Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 1, Episode 2 - Lesson in Citizenship - full transcript
Jim Anderson, dismayed at his children's laziness, lectures them in the importance of good citizenship and cheerful volunteering. When each of them later heed his advice and try to do their part in the community, their efforts end up complicating his own life in unexpected ways.
Robert Young...
and Jane Wyatt...
with Elinor Donahue,
Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin...
Betty!
Betty!
Betty, I need
you in the kitchen!
Betty, I need some
potatoes peeled!
In a minute, Mother.
I need you now!
I'm halfway there already.
Bud?
Bud, you haven't emptied
the waste basket yet.
I'm practically there already.
Kathy, you may
start setting the table.
O-kay.
Bud!
I'm on my way.
I gotta finish doing
something first.
By all means, get that
important work done.
Hi, Dad. You home?
No. I'm in Ethiopia
hunting wild goats.
Look, I know I shouldn't
bother you when you're so busy,
but if you'll just slow
down for a minute,
I'd like to say something.
Bud! Betty!
Can't come now, Mom.
Dad's keeping us here.
What are you doing
to my workers?
I'm not doing anything.
And neither are
they. Look at them.
I hope they don't get nervous
breakdowns from overwork.
I'm talking to
you, too, Princess.
Oh, hello, Father.
Daddy, why don't little
fish swim backwards?
I don't know, and don't
change the subject.
Your mother's been
calling for a little help
and none of you have moved.
We said we'd be right there.
You said it, but
you didn't do it.
We need a little more
action around here.
Active participation is the
basis of good citizenship.
Don't you kids
realize that the habits
you form here at
home are the ones
you're going to take with
you into your community life?
A good citizen
doesn't shirk his duty.
He does his share
to help others.
And what's more, he doesn't
have to be asked a hundred times;
he volunteers
willingly and cheerfully.
Is that clear?
Mother, do you believe
Elizabeth Taylor's waistline
is only 19 inches?
Oh, fine.
Dad? What?
Are the goats really
wild in Ethiopia?
How do you like that?
They didn't hear
one word I said.
Not one word!
Would you care to
volunteer for K.P.?
You can talk to those kids
until you're black in the face.
Daddy, I think I
understand it now.
You do?
Yes. The reason they
don't swim backwards
is because they'll wind
up in the same place
going forwards.
Kathy, would you lead
us in our closing pledge?
Under the sign of the wigwam,
we, the Little
Squaws of America,
Pocahontas Tribe, District 19,
pledge our hearts and our minds
to blaze a trail of goodness,
and to help others
along the way.
That's fine.
Kathy, that's enough.
Now, girls, let's be
sure and remember
our Little Squaw goodwill box.
It goes to a poor family in town
who needs our help very much,
so let's all bring in
our bundles of old,
but useable clothing
tomorrow morning.
Gee, Mrs. Davis, do we have to?
Now, Marsha, the spirit of
giving comes from the heart.
You do it because you want
to, not because you have to.
It's purely a matter
of volunteering.
And you do it
willingly and cheerfully.
Did you say "volunteering"?
That's right, Kathy.
You know what that
means, don't you?
No, but Daddy says we should,
so count me in.
Mommy, I'm leaving!
All right, Angel.
Come right home after school.
But really, I didn't
touch the suit.
Now, what would I want
with one of your suits?
Well, I know I hung it there!
I'm positive. I
took it out of the...
Could I be losing my memory?
I'm still young. Sort of.
Oh, don't worry.
It'll turn up someplace.
What's the matter?
You think it's all right?
It doesn't have any holes.
Oh, Kathy, it's wonderful!
Your father must be a
very generous person.
Yes, ma'am.
This will be quite a surprise.
Yes, it will be.
Well, say, now... Say, now!
Hey, Edna, look at this!
Will, look at this!
Are you sure these things
came from the Little Squaws?
Oh, Will, I never thought
this would happen to us.
Wearing cast-offs.
Aw, now, now, honey, we've
got to keep our spirits up.
We'll get something.
At least now I'll
look presentable
to go out and hunt for a job.
Pretty good fit, huh?
Not bad.
Tailored for James
Anderson, 607 South Maple.
Pretty fancy, huh?
Peanut butter and jelly.
Are you sure you didn't send
it to the cleaners or something?
Dear, I tell you I
didn't even see it.
Now stop worrying.
But it's upsetting to
have something disappear
under your very...
You don't suppose we
had a burglar, do you?
I think a burglar would be
more selective than that.
What do you mean by
that? I mean... Kathy?
Go back to bed.
I can't sleep. I'm hungry.
I want a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich, please.
Oh, no, you don't.
You're just thinking up excuses.
Now, back to bed.
I thought I'd kiss
Daddy good-night first.
Good night, Kitten.
Be a good girl.
Oh, I have been.
Remember what you
told us about being citizens
and volunteering and all that?
You mean you heard that?
Oh, yes. The Little Squaws
are helping a poor family.
So, I did like you
said. I volunteered.
Kathy, I'm proud of you.
I volunteered that...
old tan suit of yours.
And everyone would
really... You what?
I guess that clears that up.
Kathy, you mean you actually
gave away my good suit?
Oh, that wasn't your good suit.
I still wear it.
Did I do wrong, Daddy?
Well...
You said you wanted
us to volunteer.
That's right, but...
you better check
with me after this
before you volunteer
all my clothes.
Does, uh, this man
already have the suit?
Yes. And your hat, too.
What hat?
I hope it's that old brown one.
You look just awful in that.
Come on, Kathy.
It was comfortable.
Takes a man a long
time to break in a hat
to where it feels right.
Up you go, you little volunteer.
And hurry.
Oh, darling, stop
worrying about that suit.
I don't know why you kept on
wearing the old thing anyway.
Some suits have a
certain feel to them,
gives a man a
sense of confidence.
I'll never get another one
to hang on me like that one did.
I hope not.
I feel as though
I'd lost an old friend.
Hey, Dad?
I've just been to a
Junior Hi-Y meeting
and there's something
I gotta check with you.
How much will it cost me?
Nothing. That's good.
Yet. Our annual
Father and Son Banquet
comes up next week and,
well, they have entertainment
and stuff like that, see?
Uh-huh.
And they needed
somebody to head up
the entertainment committee.
Nobody said anything.
Then I remembered what you said
about volunteering,
so I raised my hand.
You, too?
Yeah, but I told them I'd
better check with you first.
Oh, I'm for it, son, 100%.
That was the whole
idea of the talk.
Go to it, boy. Swell!
Then I'll call up Joe Phillips
and tell him it's all set.
Good.
I'm glad to see Bud take
an active part in things.
He's a little apt to sit back
and let the others do it.
What amazes me
is you try and try
to get a point over to the kids,
and you swear they're
not paying any attention
to you at all, and
then a few days later...
Hello, Joe?
This is Bud.
You home?
Yeah, I'm home.
I always liked the intelligent
conversation he and Joe have.
Yeah, well, Dad said
he was for it 100%,
so put him down as head of
the entertainment committee.
I'll see you tomorrow, Joe. Bye.
Wait, Bud! Don't hang up!
He already hung up. Something
you wanted to ask him?
No, there's something
I want to ask you.
What's this about me? I
thought you volunteered.
I did. I volunteered you.
You see, for these banquets
the dads always
head the committees.
Well, look, can't you,
uh, un-volunteer me?
If everyone would do his
part willingly and cheerfully...
All right, all right.
Bud, take these
upstairs, will you?
And after this, try
unbuttoning your shirts
before you take them off.
Okay, Mom.
Dad, who do you
think you're going to get
to entertain at the banquet?
Well, um, how about
Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby,
Betty Grable, The Ritz Brothers,
Roy Rogers, and Trigger.
That'd be swell.
I'm so glad you approve.
You know, this'll
be a better program
than Ollie Ziegler's
dad got up last year.
And they all said nobody
would ever top that.
Dad, how soon are you gonna know
if all these people can come?
Oh, look, Bud,
in the first place...
Gotta know pretty soon
because we gotta get the names
printed in the program.
Bud, I-I...
I gotta go upstairs and
do some homework.
Good night, Dad.
Good night.
Sure was keen of
you to volunteer.
Wasn't it?
The good citizen
doesn't shirk his duty.
He does his share
to help others.
Oh, somebody will
want me to be a witness.
I don't want to get
dragged into court.
Besides, nobody
asked me to be one.
And what's more,
the good citizen
doesn't wait to be asked.
He volunteers...
willingly and cheerfully.
Oh, miss?
Would you wait a minute, please?
I didn't really see any
of it hardly. I-I just...
I sure could use a witness.
Wouldn't you just
give me your name?
I'm sorry, I...
Why, yes.
I always believe
one to do one's duty.
Willingly and cheerfully.
So I said I would. Witness?
What do you mean you
have to be a witness?
Just that, Father.
See, I was coming
home from the library,
so I crossed Oak Street, and these
two cars bumped into each other.
What two cars?
The two cars in the accident.
Oh, that helps a lot.
Was anyone hurt?
No. Some woman was
driving one of the cars.
And the other one
was driven by... Greg.
Who's Greg? Greg Patterson.
Mother, he has the most
wonderful brown eyes
you've ever seen!
All right, we know all about
his eyes, but who is he?
A senior in college,
but I'd never met him.
Mother, his eyes are actually
penetrating, but actually...
You should never have
gotten involved in this, Betty.
Well, I started to
walk away and...
And then I remembered
what Father said
about good citizens
always volunteering.
So, without a
moment's hesitation,
I marched right back
and volunteered to help,
thinking only of my civic duty.
You should never have stopped.
No, she did the
right thing, Margaret.
I'm an insurance man.
I know how difficult it is
to get witnesses in these cases.
I'm glad you did it,
Betty. It was your duty.
I'm worried, Father.
I don't know how
to be a witness.
What do you do first?
You cross your legs, don't you?
Only in cartoons.
I don't think you'll
have to go to court.
But if you ever do, just
tell the truth, that's all.
That's the trouble.
See, Greg asked me if I saw
the woman go through the red light
and I said "yes,"
and he put that down.
That's all right if that's
the way it happened.
But after I got to
thinking about it,
I couldn't remember
whether it was red or green.
I don't even remember
seeing the traffic light.
Fine. I can see you're going
to make a wonderful witness.
All I remember are
those sweet brown eyes.
Hello?
Yes, this is he.
Oh, hello, Mrs. Paisley.
I'm sorry to disturb you
at this hour, Mr. Anderson.
But these things are always
such a beastly nuisance to me.
A-And you handle
them so beautifully.
That's right.
The left front
fender and the grill.
Uh-huh.
Tell me, Mrs. Paisley,
did this by any chance
happen at the Oak
Street intersection?
Oh, just psychic, I guess.
Wait, don't tell me.
Was his name Greg Patterson?
That's nothing.
I can even tell you
what color eyes he has.
I didn't notice his eyes,
but I got his license number.
Oh! It was his fault, naturally.
And we can prove it, too.
If we could just locate a
girl who saw the whole thing.
Do you, uh, have any
idea who that girl might be?
I didn't have a
chance to find out.
This... This Patterson person
whisked her away in his car
while I was examining my bumper.
We've got to locate her.
Well, we may be
able to find her.
You'd better come
in tomorrow morning
and make out a full report.
All right, Mrs. Paisley.
Goodbye.
Now... N-Now, Father,
it was really your fault!
I... I wouldn't have stopped
if it hadn't been
for your lecture!
Yes, and that's the
last lecture I ever give.
I make one little suggestion
and look what happens.
I'm head of an
entertainment committee,
I lose my best suit,
and now I'm involved
in an accident case
against my best client!
When will I ever learn to
keep my big mouth shut?
Uh-huh.
All right, Mr. Potter.
We'll see what
we can find for you.
Thanks. You, uh,
think it might be soon?
Can't tell. Oh, wait.
You should have put
down some references.
Er, uh, references?
I see you're fairly new in town,
but you should list at least
one local business acquaintance.
Yes, one... one business acq...
That's right.
Put down my good
friend James Anderson.
Okay.
Address?
Uh, 607 South Maple.
607 South Maple.
Phone?
It's in the book.
I never can remember numbers.
Anderson...
Is that the Anderson who's the
wholesale grocery distributor?
That's him.
He's one of the biggest
distributors of jelly
and peanut butter that I know.
Angel, don't load up
no sandwiches now.
It's almost lunchtime and you
eat too many of them anyway.
I don't eat so many.
Mostly, I just lose them.
Is Father home yet? No.
And put your sweater
where it belongs.
Mother, I've done
nothing all morning
but worry about the trial.
If I testify for Greg,
Father's insurance
company will lose.
And if I testify for Father,
I'll betray poor Greg.
And he has such beautiful eyes.
You can't just testify
any way you want to.
You've got to tell the truth.
Oh, that.
Will they put you in jail?
No!
Who's going to put who in jail?
Daddy!
Father, hurry up, tell me.
Is Mrs. Paisley going to sue?
We don't know yet.
There seems to be a
big difference of opinion
as to who entered
the intersection first,
Mrs. Paisley or Brown Eyes.
Can you remember who did? Uh...
Think hard, now.
This is important.
I think it was Mrs. Paisley.
Well, that's good.
♪♪
Or maybe it was Greg.
Oh, fine.
Well, I know it was
one or the other.
I'm glad you're
sure of something.
Take your sweater
and get ready for lunch.
All right, Mother.
Father, about the intersection,
which would be better for Greg?
Betty, trials are not
conducted that way.
One switch in your testimony
and you could be
convicted of perjury.
Can we visit Betty in jail?
You keep out of this.
Ah, turn blue.
Dad, have you got it?
Got what?
The entertainment
for the HI-Y banquet.
Oh, that. Deadline's this noon.
Noon? You mean right now?
Yeah. If I don't get it now, we can't
get it printed up in the programs.
The committee's gonna call you.
I just haven't had
time to do it, Bud.
You haven't?
Gee, Dad, you promised.
Now, look, Bud...
Seems to me when a fellow
volunteers for something...
Bud, have you washed your hands?
Not quite.
Gee, Dad, you gotta think
of something, get somebody.
They're depending on you.
Well, maybe we could
get that quartet at my lodge.
They have a couple
of comedy numbers...
Had them last year.
Oh.
How about the Parker family?
They all play harmonicas.
They... Had 'em last year.
Well, how about,
uh... Had 'em last year.
Wait till I tell you who
I was going to suggest.
All right, who is it?
Uh, well, I hadn't
thought of anybody yet.
Bud, your hands.
I'm going.
Gee, Dad, be thinking.
You just gotta get somebody.
Yeah, yeah.
Jumpin' catfish!
What are you doing
in Mom's clothes?
You wouldn't understand.
You've never been
on the witness stand.
Hello.
Is, uh, this where
Betty Anderson lives?
Yeah.
Well, if she's home,
could I see her?
My name is Greg Patterson.
Oh, you're Brown Eyes.
Yeah, I'll tell her you're here.
Oh, Betty, stop
dramatizing this thing.
You're not Mata Hari
going on trial for her life.
I'm only trying to
do my civic duty.
Nobody's gonna
believe the testimony
of some little snip
of a bobby-sockser.
Hey, Tallulah, guess
who's here to see you.
Brown Eyes. Brown Eyes?
Oh, they've come
for me! I wouldn't faint.
It's not as serious
as that, dear.
What'll I do?
Well, I... I'd go
in and talk to him.
I can't. I just can't! I'll go.
I should be handling
this business anyway.
Stop interfering. He
didn't ask to see you.
Hey, Dad, have you got
some entertainment yet?
Oh, Bud, stop needling me.
I have enough problems
with Betty and Greg.
This was your idea
in the first place.
You said a good cit...
I know what I said.
Uh-oh, there they are,
Dad. That's the committee.
What are you going to tell them?
Uh, you talk to them, Bud.
Not me.
I'm not head of entertainment.
Well, I'm not either.
Somebody's got to do something.
Hello?
Yes, just a minute.
You may as well face it, dear.
Hey, there's my sandwich!
This is just not my day.
Hello?
Yes, this is Mr. Anderson.
But I've been so
busy, I haven't... Who?
State Unemployment Bureau?
No, I don't know
anyone by that name.
You must have the
wrong Anderson.
Aren't you the Anderson
in jelly and peanut butter?
What happened, dear?
Nothing.
Uh, what did you say?
Oh! No, no.
I'm in the insurance business
and I don't know any Mr. Potter.
Potter?
Daddy, that's the man!
Yes, this is 607 South Maple.
Daddy, Daddy! Just
a moment, please.
Kathy, don't I have
enough trouble
without you pestering me?
But, Daddy, that's
the man, Mr. Potter.
What man?
The man we gave your suit to.
Oh, so that's it.
He's not satisfied
with the suit,
now he's using my name, too.
But, dear, he's
probably desperate.
Anything to get a job.
That's all very well, but...
Now, you know a good citizen
always does his
share to help others
willingly and cheerfully.
Hello. I-I'm sorry
to keep you waiting,
but I just found out I do have
sort of a connection
with this Mr. Potter.
What kind of work
is he looking for?
Well, what's his background?
Oh, it is?
Tell you what.
Why don't you have him drop
by my office this afternoon.
Commercial building.
Bye. Thank you.
Thank you, dear.
We'll make a good
citizen out of you yet.
Dad, what about
that entertainment?
You just gotta get somebody.
Oh, Bud, stop worrying.
Have I ever let
you down? Well, no.
But gee, Dad, they're
depending on you.
Mother, guess what?
I'm going with Greg!
Oh, dear. Is it to court? No!
To jail?
No, to the Terra Supper Club!
Odd place for a trial.
There's no trial. ♪♪
Greg's insurance
company's settling that.
Wait a minute.
What's that playing?
That's a record Greg
made on his home recorder.
He brought it over
for me to hear.
Mother, he's a
wonderful piano player!
I'll have to have a talk
with that young man.
Uh, but Father!
Mother, what's he gonna do?
Who knows.
♪♪
Ladies and gent...
Dads and boys...
this is quite a moment for us.
Edna and I...
Edna and I have played to
many audiences everywhere,
but you people here...
I just can't express it, but...
it's all in here.
And I want you to know
that as long as we live,
we shall always be grateful
to your very fine
program chairman
and my very, very good friend...
James Anderson.
I wish you could have
been there, honey.
They wouldn't let the
Potters off the stage!
I bet they were happy.
It must have seemed as
if they were living again.
Well, they were.
And you know what happened
right after the banquet? What?
Hal Leonard signed them
up for a tour of army camps.
How wonderful!
And what a change
it made in them.
It gave them back
their self-respect.
I certainly learned tonight
how important that is.
You must never take
that away from a man.
And you know something else?
That suit of mine
never looked better.
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA
and Jane Wyatt...
with Elinor Donahue,
Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin...
Betty!
Betty!
Betty, I need
you in the kitchen!
Betty, I need some
potatoes peeled!
In a minute, Mother.
I need you now!
I'm halfway there already.
Bud?
Bud, you haven't emptied
the waste basket yet.
I'm practically there already.
Kathy, you may
start setting the table.
O-kay.
Bud!
I'm on my way.
I gotta finish doing
something first.
By all means, get that
important work done.
Hi, Dad. You home?
No. I'm in Ethiopia
hunting wild goats.
Look, I know I shouldn't
bother you when you're so busy,
but if you'll just slow
down for a minute,
I'd like to say something.
Bud! Betty!
Can't come now, Mom.
Dad's keeping us here.
What are you doing
to my workers?
I'm not doing anything.
And neither are
they. Look at them.
I hope they don't get nervous
breakdowns from overwork.
I'm talking to
you, too, Princess.
Oh, hello, Father.
Daddy, why don't little
fish swim backwards?
I don't know, and don't
change the subject.
Your mother's been
calling for a little help
and none of you have moved.
We said we'd be right there.
You said it, but
you didn't do it.
We need a little more
action around here.
Active participation is the
basis of good citizenship.
Don't you kids
realize that the habits
you form here at
home are the ones
you're going to take with
you into your community life?
A good citizen
doesn't shirk his duty.
He does his share
to help others.
And what's more, he doesn't
have to be asked a hundred times;
he volunteers
willingly and cheerfully.
Is that clear?
Mother, do you believe
Elizabeth Taylor's waistline
is only 19 inches?
Oh, fine.
Dad? What?
Are the goats really
wild in Ethiopia?
How do you like that?
They didn't hear
one word I said.
Not one word!
Would you care to
volunteer for K.P.?
You can talk to those kids
until you're black in the face.
Daddy, I think I
understand it now.
You do?
Yes. The reason they
don't swim backwards
is because they'll wind
up in the same place
going forwards.
Kathy, would you lead
us in our closing pledge?
Under the sign of the wigwam,
we, the Little
Squaws of America,
Pocahontas Tribe, District 19,
pledge our hearts and our minds
to blaze a trail of goodness,
and to help others
along the way.
That's fine.
Kathy, that's enough.
Now, girls, let's be
sure and remember
our Little Squaw goodwill box.
It goes to a poor family in town
who needs our help very much,
so let's all bring in
our bundles of old,
but useable clothing
tomorrow morning.
Gee, Mrs. Davis, do we have to?
Now, Marsha, the spirit of
giving comes from the heart.
You do it because you want
to, not because you have to.
It's purely a matter
of volunteering.
And you do it
willingly and cheerfully.
Did you say "volunteering"?
That's right, Kathy.
You know what that
means, don't you?
No, but Daddy says we should,
so count me in.
Mommy, I'm leaving!
All right, Angel.
Come right home after school.
But really, I didn't
touch the suit.
Now, what would I want
with one of your suits?
Well, I know I hung it there!
I'm positive. I
took it out of the...
Could I be losing my memory?
I'm still young. Sort of.
Oh, don't worry.
It'll turn up someplace.
What's the matter?
You think it's all right?
It doesn't have any holes.
Oh, Kathy, it's wonderful!
Your father must be a
very generous person.
Yes, ma'am.
This will be quite a surprise.
Yes, it will be.
Well, say, now... Say, now!
Hey, Edna, look at this!
Will, look at this!
Are you sure these things
came from the Little Squaws?
Oh, Will, I never thought
this would happen to us.
Wearing cast-offs.
Aw, now, now, honey, we've
got to keep our spirits up.
We'll get something.
At least now I'll
look presentable
to go out and hunt for a job.
Pretty good fit, huh?
Not bad.
Tailored for James
Anderson, 607 South Maple.
Pretty fancy, huh?
Peanut butter and jelly.
Are you sure you didn't send
it to the cleaners or something?
Dear, I tell you I
didn't even see it.
Now stop worrying.
But it's upsetting to
have something disappear
under your very...
You don't suppose we
had a burglar, do you?
I think a burglar would be
more selective than that.
What do you mean by
that? I mean... Kathy?
Go back to bed.
I can't sleep. I'm hungry.
I want a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich, please.
Oh, no, you don't.
You're just thinking up excuses.
Now, back to bed.
I thought I'd kiss
Daddy good-night first.
Good night, Kitten.
Be a good girl.
Oh, I have been.
Remember what you
told us about being citizens
and volunteering and all that?
You mean you heard that?
Oh, yes. The Little Squaws
are helping a poor family.
So, I did like you
said. I volunteered.
Kathy, I'm proud of you.
I volunteered that...
old tan suit of yours.
And everyone would
really... You what?
I guess that clears that up.
Kathy, you mean you actually
gave away my good suit?
Oh, that wasn't your good suit.
I still wear it.
Did I do wrong, Daddy?
Well...
You said you wanted
us to volunteer.
That's right, but...
you better check
with me after this
before you volunteer
all my clothes.
Does, uh, this man
already have the suit?
Yes. And your hat, too.
What hat?
I hope it's that old brown one.
You look just awful in that.
Come on, Kathy.
It was comfortable.
Takes a man a long
time to break in a hat
to where it feels right.
Up you go, you little volunteer.
And hurry.
Oh, darling, stop
worrying about that suit.
I don't know why you kept on
wearing the old thing anyway.
Some suits have a
certain feel to them,
gives a man a
sense of confidence.
I'll never get another one
to hang on me like that one did.
I hope not.
I feel as though
I'd lost an old friend.
Hey, Dad?
I've just been to a
Junior Hi-Y meeting
and there's something
I gotta check with you.
How much will it cost me?
Nothing. That's good.
Yet. Our annual
Father and Son Banquet
comes up next week and,
well, they have entertainment
and stuff like that, see?
Uh-huh.
And they needed
somebody to head up
the entertainment committee.
Nobody said anything.
Then I remembered what you said
about volunteering,
so I raised my hand.
You, too?
Yeah, but I told them I'd
better check with you first.
Oh, I'm for it, son, 100%.
That was the whole
idea of the talk.
Go to it, boy. Swell!
Then I'll call up Joe Phillips
and tell him it's all set.
Good.
I'm glad to see Bud take
an active part in things.
He's a little apt to sit back
and let the others do it.
What amazes me
is you try and try
to get a point over to the kids,
and you swear they're
not paying any attention
to you at all, and
then a few days later...
Hello, Joe?
This is Bud.
You home?
Yeah, I'm home.
I always liked the intelligent
conversation he and Joe have.
Yeah, well, Dad said
he was for it 100%,
so put him down as head of
the entertainment committee.
I'll see you tomorrow, Joe. Bye.
Wait, Bud! Don't hang up!
He already hung up. Something
you wanted to ask him?
No, there's something
I want to ask you.
What's this about me? I
thought you volunteered.
I did. I volunteered you.
You see, for these banquets
the dads always
head the committees.
Well, look, can't you,
uh, un-volunteer me?
If everyone would do his
part willingly and cheerfully...
All right, all right.
Bud, take these
upstairs, will you?
And after this, try
unbuttoning your shirts
before you take them off.
Okay, Mom.
Dad, who do you
think you're going to get
to entertain at the banquet?
Well, um, how about
Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby,
Betty Grable, The Ritz Brothers,
Roy Rogers, and Trigger.
That'd be swell.
I'm so glad you approve.
You know, this'll
be a better program
than Ollie Ziegler's
dad got up last year.
And they all said nobody
would ever top that.
Dad, how soon are you gonna know
if all these people can come?
Oh, look, Bud,
in the first place...
Gotta know pretty soon
because we gotta get the names
printed in the program.
Bud, I-I...
I gotta go upstairs and
do some homework.
Good night, Dad.
Good night.
Sure was keen of
you to volunteer.
Wasn't it?
The good citizen
doesn't shirk his duty.
He does his share
to help others.
Oh, somebody will
want me to be a witness.
I don't want to get
dragged into court.
Besides, nobody
asked me to be one.
And what's more,
the good citizen
doesn't wait to be asked.
He volunteers...
willingly and cheerfully.
Oh, miss?
Would you wait a minute, please?
I didn't really see any
of it hardly. I-I just...
I sure could use a witness.
Wouldn't you just
give me your name?
I'm sorry, I...
Why, yes.
I always believe
one to do one's duty.
Willingly and cheerfully.
So I said I would. Witness?
What do you mean you
have to be a witness?
Just that, Father.
See, I was coming
home from the library,
so I crossed Oak Street, and these
two cars bumped into each other.
What two cars?
The two cars in the accident.
Oh, that helps a lot.
Was anyone hurt?
No. Some woman was
driving one of the cars.
And the other one
was driven by... Greg.
Who's Greg? Greg Patterson.
Mother, he has the most
wonderful brown eyes
you've ever seen!
All right, we know all about
his eyes, but who is he?
A senior in college,
but I'd never met him.
Mother, his eyes are actually
penetrating, but actually...
You should never have
gotten involved in this, Betty.
Well, I started to
walk away and...
And then I remembered
what Father said
about good citizens
always volunteering.
So, without a
moment's hesitation,
I marched right back
and volunteered to help,
thinking only of my civic duty.
You should never have stopped.
No, she did the
right thing, Margaret.
I'm an insurance man.
I know how difficult it is
to get witnesses in these cases.
I'm glad you did it,
Betty. It was your duty.
I'm worried, Father.
I don't know how
to be a witness.
What do you do first?
You cross your legs, don't you?
Only in cartoons.
I don't think you'll
have to go to court.
But if you ever do, just
tell the truth, that's all.
That's the trouble.
See, Greg asked me if I saw
the woman go through the red light
and I said "yes,"
and he put that down.
That's all right if that's
the way it happened.
But after I got to
thinking about it,
I couldn't remember
whether it was red or green.
I don't even remember
seeing the traffic light.
Fine. I can see you're going
to make a wonderful witness.
All I remember are
those sweet brown eyes.
Hello?
Yes, this is he.
Oh, hello, Mrs. Paisley.
I'm sorry to disturb you
at this hour, Mr. Anderson.
But these things are always
such a beastly nuisance to me.
A-And you handle
them so beautifully.
That's right.
The left front
fender and the grill.
Uh-huh.
Tell me, Mrs. Paisley,
did this by any chance
happen at the Oak
Street intersection?
Oh, just psychic, I guess.
Wait, don't tell me.
Was his name Greg Patterson?
That's nothing.
I can even tell you
what color eyes he has.
I didn't notice his eyes,
but I got his license number.
Oh! It was his fault, naturally.
And we can prove it, too.
If we could just locate a
girl who saw the whole thing.
Do you, uh, have any
idea who that girl might be?
I didn't have a
chance to find out.
This... This Patterson person
whisked her away in his car
while I was examining my bumper.
We've got to locate her.
Well, we may be
able to find her.
You'd better come
in tomorrow morning
and make out a full report.
All right, Mrs. Paisley.
Goodbye.
Now... N-Now, Father,
it was really your fault!
I... I wouldn't have stopped
if it hadn't been
for your lecture!
Yes, and that's the
last lecture I ever give.
I make one little suggestion
and look what happens.
I'm head of an
entertainment committee,
I lose my best suit,
and now I'm involved
in an accident case
against my best client!
When will I ever learn to
keep my big mouth shut?
Uh-huh.
All right, Mr. Potter.
We'll see what
we can find for you.
Thanks. You, uh,
think it might be soon?
Can't tell. Oh, wait.
You should have put
down some references.
Er, uh, references?
I see you're fairly new in town,
but you should list at least
one local business acquaintance.
Yes, one... one business acq...
That's right.
Put down my good
friend James Anderson.
Okay.
Address?
Uh, 607 South Maple.
607 South Maple.
Phone?
It's in the book.
I never can remember numbers.
Anderson...
Is that the Anderson who's the
wholesale grocery distributor?
That's him.
He's one of the biggest
distributors of jelly
and peanut butter that I know.
Angel, don't load up
no sandwiches now.
It's almost lunchtime and you
eat too many of them anyway.
I don't eat so many.
Mostly, I just lose them.
Is Father home yet? No.
And put your sweater
where it belongs.
Mother, I've done
nothing all morning
but worry about the trial.
If I testify for Greg,
Father's insurance
company will lose.
And if I testify for Father,
I'll betray poor Greg.
And he has such beautiful eyes.
You can't just testify
any way you want to.
You've got to tell the truth.
Oh, that.
Will they put you in jail?
No!
Who's going to put who in jail?
Daddy!
Father, hurry up, tell me.
Is Mrs. Paisley going to sue?
We don't know yet.
There seems to be a
big difference of opinion
as to who entered
the intersection first,
Mrs. Paisley or Brown Eyes.
Can you remember who did? Uh...
Think hard, now.
This is important.
I think it was Mrs. Paisley.
Well, that's good.
♪♪
Or maybe it was Greg.
Oh, fine.
Well, I know it was
one or the other.
I'm glad you're
sure of something.
Take your sweater
and get ready for lunch.
All right, Mother.
Father, about the intersection,
which would be better for Greg?
Betty, trials are not
conducted that way.
One switch in your testimony
and you could be
convicted of perjury.
Can we visit Betty in jail?
You keep out of this.
Ah, turn blue.
Dad, have you got it?
Got what?
The entertainment
for the HI-Y banquet.
Oh, that. Deadline's this noon.
Noon? You mean right now?
Yeah. If I don't get it now, we can't
get it printed up in the programs.
The committee's gonna call you.
I just haven't had
time to do it, Bud.
You haven't?
Gee, Dad, you promised.
Now, look, Bud...
Seems to me when a fellow
volunteers for something...
Bud, have you washed your hands?
Not quite.
Gee, Dad, you gotta think
of something, get somebody.
They're depending on you.
Well, maybe we could
get that quartet at my lodge.
They have a couple
of comedy numbers...
Had them last year.
Oh.
How about the Parker family?
They all play harmonicas.
They... Had 'em last year.
Well, how about,
uh... Had 'em last year.
Wait till I tell you who
I was going to suggest.
All right, who is it?
Uh, well, I hadn't
thought of anybody yet.
Bud, your hands.
I'm going.
Gee, Dad, be thinking.
You just gotta get somebody.
Yeah, yeah.
Jumpin' catfish!
What are you doing
in Mom's clothes?
You wouldn't understand.
You've never been
on the witness stand.
Hello.
Is, uh, this where
Betty Anderson lives?
Yeah.
Well, if she's home,
could I see her?
My name is Greg Patterson.
Oh, you're Brown Eyes.
Yeah, I'll tell her you're here.
Oh, Betty, stop
dramatizing this thing.
You're not Mata Hari
going on trial for her life.
I'm only trying to
do my civic duty.
Nobody's gonna
believe the testimony
of some little snip
of a bobby-sockser.
Hey, Tallulah, guess
who's here to see you.
Brown Eyes. Brown Eyes?
Oh, they've come
for me! I wouldn't faint.
It's not as serious
as that, dear.
What'll I do?
Well, I... I'd go
in and talk to him.
I can't. I just can't! I'll go.
I should be handling
this business anyway.
Stop interfering. He
didn't ask to see you.
Hey, Dad, have you got
some entertainment yet?
Oh, Bud, stop needling me.
I have enough problems
with Betty and Greg.
This was your idea
in the first place.
You said a good cit...
I know what I said.
Uh-oh, there they are,
Dad. That's the committee.
What are you going to tell them?
Uh, you talk to them, Bud.
Not me.
I'm not head of entertainment.
Well, I'm not either.
Somebody's got to do something.
Hello?
Yes, just a minute.
You may as well face it, dear.
Hey, there's my sandwich!
This is just not my day.
Hello?
Yes, this is Mr. Anderson.
But I've been so
busy, I haven't... Who?
State Unemployment Bureau?
No, I don't know
anyone by that name.
You must have the
wrong Anderson.
Aren't you the Anderson
in jelly and peanut butter?
What happened, dear?
Nothing.
Uh, what did you say?
Oh! No, no.
I'm in the insurance business
and I don't know any Mr. Potter.
Potter?
Daddy, that's the man!
Yes, this is 607 South Maple.
Daddy, Daddy! Just
a moment, please.
Kathy, don't I have
enough trouble
without you pestering me?
But, Daddy, that's
the man, Mr. Potter.
What man?
The man we gave your suit to.
Oh, so that's it.
He's not satisfied
with the suit,
now he's using my name, too.
But, dear, he's
probably desperate.
Anything to get a job.
That's all very well, but...
Now, you know a good citizen
always does his
share to help others
willingly and cheerfully.
Hello. I-I'm sorry
to keep you waiting,
but I just found out I do have
sort of a connection
with this Mr. Potter.
What kind of work
is he looking for?
Well, what's his background?
Oh, it is?
Tell you what.
Why don't you have him drop
by my office this afternoon.
Commercial building.
Bye. Thank you.
Thank you, dear.
We'll make a good
citizen out of you yet.
Dad, what about
that entertainment?
You just gotta get somebody.
Oh, Bud, stop worrying.
Have I ever let
you down? Well, no.
But gee, Dad, they're
depending on you.
Mother, guess what?
I'm going with Greg!
Oh, dear. Is it to court? No!
To jail?
No, to the Terra Supper Club!
Odd place for a trial.
There's no trial. ♪♪
Greg's insurance
company's settling that.
Wait a minute.
What's that playing?
That's a record Greg
made on his home recorder.
He brought it over
for me to hear.
Mother, he's a
wonderful piano player!
I'll have to have a talk
with that young man.
Uh, but Father!
Mother, what's he gonna do?
Who knows.
♪♪
Ladies and gent...
Dads and boys...
this is quite a moment for us.
Edna and I...
Edna and I have played to
many audiences everywhere,
but you people here...
I just can't express it, but...
it's all in here.
And I want you to know
that as long as we live,
we shall always be grateful
to your very fine
program chairman
and my very, very good friend...
James Anderson.
I wish you could have
been there, honey.
They wouldn't let the
Potters off the stage!
I bet they were happy.
It must have seemed as
if they were living again.
Well, they were.
And you know what happened
right after the banquet? What?
Hal Leonard signed them
up for a tour of army camps.
How wonderful!
And what a change
it made in them.
It gave them back
their self-respect.
I certainly learned tonight
how important that is.
You must never take
that away from a man.
And you know something else?
That suit of mine
never looked better.
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA