The Reluctant Dragon1941/I

[first lines]

Mrs. Benchley:
[Reading] "So they set off up the hill, arm in arm, the knight, the dragon, and the boy. The lights in the little village began to go out one by one." [Is interrupted by a toy rifle going off] "But there were stars and a late moon as they climbed the downs together." [Toy rifle again] Robert, please. [Pan to Robert Benchley lying on a raft in the pool, with the toy rifle]

Robert Benchley:
Go on, I can hear in any position. [Shoots a dart at a duck decoy in the pool]

Mrs. Benchley:
[Continues reading] "And as they turned the last corner and disappeared from view, snatches of an old song were borne back on the night breeze. I can't be certain which of them was singing, but I think it was the dragon."

Robert Benchley:
Go on, I'm listening.

Mrs. Benchley:
That was the end, and a very lovely end, too.

Robert Benchley:
Yeah, charming, charming. It's funny. No matter which way I aim, I always hit the same duck.

Mrs. Benchley:
Robert, I have a wonderful idea. We'll sell this book to Walt Disney.

Robert Benchley:
Well, you can't. It belongs to your nephew. [Looks at rifle] So does this, too. I wonder what he'd take for it.

Mrs. Benchley:
I mean the idea, for a movie. I'm sure if you went to his studio and suggested it to him, he'd jump at it.

Robert Benchley:
Me suggest a story to Walt Disney? Why, I hardly know him.

Mrs. Benchley:
Well, you hardly knew me when you suggested marriage.

Robert Benchley:
Yeah, look at the trouble I got into. He can't listen to every crackpot with a wild idea.

Mrs. Benchley:
You might be the exception. All you would have to do would be to go to his studio and show him the book.

Robert Benchley:
I wouldn't dream of it!

Mrs. Benchley:
They're always open to new ideas. Get your things on, and stop shilly-shallying.

Robert Benchley:
[Stands up on raft] I am not shillying and I am not shallying. But once and for all, I will not go to the studio. I will not make myself look ridiculous. [Falls through]

Robert Benchley:
[Bubbles come out of his mouth] And that's final.