Swiss Family Robinson Page #5

Take a look.

- It's beautiful.

- I've always wanted a daughter,

someone I could dress up

and make clothes for.

I just didn't expect it

for Christmas.

Thank you.

How about this? We get some trees,

bend them down, make snares,

the pirates step in the snares,

trip them and they're caught.

But how can we defend this place?

I think what we need is a hill,

so they have to come up to us.

- I got an idea.

- What is it, Francis?

We could dig some big pits

and then we could put lions,

tigers, snakes,

and all sorts of animals in there.

When the pirates come, they fall in.

I don't know whether we could

manage the lions and tigers,

but I think a few pits

might be a very good idea.

You look very beautiful, my dear.

Come and join the family.

Allow me, Roberta.

May I have the pleasure

of the first dance?

There. What did I tell you?

Anything we really need, the island

will produce it. Even a girl.

A girl. But we have three sons.

Excuse me, Fritz.

I'll dance with you, Fritz.

I'll rest awhile, if you don't mind.

- What's the matter?

- I was just thinking.

We gotta have those lions and tigers

or else...

Well, that's the whole idea.

I guess we'll just

have to have them, then.

Since you have a partner, Ernst,

I'm sure you won't mind.

It might have been simpler

if I'd left the dress in the chest.

Alright, keep playing.

Thank you.

Come on, Francis.

May I have the pleasure?

Something must have gone wrong

with the fuse.

We're not going back to find out.

We'll have to pick up every scrap

of lumber. Can't leave any evidence.

Must be getting close.

I used to dream that somehow we'd

find a way to make her sail again.

Now...

Well, we can be sure of one thing.

If the pirates do come,

we're going to outnumbered.

Maybe ten to one.

But up here,

if we prepare everything in advance,

we'll be able to give

a good account of ourselves.

We'll be like medieval knights

defending the castle.

We'll keep the muskets

for our final defence.

I'll give the order

when to use them.

Of course, if anything should happen

to me, then Fritz will take charge,

- then Ernst.

- And then me.

Yes, then you, Francis.

We've only got a small army.

We can only afford one general.

Now that's our weak point

and

this is where they'll try to come up.

We could have used the cannon.

We'll have to do

the best we can without it.

Down there we'll put our pits and

our snares and our entanglements.

We could plant some gunpowder and

touch it off with fuses from the top.

Anything to hold them up.

You can rely on me, Roberta.

I've got it all worked out.

Can I take care of the lions

and tigers and things?

- You're in charge of the tigers.

- Good.

I'd like to be something in the

world, so I want to go to school.

You'd love it in London, anyway.

There are concerts, parties, dances.

Ladies in beautiful gowns.

Elegant men in tall hats.

- Did you ever own a tall hat?

- No.

I can't wait to see you in one.

You'll be quite handsome.

I think that's what I miss most of

all, the colour and the excitement.

I know I'd especially like it...

if you were there.

I'll be there. As long as I live,

I won't travel any further from home

than an occasional trip

to the seaside.

Thank you, Roberta.

There must be something my

grandfather can do for you all.

Herr Kobel used to say,

"For some boys school is a

punishment, for others a reward."

There must be something

my grandfather can do.

Francis, don't! If you drop that

you could blow us all to pieces.

Dropping it wouldn't set it off.

You'd have to light the fuse.

- Even then I'm not so sure.

- You don't think they'll work?

They'll make noise, keep the pirates

confused, that's all.

Just because Papa thought of them

instead of you.

What's all this?

More pirate alarms?

Yes, for the steep side.

You and your pirate alarm.

What about your tiger?

Have you caught him yet?

No. Until Fritz and Ernst dig the

pits there's no place to keep him.

- One of you, give me a hand!

- It's alright, I'll go.

Don't bother.

Up there.

Pull the knot as tight as you can.

Francis, put that down!

Is that alright?

Good.

There we are.

What are you doing?

He was just showing me

how it will work.

I feel sorry for any pirates who

come.

It was my idea. If you like I'll

show you what else I had in mind.

Pirates. They're here! Into the fort,

everybody! Come on, quick!

- What is it?

- Francis! Where is he?

You know those coconut bombs?

You don't have to worry about them.

They work right well.

Come down!

You might have been killed?

If you'd stayed put, Ernst,

this wouldn't have happened.

- Don't tell me what to do!

- I just did.

- That's enough.

- I don't care.

He thinks he can just give orders.

I said that's enough.

This incident's closed.

Now let's get back to work.

I don't want to hear

another word about it.

If you really don't want to go to

school and your mind is made up,

maybe my grandfather could give you a

job. It'll be a good job, Fritz.

Perhaps in the counting house.

What if he doesn't get back here

for some reason?

What if we have to stay

on the island for 10 or 20 years?

He will come back, I know it.

He's probably headed this way now

in one of his fastest ships.

You'd take the job if he offered

it to you?

It's not that I wouldn't appreciate

it, but it's just not for me.

Cooped up in an office

counting somebody else's money,

doing the same thing

day after day.

What would you like to do?

If we get off this island I'd like

to do what we started out to do.

Go on to New Guinea

and become part of the new colony.

Maybe take up some land

in my own name.

- Well, why?

- Why?

Well, because it's a good thing.

You've got a chance to build,

with your own two hands.

It's the beginning of a new country.

That's what I like about it.

Well, I'm going to London.

Ernst was very flattering. He said

he'd like to be there if I was.

Wouldn't you like to see me

in London?

I don't know that I'll ever be

in London.

I don't see how anybody

can shoot a thing like this.

Why don't you teach me how to shoot?

It might be important

if there's a battle.

Alright. Come on.

Well... first you pull the gun tight

into your shoulder like this. And...

Well, here.

Tight into your shoulder and...

Well, right hand near the trigger.

No, here.

Left hand out to support it.

A little more. Right.

Now. No, you have to use

this hand to support it.

Now you sight along the barrel here.

You don't mind?

Why do you think I wanted you

to teach me?

- Roberta! Where are you?

- I'm over here.

May I have this next dance, m'lady?

You said that's what you missed.

- It's to make you feel at home.

- Where ever did you get that?

You wish the name of my tailor, sir?

Go past the town square,

take the first street to the left.

- Weren't you covering the pits?

- Weren't you working on the bridge?

He was teaching me how to shoot.

I asked him to.

Come here a minute.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes