03x24 - The Christine Elliot Story

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Ms.. Elliot?

Yes. They'll be riding into Denver
in about an hour.

Oh, thank you, Major Adams.

I'll have my letter finished by then. I.

Dear Aunt Martha,

you better sit down and have the smelling
salts handy before you read this.

Since you and I said goodbye New York
last winter,

I have become the mother of 12 boys.

All right.

Inspection hands first.



Mine.

Dear, dear Martha.

In the last few months,
I have completely forsaken respectability

conservatism and New York society.

I have become a fugitive from the law

and the mother without benefit of clergy
of 12 little boys.

I'll try to tell you
how it all came about.

You will recall that I left for Saint

Louis
as soon as word came of father's illness.

I didn't realize how serious
that illness was.

Poor Abbe had to tell me.

Who we are.

And I'm so glad you got here in time,
Abby.

He's going to be all right.

The doctor says his years are against him.

I didn't come all. This week, Lucien.

He just must know.

He keeps saying
he'd be up in a day or two.

And he will be.

He's always been a fighter.

But child. Child.

We have to accept.

Except we can obtain.

People to us.

We have to know when.

To let go.

That's

how I'll be. All right.

I'll be fine now.

Cheers, Chris.

You always said that women cry
when they're happy.

Obviously, men do, too,

Chris.

And I confess, I'm glad to see you.

Are you going to marry Charles?

Charles, I thought.

Tell me a song between you and Charles
Cunningham.

Father, I wish you and Martha
would stop trying to marry me off.

He's been a widow for almost ten years.

It is natural. France woman should.

Not quarrel about that now.

Why not?

Convince you not to have the right

to qualm about
anything that I think I might enjoy?

Yes, sir.

Heavy. Tell you. I saw the school.

Sold the school.

And got it open the John Russell School
for Boys in Sacramento.

Sacramento.

Oh. And Chris, when you go for lunch,

even I see what Harvey is giving the boys
for dessert.

I don't want to use my illness
as an excuse for prunes.

But I thought the boys were sent home.

See if you can coax a chocolate
cake out of Abbey for them.

No. Pretty Ever
found a better cure for the doldrums?

Chocolate cake.

Tell her you wanted.

Other boys out here. Father.

Only by voice.

k*ll boys.

How anyone can turn away a homeless boy.

I'll never know.
How many this time, Father?

Oh, just a few.

How many?

Only 11.

Only 11.

I'm taking them out west with me

about two wagons.

They're out in the barn right now.

Oh, Father,
I'm not going to leave my boys behind

to end up on horse orphanage

West.

There's a place for boys

that you can grow tall and a strong

man can find his youth again.

And who knows what
you might find in the West.

Come with us, Chris.

Even with Seth Adams train next Monday.

Funny, you don't think I'm a silly.

Old man to dream of California.

Oh, no.

It's a.

Promised land.

Rice and a prince.

Delicious

challenge.

Cut it out.

Oh, to just seems.

To be part of

Father.

Father.

I'll be.

I'll be.

Oh, My father's



We faced each other across a terrible
emptiness and overwhelming loss.

What could I say to them?

How do you

explain to a
child what you can't explain to yourself?

I don't remember what I said.

I only know we tried to touch one

another across an aching void.

But at last acceptance came as it must.

And I rose from my tears
and reached for my father's words,

for comfort.

Oh, hello.

I love.

Are you sick?

No. I just threw up.

What are you doing?

Baking a cake.

What kind of cake?

Chocolate cake. Sugar. Charles.

Who's it. For?

For all of us.

If Abby catches you, you'll get what for?

Just be funny, George.

She's making chocolate cake for all of us.

Right. For the Irish. Are you Irish?

Everybody's a little bit Irish.

Can we eat cake now?

No, indeed. Not until it's baked.

Can we eat it as soon as baked?

You can eat it as soon as it's frosted.

Minutes first at. That very minute.

If it was 3:00 in the morning.

Even if it's 330 in the morning,
she says, Josephine.

I do.

I wasn't asleep
when I heard somebody say chocolate cake.

You couldn't have been very sound asleep.

I'm starving.

How can you be starving?

You ate three of our dinners tonight.

It isn't Christian to waste food.

Son, move my glasses.

I had to feel my way here.

I could just died today, Professor Robbie.

He did die.

He doesn't know anything about dying.

I do know. I do know.

