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(soft music)

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- Oh boy,

sure like this country around here,

all the trees.

- They smell good.

Everything looks like it's just been scrubbed.

- Probably as muddy as any place else when it rains.

- Mr. Matthews,

how did you happen to decide to come to Millwood?

- Well sir, I don't suppose

you ever had to watch a good farm blow away

right out from under your feet?

- No.

- Well it ain't pleasant,

watching all your work go for nothing.

The children's mama was sort of in love with the place

and she wouldn't give up.

But after we collected the money from the insurance,

she persisted we carry,

why we just up and sold out.

- Must've been hard to leave old friends and neighbors.

- Oh, those folks weren't as--

- Papa. - Man might expect.

Say you know that ad you had in the farm journal,

sounded to me just like something I've always wanted.

- Except that it'll take nearly all the money we have

to fix-- - Debbie.

We're here to see if it's all you cracked it up to be.

(chuckles)

It's just the carburetor.

The float's sticking.

- Carburetor.

- The float's stuck.

- Well anyway, it isn't a tire.

- Hi, Mr. Larkins.

Need some help?

- I'll add a motor stop.

Mr. Matthews, this is David Barkley,

our County agricultural agent.

- I'm happy to know you, Mr. Matthews.

What seems to be the trouble?

- Oh, the motor cut out all of a sudden.

It's the carburetor.

- Cut out all of a sudden, huh?

Doesn't sound much like the carburetor, sir.

You mind if I take a look at it?

- No.

- Around these parts,

when the human being isn't feeling well,

we call Doc Pomeroy.

But for anything else, like farms, crops, animals,

and machines or whatever,

we hunt for David.

You know, I don't believe there's anything he can fix.

- If he believes that ain't that carburetor,

he can't fix that truck,

'cause I can tell just by the wheeze of it

just what's wrong.

(engine revs)

(laughing)

- Well, Davey, what'd you find wrong?

- Nothing.

Oh, oh you mean with the motor?

- Yeah.

- Yeah well, a distributor wire jumped loose.

- I figured it was that or the carburetor.

- Well, I check it again

if you're planning to go very far.

- Oh, not too far, I hope.

I'm showing Mr. Matthews the Brady place.

And if it suits him,

we'll have some new neighbors.

- Say, that's fine.

It's a good farm, Mr. Matthews.

- Yeah, That's what Mr. Larkins tells me.

I know better when I see it myself.

- Well, Davey, thanks for your help.

- Yeah, thanks.

I'd like to come by and see you

after you get settled and have a talk with you.

- Sure, sure, Barkley, anytime,

that is providing we buy.

- Well, we'll try to make you feel welcome

if you do, sir.

I'll catch that hood for you.

- Thanks.

- Thank you.

- So long, beautiful.

(cheerful music)

- Watch out.

- Don't you kids go nosing around.

- Well, there it is.

(soft music)

Of course it hasn't been lived in for six months.

A little fixing will put it in apple pie shape.

- Yes. -uh huh

- Let's take a look at the land.

- Well, it's right over there.

- Come on, come on, I'll give you a ride.

- What'd I tell you about nosing around.

(soft music)

- Well, there's your big field.

80 acres.

Runs over around behind that barn.

There's 10 acres of fine timber on top of that hill,

and over in back is Catfish creek.

I caught some big wins there when I was a boy.

- What else you got to show me?

- Well, there's some nice grazing land

I'd like to have you see.

Then after that we can take a look at the buildings

and the inside of the house.

- Fine.

(soft music)

- Oh, well, whatever furniture you see goes with the place,

all it needs to make it a home is people.

- I feel sorry for houses without people in them.

- Hey, those kinds of thoughts belong to a poet.

- Oh, but Abigail's our poet.

Do you know she can put words together

that rhyme the first time.

- Can't ya, honey?

- It just comes natural to me.

- That's quite a gift.

- Papa, can Mr. Larkins show me the kitchen?

- I guess so.

- Why, surely, right this way.

There's a range that goes with it.

- Good, now you get your stove, Debbie.

- It needs a bit of polish, of course.

- Yes.

- Well, why do you think?

- Oh so much work... - I think it

just about fills the bill.

But you know,

I'm a great believer in the democratic process.

A family, Mr. Larkins, is just like a nation.

Everybody in it should have his or her say.

Now I wouldn't think of imposing my will

on important decisions that affect all of us.

What we do is hold a meeting and vote on things,

and whatever the majority rules,

that's what we do.

I'll show you what I mean.

All right, the meeting will come to order.

Now we've seen the farm and the house

and I've told you the terms.

Now I'd like to hear a motion that we buy the place.

- I make a motion that we buy.

- Do I hear a second?

- I second the motion.

- No discussion.

All those in favor, hold up their right hand.

Good, passed by unanimous decision.

You'll get the papers Mr. Larkins.

- Huh?

- The papers.

- Oh yes

- Now while Mr. Larkin and I are going over the details,

you kids can start unloading that truck.

- It's Helen.

- Benedicta The Blessed!

- It's Helen!

- It's Benedicta!

(playful music)

It's Benedicta!

- Let me up.

- Benedicta.

- Susan! Abigail!

Stop that fighting, do you hear.

Now what's started this one?

- She wants (mumbles) named Helen.

- Get what named Helen?

- Benedicta, the blessed!

- It's gonna be Helen!

- Susan!

(playful music)

- Papa, you did buy her,

you did bring Helen.

- Helen?

- Her name's Benedicta.

- Bene what?

- Benedicta the Blessed.

- What are you kids talking about?

- Benedicta, our new cow.

- But Papa, you as good as promised I could name her

and I've chosen Helen.

It's a beautiful name.

- It stinks.

- It does not.

- It stinks. - Cut that out, you kids.

Neither one of them names will do

because what I bought ain't a cow.

(pig snorts)

- You can name that if you want to.

- Take him to the pin, Phin.

- Be careful son,

he's kinda mean.

- Debbie, can't you keep these kids

out from under foot?

- I thought you're buying a cow.

- You'll get you a cow, Debbie, a pair of them.

Mr. Claiborne here's letting me have two at a bargain.

- Oh, and about that tractor, Mr. Matthews,

I'll let that go at a good price too, terms if you like.

- Tractor?

But we can't afford a tractor.

We spent so much money already.

- And Mr. Clairborne, I'll talk to you about that later.

