Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 1, Episode 19 - Father of the Year - full transcript
The local newspaper is hosting a Father of the Year contest. Betty, Bud, and Kathy want to nominate Jim. Jim finds out and is overjoyed that his children want to submit an entry. But the kids cannot think of anything to actually write.
Robert Young...
and Jane Wyatt.
With Elinor Donahue,
Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin...
Maybe he doesn't even
want to be Father of the Year.
Of course he does, Bud.
Every father in Springfield wants
to be named Father of the Year,
and ours is no exception.
Yeah.
But why do we have
to write 25 words?
I don't know. All
contests want 25 words.
Maybe Dad would rather
be Chess Player of the Year.
He doesn't play chess.
He plays canasta
on Thursday nights.
Oh, fine. "We think our father
should be named Father of the Year
because he plays canasta
on Thursday nights."
Well, it's better than nothing.
I wonder why he
doesn't play chess.
This has got to be
something important.
Joe Phillips has an uncle
that plays chess all the time.
Something with dignity. Day
in and day out. He never stops.
Oh, Bud, come on. Think
of something complimentary.
The contest closes tomorrow.
He's... generous.
Are you kidding?
I only get 35 cents a week.
Well, there must be something
good we can say about him.
Hello?
Oh, hello, dear.
Oh, I'm fine.
Oh, yes, the
children are fine, too.
Fine. I'm glad everybody's fine.
Uh, are they, uh,
doing anything,
uh, unusual today?
Well, as a matter of fact, they're
doing something quite unusual.
They're being quiet.
Oh.
Oh?
Father of the Year?
A contest?
You don't say.
What won't they think
of next, huh, Margaret?
They are?
They are!
Fine.
I'll see you at
dinner. Good-bye.
You don't look as though
you've accomplished very much.
We need help, Mother.
I don't see why it
should be so difficult
to say something
nice about your father.
Then why don't you do it for us?
Sure, Mommy. You've
known him longer.
Well, that wouldn't be fair.
It's your contest.
However, maybe I can
give you some ideas.
Your father works very hard
to give us all the
things we need.
Doesn't he? Yes.
Yes.
He's considerate, unselfish,
and he's generous.
I only get 35 cents a week.
Well, he's generous in
a different way, Kathy.
What other way is there?
He gives us all his
love, his attention.
He devotes his
entire life to making us
the kind of family that
everyone will respect.
Now, does that help you?
Well, it helps, Mother, but we still
don't know how to make it literary.
I'm no Shakespeare.
You've got the rest
of the day to do it in.
You can do it.
Father of the Year.
I wonder what they will write.
They'll figure out something.
After all, three heads
are better than one.
I wonder why just 25 words.
Can't say much in 25 words.
I suppose I'll have
to give a speech.
I mean, if I win.
A fine way to treat
the Father of the Year.
Hi, honey! I'm home!
I'll be right there!
Well, well, well.
How are the most wonderful
children in the whole world?
Hi, Father.
Hi, Dad. Hello, Daddy.
Oh. Maybe I'm in
the wrong house.
Hello, dear.
No, I'm in the right house.
Why, um, all the long faces?
Nothing that 25
words won't cure.
Oh!
Something I can
get for you, Father?
You don't look as
though you're able.
What a day. Simply terrible.
Pretty bad, huh?
You see, we know you're
the best father in the world.
And we figure you
ought to win hands down.
Oh, I wouldn't say that.
Only we can't figure out why.
That sounds more like my family.
Oh, what she means is
we don't know how to say it.
Well, I... really
shouldn't help you,
but, uh, if you, uh...
Oh, we don't want your
help, Father. We don't?
Well, if you're really stuck.
We're stuck.
Well, it shouldn't
be too difficult.
After all, I'm not, uh, too
bad-looking as father's go.
You're pretty.
Your mother thinks I'm
handy around the house.
Well, that isn't what she said
when you tried to
fix the television set.
Well, that was
kind of, uh, tricky.
Let's see. Um...
