Summer Magic

# Summer magic

# That wonderful magic... #

RAGTIME MUSIC

HE WHISTLES

Who's it from?

Oh, nobody you'd know.

RAGTIME MUSIC

Pry yourself away from that piano. There's work to do!

-Why did Mother sell it?

-Because it's the most valuable thing we own.

How am I going to be a composer with only a guitar to compose on?

Hey! My fish! I got to thinking about him the other day. Where was he?

You can't take everything. There's no room in our horrid new house.

We can't pay storage on junk.

Look at his poor eye!

Why is my stuff junk and yours is priceless?

Here, you can have him, Peter. Thanks! I'll put him with MY junk!

That did a lot of good!

Their poor mother!

One minute a happy wife, then Fate struck a cruel blow and she's a poor widow woman!

Watch the teacup, Miss. Yes, Ma'am.

This family's going to be lost without you, Mary. You too, Ellen.

In a book I was reading - True Blue was the name of it - True Blue.

-Lord and Lady Darcy and their children all lived in a magnificent castle.

-I love them castle stories!

The tray, Miss. Yes, Ma'am.

Well, everybody worshipped everybody, so of course it was all terribly happy.

Then, one day, they lost all their riches.

-Lord save us! HE PLAYS TRAGIC MUSIC

-They were driven from the castle

and lived in a hovel, which was not in a very nice neighbourhood.

But they had this loyal old family servant

and the faithful creature followed them from castle to hovel.

She brought her life savings wrapped in a pitiful handkerchief,

and remained with them to serve them for years...

without wages.

'Tis a beautiful tale and a lesson to the greedy.

It is. You, Miss Nancy, being so interested in the welfare of the deserving,

will be happy to know that we have found a situation in Salem.

-At 5 more a month.

-Oh! I'm happy for you both.

-BELL RINGS

-Really.

-Finish the story, Nancy.

-I've reached the end.

"End" is right! Miss Nancy.

'Tis the men, come for the piano.

Oh, Gilly!

Is this the instrument?

Pad. >

Son, pad!

Strap.

< Mallet.

Dolly.>

-CLANG! Careful!

-It's just saying goodbye.

'Tis a black day for the Careys.

Back to your packing, Miss. Yes, Ma'am.

We've lost a friend, Gilly. Sold for a mess of pottage.

Nancy, can't you ever keep quiet? Do you always have to...?

-Nancy, Gilly, come quick! They got a thing! Come quick!

-A what?

A thing! It's come! It's come!

Oh, mighty, look at that!

It's a player piano!

I've heard one! You don't need no hands!

Son... >

Put it right there.

Is it a mistake? Are you sure it's for us?

A Mrs Carey sold the instrument we just removed for 150 and a swap.

This instrument is the swap.

Rolls in here.

Here's one we always put on when folks are moving.

Son... >

Let me play!

When you learn how!

-VERY FAST MUSIC

-Slow it down!

MUSIC IS SLOWER

The words!

# It's time for flitterin' Dustin' off the trunk

# And flitterin' far Where the grass is greener

# Now and then Comes the time again

# For flitterin'

# We'll soon be packin' up

# Stackin' up our dreams and bric a brac for some new destination

# Don't know where But we're going there

# We're flitterin' again

# New places, new faces New friendships will start

# While old places, old faces

# Stay dear to our heart as we go

# Flitterin', following a rainbow

# Glitterin' bright over the horizon

# Maybe then and maybe there

# We'll settle down and never care

-# For flitterin', flitterin' flitterin'...

-again.

-#

-Mother!

-Hello, sweetheart. Feel better, Gilly?

-You bet!

-It's wonderful, Mother!

Let me tell her!

-Tell me.

-Well, this one you don't need any hands. You play with feet.

-And a little roller thing with holes makes the keys go up and down!

-No!

-And guess what!

-What?

-I played it! With this leg. Nobody showed me how!

That's your smartest leg.

You have almost everything done!

Children, come over here.

-I've just come from the lawyer's.

-What happened, Mother?

Oh, it's nothing that can't be solved.

We'll make out somehow.

-I've learned we haven't quite as much money as I thought.

-Go on.

The real blow was the mining stocks George Ferguson got your father to invest in.

They're not worth the paper they're written on, Mr Manson told me.

That isn't so bad. We're just in reduced circumstances.

I'll be happy to beg. I saw a beggar once with a tin cup full of money.

-Things won't be so very different.

-I'm afraid they will, in a way.

You see, counting everything, we have exactly 50 a month to live on.

-We can't afford to move to the little house in Boston.

-We can't afford the horrible house?

Oh, Mother, that's wonderful! Oh, Gilly...

What ails her?

-Mother, this came today.

-What is it?

-Mother.

After Father... Remember that evening when we talked about things

that had been fun with him, and the best thing was that time in Maine?

We saw the yellow house in Beulah.

Yes. Wasn't it beautiful? And nobody lived there.

That was years ago. You're wild!

I remember it! You weren't even born.

-Stop it! Your life's about to change!

-Go on.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to try to find out about that house.

I wrote to the postmaster in Beulah, and he answered! His name is Ossian Popham.

He's the agent for Mr Hamilton, who owns the house,

who's miles away in China or somewhere, probably a missionary...

-Could I see Mr Popham's letter?

-Oh, it's all right...

-Nancy.

Well...

-"..The plight of your good self and your little ones..." Nancy!

-Read the last page.

"Beulah is brimming over with fresh milk for your baby boy."

Baby?

-"..so there's no need for him to be blue with rickets." Nancy!

-Look at the last page.

He says the yellow house is vacant

and he knows Mr Hamilton would be glad to rent it to a deserving family like ours for 60 a year.

-He's Mr Hamilton's trusted friend, his factotum...

-Slow down, Nancy!

Think of living in the country! No storage bills. All our things will fit!

We'll be self-supporting! Chickens, eggs, vegetables from the garden.

Air, space, honest toil...

-Can we, Mother, can we?

-Oh, please, Mother.

But Mother, my school's here, my friends!

-Beulah's a hick town!

-Abraham Lincoln came from a hick town!

Mother?

Your father wanted so much for you. It was his dream to live in the country.

Maybe he'd like to know we were together in the house in Beulah.

Oh, Mother, I knew it! I knew it! I wished it!

Gilly, get to the piano. Mother, sit down there.

In anticipation of this decision, I've written a glorification.

But first, an introduction from the Bible.

Church chords, please, Gilly.

Thou shalt not be termed forsaken.

Neither shall thy land be termed desolate,

but it shall be called Beulah, for the Lord delighteth in thee. Amen.

-Now, Railroad Rag.

-What?

-You were just playing it!

HE STARTS PLAYING

-#

-Land of promise, bounteous

-#

-This is beautiful, this is beautiful Beulah

-#

-In the rocky state of Maine

BOTH: # Land of plenty, meant for us

# This is beautiful, this is beautiful Beulah!

# Within our reach is there Grapes as big as peaches there

# The cows and bees are busy

# Who needs money in the land of milk and honey?

# Sweet apple trees abound Wild cherries all around

# Berries, roses, they're so nice It's a paradise

# Beulah, land so beautiful

# Let's send forth for it Let's go north on that

# Train, chug-a-choo-chug-a-choo

# To beautiful Beulah land Beautiful Beulah, Maine

# To beautiful Beulah land Beautiful Beulah, Maine. #

Chug-a-choo-chug-a-choo Woo-ooh!

TRAIN WHISTLES

­ So this is Beulah!

You're right in the heart of the city.

It's wonderful! How can we thank your father for all he's done?

The name "Ossian Popham" should flame across the sky!

Pa's just glad somebody's living in the old house.

Hamiltons haven't used it since I can recollect.

What's wrong with it? Haunted?

No. It's too fancy for these parts.

When Hamiltons fixed up the barn for dancing, Pa said it'd overpower a cow!

Your father didn't write much about his family. Are you an only child?

You might say so. I just have a sister. GILLY LAUGHS

Mother...

-Look, the church!

-How lovely and quaint.

-Heavenly!

Yeah, and believe it or not... we have a minister named...

Mr Lord.

-Is he any relation...?

-No, Peter.

Well, hold tight!

Country - real country!

-We're out in the sticks all right!

-Gilly!

-Sticks?

It's the loveliest! Land of promise, land of opportunity!

Opportunity for what?

Ain't a fresh family moved into Beulah in more than five years.

Most people move away - to the city.

I'm going, soon as I can. See them bright lights, make a little money.

Money? The heavenly thing about the country is you don't need money!

-You have the soil, the soil!

-What's soil?

Mud.

We're here! We're home! Oh, Gilly, come on!

The piano's here!

HE PLAYS "Railroad Rag"

Mother, a quaint old pump!

-You folks the Careys? I heard you way up in the attic.

-Yes.

You mean to tell me that you're the Careys?

-You must be Ossian Popham!

-Yes. At your service, Ma'am.

-First dibs for bedrooms, Gilly!

-Nancy...

Is this your...treasured daughter, Ma'am?

Let's just say my daughter. Nancy...

this is Mr Popham.

Oh, my goodness! Mr Popham...

No, you don't! No, you don't!

That must have been... the invalid boy.

-About that first letter.

-I

-wrote it....

-No need to go on.

-What you've done's come to me like a blinding flash.

-Pa...

Pa, there's a boy up here!

It's the Carey boy. Come on down, Lally-Joy.

That's my daughter. She's shy. She'd be more like me, only her ma won't let her.

-Look at me, Mother! Look! Whee!

-Peter!

-Where are you?

-Look at me! Look at me!

Whee! Whee! Look at me!

That must be the rickety baby.

Mr Popham, I think it's time I told you everything.

May I tell him, Mother, please?

You see, Mr Popham, I wrote that letter...

Oh, I don't know how to begin.

Uh...

Oh!

Gee, I'm sorry!

They're too heavy for a girl.

Allow me.

You don't have to be nice or nothin'. She's my sister.

That's the way it was.

I figure this is the only world we've got, until we move to the next one,

and a story that's a mite off the truth makes things interesting.

-Like a painter improving on nature?

-It ain't an out-and-out lie.

Just a small white one, only coloured a little.

Mr Popham understands. The first thing to do is fix up this house!

Now, where to begin?

Standing before you is the best painter, carpenter, bricklayer in Maine!

You're wonderful!

Mr Popham, one part of the letter was true. We don't have much money.

Forget about the money. When it's all done, we can figure that out.

I work cheap if I can take my time and get into some conversing.

I ain't one to hurry.

One hurry in the family's enough.

Mrs Popham does everything right on the dot.

Sometimes I get terrible sick of that dot.

It's getting toward noon. I better be digging for home.

Maria sits and looks at the clock from 11 on,

then she'll get a meal of cold pork and beans, gingerbread and custard pie on the table.

She stands and hollers, "Hurry up! It struck 12 two minutes ago and everything's getting overdone!"

-Well, so long, folks.

-Goodbye.

Thanks for letting me crank her up, Digby!

HE HUMS

Pa, I've been doing some thinking.

Good. Thinking never hurt anybody.

Pa, do you realise the farthest I've been from Beulah was Four Corners and I was too young to remember?

What are you getting at?

Pa, you realise I ain't never seen nothing or done nothing?

Go on.

You said a man never gets anywhere standing in one place.

-How much am I paying you, Digby?

-3 a week, but a fellow can make that in one day in the city.

-You gonna put a stop to it, Pa?

-..Nope.

Might as well get it out of your system.

Might be about the right time, too.

The boy Gilbert seems as if he might be able to take on the job of driving this truck.

That Gilly boy - he's awful nice, Pa!

I got a feeling the money might come in handy for the Careys too.

They're wonderful folks - even if they ain't got the rickets!

Smell it, Mother.

CRICKETS CHIRP AND BIRD CALLS

Listen.

OWL HOOTS

I feel sorry for city people tonight.

-#

-Summer magic

-#

-The soft summer magic

-#

-Drifts across

-#

-The meadows

-#

-Summer magic

-#

-It weaves through the willows

-#

-Right into

-#

-Your heart

-#

-A song the river sings

-#

-The joy the sunset brings

-#

-Warm rain

-#

-On blossoming

-#

-Growing things...

-#

PEEP-PEEP-PEEP

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA

-#

-Hearts grow dearer

-#

-And heaven seems nearer

-#

-Winter dreams

-#

-Come true

-#

-Oh, what magic

-#

-What wonderful magic

-#

-Summer time

-#

-Can do.

-#

ENGINE CHUGS AND BACKFIRES

-Slow down!

-Look out with that fool contraption!

Slow down. I can't!

HORSES WHINNY

Gosh, I'm sorry, Digby!

She was about to blow anyway. Lally-Joy, another tyre to fix!

It was my fault. Let me fix it.

No! Digby always lets me fix the flat tyres!

I'd better learn how in case one blows when she's not around!

Might.

You can watch.

I've been longing to meet you.

I suppose your husband's too modest to tell you we think he's a saint.

Nope. Never dared mention it.

-I'm afraid he hides his light under a bushel.

-He hides more than that!

-There's a whole mess of things...

-What a glorious, quaint store!

You must just adore working in it!

Oh - all those things for the house. Wallpaper, brushes, paint...

Maybe we shouldn't do this without Mr Hamilton's approval.

No need. I told you he's got deep-seated faith in my judgment.

Give Mrs Popham the grocery list. Take her mind off what it's on.

Just a saint.

-Now...wallpaper, and paint, and brushes, and those tools you use to scrape off old wallpaper...?

-Yes.

I'm the king! I'm the king!

Can I play?

We don't play with girls!

- I'm not a girl! - You've got sissy hair!

Not in Boston!

Sissy hair! Sissy clothes! You want a fight?

We don't fight with girls!

- Ooh! She's mad! - She'll pull your hair!

Let's go swimming! Last one in's a sissy from Boston!

Come back and fight! Cowards!

Hank! Haircuts for the lot. I'll pick 'em up later. Get down, boys.

Now you're taking over. Here you are, Barney Oldfield.

Say, thanks!

-Osh, I forgot to buy a stepladder.

-Now you're talking like city folk.

Country folks don't buy stepladders, they borrow 'em.

Oh!

ENGINE CHUGS

-We forgot Peter!

-I'll see that he gets home all right.

Mr Popham! Now you've a spare minute thrust upon you, I'd like a word.

Why don't you get back to them strawberry preserves you're fixing?

Mr Popham.

Have you written to Mr Hamilton advising him that you took it on yourself to rent the yellow house?

-I told you - I have written to him.

-Has he written you?

..No.

He's a busy man. No news is good news.

Besides, he's off in them furrin parts. Heathens might've et him.

And you let them Careys tear his house apart?

Redoin', plantin'. Young 'uns running all over the place.

-Selling 'em wallpaper for less than it cost you!

-That lot never did move.

They got you bewitched. I know why.

You wore out the people in this town with your stories and you want new ears.

But Mr Hamilton's gonna land back in Beulah some day and want his house.

I'm warning you, if you don't get a letter from Mr Hamilton soon, I'll take matters into my own hands.

-BUBBLING

-Maria, your pot's boiling over.

-Oh!

What do you mean, 1.25? All I know is, I cut five heads.

All I know is, I got four kids. One, two, three, four.

- I cut five heads. - One of my sons has two heads?

LAUGHTER

I seen and cut five!

You should get a pair of spectacles!

I sent four in and I'm picking up four!

All right. Forget it. Into the wagon, boys.

-How many heads did he cut, Peter?

-Five.

-How'll I get a job if people think I'm a girl?

-So you're looking for work?

-I'm the only boy in the family that's not working.

-That puts a different complexion on things.

You see, you got on a handsome city outfit.

It's too good to work in.

-A man hiring you might get the idea you wouldn't buckle down.

-I'll buckle down.

Of course you will. So...maybe we ought to arrange for a little swap.

I've been looking for a Buster Brown suit just about that size.

-If you'd consider swapping it for a pair of overalls...

-With patches?

Of course with patches! And a shirt.

That's a very, very fine piece of goods.

So, I won't take advantage of you.

Now, suppose that I...

-..that I give you two bits to boot?

-A quarter?

That's a lot of money. Hank Champlin has to cut a whole head of hair before he makes that much.

He's got six mouths to feed at his house too.

With the two bits to boot, I can pay him for my fifth head!

Be right back!

SHE HUMS

Just one ladder in the house. We should find something for you to stand on.

-Oh, that's all right, Mrs Carey.

-Mother, if the house is beautiful, Mr Hamilton might want it back!

Well, the way it looks now, I don't think he would.

He could suddenly descend upon us, swoop down like the Yellow Peril.

-Now do be careful.

-That's all right.

Just get it up here...

-Shouldn't you have someone to help you?

-Any idiot can hang wallpaper!

Oh!

PETER: Mother! Mother! Come here!

-Where is it?

-I want to show you something! >

WOOF!

-Out! Get him out!

-He won't bite! His name's Sam!

WOOF! WOOF!

-Come here, Sam!

-Out! Out!

-Oh!

-Get him out!

-My paper!

-Don't just stand there! Catch him!

Here, Sam! Come on, Sam!

-Don't hurt my dog!

-Get him out!

Catch him!

-Stop him!

-Catch him, catch him!

Come here!

-Keep him there!

-I'll get him! He likes me!

-See, he loves you, Mother.

-I want that dog out of here!

-His name's Sam!

-Outside!

-But I promised this man I'd keep him!

-What man?

A rich man! I told him I'd board Sam.

That enormous thing would eat us out of house and home.

But we're getting paid! You explained about everybody doing his share. Sam's my share.

-I'm getting paid 25 cents.

-A meal?

-A week.

I'm sorry, Peter. We can't do it.

-You'll have to take him back.

-But the man's already left town!

-Goodness!

-He's going to pay me the next time he sees me.

You mean you didn't get it?

SHE LAUGHS

-What happened to your hair?

-I got it cut.

-And your eye? You've been fighting!

-They called me a sissy.

-Where did you get those rags?

-They're my working clothes!

-Working clothes?

-A-hem!

Not to change the subject, but here's a special delivery letter.

Special delivery?

-Thank you.

-You ought to see me handle that...

-Shh.

-Special delivery.

-Oh.

What is it?

What does it say?

-Julia. She's coming to stay with us next week.

-Oh, no!

Oh, please! Not Julia!

Oh...

Best leave these folks to their grief. Come on, Lally-Joy.

-Do I have to? It's been real interesting.

-Yes, come on. See you tomorrow.

Goodbye.

And thanks for everything.