My dog died on the carpet and told me.

What did Uncle John tell you?

He said Monkey had gone someplace else.

He said we weren't very lucky.

We were burying a body.

But he was tired of using.

D'you know about dying?

Yes. I think.

Maybe you know more than any of us.

Wish.

You are seated at least,
and ought to be in bed in my kitchen

in the middle of the night.

They're here at my invitation, Abbey.

And whose invitation are you?

In my kitchen by me Sauce box.

Father wanted
the boys to have a chocolate cake.

In the middle of the night.

Father said nobody ever found
a better cure for the doldrums.

There's a time and place for everything.

Oh, yes. Happy.

And this is the

time and the place for a chocolate cake.

Well,
in that case, I'd better see about the.

First and.

At 330 in the morning,
we had our own memorial service.

No words were said and words were needed.

Father seemed very close,
and I, at 330 of that

April morning,
became the mother of 11 little boys.

No words were said.

No words were needed.

Strange how swiftly
and surely bonds can be cemented.

I was theirs and they were mine.

Let no man dare try to put us asunder.

You intend to do what?

I intend to keep those boys.

You can't keep those boys.

Well, who says I can?

City of St Louis, the state of Missouri,
the United States of America.

And I say so.

Morton Devereux

Snaffle, head of the St Louis Institute
for the Destitute and Homeless.

Those boys are not destitute and homeless.

The City of St Louis says they are.

They have. Me. They can't have you.

You're a maiden lady.

I am not a maiden lady.

I am a widow.

The city of St Louis sees no difference.

The city of St Louis is as.

At it as you are.

I did not come here
to bandy terms with you.

You came here like a dogcatcher to try
to snare up 11 helpless little boys.

I will not dignify that remark
with an answer.

Those boys are not destitute.

There are family there.
My father's children.

Your father never legally adopted
those children.

Then I. Will.

You can't adopt them.
You are a maiden lady.

If you.

Call me a maiden lady once more, I am.

Liable to forget. I'm even a. Lady.

The state of Missouri pays
so much ahead for those children.

And if you think I'm going
to allow my institute

to be deprived of those phantom sons.

Mr. Snipper, you get off.

This property before I lose
what little control I still have.

Let us not indulge in female hysteria.

Mr. Snip.

I warn you, when I am aroused,

I can be just as formidable
as the state of Missouri.

The United States of America

and the Saint Louis Institute
for the Destitute and Homeless.

What?

I advise you.

To scat.

As fast.

Anyway.

Madam will see what the law
has to say about you.

The last of me.

Oh, Abby, I lost my temper.

I'm glad you gave him a piece of my mind.

There is nothing feebleminded
about a maiden lady.

I've been a maiden lady
since the day I was born.

Happy call in the boys.

Tell them this. To be a
council of w*r in the power.

Now, boys, I

want you to think this over very carefully
before you vote.

Because what we're discussing
isn't exactly legal.

You mean we'll be fugitives?

Well, we will be in the state of Missouri,
I'm afraid.

Jumping horse to fit in that.

Great.

Well, someone put it to the chair
in the form of a motion. Mr.

Chairman, I move.

We go west with the motion.

I say it's been moved in seconds.

We go ask anyone to pose.

It's.

We're going last year.

Mind you, this is a secret operation.

And if one word of this gets out,
we won't be able to go out,

load our wagons.

Soon as it gets dark
and the on our way before daybreak.

Where are you going, Robbie?

I'm gonna throw up.

I didn't take it.

I take it.

Are you sure?

Yes, I am.

Well, who are you?

Please, ma'am. May I see Mr. Russell?

Mr. John Russell.

Savoy told me
if I came here, the to cure me.

Where are your mother and father?

I haven't any.

You haven't?

Well, where do you live?

On the street.

I play the fiddle and I beg.

Please, ma'am.

Couldn't you help a poor little chap
put no mother and father

in their home to support?

What's your name?

Matt Connors.

Not Connors was a.

Father could never turn a boy down.

Certainly.

He was made of sterner stuff than I.

That's what I told my conscience
as I talked.

Not Connors in my heart with all the rest.

We traveled all night
and all the next day.

I had a mental picture of Mr.

Snipper riding a pitchfork
after us all the way.

When we reached Saint Joe, we found
the train had pulled out


and we kept right after it.

But at long last, we came face to face
with the wagon Master.

And the wagon master came face
to face with us.



Oh, but we're far from helpless.

Major Adams.

Mrs. Elliot,
I agreed to take 11 boys and one man,

not 12 boys and two women.

But you wouldn't send us back.
You couldn't.

That would be too cruel.

Don't you like little boys?

Well, of course I like little boys
in their place and in smaller numbers.

But there's so many of you. There's
so many of them.

I don't know. This is a problem.
I'll have to think about this.

Wasn't he going to take us?

I don't know.

That's what we like to hear.

No, but I don't see how we can get there
without him.

Well, there's no use crying
about spilled milk until it's spilled.

He hasn't said no yet.

You're quite right, Abby.

We must think positively
you and I'll get supper.

George, you and Kenny unhitched the horses
and the rest of you boys

go play for a while. Yes.

Perhaps

when he's had time to think about it.

They're such good little boys
having such good

little boys and

Major. Mr.

Carter will see you right away.

Some nice little boys
pulled her little girl's pigtails,

and she's madder than a wet hit.

She madder than a dry hand do.

Come on, Major.

A lot of boys knocked down Mrs.

Willoughby's clean laundry and ran
right over it.

Look at this major.

Just dirty old ball

and right in the middle of a nice, clean
stoop night and a pretty kettle of fish.

One of his boys hit.

One of her boys
and his boys were bigger than her boys,

but her boys got the upper hand

because there were more of her boys
and were of his boys.

And boy, what a fight.

So I am telling you, that's what they did.

They didn't.

They couldn't have. Well,
they didn't have time.

I can show you the laundry.

I can show you the black eyes.

And here is the ball
that landed in my stool.

Maybe that isn't there for me.

Oh. What do you say now for life?

I can only say I'm very sorry
and it won't happen again.

Mrs. Elliott,
I know it's hard for an experienced woman

to handle one little boy.

It is impossible for an inexperienced
woman to handle 12 little boys.

If you'd just give us another chance.

They'll be good. I promise they will.

I've got 100 wagons to get to California,
and I can not take on a nursery school.

I don't want you to take it on.

It's my problem.

I can handle it.

Oh, I grant you,
it doesn't look like that right now.

But you must realize
the boys and I are new to each other.

And these things take time.

I will finish you
with an escort back to St Joe.

That's the best I can do.

I quite see your point, Major Adams.

After all, somebody
has got to be realistic about this.

Maybe they are a bit much for real,
Lassie.

Children are difficult.

Nonsense.

They're just like us, only younger.

We were little girls.

Little boys are different.

When I was a little girl,
I was a match for any little boy.

And I'm still a match for them.

And they're going to find that out
before they get one bit bigger.

Robbie Professor,

if you and I are going to live together,

you have to have respect for me
and I have to have respect for you.

Your little boy's not little wild animals.

You're a family, not a mob.

You have to learn consideration
for other people.

They live in the world to you now.

Are you going to whip us?

No. That would give you entirely
too much satisfaction.

It's too easy
to take a whipping and forget.

I want you to remember.

Are you going to send us to bed
without any supper? No.

My quarrel is with your intellect,
not your appetite.

Are you going to sh**t us?

No, not this time.

But you're
going to have your supper in your wagon

and you're going to stay here
and think things over.

You're confined to quarters
until further notice.

I don't like you anymore.

Well, I'm afraid at the moment,
the feeling is quite neutral.

Watching neutral.

She doesn't like us either.

Well, you haven't been exactly likable.

I'm ashamed of my sons.

And that's not a nice feeling

you've had.

Oh, separate all my daughter.

I get you.

We've more to look forward to.

Keep body and soul together.

I'm not hungry.

You can command the troops
on an empty stomach.

Maybe I was too harsh with them,

but I can't let them get away with things
I have to earn their respect.

You look so tired.

But on the other hand, I don't want to
earn the respect by making them hate me.

You cannot sit here all night.

A good many women
will surely not any more intelligent

than I have managed
to raise Quite respectable children.

Sleep, and.

At last tomorrow resident at the.

Is a lot more to

being a mother than people realize.

So she sends us back to Mr.

Sniffle.

I'll run away. I'll go with you.

You're too little.

I'll get bigger.

Where are you gonna run to?

I don't know.

Maybe to see.

Suppose you get seasick?

I hope I do.

It'll be my just desert. Desert?

I'm so hungry.

How can you be hungry in time like this?

I'm growing very.

You guys want to come with me?

I can teach you how to beg.

Let's go with Nan.

Then we can all stay together.

I want us to go away.

I want us to stay here.

We can't stay here.

Nobody likes us. What?

Nobody do. Like us.

And Chris,

I'm still hungry

at night.

Chris.

I'm sorry.

I threw the ball in Mr. Worser Stew.

I'm sorry. You did, too.

And so is Mr. Worcester.

I'm sorry I knocked down the laundry.

We're all sorry.

All right.

It's all over and done with.

Now, let's not talk about it anymore.

And, Chris, go back to Mr. Smith.

I'll give you back.

Oh, I wouldn't think of it.

You are my children.

It's even when we're bad,

I suppose.

Especially when you're bad.

Because then people scold me
and I have to take the responsibility.

We'll never be bad again.

I know being a little boy isn't easy.

You want to know something?

Being a grown up isn't easy either.

It isn't? No, indeed.

Grown ups are naturally good.

Boys are just naturally bad.

Boys aren't just naturally bad.

They just naturally have a lot to learn.

You go back to sleep

on the first night at night and.

A few hours earlier.

I've been ready to smack
every single bottom.

And now I was overwhelmed with tenderness
I didn't know how to express.

I had never sung a lullaby.

I told a bedtime story.

I heard a child's nighttime prayers.

But I knew that night with great certainty
there was no finer gift in all of heaven

and 12 fine sons.

I a child.

This woman had come into a kingdom
and somehow

I had to get my little kingdom west.

No, no, no.

But if you just be reasonable.

Count that I am reasonable.

Confounded. You are not.

You stay out of this.

Even hardened criminals
get a second chance.

We are not talking about hardened
criminals.

Well, that's my point.

It was the dream of my father's life
to take those children to California.

You can't refuse them.

I certainly can't.

You've got nothing to say about this.

Oh, I know that.

This is Eliot. I am sorry.

I don't want you to think
that I'm unsympathetic with your problem.

But. Major Adams,
the moment I saw that kind friendly face,

that warm, outgoing smile,
I knew we'd found a friend.

Hello.

I'm very happy to be your friend, but I.

I simply cannot take you
and those boys on this trip.

Yeah,
but you accepted her father's deposit.

Whose side are you on first?

Major Adams, please.

You can't be made of stone.

I am sorry.

I will give you back
your father's deposit.

You are made of stone granite. More like.

Well, you're a great help, the two of you.

Well, there's no point in prolonging this
painful discussion, Mr.

Adams,
I am no longer with your wagon train.

I am no longer your responsibility.

And from now.

On, as far as I'm concerned,
you do not exist.

And your wagon train does not. Please,
Mrs..

Goodnight, Major. Adams.

What will you listen to?

All right.

You two lanes tomorrow morning.

First, can you take Mrs.

Ellington, those kids back to Saint Joe?

I've said it before,
and I'll say it again.

You are made of stone.

All right.

So I made a stone.

But I am still running this outfit.

And don't you forget how good.

Yes, sir.

It's all to measure strength.

It's coming right up.

I thought I sent you to Saint Joe and Mrs.

Elliott.
Mrs. Elliott isn't going to Saint Joe.

She's heading west.

She's not with us. She's not?

No, not with us.

Behind us. Behind us?

You mean she's following us?

Well, she said it's a free country.

Good for her.

Listen,
you go back there and tell that woman

she's not going to follow this wagon
train.

Oh, no, not me.

You know, the way I figure,
this is a top level mission.

And you wouldn't send a sergeant
to do Major's job, would you?

I certainly wouldn't send a cook,
so I wouldn't dare send you.

You'd probably join them. Yes, I would.

We don't exist.

She doesn't exist. That's what she said.

All right.

That's the way she done it.
That's the way we'll play it.

We don't exist. She doesn't exist.

So her

and she don't exist.

And we don't exist.
Make her get away from me.

If there's anything I hate, it's a snoop.

You see anything?

Only your fire.

I would. You better come with me.

Why don't you mind your own Gaga
and business.

If you like.

How they doing down here?

Oh, just fine, sir.

She doesn't need to thank any sign of him
giving in.

Well, he would need his supper.

Yeah, that's good.

That's a good sign. Is it?

I'm having trouble sleeping, Major.

Oh, I got indigestion, I guess.

Something you didn't eat?

I'll go to sleep.

I can't.

I keep wondering if they're asleep.

Poor little thing down there all alone.

Hearing noises, wandering the.

Who's going to attack them? Wild animals.

Maybe they're crying too.

Will you go to sleep,

Major? You're worried.

Why don't you admit it, Charlie?

The Indians are friendly
and there are no wild animals.

And you know it.

Sure, I know it and you know it.

But do they know it?

Oh, shut up.

Pulled out and all of them

scared to death.

Like they're crying.

A little eyes out to

awful

silly. Yes.

Who is it?

It's Major Adams.

Oh. Oh, Oh, come in, Major.

Oh, you folks all right down here? Yes.

Well, is something wrong?

Well, no. Yes, sir.

I'm going to have your wagon pull back
in the line first thing in the morning.

Oh, that's very kind of you, Major.

Oh, so you're not as hard hearted.

You wouldn't make a note while.

I was awake. I.

I couldn't stand the thought of you folks

being down here with those kids
all by yourselves.

I hope my heart's not made a stone.

Goodnight.

And so we were finally accepted.

We were part of the wagon train community.

We were going west.

We settled down now to a routine.

All right, water of the gate.

Fill the buckets and canteens.

Dishwashing detail report to Abbey

Bunk Making detailed report entries
in a second Wagon

wheel gathering detail.

Get Would you please?

I was determined
that the John Russell School

would maintain its high scholastic rating
with Father's lecture books to guide me.

I started a course on the habits
of the North American Indians.

I found I not only had students,
I had critics.

The habits of the North American Indians.

Boy, what malarkey?

I got those habits out of this book.

Well, whoever wrote
that book never saw an Indian.

My father wrote the book.

Oh, well, did
your father ever meet an Indian?

Well, he.

Mr. Hawkes, I assume you have met Indians.

Yes, ma'am. Good. Many of them.

And perhaps you be good enough
to conduct the class

and the habits of the North American
Indian.

Me boys,
these pictures aren't right at all.

They're not this way.

They're real dirty and they're mean.

They're real mean.

What they do.

They come up on you and they got knives
sometimes about that long.

And they take these knives
and they sneak up in the dark

and they take a malicious thinking
just like that on itself and sometimes

come up behind.

And they've got a tomahawk big wide
blade on it, like telling everybody here.

Put your head right off.

The lecture was realistic
and I have no doubt accurate.

We lost a lot of boys
to the Indians that night.

I seem to be

under the continual supervision
of self-appointed fathers.

Even my course in cooking for
the trail was under observation.

Do you have a better recipe
for white sauce, Mr.

Worcester?

Well, white sauce might be a for women,
but I figure a man needs something

to stick to his ribs.

Well, what would you suggest
that the boys learn to make?

Well, Johnny Cakes, cornbread, grilled
cake, something like that for growing men.

I'd be glad to show them you like.

It. If I like a boy.

My Uncle Arnold taught me
how to make these fruits.

I don't mean to say anything

about the respective merits
of white sauce versus Johnny Cakes,

but 12 little boys had 12 individual

bellyache that night to boys.

Pretty soon we're going to be coming into
Buffalo Country.

The slightest noise is liable
to scare them and to start

a stampede and make a noise like thunder.

You think the whole earth is shaken
if you happen to get in their way?

Well, let's call.

Out all night.

The buffalo came like thunder
and the whole earth shook.

It became obvious that my boys
were suffering from too many fathers.

And I decided from then
on to do my own teaching in my own way.

Now, boys,
I want you each to write a composition

about what you saw on the trail today.

That'll be all,

Miss Elliott.

Oh. I don't believe we've met.

No, we haven't.

I'm Philip Ayres.

I was watching the way
you handle your class.

You have some suggestions?

Suggestions?

I was watching you for pointers.

Me? Yes.

I'm going out to teach
at the University of California.

Well, don't watch me.

I've never taught a class before
in my life.

Then you were born
with your father's instinct for teaching.

But it sounds
as though you knew my father.

I was in his first graduating class.

One of his first orphans.

How nice to meet you.

Hello, Philip.

Hello, Christine.

How simply and quietly love can arrive.

A smile, a hand clasp, a word of greeting.

Philip and I met on a western meadow.

Just as the sun was going down.

Two strangers with the world
suddenly in common.

My father had said,

Who knows
what a woman might find in the West,

how wise my father was,
how wonderfully wise.

Happiness took root and flowered,

and all my questions
seemed answered in a single word.

Philip.

I've called a council meeting
because, well, it.

It seems the best way to discuss matters
that affect all of us.

And this does affect all of us.

Although I know what your answer will be.

Mr. Ayres has

asked me to be his wife wife.

VOICE You.

You like Mr.

Ayres?

Is the subject open to the floor
for discussion?

Of course. But

subject before the House is
whether Chris should marry Mr.

Ayres.

Would he be marrying
just Dan, Chris or us?

To what I is?

Would Aunt Krispie leaving us?

No. Mr.

Ayres would be joining us.

As what?

As a father,
I guess we don't need a father.

We've got an Chris.

If we're going to marry a father,
let's marry McCollough.

He's nice.

He is always trying to teach us something.

Let's have a vote on Phillip McCullough.

Now, I must inform the council.

Flint McCullough has never proposed
marriage or anything else.

Then why don't we ask him?

Well, we can't do that.

Why would he ask to ask us why?

Well, to keep asking why.

That's the way it is. That's all.

Why don't we marry Major Adam?

He owns this whole wagon train.

I don't want him in the family.

He yells too much.

He doesn't like little boys.

Well, sure he does.

He was a little boy himself once.

May Drew.

And now look here, boys.

The subject
only subject for this council is Mr.

Ayres.

Well, Chair, let me say a few words,
please.

The chair recognizes Aunt Chris.

Mr. Ayres, as a kind good man,
and he loves you.

Why? It's wonderful to have a good father.

We don't need anyone but you.

Oh, but you do.

A child's
universe is made up of two worlds.

A man's and a woman's.

No matter how much we love
or try to fill a void

half the universe is lacking
if there's only one.

Do we have to marry Mr. Hughes?

Even if we don't like him,
Even if we hate him?

Well, no, of course you don't.

Are you ready for the question? Why

all those in favor of Chris marrying Mr.

Ayres for?

I hollows against?

No, no.

For the first time,
the council went against me,

but it was carried

and so ordered.

Goodbye, Shadow.

It might have been lovely, but goodbye.

A boy's will is the winds will.

And the thoughts of youth are long,
long thought.

As it were.

I haven't come.

Get the boys in the wagon.

Just stare.

A woman with a group of boys
traveling with this train.

Who are you?

I'm Martin Snaffle, head of the St Louis
Institute for the Destitute and Homeless.

Who have I had the honor of addressing?

I'm Seth Adams.

I'm like, Logan, master of this outfit.

And it pleased, I'm sure this is Deputy
Marshal Pantsuit from Louis.

Today we have a court order
calling for the arrest of Mrs.

Christine Elliott. On my charge.

The charge is kidnaping. And.

Kidnaping.

If that woman

and those children are here
and we know that they are,

you would better turn them over
or you will answer to the law.

The worst had happened.

My big gamble had failed.

The law had caught up with me.

This time there seemed no place to run.

Please believe me, Mrs.

Elliott, I want to help you.

On whose authority
did you bring these children out here?

I'm afraid on my own.

Didn't your father have adoption papers?

Afraid.

My father never had any patience
with technicalities and.

Well, what right did you have that.

They needed me.

That's not enough, Mrs. Elliott.

Don't you understand?

You must have some legal position.

I have to take them back and

all of.

I don't know.

Just hold on a minute.

Let's go talk to Snapple
and perhaps remember,

there's some way out of this.

Mr. Snipper.

I know we've had our differences
in the past, Madam.

I have come over


Some of them are hardly more than babies.

What?

This is the first home
most of them have ever had.

He has the law on his side, ma'am. Why?

Why should he have the law on his side?

Because institutions are founded
to provide for those who are in need.

How can a man like you know of a child's
need?

All you want to do is hurt them up.

It's so much ahead.

How can you even you be that cruel?

Look, Mr.

Snapple, you brought the complaint.

You say
the word, we'll tear it up and forget it.

My duty is clear and simple.

Those boys are my charges.

You can go to court to Mrs. Elliott.

Oh, I will make no mistake that.

That, of course, is your prerogative.

Now I want to talk to those boys.

Just hold on a minute, Mr.. Mrs. Elliott.

I want to talk to him first.
And so will I.

I, I think she should see.

I'm sure glad you weren't in

charge when I was an orphan.

Christine.

Lassie. Christine, Christine.

The ladies. And Go on.

I cannot find a sign of the men
where they presently.

Build

their heart.

My sons were gone.

They passed.

Night came a night of fear and prayers.

I Weldon as bad as teeth beyond our fears.

And my sons have been swallowed up by it.

In my anxiety about the children,
I didn't realize

anyone else was missing
until I heard Major Adams forming.

The entire continent fell.

Hawks You call me Major.

Your name? Bill Hawks know
my name. George.

I know that. Where's Bill? I see him all.

He knows what he's lost to him.

Well, he better not be, Bill.

If the Major and I
could have known where Bill was,

we both would have
been easier in our minds.

He don't want to be.

Or scenes or things.

Did I spell it wrong?

You worry about the spelling boy.

They'll get the idea.

Major Adams, who used
They knew where everybody was found.

As the hours went by,
he couldn't find anybody.

Jay Carney lost her.

He's disappeared someplace.

Maybe he's out hunting.

Well, if he's out hunting, Mrs.

Elliott, he's lost it.

Try me, honey.

I want you. Morty.

Everything on your plate?

Good for you.
Besides, I'll put hair on your chest.

Who believes that?

I do.

No one knew how

Bill managed to get into camp on
everyone's noses.

PIN up that note and get out again.

Somehow he did.

That. Can't get away with that.

You better find those boys, Major.

I'm holding you responsible.

You know, Mr.

Snaffle,

you're a real nice man, a fine man.

And Abby was gone long before I missed.

By now,
I think Bill had almost forgotten Mr.

Sniffle and was beginning
to look on the whole thing as a game

with Major Adams

fella

Gillette.

Here he comes.

There you are, Philip.

Just have a seat.

And Philip was attending
his first council meeting,

and from all I hear, he conducted himself
beautifully.

The councilors voted to try
for an exchange of prisoners.

We're going to give ourselves up
if they set

interest free.

That's very commendable, George.

But before we give ourselves up,
we want to be sure that Chris

will be cared for.

That's why you kidnaped me.

We won't be around to look after her.

We want to be sure you know what to do.

She never remembers to wear rubbers
when it rains.

She always remembers years,
but never her own.

If she thinks we're not looking,
she does need her oatmeal.

She needs her oatmeal
equals hair on your chest.

Sometimes she falls asleep
before she puts out a lantern.

That's dangerous.

I don't

know what she'll do without us
to look after you.

Only one man.

It's not easy to replace 12 men.

I wish you fellas would stick around.

Just kind of move over a little
and make room for me.

No, We have to give ourselves up.

Well, now, don't be so hasty.

I have an idea, Bill.

You think you could get back into camp
and out again?

Yeah, sure.

It getting so easy, it stopped being fun.

And sure enough, the next thing

Major Adams knew
somebody else was missing.

I'm telling you,
I don't know where they are.

I'm telling you, you can't spirit
all those people away from under my nose.

I don't give a continental
about your nose.

What makes me mad is that they're
being spirited out from under my nose.

Well, do something.

Don't just stand there.

Do something. Find that. Woman.

We voted to amend our last vote.

And, Chris, you.

You want me to marry Mr.

Ayres?

I want you to marry Mr.

Ayres.

And I want every one of these boys
to live happily ever after with us.

But what can we do?

Well.

I have an idea, Bill.

I think I've got the same idea, Phillip,
But it's going to take a little doing.

You and Charlie better give me a hand.

Come on,

Bill.

Try Bill and.

Charlie.

I got to hold him.

And by the authority vested in me,

I now pronounce you man and wife

and those whom God has joined together.

Let no man put under

Marshal can say

Major,

I knew you would see it my way, Nancy.

I don't mind telling you. I'm
glad to see snap.

Well done out of these lads.

Now that they have a father,
there's not one thing you can do about it.

Now, I feel.

Start signing these adoption papers, Mr.

Ayres.

Oh. Oh.

Oh. Well, Mr.

Nipper, we're happy to have you join us.

So you didn't know where they were
all the time?

Lawless hooligans.

Oh, Mr. Snap.

Well, prepare yourself for a shock.

And so at last,
I was at peace with the law.

And the law was at peace with me.

I looked at my husband and my young sons

and felt my father's blessings
all about us.

I knew suddenly he had
found what he wished for us,

what he wish for all of us.

So let's go.

Who are you?

I don't have any mother or father.

You don't?

But you have.

Now I say

you move.