I like to think it over.

Accommodate yourself, Mr. Matthews.

Only a buy like that don't wait long for takers.

- Yeah, I know that, Mr. Clairborne.

- Imagine the young ones we started school right away.

- No, I thought I'd keep modern until next term.

We're gonna need all the help we can get, you know.

- Suspect you will at that,

seeing the season's far advanced.

A tractor would be mighty handy.

- Sure would.

- Well, so long.

- So long, Mr. Clairborne.

Now Debbie,

about that tractor.

- Papa.

Susan, Abigail and Phineas

are not staying outta school.

- You need help,

and we can't afford to--

- I'll manage.

We promised mama they'd get their education.

Phineas can help you before and after school,

and girls and I'll divide the chores.

- We'll hold a meeting and decide.

- No, they're going to school.

(soft music)

(cheerful music) (children yelling)

(soft music)

(cows mooing)

(slow suspenseful music)

- Go away, you old bull.

Go away.

Go away.

(slow suspenseful music)

Go back.

Go back.

Stay away, do you hear.

I'm wanna get by and go home.

- What you doing?

Playing tag with Caesar?

He likes to play games.

- Well you can just chase him

about his business, Mr. Smarty.

I promised I'd hurry home,

and I'm late already

on account of Ms. Milligan keeping me.

So chase him away, right now.

- Well, if you're going to act so bossy about it,

I'll leave you right where you are.

Take care of her, Caesar.

(crying)

Oh, I was just teasing.

He wouldn't hurt a fly.

Look,

he's a purebred Angus,

imported all the way from Scotland.

Come on, scratch him. He likes it.

What's the matter?

You scared?

(soft music)

Did He really come all the way from Scotland?

- Sure he did.

It cost me more than $1,000.

- $1,000.

And he's yours?

- Sure, he's mine.

All the cattle in this pasture are.

And I raised him.

- Do you mean they really belong to your father

and he lets you pretend their yours.

- Let me no such thing.

They are mine.

Dad gave me two Angus calves for a start,

I paid him back a long time ago.

Say, you're one of the new kids

that just moved around here, aren't you?

- Yes.

- What's your name?

- Susan Matthews.

What's yours?

- Peter Wexford.

But everybody calls me, Buzz.

- Why?

- I don't know unless it's because--

- Because he's got bees in his bonnet.

- What are you doing here, Jessie?

- Spying.

Brothers are mostly dopey, but interesting.

Say, I saw you at school today.

- Susan, this is my sister, Jessie.

Jessie thinks I couldn't find my way home without her.

- You couldn't, you're dopey.

- And you're an undersized snoop.

Well I can't stand here wasting my time talking to girls.

I gotta get the cattle headed home for their supper.

I'm grain feeding them to put weight on.

- I gotta get home too.

- Come on, I'll open the gate for you.

(soft music)

- And all these cows and Caesar,

are they really yours?

- I told you they were, didn't I?

- Well, bye Buzz,

bye Jessie.

- Bye Suzie

- Goodbye, Susan. See you at school tomorrow.

(soft music)

David Barkley's very handsome

David Barkley's tall and slim

David Barkley's very handsome

Bet the girls all fall for him

(chuckles)

- What kind of a song is my little girl singing?

Something she just made up?

- What Papa?

- That song you were just singing,

about somebody named David Barkley.

- Why, I hardly knew that anyone would hear it.

Surely you remember David Barkley, Papa.

He's the County agent.

You know the man that knew more

about your truck than you did,

the one stared so at Deborah?

- What about him?

- Why nothing, Papa.

At least nothing that means anything, I'm sure.

- Well if it doesn't mean anything

that all the girls fall for Mr. Barkley,

why don't you tell us what you know?

I'm sure we'd all like to hear.

- I don't know how Abigail would know it,

but I think what she wants to tell you is that I met

and talked to Mr. Barkley in Millwood today.

- Henry Larkins told me when he delivered the groceries.

- It'd be much nicer, Abigail,

if when you wish to tell things on the rest of us,

if you'd be more straightforward about it.

- Oh, I don't even think what's going to become of us

if these suspicions in bickerings and keep up.

Maybe you'd like to tell us what you found

so interesting to talk about

with the so attractive, Mr. Barkley.

- It was just about the farm.

After all he is the County agricultural agent.

And I asked him what crops he thought we oughta raise.

- And I imagine he was very happy to offer his advice.

- He did suggest that we plant potatoes.

- Oh, didn't care for soybeans, huh?

- Oh, you said the summers here aren't hot enough.

- I don't suppose Mr. Buckley got his knowledge

from working a farm.

- He studied in college.

- Well, after all 40 years of actual farming

is apt to give a man more know how

then he can get from reading about it.

- But he is in touch with all the farmers in the county.

And the state university supplies him

with the latest information and ideas.

- I've got all the ideas we need.

Now I've got something important to take up.

Phinney.

- Yes, Papa.

Sit down here, we're going to have a meeting.

- Yes, Papa.

- Meeting will come to order.

Now before I get to what I have in mind,

is there anybody got anything they want taken up?

Alright, Susan's got the floor. Speak up.

- Papa, I,

I'd like to borrow enough money to buy two lambs,

like these.

I wanna raise them for my very own.

When they're grown,

I can sell the wool, and pay you back.

And after a while,

I'll have a lot of them, like Buzz.

- Buzz?

- Buzz Wexford.

His Papa gave him two calves,

and now he's got a whole herd,

and a prize bull named Caesar

worth more than $1,000.

And they're all his very own.

Only I wanna raise lambs.

Please, Papa, may I?

- I met Buzz.

He's a swell guy.

One fella told me that Buzz made over $800 last year

just in his cattle.

- His, I think that's a good idea, Susan.

There's something in this far more serious

than the borrowing of money to buy two expensive lambs.

And I'm surprised that you, Deborah,

and you too Phineas,

that you didn't notice it before you spoke up.

Well, Susan, we put your idea to a vote,

but I've got to go against it

because I think it's purely selfish.

I don't suppose you understand that.

Or if you did,

you wouldn't want to go on possessing things

all by yourself and shutting the rest of us out.

Or is it that you don't want to share

because you don't love us like we love you?`

Well, you heard Susan's plan,

and the discussions about it.

Now we put it to a vote.

All those against?

- Shouldn't those in favor vote first?

- What difference does it make?

Those against?

