Cheaper by the Dozen Page #2

- Yes, sir.

All right.

Don't forget it.

- # Memories, memories #

- # Memories #

Dad. Hey, Dad.

- Yes, son?

- I gotta go see Mrs. Murphy.

- I asked you not 15 minutes ago,

and you said that you...

- Yes, I know...

but, gee, I can't

help it, Dad.

- Me too, Dad.

- I do too, Dad.

By jingo, I gave you your last chance.

I'm not stopping again.

- But, Dad...

- Nothing doing. You had every opportunity.

Frank, I think

you'd better stop.

All right. Out you go.

And hurry up.

We haven't got all day!

Make it snappy.

All right. You can open your eyes now.

Well, what do you think of it?

- Oh, Frank, it's beautiful.

- It's wonderful, Dad.

I'm glad you like it. Wait till you see the inside.

Come on. Let's get out.

Come on there, Frank. Help your mother.

That's a good fella.

- You must admit it's a mighty fine

piece of property.

- It's lovely.

I knew it was the right place

the minute I laid eyes on it.

I didn't say much or try to describe it.

I didn't want you to be disappointed.

- Oh, no, Daddy. We love it.

- Howdy. You folks moving in here?

- That's right. Gilbreth's the name.

- You certainly got a nice place.

- I'll say that for you.

- Thank you. We think so.

- All those kids yours?

- Oh, these aren't so many.

You ought to see the ones

we left behind.

- How you ever feed 'em?

- Ah, they come cheaper by the dozen,

you know.

Come on, kids.

It was a wonderful house,

and we loved living in it...

but we soon found out that,

while it was often too small for 12 children...

it was more often too large

for two servants.

As usual, Mother and Dad met their problem

in the typical Gilbreth manner... head on!

The family council

will please come to order.

Now, obviously, this house is too big

for Mrs. Monahan and Jim Bracken...

to take care of without help.

Therefore, your mother and I have

called this meeting to discuss...

you children taking over part of the work

in the house and in the yard.

Assignments will be made on the basis

of personal choice and aptitude.

Now, does the chair hear

any suggestions?

Come, come, members of the council, this is

a democracy. Everybody has an equal voice.

How do you want

to divide the work?

In a democracy, everybody speaks.

So, by jingo, start speaking.

Bill, I recognize you.

What do you think?

I think Mrs. Monahan and Jim Bracken

ought to do the work. They get paid for it.

- Sit down. You're no longer recognized.

- But in a democracy...

Hush, Bill.

It's almost impossible to get good servants...

these days with so many

children in the family.

- Mr. Chairman?

- Yes, son?

I think you're right. Jim and Mrs. Monahan

do have too much to do.

- I move we hire more people to work for us.

- Second the motion!

- Me too.

- Out of order.

Sit down and be quiet, all of you.

I, uh... Uh,

The chair recognizes

the assistant chairman.

Well, of course, we could hire additional help,

and that might be the answer.

- But that would mean cutting the budget

somewhere else.

Perhaps if we cut out

all desserts...

and allowances,

we might be able to afford a maid.

And then if we cut out movies,

ice cream sodas and new clothes for a year...

we might even be able to afford

a helper forJim too.

Uh-huh. Do I hear a motion

to that effect?

How about it, Bill?

You want to stop allowances? Frank? Anne?

Oh, well.

I move we allot the work.

- Splendid, splendid. Do I hear a second?

- Second the motion.

- All those in favor signify.

- Aye.

Motion carried.

Now, is there any further business?

I move we adjourn.

Not so fast, young lady. There's still

that little matter of specific assignments.

For instance, the back fence,

which is badly in need of whitewashing.

Do I hear any bids?

Huh? Speak up. If you want to earn a little

extra spending money, here's your chance.

- Yes, Bill?

- I'll bid $10.

You must think this is a government project.

Do I hear any reasonable bids?

L... I bid 47 cents.

- Forty-seven cents?

- Please, Daddy. Let me do it.

- Tell me, how do you happen

to hit on 47 cents?

- I've been saving to buy...

a pair of roller skates,

and that's how much more I need.

- But you're gonna get skates for your birthday.

- Frank.

Oh, I'm sorry, Lillie.

I wasrt supposed to let that out of the bag.

- Oh, Daddy, that's wonderful.

Thank you, thank you.

Besides, that's too big a job

for a little girl like you.

Frank, here's your chance.

What do you bid... within reason?

Oh, well. 2.50, I guess.

Good. You got yourself a contract.

Now, is there any more new business?

I think this family

ought to buy a dog.

Out of order. Meeting adjourned.

Well, here we are.

I know you're all eager to get started...

on a new school year, so out you go.

- Hurry up. Hurry up.

- But, Dad, not all of us?

Certainly all of you.

You want us to make an impression, don't you?

But this isn't our school...

Ernestine's and mine.

- We're gonna go to high school.

- We'll take care of that later.

- I wanna show these people first

what a real family looks like.

- But it's so embarrassing.

A person with inner dignity

is never embarrassed.

Besides, visits like this get results.

Teachers lap it up.

I only wish I had time to send home

for your mother and the babies.

- And I will, too,

unless you two get a move-on. Come on.

- Honestly, Dad.

- You have more gall...

- Somebody in this family

has to show a little spunk.

- Come on, son.

- It's so silly.

Ern! Ern! There he is.

He's the one I told you about... the captain

of the swimming team. His name is Tom Black.

- Oh, he's adorable.

- I'll say.

What are you two hanging back there for?

Come along!

Shh! Daddy, please.

Why...

- Why, somebody might hear you.

- Suppose they do?

They're gonna hear from me

soon enough anyhow.

No dying-cow looks, now.

Hold your heads up and look alive. Let's go.

Take your hats off.

Gangway.

Refer these to Miss Jensen.

Give these to Miss Sweeney.

Come in.

Good morning, madam.

Just a Gilbreth invasion,

or perhaps I should say a partial invasion...

since I left most of them

at home with their mother.

- I hope we're not intruding.

- Oh, not at all.

I'm delighted to see you, Mr. Gilbreth.

We've heard so much about you.

I understand you have...

Eleven children, ma'am,

but unfortunately...

only five will be under

your excellent supervision:

Mary, Martha, Lillian,

Bill and FrankJr.

- How do you do, sir?

- I just brought my two older girls,

Anne and Ernestine...

along so you could get a better

idea of the crop we're raising.

Well, I'm so glad

you dropped in, Mr. Gilbreth.

I'm sure we're all going to get along

beautifully together. It's such a pleasure...

Uh, just a minute.

I'm not just dropping in.

I want to meet their teachers

and see what grades they're going into.

Oh, well, I'm afraid all our teachers are busy

at the moment. You see, it's opening day...

Oh, that's all right.

I'm in no hurry.

In fact, I've arranged my schedule

so as to give you my entire morning.

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