Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 1, Episode 9 - Second Honeymoon - full transcript
Getting ready to leave work for the weekend Jim's friend comes by and tells him that he and his wife are off to a lodge for the weekend. He invites Jim and Margaret along, but Jim says they couldn't leave their children at home. By the time Jim reaches home he is thinking a weekend away would be a great idea, especially after finding Margaret cleaning spilled paint off Kathy and helping Betty get ready for a date. Jim convinces Margaret a trip would be a good idea and as she gets ready he tries to tell the kids, but is interrupted by Bud's going on and on about fixing a motor, so Jim gives up. But Margaret helps him get his resolve back and the parents have a meeting at which they tell the children they will be going away for two days. Unexpectedly, none of the kids is against the idea, Betty even saying she'll just cancel her date. So off Jim and Margaret go, although on the drive out of town they are already missing the kids, who meantime are doing fine. Betty does become annoyed when the boy she broke the date with, Ralph, keeps calling her. At the lodge the Andersons become restless, seemingly not knowing how to relax or enjoy their time away from home. They decide to check in with the kids and call home, but no one answers the telephone. Betty has refused to pick up the receiver, believing it is Ralph calling again. Worried by not being able to check in, Margaret and Jim race back home, finding the kids watching TV, and Betty apologizes for causing their concern. Back at the lodge Jim and Margaret are now enjoying the rustic room they booked, and out from an adjoining room come Betty, Bud and Kathy to say goodnight.
Robert Young...
and Jane Wyatt.
With Elinor Donahue,
Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin
Hello, Fred. Come on in.
I just stopped by
to say au revoir, Jim.
Lila and I are gettin' out
of town for the weekend.
Good. Oh, did you get
those policies straightened out
on the Carlton Corporation?
Yep. All finished.
So I said to myself,
"Now's the time to take
a couple of days off."
Oh, Miss Thomas, will
you call my home again
and see if that
line's still busy?
I just tried,
Mr. Anderson. Still busy.
Well, keep trying. I will.
Yep, it's the only way
to break out of a rut, Jim.
A fella's just gotta
get ahold of himself
and make up his mind
he's gonna go... and go.
Me, I picked up the
phone, called Lila, and said,
"Throw some stuff in
the bag. We're goin' up
"to Willow Springs
for the weekend.
I'll be home in 20 minutes."
Well, it sounds
great, but of course,
you and Lila don't have
children to consider.
No. No, that's true,
but like I always tell Lila,
"Ya can't have everything."
You and Margaret
have the family,
Lila and I have the freedom.
When we want to
take off, we take off.
Well, Margaret and I
aren't exactly prisoners.
If we wanted to go
somewhere, we could go.
Hey, by golly!
Why don't you and
Margaret come along with us?
Make it a foursome.
We'll have a ball!
Well, I... Maybe we...
Excuse me, Mr. Anderson.
I have a call to your home.
Oh. Take it on one.
Thank you.
Hello. Hello, honey.
What's been going on there? I've
been trying to call you for an hour.
Oh. Hmm. Well, I just wondered
if there's anything you
wanted me to bring home.
Oh.
Well, look, honey,
Fred Baker's here,
and he... Sure, I'll hold on.
My daughter Betty
can't find her blouse.
She has a date or something.
Well, Jim, ask Margaret
about the weekend.
Yeah?
Yeah, I'm still here.
Well, what I started to say was
that Fred and Lila are
planning to go up to...
Yeah. I'll hold on.
My small daughter Kathy
got into some
paint in the garage.
You have a hectic
little house out there.
Hello, dear. Is
everything all right?
Well, I was just
thinking that, uh,
perhaps you and I
might... Oh. Hmm.
Oh, wait, Fred. Just a minute.
You're busy, Jim. I gotta go.
Lila's waiting for
me. I'll see you, boy.
Wa...
Hello, honey.
Well, as I was saying,
Fred was in here,
and we were talking.
And I just thought
that maybe you
and I could... Hmm?
Well, you go ahead, honey.
I'll... I'll talk to you
when I get home.
Yeah. Good-bye, dear.
You're getting soap in my eyes!
Then close your eyes.
I can't take this paint
off without using soap.
Mother!
Oh, I'm in the kitchen, Betty!
Do you know where
my... What happened?
Oh, she was climbing up
the shelves in the garage,
and a can of paint fell down.
Stand still, Kathy.
I'll fix it, Mommy.
Oh... Kathy...
I didn't know it
was on my hands!
If you aren't a
glamorous picture.
Well, I can't help
it. When I finish this,
I'm going upstairs and try
to make myself look human.
Who came in?
Bud?
Margaret?
Oh, it's father!
Well, it can't be.
It's not even 5:30.
Where are you, honey?
You can't let him
see you like this.
You're a mess.
You wanna hide in the basement?
That's what Bud does.