And I want you two out of those dying gladiator attitudes!

-Julia's your cousin, and a Carey. Don't forget that.

-Forget it?

Nancy, try to realise that Julia's story is rather a sad one.

She never knew her mother, and after her dear father died,

-the Fergusons kindly took her in and raised her.

-Kindly?

George Ferguson had a guilty conscience. The stocks he sold her father were as worthless as ours!

-She's their responsibility. Why dump her on us?

-George says he can't keep her. Another unfortunate investment.

-Mmm.

-But there is one thing we're going to do.

We're going to welcome her.

As a cousin, and as a young girl who has no other home to go to.

We didn't really have a home for a while either,

but we didn't beg all our relatives to take us in.

Have you both forgotten?

We had each other.

Julia doesn't know any of this. It would kill her if she found out.

-So not a word out of either of you.

-All right. The more, the hungrier.

-Find some place for that dog to sleep.

-There's room on my bed!

Outside!

Julia!

I'll be nice to her for Mother's sake, but...Julia's a pill!

Complete!

And she does think she's the pink of perfection.

# She's the pink of perfection

# From her prissy pink nose

# To her custard complexion And eleven pink toes

# With a chin like a prune

# She's a dainty baboon

# And...

# She thinks she's the pink of perfection

# She's the pink of perfection Made of skim milk and rice

# She's a witch's confection Makes your blood turn to ice

-#

-Like a stale charlotte russe

-#

-With the charm of a moose

# And she thinks she's the pink of perfection

-#

-Never walked there a creature With features so fair

-#

-Like a Lilian Russell

# Without any hair

-#

-She's a princess presiding in diaphanous gowns

-#

-With a face and a figure that's the envy of clowns

# She's a knock-kneed gazelle

# With a voice like a bell... #

HOWWWL!

# And she thinks she's the pink of perfection. #

Gee, I can't wait to see her!

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

DOG'S BARKS ECHOES

Here, Sam!

Come on, boy!

Come on, boy! Come on!

Here, Sam! Come on, boy!

Quiet, boy, quiet! You're not supposed to be in here!

If you get out early in the morning you can always sleep with me!

Go to sleep now!

-What a charming place, I DON'T think!

-What's wrong with it?

Everything! If one must have Maine, why not Bar Harbor?

This place is truly primitive!

-Sure is!

-Practically unsettled!

We don't see too many Indians nowadays, but there's plenty of wildlife.

What kind of wildlife?

Oh the usual. Not too many moose. Some wild cats. Lots of bears.

And the ordinary small stuff. A wolf or two, fox, skunks...

Snakes?

Only one in ten is poisonous. When we get bit we have a slug of whisky.

Even Peter.

Don't they even fix the roads in this backwoods place?

These are just wilderness trails!

Rapids ahead! Hold tight - maybe we'll make it!

Hello, Peter. Let me out of this thing!

-She's not knock-kneed, Nancy!

-Shh!

Julia!

-Oh, dear!

-Aunt Margaret.

-Welcome to the yellow house!

-Thank you.

-Was it a pleasant trip?

-No! No parlour car on the train!

-Oh.

And this wilderness! Last summer, Gladys Ferguson and I had a glorious time in East Hampton!

Come along.

The last thing dear Mrs Ferguson said to me was, "Don't let poverty drag you down.

"Keep high thoughts and don't let them get soiled by the grime of daily living."

Oh, lovely(!) Especially the part about the grime of daily living!

-A pill!

-Complete, utter!

I think she's pretty!

-You go and play with Sam. Vanish!

-Scat!

Naturally, we dressed for dinner every night.

Gladys Ferguson's French maid laid out our dresses. We didn't have to turn a hand.

If you could see Gladys' wardrobe! Her things are exquisite.

Nothing machine-stitched has ever touched her skin.

Everything hand-sewn by dear little nuns in Switzerland.

And the dances, Nancy!

-Did I say Gladys doesn't know one boy that doesn't go to Harvard?

-You did.

Excuse me, Julia. I'll have to get our boy to bed.

Come on, Peter. You're going to sleep with me tonight.

-I can't!

-Julia is in your room till we get another bed in Nancy's.

-Please!

-Not another word. Come along.

Good night, Julia. Breakfast at seven. Good night, children.

-Seven in the morning?

-Mmm.

Good night, Aunt Margaret.

-Mother...

-Come along, Peter!

-Now, where was I?

-Just a minute, Julia.

-Everything locked up tight, Gilly?

-Oh, sure.

-Oh, dark tonight, isn't it?

-Inky.

Wouldn't like to be out there alone.

I remember when...

Ssh!

-(What's that noise?

-Sure the bear locks are on?

-(Wouldn't dare forget them.

-Well, I guess we're safe enough.)

-Safe from what?

-Oh, nothing, nothing. But this IS the wilderness.

-I should think out here, nobody would...

-Oh, noBODY would.

They're just after honey.

Who is?

Well, I guess we've done all that's humanly possible.

Humanly.

Ready for bed, Julia? Or would you rather sit here alone and read a good book?

I think I'll go up with you.

(Check the back door again, Gil. Better safe than sorry.)

Right.

After you, Julia.

Who's there?

BLOODCURDLING SCREAMS

I tried to tell you!

Julia? Julia!

-JULIA SOBS AND SCREAMS

-Oh!

Julia!

JULIA SOBS

Try to stop crying, dear. You'll make yourself sick.

It was deliberately planned!

On purpose! They're all against me!

Oh, nobody's against you, Julia.

We want you to be part of the family, but we have a little boy who has a great big dog.

-Nobody cares what happens to me!

-Oh...

Julia?

I heated some milk.

I'll take it, dear.

See that Peter sleeps in his bed tonight. I'm keeping Julia with me.

Yes, Mother.

Julia...

Good night, Mother.

Good night, dear.

How do you like that? Pink of perfection raises her roof and lands in a bed of roses.

Where's Peter?

I don't know. He's not in his room.

Peter!

Peter?

-Come on. Bed. You can sleep in your own room tonight.

-Sam too?

No.

Then can I sleep with Sam? He's had a terrible scare!

-Come on to bed now, Peter.

-Nancy, Sam's upset!

I know.

Bye, Sam.

Very good. Very good. You're going to be a real carpenter.

WOOF! WOOF!

