Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963): Season 3, Episode 27 - Wally's Orchid - full transcript
It's still early in his dating life, and Wally wants to go to the upcoming sophomore dance only if the most popular girl in his class, Myra, goes with him, but he isn't sure if she'll agree to go with him. She does accept his nervously asked invitation. His excitement is tempered by the fact that she implies that she would like an expensive orchid corsage since she has to uphold the look expected as chair of the dance committee. He finds out an orchid costs $7.50 which is about three times the amount he has and much more expensive than something like a gardenia corsage. He isn't sure if Myra will still want to go with him unless he can get her the orchid, and thus he isn't sure if he still wants to go to the dance. Although June tries her hardest to convince Ward to pay for this one small luxury to keep face in Wally's young dating life, Ward refuses, stating that it is an extravagance that no young girl should expect of a young boy. With Mrs. Rayburn's help, Beaver thinks he knows how to solve Wally's problem. Barring that, June decides to bring out the big guns to convince Ward.
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Starring...
and...
Hey, Dad, could I
ask you something?
Sure, Wally. You
want to come in,
or you want to shout it
to me from out in the hall?
Well, I guess I could come in.
Hey, Dad, if I went somewhere
where I needed $3.00,
would you let me have it?
$3.00?
Yeah. Well, I'm not saying
I'm going or anything,
but if I did go,
I'd like to know if you'd let
me have the money. Sort of.
Well, Wally, don't you think
you should take care of
it out of your allowance?
Well, I sort of
already spent that.
Oh.
Well, I sort of might
let you have the money,
but may I ask what this vague
thing is you don't to go to?
The sophomores are having
their spring dance Saturday night,
and it costs $3.00 a couple.
Oh, you're going to
take a young lady, huh?
Sure, Dad. A couple's got to
be a young lady and a fellow.
Yeah.
Well, I'll tell you, Wally...
Even though you
spent your allowance,
I think I might invest $3.00
in your social progress.
You want me to drive you
and your date to the dance?
Gee, Dad, don't go
making a lot of plans
because I might chicken out.
I haven't invited anybody yet.
Haven't invited anyone where?
Oh, it's nothing, Mom.
Wally's planning to go to the
sophomore dance Saturday.
Well, Wally, that's wonderful.
You can wear your new suit
and one of your father's ties.
And if you want, you can have some
of your friends over before the dance.
All I said was I
might go to the dance.
All of a sudden, you guys got
my whole life planned for me.
Well, we just want to make it
nice for you in case you do go.
Go where?
Wally's going to the
sophomore dance.
Gee, Wally, I thought you said
you wouldn't be caught
dead at a creepy thing like that.
Yeah, that's what I thought,
but all of a sudden,
everything got away from me.
Wally, it's entirely up to
you whether or not you go.
Yeah, well, I might
go and I might not.
I don't know yet.
He doesn't sound as
though he wants to go at all.
Sure, he wants to go.
He just doesn't want us
to know he wants to go.
No, that's not it.
The girl that asked Wally,
he doesn't want to go with her,
and he's afraid the girl he
wants to ask won't go with him.
Well, you certainly
know a lot about it.
Sure. I could tell you a
whole lot of junk about Wally.
Look, you had three
chances to ask her already.
What's the matter?
There's no rush, Eddie.
She just had a big
fight with Roger Clark,
and they busted up.
The thing to do is to move
in take advantage of it,
before they make up.
- You think it'll work?
- Sure.
That's the way my pop
picks up houses cheap...
He watches the divorce
notices in the paper,
then calls the people up.
I don't know if I want to
go to that dance or not.
What are you, afraid to ask her?
No, I'm not afraid.
I'd ask her myself
if I hadn't promised
Judy I'd ask her.
Hey, here they come, man.
Pull up your flaps and take off.
Cut it out, Eddie.
I want to talk to her
when she's alone.
Okay, I'll take care of Judy.
- Hi, Eddie. Hi, Wally.
- Hi, Myra. Hi, Judy.
Hey, Judy, could I talk
to you alone for a minute
about that homework assignment?
I guess so, Eddie.
Be right back.
What did you get on the exam?
A B+.
Yeah, me, too.
Oh. It wasn't very hard.
Nah.
I missed the third question.
Oh?
You want to go to the dance?
What?
Well, you want to go
to the dance with me?
The dance Saturday?
Wally, I'd love to.
You would?
Uh-huh. I said I would.
Well, yeah, but you can
think it over if you want to.
There's nothing to think over.
Great, then. It's a date, huh?
Uh-huh.
Well, thanks.
- That's okay.
- Yeah.
How'd you do, man?
Okay. I'm all set.
There, you see? Once you
get the hang of talking to girls,
it's not so tough, is it?
