- 17 hours ago
Experience the beauty of everyday life in a quiet and charming small town. “Life in a Small Town – Classic Drama” tells a heartfelt story about love, time, and the simple moments that shape human life. With emotional storytelling and timeless themes, this classic film captures the essence of ordinary people and their meaningful journeys.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00The End
00:00:36THE END
00:01:11THE END
00:01:51The name of our town is Drobus Corners, New Hampshire.
00:01:53It's just across the line from Massachusetts.
00:01:57Latitude is 42 degrees, 40 minutes.
00:02:00Longitude is 70 degrees, 37 minutes.
00:02:04Running right through the middle of the town is Main Street.
00:02:07Cutting across Main Street on the left is the railroad tracks.
00:02:10Beyond the railroad tracks is Polish Town.
00:02:12You know, foreign folks who come here to work in the mills, a couple of Canuck families, and the Catholic
00:02:18Church.
00:02:20You can see the steeple of the Congregational Church.
00:02:23The Presbyterian is just across the street.
00:02:26The Methodist and the Unitarian are up a block.
00:02:29The Baptist Church is down in the hollow, by the river.
00:02:34Next to the post office is the town hall.
00:02:37Jail's in the basement.
00:02:39Brian once made a speech right from those very steps.
00:02:42It's a nice town, know what I mean?
00:02:45Nobody very wonderful ever come out of it, so far as we know.
00:02:48The earliest dates on the tombstones up there in the cemetery say 1670.
00:02:53They're Grobers and Cartwrights and Gibbses and Hersys.
00:02:58Same names as you find around here now.
00:03:01First, we'll show you a day in our town.
00:03:03Not as it is today in the year 1940, but as it used to be in the year 1901.
00:03:10All right, operator, let's start.
00:03:14Yes, sir, that's the way our town looked back in the year 1901.
00:03:19Along Main Street, there's a row of stores with kitchen posts and horse blocks in front of them.
00:03:24The first automobile is going to come along in about five years.
00:03:28The date is June 7th, 1901.
00:03:32It's just before dawn.
00:03:35Yeah, just about.
00:03:38The sky is already beginning to show some streaks of light in it over there in the east, back of
00:03:42our mountain.
00:03:44The morning star gets wonderful bright the moment before it has to go.
00:03:49The only lights on in the town are in a cottage over in Polish Town, where her mother's just giving
00:03:53birth to twins.
00:03:54And down in the depot, where Shorty Hawkins is just getting ready to flag the 545 for Boston.
00:04:00There she is now.
00:04:04Of course, naturally, out in the country all around, there have been lights on for some time, what with Milton
00:04:08and so on.
00:04:09But, uh, town folks sleep late.
00:04:15Here comes Joe Crowell delivering the morning papers.
00:04:19So, another day has begun.
00:04:22Here comes Doc Gibbs from that baby case I was telling you about.
00:04:27And this is Doc Gibbs' house.
00:04:29His neighbor is at the web.
00:04:32There's Mrs. Gibbs coming downstairs to get breakfast.
00:04:36Later on, about 1910, she's going out to visit her daughter Rebecca in Canton, Ohio.
00:04:42Mrs. Gibbs is going to die there.
00:04:45Pneumonia.
00:04:46But she's going to be brought back here, and she's going to be buried in the cemetery right here in
00:04:50our town, with a whole mess of Gibbs's and Percy's.
00:04:55In our town, we like to know the facts about everybody.
00:04:58And there's Mrs. Webb coming downstairs to get her breakfast, too.
00:05:03Mrs. Webb was a Grover before she married Editor Webb.
00:05:07Yeah.
00:05:10Children, children, time to get up.
00:05:12George, Rebecca, Emily, time to get up.
00:05:16Wally, seven o'clock.
00:05:18Hello, Missy.
00:05:33Morning, hi.
00:05:34Morning, Miss Gibbs.
00:05:35Seems like you're late today.
00:05:36Yeah, something went wrong with the separator.
00:05:38Don't know what's worse.
00:05:45There you be.
00:05:46Thanks, Holly.
00:05:55Morning, Miss Webb.
00:05:57Morning, Mr. Newsome.
00:06:02Mighty fine Dave.
00:06:03Yeah.
00:06:08How's Mrs. Newsome?
00:06:10Good.
00:06:13Emily?
00:06:14Wally?
00:06:15George?
00:06:16Rebecca?
00:06:24Come on.
00:06:26Get up.
00:06:27Bessie, come on.
00:06:29What's the matter with you?
00:06:31Oh, they've quit taking milk.
00:06:33Now, come on.
00:06:34Morning, Howie.
00:06:34Come on.
00:06:35Morning, Doc.
00:06:36Bessie acting up?
00:06:38She's all mixed up about the route ever since the Lockhart stopped taking a quart of milk
00:06:41a day.
00:06:42She wants to leave him a quart just the same.
00:06:44Keeps scolding me the whole trip.
00:06:46Somebody sick?
00:06:47Twins over at Mrs. Gorlislavski's.
00:06:49Oh, twins.
00:06:49This town keeps getting bigger every year.
00:06:51Come on.
00:06:52Now, come on, Bessie.
00:06:53Morning, Doc.
00:06:54Morning, Joe.
00:06:54Want your paper now?
00:06:56Yeah, I'll take it.
00:06:57Anybody been sick, Doc?
00:06:59No.
00:06:59Twins over in Polish town.
00:07:01Joe, I see a teacher, Miss Foster, is going to get married.
00:07:04Yes, sir, to a fellow over in Concord.
00:07:06Where?
00:07:07How do you boys feel about that?
00:07:08Well, of course, it ain't none of my business.
00:07:10But I think if a person starts out to be a teacher, she ought to stay one.
00:07:15How's the need, Joe?
00:07:16Fine, Doc.
00:07:17Never think about it at all.
00:07:18Only like you said, it always tells me when it's going to rain.
00:07:21What's the telling of the day?
00:07:22Going to rain?
00:07:22No, sir.
00:07:23Sure?
00:07:23Yes, sir.
00:07:24And he never makes a mistake?
00:07:25No, sir.
00:07:26Doc?
00:07:27Joe?
00:07:28I want to tell you something about that boy, Joe Crowell.
00:07:31Joe was awful smart.
00:07:33So he got a scholarship to Boston Tech.
00:07:36Yes, and going to be a great engineer, Joe was.
00:07:39But the war broke out, and he died in France.
00:07:44All that education for nothing.
00:07:47Everything all right, Frank?
00:07:48Yes.
00:07:51I declare he's his kittens.
00:07:53Children, hurry up.
00:07:54George, Rebecca.
00:07:57Bacon will be ready in a moment.
00:07:59Sit down and drink your coffee.
00:08:01You can catch a couple hours sleep this morning, can't you?
00:08:04Miss Whitworth's coming up a lemon.
00:08:06Guess I know what's about to.
00:08:07My stomach ain't what I'm told to be.
00:08:10All told, you won't get more than three hours sleep.
00:08:12Frank Gibbs, I don't know what's going to become of you.
00:08:13I think we should go away someplace and take a rest.
00:08:16I think it'll do you good.
00:08:24Children, hurry now.
00:08:25Emily, Wally.
00:08:29I'm glad you have to speak to George.
00:08:30Seems like something's come over him lately.
00:08:32He's no help to me at all.
00:08:33Can't even get him to cut me some wood.
00:08:35Is he sassy, do you?
00:08:36Just whines.
00:08:37All he thinks about is that old baseball.
00:08:39George, Rebecca, you'll be late for school.
00:08:42George!
00:08:43George, look sharp.
00:08:44Yes, Pa.
00:08:45Don't you hear your mother calling you?
00:08:47Guess I'll go upstairs and catch 40 winks.
00:08:49Ma!
00:08:50Ma, what dress shall I wear?
00:08:52A wash tonight at the Blue Gingham for you special.
00:08:54Oh, Ma, I hate that dress.
00:08:57Oh, how's that with you?
00:08:59Every day I go to school dressed like a sick turkey.
00:09:03Why, Rebecca, you always look very nice.
00:09:09Ma, George is throwing soap at me.
00:09:11I'll come up and slap the both of you.
00:09:13That's what I'll do.
00:09:16Hurry up, children.
00:09:17After 7 o'clock.
00:09:18Now, I don't want to call you again.
00:09:28Ma?
00:09:29Come on, children.
00:09:33Children, I won't have it.
00:09:35Breakfast's just as good as any other meal.
00:09:36They won't have you gobbling like wolves.
00:09:38It'll stunt your growth.
00:09:38That's a fact.
00:09:39Wally, put your book away.
