(♪)
...side to side... and the fingers...
Get a move on, Becky Lester.
We ain't got all day.
I'm hurrying ma, this basket's awful heavy.
Becky, you wanna come an' learn the turkey trot with me?
It's a real hoot!
Can't, Davey, I gotta help my ma.
Dancing don't pay the bills, Becky, and don't you forget it.
Second floor with them clean shirts.
And mind you bring the dirty ones on the way back down.
Right away, ma!
And don't dawdle, Becky.
Mr. Tremayne expecs his workers to be on time.
I know Davey's girlfriend, I know Davey's girlfriend.
Liar liar pants on fire.
Children.
Muriel.
(♪)
Hold that chair for me will you? . . .
Your hand...
Oh, I'm sure someone will be with you in a moment, Excuse me.
Yoo hoo, Felix!
-Can I help? -NO!
Go away.
Hmm. That'll do.
Do you think Velma Bugle is ... pretty?
Well, she's a rather nice looking girl.
I think she's skim milk trying to be cream.
You mean because she's got an eye for Felix?
Oh, Izzy, don't let that worry you.
Well it does.
Miss Stacey.
Do you think if I bid on him that I'd be making
a fool of myself?
The floral's real cheerful.
What does Mr. Tremayne think?
Who cares what he thinks.
Men have no taste, never have had...
...but he's your partner...
and it's his office
Fiddlesticks, Rachel.
Simon Tremayne's savvy regarding decoration would fit
into one very small thimble.
Can too!
Cannot!
Mrs. Lynde, Dora says I can't go to the auction just
because I'm not a bachelor!
How can a ten year old be a bachelor? !
Miss Stacey...I was wondering.
How much does it cost to go to the auction?
Oh, it doesn't cost anything at all.
But you might need some money to bid on the bachelor
of your choice.
How much money?
Well I don't think it really matters.
Whatever you can spare.
It's for charity you see, so every little bit counts.
Tell me, you have any particular bachelor in mind?
Ummm.
Sorta, kinda.
I guess it depends if I can afford him.
I see.
(♪)
LADIES, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE! ?
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ABOMINABLE MESS!
For heavens sake, Simon, simmer down,
As I told you I am responsible.
We're raising money for the hospital!
Outside - yes.
But in here?
What do you think?
Isn't it lovely?
Mr. Tremayne, what are you doing here?
Why aren't you in the kitchen making lunch with the other men?
What men?
What lunch?
You see at first, the ladies are going to bid on box lunches made
by the gentlemen and then later on in the afternoon everyone
is going to go out on a social outing.
People cavorting and carrying on..!
Interrupting business!
You didn't tell me about taking over the entire establishment,
driving paying guests out the door.
Want to learn the turkey trot?
NO! I don't.
I have better things to do so go bug someone else!
I will donate to the cause but I will NOT partake
in any organized craziness.
Come now Mr. Tremayne, certainly a gentleman
like you has romance in his soul?
Madam, My soul is not up for discussion!
And as for you, Hetty King, I shall deal with you later!
Where is Felix!
Who is looking after things! ? Hmm! ?
Can we get some service around here please?
Couldn't we just throw together some ham sandwiches
with a few pickles?
Janet won't care.
She'll bid on my hamper no matter what's in it.
Out! Everyone out!
Am I running a business or a cooking school?
Why don't you be good sport and Join in..?
I would rather put my head in a noose than
have some...lady...bid on me as if I were a prize pig
at the county fair.
Prize pig?
Mr. Tremayne.
How old do you have to be before you can be a bachelor?
Age has nothing do with it, Davey Keith.
Bachelorhood is a state of mind.
Does that mean if you're born a bachelor you die a bachelor?
If you're smart, it does.
Ah good, alright Simon Tremayne,
time to come to a decision on the new drapery!
Good Lord!
Where did those things come from?
The catalogue.
On sale.
But I told you I'd be choosing that material!
Dogs.
I hate dogs.
Who wants to look at dogs all day long?
And after I picked out this lovely blue.
Look at it!
Blue makes me seasick.
Nonsense, blue is clean and neat.
Practical.
Why can't you be practical!
I am practical.
You are the most unpractical human being
I have ever had the misfortune to meet!
I see.
I know.
You're doing this to aggravate me!
Are you? Hmm?
Me aggravate you? ?
You are the supreme aggravator of all time!
Understand me, Hetty King.
This is my office.
I do not want blue drapes, I do not want your interference
and I do not want an auction on the front lawn
of the finest hotel on the Island!
Dogs -- Woof!
...oh, he had a little tiff and then we called a truce.
