Original subtitles

(upbeat music)

♫ Ha ha

♫ Now listen here folks

♫ My name is Tom Sawyer

♫ I don't wanna be no doctor or no lawyer

♫ Fishin' by the river, that's the only place to be

♫ I wanna be free sittin' under a tree, that's me

♫ Ha ha

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playin' by the river

♫ Chasin' that steamboat, teacher let me be

♫ I wanna be free sittin' under a tree

♫ That's me, ha ha

(birds chirping) (upbeat music)

- [Tom] Some people say that folks weren't meant

to be flying around like birds.

That it's the devil's doing,

and if the good Lord intended us to fly

he'd have given us wings.

But I reckon if he didn't intend for us to fly,

he wouldn't have given us this here balloon.

We all worked powerful hard to fix it up proper

so it could fly again.

'Tweren't easy, neither.

After all, it was pretty near wrecked for good

after Arthur crashed it.

He promised me a ride for helping him fix it,

but then the Sheriff told him not to fly

on account of it weren't safe for folks on the ground.

I figured this was gonna be the only chance

I'd ever had to fly,

and I wasn't about to let it get away.

(upbeat music)

- [Huck] Hey Tom, you working for Arthur again today?

- That's right.

- He ain't here.

- Where'd he go, to town?

- Yep.

- We need to talk, Huck.

Listen,

- Mmm?

- I got a plan.

- I was afraid of that.

(upbeat music)

- [Arthur] The army engineers are on their way.

- [Sheriff] Good.

- They were scheduled to get here later today,

although I expect they won't arrive until tomorrow, Sheriff.

- I suppose they're bringing wagons,

so you can cart you balloon out of town?

- Yes, that's the plan.

I reckon it'll take about an hour or so

to break it all down and get it ready to move.

- Shouldn't you deflate it this afternoon?

- I'd oblige you Sheriff,

but the army engineer, Dr. Masterson,

specifically requested that I leave it set up

so he can inspect it.

Dr. Masterson designed the balloon,

and he's concerned that it might not be ready to fly.

(footsteps)

- What do you think?

Will it fly?

- Sure it will.

What if I took you up this afternoon?

I know that you'd enjoy it.

- Yes, I'm sure I would enjoy it.

But unfortunately my attitude has to remain official

so I'm afraid I can't allow you to fly it.

Anyway, with all these new inventions,

I suppose people are gonna be flying like birds

no matter how hard some folks object.

- I reckon so

- By the way, how's that head of yours healing up?

- I'm on my way to have the bandage changed right now.

- [Sheriff] You mean to see Mary?

(upbeat music)

- [Doctor] Well if you ask me, I think

the Sheriff's doing the right thing.

It's unnatural for folks to be gallivanting around

in the clouds.

(footsteps)

- [Both] Huh?

- Be still, I'm not done yet.

- Sorry.

Come on, Doc, you don't really believe that.

- What I believe is,

ever since that balloon arrived here,

I've been seeing an awful lot of strangers in town.

- The balloon's good for business.

- Still, that doesn't make it right

that folks go 'round doing unnatural things.

- [Arthur] Flying has advantages.

- Ha.

- [Arthur] Think of what it could do for you.

- I don't see how it could do anything.

- [Arthur] Transporting patients?

- Nonsense!

No patient of mine goes up in that thing.

- It's safe.

- There you sit, having your head put into a bandage,

and you have the audacity to tell me

that that balloon is safe for transporting sick people?

- Come on, Doc, accidents will happen.

- But they should be prevented if possible.

- What about progress?

- Progress is fine whenever it follows normal guidelines.

- And what do you consider to be normal guidelines?

- My guidelines.

I mean, I am a medical practitioner.

As a man of science, I understand

where the line should be drawn

when it comes to experimentation.

- Do you draw it for everyone?

- That's right.

If everyone is too dag-blame pigheaded and stubborn

to know what's likely to get him killed.

- How would doctors make a living otherwise?

- Wait a minute Arthur,

I don't recall asking you to come in

and have your bandage re-done today.

- I asked him to.

- That's nice.

So now you've taking to scheduling the patient as well?

- Doc, it ain't her fault.

I asked her if she'd see to my wound today,

seeing as how I won't be around tomorrow.

I'll be leaving with the Army.

(gasping)

- Tomorrow?

You have to leave tomorrow?

- Mm-hmm.

(birds chirping)

- I thought you had more courage than that.

Don't tell me you're turning cowardly.

- I'm being cowardly?

Even if we got that balloon to fly,

we still wouldn't know how to get it back on the ground.

- I already told ya Huck,

we're gonna load it up with big rocks

so it just goes up a little

and then comes right back down.

- Yeah, but if we put rocks in it, it'll be too heavy.

- Huck, you don't get it.

We put the rocks in and throw out the ones

that are weighing us down.

- Well, that's what I don't get.

How do we get back down after we throw away all the rocks?

- Shucks, we ain't goin' up all that high, Huck.

If we had to we could just jump out of the darn thing.

- I reckon so, but still,

we're gonna get whooped if we get caught.

- Arthur won't know, we'll do it at sun up

when he's still asleep.

- [Huck] don't know, it sounds awful risky.

- Huck, I can't believe you'd pass up an opportunity

to fly.

- Say, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

(grunting) - Shh.

- What are you two conspiring on?

- Hey Becky, what brings you out here?

- [Becky] Nothing.

- Mom's the word.

- Right.

(laughing)

- You know you can't hide any secrets from me

'cause I always find out sooner or later.

- Not a word, Huck. - Besides,

I bet I know what it is.

You're going up flying, aren't you Tom?

- Why, how'd you know about that?

- Hey, quiet! (grunting)

- Thanks Huck.

(sighing)

- I told you to keep quiet, Huck.

- How are you going to fly?

I saw Arthur in town, and he told me

the balloon was grounded.

- Oh, I don't have to have Arthur to go flying.

I'm gonna do it by myself.

- What?

You're gonna fly all by yourself?

Could I come?

Please could I?

- I really don't think you ought to Becky.

- Why not?

- It's going way up.

- I don't wanna actually ride in in Tom.

I just wanna watch you do it.

- If you don't wanna fly in the balloon,

why go along, huh?

- Well, it's kind of a silly reason, Tom.

When Arthur was flying, I didn't get a chance to see him.

If I don't go with you and Huck

I'll never see it fly.

- Well, I guess you could be out lookout.

- Yeah.

Well, I guess that'd be okay.

- What do you think, Huck?

- What?

Okay.

Sure, Tom, I reckon.

- Alright then.

Huck and me will get the balloon ready tonight

and you meet us here at sun up Becky.

- Alright.

- Good, then we're a team.

(upbeat music)

Wasn't that I wanted to go contrary to Arthur's wishes

you understand,

it's just that flying like a bird

was too important to miss out on.

(horn bellowing) (upbeat music)

- It sure is pretty, Tom.

- Sure is.

None of us said much more about it that afternoon,

we were all kinda daydreaming

about what a wonderful thing flying is.

I suppose that I'm envious of birds.

They get to go anywhere they want

and that's real pleasing.

Anyway, I went to my room even before supper was done.

I said I was tired 'cause I didn't want no one

catching onto my plan.

They all believed me, except for Syd.

He just stared me down like he always does.

- It isn't like Tom to rush through his supper

like he did tonight.

Especially when he says the reason is just because

he wants to go to bed early.

I think he must be sick or something.

- [Syd] He's up to something.

- He is not.

He's been watching the balloon for Arthur.

- That's right, he's been working hard all day.

He must be plum tuckered out.

I feel awful that I can't give him a ride

in the balloon like I promised.

- It's not your fault, Arthur.

(upbeat music)

- The moon is so beautiful this evening, Mary.

I was thinking it's just perfect for moonlight walking.

- I agree.

- Would you care to go along?

- Why yes.

Mother, I'll clean up later.

Arthur and I are going out.

- Alright.

- I wanna go too, may I come along?

- No, it's time for bed.

- But I ain't tired,

and I never been on a moonlight walk before Aunt Polly.

- No.

- Why not?

- I said so.

- But I never get to go nowhere.

- Don't go sassing me, boy,

if you know what's good for ya.

Now, you two run along.

- Well Arthur, shall we go?

- Yes.

(footsteps)

- Now don't you keep Mary out too late, young man,

you hear?

- Yes ma'am.

(door clicking)

- Oh I get it.

I guess Arthur and Mary wanted to be alone

because Arthur's courting her.

- That's right, Syd.

- What's that?

- Do you really have to leave tomorrow?

- I'm afraid so.

(upbeat music)

- Don't that beat all,

looks like Mary's sweet on Arthur.

- I really can't tell you how much your help

has meant to me, you've been a real friend,

and I just wanna express my gratitude.

- You're welcome.

- Mary, there's something else I wanted to ask you.

- Yes, what is it?

- [Arthur] Well, I guess it can wait 'til tomorrow.

- Good, that's Arthur now,

I thought he'd never get here.

(clicking) (footsteps)

(yawning)

Is that you Arthur?

Must be getting late.

- Yes, Tom, now go back to sleep.

(creaking)

- [Tom] Arthur didn't seem tired at all.

I reckon there was something a-gnawing at him,

and I suppose that something was Mary.

(suspenseful music)

- Tom, where are ya?

Hey, Tom, it's me, Huck.

- [Tom] Well, I guess it's now or never.

Besides, if I wait much longer,

Huck might think I ain't coming,

and call the whole thing off.

(groaning)

Quiet Syd. - Tom!

No, Tom, no!

(clattering)

(tapping)

- This was just about the best plan I ever had.

I figured Huck would already be there,

seeing how he was usually pretty good about meeting

me at places.

If Becky couldn't get there by sun up,

then she was gonna have to miss the balloon flying

on more time.

Sun up was gonna be on us before we knew it,

and then I was finally going to get to fly.

I'm goin' flyin'.

(crackling)

(suspenseful music)

Okay, Huck, that's the last one, watch out.

(grunting)

The fire's supposed to heat up the air

going in the balloon.

- We ain't gonna go flying now, are we?

- No Huck, takes a heap of time

before the balloon's all filled up and ready to go.

- It's the hot air that makes it go up?

- Right as rain.

It takes about an hour or more.

But we gotta wait for Becky anyhow.

- She ain't gonna be here 'til sun up.

- Let's wait in the gondola,

she'll find us when she gets here.

- Alright.

(footsteps)

What do we do while we're waiting?

- You could catch 40 winks.

- Are you kidding?

I couldn't do that if I tried, it's too scary.

You go ahead if you want to.

- Okay, but wake me when Becky gets here.

- [Huck] You scared, Tom?

- [Tom] Not me.

- [Huck] Me neither.

(creaking) (footsteps)

- Stay, Caesar.

You can't come with me this time.

I'll see you later, goodbye now.

(upbeat music)

(rooster crowing)

(grunting)

(crashing)

- Ouch.

Tom, quit hogging the bed.

Boy am I tired.

Hmm?

Tom?

Hey.

Dang, it ain't like Tom to leave early, strange.

What is he up to anyway?

No.

Yeah.

Arthur.

(crashing)

Hey, get up, hurry Arthur, get up.

- Mary, I promise I won't leave tomorrow.

I'll stay here.

- It's not Mary, it's me, Syd.

- Huh?

- He's gone out, Tom's gone out.

He's gonna get hurt.

- What are you saying?

- He isn't here.

- So what?

- Don't you see?

He's got it in his mind he's gonna fly,

and there ain't nothin' or nobody

that's gonna stop him from doing it.

- No, he wouldn't do that.

Would he?

- Sure he would Arthur,

the only thing that he's talked about

for the last three days is your balloon.

- He was mad he couldn't fly.

- Arthur, it makes perfect sense.

That's why he went to bed early last night

so he could get up and fly.

- Oh no.

(suspenseful music)

I only hope that I'm not too late.

If he tries to fly by himself, he's gonna crash.

- [Syd] I thought you'd wanna know.

- Thanks, Syd.

- [Syd] Wait Arthur, you forgot something.

- What?

- It's your boots, you forgot 'em.

Here.

- See ya.

- [Syd] I'll go to Sheriff Collins.

- No don't.

Ouch.

- Okay, Huck.

Get ready to let your rope go when I count to three.

- Okay, ready.

- Right, here we go.

One, two, and three.

(gasping)

(rustling)

Hurry, Huck.

(grunting)

The balloon really has a lot of power.

- It sure does.

You don't reckon we filled this thing up too much, do you?

We're not gonna go all the way up to the sun are we?

(laughing)

- It can't go that high. - Ow.

- Hey, you two aren't gonna be going too far,

are you? - [Huck] No.

- [Tom] Maybe.

- You're supposed to go up a little

and come right back down.

- Yeah, I know.

I was just fooling around.

Why don't you grab that rope and give it a tug?

- This one Tom?

- That's the one.

I already loosened it so it should pull through easy.

(grunting)

(rustling)

- Huck, untie the rope on your side of the gondola.

I'll untie this one.

- Okay.

(grunting)

(heavy breathing)

- [Arthur] Thank goodness, I'm not too late.

- I can't do it.

This one's too tight, you try.

- Huh?

Alright. - He's good at knots.

- Tom, don't fly without me, wait!

- Did you hear that?

Arthur's on his way.

- It won't budge, the blame knot's too tight, Tom.

- Keep working on it.

If Arthur gets here first, he'll stop us from flying.

- I know Tom, but the blame thing just won't come loose

no matter what I do with it. - Hurry.

- Tom, stop!

You don't know what you're doing.

- He's coming!

- Almost got it, there!

Nothing to it.

(laughing)

- [Tom] We did it, Huck.

(creaking)

- Huh?

I sure thought we was going higher than that.

- It ain't working proper.

- What do you reckon it is?

- Don't know.

- We forgot to throw out the rocks.

- Quick, grab one.

(grunting)

(rumbling)

- No!

- Watch out!

(yelling)

- [Tom] Don't worry Arthur, we got ya.

- Gosh, they're going so high.

I hope they're okay.

(suspenseful music)

They are.

I didn't know it went up so fast.

It sure is pretty.

(grunting)

(heavy breathing)

- What's the matter with you two?

Don't you realize how dangerous flying is?

(upbeat music)

- Arthur was trying real hard to be mad at us,

but I think he was glad to be in the sky.

Deep down, that is.

Wow, I can't believe how high we're flying.

Birds don't go this far up.

- Yeah.

Hey I never know-ed the Mississippi River was so big before.

- [Tom] Yeah, it sure is a sight up here, ain't it?

- What do you boys intend to do now?

Seeing how you took it upon yourselves to go flying,

just where are we gonna go?

- We don't gotta go nowhere, do we?

Can't we just fly around?

- You could do that.

- Besides, we never had nowhere special in mind.

We just wanted to fly around to see what it was like,

that's all.

- [Huck] It ain't scary like I thought it'd be.

- Well that's nice.

Well who's flying the balloon then?

Do you think it just flies all by itself?

Tom?

- Why don't you do the flying for us Arthur?

'Cause you already know how.

(sighing)

- Hey, what do you reckon that is?

(gasping)

- [Man] That's the biggest, ugliest bird I ever saw.

(whooshing) (creaking)

- It's coming to get us!

(yelling)

- Okay, throw 'em out.

(splashing)

We don't need rocks, you control the flight

by feeding in the hot air.

- [Tom] I understood a lot better now

what Arthur meant about flying the balloon.

It weren't as simple as I thought,

and I reckon if Huck and me had been up here without him,

we'd be in a heap of trouble right now.

- Look down there, boys.

That's the great state of Illinois.

Unless I missed my guess, that's the army patrol

I've been waiting for.

(whirring)

- What are you gonna do Arthur?

Are you gonna land the balloon in Illinois?

- No, Tom.

