Original subtitles

What's the matter, pop?

You're gettin' kinda clumsy, huh, boy?

Don't forget, I didn't handle the ball,

I was a tackle.

That's right, pop.

They always went through you.

Is that so?

Mother, we're waiting.

Lucille, will you please hurry up?

We're going to be late.

Dan Jefferson!

Please be quiet, the baby's asleep!

I'm sorry.

Don't lose your temper, pop.

You know today's Sunday.

Yes, I know, but this happens every Sunday.

Every Sunday, I...

see what I mean?

Five minutes to.

Don't get impatient, Dan!

I'll only be two minutes.

Why don't you start the motor or something?

Bring the car around front.

Have I time to wash it?

Hahaha-ha-ha, that's very funny.

I think I better drive, dad,

you're a little nervous.

I'll drive.

I'm not nervous.

Boys, I love your mother,

but when I think of all the man-hours

that I've lost waiting for her,

I... I could have...

you could've painted the house.

Good morning.

Good morning to you.

Good morning.

Hello, Joe.

Good morning.

Well, Chuck and Ben.

It seems only yesterday

that I baptized you two boys.

That's right, Bob.

Our prayers go with you,

you know that.

Thank you, father.

Where's John?

Isn't he coming today?

Oh, uh, well, he...

he was, uh, detained.

He'll probably be at the house for dinner.

May your guardian angels

be right alongside your boys.

And if the going gets rough,

I hope they're a little out in front of us, father.

Yeah, doing a little blocking for us.

I'm going to miss you.

I'll drop by the house

and pick you two up later.

Where's your car?

We're just around the side here.

Well, I'll go around there with you.

Little more wine.

Oh, no, Dan, no...

now, now, this is not

gonna hurt you at all.

Hey, take it easy there, pop.

We don't want to leave with our mother under the table.

Yeah, she oughta stay sober.

Well, we've drunk to everything else,

let's, uh, let's have a toast to, uh,

well, to John

in absentia.

John'll show up, pop.

Don't get worried.

-There. -Sure.

He's probably down at the station now.

Yes?

It's Western union.

All right, I'll take it down.

Oh.

Not coming.

Mmmm.

Ten cents a word.

Not him. He uses $2 words.

Thank you.

He can't come at all.

Aw, that... that's tough.

"Due to sudden official business

am indeterminately detained here.

Try to make it next week.

Good luck to Chuck and Ben

and love to mother and dad."

I'd like to see that.

That "love to dad."

He really said it, Dan.

I sw...

believe me.

He said love, he meant for everybody.

Well, that's that.

Well, anyway, you fellas could make it.

Would have been so nice

if we'd all been together on this...

On their last...

Oh.

What time, what time?

Bet it's the padre.

Yes, or it'sa station wagon.

Oh, hello, father.

Is it that time?

Well, uh, if I were to drive the boys

all the way to asheville...

how are you, boys?

I think... I think we better be getting started.

This is the first time

you haven't been glad to see me,

but I understand.

I understand.

Well.

Write, you two.

Sure.

Sure, mom.

We'll send you an opium pipe.

So long, sweater girl.

You all right?

I'm fine.

Ouch.

Oh, Dr. carver.

Hello, Lucille.

Did you say, "come on in?"

Oh, yes.

Well, I was just going to.

Hi, doc.

Hello, Dan.

Come on in.

Well, who's sick?

Maybe he is.

Oh, I wanted to tell you

how sorry I am that I missed Ben and Chuck last week.

But half the county is having a baby binge.

Well, there's nobody sick here.

Well, there's nobody going to be.

Sit down and pay attention.

Well, what on earth?

Now an old back talk.

Mm-hmm.

With the boys off fighting a war,

a woman at your time of life

is going to be under a bigger strain

than she is already.

Now, these are good.

Proven it.

I want you to take three every day.

Go and take one right now.

And when they're gone, call me up.

I'll be seeing ya.

Now, you listen here.

You listen to him.

You have dizzy spells, don't ya?

Listen to the doctor, will ya?

Look at him.

Look, doctor,

if anything is happening to me,

wouldn't you say that it's just about

what's been happening

ever since wars and women began?

All I know is that women your age

sometimes bust up with far less reason.

Well, I'm not going to bust a bustle.

I'm not mentioning any names,

but I have two wrapped up in the rest home right now.

I bet I can guess who one of them is.

-Is it... -never mind.

Never mind.

Well, don't you let her get away with that.

I went to school with her.

You know, Lucille, I admire your attitude

and I agree with you.

What God intended.

She used to go to school on Saturdays.

Lu, will ya... will you do

what the doctor says?

Go take one of these right now.

All right, all right.

Good.

The frail little woman will do his biddin'.

Happy?

Doc.

What do you really think it is...

oh, now, Dan, Dan.

If anything ever happened to her, I...

don't worry.

You are!

Finally!

Hello, mother.

It's been almost a year now.

Let me look at ya.

Oh, I feel fine, mother.

Now wait a minute!

This is supposed to be a happy occasion!

Oh, here's your father.

Well, well, John.

Welcome home.

Thank you, father.

Ah, taller than a lamp post.

Well, you haven't changed much

that I can see, father.

I feel about the same.

John looks a little tired though,

don't you think?

Uh, no.

Looks good to me.

It's so good you could make it, John.

Too bad you couldn't make it last Sunday

'cause we had the kids home...

oh, now, that's all right. That's all right.

He sent a wire, he said goodbye to the boys.

Dr. carver's in here.

Oh.

Hello, Dr. carver.

What gives with you around here?

Oh, friendly call, no charge.

Good to see you again, John.

Looks like a young Uncle Sam himself,

doesn't he, doc?

How are things down in Washington, son?

Everybody's beginning to see things as they are,

aren't they?

Well, some of us, father,

are not so much interested in seeing things as they are,

as we are in seeing things the way we'd like them to be.

Well, just as long as you'd like them to be

for the old red, white, and blue,

it's all right with me.

Well, Dr. carver, nobody can ever say

that we weren't brought up

on those good old American bromides.

Well, the bromides can come in pretty handy sometimes,

can't they, doc?

Yes, even when our thinking gets shaky,

there's nothing better than good old bromides.

Oh, wait a minute.

Might as well keep it on,

I'm going to get mine now.

Where are we going?

Mass, eleven.

Unless you'd rather go at twelve.

No, no, eleven is fine.

What church are you going to

in Washington?

Saint Patrick's.

Well, I'm all in a cloud of bedsides.

Good luck, son.

Now, keep us going down there.

Doctor, you know in my catechism and cookie days

around here, I'm afraid I took you rather for granted.

Oh?

But I think you'll be interested to know

that I've learned to take my hat off

to science and to research.

Uhhuh.

Well, we fellas, that is, fellas smarter than I am,

uncover a lot of things that are new,

and different, and progress making.

But more and more,

some of us are beginning to realize

that someone put them there for us to discover.

Someone put them there.

Yes, I know, father.

Uh, somebody hides things around for us to find,

kind of like an old-fashioned egg hunt, huh?

To discover something is great,

but the wonder of creation...

you know, doc, I follow you.

I see what you mean.

Columbus discovered America,

but he didn't put it here.

Of course, Columbus is a great hero to us,

but I'll bet you that the Indians

weren't impressed with him.

Well, how could they be?

'Cause they were here before he was.

Did you ever think about that?

No, father, no, but I will.

Well, I'll see you all in the bomb shelter.

So long.

So long, doc.

I'm all ready, Dan.

Uh-huh, well, you better be.

Been having a little trouble

with your father lately.

You oughta hear him yak when I'm late.

Is that so, mother?

Here's your hat, father.

Still active, father?

Well, you're darn right we are.

I haven't missed a meeting, have I, mother?

No, he hasn't, John.

Our attendance has doubled recently

and we're alert.

We have to be.

We've been holding some special meetings, son,

and every now and then we send out for...

more beer?

No, John.

We send out for a speaker,

someone whom we feel knows more than we do

about what goes on in the world today.

We ask a lot of questions and...

and we're getting awful smart awful quick.

Were you gonna say something, mother?

Oh, I was going to say

that if your father's singing at eleven, we...

father's singing?

Will we be able to get a seat?

There might be a line.

Wait a minute for father o'dowd.

Oh, good morning.

Good morning, good morning.

Good morning.