It's quite exhilarating, really.
Oh I am glad.
Life is strange, isn't it?
The way our dreams turned out.
Both of us began our careers in teaching and both of us
ended up in business.
For that matter, who would have dreamt
that both us would end old maids.
Spinsters you mean, Muriel, spinsters.
Well, anything can still happen, Hetty King.
Who would have imagined that at our age we would still be
bidding on bachelors... and thinking of love! ?
Love?
I wouldn't go that far.
Now Hetty, don't tell me you never considered romance.
Have you ever fallen in love?
Well, no.
But I've stepped in it a few times...
Oh Hetty, life is a banquet; why not enjoy it while we still can?
Take a chance.
Bid on somebody you like.
I'm going to.
You are?
Muriel Stacey, you are a sly fox.
Don't tell me you've got your eye on someone?
Well I'm not sure yet ...
but thinking about it is half the fun!
Oh I suppose it is when it's for a good cause ...
That's the spirit, Hetty!
You never know what could happen!
Who knows, love may be just around the corner...
Oh Nat, you are so strong!
If you ask me, the only thing sillier than a young girl making
goo-goo eyes at a young boy is some old bat making a fool out
of herself over some old geezer.
Oh, I take it you're not bidding on anybody.
I am not.
I am making a donation to the hospital fund
and calling it a day.
Now Rachel, every pot has a lid.
Now maybe you'll bid on some fellow's lunch
and fall in love and get married!
At my age?
Guess what.
I'm going to the auction too!
You know, there's a social outing afterwards,
and we're all getting dressed up.
What are you going to wear?
Not that I hope?
What's wrong with it?
She's not getting a new dress an' that's final.
We got eight mouths to feed, and another in the oven.
We're not throwing away money on doo-dads she ain't never gonna
wear again 'cept to my blessed funeral.
Oh now Molly...don't talk like that.
All she wants is to go to the auction looking as pretty
as the other girls...
The others, is it!
That's grand.
Well in case you haven't noticed, she's not a King,
she's a Lester.
An' the sooner she gets that through her head,
the better off she'll be.
..maybe we could scrape up an extra dollar...
Nat's got a new job in the General store..
Spoken for.
We're puttin' his wages against the grocery bill.
It's all right, poppa.
I didn't want to go to the auction anyway.
For Pete's sake, somebody pick up the baby!
Nat get your big feet off the table
and pick up your baby sister.
Wiley, ma said to pick up the baby.
I ain't had nothin' to eat around here,
what's for dinner, ma?
I'll do it ma!
Thank you!
Says here, cotton is going sky high.
If I had ten dollars, know what I'd do?
I'd buy myself a bunch of shares and make a pl1e of money.
Ten dollars, I'd pay off the grocery bill and fix the roof!
If I had ten dollars, I'd quit the cannery.
You bet, Wiley.
We'd both quit an' get ourselves a fishing boat.
'Course the way to make real money, is to invest.
You buy cotton, then you take the profits and you buy gold!
If I had ten dollars, you know what I'd do! ?
I'd give it all away at that auction at the White Sands,
it's for charity.
Forget it.
Charity ain't for the likes of the Lesters.
And why not Molly, it's a free country.
Nothin's for free.
The way I see it, charity begins at home!
It seems I'm here every week at the poor box,
the way the youngsters are growing.
Why I remember that dress, Mrs. Bradley!
Well now she wants a new one.
You know girls.
(♪)
...penny for your thoughts?
I wasn't thinking anything.
Could have fooled me.
Nothing serious, I hope?
Father...
I've decided I'm not going to the auction.
Why ever not! ?
Everyone's going.
I was rather looking forward to it myself.
I thought you were too!
You thought wrong.
Izzy.
This isn't like you.
It is so.
It's exactly like me and even if it's not,
I don't want to talk about it.
Excuse me, father, I have to practice.
(♪)
Hey, Izzy, going in for a soda?
If you're looking for Velma Bugle she's inside.
Now ladies, quit your laughin', quit looking, look over here.
What do you want?
Chocolate? Vanilla?
Now ladies, quit your laughin', quit looking, look over here.
'Cause I'm goin' to be worth a million dollars someday.
You just wait and see.
I'm going to buy myself a brand new car
...Beautiful suit...
One Lover's Delight, coming up!
Two scoops each of silky smooth chocolate ice cream snuggled
in a bed of hot fudge sauce with two little cherries on top.
Ten cents your cost, five cents goes to the hospital.
Thank you and there you go!
For the prettiest girls in town.
Oh Nat, you're just saying that.
Would I tell a lie?
You might.
I heard you say the same thing to them...
I was just stringing them along.
It's you I'm crazy about Emma Bradley.
But you just said you liked me...
I do, I do, you're a buttercup!
I gotta go...
You didn't have to flirt with him so boldly, Laura MacDonald!
You know, you are a spiteful cat and I am never talking
to you again as long as I live!
Are you all right..?
My back, my back...
Will you be alright on your own?
Thank you...
Is he your beau, Miss King?
Don't be silly, Dora Keith!
Then how come he hugged you for so long?
Out of the mouths of babes.
Off you go.
Maybe he's sweet on you, Hetty King.
Oh for pity's sake, Rachel Lynde.
Clive Pettibone is not interested in me...??
Not romantically...
...eggs, bacon...butter..
Is there something else?
No. Not exactly.
I mean...this may seem forward, my speaking to you
on a personal matter ... but I'm concerned about Izzy.
Really? Why?
She suddenly told me she doesn't want to go the auction!
Well, Clive, I suspect Izzy's simply having a case
of jitters about the auction.
Really? ? Whatever for?
Oh, having to bid on a boy, I should th1nk.
It can be quite disconcerting you know, even for adults.
Have patience, Clive, I'm sure it'll pass.
Thank you Muriel.
The older I get the less I understand young ladies.
Well, feel free to consult me anytime, Clive.
I will...Yes! !
Well! I will...
And thank you... Thank you indeed...!
Oh, by the way, could I have a bottle of lumbago liniment...
Oh certainly.
That's it.
Hetty -- excuse me -- will you accept this little gift?
It's for your back.
It's lumbago liniment.
Why Clive Pettibone!
How sweet.
You shouldn't have...
It's nothing.
See you at the auction...!
At the auction?
Yes, of course.
I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Good day.
Hey, Izzy.
Mind if I sit here?
Go away.
So you gonna bid on my picnic basket?
How'd you like to stand on your head and spit nickels.
Yoo-hoo, Felix...
Felix, want to share a soda?
NO...I hate sodas.
Don't you ever get lonesome eating by yourself,
Mr. Tremayne?
An old bachelor like me is accustomed to solitude.
Oh, if you don't mind my asking .
haven't you ever thought about...you know,
getting...married?
Oh I thought about it over the years.
Generally I took a nap until the feeling passed.
Are you thinking of getting married, Felix?
Who me?
No sir, I was just thinking...
you're a man of the world, you might know ...
How do you get one girl to stop liking
you and another to start?
Felix, my lad.
That is a serious question and if I knew the answer, I wouldn't
be sitting here by my lonesome, eating this French sheep dip.
Take it back to Mr. La Pierre and tell him to send me up
something fit for human consumption.
Man's best friend.
(♪)
Don't waste your time feeling sorry
for Monsieur Tremayne, Felix.
Anyone who would rather eat blood pudding than coq au vin,
deserves to be lonely.
Especially when he has the perfect woman
for him under his nose.
Under his nose?
Who's that?
Why your aunt, naturally.
Don't be silly.
Aunt Olivia's married.
No, no, not Olivia.
Hetty King.
Aunt Hetty? ?
That's ridiculous.
They fight all the time!
Aha! Opposites attract.
The first law of love.
Simon Tremayne and Hetty King!
If you put them together for twenty four hours
they'd strangle each other!
Now Janet, maybe it's not as outlandish as you think...
he's alone, she's alone,
and they do have the hotel in common.
Yoo-hoo...it's me, Velma Bugle.
Is Felix home?
Felix?
I'm not going to the auction,
and I'm not getting stuck with Velma Bugle! !
Now son, don't be like that.
You know the auction is for the hospital.
You've got to be there, it's your duty as a King.
I'll tell you what.
I promise I'll outbid anybody who bids on you.
How's that?
Now wait a minute, I thought you were bidding on me? ?
There are some things a mother has to do for her son.
I'm NOT going on a social outing with my mother!
You don't have to.
You can cook me dinner right here at home, instead.
Let me talk to him.
Alright. Tell me what's wrong.
Felix? Look.
This may be difficult for you to imagine you know,
but I actually was young once myself.
About a hundred years ago.
It's Izzy.
Am I right?
What difference does it make.
Now will you leave me to die in peace.
(♪)
Sorry to intrude, but I forgot my pate in the icebox.
No, not at all, pull up a chair, have an hors d'oeuvre.
Thank you...but I've already eaten and I can't stay,
Izzy is home alone.
C'est dommage.
By the way, be a good fellow and if you're passing by Rose
Cottage, would you drop off this kitchen inventory for Miss King?
Happy to.
Pierre, this is an astonishing spread.
Do you always make this fuss just for yourself?
Absolutely.
Dining is an artistic experience.
To a Frenchman, beautiful food is like beautiful music.
Each one is a symbol of love.
It is..?
My word, I never thought of it that way..
The English!
What do they know about love?
(knock at the door)
Clive Pettibone!
Come in, oh my, this is a surprise!
I'm sorry to disturb you, Miss King, Hetty.
I was at the hotel, Pierre asked me to drop off this to you.
Kitchen inventory, I believe.
How sweet of you.
You shouldn't have.
coming all this way just to see me.
I was just sitting down to my supper...
I could set a place for you?
Thank you.
Izzy's home alone, I've got to run.
Thank you.
Goodbye then...
Good night.
Adieu...
thank you...!!
...Clive...
(♪)
Becky! What a pretty dress!
Do you like it?
I certainly do.
My Po-pa gave it to me.
I was so surprised, I near bust a gut.
Becky Lester!
What are you doing in my dress!
It's not yours, it's mine!
My pappa gave it to me!
I should know my own dress when I see it!
You're a big fibber, Emma Bradley, my poppa bought
this dress on sale, he said so!
Well your father's the liar.
And you know what, he's a thief too!
My mother donated that dress to the Foreign Missions.
Your father never bought it, he stole it out of the poor box!
...the poor box...
I hope you're satisfied, Emma Bradley!
She was so happy and you you made her miserable!
Mr. King.
If you're looking for Felix, I believe he's outdoors
with all the other...lunatics.
Oh, it's not Felix I'm looking for, Mr. Tremayne.
It's you.
It's a delicate situation... but I have some information
for your ears only.
Nothing wrong, I hope.
No, no.
In fact, depending on your point of view,
it's quite... intriguing.
You see, there's a certain 'lady' of my acquaintance,
of my very close acquaintance...
and of yours too, if you get my drift, who might be very
interested if your picnic hamper showed up on the auction block.
A certain... 'lady...' ? ?
Could you give me a clue?
No... You don't mean...
I could never betray a confidence
but if you were in anyway interested, I could...
Why I never thought she was...
I mean, that is, no.. I couldn't...
I would but Alec, I don't have a picnic hamper.
Is that all, Simon?
Roll up your sleeves.
We'll fix that in no time flat!
Take the reins will you.
Hetty!
I want to have a word with you.
Not now, Alec, I'm supposed to be meeting Muriel..
This will just take a minute.
So don't say no until you've heard me out.
There's a certain eligible bachelor,
a gentleman you probably haven't even considered,
and he wants you to bid on his picnic hamper.
It comes as no surprise.
You see I already know what the the gentleman
in question feels about me.
In the strictest of confidence, Alec, you promise, yesterday in
the general store he presented me with a little gift...
last night he made up the sweetest excuse imaginable
just to come calling.
But I thought...
Guess you never know how these things work...
Good luck at the auction, Hetty!
Hope the weather holds.
(♪)
Muriel!
I've been looking all over for you!
Hetty!
It's Olivia's.
It looks splendid.
Fine day, ladies!
... and now ladies, a hamper for your consideration
prepared by young Wiley Lester with his very own hands,
which he assures me he's washed.
So let's start the bidding here now.
Who'll give e ten cents?
ten cents, ten cents, yes, ten it is...
sold to Miss Dora Keith!
...and now, the hamper you've been waiting for, ladies.
The delectable treats, the gourmet delights,
prepared by the incomparable Monsieur Pierre La pierre!
So what am I bid for some lucky lady?
Do I hear twenty-five cents, twenty-five cents?
Who'll give me twenty-five cents...
...QUARTER!
A quarter, there we are, one quarter.
Who'll make that two...
FIFTY CENTS!
We have right there!
Who'll make it sixty!
Who'll make it sixty? . . .
Davey Keith, come back...get Digger!
Over here, over here! !
SIXTY CENTS, going, going ...
and SOLD to Rachel Lynde for sixty cents.
WHAT? ?
I didn't bid on him! !
She doesn't want me?
Then I do not want her!
Oh, Rachel, I'm sure Pierre is a lovely person...
What I do for a good cause.
Alright ladies, what am I bid for this magnificent picnic
lunch, made by young Davey Keith
... If I'm not mistaken,
there is some delightful corn pickles in there...
not to mention sandwiches and some other delights...
So who will start the bidding off at twenty-five cents.
Who's going to give me a quarter?
A quarter..
What about ten cents, ten cents...
give me one thin dime...
one thin dime.
Come on now, ladies.
Come on.
Make that a nickel...
one poor lonely little nickel ..
Three cents!
Three cents, going, going
and SOLD to the pretty little lady in blue!
And now ladies, young Felix King has prepared some delights
in a hamper here, what am I bid, what am I bid...
who will start this off, who'll give me a quarter...
A quarter! !
A quarter it is.
Thirty cents!
Thirty cents.
Splendid.
I have thirty.
-Who'll make it thirty-five... -Thirty-five!!
Thirty-five it is
One dollar!
One dollar.
Going, going once, going twice...
SOLD to Janet King for a dollar!
Alright now, what do I hear now bid for the hamper
of Mr. Nat Lester?
A QUARTER!!
Emma.
Let's make up and pool our money or else we'll never get him.
Who'll make that thirty...
Thirty CENTS!
You mean share him?
Thirty cents, who'll make that thirty-five,
do I hear thirty-five ...
ONE DOLLAR AND NINETEEN CENTS!
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, SOLD TO LAURA MACDONALD
AND EMMA BRADLEY! !
Alright ladies, now we have here prepared by a gentleman of
renown, Mr. Clive Pettibone, a splendid hamper,
so what am I bid, who'll give me a quarter for this..
Let's hear it...
twenty-five cents, twenty-five cents...
Twenty-five cents, there it is, do I hear thirty...
do I hear thirty...
Thirty cents...
...thirty, thirty it is, well do I hear thirty-five...
do we have thirty-five...
Thirty-five it is, thirty-five, who'll make that forty,
do I hear forty, do I hear forty?
Going once, going twice, and sold to Miss Muriel Stacey...
Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen.
Tea will be served later this afternoon, after which,
each couple may proceed on their social outing.
Thank you all... thank you.
...ready in a minute mother.
Oh no hurry. No hurry.
It smells delicious.
Oh no.
Not Velma ... tell her I left town.
No wait.
I'll tell her myself.
Izzy!
What are you doing here?
Your father said you were making dinner for me?
(♪)
Muriel...
I hope you won't think me a romantic fool...
I'm afraid I have two left feet...
but would you do me the honour..?
It would be my pleasure, Clive.
Thank you.
(♪)
You fibbed, Clive Pettibone.
You dance beautifully.
..oh yes indeed, I have big, big prospects!
After I start my own business, which is any day now,
I'm going to buy myself a brand new suit, just like that one,
and the biggest motor car you ever saw.
Nat, you're only a soda jerk.
That's just temporary.
I've got big investments, I am going to be worth
a fortune someday.
Just you wait and see.
All I can see so far is a big mouth.
I'll say!
You're not interested in us.
All you can talk about is yourself.
Aw go on.
Let's talk about you, then.
What do you think of me?
(♪)
My. I must admit that goose mush isn't half bad.
Ah ma cherie!
A woman after my own heart.
Would you mind if I sat closer and held your
soft little hand in mine..?
You try it, you little French rat and you'll wish
you'd never been born.
Hello poppa.
Hello pumpkin.
I made a fine mess of things Becky.
Are you real mad at me?
Oh poppa.
It's alright.
Izzy had this dress that didn't fit her no more
and she gave it to me for keeps!
Do you like it?
You look as pretty as those girls in the catalogue!
You get her home on time, young fella,
or you'll have me to answer to, hear me? !
Yes sir!
Everything seems to have worked out for the best.
Almost everything.
Well, Simon, it's been quite a day.
One could say that again.
Well, Simon, it's been quite a day.
They seem to be having a good time...
Yes...
they certainly do seem to be...
Hetty ... this may shock you, but when I last tangoed
in Paris, I was considered somewhat of an expert.
(♪)
Good Lord, Simon! !
Are you all right..?
My back...it gives out on me once in a while..
I can't move...
OWWWWW Very cautiously now.
I have the very same thing, it's lumbago ...
slowly, slowly, straighten up ...
there, there, that's right ...
lean on me now . . .
that's it ... one step ...
gently, gently, another, gently now.
Poor thing, I know exactly how you feel...
now very carefully...
very carefully.
That hasn't happened in years ...
they say it helps to sleep on a hard mattress..
Oh yes I do believe in a firm mattress.
It's why I keep on insisting on new mattresses for the hotel!
Don't be ridiculous.
Do you know what an expense that is?
We can't afford that right now.
I just got a bill for the new boiler that would choke a horse!
Well that's true.
Next year...
after the roof...
The roof? !
Yes, the roof.. the water leakage...
No one told me.
What about the wallpaper in room seventeen...
What wallpaper in room seventeen...
(♪)