Original subtitles

(laughs)

♫ Now listen here, folks

♫ My name is Tom Sawyer

♫ I don't want to be no doctor or no lawyer

♫ Fishing by the river

♫ That's the only place to be

♫ I want to be free sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(upbeat music)

(laughs)

(upbeat music)

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playing by the river

♫ Chasing that steamboat

♫ Teacher let me be

♫ I want to be free sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(laughs)

(upbeat music)

- [Tom Voiceover] I've always thought that

the best way to start an adventure would be

on a riverboat, and me and Huck was on our way

to an adventure we'd never forget.

- Bet they wished they was us.

Slow old barge, ain't getting nowhere.

- Look what's coming, Tom.

- Huh?

That's cattle barge on its way to market.

- [Tom Voiceover] I was on my way to visit my Aunt Sally,

and Huck Finn, being my best friend, was coming with me

on a two-for-one kid's ticket.

Of course, no one knew about me bringing Huck along,

and that was a little worrisome.

But I was working on a plan that would explain

Huck's being with me.

- Sounds like a big one.

- Must be on the other side.

Come on. (horn blows)

- Hello there, boat.

Where you making port next?

- [Huck] You bound for Hannibal?

Hello! (muffled yelling)

- I can't hear him over all of that racket.

Which port are you bound for?

Hannibal, Missouri?

- We're hauling cotton down to New Orleans.

Toot toot toot.

- What did he say?

- Don't know.

(imitates blowing horn)

What'd you say?

- I can't hear you, what did you say?

(laughing)

- [Tom] See you later, Captain.

(laughing)

- Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. - Send us a postcard.

(laughs) - That's Injun Joe there, Tom.

- I beg your pardon?

- It's him, by that boy there.

- Oh my gosh.

How do you know?

He's got his back turned.

- It's him, all right, I'd bet on it.

- I don't believe it's really him.

- I believe I'm dying.

Just the sight of that man is enough to

curl my toenails, Tom.

- Stop it, Huck.

- I will.

- You can't be certain from this distance.

- Yeah, maybe it was a mirage.

- Right.

Anyway Huck, we can't spend our whole lives

worrying about Injun Joe.

We got to make a solemn promise to forget about it.

- [Huck] How do we do that?

- Just say, "I promise to forget about Injun Joe

"and to never mention his name again".

- Well, I promise.

- And I promise not to mention Injun Joe again neither.

Come on.

- I'm sure glad we got that settled.

- [Tom Voiceover] Well sir, I can't tell you

what a turn that gave me, seeing that killer

right out in plain sight.

If Huck didn't stop talking about it,

I think I'd have screamed.

That's why I made him swear a solemn promise.

Now it ain't bothering him at all,

and I can't get it out of my mind.

- Hey, hey!

Boy, look at me.

Ain't this the life?

(laughs)

Boy, I ain't never tasted anything as good

as this before in my whole life.

- Phooey.

Hey, I've had better.

- Are you saying you've had better food than this?

- Mmhmm, many a time.

- Golly Tom, have you ate with kings or what?

- [Tom] Don't be silly, Huck.

- What do you mean?

- [Tom] Just that this stuff ain't no different

from what most folks eat all the time.

You just never been in society before, that's all.

- How do you know?

You haven't taken a bite of your own meal yet.

- All right, I'll try it.

Hmm, all right.

- By the way, Tom, what are you going to tell

your aunt and uncle about me?

- I've been giving that a lot of thought,

and I figured it out.

- I sure hope so because they're going to be

real surprised when I show up.

- [Tom] Oh, it'll be okay.

- How?

They don't know me from Adam, and folks can

get touchy about strangers coming to live with them.

- Don't worry.

- [Huck] Yeah, why shouldn't I?

- I told you, I got a good plan, Huck.

And it's going to work in our favor,

simply because my Aunt Sally doesn't know you from Adam.

We'll confuse her. - Oh?

Do you mean Aunt Sally's feeble for softening

up the story, Tom?

I don't mean no offense or nothing, but I hear

people who ain't right can be downright dangerous.

- I didn't mean to imply that my aunt is balmy.

But Aunt Polly's letter didn't mention

how many people were going to be bringing

these bonds to her.

- What bonds?

- Never mind that.

First we got to make you presentable.

- What do you mean by make me presentable, Tom?

- Your clothes, Huck.

We got to do something about them in order

to make you welcome among grownups.

Folks spend a heap at stores by good clothes.

- Well gosh, I know all about that, really.

- [Tom] Yeah, well--

- What's wrong with my clothes anyways?

This is what I always wear.

- Not a thing, Huck, but wait until you see

what I got figured out for you.

Why, by the time we get to Aunt Sally's,

I'll have you looking like a duke.

