Amelia Bedelia/Transcript

The following is a transcript of the 1988 animated film based on the children's book, Amelia Bedelia.

Part 1: Opening/Amelia Gets Hired
(Shows Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo)

(The scene fades to a blue sky with clouds flying around. The camera pans down to a neighborhood in Manning, South Carolina as the opening credits begin to play.)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Presents

A Nelvana Production

AMELIA BEDELIA

(The camera pans to a peculiar house in the neighborhood.)

Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a peculiar woman named Amelia Bedelia.

(The front door opens, revealing a peculiar woman. Her name is Amelia Bedelia. She walks out of the house to check the mail in her mailbox.)

Narrator: She comes from a family who takes everything literally. One day, she went to check the mail when she got a letter from someone.

(Amelia looks inside the mailbox and finds a letter. It is from a wealthy couple. She takes it out of the mailbox and reads it.)

Amelia Bedelia: (reading) "Dear Amelia Bedelia, I am Richard Rogers. I am the founder and CEO of my movie studio, Rogers Pictures. I live in a three-story mansion on a big hill with my wife, Rita Rogers. We have decided to hire you to work for us as our new housekeeper. As you know, Mrs. Rogers has made a list of chores you must do. We will pick you up in the afternoon and take you to our mansion for your first day. I shall see you then. From Richard Rogers." (stops reading) That rich movie mogul wants to hire me? I must be crazy. Or am I? Oh well. I might as well wait, then.

(Amelia gets inside the house with the letter and closes the door.)

Narrator: This is how the story begins. Amelia Bedelia got hired as a maid for the wealthy movie tycoon Richard Rogers and his wife Rita.

(The camera zooms out from her house and pans up to the blue sky as the opening credits continue to play.)

Starring the Voice Talents of Helen Hunt Michael Douglas and Barbra Streisand

Narrated by Catherine O'Hara

Casting by Arlene Berman

Music by Ira Newborn

Based Upon the Children's Book by Peggy Parish

(The camera pans down to a three-story mansion on a big hill. That's where the Rogers live. A black limousine drives away from the mansion. The scene cuts to the limousine on the road.)

Executive Producers Clive A. Smith Michael Hirsh Patrick Loubert Herman Parish

Produced by Patricia Jones and Donald Reiker

(The scene cuts to Richard Rogers and his wife Rita in the limousine. They're sitting in the back seat.)

Story by Peggy Parish

Screenplay by Patricia Jones and Donald Reiker

(The scene cuts back to the limousine on the road. It goes to Amelia Bedelia's house and stops there as the opening credits come to a close.)

Directed by Phil Mendez

(Richard Rogers, a movie tycoon, steps out of the car and walks to Amelia's door. Then, he knocks on it. Amelia opens the door and sees him.)

Amelia: Oh, hello there. Are you Mr. Rogers?

Richard: Why, yes, I am, Ms. Bedelia. I'm here to take you to my mansion. Come with me.

(Amelia follows Mr. Rogers inside the limousine and sits next to him. His wife, Rita, sees her.)

Amelia: Who's that?

Richard: Oh, that's my wife, Rita. She's in charge of film production for my studio.

Rita: Hello.

Amelia: It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers.

Rita: Same to you!

(The limousine arrives at the Rogers' manor.)

Richard: Well, we're here. Would you mind stepping out, please?

Amelia: Oh, sure.

(Amelia steps out of the car and turns to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers.)

Rita: Now, today's your first day at work, Ms. Bedelia.

Richard: That's right. We're heading to the cinema to attend the premiere of my latest movie, "The Lion Who Loved Me".

Rita: So, we can't be here to supervise you. But I made a list for you.

(Rita hands Amelia a list of chores to do in the house.)

Rita: You do just what the list says. Good luck, Ms. Bedelia.

(Mr. and Mrs. Rogers drive away in their limousine. Amelia waves goodbye to them.)

Amelia: My, what nice folks. I'm going to like working here.

(Amelia enters the Rogers' mansion.)

Part 2: Amelia's First Day at the Rogers' Mansion/Making the Pie/The First Five Chores
(The scene cuts to Amelia in the foyer. She's looking around. The mansion is huge and luxurious. It has ten bedrooms and ten bathrooms. She looks at the staircase. It's large and grand.)

Amelia: Such a grand house. These must be rich folks. But I must get to work. Here I stand just looking. And me with a whole list of things to do.

(Amelia stands there a minute longer.)

Amelia: I think I'll make a surprise for them. I'll make lemon meringue pie. I do make good pies.

(So, Amelia goes to the kitchen and starts making a lemon meringue pie for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. A chef appears and sees her making the pie.)

Chef: Ms. Bedelia, you are a miracle worker! So, it's your first day at the Rogers' house, huh?

Amelia: Yep. It sure is.

Chef: Wonderful! So, what are you making?

Amelia: A lemon meringue pie. It's a surprise for the Rogers.

Chef: Well, why don't you give me the recipe? I'll make it myself.

Amelia: You will? Oh, thank you. That takes a load off my shoulders.

(Amelia takes a blank piece of paper and a pen and writes down the recipe for the lemon meringue pie. She gives it to the chef.)

Amelia: Here's the recipe for the pie. Make it the best you can.

(The chef looks at the recipe. Then, she smiles and nods.)

Chef: I will. Thank you.

Amelia: You're welcome.

(The chef leaves the kitchen. Amelia finishes making the pie and puts it in the oven.)

Amelia: There. That's done. Now let's see what this list says.

(Amelia looks at the list of chores Mrs. Rogers made for her.)

Amelia: (reading) "Change the towels in the green bathroom."

(Amelia puts the list in her pocket and leaves the kitchen. She goes upstairs to the second floor and finds the green bathroom. She goes inside and looks at the towels hanging on the towel bar.)

Amelia: (thinking) Those towels are very nice. Why change them?

(Then, Amelia remembers what Mrs. Rogers had said. She must do just what the list told her.)

Amelia: Well, alright.

(Amelia gets some scissors and makes a paper doll chain out of cotton from the towels.)

Amelia: There. That's more like it. (looks at the list again) "Dust the furniture?" Did you ever hear tell of such a silly thing? At my house, we undust the furniture. But to each his own way.

(Amelia takes one last look at the bathroom. Then, she sees a container of dusting powder.)

Amelia: Well, look at that. A special powder to dust with!

(Amelia takes the container of dusting powder. Then, she leaves the bathroom and goes downstairs to the living room. There, she spreads dusting powder all over the furniture.)

Amelia: That should be dusty enough. My, how nice it smells. (looks at the list again) "Draw the drapes when the sun comes in."

(Amelia looks up. The sun is coming in. She double-checks the list.)

Amelia: Draw the drapes, huh? That's what it says. I'm not much of a hand at drawing, but I'll try.

(So, Amelia sits right down in an armchair and takes out her sketchbook and a pencil. Then, she draws everything in the living room, including the drapes. She's not much of a drawer, but she thinks the drawing looks good. It takes her about fifteen minutes. She marks the drape drawing off the list.)

Amelia: Okay. Now what? (looks at the fourth chore on the list) "Put the lights out when you finish in the living room." (sees all the lights in the living room) I don't see why not.

(Amelia turns off the lights. But then, she carefully unscrews each lightbulb. She takes all the lightbulbs outside to the backyard and hangs them on the clothesline.)

Amelia: So those things need to be aired out, too. Just like pillows and babies. Oh, I do have a lot to learn.

(The scene cuts to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers inside the cinema. They're watching a movie.)

Rita: I hope Ms. Bedelia completes the list of chores I gave her.

Richard: Me too.

(The scene cuts back to Amelia Bedelia in the backyard. Then, she smells something from the kitchen.)

Amelia: (gasps) My pie!

(Amelia hurries to the kitchen and opens the oven to check the pie. It's fully cooked.)

Amelia: Just right.

(Amelia takes the pie out of the oven and puts it on the table to cool. Then, she looks at the list.)

Amelia: (reading) "Measure two cups of rice." (stops reading) That's next.

(Amelia finds two coffee cups and fills them with rice. Then, she stacks the cups and measures them with measuring tape.)

Amelia: (laughs) These folks do want me to do funny things.

(Amelia pours the rice back into the container. Then, she puts it in the refrigerator.)

Amelia: Now, let's see what else is on the list. (looks at the list again) "The meat market will deliver a steak and a chicken. Please trim the fat before you put the steak in the icebox. And please dress the chicken." (puts the list away in her pocket) Well, alright. I'll wait for the meat to arrive, then.

