Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 1, Episode 7 - Bud's Encounter with the Law - full transcript

Robert Young...

and Jane Wyatt.

With Elinor Donahue,

Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin...

Now hear this. Now hear this.

Load rocket ship for takeoff.

Roger? Roger.

Switch on, switch on. Roger!

Hold it, Roger.

Switch off. Huh?

I thought I told you to stay
away from that machine.



Oh, gee, Mommy, I was
just washing out a few things.

Well, you're going to
wash us right out of clothes.

Now, from now on, you Rocket
Men consider yourselves grounded.

Oh, gee, Mommy. Margaret?

Those are orders. Coming, dear!

Margaret, how come I can only
find one of my new golf socks?

Well, I don't know, dear.
Did you look in the, uh...

Oh, wait a minute.
If it's what I think it is,

you better find another pair.

Well, you'd feel awfully
uncomfortable wearing a wet sock.

Oh, no. Not that
flying machine again.

She hasn't let it cool
off since it was delivered.

I'll be glad when the
newness wears off.

So will I.



A man has to dress
awful fast around here

if he wants to go
out fully clothed.

Mother? Mother, will you be a
lamb and fix the collar on this for me?

I've got to have it
right away. Right away?

Well, sure. Don't you
remember? It's Girls Week.

What's Girls Week? Oh,
Father. Anyone knows that.

It's like Boys Week, only girls!

That sounds logical.

We take over the city
government for one day.

Uh-oh. I'm the
street commissioner.

I never thought I'd
raise my daughter

to be a street commissioner.

Is this what street commissioners
are wearing these days?

After all, Mother, I'm not
going to sweep the streets.

Please hurry. My official
escort'll be here any minute!

Honey, the "street
commissioner" wants you.

It seems a crisis has developed

in the Department of
Snagged Stockings.

Oh, dear!

I'll be happen when the street
commissioner is thrown out of office.

Be home early, dear. I'll try.

Bye, dear.

Wait, Dad, wait. The
paint's not dry yet.

Well, I can't drive around
town with that thing on there.

What is all this nonsense?

Well, it's part of a plan
to save you $29.95.

I'll bet. Come on,
give me a hand.

Remember that collapsible
canoe I wanted you to buy me?

Bud, I haven't time to
go through all that again.

Well, I finally
decided against it.

So you're saving the $29
it would have cost you.

Good. Now all you have to do

is take $5.00 out of the
$29 that you're saving

and rent a trailer and
help us get the raft

over to the river.

What raft?

The one me and Claude
Messner are building.

See it over there?
That's a raft?

Well, we got to
tie it together yet.

Yes, it's a little on the, uh,

loose side, you might say.

Yeah. Boy, it's gonna be real
keen when we get her done.

We're gonna take a long
trip down Big Stony River.

Explore some islands,
ride the rapids...

They might even
write us up in the paper.

We might write a
book on it ourselves.

Then they make
a picture out of it.

Claude's got the
title finished already:

Mark Twain Rides Again.

Claude says, just 'cause
we made one hit picture,

that doesn't mean
we're great actors.

We're keeping our feet on
the ground about this thing.

Yes, I-I could see that.

So how about it, Dad? They
got good trailers to rent over at...

Look, Son, I don't think
that it's safe for you boys

to take that raft
out on a river.

Well, sure it's safe, Dad.

Those oil drums
will keep us afloat

in a storm or anything.

And besides, even if we do sink,

I've got a waterproof
sack for our food.

Yeah, but it's a little
hard to eat underwater.

Wait, Dad.

What is it? What happened?

Why, you... You little... Fiend?

Oh! That scream
sure had me scared.

Yeah, we thought it
was something important.

Important?

What do you call this?

My whole political
career is ruined!

Mother, if you don't do
something about this...

This child... Now,
calm down, Betty, dear.

I'll take care of Kathy.

Now, you've got lots of
nice things you can wear.

Not like this one.

Now Janie Little
will look better than I,

and she's only the...
sewer commissioner.

Well, what about that
new, blue suit of yours?

