The Time of Their Lives (1946) - full transcript

Two ghosts who were mistakenly branded as traitors during the Revolutionary War return to 20th century New England to retrieve a letter from George Washington which would prove their innocence.

- She's beautiful, isn't she?

- Lucky man, Tom Danbury.

- If his sense of lovemaking
equals his sense of politics,

it should be a happy marriage.

- Who couldn't be happy with Melody Allen?

She's adorable.

- Oh, Cuthbert.

- Er, yes, sir?

Yes, sir?

- Do you recommend this vintage, my man?

Oh, yes, it's delicious.



That is, so the other guests have told me.

- So, Master Cuthbert, up to
your old tricks again, I see.

- Oh, Nora, just a nip or two.

But I'd even give that up if you'd--

- I know, if I‘d marry you.

Well, you could become
the biggest teetotaler

in all the Colonies and my
answer would still be no.

- But Nora, I have saved up enough money

to pay your bond to Master Danbury.

Why, you'd be a free woman, Nora.

- No, thank you, Cuthbert.

I'd rather be bound to the master

than tied to the likes of you.

- So!



You're still in love with
that little fat stupid tinker!

- Little he may be.

Fat?

Well, there's nothing wrong
with an extra pound of flesh.

But stupid? Hmph!

You'll never see the day when you're

half as smart as my Horatio.

- I'll say he's smart.

Persuading you to punch holes in

all the master's best copperware.

- 'Tis a lie!

That was my own idea.

That‘s it!

- Nora, Nora!

He's coming up the road!

- Who?

Horatio, my darlin'?

- That lazy, fat tub.

- Lazy, is he?

Why, he's the most wide-awake
tinker in the Colonies.

Hello, tinker!

- Hello, Mr. Grant!

Hello, Mrs. Jones!

- Horatio!

Horatio, my darlin'!

- Oh!

Lancelot!

Achoo!

Achoo!

Achoo!

- Horatio.

Horatio?

Horatio, where are you?

- Nora! Nora!

- Saints preserve us.
- Oh, Nora.

Oh, Nora.

I had a terrible time getting here, Nora.

I got lost east of West Point

and I was held up north of South Ferry.

And not only that, at Barton's Barn,

I had a bitish with the Buttish!

- A what?

- A British with a brish with the brush.

A brush with the British.

And I was shot.

- Where?

- Right through the saddle.

- The devils!

- Nora.

I'd never go through that again for anyone

except you.

Ooh.

Oh!

Oh!

Nora.

- Oh, Horatio, do my kisses
thrill you that much?

- I'm sitting on a pitchfork.

- Oh!

Oh, well, for heaven's sake!

Here, here.

Well, get up!

- Nora!

Nora!

Get it out!

Nora!

Nora!

Nora!

Nora!

Ooh-ooh!

Food!

Nora, for me?

- Mm-hmm.

- Thank you.

- Tinker, I've missed you so much.

- I've missed you too, Nora.

Here, you take the first bite.

It'll taste sweeter.

- Okay.

Oh, Horatio, 'tis happy I am to see you.

Cuthbert's been pestering me again.

- Oh, he has, has he?

Wait'll I see him.

I'll haul off and give him

the dirtiest look he's
ever had in his life.

- No need of that since we'll
be leaving here tomorrow.

- Why so hasty?

- Hasty, is it?

Tinker!

You've not got the money.

- Well, you see, Nora,

things are very hard
and folks can't pay me.

When I first started the trip,

I had a pound, 14 shillings, and sixpence.

Then I found that a lot of my customers

were badly off.

So I bought them food with
my pound and 14 shillings.

- What happened to your pence?

- I lost 'em in a card game.

- Oh, Horatio, you've failed me.

- Oh, Nora.

Don't worry, I'll get the money.

Business is gonna boom now that I got

a personal letter of recommendation

from General George Washington.

- From the General himself?

- Yes, I have.

- You wouldn't be after
tellin' a tale, now?

- Oh, no, Nora.

I got it right here.

It isn't everyone that can get a letter

from General George Washington.

- "Know all men by these presents--“

- Mm-hmm.

- "That the bearer of this letter,

"Master Horatio Prim--"

- That‘s me.

- "Is a splendid artisan,

"whose various skills have served

"the Continental forces well.

"I take great pleasure in recommending him

"to all who need the services
of an excellent tinker

"and a true patriot.

"Yours truly, George Washington,

"Commander-in-Chief of
the United Colonies."

Oh, Horatio, now there's
nothing to stop us.

Let me take this to Mistress Melody.

When she learns you've been
praised by General Washington,

she'll do everything in her
power to help us elope tonight.

Stay here, my darlin' tinker.

I'll be back soon with good news.

- Hmm-mm!

Nora and I are gonna elope.

We're gonna get married.

And why not?

Yes, why not?

I'm a very good friend of
General George Washington's.

Mm!

Woo!

Mice.

- Good evening to you, master tinker.

- Wait a minute, you.

I don't want any trouble with
you like I had the last time.

- I only came to congratulate you.

- Congratulate me?

- Well, yes.

Nora's told me all about
you and she eloping.

I think it's splendid.

- You do?

I though that you--

- Yes, yes, yes, yes, I know.

It's just a case of the best man winning.

- Oh, Odsbodkins!

You're not such a bad fellow after all.

- Now, Horatio, I know
that eloping with Nora

means breaking her bond,

but I think there's
something that you can do--

- There is?

- That would put you in
well with Master Danbury.

- What, for instance?

- Well, now, this trunk he
wanted to take on his honeymoon,

but he was terribly
upset when he found out

he'd lost the key.

Now, if you could open the trunk,

I could put you in very good.

- Well, I could try.

- Ah, now don't be so modest.

I know all about that letter

from George Washington you have.

- George Washington.
- Yes.

- Uh-huh, I'll open it.

Watch this.

- Fine!

Now, uh, raise the lid.

No, no, the lid of the trunk.

- Oh.

- By Jupiter, I do believe there's a hole

in the bottom of it.

- There's a hole in there?

Ooh!
- I'm sorry.

- Ooh, my foot!
- I'm sorry.

Horatio, go in there and
see if it can be repaired,

eh, old boy?

- Are you sure this'll get me in good?

- Oh, I'll se to that.

- Ah.

Let me out of here!

- So you were going to
elope with Nora O'Leary

tonight, eh?

Well, we shall see what happens

when Master Danbury finds out that

you've talked an innocent little girl

into breaking her bonds.

Nora!

- Oh, you'll get yours.

You'll get five years in
prison and hard labor.

You penniless stinker!

- Melody, darling, I'll have
another surprise for you

after we're married.

- Oh, but Tom, you've
already promised me the moon.

What else might a lady expect?

- How would you fancy a title, my dear?

- A title?

- Lady Danbury for instance.

How does it sound to those lovely ears?

Sir Thomas and Lady Danbury.

- But Tom, after the war
there'll be no titles

in our United States.

- But my angel, what if after the war

there should be no United States?

- What are you talking about?

- Melody, darling, would you
mind going in by yourself?

I'll join you shortly.

- Of course, Tom, but
all this strange talk,

this nonsense about titles,

what does it all mean?

- Please, please, dear,
I'll explain later.

Cranwell.

- Hello, Tom.

- Hello, Tom.

- Leigh.

Glad you're here.

- Bessie.

Bessie!

Let go.

I'll keep her from
tinkering with that tinker!

So she was going to elope, eh?

I'll tend to that.

Go back in the kitchen.

Master Danbury, I must see you at once.

- Sorry, Cuthbert, not now.

- But sir, this is very important.

- Confound it, get out of here!

I'm only--

- Get out of here.

- But Master Danbury--

- Get out!

- If you'll only let me explain.

- Well, gentlemen?

The news. Is it good or bad?

- It's good, very good.

Major Andre, the King's representative,

met with Benedict Arnold last night.

- Arnold has consented
to surrender West Point

within 48 hours.

- Excellent!

It means the end of the war.

Washington and his
rabble can never recover

from such a blow.

- Congratulations, Tom, your
plan has worked perfectly.

- Our friend Benedict has requested

that you personally come to West Point

to help him arrange the
final details tonight.

- Hold on, a minute.

I thought I saw something move.

- "Yours truly, George Washington."

Who is this Horatio Prim and where is he?

- I'll not be telling you that.

Even if you cut my tongue out.

- Well, we'll take care of him later.

There's enough evidence in this letter

to hang your rebel friend
when we've won the war.

- Oh, Master Tom, you, a traitor!

- You spying little hussy.

Get rid of her.

She's heard too much already.

Let go of me!

Nora!

That Cuthbert!

Ooh, I hate that Cuthbert!

- Put your hands up!

Put your hands up!

Speak up, fellow, who are you?

- Horatio Prim, the tinker.

- Oh, Prim.

Then you're Nora's sweetheart.

- Yes, ma'am.

- Oh, thank heavens.

I need help.

- What do you think I need?

Would you please get me
out of this overcoat?

Ooh, that Cuthbert!

- I've just learned
that the United Colonies

and General Washington
are in great danger.

You and I have to save them.

- My friend General Washington in danger?

- Yes, yes!

- That's all I gotta know.

Get me out of here.

- Do you know the location of the nearest

Continental Army post?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Then saddle those two horses
while I finish dressing.

- Whoa, Lancelot, I'll be right with you.

- But sir, when did they
capture this spy, Major Andre?

- Early this morning.

We found some papers in his boot

exposing the whole foul plot.

And some of them were signed
by Master Thomas Danbury.

- Master Prim!

- Yes?

- We must get through.

If anyone tries to stop us, we'll shoot.

Here's a horse pistol.

- Here, this is for you.

Now, what do I shoot with?

- Tinker, this is no time to jest.

We must go.

- Mistress Melody, I want to
tell Nora that we're going.

You see, Nora and I,
we'd planned to elope.

I don't want her to worry.

- Oh, but Nora she would...

Oh, I'm sorry, tinker.

I'm afraid there won't be time.

I'm sure Nora'll understand.

Hurry.
- I guess so.

- Tinker!

Here come some of Tom Danbury's friends.

The back road!

- There 90 two of the traitors now.

Lieutenant, surround the house!

- Yes, sir.

- Neither one of these men is Tom Danbury.

- No, sir, but they're dirty
traitors just the same,

else they wouldn't have
been shooting at us.

- What'll we do with them, sir?

- Throw them in the well.

That's the only burial they deserve.

- Yes, sir.

- Hear me, ye faithless souls.

May you lie there in everlasting torment

with but one name to
identify your rotting bones:

Traitors!

And unless some evidence proves us wrong,

I curse your miserable spirits

to be bound to Danbury
Acres till crack of doom.

Amen.

- Here you are, Major.

- Good.

Ghost!

- Oh, no, it's me, tinker.

- Oh!

Odsbodkins and spotty widgeons!

Am I glad to see you, Mistress Melody.

Oh, am I happy now!

Do you know what I thought for a minute?

Only a minute, mind you.

I thought you were a ghost.

Me, a ghost.

I thought you were a ghost!

Uh...

What did you do?

- I didn't do anything.

My hand!

Ah, mm!

That's funny.

I'm still thirsty.

- Tinker, there's
something very, very wrong.

- You can say that again.

- Look.

"Here were buried two traitors."

- Good!

I wonder who they were.

- Look at the date!

- September 23rd, 1780.

That's today.

- That‘s right, tinker.

- Eh?

Ooh!

- What's the matter?

Look at this!

- Oh, that looks like us down there.

- Yeah!

How can us be down there
when us are up here?

- Do you remember when some
of Master Danbury's friends

tried to stop us?

- Yeah!

And they even took shots at us!

- Yes, and I'm afraid they killed us.

- They killed us?

Why?

We didn't do anything.

Soldiers.

American soldiers!

- And those people.

It looks as if they
were looting the place.

- What does all this mean?

- There's just one answer.

One terrible answer.

Those soldiers were pursuing us

and we mistook them for
Tom Danbury's friends

and they mistook us for traitors.

- Traitors?

Me, a traitor?

I'm a patriot!

I even got a letter from
General George Washington

to prove it.

Uh-oh.

I gave the letter to Nora to give to you.

- Nora?

Well, that must be the
letter that Tom took from her

before she was kidnapped.

- Kidnapped? Kidnapped!

Kidnapped?

Nora?

Who are they?

Where are they?

I'll tear them gizzard from gullet!

- Tinker!

Tinker, wait for me!

- Come on, you old nag, get up.

Get up, you old nag!

Get up.

- Lancelot!

Cuthbert!

Come back with my Lancelot!