(Amelia leaves the kitchen and goes to the living room. There, she sits on the couch and turns on the TV. Amelia watches Inspector Gadget while she waits for the meat to arrive.)

Part 3: Decorating the Steak/Amelia Dresses Henny/Amelia Gets Fired
(The scene fades to an exterior shot of the Rogers' house. The scene cuts to Amelia in the living room. She's still watching TV. Then, she hears someone knocking on the door. She jumps up and runs to answer it. It's the butcher from the meat market.)

Butcher: Hello there. You must be the new maid for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers.

Amelia: Yep, that's me.

Butcher: I've got the steak and the chicken right here.

(The butcher gives Amelia a steak and a whole chicken. Both of which are wrapped in butcher paper.)

Amelia: Thank you, sir.

Butcher: You're welcome. Have a good day, miss.

(The butcher gets into his van and drives away. Amelia waves goodbye to him.)

Amelia: Goodbye.

(Amelia takes the steak and the chicken to the kitchen and places them on the counter. She unwraps both of the meats and looks at them.)

Amelia: Now, which one should I work on first?

(Amelia looks at the steak for a long time.)

Amelia: Yes. That will do nicely. I shall trim the fat off that steak and put it in the icebox.

(Amelia takes a large pair of kitchen scissors and cuts the fat off the steak. Then, she leaves the kitchen and goes to the sewing room. She grabs some lace and bits of ribbon and puts them in a basket. Then, she carries it to the kitchen and decorates the steak with lace and ribbons. Amelia takes a good look at it.)

Amelia: There. The steak's done. Time to put it in the icebox.

(Amelia puts the steak in the icebox. Then, she looks at the uncooked chicken.)

Amelia: Now I must dress the chicken. I wonder if she wants a he-chicken or a she-chicken?

(But then, Amelia looks out the window and sees the Rogers' pet chicken, Henny, in the backyard. She has an idea.)

Amelia: Why should I bother dressing a dead chicken when you can dress a live one?

(So, Amelia leaves the kitchen and goes to the sewing room. She gets to work on making clothes for Henny. After she is finished, she carries the clothes to the backyard. There, she meets the chicken herself.)

Amelia: Hey there, little fella. I have a gift for you.

(Amelia shows Henny the clothes she made for her.)

Amelia: I made these especially for you. Would you like to try them on?

(Henny looks at the clothes and nods.)

Amelia: Here. Let me help you with that.

(Amelia dresses Henny in a pink dress and red shoes.)

Amelia: There we go. Aw. You look so cute.

(Henny seems to like the clothes. She walks around in them and then lays down on the ground.)

Amelia: Well, I have to go now. Bye, Henny.

(Amelia heads back inside to the living room and looks at the list.)

Amelia: Well, that's it. I did all the chores Mr. and Mrs. Rogers told me to do. Now, I must wait for them to return home.

(Amelia sits on the couch and turns on the TV. She watches The Pink Panther while she waits for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers to return. The scene fades to an exterior shot of the cinema. The Rogers' limousine drives away from it and starts heading back to the Rogers' house. The scene cuts to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers in their limousine. They've already left the cinema and are heading back home.)

Richard: I must say, that was an excellent movie. How's Ms. Bedelia doing with the chores, Rita?

Rita: I hope she's doing her job correctly. Otherwise, she'll be in big trouble.

Richard: No need to worry, my love. She's a great help to us.

Rita: Well, I suppose so. I'm glad to hear that.

(Soon, the limousine arrives at the mansion. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers step out of the car and enter the house. The scene cuts to Amelia Bedelia in the living room. She's still watching TV when she hears the door open.)

Amelia: The folks are back.

(Amelia turns off the TV and rushes out of the living room to meet Mr. and Mrs. Rogers.)

Amelia: Hello again, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. You're back. So, how was the premiere of your movie?

Richard: Good, good. I enjoyed it very much.

Rita: Did you do all the chores from the list I gave you, Ms. Bedelia?

Amelia: I sure did. See for yourself.

(Mr. and Mrs. Rogers go to the backyard. But then, they see lightbulbs hanging on the clothesline.)

Richard: Um, Amelia Bedelia, why are all the light bulbs outside?

Amelia: Well, Mr. Rogers, you see, the list just said to put the lights out. It didn't say to bring them back in. Oh, I do hope they didn't get aired too long.

Richard: That's not what I meant. The list specifically says to turn off the lights, not take them outside.

Amelia: Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Richard: Let's go to the living room. I hope you did a better job there.

(So, Amelia leads Mr. and Mrs. Rogers to the living room. Mrs. Rogers looks at the drapes.)

Rita: Amelia Bedelia, the sun will fade the furniture. I asked you to draw the drapes.

Amelia: Not just the drapes. I drew a picture of the entire living room.

(Amelia shows Mrs. Rogers a picture of the living room she drew.)

Amelia: See?

Rita: When I said to draw the drapes, I don't mean draw them on a piece of paper. The list specifically says to close the drapes.

Amelia: I know, I know. I'm sorry.

(Then, Mrs. Rogers sees the furniture.)

Rita: The furniture!

Amelia: Did I dust it well enough? That's such nice dusting powder.

Rita: You ruined the furniture, you idiot!

Amelia: (gulps in fear) I'm sorry.

Richard: I'm going to wash my hands.

(So, Mr. Rogers goes upstairs to the green bathroom and washes his hands. But when he grabs a towel to dry his hands, he realizes the towel is changed into a paper doll chain.)

Richard: I say. These are very unusual towels.

(Mrs. Rogers dashes into the bathroom and looks at the towels. They have all become paper doll chains.)

Rita: Oh, my best towels. They're ruined.

Amelia: Didn't I change them enough?

Rita: You ruined the towels! I don't know how you can be so stupid. I'll cook us some dinner. I hope you were more successful in the kitchen.

(So, Amelia leads Mr. and Mrs. Rogers downstairs to the kitchen.)

Rita: Um, Ms. Bedelia, where is the rice I asked you to measure?

Amelia: I put it back in the container. Then, I put it in the fridge. But I remember the exact measurements of the rice. It measured four and a half inches or three-tenths of a cup.

Rita: That's all right. I'll use a quarter cup of the rice. By the way, was the meat delivered?

Amelia: Yes. I trimmed the fat just like you said. It does look nice.

(Mrs. Rogers rushes to the icebox and opens it. She sees the steak with the fat trimmed off and decorated with lace and ribbons.)

Rita: Beef and lace and ribbons! Oh my! Oh, dear! At least you trimmed the fat off the steak. So, that's good. But what about the chicken? Did you dress it?

(Amelia nods silently and points to the Rogers' pet chicken, Henny. Mrs. Rogers sees the chicken herself entering the kitchen. She's dressed in a pink dress and red shoes.)

Rita: You dressed our pet chicken, Henny? But you didn't clean and prepare the chicken from the meat market for cooking and eating?

Amelia: For your first question, yes. I did dress your pet chicken. As for your second question, no. I didn't prepare the chicken from the meat market for cooking and eating.

Rita: Oh, dear. I think I'm going to faint.

Richard: I don't know what to tell you, Ms. Bedelia.

Amelia: You don't have to tell me anything. I took your instructions literally. I'm sorry.

(This causes Mrs. Rogers to lose her temper.)

Rita: (angry) Sorry?! You haven't done the chores the way I instructed you to do! And now, you have wreaked havoc throughout our house! You're the worst housekeeper we've ever had! That's it! You're fired!

Amelia: (shakes her head in denial) But Mrs. Rogers, I did the chores the way you said!

Rita: No, you did not! You took our instructions literally. You admitted it. Now, I'm sending you back home. Come with us.

(Defeated, Amelia follows Mr. and Mrs. Rogers inside the limousine, and it takes her back to her house. Amelia steps out of the limousine and turns to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers.)

Rita: You can find yourself a new wealthy person to work for. Goodbye, Amelia Bedelia.

Richard: Goodbye, Ms. Bedelia. It was nice knowing you. Okay. Let's get out of here.

(The limousine drives away, and Amelia gets inside her house.)

Part 4: The Rogers Try Amelia's Pie/Amelia Gets Rehired/Ending
(The scene fades to an exterior shot of the Rogers' house in the evening. The scene cuts to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers in the kitchen.)

Richard: I knew hiring Amelia Bedelia was a stupid idea. She's not housekeeper material. She's too childish.

Rita: Yes. Way too childish.

(Suddenly, Mr. Rogers discovers Amelia Bedelia's lemon meringue pie on the table.)

Richard: Hmm. What's this pie doing here?

Rita: I don't know. Amelia Bedelia only made it in her free time.

Richard: I'll give it a try.

(So, Mr. Rogers takes one slice of the lemon meringue pie and tries it. He smiles.)

Richard: Good. Really good. Rita, you've got to try this.

(Mrs. Rogers takes one slice of the lemon meringue pie and tries it.)

Rita: I think I will like this pie.

(Mr. Rogers takes a big bite of the pie and moans in appreciation.)

Richard: My, this is good.

(Mrs. Rogers takes a small bite of the pie and smiles.)

Rita: Yes. Very good.

Richard: Amelia Bedelia made the pie as a delicious surprise for us.

Rita: It is delicious. Richard, about the list of the chores I gave her, she thought it was too silly.

Richard: Hey, you're right. It is too silly for her. Rita, Amelia Bedelia has to come back to our house. We owe her an apology. Let's write her an apology letter.

Rita: Good idea, Richard.

(The scene fades to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers writing an apology letter to Amelia Bedelia. Mr. Rogers hands Mrs. Rogers an empty envelope, and she puts the letter in it. Then, she gets out of the house and puts the letter in the mailbox. The scene fades to an exterior shot of Amelia Bedelia's house. The scene cuts to Amelia cleaning the living room. She feels disappointed about her first day of work.)

Amelia: I can't believe I got fired from my job and on my first day, too.

(Amelia stops cleaning and sits on the couch. She sighs sadly.)

Amelia: What am I going to do now?

(But then, Amelia hears the mail truck arriving.)

Amelia: Oh, that must be the mail.

(Amelia stands up and gets out of the house to check the mail. She opens the mailbox and finds an apology letter to her from Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. She gets it out and reads it.)

Amelia: (reading) "Dear Amelia Bedelia, my wife and I owe you an apology for firing you for not doing the chores correctly. We didn't know the instructions we gave you were too silly for you. Please come back to our house and forgive us. From Richard Rogers."

(Amelia grins as she reads the letter. She can't wait to return to the Rogers' house. So, she gets on her bike and goes to the mansion. Soon, she arrives there and gets off her bike. She walks to the door and knocks on it. The door opens, and Amelia sees Mr. and Mrs. Rogers again.)

Amelia: Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. I read the apology letter you sent me, and I decided to pay you a visit.

Rita: Of course, you're here to visit us. Listen. I'm sorry for firing you for misunderstanding the instructions I gave you. From now on, I'll make them more understandable for you in the future. Will you please forgive me?

Amelia: Oh, yes. Of course, Mrs. Rogers. I accept your apology.

Rita: Wonderful. Come on in.

(Amelia enters the Rogers' house. She's happy that Mr. and Mrs. Rogers apologized to her.)

Richard: Your pie is so delicious. You know what? You're rehired.

Amelia: Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. I shall work for you as your housekeeper for the rest of my life.

(Amelia walks with Mr. and Mrs. Rogers to the living room.)

Narrator: And so, Amelia Bedelia worked for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers as their maid for the rest of her life.

(The scene fades to Amelia dusting the furniture in the living room.)

Narrator: Mrs. Rogers learned to give her commands that make more sense to her.

(Amelia turns to Mrs. Rogers who gives her a thumbs up. Amelia smiles and continues cleaning.)

Narrator: She told her to undust the furniture, turn off the lights, close the drapes, and things like that.

(Amelia stops cleaning and turns off the lights. Then, she leaves the living room. The scene fades to Mr. Rogers eating steak with edible lace and ribbons.)

Narrator: Mr. Rogers didn't care if Amelia Bedelia trimmed all of his steaks with lace.

(Amelia enters the dining room and gives Mr. Rogers a slice of lemon meringue pie.)

Narrator: All he cared about was having her there to make lemon meringue pie.

(The scene fades to an exterior shot of the Rogers' house. The camera zooms away from the house and pans up to the moon in the starry night sky. The scene fades to black.)

THE END

Narrator: The end.

(The closing credits play afterwards, followed by the closing logos for Nelvana and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.)