Pardon me, Mrs. o'cahy.

Hello, John.

Father.

It's good to see you.

I've been following your career.

You've come a long way since you left Saint Joseph's.

Oh, thank you, father.

Good work, John, good work.

And speaking of good work,

your mother and her ladies sodality

have been more than generous to me.

Only last week, they gave me a brand new stove.

You should have seen the old one.

We had to pay the junk man to throw it in the ravine.

Your mother and the sodality,

they're always doing things like that for me.

That's a nice life you have, father.

What's that, John?

We take care of you in this world

and you promise to take care of us

in the next, huh?

Washington hasn't changed his sense of humor,

has it, father?

What do you hear from the other boys?

Well, nothing as yet.

Why don't you, um, pull the car around in front?

Sure, all right.

We enjoyed your sermon very much, father.

Didn't we, John?

Oh, yes, father, we did.

How you... how you took a little story

about the mustard seed and developed it

for 20 minutes.

It was wonderful.

Should we go, mother?

Goodbye, father.

Nice to see you.

Going to be able to spend much time with us, dear?

Oh, I intend to, mother.

Would you mind stopping, letting me off

at teachers college, father?

I won't be long, mother.

I've been expecting that.

Can't wait to see old, uh,

Professor, uh, toosis, can ya?

Can't even remember his name.

I just want to pay my respects and get his advice

on a talk I'm giving to the graduating class

at my old Alma mater.

Why, John, what an honor.

Could we be there?

We'd be so proud, wouldn't we?

Mmhmm.

Well, it's an awfully long trip, mother,

and time is so short.

I'll send you the speech

and you and father can read it.

That'll be nice.

Uh, take a left at the next corner, father.

Do you know that you can fly 500 Miles in 2 hours?

We could fly and hear John.

How 'bout surprising him, Dan?

Fly?

You and I?

Everybody flies nowadays.

We oughta keep up with the times.

Dr. carver said I should be nice to you,

didn't he?

Mmhmm.

Wouldn't cost too much, would it?

Oh, I should say not.

I hear some irishman advertising on the radio every day.

♪ You can fly any place in the United States ♪

♪ diddle-diddle-Dee- diddly-diddly-doo ♪

♪ and travel by air is much cheaper, too ♪

♪ phone wasuch too-ra-loo-ra-loo ♪♪

I'll do it for you.

But he didn't invite us.

We're lowbrow.

He'll probably invite his highbrow Professor.

But he can have his highbrow professors,

'cause if he prefers the...

what's the matter with ya?

I might ask you the same thing.

You hit me.

What's the matter, your breaks bad?

I just had 'em fixed.

You stopped.

I didn't stop, I just slowed down.

I had to see what street this was.

Well, you must be a stranger around here.

Yeah, yeah...

I don't care where you're from,

they don't drive like that.

Well, we don't have to get in a big hassle about it.

You just bent my Fender a little bit there.

Well, here's my driver's license

right there and here's my insurance card.

We don't need to go into all that.

Oh, yes, we do.

You drive like an idiot.

Well, I guess she's right.

That's my little wife.

How do you do?

Well, uh, no hard feelings.

No hard feelings.

We'll just forget all about it, huh?

Mother, you shouldn't have waited up!

Wanted to.

But I asked dad specifically to tell you to...

he waited up, too.

Oh.

Well, it's kind of like old times.

Waiting up for me to come home, isn't it?

I had a little work to do anyway.

Now, come on in.

Come on in, son.

There's your... your old chair.

Sit down, sit down.

Take the load off your feet.

Yes.

Remember how you used to sit there reading all night long

and I'd come down in the morning

and find you sound asleep.

We still have some of your old books.

Oh, mother, I'm terribly sorry about dinner,

but when the Professor and I get together, you know,

I haven't seen him in a year.

You haven't seen us either.

He means that we've just been dying

to talk to you, too.

Why don't you talk to your father

for a little while?

I have some...

I'll be back in a minute.

Oh, you're wonderful, mother.

Too bad that, uh, you weren't here last Sunday

to see Ben and Chuck off.

Those two are a riot.

Yes, mother wrote me all about it, father.

Oh, she did, huh?

Well, did she tell you about Chuck?

Mmhmm.

Eight pages, both sides.

What's the matter with you, son?

I mean, you seem nervous about something.

Is something bothering ya?

Feel fine.

Maybe a little tired.

Well, why don't you go on up to bed now

and go to sleep?

We can talk anytime.

Let's talk.

I'm looking forward to talking to you, father.

Talk, talk.

You know me, John.

All I know is what I read in the papers.

In the local papers, huh?

Well, our local paper's not so bad.

Our editor pulls off many a witticism.

I'm sure, father.

You just thought of one?

Yeah.

Yes, he had a...

he had a good one in there yesterday

about a thief who breaks in

to a communist propaganda office and he steals the...

he steals the results of next year's election.

You know, every day he puts one of those in a little box.

In a little box.

Did I miss out on something?

Oh, mother.

Father still has his sense of humor.

You still teaching

at the little red schoolhouse, father?

Oh, yes, yes.

Still teaching them the same down to earth...

- fundamentals. - That's right.

- Dan's been - working on his speech

for the legion.

He's running for commander of the post.

Maybe he could help you with it, huh?

- Who? - John.

Well, I'd love to, father.

You know, add some little colorful touches.

Put some bows on it.

Why do I want some bows on it for?

Oh, well, father, she doesn't mean that.

I think mother means that maybe you'd like

to take advantage of your investment in me.

What's your thesis, father?

What's your subject?

Uh, my subject is, "where are we headed?"

Hm, well,

where are we headed, father?

That's what I'd like to know, son.

Well, how can you tell them

what you'd like to know?

I've got it.

You've got what?

What do you mean?

That's what I'd like to know

is what you mean, father.

Where are we headed?

I know where we're headed.

Well, good.

So far, you haven't said anything yet

that's gonna get you any votes.

But don't worry, I've got it.

It's all here, it's packed with dynamite.

Well, it sure is loud.

Well, it might be loud, yes.

You oughta come over,

it'd do ya good.

Here's some of the singing that we do at the finish

because we've got one particular song

that I'd love to walk into a commie meeting

300 strong and give it to 'em full blast.

♪ If you don't like your Uncle Sammy ♪

♪ then go back to your home o'er the sea ♪

♪ to the land from whence you came ♪

♪ no matter what its name ♪

♪ but don't be ungrateful to me ♪

♪ if you don't like the stars in old glory ♪

♪ if you don't like the red, white, and blue ♪

♪ then don't act like the cur in the story ♪

♪ don't bite the hand that's feeding you ♪♪

Oh, father.

Rousing words.

Great, father.

Oh, I'll read your speech.

Oh, gosh, I've got to learn this.

We've gotta do it together.

♪ If you don't like your Uncle Sammy ♪

♪ then go back to the land o'er the sea ♪

♪ I didn't get your name, go back from where you came ♪

♪ and don't be ungrateful to me ♪♪

Mother!

I thought you might like a snack.

Oh, you needn't of done that.

I thought you might get hungry, stranger.

You still eat, don't you?

You're working on father's speech?

Mmhmm.

Making a few suggestions.

Good.

I want to talk to you.

Tell me all about yourself,

tell me about everything.

Can't we talk just a little bit,

like old times.

Of course, mother, why not?

I don't know.

But somehow I just have a feeling

that we're not as close this time

as we always were.

What's happened to my boy?

Well, he's grown up, mother.

Boys do grow up, you know?

You're aware of the silver cord, mother.

It must be severed, you know.

Yes, I was there at the time.

Oh, John, let's you and me talk sense.

Silver cord, fiddle-Dee-Dee.

I...

I don't want to intrude,

but we don't have to be strangers either, do we?

Oh, no, mother.

All right then.

Have you got a girl?

Well, sentimentalizing

over the biological urge

isn't really a guarantee

of human happiness, dear.

Ah.

Now you've got me as mixed up

as you had your father.

Oh, and speaking of...

you were rude to your father tonight, John.

No, I think you're wrong.

Oh, no, I know your face, John.

I've looked into it too many years

not to know it.

I know every line.

Every curve of that mouth.

Been stealing any pennies lately?

You're not going back that far,

are you?

You haven't forgotten!

Oh, no.

Oh, how everybody thought you were so sick

when you didn't go to school.

