Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963): Season 2, Episode 11 - School Play - full transcript
Grant Avenue School is holding a performing arts festival, with each grade assigned a specific production. Beaver gets cast as the lead in the third grade production of "Flowers and Feathers". Beaver is to play a canary. Beaver is excited about his part and about the production. After the first rehearsal, Miss Wakeland, the director, doesn't think Beaver has what it takes to be a convincing canary, which he overhears. Although he doesn't tell his son so, Ward is also slightly embarrassed by Beaver's part, wishing his role had a bit more meat on it, or wishing the type of bird was a bit more majestic. June asks Ward to be a little more encouraging to the Beaver about the play and his role. Ward's words of encouragement the night of the play, in addition to Miss Wakeland's comments, have the effect of Beaver getting stage fright. Beaver refuses to go on. As Ward, June and Wally sit in the audience, they're sure that Beaver's stage fright will pass and that he'll be the best canary ever... or will he?
Leave It To Beaver.
Starring Barbara Billingsley,
Hugh Beaumont,
Tony Dow...
and Jerry Mathers...
as the Beaver.
"First grade: Buttons and
Bows. Second grade: Pilgrims.
Third grade: Flowers
and Feathers."
That's us. Flowers and Feathers.
I played a tiger last year, and it
was awful hot inside that tiger suit.
It'd be hotter
inside a real tiger.
I'm going out for the leading part
on account of I take tap and ballet.
Oh, go on. You looked
awful silly last year...
dancing in that black underwear.
That wasn't underwear.
That was a leotard.
It looked like underwear to me.
What part do you think
they'll give you, Beaver?
Well, I don't know.
Once, in the first grade, I once played
the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.
You were terrible.
You forgot all your lines.
I did not! I growled every
time I was supposed to.
Sure.
I just hope it's not one of those
mushy plays where they got kissin'.
They're not allowed to have
kissin' till the seventh grade.
There's nobody in this whole
school you could pay me to kiss.
Well, you just wait and see
who plays the lead, that's all.
I'll bet they don't even
let you in the play, Beaver.
You should have seen
when he forgot those lines.
I still say she was
dancing in her underwear.
Yeah.
Where are the boys? Wally got
home at 1:00. They let him out early.
What was the occasion? Well, he
didn't wait to find out. He just came home.
I'll bet. How about the Beaver?
Oh, he got home at the regular time.
Oh, say, he had a great big announcement.
He, uh, managed to
pass another spelling test?
No. The third grade's putting on a play,
and our Theodore is playing the lead.
Beaver? No. Yes.
It was a toss-up between
Beaver and Claude Bonnefield.
I thought Claude Bonnefield
was the smartest boy in the class.
Well, he is, but it, uh, seems he
pinched a girl during rehearsal.
Well, the third grade may have
lost another Adolphe Menjou.
Uh, what kind of part's Beaver
playing? Oh, he didn't say.
He just came home and told
me he was playing the lead.
- And then he went upstairs
to check on his fishing worms.
- What for?
Well, he and Wally have been putting
coffee grounds in the jar with their dirt.
It's supposed to make
the worms big and fat.
Oh. Well, I hope it doesn't
just make them nervous.
Dear, supper's in an hour.
Hey, Wally, the worms don't
look any fatter than yesterday.
Well, it probably takes a worm
a long time to put on weight.
Hey, no kidding, Beave? You're
really in the school play, huh?
Yeah, but they're makin'
the whole class be in it.
Hi, guys. Oh, hi, Dad.
Hi, Dad. Oh, I did my
homework at school.
Oh. Hey, I hear you got
off at 1:00 today. What's up?
Well, uh, I heard that,
well, all the teachers
are having a big
meeting with the principal.
- What about?
- Well, uh, Eddie figures
some of 'em have been goofing off.
Well, I seriously doubt that.
Hey, Beave, uh, your mother tells
me you have the lead in your class play.
Yeah, Dad. Our part
is called Flowers and
Feathers, and all the
girls are playing flowers.
Oh, Judy’s a tulip and Larry's a
hop toad and Whitey's a mushroom...
and I'm a bird and Linda
Dennison is some kind of a weed.
- You're playing a bird?
- Yeah, Dad.
What kind of a bird?
Well, I don't know. Miss
Landers didn't tell us yet.
Well, we're gonna get our
costumes and junk tomorrow.
Uh-huh. Well, Beaver, I'm
sure you'll make a fine bird.
