Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 2, Episode 36 - Adopted Daughter - full transcript

♪♪

Announcer: ROBERT YOUNG

AND JANE WYATT, (laughter)

WITH ELINOR DONAHUE, BILLY
GRAY AND LAUREN CHAPIN,

IN...

AND SO WHEN JOEY ASKED ME

TO WEAR HIS DAVY CROCKETT RING,

I SAID, "HOW MANY OTHER
GIRLS HAVE WORN THIS?"

LOVE IS LOVE, BUT I DON'T WANT
TO WEAR AN OLD SECONDHAND...

HI, PATTY, HI, KATHY.

Together: HI. NO OLD
SECONDHAND RING.



AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
I TOLD HIM, AND I MEANT IT.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT
I HEARD ABOUT HER?

ABOUT ALICIA MAE?

I DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OTHER
PEOPLE, BUT... WHAT'D YOU HEAR?

AND NATURALLY I DON'T
BELIEVE A WORD OF IT...

NATURALLY. WHAT'D YOU HEAR?

ALICIA MAE IS ADOPTED.

NO!

DOES SHE KNOW IT?

I DOUBT IT. THAT'S ONE THING
PARENTS WON'T TELL YOU.

HECK, LOTS OF KIDS COULD BE
ADOPTED AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT.

WELL, I'M NOT ADOPTED.
HOW DO YOU KNOW?

WELL, I... I JUST KNOW IT.

IT COULD'VE HAPPENED WHEN YOU
WERE A BABY AND DON'T REMEMBER IT.



MAYBE YOU WERE LEFT
ON THE PORCH IN A BASKET.

I WAS NOT!

I DIDN'T SAY YOU WERE.

I SAID YOU COULD'VE
BEEN, FOR ALL YOU KNOW.

I WAS BORN IN A HOSPITAL.

DO YOU REMEMBER IT?

WELL, NOT EXACTLY.

'COURSE, I WAS PRETTY
YOUNG AT THE TIME.

THE ONLY SURE WAY TO TELL
IS BY YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

I'VE SEEN MINE LOTS OF TIMES.

HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR
BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

CERTAINLY I... HAVE.

I THINK I HAVE.

OH, KATHY, KATHY, KATHY!

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU?

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO COME IN OUR BEDROOM

AND RUMMAGE THROUGH EVERYTHING.

MY LIFE WOULD BE SO MUCH
SIMPLER IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO

WANDER AROUND, PICKING
UP THE MESSES YOU MAKE.

THE WAY YOU ACT, SOMETIMES I
WONDER IF YOU'RE MY OWN DAUGHTER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ANYWAY?

I... I'M LOOKING FOR
MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

WHY? DO YOU NEED IT FOR
SCHOOL OR SOMETHING?

NO, I JUST WANT TO SEE IT.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW
WHERE YOURS IS.

BUD'S AND BETTY'S IS THERE,
BUT I'M AFRAID YOURS IS LOST.

MINE... IS LOST? ARE YOU SURE?

WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LOOK SO TRAGIC ABOUT IT.

WE CAN GET ANOTHER ONE.

COME ON. LET'S
PUT THE STUFF BACK.

WHERE WAS IT BEFORE IT GOT LOST?

PROBABLY IN YOUR BABY BOOK.

THAT'S WHERE THE
OTHERS ARE, I THINK.

YEP. HERE'S BUD'S
AND HERE'S BETTY'S.

DO THOSE BOOKS TELL YOU WHEN YOU
WERE BORN AND WHERE AND ALL THAT?

YEAH. DATE, WEIGHT, LENGTH,

FOOTPRINTS, FIRST WORDS...

OH, I SEE BETTY'S
FIRST WORD WAS "MAMA"

AND BUD'S WAS, UH...

(chuckles) YOU MIGHT'VE
GUESSED IT... "EAT."

IS THIS MY BOOK? MM-HMM.

COME ON, HELP ME
PUT THE THINGS BACK,

AND DON'T DRAG OUT MORE STUFF.

HEY!

MINE'S EMPTY! NOTHING IN IT!

OH, I KNOW IT.

I GUESS I WAS JUST SO
BUSY WHEN YOU CAME ALONG

THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A
CHANCE TO FILL IT IN.

I SHOULD'VE DONE IT.

COME ALONG, NOW. HELP ME.

MOMMY, WAS I ADOPTED?

