Original subtitles

- This is some ship. - It really is a queen.

[Eddie] All ships are called she, aren't they?

[Tom] Yeah, yeah.

[Eddie] I think a ship this big

ought to be called a he.

[Tom] Well, it's just a tradition, Eddie.

[Eddie] A tradition is something that's almost always been.

[Tom] And it's almost always been that something dear

and important to us is spoken of as feminine.

[Eddie] And they think of it like a lady?

[Tom] Mm-hmm, and they call it she.

[Eddie] That reminds me of a saying, dad.

[Tom] Which one?

[Eddie] Well, you know, we could

use a lady in our lives.

[Tom] Yeah.

[Eddie] So maybe someday our ship will come in.

[Tom] I hope so.

[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]

The shot I gave him will help him through the night.

Then, uh, one tablet every four hours.

Finish the bottle.

And a teaspoonful of the cough mixture

three times a day as long as necessary.

Alright, thank you.

His fever should be down by morning.

- But call me and let me know. - Yes, I will.

Try to go to sleep, Eddie.

I think he'll feel better tomorrow.

I'm feeling better already.

Your hands were nice and cold.

- Thank you. - Be back in a minute, sport.

- Okay, dad. Goodnight, doctor. - Goodnight, Eddie.

Well, I thank you very much for coming, doctor.

- Especially so late. - It's good I saw him tonight.

You were right to call.

Why, well, we certainly appreciate it.

Well, I promised Dr. Burgar I'd take good care of his patients.

Well, you certainly have. How long will he be on vacation?

Another ten days.

I may want to see Eddie in the meantime

depending on how he seems.

Alright, fine, I'll call you tomorrow.

Alright. Well, let me, uh, let me

see you to your car. It's getting a little late.

Oh, I'm right in front of the building.

The doorman can do it. Thanks anyway.

Alright. Well, once again, I would like to thank you.

I hope we didn't spoil your evening.

Not really. I was on my way to see "Gone With The Wind"

but I've already seen it twice.

- Well. - Well, uh...

Oh, Eddie's right. Your hands are nice and cool.

It's one of my professional assets.

- Goodnight, Mr. Corbett. - Goodnight, doctor.

[female 1] Okay, one more now.

[inhales deeply]

Fine. Okay, last one. Make it a big one.

[inhales deeply]

Great. You can button up now, Eddie.

Well, the congestion's all cleared up.

- He can go back to school. - Oh, that's good news.

It's good news, I'm better.

I'll write a note to Dr. Burgar. He can put it in Eddie's file.

Okay. Look, sport, would you, uh, would you mind

waiting in the reception room for a second?

I'd like to talk to the doctor.

Okay.

There are a couple of magazines

on motorcycles you can look at.

You're gonna be that long?

No, just a few minutes.

Okay.

Uh, I'd like to ask you something

that I, uh, I've never asked Dr. Burgar.

What is it?

Will you go dancin' with me tonight?

Yes.

All through medical school.

Where'd you find the time?

I made it.

- I have a lot of discipline. - I guess.

I would say that you are a very imaginative

and industrious woman.

I'd rather you said person.

Oh, well, I meant to say per...

Alright, I'll amend it to say

still, you are a very beautiful woman.

Now you have any objections?

I can't object to that

without sounding ungracious and argumentative.

Mm-hmm. Also, terribly unaware.

- Hi, Tom. Tom? - Hmm?

- Hi. - Oh, oh, Norman.

I didn't know you were gonna be here tonight.

Otherwise you'd be home

working on the layout like you said?

- Oh, we're getting in the mood. - Are you getting...

- Hello, Tina. - Hello.

Well, uh, Liz, may I introduce Tina Rickles, my secretary?

Norman Tinker, my art director. This is Liz Park.

Well, the magazine that circulates together.

Absolutely, that's it.

- Dr. Park? - Yes.

- Eddie's pediatrician? - Temporarily.

Ooh. Couldn't it have happened when I was a kid?

[chuckles] Well, listen, how would you two, uh, like to join us?

I think we already have.

Listen, there's something I'd like to ask you as a doctor.

You see, I have this problem and, uh--

Tina, she is children's doctor.

Well, I've had this problem ever since I was a child.

[indistinct]

[Liz chuckles] I like Norman a lot.

[Tom] Yes, he's a good friend and he's a nice person too.

And Tina's funny too.

Do you know that they almost got married? Thank you.

- Why didn't they? - Oh, I don't know. I, uh...

Well, I guess they just found that it wasn't the right time.

- That's a good reason. - Mm-hmm.

Tell me.

Why did you decide to become a doctor?

Oh. I guess I had a fix-it complex.

What do you mean?

Well, I always hated to see toys broken

flowers wilting, people sick.

I got my biggest kicks out of seeing what I could do

to improve things.

Hm. Why pediatrics?

[sighs] Of all the helpless beings

the most helpless seemed to me to be children

especially when they were sick.

Children are always at the mercy of the world.

They need all the help they can get.

I agree.

My father was a doctor.

I guess the clincher was I always thought

his life was a lot more interesting than my mother's.

No regrets?

Well, no matter what you do, you always miss something.

Life is a series of choices. Hmm?

Mm-hmm.

You are a nice lady.

Thank you. I like you too.

- Thank you. - Coffee's ready.

I'm giving up my practice in a couple of months.

You are? Why?

I'm going to Switzerland for three years.

Maybe four.

To study with Dr. Carl Mayson.

- The, the pediatric surgeon? - Very good.

Ah, I wish I could take credit for being terribly knowledgeable

but I'm afraid we did an article on him

about three months ago. Thank you.

Then you know he runs a hospital and clinic in Zurich.

- Yes, I do. - Have you ever been to Zurich?

- No, I haven't. - Neither have I.

I understand it's beautiful.

So do I.

Anyhow, there are only a few openings a year

to study under Dr. Mayson, so...

You couldn't study here?

Well, yes, but he's probably

the best pediatric surgeon in the world.

Mm.

- And that is what you want? - Yes.

Have you been accepted yet?

Oh, well, unofficially, but yes.

- Congratulations. - Thank you.

I guess we had better keep that in our minds.

I guess I think we should too.

- Good coffee. - Oh, that I get from my mother.

Your mother gave you a lot of good things.

- Tina, these are signed. - Oh, thank you.

Tell me, how are my telephone calls coming?

- Fine. - Good.

Then why am I speaking to nobody?

Oh, they're coming fine from this end

but from the other end, they're not calling back.

Uh, it's, uh, "meeting, meeting, golf

out of town, sick, meeting, meeting, in Disneyland."

Hmm.

Uh, Mr. Wilson's secretary says

that he goes there once a week

to try to keep his grip on reality.

Mm-hmm.

- Hello, Norman. - Hi, Tom.

What's all this for?

It means that I approve the doctor in your life.

- Oh. - Oh, yeah, she's a doll.

Well, she also liked you.

- Yeah, but how do you feel? - I like you too.

Hey, Tom, pal, this is it. This girl is for you.

Well, let's not send out wedding announcements, alright?

You don't have to. I know it. You know it. She knows it.

- Uh-huh. - The way you look at her.

The way she looks at you.

The light in your eyes. The light in her eyes.

The way the light in her eyes looks at the light in my eyes?

- Hey, Tom, I'm serious. - Alright, Norman.

I will admit, she is a marvelous girl.

- But? - But nothing.

- That's all there is to it. - Why?

Why? Well, because, Norman, she is going to Switzerland

to study for three years to become a pediatric surgeon.

That's why. Ah-ha!

Maybe she could take a correspondence course.

No, no, I'm afraid not, Norman.

You can't let this happen. The girl's perfect for you.

Look, Norman, I'm not sure of that

and even if I were, I couldn't ask her not to go.

Why not?

Because it's too much like playing God, Norman.

Now she's a very unusual girl

and she has a, a particular plan in mind

and evidently, she has the ability to accomplish it.

Oh, no, no, I wouldn't want the responsibility

of changing her life.

Hey, Tom, any girl you ask to marry

you're gonna change her life.

Ah, it wouldn't be quite the same thing, Norman.

[sighs] Okay, I guess not.

I just think it's a lot better to face the facts now

before somebody gets hurt, you know what I mean?

Just, just cool it before some serious damage is done.

- You told her? - Yes, I did.

- Um, it's all worked out? - Yeah, yeah, it is.

- I mean, that's it? - Yes, I'm afraid it is, Norman.

You're never gonna see her again?

You mean after tonight?

Come on in.

Alright, I will.

- Would you like a drink? - No, no, thank you.

- You want coffee? - No.

Well, so much for the drinks and coffee.

Yeah.

Oh, Liz.

Oh. Well, what do we do now?

Ask me later.

[doorbell rings]

- I'll get it, Mrs. Cherry. - Oh, thank you.

- Hi, Liz. - Hello, Eddie.

Dad will be ready in a couple of minutes.

- I guess I'll wait. - This is Mrs. Cherry.

- She's my babysitter. - How do you do?

- How do you do? - Mrs. Livingston has a cold.

Oh. Well, how have you been

since the last time I saw you?

- Stayin' healthy. - I hope so.

Hey, you wanna see my new fish?

You got a new fish since Tuesday?

- Yeah. Come, I'll show you. - Okay.

Yeah, there he is. That big one right there.

He's the newest member of the family.

The fish family or the Corbett family?

Both.

He's very lucky to be a member of this family.

Yeah, we have a lot of fun together too.

Not just the fish, me and dad too.

I know you do.

- Liz, do you have a family? - Just an older brother.

He lives in Chicago. I don't see him much.

Oh, then you really don't have anybody, do you?

No, I guess not.

Doesn't it get lonesome sometimes?

Sometimes.

Yeah, even for me and dad, it gets...

Well, not exactly lonesome, but...

I know what you mean, Eddie.

Well, I'm ready, but I, uh

I can see that I haven't been missed.

We were just talking about families.

Oh? What about families?

- How nice it is to have one. - Hmm.

- What are you thinking about? - Whittier.

- John Greenleaf Whittier? - John Greenleaf Whittier, yes.

Well, I never considered him competition

but you never know, do you?

Well, actually, I was thinkin' of him

in terms of... you and me.

Now that sounds like a feeble explanation.

Ah! Well, I must tell you

he wasn't one of my favorite poets

but he did say a few words once which stick in my mind.

Oh?

"For all sad words of tongue or pen

"the saddest are these.

It might have been."

Yes, I remember them too.

I just wish we had met...

...at another time in our lives.

No, in-in your life.

Who knows what might have happened then?

All that really counts is what happens now.

Yeah.

Well, have you heard anything from Switzerland?

I heard. The beginning of the week.

You never said anything about it.

No.

Well, I guess it's all set then, huh?

I have to accept officially. Tell them when I'm coming.

- You haven't done that yet? - No, not yet.

Is there any particular reason?

Very good one. You.

I've written the letter. Carried it around with me.

Almost mailed it a dozen times.

But I've almost torn it up a dozen times too.

I didn't think that was possible.

- I didn't think it was either. - Could you tear it up?

Tom, I'm scared stiff.

You can't be.

We both can't be.

...only one step at a time.

- Mrs. Cherry. - Oh, oh. It's you.

- Yes, it is. - I just dozed off.

Ah. I, uh, sure hope you enjoyed...

Yes, we did. Thank you very much.

- Uh, Eddie's asleep? - Oh, yes, he was tired.

I had him go to bed a little early.

Mm. Good.

Well, let me see now. That will be, what, five hours.

- Is it right? - Oh, yes, that's right.

[sighs]

Did I get any messages, calls or anything?

- Oh, there was a call for you. - Mm-hmm.

Uh, a man called named "Mr. Tinker."

Oh, thank you very much, dear.

Did, did he say what he said?

Uh, no, he only said to tell you to keep punching.

- Uh-huh. - Uh...

"The ballgame is never over

until the last man is in Switzerland."

And, uh, "Remember you said

'You never can tell what will happen.'"

Do you know what that means, Mr. Corbett?

Mm-hmm, yeah, well, sort of. It's a family kind of a thing.

Oh.

Well, thank you very much, Mrs. Cherry.

- Oh. - And we'll see you soon.

Didn't give you any trouble, did he?

No, not at all.

- Thank you. - Goodnight.

- Tom. - What's the matter?

It's Eddie. He has a very high fever.

What? Well, I'll get the thermometer.

No, towels, alcohol and cold water.

Well, you'll find towels and alcohol in his bathroom.

- And I'll get the cold water. - Okay.

Liz?

- Yes, Eddie. - What are you doing?

Just trying to help you get cool.

Here you go.

Well, you know, he seemed perfectly alright

earlier this evening.

May have been just starting when he went to bed.

Hmm.

Sometimes children go through a period

when they are susceptible to this sort of thing.

Mm-hmm.

It feels like summer.

[Liz] You have a little fever.

There now. It's gonna make you feel better.

Well, he'll be alright now, hm?

Yes. You have to catch the fever before it can get too high

otherwise you can be in for all sorts of problems.

- Hm. - Well, it's not important now.

Eddie will be fine.

Well, thank you.

You're welcome.

Well, this evening hasn't quite turned out

the way we thought, has it?

No.

I have a feeling it's not over yet either.

Oh, Tom, when I was in there with Eddie, I kept thinking

I'm doing what he needs, all he needs

but suppose he needed more to save his life.

- Like surgery. - Yes.

I have to be able to do that, Tom.

I guess I'll never be able to settle for anything less.

Yes, I suppose so.

The last couple of weeks have been the happiest

I've ever had, with you and Eddie.

Me too.

But... I don't wanna give up the life

I've worked out for myself.

Isn't that crazy?

Oh, I don't know.

I think there's a lot crazier things in the world though.

I just can't.

Yes.

We should have stopped it right in the beginning.

What?

And miss the best two weeks of our lives, hm?

Well, I'll tell you what. I'll walk you to your car.

No, no. Please, stay with Eddie.

I'm right in front of the building.

How do you manage to get such great parking places?

- Doctor's license plates. - Hm.

[sighs]

♪ 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 ♪♪