Bewitched (1964–1972): Season 4, Episode 26 - Playmates - full transcript

Samantha has no comeback from an accusation by a visiting Mrs. Stephens: that she is overprotective of Tabatha, who she sees as having no playmates her own age. So Samantha can't refuse a play date that Mrs. Stephens has arranged for Samantha and Tabatha with her old friend Gretchen Millhauser, who has just moved to the area, and her five year old son, Michael. Upon first meeting with Gretchen and Michael, Samantha can see that Gretchen believes in the parenting philosophy of free expression and permissiveness, which in Michael's case has resulted in him being a spoiled brat. Michael doesn't like Tabatha. The feeling is mutual. While the two children are alone, Tabatha, who has had enough of Michael bullying her, even with his mother around who still encourages her son to express himself freely, turns him into a bulldog. With Michael now missing and a bulldog in their presence, Gretchen and Mrs. Stephens try to find Michael and get rid of the dog, while Samantha tries to get the dog alone with Tabatha so that she can turn him back into Michael. This situation may inadvertently bring some much needed peace and a change in philosophy into the Millhauser home.

Stand still so I can
button your dress.

- I want to wear blue jeans.
- Tomorrow.

Today you are wearing
a very nice dress...

because we are going to have very
nice company. Grandma Stephens.

Grandma Endora too?

No, sweetheart,
just Grandma Stephens.

And Tabatha...

I want you to remember
that Grandma Stephens...

and Grandma Endora are
two entirely different grandmas.

- You understand?
- With Grandma Endora, I have fun.

Well, you have fun
with Grandma Stephens too.



Only in a different way.

Because we can't let Grandma
Stephens know that you're a...

That you and I are...

That you and I
and Grandma Endora are...

And that Daddy isn't.
Do you know what I mean?

- No.
- I didn't think so.

So stay close to Mommy,
and we'll hope for the best.

Tabatha, did you leave your shoes
downstairs again?

Then be a good girl and get them.

Tabatha! That is not how
good little girls get their shoes.

Sometimes I have the feeling
you don't get my message.

The sheep and the lambs
are in the meadow.

The little colt stays near his mother.

Oh, look at his long legs.
Isn't he cute?



Here she is.

Be sure and give her a big kiss.

Oh, Mother Stephens.

I can't tell you how delighted
I am to see you.

The same to you, my dear.

And how is my son, your husband?

Handsome as ever and hard at work
to support his family.

Hello, Grandma Stephens.

Well, sweetheart.

My, what a nice welcome.
Did you coach her?

Oh, Mother Stephens,
what a thing to say.

Tabatha, my sweet,
I have a little present for you.

Thank you.

- Bunny hop?
- No.

No, sweetheart,
the bunny doesn't hop.

The bunny is a toy bunny.

Can I make this bunny
my baby brother?

Yes, sweetheart, so long as
you only pretend.

Okay.

How else could she do it?

How else could she do what?

How else could she make a bunny
her baby brother without pretending?

Well, she couldn't.

It's just that she has
such a vivid imagination...

I have to keep reminding her.

I see.

May we sit down?

Oh, let's.

Samantha...

when Tabatha was born,
I made it a strict rule...

that I would never interfere with
how you and Darrin chose to raise her.

I know, and we appreciate it.

However, rules are made
to be broken.

So I hope you won't be offended...

when I tell you I think
you're making a big mistake.

What's my big mistake?

Samantha, you are
an overprotective mother.

You don't expose your daughter
to other kids.

She has no playmates.

That's why she wants to make
a stuffed rabbit her baby brother.

The child is desperately
in need of companionship.

Mother Stephens, I understand
what you're trying to say, but...

Do you consider her too good
for other children?

No. We consider her...

We consider her...

Can I get you a cup of coffee?

Samantha, dear, you're stalling.

Now, why don't you
just admit I'm right?

Okay. You're right.

I'll make a mental note to expose
Tabatha to other children.

Fine.

You can start with
Michael Millhowser.

Who's Michael Millhowser?

He is the 5-year-old son
of Stanley and Gretchen Millhowser.

Gretchen is the daughter of one
of my dearest and oldest friends.

She and her family just moved here
from Chicago...

and they don't know a soul.

Well, we must invite them over.

When?

Next week?

Oh, I'm sure they'd love it.

In the meantime Gretchen has invited
you and Tabatha to their house.

- She has?
- In 15 minutes.

I took the liberty
of accepting for you.

But Mother Stephens...

we were looking forward
to spending the morning with you.

I'm going with you. I haven't seen
Michael since he was a baby.

- Mother Stephens?
- Yes, dear?

I'll go get Michael's playmate.

Hello, Gretchen, dear,
how are you?

Aunt Phyllis, good to see you.

Gretchen Millhowser, this is
my daughter-in-law, Samantha...

and my granddaughter, Tabatha.

- Pleased to meet you.
- How do you do?

Come in. Just step over the toys.

I believe in a lived-in atmosphere
for children.

It gives them a sense of belonging.

Tabatha, my son, Michael,
is very anxious to meet you.

Michael, darling, come here.

I don't believe it.
Look how big he is!

Michael, I want you...

He's busy playing dive-bomber.

Well, I have an appointment
at the beauty shop.

I'll leave you two younger generations
alone so you can get acquainted.

I'll let myself out.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye.

In due time, Michael will learn
to put his things away himself.

But I don't wanna force him.

I want him to do it
out of his own sense of pride.

Oh, yes.

Michael, don't you wanna come over
and meet two beautiful ladies?

No.

He's a little shy
about extra-familial contacts.

What about his contacts
with the wall?

After we get settled,
we're repainting.

Michael, would you like to take
our company outside...

and show them your play yard?

No.

He's releasing the hostility...

caused by being uprooted
to a new environment.

We'll go to the play yard
without him.

And he'll follow us from a need
for group identification.

Really?

How many children do you have?

Just one. But an active one.

Well, I've never seen
anything like it.

You have enough equipment
to open a nursery school.

My husband and I believe
in physical exercise...

as a means of sublimating anxiety.

Go ahead, Tabatha,
play with anything you like.

Where do you and your husband
entertain your friends?

You mean when we have barbecues,
things like that?

- Yes.
- Oh, we have a little area...

outside the service porch.

All we have to do is move
the garbage cans.

Get off.

Michael dearest, there are
two other swings.

- I want this one.
- It's his favourite.

That's all right. Come on, Tabatha.
Come on.

You can swing on this one.

There now, Michael.
Now you have your swing.

I don't want it.

Do you have other children?

No, not yet.

Do you feel an only child
has greater difficulty...

in resolving the Oedipus conflict?

Well, I'm not sure.

I guess I haven't given it
much thought.

But I feel an only child makes it
easier on the grocery bill.

Look. They're both
in the same sandbox.

Is that good or bad?

It depends on how they orient
their behaviour patterns.

Let's leave them on their own.

Mrs. Stephens, we really should
leave them on their own.

Good.

How do you do that?

Your mother must be pleased
to have you living near her.

I think so.

Of course, she's thrilled
to be able to see more of Michael.

I can imagine.

Even though he's
a bit of a challenge.

Yes, I sensed that.

Stop that.

Make me.

Help! Mom!

That's Michael's frustration scream.

Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!
Get me out of here.

Tabatha.

What happened?

She locked me in a cage
and took away my wagon.

There's an example...

of the imagination of a child
with a free spirit.

Fantastic.

Tabatha, give Michael back
his wagon.

I'm terribly sorry.

Forget it. Let's finish our coffee.

Tabatha hasn't learned to share,
has she?

- I don't like you.
- I don't like you.

- I wish I was a doggy.
- Why?

So I could bite you to pieces.

I wish I was a doggy.

I wish so too.

What's that noise?

I guess they're playing
with your dog.

We don't have a dog.

Tabatha. Tabatha, where's Michael?

Tabatha, you didn't!

You couldn't.

You did?

Michael.

Where did that come from?

It's probably a stray.

And where's Michael?

Oh, he's probably hiding.

Michael. Michael, where are you?

Michael. Come out, come out,
wherever you are.

He went around in front.

I'm coming, dear. I'm coming.

Tabatha, I'm ashamed of you.

Hi, Gretchen. There was
some mix-up in appointments.

They had me down for tomorrow...

so I thought I'd come back
and see how things were going.

Where did that dog come from?

I have no idea,
but I wish he'd go away.

Get away. Get, get...

Did you see that?
He tried to bite me.

I've got a good mind
to call the dog pound...

and have him taken away.

I wouldn't do that.

The dog is probably just suffering
from a disorientation trauma...

compounded by a fear of rejection.

How do you know that?

Well, when you think of it, how much
different is a dog from a child?

Tabatha, that was
a very naughty thing to do.

Wishing Michael into a bulldog.

It was a "accent."

An accent?

You mean an accident.

How was it an accident?

He wished he was a doggy.
I wished so too.

Tabatha, when are you going
to learn that just because...

you wish something were so, that
you mustn't "wishcraft" it to happen.

Now, you see what I mean is,
you must control...

Michael?

Michael Millhowser.

If you find him, you tell
Gretchen immediately.

She's searching the house
from top to bottom.

And that stupid bulldog
is following her.

Tabatha. Come on, get down.
Come on.

Now, listen.

We have to change Michael back.

I suppose I should say
you have to change him...

because it's your spell.

Should I close my eyes and wish?

Yes. And wish as hard as you can.

Are you wishing
as hard as you can?

Yes.

Well, relax, sweetheart.
I guess you're too young to do it...

unless the victim's
right here with you.

He just doesn't seem to be
anywhere around.

But you mustn't do it...

in front of Mrs. Millhowser
or Grandma Stephens.

- Any luck?
- No.

He's a good hider.

I wish he'd come back,
but I'm gratified...

that when he does something,
he does it well.

I'm sure he's around somewhere.

Look at that. It's as if he's trying
to tell you something.

I don't wanna listen to him.
I wanna listen to my baby.

Come and get me, I'm out front!

Come on. Come on, Michael.
Come on.

Now, Tabatha...

what Mommy did was ventriloquism
with a dash of witchcraft.

I want you to hurry up and
wish Michael back into a...

Hold it, hold it.

Hold it?

Yes.

She was gonna play a game
with the doggy.

But now that you're here,
she'd much rather play with you.

That's sweet.

I wonder if he could've
run away from home.

You're right.

I'll go see if he has
an identification tag.

Samantha, come back.
I was talking about Michael.

Michael. Michael,
you come back here.

Michael. Michael, come here.

Michael. Michael, come on.

Be a good boy. Dog.

Come on, Michael.

Enough is enough.

All right. Come on. Come on.

All right, Tabatha. Come on.

Now, you wish Michael back
into a little boy.

And don't fool around.
Close your eyes.

We looked all over, and we ju...

- Michael.
- He was hiding out back.

My son, my darling,
my sweetheart, my angel.

Michael, I know you didn't
do it on purpose...

but you made Mommy very worried.

Where were you?

Please, I can handle this.

Michael, dear, where were you?

I was a doggy.

Michael, as you well know...

Daddy and I encourage
childhood fantasies...

as beneficial to
psychogenic development.

But this is going
just a little bit too far.

As your mother, I ask you again,
where were you?

I was a doggy.

He's a stubborn little boy, isn't he?

Samantha, what do you think?

About what?

About a child who compulsively
insists on fibbing.

Oh, that.

Well, I think that in this case
I'd make an allowance.

You see, that stray bulldog may have
frightened Michael into a trauma.

Of what specific nature?

Well, that's hard to say.

A psychogenic trauma?

You may be right.

However, there's also a possibility that
I may have committed a tactical error.

Of what specific nature?

Of being too permissive.

Of letting a 5-year-old boy run my life
instead of my running his.

Well, there is a group that advocates
the use of discipline.

And I belong to it.

Do you?

Oh, yes, I do.

I believe that children want
a certain amount of discipline.

To have limits on
what they can get away with.

Because having to be a free spirit
24 hours a day...

can be pretty exhausting.
And pretty confusing.

- Amen.
- That just might have some validity.

You know what?

I'm going to take a whack at it.

Michael, go clear all your junk
out of the living room.

Then I'll give you and Tabatha
some milk and cookies.

I don't want any milk.
I don't want any cookies.

And I want her to go home.

I'll give you and Tabatha
some milk and cookies...

and you will finish your milk
to the last drop.

- Is that clear?
- Yes, ma'am.

All right, Michael, move out.

Yes, ma'am.

How did that sound?

Fine. How did it feel?

It felt sensational.

I'll get the milk and cookies.

Samantha.

Yes, Mother Stephens?

What happened to the bulldog?

I think he finally heard
his master's voice.

All right, sweetheart.

You and your new bunny
have a nice nap, okay?

Bunny hop.

I'll bet after playing with Michael
all day...

Tabatha will have
a nice, long nap.

I bet she will too.

Aren't you glad
I talked you into going?

Very.

- What's the matter?
- Nothing.

Oh, nothing.

And you and your daughter have
each made a nice new friend.

Yes, we have.

So aren't you glad
I talked you into going?

Very.

Well, goodbye, Mother Stephens.
We'll see you soon.

Goodbye, dear.

- Oh, Samantha?
- Yes.

Give my son my love.

I will. I promise.

Tabatha, one of these days...

you are going to make your mother
a nervous wreck.