The Boy with Green Hair (1948) Movie Script
1
All we want to know
IS your name.
Just your name.
Why, I tell people my name
a hundred times a day.
There's nothing to it, look.
Go ahead, ask me my name.
-What's your name?
-George Buzby.
See? That's all there is to it.
Now...
What's your name?
If you just tell us
what town you're from.
If you just tell us
what school you go to.
Are you hungry, son?
Maybe he wants a lawyer
before he'll talk.
Or even eat.
You're just in time.
Picked him up
a couple of hours ago.
He must be from
some neighboring town,
because we made a local check.
He's not from here.
This is all the identification
he carried.
Evening, Doc.
Oh, this is Dr. Evans.
This is Mr. Nobody, who lives
no place, doesn't go to school,
has no mother and father,
nobody at all.
-Thanks, boys.
-You're welcome.
Would you mind sitting here?
I'd like to get
the bench cleared.
I hope you'll excuse me, but
I didn't have time for supper,
and I'm starved.
Chocolate malted milk.
I'm sure I asked for strawberry.
Oh, well.
With or without?
-With or without what?
-Onions.
With, please.
What happened to your hair?
I'm not a policeman,
I'm a doctor.
-What kind of a doctor?
-Oh, just a regular doctor.
Well, as a matter of fact,
kind of an expert on boys.
Now, what happened to your hair?
-Cut off!
-How?
-Barber.
-Why?
It's a long story.
Well, I like long stories.
You wouldn't believe it.
I like long stories
that are hard to believe.
Well, I used to have
regular hair.
And they didn't
have to stay there.
They could've come back.
Then there wouldn't
have been any letter
and I wouldn't have to tear it.
What letter?
Well, there was this letter.
Every time I went to live
in a new place,
I had to take it along
to show it to people.
Like the time I went
to live with Gramp.
He put it in a book,
and I tore it.
Now, just a minute.
If you're gonna tell me this,
you'll, uh --
you'll have to tell it
so I can understand it.
Suppose you begin
at the beginning.
- The very beginning?
- Why not?
Okay, then.
I was born.
Well, uh, do we have
to go back that far?
-It started then.
-Okay.
It's hard to remember.
But I remember..
I remember a big five-layered
chocolate cake
with white frosting,
and Mommy said "Blow."
And I blew.
Then I cried because
all the candles went out.
Halloween was scary,
but it sure was fun.
Thanksgiving,
I sat on some big books
so I could reach the table.
Father carved the turkey
but Mother always said
he didn't do it very well.
And even when I woke up
so early Christmas morning
that it was still last night,
Mother and Father
would open the doors
and there would be
our Christmas tree.
That Christmas, I got
a Flexible Flyer and a dog.
But then I remember,
it got to be summer.
And they'd been gone
a long, long time.
And then the telegram came.
Of course I know now
the telegram was
about my mother and father.
They were war casualties.
I couldn't stay long
with Aunt Lillian.
She said she just wasn't
equipped for children.
So then, I went to stay
with Cousin Clark
and Cousin Isabel.
But they traveled
all the time.
Aunt Mary was nice.
Aunt Mary would have kept me.
Only Uncle Jim got out of work.
Aunt Phoebe
and Aunt Gertrude --
Gee, I bet I have
more aunts and uncles
than anybody
in the whole world.
They said the city
was no place for a child.
Then my other uncle had me.
Aunt Helen got very sick
and they had to sell
their house and go away.
- What's the matter?
- Nothin'.
I was just thinking.
Sure lived in a lot of places.
Then I went to live with Gramp.
Gramp? Your grandfather?
No, he's not even
my real grandfather.
But he likes me
to call him Gramp.
He's a very famous man.
He used to be in show business.
Show business, eh?
An actor?
-Yeah.
Well, what kind of an actor?
A...serious actor
or a funny actor?
Ooh, a very famous actor.
I remember he told me
about a time in Europe
when he met a king.
-A real king?
-Yes, sir.
He was in his dressing room,
and the king came right in.
Oh, Gramp, delightful.
Simply wonderful!
Ho-ho! But you gave
a swell show.
Well, I-I'm glad you liked it,
King, I'm glad you liked it.
I wonder if you'd drop over
to my royal palace
next Saturday night
and do a few numbers for me?
I'm having some
kings and queens over.
And a couple of princes, too.
Well, I'm sorry, King, but I'm
all booked up for Saturday.
Oh, my, my, my.
But I'll tell you what I'll do.
I've been rehearsin'
a new number,
and I'll come over to your
palace two weeks from Saturday.
Oh, splendid! Hmm? Two weeks?
Oh, Gramps,
uh, just between you and me.
Now, if it isn't asking too much
I wonder if you could just, uh
do the little number for me
right now. Hmm?
-Well, I-I don't usually --
-Oh, now, now, now.
And for you, King, I'll do it.
Oh, thank you.
That's swell of you.
Great!
I knew him.
Poor lad.
Good.
Brave lad.
Anyway, that's what
Gramp told me.
Gramp sounds okay.
Anyway, I went to live
with Gramp.
I gave him the letter.
The one
I was telling you about.
I can carry it.
Lights!
I think you better
tell me right now
what rooms I'm not to go in
and what I'm not to touch.
Why, this is your home, laddie.
There's not a room in the whole
house you're not to go into.
In the whole house?
Well, what there is of it.
Oh, and as for touching things,
hah, there's not a single object
in the whole house
that's not made
especially for handlin'.
Now, then...
How long will I stay?
As long as you like, lad.
As long as you like.
Now, if you just forget
your bag for a minute,
just for a minute,
I'll conduct you
on a grand tour of the house.
First, the kitchen.
I've been meaning to get
that vase out of people's way.
I did it on purpose.
I know what you mean, laddie.
-Gramp...
-Aye, lad?
I think I'll stay.
Well, that's fine.
That's fine.
Of course, that's until
my mother and father get back.
Gramp, will you write a letter
to Cousin Mary
and tell her to be sure to tell
my mother and father where I am?
"Cause they still think
I'm with her.
Will you?
I mean, send the letter?
I will, laddie.
Come on, now, Peter.
I'll show you to your room.
Did she die?
She died.
Gee.
I didn't think they ever fell.
They fall.
Then what'd you do?
Ah, then I came to America.
-All alone?
-All alone.
It's just
the evening mail plane.
Must be carrying
a heavy load of mail tonight.
He's gonna be alright.
You're, uh, you're not afraid
of being alone, are you?
Me? No.
I'm not afraid of being alone.
I was alone
for three days once.
In a cave with a tiger.
You don't say. What happened?
Well, this tiger
got loose from a circus,
and I was in the cave
and it was a black tiger.
I could hardly get out.
I was there...
-Tsk, tsk, tsk.
I had a terrible time
getting out of that cave.
Oh, sure,
that's what can happen
when you get mixed up
with a tiger.
Sure can.
Well, I'm glad
to know about that, Peter.
"Cause anyone mixed up
with a tiger
wouldn't be afraid
to stay home alone.
Of course, if you've got --
-I'm not afraid of being alone.
Ah, that's fine, laddie,
"cause I'm a singin' waiter.
What's a singin' waiter?
Well, I'll tell ya.
An ordinary waiter, he just
sort of brings your food.
Ah, but a singin' waiter,
he gives you a bit of song
with your meal, like..
See?
-Gee.
Ah, it's a grand profession.
Of course, it requires working
in the evening, so I'll be out.
You mean I'll be left alone?
Just me in this
whole dark house?
Now, don't be saying dark
like it was something bad.
Sure I remember
the time back home in Ireland
when we voted
to abolish the dark entirely.
You know what happened?
-What?
It was abolished.
Oh, it was terrible.
Ah, there we were, not knowing
night from day, up from down.
We didn't know when to go
to sleep and when to get up
when to work
and when to pray.
We were falling on our feet.
-What'd you do?
-We signed a petition.
We brought the dark back
to its rightful place.
So, don't be sayin'
anything against the dark.
