Buddy

When I was a child,

I dreamed I lived in a forest and was queen of the animals.

I loved that world where the creatures ran wild

and only I could tame them,

where they taught me their secret language

and only I could hear it.

It didn't matter that I grew up.

I refused to surrender my crown.

Now, when people ask my husband, the doctor, about me,

I think what they're really asking is,

"Is she still crazy?"

Well, tell them, "Yes."

Tell them that I filled your life with folly.

Tell them I haven't finished dreaming

and I never will.

Here we are.

Three, please.

How many?

Hey! Sit down! Shh!

Shush yourself!

Usher!

This man is bothering... Me?

Talk to her!

Miss? Mrs. Mrs. Gertrude Lintz.

What are these little... Apes.

Just over from Africa.

This is Maggie Klein

and this dashing fellow is called Joe Mende,

named after the Mende tribe.

Cannibals.

Come on, let's watch the movie.

Turn around, Maggie.

Let me take your hat. Thank you, Joe.

Go ahead, Joe. Go on. Go on.

Aah-ooh!

Mmm-hmm.

Dr. Lintz.

Hang on. Trudy!

Oh, Bill, are you here?

No, I'm due at the hospital. The phone's for you.

Have you seen Joe and Maggie?

Yeah, they're up here.

They're pretending to look at me through binoculars.

Opera glasses. They saw it at the movies.

Oh, yeah. How stupid of me.

Send them down, sweetheart.

Skedaddle.

Don't forget the phone.

I won't. Thanks.

Go on, you two. Get outta my kitchen.

It's not suppertime.

Didn't I tell you?

(IMITATING CHIMP CHITTERS)

Why they want all you all around?

It's enough to drive a person to the nuthouse.

Course, this place probably already is the nuthouse.

How long has he been there?

What have you done for him?

Nothing. You aren't doing anything!

All right. All right, I'm on my way.

Dick.

I won't be back until late tonight.

Will you make sure Maggie and Joe get their supper and into bed on time?

Yes, Mrs. Lintz.

Ah, wish me luck.

Where are you going? Philadelphia.

Philadelphia? Yeah.

Where is his mother?

No gorilla has ever survived captivity without its mother.

Not one.

How did you expect him to?

We've had other firsts here.

Oh. Of course you have.

And I'm sure you're very proud of yourselves.

What are you doing?

Taking him home.

This is double pneumonia. Very far advanced.

How far is very far?

Let's see if the heat lamp helps him any.

He can't die.

Not every baby gorilla can die the instant people get a hold of it.

Here.

I don't think he can eat, sweetheart.

Mmm.

Well, if you don't eat, how will I ever see your bright eyes, hmm?

Beautiful little Buddy.

You named him.

Buddha.

But right away he was Buddy.

Why did you do that?

You know it'll only make it harder when he...

Just try, Buddy.

Come on.

Just try.

That's perfect, Maggie.

You're getting better at that every day.

Isn't she, Joe? Hmm?

You ready for breakfast?

Wait. Maggie, no.

Maggie.

Maggie. Maggie, come on.

There's a sick baby in there.

He all right?

I'll go warm the milk.

Go on, you two, get out of my kitchen!

Hey, hey! Now, what's going on? Maggie.

Go on! Get out of my kitchen!

Maggie! What are you doing?

Maggie!

Joe!

Maggie, don't go up there.

Joe!

Uh...

Uh-oh.

Joe!

Put that down! Maggie!

Shame on you!

Maggie! Whoo-oo-oo!

Here comes the bogeyman.

Joe!

Here comes the bogeyman.

What in the world can I do for you?

Come on, push up. Okay, Joe. Push up. Up. Good boy.

Maggie, come on. Up, up, up.

Good. Up. Up.

That's ridiculous.

Up you go. Up, up. Good girl!

Anything useful?

Oh, not so far.

There's almost no information.

But at least this Professor Spatz has been to the Congo.

Finally something by someone who's actually seen gorillas with his own eyes.

No, no, stay here awhile.

There's no change.

We've done everything humanly possible.

Except pull him out of it.

As long as he's still breathing, we've got to keep trying.

Do you know I've figured out what it is, Trudy?

You have to save this gorilla

so we finally have someone in the house who can wear my hand-me-downs.

Bill!

Oh, good. I can still make you laugh.

Oh!

Yeah, that's it. You hold on tight.

Buddy looked up at me with such trust,

but I didn't know anything.

I didn't know how to raise a baby gorilla.

So, I went for advice to that most dangerous of species,

the expert.

Every detail is perfect.

Look at the teeth.

Where did you get these?

They're specimens I collected myself.