You look very nice
in that. That rag?

That rag cost a
considerable hunk of change.

It's very cute.

And besides, I think that a blue
suit would be most appropriate.

Mother, have you
ever been in politics?

Well, no, but...

All right then. Don't make
outlandish suggestions

about something you
know nothing about.

Blue suits.

I don't think that's such
an outlandish suggestion.

I was down in
city hall last week,

and saw several of the
commissioners wearing blue suits.

They look rather nice.

Father, you don't understand!

This is very important!

If I was just a city clerk or
something like that, it'd be different.

If you were a city clerk, you
could wear my green eyeshade.

Hey, maybe you
could get transferred.

Oh, keep quiet!

A lot of cooperation
I get around here.

Oh, boy! It needs washing again.

Oh, no you don't, young lady.

You've done quite enough
washing for one day.

Honey, I'm late now.
I've got to run. Bye.

I think maybe now is a
good time to look in the wash

and see what other little
surprises you have in there.

Mommy, I promised to
help Patty with her washing.

Not in this machine, you don't.

Bud, please, I...

But Dad, if I don't get the
raft to the river, it's no good...

I can't sail it in
the back yard.

Well, maybe we'll
have a heavy rain.

Well, that wouldn't
be enough water,

and all that stuff'll
just go to waste.

Do you want to encourage
your son to be wasteful?

Certainly not, but they're
waiting for me at the country club.

Think of the investment
we've got in those oil drums.

All right. How much
did they cost you?

Mmm, got 'em for nothing.

That's about what I figured.

But you got to figure out
what our time is worth.

All right. You figure it out and
tell me what it comes to tonight.

But Dad...

Kathy!

Kathy, Kathy.

What now? Oh, the mail.

What? My gosh.

Why would anybody
want to wash the mail?

Honey, this is my
bank statement.

And all my canceled checks.

Maybe you could iron 'em.
Claude Messner irons his dollar bills.

Says he hates to carry
around wrinkled money.

I don't know how
she got ahold of them.

I put them in my
apron pocket when I...

My apron's gone.

Dad, about
renting that trailer...

Don't bother me now, Bud.

This looks like the bill
for the washing machine.

I don't know whether to pay
it, or sue them for damages.

Here, this is for you,
near as I can make out.

For me? Well, who's it from?

You'll probably never know.

Well, here's a "sensational,
once-in-a-lifetime bargain."

But I can't make out what it is.

Jumpin' catfish!

It's from the police
department, and for me!

What? Police?

What do they want?

It says I'm supposed to
appear there within 7 days.

Well, wh-what for?

I can't tell. The rest of
it's been washed away.

Let me see that.

"Report at this police station
seven days from date..."

I can't make out the rest of it.

Only 7 days.

Well, at least they were
nice enough to give you notice

before sending you
to Alcatraz for life.

Jail. Jumpin' hooligans!
They'll never take me.

Bud, come back. It won't do
any good to hide in the basement.

I've got to. I'm a fugitive.

Stall 'em off as long
as you can, Dad!

Bud, you can tell me the truth.

I'm trying to help you.

Now, think hard.
What did you do?

The police wouldn't send
you this thing for nothing.

Gee, Dad, I can't think of
any crimes I've committed...

lately.

The only thing to do is go
down to the police department

and find out what
this is all about.

Come on.

Wait, Dad! Are you
ready to talk now?

About what?

Bud, I can't help you if
you don't confide in me.

Now what did you
do? Break a window?

No.

Steal some apples?

No.

Sneak into the ballgame?

Of course not.

Besides, they
boarded up that hole.

Well, come on. Let's get
going down to the station house.

But Dad, I haven't
done anything. Honest.

In that case, you
have nothing to fear.

Now remember, the
police are your friends.

Their job is to
protect the innocent,

to help people.

Gee, I remember
when I was a kid.

The cop in our neighborhood
was our best friend.

Whenever we had a problem,
he was the fellow we went to.

And you can do the same thing.

Now come on. The
sheriff was our pal, too.

He used to take us
camping. The sheriff?

Mm-hmm. Really?
Wild Bill Hickok?

Just how old do you think I am?

We're, uh, going
to the police station.

Oh. Um, Bud, you...

You better go change
your clothes, there's...

There's no point in going up
there looking like a criminal.

Hey, I'll bet I know. Yeah?

No. Couldn't have been
that. They were all rusty.

What are you talking about?

Those oil drums for our raft.

Oh? Where did you get
them? But they were all rusty.

I know that, but where
did you get them?

Well, we sort of picked
them up in an alley...

in back of Old Man
Trumble's place.

Oh, Trumble's place, huh?

But I'm sure he threw them away.

That's not for you to decide.
You should have asked him.

Chances are, he might
have given them to you.

But as it is, well,

you might as well
face it: it's stealing.

Oh, Jim. I can't believe
that a grown man

would make this much fuss
over some rusty old oil cans.

You don't know Trumble.

He's ingrown.

Remember all that trouble
Ed Davis had with him

over the property line?

Well, that might have
been Ed's fault, you know.

Oh, no. Trumble's
just that kind of a fellow.

I sent him a detailed fire
insurance plan for his warehouses,

and he didn't even have the
courtesy to acknowledge it.

Oh, they're closing in on me!

Whoa, it isn't gonna do any
good to run down to the basement.

I'll get it!

Hello? Yes. Just a minute.

It's Claude Messner.
Have they got him, too?

He wants to know if he should
come over and work on the raft.

Uh, tell him Bud'll
call him back later.

He'll call you later.

How much later?

I guess that will depend
on long a sentence he gets.

Didn't you hear?

He got arrested
for stealing oil cans.

Kathy, hang up.

Okay, I'll tell him. Bye.

He said he would send you a postcard
as soon as he gets your cell number.

I'm surprised Trumble
didn't report Claude, too.

Wasn't he in on
this deal with you?

Yeah. But I was the one
who actually took the drums.

See, I volunteered.
Oh, you did, huh?

Well, first we matched. I lost.

Then I volunteered.

That was a brilliant maneuver.

Well, you see, I...
Oh, my goodness!

They're here already.

Yipes! Oh, Bud, don't go
down to the basement again.

Stall 'em off, Dad.

Let him go.

I want to find out just
how serious this is.

I've got to get ahold of Trumble.
He's gone too far this time.

How do you do?

Mr. Anderson? Yes.

You have a youngster
named, uh... Bud.

Says Betty here.

Betty? She involved, too?

She's the new
street commissioner.

I'm supposed to escort
her to the city hall.

Oh, yes, yes. Come
right in, won't you?

Oh, yes. I'll call her for you.

All right. Uh, Betty!

Your escort's here!
I'll be down in a minute!

She'll be ready in a minute.

Won't you sit
down? Much obliged.

Will you excuse us, sir? Yeah.

Girls Week.

Well, why didn't you ask
him about Bud's case?

Oh, he wouldn't know
anything about that.

Besides, I don't want to
give anyone the wrong idea

I'm looking for special favors.

Trumble's the one
I want to talk to.

We've got to get him
to drop these charges.

Shall I call Bud? No, not yet.

If Trumble is in, I'm going
to take Bud down there

and have him admit he took
the oil drums and apologize.

Oh, that's going to be
very difficult for him to do.

I know it. I know it.
I'd hate to have to do it.

As a matter of fact, I hate
to go to his office myself,

after the way he ignored
me on that insurance deal.

But if we let Bud slide
through this, it'll weaken him.

These are things that
build a boy's character.

Dad? Dad?

Is the coast clear?
Are the cops gone?

Hello, Claude?

Hey, kid. The heat's on.

Can I bunk with you
till this blows over?

No. I think they're out
in back, searching...

So long, Claude.

Yipes!

Hurry up, Bud. I
told Mr. Trumble

we'd be right down.

Yeah, okay, Dad.

Nobody's here, Dad. Let's go.

Come back. He's
here, don't worry.

Oh. I called a little while ago.

I'm Mr. Ander...
Yes. Mr. Anderson.

Yes. Mr. Trumble
is expecting you.

Just be seated.

I'll tell Mr. Trumble
you're here.

Golly, Dad. She scares
me. She looks just like...

He's talking to Pittsburgh.
You'll have to wait.

Uh, nice weather.

I don't care for it. Too humid.

Dad. Now, don't worry, Bud.

Just remember, I'm on your side.

Tell me again what to say.

Well, just tell him the truth.
Tell him you were wrong,

and then leave it up to me.

I think he's deliberately
making us wait.

Then let's go! No, no, no.

What uh... What
day did this happen?

Do you remember? Oh, sure.

It was the same day I
got my bicycle license.

Claude and I were
just coming back...

Well, what day was it?

I don't remember. Oh, fine.

Wait, the date would
be on my license slip.

I've got that right
here in my wallet.

Hey, my wallet's gone. I
better go home and get it.

No, you don't! Ow!

Mr. Trumble will see you now.

Just a moment, sonny. Not you.

He's with me.

Well, Mr. Anderson.

Mr. Trumble...

uh, this is my son, uh, Bud...

as you undoubtedly know.

Yes, yes. Won't you be seated?

Nice weather we're having.

A little too humid for me. Yes.

So this is your boy? Following
in Dad's footsteps, eh?

Mr. Anderson, I know

it took a lot of courage for
you to come down here today.

Well, I uh... A lot of courage.

Probably you think that my
methods are a little drastic,

but they're not without purpose.

I ignored you deliberately,

and waited to see whether you
had the drive to follow through,

because that's just the kind of
man I want to do business with.

Wait, Mr. Trumble.
What are you...

Now, this insurance
program you've drawn up...

And don't think I haven't
gone into it very carefully...

In general, it's top-drawer.

But there are a few changes.

I've made a few notes there.

I think they're
self-explanatory.

Work this over
with those in mind,

and I think you and
I can do business.

Dad, what about... Bud, come on.

Let's not take up any
more of Mr. Trumble's time.

But what about the
oil drums? Oil drums?

By George, I wish you'd asked
me a couple of weeks ago.

I had a couple of
rusty old drums,

but I set them out
for the trash man.

And that's all there was to it.

Before we left, I had
Trumble eating out of my hand.

Well, that's wonderful, dear...
Yeah, we sure handled him.

It's like I always say, Margaret.
The only way to solve a problem

is to face it
squarely and directly.

Well, that's fine. The
only trouble in this case is,

the problem isn't solved yet.

We still have this. Huh?

Bud's letter from the police.

Oh, my gosh! I
forgot all about that!

Now listen to me, Bud...
I don't know, I tell you.

I don't know.

Come on in.

Yipes!

Mother, I had the
"darlingest" day.

I think politics are so cute.

And Sergeant Rice
has been so sweet.

Is that the one?

Yes, Sergeant.

Bud, I had the sergeant check
into that police letter of yours.

Oh, here it is.

Next time you go down to the police
station to get your bicycle license,

don't leave your
wallet lying around.

Oh, by the way, Mr. Anderson.

I have a message for
you from the chief of police.

For me? Yeah.

Wants to see you in his office,
first thing Monday morning.

So long, Princess. Bye.

Hey, Dad. Hurry. I'll stall
'em off as long as I can.

Mmm!

Jim, what's the matter?

Why would the police want
me? I haven't done anything,

I tell you, I haven't
done anything.

Oh, darling.

Are you still
worrying about that?

Well, it's the uncertainty,
the not knowing.

Have you driven through
a red light recently?

No.

Ignored a parking ticket?

No.

Stolen any oil drums?

No. Besides, they were put
out in the alley for the trash man.

Oh, what am I saying?

Oh, darling, you're
hardly the criminal type.

You've done nothing, so you've
got nothing to fear from the police.

They're your friends, remember?

So forget it and go to sleep.

Yeah, you're right. It
was kind of silly of me.

Probably just want me on some
kind of a committee or something.

I'm sure of it.

Good night, dear.

Good night, honey.

Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA