with Ms. Hawley

and see that she minds you?

That's a jolly good idea.

Do you think you could stay and hold the fort?

Of course. I'm all right.

All right, Mr. Fix-it.

Half a minute.

Dad.

Yes?

What did you used to think about when you went over the top?

Oh, nothing much. I just counted up to 100.

"1, 2, 3, 4..." Like that.

Why?

Oh, I knew if I reached 100, I was all right. Why?

Oh, nothing. I was just wondering.

Well, that won't hurt anybody, will it?

Anyway, you do your wondering underneath these covers.

There you are. I won't be five minutes.

Have my coat on in a jiffy.

You know, I'm quite fond of that halfback of yours.

Ah, yes, yes.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...

9, 10, 11, 12, 13...

14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19...

This is it.

Gee, it's -- it's kind of little, ain't it?

No. It's bigger than some of them.

Gosh. I forgot the flowers.

Hmm. He wouldn't care.

Hello, fellows.

"R.I.P." I wonder what that means.

I don't know.

Maybe it's the old guy's initials that made it.

That means "rest in peace."

Listen, gig and buck, please let me talk to you.

I know what you're going to do, but, truly, fellas, you mustn't.

You mustn't run away. They'll find you wherever you go.

And they'll put you in reform school,

and you don't want to go to reform school, do you?

Please listen, fellows.

Oh, come on.

Listen, gig, buck.

I don't blame you for being angry at me.

I just want to tell you one thing, please.

You can't solve your problems by running away.

You've got to face them.

You'll never be happy trying to run away

from the things you're supposed to do.

Oh, go on and beat it, will you?

Listen, gig and buck, if you run away,

people will think it's because you're afraid,

and you aren't afraid, are you?

Aw, dry up, will you?

Come on, you kids. Hurry up.

Come on. Yeah, you get in here. Hurry up.

Come on, kid.

Thank you, madam. This is very nice of you.

Where you kids going?

We're taking a little trip.

On your own, maybe, huh?

Yeah, maybe.

Attaboy. Never tell them what you're gonna do, eh, Willie?

Yeah.

He ain't with us, though.

No. We can get along without him.

That is if you're crowded.

Oh, no. We're only too glad to take the three of you.

There it is.

Now, you kids keep your face shut, or else, you understand?

Yeah. We don't want to get blamed for you kids running away.

Yeah, yeah, sure.

Didn't happen to see anything of three fellas

tearing up this way in a green roadster, did you?

Well, everything's been passing us pretty fast.

Ma always makes us slow down when the kids are in the car.

That keeps us on the side of you fellas.

Okay.

What did those men stop us for?

Gee, maybe they're looking for us.

It's okay now. Stop at the next joint.

Where we going?

We're gonna get something to eat.

You want something to eat, don't you?

And how!

I don't know. Maybe we'd better just keep on going.

Oh, no. You kids stick with us.

We'll get along nice together.

Sure. Come on, gig.

Hey, there's a joint right there.

Yeah, this is the joint. Boy, am I hungry. Come on.

Ah. Good evening. Madame, gentlemen.

We want some chow in a hurry. Sit down, kids.

Yeah, one big plate all around

of good old-fashioned Italian spaghetti.

Pardon, I am not an Italian. I am French.

I don't care what you are. We want some spaghetti.

But, monsieur, we have no Italian spaghetti.

We have French noodles.

French, Italian, noodle, spaghetti -- same.

We want --

hey, you, what's the matter with being an Italian?!

Okay.

Well, the mug said --

I said "okay." Six all around.

Hey, wait a minute.

You're all alone in there, aren't you?

It makes no difference. I am the proprietor.

I said "are you alone in there?"

I say I am alone. It don't make no difference.

Okay, Violet.

French food is very nice but quite rich.

Yeah?

Mm-hmm.

Say, are you pals with these two kids?

Oh, yes.

He is not. He's a little squealer. That's what.

Him and me are pals, though. You know who his old man was?

Who?

Red Stevens. That's who. Guess you heard of him.

Oh, you mean that small-time screwball

they just finished frying up in osney?

Shut up! Don't worry about him, kid.

Y-You better make him take back what he said.

Oh, he's just crazy. That's all.

You mean the other guy,

the one that squealed on red, don't you?

Yeah.

You worry about I am alone, eh?

French noodle.

Yeah.

What's your name, kid?

Claude. Claude Pierce.

Claude Pierce, eh?

Your family got a lot of money, Claude?

Oh, no, sir. My father's quite poor.

Aw, go on -- my old lady says

your old lady's got over a million bucks,

and my old man says his blood's blue, too.

Say, how would you three kids like to stay with us

and be friends and ride maybe to Detroit?

Oh, gee, that'd be swell!

Well, gosh, sir, I don't know.

I think I'd like to go very much.

May I have a different kind of sauce on this, please?

Sure, kid.

Hey, come here. Frenchy! Whatever they call you.

Some kind of sauce, the kid wants.

What's he saying to you?

Well, i-it's the sauce.

I do not quite understand.

Uh, my French is a bit rusty, I imagine.

It's a special kind of meat sauce they have.

Can you understand that?

I shall see what I have, eh?

You'll like the sauce if he makes it all right.

Here, you're hurting my arm.

Okay, kid.

But don't talk any more of that French around me.

It ain't polite. Understand?

Certainly not, if you don't wish me to.

This kid's okay.

You got a cold, Claude?

Oh, yes, sir, but I'll be all right.

Travel is good for the health, they say.

Say, listen, limey.

Well, I, um -- I think we'd better be going.

Sit down.

Why? 'Cause we know what you're trying to do to us?

Listen, limey --

all right, now, you get this.

One more crack out of you about that kid,

and you're gonna get worse than that.

You understand? You're gonna get worse than that.

And you're riding along with us and keeping your mouth shut.

And that goes for you, too.

Hey, where is that guy? Hey, frenchy!

He's not here! Come on! Grab them up!

B-But the sauce I ordered, what about that?

That's just what I was thinking about.

Gee!

I say! That was a tight --

say, listen, did you know the old lady was a man?

Yeah. I wonder how the cops got in there?

I-I told the proprietor.

You told the proprietor?

Uh-huh, when I spoke French.

What did you have to yell copper for?

We could have gotten you out of there

without calling the cops.

What's the matter with you?

Oh, nothing. I-I just feel --

oh, come on, come on, come on. Let's get out of here.

Hey, you darn fool, get out of there!

What?!

What are you trying to do, get yourself killed?

Hey, limey, what's the matter with you?

I'm sorry to have gotten you into this mess, fellows.

Usually -- stupid of me.

H-He acts kind of funny, don't he?

Yeah. T-There's something wrong with him.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...

What's he counting for?

Hey, limey, what are you counting for?

M-Maybe that's how they try and cure themselves

when they're sick in England.

Hey, hey, hey. Maybe we'd better get him to a doctor.

Come on. Let's carry him.

Come on. You're raffles, ain't you?

Raffles never let nothing get him down.

Gee. He's heavier than I thought he was.

Here. Hold him a minute.

Okay.

The man at the freight yard said you was a doctor.

Well, yes, I am. Bring him in, boys.

Bring him in. We'll see what we...

And, you see, this mass here

shows a low-grade infection,

but it's pneumonia, nevertheless, and serious.

Is there anything else he needs?

Nothing but to leave him here absolutely undisturbed.

Lots of air and plenty of fresh blankets.

Nature does most of the rest.

65, 66...

67, 68, 69...

Keep saying "99," son. Keep saying "99."

No, no. 70, 71, 72...

Just say "99," old boy. You got as far as that.

99, 99...

99, 99.

He's gonna be all right, ain't he?

Sure. Sure he is, gig.

Now, listen, you two take a taxi and go on home.

And wait a minute.

You've both got something important to do this afternoon, haven't you?

Yeah, we'll report.

We'll report.

All right. That's the stuff. Now, hurry up home.

My own child!

Are you really going to try to tell me how to take care of him?

But, Mrs. Pierce --

oh, really? This is barbaric!

Can you imagine?

They're trying to tell me how to take care of my own child!

Where is he?

In here.

