My Son John Page #7

I quit.

What's the use of teaching

honesty, goodness,

love of home

and country? Hm?

Nobody gives a hang.

Oh, some mothers

are very interested

in report cards.

Good grades, not character,

high marks.

Fathers, they just don't care.

I take that back.

One father did come

to the school.

He wanted me fired.

He heard that

I had mentioned God

in the classroom.

His little son of a...

father like that snitched on me.

I must teach his

little stool pigeon

reading, writing,

and 'rithmetic.

Just suppose that he gets

excellent in the three r's

and he gets a goose egg

for character.

Reading, excellent.

But if he reads nothing

about his faith,

whatever it might be,

his head will be as empty as...

as John thinks mine is.

Take writing.

There's a lot of good writing

on bad checks.

Forgers have

excellent penmanship.

Am I boring you?

Oh, go to bed, you big lummox.

Tell me in the morning

why you hit your son.

I'll tell you now

and then I'll go to bed.

I saw red when he said that

i made it difficult for him

to honor

his father and his mother.

It's wrong.

He honors his mother.

And so do I.

I honor you, lu.

But he makes fun of...

oh.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

But he makes fun of his father.

You saw how he acted

when I sang my song.

If you don't like

your Uncle Sammy

then go back...

Now who's breaking up our home?

If I broke anything,

I'll fix it.

I just wanted to show you

how silly your son behaves.

Where does he get

his awkwardness?

You know, I've been thinking.

I'm not going to quit.

I'm going back to school

in the morning

and keep on teaching

little children.

Hello?

Yes.

Yes.

Hello, John.

How thoughtful of you

to brighten up my day.

It's too bad

your father isn't here

so you could talk to him.

Well, John, I know

how busy you are

and this is expensive,

but believe me

it was worth it, dear.

And I hope that your day

is as bright

as you've made mine.

Goodbye.

What?

Oh.

Your trousers?

Those old things?

Well, I gave them

to father o'dowd

like you told me to.

Why?

Did you leave anything in them?

John, you seem upset.

Is that why you called?

All right.

All right, I'll get them.

I w... I will.

I'll get them this evening.

Right away.

All right.

Your father has the car,

but I'll walk over.

All right.

Well, it was good to get

to talk to you, John.

Goodbye.

What is the reason

for this visit, Mr.?

You didn't tell me

your name before.

Suppose you start right off

by doing that this time.

It's stedman,

Mrs. Jefferson.

Federal bureau of investigation.

Mm-hmm.

No, I won't, uh, take your hat.

I have a feeling that you're

not going to stay long.

Would you mind if I sit down?

I don't care.

I'm aware this is a shock to you

and I... I don't want

to frighten you.

I'm not at all frightened,

Mr. stedman.

I seem to...

to startle you.

Naturally.

When you showed me who you are.

No, no, even before that.

I... I thought

that you looked, uh,

you looked more shocked

when you saw me

than when you found out

who I am.

Well, suppose you say

why you're here

and I'll try to have

the right expression.

It's about John.

What's he d...

what do you think he's done?

I'm not sure that

he's done anything.

Well, you won't be any more sure

by talking to me.

I don't see why I should

tell you anything anyway.

Well, you're within

your rights to refuse.

Were you within your rights

when you wormed your way...

that's right,

you wormed your way,

into my confidence

so I'd do a lot of talking.

I know that...

that our methods

are very often criticized

by certain sources

because we're after them

day and night.

But nobody objects to a firm

that protects its business

by investigating your credit.

Insurance outfits have

to protect themselves

by thorough investigations.

Well, I...

I've always

had great respect

for you people,

up to now.

Do you... you care to answer

any questions?

Or not?

Like, for instance?

I'd like to know

why John left suddenly.

Well, I know why.

He had a perfectly good reason

for leaving suddenly.

But I see no reason

why I should tell you.

I know this, though,

I'm leaving suddenly.

I have a lot of things to do.

I haven't done my shopping yet.

I've got a lot of things

i have to do.

You can stay around though,

it's all right.

Look the house over.

Oh, you'll find my beds

aren't made.

I haven't done my housework yet,

thanks to you.

Oh.

There you are, father.

Oh, hello, there!

Did you come over to help us?

I want you to see this.

Now there's something

that anybody could use.

Mrs. mooney

gave me that.

Oh, the woman has

a heart of gold.

Father, I want something back.

You Indian giver.

Well, you know those trousers

I gave you?

They're John's

and he wants them back.

Then he's the Indian giver.

Perhaps he left

something in them.

No, I, uh, I asked him that

and he said no.

They seem worthless to me.

Well, we'll find them

if they're here.

Here's some of my stuff.

Would you have any idea

what color they were?

Yes, they were...

they were gray.

- Gray.

- Flannel.

Flannel.

They had a little stripe

in them, I think.

Gray flannel with

a little stripe in them.

There's gray flannel with

a little stripe in them,

but, uh, that's a coat.

Is there any other

kind of a hint

that you could give me

or a clue?

Yes, there is.

Here they are.

Well, they're not much,

are they?

Well, to me, those trousers

are a complete ruin.

That's what I tried to tell him.

How in the world

did he ever do that?

Hehe... he

sort of tripped.

He had a nasty fall.

Well, I don't care

who his tailor is,

he'll never fix that up

so they look like

their Sunday best.

Well, they're good material

though, you know?

Oh, yes, they are good mat...

oh, he could fix it, he could.

Of course he'd have to sit back

of a desk all the time.

I'll tell you what you could do.

You could cut them off

right there.

Make short pants of them.

Oh, I noticed Sunday

when I talked to John,

he's changed considerable

since he wore short pants.

But I've always said

he was the best altar boy

I've ever had.

He not only served the mass,

but he had sort of a,

well, a nuance.

He looked good doing it,

like a notre dame quarterback.

And on the other hand,

you'll take Chuck and Ben.

When they served the mass...

now look at ya.

The minute I mention

Chuck and Ben.

Goodbye, father.

Goodbye.

Will you do that?

Excuse me just a moment.

Arbie's?

Just a moment.

Telephone.

Yeah?

She got in, huh?

It looks like it.

Well, she'll either

come to see me

or go to that other place.

Yeah, well, there's a nice view

of the city right through there.

And here's the capitol

over here.

And, uh, down through here

there's a little park

that, um...

Oh, you're tired, mother.

Why don't you sit down?

Now, tell me,

how did you get here?

I flew.

No! How did you

get up enough nerve

to get on a plane?

Oh, I haven't.

You seemed so anxious

to have these in a hurry.

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