(pigs oinking)

- [Tom Voiceover] Well, we finally reached

Jackson the next morning, and it took me

nearly that long to convince Huck that he

looked better in my clothes.

Even so, he didn't want to change until the last minute.

After leaving the boat, we transferred to stage coach,

and were soon burning up the miles on our way west.

That's when I decided that I'd make

a first class cowboy someday.

(snoring)

- These modern buggies are sure the berries, ain't they?

- If you don't mind bumps.

(gasps)

- Wild men.

(gasps)

- [Huck And Tom] What?

- [Woman] Oh lordy.

- [Tom] Wow, look at them ride.

Do you reckon they're a war party, Huck?

Coming to skin us alive and take our scalps?

- [Woman] Oh dear.

- Oh, let's pray the army comes and protect us from them.

- Lord bless you, ma'am.

Them Injuns ain't hostile.

They ain't even wearing any war paint.

- What would they be up to if they ain't a war party, sir?

- Well son, they could be rounding up the mustangs

that roam free in these parts.

- You mean, real Indian pony mustangs?

- Mmhmm, sure do, son.

That's how Injuns generally come by their ponies.

- I'm going to catch me a pony and ride him.

- They seem to be moving on.

- [Huck] Yep, they're moving a lot faster than we are.

- Boy Huck, I sure would like to be with them.

- When have you ever ridden a horse, Tom?

- I can do about anything when I make up my mind.

- You bet.

Probably break every bone in your body, too,

when you make up your mind.

(laughs)

- Say, are you boys down for the Phelps' Ranch,

by any chance?

- Yes, we're staying with my aunt and my uncle.

- Well, that's fine.

You must mean Cyrus Phelps.

- Do you know my uncle, mister?

- Mmhmm, I sure do.

I've known Cyrus for a good many more years

than I care to remember.

I hear tell their ranch is in serious trouble.

The rumor has it, they came dang near

losing half their herd in the big freeze up last winter.

- That's awful.

- And I've heard that the bank might even

foreclose on them.

Everybody says that banker's heart is just about

as warm as the polar ice cap in February.

- Well, those old bankers can't foreclose

on the Phelps' Ranch, mister, because I got

something here to stop them.

- [Tom Voiceover] Well, after a couple more

days on the stage, me and Huck was let out

at Phelps' Corners, still two miles from the ranch.

It was then, much to Huck's discomfort,

that I started to put my plan into action.

- Tom, are you sure this is the only way

I can go with you to the Phelps' Ranch,

appearing respectable?

- [Tom] Mmhmm, sure.

You'll look just grand.

Why, everybody will be so flabbergasted,

they'll be calling you the Beau Brummel

of St. Petersburg.

- Why in the world would folks be calling me that, Tom?

- Why because he was the best dressed feller

in the king's whole court.

- Gee Tom, do you really think they'd

want to do that to me?

- Do what?

- Take me to court.

- [Tom] Not that kind of court, Huck.

Anyhow, you don't have to worry about it none.

Just trust me.

- [Huck] Holy mackerel, Tom.

Does all this belong to your Aunt Sally and Uncle Cyrus?

- [Tom] Reckon it does.

Now just remember, Huck, don't be surprised

at anything I might say, and just go along with it, okay?

- [Huck] Okay.

- Well come on, let's go meet this branch

of the family and see if we're in time for dinner.

- Okay.

Hey, look at the ducks.

- Yeah cute, ain't they?

(imitates quacking)

Come on.

Reckon we can just go right up to the front door,

seeing as we're family.

- [Huck] Gosh.

- Well, my land.

You must be my kin from St. Petersburg.

Now let's see.

Yep, this is my nephew.

- Why that's right, ma'am.

Have you met him before?

- I knew it.

I'd recognize him anywhere.

- Well, I reckon you're Aunt Sally.

- I am, and this is my beloved nephew, Tom.

Come from Missouri, all the way from St. Pete

to save the ranch.

- I ain't Tom, not at all, ma'am.

- That's the gospel truth, ma'am.

He ain't Tom, he's Sid, and he's my younger brother.

- I'm Sid?

- Well, my land.

So this here is little Sidney.

You must be Tom then.

I might have known by your resemblance to Sid.

Give Aunt Sally a great big hug.

- Aunt Polly said I should give you the bonds

in this bag before I even stop to breathe.

- What a responsible little man you have

grown up to be, Thomas.

- Mother, why don't you invite our visitors inside?

- Penny, come and meet your cousins from Missouri.

They came all the way from St. Petersburg.

- Hi Penny, I'm Tom.

- And I'm--

(groaning)

- He's my younger brother, Sidney, ma'am.

According to Aunt Polly, this negotiable

securities are bound to save the property

with lots left over.