Quiet. Please.

Oh, Claude, my darling, my baby.

What are they doing to you, my baby?

Hilda, please.

I knew I should never have left him with you,

and I want him taken out of this terrible place at once.

How did he get here?

It might be very serious if he's moved.

I'll take the responsibility from now on.

It's all right, darling. You're mother's boy.

I'm sorry, hilda. You can't. I won't allow it.

I can't permit it, either, Mrs. Pierce.

Well, in that case, I shall see my attorneys.

It's all right, darling.

Your mother will take care of you.

She'll see that you're not experimented upon any longer.

He's asleep again -- the bromide.

We can leave him now.

I'll go and get a cup of coffee.

I'll leave him in your hands, doctor.

He's my boy, too, you know.

I know he'll do his best. We'll do ours.

He looks good to me.

So long, old man.

So long, doctor.

Don't be upset, Pierce. She loves him.

Of course she does. Her way's as honest as mine.

Just a mother's momentary reaction.

Nice going, Pierce.

Here he is.

It's all right, darling. Now, you come along.

You're coming with me.

Here, give me the coat quickly, please.

Administer the glucose intravenously as ordered.

Report pulse and respiration in an hour.

Needle drainage is quite probable.

That boy should never have been moved.

My baby.

Oh, Jay! What have I done?

Shh, honey. Shh.

You've got to be quiet in here.

Come on. Let's go outside.

How is he, Mr. Pierce?

You've come back too soon, fellas. We don't know yet.

Oh, hilda, these are Claude's friends,

gig Stevens and buck Murphy.

Claude's mother, boys.

How do you do?

We'd like to speak to you alone a minute, Mr. Pierce.

Well, sure.

He's awful sick, ain't he?

Yeah, awful sick.

Papa always said his blood was blue,

but I didn't believe it.

I-I said he was just like us,

and, well, if he needs any blood,

you know how they do it.

We'd like to give him ours if you think it's any good.

I don't know if it'll be necessary, fellas,

but if it is...

I guess your blood's just about right.

Mr. Pierce, his pulse has dropped suddenly.

I think you'd better come in.

Oh, no, no, I can't.

You've got to.

I can't.

Are these two boys gig and buck?

Yes.

They've been on his mind.

They -- listen, fellas, I'll be very grateful

if you'd say something to him.

Doctor, look after her, will you?

It's all right.

Come on.

W-What will we say, Mr. Pierce?

Anything. Anything you feel.

S-Something he'd like, maybe.

That's it.

Hey. Hey. Can you hear us in there?

Just raise your tongue a little.

Hiya, limey. We think you're swell.

We reported to the probation officer yesterday.

He's a great guy.

Yeah. T-They closed up shivvy's tire shop.

You should have heard him holler.

The fellas down at the hideout were asking about you.

Yeah, bugs and six-toes,

they may be up to see you sometime.

We're gonna have a lot of fun from now on,

me and you and buck.

He heard us okay.

That's all right, buck.

Must be the ether around here, I guess.

Yeah, there's always a lot of ether in hospitals.

Hello, gig.

Hello, your honor.

Hello, buck.

Hello, judge.

Well, you guys, you're off probation.

You don't have to report anymore.

We don't?

Nope. You're too tough for us now.

We need all our time for fellas

who are soft and can't take it, like you used to be.

Oh, I don't know. It ain't so tough.

Of course it isn't when you get used to it,

but it's too tough for some people to be on the level.

Now, take those three men who tried to push you around

the night you decided to light out for yourselves.

Do you know what was the matter with them?

Life was too tough for them. Never learned how to take it.

Oh, those mugs.

The limey showed them up.

See, the limey was pretty tough, wasn't he?

He sure was.

I'll say he was.

Well, you guys, I don't want to hear

from either of you again

until, gig, you're pitching for the giants

and, buck, you're running for congress.

Thanks, your honor.

Thank you.

Hey, Claude, we're off probation!

We're not going anymore!

Well, I say! How decadent!

He said I was gonna pitch for the giants,

and buck was gonna run for congress!

Oh, that's splendid! Come on! Let's go!

Whoo! Whoa!