Come on, Alan!
Ooh!
Come on, Alan!
Ooh!
Strike two!
Hit the glove, baby.
Hey, hey, cab!
[ honking ]
[ indistinct chatter ]
Nothin' that can save you now, Silverman.
Whoa!
Look at that thing go!
[ glass crashing ]
Yahoo!
Beautiful foul.
It went right into duh window.
What a genius.
That's it, guys.
Game's over.
We won.
Oh, so what?
We won the last three games in a row.
We won by five runs.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Eat dat with your pickled herring.
Let go of me.
Cut it out, Silverman.
He could pulverize you.
Nighty-night, condello.
Don't wet your bed.
Hey, Shaun, I'll race you to the second floor.
Come on, skinny.
You're a loser, Kelly!
Screwball!
Jerk!
What?
G'night, Jew!
G'night, catholic.
Hey, you kids!
What's the matter with you?
It's not your floor!
Get outta here!
What?
Al Silverman breaks Ruth's record.
The Yankee fans go wild.
[ baby crying ]
It's okay.
I live here.
[ screaming ] mama! Mama!
Ils sont en bas!!
Mama!!!
Are you sure you won't stay?
Oh, dear, it looks delicious.
I am honored, but I can't stay.
Please...
Hi, Mrs. Liebman.
Alan, you're late for dinner again.
Your father is home already.
You with your baseball game.
Mom, stick ball.
Stick ball even sounds like a game for hoodlums.
Go change for dinner.
I'm leaving you, Ruthie.
Oh, I wish you'd stay.
I'm leaving you, too.
Why don't you stay?
You have a family.
You have a supper.
Take something with you.
I'll give you such a punch.
Oh, don't you dare.
Goodbye, sweetie.
I'll call you later.
Alan, come say goodbye to Mrs. Liebman.
She's leaving.
Goodbye to Mrs. Liebman.
She's leaving.
Goodbye, Alan.
Wanna say that again, condello?
What is this?
Mom!
Charles atlas, huh?
Alan, what do you want with muscles.
A muscle is just a ...Muscle, huh?
Character should be strong.
Look at president Roosevelt, for goodness sake.
He's a giant among men, yet he's in a wheelchair,
Shriveled from the waist down.
Oh, thanks, mom.
Now I feel a whole lot better.
Come into dinner.
Oh, and your father's upset about the war, so...
[ radio announcer ] what began on d-day as a mighty thrust
Into the soft underbelly of Nazi-occupied Europe
Has slowed to a crawl in the fields and hedge rows of France.
Only George Patton and his third army continue to move
At top speed towards the German border.
[ father: ] things are bad, Alan.
Eisenhower isn't thinking.
He advanced too fast.
[ Alan: ] sorry I'm late, pop.
Hey, ma, what's for dinner?
Soup, chicken and whatever else I give you.
I'd eat bread and water
If only we could win this war already.
Tomorrow night-- bread and water.
Dinner's on the table.
Let's eat.
[ music playing ]
[ radio ] %% with a flavor that's just right %%
%% it's delicious and nutritions %%
%% bite size and ready to eat %%
%% take a tip from Tom %%
%% go and tell your mom %%
%% shredded Ralston’s can't be beat %%
Atomic Ralston’s space shooters bring you another episode
In the mystery of...
[ mother: ] Alan, turn off the radio.
Why?
I have something to say.
I don't want to be interrupted until I'm finished.
What is it, Ruth?
Problems with the super again?
Oh, no, it's nothing like that.
Look, Sol, you got your coffee.
Alan, there's your milk.
We have marble cake.
Day old, but it's good.
I am going to talk and you are going to listen.
Dessert in the living room?
Yes, but you have to let me finish to the end!
You haven't said anything.
If you begin, then maybe we can let you finish.
Oh, all right.
Now you both know Mrs. Kirschenbaum
And her daughter Naomi.
Living across the way with Mrs. Liebman?
[ Alan: ] the crazy girl?
Who are you?
Dr. Freud?
She's not crazy!
They went through plenty.
That child, Naomi--
Her father was killed by the Nazis
Right in front of her eyes.
All right, Ruth, we know what kind
Of ugly things the Nazis do.
Well, she needs help.
I think it was a mistake to bring her here
I mean, I'm sorry, Sol, this is not a very good neighborhood.
I wish we could afford better.
Sol, I am not blaming you!
Well, forgive me for just working
In the department of records.
I'm sorry I'm not the Mayor LaGuardia.
Alan, where are you going?
I gotta do my homework.
Sit.
Hear me out.
Now, before this girl can go to school again,
The doctor says she has to learn to trust again.
