- 6 months ago
A kindly stranger wanders into a small town and tries to convince the townsfolk how apples are the best medicine around, but gets some stiff competition from a greedy snake oil salesman.
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** The material presented here is intended for entertainment and historical purposes only.
*** All character names and images within this site are the sole property of their respective copyright holders.
** The material presented here is intended for entertainment and historical purposes only.
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TVTranscript
00:01I'd say we got about all the kingdom we can carry, Billy.
00:05Yep, I'd say so.
00:07And besides, it's getting on to dusk, so we better start heading back.
00:11That's okay by me, Bob.
00:13Because, uh, actually, it's getting a little scary now.
00:19Look! There!
00:24Who is it, Bob?
00:26Can't tell, Billy.
00:28I've never seen him. You ever seen him?
00:31Nope. Never.
00:33Is he a spook, Bob?
00:36Don't know.
00:37But looks like he's heading for the village.
00:39Now, we better get there first.
00:41Come on. I know a shortcut.
00:50Reichen Bass presents Festival of Family Classics.
00:58All of the tales that you know so well.
01:03Features and labels will storytell.
01:07Each classic creation in new animation.
01:11Today's presentation will be...
01:12A winsome tale about the legendary American apple grower, Johnny Appleseed.
01:24So bring on the whole family.
01:37So bring on the whole family.
01:49All right, now, who else?
01:51Who else is going to step right up here
01:53and lay down one little bitty silver dollar for a priceless,
01:58that's right, I said priceless bottle of Dr. Staywell Super Health Tonic,
02:03the cheapest and the best little insurance policy you can buy
02:07against the cold and the misery, that's right,
02:11I said the certain misery of the fast approaching winter.
02:15Who else? You, sir.
02:17Okay, sounds good to me.
02:18Now there's a gentleman of sound judgment,
02:22a gentleman who'll be padding through the winter in the pink of hell.
02:26Excuse me, Doc, but there's something strange just happened in the woods.
02:30While Billy and me was out there gathering wood just now,
02:32he saw someone mighty spooky.
02:35What did they look like?
02:36He was wearing coffee sacks and he had a cooking pot in his head
02:40and there was a raccoon squatting on top of the pot
02:43and two little birds perching on the pot handle.
02:46And he was putting a lot of little things into the ground as he walked.
02:49Bob, I think you've been spending too much time in the woods.
02:52No, it's the truth.
02:53Bob and me saw him.
02:55I think the whole thing's crazy as crows in a corn shed.
02:58Wait, look what's coming.
03:02Howdy, everyone.
03:05Uh, hello there.
03:07Uh, who are you?
03:08I ain't nobody to be afeard of, so rest easy.
03:11I'm John Chapman, but kid folks and big folks
03:13and sometimes even animal folks
03:15have been calling me Johnny Appleseed
03:17since I can't recollect.
03:19John Appleseed.
03:20I've heard that name.
03:22I have, too.
03:23Reckon that's because I've been through these parts before
03:25about two orchards ago.
03:27Orchards?
03:27Yes, sir.
03:28Apple orchards.
03:29You mean them two orchards out by the creek?
03:31That's them.
03:32You seeded them orchards?
03:34Right out of this trusty old sack.
03:36Sure.
03:37We wasn't the first folks in Indiana after all.
03:40I've been moving west ahead of frontier folk
03:42for 25 years.
03:43Just planting orchards?
03:45Been my life's work.
03:46Well, you're welcome here, John Appleseed.
03:49Yes, sir.
03:51Much obliged.
03:53I hope my little friends here are welcome, too.
03:55Little friends, too?
03:57Allow me to introduce you.
03:59This here's Chipper.
04:01Do your pleasantries.
04:06These two lovebirds is named Matt and Tosh.
04:16Matt and Tosh.
04:18We're the creepy manners I taught you.
04:21And up there is Bushy, but trusty raccoon.
04:25What are you supposed to do now?
04:27Can I pet him?
04:32Sure can.
04:33What's your name?
04:34Billy Crowley.
04:35You want an apple, Billy?
04:37Sure would.
04:38You eat apples much?
04:39Not too much.
04:41Sure.
04:41Apple a day keeps the doctor away.
04:44What was that?
04:45You say an apple a day keeps the doctor away?
04:49That's right.
04:49Well, that sure is a new one.
04:53Plum crazy one, too, if you ask me.
04:55True as a deer's track.
04:57And I got enough apples in the sack here to go around at least once.
05:00Oh, thanks, Johnny.
05:02About to eat dinner.
05:03Winter's coming.
05:04Going to be a cold one.
05:05They're going to be all ready for it, too.
05:08We're getting ready, all right.
05:10Got just one more house to finish patching.
05:12And besides that, we got plenty of health tonic from Doc Staywell here.
05:17Health tonic?
05:18That's right.
05:18From the good Doc here.
05:20Uh-huh.
05:20I see.
05:21Well, bet you could use some help finishing up on that house.
05:24Sure could.
05:25Johnny, you're a saint to be helping with all this work.
05:32Johnny, you'll be sharing our lunch now, you hear?
05:35Thanks, Mr. Tatum.
05:36But I got the best lunch a man could eat right in this spot.
05:43Johnny, you sure put a heap of stock in them silly apples.
05:46But apples is dang near all a man needs in his belly.
05:50You see, apples is brimming over with terrific health-giving virtues.
05:54That's why apples is what's prescribed for us all by Dr. Nature.
05:59Dr. Nature?
06:00That's Mother Nature's oldest son.
06:02He went straight into medicine.
06:04And I'll tell you something else.
06:06You see, apples can even give you muscles.
06:09Ones like you never dreamed of.
06:12Apples got a good flavor, Johnny.
06:14There's no denying that.
06:15And they're said to put a pupil on the sweet side of a school mom.
06:19But other than that, any apple is just an apple.
06:22No, sirree.
06:23See, the plain truth is, apples is medicine.
06:26Pure, natural, preventive medicine.
06:29Johnny, you're a real nice fella.
06:31But your ideas is beginning to lean pretty far to the loony side.
06:35Besides, like we said before, we get all the medicine we need from Doc Staywell.
06:40Well, back to work.
06:43We'd like some of your apples, Johnny.
06:45Okay, I'll trade you some apples for what you know about this Doc Staywell.
06:51It's a deal.
06:52Right after work.
06:55Doc Staywell is this funny-talking doctor who came here in a wagon just a few days ago.
07:01You ever seen inside his wagon, Billy?
07:03No.
07:04You, Jenny?
07:05Uh-uh.
07:06Rich?
07:06Me neither.
07:07Well, I think we should have ourselves a look.
07:19Shh!
07:19Do you think your folks got any notion of how he makes that health tonic or what he puts in it?
07:45I don't think so.
07:46Mine neither.
07:47If you ask me, they're buying it mostly on account of them fancy bottles and labels and that fancy name.
07:53Yeah, if you ask me too.
07:55What about apples, Johnny?
07:56Are they really good medicine like you were telling the elders?
08:00There's this little secret about apples, see?
08:02A secret that's chock full of the wisdom of Mother Nature herself.
08:06You eat just one big red ripe apple each day between now and December, just one,
08:12and you'll be healthy as a hummingbird all this coming winter.
08:15And that's the honest truth.
08:16Okay, Johnny.
08:18I'll try it.
08:19Me too.
08:19Me too.
08:20Wish your folks was that easy to persuade.
08:23We gotta figure a way to convince them now and get them out of Staywell's clutches.
08:28Hey, I got an idea.
08:30Why don't we make our own health medicine out of Johnny's apples?
08:33And we'll put it up in fancy bottles with fancy labels and we can make up our own fancy name.
08:39Right.
08:39And our folks will like it better in Doc's Staywell's because it'll taste so much better.
08:44That's it, all right.
08:45A T-rific plan.
08:51Well, if it ain't the very freckled faces of the frontier's future.
08:56Hold on a minute there, junior folk.
08:58That's good.
08:59Now, since the future depends on you, and you gotta therefore stay in the pink of health,
09:06you will be delighted.
09:08That's right, I said delighted to know that I just happen to have left here a few precious
09:13bottles of my super health tonic for children.
09:17No thanks.
09:18We're making our own medicine.
09:20It comes from nature.
09:21And besides, we got our own private doctor.
09:24He's our best friend, too.
09:56You think we'll sell any, Johnny?
09:58Not gonna sell it, Billy.
09:59Gonna give it away.
10:00Keep them labels coming, Jenny.
10:02Yes, sir, Johnny.
10:03Boy, if it's free, they should really go for it big.
10:07Hope so.
10:07Especially in these fancy bottles and labels.
10:10I figure that's what's gonna do it.
10:11Almost done with the side, Johnny.
10:13Good work, Rich.
10:14What's gonna happen if they don't want any, Johnny?
10:17We'll be drinking apple juice till we all grow stems.
10:20That's right, folks.
10:24So now you can get right here as many free, that's right, I said absolutely free, bottles
10:30of Dr. Apple Seeds Great Taste and Winter Comfort Apple Medicine as you can carry back home.
10:36Notice this bottle, folks.