(soft music)

Good, I guess that settles that.

Now, if there's no other business,

I've got a plan I'd like to propose.

One that'll be good for all of us.

You know, we need that tractor of Mr. Clairborne's

in the worst way.

Of course he'd be willing to rent it to me.

But you know, we believe in owning things outright.

- Wouldn't it be better to rent it?

- I believe I can make it the way we can buy it.

- How Papa?

- We cut that timber at the top of the hill

and sell it for lumber.

I've already spoken to Mr. Gail about it at the lumber mill,

and he's willing to pay us a good price for it.

Then we make a down payment in the meantime.

(dramatic music)

(tractor rumbling)

(soft music)

- All right.

Out with it baby.

What's wrong?

- He isn't fair. Papa isn't fair.

He got his tractor,

but I didn't want those lambs for my own

because I don't love all of you.

I wanted them because,

because I.

- I think I can help you say why.

It's because you want to be an individual.

And to prove that you are one,

you got to do something all by yourself,

to own something that's wholly yours.

- Is that wrong?

- I don't think so.

- But how will I ever be able to do anything like that?

Abigail always votes the way Papa does.

And if Papa even looks at Phinney,

Phinney gets too scared to vote against him.

- It's sort of like fighting the pillow, honey.

You can't win.

You dent it in one place,

and it just fills out in another.

All you do is exhaust yourself.

I found that out.

But, who knows what can happen tomorrow?

I got work to do.

Wanna ride with me?

(soft music)

That's better.

- Hello?

- Hello, Mr. Barkley.

- Hello.

- Hi, Susan.

- Hi.

- I hate to do this.

Ms. Matthews,

with the power vested in me by the United States government,

I must ask you to keep an eye on this young woman.

- Why, Mr. Barkley, what do you mean?

- I mean that a certain young farmer

named Buzz Wexford found your sister

trespassing in his pasture

and frightening his prize bull, Caesar.

- No.

- So that since that day,

neither he nor Caesar have been quite the same.

- That's a big fib.

(soft music)

Susan

Here's something I want you to look over.

(soft music)

What have you decided about your crops, Ms. Matthews?

- I told Papa,

my father what you said,

and he figured he'd rather work a crop

which is more familiar.

- Oh.

Well, I can understand how he feels.

I see you've started your plowing.

- Yeah.

I just hope I can keep the furrows straight.

- Would you mind a suggestion?

- No.

- The furrows would be more effective in holding water

and preventing erosion

if they were running across the field.

The one bad place on your farm is that hill.

There's a soil condition up there

that should be protected by some drainage ditches.

- What kind of soil condition?

- An old fault runs across the top,

the water seeping into it might tend to loosen

the front of the hill.

- You that the whole face of that cliff

could fall onto our farm?

- Well.

- Mr. Larkins never told us about that.

- I doubt if he knows it.

It's an old fault.

There's no active danger with the trees

and their roots to hold soil.

- But Papa's cutting down the trees.

- Mr. Barkley, would you mind telling my father about this?

- By all means, I certainly think he should know about it.

- He's up on the hill now.

(soft music)

Papa.

- Look out! Get back!

- You remember Mr. Barkley?

- Oh yeah.

What's on your mind, Barkley?

- It's about these trees, Mr. Matthews.

I'd suggest you leave them standing, sir.

- I expect you county agents

gotta make some sort of suggests to hold your jobs.

- Well, if you don't mind,

I'd like to show you something, sir.

It's right over here.

Look at this. Mr. Matthews,

that ground has slipped down and away

from the earth we're standing on.

- Yeah, but that looks to me

like it happened an awful long time ago.

- It did.

But there's no telling how deep this fracture goes.

Look,

here is the face of your hill.

This fault runs across here

as a natural drainage into a dry ravine down below

that points directly at your farm.

Without these trees,

the whole top of this hill could erode away.

But by keeping the trees in,

putting in some drainage ditches along here

to protect the fault could save your money.

It might even save your farm.

- Well.

Thanks again for your interest Barkley,

but I ain't going to let a crack in the ground

stop you from making several thousand dollars.

And now as a man who's got work to do,

you'll excuse me.

- Well, thanks for listening, sir.

- That's all right. It won't be long now

before I'll be able to show you what a real farm looks like.

- I'd like to stop by and see you--

- Anytime by--

Debbie, if Mr. Barkley don't mind,

I'd like to speak to you.

Private.

(soft music)

- Thank you.

- Mr. Barkley, Mr. Barkley.

Can I,

may I walk to your car with you?

- Well don't you think it might cause people to talk?

- There aren't any people.

- Oh.

Well, in that case come along.

(soft music)

Has Deborah a steady boyfriend?

- Deborah?

- What's so surprising about that?

She's a very pretty girl.

- Deborah?

- Well, yes, don't you think so?

- No.

- You can take my word for it, she is.

- She is?

- Uh huh.

She ever go out with any of the fellas

back where you came from?

- Only Charlie Gidget.

- Charlie Gidget?

What'd he look like?

- Oh, he was tall

and kinda skinny.

And his teeth stood out like this.

(laughs)

He didn't have much hair.

- Sounds kind of unattractive.

Did Deborah like him?

- I don't know.

She laughed at everything he said.

- How many times she go out with him?

- Just once.

(laughs)

- Well, Susan, thanks for accompanying me.

You can follow this creek bed right down to your house.

- But I wanted to ask you something.

- You did, what?

- About this, the 4H Club.

- Oh yes, the 4H Club.

Susan, the theme of the 4H Club is show, not say

You got time to take a little ride with me?

- Sure.

- You may be the key to open the door

and let the sunshine in.

- Huh?

- We can get to my car right up here.

Come on, sweetie.

(soft music)

- That's a funny name for a club.

4H.

- Each one of the letters stands for something.

The first H stands for head,

second for heart,

the third hands,

and the fourth health.

- And the four leaf clover is for good luck.

- I think 4H club members make their own luck.

- Can people do that?

- Sure if they use their head, hearts and hands.

You see Susan, the 4H club

was started for kids just like you

to help them learn better methods

of farming and homemaking.

So when they grow up and have farms and homes and their own

they'd know how to run them successfully.

As county agent,

it's part of my job to help the club members

with their projects.

- Huh?

- Each member has a project,

a piece of work that he plans

carries through all by himself.

- Oh.

- It can be almost anything.