00:09:40Oh, Ma, by 10 o'clock, I've got to know all about Canada.
00:09:44You know the rules well as I do.
00:09:46No books at table.
00:09:47As for me, I'd rather have my children healthy than bright.
00:09:50Well, I'm both, Mama.
00:09:51You know I am.
00:09:52I'm the brightest girl in school for my age.
00:09:54I have a wonderful memory.
00:09:56Eat your breakfast.
00:09:59Well, I'll speak to your father about it when he's rested.
00:10:02It used to be like 25 cents a week's enough for a boy your age.
00:10:04I declare I don't know how you spend it all.
00:10:06Oh, Ma, I've got a lot of things to buy.
00:10:08Strawberry Fox, that's what you spend it on.
00:10:11Well, I don't see how Rebecca comes to have so much money.
00:10:13She's got more than a dollar.
00:10:14I've been saving enough gradual.
00:10:16Well, dear, I think it's a good thing to spend some now and then.
00:10:19Ma, you know what I like most in the world?
00:10:22Do you?
00:10:23Money.
00:10:24Eat your breakfast.
00:10:28That's for a spot, Gungo.
00:10:37Yep, Wally.
00:10:40Bye, Mama.
00:10:42Bye, Jolly.
00:10:44I'm going to go.
00:10:45You get away too small today.
00:10:46I'm all fast, but you don't have to run.
00:10:48Wally, pull up your pants for me.
00:10:50Rebecca, I'll give this horse to my best.
00:10:52Congratulations.
00:10:53Can you remember that?
00:10:55Rebecca, pick up your feet.
00:11:06Chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick.
00:11:09Let all of you fight, fight, fight.
00:11:11That's all you do.
00:11:13Oh, where did you come from?
00:11:14You don't belong to me.
00:11:16What you're so scared of?
00:11:17Nobody's going to hurt you.
00:11:18Morning, Julia.
00:11:20Morning, Myrtle.
00:11:20How's it cool?
00:11:21Oh, still got that tickling feeling in my throat.
00:11:23Told Charlton didn't know as I'd go to choir rehearsal tonight.
00:11:26Have I tried singing over your voice?
00:11:27Yes, but somehow I can't do that.
00:11:29It'll stay on key.
00:11:30Beans have been good this year.
00:11:31Let me help you.
00:11:32Mm.
00:11:33I thought you put up 40 quarts if it kills me.
00:11:36Children say they hit them, but I noticed they managed to get them down all winter.
00:11:40Myrtle, I got to tell you something.
00:11:41If I don't tell somebody, I'll burst.
00:11:43A Julia Gibbs.
00:11:44One of those second-hand furniture men from Boston came to see me last Friday.
00:11:48First, I thought it was a patient waiting to see Dr. Gibbs.
00:11:50But he wormed his way right into my parlor.
00:11:53Myrtle Webb, he offered me $350 for Grandmother Hershey's high boys.
00:11:57I'm sitting here.
00:11:57Well, you're going to take it, aren't you?
00:11:59I don't know.
00:12:00You don't know?
00:12:01$350?
00:12:02Well, what's come over you?
00:12:03Well, if I could get the doctor, take the money, and go away someplace on the trip, I'd sell it
00:12:08like that.
00:12:09You know, it's always been the dream of my life to see Perra's friends.
00:12:14Crazy, I suppose.
00:12:16For years, I've been promising myself if we ever had the chance.
00:12:19How does doctor feel about it?
00:12:20Well, I did beat about the bush a little.
00:12:23Said if I ever got a legacy.
00:12:25That's the way I put it.
00:12:26I'd make him take me.
00:12:28What'd he say?
00:12:29You know how he is.
00:12:30Haven't heard a serious word of him since I've known him.
00:12:33No, he says.
00:12:34Might make him discontented with Grover's Corners to go traipsing over your...
00:12:37No, that's well enough alone he's his.
00:12:40Well, if that second-hand man's real serious about buying it, you sell it, Julia.
00:12:44Then you'll get to see Perra's.
00:12:46Just drop a hint from time to time.
00:12:48That's how I got Mr. Webb to take me to see the Atlantic Ocean, you know.
00:12:51Sorry to mention it.
00:12:52But it seems to me, once in your life before you die,
00:12:55you ought to see a country where they don't speak in English and don't even wonder.
00:12:59That'll do, ladies.
00:13:00Thank you very much.
00:13:01Now, we'll skip a few hours.
00:13:22There he is now.
00:13:34Am I late?
00:13:35Right on time.
00:13:37May I introduce Professor Willard of our state university?
00:13:41Now, just a few brief words, Professor.
00:13:44Unfortunately, our time's limited.
00:13:45Yes, let me see.
00:13:48Grover's Corners.
00:13:51Grover's Corners lies on the old Pliocene granite of the Appalachian Range.
00:13:55I might say that's some of the oldest land in the world.
00:13:58We're very proud of that around here.
00:14:01Some highly interesting fossils have been found.
00:14:04I might say unique fossils.
00:14:06Two miles north of town in Silas Peckham's cow pasture.
00:14:10These may be seen in the museum of the university at any time.
00:14:14Well, that is, at any reasonable time.
00:14:18Shall I tell them about the meteorological conditions, the mean precipitation, etc.?
00:14:22I'm afraid we won't have time for that, Professor.
00:14:24We might have a few words about the history of man here, though.
00:14:28Oh, anthropological data.
00:14:30Yes.
00:14:31Let's see.
00:14:32Early Amerindian stock, Cotahatchee tribes.
00:14:35No evidences before the 10th century of this era.
00:14:38Now entirely disappeared.
00:14:40Oh, possible traces in three families.
00:14:44Migration in the early 17th century of English brachiocephalic blue-eyed stock, and, uh, since then, some Slav and Mediterranean.
00:14:52And the, uh, the population, Professor?
00:14:54Uh, within the town limits, 2,640.
00:14:59The po-
00:15:01Oh, is that so?
00:15:03In that case, the population at the moment is 2,642.
00:15:07The postal districts bring in 507 more, making a total of 3,149.
00:15:14Mortality, birth rates constant.
00:15:17Uh, by McPherson's gauge, 6.032.
00:15:21Thank you very much, Professor. I'm sure we're all very much obliged to you.
00:15:25Not at all, sir. Not at all.
00:15:26Good morning.
00:15:27Good day.
00:15:31And now, the social and political report.
00:15:34Oh, editor Webb?
00:15:36Mr. Webb?
00:15:38Charlie Webb's the father of Wally and Emily.
00:15:41Emily's the smart girl with a good memory.
00:15:44You know, you saw her at breakfast.
00:15:47All right, editor Webb, it's your turn now.
00:15:49Well, I don't have to tell you that we're run here by a board of select men.
00:15:53All males vote at the age of 21.
00:15:56Women vote indirect.
00:15:58Politically, we're 86% Republican, 12% Democrat, 4% Socialist.
00:16:04Rest indifferent.
00:16:06Religiously, we're 85% Protestants, 12% Catholics.
00:16:11Rest indifferent.
00:16:13Very ordinary town, if you ask me, but our young people here seem to like it well enough.
00:16:19Lots of them settle down right here to live, even after they've been away to college.
00:16:24Now, is there anybody in the audience who'd like to ask editor Webb any questions about our town?
00:16:31Is there much drinking in Grover's Corner?
00:16:34Well, ma'am, I wouldn't know what you'd call much.
00:16:38Saturday nights, the farmhands meet down at Ellery Greenhouse's stable and holler some.
00:16:43We got one or two town drunks, but they're always having remorses every time an evangelist comes to town.
00:16:49No, I'd say that liquor wasn't a regular thing in the home here, except in the medicine chest.
00:16:55Right good for snake bites, you know, always was.
00:17:00Uh, Mr. Webb.
00:17:02Yes?
00:17:03Mr. Webb, is there any culture or love of beauty in Grover's Corner?
00:17:09Well, no, ma'am, not much.
00:17:11That isn't the same to me.
00:17:14There's some girls that play the piano with the high school commencement, but they ain't happy about it.
00:17:20No, there ain't much culture.
00:17:23Robinson Crusoe and the Bible and Handel's Largo, we all know that.
00:17:27Whistler's mother.
00:17:29Well, that's about as far as we go.
00:17:31Thank you very much, Mr. Webb.
00:17:34Is there no one in town aware?
00:17:35No, I'm sorry, but we haven't time for any more questions.
00:17:38We must be getting on with the picture.
00:17:41It's getting on in the afternoon.
00:17:43All 2,642 have had their dinners.
00:17:46All the dishes have been washed.
00:17:48There's an early afternoon calm about the town.
00:17:52Charlie Webb's going home to mow his lawn.