Uh, I-I'm a good canasta player.
See?
Um, don't you worry
about it, Father.
No, Dad, I think
maybe we'd better do it.
We'll think of something.
And we won't stop till we do.
Except for dinner.
And bless this food
and our wonderful family.
Amen.
What is this, a race of
some kind? Betty, slow down.
You act as though
this were your last meal.
We've got to write your
contest essay tonight, Father.
Oh, well, in that case,
maybe you had better hurry.
Just don't choke.
I'll get it.
I never saw it to fail.
Hello? Hello, Joe?
Every time we sit down
to eat, the phone rings.
I know how to stop
it, Daddy. How, Kitten?
When the phone bill
comes, don't pay it.
Not a bad idea. That
was Joe Phillips, Dad.
He wants me to come up to
his uncle's farm this weekend.
Isn't that great? How are
you going to get there?
Joe's got a license.
We can drive.
The last time he took a
trip, he wrecked his dad's car.
Whose car is he figuring
on wrecking this time?
Yours. I mean...
Well, he thought...
I know what he thought.
Bud, I wouldn't trust Joe
Phillips with a... a Pogo stick.
Oh, goobers.
Please, Dad. I'll be careful.
How can you be
careful if he's driving?
You never let me do anything.
Well, I'm not going
to let you do this.
You'd think I was a
juvenile or something.
When you act this way, you are.
Now eat your
dinner. I'm not hungry.
Then excuse yourself
and leave the table.
Excuse me.
Margaret, you know Joe Phillips
is the worst driver
in the whole world.
Bud knows that,
too. Don't worry, dear.
But he didn't finish his dinner.
He knows I'll save it for him.
Margaret, they're
writing about me.
Father of the Year.
I'll get it.
No, Betty, I'll go.
You keep on with,
uh, what you're doing.
Father doesn't seem
to be himself tonight.
Kind of nice, isn't it?
Who was it?
Someone with a package.
It's for you, Princess.
Gee, I wonder what it is.
Well, why don't you open it?
Here. I'll do it.
What? Oh, isn't it beautiful?
It's from Milan's Jewelry store.
Who sent it to you, Betty?
"To Betty with my undying love.
Donald Martin." Oh!
Well, how could a young boy
afford an expensive
pin like this?
He probably gets
a big allowance.
Which one is, uh, Donald Martin?
He's the one with the,
uh, necktie that lights up.
Betty, I want you to call Donald
and tell him you're
returning the pin.
Why?
Princess, nice young girls
don't accept expensive jewelry
from boys they hardly know.
Well, I could get to know him.
Call Donald in the
morning and explain.
But I don't want
to send it back.
Then I'll have to do it for you.
All right, Father.
If you insist on
being so Model T.
Now, if you don't
mind, I think I'll retire.
My, everybody's touchy tonight.
I think we're
all a little tired.
I'm not tired.
Kathy, it's past your bedtime.
Oh, I have to nominate
Daddy Father of the Year.
I think I've just
been disqualified.
Oh. Come on, Kathy.
I-I'm pretty busy.
Uh, let her stay up a
little while, Margaret.
Well, all right, but
just for a little while.
Daddy? Hmm?
How do you spell handsome?
Um, H-A-N-D-S-O-M-E.
And... how do you
spell generous?
Uh, G-E-N-E-R-O-U-S.
You know, Daddy, I can't
get along on 35 cents a week.
Would you like to try for 50?
50 cents is too much
money for a little girl.
How do you spell stingy?
What's that?
Well, come to think of it,
with rising costs and all,
I guess 50 cents isn't too much.
You're the best daddy
in the whole world!
I'm glad you think so, Kitten.
Daddy, do you know
anything about yogi?
You mean where everybody
goes around standing on his head?
No.
It's supposed to be healthy.
I'm healthy.
Patty Davis' father does it.
Well, let Patty
Davis' father do it.
But I told Patty anything
her father could do,
my father could do.
That does it.
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Jim!
He's a yogi, Mommy!