Oh raising rabbits,

a garden,

a calf, chickens, fruit trees.

Baby lambs?

- Sure.

Or sewing, cooking, canning.

There are all kinds of projects.

- Is Buzz Wexford a 4H member?

- Buzz?

Oh, he's the star of the Millwood club.

He's already made enough money from his Angus herd

to put himself through college.

They look fine, Dell.

- Thanks a lot.

- Say these are new hutches.

- Yeah, I built them myself

from those plans you got for me.

- It's a nice job.

Tell me how are your books?

- I can tell you Mr. Barkley.

He hasn't kept them up.

- Got to keep after that, Dell.

Keeping books is as important

as any other part of a project.

- I'll do them tonight, for sure.

- Good.

What do we have here?

- Canned pears.

They're for you to sample.

- Oh, well, thank you.

How's your canning project working out?

- Mr. Larkins took 50 mix quarts on consignment.

And the Franklin store in Barton

has over 30 pints of my piccalilli.

- You'd better say some of those for pop or he'll be sore.

(laughs)

- Oh, those are beautiful.

- You know something, Herb,

I think she's going to win you some ribbons.

That is, if you take good care of her.

- Gee, Mr. Barkley,

I treat her just like a mother.

(laughs)

- Did you get the lime I suggested, Roberta?

- Yes, and I used the proportion you gave me.

Does my garden look good enough to win an award?

- Well--

- Later, I mean.

- It probably will if you work like the dickens.

- Well, I don't mind doing that.

You see this is mine.

It's something I've done all by myself.

- The things you create for yourself

always give it the most satisfaction.

And you've got the makings of a fine garden.

- Mom and dad is so glad you talked me

into joining 4H, Mr. Barkley.

I wasn't very happy before.

- Well 4H is happy you joined.

Susan, there's one more place

I thought we might stop.

Benny Tilton's project is raising sheep.

He's got a couple of fine lambs I promise to look at.

- No!

No, I don't want to see them.

I want to go home.

Please.

- Okay, sis.

Home it is.

(soft music)

Ms. Matthews, I'd like--

- If it's about the furrows, Mr. Barkley, my father--

- It's not about the furrows.

They're having a dance in town Saturday night,

and I wondered if you'd like to go with me?

- I'm afraid that'd be impossible.

- Why impossible?

I don't like to toot my own horn,

but most folks around here

think of me as a pretty solid citizen.

- The remark wasn't meant to be personal.

- My invitation was.

- It's just that social activities don't interest me.

- Wait a minute.

I'm not speaking now as county agent.

This will be a purely personal observation.

You're a coward.

You're a father, who's probably ruined several farms

and is setting out to ruin this one,

seems bent on running his family as well.

Don't interrupt me.

I just brought Susan back from showing her some of the work

being done with the 4H clubs.

She pretended she didn't like the idea

for the same reason that you just turned down

my dance invitation

because you're both afraid of your father.

Some excuse for Susan, she's just a little girl.

But there's no excuse for your quitting without putting up a fight

except cowardice.

- Mr. Barkley,

If you don't get off this property right away,

I'll run you off with this tractor.

- You haven't got the gumption. Ms. Matthews

(slow suspenseful music)

(laughs)

(group chatter)

- Hiya beautiful.

Hi.

Stick around after church, I got something I wanna tell you.

I can't talk now,

I have to pump up the bellows on the organ.

Don't forget.

(bells ringing)

- Well, well, the Matthews.

- Good morning, Mr. Larkins.

- Ms. Matthews, Mr. Matthews.

- How are you?

We thought we'd try out to see what kind of a preacher you got.

- Welcome to our church.

- It's a nice church, Mr. Larkins. - yes

- Looks friendly. - We mean it to be.

Our Reverend Benton is less given to preaching at us

than talking to us.

We like it that way.

I'll show you to a seat.

(organ music)

- Hiya Susie. - Hi, Jessie.

- Shh.

- Hello, David.

- Good morning.

(organ music)

God of our fathers

Who's almighty hand

Leads forth in beauty

All the starry band

- My sermon today is inspired by the story of Moses

and the promise that God made to him.

The story may be found in the Old Testament,

book of Exodus.

The promise was that if Moses and the Israelites,

who were suffering cruelties and slavery

at the hands of the Egyptians,

would but have faith.

God would show Moses how to lead them out of their bondage

into a land of milk and honey.

It was the promise of a new life,

a beautiful green promise.

But before it could be fulfilled,

there was a sea

and a wilderness to be crossed.

Thirst and hunger to be overcome.

The fulfillment you see

had to be earned.

Now I find a parallel between those ancient Israelites

and ourselves, all of us.

We too are in bondage,

lashed with the bullock hide whips of ignorance,

shackled by the iron chains of the unknown,

but the same promise.

The beautiful green promise has been made to us.

Only the sea of doubt, the,

the barren desert of illiteracy,

the hunger of bigotry,

and the third step incompetence

stands between us and freedom,

between us and the land of promise.

We've been given, not just one Moses to guide us,

but many, our men of science,

our doctors, chemists,

mineralogists, agronomists,

all those patience seekers after fact and truth.

The delvers into the mysteries of matter,

the searchers of the mine

for a better understanding of human behavior.

These men are our Moses.

Turning our feet away from the false and easy trails

of superstition and guiding us

along the steep and toilsome path of knowledge,

the one true,

and the one and only road to the land of promise,

where we may claim our heritage.

To my mind, the really sinful man or woman

is the one who through bigotry and ignorant pride,

refuses to learn,

and calling his ignorance virtue,

tries by self-made rule and by scorn

to keep all others from learning.

These are the real sinners.

And here is the vilest evil,

to feed their ego,

to disguise their inadequacies,

is to hide their quaking fears,

they sneer at the new,

revile the experimenter,

and deride the pioneer,

and then hypocritically defend their actions

behind the fog bound fortress of intolerance.

Mr. Matthews.

- Enjoyed your sermon, Reverend.

It's a fine talk.

Made sense.

- Thank you, Mr. Matthews.

I'm glad you could accept my invitation

to attend our service.

I'll see you all again next Sunday, I hope.

- Oh, we'll be here.

We're a church going family.

- Papa, we must hurry.

Come along, Abigail.

- Young man.

- Excuse me.

- Shirley.

- Hey Susie,

Susie Matthews.

Hey wait.

