- A crew comes to install the new telephone on Christmas Eve, earlier than Mr. Hook had thought they would be able to get there. But then, Mr. Erlo is a man who gets his way.
- Shortly after the phone is installed, the office receives its first call: Mr. Erlo's wife, Aggie, worrying about why he didn't phone at noon like he said he was going to and telling him to hurry home for dinner after stopping by the pharmacy.
- Mr. Erlo proclaims the phone "a great thing." (16.37).
- Tom thinks he would love to have one at his home, too, so that he could reach his mother if he needed to.
- One thing at a time, Tom. You've still got a barn to save up for.