AS THE TWIG IS BENT

foreign [Music] foreign [Music] hey let me try that what do you call it yo-yo a yo-yo [Music] [Applause] ah such crazy driving you know Freddie I hope you never drive like that I won't grab of course you won't every time I hear break Screech like that reminds me of the day I was introduced to the stone youngsters you remember when was that well it was early spring April to be exact and there was a moving van unloading outside of that old place which had stood vacant for a couple years you remember me you know Freddie if there's one thing I've always fancied it's watching new neighbors move in all right can't you see where you're going young power sure I can see Bob's what's the idea of standing on the streets you want to get killed listen young man this is a quiet neighborhood there's no call for you to drive like a madman uh is this the sort of characters that live around here wouldn't you know Daddy pick a neighborhood like this you mean you're the folks that are moving in here nobody else any objections Pops that I had I object to your driving and I object to your attitude and furthermore my name is Henry Fisher not pops all right pops now listen to not go crawl back in your family album pop hahaha Billy yeah Dad how about going inside and helping your mother unpack all right come on and Bill move your car out of the driveway okay Dad all right pops that's what he kept calling me perhaps that's the most aggravating thing in the world and that young whippery snapper he had the nerve to tell me to go crawl back in my family album well at least you're being good company Grandpa sure but I don't need him to tell me that I heard the stone family comes from Chicago father's a chemical engineer oh is he works in the laboratory of the new plastic plant well how nice not a chance to get settled I'll call on Mrs Stone what kind of a jalopy was it Grandpa huh Oh you mean the one that almost run me down how should I know I think something that had four wheels too much speed and a crazy driver just about your age too I think I'll go over and have a look tomorrow at what the boy of the car both well I hope your social approach is more agreeable than Grandpa's [Music] thank you okay says nice try [Music] go ahead and hold it hold it hold it hold it it's got trouble huh can I give you a hand boy you know about cars well I worked at Donaldson's service station last summer I know enough to get by you mean to tell me they've got a service station in this town got news for you fella trains stop here we've got phones and movies we've even got television too let's see that screwdriver uh could I have some of your tools please that's fine [Applause] hey no no take it easy don't wreck any hear me uh that's my jalopy's name what's my sister's name too Emily what all right oh Fisher Emily Fisher I'm Pete Fisher you mean you're related to that old sore head well if you mean Grandpa you you can't blame him for burning when you almost ran him down while he was blocking traffic that isn't the way I heard it [Applause] say he's great better wait and see if it works okay let's try it foreign [Applause] store to help Dad I'll be seeing you hey wait a second Pete if uh if Emmy throws another shoe can I call on you sure Bill anytime all right bye okay assistant all right [Music] all right that's that stone kid now do you see what I mean yeah I do I wonder if his parents know about him driving like this no I didn't now that I do I'm certainly going to do something about it did you notice that Sheridan table in the hallway oh I sure did they certainly have lovely antiques do you think that base on the mantle was a real Copenhagen of course it is personally I don't care too much for for Chip and Dale but then I've got to admit that that corner whatnot was out of this world Oh I thought it was a bit ornate but I'd love to have a Queen Anne desk like they have and who is they the stones mother and I called her Mrs Stone this afternoon um was Mr Stone there no why nothing well I think I'll turn it in good night folks good night Dave not Mom good night honey good night Grandpa good night my dear what kind of a woman is Mr Stone well I don't really know except she gave me the impression that she was a terribly Lonely Woman only with her husband and two children and what children why that flipper Snapper almost ran crawling me down as we were coming home no dear he missed us [Laughter] why did I throw you a really fast one of what's the matter guys scored you I gotta go bill ah come on what do you gotta go for I have to go home and mow the lawn stay Bill our team could use another good pitcher what team our church team oh well uh I guess that lets me off but why well anything to do with any church my old man set against what's your father got against churches well nothing special I guess it's just that as far back as I can remember he's always been dead set against them well that's too bad what's so long I'll tell you buddy huh a lot [Applause] Benny will you bring some of these things over to the sink please oh I'm tired Bill do you mind I'm quite thick on me I've never seen anything like it every time I need any help around here I can't get either of you to do a thing oh Mom why don't you quit beeping just a minute young man I won't stand for you're talking to your mother like this now to clear those dishes from the table you too baby okay Rufus yeah I had a lovely visit at the Fishers today who says Fisher and her daughter are really fine people and you know what no what they invited us to go to church with them next Sunday huh oh yeah what'd you tell them I said we'd go you what I said we'd go you did eh but dear I'd like to go now that we've moved into a new town I was hoping we could well start a more normal life you know how I feel about churches and religion maybe that's what's wrong with this family maybe if the children had had some religious training show more respect for us now our children are not going to church until they're old enough to decide for themselves couldn't you be wrong for once why must you always scarf like an atheist how many times do I have to tell you why I'm not an atheist only a fool would say there's no God In Due Time Bill and Betty will learn that for themselves into time when where and if what's wrong with them going now we're not going to any church with or without the Fishers and that's fine [Music] foreign foreign [Music] I'd like to borrow your car today doesn't matter with your own car if Miami broke down the answer is no the dad today's decoration day you won't be using the car I said no but how can I get to the Ball Game in Reading if you don't let me have the car it's 35 miles away dad and besides I promise I'd take Pete Fisher I don't care who you promised to take you can't have my car today so let's say no more about it thank you Good morning Tony fine morning nice weather for decoration day oh um by the way Miss Fisher would you mind telling your daughter-in-law that Mrs Stone won't be able to go to church with her this coming Sunday oh I'm sorry to hear that Anna was sort of looking forward to it [Applause] best insecticide on the market for the money you don't say I ought to know I made the formula it's a byproduct of our firm having trouble with your roses this year well no more trouble than every year first it's safe for some Venice mildew then it's more apers and then it's red spiders oh by the way Mr storm would you take a look at this rose bush up here I'm having a little trouble with mildew [Applause] sure sure well I'm not certain it is mildo by the way Mr Stone tell me why are you so dead set against letting those kids of yours go to church well since you put it so bluntly I'll be just as blunt I love my children Mr Fisher I don't want to fill their minds with all sorts of inhibitions and ready-made ideas the ready-made ideas huh that's just what you're doing Mr Stone filling in them with your ready-made ideas when they grow up I want them to be clear-eyed Resolute independent unafraid I'm confused with a lot of religious bugaboos [Music] what are you up to looking for Dad's car keys but Dad said you couldn't have the car so what [Music] and that's the way I look at it when Bill and Betty are old enough to make their own decision I'll be very willing for them to go to any church they choose only that oh hi sharks Mr storm do you wait until a child is old enough to decide to go to the dentist or the doctor or a school we just know what's good for them and make sure that they get it but going to church isn't like going to a dentist religion is something more more intimate matter of personal conviction that it is in our family it's always been a matter of personal conviction and when a man has personal convictions of his own he just naturally wants to pass him on to his children especially when he's certain in his heart what he's got is good I wish I could agree with him you know Mr Stone our children are given to us as a trust from the Lord [Applause] the Bible tells us that in a sense they're not ours 30 years and he expects us not only to feed their bodies and educate their minds but also to take care of their souls and someday we're going to have to give an account if you don't mind Mr Fisher I've got to get these letters in the Box oh Mr Stone you think I should wait until this rose bush is old enough to decide whether it wants to be sprayed or not I thought we'd drop that subject you just can't get away from the MR storm if you don't read your roses and you don't spray your blooms before the bugs get the best of me it's too late to do anything about it afterwards the time to do your weeding and spraying is when they're young same goes for youngsters too sorry I can't stay Mr Fisher I must mail these letters [Music] yes Dad remember take it easy sure Dad [Music] raising jalopy fell apart dad told me I could borrow his come on come on and get in foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hey Bill slow down will you [Music] [Applause] crazy we can't leave an accident [Music] it wasn't Pete's fault he tried to get me not to leave the accident but after borrowing dad's car when he said I couldn't I I guess I got scared oh I hope you realize this is more than a traffic violation even if nobody was in the other car this is a hit and run according to the law but I'm fully covered my insurance company will pay for the damage Mr stone that doesn't alter the case hit and run is a serious offense your boil have to be held how much is his bail Mr Stone that's up to the judge but in as much as this is a holiday you'll have to wait Lamar before the hearing can be held Look chief I'm I'm sure you can depend on Mr Stone to have his boy in court couldn't you release him into his father's custody all right Mr Stone I'll let the boy go home with you but you both better be here for the hearing we'll be here Chief thank you and just a minute if you don't mind I'd like to give you a word of advice you're new here in Middleburg and you're welcome but it is your duty to see that your boy doesn't violate our laws and you young men we've had our eye on you for some time the way you drive that hot rod around makes you more dangerous than Maniac with a loaded gun I'll forbidden to drive he'll be confined to the house I'll deprive him of Mr Stone you don't seem to understand make good citizens out of young people by forbidding them to do things you must let them do things the right things and that's where you as the father come in you must help that boy help him know what's right thank you now I would suggest that uh you asked Mr Fisher about the club's his boy belongs to down at the church whatever you do do it soon the time to bend The Twig is when it's young not after it's grown into a tree someone else said something like that only this morning am I late oh you're here are you all right boy sure Grandpa to my grandpa it's all settled now if you gentleman pardon me I'm supposed to leave my voice in the parade I'll see you all later say we can get a good look at the parade from the window there that's a great idea come on come on come on all right Fisher the name is Carl Carl I I want to thank you for interceding with the chief forget it it's hard to forget what he said I guess I haven't been much of a father it's true time to bend The Twig is when it's Young well Bill isn't exactly a grown tree yet [Music] I just the chief got to his boys just in the nick of time should we go watch [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you [Music] good morning Mr Speaker good morning fine morning isn't it this bush certainly picked up fast look at those blooms yes only a week or so ago this year rose bush looked like it was on his last legs remarkable well a little spraying and weeding will do isn't it you know Mr Fisher [Music] since decoration day I've been thinking things over and uh well I finally concluded that I too want to start some weeding and spraying oh oh when you figure I'm starting Sunday morning oh and uh do you suppose you could Prevail upon your daughter-in-law too give us a rain check on that invitation to church do I said bows watch she'll be tickled in there I need that thanks Mr Fisher yes sir I'll see you Sunday morning [Music] I don't know whether you remember or not Sonny but the next Sunday was when we took the storms to our church yeah I remember Graham which just goes to prove that there isn't too much difference between this here rose bush and young people they both need care [Applause] and you know something Freddy with a little Whedon and spraying I've got an idea that those Stone youngsters are going to be all right yes sir [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]