This girl need friends.
Nice children.
Children her own age.
No!
Alan, have I asked you?
Yes!
And she's a crazy girl
Alan, don't take that tone with your mother.
[ mother: ] Alan, it's nothing.
It's simple.
You just go over once a day after school.
An hour, half hour.
You go over and you just sit.
I won't! I can't!
I'd miss stick ball.
Again with the farichta stick ball.
[ Alan: ] mom, do you know how many of the guys'd call me sissy
If they found out I was hangin' out with some crazy girl?
I mean, I've got one friend on this whole block
And he'd quit on me if he found out.
[ father: ] Alan, let's talk about this.
I won't!
And that's final!
[ mother: ] Alan!
[ door slams ]
[ knock, knock ]
[ father: ] hey, Alan.
It's not fair.
You can't make me do this.
Alan, we can't make you do this, you're right.
It isn't fair.
And, besides, this thing is very delicate,
Like a surgical operation.
Who would use a surgeon who hates what he's doing?
He could cut off your nose, your ears,
Even your whole head!
Brrrrpppttt!
Like that.
But...
Allow me one "but".
In our life--
Alan, sometimes when we're young,
Sometimes when we're old--
In our life, once or twice
We're called upon to do something
That we can't do or we don't wanna do,
That we won't do...
But we do it.
Well, I won't.
Alan, you've asked me more than once,
How can God allow the Nazis?
It's like asking why do people die.
You say you don't believe in God.
Well, sometimes God finds you
When you least expect it.
I won't ask you to do anything you can't do.
Just think about it; that's all I ask.
Why does it have to be me?
Maybe because you're one of the lucky ones.
[ knock, knock ]
Enough philosophy.
I have to tell Mrs. Liebman something.
[ father: ] tell her we'll have
An answer for her tomorrow.
I hope you know what you're doing.
If I knew what I was doing, I'd be president Roosevelt.
Then again, Roosevelt has a very smart wife.
She says, "president, darling, maybe you should do this.
"president, darling, maybe you should do that."
She doesn't put a gun to his head.
Fine, you become president, I'll put my gun away.
In the meantime, I still don't have an answer.
[ Shaun: ] hey, al!
What we gotta do is bring the outfielder further in, see?
That way we can catch Condello's old blooper shots.
I call it "the Kelly shift."
Hey, Silverman, are you listening?
What do ya think of the plan,
For crying out loud?
The plan?
The Kelly shift.
Listen, Shaun, I forgot to tell you...
I can't play in the game today.
What?
Well I-I got an errand to do.
Who's gonna catch all my pop shots?
You could get Tony.
It's only for today.
What's the big deal--errand?
Can't you do it after the game?
Get outta here!
No, I gotta do it by four,
Then I got homework after.
Terrific!
You wanna be first in the class.
That's one of the worst things about you.
I don't care if I'm first.
One of the worst?
What else?
Huh?
Come on, what else is bad about me?
Well, some of the guys think you're yellow.
I don't, but they do.
What're you gonna do-- beat 'em up?
Tit for tat-- what's wrong with me?
You?
Nothin'...You're a saint.
Saint Shaun.
The truth.
I really wanna know.
It won't hurt me.
[ bell rings ]
I swear.
Hey, what's wrong with me?
Nothin'.
Come on!
Well, maybe you're a little prejudiced.
Me?
Yeah, like against girls and stuff.
Like all those dirty jokes you tell about them.
That's something wrong with me?
Sweetie-sweet, you got a girlfriend or something?
Are you kiddin'?
Better not.
[ Shaun: ] I ain't hangin' around with no sissies,
That's for sure.
Oh, hello.
[ speaking Jewish ]
You are such a good boy.
You're a kind boy.
I can't say enough from my heart.
Thank you.
An apple?
A banana?
Huh?
No, really, Mrs. Liebman.
Maybe I'll be hungry another time.
Alan, this is Mrs. Kirschenbaum, Naomi's mother.
This is the boy.
Merci.
Merci bien, Alan.
Merci, Alan.
[ speaking French ]
First, Alan, I want you should understand
That in Switzerland,
After they got away from the Nazis,
Naomi was very sick, but she got better.
Much better.
She studied at home, by herself.
She's very, very smart girl.
Now, however, she's somewhere else
Most of the time,
And we want that she should wake up from it.
Oy gott, gott, gott.
You understand?
Now, come.
No?
Here.
Come with me.
It's important, dear,
That you shouldn't move too quickly.
You shouldn't get too close.
You shouldn't make loud noises
Because it frightens her.
Yeah? You understand?
[ metal clank ]
[ paper tearing ]
I don't blame you for not looking at me.
I think I scared you pretty bad in the hallway yesterday.
Most people don't think I look that scary.
In fact, I wish I did.
But, I mean, not-not in the stairwell
When girls are on the floor and all.
I hear your name's Naomi.
Mine's Alan--
Alan Drucker Silverman.
Actually, I've never told anyone my middle name before.
I always thought they might laugh,
But you don't laugh.
It's my mother's maiden name.
It's German.
I mean, I mean, the good Germans--
Not the Gestapo Germans.
The Jewish Germans.
It means "printer" in German.
You know, like someone who prints paper.
Not unlike the paper you're tearing right there.
Which, I mean, it's fine that you're tearin' paper.
It-it looks very... Relaxing.
[ indistinct chatter outside ]
Good grief.
Well, if you don't even speak any English...
Your mother doesn't.
If you don't understand English, we're really in trouble.
I don't speak a single word of French.
Well, maybe one--
Bonjour?
Eiffel tower?
Uh, can-can in gay Parie?
Ooh-lah-lah?
Poodle?
[ sigh ]
[ clatter from stick ball game ]
[ paper tearing ]
[ screaming ]
Mama!!!
Mama!!!!
[ speaking French ]
[ breathing heavily ]
[ door opens, slams ]
[ Alan: ] don't even think about making me go back there.
I have never been so embarrassed
In my full, whole, entire lifetime!
I'm not going back!
You wouldn't believe how awful it was!
I'm not going back!
Alan...
Now, what happened?
What went on over there?
I'm not going back!
That's final!
Totally, fully, completely final.
[ laughing ]
[ gunfire ]
[ explosion ]
[ laughing ]
[ cheering, applause ]
[ narrator: ] news on the March--
Booo! Yeah!
Eisenhower arrived for a firsthand look.
In the general's own words, "it's still a long, hard road,
"but this is the payoff."
Now the hopes of these German families
For Deutschland’s thousand year reich lie in ruins.
Starvation and suffering have replaced the glorious dream
Of Adolph Hitler.
I wasn't gonna come here today.
I didn't wanna come.
But, umm, last night I had this dream about you.
And even though I don't know what kind of horrible things
Happened to you in real life, in the dream it was so sad.
And, umm, when I woke up this morning,
I thought that if anything that terrible
Would've happened to me,
I sure would hope someone would give me another Chance.
[ softly ] %%frère Jacques, frère Jacques, %%
%% dormez vous, dormez vous? %%
%% sonne la matine, sonne la matine. %%
%% din don din, din don din. %%
%% frère Jacques, frère Jacques, %%
%% dormez vous, dormez vous? %%
%% sonne la matine, sonne la matine. %%
%% din don din, din don din. %%
Hey, Alan, where are your manners?
Aren't you going to introduce me?
Naomi, this is my friend from Texas, wrangler Jack.
Alan, she's the quiet type.
Now, listen here-- if Alan ever bothers you,
Well, just come to me,
'cause I'm the roughest, toughest hombre in new York.
And I'm here to protect you...
And your little doll.
If you don't mind, we'll just sit here
And watch you tear paper.
And if you need help,
Why, we're rip snortin', rootin', tootin',
Expert paper rippers.
Yes, sir...
So what's it gonna be?
Are you gonna play in the game today, or what?
We have a test.
A test?
That's on Monday.
We could play a whole world series by Monday.
Don't tell me you're thinkin' about
Missin' another game.
That'd be the fourth one this week.
I can't help it, Shaun.
I, uh...
Right.
I know, I know,
You got an errand.
Look, al, what's gotten into you?
I'm talkin' about stick ball, okay?
Stick ball!
Somethin's bothering you.
What is it?
You can't tell me?
What's the deal then?
Is it condello?
You know I'll take care of him for you.
Oh, yeah, you did a great job of that yesterday.
I don't need you to fight my battles for me.
What then?
I can't tell you.
Look, if you don't wanna be on the team,
Just say the word.
I can get Tony Ferarra to take your place.
Are you kidding?
Of course I wanna be on the team.
Well, if you're gonna be on it,
Be on it.
Can't I take a day off?
I mean, I think I deserve one
Once in a million years.
So you may, but you could at least
Let us know about it first, yes?
Across the way, they were waiting for you as usual.
If I'd a-told you, you wouldn't let me go,
And you would've started in on how lucky I am
That I wasn't born in Berlin, Germany,
Right next to Hein rich Himmler!
[ pots rattle ]
I'm sorry.
That was a stupid thing to say.
I didn't mean it.
We have to hear him, Ruth.
We've put too much pressure.
All right.
So, you took the afternoon off and you didn't tell us.
Ten years in the clink on water and stale bread.
Are you turning this into a joke, Sol?
We can't tell him that if he takes a day off
Someone may lose the battle.
He's not a soldier.
He's just Alan, plain and simple.
Taking a day off is his constitutional right.
Fine.
And what, may I ask,
Was our upstanding American citizen doing?
I was playing stick ball, okay?
It's a Miracle I haven't already been
Thrown off the team!
I've missed every game this week!
[ mother: ] he's your son, say something!
[ father: ] he may be his father's son,
But he's got his mother's temper!
Look how you two battle!
General Eisenhower himself would think twice
Before locking horns with you two Silvermans.
Alan, listen to your father.
You're much more than a stick ball player.
If you were only a stick ball player, I wouldn't even bother,
But you're a person.
A mensch.
I hate being a mensch.
I don't wanna be a mensch.
Do you know what it's like with a crazy girl?!
You can't even get mad at her!
You're not allowed because she's crazy!
And you feel crazy, too, because you do crazy things
To keep her from being crazy!
And it doesn't work!
Nothing works!
Alan...
You are my son and I am your father,
And as your father, I forgive you ten times over
For playing stick ball.
So I hope that, as my son,
You'll forgive me five times over for telling you now
That I expect you to eat the cold chicken
Your mother left for you in the refrigerator,
Brush your teeth, then go to Naomi.
[ paper tearing ]
Alan...I understand.
Please...
Jacques?
Why you so sad?
Porquoi?
Please, Jacques, do not be crying.
Do not cry because of me.
[ Alan: ] I'm not crying.
Just lost my head for a minute.
You are so silly, monsieur Jacques.
I like the way you say my name, miss.
It makes me seem a lot nicer than I really am.
Oh, no, no.
You are a very nice person.
Very, very nice.
I'm-I'm really happy to know that you speak English.
Yes, I have to do English for a time,
But she is still not very excellent.
Oh, no, she-she is.
She's-she's good.
The only place they wouldn't understand you is Texas,
But you can learn that easy.
All you have to know is "howdy do."
Haowdee doo.
Now all you need is a ten gallon hat, Naomi.
Naomi?
There is no Naomi.
Who is that?
There is only me.
I'm-I'm sorry.
I didn't-- I didn't mean to say Naomi.
I meant...
Non!
N'aproche pas!
May I ask what your name is?
I am...Yvette.
That's a beautiful name.
So pretty.
You will come tomorrow, Jacques?
Oui?
Yeah, sure.
A bunch of buffalo couldn't stop me from comin'.
Boofffalow?
What is boofffalow?
And these boofffalow-- they are here?
In the city?
Not since I came to town.
[ mother: ] Sophie Liebman-- I don't know how she does it.
She's having a hard enough time making ends...
She's gonna be fine.
I'm bleeding to death here.
Oh, stop it.
What a baby.
You do my hair, we have to call an ambulance.
Sol, would you keep your head still?
[ Alan: ] mom, dad, you won't believe it!
It was just to my dummy, but she talked!
[ laughing ]
All right!
Put me down or I'll snip those ears off!
Good boy!
Oh, congratulations.
Oh, I told you!
I told you if you just waited...
Oh, I told him!
I told him!
I knew he could do it.
What did you say?
How did you do it?
What did she say?
What do you mean, you forgot?
You did it with the doll?
What did the doll say?
So-lay!
Did you know that they used to call me juggling Jack?
Wanna find out why?
Uh, yeah.
Why not?
Oh...
Jacques...Catch.
[ buzzing, zooming ]
[ Alan: ] hey, what do you say we get together a game of stick ball?
[ Shaun: ] you? Stick ball?
Hey, I can play today...
Just not on the weekdays anymore.
What?
Why not?
What's goin' on?
It's that errand.
It's kind of a permanent errand on weekdays.
But on Saturdays I can do whatever I want.
Anyway, it's a family secret.
Is your father a drunk or something?
My father?
I don't think he's ever drunk anything in his life,
Except for maybe on Passover.
What's Passover?
Oh, it's a holiday that takes place around Easter.
It's for all the ancient Hebrews who escaped from Egypt.
I go to my grandparent's house.
My grandfather's in Ireland.
I've never seen him.
Maybe sometime you could come with me and visit mine.
You'd like him.
He tells great stories.
Yeah, maybe.
Maybe I will.
So what's this big secret?
What?
Your mystery errand?
I can't tell you.
I would if I could, Shaun.
What's wrong?
[ Shaun: ] hey, look!
Look!
[ Alan: ] what?
There she is-- crazy cat.
Hey, Shaun, what do you say
We go fly some more planes?
Jacques?
Are you there?
Hello.
Jacques?
That's weird.
She always runs away from me.
Have you been fighting today ze boofffalow?
She's crazy.
Jacques, you will visit me today?
Oui?
You will visit Yvette?
Oh, yeah.
Sure.
Anytime.
[ Mrs. Liebman: ] Naomi!
Come inside!
Hey!
Please!
Si vous plais.
M-my friend.
[ door slams ]
[ knock, knock ]
[ father: ] Alan?
Leave me alone.
Alan, what is so wrong?
Nothing.
Leave me alone!
That's some nothing,
But since you say it's nothing,
I'm relieved, because there is something
That I have to talk to you about.
What?!
Your mother's afraid to ask you to do a certain something.
She's afraid of your explosions.
I don't explode!
Yeah, I'm glad you've inherited your mother's temper.
It's good, it's healthy.
Like an apple a day, it keeps the doctor away,
And once in awhile, everyone else as well.
So what was the certain something
You wanted to talk to me about?
Ah, yes, the something.
Alan, there's this doctor,
And the doctor sees Naomi once a week.
They discuss how she's coming along,
What should be done next...
That sort of thing, you know?
[ Alan: ] no.
I mean, I-I didn't know.
Well, anyway, they've discussed this business
Of your puppet talking to her doll.
It's a dummy, not a puppet.
I'm a dummy when it comes to dummies.
Anyway, they've all agreed,
And the doctor said herself, that you did a terrific job!
Naomi trusts you now.
That's, uh, that's terrific.
The word "terrific,"
Mrs. Liebman told your mother,
Is exactly the word the doctor used.
What comes after terrific, however, is this--
Naomi must not get too dependent on that doll.
She can't use that doll as a crutch.
You understand?
[ Alan: ] I thought I was supposed to be so terrific.
Absolutely... As a first step.
But now she's got to take another step,
And you have to help.
You have to begin to talk to her, the person--
Naomi Kirshenbaum.
Direct.
I can't, dad!
She-she won't talk without her doll.
I've tried it.
You have to try again.
Oh, sure, so I have to do everything.
They should pay me instead of that doctor!
Alan, that's not you talking.
I'm doing all the work!
The doctor's doing plenty of work, believe me,
And in case you want to know, it's for free.
And if the doctor says you stop with the dummy,
Then you stop with the dummy already!
She's scared to death without her doll!
You should see her, dad!
I can't do it!
Let the doctor do it!
Let the doctor risk losing friends!
Let the doctor miss stick ball!
What is this?
The fourth of July?!
Such a tummel!
I wish I had never met Naomi.
I wish I had never met her!
[ door slams ]
[ paper tearing ]
Yvette...
I can't see you,
But I can feel you with my cowboy heart.
Please come out, Yvette.
Once again, I have to apologize
For my clumsy friend, Alan.
When he told me that--
That he pretended not to know you
On the staircase yesterday
And that-that he let his friend make fun of you
Right in front of your own eyes,
I almost rode off into the sunset in shame.
Naomi,
I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I wouldn't hurt you for the world.
Naomi is disappeared.
She is disappeared.
There is no Naomi.
There is only me--
Yvette.
Naomi, please talk to me, Naomi.
There is no Naomi.
[ whispers ] Naomi, please.
Non!
Mama!
Let me.
[ speaking French ]
[ Naomi: ] mama.
Yvette?
Ous est, Yvette?
Ous est tu?
She's right here, Naomi.
I'll put her where she's okay.
Jack's taking good care of her.
Naomi...
I'm so sorry I hurt you.
I'll never do it again.
I promise, Naomi.
I wanna help you, not hurt you.
You're my friend, Naomi.
My very special friend.
Now please, Naomi...
Let me help you.
Can you hear me, Naomi?
Naomi.
Oui,...Alan.
[ whispers ] oui, Alan.
[ mother: ] Sol, are you cooking those eggs or hatching them?
Masterpieces can't be rushed, Ruth.
Just watch, Alan.
When he's finally finished,
He'll tell us his omelet is too gorgeous to eat.
Then we'll all have to "ooh" and "ah"
Until we're finally allowed to take our first bite.
Ma, do you ever think we could adopt Naomi?
What a question.
She already has a mother.
What does she need with two mothers?
Well, she doesn't have a father,
And she could use a super-duper mother
And father like you two.
Sol, are you hearing this?
All of a sudden we're super-duper.
So, what else is new?
That boy--
Sometimes he is such a pain in the tuchis.
Sometimes...
What's the surprise, huh?
He's his father's son.
[ doorbell ]
Oh...
They're here already.
How do I look?
How do you look?
You look like a boy.
Pop, umm, don't talk about the war.
And mom, remember, anything you do,
Don't get too close to her.
And don't make any hysterical, loud noises.
And don't make any fast, sudden, harsh movements.
Well, so much for my super-duper.
Hello, sweetie.
Hello, Mrs. Liebman.
Hello.
Mmmm, is this Sol's cooking?
Hi, Naomi.
Hi.
Hello, Ruthie.
Welcome, Naomi.
I'm Alan's mother.
Oh...Merci.
[ speaking French ]
Breakfast will be ready in just a moment.
Alan, would you show Naomi around the house?
[ kisses ]
It's a good house.
I mean, it's not great, but it's okay.
My mom's always cleaning everything,
So it looks better than it really is.
Nice house.
You wanna see my room, hmm?
I would like.
Come on, I'll show you all my stuff.
[ big band music ]
[ crash ]
I'm very sorry.
[ Alan: ] it's okay, don't worry about it.
Now I see what you see.
May I?
Sure.
I built it.
Yeah, it flies.
Oh, sure.
Yeah.
It's nice.
I'll take you flying sometime.
Oh, really?
Ooh.
It's very nice.
Oh, what's this?
It's a trumpet.
Trumpet.
[ blowing air ]
It doesn't work.
[ trumpet note ]
[ blowing air ]
It doesn't work.
You like it?
Is nice.
It's yours.
You can have it.
Oh, no.
No, no.
It's too nice.
I cannot.
No, I want you to have it.
Thank you very much.
[ knock, knock ]
Alan?
Aren't you going to introduce us?
Uh, this is my father.
And this is my very quiet mother
Whom you've met already.
Naomi, welcome to our home.
[ whispering ] it's a pleasure to have you.
Naomi, if you're hungry, please come...
Yes?
Come for some omelets.
Today's turned out so lovely,
It's almost too gorgeous to eat.
[ whistling ]
Let's go fly planes.
Okay, but I've got to be back at school by five
To help Mrs. Landley with something.
What something?
Oh, nothing much-- just an errand.
That's you-- secret Silverman.
Everything's always got to be a big secret to you.
If I had a secret like that, I would tell you.
That's what best friends are for.
You know what?
Go on to Mrs. Landley.
I don't feel like flying planes anyway.
Shaun!
[ air raid sirens ]
Non!
Mama!
[ screaming ]
It's only an air raid drill.
[ screaming ]
[ sirens continue ]
[ Alan: ] if I don't turn out the light, we could all get arrested.
[ speaking French ]
[ Alan: ] Naomi, listen to the radio.
Hello, America.
Yes, it's true--
All the light bulbs in new York city have been eaten up.
The notorious light bulb monster strikes again.
Mr. Monster, will you please tell us a few words
To our terrified audience?
[ monster voice ] yes, I love those light bulbs.
Crunchy, crispy, hundred watt glass potatoes with ketchup.
Naomi, hey.
You don't have to be afraid.
[ monster: ] and now for some headlights with salt and pepper!
And I love your street lights!
Oh, they're like lollipops.
Cherry lollipops!
Lemon lollipops!
And lime lollipops!
[ laughing ]
[ sirens ]
[ monster: ] oh, I think I'm going to throw up!
Uh-oh!
Here comes all the lights!
Aggghhh!!!
[ laughing, clapping ]
[ giggling ]
Alan, you are a screwball.
Don't forget, I want you to call just as soon as you get there.
There's no telephone there.
It's just a big field.
Thank you, Charles Lindbergh.
Then go and find a pharmacy, maybe, or a candy store.
Okay, okay.
All right.
Say goodbye to Mrs. Liebman.
[ speaking French ]
And don't you dare let her out of your sight for one minute.
Trust me.
Make sure you're back by 4:30 on the dot.
Have a wonderful time, huh?
[ Alan: ] well, this is it.
It's not really an airport anymore,
But it's still my favorite place.
But, where are the planes?
Uh, well, they're all gone,
But this used to be the biggest airport in new York.
[ Alan: ] ...2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
My finger is so tired.
You're doing great.
...7, 8, 9...700.
[ speaking French ]
Alan, look, Alan, I am faster.
Alan!
[ laughing ]
You should give it a name.
Like what?
Sorry.
Umm, oiseau jaune.
Okay, what does that mean?
Hmm, yellow bird.
Yes, call it "the yellow bird."
All right, but Shaun...
Well, I don't care.
I just won't tell him.
Shaun?
Your friend on the stairs?
"here comes crazy cat."
Oh, Alan, I don't care.
I don't care.
You know, he says things,
But he doesn't mean 'em.
He really is a great guy.
I am crazy, you know.
No, you're not.
There's nothing wrong with ya.
No...
I killed my father, you know?
I thought he was killed by the Nazis.
I helped them, you see?
I killed him with the maps!
You see? The maps!
He said we had to tear up all the maps.
My father made all the maps.
Maps of the sewers.
Naomi, it's okay.
[ crashing noises ]
Naomi, it wasn't your fault.
It was the Nazis.
Look...
My hands are clean.
My dress is clean.
And he's dead.
That's all.
[ speaking French ]
Don't be afraid anymore, Naomi.
No one's going to hurt you.
Don't be afraid, all right?
Okay?
Okay.
Shaun, I need to talk to you.
Talk?
I oughta beat your brains out.
For crying out loud, Shaun, just listen for a minute.
Let me explain.
Okay, Silverman, you've got one minute.
My parents made me do it, Shaun.
There's something wrong with her.
Are you kidding?
You pretended not to know her.
You said your errand wasn't important.
Why didn't you trust me?
I don't know.
I guess I was afraid.
I was afraid you wouldn't like me anymore
Because every guy who hangs out with a girl,
You call 'em a sissy.
And this isn't just any girl--
This is a girl we made fun of.
This is crazy cat.
Shaun, don't you understand?
What's with you, Silverman?
She seemed crazy, that's all.
And don't you know when I'm kidding?
Besides, you could've told me what was wrong with her,
But no, you had to lie!
You're right.
I was wrong.
And I'm really sorry, Shaun.
Well, I'm not.
I'm glad I found out about you.
Look, from now on I'm gonna stay outta your way, okay?
And don't worry-- I never called her "crazy cat"
To no one else.
I just said that to you because I thought--
I thought I could say anything to you
Because we were like-- like brothers almost.
So just stay outta my way and I'll stay outta yours.
Okay?! Deal.
[ indistinct chatter ]
[ knock, knock ]
Hey, Mr. Glum face.
Wonderful news.
The doctor says Naomi can start school on Monday.
You're kidding.
No.
[ laughing ]
She's so happy.
Such good news.
Is she in all my classes?
Sure!
The principal we went to see twice.
Everything is prepared, ya.
You should be proud.
Yes, it's because of you, your help.
Yes.
God sees everything.
Your name will be inscribed in the book of life.
I believe.
Good morning, Mrs. Landley.
This is Naomi Kirshenbaum.
[ Mrs. Landley: ] people.
People!
We have a new member in our class today.
She's a wonderful girl from Paris, France.
Her name is Naomi.
I may mispronounce this--
Naomi Kirshenbaum, right?
Now, class, let's give Naomi a big welcome
In her native tongue.
Bien venue, Naomi.
[ class: ] bien venue, Naomi.
Again, class.
[ class: ] bien venue, Naomi.
[ Mrs. Landley: ] now, class, where were we yesterday?
Let me think.
Voila.
I am finished.
Now I read yours first, okay?
Alan, you're writing looks like a dizzy spider
Crawled through some ink and jumped on your page.
I have an unshal...
Unusual.
Unshal.
Unusual.
Unshal neighbor.
Alan, you write about me for the assignment?
Her name is Naomi Cherrytree.
You are very crazy.
She is short and fat, has purpled hair.
Curly, pur...
Purple hair, curly polka dot ears.
And she never needs to worry
About a costume for Halloween.
You are a cabbage.
A silly American cabbage.
Oh, no.
Read, cabbage.
I first meet Alan Silverman in the hallway.
I was so afraid of him very much
Because he carries a stick.
I am afraid of sticks.
I am afraid much times.
But I am now his friend and I am now not afraid anymore.
In France is a word-- ami de core.
De couer.
Ami de couer.
Ami de coe.
Couer.
A good friend.
A friend from the heart.
This is beautiful, Naomi.
Read, cabbage.
If I had a brother, I would like he should be like Alan
Because a brother should be kind and funny.
Alan is very good at many things.
Oh, but this is nothing.
What is best-- Alan makes me laugh
When I am crying inside myself.
Alan is very like my father,
And he brings my hope back to me.
That is the end of my essay.
You're terrible, cabbage.
I write nice... What I feel.
Well, this is just my silly version.
I'll write a good one tonight.
Poodle brain.
Poodle?
You said poodle?
That's funny.
This was a word you said the first day
You came into our house.
It was?
Oh, yeah.
Umm, poodle, Eiffel tower,
Can-can in gay Parie.
I didn't know you heard me.
Of course.
I have much excellent ears.
But, my favorite is how you sing to me.
You liked my singing?
"frère Jacques" was my favorite song
My father sings to me.
He had a soft voice like you.
A sweet voice.
He would rock me and sing to me...
[ softly ]%% frère Jacques, frère Jacques.%%
And I was safe.
I was safe.
Hey, whaddaya know?
Sweetheart Jews!
Hey, I hear you two are married.
Is that right, Silverman?
Kissy, kissy.
[ shouting ]
Run, Naomi!
Run!
[ smack ]
[ scream ]
Condello, watch the birdie!
Hey, stop it!
I didn't mean nothin'!
[ bell rings ]
I guess I do need you to help me fight my battles.
Well, we're a good team, al.
You can't go home like that.
You're all covered with blood.
Lose any teeth?
No.
Jeez, it's pourin' out of your nose.
Listen, my mother's not home.
We can go to my house
And get you cleaned up there, if you want.
What about school?
Well, you've got a good excuse,
And I really don't care.
Slow up.
I gotta carry all these books.
All you have to do is bleed.
Here's your hat.
Hey, what's that behind your ear?
I thought you said you didn't lose any teeth.
I didn't.
I'm sorry about the shirt, mom.
Another shirt, we can get.
Another tooth, that other boy will never grow.
[ chuckling ]
If somebody called me a dirty Jew,
I'd give them a smack.
And I mean a smack!
Give him a smack!
Can I go see Naomi?
I'm worried about her.
Naomi, she's in school, no?
Well, while we were fighting, I thought she came back here.
Oy, gott.
I was just in the apartment.
She's not there.
Go check again.
I'll call the school.
[ siren ]
We've checked every possible lead so far.
We'll keep on searching until it gets dark,
But then I'm afraid the best we can do is to stop,
And start again in the morning.
Officer, you couldn't send a few more men?
A child is missing!
I have an idea.
Remember that time I took Naomi to the Holmes airport?
Yeah. Could be.
Tell the cop over there.
[ indistinct ]
I hope you had better luck than we did.
We saw nothing out there.
[ indistinct ]
All right.
Thank you.
Goodnight.
Nothing.
Alan, the best thing for you
Is to get some sleep.
It's almost eleven.
And your friend Shaunny,
He should get some sleep, too.
I'm not going anywhere until we find Naomi.
Me, neither.
It could be all night.
It could be days.
We have no idea where she is.
I'm gonna go get a flashlight.
[ clank ]
[ groaning ]
[ squeaky voice ]
Shaun, see what you can do.
Mrs. Kirschenbaum...
[ mother: ] Alan, go ahead.
Say something.
Talk to her.
Hey, Naomi.
I'm okay now.
It was just a little fight we had.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
Come on, Naomi.
[ crying ]
[ father: ] come here, Naomi.
Come here, Naomi.
Come here, sweetheart.
It's gonna be all right.
Alan...
Here, take these flowers.
We're friends of Naomi and we'd like to say hello.
Say hi to Naomi.
Listen for a minute, Alan.
You're not God.
You're Alan, and you've done all you can.
But this isn't the end.
Someday you'll see I'm right.
Someday this war will be over.
Someday Hitler will be dead.
But Naomi will be alive and well and happy.
She needs more time.
I don't understand.
Why did this have to happen to her?
What happens in this world
Isn't caused by you or by me...
And it's not always fair.
Wait for me.
.
%% don't be afraid %%
%% I want to be your friend %%
%% how can I show you %%
%% help you understand? %%
%% I'm not here to hurt you %%
%% and my love will not desert you %%
%% take my hand %%
%% and on the wings of forever %%
%% we can fly away %%
%% leave the darkness behind us %%
%% find a brighter day %%
%% even time cannot bind us %%
%% yesterday can't even find us %%
%% on the wings of forever %%
%% we can fly %%
%% love freely given never fades away %%
%% once it's been given, it is here to stay %%
%% my love for you is never dyin' %%
%% you have taught me to keep tryin' everyday %%
%% and on the wings of forever %%
%% we can fly away %%
%% leave the darkness behind us %%
%% find a brighter day %%
%% even time cannot bind us %%
%% yesterday can't even find us %%
%% on the wings of forever %%
%% we can fly %%
%% you are stronger than I am %%
%% but together we'll keep climbin' %%
%% on the wings of forever %%
%% we can fly %%
{{{ the end }}}