09x26 - A Dream to Dream

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Bonanza". Aired: September 12, 1959 - January 16, 1973.*
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Set during and after the Civil w*r, "Bonanza" is the story of Ben and his 3 sons on the family's thousand-acre spread, known as the Ponderosa, near Virginia City.
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09x26 - A Dream to Dream

Post by bunniefuu »

Well, Chub, we only got
about an hour of sunshine left,

but we ain't got
that far to go no how.

Ah! That sure hits the spot.

- Want another one?
- No. No, thank you.

Say, I never seen you around
here before. Where are you from?

Virginia City. My
name's Hoss Cartwright.

- Oh. Sam.
- Sam, happy to meet you.

- Uh, how long you gonna be here?
- A week or ten days.

I'm over here to look at some
horses a fellow named Carter's got.

You've come to the right place,

he's sitting right
around the corner alone.

Oh, thanks.

- Josh Carter?
- Yes. What can I do for you?

My name's Hoss Cartwright. I think
you and my pa have been corresponding.

Oh, of course. The horses.

Sit down, Mr. Cartwright.

I don't want to
take up your time,

but I did want to let
you know I was in town.

Well, we'll just have a little
drink, little pleasure before we...

Oh, no, thank you, Mr. Carter. I
ain't even got a hotel room yet.

Hotel? I wouldn't hear about it.

I got plenty of
place at my house.

Oh, I wouldn't want to
impose on you. A hotel's fine.

I would consider it an insult if
you did not accept my hospitality.

Then you got
yourself a house guest.

Uh, Sam, bring another glass.

- Just make it a beer for me, Sam.
- Bring some beers!

And another bottle of whiskey!

CARTER: [SLURRING] ♪
By the light of the silver moon

♪ Buffalo gal won't
you come home tonight

♪ Come home tonight
Come home tonight

♪ Buffalo gal won't
you... [SLURRING]

Oh, I better not do that.

[GRUNTS]

♪ Buffalo gal won't
you come home tonight

[MUTTERING]

I found the house
and I can find the key.

There, what did I tell you?

- All right?
- I can get up by myself.

- Are you all right?
- Yeah, I'm all right.

That stupid door
wasn't even locked.

I'm going to bed.

Sarah, this is Mr. Cartwright.

How are you, ma'am?

Uh, she'll show
you to your room.

♪ Buffalo gal won't
you come out tonight

I guess there's
never a dull moment

when you work for a
fella like Mr. Carter, huh?

I don't work for him,
Mr. Cartwright. I'm married to him.

I'll get your room ready.

You sure I can't fix you
something, some eggs or...

No. No, thanks, ma'am, I... I
don't care for nothing, thank you.

Mrs. Carter, I...

I want to apologize for
what happened last night.

- No need, Mr. Cartwright.
- Oh, I think there is.

Oh, let me give you some coffee.

You see, ma'am, I... I
reckon it's sort of my fault.

I... I reckon I ordered just a
few too many drinks, that's all.

Some fellas can hold their
liquor better than others.

Don't make excuses
for my husband, please.

Last night was nothing new.

If you hadn't have been with him,
he wouldn't have come home at all.

- [CHILDREN SHOUTING]
- Oh. Excuse me.

GIRL: Give me it!
Give me it! Give me it!

- Give it!
- Children, children!

- I picked it up first!
- You did not!

Now, just a minute, you two!

The fact of the matter is that this
is my broom and I left it outside.

Now, Timmy, if you and Sally can
play nicely together, I'll let you use it.

- How's that?
- Thank you, Mom.

Thank you. And I'll be careful
that Timmy doesn't break it.

Come back here!
Come back! Come back!

It's hard to believe the things
children manage to argue over.

Yeah. Yeah, it sure is.

Um, I think I'll take a stroll out
and take a look at some of the stock.

- I'll call you when Josh gets up.
- Thank you, ma'am.

- And thank you for the coffee too.
- You're welcome.

[WHINNIES]

Well, hi, kids. Now, don't
tell me. Let me guess.

Your name must be Timmy,
and you must be Sally. Huh?

- How did you know our names?
- Well, it's sort of magic.

We don't know magic. So
you'll have to tell us your name.

All right. My name is Hoss.

- Huh?
- I said my name is Hoss.

- That's a funny name.
- Well, it's not my real name.

Why didn't you tell
us your real name?

- Well, it's sort of a nickname.
- What's a nickname?

Well, it's a name they give
you besides your real one.

Didn't they like your real name?

[CHUCKLES] Well, I
reckon they liked it all right.

But you see, a
nickname is sort of a...

Well, let me explain
it to you this way.

You see, when I was born
I was such a big young 'un,

that they decided they'd call me Hoss
'cause I was as big as a horse, see?

But you're not a
horse, you're a people.

Why didn't they
call you a giant?

That's a good question.
I'll have to ask my pa.

- I wish I had one of those nicknames.
- I wish I had one of them, too.

Well, ask your pa.
He'll give you one.

- No, we better not.
- Why?

Because our pa's sick.
He falls down on everything.

We're not supposed
to bother him.

Well, maybe one of
these days he'll be better.

If you gave us a nickname,
then we'd have one.

Oh, yes. Would you?

Well, all right.
Let's see a minute.

I know.

Sally, I'll call you Princess
because you're so pretty.

- Oh, I like that.
- I don't want to be a prince.

Oh, no, no, no, no. I got a
very special name for you.

- How's, um...
- Little Hoss.

Huh?

Little Hoss, 'cause I'm gonna
be big, but I'm not big yet.

Now, how did you guess
what I was gonna say?

- Maybe it was magic.
- I'm sure it was.

Come on, Sally,
let's go tell Mom.

Morning.

Well, you've seen some of
the horses. What do you think?

Well, I don't want to flatter you,
I don't want that price going up.

I don't do business that way.

A little flattery will get
you everywhere with me.

Well, in that
case I'll tell you.

Thus far, they're the finest-looking
bunch of animals I've ever seen

- in my life, bar none.
- Good. But that's just a sample.

It'll take eight or ten days to round
up all the animals I want you to see.

- Well, I've got nothing but time.
- That's good.

A man ought to take his
time picking good horses.

Oh, excuse me. You want a drink?

- No, no, thank you.
- Just a little hair from the dog, hm?

Josh, I don't want to
bother you if you're busy,

but the children are all ready.

Ready? Ready for what?

We had a picnic planned
for today. You remember?

What do you mean, I remember?

Think that's all I've got
to think about today?

A picnic?

I'm running a ranch.

Yes, I know, Josh, but I just
wondered if you could join us.

Look, if you two got plans, please
go ahead with them. Don't mind me.

I mean, I got nothing
but time anyhow.

- It would make the children so happy.
- I told you I'm busy, Sarah.

I have work in town.

It's just like a
woman, isn't it?

Wants all the things
money can buy,

but can't understand why the
husband has to work to get them.

We'll have some of those other
horses rounded up by tomorrow

and then we'll go
out and take a look.

Well, I can't let all that
fried chicken go to waste.

Oh.

Oh. I took the liberty of
hitching up the horses.

- Oh, that was kind of you, but...
- No, ma'am, not kind.

You don't know me very well,
but when you mention fried chicken

and picnics around Hoss Cartwright,
you got to figure on taking him with you.

I wonder what's keeping those
children? Sally, Timmy! Come on!

- Oh, is Hoss coming, Mommy?
- Yes, he is. Now, come on.

- Oh, good. Can we play games, Hoss?
- Hurry up.

You bet we can. Jump
in. Here we go. All aboard.

- This is gonna be fun, Mommy.
- We'll have a ball.

- [SALLY LAUGHING]
- Giddap!

ALL: ♪ Gently down the stream

♪ Merrily, merrily, merrily,
merrily Life is but a dream

♪ Row, row, row your
boat gently down the stream

♪ Merrily, merrily, merrily,
merrily Life is but a dream

[HOSS LAUGHS]

You rascals. You caught me.

Can we play one more?

Timmy, you've been
saying that all afternoon.

You're gonna wear
Mr. Cartwright out.

Hey, I'll tell you what, kids.

Why don't you go find me a
dragon. And then I'll help you catch it.

But there's no such
thing as a dragon.

Why, sure there is. Haven't
you ever seen a lizard?

Yes. But lizards are
little and dragons are big.

That's right, but they're
just baby dragons, ain't they?

Hey, that's right,
Sally. Come on.

[SHOUTING]

[SIGHS]

Oh, man, I'm plumb tuckered out.

Feel like I been
riding trail for a month.

I can imagine. You've
been at it all afternoon.

Well, I didn't really want to
quit. You see, I was winning.

[LAUGHS]

- Are you married, Mr. Cartwright?
- No, ma'am.

I thought... I thought you might be.
You have such a way with children.

Thought you might
have some of your own.

No, no. I want to.

My pa talks about how much
fun it was raising us boys.

Watching us learn. And I'd like
for you to meet him some time.

I think you'd like him.

Well, if he's anything like
his son, I know that I would.

- TIMMY: Come on, Sally, come on!
- [SALLY SHOUTING]

I haven't seen the children
that happy in a long time.

You've made quite an impression.

Well, leave it to a stranger to come
along and spoil your young 'uns, right?

Not always.

The only other stranger
they know is their father.

I'm sorry.

Guess I'm not much
fun at picnics anymore.

My husband wasn't
always like this, you know.

That was a silly thing
to say, "you know."

How could you know?

You're a stranger.

Well, sometimes it's
easier to talk to strangers.

Josh was a fine man. He
was so devoted to his children.

He... He used to spoil them too
much, but... but he loved them.

- Especially Michael.
- Michael?

He was our oldest.

Oh, what a beautiful boy.
He'd steal your heart in a minute.

He went everywhere
with his father.

Josh used to put him on
the saddle in front of him

and they'd ride half the day.

Then one morning,
the horse stumbled.

It was nobody's fault, but...

Our son d*ed that night.

So did my husband.

Now, you two are gonna have
to finish that milk and get to bed.

You've been fooling
for an hour and it's late.

Can't we stay up just a little
longer? Maybe Daddy'll be home.

I told you your father might
have to work late tonight.

Why does Daddy have
to work late every night?

Because he has to.
Now, hurry up and finish.

It's way past your bedtime.

- But I'm not tired.
- Me neither.

I'll tell you what.

You two hurry up and
finish, then I'll tuck you in bed

and I'll give you
a dream to dream.

What's a dream to dream?

Well, come along with
me, and I'll show you.

- Good night, Mommy.
- Good night, Mommy.

Run along!

Now, are you ready for
that dream I promised you?

- TIMMY: Oh, yeah.
- All right.

Now, shut your eyes.

Real tight.

Now, here's your dream.

We can fly, really fly,
just like great big birds.

And we fly way
up high in the sky,

to one of those great
big fluffy white clouds.

And when we get there, we find
out that it's made out of marshmallow,

and we can eat
it, just like candy.

Then when we
eat all of it we want,

then we fly over to the
next big white fluffy cloud.

And when we get there,

we find out that it's
a great big soft pillow.

And we lay down on it.

And we go fast, fast asleep.

We didn't say our prayers.

SALLY: We have to say them
before we get to go to sleep.

Now, doggone it, how
come I didn't think of that?

Sure you do.

Dear God, thank you for
all the nice things we have.

And please forgive us when we're
bad, because we don't mean it.

And God, bless Mommy and Daddy,

and please make Daddy feel good
and not have to work so hard. Amen.

Sally.

Dear God, please bless our friend Hoss
and have him stay with us a long time.

Amen.

- Good night, Hoss.
- Good night, Hoss.

We'll dream our dream now.

Good night, sweethearts.

Good night.

That's... That's quite
a pair you got there.

Yes, they are.

After the workout you gave them
today, I think they'll sleep like logs.

- Yeah, so will I.
- [CHUCKLES]

I want to apologize again
for my behavior today.

I was feeling a little
sorry for myself, I guess.

I just wanted someone
to feel sorry along with me.

Well, I reckon we all feel sorry for
ourselves at one time or another.

The main thing is not
to make a habit of it.

You know, being
happy ain't that easy.

You really got
to work at it hard.

[LAUGHS] I sound like
my pa lecturing us boys.

No, you're right. It was so
easy to be happy for so long,

I guess I just never
learned to work at it.

Well, it's never too late.

I wish I could believe that.

For my husband's sake.

You could try.

Yes, but...

after all these years,
it's not that easy.

I didn't say it was gonna be
easy. I just said you could try.

Well, it's getting late and I got a
lot of stock to look at tomorrow.

I think I'd better turn in.

Good night, ma'am.

Hoss...

- Yes, ma'am?
- Thank you.

- Good night, Sarah.
- Good night.

[WHINNIES]

Boy, that's a mighty
fine-looking bunch of animals.

I'd like that big chestnut mare.

And that big bay over there.

Cut them out and
put them with the rest.

That's all for today.

We'll have the north herd
in here in a couple of days.

I think you'll like
them even better.

Well, you're gonna have to do
something to b*at this bunch.

I got some work to
take care of in town.

So see you bright and
early, day after tomorrow.

- TIMMY: Hoss! Hoss!
- HOSS: Hey!

- Could you play a game with us?
- Hey, kids! Oh, wait a minute!

Timmy! Timmy,
Mr. Cartwright just came back!

- He's been working all morning.
- Your mom's right.

I'm sort of tuckered
out to play games.

But I'll tell you what. I'm not
too tuckered out to go fishing.

- You got poles?
- You bet.

They're out in the toolshed.
Come on, Sally, let's go get 'em.

[LAUGHS] You
really don't have to.

No, I don't have to, but we do.

I mean, if you're gonna cook the fish,
you're gonna have to help catch them.

- Oh, but I...
- No argument.

Remember, I'm a guest.

But I don't know the
slightest thing about fishing.

Well, Sarah, them fish don't
know nothing about that, do they?

Come on, let's go.

All right, but I warned you.

[INDISTINCT]

[LAUGHTER]

HOSS: and so the
poor little servant boy

grew up one day to be the king.

- How'd you like that?
- TIMMY: That was great, Hoss.

That boy sure was
brave to k*ll two giants.

HOSS: Oh, boy, was
he ever. You bet he was.

SALLY: Can we hear a
story about a princess? Story...

[DOOR CLOSES]

Children, it's late. You'd
better be off to bed.

- Good night, kids.
- Good night.

- Good night, Hoss.
- Bye, buddy. Bye, sweetie.

- Well, does that do it for you?
- Yep, sure does.

You know, it's a tough decision

when there's all them
good ones to choose from.

Well, I'm real happy
you're pleased.

I got to go along with the
drovers and get them in the corral.

I'll see you back at
the house a little later.

- Right.
- Won't take long.

- Hi.
- Oh, Hoss.

I didn't even hear you
come in, I was so busy.

- How'd everything go today?
- Oh, fine.

I just bought the finest bunch of
horses I've ever seen in my life.

- Did Josh come back with you?
- No.

He was gonna round the rest of
them up and then come on home later.

Good. That'll give me a
chance to get everything ready.

- Boy, that smells good.
- [LAUGHS] Beef stew.

- Used to be Josh's favorite.
- I'll guarantee it's mine.

- I just hope you made enough of it.
- [LAUGHS] Don't worry, I did.

Oh! I forgot to take
the pie out of the oven.

- Ooh!
- You all right?

Oh! It's not too bad.
Oh, that was silly of me.

Mrs. Carter, those hands
are entirely too lovely

to be grabbing a
hot oven handle.

Oh. Well, I haven't had
a compliment like that

in many a year, Mr. Cartwright.

I speak only the truth,
ma'am, only the truth. I'll get it.

Excuse me. I'd better
get dressed for dinner.

[DOOR CLOSES]

How do I look?

Lovely. Absolutely lovely.

Well, thank you.

- It's all your doing, you know.
- Mine?

You told me to
work at being happy.

Well, a woman can't feel happy
if she doesn't feel like a woman.

Well, in that event, you
should be terribly happy.

I just hope Josh
likes the way I look.

Well, if he doesn't, he's blind.

We got them all in the corral.

Remember what I told you before.

You're welcome to use
my drovers if you want.

That's mighty generous of you,
but once I send a telegraph to Pa

we'll have some fellas
here in a day or two.

Suit yourself.

Josh, dinner's ready
any time you want.

- I'm not hungry.
- I made some beef stew.

I said I'm not hungry, Sarah.

- Josh...
- What is it, Sarah?

Nothing.


Well, I've got some paperwork to
finish up. You make yourself at home.

Sarah.

He isn't blind.

I just don't exist
for him anymore.

You know, it's funny.

I was unhappy
before you came here.

But it was a different kind of
unhappiness than I feel now.

I guess I was just
used to my life.

It was the way things
were, and that was that.

Oh, Hoss.

[SOBBING] I did so want
him to look at me today.

- Sarah, don't, don't.
- [SOBBING]

TIMMY: Mommy?

What's the matter, Mommy?

Nothing, Timmy. Nothing.

Come on, you and Sally
better have your supper.

[SARAH SOBBING]

- Morning, Hoss.
- Oh. Morning there, Little Hoss.

- Did you have a good dream last night?
- Pretty good. Why?

I didn't. I couldn't sleep.
Mommy cried all night.

Oh. Well, Timmy,

all of us cry every
once in a while I reckon.

My daddy never does,
'cause he's a man.

Yeah.

Hey, how come you're
not out playing with Sally?

Oh, she's over at Patty Benson's
house playing those silly girl's games.

Yeah. I know what you mean.

Hey, I got an idea.

How come you and
me don't go for a ride?

- You mean it?
- Come on.

Well, Little Hoss, we'll pull
up here and stop a minute.

Let this old pony
get a little rest.

It's kinda tough on him
hauling two big fellows like you

- and me around all the time.
- He's nice.

- What's his name?
- Chubby.

Is that his real name
or his nickname?

Well, he never did tell me his
real name, so I just call him Chubby.

My pa won't let me have a horse
because of what happened to my brother.

Well, maybe he will one of these days,
Timmy, when you get a little bit bigger.

My pa wouldn't let me
have one either until I got big.

- Do you have a pa?
- Sure, I got a pa.

Then he must really be big.

Yeah. He's big all right.

Does your pa dream?

Sure. Everybody does.

I don't mean just regular dreams. I
mean happy dreams like you gave us.

Yeah, he has those
dreams too. Why?

I was just wondering. I wish I
could ride with you every day, Hoss.

So do I, little buddy.

So do I.

- Come on, Hoss, one more time, please?
- Maybe tomorrow we'll...

- [SCREAMS]
- How many times have I told you

never to get on a
horse?! How many times?!

- Carter!
- Stay out of this, Cartwright.

- This is my son.
- I didn't mean anything, Hoss.

- I didn't.
- I know. I know that, son.

Run along in the
house with your mommy.

Carter, you had
no call to do that.

I asked the boy to
go for a ride with me.

Now, if there's anything
wrong with that then it's my fault.

You have no right to tell
me how to discipline my son.

I do until you start
treating him like a son.

Anybody can have a child, but
that doesn't make him a father.

Pack your things and get
out of my house tonight.

Come on, it's all right. Shh.

Shh, Timmy.

You stop. In the
name of heaven, stop!

[GLASS SHATTERS]

- TIMMY: Mommy!
- Timmy, you go to your room.

What do you mean acting
like that in front of the child?

What do I mean? How dare
you say that to me! How dare you!

It never seemed to bother
you to stagger around drunk

in front of your children,
day in and day out!

Never talking to them,
never being a father to them!

Michael wasn't your only child,
you know, or did you forget that?

I told you never to
mention my son's name!

Your son? I was his mother!

Or did you forget that too?

I carried that child
around inside of me!

When he d*ed,
part of me d*ed too!

Well, if you feel so bad, why
can't you understand the way I feel?

Because I can't!

Because you have two
children who need a father!

And a wife who needs a husband.

Oh... I just can't live
with you anymore.

Josh, I'm gonna leave you.

I'm taking the
children and leaving.

That's nonsense. You don't
know what you're talking about.

Yes, I do. I know
exactly what I'm saying.

- We'll leave today.
- You can't do that.

- Yes, I can.
- Sarah...

Don't leave me.

That won't work, Josh. I don't
feel sorry for you anymore.

It's been too long. I'm tired.

A stranger came into this house
and gave your children more love

and attention than you've
given them in four years!

For the first time in their lives, they
know what it's like to have a father!

All right. You want
to go? Go ahead!

I just don't want to
hear about it anymore!

Sarah.

Cartwright's the
cause of this, isn't he?

I'm leaving because I have to.

SARAH: Hoss.

I've been looking for you.

I thought I'd take a
little walk before I left.

So did I.

I'm leaving too.

It won't work, Hoss.

You said I should try, and
I did. But it just won't work.

- Are you sure?
- I'm sure.

What about the children?

Well... It won't be
easy for them, I know.

But the longer I wait, the
harder it will be for them.

They need someone
who loves them.

What about you, Sarah?

Oh. Hi, kids.

- Hoss, can we come in?
- Sure. Come in.

We want to talk to you.

All right.

Mommy said you were
gonna take us to town.

Well, your mama asked me
to take you in in the wagon.

And I told her I would.

Daddy's not going, is he, Hoss?

No, honey, your
daddy's not going.

Do you love Mommy?

Timmy, your mommy
is a wonderful lady.

You do love Mommy, don't you?

I love all of you.

We love you too, Hoss. That's
why we know that you'll help us.

You tell him.

We didn't tell you
the truth about Daddy.

We didn't even
tell God the truth

because we didn't want
God to be mad at him.

Our daddy's not sick. He
drinks whiskey because he's sad.

Mommy never told
us, but we knew.

He doesn't mean to be sad,
he just forgot how to be happy.

But you can help him, Hoss.

Please give our daddy
a dream to dream.

- I'll try.
- Thank you, Hoss.

Here's the bank draft.
I'll be leaving now.

My drovers should
be here by tomorrow.

The horses are ready any time.

Is that all you got to say?

What else is there to say?

You know, Cartwright, I've been
sitting here for the past few hours

trying to think of a way to
stop my wife from leaving me.

Everything from pleading
with Sarah to fighting you.

But neither one seems
to make much sense.

There's just no way to
make someone love you.

- Have you really tried, Carter?
- No, I never tried.

Not since Michael d*ed.

I suppose Sarah told
you I k*lled my oldest son?

No. She told me
it was an accident.

Yes, an accident. An accident.

It could have happened to anyone,
but it didn't happen to anyone.

It happened to me.

And the next...

It seems like such a long time ago,
but this morning it was only yesterday.

You know, it's been a
long time for Sarah, too.

I know that.

I'm not asking for forgiveness
or sympathy, Cartwright.

Well, good. 'Cause you
ain't gonna get none here.

For the last four years
you ain't been a father.

You ain't been nothing. Nothing!

You got a wife and two
kids that need a lot of loving

to make up for what
you ain't give 'em.

These past four years have
not been easy for me either!

Oh, come on, Carter. You ain't
been suffering that guilt for yourself,

you been making Sarah
and those kids suffer it.

Let me tell you something.

Destroying their
love was no accident.

Get out of here.

You don't love Sarah.

You're just afraid
of being alone.

No, I'm not afraid of
being alone, Cartwright.

I've worked very hard at
that for these past four years.

Yeah. And you gonna keep
working at it, aren't you?

A man that loves his
wife wouldn't sit back

and watch another man
take her away from him.

You stay with that bottle.
That's all you need, buddy.

[CARTER YELLS]

Cartwright, I may not
have Sarah anymore,

but before you leave
you're gonna know I love her.

Me and you are gonna find
out just how much, ain't we?

Now I know.

Sarah, come over here a
minute. I want to talk to you.

Your husband and I just fought.

- Is he all right?
- He's all right.

- Sarah, I'm not taking you with me.
- Why?

Because he loves you...

- and you love him.
- You're wrong, Hoss.

Am I, Sarah?

Then... tell me you love me.

It's as simple as that. Just look
at me straight and say, I love you.

No, Sarah, you... you need me.

You've needed somebody
for a long, long time.

And it was just
me that showed up.

And Sarah, there's a lot of
difference in needing and loving.

It's wrong for two people to
lie to each other or themselves.

Been telling myself all along
that you love me, and I...

I reckon I knew all along
that what you really loved

was something that
you used to see in Josh.

And I think that he'll give
you those things again, Sarah.

You remember me telling you that
people had to work hard at being happy?

I think Josh is ready
for that work now.

If only I could be sure.

If I weren't sure, I'd never
leave here without you.

Give him a chance.

- Is it time to go, Hoss?
- No, little buddy.

Your mommy decided to stay here.

What do you mean?

I mean you're all gonna
stay here and all be together.

Oh, Hoss, you did it.
We knew you could.

- You gave our daddy a dream.
- Yeah. That's right.

I gave him a dream.

Now, if I were you two, I'd
run in the house and see him,

because I think he
might have a kiss for you.

Come on.

Run!

We love you.

I love you too, buddy.

Run.
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