The dad didn't get killed by the tree because he had that star thing (whatever it was called) in his pocket protecting him for the effects of the monkey.

I think Merlin suddenly 'appeared' in the house to stop the monkey, saving the family, and when the Shelly Winters wannabe looked in the crystal ball and said he could come home, he appeared back at the shop.

What you DIDN'T see was Stephen King showing up and killing Earnest Borgnine for badly ripping off Monkey Shines.