Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
It was May 2nd, 1934.
Even though the Great Depression|was in full swing around the world...
... it still seemed far away|from the world I knew.
I was focused on one thing.
I wanted to be a reporter.
I was more excited that day|than I'd ever been in my whole life.
Next up, Clifton and Ludlow.|Everybody up for Clifton and Ludlow.
If I hurried, I'd have just enough time|to see Dad at his car dealership.
Dad. Dad. Dad, look, I finished my article.
That's great, honey. Oh!
- Wish me luck.|- You can do it, sweetheart.
Go get them.
She's gonna be a reporter, that one.
You just wait and see.
Hobo crime spree|spreading across Ohio Valley.
Come get your paper. Hobo crime spree.
My brother Charlie|had arranged an introduction...
... at the Cincinnati Register.
Though I was going inside as a visitor...
... I was certain I'd come out a journalist.
How could I have known|what life had in store?
I thought I was ready.
Seven, please?
Excuse me, Mr. Peabody? Sir?
- Charlie Kittredge's sister.|- Yes, sir, I'm Kit.
Uh, Billy, and I'm only 19. I'm not|a sir yet. But thanks. Uh, follow me.
Charlie said you wanted|to see a real newsroom, and this is it.
Wow, the Cincinnati Register.
- Okay. So where's the editor?|- Uh, Gibson? Right there, why?
I've written this article,|and I'd like for you to give it to him.
- Uh, you'd like me to what?|- Give it to him, you know, to publish.
You're kidding.
You're not kidding. She's not kidding.
I'm not kidding.|It's about the Chicago World's Fair.
I've interviewed several people|who've actually been there.
Eyewitnesses.
Heh. That's what this is about?|You want an article published?
Yes, thank you.
Kid, you don't waltz up to the editor|of the Cincinnati Register...
...and expect him to publish your article.
The tragedy is the fact that|I paid you at all to write this drivel!
I want something new.|I want something fresh.
I want something real before l...
But how about I take a look at it?
Thanks, Billy, would you?
I'll just wait here.
- Ha, ha.|- But you take your time.
Uh, no.
You can come back another time.
That works too.
He's just reading it, Ruthie.
He might not even give it to Mr. Gibson.|Who knows?
- You're late. Let's go.|- Does Mother know you're coming with me?
Mother,|I'm going to Kit's house with Frances!
- Yes, dear.|- Now she does.
Good day.
Come on, let's go.
I'm being sworn|Into the Treehouse Club
- I'm being sworn into the Treehouse Club.|- Afternoon.
Hello.
You all know if the people who live here|might be interested in a barter?
Depends.|What's a barter?
A trade.
See, my partner here and I'll work for food|and...
- Anyways, I'm Will, and this is Countee.|- Hey.
Mother's out back with her Garden Club.|Follow me.
I'm being sworn|Into the Treehouse Club.
Everything will be okay.|Everything will be fine.
I just heard you're moving, Louise.
...and we're staying at the Netherland|until he sends for us.
The Netherland Plaza Hotel?
I heard it's magnificent.
We'd love to see the rooms.
Margaret, look.
Mother.
WO|Hobos. We cannot trust them.
Hello.
How can I help you?
- Mother, this is Will and his friend...|Countee.
And they're looking to make a barter,|which means work for food.
I can pretty much fix anything broke.
Windows, uh...
...fences, any kind of machine.
We're trustworthy and responsible.
Come back in the morning.
- We'll see what we can do.|Thank you.
One moment.
WO|Don't feed them, Margaret.
Why don't you take|something to eat before you leave?
Thank you, ma'am,|but, uh, we only take when we work.
I can't let you leave hungry.
Better be quick. I've already seen|Mrs. Culver dive headfirst into the nuts.
Who knows what she'll do|when she sees the sandwiches?
Please, take it as an advance.
Go on.
All right, as an advance. Thank you.
- We'll be working it off in the morning.|- See you then.
Let's go, Countee.|- Ahem.
My husband says let them go hungry.|It's the only way to keep them out of town.
Oh, Louise.
Can't help but think|that those boys are someone's children too.
Hmm.
Will, come on.
Okay, everybody. In your places.
"Member-o-belia."
Eleanor Roosevelt. Amelia Earhart.
Kit, Ruthie, Frances...
...and soon, Florence.
Do you, Florence Stone...
...swear to be true to the treehouse Club|and only the treehouse Club...
...as long as you shall live?
I do.
And if anyone should ask you|to join the 9th Street Club?
You're supposed to say, "I will decline."
I will decline...
...and laugh.|- Ha, ha.
Now Ruthie will get the sacred water|off the sacred shelf.
I already did. It's in the sacred bowl.
Good.
Now treehouse members|and potential treehouse members...
...take your right hand,|and place it in the bowl.
We are one.
Now place two fingers|over your heart, like so...
...for the sacred treehouse pledge.
All together:
Gwanga, gwanga, galoolie...
...kariba, kariba, kariv.
- I swear to be true to the...|Betty Lou!
Robert, do something!
Sir...?|Yep.
We're gonna be okay then.|No, save that.
- Frances, look.|That's your bed.
- What does that mean?|My furniture.
"Foreclosure by order of the bank."
That means|the bank's taking our house away.
Ruthie, isn't that your father's bank?
Can you ask your father to give it back?
Just let them go. Betty Lou!|Just let them go.
Oh, what a pity. I had no idea.
Well, he lost his job months ago,|Lorraine.
They've been selling eggs just to get by.
- Will you excuse me?|You just let them go, okay?
Come on, let's go.
But my picture's not up|on the member-o-belia wall yet.
Florence.
Everybody's watching, Lou.
Betty Lou.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Come on.|- Where will they go?
I don't know.
I'm so sorry, Barbara.
There she is. How's my girl?
- Dad, Dad.|- Come here.
- What's the matter?|- Dad, look.
"The Stones lose their house."
And that's why my|favorite stories are fairy tales...
...because no matter how scary it gets...
...everybody always lives happily|ever after.
And often with some very nice outfits.
Thank you, Ruthie. Thank you.|Thank you, Ruthie.
Does, uh... Does anyone know|where Frances Stone is?
She's away.
Staying with family.
- Yeah, in a hobo jungle somewhere.|- Stop it, Roger.
Frances Stone is a good-for-nothing,|deadbeat egg seller...
...and everyone knows it.|She wore dresses made of feed sacks.
Roger. Ruthie, not another word.
Well, this seems like an opportune time|to let you know...
...that as a final class assignment|before summer vacation...
...we're going to help out|at a soup kitchen...
...where they provide food|for the poor and needy.
Uh, Roger.
My dad says that people|eat at soup kitchens...
...are hobos who feed off the government.|That's why we're in a depression.
I understand, Roger.
Therefore,|anyone who doesn't wish to help out...
...can write a 1500-word essay|on the history of volunteerism.
Roger's leading my team|for the soup kitchen.
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"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/kit_kittredge:_an_american_girl_11914>.
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