NOW, WHAT KIND OF A
QUESTION IS THAT? WELL, WAS I?

KATHY, YOU'RE JUST STALLING AROUND,
TRYING TO GET OUT OF WORK, AND YOU KNOW IT.

NOW, STOP ASKING RIDICULOUS
QUESTIONS AND GET BUSY.

(phone rings)

SEE IF YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS
DONE BY THE TIME I GET BACK.

EMPTY.

NOT EVEN A LITTLE CHEAP NAME.

Patty's voice: MAYBE YOU WERE
LEFT ON THE PORCH IN A BASKET.

NO, I DON'T BELIEVE
A WORD OF IT!

I'M ME! KATHY ANDERSON!

AIN'T I?

(door opens) Jim: HELLO, KITTEN.

WELL, THIS MUST BE
SOME STRANGE LITTLE GIRL.

I WONDER WHO SHE BELONGS TO.

I BELONG TO YOU.

DON'T I?

OF COURSE. I RECOGNIZE YOU NOW.

FOR A MINUTE, I THOUGHT
YOU WERE ELSIE WUKELBACHEN.

BUT I WAS WRONG.
YOU'RE BARNEY SMITH.

DADDY, HAVE YOU EVER
SEEN MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

OH, IT'S AROUND SOMEPLACE.
ASK YOUR MOTHER.

DADDY, TELL ME ABOUT
WHEN I WAS BORN.

UH, SOME OTHER TIME, KITTEN.

I WANT TO KNOW NOW!

I WANT TO READ MY PAPER, HONEY.

TELL ME ABOUT IT, DADDY.

DID I GET HERE ANY DIFFERENT

THAN BETTY AND BUD?

"ANY DIFFERENT"?

YEAH.

LIKE, WAS I BORN IN A HOSPITAL,

OR WAS IT DIFFERENT WITH ME?

YOU KNOW... KIND OF STRANGE.

ODD.

"STRANGE"? KATHY,

THE STORY ABOUT
YOU IS SO STRANGE

THAT WE'VE NEVER
DARED TELL IT TO ANYONE,

AND YOU MUST NEVER REPEAT THIS.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS,
WE WERE GETTING

A HALF A PINT OF CREAM
AND THREE QUARTS OF MILK

FROM THE MILKMAN
EVERY OTHER DAY.

BUT WE KEPT RUNNING OUT OF MILK,

SO ONE DAY I MADE A
BRILLIANT SUGGESTION.

I SAID, "WHY DON'T WE HAVE
HIM BRING US MORE MILK?"

YOUR MOTHER SAW
THE WISDOM OF THIS,

SO SHE WROTE A LITTLE NOTE TO THE
MILKMAN AND LEFT IT OUT IN AN EMPTY BOTTLE.

THE NOTE SAID, "PLEASE
LEAVE US ONE HALF PINT CREAM

AND A GALLON OF MILK."

BUT IT RAINED THAT NIGHT

AND WASHED SOME OF
THE WORDS OFF THE NOTE.

AND WHEN THE MILKMAN
READ IT, ALL THE NOTE SAID WAS,

"PLEASE LEAVE US
ONE HALF-PINT GAL."

SO, HE LEFT US A
LITTLE HALF-PINT GAL.

WE NAMED HER
KATHY, AND SOMETIMES

WE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

NO GOOD?

I UNDERSTAND.

HIYA, SHRIMP-O.

DAD!

I'M GONNA SAVE YOU
BUCKETS OF MONEY... BUCKETS!

GOOD. HOW MUCH
IS IT GONNA COST ME?

OH, THAT'S A FINE WAY TO LOOK
AT A CHANCE TO SAVE MONEY.

NOW, YOU'RE PLANNING TO HAVE THE
BEDROOM FLOORS REFINISHED, RIGHT?

RIGHT. NOW, THAT CAN RUN INTO
HEAVY LETTUCE. RIGHT? RIGHT.

WAIT A MINUTE. LET ME ANSWER
SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.

WELL, IT'S RIGHT, ISN'T IT?

RIGHT. WELL, OKAY.

I FEEL BETTER NOW.

I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN RENT AN ELECTRIC
SANDER FOR ONLY THREE BUCKS A DAY.

AND AFTER YOU GET THE
FLOORS SANDED, IT'S A CINCH

TO PUT ON THE WOOD
FILLER AND VARNISH.

NO USE THROWING MONEY AWAY
HIRING STRANGERS TO DO ALL THAT WORK.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE
A VERY GOOD IDEA.

WELL, MIGHT BE AT THAT.

AND LOOK AT THE MONEY YOU'LL SAVE WITH
YOU AND MOM DOING ALL THE WORK YOURSELVES.

WITH... WHO DOING ALL THE WORK?

I THOUGHT YOU
WERE IN ON THIS DEAL.

WELL, I AM. I'M GONNA
RENT YOU THE SANDER.

HUH? WELL, THAT IS,
ME AND CLAUDE ARE.

YOU SEE, IT BELONGS
TO CLAUDE'S UNCLE.

LOOK, JESSE JAMES,

BRING THE SANDER AROUND, YES.

BUT COME PREPARED TO WORK WITH
YOUR SLEEVES ROLLED UP. IS THAT CLEAR?

WELL, DO I STILL GET
THE RENTAL MONEY? YES.

PLUS A DOLLAR AN HOUR
FOR MY LABOR? Together: NO!

ALL RIGHT. I WAS JUST TRYING.

CAN'T BLAME A FELLOW FOR
THAT. ANYTHING GOOD FOR DINNER?

WELL, IF THERE IS, DON'T START
SAMPLING IT INTO OBLIVION.

QUITE A PROMOTER.
DON'T DISCOURAGE HIM.

I WANT THOSE FLOORS
DONE VERY BADLY.

HELLO. IT'S JUST ME.

OR "I." IS DINNER READY?

IT WILL BE AS SOON AS
YOU HELP ME PUT IT ON.

AND TELL KATHY TO CLEAN UP
WHATEVER MESS SHE'S MADE UPSTAIRS

AND COME ON DOWN.

OH, THAT KATHY'S GOTTEN
TO BE A REAL TRIAL LATELY.

I SPEND MY WHOLE DAY
PICKING UP AFTER HER.

THAT'S ACTUALLY THE TRUTH.

SHE'D STARE IN THE MIRROR, AND THEN
SHE'D WALK UP AND DOWN THE ROOM, SAYING,

"WHO AM I? WHO AM I?"

OH, I TELL YOU, THAT
KID'S GOT TO GO.

WELL, WHOEVER SHE IS, I
WISH SHE'D HURRY. KATHY!

YES, MA'AM. I'M COMING.

IS IT ALL RIGHT?
IS WHAT ALL RIGHT?

I MEAN, TO EAT WITH THE FAMILY.

I CAN WAIT UNTIL
AFTERWARDS, IF YOU WISH,

OR EAT IN THE KITCHEN.

KATHY, STOP ACTING
AND PLEASE SIT DOWN.

YEAH, SIT DOWN,
SQUIRT. I'M HUNGRY.

THANK YOU.

IT'S VERY NICE OF YOU TO ASK ME.

JUST WHO ARE YOU SUPPOSED
TO BE? LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE?

SHALL I PUT YOUR
FOOD ON A PLATE, ANNIE,

OR JUST THROW YOU A
CRUST OF BREAD TO NIBBLE ON?

JUST MAKE MINE SMALL
PORTIONS, MR. ANDERSON.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL JUST...
"MR. ANDERSON"?

ARE YOU ENJOYING
YOUR STAY HERE, MADAM?

HOW SOON DO YOU EXPECT TO LEAVE?

OH, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!

I WANT TO STAY!

YOU'RE SUCH A NICE
FAMILY TO LIVE WITH.

ALL RIGHT, SARAH
BERNHARDT, THAT'S ENOUGH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROLE YOU'RE
PLAYING, BUT DON'T PUSH IT TOO FAR.

REMEMBER, YOU'RE ALREADY ON
THIN ICE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

YEAH, CUT OUT HAMMIN' IT UP,
SHRIMP, AND LET'S EAT. I'M STARVED.

I'M SORRY IF I HAVE
DISTURBED ANYONE.

OH, YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY ADOPTED.

SHH!

DON'T YOU TELL THAT TO ANYONE.

YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT 'CAUSE I
TOLD YOU ABOUT ALICIA MAE YESTERDAY.

I WISH I WAS JUST SAYING IT.

I KEEP SAYING IT'S NOT TRUE,

BUT THE FACTS ARE THERE.

NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE,
NOTHING IN MY BABY BOOK.

DID YOU COME RIGHT OUT AND ASK
YOUR MOTHER IF YOU WERE ADOPTED?

BUT SHE WOULDN'T GIVE
ME AN ANSWER, SO I MUST BE.

YEAH, THAT PROVES IT.

I ASKED MY DADDY TO TELL
ME ABOUT WHEN I WAS BORN,

AND HE JUST MADE UP
A LONG, CORNY STORY.

DIDN'T WANT TO HURT MY
FEELINGS BY TELLING ME THE TRUTH.

HOW DOES IT FEEL
TO BE... YOU KNOW?

I DON'T KNOW YET.
I'M STILL NEW AT IT.

HOW COME THEY ADOPTED A CHILD
WHEN THEY ALREADY HAD TWO KIDS?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT SHOWS YOU

WHAT SHAKY GROUND I'M ON.

IF THEY EVER START CUTTING DOWN,

YOU KNOW WHO'LL
BE THE FIRST TO GO.

MY ONLY CHANCE IS TO WORK HARD,

HELPING AROUND THE HOUSE...

SO HARD THEY CAN'T
AFFORD TO LET ME GO.

AND I'D BETTER GET
HOME AND START DOING IT.

I'M IN THE DOGHOUSE AS IT IS.

AND DON'T YOU DARE BREATHE
THIS TO A SINGLE SOUL. SEE?

AND DON'T WRITE IT EITHER!

"PAY TO THE ORDER OF

"THE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY?

$25"?

IS THAT ALL I COST?

KATHY, KATHY, KATHY.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU?

I'LL CLEAN IT UP!

I'LL PROVE I'M WORTH
EVERY CENT OF IT! HONEST!

NO. YOU'VE HAD YOUR LAST CHANCE.

JUST LEAVE
EVERYTHING THE WAY IT IS

SO YOUR FATHER CAN SEE IT
WHEN HE COMES HOME. OH, NO!

AND IN THE MEANTIME, I
WANT YOU TO GO UPSTAIRS

AND STAY IN YOUR ROOM UNTIL
WE DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH YOU.

HERE IT COMES... ZERO HOUR.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I THINK WE SHOULD ASK NOTRE DAME TO STOP
HOLDING SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE IN HERE.

DOES SHE DO THESE
THINGS DELIBERATELY?

I DON'T KNOW. SHE'S CERTAINLY
OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER.

IS SHE, UH, TRYING TO GET
EVEN WITH US FOR SOMETHING?

I DON'T KNOW. IT'S BEYOND ME.

BUT WE'D BETTER FIND
OUT WHAT'S BEHIND ALL THIS.

DAD, I GOT THE SANDER. AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT BEFORE SHE WRECKS THE WHOLE HOUSE.

COME ON. GET YOUR
OLD CLOTHES ON.

WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M WEARING?

I WISH YOU'D TALK
TO HER. I WILL.

BUD, CAN'T YOU SEE YOUR
MOTHER AND I ARE TALKING?

BESIDES, WE CAN'T
START ON THE FLOORS YET.

WE HAVE TO HAVE
DINNER FIRST, RIGHT?

NO, YOU CAN START. DINNER'S
NOT READY YET. (groans)

WELL, THAT KNOCKS THE OLD PROPS
OUT FROM UNDER THAT EXCUSE, HUH, DAD?

WHAT ROOM WILL
WE START ON FIRST?

KATHY'S ROOM NEEDS IT THE MOST.

AND INCIDENTALLY, THAT'S WHERE
SHE IS, WAITING TO BE SENTENCED.

SO YOU CAN TALK TO HER
WHEN YOU GO UP. I WILL.

HERE, DAD. IF I CAN EVER
GET AWAY FROM THIS MADMAN.

AND DON'T PUT IT OFF. FIND OUT
WHY SHE DOES THESE THINGS,

WHY SHE'S ACTING SO STRANGELY.

I CAN ANSWER THAT. SHE'S A GIRL.

I'D BETTER NOT TALK
TO YOU ANYMORE, PATTY.

THEY'LL THINK I'M TRYING
TO SNEAK OUT OR SOMETHING.

I TELL YOU, IT'S
GETTING ROUGH NOW.

I KNEW THIS SETUP
WAS TOO GOOD TO LAST.

HOW LONG YOU GOT
TO STAY IN THERE?

GOT TO STAY HERE TILL DADDY...

ER, MR. ANDERSON GETS HOME

AND THEY DECIDE WHAT
THEY'RE GONNA DO WITH ME.

YOU MEAN, IF THEY'RE
GONNA KEEP YOU OR NOT?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
ELSE THEY GOT TO DECIDE.

GOSH, YOU'D THINK THEY'D
REALIZE WHAT A BARGAIN I WAS

AT ONLY $25.

THAT ALL YOU COST?

GOT THE CHECK RIGHT HERE.

DIDN'T EVEN PAY CASH!

GEE, I COST MORE THAN THAT,

AND THEY DIDN'T
EVEN HAVE TO BUY ME.

DADDY SAID THE HOSPITAL
AND THE DOCTORS,

PLUS LOSING A HALF A DAY'S WORK,

PLUS A BOX OF CHEAP
CIGARS, CAME TO OVER $200.

WELL, THERE YOU ARE.

BOY, IT MUST BE TOUGH.

SURE IS. I KNOW NOW

WHAT POOR ALICIA
MAE HAS TO PUT UP WITH.

I WISH I COULD TALK TO HER.

MAYBE I WOULD GET SOME POINTERS
ON HOW TO ACT AND HOW TO...

(clattering)

UH-OH. HERE THEY COME. BYE.

Jim: DON'T WRECK THAT THING
BEFORE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO USE IT.

WHAT'S THAT? IT'S AN
ANCIENT TORTURE INSTRUMENT

USED BY KING
EGBERT THE TERRIBLE.

SO YOU'D BETTER GET
OUT OF HERE, SQUIRT.

IT'S A SANDING MACHINE.

KATHY, SIT DOWN HERE A MINUTE.
I WANT TO HAVE A TALK WITH YOU.

HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M THE MAN FROM
THE FINANCE COMPANY.

WHAT IS HE DOING?!

DON'T LOOK SO WORRIED.
HE WON'T HARM THEM.

WE'RE JUST MOVING YOU
OUT OF HERE TEMPORARILY.

MOVING ME OUT? NO!

DON'T BE SO DRAMATIC, CAMILLE.

WE CAN'T VERY WELL SAND
YOUR FLOOR AND VARNISH IT

WITH YOU AND YOUR
FURNITURE IN HERE.

I DON'T CARE! YOU'RE
NOT GONNA PUT ME OUT!

WE'RE NOT PUTTING YOU OUT. IT'S
JUST GONNA BE FOR A DAY OR TWO.

WE'LL FIX YOUR BED
IN BETTY'S ROOM.

THEN AS SOON AS YOUR FLOOR IS
FINISHED, YOU'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN HERE.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE!
YOU'RE JUST TELLING ME THAT!

BUT ONCE I'M OUT,
I'LL NEVER... HEY!

OW, SHRIMP! I CAN'T
LIFT THIS THING

WITH YOU HANGING ON IT! LET GO!

I DON'T CARE! YOU'RE NOT
GONNA TAKE IT OUT OF HERE!

DADDY, DON'T LET HIM! KATHY,
WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU?

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?
UPSET THIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD?

YOU HAVE YOUR MOTHER HALF-CRAZY, AND I
CONFESS I DON'T KNOW WHAT IN THE WORLD...

BUT, DADDY, DON'T LET
HIM TAKE MY THINGS!

DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO!

I THINK YOU'D BETTER
GO DOWNSTAIRS

AND CLEAN UP THAT MESS
YOU MADE IN THE DEN.

BUT, DADDY... RUN ALONG.
AND WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED,

I WANT TO HAVE A TALK
WITH YOU, UNDERSTAND?

YES, DADDY. (sobbing)

BOY, THAT KATHY GETS
WEIRDER EVERY DAY.

DAD, IS LOSING YOUR
MIND CONTAGIOUS?

AROUND HERE IT IS.

THEY CAN'T KICK
ME AROUND LIKE THIS

JUST 'CAUSE I'M AN ORPHAN.

I DON'T CARE IF THEY
DO THROW ME OUT.

I WISH THEY WOULD.

I DON'T LIKE THIS DUMB,
OLD HOUSE ANYWAY.

AND THAT DUMB, OLD BUD...

THINKS HE'S SO SMART.

THEY'LL FIND OUT WHEN I'M GONE

THEY CAN'T GET
ANOTHER BARGAIN LIKE ME.

SERVE 'EM RIGHT.

I OUGHT TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW.

GET ALICIA MAE, AND
WE'LL GO AWAY TOGETHER.

SHOW 'EM.

WHAT ARE YOU MUTTERING
ABOUT, MR. SCROOGE?

MY, WHAT A PRETTY FACE.

YOU'LL BE SORRY. ABOUT WHAT?

YOU'LL SEE.

ALL RIGHT, FINE. IN THE MEANTIME,
YOU'D BETTER COME TO DINNER.

FATHER, BUD, DINNER'S READY.

(sander whirring)

FATHER, BUD, COME TO DIN...

BYE, ANDERSONS.

IT WAS ALL VERY...
(sander whirring)

HURRY UP, ORPHAN ANNIE.

WE'LL LET YOU EAT DINNER WITH US
TONIGHT IF YOU BEHAVE YOURSELF.

KATHY? KATHY, WHERE ARE YOU?

WAS KATHY UPSTAIRS WITH YOU?

SHE WAS UNTIL WE KICKED HER OUT.

SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE CLEANING
UP THE DEN. SHE'S NOT IN THERE NOW.

KATHY? KATHY!

NOW, WHERE DO YOU
SUPPOSE SHE'S GONE?

PROBABLY OUTSIDE PLAYING.

SHE WAS TOLD NOT TO GO OUT.

DID YOU HAVE YOUR
LITTLE TALK WITH HER?

WELL, I REALLY
DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE.

COME ON. EVERYTHING'S
GETTING COLD.

OH, KATHY'S SKIPPED OUT AGAIN. YOU'D
BETTER GO AND FIND HER. TRY PATTY'S HOUSE.

OH, THAT LITTLE BEAST!

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M CONVINCED
SOMETHING'S TROUBLING HER.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS QUITE A
LITTLE SHOW SHE PUT ON UPSTAIRS.

ACTED AS IF WE WERE PUTTING HER OUT
OF HER ROOM AND SHE'D NEVER GET BACK IN.

NOW, WHAT WOULD MAKE A LITTLE
GIRL THINK A THING LIKE THAT?

COME ON! I JUST
GOT TO TALK TO YOU.

WHAT IS IT?

I'M JUST LIKE YOU.

I'M ADOPTED.

REALLY? I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE.

IT'S TRUE.

(gasps) OH, MAYBE I WASN'T
SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE.

OR DID YOU KNOW IT?

OH, YES, I KNOW.

I JUST FOUND OUT I WAS.

LOOK, WE'D BETTER HURRY.
DO YOU WANT TO GO WITH ME?

GO WHERE? I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS HOPING YOU'D HAVE AN IDEA.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE?

WELL, WHEN THEY DON'T
WANT YOU ANYMORE,

I FIGURE THAT'S
THE TIME TO GET OUT.

MAYBE THEN THEY'LL BE SORRY.

OH, THEY'LL BE SORRY, ALL RIGHT.

BUT YOU'LL BE SORRIER. HUH?

YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR
MIND, WANTING TO LEAVE.

DON'T YOU KNOW
ABOUT US ADOPTED KIDS?

WELL, I'M LEARNING.

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE
THE LUCKIEST KIDS A-GOING?

WE ARE? SURE.

LOOK, IF YOU WENT
INTO A CANDY STORE

TO BUY A CANDY BAR,

AND A MAN JUST CLOSED HIS
EYES AND HANDED YOU ONE,

YOU MIGHT LIKE IT
AND YOU MIGHT NOT.

BUT IF YOU HAD A CHANCE
TO LOOK 'EM ALL OVER FIRST,

WHY, THEN YOU'RE GONNA
PICK THE BEST ONE THERE.

AND IT'S THE SAME WITH US.

YEAH.

WHEN YOU'RE BORN INTO A FAMILY,

THEY HAVE TO LOVE YOU
WHETHER THEY DO OR NOT

BECAUSE THEY'RE STUCK WITH YOU.

BUT WE WERE PICKED... SPECIAL.

YEAH!

AND WHEN PEOPLE
GO TO ALL THE TROUBLE

TO ADOPT CHILDREN,

WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO,

WHY, THAT MUST MEAN THEY'RE
THE NICEST PEOPLE A-GOING.

AND THEY MAKE THE BEST PARENTS.

SO YOU OUGHT TO
HANG ON TO YOURS.

OH, BOY, DID I GOOF! HUH?

I CAN'T GO BACK... NOT NOW!

WHY NOT?

I SNEAKED OUT WHEN I WASN'T EVEN

SUPPOSED TO GO OUTDOORS.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO
CLEAN UP THE DEN,

AND I DIDN'T DO IT.

OH, I GOOFED THIS UP GOOD!

LOOK, YOU'VE ONLY
BEEN GONE A LITTLE WHILE.

RUN HOME AS FAST AS
YOU CAN AND SNEAK IN.

MAYBE YOU CAN GET
THE DEN CLEANED UP

BEFORE THEY KNOW
YOU'VE EVEN BEEN GONE.

OH, THEY'LL KNOW.

WELL, TRY IT.

DON'T LOSE THE GREATEST
THING A-GOING. RUN!

OKAY!

"ADOPTED"? WHERE
DID SHE GET THAT IDEA?

OH, WHO KNOWS? THE
WHOLE THING IS CRAZY.

PATTY SAYS YOU EVEN HAVE A CHECK
SHOWING HOW MUCH YOU PAID FOR HER... $25.

$25? THAT MUCH?

PATTY SAID SHE MAY HAVE
GONE OVER TO SEE ALICIA MAE

TO GET SOME POINTERS BECAUSE...

OH, HELLO? ALICIA MAE?
IS KATHY AT YOUR HOUSE?

UM... KATHY WHO?

OH. WHY, NO, SHE'S NOT HERE.

OH, THANK YOU. GOODBYE.

NOT THERE. WELL, WHERE
COULD SHE HAVE GONE?

WOULD SHE ACTUALLY HAVE STARTED
WALKING SOMEWHERE? AT NIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'D
BETTER BY GEORGE FIND OUT.

ALL THESE THINGS RUNNING THROUGH HER
MIND, THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT SHE MIGHT...

BETTY, YOU STAY ON THE
PHONE. CALL HER GIRLFRIENDS.

ANYONE YOU CAN THINK OF.

COME ON, BUD. YOU
AND I WILL SPREAD OUT.

LOOK EVERYWHERE. SHE
COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN VERY FAR.

A FINE MOTHER I AM.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

YESTERDAY KATHY ASKED
ME IF SHE WAS ADOPTED.

SHE CAME RIGHT OUT AND ASKED ME.

DIDN'T YOU TELL HER SHE WASN'T?

I DON'T QUITE REMEMBER.

BUT I THINK I WAS SO
BUSY BAWLING HER OUT

FOR HUNTING FOR
HER BIRTH CERTIFICATE

THAT I DIDN'T EVEN
BOTHER TO ANSWER HER.

SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT

CHILDREN ARE PEOPLE TOO.

WHEW!

KATHY!

KITTEN, HONEY, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING HERE?

UH, I'M WAITING FOR A BUS.

A BUS?

WELL, WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING? I DON'T KNOW!

OH, HONEY, I KNOW ALL
ABOUT THIS "ADOPTION" IDEA.

IT'S NOT TRUE! YOU'RE OUR OWN
LITTLE GIRL, AND WE LOVE YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO
KEEP THE TRUTH FROM ME.

I EVEN FOUND THE CHECK!

WHAT CHECK? WHAT'S
THIS TALK ABOUT A CHECK?

HUH?

"CHILDREN'S HOME S..."

OH, KITTEN.

THIS IS A CONTRIBUTION
I MAKE EVERY YEAR,

LIKE THE COMMUNITY CHEST
OR RED CROSS AND ALL THAT.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

EXCEPT TAKING CARE OF LITTLE
GIRLS WHO DON'T HAVE HOMES.

WELL, DADDY, IF
I'M NOT ADOPTED...

WELL, I MEAN, DO YOU LOVE ME

JUST 'CAUSE I'M YOURS
AND YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME?

"STUCK WITH YOU"? CERTAINLY NOT!

WELL, IF YOU WENT IN

AND LOOKED OVER
ALL THE CANDY BARS...

I MEAN, ALL LITTLE GIRLS...

WOULD YOU... PICK ME?

(chuckles)

IF ALL THE LITTLE GIRLS IN THE
WHOLE WORLD WERE LINED UP,

I'D PICK YOU.

DADDY, WILL YOU
BUY ME SOMETHING?

NAME IT, KITTEN, AND IT'S YOURS.

WILL YOU BUY ME A
NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

♪♪