00:17:55One man in ten thinks it's a privilege to push his own lawnmower.
00:17:58The afternoon session of school is over.
00:18:03Doc Gibbs is in his office tapping people and making them say, ah.
00:18:12I can't, Louise.
00:18:13I have to go home and help my mother.
00:18:15I promise you.
00:18:17Emily, walk simply.
00:18:19Who do you think you are today?
00:18:24Papa, you're terrible.
00:18:26One minute you tell me to stand up straight, and the next minute you call me names.
00:18:31I just don't listen to you.
00:18:34Golly, I never got a kiss from such a great lady before.
00:18:39Hello, Emily.
00:18:41Oh, hello.
00:18:45You made a fine speech in class today.
00:18:49Well, I was really ready to make a speech on the Monroe Doctrine,
00:18:53but the last minute Miss Foster made me talk about the Louisiana Purchase instead.
00:18:59I worked an awful long time on both of them.
00:19:02Gee, it's funny, Emily.
00:19:04From my window up there, I can see your head nights when
00:19:08doing your homework over in your room.
00:19:11Why can you?
00:19:14You certainly do stick to it, Emily.
00:19:16I don't see how you can sit still that long.
00:19:19I guess you must like school.
00:19:22Well,
00:19:24I feel it's just something you have to go through.
00:19:27What do you think, Emily?
00:19:29We might work out a kind of telegraph from
00:19:32your window to mine, and you can give me a hit
00:19:34every once in a while on those algebra problems.
00:19:37Well,
00:19:38Oh, I don't mean the answers, Emily.
00:19:40Of course not.
00:19:41I mean,
00:19:42just some little hint.
00:19:45Oh, I think hints are allowed, so
00:19:48if you get stuck, George,
00:19:50just
00:19:51whistle to me,
00:19:52and I'll give you some hints.
00:19:56Gosh.
00:19:58You're just naturally bright, I guess.
00:20:01Well,
00:20:03I figure it's just the way a person's born.
00:20:06Yeah.
00:20:07But you see,
00:20:10I want to be a farmer,
00:20:11and my Uncle Luke says
00:20:14whenever I'm ready,
00:20:15I can come over and work on his farm,
00:20:17and if I'm any good at all,
00:20:19I can just gradually have it.
00:20:22You mean the house and everything?
00:20:24I, uh...
00:20:30Well, I...
00:20:31Yes, I better be getting off the baseball field.
00:20:35Thanks for the talk, Emily.
00:20:37Afternoon, Mrs. Webb.
00:20:38Good, George.
00:20:39So long, Emily.
00:20:41So long, George.
00:20:42Good, George.
00:20:42Good, George.
00:20:43Good, George.
00:20:47Good, George.
00:21:21Emily, what are you doing?
00:21:24Nothing, Mama.
00:21:25If you're doing nothing, you can come in here and help me with this yarn.
00:21:40Well, George Gibbs let himself have a real conversation, didn't he?
00:21:44He's grown up.
00:21:46How old would George be?
00:21:48Oh, I don't know.
00:21:50Let's see. He must be round 17.
00:21:53Mama made a speech in class today. I was very good.
00:21:57You must recite it to your father at supper. What was it about?
00:22:00The Louisiana Purchase. It was like silk off a spool.
00:22:06I'm going to make speeches all my life.
00:22:09You're holding it too tight, Emily.
00:22:11Yeah, that's better.
00:22:13Mama.
00:22:14Hmm?
00:22:15Will you answer me a question? Serious?
00:22:18Seriously, dear. Not serious.
00:22:21Seriously, will you?
00:22:22Of course I will.
00:22:24Mama.
00:22:26Am I good-looking?
00:22:29Of course you are.
00:22:30Both my children have got good features.
00:22:32Be ashamed if they hadn't.
00:22:34Oh, Mama, that's not what I mean.
00:22:36What I mean is, am I pretty?
00:22:40I've already told you yes.
00:22:43Now, that's enough of that.
00:22:44You've got a nice, young, pretty face.
00:22:47Never heard of such foolishness.
00:22:48Oh, Mama, you never tell us the truth about anything.
00:22:51I am telling you the truth.
00:22:54Mama, were you pretty?
00:22:57Yes, I was, if I do say it.
00:22:59I was the prettiest girl in town next to Mamie Cartwright.
00:23:03Oh, but, Mama, you've got to say something about me.
00:23:06Am I pretty enough to get anybody?
00:23:09Well, to get people interested in me.
00:23:13Emily, you make me tired. Now stop it.
00:23:15You're pretty enough for all normal purposes.
00:23:24It's evening.
00:23:25You can hear the choir practicing in the congregational church.
00:23:30The children are all home doing their schoolwork.
00:23:35The day is running down like a tired clock.
00:23:42The day is running down like a tired clock.
00:24:03The day is running down like a paseúr that pleases on the same road.
00:24:22You are a self-description, the night who else has been raised from Rome.
00:24:23If he isым to be able to wait a Sunday,
00:24:30you are a wife who has been Tonic on the same road.
00:24:32The day is running down the same road.
00:24:49All right, that's better.
00:24:53It ain't no miracle.
00:24:56And I'll do it again.
00:24:58Now, remember, ladies, music come into the world to give pleasure.
00:25:08Now, try it again.
00:25:12Let me arrive and find our hearts in Christian love.
00:25:31Now, listen, everybody.
00:25:34Get a lot of your minds that music's only good when it's loud.
00:25:40You leave loudness to the Methodists.
00:25:46They couldn't beat them, even if you wanted to.
00:25:49Now, once again, now, art thou weary, art thou languid?
00:25:58It's a question, ladies and gentlemen.
00:26:02Make it talk.
00:26:04Oh, and remember, on Sunday, take the second verse real soft.
00:26:12Sort of die out at the end.
00:26:19Ready?
00:26:20Ready?
00:26:35Stanley.
00:26:38Oh, hello.
00:26:39Hello?
00:26:41Hello.
00:26:44I can't work at all.
00:26:46The moonlight's so terrible.
00:26:54Emily, did you get the third problem?
00:26:57Which?
00:26:58The third.
00:27:03Oh, yes, George.
00:27:05That's the easiest of them all.
00:27:08Well, I don't see it.
00:27:11Well, Emily, could you give me a hint?
00:27:18Well, I'll tell you one thing.
00:27:22The answer's in yards.
00:27:26In yards?
00:27:28What do you mean?
00:27:31Square yards.
00:27:32Oh, square yards.
00:27:35Well, yes, George.
00:27:37Don't you see?
00:27:39Yeah.
00:27:42Square yards of wallpaper.
00:27:46Oh, I see.
00:27:48Square yards of wallpaper.
00:27:51Thanks a lot, Emily.
00:27:54You're welcome.
00:28:00My, isn't the moonlight terrible?
00:28:09I think if you hold your breath, you can hear the train all the way to Contook.
00:28:22Do you hear it?
00:28:24Well, what do you know?
00:28:31Well, I guess I'd better get back now and try to work.
00:28:35Good night, Emily.
00:28:38Good night, George.
00:28:43Well, George, can you come down a minute?
00:28:45Yes, Paul.
00:28:53Make yourself comfortable, George.
00:28:56I'll only keep you a minute.
00:29:01George, how old are you?
00:29:03Me?
00:29:04Oh, I'm past 17.
00:29:07What do you want to do after school's over?
00:29:11You know, Paul, I want to be a farmer on Uncle Luke's farm.
00:29:17And you'll be willing, will you, to get up early and milk and feed the stock?
00:29:22And you'll be able to hoe and hay all day?
00:29:25Sure I will.
00:29:27What do you mean, Paul?
00:29:30Well, George, when I was here in the office today, I heard a funny sound.
00:29:37What do you think it was?
00:29:39It was your mother chopping wood.
00:29:44Now, there you see your mother, getting up early, cooking meals all day, washing and ironing.
00:29:52And yet, she has to go out in the backyard and chop wood.
00:29:56I suppose she got tired asking you.
00:29:59I suppose she just gave up and decided it was easier to do it herself.
00:30:07Yet, you eat her meals.
00:30:09You put on the clothes she keeps nice for you.
00:30:13Then you run out and play baseball.
00:30:18Like she was a hired girl we kept around the house, but didn't like very much.
00:30:26I knew all I had to do was call it to your attention.
00:30:34Here's a handkerchief, son.
00:30:41I wonder what's happened to your mother.
00:30:47The choir practice never was as late as this before.
00:30:51It's only half past eight, Paul.
00:30:55I don't know what she wants in that choir, anyway.
00:30:58She hasn't got any more boys than an old crow.
00:31:03Rapsing around the street at this hour of the night.
00:31:11It's just about time you retired, don't you think, George?
00:31:15Yes, Paul.
00:31:40Nice late.
00:31:41Really? Real nice choir practice, weren't it? Myrtle Webb, look at that moon. Potato weather,
00:31:49sure. Well, uh, naturally, I didn't want to say a word about it in front of those others,
00:31:55but now we're alone. Really, it's the worst scandal that ever was in this town. What?
00:32:00Why, Simon Simpson. No, Luella. But, Julia, to have the organist of a church drink and
00:32:07drunk year after year. Luella. Julia, you know he was drunk tonight. Now, Luella, we
00:32:12all know about Mr. Simpson and we all know about the troubles he's been through. And
00:32:16Dr. Ferguson knows too. And if Dr. Ferguson is willing to keep him on in his job there,
00:32:20the only thing the rest of us can do is just not to notice it. Not to notice it, but
00:32:25it's
00:32:25getting worse. No, it ain't, Luella. It's getting better. I've been in that choir twice as long
00:32:29as you have and it doesn't happen anywhere near so often. Oh, my. I hate to go to bed
00:32:36on a night like this. Well, good night, Luella. Good night. Good night, Julia. Night,
00:32:41Myrtle. Do you want me to get home all right, Luella? Oh, it's bright as day. I can see
00:32:47Mr. Soames scowling at the window now. You think we've been to a dance the way the menfolk
00:32:55carry on. Good night, Julia. Good night, Luella. See you on Sunday. See you then.
00:33:06Well, we had a real good time. You're late enough. Frank ain't any later than usual.
00:33:16You stopping the gossip with a lot of hands. Now, don't be grouchy.
00:33:24Smell my heliotrope.
00:33:30How'd you do all the time I was away? Oh, I rave as usual. Well, what did the girls gossip
00:33:37about tonight? Believe me, Frank, there's something to gossip about. Simon Simpson? Far gone,
00:33:42was he? Oh, worst I've ever seen. Frank, how's all that gonna end? Dr. Ferguson can't forgive
00:33:47him forever. I guess I know Simon as well as anybody in this town. Some people just ain't
00:33:54made for small town life. I don't know how that'll end. But there's nothing we can do
00:34:00but leave it alone. Get in. Oh, no, not yet. Frank, I'm worried about you. What are you worried
00:34:07about? Well, I think it's my duty to plan for you to get a real rest and change. And if
00:34:14I
00:34:14get that legacy, I'm going to insist upon it. Now, now, Julie, no. There's no sense in going
00:34:20all over that again. Come on. It's getting late. First thing you know, you'll catch a
00:34:25cold. I gave George a piece of my mind tonight. I reckon you'll get your woodchop. For a little
00:34:32while, anyway. You know, Frank, Mrs. Fairchild always locks the front door every night. All
00:34:36the people up in that part of town do. They're all getting too city-fied. That's the trouble
00:34:41with them. They haven't got a thing fit to burgle, and everybody knows it. Good evening,
00:34:51Constable. Good evening, Mr. Webb. Quite a moon. Yeah. All quiet tonight? Simon Stimson is
00:35:02rolling around a little. I just saw his wife moving out to hunt for him. So I looked the
00:35:07other way. There he is now. Good evening, Simon. Good evening.
00:35:36Good evening. Most of the town settle down for the evening. Guess we'd better do the
00:35:43same. Can I walk along with you? Good night.
00:36:08Good night, Mr. Webb. I don't know how that's going to end. Oh, Bill, if you see my boy
00:36:13smoking cigarettes, give a word to him, will you? He thinks a lot of you, Bill. I don't
00:36:18think he's smoking those cigarettes, Mr. Webb. This way, he's not more than two or three
00:36:22here. Well, I hope not. Good night, Bill. Good night, Mr. Webb.
00:36:50Good night. Ko's back. Who's that up there? Is that you, Myrdle? Oh, no, it's me, Papa.
00:36:57Papa?
00:36:59Why aren't you in bed?
00:37:01I don't know.
00:37:03I just can't sleep yet, Papa.
00:37:09The moonlight's so wonderful and the smell of Mrs. Gibbs' heliotrope.
00:37:19Can you smell it?
00:37:24Yes.
00:37:26Having any troubles on your mind, have you, Emily?
00:37:28Troubles, Papa?
00:37:29No.
00:37:31Well, don't let your mother catch you.
00:37:33Good night, Emily.
00:37:35Good night, Papa.
00:37:45I never told you about that letter Jane Crawford got from her minister when she was six.
00:37:49She wrote Jane a letter and on the envelope the address was like this.
00:37:55It said Jane Crawford, the Crawford Farm, Grover's Corners, Sutton County, New Hampshire, the United States of America.
00:38:06What's funny about that?
00:38:08But listen, it's not Finney.
00:38:10The United States of America, the continent of North America, the western hemisphere, the earth, the solar system, the universe,
00:38:22the mind of God.
00:38:24That's what it said on the envelope.
00:38:27What do you know?
00:38:29Yep, and the postman brought it just the same.
00:38:34What do you know?
00:38:38What do you know?
00:38:39What do you know?
00:38:44What do you know?
00:38:58Well, three years have gone by.
00:39:02The sun's come up over a thousand times.
00:39:05Summers and winters have cracked the mountains a little bit more and the rain's brought down some of the dirt.
00:39:09Some babies who weren't even born before have begun talking regular sentences already.
00:39:14And some folks who thought they were right young and spry have discovered they can't bound up a flight of
00:39:18stairs the way they used to without their hearts fluttering a little.
00:39:22All that can happen in a thousand days.
00:39:25Nature's been pushing and contriving in other ways, too.
00:39:27A number of young people fell in love and got married.
00:39:31Most everybody in the world gets married.
00:39:33In this town, there aren't hardly any exceptions.
00:39:37Most everybody climbs into the grave married.
00:39:41What you've seen is called the daily life.
00:39:44Let's call what you're going to see love and marriage.
00:39:47So, it's three years later.
00:39:49It's 1904.
00:39:51It's July 7th, just after the high school commencement.
00:39:54That's the time most young people jump up and get married.
00:39:57As soon as they've passed their final examinations and solid geometry and Cicero's orations.
00:40:03That's the time most young people think themselves fitter to get married.
00:40:06It's early morning again.
00:40:08Only this time it's been raining.
00:40:10It's been thundering and pouring.
00:40:13I don't know.
00:40:15It may start in again any moment.
00:40:19Yeah?
00:40:21There's a 5.45 for Boston.
00:40:24There's Cycroll delivering the papers like his brother before him.
00:40:28And there's Mrs. Gibbs.
00:40:31And Mrs. Webb coming downstairs to get breakfast just as though this were an ordinary day.
00:40:36I don't have to point out to the women in the audience that both these ladies they see before them.
00:40:40Both these ladies have been cooking three meals a day.
00:40:43One of them for 21 years and the other for 25.
00:40:46And never took a summer vacation.
00:40:49Raised two children a piece.
00:40:51Washed.
00:40:51Cleaned the house.
00:40:52And never had a nervous breakdown.
00:40:56And here comes Howie Newsome and Bessie delivering the milk.
00:41:03Morning, Howie.
00:41:04Morning, Cy.
00:41:06Anything in the paper I ought to know?
00:41:08Nothing much.
00:41:08Except for losing about the best baseball pitcher Grover's Corner's ever had.
00:41:12George Gibbs, eh?
00:41:14I don't see how I'd give up a thing like that just to get married.
00:41:17Would you have Howie?
00:41:19Can't say.
00:41:20Never had no talent that way.
00:41:21But in 95 we had a player, Cy, that even George Gibbs couldn't have touched.
00:41:25Named Hank Todd.
00:41:26But he went down to Maine to become a parson.
00:41:29Wonderful ball player.
00:41:31Cy.
00:41:32Howie.
00:41:42Morning, Miss Gibbs.
00:41:44Morning, Howie.
00:41:45Ah, it's too bad it's so wet, but I guess it's cleared up for good.
00:41:48Certainly hope it has.
00:41:49Gonna have a house full of relations today, Howie.
00:41:51Looks like I'll need three of milk and two of cream.
00:41:53Three of milk and two of cream.
00:41:55My wife says to tell you we hope they'll be happy.
00:41:57No, they will.
00:41:58Thanks a lot, Howie.
00:41:58Tell your wife I hope she gets the wedding.
00:42:00Maybe she can.
00:42:01She'll get there if she can.
00:42:02She'll get there if she can.
00:42:04Morning, Miss Webb.
00:42:05Morning, Mr. Newsome.
00:42:06Told you four quarts, but I hope you can spare me another.
00:42:09Yes, sir.
00:42:09I brought you a pint of cream, too.
00:42:11Mrs. Newsome told me special to tell you is how we hope they'll be very happy.
00:42:15No, they will.
00:42:16Thank you, Mr. Newsome, and thank Mrs. Newsome.
00:42:18We're counting on seeing you at the church.
00:42:20Yes, sir.
00:42:20We hope to get there all right.
00:42:21Couldn't miss that.
00:42:27Well, Ma, day's come.
00:42:29We're losing one of your chicks.
00:42:31Frank Gibbs, don't you say another word.
00:42:32Better feel like crying any minute.
00:42:34Sit down and drink your coffee.
00:42:35Groom's upstairs shaving himself.
00:42:37Only means very much to shave.
00:42:39He's whistling and singing like he was glad to leave us.
00:42:42Every now and then saying, I do, to the mirror.
00:42:46But it don't sound convincing to me.
00:42:48I declare, Frank, I don't know how he's going to get along.
00:42:51I've always arranged his clothes for him.
00:42:53Seemed to it that his feet were dry and he had warm things on.
00:42:56They're too young, Frank.
00:42:57Emily will never think of those things.
00:42:58He'll catch his death a cold within a week.
00:43:00I remember my wedding morning, Julie.
00:43:01Don't stop that, Frank Gibbs.
00:43:03I was the scaredest young fellow in the state of New Hampshire.
00:43:06Thought I'd made a mistake for sure.
00:43:08And when I saw you coming down the aisle,
00:43:10I thought you were the prettiest girl I'd ever seen.
00:43:13The whole trouble was, I'd never seen you before.
00:43:16There I was, right in the Congregational Church,
00:43:18being married to a total stranger.
00:43:20Well, how do you think I felt?
00:43:21I tell you, Frank, weddings are perfectly horrible things.
00:43:25Farces, that's what they are.
00:43:28Made something for you.
00:43:29Why, Julie Hersey.
00:43:32French toast.
00:43:34Ain't hard to make.
00:43:36Besides, I had to do something.
00:43:38I was asleep last night, Julie.
00:43:42Heard a lot of hours struck off.
00:43:45I get a shock every time I think of George setting out as a family man.
00:43:49That great, gangling thing.
00:43:52I tell you, Julie, there's nothing in the world so terrifying as a son.
00:43:55The relation between a father and a son is the dangdest, awkwardest...
00:43:59Oh, mother and daughter's no picnic, I can tell you.
00:44:04I do.
00:44:07I do.
00:44:08I do.
00:44:10I do.
00:44:13They'll have a lot of trouble, I suppose, but that's none of our business.
00:44:16Everybody's got a right to their own troubles.
00:44:19Mm-hmm.
00:44:22You know one thing that scared me when I married you?
00:44:25Go along with you.
00:44:27I was afraid we didn't have material for conversation more than it'd last a few weeks.
00:44:37I was afraid we'd run out and have to eat our meals in silence.
00:44:40That's right.
00:44:42Well, you and I have been conversing for 20 years without any noticeable barren spells.
00:44:48Good weather, bad weather, it ain't very choice, but I always find something to say.
00:44:54Did you hear Rebecca staring around up there?
00:44:56No.
00:44:57This is the only day in the year when she isn't managing everyone's affairs up there.
00:45:01She's hiding in her room and I have an idea she's crying.
00:45:04Please, this has got to stop.
00:45:06Rebecca?
00:45:08Rebecca, come and eat your breakfast.
00:45:17Good morning, everybody. Only four more hours to live.
00:45:21George Gibbs, where are you going?
00:45:24I'm just stepping across the grass to see my girl.
00:45:26Now, George, put your rubbers on. It's been raining torrents.
00:45:29You don't step out of this house unless you're prepared for it.
00:45:31Oh, Ma, it's just a step.
00:45:33You'll catch it at the call and call for a little service.
00:45:37George! Do as your mother tells you.
00:45:43From tomorrow on, you can kill yourself in all weather, but when you're in my house, you'll live wisely, thank
00:45:48you.
00:45:49Maybe Mrs. Webb ain't used to call us at seven o'clock in the morning.
00:45:52Here, have a cup of coffee first.
00:45:54Be back in a minute.
00:45:58Good morning, Mother Webb.
00:45:59Goodness, you're frightening.
00:46:00George, I hate to say it, but you understand I can't ask Ian.
00:46:03Why not?
00:46:04You know as well as I do a groom can't see his bride on his wedding day.
00:46:07Not till he sees her in church first.
00:46:09Oh, that's just a superstition.
00:46:11Good morning, Mr. Webb.
00:46:12Morning, George.
00:46:13You don't believe in that superstition, do you?
00:46:15There's a lot of common sense in superstitions, George.
00:46:18Millions have followed it, and don't you be the first to fly in the face of customs.
00:46:23How's Emily?
00:46:24She hasn't waked up yet.
00:46:25Haven't heard a sound out of it.
00:46:27Emily's asleep.
00:46:28Well, no wonder we were up till all hours, sewing and packing.
00:46:32Tell you what I'll do, George.
00:46:33You sit down here with Mr. Webb for a minute, drink that cup of coffee.
00:46:36I'll run up and see that she doesn't come down, and he'll surprise you.
00:46:39There's some bacon there.
00:46:40I won't be too long about it.
00:47:11Well, George, how are you?
00:47:14Oh, I'm fine.
00:47:16Uh, Mr. Webb, uh, what common sense could there be in a superstition like that?
00:47:25Well, George, on the wedding morning, a girl's head is full of, uh, oh, you know, clothes and one thing
00:47:31and another.
00:47:31Don't you think that's probably it?
00:47:34Well, I, uh...
00:47:36Yes.
00:47:38I guess I never thought of that before.
00:47:40The girls have to be, uh, might nervous on her wedding day.
00:47:44Gee, I wish a person could get married without all that...
00:47:48marching up and down.
00:47:50Every man that's ever lived has felt that way, George.
00:47:54But it hasn't been any use.
00:47:56It's the women folks who've built up weddings, my boy.
00:48:01The man looks mighty small at a wedding, George.
00:48:03All those good women standing shoulder to shoulder, making sure that the knot's tied in a mighty public way.
00:48:12Well, you believe in it, don't you, Mr. Webb?
00:48:15Oh, yes.
00:48:16Oh, yes!
00:48:17Now, don't misunderstand me, George.
00:48:19Marriage is a wonderful thing.
00:48:21A wonderful thing.
00:48:22Don't you forget that, George.
00:48:24No, sir.
00:48:31Mr. Webb, uh, how old were you when you got married?
00:48:36Well, you see, I had been to college, and I'd taken a little time to get settled.
00:48:41But Mrs. Webb wasn't much older than what Emory is.
00:48:45Oh, age hasn't much to do with it, my boy.
00:48:48That is, compared with, uh, other things.
00:48:53What were you gonna say, Mr. Webb?
00:48:54Hmm?
00:48:56Oh, I don't know, was...
00:48:58Was I going to say something?
00:49:02George?
00:49:04I was remembering the other night the advice my father gave to me when I got married.
00:49:09Yes, he said.
00:49:10Charles, he said.
00:49:12Start right off by showing her who's boss.
00:49:16Best thing to do is to give an order about something, even if it don't make sense.
00:49:22Just so she'll learn to obey, he said.
00:49:27Then he said, if anything about her irritates you, conversation or anything, get right up and leave the house.
00:49:32That'll make it clear to her.
00:49:33And oh, yes, he said.
00:49:36Never tell your wife how much money you have.
00:49:39Never.
00:49:40Well, I couldn't exactly do that.
00:49:42So I took the opposite of his advice, and I've been happy ever since.
00:49:49Let that be a lesson to you, my boy.
00:49:51Never ask advice of anybody on personal matters.
00:49:55George, Emily's got to come down and eat a breakfast.
00:49:57You send your love, but she don't want to lay eyes on you.
00:49:59Goodbye.
00:50:03Goodbye.
00:50:08Myrtle?
00:50:09I guess you didn't know about that older superstition.
00:50:12What do you mean, Charles?
00:50:13Since the caveman, no bridegroom should see his father-in-law on the day of the wedding or near it.
00:50:18Now remember that.
00:50:24Now before we get on with the wedding, I think we should see how it all began.
00:50:28This plan to spend a lifetime together.
00:50:30I'm awfully interested in how such big things begin.
00:50:35You know, you're 21 or 22 and then...
00:50:38You're 70.
00:50:40You've been a lawyer for 50 years.
00:50:42And the white-haired lady beside you has eaten 50,000 meals with you.
00:50:46How do such things begin?
00:50:49Now George and Emily are going to show you the conversation they had when they first knew, as the saying
00:50:53goes, they were meant for one another.
00:50:55Now it all happened last year on the way home from school.
00:50:58George had just been elected president of the senior class.
00:51:01And Emily had just been elected secretary and treasurer.
00:51:04Now you all know how important that is.
00:51:06Emily, can I carry your books home for you?
00:51:11Well, uh...
00:51:12Thank you. It isn't far.
00:51:16Bob, if I'm late, start practice and give Herb some long highway.
00:51:19All right.
00:51:23I'm awfully glad you were elected too, Emily.
00:51:30Emily, why are you mad at me?
00:51:33Well, I'm not mad at you.
00:51:36You've been treating me so funny lately.
00:51:41Well, since you asked me, I might as well say it right out, George.
00:51:45Goodbye, Miss Cochran.
00:51:47Emily?
00:51:47Goodbye, Miss Cochran.
00:51:48What is it?
00:51:54I don't like the whole change that's come over you this last year.
00:52:01I'm sorry if that hurt your feelings, but...
00:52:04I've just got to tell the truth and shame the devil.
00:52:08The change?
00:52:10What do you mean?
00:52:13Well, up to a year ago, I used to like you a lot.
00:52:17I used to watch you while you did everything.
00:52:20Because we'd been friends for so long.
00:52:24Then you started spending all your time at baseball,
00:52:27and you never stopped to speak to anybody anymore.
00:52:30Not to really speak.
00:52:33Not even to your own family you didn't, and...
00:52:36George, it's a fact.
00:52:38Since you've been captain, you got awful...
00:52:42stuck up and conceited, and...
00:52:44all the girls say so.
00:52:47It hurts me to hear him say it, but...
00:52:50I have to agree with him a little because it's true.
00:52:56Oh, gosh, Emily.
00:52:58I never thought that such a thing was happening to me.
00:53:03I guess it's hard for a fellow not to have...
00:53:05some faults creep into his character.
00:53:08I always expect a man to be perfect, and I think he should be.
00:53:13Well, I...
00:53:15I don't think it's possible to be perfect, Emily.
00:53:18Well, my father is.
00:53:21And as far as I can see, your father is.
00:53:25And there's no reason on earth why you shouldn't be too.
00:53:29I feel that it's just the other way around.
00:53:33Well, men aren't naturally good, but...
00:53:36girls are.
00:53:38Well, you might as well know right now that I'm not perfect.
00:53:43It isn't as easy for a girl to be...
00:53:45perfect as a man because...
00:53:51well...
00:53:51we girls are more...
00:53:54nervous.
00:53:58Oh, no, I'm sorry I said that about you.
00:54:02I don't know what made me say it.
00:54:04Emily, you...
00:54:05Now I can see it isn't the truth at all.
00:54:09Suddenly, I feel it isn't important anyway.
00:54:19Emily, you...
00:54:21Would you like a...
00:54:23ice cream soda or something before you go home?
00:54:30Thank you, I would.
00:54:35Hello, George.
00:54:37Hello, Emily.
00:54:39What can I do for you?
00:54:41Why, Emily, what have you been crying about?
00:54:44She got an awful scare, Mr. Morgan, that...
00:54:46that hardware store wagon almost ran over her.
00:54:50Everybody says that Tom Huckins drives like a crazy man.
00:54:53Well, here, let me give you a glass of water.
00:54:56Gracious, you look all shook up.
00:54:59I tell you, you gotta look both ways before you cross Main Street these days.
00:55:03It's getting worse every year.
00:55:05What do you have?
00:55:08I'll have a strawberry phosphate, Mr. Morgan.
00:55:11Oh, no, Emily, have a soda with me.
00:55:13Well, I...
00:55:14Two strawberry ice cream sodas, Mr. Morgan.
00:55:17Two strawberry ice cream sodas, yes, sir.
00:55:21Yes, sir, I want to tell you something.
00:55:23There are 275 horses in drovers' corners this very moment I'm talking to you.
00:55:28State Inspector was in here yesterday.
00:55:30Now, with all these automobiles coming along,
00:55:32looks to me like the only safe place to stay was to home.
00:55:35Gracious, I can remember the time when a dog had left on the Main Street all day long
00:55:39without anything coming along to disturb him.
00:55:43There you are.
00:55:45Howdy, Mrs. Ellis, what can I do for you?
00:55:47I got a prescription.
00:55:48Yes? Well, let's see.
00:55:50Shouldn't take long to fill that.
00:55:52You just sit down here, be with you in just a minute.
00:55:54They're so expensive.
00:55:56No, Emily, don't you think about that.
00:55:58We're celebrating our election.
00:56:01Emily, I...
00:56:03I want to ask you a favor.
00:56:05What?
00:56:08If I go away to State Agricultural College next year,
00:56:14will you write me a letter once in a while?
00:56:17I certainly will.
00:56:22I certainly will, George.
00:56:26It certainly seems like being away three years you'd get out of touch with things.
00:56:35Maybe letters from Grover's Corners won't seem so interesting after a while.
00:56:40Grover's Corners isn't a very important place when you think of all New Hampshire, but...
00:56:47I think it's a very nice town.
00:56:50Oh, well...
00:56:51The day wouldn't come when I wouldn't want to know everything about our town.
00:56:56Well, I know that's true, Emily.
00:57:01Well...
00:57:02Try to make my letters interesting.
00:57:09You know, Emily, whenever I meet a farmer, I ask him if he thinks it's important to go to agricultural
00:57:16school to be a good farmer.
00:57:17Well, George...
00:57:19Yeah, and...
00:57:20Some of them even say it's a waste of time, and...
00:57:23Well, you can get all that stuff anyway in the pamphlets the government puts out.
00:57:28Well...
00:57:29Uncle Luke's getting pretty old, and...
00:57:31He's about ready for me to start taking over his farm.
00:57:35Tomorrow, if I could.
00:57:38Oh, but George, maybe it's important for you to go and learn all that about...
00:57:44Cattle judging and...
00:57:46Soils and those things.
00:57:49Of course, I don't know.
00:57:54Emily...
00:57:54I'm gonna make up my mind right now.
00:57:56I won't go.
00:57:58I'll tell Paul about it tonight.
00:58:00But George, you don't have to decide right now.
00:58:02It's a whole year away.
00:58:04Emily, I'm glad you spoke to me about that...
00:58:07That...
00:58:08That fault in my character.
00:58:10Everything you said was right, but...
00:58:12There was one thing wrong with it.
00:58:13And...
00:58:14That's when you said I wasn't noticing people.
00:58:17And you, for instance...
00:58:20If you say you were watching me when I did everything...
00:58:24I was doing the same thing about you all the time.
00:58:27Why?
00:58:29Sure, I...
00:58:30I always thought about you as...
00:58:32One of the chief people I thought about.
00:58:36I always made sure...
00:58:38What you're setting on the bleachers...
00:58:39Who you were with.
00:58:43Three days now, I've...
00:58:44Been trying to walk home with you, but...
00:58:47Something always gotten away.
00:58:49Yesterday, I was...
00:58:50Standing out by the wall waiting for you.
00:58:53And...
00:58:53I walked home with Miss Cochran.
00:59:01Oh, George...
00:59:03Life's awful funny.
00:59:05How could I have known that?
00:59:06I thought...
00:59:07Emily...
00:59:07I'm gonna tell you why I'm not going to agricultural school.
00:59:12I think...
00:59:13Once you've found a person that...
00:59:15You're very fond of...
00:59:17A person who's fond of you, too...
00:59:20Likes you well enough to...
00:59:22Be interested in your character.
00:59:25I think that's just as important as college is.
00:59:28And...
00:59:29Even more so.
00:59:31That's what I think.
00:59:33I think it's awfully important, too.
00:59:40Emily...
00:59:42Yes, George?
00:59:45Emily...
00:59:47If I do improve and...
00:59:50Make a big change...
00:59:53Well...
00:59:55Would you be...
00:59:57I mean...
00:59:59Could you be...
01:00:01I am now.
01:00:02I always have been.
01:00:09So I...
01:00:10Guess this is...
01:00:11A...
01:00:12Pretty important talk we've been having.
01:00:16Yes.
01:00:20Yes.
01:00:28Hello, Mrs. George.
01:00:29Stay.
01:00:38If you'll wait a minute, I'll...
01:00:40Walk you home.
01:00:53Mr. Morgan.
01:00:54Yes?
01:00:56I'll have to go home and get the money to pay you for this.
01:01:00Why, George Gibbs.
01:01:01Do you mean to tell me that you...
