not so very long ago,
before computerized toys and cathode-ray characters
did our speaking and thinking for us,
one of the storyteller's most important tools
was imagination—
the imagination of an audience.
that was how it used to be, once upon a time...
maybe a few more minutes?
no.
no, i don't think so.
i'd have thought on a day like today...
usually this time of year they arrive in herds.
oh, used to be.
oh, it's all right.
it's easier to say good-bye
when there's no one to say it to.
maybe if we'd publicized it more.
i'm afraid that my little books
don't have much to say to the video generation.
a good story never becomes obsolete.
maybe a good story
but not the storyteller.
nonsense.
well, we'll miss you at any rate.
when does your house
go on the market?
next week.
i suppose i should be looking forward to it.
my sister tells me that arizona is very good for aching joints.
hmm.
is story hour over?
no, you haven't missed a thing.
oh, good, i'm looking for hallie parker.
i'm hallie parker.
great.
i'm nancy harris.
it's nice to meet you.
well, what can i do for you?
you are a bit older than my usual group.
well, actually, i'm here to ask a favor.
would you sign this for me?
for my son?
he loves your books.
this one is his favorite.
he's read it a thousand times.
i'd be happy to.
have a pen?
oh, sure.
um, it's a surprise for him?
sort of.
he can't come himself.
he's not feeling very well.
oh, that's too bad.
say, how about i bring it to him myself?
oh, you don't have to do that.
oh, i'd be happy to.
are you sure?
write down your address and phone number
and i can bring it
this afternoon.
oh, he'd be thrilled.
thanks, miss parker.
this means a lot to me...
to brian.
well, i'll see you this afternoon then, eh?
yes, thank you.
bye.
mrs. his room is right down here.
brian?
there's someone here to see you.
so you're my number one fan.
she's a writer.
do you know what she writes?
here's a hint.
what's your favorite book?
creatures in the closet?
can you read that?
"to brian,
"who i'm sure always picks up his toys
"and always puts away his clothes
"and who certainly, never, ever, ever
"has creatures in his closet.
with kindest wishes..."
what's that?
that's me.
"hallie parker."
what do you say, brian?
gosh, thanks, miss parker.
you're very welcome.
want me
to read you a story?
i can read.
of course you can.
would you like to read to me?
you can if you want.
"once there was a lad named ned
"who never, ever made his bed.
"his toys were never in their box.
"his bedroom floor was piled with socks.
"and under them was underwear.
"who knows what else was under there?
"ned's mother begged; she pitched a fit:
"'your room looks like a cyclone hit!'
"and did ned care?
not one bit."
read this part.
"and when he started cleaning this is what he found.
"creatures in the closet
"badgers 'neath the bed
"no toys inside the toy box
"a pen of pigs was there instead
'i guess i never noticed,' was all that dear ned said."
"and ned just said, 'hmm.
"'so that's what made that noise.
"'i knew it wasn't me.
i'm the quietest of boys.'"
hallie and brian: "'it must have been creatures in the closet
"'and badgers 'neath the bed
"'that trampled all my toys and clothes
and made my mom see red!'"
he has to go to sleep now.
of course.
oh, mom.
that's enough excitement for one day.
can you come back again?
i don't know, brian.
i'm going away.
i'm moving to another place,
and it's a little far away.
oh.
but, uh,
we'll see.
okay, bye, miss parker.
bye, brian.
now, you get well real quick.
hello?
quick, hurry up.
i think she's coming.
let's get out of here.
"a pen of pigs was there instead.
"'i guess i never noticed'
was all that dear ned said."
"and ned just said, 'hmm
"'so that's what made that noise.
"'i knew it wasn't me—
i'm the quietest of boys.'"
"'it must have been creatures in the closet
and badgers 'neath the bed.'"
"'that trampled all my toys and clothes
and made my mom see red!'"
who's there?
broker's due any minute.
young couple.
she says they're looking for a fixer-upper.
ah.
okay, i guess.
the neighborhood children are pulling
all kinds of tricks on me and I...
no, ellen, it isn't.
phoenix does not have a corner on the nice weather department.
yes.
i'll talk to you this weekend.
bye.
oh, no.
hello.
have an accident?
no, just some neighborhood children is all.
does that happen a lot?
it's a normally very quiet area, isn't it?
yes, very quiet.
very nice.
paige and martin glaser,
this is miss hallie parker.
i imagine you've knocked some baseballs into living rooms.
i've never been one for sports.
anyway, shall we get started?
solid oak.
not a nick or a splinter in it.
so you can slide down the banister
sometimes if you want to.
i hope we're not keeping you from anything.
no, not at all.
shall we move on?
the rooms seem rather closed-in.
imagine all of this opened up
with the sun coming in in the morning.
it makes a world of difference.
if this dark old furniture
was out of here.
we could put in that white leather sofa we looked at.
white gets so dirty with children running in and out.
that's not a problem.
we're not planning on children.
next room?
it seems tiny.
it's the books that make it feel small.
it's still very dark, though.
i'm thinking skylight and some throw pillows.
a pale, soft gray carpet.
you could even knock out
this side wall.
it would make a whole new room.
so many memories.
we're standing in a bit of history, you know.
miss parker wrote all her famous children's books
in this room
at this very desk.
didn't you, miss parker?
hmm?
oh, yes.
perhaps you're familiar with
some of the titles?
i doubt it.
no?
they escape me at the moment, too.
onward and upward.
you'll notice the staircase complements the home.
it sweeps you up to the next floor.
it needs a ton of work to make it livable.
half the fun is
breathing new life into an old place.
all i need is kids running into my house all day.
is this what you call a quiet neighborhood?
it's normally a very...
it's only...
children with their playthings.
i told you this place gave me a bad feeling.
let's go.
do you want to sell this house?
i was only trying to be helpful.
trying to be helpful.
how about keeping the toys picked up and the kids out?
thank you so very much.
who's there?
hello?
mrs. Harris, this is hallie parker.
hallie parker?
i came by to see brian last week.
oh, yes, of course.
i'm sorry to bother you so late,
but i thought you'd want me to call.
i've had some trouble
with pranks from the neighborhood children.
maybe some of them go to school with brian.
one of them has taken his book.
what are you talking about?
the book i autographed for him.
miss parker, brian's dead.
dead?
i'm terribly sorry.
miss parker.
why are you calling?
i have his book here.
it must be a mistake.
miss parker, the funeral was this morning
and we left the book with him.
it was his favorite
and we figured
he would like that.
but his book...
i'm sorry.
this is not the time to call.
bye.
who's that?
all right, children, where are you?
up here.
here we are.
up here.
along came a spider
and sat down beside her
and frightened miss muffet away.
don't go, miss parker.
brian?
read us a story.
us?
all my friends.
we want you to stay.
stay.
read us a story.
please.
you won't leave us, will you?
no.
of course not.
promise?
i promise.
"once there was a lad named ned who never ever made his bed.
"his toys were never in their box.
"his bedroom floor was piled with socks.
"and under them was underwear.
"who knows what else was under there?
"ned's mother begged;
"she pitched a fit:
"'your room looks like a cyclone hit.'
"and did ned care?
"not one bit.
"and when he started cleaning, this is what he found:
"creatures in the closet, badgers 'neath the bed.
no toys inside the toy box..."
there was an old woman, a page in a book.
mere phrases and words at which no one would look.
but a tale worth telling has a life of its own
happily ever after
in the twilight zone.