You sure the bird is
the lead in the play?
Well, it must be, 'cause after I got the
part, Judy came over and socked me one.
I see.
Well. Well, that's, uh—
That's just fine, Beaver.
A bird, huh? Yeah. Yes, sir.
Hey, Beave, are they gonna put a wire
on you and fly you all around the stage?
No. I think I'm more the
kind of bird that dances.
Hey, Wally, think we ought to
put some more coffee in here?
I wondered where you'd gone.
Oh, I was upstairs talking to the boys.
Did you know Beaver
was playing a bird?
Really? Isn't that sweet?
Yeah, I suppose so.
But when I was in school, I always played
things like Ivanhoe or Miles Standish.
But Beaver's only
in the third grade.
Well, I know that, but...
well, down at the office,
when Charlie Hennessey
starts to talk about his
kid who had a tryout
with the Detroit Lions,
what am I supposed to say—
They just made my kid a bird?
Oh, now, Ward. I think the Beaver will
make the cutest little bird you ever saw.
Oh, sure. Sure, he will.
I'd just feel a little better if
he were playing the hop toad.
Now, Susan and Debbie and Carol,
you're going to be the other flowers.
Now I think that takes
care of everybody.
Now do you all know what parts
you're playing? Yes, Miss Landers.
I want you to go home
tonight and practice,
because tomorrow,
right here on the stage,
we're going to have
our first real rehearsal.
Now—Yes, Judy?
The night of the show, my mother wants
to know if I should wear my toe shoes.
That will be fine, Judy.
I'm the only one who has them
on account of I take tap and ballet.
Yes, we all know, Judy.
Miss Landers. Yes, Whitey.
We don't have any
paper. Doesn't the
mushroom or anybody
else get to say anything?
I'm afraid not
this time, Whitey.
Do all I get to do is squat?
Well, Whitey, if
you do that well,
it all goes to make the
show a real success.
I said stuff last year
when I was a tiger.
Well, I know you did, Whitey.
Now about the— Miss Landers.
Yes, Larry? If I play a
hop toad, do I have to hop?
Well, of course, Larry.
I don't know if I should. I had
my appendix out last month.
Oh, well, Larry, the only
other part in the play is the tree,
and Charles is the only one in the
class tall enough to sway convincingly.
All right. I'll ask my father
if it's all right for me to hop.
Thank you, Larry.
But I don't think it is.
Um, why don't we all go
back to the classroom now...
and I'll give you your costumes so
your mothers can work on them tonight.
Come on. Come on,
children. Miss Landers?
Yes, Beaver? Don't I
get to say anything either?
Well, no, Beaver.
No one says anything.
You have to express by your
actions how you feel and think.
But, gee, I don't
know how a bird thinks.
Well, don't you
worry about it, Beaver.
Miss Wakeland from the high school
will be here tomorrow to help all of you.
Hi, Larry.
You didn't deserve
the leading part.
Wait till tomorrow. When
Miss Wakeland sees
you, she'll throw you
right out of the play.
You really think Miss Wakeland
will throw me right out of the play?
Heck no. Miss Landers
already picked you.
Sure. You'd have to mess it
up real bad to get thrown out.
Hi. Oh, hi, dear.
What's all this? Beaver's
costume for the play Saturday.
Oh. And what's
this? Beaver's bill.
His bill? Oh, Ward, you
knew he was playing a bird.
- What kind of a bird?
- A canary.
- A yellow canary?
- A yellow canary.
Hmm. Oh, now, Ward.
Well, it's not that I object to
his playing a bird. A bird's a bird.
Why couldn't he have
played something with a little
more meat on its bones,
like a—like an eagle?
Look, Ward, if you don't like the
idea, please don't let the Beaver know.
Well, he's real happy.
He's excited about it.
You want to know
something? I'll bet he's
not. I'll bet they just
stuck him with this.
I've got half a mind to
go over there— Hey, Mom,
is my costume ready? I
gotta take it back tomorrow!
Hey, Dad, did you
see it? Isn't it real neat?
Look, it's got real buttons for eyes.
I'm the only canary in the whole school!
Uh, well, that's fine, Beaver.
Miss Wakeland is
coming over from the high
school. She's gonna
teach me how to be a bird.
I sure hope I can learn
to be a bird, 'cause
I wouldn't want to get
kicked out of the play.
Hey, Wally, come on down and
watch me put on my canary suit!