It's a grand thing,
especially at night.
I don't mind it
except when I'm alone.
Ah, so, that's it, is it?
Well, then, we have to
tell you a secret.
There's nothing in the dark
that wasn't there
when the light was on.
Nothing at all.
Okay, Gramp.
I'm not afraid.
Good night, Peter.
Good night, Gramp.
There's nothing in the dark
that wasn't there
when the light was on.
There's nothing in the dark
that wasn't there
when the light was on.
-Good morning, Mr. Davis.
-Good morning, Mr. Fry.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Fine looking boy.
Let me give you
some good advice, young man.
Study hard.
Wished I'd studied hard.
Yes, sir.
You can be anything you wanna be
if you study hard.
What do you wanna be
when you grow up?
A milkman.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Nice looking boy.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Oh, fine looking boy.
Nice head of hair.
We'll be in one these days for
one of your superior haircuts.
Anytime, Mr. Fry, anytime.
- Good morning, Mr. Fry.
- Oh, good morning.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Hello.
If you ask me, I'd much sooner
go fishing on a day like this.
Hello, again.
Fine looking boy.
Throw that away now, Peter.
Ah, that's
a grand-looking school.
Gramp, I didn't
tell you about it,
but the last school I went to,
the teacher hit me
with a stick.
A big, fat stick.
A big, fat stick, you say?
Yeah, with nails in it.
Not very big nails.
Sort of medium-sized nails.
Ah, there's no thing like that
in this school, lad.
I sure was scared that day.
Of course, Gramp was right.
Miss Brand, the teacher,
never hit anybody in her life.
She's pretty.
About the prettiest lady
I ever saw.
-Jack.
-Jack.
Okay, you.
Come on.
Hey, you wanna play?
Me? I don't care.
Okay.
Okay, I take you.
Come on, here we are.
Okay.
And after that...
boy, I was really living.
Gramp bought me a bicycle.
It was a very famous bicycle.
Gramp told me he bought it
from a famous Belgian
who was once
a six-day bicycle rider.
And with that, I got a job
delivering groceries
and earned my own money.
Cead milefailte, lad.
What's that mean?
In Irish,
that's a 100,000 welcomes.
Let's open it
and see how much I got.
I wouldn't do that, lad.
Money has a way of disappearing.
I'll show ya.
Watch.
Keep your eye on it.
Are you watching?
Can you make more come back
than you started with?
Well, I don't know.
I-I haven't tried that one yet.
Staying all by myself
didn't bother me anymore.
I wasn't even afraid
of the dark.
I didn't even have to take
the baseball bat to bed with me
when I was by myself.
Of course, I kept it
alongside of the bed.
Yep, I was just
beginning to think
that maybe Gramp and me
would work out okay.
At school, we were having
a war orphan drive.
Gramp borrowed a car
at the place where he worked
to help us collect clothes
to send to the war orphans.
And he took me and some other
kids around the neighborhood
to gather any old clothes.
Oh, Peter, you've been
sitting on my coat.
My rabbit is destroyed.
Alright, take care
of him for me.
Top of the day to you.
He looks like you.
He looks like you.
He doesn't look like me.
Yes, he does.
He's a war orphan.
Well, you're a war orphan, too.
-I am not.
-Yes, you are.
We asked Miss Brand where
your mother and father was,
and she told us they were
killed in the war.
That's a lie.
You are too a war orphan.
You're a liar!
Your mother and father
was killed in the war.
That makes you a war orphan.
You're a liar!
Let go!
Here, now, what is this?
-Did you?
-Did I what, Peter?
Did you say my mother and father
were killed in the war?
Did you?
I think you'll feel better
if you wash your face
before you go back
in the classroom.
Let's go into the office.
-I wanna know now.
Now, lad.
It's no fault
of Ms. Brand's at all.
You should've been told
a long time ago.
Was meself should've told you
the first day you came.
But I..
I just wanted to wait till we
got a little better acquainted.
Your mother and father
are dead.
They were killed in London.
Oh, but you should be proud,
lad. Proud.
They could've got out,
but they stayed behind.
They stayed behind and died
trying to save
other little boys and girls.
Like yourself.
And like them.
Oh, I should've told you
sooner, I should have.
I knew all along
my mother and father were dead.
I was just pretending
they were away on a trip.
But I knew.
Sure, you did.
Of course, lad,
you knew all the time.
And that letter you've
been carrying around with you,
written by your own
dear father before he died.
You'll be reading it
one of these days.
Well, I best be
returning the automobile,
or Gallagher will have me head.
Would you like
to be coming with me?
I gotta stay in school.
Alright, I --
I guess you're right.
Well...
I must be off.
I'll see you later..
At home.
Ms. Brand, Ms. Brand,
are they real children?
Or are they just made up?
-They're real.
Do you think
the children in the posters
will get the clothes we send?
They or other
children just like them.
Do you think they'll
like the clothes?
You see,
they need the clothes.
They'll like them.
Why, if they could speak to you,
they themselves would tell you
how much these clothes
really mean to them.
And they'd say,
"Thank you for remembering us."
Just look at these headlines.
War, war, war.
Ah. Peter, you're
just in time to help me
with Mrs. Hammond's order.
You know, my boy, he's
still stationed over there.
One can of pork and beans.
Did you see
what Robert Wilson said
in his column today?
He says unless we're prepared,
there's just no way
of avoiding it.
One can
of pork and beans, Peter.
The scientists say
we'll all be
blown to bits in the next one.
I declare I don't know
what the world's coming to.
Seems like it's human nature
to want to kill.
Well, if it's
human nature to kill,
all the more reason
we should be ready
just in case the other fellow
wants to start something.
Well, Sophie,
if that's human nature,
we better change it.
Or there won't be
anything human left to change.
Nobody wants war.
Anyway, whatever it is
we have to face,
we better be ready for it.
We better be ready
in our thinking too, Mary.
Not just with our bombs.
I say we ought to stop thinking
about fighting each other
and think some about
understanding each other,
and that means all of us.
When everybody
all over the world
talks about nothing but war,
what do you think we'll get?
War.
Well, right now, we
better talk about being prepared
so that we'll have time to talk
about peace and understanding.
People say another war
means the end of the world.
War will come,
want it or not.
The only question is when.
Just in time to get
more youngsters like Peter.
Gramp...
the world isn't
gonna be blown up
and everybody killed,
Is it, Gramp?
Many is the time
I thought it might, lad.
Especially
on a night like this...
when everything is feeling,
looking
sorry and gray-like.
So that's why I keep
a bit of green about always.
It was llene's teasin',
it was.
She couldn't stand
being without a plant
or a bit of evergreen about.
It kept her mindful,
she'd say, on a lonely night
that spring would come.
Oh, I can remember
how she turned to me,
looking all mystical
and sweet, and she'd say
"The wind don't know
what I know
stamping about like
a mad old bull
scaring people
to an early grave.
The wind don't know
that spring will come again.
But I know.
I know."
Yes, a bit of green
helped her, it did.
It's the color of spring.
It meant hope
and a promise of new life.
Oh, hush up, wind.
Hush up.
You don't fool me either.
Believe me, laddie.
No matter what people
say at the time,
the world will keep on going
for a long, long while.
And you know what, me bucko?
I forgot with all
me blatherin'
to tell you the most special
and best thing of all.
There'll be a grand surprise
for you in the morning.
It's the way Gramp was.
Trying so hard to take
your mind off things
with surprises.
But I just had a feeling
something terrible
was gonna happen.
And it did, alright.
The very next morning.
I was taking a bath,
and that's when it happened.
Oh, well, what's the use?
You wouldn't believe it anyway.
Well, what was it that happened?
It's no use,
you won't believe me.
I said I would.
Sure you did.
Grown-ups say a lot of things.
Now, look.
You've eaten my hamburger
and you've drunk my milkshake.
If you think you're not gonna
tell me what happened,
you're crazy.
You're supposed to be
an expert on boys?
You're right.
Alright, don't tell me a thing.
I'm not even
slightly interested.
In fact, I probably
wouldn't listen.
Well, okay.
Where was I?
You were, uh, taking your bath.
Oh, yeah.
I was taking my bath.
And doing a good job, too.
I didn't want Gramp
to come in and say
"Now, don't be sparing
of the soap, lad.
The shortage is over.
Under the chin, man,
under the chin.
The ears, man,
and behind the ears."
I wasn't expecting anything.
Hey, Gramp!
Aye, lad?
I've got green hair.
You've what, lad?
Green hair.
Well, that's nice.
Hurry up
and get dressed now, lad.
Boy, some surprise.
Gramp, how many other people
in the world have green hair?
Not another single one.
Alright, breakfast,
lad, breakfast.
Come on now, we've done
an uncommon lot of dallying.
It's not everyday
your hair turns green.
No, it's not at that, lad.
Now, that'll be
the milkman.
I'll get it.
Good morning.
-Good morning, Peter.
Now, let's see,
this is Thursday.
Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday.
One quart of milk
and one pint of cream.
- Hi, Peter.
- Hi.
What happened to your hair?
No, no, cream today.
It turned green
during the night.
Just one quart of milk
then, huh?
That's right, just one.
Pretty good, eh?
Oh, yes, I think it's super.
What was that?
I think the milkman
just fell down the stairs. Heh.
What have you done
to your hair, lad?
It turned green.
-All by itself?
-All by itself.
Ah, you've gone and dyed it.
How you feeling, lad?
Fine.
No other symptoms?
Pains in your stomach?
Burning sensation?
Fever or anything?
I feel fine.
Maybe you better
change it back, Gramp.
Change it back?
To the way it was.
This is the surprise
you promised me, isn't it?
No, lad. No.
This is the surprise
I planned for you.
Gee, thanks, Gramp.
It's just what
I always wanted.
Gramp, please make it go away.
Well..
Maybe it'll go away itself.
I don't want green hair.
I want my own color back.
Now, now, now,
let's not be too hasty, lad.
It's -- It's a grand color.
Why are you always ready
to think the worst?
Maybe it's something good.
Something good?
Well, uh, I-like a mark
or something.
A-A medal, maybe.
What would I get a medal for?
I haven't done anything.
Well, that's perfectly true.
You haven't done anything,
anything at all.
But you're still young.
You're still young,
and maybe this medal is --
Is for something --
something you're going to do.
But what is it I'm going to do?
That remains to be seen.
But it'll be very interesting
to find out.
And you mark my words,
it'll be something grand.
Do you really think so, Gramp?
Oh, I do, lad, I do indeed.
Come on now, eat your breakfast.
Fall to, lad.
Uh, Peter, I was thinking
maybe we ought to pay a visit
to Dr. Knudson this morning.
What for?
Well, just to make sure
it's a grand thing
to have green hair, then we'd
have nothing to worry about.
- Hey, Peter!
- Peter!
- Oh, look at Peter!
- Peter.
Show 'em your hair, Peter!
What do they wanna
see my hair for?
-'Cause they just want to.
-Please?
-Golly!
-See what I told you.
-Isn't it super?
-Super!
Come on, we're gonna be
late for school.
Bye, Peter.
See you later.
And, uh, what about the lad?
He has green hair.
There's nothing wrong with him?
Nothing that I can find.
I've given him every test
I can think of.
Is there any medicine?
Something that'll make my hair
come back the way it was?
Uh, nothing that I know of.
Doctor, have you ever had a case
anything like this before?
No, and I don't know of
anyone else who has either.
He's making medical history.
Peter, you are making
medical history.
Yes, sir.
But I'd rather have my hair
back the way it was.
Ah, it isn't everyone who has a
chance to make medical history.
- It'll do him no injury?
- I don't think so.
Of course, I don't know.
I want my hair back
the way it was.
Well, maybe we can
dye it back.
You mean paint it?
Like ladies do?
No one's gonna paint my hair.
I want it the way it was.
Of course, you can always
cut it off.
All of it?
No one's gonna
cut my hair off.
I want it the way it was.
I wanna be like
everybody else.
Well, I'm sorry.
I won't go to school
with green hair.
But, laddie...
Now, Dr. Knudson.
Maybe if he stayed home
for a while
maybe the green hair
would go away?
-Perhaps.
-Alright!
That's what we'll do then.
Who knows?
By the morning, you might have
your own color back.
Well, I'm not gonna cut it off
and I'm not gonna paint it.
I want it the way it was.
Alright. Let's go home.
See what'll happen
by tomorrow morning.
Now, don't you worry
about this, Peter.
There's nothing
the matter with you.
Oh, so, nothing.
Except I've got green hair.
Throw the ball over here.
Peter, lad.
Watch closely, lad, now.
Watch closely.
Now, you can't stay
cooped up here forever, lad.
I know.
It'll be nothing at all.
I'll walk with you
to school meself.
After the first few minutes,
they won't pay the least bit
of attention to you.
You know what it's like?
It's like once I had a patch
on the seat of me trousers.
I was afraid to walk down
the street.
You know what the truth was?
People hardly
noticed it at all.
Okay, Gramp.
Well, we were just talking about
the new tax bill.
Were you now, indeed?
Well...
In reference
to the new tax bill,
the lad did not
dye his hair green.
It was nothing he ate
or drank or caught.
If you've any questions to ask,
ask him straight up.
-Didn't dye it?
-That's what I said!
You've heard of people's hair
turning gray overnight,
haven't you?
Well, the lad's turned green.
-Not contagious?
Eh, do you think
it could be the milk?
The milk? People have been
drinking our milk for years.
More likely, it's the water.
-The water?
Let me tell you something,
I've been
in charge of the water supply --
Uh-uh, it's not the water.
It's not the milk either.
The lad's in fine health.
And it's not contagious!
Is there anything else?
-Well, well, well...
-Well, well, well, what?
Well, nothing, I guess.
Nothing, he says. Sure.
You've been thinking it's
a strange thing that happened.
You're not sure
you're gonna like it.
Perhaps something
ought to be done about it.
Oh, well, it is
a little peculiar.
-Very strange.
-Strange, indeed.
Why, let me tell you this.
My grandson's hair
turned green
just as natural as the sun
comes up in the morning.
And if it goes,
it'll go the same way!
Right, laddie?
-I guess so.
-You bet.
Alright, come on, Peter.
Pardon me.
Oh, it's enough to make
one's blood boil!
Don't like it, indeed.
And the doctors say
it'll make medical history.
Peter.
Now I'm sure
there's a grand reason
for your green hair.
And I'm sure it's a reason
that'll make us all proud.
Right?
-Sure.
But, Gramp.
-Aye, laddie?
If it wants to go away
all by itself,
we won't try and stop it,
will we?
Well...
Hi, Peter.
Peter Fry's got green hair!
Hi, Peggy.
Mother's awfully worried.
Mother said
it might be catching
and I shouldn't get too close.
Ah, tell your mother
she doesn't have to worry.
He can't go to school anyway.
-Why can't I?
-'Cause you can't.
-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah.
They won't let you in school
with green hair.
You'll have to cut it off.
-I won't!
You can't tell.
Green hair might be catching.
Maybe it'll rub off on you.
Oh, what's wrong
with green hair?
How'd you like
to have your sister
marry somebody with green hair?
-Good morning, Ms. Brand.
-Good morning, Danny.
-Good morning, Ms. Brand.
-Good morning.
-Good morning, Ms. Brand.
-Good morning, Jane.
How many children
have black hair?
How many children
have brown hair?
Blonde?
Green hair?
And red hair?
Four children have black hair,
11 have brown hair,
nine have blonde hair,
one has green hair,
and one has red hair.
Are there any questions?
No questions?
We'll go on with
our history lesson.
I knew Ms. Brand
was trying to help me,
but she couldn't.
The whole thing started
when they went away
and that letter they left.
"To my son, Peter.
To be read
on his 16th birthday."
They didn't care about me.
They just cared
about saving other children.
They didn't care
what happened to me.
It was just no use.
Now, I knew that I couldn't
stay in North Mont either.
It seemed as though
there wasn't any place
where a war orphan
could settle down.
Peter.
Peter.
Look.
It is the boy
with the green hair.
We were waiting for you.
You mean I was supposed to come?
- We were hoping you would.
- What for?
Your green hair
Is very beautiful.
-Beautiful?
-Yes.
Green is the color of spring.
It means hope.
A promise of new life to come.
About your hair,
do people take notice of you?
Do people take notice of me?
We thought they would.
But why were you crying?
-Because...
-Why?
Just because!
Wouldn't you cry
if you woke up one morning
and for no reason at all,
you had green hair?
No. I would not cry.
-You wouldn't?
-No.
Because there is a reason
for your green hair.
-A reason?
-Yes.
A real reason?
He did not know.
Can you tell me?
It is a...
A mark of something good.
Like a medal.
A medal?
There is no one else in all
the world with green hair.
I know.
I'm making medical history.
It is hard to have green hair.
I don't wanna be different,
I wanna be like everybody else.
If it is too hard
to have green hair,
you do not have to.
But then, of course
nobody will notice you.
Nobody will ask
why you have green hair.
Everywhere you go,
people will say...
They will say "There is the boy
with the green hair."
And then people will ask
"Why does he have green hair?"
So, you will tell them,
"Because...
I am a war orphan.
And my green hair
Is to remind you
that war is
very bad for children."
You must tell all the people.
The Russians, Americans,
Chinese, British, French.
All the people
all over the world
that there must not
ever be another war.
Gee.
If enough people believe you,
there never will be another war.
And there never will be
any more war orphans.
But they don't know that.
They think everybody
has to get killed.
The world doesn't
have to be blown up.
I gotta hurry.
I'll tell 'em,
I'll tell everybody.
No fault of the lad's.
Certainly, none of his doings.
I'm not saying it is, Mr. Fry.
But the fact remains
that I've been losing --
That'll be himself.
Not another word, now.
Hello, Mr. Davis.
Dr. Knudson. Hi, Gramp.
-Hello, Peter.
-Hello, Peter.
Well, I guess I'll be going.
-Uh, just a minute.
Are you sick, Gramp?
Sick? Oh, no.
Oh, no, lad, I-I never felt
better in all me born days.
I suppose you come to talk about
what I'm telling everybody.
In a manner of speaking.
Anything wrong?
Uh, it seems to be the color
of your hair that's wrong.
People have been saying
it's the milk.
I've been losing customers
right and left.
Of course it's not the milk,
but that doesn't matter.
What's important
is that Mr. Davis
has been losing trade.
They want me
to cut my hair off.
Do you, Gramp?
Not if you don't
want it, Peter.
But the doctor here said that
if we did cut off your hair,
that it'll come back
to its original color.
Now, I said that it might,
I didn't say that it would.
I'm not gonna cut my hair off.
I want it the way it is.
It's important.
It has a meaning.
Alright, Peter.
Well, that's the way
it's gonna be.
I had to get away and think.
I went back to the glade.
I thought maybe the children
from the posters could help me.
- Who's got the scissors?
- I have.
Come on, let's get him.
Help! Help!
I lost my glasses.
I can't see without
my glasses. Help me!
Who's there?
Don't leave me alone.
Where are you?
I'm here.
Peter, I lost my glasses.
I've got 'em.
Give 'em to me.
Please, give 'em to me, Petey.
I won't hurt you.
I won't do nothing. Honest.
Hey, I've got him. I've got him.
- Hold him!
- You promised.
You thought just because
I wear glasses I was a sissy.
You thought I'd let you go.
Get your bikes.
Gramp! Gramp!
What is it, Peter?
What's the matter?
I ran away.
They tried to cut my hair off,
but I wouldn't let 'em.
-Who were they?
-Timmy and Joey.
They came after me
with scissors.
But I ran away.
-Alright.
N-N-Now, now, sit down.
Uh, try and catch your breath.
I guess Dr. Knudson
was right.
He was saying before, in the...
strange way he has
of speakin'.
He was saying...
Peter will learn
it's a dangerous thing
for a man to have green hair.
Can't be done.
Do you want me
to cut my hair off?
Oh, no, laddie.
I don't know what's right.
People have been saying
all manner of things
like it's the water or the milk.
Parents have been complaining
to the school board.
Peter. Peter.
You know it's the last thing
in the world I wanna do,
to hurt you.
But people have been talking.
But the doctor did say
if you cut your hair,
it'll come back, it might come
back in its original color.
You didn't believe me either.
Oh, no, laddie, it's not that.
But you...
Such strange fancies have been
cluttering up your heart lately.
I want you to be happy...
and carefree
like other boys your age.
The barber promised
to keep his shop open.
We'll get it done.
Make the world of difference.
Ah! You'll feel like a new man.
Peter, lad, I can remember
when I was a boy.
In the summer time, I used
to have my head shaved.
Till it shined just like ivory.
And cool, too.
Nobody believed me.
Nobody listened.
Oh, don't take it
like that, lad.
It's only --
-Alright, I'll go.
It'll be nothing.
It'll be for the best.
Alright. I'll go.
Sure, it's nothing at all.
Peter, I...
I..
Anybody want a souvenir?
Don't you want it
for a keepsake, Mr. Fry?
Wasn't my idea.
Here.
Everybody makes fun of me
"cause I wear thick glasses.
Well, laddie, it's done.
Everything will be fine now.
We'll do all manner
of great things together.
Peter, I want you
to drink this warm milk
a-a-and get some sleep.
I'm not going to work tonight.
I'm stayin' home.
Peter, you've
gotta talk to me.
Peter...
Oh, it isn't
that you're not eating
and that you're
not talking to me.
It's just knowin' that...
Maybe it's too late.
It's that...
I'm sorry.
I-I'm sorry I had anything to do
with cutting off your hair.
I feel ashamed.
I wanted you to know that.
You can drink
the warm milk or not.
Just as you please.
That was last night.
Gee, it sure seems
like longer ago.
Well, do you believe it?
No.
That's what I thought.
Why should I believe it?
You don't believe it yourself.
Of course I believe it.
Happened to me.
When somebody really
believes something,
they don't get discouraged
and run away
just because they haven't
convinced everybody
the first try.
Thanks for your story anyway.
Where are you going?
-Away.
-Away?
It's dark and cold out there.
You gonna let me?
No.
Dr. Knudson drove us down.
Nice of him, wasn't it?
Peter, lad...
The letter from your father.
He wanted you to have it
on your 16th birthday.
I think you're old enough
for it now.
Would you like to hear it?
"My dear Peter.
Your mother isn't here,
and I will not be for long.
She had many things
to say to you.
I will try to say them
for both of us.
We left you, Peter,
because we had to.
We had a job to do.
Try and understand
it was because of
our great love for you
and all the world's children.
You are old enough now to know
that death is a sad thing.
Because it takes away
the great gift of life.
But it need not be sad
if the gift has been well used.
Don't be sad for us, Peter.
Remember us as having died
with millions of other people
for something fine
and worthwhile.
It will have been fine,
it will have been worthwhile
if those who did not die
will not forget.
If they forget,
remind them.
Remind them, Peter."
The letter stops there.
Do you believe what
the letter said, Gramp?
Oh, I do, lad. I do.
I'll save it, Gramp.
I'll put it together
and save it.
Goodbye, Peter.
It's nice to have known you.
When my hair grows back,
it's gonna grow back green.
Bright boy, isn't he?
Very.
An interesting case.
Very.
Any, uh, any questions?
No.
Doctor, I'm -- I'm not
really concerned
with whether the boy's hair
was green or not.
I believe in what
he was trying to say.
I guess I do, too.
Well, that's all
that matters then, isn't it?
-Good night.
-Good night, doctor.
- Night, sir.
- Good night.
Goodnight and thanks.
All we want to know
IS your name.
Just your name.
Why, I tell people my name
a hundred times a day.
There's nothing to it, look.
Go ahead, ask me my name.
-What's your name?
-George Buzby.
See? That's all there is to it.
Now...
What's your name?
If you just tell us
what town you're from.
If you just tell us
what school you go to.
Are you hungry, son?
Maybe he wants a lawyer
before he'll talk.
Or even eat.
You're just in time.
Picked him up
a couple of hours ago.
He must be from
some neighboring town,
because we made a local check.
He's not from here.
This is all the identification
he carried.
Evening, Doc.
Oh, this is Dr. Evans.
This is Mr. Nobody, who lives
no place, doesn't go to school,
has no mother and father,
nobody at all.
-Thanks, boys.
-You're welcome.
Would you mind sitting here?
I'd like to get
the bench cleared.
I hope you'll excuse me, but
I didn't have time for supper,
and I'm starved.
Chocolate malted milk.
I'm sure I asked for strawberry.
Oh, well.
With or without?
-With or without what?
-Onions.
With, please.
What happened to your hair?
I'm not a policeman,
I'm a doctor.
-What kind of a doctor?
-Oh, just a regular doctor.
Well, as a matter of fact,
kind of an expert on boys.
Now, what happened to your hair?
-Cut off!
-How?
-Barber.
-Why?
It's a long story.
Well, I like long stories.
You wouldn't believe it.
I like long stories
that are hard to believe.
Well, I used to have
regular hair.
And they didn't
have to stay there.
They could've come back.
Then there wouldn't
have been any letter
and I wouldn't have to tear it.
What letter?
Well, there was this letter.
Every time I went to live
in a new place,
I had to take it along
to show it to people.
Like the time I went
to live with Gramp.
He put it in a book,
and I tore it.
Now, just a minute.
If you're gonna tell me this,
you'll, uh --
you'll have to tell it
so I can understand it.
Suppose you begin
at the beginning.
- The very beginning?
- Why not?
Okay, then.
I was born.
Well, uh, do we have
to go back that far?
-It started then.
-Okay.
It's hard to remember.
But I remember..
I remember a big five-layered
chocolate cake
with white frosting,
and Mommy said "Blow."
And I blew.
Then I cried because
all the candles went out.
Halloween was scary,
but it sure was fun.
Thanksgiving,
I sat on some big books
so I could reach the table.
Father carved the turkey
but Mother always said
he didn't do it very well.
And even when I woke up
so early Christmas morning
that it was still last night,
Mother and Father
would open the doors
and there would be
our Christmas tree.
That Christmas, I got
a Flexible Flyer and a dog.
But then I remember,
it got to be summer.
And they'd been gone
a long, long time.
And then the telegram came.
Of course I know now
the telegram was
about my mother and father.
They were war casualties.
I couldn't stay long
with Aunt Lillian.
She said she just wasn't
equipped for children.
So then, I went to stay
with Cousin Clark
and Cousin Isabel.
But they traveled
all the time.
Aunt Mary was nice.
Aunt Mary would have kept me.
Only Uncle Jim got out of work.
Aunt Phoebe
and Aunt Gertrude --
Gee, I bet I have
more aunts and uncles
than anybody
in the whole world.
They said the city
was no place for a child.
Then my other uncle had me.
Aunt Helen got very sick
and they had to sell
their house and go away.
- What's the matter?
- Nothin'.
I was just thinking.
Sure lived in a lot of places.
Then I went to live with Gramp.
Gramp? Your grandfather?
No, he's not even
my real grandfather.
But he likes me
to call him Gramp.
He's a very famous man.
He used to be in show business.
Show business, eh?
An actor?
-Yeah.
Well, what kind of an actor?
A...serious actor
or a funny actor?
Ooh, a very famous actor.
I remember he told me
about a time in Europe
when he met a king.
-A real king?
-Yes, sir.
He was in his dressing room,
and the king came right in.
Oh, Gramp, delightful.
Simply wonderful!
Ho-ho! But you gave
a swell show.
Well, I-I'm glad you liked it,
King, I'm glad you liked it.
I wonder if you'd drop over
to my royal palace
next Saturday night
and do a few numbers for me?
I'm having some
kings and queens over.
And a couple of princes, too.
Well, I'm sorry, King, but I'm
all booked up for Saturday.
Oh, my, my, my.
But I'll tell you what I'll do.
I've been rehearsin'
a new number,
and I'll come over to your
palace two weeks from Saturday.
Oh, splendid! Hmm? Two weeks?
Oh, Gramps,
uh, just between you and me.
Now, if it isn't asking too much
I wonder if you could just, uh
do the little number for me
right now. Hmm?
-Well, I-I don't usually --
-Oh, now, now, now.
And for you, King, I'll do it.
Oh, thank you.
That's swell of you.
Great!
I knew him.
Poor lad.
Good.
Brave lad.
Anyway, that's what
Gramp told me.
Gramp sounds okay.
Anyway, I went to live
with Gramp.
I gave him the letter.
The one
I was telling you about.
I can carry it.
Lights!
I think you better
tell me right now
what rooms I'm not to go in
and what I'm not to touch.
Why, this is your home, laddie.
There's not a room in the whole
house you're not to go into.
In the whole house?
Well, what there is of it.
Oh, and as for touching things,
hah, there's not a single object
in the whole house
that's not made
especially for handlin'.
Now, then...
How long will I stay?
As long as you like, lad.
As long as you like.
Now, if you just forget
your bag for a minute,
just for a minute,
I'll conduct you
on a grand tour of the house.
First, the kitchen.
I've been meaning to get
that vase out of people's way.
I did it on purpose.
I know what you mean, laddie.
-Gramp...
-Aye, lad?
I think I'll stay.
Well, that's fine.
That's fine.
Of course, that's until
my mother and father get back.
Gramp, will you write a letter
to Cousin Mary
and tell her to be sure to tell
my mother and father where I am?
"Cause they still think
I'm with her.
Will you?
I mean, send the letter?
I will, laddie.
Come on, now, Peter.
I'll show you to your room.
Did she die?
She died.
Gee.
I didn't think they ever fell.
They fall.
Then what'd you do?
Ah, then I came to America.
-All alone?
-All alone.
It's just
the evening mail plane.
Must be carrying
a heavy load of mail tonight.
He's gonna be alright.
You're, uh, you're not afraid
of being alone, are you?
Me? No.
I'm not afraid of being alone.
I was alone
for three days once.
In a cave with a tiger.
You don't say. What happened?
Well, this tiger
got loose from a circus,
and I was in the cave
and it was a black tiger.
I could hardly get out.
I was there...
-Tsk, tsk, tsk.
I had a terrible time
getting out of that cave.
Oh, sure,
that's what can happen
when you get mixed up
with a tiger.
Sure can.
Well, I'm glad
to know about that, Peter.
"Cause anyone mixed up
with a tiger
wouldn't be afraid
to stay home alone.
Of course, if you've got --
-I'm not afraid of being alone.
Ah, that's fine, laddie,
"cause I'm a singin' waiter.
What's a singin' waiter?
Well, I'll tell ya.
An ordinary waiter, he just
sort of brings your food.
Ah, but a singin' waiter,
he gives you a bit of song
with your meal, like..
See?
-Gee.
Ah, it's a grand profession.
Of course, it requires working
in the evening, so I'll be out.
You mean I'll be left alone?
Just me in this
whole dark house?
Now, don't be saying dark
like it was something bad.
Sure I remember
the time back home in Ireland
when we voted
to abolish the dark entirely.
You know what happened?
-What?
It was abolished.
Oh, it was terrible.
Ah, there we were, not knowing
night from day, up from down.
We didn't know when to go
to sleep and when to get up
when to work
and when to pray.
We were falling on our feet.
-What'd you do?
-We signed a petition.
We brought the dark back
to its rightful place.
So, don't be sayin'
anything against the dark.
It's a grand thing,
especially at night.
I don't mind it
except when I'm alone.
Ah, so, that's it, is it?
Well, then, we have to
tell you a secret.
There's nothing in the dark
that wasn't there
when the light was on.
Nothing at all.
Okay, Gramp.
I'm not afraid.
Good night, Peter.
Good night, Gramp.
There's nothing in the dark
that wasn't there
when the light was on.
There's nothing in the dark
that wasn't there
when the light was on.
-Good morning, Mr. Davis.
-Good morning, Mr. Fry.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Fine looking boy.
Let me give you
some good advice, young man.
Study hard.
Wished I'd studied hard.
Yes, sir.
You can be anything you wanna be
if you study hard.
What do you wanna be
when you grow up?
A milkman.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Nice looking boy.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Oh, fine looking boy.
Nice head of hair.
We'll be in one these days for
one of your superior haircuts.
Anytime, Mr. Fry, anytime.
- Good morning, Mr. Fry.
- Oh, good morning.
My grandson, starting
his school this morning.
Hello.
If you ask me, I'd much sooner
go fishing on a day like this.
Hello, again.
Fine looking boy.
Throw that away now, Peter.
Ah, that's
a grand-looking school.
Gramp, I didn't
tell you about it,
but the last school I went to,
the teacher hit me
with a stick.
A big, fat stick.
A big, fat stick, you say?
Yeah, with nails in it.
Not very big nails.
Sort of medium-sized nails.
Ah, there's no thing like that
in this school, lad.
I sure was scared that day.
Of course, Gramp was right.
Miss Brand, the teacher,
never hit anybody in her life.
She's pretty.
About the prettiest lady
I ever saw.
-Jack.
-Jack.
Okay, you.
Come on.
Hey, you wanna play?
Me? I don't care.
Okay.
Okay, I take you.
Come on, here we are.
Okay.
And after that...
boy, I was really living.
Gramp bought me a bicycle.
It was a very famous bicycle.
Gramp told me he bought it
from a famous Belgian
who was once
a six-day bicycle rider.
And with that, I got a job
delivering groceries
and earned my own money.
Cead milefailte, lad.
What's that mean?
In Irish,
that's a 100,000 welcomes.
Let's open it
and see how much I got.
I wouldn't do that, lad.
Money has a way of disappearing.
I'll show ya.
Watch.
Keep your eye on it.
Are you watching?
Can you make more come back
than you started with?
Well, I don't know.
I-I haven't tried that one yet.
Staying all by myself
didn't bother me anymore.
I wasn't even afraid
of the dark.
I didn't even have to take
the baseball bat to bed with me
when I was by myself.
Of course, I kept it
alongside of the bed.
Yep, I was just
beginning to think
that maybe Gramp and me
would work out okay.
At school, we were having
a war orphan drive.
Gramp borrowed a car
at the place where he worked
to help us collect clothes
to send to the war orphans.
And he took me and some other
kids around the neighborhood
to gather any old clothes.
Oh, Peter, you've been
sitting on my coat.
My rabbit is destroyed.
Alright, take care
of him for me.
Top of the day to you.
He looks like you.
He looks like you.
He doesn't look like me.
Yes, he does.
He's a war orphan.
Well, you're a war orphan, too.
-I am not.
-Yes, you are.
We asked Miss Brand where
your mother and father was,
and she told us they were
killed in the war.
That's a lie.
You are too a war orphan.
You're a liar!
Your mother and father
was killed in the war.
That makes you a war orphan.
You're a liar!
Let go!
Here, now, what is this?
-Did you?
-Did I what, Peter?
Did you say my mother and father
were killed in the war?
Did you?
I think you'll feel better
if you wash your face
before you go back
in the classroom.
Let's go into the office.
-I wanna know now.
Now, lad.
It's no fault
of Ms. Brand's at all.
You should've been told
a long time ago.
Was meself should've told you
the first day you came.
But I..
I just wanted to wait till we
got a little better acquainted.
Your mother and father
are dead.
They were killed in London.
Oh, but you should be proud,
lad. Proud.
They could've got out,
but they stayed behind.
They stayed behind and died
trying to save
other little boys and girls.
Like yourself.
And like them.
Oh, I should've told you
sooner, I should have.
I knew all along
my mother and father were dead.
I was just pretending
they were away on a trip.
But I knew.
Sure, you did.
Of course, lad,
you knew all the time.
And that letter you've
been carrying around with you,
written by your own
dear father before he died.
You'll be reading it
one of these days.
Well, I best be
returning the automobile,
or Gallagher will have me head.
Would you like
to be coming with me?
I gotta stay in school.
Alright, I --
I guess you're right.
Well...
I must be off.
I'll see you later..
At home.
Ms. Brand, Ms. Brand,
are they real children?
Or are they just made up?
-They're real.
Do you think
the children in the posters
will get the clothes we send?
They or other
children just like them.
Do you think they'll
like the clothes?
You see,
they need the clothes.
They'll like them.
Why, if they could speak to you,
they themselves would tell you
how much these clothes
really mean to them.
And they'd say,
"Thank you for remembering us."
Just look at these headlines.
War, war, war.
Ah. Peter, you're
just in time to help me
with Mrs. Hammond's order.
You know, my boy, he's
still stationed over there.
One can of pork and beans.
Did you see
what Robert Wilson said
in his column today?
He says unless we're prepared,
there's just no way
of avoiding it.
One can
of pork and beans, Peter.
The scientists say
we'll all be
blown to bits in the next one.
I declare I don't know
what the world's coming to.
Seems like it's human nature
to want to kill.
Well, if it's
human nature to kill,
all the more reason
we should be ready
just in case the other fellow
wants to start something.
Well, Sophie,
if that's human nature,
we better change it.
Or there won't be
anything human left to change.
Nobody wants war.
Anyway, whatever it is
we have to face,
we better be ready for it.
We better be ready
in our thinking too, Mary.
Not just with our bombs.
I say we ought to stop thinking
about fighting each other
and think some about
understanding each other,
and that means all of us.
When everybody
all over the world
talks about nothing but war,
what do you think we'll get?
War.
Well, right now, we
better talk about being prepared
so that we'll have time to talk
about peace and understanding.
People say another war
means the end of the world.
War will come,
want it or not.
The only question is when.
Just in time to get
more youngsters like Peter.
Gramp...
the world isn't
gonna be blown up
and everybody killed,
Is it, Gramp?
Many is the time
I thought it might, lad.
Especially
on a night like this...
when everything is feeling,
looking
sorry and gray-like.
So that's why I keep
a bit of green about always.
It was llene's teasin',
it was.
She couldn't stand
being without a plant
or a bit of evergreen about.
It kept her mindful,
she'd say, on a lonely night
that spring would come.
Oh, I can remember
how she turned to me,
looking all mystical
and sweet, and she'd say
"The wind don't know
what I know
stamping about like
a mad old bull
scaring people
to an early grave.
The wind don't know
that spring will come again.
But I know.
I know."
Yes, a bit of green
helped her, it did.
It's the color of spring.
It meant hope
and a promise of new life.
Oh, hush up, wind.
Hush up.
You don't fool me either.
Believe me, laddie.
No matter what people
say at the time,
the world will keep on going
for a long, long while.
And you know what, me bucko?
I forgot with all
me blatherin'
to tell you the most special
and best thing of all.
There'll be a grand surprise
for you in the morning.
It's the way Gramp was.
Trying so hard to take
your mind off things
with surprises.
But I just had a feeling
something terrible
was gonna happen.
And it did, alright.
The very next morning.
I was taking a bath,
and that's when it happened.
Oh, well, what's the use?
You wouldn't believe it anyway.
Well, what was it that happened?
It's no use,
you won't believe me.
I said I would.
Sure you did.
Grown-ups say a lot of things.
Now, look.
You've eaten my hamburger
and you've drunk my milkshake.
If you think you're not gonna
tell me what happened,
you're crazy.
You're supposed to be
an expert on boys?
You're right.
Alright, don't tell me a thing.
I'm not even
slightly interested.
In fact, I probably
wouldn't listen.
Well, okay.
Where was I?
You were, uh, taking your bath.
Oh, yeah.
I was taking my bath.
And doing a good job, too.
I didn't want Gramp
to come in and say
"Now, don't be sparing
of the soap, lad.
The shortage is over.
Under the chin, man,
under the chin.
The ears, man,
and behind the ears."
I wasn't expecting anything.
Hey, Gramp!
Aye, lad?
I've got green hair.
You've what, lad?
Green hair.
Well, that's nice.
Hurry up
and get dressed now, lad.
Boy, some surprise.
Gramp, how many other people
in the world have green hair?
Not another single one.
Alright, breakfast,
lad, breakfast.
Come on now, we've done
an uncommon lot of dallying.
It's not everyday
your hair turns green.
No, it's not at that, lad.
Now, that'll be
the milkman.
I'll get it.
Good morning.
-Good morning, Peter.
Now, let's see,
this is Thursday.
Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday.
One quart of milk
and one pint of cream.
- Hi, Peter.
- Hi.
What happened to your hair?
No, no, cream today.
It turned green
during the night.
Just one quart of milk
then, huh?
That's right, just one.
Pretty good, eh?
Oh, yes, I think it's super.
What was that?
I think the milkman
just fell down the stairs. Heh.
What have you done
to your hair, lad?
It turned green.
-All by itself?
-All by itself.
Ah, you've gone and dyed it.
How you feeling, lad?
Fine.
No other symptoms?
Pains in your stomach?
Burning sensation?
Fever or anything?
I feel fine.
Maybe you better
change it back, Gramp.
Change it back?
To the way it was.
This is the surprise
you promised me, isn't it?
No, lad. No.
This is the surprise
I planned for you.
Gee, thanks, Gramp.
It's just what
I always wanted.
Gramp, please make it go away.
Well..
Maybe it'll go away itself.
I don't want green hair.
I want my own color back.
Now, now, now,
let's not be too hasty, lad.
It's -- It's a grand color.
Why are you always ready
to think the worst?
Maybe it's something good.
Something good?
Well, uh, I-like a mark
or something.
A-A medal, maybe.
What would I get a medal for?
I haven't done anything.
Well, that's perfectly true.
You haven't done anything,
anything at all.
But you're still young.
You're still young,
and maybe this medal is --
Is for something --
something you're going to do.
But what is it I'm going to do?
That remains to be seen.
But it'll be very interesting
to find out.
And you mark my words,
it'll be something grand.
Do you really think so, Gramp?
Oh, I do, lad, I do indeed.
Come on now, eat your breakfast.
Fall to, lad.
Uh, Peter, I was thinking
maybe we ought to pay a visit
to Dr. Knudson this morning.
What for?
Well, just to make sure
it's a grand thing
to have green hair, then we'd
have nothing to worry about.
- Hey, Peter!
- Peter!
- Oh, look at Peter!
- Peter.
Show 'em your hair, Peter!
What do they wanna
see my hair for?
-'Cause they just want to.
-Please?
-Golly!
-See what I told you.
-Isn't it super?
-Super!
Come on, we're gonna be
late for school.
Bye, Peter.
See you later.
And, uh, what about the lad?
He has green hair.
There's nothing wrong with him?
Nothing that I can find.
I've given him every test
I can think of.
Is there any medicine?
Something that'll make my hair
come back the way it was?
Uh, nothing that I know of.
Doctor, have you ever had a case
anything like this before?
No, and I don't know of
anyone else who has either.
He's making medical history.
Peter, you are making
medical history.
Yes, sir.
But I'd rather have my hair
back the way it was.
Ah, it isn't everyone who has a
chance to make medical history.
- It'll do him no injury?
- I don't think so.
Of course, I don't know.
I want my hair back
the way it was.
Well, maybe we can
dye it back.
You mean paint it?
Like ladies do?
No one's gonna paint my hair.
I want it the way it was.
Of course, you can always
cut it off.
All of it?
No one's gonna
cut my hair off.
I want it the way it was.
I wanna be like
everybody else.
Well, I'm sorry.
I won't go to school
with green hair.
But, laddie...
Now, Dr. Knudson.
Maybe if he stayed home
for a while
maybe the green hair
would go away?
-Perhaps.
-Alright!
That's what we'll do then.
Who knows?
By the morning, you might have
your own color back.
Well, I'm not gonna cut it off
and I'm not gonna paint it.
I want it the way it was.
Alright. Let's go home.
See what'll happen
by tomorrow morning.
Now, don't you worry
about this, Peter.
There's nothing
the matter with you.
Oh, so, nothing.
Except I've got green hair.
Throw the ball over here.
Peter, lad.
Watch closely, lad, now.
Watch closely.
Now, you can't stay
cooped up here forever, lad.
I know.
It'll be nothing at all.
I'll walk with you
to school meself.
After the first few minutes,
they won't pay the least bit
of attention to you.
You know what it's like?
It's like once I had a patch
on the seat of me trousers.
I was afraid to walk down
the street.
You know what the truth was?
People hardly
noticed it at all.
Okay, Gramp.
Well, we were just talking about
the new tax bill.
Were you now, indeed?
Well...
In reference
to the new tax bill,
the lad did not
dye his hair green.
It was nothing he ate
or drank or caught.
If you've any questions to ask,
ask him straight up.
-Didn't dye it?
-That's what I said!
You've heard of people's hair
turning gray overnight,
haven't you?
Well, the lad's turned green.
-Not contagious?
Eh, do you think
it could be the milk?
The milk? People have been
drinking our milk for years.
More likely, it's the water.
-The water?
Let me tell you something,
I've been
in charge of the water supply --
Uh-uh, it's not the water.
It's not the milk either.
The lad's in fine health.
And it's not contagious!
Is there anything else?
-Well, well, well...
-Well, well, well, what?
Well, nothing, I guess.
Nothing, he says. Sure.
You've been thinking it's
a strange thing that happened.
You're not sure
you're gonna like it.
Perhaps something
ought to be done about it.
Oh, well, it is
a little peculiar.
-Very strange.
-Strange, indeed.
Why, let me tell you this.
My grandson's hair
turned green
just as natural as the sun
comes up in the morning.
And if it goes,
it'll go the same way!
Right, laddie?
-I guess so.
-You bet.
Alright, come on, Peter.
Pardon me.
Oh, it's enough to make
one's blood boil!
Don't like it, indeed.
And the doctors say
it'll make medical history.
Peter.
Now I'm sure
there's a grand reason
for your green hair.
And I'm sure it's a reason
that'll make us all proud.
Right?
-Sure.
But, Gramp.
-Aye, laddie?
If it wants to go away
all by itself,
we won't try and stop it,
will we?
Well...
Hi, Peter.
Peter Fry's got green hair!
Hi, Peggy.
Mother's awfully worried.
Mother said
it might be catching
and I shouldn't get too close.
Ah, tell your mother
she doesn't have to worry.
He can't go to school anyway.
-Why can't I?
-'Cause you can't.
-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah.
They won't let you in school
with green hair.
You'll have to cut it off.
-I won't!
You can't tell.
Green hair might be catching.
Maybe it'll rub off on you.
Oh, what's wrong
with green hair?
How'd you like
to have your sister
marry somebody with green hair?
-Good morning, Ms. Brand.
-Good morning, Danny.
-Good morning, Ms. Brand.
-Good morning.
-Good morning, Ms. Brand.
-Good morning, Jane.
How many children
have black hair?
How many children
have brown hair?
Blonde?
Green hair?
And red hair?
Four children have black hair,
11 have brown hair,
nine have blonde hair,
one has green hair,
and one has red hair.
Are there any questions?
No questions?
We'll go on with
our history lesson.
I knew Ms. Brand
was trying to help me,
but she couldn't.
The whole thing started
when they went away
and that letter they left.
"To my son, Peter.
To be read
on his 16th birthday."
They didn't care about me.
They just cared
about saving other children.
They didn't care
what happened to me.
It was just no use.
Now, I knew that I couldn't
stay in North Mont either.
It seemed as though
there wasn't any place
where a war orphan
could settle down.
Peter.
Peter.
Look.
It is the boy
with the green hair.
We were waiting for you.
You mean I was supposed to come?
- We were hoping you would.
- What for?
Your green hair
Is very beautiful.
-Beautiful?
-Yes.
Green is the color of spring.
It means hope.
A promise of new life to come.
About your hair,
do people take notice of you?
Do people take notice of me?
We thought they would.
But why were you crying?
-Because...
-Why?
Just because!
Wouldn't you cry
if you woke up one morning
and for no reason at all,
you had green hair?
No. I would not cry.
-You wouldn't?
-No.
Because there is a reason
for your green hair.
-A reason?
-Yes.
A real reason?
He did not know.
Can you tell me?
It is a...
A mark of something good.
Like a medal.
A medal?
There is no one else in all
the world with green hair.
I know.
I'm making medical history.
It is hard to have green hair.
I don't wanna be different,
I wanna be like everybody else.
If it is too hard
to have green hair,
you do not have to.
But then, of course
nobody will notice you.
Nobody will ask
why you have green hair.
Everywhere you go,
people will say...
They will say "There is the boy
with the green hair."
And then people will ask
"Why does he have green hair?"
So, you will tell them,
"Because...
I am a war orphan.
And my green hair
Is to remind you
that war is
very bad for children."
You must tell all the people.
The Russians, Americans,
Chinese, British, French.
All the people
all over the world
that there must not
ever be another war.
Gee.
If enough people believe you,
there never will be another war.
And there never will be
any more war orphans.
But they don't know that.
They think everybody
has to get killed.
The world doesn't
have to be blown up.
I gotta hurry.
I'll tell 'em,
I'll tell everybody.
No fault of the lad's.
Certainly, none of his doings.
I'm not saying it is, Mr. Fry.
But the fact remains
that I've been losing --
That'll be himself.
Not another word, now.
Hello, Mr. Davis.
Dr. Knudson. Hi, Gramp.
-Hello, Peter.
-Hello, Peter.
Well, I guess I'll be going.
-Uh, just a minute.
Are you sick, Gramp?
Sick? Oh, no.
Oh, no, lad, I-I never felt
better in all me born days.
I suppose you come to talk about
what I'm telling everybody.
In a manner of speaking.
Anything wrong?
Uh, it seems to be the color
of your hair that's wrong.
People have been saying
it's the milk.
I've been losing customers
right and left.
Of course it's not the milk,
but that doesn't matter.
What's important
is that Mr. Davis
has been losing trade.
They want me
to cut my hair off.
Do you, Gramp?
Not if you don't
want it, Peter.
But the doctor here said that
if we did cut off your hair,
that it'll come back
to its original color.
Now, I said that it might,
I didn't say that it would.
I'm not gonna cut my hair off.
I want it the way it is.
It's important.
It has a meaning.
Alright, Peter.
Well, that's the way
it's gonna be.
I had to get away and think.
I went back to the glade.
I thought maybe the children
from the posters could help me.
- Who's got the scissors?
- I have.
Come on, let's get him.
Help! Help!
I lost my glasses.
I can't see without
my glasses. Help me!
Who's there?
Don't leave me alone.
Where are you?
I'm here.
Peter, I lost my glasses.
I've got 'em.
Give 'em to me.
Please, give 'em to me, Petey.
I won't hurt you.
I won't do nothing. Honest.
Hey, I've got him. I've got him.
- Hold him!
- You promised.
You thought just because
I wear glasses I was a sissy.
You thought I'd let you go.
Get your bikes.
Gramp! Gramp!
What is it, Peter?
What's the matter?
I ran away.
They tried to cut my hair off,
but I wouldn't let 'em.
-Who were they?
-Timmy and Joey.
They came after me
with scissors.
But I ran away.
-Alright.
N-N-Now, now, sit down.
Uh, try and catch your breath.
I guess Dr. Knudson
was right.
He was saying before, in the...
strange way he has
of speakin'.
He was saying...
Peter will learn
it's a dangerous thing
for a man to have green hair.
Can't be done.
Do you want me
to cut my hair off?
Oh, no, laddie.
I don't know what's right.
People have been saying
all manner of things
like it's the water or the milk.
Parents have been complaining
to the school board.
Peter. Peter.
You know it's the last thing
in the world I wanna do,
to hurt you.
But people have been talking.
But the doctor did say
if you cut your hair,
it'll come back, it might come
back in its original color.
You didn't believe me either.
Oh, no, laddie, it's not that.
But you...
Such strange fancies have been
cluttering up your heart lately.
I want you to be happy...
and carefree
like other boys your age.
The barber promised
to keep his shop open.
We'll get it done.
Make the world of difference.
Ah! You'll feel like a new man.
Peter, lad, I can remember
when I was a boy.
In the summer time, I used
to have my head shaved.
Till it shined just like ivory.
And cool, too.
Nobody believed me.
Nobody listened.
Oh, don't take it
like that, lad.
It's only --
-Alright, I'll go.
It'll be nothing.
It'll be for the best.
Alright. I'll go.
Sure, it's nothing at all.
Peter, I...
I..
Anybody want a souvenir?
Don't you want it
for a keepsake, Mr. Fry?
Wasn't my idea.
Here.
Everybody makes fun of me
"cause I wear thick glasses.
Well, laddie, it's done.
Everything will be fine now.
We'll do all manner
of great things together.
Peter, I want you
to drink this warm milk
a-a-and get some sleep.
I'm not going to work tonight.
I'm stayin' home.
Peter, you've
gotta talk to me.
Peter...
Oh, it isn't
that you're not eating
and that you're
not talking to me.
It's just knowin' that...
Maybe it's too late.
It's that...
I'm sorry.
I-I'm sorry I had anything to do
with cutting off your hair.
I feel ashamed.
I wanted you to know that.
You can drink
the warm milk or not.
Just as you please.
That was last night.
Gee, it sure seems
like longer ago.
Well, do you believe it?
No.
That's what I thought.
Why should I believe it?
You don't believe it yourself.
Of course I believe it.
Happened to me.
When somebody really
believes something,
they don't get discouraged
and run away
just because they haven't
convinced everybody
the first try.
Thanks for your story anyway.
Where are you going?
-Away.
-Away?
It's dark and cold out there.
You gonna let me?
No.
Dr. Knudson drove us down.
Nice of him, wasn't it?
Peter, lad...
The letter from your father.
He wanted you to have it
on your 16th birthday.
I think you're old enough
for it now.
Would you like to hear it?
"My dear Peter.
Your mother isn't here,
and I will not be for long.
She had many things
to say to you.
I will try to say them
for both of us.
We left you, Peter,
because we had to.
We had a job to do.
Try and understand
it was because of
our great love for you
and all the world's children.
You are old enough now to know
that death is a sad thing.
Because it takes away
the great gift of life.
But it need not be sad
if the gift has been well used.
Don't be sad for us, Peter.
Remember us as having died
with millions of other people
for something fine
and worthwhile.
It will have been fine,
it will have been worthwhile
if those who did not die
will not forget.
If they forget,
remind them.
Remind them, Peter."
The letter stops there.
Do you believe what
the letter said, Gramp?
Oh, I do, lad. I do.
I'll save it, Gramp.
I'll put it together
and save it.
Goodbye, Peter.
It's nice to have known you.
When my hair grows back,
it's gonna grow back green.
Bright boy, isn't he?
Very.
An interesting case.
Very.
Any, uh, any questions?
No.
Doctor, I'm -- I'm not
really concerned
with whether the boy's hair
was green or not.
I believe in what
he was trying to say.
I guess I do, too.
Well, that's all
that matters then, isn't it?
-Good night.
-Good night, doctor.
- Night, sir.
- Good night.
Goodnight and thanks.