Good Morning, Miss Dove

This is Liberty Hill, a small freshwater town

where the streets are named for trees and heroes

and a sense of life's continuity runs in the air.

It is like a hundred other American towns,

smug and cozy and putting a special stamp upon its own.

People born and raised here, high and low, rich and poor

are neighbors in an irrevocable way.

They have all, for the space of a whole generation,

been exposed at a tender and malleable age

to the impartial justice, the inflexible regulations,

and the gray, calm, neutral eyes of the same teacher.

The terrible Miss Dove.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Mr. Porter.

What is that you're using on your lilies?

Sulphate of Ammonia. Best fertilizer on the market.

Except for lilies, Mr. Porter.

Particularly for lilies, Miss Dove.

They will perish.

There she goes, Jincey.

Fifteen minutes past 8:00, right on the dot. (JINCEY CHUCKLES)

I wish little "Whosit," the slowpoke,

would copy Miss Dove and develop a sense of time.

Who could stand the strain?

Imagine burping a baby that in any way resembled the terrible Miss Dove.

Seventeen minutes past 8:00.

Eat your oatmeal, David, dear. Miss Dove just went by.

You don't want to be tardy.

Oh, puke! The oatmeal stinks.

Excuse yourself and get off to school!

Yes, sir. Excuse me.

Go on!

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Mr. Levine.

Our Morrie is coming home today.

To pay us a visit.

Naturally, he will want to see his old teacher.

I shall be happy to see Maurice.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, William.

Bobsie!

Hiya, Markie! How's that left foot?

Ha-ha! Top of the morning, Peggy. How's my best girl?

Fine. Atta, girl.

Well, well, little sister.

Wow. What a pretty pink dress.

It's orange, Mr. Spivvy. My mother made it.

She did?

Isn't he cute with the small fry?

He ought to have oodles and dozens of his own.

I mean, it's a shame such a family man never married.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Mr. Spivvy.

John, send me a fast one.

Oh, nice try, Mr. Spivvy.

Let me caddie for you.

Oh, please don't bother, Miss Elwood.

Spring's certainly in the air.

Boys playing baseball, State proficiency tests coming up.

Say, is old Cedar Grove going after the geography pennant again this year?

The children will do their best.

I trust the results will reflect credit on all concerned.

I heard what you said about spring, Mr. Spivvy.

Isn't this just the most blood-tingling day?

Makes you want to do something utterly mad.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Perry.

Good morning, Miss Dove. Good morning Karen.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Robert.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Mark.

I forgot my handkerchief.

First things first, Harrison.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Harrison.

You may provide yourself with the tissue from the box on my desk.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, Margaret.

Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning Milos.

Attention, please.

The lesson will begin.

We will continue with our study

of the dietary habits of animals.

"Bears like honey.

"They are also fond of red ants,

"which have a flavor similar to that of pickles."

Robert.

You know what to do, Robert.

You may return to your desk, Robert.

We will resume.

"The camel is not a pretty beast,

"but he can go many days without water."

Margaret.

For the remainder of the class,

you will occupy the posture correction stool.

We will resume.

Hey! You better tank up!

"The camel is not a pretty beast

"but he can go many days without water."

Ah, who's afraid of that old...

Stick. Good morning, Miss Dove.

Good morning, David.

The proficiency tests prepared by

the State Board of Education

will be held next Monday.

Therefore, I think it would be advisable

to utilize this period for review.

No, David.

You had ample opportunity to quench your thirst

before the beginning of class.

Take out your books, please.

I advise that you memorize the agricultural products of the Argentine Pampas.

Strange. Sharp pain.

Probably a muscular spasm.

If I tranquilize my mind, it will pass.

I will think about the Alps.

White. Clean.

Rising above Lake Lucerne.

Come back, Victoria.

Hellfire and damnation.

You will remain after class, David.

Yes, Miss Dove.

Open your notebook to a blank page.

You will copy that sentence 20 times.

You mean, before lunch?

By the time you have finished,

the cafeteria will still be open.

David?

Yes, Miss Dove?

Is your father likely to be home?

But I'm doing the sentences, Miss Dove.

Answer my question, David.

Your father.

Does he come home for lunch?

Yes, Miss Dove. Daddy's home.

I am indisposed, David.

I...

I am ill.

Will you go and tell your father?

Ask him to call young Dr. Hurley.

Mention this to no one.

David, do not loiter.

Run.

I'll take the shortcut through the vacant lot,

where the old bank used to be!

Where the old bank used to be.

Oh, hello there. Home from school?

Good afternoon, Mrs. Aldredge.

I returned this morning. Good. We missed you.

Welcome home, my dear. Nice to see you.

Thank you, Dr. Hurley. It's nice to see you.

And how is young Dr. Hurley?

The lad celebrated his 45th birthday yesterday.

His 45th? Yes.

Look at her, John.

By Jove, hasn't she something that sets her apart?

It's like the delicate glaze

that is the difference between fine porcelain and ordinary ware.

Well, that Miss What's-Her-Name school on the Hudson

should have given her something.

It certainly cost enough.

Not half as much as it cost your father

to send you to Harrow and Oxford.

But money has nothing to do with it.

Quality can't be given nor purchased.

That girl was born to do anything at all.

Whatever she does become is certain to be remarkable.

As her father, you could be prejudiced,

but then you could also be right.

Welcome home. Thank you, sir.

It's pleasant to see you, Mr. Porter.

The feeling is mutual.

I hope Mrs. Porter is in good health?

She is, and most anxious to see you.

Told me to find out when you and your father can come to dinner.

Course, it doesn't have to be your father.

I expect you met some dashing young men

while you were away from Liberty Hill.

Yes, I, I met one that I like very much.

What's that?

You'd like him too, Papa.

He's an archeology major at Princeton.

Tell me about it later.

Right now, I have a surprise.

In the mail this morning from my London dealer,

after being on its trail for eight years,

that elusive edition of Marco Polo's travels.

Oh, I know how happy you are.

But you haven't even opened it.

So that I might share it with you tonight.

After dinner. (CHUCKLES)

Then let's go home.

Dinner can be early.

May we give you a ride, Mr. Porter?

Thank you, no. I still have some things to attend to. It's the first of the month.

See you tomorrow, John.

Uh, while you're about it, send a draft for the book.

$200.