Original subtitles

[Eddie] Dad, why don't me and you join the circus?

We'd make a super high-wire act.

[Tom] Alright, now when do you wanna run away from home?

Well, you see, the way you join a circus

is you run away from home.

[Eddie] But you're too big to run away from home.

[Tom] That's right.

[Eddie] Well, there goes my circus.

Hey, how about the Grand Canyon?

[Tom] How about it?

[Eddie] Well, we could be on this long rope

and cross over this big empty chasm

and everyone will applaud.

[Tom] Well, I'm ready whenever you are, easy.

[Eddie] Oh, you can't look down

'cause you could get scared and fall.

[Tom] And that's a big chasm.

[Eddie] Well, maybe we're better off just pretending we're there.

[Tom] Right.

[theme song]

♪ People let me tell you 'bout my best friend ♪

♪ He's a warm-hearted person who'll love me till the end ♪

♪ People let me tell you 'bout my best friend ♪

♪ He's a one boy cuddly toy ♪

♪ My up my down my pride and joy ♪

♪ People let me tell you 'bout him he's so much fun ♪

♪ Whether we're talkin' man to man ♪

♪ Or whether we're talking son to son ♪

♪ 'Cause he's my best friend ♪

♪ Yeah he's my best friend ♪

♪ La la pa ra ra pa ra ♪

♪ Pa ra ra ra pa ra ♪

♪ Pa ra ra pa ra ♪♪

[scatting]

Hello, Eddie. Did you have a good day at school?

Pretty good. Hey, I smell cookies.

Yes, you're going to smell burning

if I don't take them out.

- I'll bring some to your room. - Alright.

[whispers] Eddie!

Don't get scared. It's only me.

Elsie? What are you doing here?

Close the door, so nobody will hear us.

How did you get in here, anyway?

I sneaked in when Mrs. Livingston

went down for the mail.

What do you wanna hide in my room for?

I just wanna stay here until I can figure out

what I'm going to do.

But you can't stay here.

Why not?

Because your folks wouldn't let ya.

And it doesn't make much sense.

- Why not? - Well...

You just live right down the hall.

What would you wanna stay in here for?

Never mind, I said.

Boy, girls!

Eddie, you just have to let me stay here.

You just have to.

Well...

Alright, I'll ask my dad.

If you're really my friend, you won't even tell

your father I'm here.

- How come? - Because he won't let me stay.

But your folks are gonna notice you're gone, aren't they?

- Never mind them. - Are you mad at 'em?

That's none of your business.

It is if you're gonna hide from them in my room.

- Eddie! - Please, Eddie. Don't tell him.

[Tom] Eddie?

- Promise me, please? - Hey, sport.

- Oh. - Excuse me.

Pardon me. Thank you.

I think I'll finish the rest of this in my room.

Well, how come, sport? It isn't everyday that I get home

early enough to sit down and have milk and cookies with you.

Well, I'm sorry, dad, but...

...I think I better finish my new model.

Hey, how is it coming? Let's go take a look at it.

No, no, uh, no, no.

No. Um, I think I better finish my homework first.

Oh.

Alright.

I'll show you the model later.

Alright.

You could even help me with it if you want to.

[clicks tongue] Got yourself a deal.

I'll bring it into the living room later

after I finish my homework, alright?

In, into the living room. Hm, alright.

I-I guess I'm supposed to just, um, uh, sit here

and eat my cookies and drink my milk, huh?

- Right. - That's what I thought.

And next time when I don't have so much homework to do

I'll have all my cookies and milk with ya.

- Right. - Okay.

- Uh, Mrs. Livingston. - Yes?

When Eddie came home from school today, was he alright?

- He was fine. - Really?

Well, have you been in his room this afternoon?

No, I haven't.

Well, for some reason, I think he's trying

to keep me out of there.

- What do you think it is? - I haven't the vaguest idea.

Well, I'm sure if it was something really...

...important and he felt I should know about it...

...he'd tell me.

But I gotta tell my dad.

He already knows something's wrong, anyway.

How?

Well, you see, he always knows

when something's the matter with me

and I always know when something's the matter with him.

Isn't that the way it is with you and your folks?

I don't wanna talk about them.

If you tell your father I'm here, I'll...

...I'll jump out the window.

- You will not. - I will if I want to.

Elsie, I bet you, if you let me tell my dad

I bet you he could help ya.

Which window do you think I ought to jump out of?

Elsie!

Then promise me you won't tell.

Okay.

Where are you goin'?

I told my dad I'd come in here to do my homework

but I left my books in the other room.

This what you're looking for?

Yeah.

Eddie.

You sure there isn't anything you'd like to talk to me about?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Dad.

Yeah?

Can I ask you something?

I don't want you to ask me why I wanna ask you, okay?

Okay.

Well, you know it isn't good

to tell on somebody if you sort of promised, right?

Oh, um, sometimes it's alright to tell.

Like when?

Well, if you, if you think the person

might get hurt or if they're in trouble.

What about if they're already in trouble?

Uh-huh.

- Then I think you should tell. - Elsie wouldn't think so.

Elsie?

Elsie from down the hall?

Is she in your room?

But she's hiding and she told me not to tell.

Oh, but you didn't tell me, Eddie.

I figured it out all by myself.

- Now what's her problem? - She won't tell.

I guess you're gonna have to figure that out too.

Oh. Let's go talk.

[Tom] If you talk about it

you may find

that it's really not as bad as you think.

Just go away and leave me alone, please?

Both of you.

How can I go away? You're in my room.

Elsie, let us help.

There isn't anything you can do.

See, dad, I told you she wouldn't tell.

I'll give ya a starter bowl of guppies if you tell.

Alright, Elsie, there's nothing I can do

but take you down the hall to your parents.

They're not my parents.

- They're not your parents? - I just found out I'm adopted.

Do your parents know that you know?

I don't have any parents.

- Come on, Elsie. - No.

At least give them a chance to explain.

- Now that's only fair. - There's nothing to explain.

They lied to me, that's all.

Elsie, if you're not going to go with me

then I'm going to have to call them.

Okay.

There are times when us parents have got to stick together.

And, Elsie...

...they still are your parents.

Sorry, Elsie.

Don't you dare be sorry for me, Eddie Corbett.

I don't care if I am adopted.

Sorry.

Anyway, how do you know you're not adopted?

- 'Cause I'm not. - How do you know?

If I was, my dad would tell me 'cause he tells me everything.

Not if he wanted to keep it a secret

in his secret box.

What are you talking about?

Last night, I saw my father locking a little box

and putting it into his desk.

He told me that's where he kept all his important papers.

So today after school, I broke it open.

But you shouldn't have done that.

Anyway, I'm glad I did because now I know.

I bet you, your father has a secret box too.

- He does not. - Are you sure?

No, but I don't think he has.

Elsie, I just spoke to your mother

and she's coming to get you.

She is not my mother.

Well, whoever she is

she's very upset that you're so upset.

Come on.

I'm home.

In here, Eddie.

There isn't anybody hiding in my room, is there?

No, there's... Nobody is hiding in your room, Eddie.

Are you sure?

I am sure.

How is Elsie feeling today?

She's still mad at her parents

because they didn't tell her she was adopted.

Oh.

If I was adopted, I wouldn't wanna know.

I do not think you have to worry about that, Eddie.

My dad has a lot of things on his desk.

Uh-huh, your father is a busy man.

And I guess he has a whole bunch of important papers in his desk.

Yes, of course.

And they're probably so important

that he has to keep 'em in his secret box.

Mm-hmm, important papers

are usually put in a box with a lock

for safekeeping.

I'll show you.

See?

Is that my father's secret box?

Mm-hmm, it is where he keeps his important papers.

[Elsie] Did you find out if your father has a secret box?

I don't care whether he has or not.

- Let's do the puzzle. - He's got one, hasn't he?

Well, he's gotta keep his important papers somewhere.

What kind of important papers? Did you see them?

Well, no, um...

Where are they? Let's go look at it.

No, we can't. The box is locked.

- I know how to break it open. - No, I don't want to.

Because you don't wanna find out you're adopted.

- I am not. - Okay, then prove it.

If I was adopted, my father would tell me.

He tells me everything.

He didn't tell you he had a secret box.

You're scared to open it.

I am not.

Then come on.

You're scared to find out you're adopted.

Okay, then come on.

It's just like my father's. I can break it open easy.

- Wait. - What for?

We better hurry before someone catches us.

It's my father's box. I'll break it open.

Okay.

Just stick it in the keyhole and give it a twist.

- I know how. - Then go ahead, open it.

But I'll break the lock.

Do you wanna find out if you're adopted or don't you?

Eddie, it is your father's. What are you doing with it?

I wanted to see what was in it.

They're your father's private things.

Secret things, you mean.

It is wrong for you to disturb them.

Let's put it back where it belong.

Now it is...

...not wise to open forbidden box.

Eddie, Elsie, I think it would be best

if you return to working on your jigsaw puzzle, mm?

I still am glad I opened my father's secret box.

At least I found out who I am.

Or anyway, who I am not.

Hmm.

Oh, I'm glad, Mr. Eddie's Father, you're home.

Hm, why, Mrs. Livingston? More trouble?

No, I think something bothering Eddie.

- Really? - He's in your room.

Thank you.

- Eddie? - Yeah?

What are you doing with that?

Well, I was gonna open it, but I didn't.

I waited to ask you.

You waited to ask me what?

Well, you see, Elsie's father has a...

...a secret box just like this.

Secret box?

Oh. Oh, I see.

Well, Eddie, an awful lot of people have boxes like these.

You see, they're just used...

- Eddie. - Mm?

Is that how Elsie found out she was adopted?

I see.

Hey.

Follow me.

Now for starters, uh

should you feel you might like to open this box someday...

Pardon me.

...the key is always right under that.

Okay?

Now, Eddie, some of the papers in this box

aren't really important.

It's just that they, uh, well, they're necessary.

Now for example.

- See this? - Yeah.

Alright, that's my car insurance, alright?

A lot of the other papers in here

are very ordinary just like that.

But, Eddie...

...some people keep their miracles in a box like this too.

- Their miracles? - Oh, yeah.

For example.

- You see this? - Mm-hmm.

Well, that is our marriage certificate.

Your mother and myself.

You see that?

Well, that's a picture of your mother when we got married.

She was beautiful. Wasn't she, dad?

Oh, yes, she was. Inside as well as out.

And now...

...for the biggest of miracles.

That is your birth certificate.

- Neat-o! - Yeah.

- What do you need that for? - Well...

Just so you can show people that you were born.

Wouldn't you have known without it?

[chuckles] Yes, we would have known, but...

Eddie, the world, uh, well, the world sort of likes you

to have certificates for things like birth and marriage.

Does that make you more born and more married?

No, no, it doesn't. No.

I love you, dad.

And I love you, too, son.

Anyway, I told you I wasn't adopted.

I don't care. Your parents were stuck with you.

Well, you're both special, you know.

Eddie to me, and you to your mother and father.

What's the best thing to be?

Adopted or just born?

Well, it doesn't make any difference, Eddie.

You see, your parents are the people

that take care of you while you grow up.

They also love you

and they also worry about you.

I have to get home for dinner. Bye.

Bye, Elsie.

I guess you and mom were just stuck with me, huh?

- Stuck with you? - Hm.

Yeah, right.

- But you know something? - What?

Do you know what we used to say to each other

every time we looked at you?

No.

Well, we used to say

that if we had our choice of having any baby

we wanted in the whole world

the only one we would've chosen is you.

- Really? - Really.

- You know what, dad? - What's that?

- I have a secret box too. - You have?

Mm-hmm, I keep it under my bed.

Well, that's a good place for it.

But now I don't wanna keep it a secret from you anymore.

You don't?

- Hey. - Yeah.

- Follow me. - Right.

And here is an old top that I had for a long time.

I just lost the string to it.

Mm, I guess we'll have to get you a new top, huh?

- No, new string. - Right.

What else?

Let me see. This is just a baby toy.

I know. I remember that little car.

Do you know that you used to just carry that

everywhere we went?

Mm-hmm, I know. My favorite car.

Yeah, well, of course

that's when you were younger, of course.

- Yeah, I was just a baby. - Just a baby, yeah.

And here is just some, one of my best rocks

and some marbles.

And a piece of one of my best models that got broken.

- Aww. Hey. - Hm?

Isn't that my old tie clip

the one I threw away a long time ago?

Yeah, I found it in your wastebasket.

It's my miracle.

- Your miracle? - Mm-hmm.

What did you take it for?

Uh, I don't know.

I guess it's just because you used to wear it all the time.

- Eddie. - Hm.

I have something for you that I think, uh

I think you ought to have it now for your secret box.

Oh, a little long chain, but it's a little snarled now

but it's very old, and it's very pretty.

Was this my mother's?

Yes, and she used to wear it all the time.

Hey, neat.

Now I have two miracles in my secret box.

Hm.

And I have one big one in my life.

There it is.

You know, somebody really had a stupid idea.

Well, what's that?

Well, cutting up a picture to make people spend about

one million thousand hours putting it back together again.

And he's probably making two million thousand dollars

by doing it too.

[doorbell rings] I will get it.

Thank you, Mrs. Livingston.

Oh, Elsie from down the hall. Come in.

- Oh, hello, Elsie. - Hello.

- Hi. - Hi.

I just came down to tell you how good I feel

about being adopted now.

I'm glad.

And I wanna thank you for making me feel that way.

Oh, that's alright.

There's just one thing I wish.

Well, what's that?

That I can make my parents feel the same way.

About being chosen.

- I know how you could do that. - How?

You could adopt them.

- But how do I do that? - Well, you see.

We'll get your adoption papers and make copies of them

and we put their names in place of yours. Come on.

Eddie, you're really terrific, you know it?

Yeah, I know.

Mrs. Livingston, I have a feeling

that Elsie from down the hall is going to adopt three people.

- And third one is Eddie? - Right.

[Eddie] I don't have any lock on my secret box.

[Tom] Well, I don't really have to have a lock on mine, Eddie.

It just came that way.

[Eddie] I guess nobody would really

steal anything out of my secret box.

[Tom] No, and it wouldn't matter if somebody did

because those are only little things that remind you

of the big things that you carry around inside of you.

[Eddie] I guess nobody can steal your miracles.

[Tom] No, Eddie. Nobody can.

[Eddie] What are dreams?

[Tom] Messages that your mind sends you

when you're asleep.

[Eddie] Sometimes they're just scary.

[Tom] Yeah, but sometimes they're nice.

Like when I dream about your mother.

[Eddie] Next time you do, can I come in, so I could see her?

[Tom] You mean into my dream?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

♪ People let me tell you 'bout my best friend ♪

♪ Pa ra ra ra pa ra ♪♪

♪ People let me tell you 'bout my best friend ♪

♪ He's a warm-hearted person who'll love me till the end ♪

♪ People let me tell you 'bout my best friend ♪

♪ He's a one boy cuddly toy ♪

♪ My up my down my pride and joy ♪

♪ People let me tell you 'bout him he's so much fun ♪

♪ Whether we're talkin' man to man ♪

♪ Or whether we're talking son to son ♪

♪ 'Cause he's my best friend ♪

♪ La la pa ra ra pa ra ♪♪