Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 4, Episode 14 - Big Sister - full transcript

Betty becomes a counselor for a 3-day summer camp - the same camp Kathy is attending. When Betty finds out Kathy has been reading her diary, Betty decides to make Kathy work hard at camp.

[Announcer] Here are...

with Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray,

and Lauren Chapin in...

[laughing]

What are you doing?
Setting up a roadblock?

Say, why all this junk?

You planning to
leave home, I hope.

I'm going to camp. Three
days at Indian Springs.

I found this book
up in the closet.

Betty must have written it.

Listen to this. It's real funny.



"And how sweet it is
to have you, dear diary,

"to tell my deepest
heartfelt thoughts.

"Ralph kissed me tonight,

"and the drops that stain
this page are my tears.

Tears of joy."

Look, you better put that
up before Betty gets home.

Listen to this.

"I wish I could follow Ralph

"across the plains
in a covered wagon

and suffer hardship to prove
myself worthy of his love."

[both laugh]

Now, look, pint
size, I'm warning you.

If Betty finds out
you read her diary,

she'll bruise you.



Well, it was in the
closet with some old junk.

She doesn't want it.

Okay, it's your funeral.

[Kathy laughs]

- Ironing?
- Oh!

Oh.

I believe that's
what they call it.

Is all this Kathy's stuff?

She's leaving for
camp Friday morning.

Can't go without clean clothes.

Yeah, but all that
for just three days?

What's she going to do? Spend the
whole time up there changing clothes?

She's a girl, and
she likes to be clean.

Sure wish I could get a job.

You know, any kind of job.

Oh, take the lawnmower and
go out and mow some lawns.

That doesn't pay enough.

What I'd like is a job that's...

Well, that's kind of dangerous,
but you get big money

like hauling dynamite.

Well, I suppose you could check
around among the neighbors

and see if anybody wants
some dynamite hauled.

I'd like to get a
job out of town.

[Kathy laughing]

Do you know what
Kathy's reading in there?

Well, I did it.

Did what?

I'm a counselor. I
passed the exam

and got the top grade
in the whole camp group.

Well, that's wonderful. We
have to have a celebration.

Oh, I nearly flipped
when they told me.

There were over 100
girls taking the exam

and only 10 jobs open.

And I made number 1 position
on the counseloring staff.

How do you like that?

So what do you do?

I go to Indian Springs
Camp as a counselor.

That's what I do.

And what's more, I get
my choice of sections.

I get to pick out the group of
girls I want to take charge of.

[Kathy laughs]

What's with Kathy?

Oh, she's reading something.

I had real competition
in the exam.

Some of the sharpest
girls in school.

You know, I think that's the
real reason I came out so well.

Well, you're a
natural competitor.

You like to win.

You're right. I do.

Why is it I like
games and tests?

I get real excited over winning.

It's the way you're made.
You've always been that way.

Doesn't everybody want to
be at the top? To be the best?

Not me. I just want
to be a happy slob.

Stop it. You don't, either.

You're the only one in
the family that's win-crazy.

The rest of us are relaxed.

I'm not win-crazy.

Were there any
calls for me, Mother?

Nope.

- Where are you going?
- Upstairs.

[Kathy laughing]

Uh, Kathy's on the stairs,

and when Betty sees
what she's reading,

you're going to hear the
biggest explosion in history.

5 seconds, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.

[Betty] My diary!

Aah!

Mother! Mother!

This is the most unforgivable
thing you've ever done.

What did I do?

This is my diary. My
private personal property.

And you, you little snooper,

you went in my room and took it.

I did not!

It's stealing!

Well, it's just the
same as stealing.

It's invasion of
property. It's treasurable.

It's violating one
of the most sacred...

Hello, Father... Thing
a person could own.

- I ought to take it and hit...
- What's going on in here?

I caught her red-handed
reading my diary.

Well, how did you get into it?

I made the mistake of
opening the door and walking in.

I wasn't sure I was
in the right house.

For a minute, I thought I was
in Madison Square Garden.

Well, isn't somebody
going to do something?

You're going to let
her get away with this?

Now, Kathy, you shouldn't
have been reading Betty's diary.

I didn't know it was
as personal as all that.

I found it up in the closet
with all the suitcases.

Well, how did it
get in my closet?

That's what I'd like to know.

Well, don't look at me.

I'm not interested
in your old diary

and how you felt
when Ralph kissed you.

What was that?

I didn't see a thing. I'm going.

Oh, this family.

I'm not saying
that Kathy's right,

but if you didn't want
to have your diary read,

you should've taken
better care of it.

And you stay away
from diaries after this.

And now you pick up these things

and put them in the den.

Is that all you're
going to say to her?

Aren't you even
going to punish her?

Let's say no.

Honestly. The way you
and Father baby her,

she gets away with murder.

If I'd done the things that
she does when I was her age,

I would've been beaten
within an inch of my life.

Oh, for heaven's sake, Betty.

Well, believe me. If
Kathy were my child,

I'd certainly handle her
a great deal differently

than you and Father do.

Welcome home.

Bud says the old
homestead's really jumping.

Oh, that Betty.

"I would've been beaten
within an inch of my life."

What did we ever do with the
club we used to beat her with?

I wonder what they call the
phase she's going through.

Oh, probably the
"How did I happen

"to grow up to be so smart

"when my mother and
father know nothing

about raising children?" phase.

Well, she'll have a chance to
handle children this weekend.

She's going to be a counselor
at Indian Springs Camp.

Made top grade in the exam.

Well, that figures. Betty isn't
happy unless she's on top.

Has to be the best
in whatever she does.

I don't know whether
that's good or not.

You know, some day...

Oh, you've cooled off by now?
Put your head under cold water?

You should've after that
steam-blowing demonstration.

I'm sorry I sounded
off, but, honestly,

you and Mother don't realize
how you pamper Kathy and Bud.

Princess, your mother
and I do the best we can.

Now, we love you kids,

and maybe we are
too soft sometimes.

You just wait until
you're put in the position

of being a parent and having
a child depending on you.

You won't be so tough, either.

Well, if I think it's for
the good of the child,

I'll be as tough as nails.

Oh, you talk big
now, but you just wait.

You'll be the
biggest softie of all.

Well, that's where
you're both wrong.

You don't know me.

Well, if we don't
know you, who does?

Well, you'll see.

Is it safe to come in here now?

Oh, come on in. I'm
not going to hurt you.

Say, I was just thinking.

As long as you're going to be

a big hot-shot
counselor up at camp,

how about you seeing
if you can't get me a job?

Yes, I think I can
arrange a job for you.

Do you really?

Well, now that's what I call

real forgiveness and
generosity. I'm proud of you.

Well, see if you can't
get me a job as a lifeguard

or, you know, some kind
of big job around the water.

You're as good as
hired. There's a job open.

Just what you're looking for.

Wow, Tallulah.

I take back everything
I've ever said about you.

You're a real true-blue kid.

Well, I got to pack now.

Oh, I got to pack.

Mother, is your ironing
board still set up?

I have to get these
things ready for camp.

Be my guest.

Sometimes I wonder just
how well I do know Betty.

What kind of a job do you
suppose she has in mind for him?

Big job around the water.

Oh, running the
boat for the camp.

Lifeguard. Swimming instructor.

[chatter]

[blows whistle]

Come on, boy, get a move on.

I'm going to be
needing them dishes.

Oh, I don't know why
we have to wash all these.

They've just been
sitting in a cupboard.

Every time we close the
camp, we wash the dishes.

Every time we open the
camp, we wash the dishes.

They get dusty.

This ain't exactly the patio

of the Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel we got here, boy.

Every time, we open the camp,

we got a new kid washing dishes.

You're the 28th.

Never knew where
they got them all.

Where did you come from, boy?

I was shanghaied,
practically, by my own sister.

She's a counselor.

She promised me this big,
important job by the water.

Job by the water.

[laughs]

This sister of yours
must be a cutter.

Yeah, she's a real whiz.

You the baby of the family?

No, I got a little
sister, Kathy.

She came up this morning, too.

Oh?

Job by the water.

[laughs]

Is she a cut-up
like the big one?

No, she's a pretty
good little kid.

[chatter]

My name's Kathy
Anderson. What's yours?

Mine's Pam Erlicht.

I guess we're going to
be next to each other.

Yeah. My sister's
one of the counselors.

Lucky you.

Well, I don't really know.

It all depends if she's
still mad at me or not.

She may not be the
counselor for this tent.

I don't know.

Why is she mad at you?

I read her diary.

Oh, boy.

Well, it was in the closet
with the suitcases and...

Girls, I'm going to
be your counselor.

My name is Betty Anderson,

and we're all going to enjoy our
little vacation here at Indian Springs.

We have lots of
interesting things to do.

And if you have any questions,
just come up and ask me.

I'll be like your mother for
the three days that you're here.

Mrs. Anderson.

[girls laugh]

Miss Anderson. I'd
rather you call me Betty.

Is she you're sister?

Yes, Kathy's my sister.

But the rest of you needn't
worry. I'll show her no favors.

She'll be given no
privileges over the rest of you.

Is that clear?

Now, I want our tent to be
the neatest tent in this camp.

There'll be an award
given for housekeeping.

Now, I want our tent to win it.

Mrs. Ellis, our camp director,

will come through here every
day to see how tidy we are.

Each girl in the camp
will be given points

for neatness, courtesy,
and accomplishment.

And the girl who has the most
points at the end of the camp

will receive the golden arrow.

Now, that's the one to work for.

I want one of you to
win that golden arrow.

Now, I'm going to inspect the
tent before Mrs. Ellis comes.

Then you may go outside.

Mm-hmm, that's very nice.

You may go.

Mm-hmm. That's good.

Okay, dismissed.

What pretty hair.

Mm-hmm, that's nice.

Dismissed.

Very neat.

Kathy, you can make your
bed smoother than that.

I thought it was all
right, just like the others.

Now make it right.

I want that top
blanket tight as a drum.

Corners all tucked under.

Mrs. Ellis is going to
notice things like that

when she comes through here.

Put these things away.

Everything neatly
in the drawers.

You're not at home now

where you can throw
things every which way.

You're going to toe the
mark for me, little one.

Now, make this area spotless,

and when you're through,
come on out to the pool.

Swimming starts at 9:30.

[chatter]

[blows whistle]

Quiet, everyone, please.

I'm Mrs. Ellis,
your camp director.

I'm sure you've all met
your counselors by now.

This morning, we're going to
have our first swimming test.

Those of you who do not swim,

stay with your counselors.

I can swim. What
are they going to do?

They want to see
how well you can swim.

- Betty?
- Yeah.

- Oh, hi, Bud.
- Hi, half pint.

How's things going?

Oh, all right, I guess.

Hello, brother, dear.

Don't call me brother,
and I'm not your dear.

I'm going to disown you.

You know, I've washed about
5,000 crummy dishes this morning.

And now I got to
sweep. Pretty fine job.

Well, I don't know what
you're complaining about.

You're right by the water.

It's just what you wanted.

Well, what should I do?

Now, look, you go over
and talk to Mrs. Ellis.

Tell her who you are, but
make sure she gets your name.

Well, what should I say?

Just introduce yourself.

Tell her where you're
from, what school you go to.

Ask her if there's
anything you can do for her.

It'll help you get
points for courtesy.

Well, yeah, but I mean...

You want to win that golden
arrow, don't you? Now, go on.

What are you, her agent?

Divide them up
into groups of three.

And let them swim across
the shallow end here.

Start them from that side.

Keep track of how
they get on in the water.

Then we'll group
the A's together

and the B's together and so on.

What is it, dear? Did
you want to talk to me?

What's your name?

Kathy. Kathy Anderson.

- Stop!
- Aah!

Kathy!

Are you all right, dear?

I'm okay.

You must remember,

look where you're going
when you're around the pool.

Watch that, Betty.

If you were deliberately trying to
make me look bad in front of Mrs. Ellis,

you couldn't have done better.

I didn't do it on
purpose. I'm sorry.

How do you expect to
win the golden arrow?

You're losing points before
you've even earned any.

[Mrs. Ellis] All right, girls.

Over this way for the swim test.

Now, you get in there,

and you swim like
you've never swam before.

I'll try.

That's not good enough.

You've got to win.
You've got to be the best.

You can do it. Just make
up your mind to do it.

Now, go on.

I... I'll try to.

What are you doing?

I'm listening.

Listening to the house.

I never realized how quiet it
would be without the children.

You miss them already?

Certainly, don't you?

Well, it is a little like
living in a public library.

No little ones fleeing
the wrath of the big ones,

no shouted accusations.

I don't think there's been a sound
in the house since they've left.

Even the telephone quit ringing.

Betty's treasured diary.

Her most secret,
innermost thoughts

which she'd rather die
than have anyone see.

So here it is right
where she left it.

After almost dying
because Kathy looked at it.

I wonder how Betty's getting along
with her children up at the camp.

Well, she's been waiting
for a long time to prove

that she knows so much more
about handling children than we do.

She should be enjoying
every second of it.

[clears throat]

I was very disappointed in the showing
you girls made in the swimming test.

Not one of you made the A class.

Now, you could've
done it if you tried.

You just didn't
have the will to win.

I had the will, all right.

I just never learned to swim.

[all laugh]

Now, Mrs. Ellis will be here
any minute to inspect our tent.

Now, I don't want one
wrinkle on any bed.

I don't want one
button out of place.

This has got to be the
best tent in this camp.

[knock on door]

Yes?

Well, Betty, are we ready
for our first inspection?

Yes, Mrs. Ellis, I think
you'll find everything in order.

Are you enjoying camp, dear?

Good.

Well, Kathy Anderson.

Just like home having your
sister for a counselor, isn't it?

Yes.

What's this?

This bathing suit should've
been hung out, Kathy.

You are dismissed.

All but Kathy.

Well, you're doing
great. Just great.

What's gotten into you?

Are you deliberately trying

to be the sloppiest
girl in the camp?

I was going to hang it out,

but we were all in a
hurry to get dressed...

Don't you realize
you lost points

because you left
your suit on the floor?

It counts against our tent,
and it counts against you.

Don't you want to
win that golden arrow?

Don't you even care?

Sure, but...

All right, you buckle
down and get to work.

You have three days.

There'll be woodcraft,
nature studies,

and you're going to
take part in all of them.

And then you're going
to be first and the best.

Believe me. You're going
home from this camp with honors

if I have to ride
you every minute.

Go on out and find the others.

Well, nosy?

I just figured it out.

You want Kathy
to win all this stuff

so you can be the big
sister to the top girl in camp.

It's not for her at all.

You want her to win for you.

Do you have any more
brilliant observations?

Yeah, you're a
cold fish. Real cold.

Just a minute, Gertrude.

- Iceberg.
- Blockhead.

Go back to your dish pan.

[growls]

Well, how's your big
sister gettin along?

Still making the little
one toe the mark?

She's running the
little kid ragged.

For two days now
she's been pushing her

to win this, win that.

Poor little mutt's never
worked so hard in her whole life.

Well, today's the
last day of camp.

Tonight she can go home
from her vacation and rest.

The big deal now is

the campfire play the
kids are putting on tonight.

Ah, you'd think Kathy could
relax and watch the other kids.

Oh, no. Betty's
laid down the law.

Kathy's got to have the
lead. Got to be the heroine.

And all this just so Kathy can get up
enough points to be top girl in camp.

Win a gold arrow or something.

I guess your big sister
believes in go, go, go.

- Right?
- Like a bulldozer.

Now, remember,
you're Princess Firefly,

the gay, laughing daughter
of Queen Southwind.

All right now,

you're coming through the woods

to your mother's castle.

You're breathless from running.

Curtain.

Your opening line.
Come on. Come on.

Oh, Mother, dear, I
bring news from the forest.

Oh, Mother, dear, I
bring news from the forest.

Kathy, you're the
gay, laughing daughter.

Now, play it.

Oh, Mother, dear, I
bring news from the forest.

You're breathless.
You've been running.

[panting]

Oh, Mother, dear,

[panting]

I bring news from the forest.

[panting]

All right, go on.

Oh, I don't want
to be in the play.

You've got to be.

Well, I don't remember
what I'm supposed to say.

I'm tired.

You won't be tired
once the play starts.

If you do well in it and make a
good impression on Mrs. Ellis,

you'll win the golden arrow.

You're almost at the
top for points right now.

Why, having the lead
in the play will cinch it.

Don't you want to win?

Don't you want to be
the best girl in the camp?

I wish I was home.

[humming]

It's starting to cloud up.

Not a breath of air outside.

Oh, it's going to rain. I
can tell. My hair's curly.

[chuckles]

I wonder what
the kids are doing.

Oh, their last
evening at the camp.

They're probably getting ready

for the campfire and a
program of some sort.

If they're going to have a
campfire, they better hurry.

The storm's coming
right out of the north.

It ought to be over
Indian Springs right now.

What hit you all of the sudden?

Well, the oddest feeling.

Oh, I wish the
children were home.

Why?

I don't know.

I just had the strangest feeling

that something was wrong.

Oh, that's the weather.

You know as well as I do that
with Mrs. Ellis running the camp,

nothing would dare go wrong.

[thunder rumbles]

[thunder rumbles]

Another half hour,

you're going to
have thunderbolts

whistling around your ears.

You ever been up
here in a storm, boy?

No.

It really comes down good.

Come on down to the campfire.

We're going to
start the play early

so that we can get
out before the storm.

You better make it a short play.

Lock everything up, Mac.

And after the play,
I'll give out the awards,

and then we can load the
children right onto the buses.

It won't take more
than 20 minutes.

Mrs. Ellis, have you seen Kathy?

Not in the past hour. Why?

Well, they're ready
to start the play,

and we can't find her.
I looked everywhere.

Well, I saw her go by the
door about a half hour ago.

[thunder rumbles]

We must find her quickly.

Mac, you make a
circle of the camp.

Bud, you look
through all of the tents.

I've been concerned
about Kathy lately.

Someone or something is
making her terribly unhappy.

Well, don't just
stand there. Find her.

You look through
the dining hall.

I'll round up all of the
counselors for a full roll call.

Kathy! Kathy!

- Did you see her here?
- No, she's not in the camp.

When you saw her,
did she say anything?

Did you find Kathy?

Not yet.

She told me she was going home.

- Home?
- When did she tell you this?

This afternoon.

She's trying to get home.

Well, look, you cut
across the meadow.

See if she went that way.

I'll take the trail through the
woods and go out to the road.

Kathy!

Kathy!

Kathy, wait!

Kathy!

Oh, baby.

[both crying]

[Bud] ♪ I dream of Jeannie ♪

♪ With a long, white beard ♪

[phone rings]

[Betty] Somebody
get that, will you?

[Bud] I'll get it
here in the kitchen.

Listening?

The house is beginning to
sound pretty normal again.

[Bud] Hey, glamorous,
it's Marge for you.

Tell her I'll call
her back. I'm busy.

Not a weak voice in the crowd.

Three days at camp made
quite a change in those two.

♪ I dream of Jeannie ♪

♪ With a long, white beard ♪

Speaking of
changes, look at this.

♪ Fair as a cauliflower ♪

He's washed every
dish in the house.

Bud, do you feel all right?

Oh, yeah.

I washed so many
dishes up at camp,

I just do it automatically now.

I could do it in my sleep.

[dish breaks]

I didn't win the golden arrow,

but I got the shield
of honor, see.

Well, tell him how you got it.

For working. In the whole
camp, I was the hardest tryer.

That's just as
important as winning,

to be the hardest tryer.

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