Bright Eyes

Shirley Blake:
My daddy could fly better than anyone in the whole world, couldn't he?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
That's right, better than anyone in the whole world. You know, your daddy and I were pals ever since we were about as big as you are. That's why I'm your godfather.

Shirley Blake:
And then one day he cracked up and went away to Heaven, didn't he?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
That's right.

Shirley Blake:
I'll bet when I'm a pilot, I won't crack up.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
When you're ready to be a pilot, we'll get you a big non-crackable ship. That reminds me, I found a scrapbook the other day with some pictures of your daddy and me in it. Would you like to see?

Shirley Blake:
Oh, yes.

Shirley Blake:
Who's that picture of?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Oh. A girl I used to know.

Shirley Blake:
She's a pretty lady.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
I used to think so. But it's not enough to be pretty on the outside. You've got to be pretty on the inside, too.

Shirley Blake:
How can you be pretty in there?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
By thinking the right thoughts and doing the right things. And eating plenty of spinach!

Mrs. Elizabeth Higgins:
It's just a bit of a Christmas gift for Shirley.

Mary Blake:
You're so kind. I bought a few things for her, not very much of course. Things were different when her father was alive.

Mrs. Elizabeth Higgins:
Yes, the poor young fellow. But it must be a comfort to know you're doing all you can for her. She's such a sweet child. Not like that Joy. There's a brat if ever one lived.

Joy Smythe:
What are you gonna get for Christmas? I'm gonna get a pink dollhouse with real furniture and a real piano and a tennis racket and a great big doll.

Shirley Blake:
I asked Santa Claus to bring me a doll.

Joy Smythe:
There ain't any Santa Claus!

Shirley Blake:
There is too!

Joy Smythe:
There is not! My psychoanalyst told me there ain't any Santa Claus or fairies or giants or anything like that.

Shirley Blake:
I'll bet you'd feel pretty bad tomorrow morning if you woke up and you didn't have any presents.

Joy Smythe:
Well, I won't. Wanna know why? 'Cause I already peeked in the closet and saw 'em.

Shirley Blake:
I don't care what you saw. There is a Santa Claus!

Joy Smythe:
There ain't!

Shirley Blake:
Mr. Smith, there is a Santa Claus, isn't there?

Uncle Ned Smith:
What did she say?

Shirley Blake:
She said there isn't.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Then there is.

Uncle Ned Smith:
We showed her, didn't we?

Shirley Blake:
We sure did. Thanks, Mr. Smith. I like you.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Then you're the only one around here that does. They don't like me, and I don't like them, either.

Anita Smythe:
Higgins!

Higgins:
Yes, madam?

Anita Smythe:
My cousin Miss Martin is arriving from New York tomorrow. I want to be sure that everything is done just right.

Higgins:
Yes, madam.

Anita Smythe:
Thomas, you'll meet her plane in the morning.

Thomas, Chauffeur:
Yes, madam.

Anita Smythe:
I'm very anxious to show her that we can do things exactly as well out here as they do in the east.

Higgins:
Yes, madam.

Anita Smythe:
I want perfect meals and perfect service.

Higgins:
Yes, madam.

Anita Smythe:
And Mary, I hope you'll remember what I told you this morning about visitors.

Mary Blake:
Yes, madam.

Shirley Blake:
I know who you are.

Adele Martin:
You do?

Shirley Blake:
Sure, you're the lady who's coming to live at our house.

Adele Martin:
You're not little Joy, are you?

Shirley Blake:
Oh, no, I'm Shirley.

Adele Martin:
Oh, I see.

Shirley Blake:
Loop, isn't this the lady whose picture you have in your book?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Yeah. She's one of them.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Now I've got a present for you. This isn't from Santa Claus. This is from me to you. This is a magic ring, see? Just like in the fairy tales. If ever you're in trouble, or if you ever want me to do anything for you, you send me this ring, and I'll come.

Shirley Blake:
Oh, it's so pretty. Thank you, Loop.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Hey, where's your little girl?

Mary Blake:
She's gone to a Christmas party.

Uncle Ned Smith:
I don't believe in Christmas.

Mary Blake:
You don't?

Uncle Ned Smith:
It's all a lot of nonsense.

Mary Blake:
Well, I don't feel that way about it.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Here. [handing her some money] Buy a Christmas present for Shirley from me. Christmas. [scoffs]

Mary Blake:
Well! What do you make of that?

Mrs. Elizabeth Higgins:
He never fooled me. He's only tough on the outside. Inside, he's soft as mush.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Now because today is Christmas, you can do anything that you want to do. What would you like to do best in the world?

Shirley Blake:
You know what. Fly.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
That's just what I thought. All right, Shirley, we're going for a ride. Just you and I.

Shirley Blake:
Are we going way up high?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
That's right, way up high.

Shirley Blake:
Ooh, we're going up!

James 'Loop' Merritt:
That's right, we're going way up. Do you know where we're going?