Lancelot!

Lancelot!

- What happened?

- I don't know.

I can't get through.

Something's wrong.

- Wait.

"Hear me, ye faithless souls.

"May you lie there in everlasting torment

"with but one name to
identify your rotting bones:

"Traitor."

- And "unless some
evidence proves us wrong,

"I curse your miserable spirits

"to be bound to Danbury
Acres till crack of doom."

- Then you heard it, too?

Oh, I thought it was some
horrible dream, but it wasn't.

We're bound to these Acres forevermore.

We can't get away.

- But he also said unless some
evidence proves 'em wrong.

Evidence.

My letter!

My letter from George Washington!

That's evidence!

- Well, that's right!

Tom must've hidden it somewhere
in the library furniture.

- Furniture?

This is a fine time to think of furniture.

Mistress Melody, the
patriots took it all away!

- Well, don‘t give up.

Maybe he hid it behind some
secret panel in the wall.

- Yeah.

Yeah!

Great Beelzebub and little Beelzebub!

Look!

- Now we shall be here till doom cracks.

- Mistress Melody, why
didn't you get Paul Revere

to help you instead of me?

- Oh, I'm sorry, tinker.

It's all my fault.

Forgive me?

I think we'd better go back to the well.

Do you mind?

- Uh-uh.

- This is the first time I‘ve
ever put my arm around you.

- That's right.

Melody?

- Yes?

- We've been up in this
tree for 165 years.

- Yes.

- And never once did I...

- What?

- Never...

Melody.

- Yes?

- You have beautiful eyes.

- Oh, my little tinker.

- Melody, there's just one
thing I want to ask you.

- Oh, yes?

- If I...

- Oh, what is it?

- Melody.

- Yes?

- No, I can't.

It sounds foolish coming from a fat man.

- Oh, no, Horatio!

Tell me.

- You really wanna hear it?

- Yes.

- Melody,

would you...

- Would I what?

- Would you scratch my back tonight?

- You see, it didn't take so long.

- That's right.

And yet no one would know we're
anywhere near civilization.

- Ain't that the truth!

- Here, careful, now.

Don't look yet.

I want you right back here.

Now!

There she stands.

Danbury Manor exactly as it was in 1780.

Uh-huh.

- Come on, I can hardly
wait to show you the inside.

- Shelly, this porch is a dream!

- Should be.

It was designed by the famous
Jonathan Bullfinch in 1760.

- Why, Shelly, you mean
we have servants already?

- Why, absolutely.

The local employment agency
sent us a housekeeper.

Hello, Emily.

- Afternoon.

- Emily, I'd like you to know
my fiancee, Miss Prescott,

and her aunt, Mrs. Dean.

- Hello.

Hello.

- Decorators left last night.

Said to tell you they
got all the rooms fixed

like it explained in the book.

- Great!

Hang on tight, darling.

We're going into the 18th century.

- Oh, is this trip necessary?

Oh, uh, pardon me, but didn't
I see you in "Rebecca?"

Hey, kids, wait for me!

- Oh, Shelly!

- Like it?

- Oh, darling, it's wonderful.

Don't you think so, Millie?

- Oh, it's out of this world.

- Don't know whether
you realize it, Mildred,

but this happens to be the very furniture

the Danbury family used 160-odd years ago.

Someday, I'm gonna...

Oh, that must be Doc Greenway.

I've invited him up for the weekend.

- Oh dear, Dr. Greenway!

That's all we need to
complete the picture.

- Now, listen, Mildred.

Ralph Greenway happens
to be one of the best

psychiatrists in New York.

I'd better go down and let him in.

- Millie, please!

I wish you'd stop making smart cracks.

You're beginning to upset Sheldon

and he's not entirely well yet.

Now, Ralph said--

- Ralph said!

Last week he said the rash
1 had wasn't an allergy,

it was caused by a guilt complex

because I kicked your
Grandma in the bustle

when I was two years old.

- You know, I can hardly believe my eyes.

Absolutely miraculous.

- Ralph!

Ralph, it's good to see you.

- June, Mildred.

It's good to see you.

- Nice to see you, Doctor.

- Quite an accomplishment, eh?

Quite.

- Has Shelly told you I hit on the idea

of restoring this particular old place?

No, do tell us.

- Well, it's part of my family history.

You see, it was oh, 160 some odd years ago

that my great-great-great-grandfather,

Cuthbert Greenway, was a
butler on this very estate.

- Really?

- Yes, from butler to
psychiatrist in six generations.

Now, that's democracy for you!

- Pardon, Mr. Gage, this
was delivered this morning.

- Oh, yes a plaque for the well.

Look, honey.

- It's very impressive.

- Strange, isn't it?

In all these years no
one has ever discovered

who those two traitors were.

- I hope the ghosts don't

throw this one over the fence, too.

- Ghosts?

Did you say ghosts?

- Oh, it's just a legend, Mildred.

The ghosts are supposed to
hurl their memorial stone

over the fence every so often.

- Yep.

Last time was Fourth of July.

Put Mayor Hathaway in the
hospital for two weeks.

Hit him in the head with it.

- Interesting case, isn't it?

- I think we'd better get this placed

on the well before dinner.

I'll get some tools.

Let me go, let me go!

I'm gonna throw that
plaque over the fence!

- Oh, stop, Horatio.

What good would it do?

They'll only put it back.

- Then I'll throw it back over again.

Look, I don't want all
those people coming up here

and saying:

♪ Here lie the dirty traitors ♪

♪ Here lie the dirty traitors ♪

♪ Here lie the dirty traitors ♪

- Oh, pooh, I'm used to it.

- Well, I‘m not.

- Besides, it only happens once a year

when they have the Fourth
of July picnic up here.

- Yeah, but did you
hear what that man said?

He said every Saturday
they're gonna open up

the place to the public between the hours

of two and four.

And I'm just not gonna stand for it!

- But darling, what can you do about it?

- I'll tell you what
I'm gonna do about it.

I'm gonna make them sorry
they ever rebuilt that house.

- Well, what are you gonna do?

- I'm gonna haunt 'em.

That's what I'm gonna do!

Mm-hmm!

- Horatio!

Horatio!

- I always forget to do that.

- Well, you'd better
forget the whole thing.

You know no self-respecting ghosts

do any haunting until midnight.

- Oh.

All right, I'll wait.

But tonight, I haunt!

Psst!

- Ooh!

Don't do that!

You almost scared the life out of me.

- Oh, I'm sorry,

but I was lonely up at the
tree and I got frightened.

Please let me stay down here with you.

- Well, all right.

But don't try to stop me.

My mind is already made up.

- Can't believe it.

It's exactly the same.

Let's go in.

- We can't.

Everything is locked.

If we wasn't a couple of outdoor ghosts

we'd know what to do.

- Well, darling, why don't we try to go in

the same way as we go
up and down the tree?

You know.

Here I go.

- I don't think she made it.

- Come on, it's easy!

- I'm stuck!

Melody!

I didn't make it.

- Horatio, won't you ever learn?

- I'm sorry.

- Come on.

- Thank you.

- Why, it's amazing!

Horatio, look at this table.

And the sofa!

- I'll light a candle.

- How could they have
known what it was like?

- Don't work.

Glass around the wick.

Look.

- What'd you do?

- Well...

- Well, blow it out.

- Blow it out?

- Yeah, 90 on.

- You blow it out.

Uh-oh.

- Why...

What an astonishing idea.

Probably got it from Ben Franklin.

He's always inventing things.

- Be calm.

Be reasonable.

- You see?

There's nothing to be afraid of.

- I've changed my mind
about haunting this place.

Let's go back to the well.

- Oh, not yet, Horatio, this is fun!

- I'm scared.

- Oh, really!

"Memoirs of Thomas Danbury, Esquire."

- What?

- Thomas Danbury's memoirs!

- His grandmas?

- "With a repentant heart,
I dedicate these memoirs

"to my country and to Melody Allen,

"whose love I betrayed
for vainglorious ambition.

- Speaking of the devil, there he is.

- It's a perfect copy.

But he belongs in the library.

- And we belong back in the tree.

Let's go.

- Oh, don't be such a fraidy-cat, Horatio.

This is the first pleasure
I've had since 1780.

The harpsichord!

It looks exactly the same.

- Don't touch it.

Something's liable to happen.

- Oh, nonsense.

Why don't you be like me?

I'm sensible.

- I'm sensible, too.

- And I'm brave.

- I should've quit when I was even.

- Why don't you pull yourself together

and practice what you preach?

What was that?

Number please.

- Spooks!

- What's the matter?

- That thing over there just talked to me.

- Oh, you're just imagining things.

- Uh-uh-uh!

Oh!

- That note always did stick.

- Shh, somebody's coming.

- Sheldon, is that you?

- Quick! Un-manifest!

For heaven's sake, hurry up.

- Cuthbert!

Melody!

Melody, it's Cuthbert!

And he's still alive!

How can he be?

- I don't know.

They say only the good die young.

Odsbodkins, I'm still showing!

Melody, I don't think he can see me.

Are you sure?

- Take a look.

Watch.

See if he can hear you.

Whistle.

Horatio, this is wonderful!

- Have I got an idea!

- What's the matter with me?

- How do you like that, Master Cuthbert?

Zounds!

What well did she come out of?

Melody!

- Emily.

Aren't you the playful one?

Emily.

Emily!

- Dr. Greenway.

- Ah.

- Did you hear it, too?

- Hear what?

- They're here.

Somebody must've done
something to offend them.

- Offend who?

- Them from the well, the ghosts.

- Oh, nonsense.

There's no such a thing.

- You hear him?

They're laughing.

- No, no, no, no, no, no.

- You'd hear them if you
were psychic like me.

- Emily, when you came in here

did you or did you not kick me?

- Why, certainly not.

- Uh-oh.

- Oh, you felt something, eh?

- Uh, I uh--

- I thought so.

It's you they're after.

- No.

- You must've annoyed them
playing that harpsichord.

- Harpsichord?

Uh-oh.

Uh, Emily.

If I were you I wouldn't say anything

to the folks about this.

They don't understand
this psychic business

like we do, you know?

They might think you're
a little bit, uh...

You understand.

Best you go up to bed.

Goodnight, Emily.

- Goodnight.

Goodnight.

- If you want me, all
you gotta do is whistle.

- Harpsichord.

- Oh, this is the happiest day of my life.

So, Cuthbert Greenway
is now Doctor Greenway.

He'll need a dozen doctors

before I get through with him!

Horatio.

Horatio, come quickly!

- What now?

- This picture.

- That's your beloved Tom.

This is the original painting.

I'd know it anywhere.

Look at the artist's name: Stuart.

- So?

- And that harpsichord.

That note, A, it always did stick.

- Hmm.

- This is the original, too.

I can't be wrong.

Do you realize what this means?

- It means they were stuck
with a lot of old furniture.

- Don't be so stupid,

it means they found all
the original furniture.

Perhaps in this house at this very moment

is your letter from George Washington.

- My letter?

From George Washington?

- Horatio, if we find it--

- It'll prove that we're not traitors

and then we'll be able to get
away from this place at last!

Melody, where'll we look first?

- In the library, of course.

That's where Tom had it.

Come on, let's search the library.

- Nora!

It won't be long now!

Melody, when you said secret compartment,

you meant secret!

I can't find a thing!

Melody, do I have to do
all the work around here?

- Oh, my, wasn't I lovely, Horatio?

Of course, I'm in the wrong place.

- We're both in the wrong place

and if we don't find the letter,

we're never gonna get out of here.

Now, come on!

- Oh, be patient with me, Horatio.

- Be patient!

Do you realize that my girlfriend Nora's

been waiting for me for 165 years?

And a girl will only wait
so long and no longer.

- All right.

Let me see, desk, books, chairs...

Clock.

Have you searched the clock, Horatio?

- The clock?

Melody, in my day I was the
best tinker in the Colonies

and there's one thing I know absolutely.

No one ever put a secret door in a clock.

We simply gotta find that letter.

Please help me?

Come on.

- I don't seem to remember this piece.

- Oh, oh!

- Oh!

Okay,
Phantom, we gotcha covered!

Stick up your hands!

Yeah,
and this time don't try

any disappearin' acts or we
fill you full of hot lead!

- Mister, whoever you
are, don't get violent.

There's his
little playmate over there.

Get
your hands up, sister.

Come on, get 'em up!

- You'd better get 'em up.

They sound awful mad.

Okay, Phantom,

we wanna know who tipped you off.

Start singin'.

- I'm not in good voice tonight.

You heard the boss.

Sing.

Come on now, sing out.

♪ Drink to me I

♪ Only with thine eyes ♪

I And I will ♪

Cut the stallin'.

- Pledge!

♪ Pledge with mine I

What's that?

The cops!

Blow!

Everybody blow!

Go on,
boys, let 'em have it!

- Melody!

Melody! Melody!

Melody!

Don't ever leave me alone.

- Oh, be calm.

Be reasonable.

- Sounds like the radio.

- Well, it can't be the Revolutionary War.

Listen
again tomorrow night

to The Phantom Hour.

How does the Phantom and his lady escape?

- Like this!

- Wait, wait for me.

And now Midnight Dan

brings you a half hour
of popular dance tunes.

- Oh, the idea of Shelly playing the radio

at this hour of night!

- I can't understand it.

- I tell you, he's off the beam again.

Shelly!

- Well, that's a fine place to take a nap.

- Shelly.

Shelly!

Darling.

Oh, Millie, he's hurt.

Call Ralph, quickly.

- Dr. Greenway!

Dr. Greenway!

Dr. Greenway!

Dr. Greenway!

Emily.

Emily, for heaven's
sake, turn off the radio.

- Oh, darling, what happened?

- 0w, my head!

- Oh.

Let's get him into the library.

- I'm all right, now, clear, thanks.

- Oh!

Oh, there you are.

For once you'll really come in handy.

They're in there.

It's stuffy in here.

Talk plainer.

I can't!

You've got your foot in my mouth.

- Come on out, Horatio,
it‘s all right now.

- Oh.

Look.

- Oh, I‘m sorry.

- Let's look for the
letter tomorrow night.

I'm tired.

- Oh, but Horatio, this
is our perfect chance.

They're all in the library

and we can search the whole interior.

- Yeah.

You take the up-terior and
I'll take the down-terior.

- Be calm, be reasonable.

- Oh, stop it, all of you!

I keep telling you I
didn't make this mess!

The radio woke me just like
it woke the rest of you.

I came down here to turn it off.

When I reached for that doorknob,

something, some invisible force,

yanked it open and then I was
met by that gust of icy wind.

- Oh, don't get excited.

- I'm not excited!

- All right.

- I keep telling you
there was nobody there

and I got bopped on the
head with this candlestick!

- Moving under it's own power, no doubt.

- Now, wait a minute, Mildred!
- Millie.

- I'm telling you exactly what happened

and don't stand there looking at me

as if you think I‘m crazy!

I'm just as sane as Ralph.

- Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.

- You're just overwrought.

You're imagining things.

- No, he's not.

It's them, all right.

The ghosts from the well.

They're up to their old
mischief, throwing things around.

Oh, there's a curse on
this house, all right.

- Ghosts!

They must have been a couple
of interior decorators

looking for a little overtime.

- If I were you, I
wouldn't make fun of them.

They don't like that.

Really?

- Now, listen, maybe she's right.

There are many strange
legends about this house.

Couldn't it be possible

that some forces from the world
beyond are trying to get--

- Oh, let's stop all this.

It's nothing but hysteria.

Sheldon had another one of
his sleepwalking spells,

he came downstairs and
turned on the radio.

Now, doesn't that sound like
a sensible explanation, Ralph?

- Well, I uh--

- It was the ghosts.

I know they were here.

And so does Dr. Greenway.

I think
we all need a stimulant.

Where's the brandy, Emily?

- In the living room.

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

Cuthbert!

Come on!

I tripped you, I tripped you!

Why, I just...

I just swore I...

No.

No, this can't happen to me.

No, it's impossible.

It's a trick of my subconscious mind, I...

Its all wrong.

It just can't be, it...

Oh.

Now, be calm.

Ralph.

Ralph!

Be calm.

Be cool, uh...

Don't get excited, Ralph.

Everything is all right.

These things can't be, it's uh...

Thank you.

— But darling, I told
you 50 times I wasn't--

- Sheldon! Sheldon!

- Ralph!

Ralph, what's the matter?

- Oh!

- You're a bad boy.

- I'm

1038
o
rry

00:49:17,037 --> 00:49:18,320
- I knew you were up to something.

Now, you run along.

We have to find that letter.

- All right.

- Well, go on!

- I'll go.

- Go on, hurry up.

Hurry up!

I'm going upstairs again.

- Mistress Melody, I'll go
down into the cellar and...

Mistress Melody.

Mistress Melody!

No tricks!

No tricks!

Ah, get out!

- Oh, if Tom could only see me now.

- Come on, Ralph, be calm, be reasonable.

- Oh, keep 'em away!

Keep 'em away!

They've got a grudge against me.

Oh!

- Come on, Ralph, now
tell us what happened.

- Oh, bottles floating through space.

Glasses filling up by themselves.

And somebody tooted in my stethoscope.

- You see, darling, you didn't believe me.

Maybe now you're willing to concede

there‘s something odd
going on around here.

- No.

No, I'm not, Shelly.

You've merely communicated
your hysteria to him.

- Yep.

Yep, yep, I hear ya.

- Oh, get her.

- I hear ya callin‘ me.

Ghosts of the well, lead me to you.

- Wait a minute.

Better leave that here.

We need it much more than the ghosts do.

- The ghosts of the well?

Why should they want to persecute us?

What do they want?

- Well, maybe they got an eviction notice

and want to move in on us.

Well, you people can stay up all night

battling about ghosts,

but the charming Mrs. Dean
is gonna hit the sack.

And I'll take my spirits with me.

Hello.

- Millie!

Millie!

Millie, what's the matter?

Oh!

Oh, Shelly, help me get
her into the living room.

- I was coming up the stairs

and that thing was...

- How did this get here?

- Oh, hurry, darling!

- I'll take that.

- Here.

- Oh!

- Darling--

- Take it away!

Take it away!

That dress, it's haunted!

I saw it coming down
the stars all by itself!

I did!
- Oh, Millie,

that's impossible.

- Oh, it is, huh?

How about that hit I got on the head?

- Yes.
- See?

- And what about the
tooting in my stethoscope?

- Oh, stop it!

Stop it, all of you!

I can't explain about the
dress or anything else,

but I do know there's nothing
supernatural about it.

And if you don't all stop
acting like a bunch of

crazy neurotics, I'm going to
start acting like one myself.

- Oh, well, listen, honey--

Melody!

Melody!

Melody!

- Oh, Horatio, stop that!

- Melody!

- Stop that!

Let go of it, Horatio!

Pull harder!

Melody!

- Horatio, let's get back to the tree!

I'm afraid!

Come on.

- Ooh!

Oh!

Ooh!

Ooh!

- We'll think more clearly in the morning.

- Well, we'd better think more clearly.

I'll not spend another
night in this house.

Doc!

Oh, Doc!

- Oh, look, it's floating!

- Oh!

- Look.

Now do you believe there's
something supernatural

going on here?

- I don't know what to believe.

But I know whatever it
is, it's terrifying.

- Ghosts of the well, come back.

They've gone.

You've frightened them.

- We did?
- We did?

- Yep.

They've gone back to the well, all right.

- And we're going back to town

first thing in the morning.

- Oh, June, please.

You've got to help me
figure this thing out.

Come on, darling.

- No.

I don't care what Emily says,

I'm not taking part in any seance.

I've had enough.

- But darling, isn't it better
to try to find the truth?

Here, let me read you something.

This is the record of a Major Putnam,

who shot the two traitors.

He says, "Then we tossed
their bodies down the well

"and I cursed their miserable spirits

"to be bound to Danbury
Acres till crack of doom."

Now, don‘t you see, if
it's anything at all,

it must be those two poor devils.

They can't get off this property.

- But Sheldon, that's sheer
medieval superstition.

- Shelly is right, June.

As a psychiatrist, I've
got to agree with him.

And if we all intend to keep our sanity,

we've got to get to the bottom of this.

Now, if a seance is the only means--

- And that from a man who
wrote a dozen articles

exposing all seances as fakes.

- Please, Mildred, please, both of you.

Let's do what Emily suggests

and if this seance doesn‘t work,

I swear I'll give up the whole thing

and go back to New York
with you in the morning.

Is that fair enough?

- Oh, all right, Sheldon, that's,

that's a deal.

- Thank you, darling.

Go ahead, Emily.

- Now, put your hands on the table again,

little fingers touching.

- And we've all got to make
our minds perfectly blank.

- Well, that should be easy for you.

- It is, it...

- Did you feel that?

- Yes.

Something's happening.

- It must be them people
down at the house.

They're up to something again.

- Oh, something's pulling me!

- Me, too.
- Oh!

- Hang on.

Hang on!

Hang on!

The windows.

- I can feel their presence.

- We didn't mean any harm.

Won't you please let
us go back to the well,

where we belong?

I promise we will never bother you again.

Oh, please, let us go back to the well.

What do you say?

Oh, thank you.

Thank you ever so much.

Ah.

Did you hear what that nice lady said?

What did she say?

- Oh, shh, be quiet and listen.

- They're here.

- Spirits of the well,

we know the curse upon your souls.

We only wish to help you if we can.

- Horatio, did you hear what
that charming young man said?

They want to help us.

- It's a trick.

I don't trust 'em.

Let's go back.

- If you wish to cooperate with us,

rap on this table.

Once for no and twice for yes.

- Horatio, go on, do as he says.

Maybe they can help us find your letter.

- My letter?

Yeah.

Yeah!

- Spirits of the well, can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Are you willing to help us?

- Are you the spirits of the two traitors?

- Ow!

- Ralph!

- Don't you call me no traitor, you!

Why do
they always pick on me?

Perhaps it was your question

that offended them, Ralph.

- You're right, I think you've hit it.

Are you trying to tell us
that you're not traitors?

Then who are you?

What are you?

Identify yourselves!

- Cuthbert Greenway, you know who I am.

I'm Horatio Prim, the little tinker,

and this is Melody Allen.

We were on our way to
warn General Washington

about Benedict Arnold.

- Horatio, Horatio!
- And then...

I mean, but I gotta--

- Don't be silly.

Don't you realize they can't hear us?

- Who are you?

Who are you?

- Who am I?

How am I gonna tell him who I am

if all I can do is rap yes or no?

- I've got it!

Follow me!

- They're going away.

I feel 'em.

They're going away.

- Well, don't think it
hasn't been interesting,

because it hasn't.

How about a nice, quiet game of gin rummy?

- Millie, sit down.

We're going through with this experiment.

- Emily, try calling them back, will you?

- Shh.

Spirits of the well, come back.

Come back.

They're here.

They're here.

Look!

Melody Allen!

- Ooh!

- Go on, get back under the table.

- They're trying to tell
us that one of the ghosts

is Melody Allen.

- I don't understand.

They're both supposed to be men.

Are you trying to tell us that
one of you is Melody Allen?

- Oh, now we're all confused.

Who is the other one?

- Who is the other one?

I keep tellin' ya who the other one is!

It's me, it's me!

- I wonder how we can get
him to tell us who he is.

- If we knew what their profession was,

that might give us a hint.

- Yeah.

- You've got it there.

Wait a minute.

Are you a soldier?

No.

A gentleman?

- Why not try that old rhyme?

The one that has all
sorts of people in it.

You know, "Rich man, poor
man, beggar man, thief."

- June, that's a great idea!

Spirits of the well, listen to this rhyme.

Were you a rich man?

Poor man?

He was a poor man.

That's right

- Well, then, doctor, lawyer,
Indian Chief won't apply.

Uh, how does the rest of it go?

- Oh, tinker--

- Wait a minute, he's a tinker!

Danbury mentions a tinker right in here.

Let's see if I can find it.

"The shame I experienced
because of my treasonable

"activities was increased threefold

"when the maid, Nora, wrote me

"and asked for information concerning

"one Horatio Prim, her
fiancee, who was a tinker."

- Nora.

Oh, Nora!

She did worry about me.

- "He had disappeared from the manor

"on the night of the fire,

"a similar fate to my
beloved and innocent Melody."

- Oh, Tom.

"I bethought
myself that this must be

"the selfsame tinker whose
letter of recommendation--"

Letter of recommendation?

"From George Washington

"I had taken forcibly from Nora

"and hidden in a secret drawer."

Uh, wait a minute.

Now, just a minute.

Then if the tinker had a
letter from George Washington,

he couldn't have been a traitor.

- We're right!

You see, we're right!
- See that?

- Don't tell me we're gonna
spend the rest of the night

trying to contact George Washington!

- Don't you understand?

What they've been doing is looking for

proof of their innocence, that letter.

- Of course!

That letter would remove
the curse from them.

- Ooh!

- Horatio, they know, they know!

Isn't it wonderful?

- I did it!

I did it!

Oh, boy, we'll be outta here in no time!

Woo-hoo!

- Well, Sheldon, all the
original furniture is here.

All we have to do is
find that secret drawer

that Danbury mentioned.

- Yes, the drawer.

- Yeah.

- Perhaps they know.

Let's ask them.
- I wonder.

- Mistress Alan, Master Prim,
where is the secret drawer?

Do you know?

- Odsbodkins and copper pots!

That's just it!

We don't know, do we?

- There she goes again.

Must be number one on her hit parade.

Shh, Millie!

- Please, answer me.

Have you any idea where
this letter may be hidden?

Go slowly, slowly.

We can't understand you.

Oh!

Ah!

Melody.

That ain't me doing that!

- No.

No!

No, no!

Look!

I don't
wanna scare you folks,

but that ain't me under
the table.

Melody.

Melody.

- Her voice is changing.

- Oh, it's Tom.

My Tom.

- You were gonna marry her?

Melody.

My beloved.

It's Tom.

I've come to help you.

- Oh, Shelly!

What does it mean?

- It must be Danbury
speaking through Emily.

- Oh, fine!

A ghost to ghost broadcast.

- Horatio, why can't I see him?

- You can't.

You poor kid.

You see, he's got his wings
and we're still grounded.

- Master Danbury, we
want to help Miss Melody.

Tell us, where is the secret drawer?

Start at 12.

Turn twice to three.

At 10 past one,

'twill open be.

- Would you mind repeating that last part?

- He's gone.

He's gone.

His brief span on earth is over.

Tom!

Tom!

- But Emily,

Emily where is the secret drawer?

- Secret drawer?

I'm sorry, I can't tell you anything else.

Goodnight.

- Start at 12, turn twice
to three at 10 past--

- Now he's got it!

- You bet your life I've got it!

12, three, 10 past, that
can only mean a clock!

The letter's hidden in the clock.

But there's over a
dozen clocks in this house.

Oh, what do we care?

We'll search every one of them!

Come on, let's get started.

- All right.

Don't get excited.

- Melody!

Melody, they've got the answer!

The letter is hidden in a clock!

- Tom only had that letter in the library.

- Uh-huh, uh-huh.

- The library clock!

- Yeah, yeah!

Hooray!

- Well, don't just stand there,

we've got to let them know!

- Oh!

I gotta tell Nora.

Nora, I'll be with you soon!

Won't I, Horatio?

Oh!

Odsbodkins, we're all mixed up!

Whew!

Melody, don't ever do that again.

I'm a boy.

Hurry, into the library!

- Cuthbert.

- What do you want?

- Nothing.

- Cuthbert!

- What do you want?

- Nothing!

- Mr. Gage.

- What do you want?

- Nothing.

- What do you want?

- I want you to get them to
come look in the library.

- That's what I'm trying to do!

- I have an idea.

Come on.

- Well, it certainly isn't in this one.

- No.

The library.

They're trying to tell us
to come into the library.

- Yeah, you're right!

- They must mean that clock.

Oh, no, that's not the clock.

Oh, yes it is!

- But Shelly, they directed us here.

- I'm sorry, but that isn't the clock.

That happens to be one of
my very fine reproductions.

The original's in the museum.

Well, why
don't you go to New York

and search the clock?

- I can't do that.

That board of directors
won't even talk to me.

As a matter of fact, they
barred me from the museum.

- Darling, do you suppose
they'd let me examine it?

They wouldn't
let anybody touch that clock.

- Oh, that's fine.

Let's give the ghosts a 99 year lease

and move back to Park Avenue.

- Darling, I feel so sorry for them.

- Well, so do I.

What can I do about it?

- I'll get the clock.

I'm the logical one to do it.

- Why you?

Has it ever
occurred to you folks

why I'm the main target to these ghosts?

- Probably your ancestor, that
butler, was an old so and so.

- That‘s exactly right, he was.

And there's every possibility that he

did this Horatio Prim wrong.

- Yeah, could be.

- Well, if that's the
truth, this is my chance

to atone for the sins of my forefathers.

- Ralph, I think you're right.

- I'll leave the first
thing in the morning.

- Horatio!

Horatio, listen to me.

- You don't have to tell me.

- Oh, yes, I do!

- Let's go back to the well, Melody.

- But you don't understand.

Dr. Greenway himself
is going to the museum

to get the clock.

- He's gonna do that for us?

- Yes, he's trying to make up
for what Cuthbert did to you.

- For what Cuthbert did to me?

- Mm-hmm.

- Odsbodkins! Mm!

Melody, he's a nice man.

I'm gonna thank him.

- Wait a minute, Ralph.

Hold this and I‘ll get another candle.

- Oh, sure.

- Thank you, Dr. Greenway.

Thank you.

- Millie!

- My dear Dr. Greenway.

I know you by reputation, by I repeat,

we cannot allow so valuable an antique

to be removed from the premises.

- But Professor Dibbs, can't
I at least examine the clock?

- Sorry, Doctor, but that's
contrary to our policy.

- I told you it was only a pair of shoes.

- Sorry, madam.

Regulations.

Oh, sorry, sir.

Anything under that coat, sir?

- Uh, only me.

I've got to watch my diet.

My, four o'clock!

How time does fly.

And so must I.

Bill, hey, Bill!

The Queen Anne clock is missing!

- That liar.

Stop, thief, stop, thief!

- Professor Dibbs!

Professor Dibbs!

Stop thief!

- Get me the police
department immediately.

Hurry!

- Five o'clock.

I don't understand it, the
museum's closed by now.

Ralph promised to call me.

- Relax, darling.

Our ghostly friends have
waited a century and a half.

A few more minutes won't
make any difference.

- This is a mighty fateful moment.

Even the ghosts are worried.

I know, I can feel 'em.

They're right here in this room.

Yep.

Yep.

I guess I'd better make some more tea.

- Ghosts!

Ghosts, that's all she talks about.

Oh, uh, pardon me.

Is this chair taken?

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I think I'll stand for a while.

- Oh, that's Ralph at last.

- Come on, Millie.

- Uh, excuse me.

- Melody, this is it!

He's here!

Ooh!

I forgot to do it again.

- Lieutenant Mason, state police.

- Oh, how do you do?

- Is Dr. Greenway here?

- Not yet.

We're expecting him.

- Fine, we'll wait.

- Is anything wrong, officer?

- Your doctor friend stole
a very valuable clock

from the museum this afternoon.

- Stole it?
- Yeah.

Connors.
- Yes, sir?

- Better drive our car out of sight.

Don't want Greenway to see it.

- Right, sir.

- Uh, Lieutenant, if you'll
come into the living room,

I think I can explain this.

- Poor Dr. Greenway!

Is he in trouble?

- Is he in trouble?

What about us?

If they catch him here, they'll take him

and the clock before Mr. Gage
has a chance to search it.

- Odsbodkins!

What do we do now?

- We've got to keep him
away from the house.

Hurry, Horatio!

- Ghosts?

Hey, what do you take me for, a chump?

- I know it's hard to believe, Lieutenant,

but we can prove it.

Horatio.

- Melody.

- Horatio!

- Melody!

Horatio!

Melody!

Horatio!

- Oh, we'll be back in a minute!

Hey, hey!
- Stop!

- Hey, Dr. Greenway!

Dr. Greenway, it's a trap!

Don't go in there!

Don't go in there!

Trap!

Hey, hey!
- Stop!

- Hey

Dr. Greenway!

Dr. Greenway, don't go in there!

It's a trap!

- Oh, Horatio, he can't hear us!

We must stop him.

- Psst, psst!

Dr. Greenway, the police are in the house.

- Uh-oh.

- Go hide in the stable.

Thank you, Emily.

Thank you.

- Mason!

Lieutenant Mason!

Lieutenant Mason!

Dr. Greenway's car.

- Well, where is he?

- I don't know, sir.

- Did you look for the clock?

- No, I didn't.

- Now, if I can only
remember how that rhyme goes.

- Start at 12!
- Uh-huh!

I have it.

Start at 12.

- Uh-oh.

You gotta stop that noise.

Somebody's gonna hear you, Dr. Greenway.

- Now...
- Do something!

- How does the rest of it go?

- How does the rest of it go?

- How do I know?

How do I know?

I got it.

Turn twice at three.

Lieutenant Mason!

- Well, hurry, Horatio, they‘re coming.

Turn the hands of the dial.

- Okay.

Millie, the letter!

Hooray!

It just went in and out, in and out,

in and out!

The letter!

It's right here!

It's gone.

Did you see it?

Did you see it open?
- Yes.

It was there.

- Dr. Greenway, the drawer was open!

The drawer was open!

I don't know what I could
do, but the drawer went

zip, zip!

Stick up your hands.

- Dr. Greenway, I'm not kidding ya!

Because it...

I‘ With thine eyes and I will ♪

- Pledge! Pledge!

♪ Pledge with mine I

- We gotta blow!

- It would've been cheaper for
you to have bought a watch.

Come on, Greenway.

- Oh, hurry, Horatio, get the clock.

- Okay.

- Oh!

Oh, come on, Horatio!

Hurry up and come on.

- I had it right in my hands and I--

- I know.

I know, but come on.

We'll get it.

Come on, Horatio.

Come on.

- But Lieutenant, if you'll only listen.

We know the letter's in that clock.

- Yeah?

How?

Tom Danbury's ghost told us so.

- That's all, brother.

Come on, get in.

Oh, don't worry, Ralph!

We'll get the best lawyer
in New York to defend you.

- And you can always plead insanity.

You know how.

- It wasn't me.

It was Horatio.

- Horatio, huh?

You gonna give me some more of that?

Come on, let's get outta here!

Hey, what's the idea of jamming
on the brakes like that?

- I didn't touch the brakes!

- I suppose I did it?

Come on, let's get going.

Well, what's the matter now?

- I don't know, sir!

Something's holding us back.

I'd better get out and find out.

- Horatio.

- Horatio!

- They've stopped.

- Shelly, June!

Don‘t worry, Dr. Greenway.

As long as we're in here,

they can't get this
carriage through the gates.

Horatio, do you think you could

work this contraption?

Why?

The well.

We could hide the doctor
and the clock there,

well, till the police leave.

Hey, what an idea.

Now, let's see.

He turned it with this.

He pushed that.

And stepped on this.

- Ah, you've blown your top.

There's nothing the matter here!

Get in the back seat, I‘ll drive.

- Okay, Lieutenant.

- Now, get in!

It's supposed
to run the other way!

Try to push the handle down.

Woo!

This is fun!

- There's nobody at the wheel!

Oh!

- Hey, Greenway!

Stop that car!

Get outta the way!

- Close the gates!

What do I do now?

Oh!

Look!

Ooh!

Look out!

Oh, Melody!

- It's heading for the well!

Melody!

- Oh, Horatio.

- Do you know a fella could
get killed doing this?

Odsbodkins!

- Whoa!

Well, how are we gonna
explain this to the chief?

Ah!

So you tried to get away, huh?

- No, no, no, no!

Ralph, you all right?

- I don't know yet.

- Ralph!

The clock!

- Shelly!

Shelly, here it is!

- The letter.

- Oh!

- Melody!

They got it!

They got it!

- Now do you believe us, Lieutenant?

- Well, right now I'll believe anything.

But will Chief Callahan believe me?

No.

- Now the curse is ended.

This proves they weren't traitors

and their spirits are no
longer bound to these acres.

They're free.

Free.

- We're free.

We're free!

Melody, what are we waiting for?

- Come on!

Wait a minute!

Here, Lieutenant, this is yours.

- Thanks.

- Well?

- Well?

- Well, there's nothing
to be frightened of.

- Mistress Melody, ladies first.

You go.

- Ah.

I'm out!

- You made it.

Melody, I...

Melody!

Melody!

- Oh, Horatio!

There you are.

- Thank you.

Melody.

Melody.

- Oh, it's Tom!

My Tom.

Goodbye, Horatio.

I'm going to miss you.

- Goodbye, Melody.

I'm gonna miss you, too.

But don't you worry.

Just as soon as Nora and I get set,

we'll have you and Tom over for dinner.

I'll have Nora bake a nice big angel cake.

Horatio.

Here I am, Horatio.

- Nora!

Nora!

Horatio, here I am.

- Nora!

- Horatio.

- You've waited for me.

- It's been a long time.

- Now that I'm here,
nothing can keep us apart.

Let me in.

- I can't Horatio.

- Why?

Odsbodkins!