Original subtitles

[boat horn honking]

[seagulls squawking]

[waves lapping at shore]

Dad, does man come from monkeys?

Why do you ask, Eddie?

Well, it should feels like I do.

Well, that is a difficult question to answer, Sport.

I guess that's why I'm asking it.

Oh.

The easy questions I know the answers to.

Well, you see, Eddie, there is a spiritual answer

and there is a scientific answer.

Would it help if I told you I like bananas?

♪♪

People, let me tell you about my best friend.

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

People, let me tell you about my best friend.

He's a one-boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy.

People, let me tell you about him.

He's so much fun.

Whether we're talking man to man,

or whether we're talking son to son.

Because he's my best friend.

Yeah, he's my best friend.

La-la.

Pa-da-da-da-yah.

Pa-da-da-da-yah.

Pa-da-da-da-yah.

Pa-bom-pa-bom. Wah-wah.

Ru-ba-da-bee-dee.

Bo-bo-ba.

Ru-ba-da-bee-dee.

Bo-bo-ba.

Ru-ba-da-bee-dee.

Bo-bo-ba. Whoops.

Underwears, pajamas, shirts, sock-- where's socks?

Must have forgot them.

You didn't sew my name tag on these.

Oh, yes, I did.

Where?

See?

Oh, yeah.

Well, here's your baseball mitt.

I found it in the bathroom.

Boy, it sure takes a lot of stuff to go to camp,

doesn't it? - Yeah.

Come on, Sport. Cheer up.

You're going to love it.

I guess.

But it's not the same that Billy's not going.

Hey, I know you're disappointed

that your friend is sick, but it's going to be all right.

You'll make new friends up there.

I promise you.

Yeah, I guess.

My toothbrush, did you sew my name on my toothbrush?

No, I wrote it on adhesive tape.

I'll get it.

Hm.

He does not want to go.

Yeah, I know.

But he'll get over it.

He's very young.

Well, camp is for the young.

I know he feels like he doesn't want

to go now because of Billy, but once he gets there, he'll--

he'll like it.

He has never been away so far for so long.

I know, but there's a first time for everything,

and two weeks isn't that long.

Perhaps it is not only because of Billy.

He may not wish to go away because he feels

he would be happy at home.

Mm.

Well, you might be right, but I just

feel it is so important he learn to have a good time out

from under my wing.

Well, I just cannot help worrying about it.

I'm sorry.

OK.

Name is on it, huh? Good.

You see, Mrs. Livingston put your name

on the brush and the box.

Now the question is, are you going to use it?

Yeah.

Hey, hey.

Are you going to use it? - Yeah.

Bye, Mrs. Livingston.

- Bye, Eddie. - OK.

Well, thank you, Mrs. Livingston,

and I will see you in a little while.

- Yes. - OK.

Goodbye, Eddie.

Have a good time.

- I will! - Bye-bye.

[Norman] I don't think it's a good idea.

[Tom] What, for Eddie to go to camp?

[Norman] Yeah. [Tom] Why not?

[Norman] He's likely to feel lonesome and rejected.

[Tom] Oh, come on.

I checked around.

I don't know any kids who have been to camp

and didn't like it once they got there.

[Norman] I do. [Tom] Who?

Me.

What, you had a bad experience?

I was lonesome, scared, and nauseous.

My parents took me home the first night.

I think they should have left you there.

Well, at least Eddie has Billy Gerber.

Billy Gerber didn't go.

A-ha!

What do you mean, a-ha?

A-ha, what?

He has smart parents.

He got sick.

You mean to tell me that he's up there all alone?

Norman, it's not bad for a boy to be alone for a little while.

In a hostile environment he's not

used to, with woods and a lake?

There's only one consolation.

What is that?

You'll think over what I said and realize how right I am.

And in 24 hours, you'll be on your way

up there to rescue your son.

- Norman, you're getting silly. - You'll see.

The mail arrived.

Oh, boy.

Well, there's something from the phone company.

Bills and bills and more bills.

Oh, fine.

Here's something for a subscription

to a magazine that says I may have already won a yacht.

And a harbor in the South Pacific.

Anything from Eddie?

Oh, oh!

Here we go. Got a card.

It says, Dear Dad and Mrs. Livingston, we got here.

It's nice.

I am fine.

How are you?

I'm hoping I am the same.

Love, Eddie. There.

There?

Yes, just an ordinary card from a boy at camp.

He seems so lonely.

Oh, not from that card.

Well, he might not come right out and say it.

Oh, he'd come right out and say it.

Perhaps.

Still, it's how you interpret it.

Hm.

Well, I have a funny feeling that we have two

weeks of interpreting to do.

You don't understand.

Oh, I understand that you are an overprotective,

nervous, worrying godfather.

Right.

That's why there's only one thing to do.

What?

We call him on the telephone.

We hear from his own lips this terrible trauma

of being rejected, being removed from society.

You're kidding.

No, I'm not.

OK.

Brave Corbett.

Brave Corbett, you're wanted in the chief's tepee.

Brave Corbett, you're wanted in the chief's tepee.

Not yet, Mr. Corbett.

Well, do you have any idea where he could be?

Well, he could be any number of places.

The hospital.

Now, that I guarantee, he's definitely not in the hospital.

Oh, boy.

CHIEF [on phone] Who is that?

That is Mr. Tinker.

He's a godfather.

Oh!

[screaming]

What's that?

Oh, every year there's one kid who doesn't like camp,

and he gets homesick. - Eddie!

CHIEF [on phone] No, no, no.

It's not Eddie.

Listen, fella, this is Norman Tinker.

Look, I don't want you to think I'm getting carried

away or nervous or anything.

What kind of a camp are you running there, when you

don't know where the kids are?

CHIEF [on phone] Mr. Tinker, everything

is definitely under control.

This is a free period, which means

that if Eddie does not respond to the loudspeaker,

he's probably on the lake.

The lake?

[Chief on phone] Mr. Tinker, please.

Now listen, the lake is only three feet deep.

Eddie can swim.

There is a lifeguard.

Yes, of course.

[Chief on phone] Goodbye, Mr. Corbett.

Goodbye, Uncle Bernie.

Well, did you hear that?

I heard something, yes.

He's only there three days.

Can't you see the danger he's in?

No.

Tom, I want you to know, I think

you're doing the right thing.

Well, Norman, I want you to know that we are not going

up to camp to rescue Eddie.

We're not?

No, we are not.

I'm taking you up so that you can see that he is just fine.

Boy, you and your godfather sympathy pains.

All I know is Eddie is far away and all by himself.

Oh, poor Eddie-- far away, all by himself.

Come on, Norman.

Will you learn to relax with Eddie?

He's not made of glass.

He is not a delicate flower.

He is a normal, healthy, energetic boy,

and he's going to be fine. - Yeah, I know.

I've heard it. Hold your child with open arms.

Well, yeah, if you can.

It's easy for you to say.

You're a parent.

I'm a godfather.

[chief] Brave Corbett.

Brave Corbett.

You're wanted in the chief's tepee.

Brave Corbett, you're wanted in the chief's tepee.

Are you trying to tell me--

are you trying to tell me that you haven't found Eddie yet?

No, no, no.

Everything is just fine.

We've seen him.

Now look, I know, Mr. Tinker, that you're

very upset, but believe me, everything is all right.

This is my 12th year.

You've gotten through 12 years?

Right.

And the only thing that ever went wrong

was that one kid had an emergency appendectomy.

That's serious.

Yeah.

We had to refund half a season.

Herman, would you mind going outside and crying for a while?

What-- what's the matter with him?

Oh, he has a very severe case of homesickness.

Poor baby.

Mr. Tinker, there are classic situations in all summer camps.

There's homesickness, there's poison ivy,

there's a Lothario that spends most of his time trying

to sneak into the girls camp.

Eddie doesn't do any of these things.

In fact, Eddie is a model camper,

and he's having a great time.

So why don't you two just relax?

In fact, I've got double bunks in the storage tent.

Why don't you two just stay the night.

You're just in time for Blue and Gold Week.

Well, that might be a pretty good idea.

It was a long drive up here, and what

do you say we stay tonight?

Oh, we're going to stay, all right.

Hi, Uncle Norman.

Hi, Dad.

Hey. Hi, Sport.

How are you?

Fine.

You can tell us.

I'm OK.

Uncle Bernie won't mind if you tell us the truth.

I think he told us the truth, Norman.

He said he was fine.

Do you want to go home?

Do you want me to come home?

[Tom] No.

Don't you miss me?

Oh, Eddie, of course I miss you.

That isn't the point.

I just don't want you to worry about me.

- Did you come to take me back? - No.

No, we didn't, as a matter of fact.

We just came to visit, make sure you're OK.

Oh, I'm OK.

[Norman] Really?

Yeah, sure.

Well, OK, then.

It's just about time for light's out, Mr. Corbett.

Oh.

Well, in that case, we'll see you in the morning

because we're gonna stay overnight tonight.

- Oh, good night, Dad. - Good night, Sport.

Good night, Uncle Norman.

Good night, Champ.

- Uncle Bernie. - Good night.

I don't know, Tom.

Really, I just don't know.

You don't know what, Norman?

I don't know.

["taps" on trumpet with sour notes]

Boy, that's the same bugler I had when I was in camp.

That's the worst "Taps" I ever heard.

Well--

You'd think they'd use a record.

Yeah.

Canned "Taps" doesn't make it, Norman.

Oh, wow.

This is an old tent.

Terrific.

OK, here we go.

Look it, what do you want, upper or lower?

The upper.

OK, it's all yours.

I don't know, Tom.

I just don't know.

You don't know what, Norman?

Well, you saw Eddie.

How do you think he looked?

I think he looked great.

Oh, he looked great.

Yeah, he smelled pretty good too.

Hey, I'm serious.

Oh, come on, Norman.

You heard the counselor.

He said Eddie is a great little camper,

and he's having a terrific time.

Oh, and you think he's going to admit that this

was a horrible mistake?

Oh, Norman.

Just forget about it, will you, please?

Fine, I'll forget about it.

I'll just tell you one thing.

Pardon me?

He didn't seem glad to see us at all.

He did seem glad.

He was very glad to see us, Norman.

In my book, he was resentful because you sent him away.

Rejection, right?

Sure, rejection.

You don't want him in your home.

Norman, you are being silly.

Oh, I am, huh?

Then let me ask you something.

If I'm being silly, how come he seemed so distant?

Norman, if he seemed distant, it

is probably because you confused him

by telling him to go back home.

I suppose it never occurred to you probably

that's what he really wants.

Norman, look, it occurs to me that I'm tired

and we had a long drive up here.

I'd like to get some sleep, I really would.

Terrific. Go to sleep.

- Thank you very much. - Good night.

Good night.

Why did I pick the upper bunk?

Norman.

Good night.

Good night.

Norman, you left the light on.

- I'll get it. - I'll get it.

I'll get it!

[thud]

Ugh!

[owl hooting]

[rattling]

What are you doing, Norman?

Oh, I'm sorry I woke you.

How can you sleep at a time like this?

What's the matter?

What time is it, Nor--

Norman, it's 2 o'clock.

This may come as a surprise to you,

but I always sleep in the middle of the night.

But it's a time of crisis.

What were you doing before you woke me up?

Looking for the bathroom.

It's outside.

How can you send me your kid to a place that doesn't

even have indoor plumbing?

Good night, Norman.

Boy, some guys need a house to fall on them.

Good night, Norman. Good night, Norman!

Sh! Go to sleep.

It's awful dark out here.

[stick snapping]

Ow!

I should've put my shoes on.

[animal howl]

What was that?

He sent his kid to a camp with no indoor plumbing.

Ow!

I'll never find my way back.

["reveille" on trumpet with sour notes]

What time is it?

Huh?

Oh.

6 o'clock.

Barbaric.

Well, you don't have to get up, Norman.

So--

You kidding?

Who can sleep?

Yeah, I know.

Hey.

Huh?

You gotta promise me something.

I gotta what?

You gotta promise me something.

- What? - Today--

Mm-hmm.

- -you really find out how Eddie really feels.

Go to sleep, Norman.

[bugle call]

[kids playing]

Hey. Hi, Sport.

Hi, Dad.

How's it going?

Fine.

Boy, this mountain air really makes you hungry.

How about some breakfast, huh?

Where do we go?

Down there, the last tent.

- Oh, good. - Good.

That's sensational. I'm starved.

Yeah. Yeah, me too.

Well, let's go.

- But Dad, I just had breakfast. - Oh, you did?

Yeah.

You see, it's Gold and Blue Week,

and there's a lot of competition.

Oh. What do you have to do?

Well, right now I've got to be down in arts and crafts.

I'm making a wallet.

Oh, what kind?

Well, it's going to be green with red buttonholes stitches.

Hey, sounds terrific.

Well, Dad, I really gotta go now.

I'm Gold, and I might win.

All right, Sport.

Look, maybe I'll see you around lunchtime, huh?

- Bye. - Bye-bye.

- Uncle Norman. - Yeah.

Bye.

Well, shall we, uh--

He was short.

He is short, Norman.

I mean he was short with you.

Oh, come on.

He was just in a hurry, that's all.

Stop it, will you?

Here we go, huevos.

Thursday?

Eggs, Norman. Eggs.

[bugle call]

I notice he's not having lunch with you.

Norman, he is having lunch with the other boys

in the woods. I told you.

Tom, it's perfectly obvious Eddie is avoiding you.

He is not avoiding me, Norman.

Well, he doesn't seem to be spending much time with you.

Because he's too busy having a good time.

How come you're not?

Hi, Dad.

Hi, Uncle Norman. - Hi, Eddie.

Hi, Sport.

I've been looking all over for you.

Well, you found us. What's up?

Take your time.

You're out of breath.

I want to know if you can go horseback riding with us.

Ah, ha ha ha!

We would love to.

OK, but we can't go now.

We gotta go to archery right now,

and the Blues are only four points ahead of the Golds.

And I'm in the finals. - Oh!

Yeah. Well, fine.

That's OK. - See you later, OK?

- All right. - OK, bye.

- Bye-bye. - You're terrific.

You promised me you'd find out. - Oh, Norman.

Come on.

Now, you saw him with your own eyes.

He's a happy boy.

- I don't buy it. - All right.

OK, fine.

I'll tell you what I'll do, just to make

you happy, to make Eddie happy, I'll prove it to you

tonight, OK?

Hm.

[bugle call]

Hi, Dad.

Oh, hi, Sport.

Excuse me, old friend.

Listen, since-- since you're going to be so busy tomorrow,

you think, we--

we thought we might just go back tonight.

Oh, that's OK.

So that's what we're going to do, OK?

Uh, can I speak to you privately for a second?

- Sure. - Excuse us.

Hello, Bernie.

How are you?

Hello, Mr. O'Hara.

What's with the kid?

Herman and camp don't take too well to each other.

Herman, what is it with youse?

I don't know.

You don't like camp?

You don't want to stay in camp?

I don't know.

- You want to go home? - I don't know.

Herman, we don't communicate.

I know.

Do you have to go?

Well, we don't have to go, Sport.

It's just that you're up here to have a good time,

and with a nervous Uncle Norman, that's not easy.

Yeah.

He is acting sort of funny.

Yeah, you have to remember that some people say I love

you by acting sort of funny.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

Eddie, you also have to remember that people who

don't have children of their own sometimes

forget that a nine-year-old isn't a baby anymore.

You think I should talk to him?

Why don't you give it a try?

- You're leaving now. - Yeah.

Hey, you can go with us if you want.

No, I don't want to go home.

I like it here.

I'm having a swell time.

- Really? - Really.

See, since you don't have any children of your own,

you worry too much.

And I'm a big boy now.

I can take care of myself.

Honest?

Honest.

You know, I know you worry about me.

That's because you love me.

But you don't have to worry about me.

No kidding.

Listen, Eddie, if anything was wrong,

if something was bothering you, you'd tell me, wouldn't you?

Sure, I would.

OK, Eddie.

Try and have a good time.

I am.

[bugle call]

Well, that's assembly.

You have to go?

Yeah, I've got to get back to the bonfire.

It's Natchanoony night.

Well, in that case, you better get going, huh?

Yeah.

Well, Uncle Norman, thanks for coming.

It was a swell time. I love you.

Dad, thanks for letting me come to camp.

It's terrific.

Norman, if you ever go into the child psychology business,

don't count on me as a client, OK?

Right.

Uncle Bernie doesn't like giving us back half the money.

I know.

Herman, I do love youse.

I know.

Eddie, you have only one sneaker.

I know. I lost the other one.

How can you lose only one sneaker?

Well, we were having this three-legged race, and--

Oh, no, no. Never mind.

Never mind. I got it.

Also there's one pajama top and one

pajama bottom is missing. - I know.

I lent them to one of the guys.

Did you have to loan a different top

and a different bottom?

I loaned them at two different times.

Oh, I see.

And I also think I lost my toothbrush.

What do you mean you think you lost your toothbrush?

Well, I haven't seen it around for a couple of days.

Well, I think all in all, considering he was away two

weeks, we didn't do too badly.

Dad, we came out ahead.

Look what I won at Camp Natchanoony night.

[bugle call]

When do you become a man?

Legally, when you're 21.

That's a long time ago.

Yeah, but you can vote when you're 18.

It's getting closer.

Well, some societies say that you

become a man when you're 13. - Wow.

That's right around the corner.

You worried?

Well, I'd better get in all the fun I can.

Eddie, you can still have fun when you're a man.

You can?

Every age has its good times.

Mine's terrific right now.

So is mine.

People, let me tell you about my best friend.

La-la.

Pa-da-da-da-yah.

People, let me tell you about my best friend.

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

People, let me tell you about my best friend.

He's a one-boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy.

People, let me tell you about him.

He's so much fun, whether we're talking man to man,

or whether we're talking son to son,

because he's my best friend.

La-la.

Pa-da-da-da-yah.