Margaret!
I'll be right there, dear.
Will you finish up?
Her clean dress is
on the ironing board.
Jim?
Hello, honey. I
have the most won...
Well!
If you aren't a
glamorous picture.
Oh, Kathy got into the garage
and doused herself
with a can of green paint.
It's just been
one of those days.
I don't see how you
can stand to look at me.
You always look great
to me. You know that.
And just to prove it... for you.
Why, Jim!
Ohh!
Oh, Jim, they're beautiful!
Darling.
But why?
And your new suit.
Yeah. Do you like it?
It's handsome.
Margaret, I had a
brilliant idea this afternoon.
I said to myself, "This is
the time for you and Margaret
to take a couple of days off."
Let's get in the car
and just go someplace,
just you and me.
You mean... just leave?
Sure. We'll drive
up to Cedar Lodge,
stay till Sunday night, just
the two of us, nobody else.
Oh, darling, it's a
wonderful idea, but...
Don't try to think of any
reasons why we can't go.
Well, I'm not, but what
about the children?
Honey, the children
are old enough
to take care of themselves
for one weekend.
You can't devote every minute
of every day of
your life to them.
It isn't fair to them,
and it isn't fair to us.
Well, I... I know. I know...
We love the children. We
give them everything we can.
But we must also
make them understand
that you and I are
entitled to something, too,
some life of our own.
And after all, one
trip away from home...
Well, I... I suppose...
Now, don't make
a problem out of it.
We simply decide
we're going, and we go.
The children are just
not going to understand.
You leave the children to me.
I'll take care of this. You
run upstairs and get dressed.
We'll leave in
about half an hour.
Well... anything you say, dear.
That-a-girl.
♪♪
Oh, there you are.
How do you like me,
Daddy? I'm clean.
Oh, you look beautiful, Kitten.
Oh, the time I had getting
the paint off this child.
How do you like my new perfume?
It's turpentine.
It's delightful.
Look, kids, while you're here.
I wanted to... Oh, hi, Dad.
Hello, Bud. I want
to talk to you, too.
I want to talk to you,
too. Can you help me
fix the motor out of
my motor scooter?
Not tonight, Bud.
Your mother and I...
Take a look at it? I got it
right here on the back porch.
But, Bud, I... I can't do...
You can probably fix it real
easy. I got it all apart for you.
Well, you see, your
mother and I are g...
We'll help you, Dad.
You can work on it tonight.
Bud, take that dirty old
machinery out of the kitchen.
Hmm. Rings look all right.
Please, Bud, put it
down in the basement.
Hello. Ralph?
Betty.
No, no, no, no. The whole box.
Yeah, I found my
skates, all right.
Are you going to the movies
with us tonight, Daddy?
Well, not tonight,
Kitten. You see,
your mother... I'll be
down in the basement
when you're ready, Dad.
Well, Bud, I wanted to...
Oh, that's all right.
My father'll drive us over.
No! No!
Why don't you go with us, Daddy?
It's Friday night.
Excuse me, Ralph.
Can't you take us, Father?
Not tonight. That's what I've
been trying to explain to you.
You won't have to pay for
us... just for your own ticket.
Father says he can't do it,
but my mother'll drive us over.
No. No. No! She can't do that!
She's taking us to the movies.
Isn't she, Daddy?
Well... I-I-I don't
know, Kitten.
Uh... We'll see.
Father, will you ask mother?
How'd you come out?
I was ambushed.
What did the children say
when you told them your plan?
I didn't tell them. They had
so many plans of their own,
all of which include us,
I didn't have the heart.
We're trapped, plain trapped.
You'd think that
once, just once,
you and I could go
away, just the two of us.
Do you know the last time
we took a trip together?
Nine years ago when
the dog ran away.
Went over to Willowville
to bring him back.
Seems like only yesterday.
Not to me, it doesn't.
Sometimes I think we give
up too much for the kids.
They're beginning
to take it for granted
they can order us around
like we were their servants.
I think we should put
a stop to it right now,
be firm with them.
I agree.
We've stayed at home
for them hundreds of times.
Why can't they stay
home for us just once?
No reason at all.
Why don't you go
downstairs and ask them?
You ask them. It was your idea.
Probably won't do any good.
You know what'll happen.
Big tears.
"Don't go. Don't leave us."
You'd think they couldn't
live five minutes without us.
Well, at least
they don't hate us.
But it isn't good for them
to be so dependent on us.
They have to learn to be
able to do for themselves,
be on their own.
All right. Let's simply go down
and tell them we're
going... be firm.
Well, we can try,
but the odds are against us.
Hi there, Daddy.
What are we gonna do?
We're going to have a meeting.
Well, let's hurry. We've
gotta go to the movie.
It starts in a couple hours.
Well, we're gonna
have a meeting.
Uh-oh.
What'd you want, Father?
It's a meeting. Well,
will it take long?
I've got a million things to do.
No, it'll... probably
be over in a minute.
Briefly, kids, this is what
the meeting is about.
I, uh, was able to get
a couple of days off
from the office, so I thought
that perhaps Mother and I
might make a little
trip, just the two of us.
It's, uh, been a long time
since Mother and I have
been anywhere, uh, together.
Uh, we were going
this afternoon,
but since you children
had plans for this evening,
we thought it best to
see how you felt about it.
I think it's a perfectly
beautiful idea.
You do?
Can we go?
Oh, Of course not, silly.
Oh, I think it's the most
romantic thing I've ever heard...
that my mother and father want
to go away just with each other.
Well, Princess, you
realize that this means
that you'll have to...
Cancel my date tonight?
Who cares?
Oh, I'd 10,000 times rather see
you and Mother go on this trip.
Well, it'll be like a
second honeymoon.
Uh... what do you think, Bud?
I think the trouble's
in the carburetor.
Wake up, dummy.
I'll call Ralph
and tell him the date's off.
Then we'll go up in the attic
and get the suitcases.
I'll get the suitcases!
I'll wipe up the car for you.
Well, children... Well...
you don't... I'll go get
your coats and things
while you pack.
You and Father enjoy yourselves,
and don't even think about us.
Well, I guess we
have everything.
Bye, Daddy.
Good-bye, Kitten.
Be a good girl.
Good-bye, Bud. You'll...
You'll take care of
everything, won't you?
Well, sure, I will, Mom.
Good-bye, Princess.
Good-bye, Father.
You know where to reach us
if anything comes up.
I have the number.
We'll be all right.
Good-bye, Son. I
guess you'll have to be
man of the house
while we're gone.
Good-bye, angel.
We'll be okay, Dad.
You and Mom just
have a big time.
You and Daddy write to us.
Oh, angel, we're going
to be gone two days.
Now, you be real good.
Oh, Betty! You'll...
You'll take care of
everything, won't you?
And if you need anything, you go
next-door to the Davises.
We will. Bye-bye, Mother.
Now, don't even think
about us, not for a minute.
We're gonna get along just fine.
Good-bye. Have fun. Bye!
Good-bye, darlings. So long.
It was a wonderful
idea of yours, dear.
Going on a trip?
Just... Just the two of us.
Yeah.
It's beginning to feel like
we're really on a trip now.
I'm enjoying it already.
So am I.
It does seem good to get away.
Doesn't it?
It sure does.
I haven't even
thought about the office
or the house or anything.
Have you? No.
No, I... I'm just
enjoying the trip.
Oh, the kids have
probably finished dinner.
They're getting
ready for bed now.
Oh, I hope Betty remembers to
put the extra blanket on Kathy.
She will.
Now, quit worrying, honey.
Oh... I... I'm not worrying.
We're on a trip.
We know the
children are all right,
so we're simply
going to put them
out of our minds and be free.
Enjoy ourselves.
You're right, dear.
Of course I am.
How long have we been gone?
Seven minutes.
Kathy!
Well, I told you before.
Mother and Father...
Put the tablecloth on the table!
Hello, Ralph. Well,
they left this evening,
and I'm taking care
of Bud and Kathy.
I mean Bud and I are
taking care of Kathy.
So I can't go out
with you tonight.
Oh, Mother and Father
went up to Cedar Lodge.
No, I can't go out with you!
N-o, no!
♪♪
It's a nice room.
Yeah, not bad.
You got a beautiful bride, dad.
Mmm, boy.
If you think she's beautiful,
you should see our
17-year-old daughter.
Well, honey...
here we are.
As the bellhop said,
do I have a beautiful bride.
Mmm, boy.
Isn't it wonderful being here?
Just the two of us.
It's so quiet.
Shall we, uh,
take off our coats?
Oh.
Sure.
Isn't this terrific, honey?
Every married couple should
plan to get away like this...
get away from home and
the children and the uproar.
The trouble with most people
is, they have the mistaken idea
that their children can't
get along without them.
They can't get away
like this and... relax.
It's a big mistake, too...
tying oneself to one's children.
Believe me, they
appreciate their parents
a whole lot more if they
have to do without them
once in a while.
This is the smartest
move we ever made.
I agree.
Yes, sir, it certainly
is good to get away.
Oh... I'm enjoying it already.
This is going to be a
wonderful weekend, honey.
I may just sit here
and never move.
It's nice, isn't it?
Sure seems good, doesn't it?
Oh, it certainly does.
I wonder what the
kids are doing now.
Oh...
Oh... Bud's probably
down in the cellar...
fixing up that old motor.
What a brave front
the kids put up,
pretending they
weren't going to miss us.
Little Kathy...
they way she held
up her arms to me,
wanting to be picked up
when we were saying good-bye.