Osh! Look, Osh!

Hmm.

He climbed up there all by himself. He likes me!

Hmm, that's a mighty handsome critter.

He has a very ugly face.

Maybe he's thinking the same thing about you!

You know, the little critters of nature don't know they're ugly.

-They don't?

-Except one.

-#

-Once a lonely caterpillar sat and cried

-#

-To a sympathetic beetle by his side

-#

-I've got nobody to hug

-#

-I'm such an ugly bug

-#

-Then a spider and a dragonfly replied

-#

-If you're serious and want to win a bride

-#

-Come along with us To the glorious

-#

-Annual Ugly Bug Ball

-#

-Come on, let's crawl Gotta crawl, gotta crawl

-#

-To the Ugly Bug Ball To the ball, to the ball

-#

-And a happy time we'll have there

-#

-One and all

-#

-At the Ugly Bug Ball!

-#

-While the crickets clicked their cricky melodies

-#

-All the ants were fancy dancing with the fleas

-#

-Then up from under the ground

-#

-The worms came squirming around

-#

-Oh, they danced until their legs were nearly lame

-#

-Every little crawling creature you could name

-#

-Everyone was glad What a time they had

-#

-They were so happy they came

-#

-Come on, let's crawl

-Gotta crawl, gotta crawl

-#

-To the Ugly Bug Ball

-To the ball, to the ball

-#

-And a happy time we'll have there

-#

-One and all

-At the Ugly Bug Ball. #

HARMONICA

MOUTH HARP

-#

-Then our caterpillar saw a pretty queen

-#

-She was beautiful and yellow, black and green

-#

-He said, "Would you care to dance?"

-#

-Their dancing led to romance

-#

-Then she sat upon his caterpillar knees

-#

-And he gave his caterpillar queen a squeeze

-#

-Soon they'll honeymoon Build a big cocoon

-#

-Thanks to the Ugly Bug Ball

-#

-Come on, let's crawl

-Gotta crawl, gotta crawl

-#

-To the Ugly Bug Ball

-To the ball, to the ball

-#

-And a happy time we'll have there

-#

-One and all At the Ugly Bug Ball!

-#

Osh?

Mother wants you.

Not too hot. Test it with your elbow.

Julia, you can't take a bath in here!

I'm tired of lugging kettles of hot water upstairs.

At the Fergusons', Gladys and I had a private bath with hot running water.

This is the Careys'.

If the Careys are silly enough to spend money on a house they don't even own,

they should have installed civilised plumbing in this primitive place.

Well, really!

Where is your ma?

In the sewing room.

Primitive or not, the Careys are just as clean as the Fergusons!

-Close the door, please.

-You don't have to help her, Lally-Joy!

I don't mind!

-Mrs Carey, did you want something?

-Yes, Osh.

-I've been figuring. Facing facts.

-I hate facts!

There's one very unpleasant one. We haven't enough money.

If we want to stay in this house, we can't go on fixing it.

-We haven't started the outside yet!

-We must live in it the way it is.

Oh, no!

No hurry about paying me. We'll get round to it some day.

It won't do, Osh. You're too kind! We can't accept it.

-There's the second rent payment to Mr Hamilton...

-I clean forgot!

-I've a letter from him in my pocket. ..Must be in my coat.

-Did he get my letter about the improvements?

..Oh, yes, sir! I put it with the one I wrote him about that time.

He was so overjoyed about what you were doing to the house, adding to its value,

-he wouldn't even consider taking any rent money.

-No rent money?

Mother! That makes a difference...

-We can't accept it. Mr Hamilton is very kind...

-Hold your horses, Mrs Carey. He wants a favour in return.

-A favour? From us?

-Yes.

He wants you to find a suitable place for his dear mother's picture.

-His mother's picture?

-Of course!

Dear old soul! Portrait of a lady. Where is she, Osh?

Well, he hid her! He hid her away someplace safe.

He wrote it down real clear but it's gone out of my head.

If you bring the letter, she'll have a place of honour!

That's the idea. He wrote something about a simple vase of flowers - on her birthday.

-Of course! When is her birthday?

-Well, he...

Seems he said it was along with the fall of the year... Hallowe'en!

-Hallowe'en?

-People ARE born on Hallowe'en.

Perfect! It'll tie in with our housewarming.

We can have a solemn ceremony. Candles, a simple bouquet,

-painting - by Sargent or Whistler.

-Sounds too good to be true.

-ENGINE CHUGS

-There's Gilly now.

You see, Mother? We were fated to live here!

I was...

-Don't try to stop me, Mr Popham!

-Of course not. Is it a social call?

I ain't feeling social, Mr Popham.

I'm here to talk gospel truth to Mrs Carey. I searched for a letter from Mr Hamilton.

I didn't find one. This thing's gone far enough.

-What are you going to tell the Careys, Maria?

-My suspicions!

I look on the dark side. Living with Mr Popham, and him so hopeful.

-He keeps OUR spirits up.

-You don't get him steady.

Hopefulness meals, hopefulness days, hopefulness nights. One everlasting stream of hopefulness.

Even as a boy, he always looked on the bright side, whether there was any or not.

His parents got terrible sick of it.

-It's wonderful, seeing the bright side.

-Wonderful? Tiresome!

I like to believe in a first-class cloud. Thick and black clean through.

I get tired to death of Mr Popham's silver linings.

-We all believe in silver linings and rainbows, and...

-I don't.

I always expect the worst. I ain't ever been disappointed. It's why I've come.

-Is something wrong?

-CRASH!

My goodness!

-Osh!

-HE GROANS

Pa! Mr Popham!

-He's unconscious!

-Speak to me, Pa!

Ossian! Can you hear me?

Maria...

-Julia! Tell Gilly to get the doctor.

-No, no! I'll be all right.

I'll be all right. Just take me home, Maria.

It's my leg.

AHHH!

Ohh...

Crank her up, Lally-Joy! This is for his head!

-I'll be all right, once I get home. Oh!

-Be careful, Osh!

Ohhh! Oh!

Oh!

-Ohh!

-For his head!

-Ohhh!

-That's it!

-Hold on!

-Take care!

Good morning!

-Good morning.

-This is Charles Bryant, our new schoolteacher.

-Mrs Carey.

-We've all been expecting you.

-You seem very young for such a chore.

-He's just out of college.

I love his name! Charles Bryant. It's so dignified!

-He looks awfully young to be a teacher.

-Isn't he handsome?

Aren't you sorry you're finished that elegant finishing school?

It might be the social thing to do if we had him to tea.

Julia, that's an inspiration! This afternoon? Refreshments on the lawn.

-Maybe a small affair.

-We should ask Mother so it's not too obvious. But we'll start with him.

We needed new faces, new ideas, and laughter.

-Mr Lord forgets Beulah has given the Careys a new life!

-Thank you.

Oh!

Two more Careys! Young ladies, this is Mr Bryant, your new teacher this fall.

-How do you do?

-Mr Lord, I finished at Miss Somerville's!

Then, Charles, may I present Miss Nancy Carey and dear old Miss Julia Carey?

My pleasure, young ladies. Excuse me.

Oh!

-Mr Bryant, Julia and I are having a little afternoon thing...

-(Affair!)

-..affair today.

-We hope you'll be able to show up.

-(Attend!)

-Attend.

-The whole thing's spur-of-the-moment.

-(Impromptu.)

-Impromptu thing. Affair.

We hope you'll be able to come. We hope everyone will be able to come.

-But first, will you?

-Yes. I'd be delighted.

Oh. Julia...

Mother!

-May we invite some intimate friends to the house this afternoon?

-I don't see why not.

Oh, good! We've already invited him!

Him?

-The girls have invited some friends this afternoon. Will you come?

-Be happy to.

Let's see which one of you ladies is going to be old Mrs Hamilton.

I've seen you someplace before.

Ossian,

dinner's on the table... Oh!

Mr Popham, what are you doing with them women? It's the Sabbath!

I'm looking for a work of art to take over to the Careys'.

They've got a lot of wall space there.

Hand me that old apron.

You can't take any of that junk.

She's got a kind face. Pity she's got pattern on her.

There's only one that's fit to have. Miss Gracewood.

Wasn't much to look at but she was a good woman.

Spent her life on the opposing side.

If she hadn't went down in the wreck off Nantucket Light,

the demon rum would have been chased off the New England coast.

A real martyr. Insisted on going down with the ship.

-Everybody else was saved. Crew and captain.

-Hmm.

That's a mighty inspiring story.

Maria. Relax and enjoy yourself today at the Careys', will you?

This is no time to go upsetting them with cold facts.

Very well, but I'm warning you -

the town constable will catch you and you'll spend the rest of your life in prison.

Aren't you forgetting the town constable is named Ossian Popham?

Where's the cake knife? Where are all the napkins? Where's Julia?

Upstairs in her room, primping.

Charming! WE'LL give a little social affair. WE'LL invite...

Oh, here he comes!

-Mr Bryant!

-Oh! Miss Nancy!

-You must be tired, pedalling all the way!

-It keeps me in condition.

-Still, I think you need a glass of lemonade.

-That sounds great.

I couldn't help noticing your Phi Beta Kappa key. You must be proud of it.

-They're quite common.

-They're unique in Beulah!

-I hope you don't find yourself in an intellectual desert here. Ice cream, Gilly.

-Thank you.

-What did you major in?

-English Lit, but I...

Literature! I love it! Poetry...

-"This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines..."

-Here.

Two scoops. Oh! The napkins. I'll get them.

-Mr Bryant.

-Oh. Thank you.

You're rather late arriving at a little affair WE'RE giving!

You look exhausted. Why don't you bathe your face and comb your hair?

-I'VE been working.

-That's what I mean. You look it.

Mr Bryant, you shouldn't stand out here in this hot sun!

I think we can find some shade.

Shade sounds great.

Oh!

-Nancy!

-Osh.

-I've remembered where old Mrs Hamilton's picture was hid.

-Where is she?

-Since I mislaid that letter, I ain't been able to sleep.

Then it come to me like a ray of light.

-She's in there!

-In the Dutch oven?

-Just like the letter said!

-Funny place to put your mother!

That old Dutch oven is cool and dry. Wouldn't harm the old lady herself!

You'll be out soon!

A dear little gold football.

And to think that YOU won it!

Please tell me all about it!

Well, Dartmouth were on our five-yard line...

I wondered where everybody was! What have you got there, Julia?

A football!

"Brown University.

"Charles Bryant...Brown."

You must be Bandy Bryant! I've seen you play!

You got the ball at the five-yard line...

-He knows what he did, Nancy!

-I like to relive it. It was a glorious moment in a great American scene!

-Mr Bryant...

-A renowned athlete, sitting here,

when you're probably dying to be batting something!

-Well, I...

-I don't play football, but how about a game of croquet?

Fine.

I can't wait till school begins!

-I have another turn now, Mr Bryant?

-Yes.

I think I'll try for Julia.

Your turn, Miss Julia.

Oh, dear! Nancy's so athletic!

What am I doing wrong?

May I?

Put that hand there...

There. You've a chance to knock me away from the wicket.

I couldn't do THAT!

It's part of the game. Hit him!

No, no!

Like this. That's right.

I really can't hit YOU, Mr Bryant!

-For the love of Pete! It's part of the game!

-Is it?

Nice shot, Miss Julia! Hit out of bounds.

I won!

I won.

SHE GIGGLES

-#

-Three creaky wooden stairs

-#

-Those squeaky rocking chairs

-#

-The well-worn welcome mat

-#

-The lattice vines

-#

-The happy times

-#

-All I want to do-oo

-#

-When the day is through-oo

-#

-Is linger here

-#

-On the front porch with you

-#

-From the wicker swing

-#

-While the night birds sing

-#

-We'll watch the fireflies sparking

-#

-Do some sparking too

-#

-How the hours fly

-#

-As the moon drifts by

-#

-How sweet the air

-#

-As we stare

-#

-At the sky

-#

-Oh, how I love to linger here like this

-#

-Hold your hand and steal a kiss or two

-#

-On the front porch

-#

-With you

# All I want to do-oo

# When the day is through-oo

# Is linger here

# On the front porch with you

# From the wicker swing

# While the night birds sing

# We'll watch the fireflies sparkin'

# Do some sparkin' too

# Some sparkin' too

# How the hours fly

# As the moon drifts by

# How sweet the air

# As we stare

# At the sky

-#

-Oh, how I love

-#

-To linger here like this

-#

-Hold your hand and steal a kiss

-#

-Or two...

