[HF1991 [Fears of Children]]
[1952, Length 00:27:15, B/W, Sound.]
[This Beta SP was duplicated from a 16mm answer print by Bono Film & Video, Inc for the National Library of Medicine, March 2008]
[Title slate is missing.]
[Music]
[Mental Health Film Board, K. Appel, M.D., L. Baumgartner, M.D.,
C. Binger, M.D., J.M. Bobbitt, Ph.D., M.R. Kaufman, M.D.,
T.A.C. Rennie, M.D., H.P. Rome, M.D., L. Saul, M.D.,
C. Schlaifer, A. Altman, Exec. Sec.]
[Sponsored by the National Association for Mental Health, Inc.]
[Psychiatric Consultants...A.A. Hellams, M.D., Milton Senn, M.D.,
Educational Consultant...Nina Ridenour, Ph.D.]
[Photographed by Peter Glushanok, Film Editor Joseph E. Dushock,
Sound Recordist William Schwartz, Unit Manager Robert Betts,
Script Clerk Allegra Fuller, Electrician Stanley Meredith,
Music Arrangement Herman Price]
[Cast: Paul Robbins...Rex Thompson, Helen Robbins...Anna Minot Franz,
Jim Robbins...Peter Hobbs, Alice Tuttle...Sarah Cunningham,
Mike Tuttle...Lee Richmond]
[Written and Directed by Francis Thompson]
[A small boy opens his parents' bedroom door and approaches their beds.]
[Paul:] Mommy, Mommy.
[Helen:] Good morning, baby.
[The boy crawls into bed with his mother.]
[Paul:] Mommy, I had a bad dream last night.
[Helen:] Aw, baby...shh, Daddy's still asleep,
We'd better be quiet.
[Paul:] Read to me Mommy.
[Helen:] Shhh. Not now, darling, we'll wake up Daddy.
[Paul:] Please, Mommy.
[Jim:] Good morning. I thought this was to be the age when he'd let us get some sleep.
[Helen:] I'm sorry dear. We didn't mean to wake you up, did we Paul?
[Jim:] Well, I'd better get up now.
[Helen:] I have to get up too, dear.
[Everyone gets out of bed.]
[Paul:] Daddy, you read to me.
[Jim:] Oh, no not now, Daddy has to get ready for work.
We'll read it when I come home tonight, how's that, hmm?
Helen, there's a button off this shirt.
[Helen:] Oh dear. Just a minute and I'll get my button box.
I hope I can find one like it.
If I didn't want a shirt button there would be dozens of them.
[Jim:] Say now, there is a button! Now what are you saving that for?
[Helen:] Are you making fun of me?
[Jim:] Who me?
[The two kiss.]
[Paul is standing near the button box and holding a pair of scissors in his hands.]
[His mother sees him and looks alarmed.]
[Helen:] Paul, Paul put those scissors down, you'll cut yourself.
Paul, you must never, never touch those scissors, do you hear?
You might put your eye out, baby! Now go on and get dressed.
[Jim:] Let me see those scissors, Helen.
Well, they're so dull they wouldn't cut paper.
We bought them for Paul; he knows how to use them.
[A pet turtle is crawling across the kitchen floor.]
[Jim:] I don't see how I can be late with a nice early start like this.
Paul, will you please take George out of here.
You're old enough to know you're making Daddy late for work.
Helen, he's old enough to be taught to feel some sense of responsibility.
[Helen:] Responsibility? At five?
Come on now dear, the eggs are done, let's eat.
[Jim:] Come on, Paul, breakfast ready. Paul, I'm speaking to you.
[Helen:] Paul, now come and drink your juice dear.
The eggs are getting cold and Daddy's late for work. Paul!
[Jim:] Paul, why do you worry your mother this way?
She fixes you a nice hot breakfast and you just sit there and let it get cold,
Come on now, we don't be any later than we are already.
[Paul:] I don't want any breakfast.
[Helen:] If you don't eat, you're going to be sick.
[Jim:] Helen...you know Paul, I saw Mike Tuttle's father yesterday.
You know how much Mike weighs now?
Forty-eight pounds, and he's only four and half.
Now if you don't eat, Mike's going to get ahead of you.
[Paul:] I don't care.
[Helen:] If you don't come to the table, Daddy might have to punish you.
[Paul gets up off the floor and makes his way to the table.]
[Helen:] That's a good boy.
[Jim:] Now, that's better.
[Helen:] I'll just take George, dear.
Orange juice first, Paul.
[Paul:] Why?
[Jim:] Helen, could I have some coffee please?
[Helen:] Oh, sorry dear, I didn't know your cup was empty.
[Paul:] I want some toast.
[Paul reaches across the table and spills a cup of coffee on his father, who jumps up angrily.]
[Music]
[Jim:] Now that does it, you just leave the table and go to your room!
You can be as sulky as you please, all by yourself.
[Helen:] Jim, that was an accident.
Please let him finish his breakfast.
He didn't mean to upset the coffee.
[Jim:] Well it isnt just the coffee, it's the way he's been acting all morning.
Contrary and disagreeable.
Now, go on Paul.
[Helen:] Jim, please let him have another chance, he's sorry.
Tell Daddy you're sorry, Paul.
[Paul turns and walks out of the kitchen.]
[Music]
[Upstairs, he enters his room, picks up a stuffed toy, throws it on the ground, and stomps on it.]
[Paul is riding bikes with another boy, mothers walking behind them.]
[Helen:] Paul, come back. Don't ride so fast, dear, you might fall.
Paul! Come here.
[Paul slows down and the other child rides on ahead.]
[Music]
[Alice:] Well, why don't you buy a heavier stocking, Helen?
I was seeing in the paper the other day that there's no difference really in looks.
The 15 [inaudible] may seem thinner you know, but the 30 [inaudible] wears twice as long.
And I got some, John told me about it as a matter of fact so I...
[Helen:] They really look just as well?
[Alice:] You know the sales girl told me that I could buy a 15 and if they were washed before I wore them...
[Paul speeds up on his bike, stops and parks it next to his friend's, and scrambles atop some rocks.]
[Music]
[The mothers approach and Helen looks worried.]
[Helen:] What do you do with a child like that?
[Alice:] I don't think there's any danger there, Helen,
it's just the rocks the youngsters like to play around.
[Music]
[Paul and Mike are playing and exploring the rocks.]
[Mike scrambles up and Paul looks warily into a dark area in the rocks.]
[Mike:] Hey, Paul. Come on, up through the cave, come on.
[Mike has made his way through an opening in the rocks and emerged on top.]
[Paul tentatively starts in, but soon becomes afraid.]
[Paul:] Mom...mom...mama.
[Helen:] Paul, are you all right? Are you hurt?
[Alice:] Mike, what happened to Paul?
[Mike:] He's all right. He's just scared.
Mommy, I went all the way through.
[Helen:] Come back the way you went in, dear. Here, to me.
[Paul:] Oh, Mommy.
[Helen:] What's the matter Paul? Are you hurt?
[Paul:] Nooooo.
[Helen:] Well, what is it dear?
Oh, please stop crying Paul, it's all over.
Mike went all the way through and he's not crying.
Now let's blow our nose and dry our eyes.
You wouldn't want Mike and his mother to see us this way.
Where's your mitten, dear?
Did you lose your mitten in there?
His father will be furious, it's a brand new pair.
Now dear, run on back in and get the mitten.
There's nothing to be afraid of, dear.
[Alice:] Helen, don't make Paul go back in that cave,
he's scared to death.
[Helen:] But that's the only way he'll get over being frightened.
[Alice:] Let Mike get his mitten for him.
Mike, come back through the cave and bring Paul's mitten, dear.
Come on Helen, let's go to my house and have some coffee.
[The four are at Alice's house.]
[Alice:] Mike, why don't take Paul into the other room to play.
[Mike:] All right, come on Paul.
[Helen:] Alice, I just don't understand. Why was Paul so frightened?
[Alice:] Well, after all, you did tell him it was dangerous.
[Helen:] Well, it was dangerous, you saw what happened.
[Alice:] Yes. He got scared.
[Helen:] Of course he did. He's only a baby.
I can't let him take the chances you let Mike take.
[Alice:] What chances?
[Helen:] Well, letting him go climbing all over those rocks for one thing.
[Alice:] Now, Helen, think, what's dangerous about that?
All the children in the neighborhood play around those rocks.
Come on, Helen can't you see who's scaring Paul?
[Helen:] Alice, it isn't just the fears.
Paul is forever sulking and Jim's so anxious to break him of it that,
well, I'm afraid sometimes he's too severe with Paul.
But Paul does everything to irritate Jim.
Does Mike ever behave that way?
[Alice:] Helen, if you'd heard Mike shout at his Daddy yesterday,
you'd stop worrying about a little sulking.