Hello?
Now, look here,
Ralph, I told you before.
I can't go out with you tonight.
Well, I meant it,
and don't call again.
Good-bye.
Five times, he's called.
That square just won't quit.
Honey, we could go
to the movies tonight.
There's a theater
in the village.
Yeah. What's playing?
Prairie Justice with Hoot Gibson
and the Gold Diggers of 1939.
And Keno.
Honey, I have an idea.
Let's call home.
Oh, let's!
The kids are probably lonesome.
It'll give 'em a big thrill.
Uh, I'd like to
call Springfield.
2-2-7-4.
Just... let 'em know
we got here all right.
After all, this
is the first time
we've ever been away from them.
They're ringing.
Oh... what's the matter?
There's no answer.
Yes, operator?
Well, there must
be someone there.
Yes. Keep trying.
I wonder where they could be.
Oh, they probably just ran
next-door to see the Davises
or... or went for a
walk for a few minutes.
Oh, there's... there's
nothing to worry about, dear.
Oh, I know there
isn't, but, uh...
Hello, Jim. Surprise!
Fred.
I called your office
after I got home,
and your secretary told me
that you and your wife
were coming up here.
So I changed our
reservations, and here we are.
Boy, what a weekend
this is going to be.
Well, that's great, Fred.
Uh, you... you know
Margaret, don't you?
Yeah, sure, sure.
It's been a long time,
but I certainly remember you.
Nice to meet you again.
Thank you. And this
is my little wife Lila.
Margaret and Jim Anderson.
Hello. How do you do, Lila?
Nice to know you.
Fred said, he said,
"We must get up and
see the Andersons."
He says, "It'll be
a million laughs."
Just think... we got a
whole weekend ahead of us.
Oh, man, are we gonna have fun!
Got somebody to
take care of the kids,
eh, Jim?
Well... no. As a
matter of fact, uh...
You people with children.
You have to get
away once in a while.
I know, because I've
been takin' hula lessons
from a lady who
has two children.
Kids, wait. Wait'll you
see Lila do the hula.
Five lessons, and
you won't believe it!
You won't believe it. Here,
show 'em how you do it, honey.
Oh, they don't want to see that.
Why, sure! Sure, they do!
Come on. We gotta get
the party on the road here.
Right, Jim. Right?
Oh, sure. All right.
All right, honey. Now, show 'em
how they do it
out on old Waikiki.
♪♪
Let's pick up the
beat. Let's rock it.
♪ Da da da da da-da da ♪
♪ Da da-da da da da-da da ♪
♪♪
Boy, isn't she great?
And only five lessons!
Hey, honey, show
Jim how to do it.
Well, I... I don't
think I, um...
Oh, sure, you can.
No, really, I... You just relax.
Just follow me.
Do as I do. It's a lot of fun.
Okay.
Here we go.
♪ Da da da ♪
♪ Da dum ♪
♪ Mmm da da ♪
♪ Da-da ♪
♪ Da da da da da dee ♪
♪ Da-da da-da ♪
♪ Dum mmm ♪
♪ Da da da-da ♪
♪ Da da da da da dee ♪
♪ Dum dum dum dum ♪
♪ Dum dum ♪
♪ Dum dum dum ♪
♪ Da dee ♪
♪ Da da da da da dee ♪
♪ Dum dum dum dum ♪
♪ Dum dum dum dum ♪
Hello?
Well, keep ringing!
♪♪
Why don't you answer it
and tell that guy to cut it out!
I'm not gonna talk to him.
He's just doing this to be mean.
Well, let me
answer it! I'll tell him!
No!
Wait'll I see that
Ralph tomorrow.
♪♪
Fred and his wife must've
thought we'd lost our minds.
I'm sure they didn't
understand why we raced out.
We can explain to Fred
and Hula some other time.
Fred and Lila.
I wonder where
those kids could be!
Betty wouldn't leave the house.
She... She promised
she wouldn't.
Oh, that Ralph probably called,
talked her into going out.
I can't believe that Betty
would break a promise.
I can't, either.
But the kids have
gone somewhere.
We've just got to find
out what's going on!
♪♪
Oh, no!
Look, will you do
somethin' about that?
I'm gonna tell him off like
he's never been told before!
Now, look here, Ralph, you've
been ringing this phone all evening,
and I'm getting pretty tired...
You haven't?
Are you sure?
Well, somebody's been tryin' to
get us, and I haven't answered!
I thought it was you!
♪♪
Hi, Mommy. Hi, Daddy.
Kitten! Bud!
What's the matter?
Where's Betty?
Oh, hello. What happened to you?
Oh, nothing happened to
us. What happened to you?
Hey, why are you home?
Well, I... I tried to call here
to let you know we
got there all right,
and there was no answer.
I tried all evening.
Why didn't you answer?
Oh, Father, I
thought it was Ralph.