- That's fine, I'm greatly relieved.

And I'll just put them here in this

cupboard for safekeeping.

Well now, business can wait a little while

so we can chat and get acquainted.

Tom, I hear tell from your Aunt Polly

that you're quite the little rascal.

That's fine because I like a boy whose got

plenty of gumption.

- Aw, shucks.

- Land sakes, I just bet you boys are hungry, eh?

About time I whipped us up a good mess of vittles,

don't you think?

There's lots more lemonade.

When you've had your fill, we'll start fixing supper.

You ever milked a cow, Sid?

(coughs)

- A cow?

I don't think I could ever learn to do that.

- Don't be silly, anybody can learn to milk a cow.

It just takes practice, that's all.

Why don't you come here and try it, Sid?

- Oh my, must I?

You're doing fine.

- What's the matter, boy?

You afraid of a cow?

- I'll just look some.

I can learn quicker that way.

- Just take her and pull.

- Maybe you'd better keep doing it.

- Well, if you're that scared, okay.

(groans)

- [Huck] Excuse me for a minute.

- You know, it's funny, but I don't see

any resemblance between you and Tom at all.

(groans)

- What do you mean?

- Why, if you hadn't told me you were brothers,

I wouldn't believe you were even related.

(groans)

- Believe me, at least, Tom and me.

Mercy, we're even closer than brothers.

- Well, how about giving me a hand with this bucket?

- [Huck] Why, sure.

Here, let me have it.

- Anyhow, I think that's a very interesting thing

about brothers and sisters, don't you?

I mean, how they can be in the same family and all

and not even look alike.

Life is interesting, I do declare.

Well, it's something I intend to give

a lot of thought to, believe you me.

(humming)

Why don't you have some more milk, Sid?

- [Huck] I've had plenty.

- [Penny] How about you, Tom?

- [Tom] You bet, thanks.

(humming)

(gulps)

- That milk's fresh from the cow.

- Boy, I just love milk.

- Well, there's plenty more.

- Fresh from the what?

- [Penny] Cow.

- Ah, are you saying milk comes out of a cow?

- Do you mean you never knew where milk comes from?

Why, even if your little brother, Sid,

knows milk comes from out of a cow.

- My land, what next?

Well.

(laughs)

(sighs)

(groans)

(laughs)

- Maybe you should walk around and look at the animals.

- Yeah, that's bully.

All right, Huck?

Sid, you want to.

- Yeah.

- I think I want to go horseback riding.

Where do you keep the horses, Penny?

- In the barn.

Come out with me and pick them out.

Well, here they are.

I guess you want to pick out your own.

I imagine you're an experienced rider, aren't you Tom?

- Shucks, I'm a great rider.

You got any wild horses around here that

need taming, Penny?

- Well, these critters are all pretty much broken in,

but I reckon I can find a feisty one for you.

- Well, Tom wants to ride the fastest,

feistiest horse you got in the stable.

Ain't that right, Tex?

Come on, mount one of them cayuses.

Pick out the meanest maverick in the remuda.

- I'll just bring out old Buck.

- You better fess up right now before you

get yourself killed.

- You just watch.

- It's your funeral, Tom.

- I can't be a yellow belly in front of her, Huck.

- All right, come on Tom.

Here he is.

- Mmhmm, you betcha.

- [Tom Voiceover] And that has got to be

one of the biggest mistakes I ever made in my whole life.

(yelling)

- [Tom] Whoa, boy.

(laughing)

Whoa horsey, take it easy now.

- [Huck] That a boy, Tom.

Show him who's boss.

(laughing)

- Was Tom fibbing when he said he could ride, Sid,

or is he just playing around out there?

- Oh no, Tom's the best bronco buster in these parts.

Hopes to be a big cowboy someday if he lives long enough.

- I bet he doesn't make it.

(laughing)

(yelling)

- [Tom] Bad horsey.

Oh no!

- Buck's going for the fence.

- Tom, look out.

(yelling)

Oh boy.

- Please, come back.

- Oh come on, horse, whoa.

(yelling)

I can't get off until I get back on.

Gotcha.

(laughs)

I reckon I show you who's boss now,

you ornery critter, you.

Come on, is that as fast as you can go?

Get up there.

Uh oh.

Injuns.

Whoa, Buck.

Come on Buck, turn around.

You ain't got no horse sense at all.

No Buck, no.

Excuse me.

(yelling)

Thank you.

(gasping)

- [Man] Pale face boy, he crazy.

- Tarnation, Tom's been gone a long time.

(sighs)

Hope he's all right.

- Oh please, Lord, if you help me make it home alive,

I'll never brag again.

(horse neighs)

(yells)

(groans)

(panting)

You sure got a mind of your own, Buck.

Golly, where are we and how are we going to get back?

(horse neighs)

Hey.

Well, I guess I'd better do something about getting back.

(groans)

How could anything stuffed with hay be so hard?

(groans)

You know something, it feels like I was

whooped over by a two by four and it's all your fault.

(groans)

Come on Buck, we're going home right now.

You better make up your mind about who's boss around here.

I'm not going to put up with anymore foolishness, see?

(groans)

- [Huck] Hey Aunt Sally, they're back.

- [Sally] Glory be.

- [Penny] You men get some grub and rest awhile,

and we'll go out and try again later.

- All right, Miss Penny.

- Where's Tom?

The Injuns get him?

- I'm afraid something awful has happened to him.

- Did you see him?

- No, we looked high and low and didn't

see a sign of him.

- What about Buck?

- That's our only hope.

If Tom stayed on him, sooner or later,

Buck will bring him home.

But the Indians said he went past them

traveling like a bullet and they have no idea

where he might have ended up.

- Oh my, maybe the Injuns had him.

- Hush, Sid.

Tell us what they said, Penny.

- They said they saw a boy riding like the devil

was chasing right behind him.

- What?

How could you believe what an Injun might tell you?

- Oh really.

- They're probably holding Tom prisoner this very minute.

- Stop that, young man.

They're just people like us.

- Yes, I'm really sorry, ma'am.

It's just that I'm awful worried about

what's become of Tom.

Hey, do you reckon the Injuns will find him

and bring him back home?

- Well, they're a lot more likely to help him

than to hurt him.

- We'll wait for Cyrus and Oscar to come home

before we go on looking.

- Where are they anyway, ma'am?

They could help.

- They've been trying to capture the great white stallion.

The king of the mustangs.

(grunts)

- Now Buck, you just hold real still for a second, okay?

That's it.

You ready?

(groans)

Now listen here.

I'm hoping and praying you know the way

back to the ranch, Buck, because I sure don't.

I'm begging you, Buck, please don't get us lost anymore.

Please?

(horse neighs)

That's it.

You can be nice and friendly when you really want to.

Can't you?

Why sure, I knew we'd be good friends

once we got to know each other.

This sure don't look familiar, Buck.

I hope you know where you're going.

It's spooky here, too.

Now I know what all those cowboy songs mean

when they sing about the lone prairie.

What are you stopping for, Buck?

Please don't tell me you're lost.

Hmm?

You hear something out there?

(horse neighs)

Hey.

Jumping Jehosaphat, what a beauty.

Wow.

(yells)

Easy now, Buck.

Don't get excited.

I sure hope that big fella is friendly.

Hello, boy.

(yells)

- [Tom Voiceover] I couldn't believe my eyes.

Buck and that big white horse were acting

like they knew each other.

Not only that, they were rubbing on and carrying on

as though they really liked each other a lot.

- Hey Buck, is that your big brother?

Is that why we're out here?

Oh boy, this is a reunion.

Take your time, fellas.

(horses neigh)

Hey.

Easy now.

Whoa there.

No, stay here Buck, whoa.

We got to get back home, okay?

- Hey there.

Hold on a minute son.

- Hey.

Whoa, Buck.

I'm sure glad to see you because I'm plumb lost.

Could you tell me how to get to Phelps' Ranch, please?

- Are you Tom?

- Why you must be my Uncle Cyrus.

- [Tom Voiceover] There's no denying it.

Running into Uncle Cyrus out there was plain lucky.

But I like to think old Buck had a hand in it.

You see, Uncle Cyrus was chasing that white stallion,

and Buck knew where to find him,

so I reckon he just figured to bring us together.

On the other hand, me being out there

made it possible for the king of the mustangs to escape.

And maybe that's what Buck had in mind all along.

It's fun to think so, anyway.

- Well Tom, I sure am relieved that you

got back to the ranch all right.

But we got to do something quick about Penny.

Tom?

Did you hear me?

Penny knows something's up.

Are you sleeping?

I already messed up the Sid thing twice today.

You know I ain't no good at fooling folks.

You must be plumb tuckered out.

Hmm.

(grunts)

Better cover up, you'll catch a cold.

You've had quite a day, buckaroo.

Night, Tom.

- [Tom Voiceover] I reckon Huck must have

covered me up, because I don't remember getting in bed.

But I didn't ask and he never mentioned it.

I reckoned he tried talking to me some too,

but I was dead to the world and having

a wonderful dream.

I know it would be a long time before I

forget the king of the mustangs, and even longer

before I'd stop dreaming about him.

Shucks.

I told everybody I could ride.

(upbeat music)

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playing by the river

♫ Chasing that steamboat

♫ Teacher let me be

♫ I want to be free sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(laughs)

(upbeat music)