He really let him have it.
[Helen:] And what happened?
[Alice:] Well, my big Mike almost got angry, but he held himself in,
he's learned to accept the idea that little boys get angry at their papas
at this age and pretty often, but they get over it.
[Helen:] But you can't let a child behave that way.
[Alice:] Oh, yes you can, we don't let him do any real damage.
What if he does shout at one of us or bang things around a little?
That's how he gets back at us when he's mad.
[Helen:] Well, how do you know that's the way to handle this?
[Alice:] Helen, I'm gonna tell you a secret.
Last spring, we had a lot of trouble with Mike.
It was the same kind of thing, constant sulking, too many fears, bad dreams,
so I went to our doctor. He's a very understanding man, Helen,
and he taught us both a lot.
I had to learn that all little boys get angry with their parents,
they're supposed to!
And we both had to learn not to get angry back at him.
It took some work, but once we really believed it...
well, we're getting along fine now,
and he's not having so many of those bad dreams anymore.
[Jim and Helen are in the kitchen while she washes dishes.]
[Jim:] I think Alice is right about your not letting Paul do the things the other boys do.
We don't want to make a sissy out of him.
[Helen:] I know Jim, Alice is right.
[Jim:] She's right except for one thing.
I disagree with her about your not letting Paul go back into the cave and get his mitten.
I think you should have made him go back and find it.
[Helen:] That's what I thought at first Jim, but if you'd seen his face.
[Paul:] Daddy, I finished my bath.
[Helen:] Jim dear, be a little bit easy on him tonight, will you?
[Jim:] Ah, don't you worry.
[Jim stands in the door of the bathroom.]
Hi, young fellow.
Here's your towel and here's your teddy bear to take bed with you.
Come on young fellow, you're to dry yourself.
[Helen:] Jim dear, the dishes are all washed and ready.
[Jim:] Coming in a minute.
There you are now, brush your teeth and get all ready for bed,
and then come on down and say good night to Mommy and me.
[Paul has let George the turtle crawl about the bathroom floor
and Jim nearly steps on him. He stumbles in frustration.]
[Jim:] That infernal turtle!
[Jim kicks the turtle and leaves the bathroom.]
[Paul stares down and then picks up his turtle.]
[Paul:] Daddy, you kicked George!
[Paul checks George, then places him in the sink, then removes him to the side of the basin.]
[He reaches over and picks up his stuffed bear.]
[Paul lowers the bear into the sink full of water and holds it down, as if trying to drown it.]
[Music]
[Helen comes into the bathroom.]
[Helen:] Paul what are you doing to your bear, darling?
You mustn't put him in the water, he's not made for that.
Goodness, I hope you haven't spoiled him.
Oh, Paul, the brand new bear that Daddy just gave you!
I'm glad he didn't see this.
Now let's not say anything to Daddy about this, Paul.
[Paul:] Daddy kicked George.
[Helen:] Well, I'm sure it was an accident, dear.
[Paul:] No, it wasn't.
[Helen:] Now come along Paul, Daddy's waiting to put you to bed.
[Jim:] Get your feet under, atta boy.
Get all snuggled down now. Put your head down.
There we go, good night.
[Paul:] Daddy.
[Jim:] What?
[Paul:] Don't turn out the light.
[Jim:] Now we're not going to start that again, are we?
I thought we went over all that,
and we decided you were old enough not to be afraid of the dark anymore.
[Paul:] Just tonight, Daddy.
[Jim walks to Paul's bedroom door.]
[Jim:] Now there's nobody in here but you.
There's nothing to be afraid of, Mommy and Daddy are downstairs.
[Jim switches off the light.]
[Paul:] Please Daddy, leave the light...
[Jim:] No, Paul.
[Jim comes down the stairs, leaving Paul in the dark,]
[Helen:] Jim, why don't you let him have the light?
Please, he's still so upset from this morning.
[Jim:] Helen, I'm getting a little tired of this.
It's time we took a stand.
[Helen:] But what harm does it do to let him have the light?
[Jim:] The sooner he learns that nothing is going to hurt him in the dark,
the better for him...the better for him and the better for us.
[Helen:] But he's so little.
[Jim:] Oh, Helen, there you go coddling him again.
That only makes it harder for him in the long run.
Now is the time for a little discipline.
[Helen:] Jim, you're not disciplining him.
Don't you see that? You're just punishing him.
[Paul:] Mommy, Mommy.
[Helen:] What is it, Paul?
[Paul:] Can I have a drink of water?
[Jim:] See? He's not so much frightened as wanting attention.
[Helen:] Of course he wants attention. Why shouldn't he?
[Jim:] Helen, if you go up there now,
you'll have that problem all over again, tomorrow night.
[Paul:] Mommy.
[Helen:] I just want to see if he's all right.
[Jim:] I just saw him two minutes ago and he was perfectly safe.
Please, Helen!
[Helen:] All right, Jim.
[Music]
[Paul is awake in the dark, alone. He looks frightened.]
[Jim:] See, I think he's asleep now.
[Helen walks quietly up the stairs to check on Paul, who appears to be sleeping.]
[Music]
[Paul is having a dream about the rocks and the cave.]
[Screaming]
[Jim:] Wake up, Paul, Paul wake up, you're having a nightmare.
It's all right, Mommy and Daddy are here.
[Paul:] Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!
[Helen:] What darling what is it, what frightened you?
[Paul:] The bear, the big bear.
[Helen:] There isn't any bear, darling.
[Paul:] Make the big bear go away, Mommy!
[Jim:] Good Lord, Helen he's, he's scared of me.
I won't hurt you, boy.
[Jim touches Paul's arm and Paul pulls away.]
[Helen:] Jim dear, why don't you let me stay alone with Paul for just a minute.
[Music]
[Jim leaves the room.]
[Helen:] There's nothing to be frightened of, darling.
There isn't any bear, you just dreamed it. Now Mommy is here.
[Music]
[Jim paces downstairs and lights a cigarette. Helen tucks Paul in.]
[She pauses at the door, glances over at Paul's stuffed bear, then descends the stairs.]
[Jim:] Is he all right?
[Helen:] He's gone back to sleep.
[Jim:] What's happened to the boy, Helen? I've never seen him so scared.
Don't tell me it was because I wouldn't let him have the light.
[Helen:] I think that's just part of it.
It must take more than to frighten a child so badly.
[Jim:] Well what, Helen?
[Helen:] Well, for one thing I think you and Alice may be right.
Perhaps I am frightening him too much with little threats and false alarms.
[Jim:] Yes, I know. But he was scared of me.
[Helen:] I honestly think you've been pushing him too hard, Jim.
[Jim:] Well, I think you have been babying him.
[Helen:] I know, dear. I know that now, I have been keeping him too close to me.
But pushing him won't help that.
[Jim:] How you gonna teach him not to be afraid?
What are you gonna do when he starts to sulk?
I can stand anything but that sulking, that's the one thing my father wouldn't tolerate.
[Helen:] Alice tells me that all little boys this age get angry and sulky with their parents from time to time,
and then they're afraid they will be punished for it.
[Jim:] Well, what do you do, just let 'em go hog wild?
[Helen:] No, but you let him get out of his system.
[Jim:] Well, how?
[Helen:] Well, you let him yell at you sometimes
without getting mad at him and you let him take it out on his toys.
[Jim:] Oh, that's nonsense, Helen.
[Helen:] Was Paul's nightmare nonsense?
Jim, I want to show you something.
[Helen leaves the room and Jim sits, smoking.]
[Music]
[Helen returns with the half-drowned stuffed bear.]
[Helen:] When Paul thought you kicked his turtle tonight he got pretty mad at you.
Look what he did to his bear.
[Jim:] You think that little devil drowned the bear?
[Helen:] Yes, he did. Here you are, drowned.
[Jim:] My golly, the old man better watch his step.
[Music]
[Jim takes a draw on his cigarette and appears troubled.]
[Paul and his father run through a field on a sunny day. They arrive at the cave entrance where Paul got frightened before.]
[Music]
[Jim:] Go ahead Paul, go on through, nothing in there going to hurt you.
[Paul:] I don't want to.
[Jim:] Aw, go on, show Daddy you're not afraid.
[Paul:] No, Daddy.
[Jim:] Oh, go on Paul.
[Paul:] No.
[Jim:] Don't you yell at..!
I guess you can get pretty mad sometimes.
[Jim pauses and then picks Paul up and hoists him on his shoulder. They look at each other and smile.]
[Jim:] Hi.
[Paul:] Hi.
[Jim:] Now where do you want to go?
[Paul happily points in the distance.]
[Jim:] Okay.
[Father and son set off.]
[Music]
[The End, This Film Has Been Approved By The National Institute of Mental Health, Public Health Service, Federal Security Agency]