I think it's past your bedtime.
Well, it's supposed to
be good for your health.
I can see that. Come on, Kathy.
Oh, wait. She hasn't finished
yet, Margaret. It's past 9:00.
Oh, Margaret! Come on.
Good night, Daddy!
Who wants to be Father
of the Year anyway?
Good morning, darling.
Morning, dear.
Ow!
Nothing like standing on
your head for your health.
Yeah. Let that
be a lesson to me.
Where are the children?
Bud's gone over to Joe Phillips'
to explain about the weekend.
Good.
Kathy could hardly wait
to get over to the Davises'.
And, uh, Betty?
Betty's having breakfast
with her drama club.
Thanks.
Was she, uh, still upset
about sending the pin back?
She was more upset
about what Donald will think.
Donald! I wish he'd
give his undying love
to somebody else's daughter.
Toast, dear?
Oh, you keep it.
I wish I knew how
much he paid for that pin.
Well, why don't you take
it over to Milan's and ask?
You might find
out it's inexpensive.
I hope I'm doing right
about this whole thing.
I, uh, think your
toast is done, dear.
It's burned.
It must be the toaster.
Margaret, do you know
what I'm going to do?
I'm afraid to ask. I'm going to
take that pin down to Milan's
and find out exactly how
much Donald paid for it.
I knew you'd think
of something, dear.
Mr. Milan, do you
remember this pin?
It was purchased here.
I only charge $5.00.
$5.00? Is that all?
I give the boy a discount
because he bought my last six pins.
Six? He bought six of these?
The boy is in
love with six girls.
He has to be fair to everyone.
And for love, I let him
pay me 50 cents a week.
Why do you want to know?
Well, it seems my daughter
is one of the six. Oh.
Mr. Milan, I'd rather
she didn't know
about the other five.
My honor and the honor
of France is at stake.
Thank you very much.
Uh, merci beaucoup.
L'amour.
Toujours l'amour.
Miss Grisby, send in
the manicurist, please.
And, uh, tell the
barber to stand by.
I'll probably need
another shave today.
Andrew, tell the boys
they did a good job on
that Washington merger.
Send them all wristwatches
as a token of my appreciation.
Platinum, of course. Hello, son.
Hi, Dad.
You, uh, comfortable?
Just resting my feet.
Sit still.
I, uh, rather like the idea of
my son sitting behind my desk.
How do you feel about it?
Well, I'd feel better
if it was modernistic.
What's, uh, on your mind?
Well, I wanted to talk to you.
Say, Dad, I don't feel
right somehow sitting here.
Let me sit where you are,
and you sit where I am.
Well, whatever
makes you comfortable.
I was talking to Joe
Phillips this morning,
and I found out the
whole trip was a frame-up.
What do you mean? Well,
his uncle's hired man quit,
and all us fellas were
supposed to go up there
and spend the
weekend digging ditches.
Boy, you must
think I'm real dumb.
Well, it's not that, Bud.
You're honest, and
you expect others to be.
That's a pretty good philosophy.
But, uh, don't
always depend on it.
It's a big farm,
too. It covers acres.
Well, you didn't do it,
so everything's all right.
I just wanted to let
you know... I'm sorry.
About last night, I mean.
Well, don't worry about it, son.
It takes a pretty big
person to admit he's wrong.
Say, how about taking in a
basketball game with me tonight?
Someone gave me a
couple of tickets. I would, Dad,
but I promised some of
the fellas I'd go with them.
You know, we all sit
together and all that.
But thanks anyway.
Well, there'll be
lots of other games.
Yeah.
Say, Dad? Yes?
I think I know where you can buy one
of those modernistic desks wholesale.
Thanks, Bud.
When I decide to go
modern, I'll let you know.
Hello, Bud.
Hello, Mr. White. I'll see
you after the game, Dad.
Right.
Say, those Father of
the Year nominations
are really rolling in, Jim.
That's right. This is
the last day, isn't it?
Midnight, it's all over.
Wait till you hear what
my little girl wrote about me.
I'll wait. I, uh...
I just happen to
have a copy of it here.
Listen to this.
"I think my father should
be named Father of the Year
"because he's
strong as Hercules,
"wise as Solomon,
smart as Einstein"...
And get this... "as
handsome as Alan Ladd."
How about that?
Well, it's a little, uh,
conservative, isn't it?
Well, you really can't say
very much in 25 words.
What did your
kids say about you?
Oh, they wouldn't tell me.
Afraid I might, uh,
get too conceited.
Kind of hard not to
sometimes, isn't it?
Yeah, kind of. Well,
I'll see you Monday.
So long, Harry.
Call me Alan.
Call him Alan.
Probably wrote it himself.
What's the matter, Princess?
I've just suffered the
extreme humiliation. That's all.
Sounds pretty serious.
My faith in all mankind
has been destroyed.
In one man, anyway.
You, uh, want to
tell me about it?
You know I had breakfast
at the girls' drama club today.
Is that where your faith in
all mankind was destroyed?
And five of the girls were wearing
the same pin Donald gave me!
Could be Donald
wants to be initiated.
That isn't funny, Father.
Betty, were you wearing his pin?
You know I wasn't.
I called him like you
asked me to, and...
Did you send it back?
This morning, by
special messenger.
Then... I was the
only one out of six girls
he didn't fool.
It's kind of funny,
isn't it, Father?
Well, I don't think it's very
funny to the other five girls.
But it is to us.
You know, Father,
you're the greatest!
Well, in that case, I can be talked
into taking you to a show tonight.
Oh, I'd love to, but... I hear
there's a good show at the Capital.
I promised Janie I'd
go to the show with her.
We could even
have dinner together!
I promised Janie I'd
have dinner with her, too.
Oh, well, it was just an idea.
Some other time.
Hello, honey. Oh.
I didn't hear you come in.
I slipped in under the door.
Somebody cancel a policy?
Nothing as simple as that.
You can tell me about
it as I set the table.
You know, sometimes I wonder
if I am a very good father.
Oh, Jim, you're the best!
That's open for debate.
Isn't Kathy eating
with us, either?
Oh, she's having dinner
at the Davises' tonight.
Oh. Davis standing
on his head again?
Oh, Jim.
What is it?
Well, it's just that I used to
be so close to the children.
We did things together.
Now, all of a sudden,
we're miles apart.
Well, they're growing up,
dear. They have other interests.
I know. That's
what's worrying me.
Margaret,
do you think my mailman
looks anything like Alan Ladd?
Anybody home?
In here, Bud!
Hi, Daddy! Hello, Kitten.
I thought you weren't
going to be in for dinner.
We've been over at the
Davis's working on something.
Father, we have something
we'd like to read to you.
Go ahead.
"We think our father,
James Anderson,
"should be named
Father of the Year
"because he's our
guidepost on the road of life.
"Although when we stray
from paths he's marked so right,
he doesn't say,
'I told you so.'"
Betty wrote it.
Bud helped. And I agreed.
That's very nice, children!
It's in 25 words, too.
They're the most beautiful
25 words I've ever heard.
Thank you... very much.
We finally figured
out something to say.
Did... Did you think we'd
forgotten you, Father?
Oh, of course not.
I never... doubted
it for a minute.
But, Father, if we do win,
we'll have to go to the banquet.
You're not going to get a
strapless evening dress.
Dad, this car is
a steal. Only $75.
Daddy, you owe me
15 cents from last week.
Margaret, will you
pass the sugar, please?
Bud, pass the
sugar to your father.
If Joe Phillips can have a
hotrod, I don't see why I can't.
Bud, the sugar, please.
I'll probably be the only girl
there with straps on my dress.
Daddy, Mr. Davis is
learning how to wrestle.
I may have to wrestle
someone for that sugar.
I suppose when I'm 80 years old,
I'll still be riding
around on a scooter.
I'll be a disgrace. People'll
pass by, and they'll say,
"There goes poor
old Bud Anderson."
Will somebody... anybody...
Please pass the sugar?
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA
and Jane Wyatt.
With Elinor Donahue,
Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin...
Maybe he doesn't even
want to be Father of the Year.
Of course he does, Bud.
Every father in Springfield wants
to be named Father of the Year,
and ours is no exception.
Yeah.
But why do we have
to write 25 words?
I don't know. All
contests want 25 words.
Maybe Dad would rather
be Chess Player of the Year.
He doesn't play chess.
He plays canasta
on Thursday nights.
Oh, fine. "We think our father
should be named Father of the Year
because he plays canasta
on Thursday nights."
Well, it's better than nothing.
I wonder why he
doesn't play chess.
This has got to be
something important.
Joe Phillips has an uncle
that plays chess all the time.
Something with dignity. Day
in and day out. He never stops.
Oh, Bud, come on. Think
of something complimentary.
The contest closes tomorrow.
He's... generous.
Are you kidding?
I only get 35 cents a week.
Well, there must be something
good we can say about him.
Hello?
Oh, hello, dear.
Oh, I'm fine.
Oh, yes, the
children are fine, too.
Fine. I'm glad everybody's fine.
Uh, are they, uh,
doing anything,
uh, unusual today?
Well, as a matter of fact, they're
doing something quite unusual.
They're being quiet.
Oh.
Oh?
Father of the Year?
A contest?
You don't say.
What won't they think
of next, huh, Margaret?
They are?
They are!
Fine.
I'll see you at
dinner. Good-bye.
You don't look as though
you've accomplished very much.
We need help, Mother.
I don't see why it
should be so difficult
to say something
nice about your father.
Then why don't you do it for us?
Sure, Mommy. You've
known him longer.
Well, that wouldn't be fair.
It's your contest.
However, maybe I can
give you some ideas.
Your father works very hard
to give us all the
things we need.
Doesn't he? Yes.
Yes.
He's considerate, unselfish,
and he's generous.
I only get 35 cents a week.
Well, he's generous in
a different way, Kathy.
What other way is there?
He gives us all his
love, his attention.
He devotes his
entire life to making us
the kind of family that
everyone will respect.
Now, does that help you?
Well, it helps, Mother, but we still
don't know how to make it literary.
I'm no Shakespeare.
You've got the rest
of the day to do it in.
You can do it.
Father of the Year.
I wonder what they will write.
They'll figure out something.
After all, three heads
are better than one.
I wonder why just 25 words.
Can't say much in 25 words.
I suppose I'll have
to give a speech.
I mean, if I win.
A fine way to treat
the Father of the Year.
Hi, honey! I'm home!
I'll be right there!
Well, well, well.
How are the most wonderful
children in the whole world?
Hi, Father.
Hi, Dad. Hello, Daddy.
Oh. Maybe I'm in
the wrong house.
Hello, dear.
No, I'm in the right house.
Why, um, all the long faces?
Nothing that 25
words won't cure.
Oh!
Something I can
get for you, Father?
You don't look as
though you're able.
What a day. Simply terrible.
Pretty bad, huh?
You see, we know you're
the best father in the world.
And we figure you
ought to win hands down.
Oh, I wouldn't say that.
Only we can't figure out why.
That sounds more like my family.
Oh, what she means is
we don't know how to say it.
Well, I... really
shouldn't help you,
but, uh, if you, uh...
Oh, we don't want your
help, Father. We don't?
Well, if you're really stuck.
We're stuck.
Well, it shouldn't
be too difficult.
After all, I'm not, uh, too
bad-looking as father's go.
You're pretty.
Your mother thinks I'm
handy around the house.
Well, that isn't what she said
when you tried to
fix the television set.
Well, that was
kind of, uh, tricky.
Let's see. Um...
Uh, I-I'm a good canasta player.
See?
Um, don't you worry
about it, Father.
No, Dad, I think
maybe we'd better do it.
We'll think of something.
And we won't stop till we do.
Except for dinner.
And bless this food
and our wonderful family.
Amen.
What is this, a race of
some kind? Betty, slow down.
You act as though
this were your last meal.
We've got to write your
contest essay tonight, Father.
Oh, well, in that case,
maybe you had better hurry.
Just don't choke.
I'll get it.
I never saw it to fail.
Hello? Hello, Joe?
Every time we sit down
to eat, the phone rings.
I know how to stop
it, Daddy. How, Kitten?
When the phone bill
comes, don't pay it.
Not a bad idea. That
was Joe Phillips, Dad.
He wants me to come up to
his uncle's farm this weekend.
Isn't that great? How are
you going to get there?
Joe's got a license.
We can drive.
The last time he took a
trip, he wrecked his dad's car.
Whose car is he figuring
on wrecking this time?
Yours. I mean...
Well, he thought...
I know what he thought.
Bud, I wouldn't trust Joe
Phillips with a... a Pogo stick.
Oh, goobers.
Please, Dad. I'll be careful.
How can you be
careful if he's driving?
You never let me do anything.
Well, I'm not going
to let you do this.
You'd think I was a
juvenile or something.
When you act this way, you are.
Now eat your
dinner. I'm not hungry.
Then excuse yourself
and leave the table.
Excuse me.
Margaret, you know Joe Phillips
is the worst driver
in the whole world.
Bud knows that,
too. Don't worry, dear.
But he didn't finish his dinner.
He knows I'll save it for him.
Margaret, they're
writing about me.
Father of the Year.
I'll get it.
No, Betty, I'll go.
You keep on with,
uh, what you're doing.
Father doesn't seem
to be himself tonight.
Kind of nice, isn't it?
Who was it?
Someone with a package.
It's for you, Princess.
Gee, I wonder what it is.
Well, why don't you open it?
Here. I'll do it.
What? Oh, isn't it beautiful?
It's from Milan's Jewelry store.
Who sent it to you, Betty?
"To Betty with my undying love.
Donald Martin." Oh!
Well, how could a young boy
afford an expensive
pin like this?
He probably gets
a big allowance.
Which one is, uh, Donald Martin?
He's the one with the,
uh, necktie that lights up.
Betty, I want you to call Donald
and tell him you're
returning the pin.
Why?
Princess, nice young girls
don't accept expensive jewelry
from boys they hardly know.
Well, I could get to know him.
Call Donald in the
morning and explain.
But I don't want
to send it back.
Then I'll have to do it for you.
All right, Father.
If you insist on
being so Model T.
Now, if you don't
mind, I think I'll retire.
My, everybody's touchy tonight.
I think we're
all a little tired.
I'm not tired.
Kathy, it's past your bedtime.
Oh, I have to nominate
Daddy Father of the Year.
I think I've just
been disqualified.
Oh. Come on, Kathy.
I-I'm pretty busy.
Uh, let her stay up a
little while, Margaret.
Well, all right, but
just for a little while.
Daddy? Hmm?
How do you spell handsome?
Um, H-A-N-D-S-O-M-E.
And... how do you
spell generous?
Uh, G-E-N-E-R-O-U-S.
You know, Daddy, I can't
get along on 35 cents a week.
Would you like to try for 50?
50 cents is too much
money for a little girl.
How do you spell stingy?
What's that?
Well, come to think of it,
with rising costs and all,
I guess 50 cents isn't too much.
You're the best daddy
in the whole world!
I'm glad you think so, Kitten.
Daddy, do you know
anything about yogi?
You mean where everybody
goes around standing on his head?
No.
It's supposed to be healthy.
I'm healthy.
Patty Davis' father does it.
Well, let Patty
Davis' father do it.
But I told Patty anything
her father could do,
my father could do.
That does it.
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
Jim!
He's a yogi, Mommy!
I think it's past your bedtime.
Well, it's supposed to
be good for your health.
I can see that. Come on, Kathy.
Oh, wait. She hasn't finished
yet, Margaret. It's past 9:00.
Oh, Margaret! Come on.
Good night, Daddy!
Who wants to be Father
of the Year anyway?
Good morning, darling.
Morning, dear.
Ow!
Nothing like standing on
your head for your health.
Yeah. Let that
be a lesson to me.
Where are the children?
Bud's gone over to Joe Phillips'
to explain about the weekend.
Good.
Kathy could hardly wait
to get over to the Davises'.
And, uh, Betty?
Betty's having breakfast
with her drama club.
Thanks.
Was she, uh, still upset
about sending the pin back?
She was more upset
about what Donald will think.
Donald! I wish he'd
give his undying love
to somebody else's daughter.
Toast, dear?
Oh, you keep it.
I wish I knew how
much he paid for that pin.
Well, why don't you take
it over to Milan's and ask?
You might find
out it's inexpensive.
I hope I'm doing right
about this whole thing.
I, uh, think your
toast is done, dear.
It's burned.
It must be the toaster.
Margaret, do you know
what I'm going to do?
I'm afraid to ask. I'm going to
take that pin down to Milan's
and find out exactly how
much Donald paid for it.
I knew you'd think
of something, dear.
Mr. Milan, do you
remember this pin?
It was purchased here.
I only charge $5.00.
$5.00? Is that all?
I give the boy a discount
because he bought my last six pins.
Six? He bought six of these?
The boy is in
love with six girls.
He has to be fair to everyone.
And for love, I let him
pay me 50 cents a week.
Why do you want to know?
Well, it seems my daughter
is one of the six. Oh.
Mr. Milan, I'd rather
she didn't know
about the other five.
My honor and the honor
of France is at stake.
Thank you very much.
Uh, merci beaucoup.
L'amour.
Toujours l'amour.
Miss Grisby, send in
the manicurist, please.
And, uh, tell the
barber to stand by.
I'll probably need
another shave today.
Andrew, tell the boys
they did a good job on
that Washington merger.
Send them all wristwatches
as a token of my appreciation.
Platinum, of course. Hello, son.
Hi, Dad.
You, uh, comfortable?
Just resting my feet.
Sit still.
I, uh, rather like the idea of
my son sitting behind my desk.
How do you feel about it?
Well, I'd feel better
if it was modernistic.
What's, uh, on your mind?
Well, I wanted to talk to you.
Say, Dad, I don't feel
right somehow sitting here.
Let me sit where you are,
and you sit where I am.
Well, whatever
makes you comfortable.
I was talking to Joe
Phillips this morning,
and I found out the
whole trip was a frame-up.
What do you mean? Well,
his uncle's hired man quit,
and all us fellas were
supposed to go up there
and spend the
weekend digging ditches.
Boy, you must
think I'm real dumb.
Well, it's not that, Bud.
You're honest, and
you expect others to be.
That's a pretty good philosophy.
But, uh, don't
always depend on it.
It's a big farm,
too. It covers acres.
Well, you didn't do it,
so everything's all right.
I just wanted to let
you know... I'm sorry.
About last night, I mean.
Well, don't worry about it, son.
It takes a pretty big
person to admit he's wrong.
Say, how about taking in a
basketball game with me tonight?
Someone gave me a
couple of tickets. I would, Dad,
but I promised some of
the fellas I'd go with them.
You know, we all sit
together and all that.
But thanks anyway.
Well, there'll be
lots of other games.
Yeah.
Say, Dad? Yes?
I think I know where you can buy one
of those modernistic desks wholesale.
Thanks, Bud.
When I decide to go
modern, I'll let you know.
Hello, Bud.
Hello, Mr. White. I'll see
you after the game, Dad.
Right.
Say, those Father of
the Year nominations
are really rolling in, Jim.
That's right. This is
the last day, isn't it?
Midnight, it's all over.
Wait till you hear what
my little girl wrote about me.
I'll wait. I, uh...
I just happen to
have a copy of it here.
Listen to this.
"I think my father should
be named Father of the Year
"because he's
strong as Hercules,
"wise as Solomon,
smart as Einstein"...
And get this... "as
handsome as Alan Ladd."
How about that?
Well, it's a little, uh,
conservative, isn't it?
Well, you really can't say
very much in 25 words.
What did your
kids say about you?
Oh, they wouldn't tell me.
Afraid I might, uh,
get too conceited.
Kind of hard not to
sometimes, isn't it?
Yeah, kind of. Well,
I'll see you Monday.
So long, Harry.
Call me Alan.
Call him Alan.
Probably wrote it himself.
What's the matter, Princess?
I've just suffered the
extreme humiliation. That's all.
Sounds pretty serious.
My faith in all mankind
has been destroyed.
In one man, anyway.
You, uh, want to
tell me about it?
You know I had breakfast
at the girls' drama club today.
Is that where your faith in
all mankind was destroyed?
And five of the girls were wearing
the same pin Donald gave me!
Could be Donald
wants to be initiated.
That isn't funny, Father.
Betty, were you wearing his pin?
You know I wasn't.
I called him like you
asked me to, and...
Did you send it back?
This morning, by
special messenger.
Then... I was the
only one out of six girls
he didn't fool.
It's kind of funny,
isn't it, Father?
Well, I don't think it's very
funny to the other five girls.
But it is to us.
You know, Father,
you're the greatest!
Well, in that case, I can be talked
into taking you to a show tonight.
Oh, I'd love to, but... I hear
there's a good show at the Capital.
I promised Janie I'd
go to the show with her.
We could even
have dinner together!
I promised Janie I'd
have dinner with her, too.
Oh, well, it was just an idea.
Some other time.
Hello, honey. Oh.
I didn't hear you come in.
I slipped in under the door.
Somebody cancel a policy?
Nothing as simple as that.
You can tell me about
it as I set the table.
You know, sometimes I wonder
if I am a very good father.
Oh, Jim, you're the best!
That's open for debate.
Isn't Kathy eating
with us, either?
Oh, she's having dinner
at the Davises' tonight.
Oh. Davis standing
on his head again?
Oh, Jim.
What is it?
Well, it's just that I used to
be so close to the children.
We did things together.
Now, all of a sudden,
we're miles apart.
Well, they're growing up,
dear. They have other interests.
I know. That's
what's worrying me.
Margaret,
do you think my mailman
looks anything like Alan Ladd?
Anybody home?
In here, Bud!
Hi, Daddy! Hello, Kitten.
I thought you weren't
going to be in for dinner.
We've been over at the
Davis's working on something.
Father, we have something
we'd like to read to you.
Go ahead.
"We think our father,
James Anderson,
"should be named
Father of the Year
"because he's our
guidepost on the road of life.
"Although when we stray
from paths he's marked so right,
he doesn't say,
'I told you so.'"
Betty wrote it.
Bud helped. And I agreed.
That's very nice, children!
It's in 25 words, too.
They're the most beautiful
25 words I've ever heard.
Thank you... very much.
We finally figured
out something to say.
Did... Did you think we'd
forgotten you, Father?
Oh, of course not.
I never... doubted
it for a minute.
But, Father, if we do win,
we'll have to go to the banquet.
You're not going to get a
strapless evening dress.
Dad, this car is
a steal. Only $75.
Daddy, you owe me
15 cents from last week.
Margaret, will you
pass the sugar, please?
Bud, pass the
sugar to your father.
If Joe Phillips can have a
hotrod, I don't see why I can't.
Bud, the sugar, please.
I'll probably be the only girl
there with straps on my dress.
Daddy, Mr. Davis is
learning how to wrestle.
I may have to wrestle
someone for that sugar.
I suppose when I'm 80 years old,
I'll still be riding
around on a scooter.
I'll be a disgrace. People'll
pass by, and they'll say,
"There goes poor
old Bud Anderson."
Will somebody... anybody...
Please pass the sugar?
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA