 Jerry, off the circus! Expert Danny Duggan, and this is the time. Just in a word around it, maybe there ain't going to be no show today. No, well, you don't see that vicious gossip, Dan. Now, if that ain't just what I told the folks, Mars Vandrum. It's a little thing like a cyclone blowing out of circus all over town to stop it, right? As a matter of fact, we gave them a free show this time, and one they will never forget. You're a great loser, Mr. Randall. A man that can kid after the beating you've just taken deserves a medal. How'd you find things in town, Dan? Bad enough. Fortunately for the towners, though, the twister only hit the east end of the city. Yeah, they're good luck. They're bad luck. We certainly parked on the wrong side of town this trip. Most of the residential sections in the whole business center of town escaped. I'm mighty glad to hear that. Well, I suppose you better get down to business, Mr. Randall. What's the first thing to do? You haven't found out where the main tent finally landed, have you? Of course I have. I forgot to tell you. I'm afraid it won't be any use to us, though, after this. It caught on a church steeple on the far side of town. Naturally, it was torn to shreds. Well, that's that. What happened to the steeple? Knocked it down, of course. Oh, that's a pity. I'm sorry, Dan. So that means we're minus the main tent for the rest of the season. Oh, no, we're not. What do you mean? We've got an old one from two seasons back at winter quarters. And good enough conditions? Certainly. An old one is always reconditioned and ready to be sent out in case of emergency. Good. How soon can it get here? Tomorrow night. I'll get a wire off immediately. Fine. That means we'll only lose two days today and tomorrow. Yep, but two days is more than I've lost in 20 years. Don't say, Mr. Randall. I certainly hate to break my record. Well, at least you know it's not your fault. If it were humanly possible, you'd be putting on a show. You bet I would be. See, look out there, Dan. Certainly a mess. But those restabouts are cleaning up as fast as they can. No, that isn't what I mean. Where? What? I mean all those towners wandering through a lot. It's a shame we can't give them a show, and we won't be able to stay over another day to give them one. We'll just have to jump right to Harper City and make that our next stand. Mr. Randall? No. And now what? I've got an idea. Well, that's good, but there's no reason to scare me to death. But Mr. Randall, listen. It's...it's... Well, as Jerry'd say, it's a knockout. Well, go on. What is it? You can't tell me on it unless I know what it's all about. Listen, the whole circus is in a mess. That's not news. No, but it's exciting to the towners. Look how they're snooping out there. And getting in everybody's way, too. That doesn't matter. You don't know it, but you're going to give this town a show after all. What are you talking about? Just this. We'll paint a couple of big posters announcing, first time in history, the world's greatest show laid waste by a cyclone. Come one, come all. Oh, listen, Danny, you losing your mind? The folks in this town ought to know, but now that there was a cyclone here today, and that wrecked the circus, if they don't, they won't be smart enough to read your posters. But you don't get the idea, Mr. Randall. All right, well, go on. My plan is for you to charge 25 cents for the folks to go through the circus lot and see exactly the mess we're in. Danny Dugan. Why, of course. Why, say, you've hit the bullseye. Bet I have. Say, they'll want to know all about how the animals got by. Let the guards tell what happened. Dugan, you're a magician. Get those posters painted, and we'll show this town how a circus can be wrecked and rebuilt in two days. That's the ticket. And make them pay to see it. Here, wait a minute. I'll write this telegram for Bill. Winter quarters about that main time. Yeah? Oh, yes. Say, I guess I... I guess you'd better send on an extra... any extra small tents he's got out there, too. I'll say, all those places along the midway will have to be rebuilt, and that's Menagerie tents are wrecked. Yeah. Well, don't worry. I can't keep the Randall's circus tube down. Here, just a second. Oh, by the way, Mr. Randall... Yeah? Um, well, I was just wondering about... Well, I... Well, out with it, man. What's in your mind? Well, you spoke about a new suit of clothes for every good idea I thought of, and... Yeah, you old rascal. You go to shake me down, huh? Why, Mr. Randall, of course not. No kidding, Dan. You deserve a couple of suits for that suggestion. And it's a cheap price to pay, too. Oh, I don't want a suit. No. I only wanted to show you I'm earning my keep as an efficiency expert. Mr. Randall? Uh, Mr. Randall. No, it sounds like that. And they're a few of yours. Mr. Randall, uh... I'll open the door. Oh! There he are, Mr. Randall. Oh, hello, Uncle Dan. What's your hurry, Johnny? Say, Mr. Randall, there's an old farmer out here. Yeah? He wants to see you. It's about Aga. Aga? I thought that chimp got away. She did. That's a trouble. Well, uh, has she been found? Yeah, that's it. But the farmer says he won't talk to anybody, but the manager. Oh, all right. Bring him in, Jerry. Okay. That boy certainly can get excited. Oh, it looks as if you're getting your chimpanzee back anyway. Yeah, I hope so. She's too mischievous to let her round loose. Well, get those signs right out, Mr. Randall. I'll organize a tour around this circus lot that'll do you proud. Okay, Dan. It's up to you. You just leaving, Uncle Dan? Yep, I've got to go to work. Mr. Randall, this is Mr.... Hoffenthaler. Yeah, the man I was telling you about. Oh, and how'd he do, sir? Jerry tells me that you have news of our prized chimpanzee. Yes, sir. I reckon that's what you'd call it. I didn't get more in a squint at it myself, but him, he come running out of the house, screaming like a stuck pig, and her face whiter than last week's wash. Well, what happened, Mr.... Hoffenthaler. Well, you see, it was like this. A dead cyclone. I reckon you know all about that cyclone. Well, unfortunately, we do. Yeah, that probably would. Well, friend, I don't mind telling you, it cleaned my farm like a fresh plucked hen. Amy sent me out to see if any of the animals was left. And I don't mind telling you, I hadn't got no further than the end of the barn when she let out a yell that sent goose flesh up and down my spine. But what happened? I thought you said that... I'm getting to it. I'm getting to that now. Well, knowing Amy like I do, I didn't let no grass grow under my feet. No, siry. I let right out for the house. And there stood Amy on the front steps with her apron over her head and hollerin' for all she was worth. Well, the chimpanzee hadn't touched her head. No, and Amy, I figured quick like that she weren't hurtin' on, not with all that there hullabaloo. Well, where was Aga? Well, sir, would you believe it? That there critter was locked in the house and we was locked outside. And Amy had a boiled dinner on the stove all ready to be dished up the minute I come in. Is Aga still locked in your house? She sure is. And Amy fit to be tied. She'll never be comfortable sleepin' in that bed again. Not after that hairy critter's bed. Your bed? You mean, Aga got in your bed? Well, that's just what I'm telling you, son. He pulled that patch quilt, and he made so careful like all last winter, right up over him. And the last icing of him, he snoring to beat the band. Oh, that's a riot. She can imagine that, Mr. Antwon. Now, listen here, young man. It's no joke to have a hysterical woman on your hands when a big gorilla locked up in your house and is sleepin' on your bed. Well, of course it's not, Mr. There you go. Huff and sealer. Yeah, Mr. Huff and sealer. I'm mighty sorry a thing like this should happen. We'll send someone out there right away and get that animal out of your house. Yes, sir. Amy's fit to be tied. And she's that upset about her dinner boiling over in her patchwork quilt and the clean sheet. Well, I'm sure of that. And she's perfectly right, too. I'll tell you what, Mr. Huff and sealer. Huff and sealer. Yes. We'll send your wife a few dollars so that she can get someone to clean up after Aga's gone. And, well, maybe that'll make her a little more contented. Now, that's real friendly of you, sir. That's what I'd call it, real neighborly. I reckon a couple of dollars would quiet Amy down more than all the talking I could do in the month of Sunday. Well, that's good. Now, Jerry, will you run over to Kelly and have him send someone out with Mr. Huff and sealer and attend to all this? You bet I will, Mr. That's right. And then you come back here. Your uncle's working on a job and I think he can use you. Sure thing. I'll be back in a jiffy. Come on, Mr. Huff and sealer. Well, now, I reckon if it weren't that Amy was a jittery like, I'd like to stick around and spell it myself. But then you know how we've an arm, Mr. Huff. Yes, yes, yes. I better be getting... Well, thank you for telling us about Aga. She's valuable, but we certainly don't want her to cause trouble for others. Good day, sir. Good day. How are you back, Jerry? You bet. Oh, hello. Mr. Randall in there, young man. Yep, right inside. Thank you. Well, there you are, Mr. Randall. Oh, yes. Come in, Thomas. Take a chair there. Thanks. Well, I'm sorry I had to take you off your regular job for me, but Jim Bennett has so many things to do and just couldn't be helped. Well, that's quite all right, Mr. Randall. There's not much bookkeeping for me to do anyway. At least not until we get rolling again. That's good. Well, I suppose you check things over pretty carefully and know just where we stand. What's the bad news, Thomas? Bad news is right. The main top is ruined, cut on the church steeple. Oh, yes, yes. I've heard about that. I've already wired for a spare top and any others that they have available in winter quarters. Yes. Well, the wardrobe top seems to have disappeared. The cyclones scattered our costumes all over town. What a mess. People are bringing things in pretty fast, though. Most of them can be saved, cleaned up and used. That's lucky. Yes, it is. We've taken an awful beating in the mess tent. I can imagine. I saw that go up. Did you ever see so many plates and silver floating away in all your life? Well, of course, the crockery is a dead loss. I've already put in an order for mess tent equipment. We can get credit enough to cover that. Have you estimated the amount we'll need to rebuild the midway? Approximately. Then, of course, our running expenses were around 5,000 a day. How many days do you figure we'll lose? Only two. I've canceled the engagement in Big Rock, but I've notified Harbor City. We'll pay there or else. Man, that's not giving us much time. No, no. But we can't afford to disappoint those cities, nor can we pay these terrific overheads and without getting in some daily receipts. We'd be bankrupt in no time. All right, Mr. Randall, you give the word and we'll get things ready. That's the spirit. Well, how much do you figure we'll need to borrow to see us through? It's too bad we've no insurance to cover this lot. No, I know. The rates are too high. Yes. You'll have to take out separate clauses for everything, tornadoes, floods, cyclones, lightning, and all that. Yes, I've been pretty lucky over 20 years in show business and this is the first major catastrophe like this I've ever had. I guess you're right, Mr. Randall, as usual. Oh. Well. Here, here I am, Mr. Randall. Oh, so I see. Just a minute, Jerry, till I finish here with Mr. Thomas. Well, what do you figure we'll need, Ben? $25,000. $25,000? What for? Not to help us rebuild the circus and get it in shape to play Harper City. Gee whizzes, that's terrible. Not when you consider that it costs thousands of dollars a day just to move this circus and feed the animals and people. Say that so. Thomas, get down in town and find out what kind of a deal we can make on such a loan, the percentages for 30, 60, or 90 days and so on. All right. I'll have the figures for you tonight. You'll know where to find me. I don't have to if we expect to finish up the season, Jerry. There's a line of people a block long outside what used to be the main entrance. They're letting them in in groups and showing them through the grounds. What's the idea, Mr. Randall? Well, that's an idea of your uncles. That's what I wanted you for. You need your help, I think. Now you go and find him, Jerry. He'll tell you what it's all about.