I knew what was bothering you.

I brought you right into this room, didn't I?

-Right here. -Yes

and I said, "it's all right, John,

I was saving them for you anyway."

And then those eyes filled with tears.

And all of a sudden you weren't sick anymore.

You've got to begin to accept the fact

that I'm no longer a baby.

You've got to get used to the idea.

You were the gurglingest baby.

Well, there you go again.

Ah, I used to put you on my knee

and bounce you up and down.

Up and down.

Teedle-deedle dumplin'

my son John went to bed with his stockings on.

One shoe off and one shoe on,

teedle-deedle dumplin'

my son John.

And you said, "do it again, mommy,

do it again, mommy."

Teedle-deedle dumplin'

my son John went to bed...

I got tired on this knee,

and I put you on this knee.

Teedle-deedle dumplin'

my son John went to bed

with his stockings...

you used to wear me out.

Do it again, mother.

You're joking.

No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

Oh, I can...

Well, that's the same look

that you had when you were talking

to your father.

-Oh, mother. -Oh, no.

I don't understand.

No, John.

Not with me.

It's me.

You remember me?

Oh...

When it gets to the stage where you're making fun

of a mother's love...

oh, no,mother.

II... I guess I'm just like all the other mothers.

I can't take it.

Making fun of my lullaby.

Spoiling my memories.

Oh, but I didn't mean it, mother.

Oh, yes, you did.

With all my heart, I didn't.

Well, then don't...

don't act "like the cur in the story."

♪ Don't bite the hand that's feeding you ♪

You're laughing.

I made you...

well, you can still do that, can't you?

Well, if it takes my tears to make you laugh,

that's all right, I don't care.

Well, if it isn't the nice young man

with the bent Fender.

That's right.

Did you come to laugh about it?

Well, no, I, uh, the, uh...

I was playing cowboy and Indians

with the neighbor's child

and trying to do my work at the same time.

What do you want?

Oh, oh, well, it's about that, um,

the... the bent Fender, you know?

It came to a little more than I expected.

It, uh, was, um, $18...

don't choke over it.

No, I'm not... and 70 odd cents.

I see, that's why you're here.

Well, you know, after all,

$18 is $18.

Oh, I know, I know,

with taxes the way they are.

Well, yes, you have to, uh,

make a lot more than...

Well.

Your attitude's a little different

from what it was yesterday.

Well, yesterday, I didn't...

well, yesterday you just said,

"forget all about it."

Well, I, uh...

Would pick a time when my husband wasn't here.

What makes you presume that it was our fault?

Well, I think that's a rather natural presumption.

Oh, yes, Sunday Christian, huh?

Well, I... I mean, I'm just drivin' along

minding my business when, boom,

it's a crash and I look back

and then at you.

Whose fault do you think that was?

Why didn't you look where you were going?

Look?

You hit me from behind.

After all, I haven't got eyes

in my rear.

No?

Well, I... I mean, I, you know,

I can't... I can't see what's in back of me.

I thought that's what you meant.

You meet some peculiar people nowadays.

A lot of pettiness in the world,

don't you think so?

Lady, there's nothing petty about $18.

It was the 70 odd cents that made me...

who could that be?

I don't think we hit anybody else yesterday.

Hope you didn't have any trouble

at the front door.

Well, no, that, um,

that was a present from my two sons.

They're in the service.

Yes, they were here last week.

We had a sort of, um, farewell dinner.

Well, I...

oh, but pardon me,

you want to fight the battle

of 18.70, what is it?

It does seem a little silly

to squabble about a repair bill

when boys like yours are...

oh, you've got another side.

Yeah.

Maybe you'd like to squabble over a cup of coffee.

Yeah, I'd like that.

Come in.

Bring the bill.

I got it.

That's what my boys sent me.

Well, that's... that's beautiful.

I'm just dying to try it on.

Why don't you?

I think I will.

That's nice.

Mmhmm.

Madame butterfly.

Darn.

What's the matter?

You're about as sad as poor butterfly.

It's, uh,

it's only that this was sent from San Francisco.

That's a harbor, isn't it?

That's where ships sail from?

Yeah.

Well, that was a welcome interruption.

Yes?

Cleaner.

Yes, it is.

Where's Mrs. Jefferson?

Oh, she's, uh, on the phone.

I'll take it.

Yes?

No, he isn't here now.

Who is calling, please?

Uh-huh.

Wouldn't you think people would leave their names?

These are my two boys.

The ones that, uh...

yeah.

Look like a great pair of halfbacks.

Yes.

This one used to pass to that one.

Yes, he'd fade way back.

Oh, yeah, to give him a chance

to get down the field.

Uhhuh.

And then...

Boom, touchdown.

You have two fine boys, all right.

Oh, we have another son, John.

He's the bright one in the family.

He has more degrees than a thermometer.

I said there was only one bright one in the family.

He's brilliant though, really.

He's going to give the commencement address

at his university.

Oh, that John Jefferson.

Well, he is...

he's just famous, that's all.

He doesn't know it,

but his father and I are going to be there

to hear him.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Well, I may be there myself.

That's my Alma mater, too.

-Oh? -Mm-hmm.

Well, uh, does...

he doesn't live here with you now then.

No, he's just visiting.

He's in Washington.

That phone call, that was for him.

Oh.

That was long distance

from Washington.

He has a great career ahead of him.

Well, it seems you have three fine sons,

Mrs. Jefferson.

Mmhmm.

God was good to me.

Oh, I don't know,

I think he was pretty good to those boys, too.

You're a wonderful mother.

Is your mother still living?

I have a wonderful mother, too.

Nothing petty about her.

Oh, you shouldn't have done that.

You never would have got it anyway.

Mother?

Yes, John?

Hi.

Oh, you said you'd be home early.

Have a good day?

Mm, fine.

Well, my day was...

little lonely?

Oh, I'm sorry, mother.

I promise that I'll see more of you.

You do, John.

You had a long distance phone call

from Washington, D.C.

Oh.

Uh, who was it?

They didn't leave any name.

What did he, um, did he leave any message?

It was a girl, John.

You've got a girl, John?

Oh, no, mother,

it was probably just a routine call

from the office.

No, it was a payphone.

I heard her drop a lot of money in.

No message?

No, she said she'd call back later.

Mmhmm.

Where's father?

He's, uh, going over your notes.

Oh.

Well, I hope I was of some help

on his speech.

Well, uh, he didn't say...

John?

Father.

How's your supper coming?

Oh, fine.

Well, I'm sorry that I missed you

this morning, father.

Well, it was as much my fault

as yours, son.

I ate in haste, I had to leave.

Well, uh, did you find my notes useful?

That's what I wanted to talk to you about, John.

I hope you got my points, father,

because I didn't want you to be saying things

that you didn't mean.

Now, you know, I realize as well as you

that the legion is a great force for good

and caution must be shown to avoid the danger

of a misuse of their power.

Well, don't you think fighting men can think?

Or do you think they just bleed well?

Oh, father.

Well, then what happened to my first line?

We legionnaires must fight to keep the power in the people

and if we let the state give us freedom,

it also has the power to take it away.

You, uh, you didn't find any substitute for that,

you just, uh, marked that out with a blue pencil.

Put your line back.

Darn right I will.

Put the wholespeech back,

it's all right with me.

That's whati intend to do.

I said, "when the state denies God given rights

and regards itself as a source of liberty,

freedom is doomed."

That isn't even your idea, is it?

No, I copied it.

What difference does that make?

Copying it doesn't make it right.

I copied it right.

Just wait there.

John.

Oh, father, let's not go into it anymore.

No, I've... I've got another subject for ya.

As your father, you and I are going to have a talk.

A good talk, away from your mother,

and it's about you, son.

Well, if you'd enjoy it, father.

Well, I don't know whether you will.

As I told you, we're alert

and we are alert.

You just said that.

Yes.

And you sound to me like one of those guys

that we should be alert about.

One of those guys, father?

I just said that you sounded like one,

I didn't say that you...

'cause if I thought that you really were, you know,

I'd take you out in the backyard

and I'd give it to ya both barrels.

No trial, huh?

Nah, you're off on the wrong slant.

And you know what I'm talking about

'cause as your father, I wanna know

where you're at it.

Well, I can help you there.

I'm headed for the bathroom.

Wash my hands and clean up for dinner.

Well, I'll go with you.

Yes?

Yes, it is.

Yes, he's here now.

Just a moment.

Thanks, mom.

Hello?

Yes.

Uh, lu,

I'm sorry, but I'm going on down

to the legion now.

Well, what about supper?

I'll eat something when I get home.

Oh, but you must have a bite.

Well, I'm not hungry.

Oh, I'll hurry it up.

Now, look, the meeting isn't till 8:00.

You have two whole hours.

Well, it'll take me two hours

to get my speech back the way it was.

All right, see you later, son.

Good luck, Dan.

Thanks, I can use it.

I can hear ya now.

Yes.

Yes.

I heard you.

I heard...

yes, goodbye.

Oh, I... I... I know how you feel, mother.

Do you?

I don't understand father's attitude toward me.

That's because you're not a father.

With a son like me?

You look worried, John.

What, was it that phone call that did it?

Well, it was important, yes, mother,

but, well, don't, uh,

let's not go into how I look again.

All right.

I... I made... I made a cocktail

in case anybody was in the mood.

Good, let's keep it bright.

I made enough for three, but...

you know, I... I don't like

to get back to father again, mother, but...

if you didn't, I would.

He's so troubled, John.

You know, when we left you off at the university...

Yes?

Well, um, he was so mad

that you'd rather talk to highbrow professors

that he smashed right into another car.

Oh, he did?

Was it father's fault?

Well, he claimed that the other fella

stopped too fast.

Well, what did you think?

Oh, it doesn't matter.

Man came by here today with his bill,

but I talked him out of it.

He finally tore it up.

Oh, he finally tore it up.

Well, um, did you...

did you have to do a lot of talking?

Oh, I certainly did.

He was downright ornery at first.

Well, I turned him into a nice fella.

You know, warmed him up with some coffee.

Well, you two had quite a chat.

Yes, we had quite a chat.

I told him about Ben and Chuck,

what great athl...

about this fellow, uh,

did he...

I was talking about your brothers.

You keep wanting to talk about this fella.

What's the matter, John?

Does it bother you that I talk too much

to strangers?

Oh, no!

It's just that, well, it does seem odd

that the fellow would come all of this way

merely to tear up his bill.

Yes.

It is a little bit odd.

Well, that's what I meant.

Maybe.

Now I'm bothered.

I told him about you.

He seemed very interested.

You know me, John,

when I get started about you.

Oh, yes, mother.

Did you, uh, did you start

when I was a boy with a penny jar?

No.

I did...

Quite a lot of talking though.

Here it is, John.

-Hm? -Remember?

Yes.

Oh, my pills, I forgot.

What are they for, mother?

Modern science has pills

for women of my age, John.

For, uh, people who forget where they put 'em.

They're supposed to insure us

against going goofy.

Goof insurance.

Oh.

I told Dr. carver that I'd just as soon

put my faith in God and what he intended.

I'd go along with science, too, mother,

and take those little tablets.

What about Moses and the tablets he left us?

With the prescription written right on them.

Oh, mother, you don't need any pills.

No.

I always got my strength from two books,

both very nourishing in their own way.

The cookbook and the Bible.

Remember how I used to trick you

into learning this one with this one.

I'd say to you, "I'll make you, um,

cookies, pies, cakes, and jam,

if you'll learn Matthew, mark, Luke, and John."

We had a kind of a deal, remember?

Mmhmm.

John, what is the matter with you?

Oh, mother, I've got more important things

on my mind than cakes and cookies.

And Luke and John.

I, um, I've got to make a phone call, mother.

Lehigh 2-4-1-1, please.

I'm sorry, mother.

Um, what time is your next plane for New York?

Not until 12?

Yeah, I know, but I've got to get there right away.

I mean, I've got to get there

before nine in the morning.

Oh, father.

I'm sorry to be popping in on you at this hour,

but you heard my announcement

about the clothing drive.

Oh, my bundle isn't ready yet, father.

Oh, I have a lot of things for you,

especially now since Ben and Chuck are gone,

but I have to go clear up in the attic

to get them.

Will tomorrow be all right?

Well, I suppose it'll have to be.

I've been thinking about that joke

that was told me Sunday.

You know, the one about everybody helping me

in this world and then trying to find me in the next.

The joke has questionable merit

and if John thinks what I...

he's on the phone.

Oh, hello, John!

Hi, father.

I'm doing a little work for the poor.

John?

What?

I'm trying to help out a few people

in this world, too.

-Goodnight, father. -Goodnight.

Well, I know, but I could, uh,

what if I got the car and...

well, then how much further is that

from your field?

Damn.

All right, yes.

Bye.

Come in.

Mother?

All packed?

Yes.

I wish I could leave with you feeling better.

You could.

I'm all right.

I listened, John,

when your father was saying

some awful things to you.

Oh, well, that's terrible, mother.

No wonder you were so upset.

I still am.

Well, don't let father poison your thinking.

I'm sure that I can clear this up

in your mind.

Do, John.

Father is muddled, mother.

He thinks in the past.

The world at this point is in a turmoil

and muddled thinking like father's

certainly isn't going to help.

Young thinkers are dreaming of the future, mother,

what's ahead of us.

Why not?

Go ahead.

Our only hope is to learn to live with our fellow man.

The globe is getting smaller, mother.

We're living closer to each other.

We must tear down our spite fences

and learn to live with our neighbors.

That's good, John.

Tear down our spite fences,

love thy neighbor.

Go on, I go along with you so far.

Good.

Now father thinks...

what do you think?

I love humanity, mother.

I love the downtrodden,

the helpless minorities.

Good, John.

That's what I tried to teach you.

You know by heart that we must labor

to help the weak, like Saint Paul said.

No one can tell me that an early religious training

doesn't show itself.

Good.

I know everything that you stand for, mother,

and what I'm striving for

is an intelligent and practical way

to bring into existence

a new and better ordered world.

Wewe did understand each other,

didn't we?

Yes.

Remember how I pleaded

for your education?

How they teased me that you were my favorite.

You're part of me

and it's always been my prayer

that whatever's good in me

would be a part of you.

I had dreams myself, John,

of great things to be done.

But a wife and mother doesn't have much time

for more than put off till tomorrow.

I... I hoped, John, that...

You'd see that someday

my tomorrows would come through,

some of them.

We talk the same language

and we think the same way.

Of course we do.

But, now, try to understand me.

Everything that we agree on, you and I,

I warn you, this is liberal thinking.

So what?

If we think this way, we're leftists,

communists, subversive.

That's ridiculous.

Well, of course it is,

but that's the way father thinks.

Oh, he doesn't mean that.

Aw, I know, mother.

Father's wonderful.

And I'd do anything to convince him

that he's so wrong about me.

Well, just tell him what you told me, John.

Oh, mother, I couldn't get that through his head.

I... I want to prove once and for all

how ridiculous his suspicions are.

I'd go to any lengths, mother,

for your sake.

I would swear on a stack of bibles.

You would?

Well, it's just an expression.

But so expressive.

That'll do it.

Oh, I'm beginning to feel better already.

You know how religious your father is,

wait till we tell him.

Go ahead.

Oh, mother.

Go ahead.

How does it go?

Oh, mother.

I swear that I am not now

or ever have been a member

of the communist party.

Feel better?

I can't wait for your father to come home.

I'm a little relieved myself.

You can't blame me now.

Well, you really were worried, mother.

Well, it alarmed me, you know?

You kept talking about this fellow

with a silly bill.

I thought it had something to do with you.

Well, what does this fellow got to do with me?

I don't know.

I mean, I didn't...

you mean my telephone conversation,

my having to leave suddenly

has got something to do with this man in the...

yes, yes, yes.

Oh, mother, I'm ashamed of you.

I'm ashamed.

Well, you see, that just shows you

what one remark like father's can do.

Oh, I'd hate to tell you what I was thinking.

Your brain was racing, huh?

Was it.

Well, now, you...

you get out of here.

I'm going to get dressed

and I'm going to get you something to eat.

Oh, mother, no, I'm not hungry.

Anyway, I should be calling my cab,

you know?

Oh.

Well, meeting broke up early?

No, no, I left early.

What are you up to?

Well, I was just calling a cab, father.

I have to leave suddenly.

Oh, is that so?

Wasn't much of a visit, was it?

Did what I had to say in there cause you to...

oh, no, no, father.

How was your speech?

Eh, you know that crowd.

They, uh, they're not too bright.

They applauded me.

Where's your mother?

She'll be down in a minute.

Will you and I have time to finish our talk?

It'll have to be brief, father,

because my cab is on the way.

Well, it can be.

And if you won't remember where you were,

I know where I was.

It's your turn to talk,

so think over what you're gonna say

and I'll see how your mother is.

Well, John, I...

Hm.

Mm-hmm.

Hm.

This, uh,

this is the Bible that your mother taught...

forgive me, son, if I look a little fuddled...

well, that's all right, father.

Your mother just told me about you,

about the talk that you'd had together.

She told me that she'd heard us.

Or heard you, father.

Well, anyway, she believes in you.

You've made her very happy, son,

and I'm glad because

I've tried to make things pleasant for her.

Dr. carver, he told me...

father, try a little harder, will you?

Because you brought this on

by leaping to the accusation...

no, I never accused you.

Oh, yes, you did, father.

No, I just said that you...

that you talk like a scummy.

Uhhuh and mother heard it,

so now she's upset.

Well, anyway, I hope that this settles the whole thing.

I mean, I can't do any more

than swear on mother's Bible,

so I hope that we can now forget

everything that's happened, huh?

I hope so, yes.

But, if you were, uh...

yes, father, go ahead.

What?

Well, if you were,

then the Bible wouldn't mean a thing,

would it, huh?

A whole stack of bibles.

Well, there you go again.

I know, I know.

Father, open your mind

and let this in, will you?

The church, they'd believe me.

The courts, they'd believe me.

Mother believes me, but you don't.

Mmmm, not yet.

Do you believe in the Bible?

Well, now, father,

do you believe every page?

I mean Jonah and the whale...

I believe every page, son.

Jonah and the whale...

even the pages you don't understand.

I believe in those, too.

That's faith.

That certainly is, father.

You mean you believe in heaven and hell's fire...

I sure as there's a hell do.

Listen, son,

take the first commandment.

Do you believe in the lord thy God?

What about honoring your father and mother?

That's the fourth commandment.

Well, you're making that one difficult.

What's you're doing to that one.

Oh, father.

What page was that on?

I don't know what page it's on.

You made me do it.

What have you done, Dan, what have you done?

You hit your son!

Well, he was just trying to pound

some religion into me, mother.

He tripped over the table.

Will you get out of here?

Dan, will you get... come on, come on, come on.

Oh, please...

get on down to the legion.

Now don't get yourself, lu, all excited.

Put it on.

Yes, mother, I'll put the coat on,

but I wish you wouldn't get yourself...

and your hat, now, go on.

Put the hat on.

Maybe they've got some more beer left.

There is.

A whole barrel of it.

So you're against me, too.

Guess I'm just too dumb to get it.

No, you're not dumb, Dan.

You just aren't very bright.

Hitting your own son.

No, I didn't hit him,

I just merely pushed him...

get out of here.

'Cause he's clumsy.

Well, I'll have to go

and change, mother...

I know you will...

I know... wait a minute.

Just let me...

let me sterilize it for you.

Oh, mother, you don't have to.

Put a band-aid on it or something.

Oh, that's an ugly thing.

Well, I told you that this would happen.

I know you did, I know.

I just can't talk to him.

Well, there's my cab, mother.

Here, I'll do it.

Well, I've gotta change my pants anyway.

And I've gotta catch the plane

before midnight.

Call a cab?

Yes, be there in a minute.

I'll get it, mother.

Hello?

Ben!

Well, how are you?

Where are you?

Oh, Chuck with you?

Well, I just came down to pay a visit

to mother and dad.

Chuck, how are ya?

Hiya, boy.

You keep up the fight

in the home front, won't ya, John?

Yes, yeah, I'll be in there punching.

Well, good luck to both of you.

And I'll put somebody on

so you can get your money's worth.

Hello, Chuck.

You in San Francisco?

I got the kimono, it's wonderful.

I was a little disappointed though,

no opium pipe.

She got the kimono.

Hi, mom.

Hello, Ben.

Chuck says you may be leaving soon.

I hope you're on a slow boat.

Goodbye, boys.

Goodbye, mom!

Byebye.

They're leaving, John.

I won't hear those voices again

for a long time.

Well, mother, maybe we'll have

a lasting peace one day soon.

Oh, you fight for that, John,

in your way, and say a prayer

for Ben and Chuck.

I'm gonna light two candles for them,

I'll light one for you, too.

Good. Bye.

Now, don't forget you're my tomorrows, John.

What's the matter, dear?

Goodbye.

Oh, your knee.

Oh, it's all right.

Soso many things on my mind.

What are you gonna do about the trousers?

Oh, they're ruined.

Throw them away.

Give them to father o'dowd.

Goodbye.

And you drive carefully now.

-So long! -Or I'll school you!

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'll fix that.

You look like you finished the barrel.

People who aren't so bright can hold a lot.

Dan, I blew up.

I'm sorry I threw you out of the house.

That is a commie specialty.

-What? -Breaking up homes.

I may not be bright, but I know that.

I'll have to talk to you in the morning.

John stands for everything I do.

It may take me a little time,

but he loves humanity, Dan.

He may love humanity, but he's not for his old man.

I'm a human being, I'm human.

No crying, jagna.

Can't stand anybody that looks into the future.

You can't even stand.

I'm all right.

John explained it all so clearly, Dan.

You're suspicious of anybody

that has liberal views.

Saint Paul was a liberal...

leave Saint Paul out of this.

You leave the lamp alone.

Listen.

Let's just stick to John's kind of liberalism, hm?

They just caught one of his kind

down in Washington.

But you don't mean for a minute to infer...

she knows a lot of people

that talk just like our son John.

That's the beer talking.

No, it isn't.

I switched to bourbon.

You're in fine shape

to teach little children

in the morning.

I'm not teaching little children

in the morning.

I'm not teaching little children anymore.

I quit.

What's the use of teaching honesty, goodness,

love of home and country? Hm?

Nobody gives a hang.

Oh, some mothers are very interested

in report cards.

Good grades, not character,

high marks.

Fathers, they just don't care.

I take that back.

One father did come to the school.

He wanted me fired.

He heard that I had mentioned God

in the classroom.

His little son of a...

father like that snitched on me.

I must teach his little stool pigeon

reading, writing, and 'rithmetic.

Just suppose that he gets excellent in the three r's

and he gets a goose egg for character.

Reading, excellent.

But if he reads nothing about his faith,

whatever it might be,

his head will be as empty as...

as John thinks mine is.

Take writing.

There's a lot of good writing on bad checks.

Forgers have excellent penmanship.

Am I boring you?

Oh, go to bed, you big lummox.

Tell me in the morning why you hit your son.

I'll tell you now and then I'll go to bed.

I saw red when he said that i made it difficult for him

to honor his father and his mother.

It's wrong.

He honors his mother.

And so do I.

I honor you, lu.

But he makes fun of...

oh.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

But he makes fun of his father.

You saw how he acted when I sang my song.

♪ If you don't like your Uncle Sammy ♪

♪ then go back... ♪♪

Now who's breaking up our home?

If I broke anything, I'll fix it.

I just wanted to show you

how silly your son behaves.

Where does he get his awkwardness?

You know, I've been thinking.

I'm not going to quit.

I'm going back to school in the morning

and keep on teaching little children.

Hello?

Yes.

Yes.

Hello, John.

How thoughtful of you to brighten up my day.

It's too bad your father isn't here

so you could talk to him.

Well, John, I know how busy you are

and this is expensive,

but believe me it was worth it, dear.

And I hope that your day is as bright

as you've made mine.

Goodbye.

What?

Oh.

Your trousers?

Those old things?

Well, I gave them to father o'dowd

like you told me to.

Why? Did you leave anything in them?

John, you seem upset.

Is that why you called?

All right.

All right, I'll get them.

I w... I will.

I'll get them this evening.

Right away.

All right.

Your father has the car, but I'll walk over.

All right.

Well, it was good to get to talk to you, John.

Goodbye.

What is the reason for this visit, Mr.?

You didn't tell me your name before.

Suppose you start right off by doing that this time.

It's stedman, Mrs. Jefferson.

Federal bureau of investigation.

Mm-hmm.

No, I won't, uh, take your hat.

I have a feeling that you're not going to stay long.

Would you mind if I sit down?

I don't care.

I'm aware this is a shock to you

and I... I don't want to frighten you.

I'm not at all frightened, Mr. stedman.

I seem to... to startle you.

Naturally.

When you showed me who you are.

No, no, even before that.

I... I thought that you looked, uh,

you looked more shocked when you saw me

than when you found out who I am.

Well, suppose you say why you're here

and I'll try to have the right expression.

It's about John.

What's he d...

what do you think he's done?

I'm not sure that he's done anything.

Well, you won't be any more sure

by talking to me.

I don't see why I should tell you anything anyway.

Well, you're within your rights to refuse.

Were you within your rights

when you wormed your way...

that's right, you wormed your way,

into my confidence so I'd do a lot of talking.

I know that... that our methods

are very often criticized

by certain sources because we're after them

day and night.

But nobody objects to a firm

that protects its business

by investigating your credit.

Insurance outfits have to protect themselves

by thorough investigations.

Well, I... I've always

had great respect for you people,

up to now.

Do you... you care to answer any questions?

Or not?

Like, for instance?

I'd like to know why John left suddenly.

Well, I know why.

He had a perfectly good reason

for leaving suddenly.

But I see no reason why I should tell you.

I know this, though,

I'm leaving suddenly.

I have a lot of things to do.

I haven't done my shopping yet.

I've got a lot of things i have to do.

You can stay around though,

it's all right.

Look the house over.

Oh, you'll find my beds aren't made.

I haven't done my housework yet,

thanks to you.

Oh.

There you are, father.

Oh, hello, there!

Did you come over to help us?

I want you to see this.

Now there's something that anybody could use.

Mrs. mooney gave me that.

Oh, the woman has a heart of gold.

Father, I want something back.

You Indian giver.

Well, you know those trousers I gave you?

They're John's and he wants them back.

Then he's the Indian giver.

Perhaps he left something in them.

No, I, uh, I asked him that

and he said no.

They seem worthless to me.

Well, we'll find them if they're here.

Here's some of my stuff.

Would you have any idea what color they were?

Yes, they were... they were gray.

-Gray. -Flannel.

Flannel.

They had a little stripe in them, I think.

Gray flannel with a little stripe in them.

There's gray flannel with a little stripe in them,

but, uh, that's a coat.

Is there any other kind of a hint

that you could give me or a clue?

Yes, there is.

Here they are.

Well, they're not much, are they?

Well, to me, those trousers

are a complete ruin.

That's what I tried to tell him.

How in the world did he ever do that?

Hehe... he sort of tripped.

He had a nasty fall.

Well, I don't care who his tailor is,

he'll never fix that up so they look like

their Sunday best.

Well, they're good material though, you know?

Oh, yes, they are good mat...

oh, he could fix it, he could.

Of course he'd have to sit back of a desk all the time.

I'll tell you what you could do.

You could cut them off right there.

Make short pants of them.

Oh, I noticed Sunday when I talked to John,

he's changed considerable since he wore short pants.

But I've always said he was the best altar boy

I've ever had.

He not only served the mass,

but he had sort of a, well, a nuance.

He looked good doing it,

like a notre dame quarterback.

And on the other hand, you'll take Chuck and Ben.

When they served the mass...

now look at ya.

The minute I mention Chuck and Ben.

Goodbye, father.

Goodbye.

Will you do that?

Excuse me just a moment.

Arbie's?

Just a moment.

Telephone.

Yeah?

She got in, huh?

It looks like it.

Well, she'll either come to see me

or go to that other place.

Yeah, well, there's a nice view

of the city right through there.

And here's the capitol over here.

And, uh, down through here

there's a little park that, um...

Oh, you're tired, mother.

Why don't you sit down?

Now, tell me, how did you get here?

I flew.

No! How did you get up enough nerve

to get on a plane?

Oh, I haven't.

You seemed so anxious to have these in a hurry.

Oh, but you didn't have to...

well?

Oh, mother, you could've mailed them.

I mean, I merely wanted...

the trousers, yeah.

Not particularly glad to see me,

just glad to see the trousers, huh?

Oh, mother, the trousers.

I'm tickled to see you.

I'm just...

well, I'm just surprised

that you'd fly all the way down here.

Yeah.

Well, things work out for the best, don't they?

Here I made such a fuss over these trousers

and now I'm kind of glad I did,

got to see you.

You know, when you told me

that you had to walk all that way

it worried me and I called you back

to tell you to take a cab on me,

but there wasn't any answer.

Oh, I was gone, I...

But there was somebody there.

He...

no, I guess maybe he was gone, too.

Who?

That man you're not worried about.

He came back.

As long as you're not worried about him,

his name is stedman.

He came back.

Well, then you brought these trousers down

just so you could talk about him, hm?

You know, I've been thinking about him.

He could have been with the FBI,

you know, on one of those routine loyalty checks.

We shouldn't resent it.

I mean, after all, it's their duty

to investigate and protect us.

And they're having to work overtime these days,

you know, I mean, they have to.

Oh, I... I, uh, I see what you mean, mother.

My gosh.

But it's amazing, you know,

what our weavers can...

Um.

Mother, what was that man's name again?

You mean stedman, don't you?

Can't I help you anymore?

Don't deceive me, John.

If there's anything wrong,

if you just tell me, you know,

then maybe I could help.

What are you looking for?

Is it a key?

Well, I thought maybe that there was a key

in my trousers, mother, and I thought maybe

that you might have it.

It's the key to my apartment.

But, darling, it's of no importance.

John, darling,

is it of no importance?

Mother, it's of no importance whatsoever.

I mean, I lose it so many times.

You know, I hate to keep asking the landlady

for another.

Do you have it?

Yes, I do, I have the key, John.

Well, that's why i called you back.

No.

It was to take a cab.

Mmhmm.

But I also wanted to tell you

about the key, too.

I feel faint.

I'm sick.

Oh, mother.

I hate to rush you, John,

but without you,

the committee's just sitting there.

Mother, now I'm in the middle

of a big conference right now,

but I'll break that up

and take the rest of the day off, hm?

No, it can't be.

Thought that was you and then I said to myself,

"now what in the world can she be doing

in Washington?"

Well, I still say what are you doing

in Washington?

Came down to see my son.

Please don't ask a lot of things

you know already.

May I ask if you're going back

to see him again?

Yes, I am.

He's just going to be busy

for the next hour and a half.

And I could ask... oh, excuse me.

Well, as long as you have some time on your hands,

you certainly picked out a nice spot here.

I guess you know that's Jefferson's memorial over there.

He called this liberty of ours

a gift of God.

The words are inscribed on the memorial.

That's the Washington monument

and, um,

the Lincoln memorial.

No, you can't see that from here.

That's just over there beyond those trees.

And then, uh, beyond that across the river

is Arlington cemetery.

That's famous for those who gave their lives

for us.

Well, how are those two fighting halfbacks

of yours?

Have you heard from them?

They sailed.

Now we have to fight on the home front

for those two.

They're fighting for everything

these dead held dear

and the living should.

Whatwhat are you trying to do?

Fire up my patriotism?

II just want you to appreciate

that everything I've done on this case

I've done to preserve the things

that you and...

what case?

This case, Mrs. Jefferson.

Do you think my boy is mixed up in this?

Oh, if you thought for one moment.

Oh, he couldn't possibly.

Did, um, did John ever get any phone calls

when he was down at the house?

Yes, he...

you were there.

We have this miss carlin

down here in the district jail.

I think it might be a good idea

if you listen to her voice

and, you see, you have plenty of time.

I have my car up here.

I warn you, it wasn't a very good connection.

I remember that.

So I picked her up after she left you.

I felt sorry for her.

Had to have our little joke.

Couldn't say she was glad to meet me.

Hoped she would never see me again.

She wanted to make sure

that you weren't going to follow her.

She'll turn here in a minute.

Mm-hmm.

She watched you go around the corner.

There's the mothers' instinct

for you.

Still taking no chances of being followed.

Smitty picked her up here

in his car.

Then carlin's apartment

is over here on the left, huh?

That's right.

We, uh, we had two hidden cameras

outside Ruth's apartment up here.

Mmhmm.

See, one was hung from the fire escape

and we picked her up coming in the hall.

Yeah.

Look at that.

Look at her hand shake.

I don't blame her.

Mine would, too.

She knows now.

She had all of her chips on this one son.

Got a real problem on her hands now.

I picked her up here later in the park,

sitting on that bench.

The beating she's taken.

I'm gonna have to ask her questions.

She being a truthful woman,

every answer is going to incriminate her son.

It's gonna be quite a test.

God and country or her son, John.

She's headed for the airport now

and home.

So am I, on the next plane out.

Lu?

Lucille?

Hey, lu.

What's the matter?

What have you been up to?

What's happened?

I flew to Washington, Dan.

To see John.

You flew to...

Well, I thought we were going to fly together

to see him.

You beat me to it.

You went to apologize for me, huh?

Maybe you're just a little air sick, dear.

I am a little sick, Dan.

I had to see John.

I'm sorry, lu.

About everything.

I brought this all on

by hitting my own son.

Hitting him was just like hitting you,

wasn't it, dear?

How could a man be so dumb?

No, you're not, Dan.

Look, I know, I'm just not very bright.

You never said it truer.

You are the brightest and dearest.

You've got more wisdom than all of us

because you listen to your heart.

You're not blinded by it, but you think with it, too.

Clear and honest and clean.

Now don't overdo it, lu.

See, when you talk like that,

you're the one that's not thinking

so straight.

It's not your fault, Dan.

Yes, it is.

Lu.

Lu, I've been suffering all day long.

I'm gonna tell John tomorrow

how wrong I was.

I'm speaking honestly from my heart.

What's the matter, lu?

Would you call Dr. carver, huh?

What is the matter, dear?

I feel...

I don't know.

I feel I want Dr. carver, Dan.

Well, here.

Lie down.

We'll cover you up.

You know, we'll get Dr. carver.

Oh, oh, well, they have no phone, have they?

No, I know, I know.

Lu, the doctor's over at the rebners'.

Now, I'll go get him.

It shouldn't take very long.

Mother.

I was expecting you, John.

I see you avoided your father.

I came here to find out about you.

Why did you leave the office?

We'll get around to that.

Oh, mother, you had me worried sick.

Yes, mm-hmm.

Did you tell father about your little trip?

I didn't tell him all about it.

If I had, it would kill him.

Or he'd kill you.

He... I've sent him for the doctor.

What would kill him, mother?

I mean, I don't follow.

I don't understand.

If he knew that the FBI is after you, John.

Mother, I thought I explained to you

all about the FBI.

Now, no more fancy lies, John.

You'll spend your tomorrows in a federal prison

unless you can explain the key

to that carlin girl's apartment.

Well, now, what makes you think that I...

because it fits.

It opens the door.

You mean you went to her apartment?

I went there and I opened the door

with your key.

Mother, are you out of your mind?

Not yet.

You lied to me so much, John,

that I had to know the truth.

Do I know it now?

Are you guilty, John?

Mother, I'm guilty to this extent.

Now, wait just a minute.

You see, darling, Ruth carlin and I

were intimate, quite intimate.

And naturally, I hesitated telling you.

Only one...

one sin in the constitution

and that... and that's treason.

I don't know what's happened

to my morals for the moment,

but is... is that all?

Is that all you have done?

That's all, mother.

That's bad.

But it's good.

That's right.

But who would believe it, mother?

Besides you and me.

Mr. stedman would believe it.

He'd understand.

We could get him on the phone.

Well, no, mother,

that isn't necessary, dear.

We must explain it.

But, darling, this is a secret

just between us.

But we have to tell Mr. stedman, Johnny,

he won't let it go any further.

Oh, I'll be so happy to tell him.

Mother, have you seen him again?

Yes, he came up to me in the park

and he took me to see her.

To see...

But I... I didn't recognize her voice, John.

He took you down to the jail?

Well, that's why we can't tell him, mother.

I mean, he...

It's his job to persecute innocent people.

No, he'd believe us, John.

Un... unless you're lying again.

You are lying.

Look at you.

You are guilty.

Mother, darling.

"Mother, darling."

Listen to you!

Pleading for love, mercy,

all the things you've scoffed at.

Now you're asking for mother love.

Confess to the FBI, John.

You've given up your faith,

but your church would have

sent you to them anyway.

I'll reach my own decisions, mother.

You have to make one big one right now, John.

Mother, if you will stand by me,

I know that I can show you the light.

After I make my speech to the graduating class...

after you what?

Oh, no, you're not.

Just because my son has been poisoned,

I'll... I'll not let him infect

other mothers' sons and daughters.

Are you planning to make them over

to your pattern?

Made in your image and likeness?

God, help him.

Look, before father gets back,

please give me the key.

The key?

Yes, the key,

the key to your freedom.

So you'll be free to go on

making other young people

as wretched as you are.

Spreading despair.

Oh, disguised as hope.

Well, now, uh, mother?

How do you plan to stop me?

I'll tell all I know if I must.

And if you don't, I must.

But I haven't lost all faith in you.

There are issues in the world today, mother,

that transcend a mother and son.

Yes, there are things that are far greater

than you and me and we have to face them,

not as mother and son,

but as individuals.

The cord is severed.

All right.

So, as an individual,

I believe in human dignity,

truth.

Wow, you certainly aren't talking

as a mother now.

But you're ill, dear.

You're talking insanely.

Am I?

Within your state of mind, dear,

no one would believe

what you're saying.

And I'd be forced to agree with them.

A woman in your time of life, dear,

under a doctor's care, two boys in uniform,

a husband, my father, inflaming you

with patriotic fanaticism about spies and traitors.

John, you couldn't.

Do...

do you mean that...

You might perhaps have me

put in a sanitarium maybe?

I wish your father would come.

I want to give him the key.

Dan, I can't fight much longer.

Is it in your purse?

No, it isn't.

What are you going to do, John?

Use force and violence on your mother?

Someday, mother, you'll understand

how big our fight is.

I do now, I do now.

No, you don't.

There are millions on my side.

Millions on my side.

And what a fight you have on your hands.

Wait a minute, mother.

Don't say a word about this.

Why not?

Dan, Dan.

Hello, Mrs. Jefferson.

Come in, Mr. stedman.

This is my son, John.

Well, I'm sorry, Mr. stedman,

you couldn't have come

at a worse time.

My mother is very ill.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

But my father will be here

any minute with the doctor,

but we're terribly worried about her.

She's, um, she's been imagining

all sorts of things.

No.

He came at a good time.

He came at a good time.

Come in, Mr. stedman.

You, too, John.

Go ahead.

You start it, Mr. stedman.

I would like to ask a few questions.

Yes, indeed, I am...

and that is if your mother's condition

will permit.

Well, obviously, it doesn't,

I'd like to ask you a few questions

myself first.

We gather information, we don't give it up.

Mr. stedman, you know that it's within our rights

to ask you to leave this house immediately.

No, John, this is my house.

It has a mortgage on it.

You know that, John.

We always thought it was such a wonderful mortgage.

Maybe, uh, the bank will, uh,

come and throw us all out.

I'd like to get rid of this house.

It's old fashioned.

Just an old fashioned American home.

Well, now, that should give you

an idea of my mother's condition.

Mrs. Jefferson, I would like to ask you,

where did you go after you left?

Oh.

You.

You take over whenever you want to.

Uh, so, after you left me,

I...

Could I tell this in my own way?

Certainly.

I'll get back to your, um...

All right.

I went to a church

because I was

a confused stranger down there.

And a... a church is, um, a traveler's aide

to people who don't, uh, know which way to turn.

That would straighten out a lot of people.

Oh, yeah.

They... they should try the church.

Then they'd begin to remember

things that they've, uh, lost,

like honor.

My sacred word of honor.

Tell people.

Tell them about their sacred word of honor.

I'll tell them.

Mother will be to drum next,

singing "glory hallelujah"

and maybe you will march behind her.

Don't talk like that about your mother.

There's nothing petty about your mother,

is there?

No.

You be nice to her,

you promise.

Promise.

I promise.

Those... two two boys of yours,

those two halfbacks,

they're gonna be marching soon, aren't they?

Yes.

They'll sing with us.

♪ He died to make men holy ♪♪

They may die to make men free.

There they are, yeah.

They called me from San Francisco.

What fight they had.

Do you remember, John, hm?

Yes, dear.

Many is the game they pulled out of the fire

when time was running out.

When time was running out, John.

Yes.

You never played, did you?

No, dear.

I think sometimes it hurt you

when your father and I jumped up and down

cheering for them.

Which you remember that I whispered to you,

"keep on studying, there are other goals, John."

Mmhmm.

Now we're cheering for Ben and Chuck again.

They're fighting on God's side now

and I'm fighting with 'em.

The doctor will be here any minute, darling.

You listen to me, John, you've got to get in this game

and you've got carry the ball yourself.

Well, you're doing all right...

I'm carrying it now,

but I want to pass it to you, hm?

Take the ball, John.

I... I don't want to make this last play.

John, time's running out.

We can't stop that clock.

John, take the ball before the clock runs out, John.

I'm... I'm... I'm cheering for you now.

My son John, my son John,

my son John...

mother, why don't you go upstairs

and lie down, darling?

There's the gun.

We lost.

That was a tough one to lose.

Mother.

Mother?

Take him away, take him away.

He has to be...

you have to be punished, John.

You look a little sick.

I...I used to spank your little bottom,

but you're big now.

You're big.

Mother, darling, will you listen?

Your conscience must be nauseated.

The lower you sink, the higher you rise

in your party, don't you, John?

Come on, doc.

Go on in, doc, she's right upstairs

in the bedroom.

You know where it is.

No, she's, uh, she's right in there.

Oh, thank you.

What are you doing here?

Now wait just a minute, Mr. Jefferson.

A lot's gone on since you left.

About John?

Is that Dan?

She's taken an awful beating.

Yeah?

I was just saying that we ought to

sell this place.

Yes, yes, dear.

Get rid of it because, uh,

it's too much.

Right, now just... just be quiet.

We have to move away from here, Dan.

Our witness is in a pretty bad way.

Testimony may never be any good now.

Well, for the moment,

it looks like our case is shut.

I'll be in as soon as I can.

Right on.

Now, try to get a grip on yourself, Dan.

How can I with a traitor for a son?

He said he couldn't prove that.

How did he happen to let him get away?

He said he couldn't hold him without Lucille.

And we won't know about her...

he got out of here before I killed him.

Shh, please.

I'm trying to get her to sleep.

How is she?

She's not going to lose her mind.

My own flesh and blood.

Doc, doc, you've known me

for a long time, haven't you?

Sure, sure.

I never, never in my life

have I done anything to...

I know, Dan, I know.

And she...

And she...

She's an angel from heaven.

Dan?

Dan?

Let's pray for John.

All right, dear.

Our father who art in heaven,

hallowed be they name,

thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

on earth as it is heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

and for...

forgive us...

Attention, please.

Flight 92 for Lisbon now boarding

at the concourse gate number 20.

All aboard flight 92, please.

Hello.

Yeah.

John?

I understand you're on your way

to Lisbon.

Huh?

Well, what happened?

Not going.

Passenger John Jefferson,

the plane for Lisbon is leaving immediately

from gate number 20.

What time to make a big decision.

Well, do you want to come over here

and let me help you make it?

By yourself.

Well, John, I don't understand you.

You want to do one decent thing,

what is this decent thing you want to do?

Well, uh...

No, we don't make deals.

Well, yes, certainly.

Everybody's life has some purpose,

even Judas.

Passenger Jefferson,

this is the final call.

John, does anyone else know

you're not going to Lisbon?

Now listen, John,

use whatever free will you have left

to make your own decision and get over here.

All right.

All right.

What is the deal?

Well...

Do we make out a warrant?

Maybe.

Maybe we do.

Why, John, what an honor!

Oh, I'd give my life to make you truthful.

I'm cheering for you this time, John.

I'm... I'm... I'm cheering for you now.

Go on, rise to it.

You can do it.

I mean, everybody has some purpose in life,

even Judas.

John, I don't understand you.

You want to do one decent thing,

what is this decent thing you want to do?

Just because my son has been poisoned

I'm not going to let him infect

other mothers' sons and daughters.

You're not going to change the course of their lives

and break their parents' hearts.

You're not going to tell those young Americans

to use their God given liberty to destroy liberty.

Members of the graduating class

and their fathers and mothers,

I mention your parents because I address you

as representing their tomorrows.

I wish he'd call.

Give up, name names.

Mmhmm.

Some people would rather he didn't, I imagine.

Yeah.

Hello?

Yes, John.

You finished your commencement address

and you want me to hear it?

Well, John, look,

I warned you about us

making any kind of deals bec...

John.

John!

Yes, and someone else can hear you, too.

John, get out of there as fast as you can.

Take Pennsylvania Avenue.

Is there someone that'd rather

you didn't get there?

I think we're being followed.

We'll soon find out.

Hold on, mister.

Well, at least the driver wasn't hurt.

Hey, just a minute.

Oh, you're okay.

John.

Hello, Mr. stedman.

They got me.

Yeah, I know who.

Try not to move, John,

the ambulance will be here in a minute.

I'm sorry.

I wanted to make a speech

to the graduating class.

Where is it, John?

Do you have it?

I haven't got it.

It's in my office.

I made a recording.

A recording.

I'll get it.

I'll get right over there.

If I think the students should hear it,

they'll hear it.

I might add that, um, he was to have been given

the honorary degree of doctor of laws this day.

So the, um, speech was found in his office

by the federal bureau of investigation.

You will now hear it verbatim

as recorded by John Jefferson,

class of 1941.

Members of the graduating class

and their fathers and mothers.

I mention your parents because I address you

as representing their tomorrows.

Sometimes this day is called graduation,

sometimes commencement.

For you, as for me, it will be both,

but my life will be altogether different

from yours.

By now, a plane has arrived in Lisbon.

It would have carried me far beyond the laws

of my native land, but no plane,

no means of transportation,

nothing can take a man away from himself.

He lives with himself day and night.

His conscience lives with him,

its voice will not be stilled.

Mine warned me that I would not be free in Lisbon,

that I would only find my freedom here.

So here I stand.

Hardly believing that but a few years back

i sat down there in my cap and gown,

like all of you.

I looked like you then.

I felt like you feel today,

ready to go forward, full of zeal, full of purpose.

I was going to help make a better world.

I was flattered when I was immediately recognized

as an intellect.

I was invited to homes

where only superior minds communed.

It excited my freshman fancy to hear daring thoughts

that I wouldn't have dreamed of

when I lived at home.

A bold defiance of the only authorities

my church, and my mother and father.

I know that many of you have experienced

that stimulation.

But stimulants lead to narcotics.

As the cellar of habit forming dope

gives the innocent their first inoculations

with a cunning worthy of a serpent.

There are other snakes lying in wait

to satisfy the desire of the young

to dedicate themselves to something positive,

to give their existence purpose.

And the lure is to every young American's sense of justice,

their love of fair play that makes all decent men

rebel against the evil forces that exploit the weak.

With the purest and noblest motives,

we eagerly embrace an organized, definite,

and active movement to alleviate the suffering

all around us.

Our beautiful liberalism is now aroused

and we have faith in ourselves, our comrades.

Somewhere along the line, our brain has been numbed

so that we have substituted faith in man

for faith in God.

Even now, the eyes of Soviet agents

are on some of you.

They have observed your abilities

and seen qualities that I once possessed.

It's too late to save me.

It is not too late for you to save yourselves.

No one warned me as solemnly as I am warning you now.

Hold fast to honor, it's sacred.

No one tried to live the part they wrote for me

more than I did.

But living it with no spiritual compass,

i lost all sense of direction.

Any means justified their ends.

Shameless falsehood, self-abasement, treachery.

And before I realized the enormity

of the steps i had taken,

i was an enemy of my country

and the servant of a foreign power.

Now you know that the honor conferred upon me

in this citation is false.

Every word in it is a lie because I am a living lie.

I am a traitor.

I am a native American communist spy.

And may God have mercy on my soul.

There is another paper waiting for me,

this time truthfully worded,

a warrant for my arrest.

That is my proper degree

and this is also my commencement day,

the beginning of a new life, so help me, God.

There's their chapel.

Uhhuh.

Let's pray for John, hm?

There was a lot of good in what he said.

Some of those...

yes, let's hope they forget what he did.

And pray they remember what he said today.

Yes.