Told you I wanted to see after church.

- I forgot.

- It's the way it is with me.

I just don't make any impression on girls.

What I wanted to tell you is that my mom,

she and Reverend Benton, are the leaders of our 4H club

would like to invite you and your sister and brother

to our club's masquerade party.

Of course the party is about five weeks away,

but I thought I better speak early

before you met some better looking guy.

Is it a date?

- I know he's kinda homely,

but please say yes

or he'll have to some awful looking girl.

Besides, mother said I could serve some of my drop biscuits.

- Oh no, not those.

I dropped one once and like to broke my foot.

- He likes to exaggerate.

You let go one my biscuits,

it'll just float in the air.

- How about it, Susie, will your come?

- They'd be very happy to come to your party, Buzz.

And thank your mother for the invitation.

There'll be a swell gang there,

and I'll make it a personal project

that she have a good time, Cutie.

You oughta wear those things butterfingers.

(soft music)

(sobbing)

- Susan, aren't you finished with Phinney's room yet?

You got to help me straighten up Papa's.

(soft music)

- Hey, what you doing with my fishing tackle?

- Well, I,

I thought maybe you'd take me down to the creek.

Will you, Phinney?

- Oh gee, I,

oh, I dares not Suzy,

I ain't got the wood cut for Deborah to cook supper with.

Papa'd skin me alive.

- Oh, please, Phinney?

We'll only stay a little while.

And I'll help carry in the wood.

- Well.

Maybe there'll be some early ones

hungry enough to bite.

But we gotta start home in time for me to get the wood in.

(soft music)

Boy, this looks good, Susie.

We oughta get some big ones here.

Come on.

- I can get up by myself.

- Oh, this is swell.

Hand me the worms.

Here you are, Susie.

I'll do it for you.

- No, it isn't fair to let others

do an unpleasant thing you can do for yourself

just because it's unpleasant.

- Hiya, Phinney.

Hiya, Susie.

- Hiya, Buzz.

- You know you're trespassing on my pool.

- You're trespassing on our property.

- Well gee wiz. You got a fishing license?

- No.

- Well, if you won't say anything, I won't.

You're fishing in the wrong spot.

Right over there under that bank

is the grand pappy of all catfish.

- There is?

- Come on, I'll show him to you.

- I like it where I am.

- She got the colic or something?

- Come on, show me the catfish.

What is it, Buzz?

- It's Jessie.

Pretend you don't notice

or you'll embarrass her.

She's spying again.

See that shadow? There he is!

- Gee wiz.

Let's try and catch him.

- Oh, he's too smart.

All he does is just bump the bait.

- Jessie.

- He's almost as smart as Buzz thinks old Caesar is.

- Caesar is smart.

- Caesar's smarter than you, anyway.

You didn't know I was trailing you.

- Sure didn't.

I thought it was an old, stray cow.

- Did you?

- Homer says you're gonna enter Caesar

in the state fair this fall?

Are you, Buzz?

- He is if he wins the county achievement day.

- Achievement day? What's that?

- That's where all the clubs in the county compete.

Whose ever project wins gets the show at the state fair.

Caesar wins that,

I get to take him to the national show in Chicago.

- Boy, wouldn't that be something?

- Yeah,

of course it ain't all up to Caesar.

I got to learn how to show him.

Gotta be able to produce all the records,

how much it costs to raise him.

What he ate and all that.

Those judges want to know everything.

- I sure hope you make it Buzz.

I wish Papa would let--

- Phinney, time for us to start home.

Anyhow, no one could get fish

with all the jabbering that's going on.

- Now you did it.

- Did what?

- Only a woman would understand.

- Oh.

Oh, shut up.

- Yes, it's full.

And I had to fill it.

You're just wait, Phineas Matthews,

until Papa hears about this.

He'll probably give you a good whipping.

- But Abby, it wasn't Phinney's fault.

I made him go.

- Explain that to Papa.

You're gonna get it.

- Listen, Abby,

if you won't tell Papa,

I'll give you a new Indian bracelet I just made.

- Let me see it first.

- It's upstairs.

Come on.

- The bracelet will be mine for keeps, you know.

You give me that, you nasty little snoop.

If you read that, I'll--

(dramatic music)

(laughs)

You give me that, or you'll be sorry.

- I won't be the one who's sorry

after Papa sees this, Ms. Form Divine.

(dramatic music)

- You give me that.

Give it back.

- What's all this screeching about?

- We were just playing.

Weren't we, Abby?

- Why yes, Papa.

We were just playing.

- Well, I guess two healthy girls gotta make a little noise,

but hold it down, huh.

- I'll go with you, Papa.

There's something I wanna show you. - What?

- What a fine pile of wood Phinney cut for Deborah.

(soft music)

Excuse me.

- Did you do your homework, Phineas?

- No.

(soft music)

(clock chimes)

(slow suspenseful music)

- Hey, I wonder whose car that is?

- It isn't Mr. Barkley's.

- Of course not, Papa would run him off the place.

- Phys sic can.

What does that mean?

- Physician, it means doctor.

- Someone's sick.

(slow suspenseful music)

- It's Deborah's.

(suspenseful music)

- A tree fell on him.

- Oh, Papa.

- Abby, Abby, be careful.

- He has two bad leg fractures

and a nasty cut on his head.

I'm afraid he'll be laid up for some time.

When I get the splints on,

he'll rest easier,

but he's going to need a lot of care.

(soft music)

- He'll get the best of care, Doctor Pomeroy.

- Good.

Oh, would you send one of the youngsters

down to my car and get my grip, please?

- Phinney.

(somber music)

- How's Papa?

- He's resting better

since Dr. Pomeroy gave him those pills.

- Oh, what are we going to do?

I don't see--

- We're gonna behave ourselves for one thing.

- But with Papa hurt and not able to work,

we'll lose the farm and this house.

We'll all be put in institutions.

- Oh, Abigail, will you please stop that sniffling?

I got no intention of letting us lose this farm.

Go to plant and harvest crops,

if it kills me, and your kids as well.

- I don't see how you expect us to do everything.

Plowing and planting,

and feeding the stock,

and cutting down trees.

- We're not going to cut down the trees.

- But Papa wants us to.

- I'm afraid some of Papa's plans will have to be changed.

- You mean that almost the very minute

that poor Papa is stricken helpless,

maybe lying on his deathbed,

that you're planning to change everything he planned

and ruin us?

