The Boy Nobody Wanted (1956)
Transcript
00:00 [Music]
00:26 Now let's hold all my calls for about half an hour, please.
00:30 Dear Winfred, this is the story I promised to tell you.
00:40 It's a true story. The case history of Billy Brandon.
00:45 The boy nobody wanted. The most sinned against child I've ever known.
00:50 Billy lived with his widowed father, a professional gambler, in a boarding house.
00:55 Dad, you're home!
00:57 Hiya, son! One, two, three!
01:03 Come on, let's do that knockout stuff you told me.
01:05 Come on, there, take it easy, Bill, huh?
01:08 I've been practicing, and I can do it pretty good now.
01:12 Now look, the guy's coming at me with a knife, see?
01:15 Now I grab his arm like this, and then...
01:18 How's that?
01:19 Not bad.
01:20 Now come on, let me try on you.
01:22 Oh, not now, son, I'm all dressed.
01:24 You going away?
01:26 Yeah, I'm sorry, kid, but I've got some important business.
01:29 But it's Sunday, and you promised we'd go to the zoo.
01:32 Oh, that, well, why don't you ask Miss Nelly? Maybe she'll take you.
01:36 Oh, she's gone. Everybody's gone at Sunday.
01:39 Well, you'll think of something to do. You're a big boy now.
01:42 Play with your electric train, or try that knockout trick again.
01:45 Oh, it's no good with that old pillow. It ain't like a real person.
01:50 Well, never try it on some other kid. It's rough.
01:53 It's only used for your self-defense, remember, like I told you?
01:56 Yeah, I remember.
01:58 That's for me.
02:01 Yeah.
02:04 I'm sorry about the zoo, kid, but we'll make it next time, huh?
02:10 That's the boy.
02:21 Now, here we go. Now, I want you a little shorter. That's fine.
02:24 A good butt now. There you go.
02:26 Good boy! That's the way to do it.
02:28 After your lie. Come on, buddy. Okay?
02:32 Here's the phone sign. I'll be back.
02:34 Okay.
02:50 Hi.
02:52 Can I come over and play?
02:55 No.
02:56 Why?
02:57 Your daddy's a gambler. My dad says so.
03:00 What's a gambler?
03:02 I don't know, but my dad does. He knows everything.
03:05 We own a newspaper. We go to the baseball game free.
03:09 Gee.
03:10 And sit in a box.
03:11 Golly.
03:12 My dad was an athlete.
03:15 I bet.
03:17 He was, and he knows how to box and wrestle.
03:20 And he's teaching me how to do knockout trips.
03:22 What's that?
03:23 Oh, that's a way to fight. A way that nobody can beat you.
03:27 I bet.
03:28 It is. I can do it pretty good now.
03:31 Show me.
03:32 I can't.
03:33 Why not?
03:34 Because I might hurt you. It's only for defending yourself, my dad says.
03:39 I bet you can't even do it.
03:41 I bet I can.
03:42 Then show me.
03:43 No.
03:44 I bet you're scared.
03:45 I am not.
03:46 I bet.
03:48 [Silence]
03:56 Oh, finally. Not that way.
03:58 I told you you can't come in here.
04:00 Try and put me out.
04:01 Right now.
04:02 [Silence]
04:07 [Music]
04:15 Told you I could do it.
04:17 [Music]
04:20 I had to.
04:21 [Music]
04:24 Get up.
04:25 [Music]
04:27 Get up.
04:28 [Music]
04:35 News of this terrible tragedy reached me while I was interviewing a couple seeking a baby for adoption.
04:42 What is your name, please?
04:44 Wheelock.
04:45 Herbert Wheelock.
04:47 And I'm Martha.
04:49 Where do you live, Mrs. Wheelock?
04:51 Little Rock.
04:52 That's about 30 miles from here.
04:53 Rural Route 10.
04:56 It's a farm.
04:57 It's a nice one.
04:59 We have horses and a couple of cows.
05:01 Jerry Lees?
05:02 And we raise corn and wheat.
05:05 And there's a pasture with a little brook in it.
05:07 And the house, when we built it, we wanted enough rooms for...
05:12 well, we thought surely there'd be a big family.
05:15 That's what we both wanted.
05:18 But we know better now.
05:21 We can never have a child of our own.
05:23 No, no, Martha.
05:25 How old are you, Mrs. Wheelock?
05:28 I'm strong.
05:29 I get up every morning at four and milk the cows.
05:32 And I help Mr. Wheelock with the hay.
05:35 She's 46, Mrs. Sherman.
05:37 I wish I could help you, but I can't.
05:40 No court would award you a baby for adoption.
05:43 Our laws draw the line at 40.
05:46 But what about the mothers who have their own babies
05:48 after they're 40?
05:49 It's only the law that draws the line, not God.
05:52 Excuse me.
05:58 Yes.
05:59 Put him on.
06:01 Hello, Judge.
06:02 The son of the editor?
06:07 Oh, no.
06:09 [knocking]
06:11 Come in.
06:12 I haven't had a chance to express my sympathy.
06:20 You know Nick Brandon?
06:22 I know who he is, yes.
06:23 What do you know about him?
06:24 Well, he reputedly operates a gambling house somewhere.
06:27 Where?
06:29 I don't know, Mr. Reynolds.
06:31 You're a reporter.
06:33 Find out.
06:34 Well, don't the police know?
06:35 Never mind the police.
06:36 They're always late.
06:38 Go after Brandon.
06:40 That's your assignment.
06:42 Dig up his past.
06:44 Find out where he operates.
06:46 Go over his whole miserable life.
06:48 Bradley, I want that man's hide, you understand?
06:51 Yes, Mr. Reynolds.
06:53 It's not only me, Bradley.
06:55 There's nothing he can do to me anymore.
06:57 But there are others.
07:00 It was Nick Brandon who was responsible for this.
07:04 You understand that, don't you?
07:05 Nick can find no law that would make him pay for it.
07:09 You, Bradley, you're going to dig up a couple
07:12 of paragraphs for them.
07:14 Yes, Mr. Reynolds.
07:17 Bradley was a good reporter.
07:19 He started digging.
07:21 He questioned the people at the boarding house
07:23 where Nick Brandon lived.
07:26 He looked into police files.
07:28 He consulted the back issues of newspapers.
07:32 And he found something.
07:33 It's about the little boy.
07:35 Five years ago, he was playing with matches
07:38 and ignited the dress of a little girl.
07:40 She was horribly burned and died.
07:42 And the real source of that threat,
07:50 the evil-minded, motivating force behind it, Nick Brandon,
07:53 is still at liberty, openly challenging our laws.
07:57 Are the authorities helpless in the face of this provocation?
08:01 [music playing]
08:04 Billy Brandon, did you say?
08:10 I'm sorry, Mrs. Sherman, but after all, a boy who killed--
08:13 Those were accidents, Mrs. Harris.
08:15 According to our psychiatrist, Billy's a normal boy
08:18 with a higher than average intelligence.
08:20 I'm awfully sorry, but I have a small child of my own,
08:22 and I just couldn't let--
08:26 I'm sorry, Mrs. Sherman.
08:28 I just couldn't let--
08:30 You can understand.
08:32 Yes, of course, Mrs. Harris.
08:34 I understand.
08:36 Judge, about Billy Brandon, I simply can't place that boy
08:40 in a foster home.
08:41 Nobody wants him.
08:43 I'm afraid we'll have to keep him here indefinitely.
08:47 I'll make up my report.
08:49 Goodbye.
08:57 [music playing]
09:00 Get me the boy's dormitory, please.
09:05 Mrs. Sheldon?
09:08 This is Mrs. Sherman.
09:09 Would you bring Billy Brandon over to me, please?
09:12 Make him put on his best suit.
09:16 Yes, I think--
09:17 I hope to goodness I've found a home for him.
09:26 Hello, Mrs. Wheelock.
09:28 Hello.
09:30 Why, it's Mrs. Sherman.
09:32 Herbert!
09:33 Herbert!
09:34 Look who's here.
09:37 Who's the little boy?
09:39 That's Billy.
09:40 He's one of our chargers.
09:41 Hello, Billy.
09:43 He's a little bit shy.
09:45 Well, howdy, Mrs. Sherman.
09:47 Hello, Mr. Wheelock.
09:49 Good to see you.
09:50 Thank you.
09:51 Well, come on in.
09:52 It's hot out here.
09:53 I'll make some iced tea.
09:55 [footsteps]
09:57 Mm, that smell.
10:01 I've got some bread baking in the oven.
10:03 Would you like some real fresh bread, son?
10:06 Oh, no, Herbert.
10:07 To sick people and children, you don't offer food.
10:10 You just feed them.
10:11 I'll be back in a minute.
10:13 Oh, thank you, Mrs. Wheelock, but I'm
10:19 afraid I can't stay for dinner.
10:21 I'm really on my way to Greenvale.
10:22 I have an appointment with the minister there.
10:24 It was such a nice day, I thought
10:25 I'd bring Billy along for the ride.
10:27 And then we saw your name on the mailbox.
10:29 I thought maybe he'd enjoy staying with you
10:31 while I kept my appointment.
10:32 We'd love to have him.
10:34 Herbert, why don't you show Billy what we have in the barn?
10:37 All right.
10:38 Billy, how'd you like to see what we've got down in the barn?
10:49 It's a little colt, born less than a week ago.
10:53 He's hardly as big as you are.
10:55 Wouldn't you like to see him?
10:57 Well, come on.
11:00 Well, I guess I'd better be going.
11:03 Greenvale's about a half an hour drive from here, isn't it?
11:06 Yes.
11:08 You've never been there?
11:10 No.
11:11 Then you don't need to go there, Mrs. Sherman.
11:13 Not if your business is with the minister,
11:15 because Greenvale doesn't have a minister.
11:18 Just a gas pump and a couple of stores.
11:21 Oh.
11:22 The boy, he's Billy Brandon, isn't he?
11:30 Yes, Mrs. Wheelock.
11:32 I recognized him right away from those pictures in the paper.
11:35 That was a terrible thing.
11:37 He's a good boy.
11:39 I didn't want to trick you.
11:40 I just thought if I could leave him with you for a couple of hours,
11:42 you'd see what a nice child he is,
11:44 and then it wouldn't matter that his name was Billy Brandon.
11:51 I'm sorry for trying to, well, to smuggle him into your hearts.
11:56 I understand, Mrs. Sherman.
11:58 But it's the only thing I could think of to do.
12:02 He's the boy nobody wants, but nobody, and I'm sure he knows it.
12:06 We have to keep him with other children, older boys, with criminal records.
12:10 I'm afraid they've talked.
12:11 You've seen how frightened he is.
12:13 Yes, Mrs. Sherman.
12:15 I didn't want him to go on thinking that the whole world is his enemy.
12:19 Wasn't that fun?
12:22 It was all black and with him, and his mother was licking him all over.
12:26 Billy thought she was trying to bite him.
12:28 Yeah, I thought she was trying to bite him, but she was only licking him, wasn't she?
12:32 Oh, sure enough.
12:34 You were kissing him.
12:37 Like this.
12:40 Billy, you've seen our place.
12:42 It's pretty big, isn't it?
12:44 And there are only the two of us.
12:46 We get lonesome.
12:48 How would you like to stay here?
12:51 Mrs. Wheelock, haven't you better speak with your husband?
12:55 He knows.
12:57 Billy, we'd like to have a nice little boy like you around.
13:01 I'm bad.
13:03 They took away my daddy just because I was bad.
13:06 Good or bad, Billy, I like you, and so does Mr. Wheelock.
13:10 And so will all the horses and the cows and the little ducks on the pond.
13:16 Look at me, Billy.
13:18 If Mrs. Sherman gives her permission,
13:21 how would you like to visit us until your daddy comes back?
13:26 We'll have a party and ask the other children around here to come and meet you
13:31 so that they can be your friends.
13:33 Will you stay?
13:36 Can I?
13:38 [music]
13:48 I don't understand it.
13:51 Sit down, Martha.
13:52 They're not going to come a minute sooner with you watching.
13:55 But I told everybody 3 o'clock.
13:57 It's almost 4.
13:59 Did you tell all the folks about Billy and--
14:01 No.
14:02 Like Mrs. Sherman said, if they see him first, they won't believe all that.
14:07 Aren't they here yet?
14:08 No, Billy.
14:09 You just go on playing.
14:10 I'll let you know when they get here.
14:12 Okay.
14:13 Here's paper.
14:14 Thank you, boy.
14:17 If I had a phone, I could call them.
14:20 We ought to have a phone now that Billy's with us.
14:23 Kids get sick and--
14:26 What's the matter, Herbert?
14:29 There ain't going to be any party today, Martha.
14:32 What?
14:33 Read this.
14:35 "Billy Brandon, two-time killer, son of a convicted criminal, is at large again.
14:41 Juvenile authorities have dumped him on a Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock in Little Rock
14:46 from where he can threaten the lives of neighboring children.
14:50 Is it too much to demand?
14:52 Is it too much to demand that this menace be removed from our community?"
14:59 Oh.
15:02 Herbert, get the car.
15:04 I'm going in the town.
15:10 Mr. Reynolds?
15:12 Yes?
15:13 I'm sorry to barge in like this, but there's nobody outside.
15:16 That's all right.
15:17 But it's really after my office hours.
15:19 It won't take long.
15:20 I'm a subscriber to your newspaper.
15:23 Please sit down.
15:24 Thank you.
15:32 What can I do for you?
15:33 I need your help, Mr. Reynolds.
15:36 I have a child, a little boy.
15:39 He's eight, and I'm about to lose him.
15:43 I'm terribly sorry, but what can I--
15:47 What's wrong?
15:48 Can I--
15:50 What's wrong with the child?
15:51 Nothing.
15:52 The doctors say he's a normal boy, and he's a nice boy.
15:57 Since we've had him--
15:59 Well, you see, we weren't very young when he came to us.
16:03 It's been like the sun shining night and day.
16:08 But when I think how it'll be without him, that big, empty house--
16:13 You understand that, Mr. Reynolds.
16:16 Please.
16:17 I know it's painful to be reminded, but it's my only chance.
16:22 You know how we must feel.
16:24 Yes, I do, but I don't understand.
16:28 You say he's not ill, and why would you lose him?
16:31 They're trying to take him away from me.
16:33 Who, for heaven's sake?
16:35 You, Mr. Reynolds.
16:38 I'm Martha Wheelock, Billy Brandon's foster mother.
16:43 [music playing]
16:47 I've only come to ask you this.
16:51 Suppose it had turned out the other way around, as it might have,
16:56 and the papers were calling Tommy Reynolds a murder.
17:01 All right, Mrs. Wheelock.
17:09 [music playing]
17:12 [children playing]
17:15 This is the first birthday party he's ever had.
17:23 He seems to be having a wonderful time.
17:25 Oh, he is.
17:26 And all the children like him.
17:29 So he's been accepted.
17:31 How did you do it, Martha?
17:33 Well, my friends wouldn't bring their children to see him,
17:36 so I took Billy to see them.
17:39 I figured they wouldn't shut their doors in my face, and they didn't.
17:43 So I forced them to watch Billy and me together.
17:46 I loved him in front of them.
17:49 That's what I did with Mr. Reynolds, and he promised never to print Billy's name again.
17:53 I hope he doesn't start picking on Nick Brandon again.
17:57 He's going to be released soon.
18:00 Mrs. Sherman, can he-- will he get the child back?
18:05 Yes, Martha, if he's able to prove that he can provide a decent home for the boy.
18:11 But I wouldn't worry about that yet.
18:13 Our court's requirements are very strict.
18:16 There'll be a lot of birthday parties before Nick Brandon can prove himself.
18:20 Well, it doesn't matter.
18:22 Even if he stays with us only a little while, he'll always be our son.
18:28 [baby crying]
18:30 As it turned out, he stayed with the Wheelocks through high school.
18:33 And it was a happy family.
18:36 But there was still a decision to be made.
18:39 He just went to get the mail.
18:41 He'll be back in a minute.
18:42 Is he well?
18:43 Just fine.
18:44 Graduated near the top of his class.
18:46 Got a scholarship to go to an agriculture college too.
18:49 I know what you've done for Billy.
18:53 I don't know how to say what I've come to say.
18:57 Mr. Brandon has petitioned the court for the return of his boy.
19:00 The court ruled that Billy was old enough to make his own decision.
19:03 And it's up to him, huh?
19:05 Yes.
19:06 It's going to be tough for him because he loves his father too.
19:09 And this little woman never let him forget that he had a father.
19:12 It's going to hurt.
19:17 Hello, Mrs. Sherman.
19:19 Hello, Billy.
19:20 My, you've grown again.
19:22 Billy, I have some news for you from your father.
19:25 Please, Mrs. Sherman, let me.
19:26 You don't have to say anything more.
19:28 I can guess.
19:30 Dad wrote to me that he had petitioned the court.
19:32 Yes, and the decision is -- well, it's up to you.
19:35 You'll have to make the choice.
19:37 The choice has already been made.
19:44 From the President of the United States, greetings.
19:51 So the decision was postponed while Billy went off to fight a war.
19:57 It was not long after that Mr. Reynolds broke his promise about not printing Billy Brandon's name.
20:04 When he returned from the war, Billy came to see me.
20:07 He was with his father.
20:09 One look at the beaming men, and I had the sinking feeling that Martha Wheelock was about to lose her son.
20:15 Why, Billy Brandon, what a pleasant surprise.
20:18 I just flew in.
20:19 Dad picked me up at the airport.
20:21 You remember Dad.
20:22 Yes, of course.
20:23 How are you?
20:24 Couldn't be better, Mrs. Sherman.
20:25 Billy's back, honorably discharged.
20:27 Did you know he was shot down twice?
20:29 Look at all those medals.
20:30 Oh, come on, Dad, lots of guys got them.
20:32 Sure, but they're not my son.
20:34 He won't let me be proud of them.
20:35 Everybody's proud of you, Billy.
20:37 I saw your foster parents a couple of days ago.
20:39 How are they?
20:40 Oh, they're fine, just fine.
20:41 When are you going to see them?
20:42 Oh, right away.
20:43 I just stopped by to say hello and, well, to thank you for everything.
20:46 Don't thank me.
20:47 Go to Little Rock.
20:48 Come on, Dad, let's go.
20:49 Wait, I have something to say, and I want Mrs. Sherman to hear it too.
20:52 I'm a settled man now.
20:53 I have a good wife.
20:55 I own two restaurants in town.
20:57 The only thing that goes on in the back rooms, Mrs. Sherman, is dishwashing.
21:00 Yes, I know.
21:02 The first time in my life since your mother passed away, I can offer you a home.
21:06 I want you to become my partner.
21:08 If it's all right with the law.
21:09 Well, that's up to Billy.
21:10 He's a full-fledged citizen now.
21:12 What do you say, Billy?
21:14 Well, I think I'd be a fool not to jump at your offer, Dad.
21:18 But if it's all right with you, I'd like to spend a couple of days around the farm
21:21 and talk it over with Mother.
21:23 It's not going to be easy.
21:25 Billy!
21:35 Oh, Billy!
21:37 Oh, good to see you, son.
21:39 You've turned into a man.
21:41 Mom and Dad, I'd like you to meet my father, Mr. Brandon.
21:44 Hello.
21:45 How do you do?
21:46 Won't you come in and join us, Mr. Brandon?
21:48 Thank you.
21:50 So the family's all together again.
21:53 Haven't you got any luggage, son?
21:55 Oh, sure.
21:56 I left my duffel bag in the car.
21:57 I'll get it.
21:58 No, Herbert.
21:59 Billy's not staying.
22:01 Mrs. Sherman just called me.
22:03 She wanted to make it easier on you, Billy.
22:05 She told me everything.
22:07 I don't see what the fuss is all about.
22:09 Of course you're going.
22:11 Mother, it's not going away.
22:13 You know that.
22:14 I live in town, not far from here.
22:16 I'll visit you every week.
22:17 Oh, sure, Billy.
22:19 Sure.
22:20 But why don't we all sit down?
22:22 I'll make you some iced tea.
22:24 Remember, Billy, like-- like the first day you came here?
22:28 Only I hope you don't want any fresh bread and jam,
22:30 because I'm all out of jam.
22:32 No, Mother.
22:33 As a matter of fact, what I'd really like
22:34 is a glass of fresh, foamy, sweet milk.
22:37 I'm sorry, but I don't have any milk just now.
22:41 I'll fix you the tea.
22:43 It'll just take a minute to get the water boiling.
22:45 OK, Mom.
22:46 I'll be right back.
22:47 Well, Mr. Wheelock, you think I deserve them?
23:00 You don't deserve people, Mr. Brandon.
23:02 You love them.
23:05 Why?
23:06 There's no stock in it.
23:08 All the equipment's gone.
23:09 Oh, I forgot to tell you.
23:11 We sold the stock and rented the farm out on shares this year.
23:14 You didn't mention that in your letter.
23:16 Why'd you have to do that?
23:17 Got to be too much for us, Billy, and we had a bad year.
23:21 But don't you worry about a thing.
23:23 We've got a buyer now.
23:24 And then?
23:25 What are you going to do then?
23:26 Well, the Daggetts.
23:27 You remember the Daggetts.
23:28 They've got a nice little apartment we can rent.
23:31 But you belong here.
23:32 You wouldn't be happy anywhere else.
23:34 This is your house.
23:35 This is your land, your profession.
23:37 What would you do in a rented house?
23:39 Well, if it gets too lonesome here,
23:41 we can always move to the city.
23:43 You don't belong in the city,
23:44 not after living here all of your lives.
23:47 I know how you love this land, 'cause I love it too.
23:52 I didn't know it before.
23:54 I took for granted that this house and this land
23:56 would be here forever, waiting for me to come home to
23:59 any time I wanted to.
24:02 Now I know.
24:04 I'm sorry, Dad, it didn't work.
24:07 I'd like to settle down here, if it's all right with you.
24:12 I can get a GI loan, get some new stock, new equipment.
24:16 No, Billy.
24:17 You don't have to make a loan.
24:19 I'll give you the money.
24:20 For 15 years, I've been wanting to make him happy.
24:23 If he's happy here, that's fine with me.
24:26 I don't know what to say, Dad.
24:27 Don't say anything.
24:28 I'm not doing this for you.
24:29 Well, partly for you too, but mainly on account of
24:32 Mrs. Wheelock, because she took a boy who nobody else wanted,
24:36 turned him into a man everybody wants now.
24:41 This was a true story.
24:45 © BF-WATCH TV 2021
24:49 [MUSIC PLAYING]
24:52 [Music]