All right. So he's
a yellow canary.
Oh, hi, Mom. Hi.
What's that? Last night I froze
some grape juice into ice cubes.
Why'd you do that? Well,
it's kind of an invention.
Now when you put 'em in
water, you have grape juice.
Uh-huh.
- Hey, Mom, where's Beave?
- He's at school. He's rehearsing.
Boy, he sure gets a kick
out of kid stuff, doesn't he?
- Well, maybe that's
because he's a kid.
- Yeah.
Hey, Mom, I wonder what
would happen if you froze a worm.
Oh, Wally!
Daisies should be right here.
And, Debbie, you
stay right there.
Now then, let's
see your tulip. Judy!
♪
Well, that's very
good, Tulip. Yes, Judy.
I brought my tap shoes
just in case I need 'em.
That's fine. Now, flowers.
Miss Wakeland, do I have to
keep squattin'? My legs are hurtin'.
It won't hurt you to be a
mushroom for a little while longer.
Hop toad.
- Stop scratching.
- Yes, Miss Wakeland.
Now, where's your canary?
Come on out, Theodore.
♪
No, Theodore.
Canaries don't
clomp. They float.
Well, I'm too heavy to float.
We don't really float. We just give
the impression that we're floating.
Well, how can I do that when my
feet have got to stay on the ground?
- Should I show him how to do it?
- No, thank you, Judy.
Now then, let's
try it once again.
And this time, let's really float,
hmm? Yes, Miss Wakeland.
All right.
Tell him to stop. I'll hurt
where my appendix was.
That's enough, children!
All right, children. Flowers, you can
rest now, but don't get overheated.
What about us? Well, you boys can
rest too. But remember, no pushing.
You were terrible.
I just don't think he'll be
able to get it by Saturday.
But we've already told his parents,
and his costume's been altered.
Well, he would
make a cute canary.
All right, children,
you can go now.
Canary.
Me? Yes. I think we can stand
a little more work on our floating.
And you try very hard, Theodore.
Yes, Miss Landers.
Maybe I could float
better if I took my sneakers
off and danced around
in my sweat socks.
I think for the time being,
we'll leave the sneakers on.
Yes, Miss Wakeland.
And, Beaver, think like a bird.
♪ Hear anything?
Uh-uh. Maybe Beaver's cryin'.
Nah. It'd take at least a
principal to make Beaver cry.
Did you tell your father you were
playin' a toad? Yeah, I told him.
What did he say? He said how come
I'm dancin' when I can't even spell.
Here comes Beaver.
Hi, fellas. Thanks for waitin'
for me. That's okay, Beaver.
You still a canary?
Yeah, I'm still a canary.
We're glad they didn't
throw you out, Beaver.
Ward, how can you sit there
calmly reading the newspaper?
We have to leave for
school in 10 minutes.
What would you like me to do
for 10 minutes, pace the floor?
- Well, no, but, uh—
Do you have the tickets?
- Yeah.
Well, did you check on Wally to
see if he's wearing a decent tie?
Yes, I checked. Oh.
Ward, I know you're not crazy
about the Beaver playing a canary, but,
well, this is a
big night to him.
- I wish you'd let him know
how happy we are.
- Well, sure, June.
Now that he's gonna
be a canary, I want him to
be the best canary
that ever flapped a wing.
I'll get my hat.
Oh, Wally, that tie. Well,
gee, Mom, Dad picked it.
What's wrong with it?
Well, we don't have time
to change it now. Keep
your coat buttoned.
Is it all right in the auditorium
if I don't sit with you guys?
Wally, you don't
want to sit with us?
Well, Eddie and I kind of
thought we'd hang around in back.
- Why would you do that?
- That way, if things get too gruesome,
we won't get stuck.
- You'll sit with us.
- Yes, sir.
I'll get my hat. Ward? Mm-hmm?
Don't forget what I said
about the Beaver. Oh, yeah.
Hey, Dad, how long
before we're gonna leave?
Well, your mother's in a big hurry,
Wally. It could be only 10 or 15 minutes.
Oh, well, I think I'll get some of my
grape juice. Not with my necktie on.
Okay.
Mom, Dad, I'm ready!
Okay, Beave. Mother
will be right down.
Well, I guess this is your big
night, huh? Well, I guess so.
Well, sure. You've got a big part in the
play, all your friends are gonna be there.
I expect you got some
butterflies in the stomach, huh?
How would they
get in there, Dad?
Oh, well, I just meant you're
probably a little nervous.
Well, sure. You don't want to goof
up like you did in Red Riding Hood.
Remember, Dad? He played
the wolf and forgot his lines.
Miss Rayburn had to growl
from behind the scenery.
Yeah, I almost
didn't remember that.
Oh, Wally, you shouldn't
bring up things like that.
Now, Beaver, I don't want you
to worry about a thing tonight.
If anything goes wrong,
y-you just ignore it.
Go wrong? What could go wrong?
Well, you know, like if
you forgot one of your lines.
Oh, I don't have any
lines. Well, I just float.
Oh, well, fine. Fine. And, you know,
if you should trip while you're floating,
just pick yourself up and go
on like nothing had happened.
Why, even if people laugh at you, that's
no great calamity. It's just a school play.
Ah, you're gonna be fine,
Beaver. You're gonna be just fine.
I'm all ready. Oh,
okay. Let's go, Beaver.
Well, I'm not going.
You're not going?
I'm not gonna get up on
that stage and fall down
and have people laugh
at me. I'm not gonna do it.
Ward, what have
you been telling him?
Well, I was just trying
to pep him up a little.
Well, sure. All Dad said was that
even if he goofed up to keep on goin'.
Oh, come on, Beaver. You've been
looking forward to this for a long time.
Sure, Beaver. Come on.
Nothing's gonna go wrong.
Nothing's gonna go
wrong 'cause I'm not goin'.
Well, uh, why don't you just come
along and watch the other guys.
Yeah, come on, Beaver. Sure.
You want to see the rest of the show.
Well, okay.
But I'm not gonna
get up on that stage.
You'll be all right,
Beave. Don't worry.
♪
When does Beaver's class
come on? Oh, they're on last.
Oh. I told you we'd get stuck.
I just hope he does all right.
Oh, sure. He'll be all right.
As soon as he gets in
costume with all the other
kids, he'll forget all
about being nervous.
I hope so.
Who's the guy with the camera?
That Judy Hensler's father.
Oh. That figures.
♪
♪
That's Beaver's class. Yeah.
It's about time.
♪♪
♪
Well, at least she's
sure of herself.
♪♪
Hey, there comes Beaver.
♪
Ward, he was just wonderful.
He was the best canary I ever saw.
Yeah. I was waitin' for him
to fall on his face or somethin'.
Come on. Let's go
back and get him.
You know, Ward, he was so sweet. It
almost makes up for not having a girl.
Take my arm. Up on my toes.
Hey, there he is over there.
Quit! Quit! Gee,
Dad, I couldn't help it.
I couldn't find the
hole in the curtain.
Well, honey, you
were just wonderful.
Oh, you sure were, Beave. You were fine.
Just fine. Yeah, you were okay, Beave.
It's not me, Beaver.
It's me, Whitey.
Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver, I'm
awfully sorry about the change,
but Beaver was so
upset when he got here...
that I didn't think it was fair to
him to let him go on as a canary.
Oh, well, we can understand
that, uh, if he wasn't up to it.
Well, I hope he isn't too upset. He
was counting so on being in the play.
Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad! Hi, Wally!
Hi, Dad. Hi, Wally. Hi,
Mom. Did you like me?
- Beaver!
- Hey, Beave, you were the mushroom?
Yeah. They traded me with
Whitey. He made a neater bird.
Yeah, Beave, and you made
a better mushroom. Hey, Mom!
Dad, Mom, you're not mad
'cause I wasn't the canary?
Why—Of course not, Beaver.
We thought you were the best
mushroom we've ever seen, didn't we, June?
Well, of course we did, Beaver.
Why, we were very, very proud of you.
I'm glad we took Beaver for a soda.
Yeah. Well, he had it coming to him.
I think he had a
pretty rough evening.
He didn't say much, did he?
No. I guess he was kind of
upset about not playing the canary.
After all, he looked
forward to it all
week, and then he wound
up being a mushroom.
I wish I hadn't given
him that little pep talk.
Oh, I think he was
upset before then.
Hi. Hi, Mom. I came
down to say good night.
We were coming up.
Good night, Dad.
Good night, Beaver.
Beave, I'm sorry about tonight.
I'm afraid I kind of messed things up.
No, I think I messed
things up for myself, Dad.
But you were looking
forward to being the canary.
Yeah, but I wasn't good
enough to be a real canary.
You were an awfully
good mushroom, Beaver.
I guess so.
But when I flied, it wasn't
like when Whitey flied.
- It's kind of funny.
- What, Beaver?
Well, Whitey can't catch
a baseball very good,
but I can catch one real good.
Well, I guess a guy ought to do what
he can do, not what another guy can do.
Beaver, I think you've
really got something there.
Us mushrooms ought to stick
to baseball. Flying's for the birds.
Starring Barbara Billingsley,
Hugh Beaumont,
Tony Dow...
and Jerry Mathers...
as the Beaver.
"First grade: Buttons and
Bows. Second grade: Pilgrims.
Third grade: Flowers
and Feathers."
That's us. Flowers and Feathers.
I played a tiger last year, and it
was awful hot inside that tiger suit.
It'd be hotter
inside a real tiger.
I'm going out for the leading part
on account of I take tap and ballet.
Oh, go on. You looked
awful silly last year...
dancing in that black underwear.
That wasn't underwear.
That was a leotard.
It looked like underwear to me.
What part do you think
they'll give you, Beaver?
Well, I don't know.
Once, in the first grade, I once played
the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.
You were terrible.
You forgot all your lines.
I did not! I growled every
time I was supposed to.
Sure.
I just hope it's not one of those
mushy plays where they got kissin'.
They're not allowed to have
kissin' till the seventh grade.
There's nobody in this whole
school you could pay me to kiss.
Well, you just wait and see
who plays the lead, that's all.
I'll bet they don't even
let you in the play, Beaver.
You should have seen
when he forgot those lines.
I still say she was
dancing in her underwear.
Yeah.
Where are the boys? Wally got
home at 1:00. They let him out early.
What was the occasion? Well, he
didn't wait to find out. He just came home.
I'll bet. How about the Beaver?
Oh, he got home at the regular time.
Oh, say, he had a great big announcement.
He, uh, managed to
pass another spelling test?
No. The third grade's putting on a play,
and our Theodore is playing the lead.
Beaver? No. Yes.
It was a toss-up between
Beaver and Claude Bonnefield.
I thought Claude Bonnefield
was the smartest boy in the class.
Well, he is, but it, uh, seems he
pinched a girl during rehearsal.
Well, the third grade may have
lost another Adolphe Menjou.
Uh, what kind of part's Beaver
playing? Oh, he didn't say.
He just came home and told
me he was playing the lead.
- And then he went upstairs
to check on his fishing worms.
- What for?
Well, he and Wally have been putting
coffee grounds in the jar with their dirt.
It's supposed to make
the worms big and fat.
Oh. Well, I hope it doesn't
just make them nervous.
Dear, supper's in an hour.
Hey, Wally, the worms don't
look any fatter than yesterday.
Well, it probably takes a worm
a long time to put on weight.
Hey, no kidding, Beave? You're
really in the school play, huh?
Yeah, but they're makin'
the whole class be in it.
Hi, guys. Oh, hi, Dad.
Hi, Dad. Oh, I did my
homework at school.
Oh. Hey, I hear you got
off at 1:00 today. What's up?
Well, uh, I heard that,
well, all the teachers
are having a big
meeting with the principal.
- What about?
- Well, uh, Eddie figures
some of 'em have been goofing off.
Well, I seriously doubt that.
Hey, Beave, uh, your mother tells
me you have the lead in your class play.
Yeah, Dad. Our part
is called Flowers and
Feathers, and all the
girls are playing flowers.
Oh, Judy’s a tulip and Larry's a
hop toad and Whitey's a mushroom...
and I'm a bird and Linda
Dennison is some kind of a weed.
- You're playing a bird?
- Yeah, Dad.
What kind of a bird?
Well, I don't know. Miss
Landers didn't tell us yet.
Well, we're gonna get our
costumes and junk tomorrow.
Uh-huh. Well, Beaver, I'm
sure you'll make a fine bird.
You sure the bird is
the lead in the play?
Well, it must be, 'cause after I got the
part, Judy came over and socked me one.
I see.
Well. Well, that's, uh—
That's just fine, Beaver.
A bird, huh? Yeah. Yes, sir.
Hey, Beave, are they gonna put a wire
on you and fly you all around the stage?
No. I think I'm more the
kind of bird that dances.
Hey, Wally, think we ought to
put some more coffee in here?
I wondered where you'd gone.
Oh, I was upstairs talking to the boys.
Did you know Beaver
was playing a bird?
Really? Isn't that sweet?
Yeah, I suppose so.
But when I was in school, I always played
things like Ivanhoe or Miles Standish.
But Beaver's only
in the third grade.
Well, I know that, but...
well, down at the office,
when Charlie Hennessey
starts to talk about his
kid who had a tryout
with the Detroit Lions,
what am I supposed to say—
They just made my kid a bird?
Oh, now, Ward. I think the Beaver will
make the cutest little bird you ever saw.
Oh, sure. Sure, he will.
I'd just feel a little better if
he were playing the hop toad.
Now, Susan and Debbie and Carol,
you're going to be the other flowers.
Now I think that takes
care of everybody.
Now do you all know what parts
you're playing? Yes, Miss Landers.
I want you to go home
tonight and practice,
because tomorrow,
right here on the stage,
we're going to have
our first real rehearsal.
Now—Yes, Judy?
The night of the show, my mother wants
to know if I should wear my toe shoes.
That will be fine, Judy.
I'm the only one who has them
on account of I take tap and ballet.
Yes, we all know, Judy.
Miss Landers. Yes, Whitey.
We don't have any
paper. Doesn't the
mushroom or anybody
else get to say anything?
I'm afraid not
this time, Whitey.
Do all I get to do is squat?
Well, Whitey, if
you do that well,
it all goes to make the
show a real success.
I said stuff last year
when I was a tiger.
Well, I know you did, Whitey.
Now about the— Miss Landers.
Yes, Larry? If I play a
hop toad, do I have to hop?
Well, of course, Larry.
I don't know if I should. I had
my appendix out last month.
Oh, well, Larry, the only
other part in the play is the tree,
and Charles is the only one in the
class tall enough to sway convincingly.
All right. I'll ask my father
if it's all right for me to hop.
Thank you, Larry.
But I don't think it is.
Um, why don't we all go
back to the classroom now...
and I'll give you your costumes so
your mothers can work on them tonight.
Come on. Come on,
children. Miss Landers?
Yes, Beaver? Don't I
get to say anything either?
Well, no, Beaver.
No one says anything.
You have to express by your
actions how you feel and think.
But, gee, I don't
know how a bird thinks.
Well, don't you
worry about it, Beaver.
Miss Wakeland from the high school
will be here tomorrow to help all of you.
Hi, Larry.
You didn't deserve
the leading part.
Wait till tomorrow. When
Miss Wakeland sees
you, she'll throw you
right out of the play.
You really think Miss Wakeland
will throw me right out of the play?
Heck no. Miss Landers
already picked you.
Sure. You'd have to mess it
up real bad to get thrown out.
Hi. Oh, hi, dear.
What's all this? Beaver's
costume for the play Saturday.
Oh. And what's
this? Beaver's bill.
His bill? Oh, Ward, you
knew he was playing a bird.
- What kind of a bird?
- A canary.
- A yellow canary?
- A yellow canary.
Hmm. Oh, now, Ward.
Well, it's not that I object to
his playing a bird. A bird's a bird.
Why couldn't he have
played something with a little
more meat on its bones,
like a—like an eagle?
Look, Ward, if you don't like the
idea, please don't let the Beaver know.
Well, he's real happy.
He's excited about it.
You want to know
something? I'll bet he's
not. I'll bet they just
stuck him with this.
I've got half a mind to
go over there— Hey, Mom,
is my costume ready? I
gotta take it back tomorrow!
Hey, Dad, did you
see it? Isn't it real neat?
Look, it's got real buttons for eyes.
I'm the only canary in the whole school!
Uh, well, that's fine, Beaver.
Miss Wakeland is
coming over from the high
school. She's gonna
teach me how to be a bird.
I sure hope I can learn
to be a bird, 'cause
I wouldn't want to get
kicked out of the play.
Hey, Wally, come on down and
watch me put on my canary suit!
All right. So he's
a yellow canary.
Oh, hi, Mom. Hi.
What's that? Last night I froze
some grape juice into ice cubes.
Why'd you do that? Well,
it's kind of an invention.
Now when you put 'em in
water, you have grape juice.
Uh-huh.
- Hey, Mom, where's Beave?
- He's at school. He's rehearsing.
Boy, he sure gets a kick
out of kid stuff, doesn't he?
- Well, maybe that's
because he's a kid.
- Yeah.
Hey, Mom, I wonder what
would happen if you froze a worm.
Oh, Wally!
Daisies should be right here.
And, Debbie, you
stay right there.
Now then, let's
see your tulip. Judy!
♪
Well, that's very
good, Tulip. Yes, Judy.
I brought my tap shoes
just in case I need 'em.
That's fine. Now, flowers.
Miss Wakeland, do I have to
keep squattin'? My legs are hurtin'.
It won't hurt you to be a
mushroom for a little while longer.
Hop toad.
- Stop scratching.
- Yes, Miss Wakeland.
Now, where's your canary?
Come on out, Theodore.
♪
No, Theodore.
Canaries don't
clomp. They float.
Well, I'm too heavy to float.
We don't really float. We just give
the impression that we're floating.
Well, how can I do that when my
feet have got to stay on the ground?
- Should I show him how to do it?
- No, thank you, Judy.
Now then, let's
try it once again.
And this time, let's really float,
hmm? Yes, Miss Wakeland.
All right.
Tell him to stop. I'll hurt
where my appendix was.
That's enough, children!
All right, children. Flowers, you can
rest now, but don't get overheated.
What about us? Well, you boys can
rest too. But remember, no pushing.
You were terrible.
I just don't think he'll be
able to get it by Saturday.
But we've already told his parents,
and his costume's been altered.
Well, he would
make a cute canary.
All right, children,
you can go now.
Canary.
Me? Yes. I think we can stand
a little more work on our floating.
And you try very hard, Theodore.
Yes, Miss Landers.
Maybe I could float
better if I took my sneakers
off and danced around
in my sweat socks.
I think for the time being,
we'll leave the sneakers on.
Yes, Miss Wakeland.
And, Beaver, think like a bird.
♪ Hear anything?
Uh-uh. Maybe Beaver's cryin'.
Nah. It'd take at least a
principal to make Beaver cry.
Did you tell your father you were
playin' a toad? Yeah, I told him.
What did he say? He said how come
I'm dancin' when I can't even spell.
Here comes Beaver.
Hi, fellas. Thanks for waitin'
for me. That's okay, Beaver.
You still a canary?
Yeah, I'm still a canary.
We're glad they didn't
throw you out, Beaver.
Ward, how can you sit there
calmly reading the newspaper?
We have to leave for
school in 10 minutes.
What would you like me to do
for 10 minutes, pace the floor?
- Well, no, but, uh—
Do you have the tickets?
- Yeah.
Well, did you check on Wally to
see if he's wearing a decent tie?
Yes, I checked. Oh.
Ward, I know you're not crazy
about the Beaver playing a canary, but,
well, this is a
big night to him.
- I wish you'd let him know
how happy we are.
- Well, sure, June.
Now that he's gonna
be a canary, I want him to
be the best canary
that ever flapped a wing.
I'll get my hat.
Oh, Wally, that tie. Well,
gee, Mom, Dad picked it.
What's wrong with it?
Well, we don't have time
to change it now. Keep
your coat buttoned.
Is it all right in the auditorium
if I don't sit with you guys?
Wally, you don't
want to sit with us?
Well, Eddie and I kind of
thought we'd hang around in back.
- Why would you do that?
- That way, if things get too gruesome,
we won't get stuck.
- You'll sit with us.
- Yes, sir.
I'll get my hat. Ward? Mm-hmm?
Don't forget what I said
about the Beaver. Oh, yeah.
Hey, Dad, how long
before we're gonna leave?
Well, your mother's in a big hurry,
Wally. It could be only 10 or 15 minutes.
Oh, well, I think I'll get some of my
grape juice. Not with my necktie on.
Okay.
Mom, Dad, I'm ready!
Okay, Beave. Mother
will be right down.
Well, I guess this is your big
night, huh? Well, I guess so.
Well, sure. You've got a big part in the
play, all your friends are gonna be there.
I expect you got some
butterflies in the stomach, huh?
How would they
get in there, Dad?
Oh, well, I just meant you're
probably a little nervous.
Well, sure. You don't want to goof
up like you did in Red Riding Hood.
Remember, Dad? He played
the wolf and forgot his lines.
Miss Rayburn had to growl
from behind the scenery.
Yeah, I almost
didn't remember that.
Oh, Wally, you shouldn't
bring up things like that.
Now, Beaver, I don't want you
to worry about a thing tonight.
If anything goes wrong,
y-you just ignore it.
Go wrong? What could go wrong?
Well, you know, like if
you forgot one of your lines.
Oh, I don't have any
lines. Well, I just float.
Oh, well, fine. Fine. And, you know,
if you should trip while you're floating,
just pick yourself up and go
on like nothing had happened.
Why, even if people laugh at you, that's
no great calamity. It's just a school play.
Ah, you're gonna be fine,
Beaver. You're gonna be just fine.
I'm all ready. Oh,
okay. Let's go, Beaver.
Well, I'm not going.
You're not going?
I'm not gonna get up on
that stage and fall down
and have people laugh
at me. I'm not gonna do it.
Ward, what have
you been telling him?
Well, I was just trying
to pep him up a little.
Well, sure. All Dad said was that
even if he goofed up to keep on goin'.
Oh, come on, Beaver. You've been
looking forward to this for a long time.
Sure, Beaver. Come on.
Nothing's gonna go wrong.
Nothing's gonna go
wrong 'cause I'm not goin'.
Well, uh, why don't you just come
along and watch the other guys.
Yeah, come on, Beaver. Sure.
You want to see the rest of the show.
Well, okay.
But I'm not gonna
get up on that stage.
You'll be all right,
Beave. Don't worry.
♪
When does Beaver's class
come on? Oh, they're on last.
Oh. I told you we'd get stuck.
I just hope he does all right.
Oh, sure. He'll be all right.
As soon as he gets in
costume with all the other
kids, he'll forget all
about being nervous.
I hope so.
Who's the guy with the camera?
That Judy Hensler's father.
Oh. That figures.
♪
♪
That's Beaver's class. Yeah.
It's about time.
♪♪
♪
Well, at least she's
sure of herself.
♪♪
Hey, there comes Beaver.
♪
Ward, he was just wonderful.
He was the best canary I ever saw.
Yeah. I was waitin' for him
to fall on his face or somethin'.
Come on. Let's go
back and get him.
You know, Ward, he was so sweet. It
almost makes up for not having a girl.
Take my arm. Up on my toes.
Hey, there he is over there.
Quit! Quit! Gee,
Dad, I couldn't help it.
I couldn't find the
hole in the curtain.
Well, honey, you
were just wonderful.
Oh, you sure were, Beave. You were fine.
Just fine. Yeah, you were okay, Beave.
It's not me, Beaver.
It's me, Whitey.
Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver, I'm
awfully sorry about the change,
but Beaver was so
upset when he got here...
that I didn't think it was fair to
him to let him go on as a canary.
Oh, well, we can understand
that, uh, if he wasn't up to it.
Well, I hope he isn't too upset. He
was counting so on being in the play.
Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad! Hi, Wally!
Hi, Dad. Hi, Wally. Hi,
Mom. Did you like me?
- Beaver!
- Hey, Beave, you were the mushroom?
Yeah. They traded me with
Whitey. He made a neater bird.
Yeah, Beave, and you made
a better mushroom. Hey, Mom!
Dad, Mom, you're not mad
'cause I wasn't the canary?
Why—Of course not, Beaver.
We thought you were the best
mushroom we've ever seen, didn't we, June?
Well, of course we did, Beaver.
Why, we were very, very proud of you.
I'm glad we took Beaver for a soda.
Yeah. Well, he had it coming to him.
I think he had a
pretty rough evening.
He didn't say much, did he?
No. I guess he was kind of
upset about not playing the canary.
After all, he looked
forward to it all
week, and then he wound
up being a mushroom.
I wish I hadn't given
him that little pep talk.
Oh, I think he was
upset before then.
Hi. Hi, Mom. I came
down to say good night.
We were coming up.
Good night, Dad.
Good night, Beaver.
Beave, I'm sorry about tonight.
I'm afraid I kind of messed things up.
No, I think I messed
things up for myself, Dad.
But you were looking
forward to being the canary.
Yeah, but I wasn't good
enough to be a real canary.
You were an awfully
good mushroom, Beaver.
I guess so.
But when I flied, it wasn't
like when Whitey flied.
- It's kind of funny.
- What, Beaver?
Well, Whitey can't catch
a baseball very good,
but I can catch one real good.
Well, I guess a guy ought to do what
he can do, not what another guy can do.
Beaver, I think you've
really got something there.
Us mushrooms ought to stick
to baseball. Flying's for the birds.