01:01:02Mr. Morgan, I had a reason.
01:01:04Look, I'll leave my gold watch with you until I get back.
01:01:07No, no, you keep your watch, George.
01:01:09I'll trust you.
01:01:10But I'll be back in five minutes.
01:01:11I'll trust you for ten years, George.
01:01:14Not a day more, though.
01:01:20Feeling all right now, Emily?
01:01:22Oh, yes.
01:01:23Thank you, Mr. Morgan.
01:01:24It's nothing.
01:01:27I'm ready.
01:01:41Well...
01:01:41Now, let me get on with the wedding.
01:01:46There's a lot of things to be said about a wedding.
01:01:49We can't get them all into one wedding, naturally.
01:01:51Especially not a wedding in Grover's Corners, where weddings are mighty short and plain.
01:01:56People think a lot of thoughts during a wedding.
01:01:59The bride, the groom, the relatives and the guests, and even the minister.
01:02:07Yes, a lot of thoughts go on during a wedding.
01:02:12I've married 200 couples in my day.
01:02:16M marries N.
01:02:19Millions of them.
01:02:21The cottage.
01:02:22The go-kart.
01:02:23The Sunday afternoon drives in the country.
01:02:25The first rheumatism.
01:02:27The grandchildren.
01:02:29The second rheumatism.
01:02:30The deathbed.
01:02:32The reading of the will.
01:02:36Once in a thousand times it's interesting.
01:02:41I don't know why on earth I should be crying.
01:02:44I suppose there's nothing to cry about.
01:02:48This morning breakfast just come over me.
01:02:53There was Emily eating her breakfast as she's done for 17 years.
01:02:59She's going out of my house.
01:03:02I suppose that's it.
01:03:06I never felt so alone in my whole life.
01:03:11I don't want to get married.
01:03:13Why...
01:03:15Why can't I stay for a while as I am?
01:03:19Papa, darling.
01:03:21Don't you remember what you used to say all the time that I was your girl?
01:03:26I don't want to get married.
01:03:35Gee, I'm gonna get married.
01:03:38I'm growing up.
01:03:39I'm getting old.
01:03:41I don't want to get old.
01:03:43Taking on all these responsibilities.
01:03:46Why is everybody pushing me so?
01:03:48All I want to do is be a fella.
01:03:51And I'm gonna get married.
01:03:59Cheer up, Ma. I'm getting married.
01:04:02Come on, Ma.
01:04:04Now, Ma, you save Thursday nights.
01:04:06Emily and I will be over for supper every Thursday night.
01:04:08You'll see.
01:04:13Come on, Ma. We've got to get ready for this.
01:04:15Got the ring?
01:04:16Oh, yes, sir.
01:04:17Come on.
01:04:25Come on, Ma.
01:04:26Come on.
01:04:44You're welcome.
01:04:46Here we go.
01:05:14It's a lovely wedding.
01:05:17A nice wedding I ever saw.
01:05:19Oh, I do love a good wedding, don't you?
01:05:23Doesn't she make a lovely bride?
01:05:36Dearly beloved,
01:05:38we are gathered together here in the sight of God
01:05:40and in the face of this company
01:05:42to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.
01:05:46I don't know when I've been in such a lovely wedding.
01:05:49I always cry.
01:05:52I don't know how it is, but I always cry.
01:05:55I just like to see young people happy.
01:05:58They're such a lovely couple.
01:06:01I've never been to such a nice wedding.
01:06:10I do.
01:06:31I'm sure.
01:06:32I do.
01:06:59I do.
01:07:12I mean forever.
01:07:14Forever and ever.
01:07:24I do.
01:07:31I do.
01:07:33I do.
01:07:36I do.
01:07:44I do.
01:07:55I do.
01:07:58I do.
01:08:11I do.
01:08:14I do.
01:08:16I do.
01:08:31I do.
01:08:36I do.
01:08:53I do.
01:08:57I do.
01:09:08I do.
01:09:08I do.
01:09:08I do.
01:09:22I do.
01:09:27I do.
01:09:28I do.
01:09:29I do.
01:09:34I do.
01:09:47I do.
01:09:50I do.
01:09:54I do.
01:10:01I do.
01:10:05I do.
01:10:16I do.
01:10:22I do.
01:10:23I do.
01:10:26I do.
01:10:27I do.
01:10:27I do.
01:10:27I do.
01:10:28I do.
01:10:28I do.
01:10:31I do.
01:10:32up but of course got around he wrote his own epitaph ain't a verse exactly it's just a lot of
01:10:39notes i wouldn't know what it was it was all read up in the boston papers at the time though
01:10:45a lot of souls kind of quieted down up here too all those important things mother and daughter
01:10:53husband and wife enemy and enemy money and miser all those terribly important things
01:11:01the earth part kind of burns away burns out and what's left what's left when memory is gone
01:11:11and your identity mrs smith
01:11:15something eternal we all know down in our bones that something is eternal
01:11:22and that something has to do with human beings all the greatest people that have lived for the
01:11:28past five thousand years have been telling us that and yet you'd be surprised how we lose sight of
01:11:33that fact there's something eternal about every human being
01:11:41i guess i'm thinking these thoughts today on account of our friend emily
01:11:46another baby's expected down at that happy home we saw started
01:11:50it's emily second there's a little boy about six years old but this time emily's pretty sick
01:11:58doc gibbs is going around these days with a mighty worried face
01:12:10you
01:12:17you
01:12:18you
01:12:18you
01:12:18you
01:12:18you
01:12:31you
01:12:35I want to live.
01:12:39Oh, I want to live.
01:13:08Who's coming now, Julia?
01:13:10My daughter-in-law, Emily Wings.
01:13:13What ails her?
01:13:14Crouble bringing a baby into the moon.
01:13:17Why?
01:13:18I remember Emily's wedding.
01:13:21Wasn't it a lovely wedding?
01:13:24I remember I called on George and Emily at their farm just before I died.
01:13:29Earthly, beautiful farm.
01:13:58Earthly, beautiful farm.
01:14:05Earthly, beautiful farm.
01:14:07Dear friends, as we gather here in the last tribute of memory to our loved one...
01:14:13Hello, Mother Gibbs.
01:14:14Let us remember the words...
01:14:15Hello, Ashley.
01:14:17Hello, Emily.
01:14:18I am the resurrection and the life.
01:14:20Oh, Mrs. Soames.
01:14:23Hello, sis.
01:14:26Hello, Wally.
01:14:27Eternal...
01:14:29Eternal...
01:14:30...in the heavens.
01:14:42Mother Gibbs.
01:14:43Mother Gibbs, they're going.
01:14:44Yes, dear.
01:14:50Yes, dear.
01:15:07Father Gibbs is bringing some of my flowers to you, Mother Gibbs.
01:15:21Mother Gibbs.
01:15:22Mother Gibbs, I never realized how troubled and sad he looks.
01:15:26I loved him so.
01:15:29Mother Gibbs.
01:15:32Mother Gibbs.
01:15:35Mother Gibbs.
01:15:37Mother Gibbs.
01:15:57Mother Gibbs.
01:16:00Mother Gibbs.
01:16:02Mother Gibbs.
01:16:03Mother Gibbs.
01:16:07Oh, dear.
01:16:09Oh, dear.
01:16:14Just wait.
01:16:15Just wait.
01:16:15Be patient.
01:16:17How do you do, Mr. Stimson?
01:16:20How do you do, Emily?
01:16:24Mother Gibbs.
01:16:25George and I have made that farm into just the best place you ever saw.
01:16:30We thought of you all the time.
01:16:32We wanted to show you the new barn and...
01:16:35and a great long cement drinking fountain for the stock.
01:16:38We bought that out of the money you left us.
01:16:40I did.
01:16:43Mother Gibbs, don't you remember?
01:16:46Mother Gibbs, don't you remember?
01:16:46The legacy you left us.
01:16:49Well, it was more than $350.
01:16:53Oh, yes.
01:16:56Yes, dear.
01:17:00It won't be the same to George without me.
01:17:06But it's a lovely farm.
01:17:13My boy is spending the day at Mrs. Carter's.
01:17:16Oh, Mr. Carter.
01:17:18My little boy is spending the day at your house.
01:17:21He is?
01:17:22Yes, he loves it there.
01:17:27Mother Gibbs.
01:17:29Sometimes, one can go back in memory and live each of those days over again.
01:17:38For just then, for a moment, I was thinking about the farm.
01:17:44For a moment, I was there.
01:17:47And my baby was in my arms this plainest day.
01:17:50Yes, but when you've been here longer, you'll realize that our life here is to forget all this.
01:17:57To think of what is ahead and be ready for what is ahead.
01:18:03Oh, but Mother Gibbs, how can I ever forget that life?
01:18:08It's all I know.
01:18:09It's all I have.
01:18:13One can go back and live all those days over again.
01:18:17I feel it.
01:18:18I know it.
01:18:20You not only live it, you watch yourself living it.
01:18:27I'll choose a happy day.
01:18:29Oh, Emily, it isn't wise.
01:18:31Really, it isn't.
01:18:33I'll choose the day I first knew I loved George.
01:18:41Why should that be painful?
01:18:43Because it's the happiest days that are the hardest to relive and to forget.
01:18:51I must.
01:18:52I must.
01:18:54Then choose an unimportant day.
01:18:58Choose the least important day in your life.
01:19:02It will be important enough.
01:19:06I'll choose.
01:19:10I'll choose.
01:19:12Yes, Emily.
01:19:15Think hard.
01:19:17Remember.
01:19:20I remember.
01:19:24I remember.
01:19:28I remember.
01:19:31But there's Main Street.
01:19:35But that's Mr. Morgan's drugstore before he changed it.
01:19:40And there's the livery stable.
01:19:44That's the town I knew as a little girl.
01:19:48And look.
01:19:51There's the old white fence that used to be around our house.
01:19:54Oh, I'd forgotten that.
01:19:56I love it so.
01:19:59I love it so.
01:20:06There's Mama coming downstairs to make breakfast.
01:20:26Look, there's Howie Newsome.
01:20:29But there's Joe Crowell.
01:20:32Morning, Howie.
01:20:33Morning, Joe.
01:20:34Children.
01:20:36Emily.
01:20:36Wally.
01:20:37Time to get up.
01:20:39Morning, Miss Webb.
01:20:41Morning, Miss Newsome.
01:20:43Here, it's cold.
01:20:44Yes.
01:20:45Envelope in my barn, Miss Webb.
01:20:51Keep yourself wrapped up, Mr. Newsome.
01:20:53Yes, ma'am.
01:20:55Oh, tell Emily many happy returns of the day.
01:21:01Now I know.
01:21:03It's my 16th birthday.
01:21:05Mama, I can't find my blue hair ribbon anywhere.
01:21:09Just open your eyes, dear, that's all.
01:21:11I laid it out special for you on the dresser there.
01:21:14If it were a snake, it'd bite you.
01:21:19How young Mama looks.
01:21:22I didn't know Mama was ever that young.
01:21:24Morning, Howie.
01:21:25Morning, Miss Webb.
01:21:27There's Bob.
01:21:28You're up early.
01:21:28Yeah, I've been back from old college to New York State to make a speech.
01:21:31Any news here?
01:21:33Yeah, a constable was called up this morning to rescue a foolish caller.
01:21:35Turn your throat's dead, he was.
01:21:37We'll put that in the paper.
01:21:42Morning, Mother.
01:21:43Well, there you are, back at last.
01:21:45How'd it go, Charles?
01:21:46Oh, fine, I guess.
01:21:48I told him a few things.
01:21:50Everything all right here?
01:21:51Yes, can't think of anything that happened special.
01:21:53It's been mighty cold.
01:21:55Howie Newsome says ten below down to his barn.
01:21:57Yes, well, it's colder than that at Hamilton College.
01:22:00Students' ears are falling off.
01:22:02Name Christian.
01:22:03Paper have any mistakes in it?
01:22:05Not that I noticed.
01:22:07Well, you can have your coffee when you want it, Charles.
01:22:10Don't forget, it's Emily's birthday.
01:22:12Did you remember to get her anything?
01:22:14Got her right here.
01:22:15Where's my girl?
01:22:17Where's my birthday girl?
01:22:18Don't interrupt her now, Charles.
01:22:20You can see her breakfast.
01:22:21She's slow enough as it is.
01:22:25I can't bear it.
01:22:30Why did they ever have to get old?
01:22:35Mama, I'm here.
01:22:38I'm grown up.
01:22:41Oh, I love you all.
01:22:43Everything.
01:22:46I can't look at everything hard enough.
01:22:52Hurry up, children.
01:22:53Seven o'clock.
01:22:54I don't want to call you again.
01:23:04Morning, Mama.
01:23:07Well, now, dear.
01:23:08A happy birthday to my girl and many happy returns.
01:23:11The prize is waiting for you on the table there.
01:23:13Oh, Mama, you shouldn't have.
01:23:15Can't I?
01:23:16Can't.
01:23:18Birthday or no birthday, I want you to eat your breakfast good and slow.
01:23:20I want you to grow up and be a good, strong girl.
01:23:22That and the blue package is from your Aunt Carrie.
01:23:26Good morning.
01:23:27George.
01:23:28Good morning, George.
01:23:29I brought this over for your birthday, Emily.
01:23:31Any happy returns of the day.
01:23:34You sold me a photograph album.
01:23:36George, I'd forgotten.
01:23:38Oh, it's beautiful.
01:23:40Just an album.
01:23:43I'm going out to my Uncle Luke's farm today.
01:23:46Like it out there.
01:23:47George, we grew up and were married, don't you remember?
01:23:51Uncle Luke gave you the farm.
01:23:54Well, goodbye.
01:23:56Goodbye.
01:23:57Thanks.
01:23:59Shooter's baking, good and slow.
01:24:00It'll help keep you warm on a cold day.
01:24:05Mama.
01:24:07Just look at me for one minute as though you really saw me.
01:24:11Mama.
01:24:13Twelve years have gone by.
01:24:15I'm dead.
01:24:18I married George Gibbs, Mama.
01:24:22Wally's dead, too.
01:24:24Mama.
01:24:24His appendix burst on a cabin dripper, Crawford Notch.
01:24:27We felt just terrible about it.
01:24:29Don't you remember?
01:24:33Just for a moment now we're all together.
01:24:37Mama, let's be happy just for a moment.
01:24:41Let's look at one another.
01:24:45That and the yellow package is something I found in the attic among your grandmother's things.
01:24:48You're old enough to wear it now and I thought maybe you'd like it.
01:24:52Oh, and this is from you.
01:24:54It's lovely.
01:24:55It's just what I wanted.
01:24:58It's beautiful.
01:24:59I hoped you'd like it.
01:25:01Wally has a present for you, too.
01:25:03He made his manual training class.
01:25:04Be sure and make a fuss over it.
01:25:06Your father's got a surprise for you, too.
01:25:09I don't know what it is myself.
01:25:12There he comes.
01:25:13Where's my girl?
01:25:15Where's my birthday girl?
01:25:16I can't.
01:25:17I can't go.
01:25:24It goes so fast.
01:25:29We don't have time to look at one another.
01:25:39I didn't realize.
01:25:45So all that was going on.
01:25:50And we never noticed.
01:25:54First I go back to my grave.
01:25:58Wait.
01:26:01One more look.
01:26:07Goodbye.
01:26:11Goodbye, world.
01:26:14Goodbye, Grover's corner.
01:26:17Mama and Papa.
01:26:22Goodbye, the clock's ticking.
01:26:25My butternut tree and Mama's sunflowers.
01:26:30Food and coffee.
01:26:32New iron dresses and hot baths.
01:26:36And sleeping and waking up.
01:26:41Oh, Eric.
01:26:42You're too wonderful for anybody.
01:26:43Too real, Richard.
01:26:47Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?
01:26:51Every, every minute.
01:26:55Oh, I want to live.
01:26:56I want to live.
01:26:57I want to live.
01:26:57You're too wonderful.
01:26:57Oh, I want to live with you, Andy.
01:26:58Of course you do, Andy.
01:26:59Of course.
01:27:04Oh, no.
01:27:08Oh, no.
01:27:10Oh, no, no.
01:27:22Oh, no.
01:27:23Oh, no.
01:27:25Oh, no.
01:27:27Oh, no.
01:27:27Oh, no, no.
01:27:41Most everybody's asleep in Grover's Corners.
01:27:44Oh, there are a few lights on.
01:27:48Down at the depot, Shorty Hawkins has just watched the Albany train go by.
01:27:52Of course, out in George and Emily's farm.
01:27:56They're still up.
01:27:57Talking over the new baby, I suppose.
01:28:00It's like what one of those Midwestern poets said.
01:28:04You gotta love life to have life.
01:28:07And you gotta have life to love life.
01:28:19Eleven o'clock in Grover's Corners.
01:28:22Tomorrow's another day.
01:28:25Everybody's resting in Grover's Corners.
01:28:28You get a good rest, too.
01:28:40Good night.
01:28:43I'll be right back.
01:28:48I'll be right back.
01:28:56I'll be right back.
01:29:07The End
01:29:28The End
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