-#

-On the front porch

-#

-With you.

-#

Well, after all the time she took primping!

She could at least hang up her clothes!

What does she think she is? A guest in this house or something?

# ..And steal a kiss or two... #

Oh, I thought you'd be in bed!

With your stuff piled all over it?

-You left this place like a pigsty!

-Did I?

You know, there's nothing like a college man.

I hope your mother will save to get Gilly into a good college.

Give one of you a chance to amount to something.

-What did you say?

-I said...

-I heard you!

I want you to know you make me sick.

I'm sick of Gladys's clothes and her French maid and her old lace.

-I'm sick of the Fergusons.

-RIP!

That's right, tear my dress(!) Pull the buttons off. It's only imported!

You're very imported! But I'm tired of doing your work and picking up after you.

-Don't pick up after me!

-I won't!

Ohh!

Imported chemise, French silk, hand-made shirtwaist, English lisle.

Crepe-de-Chine drawers. Oh, no, they were over there.

I know what's wrong! You're jealous!

Jealous?

Me, jealous? Oh!

-Yes, because of Charles.

-Oh, so it's Charles now, is it?

"Oh, Mr Bryant, I couldn't hit your croquet ball! I'm too weak and dainty!

"But I might take a weensy push at Nancy Carey's ball."

-WHACK!

-"Mercy! I only sent her 100 yards but I couldn't hit you!"

-Hilarious(!)

-If you knew how you look pretending to be dumb.

-I am dumb.

-You're not.

-I am!

-Ha ha(!)

-No use talking to you. You're a child.

A jealous child. A year with the Fergusons might make a lady of you.

-My mother hasn't?

-She hasn't succeeded.

Go back to the Fergusons, then. Oh, no - they dumped you here with us.

George Ferguson only raised you because he felt guilty for losing all your father's money.

-If he hadn't lost MY father's money, I might have a maid and Gilly could go to college.

-I don't believe you.

Oh, Julia!

I'm sorry, I...

-Aunt Margaret?

-What?

-Is what Nancy told me true?

-What is it?

-I've done a terrible thing! I was mad. It slipped out!

Tell her what you said.

Oh, Mother, you know what I said.

Nancy, how could you?

-Julia, I...

-No matter what Nancy says, the Fergusons love me!

Of course they do.

And we love you too, Julia.

And, dear, I've had a letter from George Ferguson.

His affairs are looking brighter and they're ready to take you back.

Take me back?

I've put off telling you because... I hoped you'd care for us as much as we care for you.

-But it has to be your choice.

-Oh, please choose us, Julia!

I do!

Oh, Aunt Margaret!

I don't want to go back! I'm happy here. Please let me stay!

-Please, Mother!

-Oh, of course!

Oh, Nancy!

Julia.

It's my fault. I'll do my share and I'll never mention the Fergusons again!

-And my dresses weren't imported. I made them myself.

-You did?

If I do all the dishes and stuff, will you help me with my dress for the housewarming? I'm all thumbs!

I have a wonderful book of patterns. Gladys... I mean, it's from Paris.

-The latest styles!

-Really? Oh, a Paris gown!

Goodnight...sisters.

That's the best one you've done!

Who're you bringing to the dance, Dig?

Opal.

Opal? I never heard of her. Must be one of your city girls.

No, she lives on the other side of Beulah.

I've known her since about... first grade.

I always used to think she was kind of clunky.

Then I met some of those city girls.

Oh, you can have 'em!

Gee, Dig,

you liked the city, didn't you?

It's like Pa always says. The city's all right for city folks.

Second night I was there, I wished I was back in Beulah.

Why?

I was walking along the streets, and all these people were rushing by me.

They looked like...like ants,

and I could no more talk to one of them than I could talk to an ant.

Well, it's great you're home.

I guess you'll be wanting your job back, driving the truck.

I got a good offer to work down at the sawmill, so the job's still yours.

Gee, thanks!

Well...

we'd better be getting the rest of the stuff up here.

The night before I left,

I was talking to Pa about wanting to see the city lights, and the gals.

Know what he said to me?

Pa said,

'Mid pleasures and palaces,

wherever you may roam,

be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

- He sang it? - No, he said it.

He made it right up. You know, Gil,

if Pa had felt like it, he'd have made a great poet.

Peter!

No!

I just wanted to see what Mrs Hamilton looks like.

Not till tonight at the ceremony, as we promised Osh.

Where are those girls? We've a million things to do! Go and carve your pumpkin.

I wish I was dead!

-All right, Lally-Joy, why do you wish you were dead?

-Look at it!

-Oh, my goodness...

-Lally-Joy!

Where did you dig that up?

Ma made it! I'll die if I have to wear it! It's not so bad.

We'll make a few changes. It'll be all right.

-Sure...

-We don't need this!

Right, get rid of these. That's too...

My chest shows! Too bunchy here!

-All right, out of it.

-There's nothing to it!

We'll just have to start all over again.

My dress! What'll Ma say?

Don't worry about the dress. It's what's inside that counts.

-#

-You must walk feminine, talk feminine

-#

-Smile and beguile feminine

-#

-Utilise your femininity

-#

-That's what every girl should know

-#

-If she wants to catch a beau..

-#

I just want Gilly!

-#

-Dance feminine, glance feminine

-#

-Act shy and sigh feminine

-#

-Complement his masculinity

-#

-That's what every girl should know

-#

-If she wants to catch a beau...

-#

-You're wobbling too much!

# Let him do the talking

# Men adore good listeners

-#

-Laugh, but not loudly - ha ha! If he should choose to tell a joke

-#

-Be radiant

-But delicate

# Memorise the rules of etiquette

# Be demure, sweet and pure

# Hide the real you

# You must look feminine, dress feminine

# You're at your best feminine

# Emphasise your femininity

# That's what every girl should know

# Femininity, femininity

# That's the way to catch a beau Dum-da-da-da... #

CAR CLANKS

-Nancy!

-Coming!

HAMMERING >

# ..Dance feminine, one, two, three... #

Feet together! Watch your feet. You're not a duck!

-Gilly, look where you're going!

-I'm sorry.

-I thought you were my brother.

-I hope I'm not intruding on anything.

No. No. You see, we're having a party tonight in the barn. Paying a tribute to Mr Hamilton's mother.

-Oh.

-It's the least we can do. He does own the place.

-Oh, he does?

Mmm. But you should have seen the mess before we took over.

Took over?

From Mr Hamilton. He gave us carte blanche, so this is a housewarming.

-A huge affair. Everyone's coming.

-Nancy!

-Right there, Mother!

Well, I mustn't keep you.

-I don't suppose you're stopping over in Beulah.

-Well, I hadn't...

-It's just a little town.

-Nancy!

Someone's calling you. Careful of the wheel!

It's open house tonight. Terribly open, to anyone who wants to come.

-Friends, acquaintances, strangers...

-Interesting. Have fun. Bye.

-Bye!

Nancy!

We're waiting for all those things!

-CLEARS THROAT

-Be with you in a minute.

-Quite all right, thank you.

-Important letter to a friend.

Rich property owner here. He lives in China.

Leaves me in complete charge of his affairs.

Big responsibility.

I must get this off to Mr Hamilton.

Then I'll take it.

Tom Hamilton! Why...I didn't know you for a minute!

Didn't know you was coming back. Gave me quite a shock.

-Right.

-Um...I just drove by the yellow house. There's some people out there.

-Lovely folks named Carey live there.

-How long have they been there?

-Well, not long... Wonderful folks. They put in a new pump...

-Who gave them permission to live there?

Uh... You did.

I did?

-I've never heard of 'em. Why didn't you write?

-Well, I did!

Yes, sir, I did. I wrote you every week and kept you abreast of what was happening.

-I didn't get any letters.

-That's right. I didn't mail 'em.

Popham, what's going on?

Now, just hear me out.

I didn't know how you would take it. These nice folks needed a house, and...

they fell plumb in love with yours and I let them have it.

I wrote to you all about it.

Put 'em up here, where Maria wasn't likely to look.

Here they are, the lot of 'em.

The ones I wrote and the ones Nancy Carey wrote to you. Hers are on top.

I wrote because Maria was a nag and made me get your permission.

Nancy wrote hers from a grateful young heart.

I hope you read hers before you make up your mind what to do.

Who was that, Mr Popham?

Maria, for once in your life, pray for a silver lining.

CAR STARTS UP

MUSIC AND LAUGHTER

Mother, must I?

(Yes. Osh has been our true friend and he was very pleased you were going to be Lally-Joy's partner.)

Lally-Joy! Gilly's waiting!

-Remember, now. Walk feminine.

-Talk feminine.

Go on!

Good evening, Gilly!

Good evening, Mr Bryant! Lally-Joy!

-Evening, Charles.

-Mrs Carey.

-Won't you come in?

-Charles! How's my hair?

-Fine.

-How do I look?

-Fine. You said you should keep a man waiting.

-Did I?

Oh, Nancy, you'll understand some day.

You've got plenty of time.

I didn't think you'd be ready.

I'll never keep YOU waiting, Charles.

DOOR SLAMS

WALTZ PLAYS

DIGBY: Hi, Julia.

This is Opal. This is Julia, and Mr Bryant.

­ How do you do? Hello.

No use standing around out here. The party's inside.

-KNOCK-KNOCK

-Nancy!

-Everybody's at the barn.

-I told you these slippers'd be too big!

Well, I hoped you'd grow into them.

Oh, Mother, you still think of me as a child.

I suppose I do.

Anyway, your guests are waiting.

Fine little fixer I am. Everybody has somebody.

Not me, though. Not me...er...not I.

-There are plenty of young people. You can join them.

-Join?

It isn't the same thing. I wouldn't have minded a year ago, or a month.

But...

I don't know. Somehow I just have a different feeling, that's all.

If you don't want to go in alone, I'll send Gilly over.

Mother! He's a relative. I couldn't go into the ballroom with a relative!

No, I must go alone. I must do it alone.

-If you're sure...

-Florence Nightingale in the Crimea. Joan of Arc, Maid of Orleans.

Mrs Pankhurst. Votes for women!

Don't take too long deciding which one you want to be.

Chin up!

Smiling, the boy fell dead.

Boy? Oh, no, never!

-I'd much rather...

-#

-Walk feminine, talk feminine

-#

-Smile and beguile feminine..

-#

Oh, allow me, please.

I brought along a friend of mine.

-Nancy, I don't think you know Tom...

-We've met.

I decided I couldn't afford to miss this party.

Should be a very, um...interesting evening.

Well, to think you know Osh Popham, the most remarkable human being!

You know, if it hadn't been for him, we wouldn't be in this lovely house.

-I don't think Mr Popham told me the whole story.

-He's so modest!

So I'll start at the beginning.

Where was I? Oh, yes, I remember...

It was Osh, Osh, Osh, from the very start. From the moment we arrived...

"RAILROAD RAG" PLAYS

Evenin'.

Evenin', cousin!

Say! You're looking worse than I ever seen you!

-I am worse. I'm horrible.

-That's not a fit mood to be in for a party!

I've got some nice applejack here.

This'll fix you up fine.

Take a swig of this.

Pull you right out of yourself. Here's to the state of Maine!

APPLAUSE AS MUSIC FINISHES

Good evening!

Nice to have you with us.

Digby, Lally-Joy...

Oh, there's dear Osh!

Who's she with? I don't know. City fella.

It's time for Mother to start the ceremonies.

Oh, yes - the ceremonies.

-Won't amount to much. Be kinda dull. Like to go out for a smoke?

-No.

I'm sure that I'll enjoy them.

FANFARE

Will you gather closer, please?

Friends and neighbours, as you know,

the Carey family would not be living in the yellow house

were it not for the generosity of Mr Thomas Hamilton.

He has made but one modest request,

that we hang the portrait of his beloved mother in a place of honour.

APPLAUSE

-Mr Popham!

-Maria. Don't say it!

-You look near to apoplexy.

-Mr Popham!

Calm yourself. Here, drink this. Then I'll listen to you.

And now may I present my daughter, Nancy, who'll unveil this lovely portrait.

-Where's Peter?

-I won't!

PETER SCREAMS

I won't!

Mr Hamilton, wherever you may be,

ankle-deep in rice paddies or splendid in a gay rickshaw,

delirious with fever or sated with Oriental dances,