Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 1, Episode 13 - Sparrow in the Window - full transcript

Kathy finds a injured bird outside one of the windows at home. She brings it in to nurse it back to health. Everyone in the family also helps care for the bird and at the same time, the healing helps themselves.

Robert Young...

and Jane Wyatt.

With Elinor Donahue,

Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin...

Morning, dear.

Hmm?

What's that?

It's your breakfast.

Sit up.

What am I sick?

No, you're not sick.



I just thought it'd be nice.

It's our anniversary.

It's nothing, dear.

You worked hard
at the office all week,

yesterday you cut the grass,

you fixed the fence,

you painted the pantry,

and now today I
want it to be your day.

Darling.

How about church?

Oh, there's plenty of time.

Here, drink your juice.

I'm sorry it had to rain today,

I know you wanted to play golf.



Is it raining? It's pouring.

Oh, my one day
off for good behavior

and it has to rain.

Hi, Mom. Morning, Dad.

Are you sick?

No, I am not sick,

and since when do you barge in

to people's bedrooms
without knocking?

Well, it's after 9:00.

Oh, excuse me.

What is it you want, Bud?

I'm looking for my goggles.

Well, have you
looked in your closet?

I never keep them there.

You can never find anything
around this house when you want it.

Morning, Father. Mother, have
you seen my black satin shoes?

Are you sick?

No, but my chances are
getting better by the minute.

Are they in your closet?

Not a sign of them.

They must be in here,

I've looked absolutely
every place else.

What's the matter with you?

You scared the lights out of me.

Gee, toasted raisin bread.

Jelly?

Thanks, Dad.

Well, my newest pair of
shoes and now they're gone.

What are you eating?

Toasted raisin bread and jelly.

Mmm.

Thanks.

Now, now, now, both of you,

your father's trying
to enjoy his breakfast.

Now out!

My shoes!

My goggles.

My new hat!

Daddy! Daddy! Save me!

My breakfast.

I've packed your blanket
and your rubber mouse.

Oh, poor darling, I'm
sorry you have to...

I wish this rain would let up,

so the children
could go out and play.

Open this for
me, will you, dear?

That judge was insane. Sure.

Ow!

I'll have to get a towel,
my hand keeps slipping.

I don't know why they put
these caps on so tightly.

Mmm, so-so.

Down, Rover, I'm
glad to see you, too.

How you been, girl?

♪♪

Hey!

What's he doing on a horse?

A minute ago,

he was in a New York apartment

talking to... Did you
change my channel?

It was just a
couple of old people

sitting around talking.

Stop it, Fluffy.

She's all ready to go.

Well, I don't want to disrupt

any plans you
might have, but I...

Take it easy, Rover,
we'll go in a minute.

I mean about Fluffy.

Well, the court decreed I could
have her every other weekend.

Daddy, have you
seen the funny papers?

Now what would I be
doing with the funny papers?

I can't find them
anywhere in the house.

Oh, Kathy, I'm trying
to watch this play.

What kind of picture is it?

It's a comedy.

Then why aren't you laughing?

I don't know.

I don't think it's
so funny, Dad.

Why don't you get
the other station.

Because I want
to watch this one!

Daddy?

I thought you liked mysteries.

Well, this comedy is
certainly a mystery to me now.

Oh, Bud, didn't I ask you
to stop pounding that ball?

Kathy, please let
Daddy watch the show.

Now, why don't you go
somewhere and play, huh?

I can't go out and
play, it's raining.

Well, then go upstairs and play.

I can't play upstairs,
there's nothing to do.

Go on, go on.

Nobody cares what I do.

Even the day is crying.

Are you all right?

Why don't you answer?

Tweet, tweet.

Tweet, tweet.

What's the matter with you?

Maybe you catch cold.

Kathy!

Kathy!

What?

Get washed and
ready for dinner, dear.

I don't think I'm hungry.

Don't be silly. Now get ready.

Okay.

I've got to eat,

then I'll bring you some dinner.

But first I'll make
you a nice, warm nest.

This will be nice and comfy.

I wonder where my
little Kathy could be?

I'd be broken-hearted
if she were angry at me.

I'm not angry at you, Daddy!

Kathy!

Daddy, you want
to see what I have?

Yeah, what do you have?

What is it?

Well, for heaven's sake.

Where did you get him?

Out on the window sill.

He was cold and wet.

Kathy, I hope you didn't
hurt the poor, little thing.

Oh, no.

Imagine that, a fallen sparrow.

Do you think
that... My good hat.

Kathy, you made a
bird nest out of my hat.

Hey, Dad?

Mother wants to
know what happened.

Dinner's ready... What
have you got there?

Holy smoke! What's that?

It's mine! Kathy found it.

In a hat?

We haven't heard
a peep out of him.

Well, maybe it's hurt.

I think it's got a headache
the way it droops.

Well, I doubt if
birds get headaches,

but apparently
something's wrong.

Well.

Mother's just furious.
Dinner's on the table.

We're coming.

What have you
got there? It's mine!

A bird. A sparrow.

Oh, the dear, little thing.

Is there something
the matter with him?

No, it just doesn't
feel too good.

Has everybody gone on strike?

And do you intend wearing
your good hat into dinner?

Look!

Where... It's mine!

Kathy found it
on the window sill.

Oh, the poor,
darling little thing.

Well, look at it's teeny eyes.

You know, it looks as
though it has a headache.

See, I told you.

What are you
going to do with it?

I don't know.

It's mine!

Maybe we ought to call
the Animal Rescue League.

They'd put it out of its misery.

He's not in misery!
Ah ah ah, Kathy.

We'll take good
care of it, dear.

Let's all go and
have dinner now.

Yeah, I'm starved. So am I.

Hasn't touched a crumb.

He doesn't seem to
care about anything.

Here, Daddy. It's filled.

Lift him out gently, Bud.

And don't squeeze
him. He's mine.

I won't squeeze him and
stop saying he's yours.

If anybody ever
told me I'd be putting

a hot water bottle
in my good hat, I'd...

My new silk scarf.

Well, it's probably the
best-dressed sparrow in town.

You know who he looks like?

Mr. Quigley at the drug store.

I'm sure Mr. Quigley
would appreciate that.

I think I'll name
him Mr. Quigley.

What if he lays an egg?

He's not a chicken.

He'll be a dead duck if
he doesn't eat something.

You stop saying those things.

Bud, Bud, Bud.

Maybe if we gave
him some liquid.

Well, how about some warm milk?

Eeech.

Good idea! I'll heat some.

We could feed it
with an eyedropper.

Not "it", Mr. Quigley.

Okay, Mr. Quigley.

Run upstairs, shrimp,
and get an eyedropper.

That's enough, Jim.

You gonna feed it or bathe it?

Oh, not "it", Mr. Quigley.

Here, Daddy, I couldn't
find an eyedropper,

just a "nosedropper."

Well, don't advertise it.

I'm sure Mr. Quigley will
never know the difference.

Daddy's going to
feed Mr. Quigley.

All right, come on, bird.

I mean, Mr. Quigley.

Open your mouth.

Do you mind, please?

Come on, Mr. Quigley.

Hey, look up here.

Come on. Open your mouth.

Come on, pal.

Peep-peep.

Say "ah", Mr. Quigley.

Ooh, Dad, not in the eye!

I've fed birds with an
eyedropper before you were born.

But it's a "nosedropper."

Now, your father
knows what he's doing.

Go on, Jim.

You caught him
on top of the head!

But he blinked an eye!

Well, that's the best sign yet.

You know a man's getting
better when he starts to flirt.

Why isn't she in bed?

She just wanted to say
good night to Mr. Quigley.

Daddy, does
Mr. Quigley look better?

Well, it's kind of
hard to tell, Kitten.

Maybe he's asleep.

I think I heard him snore.

Well, it's quite possible.
He looks exhausted.

Maybe we ought to put
a dish of water in there.

He might get thirsty.

Well, we'll take
good care of him.

You say good night to him

and I'll take you
upstairs to bed.

Good night, Mr. Quigley,
and pleasant dreams.

Say good night to everybody.

Good night.

Good night, shrimp.

And don't worry.

Good night, Mommy.
Good night, darling.

Sleep tight, Kathy.

We'll take good
care of your friend.

We'll keep him nice and warm.

Good night.

Oh, nothing's going to
happen to him, don't worry.

Are you sure?

I promise.

You really promise, Daddy?

Well, Kathy, what I meant was...

Tomorrow he'll be singing
and hopping around,

my very own bird.

Well, Kathy, I-I mean that...

Will he stand on my finger?

Kathy, that all depends.

But you promised he'd be better.

Kitten, listen to me.

Daddy will do everything he can,

but birds are

one of God's more
delicate, little creatures,

and sometimes it's up to Him

whether they live or die.

You mean you can't
help Mr. Quigley

to get all better
without God's help?

That's right, Kitten.

Dear God,

please help Daddy to
make Mr. Quigley all better.

He's a delicate little creature.

Not Daddy, but Mr. Quigley.

He's only a bird.

Amen and good night.

Mr. Quigley will get better
now, won't he, Daddy?

It sure seems so, Kitten.

Now get into bed, honey.

That's a girl.

Good night, dear.

Good night, Daddy.

What's troubling you, Jim?

Margaret, we've got to
pull Mr. Quigley through.

Unthinkingly I promised Kathy.

Dear, you didn't.

Well, she was worried, I
had to tell her something.

But, Jim, you know Kathy lives
and breathes in your promises.

I know.

I'm not in this thing
alone, I've got a partner.

Partner?

Kathy prayed.

She thought I might
need some help.

Oh, Jim.

Well, what do you think?

Looks like I'm going
to need that help.

How's Quig?

Your guess is as
good as mine, Bud.

Bud, didn't Joe have
a sick canary once?

Yeah, he was dying
and then he got better.

You want me to call Joe and
find out what he did? Do that.

Hello, Joe? Bud.

Remember when that stupid
canary of yours got sick?

What did you do to cure it?

Yeah?

What did he say, Bud?

Go on, tell us.

He says he held a
cat up to the cage

and the canary perked right up.

A cat?

For goodness sake, hang up!

Joe, we don't have a cat.

Daddy!

Is there a cat down there?

No, Kitten.

It's just Bud talking to
Joe on the telephone.

How's Mr. Quigley?

He's all right, Kathy.

You go right back to bed.

Okay, stinky. Gee, thanks.

Janie Little says
it's very simple!

Call a bird doctor.

Is there such a thing
as a bird doctor?

Call Dr. Evans.

He's our doctor.

But, Jim...

Besides, he raises
birds as a hobby.

That's right.

Bud, dial Dr. Evans.

Hope Kathy doesn't come
sneaking back and overhear this.

Hello, Ed?

Jim Anderson.

Say, I have a real problem.

No, no, the family's all right.

It's Mr. Quigley.

Mr. Quig... Uh, a
sparrow that Kathy found.

He's pretty sick,

and we'd like to pull
him through if we can.

For Kathy's sake,
you understand?

Well, he hasn't eaten anything,

and he doesn't seem
to have any life at all.

There isn't, huh?

Well... thanks anyway, Ed.

Yeah. Good-bye.

He says there's
nothing we can do.

A wild bird... We'll
just have to wait.

And hope.

You keep late hours, darling.

Well, it's after
3 in the morning.

Well, I couldn't sleep.

And I-I just thought
that... I know.

How is our fine, feathered
friend, Mr. Quigley?

Not much change.

Margaret, am I being silly,
worrying about a sparrow?

After all... I love you for it.

Well, now that we're up,
how about raiding the icebox?

It's a wonderful idea.

Betty. Mother.

Father! I... I was
just... I know, dear.

Walking in your sleep.

How's Mr. Quigley?

Well, as they say,
resting quietly,

which can mean anything.

The poor, little thing.

Did you change
the hot water bottle?

And refeathered the nest.

Bud? Mom. Dad.

Bud, do you realize you
have school tomorrow?

I couldn't sleep.

How's he doing?

I was thinking the hot water
bottle ought to be changed.

You overslept.

What are you all dressed
up for, a Halloween party?

Father, if you don't teach
him to have some respect...

Bud. Bud, I don't like
that kind of talk, either.

What did I say?

Well, let's not
discuss it anymore.

Come on, you two,
get back to bed.

Daddy! Mommy!

Daddy! Daddy!

Wake up, Daddy!

It's Mr. Quigley!
Come on downstairs!

What time is it?

Quick, Daddy!

Mr. Quigley's gone.

What time did he leave?

Gone!

Yes, Daddy, I knew there
was a cat in the house!

Run, Daddy!

Run fast! Mr. Quigley's gone!

Mr.Quigley's gone! I heard.

He's gone!

That's what I said.

He didn't even leave a note.

I can't understand it.

Mr. Quigley!

It ain't old
Farnsworth's rooster!

Somebody get my slippers!

There he is! He's mine.

Let's not scare him.

There he goes!
Boy, is he flying?

Shh.

On the window sill.

Ssh.

We don't want to frighten him.

He knows me, Daddy.

I won't frighten him.

Tweet, tweet.

Mr. Quigley. Tweet, tweet.

It's me, Mr. Quigley.

How do you like that?
He jumped on her finger.

I don't believe it.

See?

He's really mine.

A wild sparrow.

Just listen to him.

What did he say, Kathy?

I don't know what he said.

I only know what I tweet to him.

What are we going
to do with him now?

He's not sick anymore.

I'm gonna keep him.

He's my very own bird.

Well, Kitten, if we
keep Mr. Quigley,

we'll have to put him in a cage.

I know.

Well, I suppose we could
put the cage by the window

where he could
look through the bars.

Maybe he could see the other
birds free and hopping around,

but I wonder if he'd be happy.

Gee, I wonder.

Kathy, remember yesterday
when it rained all day

and you wanted to
go outside and play

but you couldn't
leave the house?

Remember how unhappy you were?

Well, imagine Mr. Quigley
being locked up like that

all the rest of his life,

just like in prison.

Daddy?

Yes, Kitten?

Open the window.

Bye, Mr. Quigley.

Come back and visit.

Do you think Mr. Quigley
will ever come back, Daddy?

It's possible,
he forgot his hat.

A cute, little thing.

He was a bird.

What time is it?

It's almost 6:00.

6:00? It's still the
middle of the night.

Come on, you kids, out!

I have an hour and a
half's sleep coming to me!

Yeah, shrimp, what's the
idea of waking me up so early?

I look a mess.

I'll absolutely have
bags under my eyes.

I'm not staying up any longer.

Out! All of you!

Kathie? Back into bed.

But I'm not sleepy.

Well, go to bed anyway. Aw.

Aw, go ahead, dear,

and close the door
on your way out.

Nobody cares anything about me.

Closed-Captioned By J.R.
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