Dreaming Out Loud (1940) - full transcript

Good Morning, Abner.

Morning.

Can we have some gum?

Can we have some gum?

Come on!

That boy is a spitting
image of his pa

when he was a kid
of a boy his age.

Come on, come on.
Out of the way, Bessie.

Get out of the way.

Get out of the way.

Stubborn, I don't care.



We need some ordinances
in this town, Abner.

Ordinances?

Yeah, some new speed
laws, way these cars

whiz up and down the
streets, it's worth a body's

life to walk around the time.

Yeah.
Morning, Daly.

Morning, Daly.

Morning, Abner.

How's grandma this morning?

Well, she appears
to be on the improve.

Well, I'm proud to hear it.

Poor grandma, she just went
down something wonderful,

ain't she?

Yeah, well, I don't
know whether she's



as sick as she lets on or not.

Grandma always did
enjoy poor health.

Morning, Moe.

Morning, Moe.

Morning, Abner, Lum.

Yeah, morning, boys.

We're not boys!

Darn it, I can tell.

The town's growing, Lum.

Hey, Lum, have we got
a sale going on now?

Sale?

No, not that I know of.

We ought to take
them signs down then.

They've been hanging
there for over two years.

Well, leave them up.

We might decide to put
on another sale some day.

And if we do, they'll be there.

Yeah, yeah.

Talking about signs, look at
the sign you put on the door

there last night,
back in a few minutes.

I must have hung up
the wrong one, I reckon.

Dog it, I'll fix
it right this time.

We're open now.

Yeah, that's right, ain't it?

Supposing somebody to
come down here last night

wanting to get in the store and
seen that sign hanging there?

What do you suppose they'd a done?

Well, they'd a went
on back home, I reckon.

You know nobody ain't
going to stand there

and look in the door all night.

Granted, I wished I'd got myself

a partner that can think.

Is that so?

Well, let me tell you
something, Lum Edwards,

if I'd did any
thinking, I wouldn't

have been your partner.

Now, don't start no argument.

I ain't arguing.

We will be in a few minutes.

You started it.

I never done no such a thing.

You did done it, said
you'd wished you'd got

a partner that could think.

I still wish it too.

There you go again.

Where's that rope?

What are you going
to do, hang yourself?

I hope so.

I'm going to run it right
down through the middle here

and divide up the store.

You're not going to
do no such a thing.

I am done it.

Get that broom and get
this store swept out.

You see it my way.

Always something
wrong around here.

Wait a minute here.

Oh, maybe that's a good idea...

What do you think you're doing?

I'm setting a trap
for old Grandpa Master,

see him run his hand
down this cracker barrel.

I'll get him.

You wait and see.

Like another one of them drummers.

And a good, good morning
to you, gentlemen.

Morning.

Well, this is a mighty fine
little place of business

you have here, very modern,
very up to date, kind of unusual

for a town of this size.

I'd say she's on the bean.

She's in the groove.

How are you, grand pop?

The boss in?

I'm the boss... or half of
him... I mean, 50/50 with him.

Well, that's fine.

That's fine.

I'm Peter Atkinson, traveling
salesman for the Hotchkiss Drug

Company, Incorporated, home
office, Chicago, Illinois,

introducing a new
line of bath salts

that I'm sure you gentleman
are going to be interested in.

Well, why would anybody
put salt in their bath tub?

They don't taste the water.

Why, of course not, grand pappy.

This bath salt is just to
perfume the bath water.

And it comes in six
delightful fragrances.

We have violet, [inaudible],
rose, and lavender.

I'm afraid we
wouldn't be interested.

I can't understand it.

You haven't even given
the product a trial.

Yeah, I'd love to see
you in a violet bath, Lum.

Now you're cooking, Pappy.

And as I said before...

No, I'm afraid we wouldn't have
no sail for nothing like that

around Pine Ridge here.

We just take our baths straight.

Well, as a special introductory
offer, gentlemen, we are

giving away absolutely free...

What free?

Absolutely free, this
little gadget that we

call the tidy tape wrapper.

What's it for?

It's for wrapping packages.

You mean that little gadget
right there wraps packages?

That's mighty interesting,
but, see, we always use string.

I don't know now, Lum.

This might come in right handy.

Now you're cooking, Pappy.

Not only that, this is a
very modern little item.

And if you fellas don't
mind me saying so,

your store is in a
very rundown condition.

Fact of the matter is,
your town is in a rut.

Now, if you'll try my bath salts...

They'll get us out
of the rut, huh?

Yes.

Now, if you'll just sign
this little piece of paper

accepting this gift so I'll
have a little something

to take to the home office.

Why, sure.

I'm going to leave you a bottle
of these salts too, Pappy.

Thank you gentlemen, thank you.

Thank you very much.

And your case of bath salts will
arrive about the latter part

of next week.

Wait a minute.

We never bought no bath salts.

I beg your pardon.

But your partner
signed for the case.

Huh?

Gentlemen, you will find that
I've done you a great favor.

And you'll receive a bill
from the home office.

Good day, take care of yourself.

And until I see you
again next year,

don't take anyone's nickels.

Corny, ain't he?

Yeah, such priddle paddle.

Bath salts.

What will they think of next?

I wouldn't have bought
nothing from that smart Alec,

come in here knocking our
town, saying we're in a rut.

Who ask him about it anyway?

Well, I don't know, Abner.

He ain't all together wrong.

Pine Ridge may not be
needing bath salts.

But there's lots of
things they do need.

What?

Well, we need a new school house.

Oh, yeah.

Or to have some traffic lights
to slow down these racing

drivers around town here.

And a first aid station
to take care of the folks

they run over.

Yeah.

That's our ring, ain't it?

I never pay it no attention.

Yeah, yeah, maybe it was, yeah.

I thought it was.

Better go answer it.

It's too early in the morning.

For goodness sake's, Abner.

Well, what would anybody be
wanting this time of the day?

Well, go find out what they want.

I wished I had the
fella by the neck

that invented these things.

Hello, General Store,
Abner Peabody talking.

Long distance Adamstown calling.

Must be Ken calling
our post mistress.

Hello?

Ken?

I reckon you're calling for Alice.

Well, she ain't came in yet.

Morning, Alice, you're
wanted on the phone.

It's a good thing I ain't
about 40 year younger.

I'd give you some competition.

Oh.

Abner Peabody, give
me that telephone.

Yes, dear?

Listen, Darling, I won't
be able to get over today.

Disappointed?

Of course I am.

That's what I get for being
engaged to a young doctor.

She just arrived.

And you should see her.

She's a beauty.

I'm looking at her right now.

If you could see it, you'd
know why I'm so thrilled.

It's a miniature
hospital on wheels.

It has everything, the
newest thing in medicine.

And what a God send
to a country doctor.

I think I'm as thrilled
about it as you are.

Yes, I'll tell your father.

Goodbye, dear.

Ken got his new mobile unit.

And is he excited.

Well, good.

Good for him.

Ain't many towns
that would by a young

doctor a contraption like that.

Well, there's Jimmy with the mail.

Abner?

Morning, Jimmy.

What do you know, Sis?

I made it from the depot in
a minute and 42 seconds flat.

Well, that's the best time yet.

Hey, Jimmy, come here.

Would you take this over
to the Abernathy's for us?

Abernathy's?

I thought we decided not to
send no more stuff over there

on a credit.

Oh.

Ain't paid a nickel on her
bill in over four months.

No, well she brung this list
over here yesterday evening.

And I just couldn't
hardly say no to her, Lum.

She's got all them young
'uns over there to feed.

I cut out a can of sorghum.

I figured they could
do without that.

Yeah, but we can't keep
sending stuff over there,

Abner, when we know we ain't
going to get paid for it.

No, no, I guess you're right.

Hand them back, Jimmy.

Wait a minute.

What do you think you're doing?

I'm just going to pick this
stuff back on the shelves.

You give them back to him.

What do you want
them children to do

over there, starve to death?

Go on, Jimmy.

Take them on over there.

Put it back, take it,
put it back, take it.

Jimmy?

Better take a can of
them sorghum along too.

Yes, mister.

You've got as much judgement
as a two-year-old young 'un.

No wonder we can't make no
money in the store business.

We're still in business.

Ain't we?

Ladies and gentlemen, permit
me to announce the arrival

of a new citizen at
Pine Ridge... time, 6:45,

weight, eight pounds four ounces,

name Michael Patrick Dolan.

Another?

Yes, and am I tired.

Any patients been
upstairs since you opened.

No, not that I know of, Doc.

Morning, Toots.

Dr. Walt, how many times have
I told you it isn't Toots,

it's Toots?

All right, Toots, any mail?

Not a thing.

Good, I won't have
a lot of bills then.

What's the news?

Well, your adoring
son just called.

His new mobile unit
was just delivered.

So he's not coming over today.

Oh.

Uh-oh, looks like the
beginning of an awful bad day.

Good morning, Miss.

Good morning.

It's just hard to think
about Doc Walt being

the same promising young fella
that was courting Jessica

Finch about 25 years ago.

You mean she was courting him.

Morning, Jesse, morning Will.

Morning, morning.

We was just talking about you.

Yeah, I can imagine.

What can we do for you?

I've indicated the
prices in the articles.

And I want no substitutes.

You don't know want no what?

Substitutes.

Oh, we ain't got none of
that no way that I know of.

Good morning, bright eyes.

Any mail arrived Jessica?

Quite a bit, here.

Letters, requests for
donations, everybody

wants to get their hooks
in your aunt's money.

What have you got for me?

Sorry, nothing at all.

Not even a kind word?

I'm awfully busy
this morning, Will.

You never seem to be too
busy when a certain young pill

peddler comes to town.

Look, here I am, a
successful attorney

managing the affairs
of the wealthiest

woman in this county.

And you go get yourself
engaged to a half-baked

country doctor who will
probably never have a dime.

Now how come?

Did you ever hear of
a thing known as love?

Better grind some coffee, Abner.

Pound the coffee.

If she weren't so stingy,
she'd get it already ground.

You ain't got no old
clothes you won't be needing,

have you, Jesse?

When I don't need my
clothes, I sell them.

What's wrong with
that thing, anyway?

Well, my keys!

I ain't been able to lock
my house for two weeks.

As I was saying,
Jesse, there's a family

of folks living down there
by the saw mill that's

having a pretty hard road.

You know the Hornsby's?

Yeah.

Well, Miss Hornsby is
just about your size.

And me and Abner
was just thinking...

I said when I don't need
my old clothes, I sell them.

I thought that's what you said.

At the same time,
it don't hurt to be

little neighborly once in a while,

sort of lend a helping hand.

When I want a sermon, Lum
Edwards, I'll go to church.

Here, Lum, take this.

I ain't preaching no sermon.

I'm just trying to
use common sense.

Why don't you use a
little of it yourself

and finish my order?

I want a broom.

Well, there they are.

Which one you want?

Oh, any one will do.

What about the one there
with the white handle?

Oh, get that out of my face.

Oh, careful!

Excuse me, Jesse.

Well, hurry up with the order.

And take it out to the car.

Oh, Will?

Yes?

Help Abner carry
out the groceries.

And see that my order
is right for once.

All right.

Alice, did Jimmy get
up to school all right?

He's delivering a package
for Lum and Abner on his way.

Again?

Why should he bother
with those errands

when they don't even pay him?

But he gets so much fun
out of it, Aunt Jessica.

Well, I'll see you at dinner.

Say, Lum, we got our
grocery orders up.

Now how about playing
a game of checkers?

I don't know, Abner.

I don't much feel like it.

Just one game.

You ought to at least give
me a chance to get even.

Get even?

You couldn't get even if you
lived to be 400 year old.

You owe me $6,720.25 now.

Oh.

You couldn't win
that back at two bits

a game if you lived
to be 5,000 years old.

That's the way I lost it.

Ain't it?

Yeah, but you ain't going to
live as long as you did before.

Ain't going to live
as long as I... huh?

Nothing, go ahead,
I'll play you one game.

You take the red.

What's that burning?

Oh!

That's just Ed's shoes.

He's got them too close
to the stove again.

He's going to sit there
and give himself a hot foot.

Wish to goodness that
fella go to work.

Well, he can't, Lum.

Ain't none of his
kind of work here.

He's a steamboat man on the river.

We ain't got no
river in Pine Ridge.

I know it.

He said that's what
he's waiting for.

He'll go to work they
ever put one through here.

For goodness sake, it's your move.

How much did you say I owed you?

There it is.

Read it for yourself.

$6,720.25.

Just one more game.

No, I'm through, I tell you.

Just one more, Lum.

Abner, I've told you
1,000 or 100 times,

I'm tired of playing.

Well, I'll play for you, then.

Play for me?

Yeah, I can play for both of us.

For goodness...
that'd be a fine game.

Well, I ain't going to cheat.

That's our ring.

Ain't it?

Yeah, I believe it was.

All right, I'll get it.

Which color you want,
Lum, the red or the black?

I told you.

I ain't playing.

Well, I'm going to
play for both of us.

Now which ones do you want,
the red ones or the black ones?

I don't care, Abner.

I'll give you the red ones.

Here, if I'm going to do that
I better move around here.

General Store, Lum
Edwards doing the talking.

Which one of us moves first?

Who?

Oh, hi, Amy.

Lum?

Huh?

Which one of us moves first?

Oh, I don't care, Abner.

You're playing.

Run the game to suit yourself.

What was it for you, Amy?

It's your move, Lum.

Huh?

I ain't talking to you.

Oh, excuse me.

24 or 48 pound sack?

And I'll move right there.

What else then?

Just a minute.

Abner, have we got any more
of them seed potatoes left?

I don't know, Lum.

Don't bother me.

I got troubles of my own here.

You just made an awful good move.

I did, huh?

I tell you.

I'll look and see
directly if we have.

How many did you want?

It's your move.

Oh, no, I moved right up here.

And I moved right up there too.

But I moved here last.

And I moved from there
right up to here!

I can't hear what you're saying.

Abner, will you cut
out that yelling!

I weren't yelling.

I'm arguing.

Well, cut out arguing, then.

Well, you started it.

I never done no such a thing.

I mean here at the checkerboard.

You said it was my move.

And it weren't.

Well, if you can't play
for me without arguing,

just leave me out of the game.

See there, smarty?

Now what else for you?

I told you it was your move!

All right, I'll move!

I'll move right there...
wait, and I'll jump you!

And I'll jump right in there!

You'll have to talk louder.

I can't hear a
thing you're saying.

Huh?

I'm going to have
to call you back.

I can't heart you.

But then I move right there!

Abner, for goodness
sake, how do you

expect me to take
down a grocery order

and you carrying on like that?

Well, Lum, you was
accusing me of making

a move that I never made here.

What better be doing
is closing the store up.

Closing the store?

Why, sure.

Is it that time of day?

Better pull them front shades
down before some customer comes

in here.

Well, I dog it.

Good night.

I'd began to think
Wes had forgotten

this was the 15th of the month.

He just lives and drinks
from check to check.

Doesn't he?

Hello, Doctor.

Is my pension here yet, Alice?

There you are, Wes.

Can you do this, Lum?

I don't know, Wes.

Abner, we ain't got
$18 in the cash drawer

we could cash a check
for Wes, have we?

Uh.

$18 is a pretty big
check for us, Wes.

Yeah, suppose you
wait till tomorrow

and take it to the bank.

Pa!

Give me that check.

Bethy Lou, I told
you to stay home.

This is no time for
little girls to be out.

I wouldn't be out if you wasn't.

I reckon you better
give it to her, Wes.

Now, you sign it, Pa.

Come on, Jimmy.

Goodnight, Dr. Barnes.

What else for you now?

Some ketchup.

Bottle of ketchup,
and there's your corn.

And there's your tomatoes.

Oh!

Granted that's
good enough for you.

I want a cheap tablecloth.

Cheap table... Abner,
get one of them

red and white
tablecloths over there.

And a package of cheese.

Will I get any change at all?

Oh, here.

They you are, Wes.

Thank you for your business.

Pa just don't know
how to handle money.

That's his trouble.

Yeah.

Did you take out
enough to pay our bill?

Oh, yeah, yeah, that's
all took care of.

Sure?

Why, sure, you don't ever
get something for nothing

at the jot 'em down store.

Do you, Abner?

Oh, no, no sir, no.

Come here.

I want to show you something.

How would you like to have one
of these new handkerchiefs?

All Mother Goose rhymes.

Take any one you want, just
the thing for a little girl

like you.

There's Simple Simon,
and Jack and Jill

went up the hill,
and Humpty-Dumpty,

and Little Red Riding Hood.

Can I have Little Red Riding Hood?

Why, sure you can.

You're so awful nice to me.

Strictly business.

Here's your tablecloth, honey.

And I throwed in a pair
of gloves for your Pa,

if he ever goes to work.

Thank you, Mr. Abner.

Don't mention it, honey.

Don't mention it.

How much did they owe us, Lum?

I don't know, Abner.

I never paid no attention.

We can't make money
doing business like that.

We're still in business.

Ain't we?

Say, Washington, that
ain't Jessica's car!

Get Doc, quick.

Doctor!

Doctor!

I'd be feared to move
her till Doc gets here.

She might have some broke bones.

Yeah, best not,
what happened, honey?

Bethy Lou.

Pa, take care of
yourself coming home.

Let me have her, Wes.

Phone Kenneth.

Tell him to get that
mobile unit over

here as quickly as possible.

Yes, Doctor.

Are you gonna tell?

I don't know whether I ought
to or not, because of Jessica...

no, I'm not gonna tell.

And you've got to promise
not to say anything.

Okie-doke.

Hurry, Ken, please hurry!

Ken should be here any minute.

It won't matter now.

Might have gone with her.

You can't think that way, Wes.

Nobody ain't going
to blame you, Wes.

Well, old Wes is
taking it pretty hard.

Seems to blame himself for
everything that happened.

Yep.

I wish Kenny could have got here.

But 80 miles is a lot
of ground to cover

when it's a matter of time.

Yeah, I reckon so.

What are you thinking about, Lum?

I was thinking about
what that drummer

fella said this morning.

Drummer?

At a time like this?

Yes, I believe he's right, Abner.

What this town needs
is more progress.

If we'd have had one of them
first aid units like they

got over at Adamstown
there, little Bethy Lou

might still be alive.

Oh, yes, she might be, Lum.

Well, goodnight.

Goodnight, Lum.

I'm kind of glad
Ken's staying over.

We'll do some fishing
while he's here, I expect.

Fine weather for it, Doc.

All the signs is right.

Ain't no doubt about that.

Fella would have to get behind
a tree to bait his hook.

Doc, you recollect the
last time you went fishing?

Had little Bethy Lou with you.

How has Wes been behaving
since the accident?

Ain't touched a drop.

And says he don't intend to.

I just wonder, I reckon
how long Wes is going

to be able to keep
them good intentions,

not having nothing to
do except sit around

and think about Bethy Lou.

You're quite a psychologist, Lum.

And you're right.

Wes should be kept
busy at something.

There's nothing like hard work
to keep a man on the street

and narrow.

Yeah, something like
sweeping out the store.

Well, hardly that, I mean
a job with a certain amount

of dignity.

Wes should be kept busy
at something that carries

a lot of responsibility.

Yeah, responsibility.

And accepting the
responsibility and duties

of Deputy Constable, do you
hereby solemnly swear that you

will uphold and enforce
the law at all times

to the best and utmost
of your ability?

I do.

Then as Constable of Pine
Ridge, with this badge,

I do hereby pronounce
you man and wife.

That's what comes of being
Justice of the Peace too,

you see.

I now pronounce you
Deputy Constable.

Thought he might
marry you off, Wes.

Brother officer.

Thanks, Caleb.

I won't fail you.

I know you won't, Wes.

I got a surprise for you.

Come on.

What is it?

Oh, you know.

Oh, that, yeah.

There you are, Wes.

That's all yours.

That a dandy, Wes?

That's a real one.

Ain't it?

Got a siren on it and everything.

All you got to do is stop on it.

Electric headlights
and everything.

Wes, your to use
that car specially

to catch reckless drivers.

Listen, Caleb, I'll put the
fear of the Lord into them.

You can bet on that.

Well, Wes, good luck.

Thank you, Chief.

Well, howdy, Jimmy.

Hello, Mr. Abner.

Meet our new Deputy
Constable, Jimmy.

No fooling?

No fooling, Wes is now the law.

Any time you do wrong,
Jimmy, you better come clean.

I don't know
nothing, Mr. Stillman.

Well, who said you did?

See what respect and fear
that badge will give a boy?

Say, Wes, we'd like to help you.

Now, Lum's got some ideas
on tracking down the fellow

that run over Bethy Lou.

Do you have, Lum?

Well, Uncle Henry Lundsford was
telling me after the accident,

he seen some headlights turn
in that lane nearby his place

and stop.

Somebody got out of the car, and
looked it all over right good,

and then got back in the
car, and turned around,

and drove back to town.

Well, now my idea is this.

Whoever run down Bethy
Lou lives in Pine Ridge.

For if it had bit of
an out of town car,

they'd of kept right on going.

Sounds reasonable to me.

Well, supposing we go down there

and look the place over then.

All right, get in.

By dog, this is an uncommonly
fine car you got here, Wes.

Well, now according to
what Uncle Henry said,

the car must have turned in off
the main road right about here.

I brung Elizabeth's
reading glass along.

Thought we might could use it.

For goodness sakes,
such foolishness.

Now, we want to keep our eyes
peeled for clues, fellas.

Clues?

Yeah, tire tracks, and footprints,

and one thing and another.

Oh.

Say, was it a big car or a
little car Uncle Henry seen?

Well, he never said which.

But the way I had the
thing figured out,

the car must have come...

Lum!

Abner, will you shut up?

Me and Wes is trying to
figure this thing out.

Car must of...

Well, Lum!

Lum!

Abner, will you shut up?

Car turned down here, and
stopped, and then backed up

here, and turned around, and
went right on out the big road

- ...there.
- Help!

Help!
Help!

Lum!

Come here, Lum!

Get that thing off!

Get it off!

What thing?

That varmint on my first there!

Get him off!
Get him off!

That ain't nothing
but a little old ant.

Ant nothing, you never seen
a ant that big in your life.

Knock it off, Lum!

You're looking at it through
that enlarginifying glass.

That thing exaggerates.

Oh, looked big enough to
bite a fella's arm off.

For goodness sakes.

Lum, what I want to show
you is this heel print here.

Well, we ain't interested
in nothing you found, Abner.

Heel print?

Yeah, right there.

Look at there, Wes.

Whoever got out of that car
was wearing rubber heels.

And they left a four leaf clover
on every one of the heels.

Look at there.

Lum, that's it.

That's it right there!

Congratulations, you
sure figured it out.

Uh... oh.

Me and you ought to put in a
detective agency, you know it.

That's right.

Reckon we ought to go tell
the constable what we found?

Right now.

Come on, Abner.

Me and Wes has got
the thing solved.

Lum, them things still look
too big for aunts to me.

That ain't no ant, you idiot.

You ain't looking through that.

That's a tarantula spider!

Ah!

Oh!

Oh my goodness!

Uncle Henry Lundsford
told me that same thing.

So yesterday I drove out
there and looked for myself.

You did?

I sure did, careful too.

And I didn't see no tire
tracks, nor footprints.

Why, they was big
four leaf clovers on...

Fellas, we going to have to
get some different clues.

Seems nice, sneaking
up here for the day.

Pine Ridge is still home to me.

Yes, it is now.

But from the moment you carry
your bride over the threshold,

we'll have to drag
you out of Adamstown.

And that'll be soon now.

Not so soon.

What do you mean?

We postponed the wedding.

You have?

There wasn't much else
to do after Alice's

Aunt Jesse laid down the law.

It sounded like a
scene from East Lynn.

When Alice goes out,
Jimmy goes out too.

He's Alice's responsibility.

Got a bite there, son.

Yeah, I know it.

I'll let him get
a good hold first.

She's certainly been bitter all
these years over your choosing

mother instead of her.

Poor Jesse.

I suppose that means she won't
send Jimmy through school.

That's what it means.

I tried to tell her I'd
see to his education.

But she thinks it's
too much of a burden,

until I get a little
more firmly established.

Sometimes if you wait too
long, the fish gets away.

That won't happen this time, Dad.

I'll take these
fish up to the car.

How's everything in
the kitchen, Darling?

Won't be long now.

Good.

I see a
chapel, the organ plays.

I'm so excited, so proud.

I beg your pardon.

I was just dreaming of love.

I walk beside you,
right down the aisle.

We fight our way
through the crowd.

I beg your pardon.

I was just dreaming of love.

With my imagination, I ought
to write fiction, I guess.

Just for illustration, I just
dreamed up my wedding dress.

We're close together.

And your embrace helps
to erase every cloud.

I beg your pardon,
your humble pardon.

I was just dreaming out loud.

You didn't tell me this
picnic included a floor show.

You know something, Alice?

What?

Well, when we do get
married, I'll have the woman.

I'll have the song, even
if I can't afford the wine.

With my imagination,
I ought to write fiction,

I guess.

Just for illustration, I just
dreamed up my wedding dress.

We're close together.

And your embrace helps
to erase every cloud.

I beg your pardon,
your humble pardon.

I was just dreaming out loud.

My compliments to the chef.

Thanks.

I've just been telling
Dad the bad news.

And I guess he told you
that when he married.

No.

Well, he told me.

And, Ken, if there
were just the two of us

two consider, I'd marry you,
even if you had less than that.

Don't mind me.

I'm an old country doctor.

I've seen everything.

Your tea.

Oh, thanks, Alice.

Feeling better?

Oh, I'm all right,
just a little tired.

That's all.

That case took a lot of you.

That Robert's case, and Judge
Porter's operation, and all

of Mrs. Sawyer's children, and...
oh, well, why am I telling you?

You've been working entirely
too hard, Dr. Walsh.

No one can stand it.

Well, somebody's
got to be on the job.

Hello, Alice.

Hello, Caleb.

How's Doc, Alice?

He's pretty tired.

He's resting for a while.

Well, good.

Come in, Caleb.

Howdy, Caleb.

Hi, Lum.

Hi, Abner.

I bring you some eggs, Lum.

The Lynn woman says there's
two dozen and four there.

But you better count them.

What's the matter
with old Doc Walt?

Is he ailing, Abner?

No, he's just been working
hard here late, just hard.

Recollect the time,
Abner, 13 year ago when

I was took with a fever so bad?

Everybody plum gave
me up, except Doc.

He stayed with me and
pulled me through it.

Has that been 13 year ago?

Yeah, 13.

14, 15, 16.

Dog it, time sure
does fly, don't it?

Yeah, I took down back
in the spring of '27.

28, 29, 30.

How old is Doc anyway?

Oh, I'd say he's 50.

Oh, yeah, he's past 50.

51, 52, 53, 54.

And he ain't as agile as
he used to be, neither.

Look at Holden.

He's 70.

And he's still at it.

More than that, he's 72.

73, 74, 75, 76.

76, I get, Caleb.

76?

That's what I counted, Caleb.

Let's see, 12 into 76... 12...
that's six dozen and four.

Six dozen and four?

I think you were
about to be counted

out of four dozen eggs there.

Did you want the cash firm,
or just credit on your bill?

Oh, no, just credit on the bill.

How about selling me some
of them prunes there, Caleb?

I never did like prunes, Abner.

You better take it easy, Doctor.

Granted, we got
plenty of eggs now.

Put a set of these
under old Ed over there.

He's got a nice quiet disposition,

ought to make a good mother.

I don't know.

Sounded like it was upstairs.

As if someone were knocking.

There it goes again.

Must be Doctor Walt.
We better go up and see.

Doctor Walt!

Doc?

What happened, Doc?

Just a slight attack.

I can't seem to use my arm or leg.

I'll be all right in a minute.

Nothing like this ever
happened to me before.

Better call Kenny, Abner.

No, don't call Kenneth.

I don't want him to worry.

Call him anyway, Abner, and hurry.

Where does it hurt the worst, Doc?

There's no pain.

It's just temporary
paralysis of the right side.

That's all.

Paralysis?

Oh, Doctor Walt.

Don't worry, Toots.

I'll be all right.

Here, let me make
you more comfort, Doc.

Ken, how is he?

Oh, you poor darling.

Will he be that way always?

He'll be in that chair
as long as he lives.

Does he know?

Yes.

Oh, it's going to
be terrible for him.

He's so used to being active.

I don't see how he's going
to stand it day after day.

He's a hard man to lick, Alice.

You know what he just told me?

He wants to carry on.

Says his hand might be
paralyzed, but not his mind.

But, Dear, you know he can't.

I know.

And you can't leave
him here alone.

I'll get someone to stay
with him for the time being.

When he sees it...

Then I'll hint to him as tightly

as I can that he'd be better
off in Adamstown with me.

Don't cry, Darling.

But, Kenneth, it's
all so hopeless.

Ed must be having another one
of his night... or daymares.

Yeah.

How's Doc Walsh?

He's pretty bad.

Anything we can do to help?

No, Abner, I'm afraid there's
nothing anybody can do.

Ain't you going home?

It's getting pretty late.

No, I thought I'd balance
up my stamp account first.

It's your move, Lum.

Yeah.

Now, now, now.

Crying never helped nobody.

I can't help it.

Tell us what's
worrying you, Honey.

Well, it doesn't look as if
we can ever get married now.

I've got Jimmy to look after.

And Ken's got his father.

Yeah, things is sort
of messed up, all right.

I wouldn't bother about the
post office tonight, Honey.

Why don't you run on
home and go to bed?

Yeah, let me get
your coat for you.

Don't take it so hard now.

You've been awfully
kind, both of you.

But there's nothing you can do.

Well, now how do you know?

Me and Lum's always been
able to help everybody,

except our self.

Fact is, I've got
some ideas right now.

I'll tell you about them tomorrow.

Run along now.

Goodnight.

And thanks.

About time we was locking up.

Yeah, I reckon it is.

I wish we could figure out
some way to get Ken over here.

That's the only thing that's
going to make Alice happy.

I can tell you that right now.

Yeah, well, you can't
blame him for not

wanting to leave Adamstown.

Here they bought that new first
aid unit for him over there.

And he's getting along so well.

No, no.

Say, wait a minute.

That's it.

Huh?

That's it right there.

What?

Be quiet.

I'm thinking.

Thinking about what?

I ain't got time to
explain it to you now.

You wouldn't understand it no way.

Now, listen, Lum Edwards,
I want to know what it is.

You finish locking up the store.

And just leave the thinking to me.

Goodnight.

Well, uh... goodnight...
er, goodnight!

Well, Abner, what is it?

I don't know.

He wanted to talk to you.

But he didn't want to talk
to you without me along.

But I don't know what he
wants to talk to you about.

All right, Abner.

Look, gentlemen, Miss
Spence is a very busy woman.

Will you please
state your business?

We come here on a
very important matter.

Well, I'm waiting to
hear what you have to say.

It ain't nothing new, Jesse.

I've said it before.

But me and Abner has
lived here in Pine

Ridge about as long as anybody.

And we'd like to see
the town get ahead.

And what is it you
want me to do this time?

Well, Doc Walt
collapsed in his office

last night, had a heart attack.

He won't be able to
make no more calls.

And that leaves Pine
Ridge without a doctor,

unless we can get Kenny
to come over here and take

over his father's practice.

Of course, we can't expect
him to come back here

unless Pine Ridge is
willing to give him

the same things as Adamstown.

Miss Spence isn't concerned
whether he comes back or not.

Exactly.

When I need a doctor,
I call for a good one

from the county seat.

Well, Jesse, there's lots of folks

here in Pine Ridge that can't
afford to do such as that.

So we thought if you'd head a
subscription to buy Kenny one

of them first aid units like
they got over in Adamstown,

we'd...

You ought to know
that I'm not helping

either Dr. Walt or his son.

You're wasting your time.

Why don't you ask
someone else to help you?

Won't do no good.

As Jesse goes, so goes Pine Ridge.

Is that all you wanted to say?

Well, not all we want to say.

But all we better say, I reckon.

Then if you gentlemen
will excuse me,

I have some more business to
talk over with Mr. Danielson.

Come on, Abner.

Thought I had more sense
than to go out there and talk

to her in the first place.

Any business while we was gone?

Yeah, Ms. Seastrunk was in,
got a couple of cans of harmony

and a can of baking powder.

Well.

Reckon where Alice is at.

I don't know.

She must have went out.

There's a note there
on the post office.

Says, if you want me, I'm
upstairs with Dr. Walt.

Well, there's some mail
she ain't sorted neither.

Thought we might have a
hearing there ourselves.

James Houston... what in tarnation!

Hey, hey, whereabouts
you going, young fella?

I wasn't doing nothing!

Of course you wasn't.

I don't know what you're going
to hide from me and Abner for.

I wasn't hiding.

Honest, I wasn't.

I just didn't want you to see me.

Well, whether you was
hiding or whether you

just didn't want us to see you, it

don't make no big difference.

You mean, you really don't
care why I was hiding?

You don't want to know?

Me and Abner always
tends to our own business.

Don't we, Abner?

Well, uh, you do.

Sit down, Jimmy.

Let's talk this thing over here.

How'd you know something
was worrying me?

Well, folks don't
generally go around hiding

and acting scared like unless
something is bothering them.

Here, have a apple.

I'm not very hungry.

Boys is always hungry
enough to eat a apple.

Sure.

Haven't you got something
you want to tell us, Jimmy?

If I knew something
important, something

I've been keeping a secret,
something I ought to have told,

is that the same as lying?

Well, uh, no, not exactly
the same, but awful close.

I don't know whether to
say it's worse or better.

Do you, Abner?

Uh, worse I'd say, yeah.

And this boy, we promised
not to tell his name,

says it was your car
that run over Bethy Lou.

How dare you!

How dare you!

We're just telling
what we hear, Jesse.

Do you realize the
seriousness of these charges?

Why, sure, but that
ain't the point.

The point is there
ain't nothing lower

than a hit and run driver.

Now, just a minute.

Let me handle this.

There ain't no handling
to it if it's Jesse's car.

As Miss Spencer's attorney,
I have a right to speak.

Now, you're only ground for
this incredible accusation is

that some little boy
told you that he thought

he saw Ms. Spencer's car.

Is that right?

Sort of.

Miss Spence, were
you out of the house

the night that Bethy
Lou was killed?

I was not.

Now, think carefully.

Did you give me
permission to use the car?

I certainly did not.

Well, I, I think that's all.

Except one thing.

I see now.

You had it all arranged.

You came here and asked for
money for that ambulance.

And because you saw I wasn't
going to be silly enough

to give it to you,
you deliberately

thought up this lie
about a little boy

seeing my car run over Bethy Lou.

You thought I'd be
frightened and contribute

to buy your silence.

And in law we call that by
the pretty name of blackmail.

And if they dare say
anything more about this,

I want you to file suit
at once for slander.

And criminal libel.

I think you'd better get out now.

All right, Jesse, all right.

Let's go.

Well, now I've saw everything.

This the first time in 30 years
you've been down to work early

in the morning.

What are you reading?

A book.

Huh?

Why, that's Doc
Walt's baby photograph

album you've got there.

Abner, how many babies
would you say gets

born in Pine Ridge every year?

100, I reckon here in
town, and in the country

around here both.

How long has Doc Walt practiced
medicine here in Pine Ridge?

Doc Walt?

About 32 years.

Abner, did you know that if
every baby that Doc Walt ever

brung into the world was to
send in the small sum of $5,

according to my figures here,
we'd have more than we need.

More than we need for what?

That's what I've been
trying to tell you.

You ain't told me nothing!

The first thing you can do
is run up to Doc Walt's office

and get that big book
of baby addresses

he keeps there in his desk.

Yeah, but... well, I still don't
see what you're driving at.

Well, you don't have to see.

Just go ahead and
do what I told you.

That's all.

Well, where are you going?

I'm going to go get that
old printing press you

let them fellas pan off on you.

Now, Lum, don't bring
up that argument again.

I ain't jumping on you about it.

I'm proud you bought it now,
finally found some use for it.

Well, good for me!

So go on and get that book
now, like I told you to.

Baby addresses, printing
presses, if I don't

believe he's plum lost it.

I reckon that ought to be enough.

How you coming with the baby book?

Well, it's a pretty big job.

But I'm glad you're catching
up with it, I reckon.

Where you up to now?

This one right here.

Cute little tyke, ain't it?

Yeah.

Reckon he'll send us $5?

This one over here's next.

If ever I seen a boy that
looked like he'd grow up to be

a good for nothing, that's him.

Oh, I recollect him... best behaved

young 'un in Pine Ridge.

Reckon whatever become of
him after he growed up.

His temperature, when
all the... it's a cold.

But Aunt Jessica, it's over 103.

Good morning.

Morning, Washington.

Hardly anything at all.

Jimmy needs a doctor.

I'm going to call Dr. Walt
and find out what to do.

You'll do nothing of the kind.

Dr. Barnes is not going to
treat anyone belonging to me.

But Aunt Jessica,
Jimmy's sick, very sick.

We can't be fooling
around with home remedies

while he gets worse and worse.

Well, the cold will
probably break tonight.

He'll be all right tomorrow.

I wish I thought so.

I have simply got to have
Dr. Walt look at Jimmy.

If I don't, I'll
never forgive myself

or you if anything happens.

Now, Alice, don't get dramatic.

After all, I have Jimmy's
welfare at heart too.

I wonder.

Alice!

Yes, I wonder.

I wonder if you haven't
been blinded to everything

by an old foolish jealousy.

You've been unfair to Dr.
Walt for something that

happened such a long time ago.

You've brooded, kept
things pent up inside

of you until everything
you say and do is warped.

You've become
selfish, hard, cruel.

And I've taken it from
you because I wanted

Jimmy to have a good home.

Do you know you're saying?

Yes, I know what I'm saying.

I'm saying something I've
wanted to say for a long time.

I'm tired of listening to your
veiled threats about Jimmy

and me, catering to
your narratives the way

I have just to keep peace.

Well, I'm through with all that.

I'm taking Jimmy
to Dr. Walt now.

And you can do whatever
you want to about it.

I don't care.

We're going to see
Dr. Walt, Jimmy.

Then everything will be all right.

$5.

Well, $5.

My goodness, here's
one for $25, Abner.

Look at here.

25!

That's Alice.

Yeah, reckon what she wants.

Jimmy's terribly sick.

He's in the back seat.

Would you carry
him up to Dr. Walt?

Sure, sure.

Yeah, sure.

Oh, Dr. Walt, I'm afraid
Jimmy's terribly ill.

I telephoned Ken.

But I don't know
when he can get here.

He was out on the case.

Put him on that table.

Don't uncover him.

Hold your watch where
I can see it, dear.

Alice.

Uncover his chest.

That's enough.

Have you taken his temperature?

Yes, just a little while ago.

It was over 103.

How serious is it, Dr. Walt?

Very serious, it's
advanced pneumonia.

Please, Dr. Walt, you've
got to do something.

You're the only one that can help.

You can't let him die.

I'll do the best I can, dear.

But you, Alice, and Lum and
Abner, you've got to help me.

I don't know whether it will work.

But you've got to be my hands.

Anything you say, Doc.

In that cabinet, Alice, you'll
find a bottle of tablets,

get them.

And Abner, get me
a glass of water.

In cases not so far advanced
as Jimmy's, those pills

are almost a certain cure.

Usually within 48 hours, the
temperature drops to normal

and the patient is almost
entirely out of danger.

But in Jimmy's case, the question

is, will it have time to work?

Give him two of
those tablets, Alice.

While we're waiting for it to
take effect, the only thing

that's going to keep Jimmy
alive is oxygen. Oxygen,

where am I going to get oxygen?

Ain't that what they got
down there at the garage?

Them tanks of air?

Er, no, that's something
else, I reckon.

You're right.

Abner, you telephone the
garage and have Caleb bring

up a tank of oxygen right away.

Hurry!

Hello, Caleb?

Have you got one of them
tanks of oxygen over there?

Oxygen!

Them tanks of air!

Yeah, well, get one over
to Doc Walt's office

just as quick as you can.

If we're going to
give Jimmy oxygen,

there are several
things I'll need.

You've got to get them for me.

I don't know where or how.

But you've got to get them.

First, I'll need a fruit jar,
a big one with a top on it.

That's easy.

We've got some of them
downstairs in the store.

I'll get one.

What can I do, Doc?

I'll need something to punch two

holes in the top of that jar.

How about a leather punch?

Will that do?

I guess so.

Get it.

I don't need your
help to get this jar.

I ain't trying to help you.

I'm going after something else.

Lum?

Aren't you going to wait on me?

I want, um... I want
a pound of coffee.

You know where it's at.

Help yourself.

Take it all if you want it.

How's that, Doc?

That's fine.

But I'll need two holes
punched in the top.

Let me do it.

Now get some rubber
tubing to fit those holes,

about quarter inch.

Rubber tubing?

Where we gonna find that?

I don't know.

But get it.

Come on.

Let's go find it.

Get it!

Hey, Lum!

Lum!

Come here!

Look here!

Will that do?

That's rubber tubing, all right.

I don't know what Doc
aims to do with it.

But he's got something
in mind he thinks

will work till Ken gets here.

Here's the oxygen, Doctor.

Where do you want it?

Put it there.

Over a little further, boys.

Thank you, Caleb.

Wes, you stay here with me.

I may need you.

Yes, Doctor.

Now we need something to fit
over Jimmy's face, a piece

of rubber to make a mask.

Mr. Dr. Barnes, I don't
exactly know what you mean.

But could you use the bladder
from Jimmy's football?

Just the thing!

Get it!

How's that, Doc?

That will do for part.

But there's not enough.

Well, that's all there was.

Does it have to be
rubber tubing, Doc?

It could be metal.

Why?

I was just thinking,
don't they use

metal tubing in automobiles?

Of course they do!

Come on, Abner.

I think I know where
we can get some.

And hurry!

Alice, if Lum and Abner
do get that metal tubing,

it'll have to be
thoroughly cleaned.

So get a pan full
of boiling water.

Where are you going, Washington?

Dr. Barnes told me to
bring Jimmy's football.

Football?

What's he want with a football?

Well, never mind that.

Get that.

There it is right there.

Wait a minute, Abner.

Look at there.

Huh?

Right there, caught in the car.

By dog, Little Red Riding Hood.

I reckon we was
right after all, Lum.

Well, we ain't got
time for that now.

Go ahead and get that
tubing off of there.

Here it is, Dr. Barnes.

Well, that's fine, Washington.

How's this, Doc?

Give it to Alice to clean.

Here, take this bladder
and cut it in half

to fit over Jimmy's face.

Let me have your
pocket knife, Abner.

Here, take this tubing.

Run one end of it through the
hole in the top of that jar.

Keep it above the water.

Then attach the other
end to that mask.

Then seal the tube in the top
of that jar with that wax.

Is that metal tubing clean Alice?

Yes, Dr. Walt.

Take it, Wes.

Now tape one end of it
to that oxygen tank.

Then run the other end through
the hole in that jar almost

to the bottom of the jar.

Now if it works, the water will
moisten the oxygen. Otherwise,

Jimmy's throat could
never stand it.

Now, Alice, take that mask.

Put it over Jimmy's face, tight.

And hold it.

Now, Wes, turn on the oxygen.

Now, Wes, turn on the oxygen.

Been up there for hours,
wonder what's happening.

Turn off the oxygen, Wes.

Take off the mask, Alice.

I think he'll be all right now.

Oh, Dr. Walt.

That's the nicest fee
I ever received, Toots.

I knew you could do it.

Bring me over there
by the window, love.

I think I'll take
a little cat nap.

I'll get some kibble for you, Doc.

You can all clean up for me.

Sure.

There you are.

Here, Doc, let me
put this around you.

How is Jimmy?

Oh, Jimmy's just going
to be as good as new.

How's Jimmy, Lum?

He's not... oh, howdy, Will.

Well, just the man we want to see.

Ain't he, Lum?

Yeah, I was just talking to Jesse.

She says she does recollect giving

you permission to drive this car
the night Bethy Lou was killed.

She couldn't say that.

She didn't know I had it out.

Oh, so you admit to it?

Just a minute, Wes.

Don't do nothing to him person.

Suppose I did have
the car out that night.

That doesn't prove a thing.

It's the word of a
little boy against mine.

Come on, Wes.

I want to show you something.

Look there, did you ever
see that before, Wes?

That's the handkerchief
that Lum and me give Bethy

Lou the night she was run over.

Now, the rest of
it's up to you, Wes.

You're under arrest.

Hello, Darling.

How is he?

He's resting easily now.

Your father gave him
medication and oxygen.

Good.

Dr. Walt's been
absolutely wonderful.

Is he asleep?

Ken, is he...

Friends, we're
gathered here to lay

to rest one of our neighbors.

I ain't going to try to give a
sermon about Dr. Walter Barnes.

You can't give a
sermon about a man that

lived a sermon all his life.

He was just a plane man that
lived and gave his life to just

plain folks here in Pine Ridge.

And I guess all I can say, and all

you can say in praise
of a man like that

is that he loved
the world and left

it better than he found it.

Me and Abner tried to find some
monument that would show how we

all felt about Dr. Walt.
Nothing we could buy

or nothing we could
build would be enough.

Dr. Walt left his own monument.

Morning, Abner.

Morning, Lum.

Hey, got any gum for us?

Got any pennies?

Don't no more get one
generation of young 'uns

raised around here, Lum, till
we have to candy another batch.

Yeah, morning, Jerry.

Morning, Lum.

Morning, Abner.

Morning, Judge.

$10 in cost daily.

Never tried an innocent
man in his life.

- No.
- Come on.

Move over, Bessie.

Get out of the way.

Granted, they don't build
these sidewalks wide enough.

You know it?

If I don't get you
a rocking chair,

Bessie, so you can sit over
in the shade out of the way.

Don't do that.

She'll be moving into
the store there with Ed.

She might.

My goodness, there she is, Abner.

Who?

The new first aid unit.

Dr. Kenneth Barnes, MD.

She's a beauty.

Isn't she, Aunt Jessie?

I never know whether you're
talking about the ambulance

or about Alice.

This time I meant the unit.

And we have you to thank for it.

All I did was write a
check for the balance due.

Don't forget all the other
people who chipped in.

And don't forget Lum and Abner.

They started it.

I think.

Well, we don't have to take
no backseat to Adamstown now.

We'll never have to take
a backseat to Adamstown.

Kenneth, do you mind if
we take a look inside?

Certainly, go right ahead.

Now that's all right, you know it?

Oh, it's pretty,
it sure is, yes sir.

Dog it, has Doc got
a patient already?

Sworn to goodness, not only got
ourselves a new first aid unit.

But we got rid of old Ed too.

Well, it'll be a nice
comfort place for him

to sleep while he's
waiting for them

to put that river through here.