It's better if I take you two back across.

The Army won't understand what I'm doing

with two youngsters instead

of being where I'm supposed to.

- I'm scared, Syd.

Where did they go?

They've been out there and awful long time.

- Oh, you shouldn't worry Becky.

Nothing's gonna happen, 'cause Arthur's flying with them.

Oh?

Here they come now, see 'em? - Where?

- [Syd] Over there, see?

- Oh, thank goodness.

- Yeah, they made it.

- I know, but when Tom and Huck are around,

something's bound to go wrong.

- Yeah, I guess Arthur found that out for himself.

Welcome home, Tom. - Hi Tom.

- Glad to see you. - Hi Huck, hi Arthur.

- [Tom] We got back nice and safe.

(horn bellowing)

Thanks to Arthur.

But he made me and Huck stay behind and clean the balloon

while he went to town to meet his friend, Dr. Masterson.

- Couple of fishermen came by today.

- That's nice, Sheriff.

- They were all wet and crazy.

Going on and on about this ugly bird

that swooped out of the sky and attacked 'em

while they were just minding their own business.

- Tell me Sheriff, were you up early today?

- No, sir, reckon not.

- Then I guess I don't know a thing.

- Neither do I.

- So I owe ya one.

Well, here they come.

(upbeat music)

Welcome, Colonel.

- O'Connor.

- [Doc] Arthur, me boy.

It's so good to see you. - Doc.

(laughing)

- Good to see you Patrick.

- Thanks.

- Tell me, I didn't see any Army wagon on the ferry.

How they gonna transport the balloon?

- Well, they ain't figured that out yet.

The wagon's on the other side of the river.

- But in your telegram,

you said the balloon was fine.

So let's fly it.

- I'd love to fly it, Doctor,

but the Sheriff's requested that it now be flown anymore

while it's here.

- Nonsense, I'll talk to the Sheriff.

- Great.

(footsteps)

(upbeat music)

- Arthur, Arthur!

- Doctor, are you quite sure that you won't go along

with us today?

- No Arthur.

I just build 'em, you fly 'em.

- Would you like to fly Colonel?

- No thank you.

- Very well.

Then shall I meet you on the other side of the river,

say in about a half an hour?

Tom, Huck, untie the ropes please.

- Sure.

(footsteps)

(whooshing)

- Goodbye boys, you two be good

or I'm coming back to whoop ya, hear?

- We'll be real good Arthur, you just wait and see.

(heavy breathing)

(gasping)

- [Mary] Arthur's leaving.

He's not even gonna say goodbye to me.

- Bye Arthur, thanks a lot.

- [Woman] What's happening?

It looks like he's sinking.

Is he gonna crash?

(group gasping)

- [Tom] Why's it going down, Doc?

- [Doc] I don't know, Tom.

- [Mary] Arthur, you didn't forget about me!

(upbeat music)

- I'll come back to see you, I promise Mary.

- Take care of yourself.

Have a safe journey.

- Will you wait for me?

- Oh yes.

Mm-hmm.

Bye!

- Bye!

(whooshing)

(upbeat music)

- [Tom] Arthur was going off to help the Army

with what he called surveillance maneuvers.

I don't exactly know for sure what that means,

but I suppose it's gotta be something real important,

or else he wouldn't be doing it.

Anyway, I reckon that he won't be gone forever

'cause he and Mary were real sweet on each other.

I guess if they were to end up getting married,

then that'd be okay by me.

A fella could do a whole lot worse

than having someone like Arthur

marrying his favorite cousin.

(upbeat music)

Come to think of it, if Arthur was to marry

into my family, then I'd be riding the balloon

to visits and picnics and such all the time.

I wouldn't mind that at all.

Let's see now, how am I gonna get Arthur to propose to Mary?

Hmm, I'll have to do some powerful hard

thinking on that one.

(upbeat music)

♫ These are the stories of

♫ Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playin' by the river

♫ Chasin' that steamboat

♫ Teacher, let me be

♫ I wanna be free sittin' under a tree

♫ That's me, ha ha