10:38Notice this label.
10:40Notice this name.
10:42Why, as you can plainly see, this is an impressive product.
10:46One that looks like it'll do the job, sure enough.
10:49Didn't know you were a doctor, Johnny.
10:51He's no doctor.
10:53Neither is your friend's stay-well.
10:55Sure gotta give you A for effort, Johnny.
10:57Just wishing I could give you A for apples.
11:01Johnny, apples taste just too good to be medicine.
11:04Medicine always tastes real bad.
11:05We got our medicine, Johnny, and we're set for the winter.
11:09Sorry I can't stay longer, Johnny.
11:10Gotta get back to the store.
11:12See you later, Johnny.
11:15What are we gonna do, Johnny?
11:17Start drinking, I guess.
11:19But what about the grown-ups, where winter comes?
11:22I'm worried about them, Johnny.
11:24So am I, Jenny.
11:25We'll just have to figure something else, and in the meantime, we better keep our fingers crossed
11:29that it don't turn cold early.
11:31Well, well, if this ain't a touching little scene of moping and misery.
11:40Well, if it ain't the good doctor.
11:42You mean the bad doctor, don't you?
11:44Reckon that's a good deal more like it.
11:46And I reckon let us doctors go if I'm bad,
11:50and you must be something for which there ain't no word yet in our finding this language.
11:55Doctor Appleseed.
11:57Well, now, if you're going by what's on that sign there,
12:00you ought to know I called myself doctor for a good reason.
12:04Yeah?
12:05And what might that be?
12:07To show the town folk here how easily a man can come by his credentials.
12:12My credentials is my business, Mr. Appleseed.
12:16And I say it's just as much their business,
12:19since they're buying that wagon grease that you're selling.
12:22Well, now, I gotta rest my case on the following fact, Mr. Appleseed.
12:27These here intelligent townsfolk, possessing a free will,
12:32have chosen to lay down their hard-earned money for my product
12:36in a clearly demonstrated preference to acquiring yours for nothing.
12:42And I'll rest my case, Mr. Staywell.
12:45Doctor Staywell, if you please.
12:47I'll rest my case on what happens this winter,
12:51because that's when we're going to find out whose product delivers the goods.
12:55This winter, it is.
13:00Doc, if it ain't your product that prevails,
13:04I wouldn't waste no time getting out of town if I was you.
13:10It's getting a little chilly.
13:12Who won the argument, Johnny?
13:14You or Doc Staywell?
13:15Don't make no difference, not if the town folk lose.
13:19What should we do, Johnny?
13:20I'll tell you what you kids are going to do.
13:22You're going to go on home now.
13:24But what about the elders?
13:25You giving up?
13:27Nothing more Johnny can do.
13:28That's right.
13:29Just gotta hope.
13:31Hope real hard.
13:32Now, each of you take home as much of this apple juice as you can carry, you hear?
13:36What are you going to do, Johnny?
13:38I'm going to store the rest of this stuff in that big tree trunk over there.
13:42And then I'm going to move on to check on some orchards west of here.
13:45Be back inside a month.
13:47We'll miss you, John.
13:49I'll miss you, too.
13:50Now, run along, and I'll be seeing you.
13:55Chipper, Pushy, give me a paw putting this stuff into the tree, will you?
13:59Hi, Johnny.
14:05Hi, Johnny.
14:06Hi, Johnny.
14:06Hi, little friends.
14:08How be ya?
14:08We're fine.
14:10So, you've been drinking plenty of apple juice.
14:12Yep.
14:13Lucky thing, because winters come early, like I figured.
14:16Say, this town's quiet as an old hollow tree.
14:20Looks just as empty.
14:22What's happened, Billy?
14:23Well, everyone's here, but they're all sick.
14:26All the grown-ups.
14:28Just like you figured.
14:29Well, now, that's mighty interesting.
14:33Johnny, it's the dangdest thing.
14:36We've been taking Staywell's medicine, but the whole town's under the weather.
14:40Except the kids.
14:41And there's work needs doing, piling up like crazy.
14:44I'll be organizing the kids into work details, Mr. Crowley.
14:47We'll get it done.
14:48Say, Johnny, how come you're so disgustingly healthy?
14:52Same reason the kids are.
14:55Could it be that apple tonic?
14:57Couldn't be.
15:00Hi, Edgar.
15:01Johnny's back in town.
15:03Healthy as a hornet.
15:04He's gonna organize the kids, help get the work done.
15:07Johnny, healthy, huh?
15:09Could it be that apple tonic?
15:11Could be.
15:14Hold on.
15:19Hold on now.
