The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985–1992): Season 6, Episode 14 - Great Wide World Over There - full transcript
Cora Gibbs is an illiterate woman living on an isolated farm with her much older husband. When her educated nephew Benjy visits for the summer, she sees her opportunity to connect with the "great wide world over there" by sending and receiving mail.
[mysterious music playing]
RAY BRADBURY
(VOICEOVER): People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Right here-- all this is
my magician's toyshop.
I'm Ray Bradbury, and this is--
[pleasant music playing]
Morning Mrs. Gibbs.
Morning, Mrs. Brabbam.
It is, it surely is.
Oh, got to be a real beauty
of a letter from my uncle
George in Springfield.
I'm glad for you.
Why, thank you.
Do you got no mail?
My uncles are all dead.
Certainly nice gettin' mail.
Readin' it.
That sister Jane's boy?
Damned if I know.
Like a scarecrow come to life.
Aunt Cora?
Benjy!
Sure is!
Oh!
[laughter]
Hey, can I stay a while?
Can you?
Hey, Tom!
I can earn my keep, sir.
Work.
None of that now, come on.
[laughs]
Benjy, have you really
seen cities, and the ocean,
and that lake I hear is
just 100 miles from here?
Oh, the Blue Ridge,
and all that?
That's some list, but--
sure, I've seen
Chicago at night.
Sunrise over--
over Niagara Falls.
One day, I'm gonna walk
Death Valley, and stay alive.
You've been to school, Benjy?
Of course, Aunt Cora.
And you read those books?
BENJY: Sure.
And write?
I write fine.
Benjy, I know how
you can earn your keep.
Show him, Benjy.
Well, tell him what it says.
C-O-R-A-- Cora.
My name, Tom.
See it?
I see some flour that
ain't no use no more.
Me and Benjy is
going to write letters.
And folks will write back to us.
I'm going to get letters,
like Mrs. Brabbam .
AND you can build us a mailbox.
Where you going, Tom?
I'm going out--
to cut down half
the dang forest.
[door slams]
Oh, dear.
Here's a nice word.
Love.
Love.
Morning Mrs. Gibbs.
Morning, Mrs. Brabbam.
Got a visitor, I see.
He was expected.
My nephew, Benjy.
Just finished high school.
Oh.
Me and him is going
to do some writing--
letters.
Uh-huh.
Expect we'll get lots back.
Tom's going to build a mailbox.
Real smart, wood one.
Put it right here.
Well, isn't that fine.
So, you want to
write some letters.
Yes.
Who's first?
Benjy, I--
I don't know anybody.
Well, I-- in all the
world out there, I--
I would have wrote to your
mother, if she was here.
I know you would.
Oh, Benjy, who out there is
going to write me letters back?
Hold on.
Here-- plenty of
places to write here.
What's that?
It's a magazine
I read, Aunt Cora.
There's people here
just asking us to write.
Powerful muscles
in three weeks--
send name, address,
to Power Plus Muscle
Company for free muscle chart.
What's that?
BENJY: Detectives-- make secret
investigations, big income.
Write Discretion Detective
School for free information.
Everything's free.
Yeah.
Hey-- be beautiful overnight.
Write for free sample,
Glory Rose Cosmetics.
Well?
Power Plus.
Power Plus.
- Ready?
- Set.
Go.
How do I start?
You got to start with, dear.
Dear Power Plus
Muscle Company?
That's right.
Go ahead.
Dear Power Plus [clear throat]
Muscle Company, how are you?
I am fine.
Oh, dear.
I'm done.
And I'm hungry.
Tom, while I'm
fixing your dinner,
why don't you build
me that mailbox?
I'll nail up a shoe box later.
Tom Gibbs--
I want a big, pretty
mailbox, all white.
So Benji can write our names
on it in black spelling.
Tom-- a white, wooden mailbox.
A white, wooden mailbox.
Bigger than Mrs. Brabbam's.
Bigger than Mrs. Brabbam's.
That's the most beautiful
mailbox I ever seen, Tom Gibbs.
It certainly is
wonderful, sir.
And I didn't no reading
up how to do it, neither.
BENJY: Tom and Cora Gibbs.
TOM GIBBS: No lie?
Is that me?
You and me.
Yes, sir.
Now, we're all
going in to Greenfork.
We were there last month.
We have to buy stamps,
so we can mail our letters.
One purple one,
and one red one.
That makes the right amount.
- Hurry it up, it's green.
BENJY: It's only been
one day, Aunt Cora.
Benjy-- up and
dressed already?
Sure.
I like it quiet.
Dawn is the best
time of the day.
Besides, it's still early.
Mailman will drive by later.
Drive by?
Has to, this far out.
For goodness sake.
My land.
Aunt Cora?
I've just been struck by
a bolt of blue lightning.
Benjy, in all the years,
on no day, and no week,
and no month ever, have I
seen a mailman drive by.
BENJY: Aunt Cora-- hey!
That's breaking the law.
Why?
BENJY: Everybody's mailboxes
is the lawful property
of the government.
You could be jailed for that.
Aunt Cora!
Here.
Why, these letters
have all been opened.
Boy, I never touched 'em.
This the first time
in my life I even
let my shadow touch that box.
Aunt Cora, the
postings on these letters
are 10, 20 years old.
And they're not addressed
to a Mrs. Brabbam.
There to some woman named
Ortega in Greenfork.
Ortega?
The Mexican grocery lady?
All these years-- all
these years that woman's
been getting the same
mail, same letters.
Every day, forever.
[gate creeks]
Aunt Cora-- quick!
Well, Tom did a wonderful job.
But have we got the
position absolutely perfect?
Morning!
Oh, Mrs. Brabbam--
Mrs. Brabbam, this
is my nephew, Benjy.
Mornin', ma'am.
My sister Jane's boy.
Well, isn't that fine.
Oh, sake o' days--
just look!
Another letter from my
dear old Uncle George.
Well, isn't that fine?
BENJY: Come on,
Aunt Cora, you try.
Write your name.
Oh, Benjy-- it's so much
fun watching you write.
Tomorrow.
I'll try tomorrow.
Now, here's what
I want you to say.
Dear Tarbell Magic Company--
MRS. BRABBAM: Morning, Cora.
Think I'd go right
crazy if I didn't get
my letters every mornin'.
[car engine]
First time I've been
on this road for years.
Mornin'.
One of you ladies Mrs. Gibbs?
I guess, uh, yes!
Mail for you, ma'am.
Please, would you please
put it in my mailbox?
MAILMAN: No problem.
Thank you.
Have a good day.
Thank you.
Any mail for Mrs. Brabbam?
No Brabbam, just Gibbs.
Benjy!
Benjy-- I've got me a letter.
Read it to me.
Is that my name on the front?
Sure is.
Well, come on.
What's it say?
It's from the Power
Plus Muscle Company.
And it says, dear Mrs. Gibbs--
Dear Mrs. Gibbs--
dear Mrs. Gibbs!
Go on.
We're very
impressed that you've
ordered our free muscle chart.
Anyone still live over there?
Oh, sure.
Mrs. Brabbam.
Fall leaves are blowing.
Should be moving on.
Benjy, where?
Wide world over there.
But Benjy--
Aunt Cora?
Well, we spent so much time
writin' letters, that we--
Never taught you to write.
Never.
Benjy, never.
If you leave now, I won't
get no more letters.
No more mail.
Seems like I didn't spend enough
time looking at your face.
No face to look at.
But I'd know this
hand in a million hands.
Let anybody take my
hand in a dark room,
1,000 people, and out of all
those I'd say, this is Benjy's.
It has been a fine summer.
Fine summer.
God bless, Aunt Cora.
God bless.
I'll write ya.
Twice a week.
Glory be.
Thank you.
Benjy?
Yes, ma'am?
I've been thinking--
I ain't seen Mrs.
Brabbam in weeks--
she stays in all the time now.
I done a prideful thing, Benjy.
A mean, spiteful thing.
And I'm ashamed.
Would you-- would you
do me a last favor?
[music playing]
Cora, love-- pencil?
[laughs]
[music playing]
RAY BRADBURY
(VOICEOVER): People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Right here-- all this is
my magician's toyshop.
I'm Ray Bradbury, and this is--
[pleasant music playing]
Morning Mrs. Gibbs.
Morning, Mrs. Brabbam.
It is, it surely is.
Oh, got to be a real beauty
of a letter from my uncle
George in Springfield.
I'm glad for you.
Why, thank you.
Do you got no mail?
My uncles are all dead.
Certainly nice gettin' mail.
Readin' it.
That sister Jane's boy?
Damned if I know.
Like a scarecrow come to life.
Aunt Cora?
Benjy!
Sure is!
Oh!
[laughter]
Hey, can I stay a while?
Can you?
Hey, Tom!
I can earn my keep, sir.
Work.
None of that now, come on.
[laughs]
Benjy, have you really
seen cities, and the ocean,
and that lake I hear is
just 100 miles from here?
Oh, the Blue Ridge,
and all that?
That's some list, but--
sure, I've seen
Chicago at night.
Sunrise over--
over Niagara Falls.
One day, I'm gonna walk
Death Valley, and stay alive.
You've been to school, Benjy?
Of course, Aunt Cora.
And you read those books?
BENJY: Sure.
And write?
I write fine.
Benjy, I know how
you can earn your keep.
Show him, Benjy.
Well, tell him what it says.
C-O-R-A-- Cora.
My name, Tom.
See it?
I see some flour that
ain't no use no more.
Me and Benjy is
going to write letters.
And folks will write back to us.
I'm going to get letters,
like Mrs. Brabbam .
AND you can build us a mailbox.
Where you going, Tom?
I'm going out--
to cut down half
the dang forest.
[door slams]
Oh, dear.
Here's a nice word.
Love.
Love.
Morning Mrs. Gibbs.
Morning, Mrs. Brabbam.
Got a visitor, I see.
He was expected.
My nephew, Benjy.
Just finished high school.
Oh.
Me and him is going
to do some writing--
letters.
Uh-huh.
Expect we'll get lots back.
Tom's going to build a mailbox.
Real smart, wood one.
Put it right here.
Well, isn't that fine.
So, you want to
write some letters.
Yes.
Who's first?
Benjy, I--
I don't know anybody.
Well, I-- in all the
world out there, I--
I would have wrote to your
mother, if she was here.
I know you would.
Oh, Benjy, who out there is
going to write me letters back?
Hold on.
Here-- plenty of
places to write here.
What's that?
It's a magazine
I read, Aunt Cora.
There's people here
just asking us to write.
Powerful muscles
in three weeks--
send name, address,
to Power Plus Muscle
Company for free muscle chart.
What's that?
BENJY: Detectives-- make secret
investigations, big income.
Write Discretion Detective
School for free information.
Everything's free.
Yeah.
Hey-- be beautiful overnight.
Write for free sample,
Glory Rose Cosmetics.
Well?
Power Plus.
Power Plus.
- Ready?
- Set.
Go.
How do I start?
You got to start with, dear.
Dear Power Plus
Muscle Company?
That's right.
Go ahead.
Dear Power Plus [clear throat]
Muscle Company, how are you?
I am fine.
Oh, dear.
I'm done.
And I'm hungry.
Tom, while I'm
fixing your dinner,
why don't you build
me that mailbox?
I'll nail up a shoe box later.
Tom Gibbs--
I want a big, pretty
mailbox, all white.
So Benji can write our names
on it in black spelling.
Tom-- a white, wooden mailbox.
A white, wooden mailbox.
Bigger than Mrs. Brabbam's.
Bigger than Mrs. Brabbam's.
That's the most beautiful
mailbox I ever seen, Tom Gibbs.
It certainly is
wonderful, sir.
And I didn't no reading
up how to do it, neither.
BENJY: Tom and Cora Gibbs.
TOM GIBBS: No lie?
Is that me?
You and me.
Yes, sir.
Now, we're all
going in to Greenfork.
We were there last month.
We have to buy stamps,
so we can mail our letters.
One purple one,
and one red one.
That makes the right amount.
- Hurry it up, it's green.
BENJY: It's only been
one day, Aunt Cora.
Benjy-- up and
dressed already?
Sure.
I like it quiet.
Dawn is the best
time of the day.
Besides, it's still early.
Mailman will drive by later.
Drive by?
Has to, this far out.
For goodness sake.
My land.
Aunt Cora?
I've just been struck by
a bolt of blue lightning.
Benjy, in all the years,
on no day, and no week,
and no month ever, have I
seen a mailman drive by.
BENJY: Aunt Cora-- hey!
That's breaking the law.
Why?
BENJY: Everybody's mailboxes
is the lawful property
of the government.
You could be jailed for that.
Aunt Cora!
Here.
Why, these letters
have all been opened.
Boy, I never touched 'em.
This the first time
in my life I even
let my shadow touch that box.
Aunt Cora, the
postings on these letters
are 10, 20 years old.
And they're not addressed
to a Mrs. Brabbam.
There to some woman named
Ortega in Greenfork.
Ortega?
The Mexican grocery lady?
All these years-- all
these years that woman's
been getting the same
mail, same letters.
Every day, forever.
[gate creeks]
Aunt Cora-- quick!
Well, Tom did a wonderful job.
But have we got the
position absolutely perfect?
Morning!
Oh, Mrs. Brabbam--
Mrs. Brabbam, this
is my nephew, Benjy.
Mornin', ma'am.
My sister Jane's boy.
Well, isn't that fine.
Oh, sake o' days--
just look!
Another letter from my
dear old Uncle George.
Well, isn't that fine?
BENJY: Come on,
Aunt Cora, you try.
Write your name.
Oh, Benjy-- it's so much
fun watching you write.
Tomorrow.
I'll try tomorrow.
Now, here's what
I want you to say.
Dear Tarbell Magic Company--
MRS. BRABBAM: Morning, Cora.
Think I'd go right
crazy if I didn't get
my letters every mornin'.
[car engine]
First time I've been
on this road for years.
Mornin'.
One of you ladies Mrs. Gibbs?
I guess, uh, yes!
Mail for you, ma'am.
Please, would you please
put it in my mailbox?
MAILMAN: No problem.
Thank you.
Have a good day.
Thank you.
Any mail for Mrs. Brabbam?
No Brabbam, just Gibbs.
Benjy!
Benjy-- I've got me a letter.
Read it to me.
Is that my name on the front?
Sure is.
Well, come on.
What's it say?
It's from the Power
Plus Muscle Company.
And it says, dear Mrs. Gibbs--
Dear Mrs. Gibbs--
dear Mrs. Gibbs!
Go on.
We're very
impressed that you've
ordered our free muscle chart.
Anyone still live over there?
Oh, sure.
Mrs. Brabbam.
Fall leaves are blowing.
Should be moving on.
Benjy, where?
Wide world over there.
But Benjy--
Aunt Cora?
Well, we spent so much time
writin' letters, that we--
Never taught you to write.
Never.
Benjy, never.
If you leave now, I won't
get no more letters.
No more mail.
Seems like I didn't spend enough
time looking at your face.
No face to look at.
But I'd know this
hand in a million hands.
Let anybody take my
hand in a dark room,
1,000 people, and out of all
those I'd say, this is Benjy's.
It has been a fine summer.
Fine summer.
God bless, Aunt Cora.
God bless.
I'll write ya.
Twice a week.
Glory be.
Thank you.
Benjy?
Yes, ma'am?
I've been thinking--
I ain't seen Mrs.
Brabbam in weeks--
she stays in all the time now.
I done a prideful thing, Benjy.
A mean, spiteful thing.
And I'm ashamed.
Would you-- would you
do me a last favor?
[music playing]
Cora, love-- pencil?
[laughs]
[music playing]