Three Wise Fools (1946)

Harry Davenport: The Ancient

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  The Ancient : [voice over]  Once upon a long, long time ago, the great knowing God polished up an acorn, and planted it in a fragrant meadow, and whoooosh, a hundred years went sliding by, and a great, wide spreading oak stood in a garden, its branches reaching for the tumbling clouds, its roots grown deep in Mother Earth. Now this was a garden of a house where people lived, but here, the amazing thing, not one of them realized that the tree was our home, the home of a clan of pixies. Now under this tree, these people lived and loved and laughed and cried - just like us - and most of 'em were very nice... when they let themselves be.

• [last lines] 

  Willie the Squeak : [as the younger pixies, fairies and leprechauns surround The Ancient under their home oak tree in having seen young Sheila off in the distance]  Ancient one, why can't I see the three old men?

  The Ancient : Well, they can't see you either. You see, Willie, the little girl is only seven, and the three old men, who are souls, have reached the age of reason. Anyway, I win the golden acorns.

  Willie the Squeak : [as he dumps the acorns out of his bag in front of The Ancient]  I'll never, never, as long as I live, disbelieve in the humans again.

  The Ancient : Now run along, children. Run along. Goodbye. Goodbye.

  The Ancient : [to the camera]  Goodbye. God sit on your pillow.