The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

Happy birthday.

Who is it?

- Mr. Jacobs? - Yes?

It's me, Frank Hallet.

Hallet?

- Trick or treat! - What?

Trick or treat!

It's Halloween, young lady. Why aren't you out trick-or-treating?

Oh, somebody's birthday.

- Whose, yours? - Yes.

- Well, happy birthday. - Thank you.

And besides your birthday, it's also Halloween.

Can I tell my father what you want?

My name's Frank Hallet. Your father knows me.

My two kids will be along. They're trick-or-treating.

I'm just going along to make sure...

there aren't any real goblins hanging around.

Like dirty old men who try to give pretty little girls some candy.

Tell your father you've got company.

You better shut the door. You'll let all the heat out of the house.

I've seen you around, but we've never met, have we?

- You came over from England, right? - Right.

And they don't celebrate Halloween in England?

No.

It's a big day here...

when all the kids get dressed up in costumes and masks...

and go around to all the houses...

and shout, "Trick or treat!"

And you're supposed to act scared.

And if you don't give them a treat, they pull some dirty trick on you.

You mean, no trick-or-treaters have been by here tonight?

Well, there will be. My two kids will be along here any minute.

One's a green skeleton and the other's a Frankenstein monster.

What's considered a treat?

Candy, popcorn, gum, anything like that.

Would they like a piece of cake?

But that's your birthday cake.

You shouldn't cut it just for them.

Bravo.

Where's your mother?

My mother's dead.

But your father's here.

He smokes French cigarettes, right?

Am I right about the French cigarettes?

Yeah.

Where is he, upstairs?

Your father's upstairs?

- No, he's in his study, working. - Oh, yes. He's a poet.

My mother says he's a poet.

And whatever my mother says automatically has to be true.

It wouldn't dare not be.

My mother's the lady that leased this place to you and your father.

Oh, that's great.

The kids are gonna love this.

Are my hands cold?

You're 13?

I counted 13 candles.

- That's all I had. - You're 14?

I'll bet you write poetry too.

I'd like to read your poems sometime.

Just you and your father live here? Just you two?

Yeah.

And I'll bet this is his favourite chair, isn't it?

Yeah.

What've you got there? What is that, a hamster?

Oh, let me see.

Well, I just wanna see.

What's his name?

Oh, come on. He's gotta have a name. Tell me his name.

Gordon.

Gordon? He's cute.

Shouldn't you tell your father I'm here?

No, not when he's working.

You're a very pretty girl, you know that?

Pretty eyes.

Pretty hair.

Pretty girl like you, and your birthday and all...

No boyfriend?

Come on, I'll bet you got a boyfriend.

I'll bet you got lots of boyfriends, pretty girl like you.

It's okay. It's all right. Relax.

I get to spank you on your birthday. That's a custom here.

Yes, you get one spank for every year, and one to grown on.

See, you got off easy.

Now, don't get mad. It's just a game.

It's just a silly birthday game, that's all.

You don't think I was trying to be fresh, do you? Don't be silly.

I've got two kids of my own, you know, and they'll be along any minute.

Here they come now, even. Well, I'm off.

Thank you for the treats.

No trick on you tonight.

Hello, boys!

Tell your father I'm sorry I missed him. Good night.

Hey, I've got some treats for you.

There we go. One for you and one for you.

Come on, boys, let's go. Happy birthday!

Come on, boys, let's go, go, go.

Jacobs, Lester and Jacobs, Rynn.

That's me.

It's what you call a joint account.

Sign here, please.

- Have you got your key? - Right here.

You can take it into one of these booths.

Yes, I know. Thank you.

Sign your name again, please.

She's only 13.

My father has an account here. Lester Jacobs.

Next, please?

Could I have that paper with my signature on it, please?

Thank you.

Crab apples. No grapes this year.

How are you two getting along out here?

- Everything all right? - Yes, just fine.

You do remember me?

I'm Cora Hallet.

Your father leased this house from me.

Yeah, I remember you.

- Where did this come from? - It's my father's.

This belongs here.

That table and braided rug belong over there.

Poets aren't supposed to live like other people, is that it?

I keep forgetting to ask him to autograph one for me.

"I love you." Signed, "Father."

Nice and simple.

We don't see much of you two in the village.

Not even at the market.

Well, the market does deliver.

If one can afford it.

Do you want me to give a message to my father?

Such a shame about those grapes.

Nobody bothered to spray.

I can give my father any message.

I came for the jelly glasses.

For as long as I can remember...

the owners and I have made jelly out of those grapes.

The glasses are in the cellar.

Your father's not home?

No, he isn't.

Oh, that's too bad.

I was having a little gathering at my house and I was hoping that...

Is he in the village?

No, he's in New York.

When I was outside, I could have sworn I heard voices.

Hebrew?

I should think French would be more help.

Or Italian.

Lord knows there are enough of them around these days to speak it with.

Are you sure you don't want to give my father a message?

So many outsiders in the village these days.

Oh, from London.

- Yeah. - I adore crosswords.

Well, you can take it with you if you like.

- But your father's doing it. - I'm doing it.

And Hebrew.

My son's children tell me...

you gave them some birthday cake the other night.

He came inside the house?

- My son? - Yeah, he came inside.

Your father?

Your father was here that evening?

He was in his study.

When he's working, he can't be disturbed.

Since that evening, my son's been back?

No.

- Not been back at all? - No.

If my son should come back and your father isn't here...

it might be better if you didn't let him in.

Well, he didn't ask my permission the first time.

I hope you didn't intend that to sound so rude.

I'll tell my father you said not to let your son inside the door.

That won't be necessary.

Maybe I don't understand what you want, Mrs. Hallet.

One thing I certainly do not want...

is to go on and on about something that doesn't matter in the slightest.

I came for jelly glasses. We'll get them now.

Your son says I have pretty hair.

Did he tell you that?

We'll get the glasses now.

They're in the cellar.

We'll move this table...

so I can get the rug up and raise the trap door.

My father and I like the table where it is.

But the glasses are in the cellar.

I'll get them for you later, Mrs. Hallet.

Move the table.

This is my house.

You are an extraordinarily rude little girl...

who's going to do exactly as I say.

Last week you took the only good grapes we have...

and now the crab apples.

And you never asked if you might.

And today you just walked bang into my house!

- This is not your house! - My house!

Leased.

You're 13.

Why aren't you in school?

Thirteen means I have no rights, is that it?

Thirteen means you should be in school.

- Look at me when I speak to you. - I study at home.

It so happens I'm a member of the school board.