Shirley Blake:
No.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
We're going right up to Heaven. You know, Shirley, Heaven is a very nice place. If we're good, we'll all live there someday.

Shirley Blake:
Yes, I know.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
My mother and father are there now.

Shirley Blake:
So's my daddy. We're up pretty high now. Are we near Heaven?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Shirley, I've got something to tell you.

Shirley Blake:
A story?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
No, not a story. You know, ever since your daddy went to Heaven, your mother's been awful lonesome for him.

Shirley Blake:
Yes, I know. Sometimes she cries and everything.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Today your mother got so lonesome for your daddy that she went to see him.

Shirley Blake:
All the way up to Heaven?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
All the way up to Heaven. They're up there together now.

Shirley Blake:
You mean... my mother cracked up, too?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
I'm sorry, dear.

J. Wellington Smythe:
As far as I can find out, there are no relatives.

Anita Smythe:
Now what are we to do?

J. Wellington Smythe:
She's no concern of ours. We have neither a legal nor a moral responsibility.

Anita Smythe:
But after all, the woman worked for us. People will naturally expect us to do something. Maybe one of those aviators would like to adopt her.

J. Wellington Smythe:
Well, if they do, let them go to court. All we can do is see that the little girl is placed in an institution.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Now listen to me, you two. I want you to understand just one thing. If you ever expect to get anything out of me, you're going to be human enough and decent enough to take Shirley into this house to live. I'll pay for her board and her clothes.

J. Wellington Smythe:
Why, Uncle Ned, that won't be necessary.

Anita Smythe:
Well, naturally. We had no idea you felt this way about the child.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Well, I do. If you don't want her here, I guess I can find some other place for her. And I guess I can find another place for me, too!

Uncle Ned Smith:
What do you think?

Adele Martin:
I think you're an old softy.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Well, would you let them put a child like that in a home, would you?

Adele Martin:
In my home.

Uncle Ned Smith:
But you're not like those two in there. You're more like me. Where is Shirley?

Adele Martin:
She's down at the airport with Loop.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Loop? Who's Loop? Oh, I remember. He's that aviator fellow you were interested in.

Adele Martin:
Uh, yes.

Adele Martin:
Can't you forget the past?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Sure. I can forget a lot of things. I can forget that you and I were in love, and we were engaged to be married, and you walked out on me. All that is as dead as this. [tosses away a burnt match] But I can't forget that you made a fool of me. A man remembers something like that.

Adele Martin:
Would it make any difference if I said I'm sorry?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Not a bit. It's a little too late. But you didn't come all the way over here just to tell me that, did you?

Adele Martin:
No. I came to talk about Shirley. The Smythes want her to come and live with them.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Wait a minute. You mean that you and Uncle Ned sold the Smythes the idea, and they don't like it any too well, but in order to keep in good with Uncle Ned, they'll do it. Well, you can't have her.

Adele Martin:
Don't let your feelings for me interfere with the little girl's future. I know her father was your best friend. I know you love her very dearly. You must surely see that she can't live here in a barracks with a lot of men!

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Shirley, would you like to go back to the Smythes' house and live there?

Shirley Blake:
Do I have to?

Adele Martin:
For a little while, dear.

Shirley Blake:
Are you gonna be there, too?

Adele Martin:
Yes, I am, dear, and we'll be together every day.

Shirley Blake:
Well, if you'll be there, it'll be fine. I like you, and I like Mr. Smith.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
All right, then, it's all settled.

Shirley Blake:
Can't Loop come and live with us, too?

Adele Martin:
No, dear. Just at the moment, I'm afraid that can't be arranged.

Joy Smythe:
Let's play hospital. I'll be the doctor, and you'll be the nurse. We'll get a big knife out of the kitchen and operate on your doll.

Shirley Blake:
I don't want Mary Lou to be operated on.

Joy Smythe:
I don't care. You have to play the way I want to.

Shirley Blake:
I don't, either.

Joy Smythe:
Yes, you do because this is my house and my yard and you're nothing but an old charity.

Shirley Blake:
I am not!

Joy Smythe:
Yes, you are because I heard my papa tell my mama so.

Uncle Ned Smith:
You're that aviator, aren't you? Well, I don't like airplanes.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Well, I don't like wheelchairs.

Uncle Ned Smith:
You stay in those airplanes long enough, and you'll end up in one! What's he doing here?

J. Wellington Smythe:
You see, Uncle Ned, he thinks it would be a good idea for Shirley to go and live with him.

Uncle Ned Smith:
What? He wants to take Shirley away? Are you married?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
No, I'm not.

Uncle Ned Smith:
How much do you make?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Enough to support myself.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Where do you live?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
At the airport.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Where do you eat?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
In restaurants.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Well, you can't have her!

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Oh yeah? Who says so?

Uncle Ned Smith:
I say so!

James 'Loop' Merritt:
I've got more right to her than you have!

Uncle Ned Smith:
We'll see about that!