- Abigail, now listen to me.

- No, no, I'm going to tell,

I'm going to tell Papa everything.

- I'm glad I never took the notion

to write for Dr. Lambauch's secret lotion.

I'd hate to have any friends of mine

asking about my form divine.

- What on earth has come over you Susan?

- Nothing, nothing at all.

Except I'm pretty sure Abigail didn't mean it

when she said she'd tell Papa everything.

Did you, Abby?

- No, of course not.

I was just making a joke.

I wouldn't think of telling Papa anything

you didn't want him to know, Deborah.

Honest.

- Get me some hot water, Phineas.

Of course, the children are in school,

but they do help with the chores.

So as far as my father and the house go,

I think we can manage.

But it's the farm that bothers us.

And I just thought that perhaps

you could give us some advice

on what we could best do.

- Well, if you could stay for a few minutes,

a friend of mine is coming by

who knows much more about farming than I do, I'm sure.

And I think he'd be glad to help you,

but maybe you'll know him, David Barkley.

- Oh, yes.

I'm terribly sorry.

I just remembered I have to go to Millwood before,

before Mr. Larkins closes the store.

- Closes?

Why, you have all afternoon.

Mr. Larkins never closes until six in the evening.

- Help!

Help!

Help!

Help!

The truck's brakes must've slipped.

I can't let go long enough to set 'em.

- Mr. Barkley, I can't--

- I owe you my life.

I couldn't of held out much longer.

- I can't tell you how sorry I am.

I was sure I set the brakes.

- Forget it, Ms. Matthews.

- But Mr. Barkley,

why didn't this rock hold back the truck?

- What?

(chuckles)

A thing like that could ruin a tire.

Hello, Susan.

Oh, Reverend,

my sister in law and her mother

wanted me to say goodbye to you.

Tell you how much they enjoyed your sermon last Sunday.

- Oh, thank you. Have they gone home?

- Left yesterday.

Brother Ed wired,

said she didn't want him to starve to death,

she better get herself home.

(laughs)

Think it could be jealousy?

- Oh, quite possibly.

Your sister-in-law's a very attractive young lady.

- Oh, we Barkleys

have an eye for pretty women.

- Well, there's certainly nothing wrong in that.

Oh, David,

Ms. Matthews came by to ask my advice

on how best to manage the farm

now that her father is laid up,

and I told her,

I thought you were the one really most qualified

to help her.

And it just occurred to me,

I think it would be a good idea

if you'd go out to the farm right now

and then you could talk things over right on the spot.

- An excellent idea, Reverend.

Excellent.

Would you lead the way Ms. Matthews?

- Hey, you forgot me!

Deborah, you forgot me.

Deborah!

- Thanks Jim.

Thanks a lot.

(soft music)

- Deborah?

- Yes?

- Debbie, could I,

could I join the 4H club and have a project

raising

lambs?

Oh, I know I was outvoted,

but it wasn't really fair.

Oh, please say yes, Debbie, please?

Please?

- Well, we might just as well

get hung for a lamb as a sheep.

Only if your lambs cost too much,

you'll have to choose some less expensive project.

- Oh, I don't know how much purebreds cost,

but the minute we stop, I'll ask Mr. Barkley.

He'll know.

(soft music)

He's so pretty.

(cheerful music)

- Thank you.

- There's something I'd like to tell you.

- Yes?

- Maybe we'd better talk about the farm first.

(soft music)

- I guess I should've let Reverend Benton

talk you into trying to help me.

- Oh, but he didn't.

- What I mean is,

standing here, I

realize how crazy it was

my going to him in the first place,

thinking I could handle things all by myself.

- It would be in a fight.

- I'm not the coward you think Mr. Barkley.

It's just that--

- Fighting when you haven't got a chance to win is,

well it's foolish.

- History has been made with that kind of fool.

- I'm willing to work.

But I don't see how I could ever manage.

All this land, children..

- Oh, it'd be tough, all right.

If you had the courage to try,

I could help.

There are methods and shortcuts

I could show you that'd cut the job

down to a manageable size.

That is if you're not afraid to tackle it.

- I'm not afraid.

It's just,

how could I start?

- Can you take orders?

- I think so.

- Good.

The first one is that you call me David.

- Mr. Barkley.

- If you can't follow a simple order like that,

there's no sense going on.

- Frankly, David, I'm scared.

- The best way to overcome that is to get busy.

Come on, Deborah.

(soft music)

- Gee wiz, Abigail.

You think they'd run out of words after a while.

Abigail?

(soft music)

- Thank you, Abigail.

(slow suspenseful music)

- What have you been telling Papa?

- I hadn't said a word to him.

- Cross your heart, hope to die.

- There, does that satisfy you?

- Deborah.

Deborah, come up here.

Deborah, you hear me.

- Yes?

Yes, Papa?

What was it you wanted?

- Now you listen to me, Deborah!

Don't you think for one minute

that I don't know what's going on behind my back,

because I do!

But if Abigail hadn't come up and raised that window

to give me some fresh air,

I would never have known about this treason.

I heard every word you and ant book taught farmer said.

The two of you probably prayed that I be struck down

so you could try out their crazy schemes.

You're a jezebel, that's what you are, a jezebel!

Well you don't care if his insane ideas

ruin us and drive you helpless sisters and brother

out into the world of homeless--

- Papa, be quiet.

You slept through the sermon

when Reverend Benton was describing the sinner

who didn't want to learn,

and who tried to keep everyone else from learning.

He might just as well have been describing you.

David called me a coward for not standing up to you.

And I got angry.

Now, I realized he was telling the truth.

I've made up my mind

not to be afraid any longer.

Since you can't run this farm, I must.

And I intend to run it David's way.

Now, if you need anything, you call me.

(church bells ringing)

- Good morning, how are you?

- Where's Susan?

- I don't know.

And furthermore, I don't care.

(organ music)

- Hello.

- What are you doing in here?

- Buzz, I've got something wonderful to tell you.

- Shh.

You'll have to wait till this finishes.

(organ music)

Mrs. Murdoch sure uses a lot of air.

She likes to hear that old organ roar.

What is it you want to tell me about?

- Well Buzz, I,

I can join the 4H.

- Swell.

You'll like it.

What are you gonna choose for your project?

Cooking?

- No, sheep.

- Sheep.

- Deborah said I can buy two purebred lambs to raise.

That is if they don't cost too much.

Do they, Buzz?

- Well, they're kind of expensive, Susie.

- How, how expensive?

- Well real good lambs cost about 30 or $40 a piece.

That too much?

Hey, listen, maybe you could borrow the money

from Mr. Grinstedt.

- Who is he?

- He owns the bank down at Millwood.

Sometimes if he thinks it's a good risk,

he lends money to 4H club members

so they can start new projects.

- Buzz, do you think he'd lend some to me?

- I can't say for sure.

Once your a 4H-er,

you can talk to David Barkley and get him to help.

(person speaking off mic)

It's time for the first hymn.

- Please Buzz, could I?

- Well,

all right.

You better hurry up and start your pumping though.

They're about ready to start,

and keep that bobber up there,

no matter what.

(organ music)

Sowing in the morning

Sowing seeds of kindness

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve

Waiting for the harvest

And the time of reaping

We shall come rejoicing

Bringing in the sheaves

Bringing in the sheaves

Bringing in the sheaves

We shall come rejoicing

Bringing in the sheaves

Bringing in the sheaves

Bringing in the sheave

- Yes, keep it up there.

We shall come rejoicing

Bringing in the sheaves

We shall come rejoicing

Bringing in the sheaves

(group chatter)

- The fire burned all the cover

off the north side of Strawberry Hill,

leaving at bare and subject to erosion by rain.

- Excited?

- The committee on soil erosion

had to replant it with oats or barley,

but we'd appreciate the county agent's advice.

- Thank you, Joe.

I've had some information from the state director

at the university about a new cover grass.

The department would like to make some field experiments.

So if the committee agrees,

I'll send for enough seed to replant the hill.

The grass is a rapid grower, and has a deep roots.

- Ms. Susan Matthews.

Just step up here, please.

You've been approved to become a member

of the Millwood 4H Club.

Please raise your right hand

and repeat the 4H pledge after me.

I do solemnly swear that I,

Susan Matthews will uphold the rules and bylaws

of the 4H Club.

- I do solemnly swear that I,

Susan Matthews, will uphold the rules and bylaws

of the 4H club.

- And as a true 4H member,

I pledge my head to clearer thinking.

- And as a true 4H member,

I pledge my head to clearer thinking.

- My heart to greater loyalty.

- My heart to greater loyalty.

- My hands to larger service.

- My hands to larger service,

- My health to better living for my club,

my community and my country.

- My health to better living for my club,

my community, and my country.

- I here with declare you a member in good standing

of the 4H Club of Millwood.

Here's your membership card,

your 4H badge,

and a member's card to put on your house.

Congratulations and good luck on your project.

(group chatter)

- Thank you, Mrs. Wexler.

Thank you everyone.

- I'm going past your house, Susan.

Would you like a ride?

- Mom and me were gonna take her,

but you'd better take her, David.

She's got something to ask you.

- Well, good deal.

- Goodbye.

- Good morning, Mr. Grinstedt.

This is Ms. Susan Matthews,

the 4H club member I spoke to you about.

Susan, this is Mr. Grinstedt.

- I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Grinstedt.

- Come in.

Sit down.

You belong to 4H?

You want to make a project

out of raising two purebred, karakul lambs.

You have no money, no security,

but you want to borrow money from my bank.

Is that right?

- Yes. Mr. Grinstedt.

- How do I know

you know anything about raising Karakul lambs?

- They're a very hearty breed of sheep

imported to the United States

from Boko Hara.

Many experiments prove they thrive in this country.

Their wool and hides are very valuable,

and have a ready market.

The wool from the grown sheep

measures from eight to 12 inches,

and weights from seven to nine pounds.

And it's used for rugs, carpets, blankets,

and sometimes to make hats.

The meat is not considered as good as that of other breeds,

but it's wholesome,

and the milk from the yews is made into fine cheese.

The yews grow to a weight of 125 to 175 pounds.

The Rams from 150 to 200 pounds.

My brother Phineas has promised to help me

build a shed and feeding troughs.

I'll raise two beautiful lamps, Mr. Grinstedt.

- Do you know what interest is?

- Yes.

It's what you pay for the use of money.

- My bank charges 6%.

Are you prepared to sign an agreement

to pay that for any money you borrow?

- Yes, Mr. Grinstedt.

- What's your full name?

- Susan Anastasia Matthews

- Your address?

- RFD, number three, Millwood.

- How much money would you need?

- Seven,

$75.

- Sign here.

- Oh, Mr. Grinstedt.

(somber music)

- Papa, you're being very silly about things.

(cheerful music)

- Where are they?

- The back.

Deborah,

Deborah, come on!

Deborah, Deborah.

Deborah, where are you?

(soft music)

Deborah, Deborah.

- I'm coming.

- Deborah.

Deborah, we got them, we got them.

David helped and they're beautiful.

They're just beautiful.

- Here, Susie.

- And I got their formula

because they have no mother.

But I'm going to be their mother

and bring them up to be the two best lambs

in the whole wide world.

(soft music)

- Deborah.

Deborah.

Deborah.

(slow suspenseful music)

- Where?

- Up the woodlot, on the hill.

They got a power saw and everything.

(slow suspenseful music)

(engine roaring)

- What are you men doing here?

- We're not trimming our nails, miss.

- Well who gave you permission to cut down these trees?

- I bought them from old man Matthews.

- My father sold them to you?

- Well, look, the old boy is your father, he did.

- You can't have.

- Now, look miss,

these men in this equipment costs be plenty every hour.

Now, if your old man wants to change his mind,

he's going to have to pay for that.

Plus the profit I have a right to expect.

You bring me a check to cover it,

I'll call off the men.

Otherwise, no.

(engine roaring)

- You better stay here, Phinney.

That man in the woodlot.

- What about him?

- You told him our trees.

- I did. We need the money.

- You are going to give it back, every penny of it,

whatever else he demands

so I can tell him to get his men off our property.

- I am not.

- Then I'll return the tractor to Mr. Clairborne

and get back our down payment.

- I've already sent him his check.

The tractor's ours.

- If they just hadn't taken out all the stumps.

- Papa wanted him to.

He planned to put in a vineyard.

How bad is it, David?

- Well, any rain will drain down into the fault.

- Well, what about digging those ditches you spoke of?

- That's a big deal.

There are a lot of roots that'll hold it for a while.

Don't look so serious.

I'll work out a plan when I get back from Fulton.

- You're going away?

- Only for a week.

You think you can bear it?

- I guess so,

if I must.

- Meanwhile, I'll show you something

that Phineas can get started.

Now this erosion here funnels water right into the fault.

Even if the fault weren't weakened,

it's still spills water into the dry Creek bed

that aims right at your farm.

- Well, after all my work, I don't want it all flooded out.

- It won't be.

Have Phineas put posts on each side,

stretch wire in between.

He can anchor it down with rocks,

and it'll catch any rubble that comes down this way

and gradually fill in.

There's another spot over here.

(soft music)

- Now Maurice hold still and mind me.

I'm your mother, you know.

How do you expect to win a prize this Fall

if you don't learn to behave?

- Susan.

Susan?

- I'm out here.

- You're always out with those lambs.

Come on in and get your costume fitted

or you won't be ready for Buzz's party tonight.

- I'm coming.

You think you can behave yourself while I'm gone?

Very well then.

See that you do.

- Susan.

- I'm coming.

- Here's your hood, Susie.

- Thanks.

- I wired those ears up good.

- They're beautiful.

- Let's try this, Phineas.

- Ow.

- Well stand still.

- Gee, you look swell.

- Deborah made it.

I'm Daniel Boone.

- No.

- Hey, you going with us?

- I'm going out, but not with you.

- Where?

- To a dance.

- To a dance?

- Well, don't act so surprised.

It's not very flattering.

- I bet I can guess.

David Barkley's back.

- Oh, you're much too smart.

He's coming back late this evening.

- Well gee wiz.

- Susan, there are times when I could just--

(upbeat music)

(children shouting)

(upbeat music)

- Who are you supposed to be?

- Mom says she's a Fem Fatale.

- I am not. I'm Harriet the famous international spy

(children yelling)

(laughs)

(upbeat music)

(group chatter)

- Oh look Buzz got the dasher.

(thunder claps)

- What's the matter, Susie?

You're not afraid of a little lightening, are you?

- No, it isn't that, Buzz. It's -

- It's what?

- It's my lambs.

They're out in the barnyard.

- They're in their shed, aren't they?

- Yes, but.

- Where do you want them, in your bed?

You're lambs are safe.

Come on, eat your ice cream.

I churned it with my own sweaty little paws.

- Yes, and if I hadn't been spying on him,

he'd left out the salt.

He's an awful problem.

- Oh.

(laughs)

Wanna trade?

- Uh uh.

(thunder claps)

(engine revs)

(wind blowing)

(thunder claps)

(children scream)

- Ah, just a little lightening.

(children yelling)

- Can I have everybody's attention for just a moment?

It's storming so hard that Mr. Wexford and I

think it's too dangerous for anybody to go home.

- Oh.

- He's helping me put up some beds now

and you can all spend the night.

(children clapping) (children cheering)

- Let me show you how to do this.

- Ladies and gentlemen,

Jingling Jessie will know attempt

to juggle the jiggling candle

and the jittery match,

or so she says.

(children laughing)

- Phinney. - Yeah?

- We've can't stay here. We got to get home.

- But--

- I've never heard rain like this.

If anything should happen to my lambs--

- Oh, they'll be all right. - Please, Phinney.

- But Deborah told us to wait for her and David.

Well you heard what Mrs. Wexler said.

- All right, fine.

(children cheering)

(thunder claps)

(children yelling)

(thunder claps)

(wind howling)

(thunder claps) (wind howling)

(lambs bleating)

(thunder claps) (wind howling)

- Deborah, help.

Help.

(wind howling)

(thunder claps)

(soft music)

- Deborah.

Deborah.

(slow suspenseful music)

- Where's Susan's room? - In there.

Is she?

- All right, just worn out.

Where's Deborah?

- When the barnyard started flooding,

she went up on the hill to check some barriers--

- I'll put Susan to bed and go look for her.

(soft music)

(thunder claps)

(dramatic music)

Deborah?

Deborah?

(dramatic music)

(thunder claps)

Deborah, it's no use.

We've gotta get out of here.

- I've gotta--

let me alone.

Let me alone.

Let me alone, I've gotta

(dramatic music)

(soft music)

I'll get you some breakfast, Susan.

- No thank you. I don't feel like eating.

My lambs? Are they?

- Behind the stove, Susan, fat and sassy.

(lambs bleating)

(soft music)

- I want to call a meeting to order.

- I'll wait outside.

- You're mixed up in our affairs enough to stay

and hear what I've got to say.

Sit down,

all of you.

(soft music)

I guess even an ugly man can look in the mirror

year after year and find satisfaction and what he sees.

He never sees what's really there,

only what he wants to see,

a reflection of himself as he likes to imagine he is.

But if one day something comes along

that makes him look closer,

he'd know then

and forever after

that, he was,

he was just an ugly man.

Mr. Barkley,

I knew deep down inside

your advice was,

was well-intended and good.

I turned it down just like I did everything else

that didn't happen to agree with my own peculiar notions.

Also I was,

I was afraid that you and Debbie,

well, I was afraid of losing her,

and all of work she could do for me.

I preached the idea of us all working and owning together

because I was afraid to compete with others

and show up my own lack of ability.

I tried to hide all this even from myself

behind what I was pleased to call the democratic process,

that my judgment was bad,

and my methods unfair.

I realize now that it's too late,

we're in desperate trouble,

all on account of my bullheadedness,

without much hope of saving ourselves.

But if your children could find it in your hearts

to forgive me,

I know that I could find in that

the courage to,

courage to try and make things up to you.

- We understand Papa. - Oh, Papa.

- Don't worry, everything's going to be all right.

- Papa.

(engine rumbling)

(soft music)

(cheerful music)

- Come on, David,

the 4H gang's ready to start cleaning up.

- Yeah.

- What are you doing here?

- Men gotta eat.

I'll make biscuits.

- We're ruined.

You gotta show us where to start.

- Okay, Buzz.

We'll start in the field behind the barn.

You coming with me?

- Yes, David.

- You guys coming too?

- Sure.

Well come on, we gotta help.

- Get down you blasted.

- Papa.

Papa, I'll take them right out.

- No.

You know, Susie, I'm beginning to like 'em.

- Oh, Papa.

(lambs bleating)

(soft music)