Papa's Delicate Condition

Mama, it isn't even finished.

It is as far as you're concerned, young lady.

This is hardly the way to spend a Sunday morning,

listening to a minstrel song.

It's papa's favorite. It's not mine.

I'm going to put it up here out of your reach.

No, mama, I can pull the chair here,

step up here, and I've got it.

Well...

I'm going to put it up here on top of the book shelf.

I see.

How about there?

I haven't figured that out... yet.

Well, at least you're an honest child.

Mother?

Mother?

Yes, Augusta?

When I get ready may I go on ahead?

I have to meet Stanley Henderson.

You can't go like that, you're naked.

We're going to wait for your father

and then we're all going to church together

just as if we belong to the one family.

Oh, mother, his train might not even get here on time.

If it doesn't, Walter will call from the station.

Walter? Walter?

Yes, ma'am?

Isn't it time that you were leaving for the station?

I was just going, Mrs. Griffith.

- Good. - Oh, mama I'm all ready.

Can I go with Walter to pick up papa?

Please, mama, please? Can I, can I?

- May I. - Please?

All right.

Weee! I'm gonna pick up papa! I'm gonna pick up papa!

I'm gonna pick up papa!

I'm gonna pick up papa!

She does get a little hysterical at the mention of papa,

doesn't she?

Now, stand up there.

You see you keep your dress clean.

Yes, mama.

My little consolation prize.

Come on now.

We're going to pick up papa, we're going...

Slow down, child, or you'll use yourself up before we get there.

Walter, does papa own the whole rail road?

No, he's just a superintendent.

Oh.

Being a superintendent is much better than being the fellow

who owns the rail road.

- It is? - Sure.

He gives out all the orders

and don't have to pay out any salaries.

Walter, what's a consolation prize?

A consolation prize?

Oh, that's just a trifling no-account nothing

someone gets when they loses.

Do you think I'm a trifling no-account nothing?

Not you, child, not you.

I bet neither does papa.

How sweet it is. Have a little booze, pal.

Ah, no more for me, I'm driving.

- Oh, well how about you? - Oh, no thanks.

Then, in the case of that thought

I'll just drink a little toast

to the best emergency crew on the Moonstar Railroad.

Still got a little left. I'll make it one for the road.

Well...

looks like we're gonna be in Grangeville on time.

I promised the family I'd go to church with them

this morning.

Well, I could slow her up

or head off into the next siding.

Or drive into a creek or something?

No, no, no.

It's about time I started going to church again.

I'm a big boy now.

Got my library card and everything.

I used to go all the time, you know.

I didn't mind it at all.

But then after... hey, there's Corrie!

Well, fellas, thanks for the whistle.

Hiya, sweetheart!

Gosh, did I miss you!

Did you, papa? Did you really?

You know you're just like all the other females,

in desperate need of reassurance.

I promise, while I was away

I didn't even think of any other girl of six but you.

Oh, papa, you're wonderful.

When I'm around you, I think I am.

How are you, Walt? How are you, Mr. Griffith?

Say, you do look lovely in that little white ensemble you got on...

Morning, Mr. Griffith, back for a while?

Well, until the next emergency, Bert.

Good, good.

Before we go any further,

it's time for our history lesson.

Now, what is today, July 8th, famous for?

You're going to church.

Besides that.

I don't know, papa.

There you go.

You forgot to look at the calendar

before coming out of the house.

Now, on July 8th, 1779, the British burned Fairfield, Connecticut.

You know, Augusta came into the living room

almost naked.

I'm afraid my history lessons are lost on you, Corrie.

I think you're a trifle more basic.

Now you wait here while papa goes in and sends his report.

Morning, Mr. Griffith, everything go well?

- Well, I'd say fair. - What?

Send this to the main office at Fort Worth.

Wreck at Sidden's Landing.

Two freight cars and one flat car derailed.

Track clear, traffic proceeding normally.

Hey, Mr. Griffith, look at the apple of your eye.

Corrie, get down from there!

You get down from there right away!

That was right away, wasn't it, papa?

Now what is your poor mother going to say

when she sees that dress?

Maybe if I don't turn around.

You know who's gonna get blamed for this, don't you?

I'll tell her the truth.

Mother knows I'm an honest child.

Never mind, I'll take the rap, I'm bigger than you.

Now, I'll cover you from the back.

When you get into the house

you run up to your room and take your dress off.

- Thank you, papa. - Oh, it's really nothing,

you only get one to five as an accessory.

Good morning.

Now let's get right back into the car,

we're late for church.

- Nice to see you, dear. - Thank you.

Hello, papa.

Miss Corrie, what happened to your dress?

Turn around.

Well, young lady?

A funny thing happened to us down at the station,

I was holding Corrie in my arms...

Mother, I slid down the coal chute.

With no help from your father?

No, I did it all by myself.

You really look a mess, Corrie, when are you gonna grow up?

Never! I've seen what it's done to you.

Now that's enough of that.

You go right into the house and have Ellie give you a bath.

Can't I stay home with her? After all,

that's a large bath tub, she's liable to drown.

She's a very strong swimmer.

We are going to church

and Corrie is going to say her prayers at home.

I'll only pray for papa.

I think that's a very good idea.

Now you go.

Can't we wait for Corrie to take a bath?

We'll only be a few minutes late.

Oh, father, we have to be there on time.

I have a young man waiting for me at the church steps.

Only one? Hm!

Hardly seems worthwhile to make the trip.

Besides, mother has to play the organ

at the services.

Your father seems to have forgotten about that.

You two are up to it again.

Up to what?

Cutting Corrie out, excluding her from the family.

Jack, you talk such nonsense!

It's just a feeling I get

whenever I see the two of you gang up on her.

I admit I could be wrong.

After all I voted for William Jennings Bryan.

Three times.

It's no use trying to discuss anything with you.

You just turn everything into a joke.

That's how I find things.

Well, I haven't got the same escape that you have.

You've been in this condition more and more often.

I am not in that condition.

If I were I would have slid down the coal chute with Corrie.

And you'd be taking a bath too.

And you wouldn't need to go to church.

It's a wonder you didn't do it.

I didn't think of that.

Walter, I have told you again and again not to come this way.

Just looking at that house makes me physically ill.

Imagine anybody having the bad taste

to paint their house that awful color.

I admit it's a little nauseous at this time of the morning,

but at sunset it does have a pretty effect.