Adele Martin:
You told Shirley if she was ever in trouble to send you this ring. Well, I want to see if it's really a magic ring because I'm in trouble. You want Shirley, and I want Shirley. If you think hard for a minute, can't you figure a way out?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
I don't get you at all.

Adele Martin:
Oh, dear. Do I have to propose?

James 'Loop' Merritt:
Well, I did the last time.

Adele Martin:
Oh, Loop...

James 'Loop' Merritt:
No. You don't have to propose. Maybe all this happened for a good reason. Maybe this time it'll last forever.

Anita Smythe:
I don't approve of all these telephone calls, Mary.

Mary Blake:
I'm sorry.

Anita Smythe:
And I don't approve of all these aviators who keep coming here to see your little girl.

Mary Blake:
She's sort of a pet with them. They all knew her father.

Anita Smythe:
I know that, but I really can't have it. It isn't everyone who'd engage a maid with a small child. I have no fault to find with your work, but if you want to stay on with us, you'll have to correct these things.

Anita Smythe:
You must practice your piano. You won't have to practice again until after Santa Claus comes.

Joy Smythe:
There ain't any Santa Claus!

Anita Smythe:
Don't say ain't, darling, say isn't.

Joy Smythe:
Ain't, ain't, ain't!

J. Wellington Smythe:
What's all this noise about?

Joy Smythe:
Mama wants me to practice, and I don't wanna!

J. Wellington Smythe:
You must do as your mother says.

Joy Smythe:
No, I ain't gonna!

J. Wellington Smythe:
Now, see here ...

Anita Smythe:
Now, darling, remember what the psychoanalyst said. The child mind must never be coerced. One must use reason and persuasion. Now, dear, practice your piano and Mama will buy you something nice.

Joy Smythe:
What?

Anita Smythe:
Anything you like. What do you especially want?

Joy Smythe:
A machine gun!

Mary Blake:
It's so wonderful of you boys to give Shirley her Christmas party.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
We're getting a big kick out of it ourselves.

Mary Blake:
She'll be so surprised. She doesn't expect much, you know.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
You get her down to the airport as early in the morning as you can.

Mary Blake:
I may not be able to come with her, but I'll be down just as soon as I can get away.

Shirley Blake:
Mother, I dressed myself, and I put my clothes away, all folded and everything.

Mary Blake:
Well, you're your mother's little angel, that's what you are.

Shirley Blake:
No, I'm not, because angels have wings, like these.

Mary Blake:
Those are your daddy's pilot wings.

Shirley Blake:
I know, and now he's really an angel, isn't he?

Mary Blake:
Yes, darling.

James 'Loop' Merritt:
You can take her now, but only on the understanding that once I get a place for her, Shirley comes with me. I love that baby.

Adele Martin:
I understand how you feel. Loop, regardless of what you think of me, I think you're the finest man I've ever known.

Uncle Ned Smith:
And another thing. You stop telling people I made my money in sanitary engineering. It was sewers. Sewers! And don't you forget it.

Joy Smythe:
[about Uncle Ned] Every time he sees me, he makes a face at me.

J. Wellington Smythe:
Why, Uncle Ned, why didn't you call us?

Uncle Ned Smith:
Call you? I yelled, and I shouted and I bellowed. A thanks lot of good it did me. No one pays any attention to me. No one cares what happens to me. All you do is think of yourselves.

Anita Smythe:
Oh, Uncle Ned, you know that isn't so.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Mary!

Mary Blake:
Yes, Mr. Symthe.

Uncle Ned Smith:
My name is Smith. His name is Symthe.

Mary Blake:
Yes, Mr. Smith.

Uncle Ned Smith:
Didn't you hear me holler a little while ago?

Mary Blake:
No, sir, I didn't.

Uncle Ned Smith:
These folks around here better get their ears fixed.

Joy Smythe:
[with practicing piano] One and two and three and. One and two and three and. One and two and three and. One and two and...

Uncle Ned Smith:
Stop it! One and two and three and. One and two- is that all you know?

Joy Smythe:
[runs to her mother] Mama! Mama!

Uncle Ned Smith:
Mama! Mama! It's a good thing I am not your mama. That's enough to drive a man crazy. Things better be a little different around here or you're gonna see the last of me.

Shirley Blake:
[finds one of Joys of dolls by the incinerator] Why, you poor little thing. You must have cracked up. You should be in the hospital.

Joy Smythe:
Hey, that's my doll.

Shirley Blake:
Well, I just found her here.

Joy Smythe:
You can't have her. [rips the doll out of Shirley's arms] You bad old thing. You ran away from home and I'm gonna spank you [spanks the doll]

Shirley Blake:
If you give her to me, I'll take care of her. I'll wash her face and make her some clothes and everything.

Joy Smythe:
You can't have her. You wanna know why? Because I'm gonna kill her. [rips off the dolls limps and head before skipping away]

Joy Smythe:
[Last line] Oh, Papa... now we don't have to be nice to Uncle Ned anymore! [her mother slaps her and she starts bawling]