Oh, no!
He was pestering
me, and I told him
that if he called again, I...
Oh, I'm sorry.
That's all right, Princess.
Well, what're you and
Mom gonna do now, Dad?
Well, we'll settle this parents
vacation thing once and for all.
Gather around, kids. We're
gonna have a family meeting.
♪♪
Feeling better about
things now, honey?
Much better.
Come on, Betty!
Our room is ready!
You ought to see the view
from our room. Good night, dear.
Good night, Dad. Good
night, dear. Good night, Son.
Come, come. Come on.
See ya. Mmm. Hurry,
hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.
Ohh... Mmm... Uh-huh.
Yes, dear. This is the only way
to enjoy a vacation
away from home.
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA
and Jane Wyatt.
With Elinor Donahue,
Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin
Hello, Fred. Come on in.
I just stopped by
to say au revoir, Jim.
Lila and I are gettin' out
of town for the weekend.
Good. Oh, did you get
those policies straightened out
on the Carlton Corporation?
Yep. All finished.
So I said to myself,
"Now's the time to take
a couple of days off."
Oh, Miss Thomas, will
you call my home again
and see if that
line's still busy?
I just tried,
Mr. Anderson. Still busy.
Well, keep trying. I will.
Yep, it's the only way
to break out of a rut, Jim.
A fella's just gotta
get ahold of himself
and make up his mind
he's gonna go... and go.
Me, I picked up the
phone, called Lila, and said,
"Throw some stuff in
the bag. We're goin' up
"to Willow Springs
for the weekend.
I'll be home in 20 minutes."
Well, it sounds
great, but of course,
you and Lila don't have
children to consider.
No. No, that's true,
but like I always tell Lila,
"Ya can't have everything."
You and Margaret
have the family,
Lila and I have the freedom.
When we want to
take off, we take off.
Well, Margaret and I
aren't exactly prisoners.
If we wanted to go
somewhere, we could go.
Hey, by golly!
Why don't you and
Margaret come along with us?
Make it a foursome.
We'll have a ball!
Well, I... Maybe we...
Excuse me, Mr. Anderson.
I have a call to your home.
Oh. Take it on one.
Thank you.
Hello. Hello, honey.
What's been going on there? I've
been trying to call you for an hour.
Oh. Hmm. Well, I just wondered
if there's anything you
wanted me to bring home.
Oh.
Well, look, honey,
Fred Baker's here,
and he... Sure, I'll hold on.
My daughter Betty
can't find her blouse.
She has a date or something.
Well, Jim, ask Margaret
about the weekend.
Yeah?
Yeah, I'm still here.
Well, what I started to say was
that Fred and Lila are
planning to go up to...
Yeah. I'll hold on.
My small daughter Kathy
got into some
paint in the garage.
You have a hectic
little house out there.
Hello, dear. Is
everything all right?
Well, I was just
thinking that, uh,
perhaps you and I
might... Oh. Hmm.
Oh, wait, Fred. Just a minute.
You're busy, Jim. I gotta go.
Lila's waiting for
me. I'll see you, boy.
Wa...
Hello, honey.
Well, as I was saying,
Fred was in here,
and we were talking.
And I just thought
that maybe you
and I could... Hmm?
Well, you go ahead, honey.
I'll... I'll talk to you
when I get home.
Yeah. Good-bye, dear.
You're getting soap in my eyes!
Then close your eyes.
I can't take this paint
off without using soap.
Mother!
Oh, I'm in the kitchen, Betty!
Do you know where
my... What happened?
Oh, she was climbing up
the shelves in the garage,
and a can of paint fell down.
Stand still, Kathy.
I'll fix it, Mommy.
Oh... Kathy...
I didn't know it
was on my hands!
If you aren't a
glamorous picture.
Well, I can't help
it. When I finish this,
I'm going upstairs and try
to make myself look human.
Who came in?
Bud?
Margaret?
Oh, it's father!
Well, it can't be.
It's not even 5:30.
Where are you, honey?
You can't let him
see you like this.
You're a mess.
You wanna hide in the basement?
That's what Bud does.
Margaret!
I'll be right there, dear.
Will you finish up?
Her clean dress is
on the ironing board.
Jim?
Hello, honey. I
have the most won...
Well!
If you aren't a
glamorous picture.
Oh, Kathy got into the garage
and doused herself
with a can of green paint.
It's just been
one of those days.
I don't see how you
can stand to look at me.
You always look great
to me. You know that.
And just to prove it... for you.
Why, Jim!
Ohh!
Oh, Jim, they're beautiful!
Darling.
But why?
And your new suit.
Yeah. Do you like it?
It's handsome.
Margaret, I had a
brilliant idea this afternoon.
I said to myself, "This is
the time for you and Margaret
to take a couple of days off."
Let's get in the car
and just go someplace,
just you and me.
You mean... just leave?
Sure. We'll drive
up to Cedar Lodge,
stay till Sunday night, just
the two of us, nobody else.
Oh, darling, it's a
wonderful idea, but...
Don't try to think of any
reasons why we can't go.
Well, I'm not, but what
about the children?
Honey, the children
are old enough
to take care of themselves
for one weekend.
You can't devote every minute
of every day of
your life to them.
It isn't fair to them,
and it isn't fair to us.
Well, I... I know. I know...
We love the children. We
give them everything we can.
But we must also
make them understand
that you and I are
entitled to something, too,
some life of our own.
And after all, one
trip away from home...
Well, I... I suppose...
Now, don't make
a problem out of it.
We simply decide
we're going, and we go.
The children are just
not going to understand.
You leave the children to me.
I'll take care of this. You
run upstairs and get dressed.
We'll leave in
about half an hour.
Well... anything you say, dear.
That-a-girl.
♪♪
Oh, there you are.
How do you like me,
Daddy? I'm clean.
Oh, you look beautiful, Kitten.
Oh, the time I had getting
the paint off this child.
How do you like my new perfume?
It's turpentine.
It's delightful.
Look, kids, while you're here.
I wanted to... Oh, hi, Dad.
Hello, Bud. I want
to talk to you, too.
I want to talk to you,
too. Can you help me
fix the motor out of
my motor scooter?
Not tonight, Bud.
Your mother and I...
Take a look at it? I got it
right here on the back porch.
But, Bud, I... I can't do...
You can probably fix it real
easy. I got it all apart for you.
Well, you see, your
mother and I are g...
We'll help you, Dad.
You can work on it tonight.
Bud, take that dirty old
machinery out of the kitchen.
Hmm. Rings look all right.
Please, Bud, put it
down in the basement.
Hello. Ralph?
Betty.
No, no, no, no. The whole box.
Yeah, I found my
skates, all right.
Are you going to the movies
with us tonight, Daddy?
Well, not tonight,
Kitten. You see,
your mother... I'll be
down in the basement
when you're ready, Dad.
Well, Bud, I wanted to...
Oh, that's all right.
My father'll drive us over.
No! No!
Why don't you go with us, Daddy?
It's Friday night.
Excuse me, Ralph.
Can't you take us, Father?
Not tonight. That's what I've
been trying to explain to you.
You won't have to pay for
us... just for your own ticket.
Father says he can't do it,
but my mother'll drive us over.
No. No. No! She can't do that!
She's taking us to the movies.
Isn't she, Daddy?
Well... I-I-I don't
know, Kitten.
Uh... We'll see.
Father, will you ask mother?
How'd you come out?
I was ambushed.
What did the children say
when you told them your plan?
I didn't tell them. They had
so many plans of their own,
all of which include us,
I didn't have the heart.
We're trapped, plain trapped.
You'd think that
once, just once,
you and I could go
away, just the two of us.
Do you know the last time
we took a trip together?
Nine years ago when
the dog ran away.
Went over to Willowville
to bring him back.
Seems like only yesterday.
Not to me, it doesn't.
Sometimes I think we give
up too much for the kids.
They're beginning
to take it for granted
they can order us around
like we were their servants.
I think we should put
a stop to it right now,
be firm with them.
I agree.
We've stayed at home
for them hundreds of times.
Why can't they stay
home for us just once?
No reason at all.
Why don't you go
downstairs and ask them?
You ask them. It was your idea.
Probably won't do any good.
You know what'll happen.
Big tears.
"Don't go. Don't leave us."
You'd think they couldn't
live five minutes without us.
Well, at least
they don't hate us.
But it isn't good for them
to be so dependent on us.
They have to learn to be
able to do for themselves,
be on their own.
All right. Let's simply go down
and tell them we're
going... be firm.
Well, we can try,
but the odds are against us.
Hi there, Daddy.
What are we gonna do?
We're going to have a meeting.
Well, let's hurry. We've
gotta go to the movie.
It starts in a couple hours.
Well, we're gonna
have a meeting.
Uh-oh.
What'd you want, Father?
It's a meeting. Well,
will it take long?
I've got a million things to do.
No, it'll... probably
be over in a minute.
Briefly, kids, this is what
the meeting is about.
I, uh, was able to get
a couple of days off
from the office, so I thought
that perhaps Mother and I
might make a little
trip, just the two of us.
It's, uh, been a long time
since Mother and I have
been anywhere, uh, together.
Uh, we were going
this afternoon,
but since you children
had plans for this evening,
we thought it best to
see how you felt about it.
I think it's a perfectly
beautiful idea.
You do?
Can we go?
Oh, Of course not, silly.
Oh, I think it's the most
romantic thing I've ever heard...
that my mother and father want
to go away just with each other.
Well, Princess, you
realize that this means
that you'll have to...
Cancel my date tonight?
Who cares?
Oh, I'd 10,000 times rather see
you and Mother go on this trip.
Well, it'll be like a
second honeymoon.
Uh... what do you think, Bud?
I think the trouble's
in the carburetor.
Wake up, dummy.
I'll call Ralph
and tell him the date's off.
Then we'll go up in the attic
and get the suitcases.
I'll get the suitcases!
I'll wipe up the car for you.
Well, children... Well...
you don't... I'll go get
your coats and things
while you pack.
You and Father enjoy yourselves,
and don't even think about us.
Well, I guess we
have everything.
Bye, Daddy.
Good-bye, Kitten.
Be a good girl.
Good-bye, Bud. You'll...
You'll take care of
everything, won't you?
Well, sure, I will, Mom.
Good-bye, Princess.
Good-bye, Father.
You know where to reach us
if anything comes up.
I have the number.
We'll be all right.
Good-bye, Son. I
guess you'll have to be
man of the house
while we're gone.
Good-bye, angel.
We'll be okay, Dad.
You and Mom just
have a big time.
You and Daddy write to us.
Oh, angel, we're going
to be gone two days.
Now, you be real good.
Oh, Betty! You'll...
You'll take care of
everything, won't you?
And if you need anything, you go
next-door to the Davises.
We will. Bye-bye, Mother.
Now, don't even think
about us, not for a minute.
We're gonna get along just fine.
Good-bye. Have fun. Bye!
Good-bye, darlings. So long.
It was a wonderful
idea of yours, dear.
Going on a trip?
Just... Just the two of us.
Yeah.
It's beginning to feel like
we're really on a trip now.
I'm enjoying it already.
So am I.
It does seem good to get away.
Doesn't it?
It sure does.
I haven't even
thought about the office
or the house or anything.
Have you? No.
No, I... I'm just
enjoying the trip.
Oh, the kids have
probably finished dinner.
They're getting
ready for bed now.
Oh, I hope Betty remembers to
put the extra blanket on Kathy.
She will.
Now, quit worrying, honey.
Oh... I... I'm not worrying.
We're on a trip.
We know the
children are all right,
so we're simply
going to put them
out of our minds and be free.
Enjoy ourselves.
You're right, dear.
Of course I am.
How long have we been gone?
Seven minutes.
Kathy!
Well, I told you before.
Mother and Father...
Put the tablecloth on the table!
Hello, Ralph. Well,
they left this evening,
and I'm taking care
of Bud and Kathy.
I mean Bud and I are
taking care of Kathy.
So I can't go out
with you tonight.
Oh, Mother and Father
went up to Cedar Lodge.
No, I can't go out with you!
N-o, no!
♪♪
It's a nice room.
Yeah, not bad.
You got a beautiful bride, dad.
Mmm, boy.
If you think she's beautiful,
you should see our
17-year-old daughter.
Well, honey...
here we are.
As the bellhop said,
do I have a beautiful bride.
Mmm, boy.
Isn't it wonderful being here?
Just the two of us.
It's so quiet.
Shall we, uh,
take off our coats?
Oh.
Sure.
Isn't this terrific, honey?
Every married couple should
plan to get away like this...
get away from home and
the children and the uproar.
The trouble with most people
is, they have the mistaken idea
that their children can't
get along without them.
They can't get away
like this and... relax.
It's a big mistake, too...
tying oneself to one's children.
Believe me, they
appreciate their parents
a whole lot more if they
have to do without them
once in a while.
This is the smartest
move we ever made.
I agree.
Yes, sir, it certainly
is good to get away.
Oh... I'm enjoying it already.
This is going to be a
wonderful weekend, honey.
I may just sit here
and never move.
It's nice, isn't it?
Sure seems good, doesn't it?
Oh, it certainly does.
I wonder what the
kids are doing now.
Oh...
Oh... Bud's probably
down in the cellar...
fixing up that old motor.
What a brave front
the kids put up,
pretending they
weren't going to miss us.
Little Kathy...
they way she held
up her arms to me,
wanting to be picked up
when we were saying good-bye.
Hello?
Now, look here,
Ralph, I told you before.
I can't go out with you tonight.
Well, I meant it,
and don't call again.
Good-bye.
Five times, he's called.
That square just won't quit.
Honey, we could go
to the movies tonight.
There's a theater
in the village.
Yeah. What's playing?
Prairie Justice with Hoot Gibson
and the Gold Diggers of 1939.
And Keno.
Honey, I have an idea.
Let's call home.
Oh, let's!
The kids are probably lonesome.
It'll give 'em a big thrill.
Uh, I'd like to
call Springfield.
2-2-7-4.
Just... let 'em know
we got here all right.
After all, this
is the first time
we've ever been away from them.
They're ringing.
Oh... what's the matter?
There's no answer.
