Three Fox Fables (1948)

well sir out in the woods mr fox is looking for food as usual i think i'd like something a little special today says mr fox now you take a raccoon he gets all excited over eating just a few nuts and that skunk he thinks roots are delicious yes and just give a porcupine a few leaves and he's happy but i want something special aha now here's something i really like sweet juicy grapes very nice a little high maybe but i think i can take care of that one good jump ought to do it i think now up hmm a little higher than i thought oh well they're probably sour i'm sure they are sour and why should i bother with sour grapes so they're sour now are they mr fox just because you can't reach them sour grapes it's so easy to say that when you can't get them the next day mr fox is prowling through the woods really hungry this time and smelling something good somewhere nearby ah cheese rich tasty cheese but how did it get way up in that tree that thief blacky crow must have stolen it and carried it up there hi there mr fox calls out blackie have some cheese it's very good will i have some thanks mr fox i'll get it all if i can only climb this tree blacky crow feels quite safe come on up he calls and hungry mr fox does his best first on this side and then on that but the branches are in his way as mr fox works he begins to think of a sly scheme to get the cheese now let me see i've got to make blacky crow pick up the whole piece of cheese if he'll just do that i believe yes i'm quite sure i can get him to drop it just look at him how pleased he is with himself how proud and vain he is i'll flatter him that's what i'll do i'll flatter him i'll tell him what a fine fellow he is and soon i'll have him doing anything i want i'll make him give up that cheese well here goes morning friend crow that's a beautiful sleek black coat you have there ah i think my scheme is going to work you must be quite a strong fellow can you really pick up that heavy piece of cheese aha he did it what a powerful beak what beautiful feathers what a graceful neck i don't mind saying that you're the handsomest crow i've ever had the pleasure of seeing what lovely dark eyes and what a voice so pleasing when you speak it must be beautiful when you sing couldn't i hear just one little song just one you cheat you didn't really want to hear me sing all you wanted was the cheese yum yum you learned a lesson didn't you friend crow he who falls for flattery is a fool today slime winter fox is calling on old man stork he finds old man stork in a pond among the tall reeds catching tiny fish for dinner so mr fox says to him what a hard way to get your meals but old man stork pays no attention so mr fox dashes across almost frightening the old fisherman and then begins again friend stork you seem to have a very hard time finding something to eat why not come and dine with me i have some elegant food plenty for us both now what do you say why thank you very kindly neighbor fox this is a real surprise and i shall be most delighted it's really very nice of you to think of inviting me now please lead the way and i shall follow old man stark is really happy to be invited to mr fox's home so he follows along through the tall reeds mr fox is making sure that old man stark doesn't lose his way now on through the woods closer and closer to mr fox's dining room where the dinner is already prepared what a surprise this will be think sly mr fox as he gets everything ready old stork is thinking only about how kind mr fox is to invite him over to dinner and wondering what he will have to eat now friend stork it's all ready and it's all for you if you'll excuse me oh come now don't eat the plate try the soup this is good and old man stork tries politely to sip the thin soup with his long sharp beak it's delicious friend stork don't you think well uh possibly so i could do better though if you had uh served it in a deeper bowl this one well uh i i just can't seem to uh oh who in the world could eat this way why says mr fox i'm surprised watch me wonderful soup wonderful only now does the old stork see that mr fox is having a joke at his expense and he begins to work out a plan of his own very tasty says mr fox would you have a little more no thanks replies old man stork uh really had plenty now i would be very pleased if you'd come over to my place for dessert won't you mr fox could hardly believe his ears ah do you agree then come on with me this time old man stork leads the way mr fox has played his joke on me and let him laugh while he can it's my turn now mr fox can't understand why old man stark is so good to him but he'll soon find out all right brother fox come on dessert is waiting i hope my little friend hasn't lost his way ah here he comes help yourself my boy oh ho thanks mr fox what's this and that dessert smells so delicious too now let's see uh how do i go about getting it uh begin at the top old van stark suggests at the top of course thanks mr fox and he tries and he tries again i won't let that start get the best of me my dear fellow don't be bashful just help yourself tut tut now please don't eat my vase there's plenty of food for both of us inside i just reached down from the top my my why keep running around here let me show you ah delicious very tasty now my dear fellow please try again no thank you i know when i've had enough well well says old man stork if you insist and thanks very much for coming over and remember friend fox this lesson the last laugh is the best laugh this is indeed a very good lesson he who laughs last laughs best you