Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 4, Episode 19 - Margaret's Other Family - full transcript

[Announcer Here are...

with Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray,

and Lauren Chapin in...

Well, now,

a body wouldn't have a hard time

telling who was the woman
of the house around here.

How do you like
this for a chair?

Well, it is very nice.

They are nice. They give
the place a nice touch.

And they hold up, too. They're
sturdy, make them myself.

Cut my own wood for them.



Yes. Well, I don't
think we need any.

No, probably not,

but I have got
one item you'd like.

A woman like you in
a fancy house like this

ought to have one.

That's the chase.

The what?

Well, what they call
them is "chase lounge."

That's French.

It's a sort of couch
bent up at one end.

Women folks like to
loll around on them,

and they do give a
bedroom a high-class touch.

Yes, I'm sure they would,

but I'm afraid I
couldn't afford one.



Well, they are
expensive, hard to make.

Made one up for Mrs.
Kermit. That's my wife.

Worked her name
into the bent-up part.

Pearl. That's her name.

Oh, she... she loved it
something wonderful.

Yes, well...

Made it for her when she
come home from her operation

three, four year ago.

Say, they certainly do
charge for those operations.

A body can't afford
to have many of them.

How about a nice
motto for your kitchen?

Nice rustic frame.
Only a dollar.

Well, yes. Yes, that'll
be fine. I'll take one.

Good. Now, you can have a
motto about home or mother.

Uh, you just pick out one.

Excuse me, I have
some cookies in the oven.

I'll pick you out a nice one.

Well, hello there, son.

Was that your mama?

Yes, sir.

A real jewel.

Now, which one of these do
you think your mama'd like?

"Through joy and
sorry there's no other

than the one whom
we call mother."

"The pot is always
on the stove."

Why in the world do you want

to buy a framed
motto, of all things?

Well, he needs the money.

Mother, you're
such an easy mark.

Anyone can sell you anything.

- Go right in.
- Come in.

The boy picked out a
nice one, Mrs. Anderson.

Oh, thank you.

- What do you think of it?
- Well, it's... it's fine.

The boy thought you'd like it.

My, they do smell good.

- What kind are they,
oatmeal cookies?
- No, just cookies.

They certainly do smell good.

Why don't you try one?

- Oh, no...
- Careful while the pan's hot.

Oh, I shouldn't.

Say, you are a cook.

Oh, what little
Opal wouldn't give

to sink her teeth
into a cookie like this.

That's my little girl... Opal.

Why don't you take
some home to her?

Oh, no, I couldn't do that.

[laughs] A fellow comes
here to sell a stick of furniture,

and he eats you out
of house and home.

- Oh, no, no.
- Oh, well, we have plenty,

and our children don't care
so much for cookies anymore.

Mom, uh, I'm very fond of them.

Oh, I shouldn't take these.

You're a jewel, Mrs. Anderson.

Little Opal sure will
enjoy these, yes, sir.

If you ever do decide
on a "chase lounge,"

I'll make one up for you
just as cheap as I can.

Much obliged again.

- Bye.
- Bye.

[Betty] Oh, brother.

Honest, Mom, I didn't
pick that out. He did.

It doesn't matter.

Hey, what's the idea of
giving him all our cookies?

Oh, Bud, I'm ashamed of you.

What's a few little cookies?

And if they'll make
some little girl happy...

It's not that, Mother.

It's that you just let him
work you around to it.

He did nothing of the sort.

- [Kermit] Oh, Mrs. Anderson.
- Yes?

Hide the rest of the cookies.

"There is a sunbeam
in our kitchen.

"Her name is mother dear.

"Beams of joy she
spreads around us,

and dries up every tear."

Sunbeam honey,
spread me a little joy.

All right, go ahead, make fun.

Where in the world
did you get that?

Looks like fourth-place winner

at the Beaver Drill's Hobby
and Wood Craft Show.

I bought it from a man
who needs the money.

He has a little girl. His
wife's had an operation.

Yeah, he talked Mom out of
all her cookies she baked, too.

- Oh, he did not.
- Well, I'm glad
you helped him.

In fact, if the man
ever comes back,

order a motto for me, too...

Something about dear old Father.

He'll be back all right.

Talked Mom into a big repair
job on the patio furniture.

He didn't talk me into it.

I asked him to do it, and
it's not a big repair job.

He's just going to fix up
those broken-down lawn chairs.

Oh, well, now I've been planning

on handling that
little job myself, but...

But how many years have
you been planning that?

Oh, well, why... Go ahead
and let your man do it.

I'll try to bear up under the
disappointment somehow.

[whistling]

- Well, morning, Mr. Anderson.
- Good morning.

- On your way to work?
- Yes.

Figure you can get those
chairs back in working order?

Oh, sure, sure. Won't take long.

How is the furniture business?

Well, you know,

some days it's slow,
but other days it's punk.

[both laugh]

What line you in, Mr. Anderson?

- Insurance.
- That's nice work.

Thought of taking
it up myself once.

- Where's your office,
downtown?
- Yes.

I'll have to look you up
next time I'm downtown.

My only trouble is I never
get a chance to get down there.

You know, I've been carrying
some films around for about a week.

Mrs. Kermit took some
snaps of little Opal,

but, by Henry, I never get a
chance to get near a drug store.

Fellow's got to work, you know?

Here, let me drop
them off for you.

Oh, no, I couldn't
ask you to do that.

Why, it's no trouble.

Mr. Kermit has father
delivering films for him now.

- I wonder
what his next move will be.
- [phone rings]

I'll get it.

Betty, stop being so suspicious.

Mr. Kermit is a perfectly
nice, harmless person.

All right, just a minute.

- Mommy.
- Hm?

Mrs. Kermit wants
to talk to Mr. Kermit,

but first she wants
to speak to you.

Me? Hm.

Mr. Kermit, you're
wanted on the phone.

Hello?

Yes.

Oh, well, thank you.

Actually they're very
simple cookies to make.

You...

I'll send you home the
recipe with Mr. Kermit.

It's no trouble.

Oh, no, uh...

Well, uh...

Here's Mr. Kermit.

I tell you, little Opal sure
did admire those cookies.

Fact is both her and Mrs.
Kermit did. Mighty fine.

Oh, thank you.

Pearl, isn't Mrs. Anderson nice?

Yeah, she does.

She says you have a
nice telephone voice.

What's on your mind, Pearl?

What?

Every one of them?

[laughs] If that don't beat all.

I got her a second-hand
washing machine,

and it blew out every
fuse in the house.

Well, I can't bring any fuses
home now, Pearl. I'm working.

Sure, I know the
ice box is off, too,

but the food won't
spoil that fast, will it?

Can't you take your
ironing over to the neighbors

and plug your iron in there?

Why not?

Mr. Kermit.

I have to go to the market.

I could pick up
some fuses for you.

Oh, no, no, you've got
troubles enough of your own.

It's no trouble. I
have to go anyway.

It sure would help out.

You are a jewel.

Pearl, Mrs. Anderson is
going to pick up some fuses.

- [humming]
- [knock on door]

I bet you've been standing
out there trying to ring the bell,

and it doesn't work.

Our fuses are all burned out.

Here are your new
ones, Mrs. Kermit.

Oh?

My stars alive, you
must be Mrs. Anderson.

Come in. Come in.

I feel as if I already know you.

Mr. Kermit has told
me so much about you.

Oh, my, you are a jewel.

Could I fix you a donut
and a cup of coffee?

Oh, no, thank you. My son
is waiting for me in the car.

Well, he doesn't want
to sit out there all alone.

Son, come on in.

Come on inside, son. Come on.

My, he's a nice-looking boy,

and Mr. Kermit tells me
you have two nice girls, too.

Yes, that's right,
and speaking of girls,

my youngest has outgrown
these dresses, and I...

Son, come on in.

I want you to meet
my little girl Opal.

Opal, come into the parlor.

Now, what were you
saying about the dresses?

My youngest has outgrown these,

and I was wondering...

Opal, this is that very
nice Mrs. Anderson.

She brought some fuses, see?

And this is her son...
Uh, what was your name?

- Uh, Bud.
- Bud.

Hello, Bud.

Opal, why don't you
take Bud out in the kitchen

and fix him some
milk and doughnuts?

Oh, no, thanks. I'm not hungry.

Oh, yes, you are. Go on.

He says he's not hungry, Mom.

Boys are always hungry.

Go on, scoot, scoot, scoot.

They make a nice couple.

You were saying
about the dresses?

Oh, it was nothing.

I just...

Well, yes, it was.

I had thought maybe
these would fit Opal.

Oh, that's a good one,

but it was thoughty of you.

Now, if you're sure
you can't use these,

there's a neighbor
lady across the street

has a little one
about this size.

They're having a hard go of it,

and she sure could use them,

and bless your star forevermore.

She's certainly welcome to them.

Oh, she'll admire them,

a deserving woman, too.

I don't know her too well yet.

We just moved from
Wattsville about a month ago.

It's hard to break in to
a new town, you know.

Yes, I know.

Oh, these are nice.

I was going to do her
washing for her today,

but my machine broke down,

and it's beyond repair.

Worst thing of it is

both Opal and Mr. Kermit

need clean work clothes.

Opal's on part time
at the dime store.

I see.

And I'm not supposed to tub
scrub on account of my back.

Here, sit down.

Oh, but things are going
to work out somehow.

If it isn't half a
dozen of one thing,

it's two or three dozen
of something else.

You mean you're actually
doing their washing?

I'm just helping out.

Honey, you have
more than you can...

They can't ask you to do this.

They didn't ask
me. It was my idea.

In fact, she practically fought
me to keep me from doing it.

But you stuck in there.

Who won?

You know what?

You've got a big hole in
that pretty head of yours.

Oh, no, I haven't.

It's just that...

You know what?

It does seem a bit
peculiar now that I think of it,

but, you know, at the time it seemed like
the logical, normal, decent thing to do.

Sure.

But now I suddenly find
myself looking up and saying,

"How did I get
mixed up in this?"

I'll tell you how.

You're too tender-hearted.

Now, I think this is wonderful,

and I love you for it,

but the point here is these
people are taking advantage of you.

- They're spongers.
- Oh, no, they're not.

I think I'll just
tell Mr. Kermit...

No, Jim, don't say anything.

He's really very nice.

I won't if you promise
not to volunteer anymore.

- Oh, I promise.
- Good.

Well, I better get to work.
Can't make any money here.

[Kermit whistling]

- Uh-oh, here's
your boyfriend, Mother.
- [Kermit] Oh, Mrs. Anderson.

What? Oh, Mr. Kermit.

Remember now, Miss Sunbeam,

no volunteering.

She probably wants Mother

to come over and
shingle their roof.

- She would, too.
- No, she won't.

- Morning, Mrs. Anderson.
- Good morning.

Howdy, folks.

I don't want to bother you,

but Mrs. Kermit
sent this over to you.

Banana bread.

Mrs. Kermit baked
up an extra loaf.

She thought you
folks might enjoy it.

Oh, well, that was
very nice of her.

That's a switch.

[Kermit] Well, it's small
thanks for all you've done for us.

Oh, I've done nothing.

Incidentally, your laundry
and Opal's dress are ready,

so don't forget to take
them when you leave.

I won't. You are a
jewel for doing that,

a real gem.

I hope you enjoy
the banana bread.

Don't forget to give
Mr. Anderson a slice.

He delivered some
films for me yesterday.

Anyone care for a
slice of banana bread?

It's just a come on.

He's softening you up to ask
you to build him a new barn.

Oh, Mrs. Anderson,
I hate to bother you,

but have you got a hammer?

See?

Yes, I think I have one
right here in the kitchen.

Like a simpleton, I left
most of my tools in my trunk,

which is down the street
at the garage being fixed.

The darn rear end went out on
me this morning driving over here.

Oh, that's too bad.

Well, it never rains but
when it pours, they say.

Much obliged for the hammer.

Oh, by the way,

I've been thinking
about that "chase lounge"

for your bedroom,

and I've decided, by Henry,
you ought to have one.

Oh, well, it would be nice,

but as I said,

we couldn't afford that.

They're not
cheap. I'll say that.

It's my deluxe item...

- [phone rings]
- but you would like one,
wouldn't you?

[Margaret] Yes, but...

Hello?

Yes, he's here. Just a minute.

Mr. Kermit, it's your wife.

Oh, much obliged.

You keep thinking
about that "chase lounge,"

Mrs. Anderson.

I sure am getting to be
a nuisance around here,

bothering you people.

What's on your mind, Pearl?

Oh, I can't bring
Opal's dress home now.

My truck's broke down.

Oh, dog gone, it never rains.

Little Opal's got a chance
for an interview for a better job,

and she hasn't got
anything nice to wear.

Couldn't she go for
the interview tomorrow?

Oh.

Hasn't she got anything
else nice to wear?

Mr. Kermit...

- [Mr. Anderson clears throat]
- Mrs. Anderson?

Nothing.

Well, I'll try to figure
out a way, Pearl.

Okay, okay, goodbye.

[chuckles] More darn trouble.

Much obliged for
the use of the phone.

Look, if it'll make
you feel any better,

I'll take the dress and
stuff out to their house

on my way to work,
but this is the end.

- Now, this the stuff here?
- Mm-hmm.

Don't want them making
a slave out of my wife.

And remember this...

No "chase lounge." Understand?

Oh, don't worry about that.

[knock on door]

Come in. Come in.

Oh, my stars, Mrs. Anderson.

My goodness, should you
be doing this kind of work?

Oh, it's not hard, but you'll
have to excuse me if I don't stop.

Once you get this
do-it-yourself paper wet,

you've got to
keep right on going

or it'll be ruined.

You go right ahead. I
brought Opal's dress.

Mr. Anderson thought it was in
the box of laundry he brought over,

but it wasn't.

I know. It was so nice of him.

[phone rings]

Oh, wouldn't that
phone ring right now.

I'll get it.

Where is it, in here?

Right through there, deary.

I don't know what
I'd do without you.

When I opened
that box this morning

and didn't see anything in it,

I just didn't know what to do.

Opal will be coming
back from the dime store

busting in here expecting
to wear the dress...

All right, I'll tell
her right away.

It's your neighbor. She
sounds quite frantic.

Her baby has a
bad case of the colic,

and she wants you
to come right over.

Oh, yes, I fixed
her up once before.

I better dash right
over, poor thing.

- Oh.
- Oh, dear,
now I'll ruin this paper.

I just barely got
enough to go around.

Well, I... Maybe I could do it.

Oh, no, no, no.

What do you do,
just stick it on?

Well, the stickum's on
the back of the paper.

You just smooth it on.

Oh, my, you are a jewel.

I'll be back as quick as I can.

What in the world
was Mrs. Kermit racing

out of the house like mad...

Oh, no. This can't be.

Mother, papering their wall...

How do you let them
talk you into these things?

They didn't. I'm
just helping out.

Oh, for goodness' sake,

grab the bottom part of
this paper and help me.

Once you get this
stuff wet, you can't stop

or it'll be ruined.

Oh, this Father
will never believe.

Be careful there. It's
getting... looking a little ragged.

Well...

Oh, that poor baby.

Oh, my stars, you finished it.

Oh, you shouldn't have. You...

Oh, it looks so nice.

Ever since we moved in here,

I wanted to brighten
up this dingy place,

but we couldn't afford
a paper hanger and...

then I found out about
this do-it-yourself stuff.

This looks nice.

It doesn't look bad at that.

Mama, did Papa bring my dress?

Oh, hello.

Papa's truck broke down,

but these nice people
brought your dress over, honey.

Oh, no, really, you
people shouldn't have...

And guess what else they did.

They finished papering the
room. Doesn't it look cheery?

Oh, yes, but...

Oh, Mama, you
shouldn't have let them.

This is too much.

Well, you hurry
and put on the dress.

What time is your interview?

Oh, I'm not sure I
can make it now.

They kept me working down at
that darn stockroom at the dime store

longer than they
were supposed to.

Would it help if
we drive you over?

Oh, no, you've
already done too much.

We have to drive over
in that direction anyway.

Yes, you hurry up
and put on your dress.

I swear, you people are the nicest
humans on the face of the earth.

Oh.

You papered their living room?

You actually p...

You must be kidding.

No, she's not. In
fact, I helped her do it.

It was your fault.

If you had taken
Opal's dress over...

Okay, I'm sorry about that.

I thought it was in that box.

The funny thing about
this is that at the time,

papering their walls seemed like a
perfectly normal, sensible thing to do.

There, you see?

Look, I have no objection
to doing people a favor.

I'm all for it, but this...

Don't you see they're
using you, imposing...

They are not.

They've never asked
me to do a single thing.

No, but they make it
mighty easy to volunteer.

Now they're involving
the whole family.

Bud's chauffeuring,
Betty papering,

you doing the laundry,
and I'm delivering it.

Mother, I think we better
tell Father about the apples.

Apples? What about what apples?

Oh, nothing, nothing.

Before we left there to
take Opal to her interview,

some woman called and said that
Mrs. Kermit could have some apples

if she could get out to her
place to pick them herself,

so tomorrow she
and mother are...

What, a fruit picker now?

Oh, it's a chance for her
to get them for nothing.

She needs them to can,

you know, for
applesauce in the winter?

She shouldn't be climbing,

not with her back.

Oh, that does it.

Bud, get Mr. Kermit
on the phone for me.

Oh, no. Now, Jim...

- Bud... Bud, come back.
- Bud, keep going.

I'm not going to stand by and
let them make a slave of you.

This has got to stop.

You have more than you
can do right here at home.

This time they went too far.

They threw on the straw
that broke the camel's back.

I can't get him, Dad.

Phone's been disconnected.

Disconnected...

Yeah, that figures.

Well, that's not
going to stop me.

I'm going out to their
place. No, Jim, come back.

Don't stop him, mother.
He's probably right.

Somebody has to save
you from your unselfish self.

[whistling]

Oh, by Henry, you
scared me, Mr. Anderson.

I didn't see you come in.

I'm sorry.

Uh, Mr. Kermit, I want to talk
to you about a couple of things.

Why, sure, sure.
Have yourself a seat.

Oh, my goodness.

W-Whould you
mind waiting outside?

I'll be right out.

I guess the cat's
out of the bag.

You must've seen
it when you came in.

How do you like it?

I believe this is the
finest "chase" I ever made.

Of course, it had to be.
It's for a mighty fine woman.

I've got a blue
pad goes on it, too.

Now, see here, Mr. Kermit.
We didn't order this.

Oh, no.

Oh, it's a surprise,
a present for her.

A present?

Well, sure.

Of course, in comparison
with what she's done for us...

Now, wait, Mr. Kermit,
you can't do this.

This is your deluxe item.

You can't afford
to give this away.

Mr. Anderson,
there's some things

you can't measure with money,

and the goodness of your
woman is one of those things.

You know, I enjoyed every
minute I worked on this?

The other night I
was working away.

First thing I knew, it
was 3 a.m. I had no idea.

[laughs]

But I tell you she
sure deserves it.

How do you think she'll like it?

Oh, I...

I guarantee you
she'll really prize this.

Shame it isn't finished. You
could just take it along with you.

Oh, no, no.

No, I'm sure this is something

she'd rather receive
direct from you.

Well, I would kind of
like to deliver it myself.

I was just thinking, as long
as you're here, why you...

Hey, by the way,

I got so wrapped up with work,

I clean forgot to ask you why
you come over here tonight.

Oh...

Well, I...

The, uh... The film...

The film you gave me
to take to the drug store...

It'll be ready next Wednesday.

Now, that sure
is thoughty of you

to drive clean out
here to tell me that.

You know, Mr. Anderson,

it's kind of hard getting
adjusted to a new town,

but, by Henry, if the
other folks in Springfield

are as nice as you folks,

I think we're going
to be real happy here.

Yes, I...

I'm sure you will be.

Good night, Mr. Kermit.

Good night, Mr. Anderson.

[both laugh]

- Good night.
- Good night.

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