Nah.
Did you ask Judy
to go to the dance?
Well, like you say,
there's no rush.
3, 4.
1, 2, 3, 4.
1.
Boy, Wally, you sure look silly.
I'm just doing it to limber
up and get in shape.
I don't want to go to that
dance Saturday night with Myra
and get a charley horse.
1.
Hey, come on, you want
to try dancing with me?
I'm tired. I'm going
to sit this one out.
Come on, Beav, quit
acting like a kid brother.
Hey, you want to look at her
picture in the school yearbook?
What for? I know
what girls look like.
Sure, but look... She's the
neatest-looking girl in the whole class.
How come she's got that
funny look on her face?
She's just looking glamorous.
Oh. I thought maybe her
stomach hurt or something.
It's just the way
girls look glamorous.
Hey, after the dance,
you going to kiss her?
Who knows?
If she's got a
cold, you'll catch it.
What are you all of
a sudden, a doctor?
Wally, telephone.
Okay, Dad.
I think it's Myra.
Oh. What does she sound like?
Like her picture.
Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.
Hello? Oh, hi.
Just a second, okay?
Uh, could I be
excused, Mom, Dad?
Certainly, son.
June, come on in the
den with me, honey.
I have a couple of bills
I want you to look over.
Hello?
Wally, I just wanted to check
on the dance Saturday night.
You have a car, don't you?
Well, um, no.
My father will take us.
I don't have a license.
I'm only 14.
Oh, yes. I forgot.
You're so much
younger than Roger.
Yeah, well, my father
will take us there and back.
He won't stick
around or anything.
It's all right, Wally.
Oh, by the way, I thought
you might like to know...
I'm wearing a lavendar dress.
Oh, well, swell. I'm
wearing a blue suit.
Well, Wally, I'm chairman
of the dance committee,
and, well, my mother thought
it would be nice
if I wore an orchid.
How do you feel about orchids?
I feel all right about orchids.
Oh, you're sweet, Wally.
Now, don't forget to call
me and tell me the color.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah, I'll call you.
It'll be a color, all right.
Hm, what?
Yeah, sure.
Well, so long.
Boy, an orchid.
Through with the phone, Wally?
Oh, yeah. Yeah, Mom.
I'm all finished.
Something wrong, son?
Oh, no, Dad.
Myra just called up
about flowers and junk.
Oh, yes, Wally.
You should get her a nice
corsage. A gardenia or something.
Yeah, well, I was kind of
thinking about the money.
Wally, I gave you
money for the tickets.
I certainly think you should take care
of the flowers out of your allowance.
Yeah, sure, Dad.
He doesn't seem very happy
for a boy who's taking
the prettiest girl in his class.
Dear, escorting a glamor girl
is a disconcerting blend
of pleasure and pain.
How do you know so
much about glamor girls?
I married one.
Hello, boys.
We'd just kind of
like to look around.
Fine. I'll be with
you in a minute.
Hey, Wally, how much
money do you got?
Well, I got a dollar left over
from this week's
allowance at home,
and Eddie's going to pay
me back what he owes me.
I just got to find out
how much more I need.
Boy, I never saw so many
flowers in one place before
without somebody being dead.
Yeah.
Now, what can I do
for you two gentlemen?
Well, I need a corsage
for a girl for Saturday night.
Do you have any orchids?
Orchids?
Well.
Hey, Wally, get fresh ones.
Don't let her sell
you any frozen ones.
They just keep them on
ice so they won't get rotten.
There. White ones are nice.
Purple ones are pretty, too.
Which one costs less?
They're exactly
the same... 7.50.
For one flower?
That's right.
They don't smell so expensive.
Gee, I didn't think
they were that much.
- Do you got any old orchids?
- Old orchids?
Yeah, like they have
day-old doughnuts
in the bakery for half price.
No, I'm afraid not.
Don't you think that a gardenia
would be just as acceptable?
No, it's kind of
got to be an orchid.
Well, thanks anyway.
I might be back
before the dance.
I was just sort of
pricing them today.
That's all right.
Wally, what are you going to do?
Boy, I don't know, Beav.
Maybe you should go to Dad.
He's always saying we should
come to him when got problems.
I don't know, Beav.
I think he means stuff like
quitting school or running away.
I start whining around
about a crummy old orchid,
he's liable to blow his top.
Oh, come on in, Wally.
Uh, hey, Dad, could I
talk to you for a minute?
- It's about the dance.
- Oh, sure.
Your mother and I told you we'd
be happy to cooperate in any way.
Yeah. Well, would you be happy to
cooperate to the extent of another $7.50?
$7.50?
Wally, I gave you $3.00,
and you have your allowance.
What in the world do you
need another 7 1/2 for?
Well, this Myra's sort of
chairman of the dance committee,
and her mother thinks
she should wear an orchid.
Oh, she does?
Well, if you ask me,
that's a great deal
for any girl to expect from
a high school sophomore.
Well, sure, Dad.
I think so, too,
but this Myra... She's used to going
out with senior guys and everything,
and I don't have a car, and you're
going to drive us back and forth.
Well, at least if I
could get her an orchid,
that might take
the curse off me.
Now look, Wally,
you've always been a
pretty level-headed boy.
Don't lose your sense
of values over this girl.
You just tell her you're sending
her a nice gardenia corsage,
and if she doesn't like it, she
can get herself another date.
But gee, Dad, all the guys
know I'm taking her out.
Well, I just started
going out with girls.
Well, I don't know if
I can tell one off yet.
Well, if you ask me, Wally,
this Myra sounds like a real
good one to start learning on.
But gee, Dad, I...
Another thing, Wally...
You've got to start having
a little respect for money.
I certainly never had any $10
to take a girl out with
when I was your age.
Yeah. Yeah, sure, Dad.
Well, Wally, you been talking
to your father about the dance?
Gee, Mom, don't even mention
that crummy old dance to me.
What'd you say to Wally?
He says he doesn't want
to go to the dance at all now.
Yeah, I know.
He doesn't want to go
unless I give him $7 and a half
to buy Myra an orchid.
- She expects an orchid?
- That's right.
Somehow, it's supposed
to cancel out the disgrace
of having his father drive him.
Well, dear, don't you think
we could stretch a
point and get it for him?
She is a very pretty girl,
and he probably just wants
to make a gallant gesture.
Well, that's fine,
but at his age,
I think he'd better learn
to make it with gardenias.
How're you doing, lover?
Cut it out, Eddie.
What's the matter with you, Sam?
That Myra's chairman
of the dance committee,
and she expects me
to get her an orchid.
So?
So where do I get the 7.50?
Haven't you heard that old song?
"That's What Fathers Are For."
Shake it out of your old man.
Nah, I already asked him,
and he said I should have
a sense of values and junk.
My pop's always
giving me that line,
and all the while he's
puffing on them 85 cent cigars.
Hey, Larry, how come
we got off early today?
Ah, on account it's some kind
of anniversary for Mrs. Rayburn.
They gave her a big
lunch over at the hotel.
A lot of other principals
are going to be there.
What kind of anniversary is it?
I think she's been in
the teacher business
for 25 years or something.
Boy, that's a long time
to wait for a free lunch.
Yeah. Hey, you
want to mess around?
Nah, I got to go home
and help my brother Wally worry.
What are you
talking about, Beav?
He got messed up to
take a girl to a dance,
and he doesn't have any
money to buy her flowers.
Yeah, I know how it is.
Before my brother
married his wife,
she was always asking
him for flowers and candy
and movies and
taxi cabs and stuff.
You know, I'll bet he spent
a million dollars on her.
Does he still buy her stuff now?
No, now he just
tells her to shut up.
Good afternoon, boys.
Oh, good afternoon,
Mrs. Rayburn.
Happy anniversary, Mrs. Rayburn.
Well, thank you
very much, Theodore.
Hey, Larry, wasn't that
an orchid she was wearing?
Yeah. I guess they probably
threw it in with the free lunch.
What do you suppose
people do with orchids
when they're through with them?
I don't know.
Guess they just probably throw it
out with the garbage or something.
You know, Larry, I think I want
to hang around Mrs. Rayburn
and talk to her.
Gee. No kid ever talked
to a principal on purpose.
Yeah, but I think I'm gonna.
Okay. I'll see you, Beav.
See you, Larry.
- Hi, dear.
- Hi.
Everybody home?
Wally is, but not the Beaver.
- Dear?
- Hmm?
Dear, it's Wednesday, and
the dance is Saturday night.
Don't you think we could
stretch a point and make it...
No, dear. Now, I gave him
the money for the tickets.
And he has a very
generous allowance.
I am not going to give
him $7.00 to buy an orchid.
Anyway, this girl should accept
Wally the way he is or not at all.
- Oh, but Ward...
- After all,
the Cleaver charm was
good enough for you.
Yes, well, maybe the standards
weren't as high in those days.
Well, Theodore, it
was very nice of you
to drop in here and congratulate
me on my anniversary.
Oh, that's okay, Mrs. Rayburn.
Is there something else?
Well, yes, ma'am.
Could I buy your orchid?
I'll give you 25 cents for it.
Well, I don't quite understand.
Would you like my
orchid for your mother?
No, ma'am, for my brother.
Well now, I'm sure you're
being very thoughtful,
but I don't think your brother
would appreciate an orchid.
Oh, it's not for him.
It's for a girl he's taking to
a dance on Saturday night.
He doesn't want her
to think he's a creep.
Creep?
Oh, it's not a bad word.
It just means a goofy guy.
He doesn't have $7.50.
Well, I think I understand
how your brother feels.
And I believe I understand
how the girl feels, too.
- You do?
- Yes.
I used to go to dances
when I was a girl.
I remember wondering
what kind of flowers
the boy was gonna bring me.
What dress I was going to wear.
And what he was
going to be like.
Gee. I thought you spent your
whole life just yelling at kids.
No, Beaver. Not my whole life.
Well, I didn't mean
yelling at them.
I just meant making
them be good.
Well now, here.
You take these and you
give them to your brother
with my compliments.
Don't you want the 25 cents?
No, Theodore.
And I suggest that you
keep that in a nice, cool place
until Saturday night.
Oh, yes, ma'am. I
won't let it get rotten.
Gee, it sure is a beauty.
Yeah.
Boy, Beaver, you're a lifesaver.
Oh, that's okay.
Are you gonna tell Mom and
Dad about you having an orchid?
Nah, there's no
use telling them.
I'll just stick it behind this
lettuce and carrots and junk.
Sure hope nobody eats it.
It still looks pretty good.
Yeah.
But it's beginning
to smell like salami.
Yeah. Let me put it
in some wax paper.
Hey, what are you doing?
I'm just seeing if the
salami smells like an orchid.
Ah, gee, Beav. It looks crummy.
Maybe you could yank
the bad leaves off it.
Yeah.
Maybe you could
paste them back on.
Nah. As soon as
Myra started dancing,
they'd just fall off again.
- Hi, Mom.
- Hi.
Can I ask you something?
What is it, Beaver?
Would it be wrong if
Wally told somebody a lie?
Of course it would.
Would it be less wrong
if I told a lie for Wally?
Well, Beaver,
it'd still be a lie.
Oh.
Would it mean I
wouldn't go to heaven?
Well, I guess that would depend.
Then I guess I better
not take the chance.
Beaver, come here.
What's this all about?
Wally wanted me
to call up that girl
and tell her he's sick
and can't go to the dance
on account of he doesn't
have an orchid for her.
But he can't do that.
This is Saturday afternoon.
The dance is tonight.
I know.
He had an orchid, but
it fell apart in the icebox.
It fell apart in the icebox?
Yeah. I got it
from Mrs. Rayburn.
But the leaves rotted off.
Oh, I see.
Look, Beaver, your father's
gonna be home soon.
Now, you go on outside and play.
And don't say anything to Wally.
Mom, are you gonna
make everything all right?
I'm certainly gonna try.
Gee, Mom, you're neato.
- Hi, Beav.
- Hi, Dad.
I'm gonna go outside and play,
and Mom wants to talk to you.
Oh.
Well, dear, I picked these
gardenias up for Wally
on the way home from the club.
Ward, I want you to take
those back to the florist
and exchange them for an orchid.
June, I thought we
settled all this days ago.
And I assumed Wally'd
been taking it sensibly.
Certainly hasn't
seemed to bother him.
Well, that's another story.
And really, Ward, I don't
see how it would do any harm.
- Not this one time, anyway.
- I'm sorry, dear,
but I really feel pretty
definite about this.
It's perfectly ridiculous
for a 14-year-old boy
to have to take an
orchid to a 14-year-old girl.
When I think what I was
making when we were married,
it's preposterous.
Dear, come here.
You've heard of pressed duck?
Well, this is pressed orchid.
A fellow gave it to me
when I was 16 years old.
Well, that's a nice try, dear.
But just because some crazy boy
gave you an orchid when you were 16
is absolutely no
justification for... Me?
Oh, yeah.
I think I remember.
In fact, I even remember
what I went through to get it.
I had to sell my
stamp collection.
But dear, the difference is
you didn't ask for an orchid.
That's because I wasn't
the prettiest girl in the class.
And the chairman of
the dance committee.
You know, I guess
I forgot for a minute
what it feels like
to be Wally's age.
What color?
Well, her dress is lavender.
I'll get her a white one.
You tell Wally
I'll be right back.
Hey, Mom, hey, Dad!
He's coming, he's coming!
Well, I'm all ready.
Okay, son.
You know, Mom, you did a real
neat job of making things all right.
Thank you, Beaver.
He must be home.
The Barkers said
they'd bring him home.
I thought it'd be earlier.
Oh. Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.
- Hi.
- Well, how was the dance?
Oh, all right, I guess.
Just all right?
Yeah, Dad. Just all right.
Did you enjoy being with Myra?
Well, I don't know.
Did your orchid
look nice on her?
Well, I didn't get
to see it too much.
Most of the time, she was
dancing with other guys.
You know, seniors and stuff.
Boy, all those guys,
messing up my orchid.
Well, I think I'll
go to bed now.
Oh. Hey, Dad, thanks
a lot for the orchid.
That was real neat of you.
Good night, son.
'Night, Wally.
Well, I guess it wasn't worth
all the worry and
expense, was it?
Oh, I don't know.
I think it was.
Because I think now Wally
realizes it wasn't worth it.
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA
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Starring...
and...
Hey, Dad, could I
ask you something?
Sure, Wally. You
want to come in,
or you want to shout it
to me from out in the hall?
Well, I guess I could come in.
Hey, Dad, if I went somewhere
where I needed $3.00,
would you let me have it?
$3.00?
Yeah. Well, I'm not saying
I'm going or anything,
but if I did go,
I'd like to know if you'd let
me have the money. Sort of.
Well, Wally, don't you think
you should take care of
it out of your allowance?
Well, I sort of
already spent that.
Oh.
Well, I sort of might
let you have the money,
but may I ask what this vague
thing is you don't to go to?
The sophomores are having
their spring dance Saturday night,
and it costs $3.00 a couple.
Oh, you're going to
take a young lady, huh?
Sure, Dad. A couple's got to
be a young lady and a fellow.
Yeah.
Well, I'll tell you, Wally...
Even though you
spent your allowance,
I think I might invest $3.00
in your social progress.
You want me to drive you
and your date to the dance?
Gee, Dad, don't go
making a lot of plans
because I might chicken out.
I haven't invited anybody yet.
Haven't invited anyone where?
Oh, it's nothing, Mom.
Wally's planning to go to the
sophomore dance Saturday.
Well, Wally, that's wonderful.
You can wear your new suit
and one of your father's ties.
And if you want, you can have some
of your friends over before the dance.
All I said was I
might go to the dance.
All of a sudden, you guys got
my whole life planned for me.
Well, we just want to make it
nice for you in case you do go.
Go where?
Wally's going to the
sophomore dance.
Gee, Wally, I thought you said
you wouldn't be caught
dead at a creepy thing like that.
Yeah, that's what I thought,
but all of a sudden,
everything got away from me.
Wally, it's entirely up to
you whether or not you go.
Yeah, well, I might
go and I might not.
I don't know yet.
He doesn't sound as
though he wants to go at all.
Sure, he wants to go.
He just doesn't want us
to know he wants to go.
No, that's not it.
The girl that asked Wally,
he doesn't want to go with her,
and he's afraid the girl he
wants to ask won't go with him.
Well, you certainly
know a lot about it.
Sure. I could tell you a
whole lot of junk about Wally.
Look, you had three
chances to ask her already.
What's the matter?
There's no rush, Eddie.
She just had a big
fight with Roger Clark,
and they busted up.
The thing to do is to move
in take advantage of it,
before they make up.
- You think it'll work?
- Sure.
That's the way my pop
picks up houses cheap...
He watches the divorce
notices in the paper,
then calls the people up.
I don't know if I want to
go to that dance or not.
What are you, afraid to ask her?
No, I'm not afraid.
I'd ask her myself
if I hadn't promised
Judy I'd ask her.
Hey, here they come, man.
Pull up your flaps and take off.
Cut it out, Eddie.
I want to talk to her
when she's alone.
Okay, I'll take care of Judy.
- Hi, Eddie. Hi, Wally.
- Hi, Myra. Hi, Judy.
Hey, Judy, could I talk
to you alone for a minute
about that homework assignment?
I guess so, Eddie.
Be right back.
What did you get on the exam?
A B+.
Yeah, me, too.
Oh. It wasn't very hard.
Nah.
I missed the third question.
Oh?
You want to go to the dance?
What?
Well, you want to go
to the dance with me?
The dance Saturday?
Wally, I'd love to.
You would?
Uh-huh. I said I would.
Well, yeah, but you can
think it over if you want to.
There's nothing to think over.
Great, then. It's a date, huh?
Uh-huh.
Well, thanks.
- That's okay.
- Yeah.
How'd you do, man?
Okay. I'm all set.
There, you see? Once you
get the hang of talking to girls,
it's not so tough, is it?
Nah.
Did you ask Judy
to go to the dance?
Well, like you say,
there's no rush.
3, 4.
1, 2, 3, 4.
1.
Boy, Wally, you sure look silly.
I'm just doing it to limber
up and get in shape.
I don't want to go to that
dance Saturday night with Myra
and get a charley horse.
1.
Hey, come on, you want
to try dancing with me?
I'm tired. I'm going
to sit this one out.
Come on, Beav, quit
acting like a kid brother.
Hey, you want to look at her
picture in the school yearbook?
What for? I know
what girls look like.
Sure, but look... She's the
neatest-looking girl in the whole class.
How come she's got that
funny look on her face?
She's just looking glamorous.
Oh. I thought maybe her
stomach hurt or something.
It's just the way
girls look glamorous.
Hey, after the dance,
you going to kiss her?
Who knows?
If she's got a
cold, you'll catch it.
What are you all of
a sudden, a doctor?
Wally, telephone.
Okay, Dad.
I think it's Myra.
Oh. What does she sound like?
Like her picture.
Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.
Hello? Oh, hi.
Just a second, okay?
Uh, could I be
excused, Mom, Dad?
Certainly, son.
June, come on in the
den with me, honey.
I have a couple of bills
I want you to look over.
Hello?
Wally, I just wanted to check
on the dance Saturday night.
You have a car, don't you?
Well, um, no.
My father will take us.
I don't have a license.
I'm only 14.
Oh, yes. I forgot.
You're so much
younger than Roger.
Yeah, well, my father
will take us there and back.
He won't stick
around or anything.
It's all right, Wally.
Oh, by the way, I thought
you might like to know...
I'm wearing a lavendar dress.
Oh, well, swell. I'm
wearing a blue suit.
Well, Wally, I'm chairman
of the dance committee,
and, well, my mother thought
it would be nice
if I wore an orchid.
How do you feel about orchids?
I feel all right about orchids.
Oh, you're sweet, Wally.
Now, don't forget to call
me and tell me the color.
Yeah, sure.
Yeah, I'll call you.
It'll be a color, all right.
Hm, what?
Yeah, sure.
Well, so long.
Boy, an orchid.
Through with the phone, Wally?
Oh, yeah. Yeah, Mom.
I'm all finished.
Something wrong, son?
Oh, no, Dad.
Myra just called up
about flowers and junk.
Oh, yes, Wally.
You should get her a nice
corsage. A gardenia or something.
Yeah, well, I was kind of
thinking about the money.
Wally, I gave you
money for the tickets.
I certainly think you should take care
of the flowers out of your allowance.
Yeah, sure, Dad.
He doesn't seem very happy
for a boy who's taking
the prettiest girl in his class.
Dear, escorting a glamor girl
is a disconcerting blend
of pleasure and pain.
How do you know so
much about glamor girls?
I married one.
Hello, boys.
We'd just kind of
like to look around.
Fine. I'll be with
you in a minute.
Hey, Wally, how much
money do you got?
Well, I got a dollar left over
from this week's
allowance at home,
and Eddie's going to pay
me back what he owes me.
I just got to find out
how much more I need.
Boy, I never saw so many
flowers in one place before
without somebody being dead.
Yeah.
Now, what can I do
for you two gentlemen?
Well, I need a corsage
for a girl for Saturday night.
Do you have any orchids?
Orchids?
Well.
Hey, Wally, get fresh ones.
Don't let her sell
you any frozen ones.
They just keep them on
ice so they won't get rotten.
There. White ones are nice.
Purple ones are pretty, too.
Which one costs less?
They're exactly
the same... 7.50.
For one flower?
That's right.
They don't smell so expensive.
Gee, I didn't think
they were that much.
- Do you got any old orchids?
- Old orchids?
Yeah, like they have
day-old doughnuts
in the bakery for half price.
No, I'm afraid not.
Don't you think that a gardenia
would be just as acceptable?
No, it's kind of
got to be an orchid.
Well, thanks anyway.
I might be back
before the dance.
I was just sort of
pricing them today.
That's all right.
Wally, what are you going to do?
Boy, I don't know, Beav.
Maybe you should go to Dad.
He's always saying we should
come to him when got problems.
I don't know, Beav.
I think he means stuff like
quitting school or running away.
I start whining around
about a crummy old orchid,
he's liable to blow his top.
Oh, come on in, Wally.
Uh, hey, Dad, could I
talk to you for a minute?
- It's about the dance.
- Oh, sure.
Your mother and I told you we'd
be happy to cooperate in any way.
Yeah. Well, would you be happy to
cooperate to the extent of another $7.50?
$7.50?
Wally, I gave you $3.00,
and you have your allowance.
What in the world do you
need another 7 1/2 for?
Well, this Myra's sort of
chairman of the dance committee,
and her mother thinks
she should wear an orchid.
Oh, she does?
Well, if you ask me,
that's a great deal
for any girl to expect from
a high school sophomore.
Well, sure, Dad.
I think so, too,
but this Myra... She's used to going
out with senior guys and everything,
and I don't have a car, and you're
going to drive us back and forth.
Well, at least if I
could get her an orchid,
that might take
the curse off me.
Now look, Wally,
you've always been a
pretty level-headed boy.
Don't lose your sense
of values over this girl.
You just tell her you're sending
her a nice gardenia corsage,
and if she doesn't like it, she
can get herself another date.
But gee, Dad, all the guys
know I'm taking her out.
Well, I just started
going out with girls.
Well, I don't know if
I can tell one off yet.
Well, if you ask me, Wally,
this Myra sounds like a real
good one to start learning on.
But gee, Dad, I...
Another thing, Wally...
You've got to start having
a little respect for money.
I certainly never had any $10
to take a girl out with
when I was your age.
Yeah. Yeah, sure, Dad.
Well, Wally, you been talking
to your father about the dance?
Gee, Mom, don't even mention
that crummy old dance to me.
What'd you say to Wally?
He says he doesn't want
to go to the dance at all now.
Yeah, I know.
He doesn't want to go
unless I give him $7 and a half
to buy Myra an orchid.
- She expects an orchid?
- That's right.
Somehow, it's supposed
to cancel out the disgrace
of having his father drive him.
Well, dear, don't you think
we could stretch a
point and get it for him?
She is a very pretty girl,
and he probably just wants
to make a gallant gesture.
Well, that's fine,
but at his age,
I think he'd better learn
to make it with gardenias.
How're you doing, lover?
Cut it out, Eddie.
What's the matter with you, Sam?
That Myra's chairman
of the dance committee,
and she expects me
to get her an orchid.
So?
So where do I get the 7.50?
Haven't you heard that old song?
"That's What Fathers Are For."
Shake it out of your old man.
Nah, I already asked him,
and he said I should have
a sense of values and junk.
My pop's always
giving me that line,
and all the while he's
puffing on them 85 cent cigars.
Hey, Larry, how come
we got off early today?
Ah, on account it's some kind
of anniversary for Mrs. Rayburn.
They gave her a big
lunch over at the hotel.
A lot of other principals
are going to be there.
What kind of anniversary is it?
I think she's been in
the teacher business
for 25 years or something.
Boy, that's a long time
to wait for a free lunch.
Yeah. Hey, you
want to mess around?
Nah, I got to go home
and help my brother Wally worry.
What are you
talking about, Beav?
He got messed up to
take a girl to a dance,
and he doesn't have any
money to buy her flowers.
Yeah, I know how it is.
Before my brother
married his wife,
she was always asking
him for flowers and candy
and movies and
taxi cabs and stuff.
You know, I'll bet he spent
a million dollars on her.
Does he still buy her stuff now?
No, now he just
tells her to shut up.
Good afternoon, boys.
Oh, good afternoon,
Mrs. Rayburn.
Happy anniversary, Mrs. Rayburn.
Well, thank you
very much, Theodore.
Hey, Larry, wasn't that
an orchid she was wearing?
Yeah. I guess they probably
threw it in with the free lunch.
What do you suppose
people do with orchids
when they're through with them?
I don't know.
Guess they just probably throw it
out with the garbage or something.
You know, Larry, I think I want
to hang around Mrs. Rayburn
and talk to her.
Gee. No kid ever talked
to a principal on purpose.
Yeah, but I think I'm gonna.
Okay. I'll see you, Beav.
See you, Larry.
- Hi, dear.
- Hi.
Everybody home?
Wally is, but not the Beaver.
- Dear?
- Hmm?
Dear, it's Wednesday, and
the dance is Saturday night.
Don't you think we could
stretch a point and make it...
No, dear. Now, I gave him
the money for the tickets.
And he has a very
generous allowance.
I am not going to give
him $7.00 to buy an orchid.
Anyway, this girl should accept
Wally the way he is or not at all.
- Oh, but Ward...
- After all,
the Cleaver charm was
good enough for you.
Yes, well, maybe the standards
weren't as high in those days.
Well, Theodore, it
was very nice of you
to drop in here and congratulate
me on my anniversary.
Oh, that's okay, Mrs. Rayburn.
Is there something else?
Well, yes, ma'am.
Could I buy your orchid?
I'll give you 25 cents for it.
Well, I don't quite understand.
Would you like my
orchid for your mother?
No, ma'am, for my brother.
Well now, I'm sure you're
being very thoughtful,
but I don't think your brother
would appreciate an orchid.
Oh, it's not for him.
It's for a girl he's taking to
a dance on Saturday night.
He doesn't want her
to think he's a creep.
Creep?
Oh, it's not a bad word.
It just means a goofy guy.
He doesn't have $7.50.
Well, I think I understand
how your brother feels.
And I believe I understand
how the girl feels, too.
- You do?
- Yes.
I used to go to dances
when I was a girl.
I remember wondering
what kind of flowers
the boy was gonna bring me.
What dress I was going to wear.
And what he was
going to be like.
Gee. I thought you spent your
whole life just yelling at kids.
No, Beaver. Not my whole life.
Well, I didn't mean
yelling at them.
I just meant making
them be good.
Well now, here.
You take these and you
give them to your brother
with my compliments.
Don't you want the 25 cents?
No, Theodore.
And I suggest that you
keep that in a nice, cool place
until Saturday night.
Oh, yes, ma'am. I
won't let it get rotten.
Gee, it sure is a beauty.
Yeah.
Boy, Beaver, you're a lifesaver.
Oh, that's okay.
Are you gonna tell Mom and
Dad about you having an orchid?
Nah, there's no
use telling them.
I'll just stick it behind this
lettuce and carrots and junk.
Sure hope nobody eats it.
It still looks pretty good.
Yeah.
But it's beginning
to smell like salami.
Yeah. Let me put it
in some wax paper.
Hey, what are you doing?
I'm just seeing if the
salami smells like an orchid.
Ah, gee, Beav. It looks crummy.
Maybe you could yank
the bad leaves off it.
Yeah.
Maybe you could
paste them back on.
Nah. As soon as
Myra started dancing,
they'd just fall off again.
- Hi, Mom.
- Hi.
Can I ask you something?
What is it, Beaver?
Would it be wrong if
Wally told somebody a lie?
Of course it would.
Would it be less wrong
if I told a lie for Wally?
Well, Beaver,
it'd still be a lie.
Oh.
Would it mean I
wouldn't go to heaven?
Well, I guess that would depend.
Then I guess I better
not take the chance.
Beaver, come here.
What's this all about?
Wally wanted me
to call up that girl
and tell her he's sick
and can't go to the dance
on account of he doesn't
have an orchid for her.
But he can't do that.
This is Saturday afternoon.
The dance is tonight.
I know.
He had an orchid, but
it fell apart in the icebox.
It fell apart in the icebox?
Yeah. I got it
from Mrs. Rayburn.
But the leaves rotted off.
Oh, I see.
Look, Beaver, your father's
gonna be home soon.
Now, you go on outside and play.
And don't say anything to Wally.
Mom, are you gonna
make everything all right?
I'm certainly gonna try.
Gee, Mom, you're neato.
- Hi, Beav.
- Hi, Dad.
I'm gonna go outside and play,
and Mom wants to talk to you.
Oh.
Well, dear, I picked these
gardenias up for Wally
on the way home from the club.
Ward, I want you to take
those back to the florist
and exchange them for an orchid.
June, I thought we
settled all this days ago.
And I assumed Wally'd
been taking it sensibly.
Certainly hasn't
seemed to bother him.
Well, that's another story.
And really, Ward, I don't
see how it would do any harm.
- Not this one time, anyway.
- I'm sorry, dear,
but I really feel pretty
definite about this.
It's perfectly ridiculous
for a 14-year-old boy
to have to take an
orchid to a 14-year-old girl.
When I think what I was
making when we were married,
it's preposterous.
Dear, come here.
You've heard of pressed duck?
Well, this is pressed orchid.
A fellow gave it to me
when I was 16 years old.
Well, that's a nice try, dear.
But just because some crazy boy
gave you an orchid when you were 16
is absolutely no
justification for... Me?
Oh, yeah.
I think I remember.
In fact, I even remember
what I went through to get it.
I had to sell my
stamp collection.
But dear, the difference is
you didn't ask for an orchid.
That's because I wasn't
the prettiest girl in the class.
And the chairman of
the dance committee.
You know, I guess
I forgot for a minute
what it feels like
to be Wally's age.
What color?
Well, her dress is lavender.
I'll get her a white one.
You tell Wally
I'll be right back.
Hey, Mom, hey, Dad!
He's coming, he's coming!
Well, I'm all ready.
Okay, son.
You know, Mom, you did a real
neat job of making things all right.
Thank you, Beaver.
He must be home.
The Barkers said
they'd bring him home.
I thought it'd be earlier.
Oh. Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.
- Hi.
- Well, how was the dance?
Oh, all right, I guess.
Just all right?
Yeah, Dad. Just all right.
Did you enjoy being with Myra?
Well, I don't know.
Did your orchid
look nice on her?
Well, I didn't get
to see it too much.
Most of the time, she was
dancing with other guys.
You know, seniors and stuff.
Boy, all those guys,
messing up my orchid.
Well, I think I'll
go to bed now.
Oh. Hey, Dad, thanks
a lot for the orchid.
That was real neat of you.
Good night, son.
'Night, Wally.
Well, I guess it wasn't worth
all the worry and
expense, was it?
Oh, I don't know.
I think it was.
Because I think now Wally
realizes it wasn't worth it.
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA