Amazing Stories (1985) s01e16 Episode Script
Gather Ye Acorns
to a continent called North America.
We have but 10 ships equipped for such a journey, capable of transporting 100,000 of us.
All of us? With the others.
Our planet is disintegrating.
We will secure the continent within two days of arrival.
No, we cannot leave the others behind.
I won't let you.
That boy.
That boy.
Get up from there, can't you, please? Your father will be home soon for lunch and he'll surely have himself a conniption fit if he finds you in front of the radio again.
Hey, you made me miss the best part.
Too bad.
Too bad, indeed.
Can't you be studying something, reading that medical book your father bought you? You know he could have used a new coat for himself with the money that he spent on this book.
I don't believe you've opened it once.
Weren't you supposed to sweep the front walk? How's about that mess of a room of yours? You are the laziest child in 10 counties, I swear it.
Oh, go on.
Go out and do some reading.
Dreaming and looking at funny papers will not make you a success in this world, Jono.
Who says I care to be? That's what I'd like to know.
Who are you? Mother Nature's only son, that's who.
And I want a word with you, Jonathan Quick.
How did you know my name? Am I dreaming? Insult me not.
I'm just as real as you are, more or less.
You despise that, don't you? Wouldn't you rather just pitch it into the lake? Well, do it then.
And tell them once and for all that doctoring just isn't for you.
But it'll break their hearts if I don't go to medical school.
It's all my pop's ever talked about since I was two years old.
What about your heart? Isn't that worth listening to? Who knows? All I really wish is that they'd give me some time to be a kid.
An aspiration I most heartily applaud.
Cling to the child in you for as long as you possibly can.
If hard work is such an almighty virtue, then why do you suppose so many folks drop dead doing it, eh? And try to deny this, gossoon: All that earning money does is make you want to earn more.
Hm.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
There's doctors a-plenty in this world.
What we could truly do with is a few more dreamers.
Yeah.
But you can't make a living out of dreaming, you know.
Are you so all-fired sure, gossoon? I've looked into the future, you know.
And believe me, it's quite ridiculous.
Now, listen to me.
You hang onto those things nearest and dearest to your heart, and believe me, you'll be richer than any lawyer or doctor or businessmen you'll ever meet.
It sounds swell.
But how? Quit bumping your gums and let me explain.
Now, first of all, you'll need a car.
Not just any car.
But make sure it's something that suits your style.
And when it comes to clearing out your room, make sure you never throw away anything that you love, not even if your mother insists on it.
There's treasures galore in there.
- Honest? - You better believe it.
Listen to Mother Nature.
Keep watching the squirrels.
It's not by accident they survive.
Lag behind long enough, gossoon, and you'll find the world will have to catch up with you.
I'm Mother Nature's only son.
I speak a simple truth.
The world needs dreamers.
The world needs dreamers.
Dreamers.
Dreamers.
Dreamers.
Your 1938 Cavalcade of Hits.
Buddy Long and his Mellow Men of Music.
Jono, is that you? Yes, Mama.
We're in the living room, dear.
There's dinner in the oven for you.
It won't take but a minute to warm it.
No time.
I'm late already.
I'm closing up Mr.
Bieler's drugstore for him tonight.
Did you know his daughter Sandy's getting hitched? But you worked all day at the mill.
Aren't you dog-dead tired? I'm all right.
Besides, Bieler's paying me extra 'cause it's such short notice.
So it's that kind of a wedding, is it? Elmer, not in front of the child.
I've got a surprise for both of you.
In fact, how about I take us all out to lunch tomorrow? My treat.
We'd love it.
I wonder what bit that boy.
Since he's gotten out of school he's been workin' nonstop.
He must almost have saved his medical school tuition by now.
Well, it does this old man proud to see how he's turned out.
Well, he's quite a boy.
Now, if I could just get him to clean up his room.
And when it comes to cleaning out your room, remember, never ever throw anything away that you love, not even if your mother insists on it.
There's treasures galore in there.
Hey, gossoon.
Quit scratching.
It never killed anyone to put on a clean shirt.
What for? By the time I go to work, it'll be dirtier than the one I took off.
It's not as if you're doing the laundry around here.
He's taking us out.
Don't you want to look at least halfway decent? He didn't even give you a hint to what this is all about? Not a clue.
But I'm sure he's going to tell us he's been accepted at college.
What else could it possibly be? Oh, my Lord! That brings up Dave Cooper- 0-4 today, batting.
291.
The right fielder's stepping in, crouching down, Miller taking the sign.
Hiya, Pop.
Swing and a miss! I'm tired of coming home to the house and finding he still hasn't got a job.
It's only a phase, Elmer.
It's more than that and you know it.
He's going to be fine.
You know what a hard worker he is.
Was! Was! A hard worker he was! That side of him is dead and buried.
trailing by 1, might get something going here.
Aren't you ever going to work again, Jono? Why? I'm happy.
Don't you care that you're killing your father? He's killing himself.
Mama, I'm very sorry.
He's gotten his dreams confused with mine.
What's to become of you? Waxing this thing and sitting under trees will not put food on your table.
Don't worry- Don't worry? Of course I worry! Are you crazy? How could I not worry, will you tell me that? I want you out of here now.
I supported you and your cockamamy plans and schemes long enough.
No more.
You cause us nothing but aggravation.
I'm throwing you out of here tonight.
- Elmer, no! - He was a no-good, lazy child, and now he's a no-good, lazy adult.
Throwing his tuition away on this car, collecting garbage in his room like the junk man downtown.
You're nothing but a bum, and I want you out of my house.
You'll see.
I'll do just fine.
There's doctors a-plenty in this world.
What we truly need is a few more dreamers.
You're on your way, gossoon.
Hello.
Hey, wait.
I won't hurt you.
What are your names? Elizabeth.
What a marvelous name.
I was in love with a circus lady once named Elizabeth.
I wanted to run away and be with her always.
But she was in love with the strongman.
Hey, what are you doing with my kids? - Well, nothing, sir, I was- - He was telling us a story.
- A circus story.
Well, forget the stories.
They're a waste of time.
- Is this your place? - I live here.
Then I've got some bad news for you, mister.
I'm Paul Treadwell, Boon Development Corporation.
We just bought this land and we're gonna put up a resort here.
So, uh, you'll just have to move on.
Where am I supposed to go? Well, seeing as how it wasn't your property in the first place, really isn't any of my concern, is it? Ha! - Hi-ho, gossoon.
- You! What happened to that sweet-faced Don Quixote I used know, eh? You're what happened to me.
You ruined my life.
I'd like to wring your stubby little neck! Ooh-hoo! You're a beaut, you are.
I made no promises I did not keep.
This is the wonderful world you promised? You did not wish to work.
You have not.
You said I'd be rich, richer than any lawyer or doctor I'd ever know.
So I did.
But "rich" is a relative term.
But I have nothing! No family.
No friends.
You have your treasures.
They're not treasures! - Ow! - They are nothing more than a collection of junk, worthless old memories of a wasted life! Whee! That's your father talking, gossoon.
I know.
It's just a damn shame it took me so long to listen.
Where'd you learn how to drive? perfect timing and that goes out to Carol Anne and her sweetheart Mike out there in North Las Vegas.
Well, you better get out them umbrellas, neighbors, 'cause according to the old weather forecast we're gonna have thundershowers this evening and on in to the early morning hours.
It's, uh, here.
Get this off.
Just- Get outta here, you bum.
No.
Wait.
Please.
One moment.
I can pay you with these pennies.
There must be $10 in here.
I plan to get me one last tank of gas and take a fast drive off the edge of Hoover Dam.
Yeah, right.
Don't you think I got anything better to do than to count your flippin' pennies? Excuse me, sir.
I'm awfully sorry to bother you, but I haven't been able to take my eyes off that exquisite mug of yours.
Is it a Toby? Uh Ooh.
Actually, I- I don't rightly have any idea.
It was a gift from my dear, dear grandmama.
God rest her soul.
Do you mind if I have a look at it? I can hardly believe it.
I've been collecting these all of my life.
I don't think I've ever seen one like this.
Would you ever consider parting with it? How much? I'm prepared to give you 10 right here on the spot.
Yeah.
Well, I suppose I could have myself one last sumptuous meal.
If it brings such pleasure to a lady so lovely, I say, certainly.
Why not? Ohh! I'm- I'm going to return to Las Vegas and I will drive back with a cashier's check for $10,000.
Ten, uh, thousand? I hope you don't feel cheated? Oh, no! It's a treasure! A wonderful treasure, indeed.
Holy Moly! 1939 Marvel Mystery number one.
I know a guy in New York gave $35,000 for one of these.
It was nowhere nearly in this kind of shape.
Oh, no! Do you know what this is? It's the Action Comic that has the very first Superman in it.
Worth 20,000, easy.
For comic books? Collectors go out of their minds for this kind of stuff.
David, come check this out.
It's in the original box.
Old Man Cundey would give 3,000 or $4,000 for this, easy.
Jerry, is that a Hometown? I want this for myself.
I'll tell you what, friend, toys and comics for 200,000.
Flat deal for the whole package, right here, right now.
You in? You bet I am.
Ladies and gentlemen, the next item from theJonathan Quick Collection is this 1931 photograph of Lefty Grove, the American League M.
V.
P.
In that fine year.
A photograph made remarkable not by its subject as much as by its photographer.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a Paul Strand original print on platinum paper.
A very beautiful and rare item indeed.
We will begin the bidding at $ 10,000.
Ten thousand from Mr.
Brown.
The bid is 10,000.
Do I hear 12? I think, perhaps, at the very least, I owe you a drink.
I don't believe you owe me anything, but I- I accept.
You do? What an honor.
Jonathan Quick.
Francine Guzzetta.
Sold! For $ 15,000! The next item in your catalog is Mr.
Quick's 1932 Auburn, which has been in his possession since 1938 and is, as you can see, in mint condition.
We will begin the bidding at $200,000.
Two hundred thousand from the gentleman on the stairs.
The bid is 200,000.
We have but 10 ships equipped for such a journey, capable of transporting 100,000 of us.
All of us? With the others.
Our planet is disintegrating.
We will secure the continent within two days of arrival.
No, we cannot leave the others behind.
I won't let you.
That boy.
That boy.
Get up from there, can't you, please? Your father will be home soon for lunch and he'll surely have himself a conniption fit if he finds you in front of the radio again.
Hey, you made me miss the best part.
Too bad.
Too bad, indeed.
Can't you be studying something, reading that medical book your father bought you? You know he could have used a new coat for himself with the money that he spent on this book.
I don't believe you've opened it once.
Weren't you supposed to sweep the front walk? How's about that mess of a room of yours? You are the laziest child in 10 counties, I swear it.
Oh, go on.
Go out and do some reading.
Dreaming and looking at funny papers will not make you a success in this world, Jono.
Who says I care to be? That's what I'd like to know.
Who are you? Mother Nature's only son, that's who.
And I want a word with you, Jonathan Quick.
How did you know my name? Am I dreaming? Insult me not.
I'm just as real as you are, more or less.
You despise that, don't you? Wouldn't you rather just pitch it into the lake? Well, do it then.
And tell them once and for all that doctoring just isn't for you.
But it'll break their hearts if I don't go to medical school.
It's all my pop's ever talked about since I was two years old.
What about your heart? Isn't that worth listening to? Who knows? All I really wish is that they'd give me some time to be a kid.
An aspiration I most heartily applaud.
Cling to the child in you for as long as you possibly can.
If hard work is such an almighty virtue, then why do you suppose so many folks drop dead doing it, eh? And try to deny this, gossoon: All that earning money does is make you want to earn more.
Hm.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
There's doctors a-plenty in this world.
What we could truly do with is a few more dreamers.
Yeah.
But you can't make a living out of dreaming, you know.
Are you so all-fired sure, gossoon? I've looked into the future, you know.
And believe me, it's quite ridiculous.
Now, listen to me.
You hang onto those things nearest and dearest to your heart, and believe me, you'll be richer than any lawyer or doctor or businessmen you'll ever meet.
It sounds swell.
But how? Quit bumping your gums and let me explain.
Now, first of all, you'll need a car.
Not just any car.
But make sure it's something that suits your style.
And when it comes to clearing out your room, make sure you never throw away anything that you love, not even if your mother insists on it.
There's treasures galore in there.
- Honest? - You better believe it.
Listen to Mother Nature.
Keep watching the squirrels.
It's not by accident they survive.
Lag behind long enough, gossoon, and you'll find the world will have to catch up with you.
I'm Mother Nature's only son.
I speak a simple truth.
The world needs dreamers.
The world needs dreamers.
Dreamers.
Dreamers.
Dreamers.
Your 1938 Cavalcade of Hits.
Buddy Long and his Mellow Men of Music.
Jono, is that you? Yes, Mama.
We're in the living room, dear.
There's dinner in the oven for you.
It won't take but a minute to warm it.
No time.
I'm late already.
I'm closing up Mr.
Bieler's drugstore for him tonight.
Did you know his daughter Sandy's getting hitched? But you worked all day at the mill.
Aren't you dog-dead tired? I'm all right.
Besides, Bieler's paying me extra 'cause it's such short notice.
So it's that kind of a wedding, is it? Elmer, not in front of the child.
I've got a surprise for both of you.
In fact, how about I take us all out to lunch tomorrow? My treat.
We'd love it.
I wonder what bit that boy.
Since he's gotten out of school he's been workin' nonstop.
He must almost have saved his medical school tuition by now.
Well, it does this old man proud to see how he's turned out.
Well, he's quite a boy.
Now, if I could just get him to clean up his room.
And when it comes to cleaning out your room, remember, never ever throw anything away that you love, not even if your mother insists on it.
There's treasures galore in there.
Hey, gossoon.
Quit scratching.
It never killed anyone to put on a clean shirt.
What for? By the time I go to work, it'll be dirtier than the one I took off.
It's not as if you're doing the laundry around here.
He's taking us out.
Don't you want to look at least halfway decent? He didn't even give you a hint to what this is all about? Not a clue.
But I'm sure he's going to tell us he's been accepted at college.
What else could it possibly be? Oh, my Lord! That brings up Dave Cooper- 0-4 today, batting.
291.
The right fielder's stepping in, crouching down, Miller taking the sign.
Hiya, Pop.
Swing and a miss! I'm tired of coming home to the house and finding he still hasn't got a job.
It's only a phase, Elmer.
It's more than that and you know it.
He's going to be fine.
You know what a hard worker he is.
Was! Was! A hard worker he was! That side of him is dead and buried.
trailing by 1, might get something going here.
Aren't you ever going to work again, Jono? Why? I'm happy.
Don't you care that you're killing your father? He's killing himself.
Mama, I'm very sorry.
He's gotten his dreams confused with mine.
What's to become of you? Waxing this thing and sitting under trees will not put food on your table.
Don't worry- Don't worry? Of course I worry! Are you crazy? How could I not worry, will you tell me that? I want you out of here now.
I supported you and your cockamamy plans and schemes long enough.
No more.
You cause us nothing but aggravation.
I'm throwing you out of here tonight.
- Elmer, no! - He was a no-good, lazy child, and now he's a no-good, lazy adult.
Throwing his tuition away on this car, collecting garbage in his room like the junk man downtown.
You're nothing but a bum, and I want you out of my house.
You'll see.
I'll do just fine.
There's doctors a-plenty in this world.
What we truly need is a few more dreamers.
You're on your way, gossoon.
Hello.
Hey, wait.
I won't hurt you.
What are your names? Elizabeth.
What a marvelous name.
I was in love with a circus lady once named Elizabeth.
I wanted to run away and be with her always.
But she was in love with the strongman.
Hey, what are you doing with my kids? - Well, nothing, sir, I was- - He was telling us a story.
- A circus story.
Well, forget the stories.
They're a waste of time.
- Is this your place? - I live here.
Then I've got some bad news for you, mister.
I'm Paul Treadwell, Boon Development Corporation.
We just bought this land and we're gonna put up a resort here.
So, uh, you'll just have to move on.
Where am I supposed to go? Well, seeing as how it wasn't your property in the first place, really isn't any of my concern, is it? Ha! - Hi-ho, gossoon.
- You! What happened to that sweet-faced Don Quixote I used know, eh? You're what happened to me.
You ruined my life.
I'd like to wring your stubby little neck! Ooh-hoo! You're a beaut, you are.
I made no promises I did not keep.
This is the wonderful world you promised? You did not wish to work.
You have not.
You said I'd be rich, richer than any lawyer or doctor I'd ever know.
So I did.
But "rich" is a relative term.
But I have nothing! No family.
No friends.
You have your treasures.
They're not treasures! - Ow! - They are nothing more than a collection of junk, worthless old memories of a wasted life! Whee! That's your father talking, gossoon.
I know.
It's just a damn shame it took me so long to listen.
Where'd you learn how to drive? perfect timing and that goes out to Carol Anne and her sweetheart Mike out there in North Las Vegas.
Well, you better get out them umbrellas, neighbors, 'cause according to the old weather forecast we're gonna have thundershowers this evening and on in to the early morning hours.
It's, uh, here.
Get this off.
Just- Get outta here, you bum.
No.
Wait.
Please.
One moment.
I can pay you with these pennies.
There must be $10 in here.
I plan to get me one last tank of gas and take a fast drive off the edge of Hoover Dam.
Yeah, right.
Don't you think I got anything better to do than to count your flippin' pennies? Excuse me, sir.
I'm awfully sorry to bother you, but I haven't been able to take my eyes off that exquisite mug of yours.
Is it a Toby? Uh Ooh.
Actually, I- I don't rightly have any idea.
It was a gift from my dear, dear grandmama.
God rest her soul.
Do you mind if I have a look at it? I can hardly believe it.
I've been collecting these all of my life.
I don't think I've ever seen one like this.
Would you ever consider parting with it? How much? I'm prepared to give you 10 right here on the spot.
Yeah.
Well, I suppose I could have myself one last sumptuous meal.
If it brings such pleasure to a lady so lovely, I say, certainly.
Why not? Ohh! I'm- I'm going to return to Las Vegas and I will drive back with a cashier's check for $10,000.
Ten, uh, thousand? I hope you don't feel cheated? Oh, no! It's a treasure! A wonderful treasure, indeed.
Holy Moly! 1939 Marvel Mystery number one.
I know a guy in New York gave $35,000 for one of these.
It was nowhere nearly in this kind of shape.
Oh, no! Do you know what this is? It's the Action Comic that has the very first Superman in it.
Worth 20,000, easy.
For comic books? Collectors go out of their minds for this kind of stuff.
David, come check this out.
It's in the original box.
Old Man Cundey would give 3,000 or $4,000 for this, easy.
Jerry, is that a Hometown? I want this for myself.
I'll tell you what, friend, toys and comics for 200,000.
Flat deal for the whole package, right here, right now.
You in? You bet I am.
Ladies and gentlemen, the next item from theJonathan Quick Collection is this 1931 photograph of Lefty Grove, the American League M.
V.
P.
In that fine year.
A photograph made remarkable not by its subject as much as by its photographer.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a Paul Strand original print on platinum paper.
A very beautiful and rare item indeed.
We will begin the bidding at $ 10,000.
Ten thousand from Mr.
Brown.
The bid is 10,000.
Do I hear 12? I think, perhaps, at the very least, I owe you a drink.
I don't believe you owe me anything, but I- I accept.
You do? What an honor.
Jonathan Quick.
Francine Guzzetta.
Sold! For $ 15,000! The next item in your catalog is Mr.
Quick's 1932 Auburn, which has been in his possession since 1938 and is, as you can see, in mint condition.
We will begin the bidding at $200,000.
Two hundred thousand from the gentleman on the stairs.
The bid is 200,000.