The Curse of the Cat People

Come here, children.

Come closer. Take a good look.

It may seem just a little valley

with a little stream running through it.

But no, there are songs and stories...

...and lovely legends

about this one blessed spot.

It's Sleepy Hollow.

Just because you happen

to be the kindergarten class...

...in the very favored village

of Tarrytown...

...you may run

and play in Sleepy Hollow...

...for exactly 15 minutes.

Look, a kitty.

So this will be the shoe.

You mustn't let Evelynn

catch you with it, or you'll be it.

- Ready?

- Yes.

- Yeah.

- Go.

Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe

Get it done by half past 2

- Dorothy.

- No, I haven't got it.

Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe

Get it done by half past 2

Amy.

She's dreaming again. Amy, you're it.

- She's kicking me.

- Ready, Amy?

We never have any fun with Amy.

- She spoils everything.

- I'm sure she doesn't mean to.

Amy is a nice girl, only a little different.

Oh, my beautiful.

You are my friend.

Come play with me.

Amy.

I'll get it for you, Amy.

I'll get it for you.

I'll get it.

Mr. Reed, there isn't anything

to worry about.

- After all, it was only a slap.

- That's exactly what I told Mr. Reed.

He insisted upon remaining home from

business to talk to you, Ms. Callahan.

I know it may seem stupid of me...

...but it's not the slap

I'm worried about. It's the reason.

Something to do with a butterfly.

They were quarreling about it.

No. Amy slapped Donald

because he hurt the butterfly.

- It was her friend.

- Well, that seems a harmless fancy.

Amy has too many fancies

and too few friends, and it worries me.

It doesn't seem normal.

You know these fond fathers

with their only chicks.

I can see that you're worried,

and Amy is a very sensitive...

...and delicately adjusted child.

But part of the blame for that

may lie with you.

Perhaps you're overanxious,

watch her too closely, worry too much.

The child's bound to feel it.

It's late, Mommy. You haven't forgotten

my birthday party.

- No, darling.

- Your birthday, Amy.

And I have something for you

in my locker. A present.

Mommy's having a party for me,

and I invited Robert and Lois...

Amy and I will meet you at the car.

And Evelynn and Betty and Ruth...

Look at these, Ollie.

Aren't they cute?

There must be one of Amy's here.

Oh, here it is.

She doesn't seem

to have inherited...

...any artistic abilities

from either of us.

Well, it shows imagination anyhow.

I wonder

if you don't resent that in her.

I'm sure I don't, Alice.

It's something else.

Something moody. Something sickly.

- She could almost be Irena's child.

- But she's not Irena's child.

There's nothing of Irena in her.

She's my child.

All I have to do is look at Amy's eyes.

Deep and blue...

- ... like yours.

- I'm not a jealous woman, Oliver.

- I know that.

- That's why I can tell you...

...that you think too much about Irena.

Blame yourself too much for her death.

No, it's not that. It's because...

...I know what can happen when people

begin to lie to themselves, imagine things.

I love Amy too much to let her lose

herself in a dream world where...

...butterflies become pals.

I saw what happened to Irena

with her cat people.

I know, dear. I understand.

But try not to worry

so much about her.

Be a little easier in your thinking.

Especially today, let's forget about it.

Better hurry. I left Amy in the car,

and she's getting impatient.

She says there's something

important about a 6th birthday.

We'll see that she gets there

in good time.

I'm so happy

to have met you, Ms. Callahan.

You're just as nice as Amy

told me you were.

- I do hope you'll come to see us.

- Thank you, I will.

- Goodbye, Mr. Reed.

- Goodbye, Ms. Callahan.

- Where is everybody?

- It's early yet.

It's nearly quarter after 4.

The party was 4:
00, wasn't it?

- Yes, darling.

- Gosh.

In my days, the kids arrived

at birthday parties...

- ... before anybody was ready for them.

- Times have changed.

Ollie, that's for the children

to play with.

No kids yet.

Something's gone wrong.

Maybe I should call somebody.

All right, Ollie. Go ahead.

Call the Millers.

See if their darling Donald has left yet.

- I think I should. Three thousand W?

- That's right.

What is it, Ollie?

- Something's haywire.

- What?

Neither the Millers nor the Irvings

received invitations.

But they must have.

Amy and I made them out together.

You mailed them, didn't you, Edward?

Ma'am, the truth is,

I gave them to Amy herself to post.

- Amy mailed them?

- She pleaded so to do it.

Amy.

Remember the invitations

that Edward gave you to mail?

- Yes, Daddy.

- Did you mail them?

- Yes, I did.

- Where did you mail them?

I'll show you.

Amy. Not that old tree.

Yes, Daddy.

But I told you about that so long ago.

You couldn't have been more than 3 when

I told you that tree was a magic mailbox.

- I didn't forget.

- But, Amy...

...that wasn't real. That was just a story.

That tree's no mailbox.

Well, there they are.

Look, Amy...

...Mom and Dad keep telling you

over and over again...

...but you go right on dreaming.

And then...

...things like this happen.

If the invitations didn't go...

...then that means nobody will come,

doesn't it?

There won't be any party.

Oh, yes.

There is gonna be a party.

We'll have one ourselves.

You and I

and Mother and Edward, huh?

Oh, Amy, look, isn't that beautiful?

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