15:20Let's get some order here.
15:22Let's hear from you one at a time.
15:28That's not exactly what I meant.
15:30Edgar, let's look at facts.
15:32We've all been guzzling that Staywell tonic every day for near a month and a half.
15:36All the ones who's been taking it are sick.
15:39Right to a man.
15:41And all those who haven't been taking it are healthy.
15:44Which consists exactly of the kids and John Appleseed.
15:48Who also happen to have been drinking a quarter apple juice every day.
15:53Right.
15:54So logic says we better start reconsidering Johnny's ideas and his tonic.
15:59I say let's go find him right now.
16:01Tell you who I'd like to find is Doc Staywell.
16:05That's the second order of business, all right.
16:07First, Johnny.
16:11Hi, everybody.
16:12You feeling better?
16:13A little better.
16:14Up on our feet now, anyway.
16:16Johnny, we've been doing some thinking and talking.
16:19And we figure it's got to be that apple tonic of yours that's turned the trick for you and the kids.
16:24Johnny, if you're still willing, we'd like to buy us all a good big supply.
16:28You got it nearby, Johnny?
16:29Not far.
16:30I'll go get it.
16:32Can we give you a hand?
16:33No, thanks.
16:34Come on, kids.
16:38It's not here.
16:40The stuff's plum gone.
16:42What?
16:43This tree's empty as a honey jar in a bear's house.
16:46This here tree had a little visit from Staywell, I'll wager.
16:50Sure, that's it.
16:52Yeah, it's got to be Staywell.
16:55Well, only one thing we can do.
16:57Hunt for Staywell?
16:58Yeah, and get our tonic back.
17:00Right, you are.
17:01But it's getting dark, so we'll head back to the village now and start out first thing in the morning.
17:07Now, just what are you four up to, anyhow?
18:43Well, we all ready?
18:45Yep.
18:46You lead the way, Johnny.
18:47Then we can split up as soon as we reach the woods.
18:49Okay.
18:51Look, it's Staywell's wagon.
18:54But no Staywell.
18:56Look, Johnny's lovebirds is leading the horses.
18:58So, that's what them rascals was up to.
19:02Well, I'll be good work.
19:03Well, I'll be good work, little friends.
19:05Johnny, all your tonic.
19:06Johnny, all your tonic's here, all right?
19:09Doc's put it up in his own bottles and labels.
19:12Figured he would.
19:13But where's the doc?
19:15That's the next question.
19:16Look, here he comes now, being led by more of your little friends.
19:21Some animals and birds of yours are some deputies, John.
19:25Well, Doc, winter came and your product didn't do so good, did it?
19:30Nope.
19:30And I'm sorry about the stealing, too.
19:35I truly am.
19:37I say lock him up.
19:38I say bring him up.
19:40Now, let's go get all crazy here.
19:42Well, how about getting our money back, at least?
19:44I got all your money, found it in the wagon.
19:47What do you think we should do, Johnny?
19:50Well, sir, I think the doc has become a true convert to apples.
19:54And I think if we let him go, with my apple seeds and my apple tonic recipe, that he'll go west.
20:02Planting seeds as he goes, growing lots of orchards,
20:06and just generally keeping people healthy and apple-cheeked all the way to California.
20:10But what about you, Johnny?
20:12Planting's your business.
20:14Oh, there's more land than I can handle alone.
20:17And I'd be mighty happy to have a Western Territory manager.
20:20Well, makes good sense to me.
20:22What do you say, Doc?
20:23I say I'd be mighty happy to accept the job.
20:28Well, then be on your way.
20:31Okay.
20:32Seeds are in there, Doc.
20:34So's the recipe.
20:35And, Doc, good planting.
20:37Oh, yeah, and be sure you lay them seeds down in soft soil about mid-spring.
20:42But listen, don't worry none about watering.
20:44Nature will take care of that.
20:46Don't plant them all in one place, you hear?
20:48There's a lot of earth between here and California.
20:51Oh, and, Doc, one more thing.
20:54Thanks.
20:56What are you going to do now, Johnny?
20:58I'm going to head back east.
21:00Check on some old orchards and some old friends, too.
21:03We're sorry to see you go, John.
21:05Y'all helped yourselves now to that apple tonic there.
21:07You bet we will.
21:09And, John, thanks to you for everything.
21:12I enjoyed knowing every one of you.
21:14I hope I pass this way again.
21:16We sure hope you do, too, John.
21:18Good luck, now.
21:19Don't forget, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
21:24Come on, Daddy.
21:24Come on, Daddy.
21:28Come on, Daddy.
21:29THE END
21:59THE END
22:29THE END