Yes, operator?
Well, there must
be someone there.
Yes. Keep trying.
I wonder where they could be.
Oh, they probably just ran
next-door to see the Davises
or... or went for a
walk for a few minutes.
Oh, there's... there's
nothing to worry about, dear.
Oh, I know there
isn't, but, uh...
Hello, Jim. Surprise!
Fred.
I called your office
after I got home,
and your secretary told me
that you and your wife
were coming up here.
So I changed our
reservations, and here we are.
Boy, what a weekend
this is going to be.
Well, that's great, Fred.
Uh, you... you know
Margaret, don't you?
Yeah, sure, sure.
It's been a long time,
but I certainly remember you.
Nice to meet you again.
Thank you. And this
is my little wife Lila.
Margaret and Jim Anderson.
Hello. How do you do, Lila?
Nice to know you.
Fred said, he said,
"We must get up and
see the Andersons."
He says, "It'll be
a million laughs."
Just think... we got a
whole weekend ahead of us.
Oh, man, are we gonna have fun!
Got somebody to
take care of the kids,
eh, Jim?
Well... no. As a
matter of fact, uh...
You people with children.
You have to get
away once in a while.
I know, because I've
been takin' hula lessons
from a lady who
has two children.
Kids, wait. Wait'll you
see Lila do the hula.
Five lessons, and
you won't believe it!
You won't believe it. Here,
show 'em how you do it, honey.
Oh, they don't want to see that.
Why, sure! Sure, they do!
Come on. We gotta get
the party on the road here.
Right, Jim. Right?
Oh, sure. All right.
All right, honey. Now, show 'em
how they do it
out on old Waikiki.
♪♪
Let's pick up the
beat. Let's rock it.
♪ Da da da da da-da da ♪
♪ Da da-da da da da-da da ♪
♪♪
Boy, isn't she great?
And only five lessons!
Hey, honey, show
Jim how to do it.
Well, I... I don't
think I, um...
Oh, sure, you can.
No, really, I... You just relax.
Just follow me.
Do as I do. It's a lot of fun.
Okay.
Here we go.
♪ Da da da ♪
♪ Da dum ♪
♪ Mmm da da ♪
♪ Da-da ♪
♪ Da da da da da dee ♪
♪ Da-da da-da ♪
♪ Dum mmm ♪
♪ Da da da-da ♪
♪ Da da da da da dee ♪
♪ Dum dum dum dum ♪
♪ Dum dum ♪
♪ Dum dum dum ♪
♪ Da dee ♪
♪ Da da da da da dee ♪
♪ Dum dum dum dum ♪
♪ Dum dum dum dum ♪
Hello?
Well, keep ringing!
♪♪
Why don't you answer it
and tell that guy to cut it out!
I'm not gonna talk to him.
He's just doing this to be mean.
Well, let me
answer it! I'll tell him!
No!
Wait'll I see that
Ralph tomorrow.
♪♪
Fred and his wife must've
thought we'd lost our minds.
I'm sure they didn't
understand why we raced out.
We can explain to Fred
and Hula some other time.
Fred and Lila.
I wonder where
those kids could be!
Betty wouldn't leave the house.
She... She promised
she wouldn't.
Oh, that Ralph probably called,
talked her into going out.
I can't believe that Betty
would break a promise.
I can't, either.
But the kids have
gone somewhere.
We've just got to find
out what's going on!
♪♪
Oh, no!
Look, will you do
somethin' about that?
I'm gonna tell him off like
he's never been told before!
Now, look here, Ralph, you've
been ringing this phone all evening,
and I'm getting pretty tired...
You haven't?
Are you sure?
Well, somebody's been tryin' to
get us, and I haven't answered!
I thought it was you!
♪♪
Hi, Mommy. Hi, Daddy.
Kitten! Bud!
What's the matter?
Where's Betty?
Oh, hello. What happened to you?
Oh, nothing happened to
us. What happened to you?
Hey, why are you home?
Well, I... I tried to call here
to let you know we
got there all right,
and there was no answer.
I tried all evening.
Why didn't you answer?
Oh, Father, I
thought it was Ralph.
Oh, no!
He was pestering
me, and I told him
that if he called again, I...
Oh, I'm sorry.
That's all right, Princess.
Well, what're you and
Mom gonna do now, Dad?
Well, we'll settle this parents
vacation thing once and for all.
Gather around, kids. We're
gonna have a family meeting.
♪♪
Feeling better about
things now, honey?
Much better.
Come on, Betty!
Our room is ready!
You ought to see the view
from our room. Good night, dear.
Good night, Dad. Good
night, dear. Good night, Son.
Come, come. Come on.
See ya. Mmm. Hurry,
hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.
Ohh... Mmm... Uh-huh.
Yes, dear. This is the only way
to enjoy a vacation
away from home.
Closed-Captioned By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA