Original subtitles

[Eddie] Sleeping is funny.

[Tom] Well, how? R-really? How is it funny?

[Eddie] Well, at night, when I'm supposed to go to bed

I don't wanna go.

And in the morning, when I'm supposed to get up

I don't wanna get up.

[Tom] Mm-hmm, you're right, Eddie.

Sleeping's funny. Mm-hmm.

[Eddie] Does a rabbit really come out of a magician's hat, dad?

- It's an illusion. - What's an illusion?

[Tom] An illusion is a rabbit coming out of a magician's hat.

[Eddie] I'm sorry I even asked.

- Dad? - Hmm.

[Eddie] Do you know why you have little circles on your chest?

[Tom] Why, Eddie?

[Eddie] So that doctor will know

where to put a stethoscope!

[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 talkin' 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]

♪♪

[female 1] Oh, hi, what... No.

It's, it's you who don't seem

to understand, my dear sir.

Uh, you-you see, I'm not the new secretary.

There is no need for one, since the old secretary is still here.

But if I were

wouldn't I know where Mr. Corbett was?

But since I don't, you mustn't assume that

I'm withholding information from you.

- Pardon me. - Don't you see that?

Excuse me, I don't mean to pry. But who are you?

Oh, wait just a minute, dear. Ill be right with you.

Now, listen... You call back in five minutes.

Yes, in five minutes, because by that time

we should be able to straighten out everything.

Shouldn't we? Hello?

Hung up!

Very nervous type, you know.

- Tight larynx. - He used to be okay.

- May I help you? - Yes, where's Tina?

- I'm back! - Oh, hi.

mama, what you doing behind my desk?

Well, darling, I was just answering the phone.

Uh, Mr. Corbett, I can explain this.

Good, good.

Now would be heck of a time.

Um, uh...

Guess who dropped in from, uh, Sioux City today?

Your mother.

Hm. Oh, mama, this is Mr. Corbett.

Well, I'm so glad to meet you.

- Oh, well... - Oh, my dear.

You are psychic, aren't you? Yes.

Well, I-I-I don't... I don't really think I am.

It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Rickles. Uh...

I'm sure that we're going to be very good friends, Mr. Corbin.

Corbett.

Corbett Corbin.

What a charming name!

Uh-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.

You are a very, very home loving man, Mr. Corbett.

Oh, you should see his home, mama. Its so beautiful.

- Oh, I 'd love to. - Oh, well, that, that...

I-I-I... Well, that... Perhaps sometime, we-we might.

Ah, that looks absolutely delicious, Mrs. Levenson.

Uh, Mrs. Levenson's name is Mrs. Livingston.

Oh, um...

- Uh, did you change it, dear? - No, she married it.

Oh!

Don't we all.

But you know, Mr. Corbin

you are a very lucky man.

Thank you. I think I am, too.

- This smells delicious. - Thank you.

Don't give me too much, Mrs. Levenson.

I'm not too crazy about stew, you know.

This is a special French casserole, Eddie.

Well, it sure does look like stew to me.

♪♪

There we are, Ernie, no bad luck.

- His name is Eddie. - Oh, well, whatever.

- He's safe now. - Safe from what, Mrs. Rickles?

Why, bad luck, darling.

It's bad luck to spill your salt.

- How come? - Hmm...

That's because it's based on superstition, Eddie.

What's superstition?

Superstition is...

...belief based on fear.

Fear of what?

Fear, for instance, that

if you spill your salt

it's gonna bring you bad luck.

So, in order to compensate

you take some and throw it over your shoulder.

- Who says? - Well...

Nobody really knows exactly, because

superstitions have been passed down through the ages

and they are usually based on

things that are important to people at the time.

- Like what? - For example, the salt.

You may not believe this, but once upon a time

salt was more valuable than gold.

So it was a very serious thing if you were to lose some.

If it was so valuable, why throw it over your shoulder?

That's a good question, and I defer it. Mrs. Rickles?

Oh, look, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. because

as you know, we all have our own beliefs in this world.

But you see, magic

is a very special offbeat kind of faith.

- Oh-ho. - Magic...

Is superstition sort of like magic, dad?

Uh, yes, in that they are based on beliefs

that are not exactly rational.

Do you really believe there are fairies and leprechauns

and stuff like that?

Why, of course, I do.

- Don't you? - I don't know.

Well, in that case

I'm going to have to make a demonstration.

Now tell me, what do you want more than

anything else in this world right now?

Um, let's see.

Yeah, I want an A on my spelling test tomorrow.

Very good! You shall have it.

Now, be a darling and get my bag.

It's over on the couch.

Sure.

Uh...

Mrs. Rickles, I don't think it's a very wise idea

to encourage a little boy to think he's gonna get

better grades because of magic.

- Now, I think that's-- - Here you go. Mrs. Rickles.

Oh, thank you.

Now, let's see. Oh, there it is.

Now give me your hand.

Take this and cherish it.

But why? It's just an old marble.

No, no, no, it's not just an old marble.

Though it is old, it's a magic charm

and it has very, very special powers.

And there are three words that go with it

that make it work.

Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox.'

- Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox. - Very good!

Now, I want you think of what you want

and rub the charm three times, saying the words

and watch what happens.

Hey, dad, could I please be excused now?

'Cause I'd better start on this right now.

Eddie, I think you're fine.

You'd get a lot more out of studying

than in believing in magic.

♪♪

Alright, alright, you, uh, you go ahead

and go to your room and I'll, uh...

I'll be in talk to you in a little while.

- Thank you. Goodnight, Tina. - Goodnight, Eddie.

- And goodnight, Mrs. Rickles. - Goodnight, Ernie.

Thanks a lot for this.

Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox.

[Eddie] Zoreme, Zetox

Elastox.

Zoreme, Zetox...

...Elastox.

- Hi, dad. - Hello, sport.

Have you, uh, have you been doing this

ever since you left the dinner table?

- No. - Good.

I took time to wash my face and brush my teeth.

Eddie, don't you think you should have taken

some time out to look at the words

that you might have in the spelling test tomorrow?

Well, you see, that's the problem.

Um, I forgot to bring 'em home tonight.

But it sure is a good thing Mrs. Rickles

gave me this neato charm.

Mm-hmm.

Eddie, I think we're gonna have to have a, uh a little talk.

But it's late now, so for, uh

for right now at least, goodnight. Hmm?

Okay, goodnight.

Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox.

Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox.

[indistinct chattering]

- Got ya! - What did you do that for?

Why weren't you looking where you were going?

'Cause I was using my magic charm

to get an A in the test.

- What magic charm? - This magic charm.

That's just an old marble.

Oh, yeah?

Tina's mother gave it to me

and she knows all about magic.

- I don't believe it. - Well, it's true, Joey.

All you gotta do is rub this and say

"Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox" and then you get your wish.

How do you know that?

I don't know it yet, Joey.

But I will when I get an A in the test.

God, I never got an A in my whole life.

If it does work, will it work for me?

I don't know. Here, go ahead and try it.

Thanks. I better try for a B. What were the words again?

- Zoreme. - Zoreme.

- Zetox. - Zetox.

- Elastox. - Elastox.

Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox.

- Dad, dad, guess what? - What?

I got an A without even studying.

It must have been my magic charm.

- See, I got an A. - Hold on now.

Sl-slow down, sport. Uh, look.

I-I think you better sit down

and I think we should have that little talk

we didn't have last night.

- Dad. Don't you see? - Uh-huh.

With this magic charm of mine

I'm never gonna have to study again.

- Wrong! - Wrong?

Eddie, look, you may have gotten an A on the spelling test

but I'm sure that's because you knew the words.

Now as far as the magic charm is concerned

I'm sure that gave you some self-confidence.

But, that's all it gave you.

But, dad, you don't get it!

Joey Kelly even got a B

and it must've been the charm

because she's the worst speller in the class.

Eddie, may be she needed a little confidence, too.

Dad, don't you even believe in my magic charm a little bit?

Eddie, look, let's put it this way.

I don't believe in it the way that you do.

Boy, I sure do feel funny.

Why do you feel funny?

Believing in somethin' that you don't.

♪♪

You know somethin'?

I thought my dad was right about everything.

But he sure gets stubborn about this magic charm of mine.

That's because grown ups don't believe anything kids say.

But I already proved it to him once.

Well, you didn't prove it to him good enough.

Let's try something else.

Okay. What?

Well, don't ask me, dummy!

What do you want more than ever in the whole world?

A mother.

Go ahead.

Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox.

Zoreme, Zetox, Elastox--

Pardon me.

Which way is the entrance to the main building?

It's... the...

...the first door to your right, around the corner.

Are you a parent?

No, I'm a substitute teacher.

What room?

320.

I know where that is. Want me to show ya?

Thank you. I'm Miss Huffman.

And I'm Eddie Corbett and that's Joey Kelly.

Miss? That means, you're not married, huh?

That's right.

Come on, I 'll show ya.

Lead the way, Eddie.

Sure must like kids to be a substitute teacher.

It certainly helps.

My dad likes kids, too and he's a publisher

and he's raising me all by himself.

And he's not married either.

[telephone rings]

Hello.

Hi, sport. Is everything okay?

It will be, if you pick me up after school today.

Will be?

Yeah, 'cause we hardly ever get a chance to talk

and, um, if you could pick me up today

at room...320

...we could sure have a good talk.

Eddie, we talk all the time.

Well, I know it, dad, but you see, down at room 320

they got all these new pictures of maps and stuff on the wall.

And we never talk about those.

You want me to come all the way down to school

just to talk about maps?

They got every single country in South America down there.

Sure could have a good talk about those.

Uh-huh, well, whatever you're up to

I 'll meet you in room 320.

- Thanks, dad. - Right under Bolivia.

Bye.

Didn't you even like her a little bit?

I thought she was terrific.

I sure wouldn't wish a wife for you

that wasn't terrific.

Eddie, that diamond ring that she's wearing on her left hand

means she's gonna marry somebody else.

But, dad, I wished for her with my magic charm.

I guess I just didn't say the words right.

Sport, I don't wanna pop your bubble

when it comes to believing in magic

but if you wanna put your money on something

I will highly recommend you start believing yourself.

I know you still don't believe in my magic charm, dad.

But that's okay...'cause

Mrs. Rickles says everybody doesn't have

to believe in magic.

Oh.

So, right now, I'm gonna go

change the water in my fish tank.

♪♪

- Mr. Corbett. - Mm-hmm.

Did I remember to remind you that you have a lunch date

with the Anderson Advertising people today?

No, you did not.

You have a lunch date with

the Anderson Advertising people...

- Yes, I know. - Oh, I thought you did.

That's probably why I forgot to tell you.

Thank you.

Oh and, uh, Tom Martinez called. He's a photographer.

And Mrs. Ruckles is waiting to see you.

- Who? - Mrs. Rickles.

I don't know why she can't remember anybody's name.

Funny. She never seems to forget yours.

That's what you think.

Do you know what I was christened?

Oh, what?

Marie-Alice.

- Mm-mm. Mama? - Oh, thanks, dear.

- Good morning, Mr. Corbin. - Good morning, Mrs. Rickles.

I just dropped in to say goodbye.

Oh, won't you be seated for a second?

Thank you.

- Say goodbye, huh? - Mm-hmm.

Well, tell me. Is there some magic way of saying that?

Oh, no.

I just wanted to thank you

for your delightful hospitality.

I've brought you a little present.

- Please open it. - Uh.

Well, uh, before I say you shouldn't have

I guess I better open it.

Oh, that's beautiful.

This happens to be, a very special figurine.

- Really? - Yes.

Rub its tummy and anything you desire

will be yours.

Oh! Well, thank you very much.

I will leave it right here on my desk

and every time I look at it, I will think of you.

Oh, now, Mr. Corbett.

There's no need to be afraid of this.

As a matter of fact

you and he are in perfect attunement.

I personally checked out your aura.

Uh, yes, well, Mrs. Rickles

I thank you for it very much.

Uh, but...

...if you don't mind, I would rather not be

involved with magic charms.

As a matter of fact, um

to be perfectly candid about it

I must say I'm not too happy about the way

the subject was introduced to Eddie.

Oh, I-I am sorry, Mr. Corbett.

Please, please accept this

as a decorative item.

Do you realize that you just called me, uh

by my own name?

Did I? Oh, well, I guess...

I guess sometimes I do listen better than others.

And sometimes, I do pay more attention.

I think I am the one who should say that I am, I am sorry.

I-I did not mean to be... ungracious.

Oh-h-h... please, please, don't feel that way.

My husband used to say that I lived in a world of my own.

Peopled by characters that I created.

Well, I... I suppose

that isn't very realistic, is it?

But then we all have to do our things our own way, don't we?

Yes, we do.

I just thought

of a little gift for Eddie.

Eddie? Well, you just called him by his name, too.

Well, so I did.

Could I drop it by your apartment this evening?

I would be more than happy if you would.

I will be working late tonight

but Mrs. Livingston will be there.

Oh, well, goodbye then, Mr. Corbett.

Goodbye and thank you very much, Mrs. Rickles.

- Thank you. - Let me get that door for you.

Oh and, uh, don't you worry.

I promise you, no more magic.

"And only those playthings that are old and wise

"and experienced, like the skin horse

understand all about it."

Would you like more tea, Mrs. Rickles?

Oh, no, thank you.

Mrs. Livingston, could I please stay up for five more minutes?

We're reading my new book.

We're almost finished.

- Alright. - Thank you.

"'What is real?', asked the rabbit one day

"when he and the skin horse were lying

"side by side in the toy box.

"Does it mean having things that buzz inside you

"and a stick-out handle?

"'Real isn't how you are made,' said the skin horse.

"It's a thing that happens to you.

"When a child loves you for a long, long time

"not just to play with, but really loves you

then you become real."

"'Does it hurt?', asked the rabbit.

"'Sometimes,' said the skin horse...

"...for he was always truthful.

"When you are real, you don't mind being hurt.

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up

"or bit by bit?, asked the rabbit.

"It doesn't happen all at once,' said the skin horse.

"You become.

It takes a long time."

That's why it doesn't often happen to people

who break easily or...

...have sharp edges or have to be carefully kept.

Generally, by the time you're real

most of your hair has been loved off.

And your eyes drop out.

And you get loose at the joints.

And very shabby.

But these things don't matter at all.

Because once you're real...

...you can't be ugly.

Except to those people who don't understand.

Well...

...a child sleeping.

That's magic.

Yes.

Okay, come on, fella!

[grunting]

- Dad. - Yeah.

Could I please take my new book to bed with me tonight?

Well, it just so happens I have it with me.

Goodnight, Mrs. Rickles, and thanks.

May the magic spirits watch over you, love.

I mean, uh, pleasant dreams.

♪♪

Northern star, shining bright, cast peace

upon this house tonight.

That was a, uh, a beautiful story.

Who wrote it?

An old English lady named Margerie Williams

who seems to know about what's real.

Well, I think you know what's real, too, Mrs. Rickles

in your own way.

I, uh, I think its only fair to tell you that, um

after you left my office today

I got the Anderson Advertising account.

One that I had been after for almost six months.

Oh. You see?

I told you the figurine would work.

Well, let's also taking into consideration

that I have been working on this project for six months.

So, uh, I guess it's just a coincidence.

Hmm.

[chuckles]

There's no magic in magic, Mr. Corbin.

It's imagery plus will.

That's all there is to it.

Hmm.

Imagery plus will...

...equals magic.

Mm-hmm. It's an ancient formula.

Oh. Well, I like it anyway.

♪♪

[whistling]

- Hi, dad. - Hello, sport.

Hi, Joey, how are ya?

- Fine, thank you. - Good, good, good.

Come on!

Joey, he just got in.

He's in, so tell him.

What, what, what? I'm waiting.

- Dad. - Yes.

I know you don't believe in magic

but today, when I was saying my chant

on Miss Huffman because I like her...

- Yeah. Yeah. - You know what happened?

Mm-hmm, she's not wearing an engagement ring anymore.

How do you know?

Well, because I called the school to check

on your spelling and she told me.

Are you gonna go out with her, dad?

No! No, I'm afraid not.

Why not, Mr. Corbett?

Well, because she's leaving for England tomorrow

to accept an exchange fellowship.

But she'll be back in six months

so I think you better hang on to that charm.

Ah, now you're beginning to believe

that magic can really happen, right?

Well, let me put it this way.

When you have very strong images

plus, hard, hard work

plus, intentions which you're loving...

...it would not surprise me a bit

if you could move a mountain.

Boy, your dad,, he sure talks fancy.

I know it, but when he says something

that you cant understand

he always explains it to you later.

How much later?

[both] Much later.

[Eddie] Why is a black cat bad luck?

[Tom] It isn't... to a black cat.

[laughs]

[Eddie] People believe what they wanna believe.

Isn't that right, dad?

[Tom] Eddie, that is probably the brightest

thing you have ever said.

[Eddie] What did I say?

[Tom] That people believe

what they want to believe.

[Eddie] I said that?

[Tom] Mm-hmm, you certainly did.

[Eddie] Gee, dad, lately I open my mouth

terrific things come out.

Why do they call a snake in the grass sneaky?

[Tom] I don't know, Eddie.

May be it's because he crawls around on his belly.

[Eddie] Well, gee! If you had short legs, how would you walk?

♪ 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 ♪♪