Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963): Season 2, Episode 35 - The Cookie Fund - full transcript
Beaver and Larry have been elected co-chairs of their class' cookie drive committee, the funds from which are to be used for a class trip at the end of the year. As co-chairs, Beaver and Larry will alternate their responsibilities each week, one in charge of carrying the cookie box, the other in charge of holding onto the money and the key to the closet where the cookies are stored. Thinking him a nice guy since he helped them out, Beaver and Larry give $3 of the cookie drive money to eighth grader Roger Delacy, who tells them a story of coming from a poor family that doesn't have enough money to feed themselves, but that his father will come into a financial windfall from which he can pay back the $3. When Beaver and Larry see Roger the next day, Roger feigns ignorance about the $3 or telling the previous story about his family. As Beaver and Larry try and figure out how to replace the $3, especially as Mr. Preston, the cookie man, has only given them a day to make their account balance, Beaver learns a further lesson on trust from his father.
Leave It To Beaver.
Starring Barbara Billingsley,
Hugh Beaumont,
Tony Dow...
and Jerry Mathers...
as the Beaver.
And then I went to two other
stores, and they didn't have them.
So I went back to
Martinson's, and I got the
material and I just decided
I'd make them myself.
Oh, and Beaver was elected
cochairman of his class cookie committee.
What happened at the office?
Well, compared to homemade
curtains and cookie committees, nothing.
Thank you.
Beaver's all excited about the job. He's
upstairs now counting his money with Wally.
Counting what money?
Well, you see, his class
is selling cookies at recess.
And then they put the
money in their treasury,
and at the end of the year, they
all go on a little trip somewhere.
Oh, boy. I don't know if I like the
idea of Beaver handling a lot of money.
After all, dear, a
boy who's lost three
pairs of socks on the
way home from school...
is hardly the
banker of tomorrow.
Larry Mondello's the other
cochairman. And the way Beaver tells it,
he gets to hold the money one
week, and Larry gets to hold it the next.
Well, at least we only have
to worry alternate weeks.
Fifteen, 20, 25.
The factory man
brings the cookies at the
beginning of the week,
and then we sell 'em.
And then he comes around
the next week and brings
the new cookies and takes
the money for the old ones,
except for the stale
ones we got left.
I know, I know, Beaver.
We had the same thing
with chocolate milk
when I went to school.
- Wally, you're still goin' to school.
- Well, uh, I mean,
when I went to kids' school.
Oh. 20, 25... Now, where was I?
I think you were
someplace in the 20s.
I think I'd better
start over again.
Well, hi, boys. Hi, Dad.
Ten, 15— Hi, Dad. 20, 25...
Well, Beave, I understand you're
the head cookie man down at school.
Yeah, Dad. Larry and I are the
co-chairmans of the whole cookie fund.
Yeah, Dad. He's got $8.35 there.
Well, that's quite a bit of money. I
just hope you'll be very careful with it.
Oh, sure, Dad. We keep
it in this real bank bag.
And we buy the cookies
from the factory man,
and we sign for 'em with our
names, and we make change.
And Miss Landers says it's all
training us for our future lives.
Hey, Beave, I thought
you wanted to be a lawyer?
Whoever heard of a
lawyer that sells cookies?
Well, a lawyer's gotta do somethin' while
he's waitin' for people to get in trouble.
Well, Beaver, I think your
cookie fund is very fine training.
But I do want you to promise
me to be careful and conscientious,
because, you know, as far
as money's concerned, this
is the first real responsibility
you've ever had.
Don't worry, Dad. In the
daytime, I'll tie the bag to my belt.
And in the night, I'll sleep
in the same bed with it.
Well, that's fine, Beaver.
Five, 10, 15, 20, 25.
Hey, Wally, if I did
lose the cookie money,
what do you suppose
they'd do to me in school?
Well, the kids
might ostracize ya.
Gee. What's that?
We just read about it in history.
It's what they did to Benedict Arnold.
Oh. Did he lose
some cookie money?
Nah. He was just
one of those traitors.
But you'd better
watch it anyway.
Five, 10, 15...
Hey, Mom, how come Beaver left so soon?
He and Larry wanted to get there early.
Larry said they might sell some
cookies before the school opened.
You'd better hurry
up too. Sure, Mom.
So long. Bye.
Hey, Mom, can I go to Mexico?
Mexico? Yeah, with Mr. Nelson.
And who's Mr. Nelson?
He's our science teacher.
He's goin' to Mexico this
summer, and he said he
might take some of the
guys from his class with him.
Well, I don't know, Wally.
What would we have to do?
All you gotta do is
sign this thing sayin'...
if we get hurt or killed
or anything, it's okay.
Oh. I'd better ask
your father, Wally.
Sure, Mom. Bye. Bye.
Here. Change from a quarter.
Okay, Willie, you're next.
I want three boxes of raisin
cookies, and this is a whole dollar.
Change from a dollar.
Change for a dollar.
Change for a dollar.
One, two, three.
There you are, Judy.
We don't got that
kind of change.
You'll either have to give
one back or buy one more.
Well, I'm not gonna
buy one more.
If I'd been elected chairman,
I'd have the right change.
There you are, Judy.
Now you're next, Willie.
You'd better not eat any
of those cookies yourself,
or I'll tell Miss Landers.
What's the matter
with that Judy anyway?
She's a girl. Yeah.
Next week, I get to carry the money,
and you get to carry the cookies.
Yeah, sure, Larry.
And next week, I get
to carry the key too.
Nobody ever let me
carry a key before.
Yeah, sure, Larry.
You kids want some help? Yeah.
Gee, thanks a lot.
How are you kids doin'?
You rakin' in the money?
We don't know yet. We don't
get to count it again till recess.
Well, here. I'll help you
count it now, if you want.
Well, I'd better get to class.
Hey, Larry, who was that guy?
That's Roger Delacy. He's a
new kid in the eighth grade.
- That was okay, him helping us.
- Yeah.
Most of the time, the big guys
are shovin' us around or somethin'.
Yeah.
Beaver, what are you all the
time jingling the money for?
That's all right, Larry. Next
week, it'll be your turn to jingle it.
Hey, Mom?
In here, Wally.
Hey, Mom, did you ask Dad yet?
- Ask Dad?
- Yeah, about Mr. Nelson?
Oh, Wally, I'm sorry. I forgot.
Well, when are you gonna ask
him? Well, don't worry, Wally.
I'll ask him.
May I ask what it is I'm
supposed to be asked?
- Oh. Well, I was just wondering
if I could go to Mexico this summer?
- Mexico?
- Yeah, with Mr. Nelson.
- Well, who's Mr. Nelson?
Wally's science teacher, dear.
Yeah, Dad.
He's takin' a bunch
of guys from the class.
We're all gonna go down in station
wagons, and we'll sleep in sleepin' bags.
Here's all the junk
about it. Oh, I think this
is something that'll
take a little thought.
Heck. I thought you'd say no.
Wally, I didn't say no. I said
I'd think about it, and I will.
Wally, did your brother
finish his homework?
Yeah. He's countin' his cookie
money, and then he's goin' to bed.
Mexico? What do
you think about it?
I don't know, dear. What
do you think about it?
I think I'd better
think about it.
Hey, Wally, you comin' to bed?
As soon as I finish my homework.
Hey, Wally, in the night,
if a crook came in after my
money, what would you do?
Well, heck, Beaver. No
crook's comin' in after your $11.
- How come?
- You've seen how it is on television.
You gotta have at
least two or $3,000...
before a crook'll
ever mess with you.
Yeah.
I sure hope the crooks in
Mayfield watch television.
Hey, Larry, it jingles like
we did pretty good today.
Yeah.
Hey, where do you think they'll take us
on the class trip with the cookie money?
I don't know.
My brother Wally might
get to go to Mexico.
You think we'll get
to go to Mexico? Nah.
Nobody ever got to go
to Mexico sellin' cookies.
Yeah.
Oh. You kids want
some help again? Yeah.
Gee, thanks, Roger.
Gee. What's the matter?
Nothin'. It's just my stomach.
I guess that comes from
not eatin' for four days.
You mean you haven't
eaten for four whole days?
Golly! Don't you wanna eat?
Well, gee, everybody
wants to eat.
But how are you gonna eat
when there's no food in the house?
I could get you an apple
out of my lunch box.
No, no, that's all right. I-I
can make it till tomorrow.
I think we're gonna have food then on
account of my father gets his paycheck.
He gets $1,000.
He always gets that.
Gee. Why didn't he buy food
the last time he had $1,000?
Uh, he must've spent
it on the way home.
You know how it is.
Gee! Maybe we
should call the principal.
No! No, no. That's all right.
It's my sisters
I'm worried about.
- They're both babies.
- Little babies?
That's the only kind
of babies there are.
If I could find somebody with some money,
my father could pay 'em back tomorrow...
when he gets the $1,000.
But... I don't know any
nice people with money.
Uh, how much does it
cost to feed the little babies?
About $3. I don't have
to eat anything myself.
Here's $3. Maybe you could
eat what the babies leave.
No, no, no, no. I couldn't
take that from you guys. No.
Oh, it's all right, Roger. You
could pay us back tomorrow...
when your father
gets his $1,000.
Well, gee. Thanks a lot, kids.
Oh, you're two of the
nicest little kids I ever met.
Hey, Larry, you think we should've
given him the cookie money?
Well, gee, Beaver. You
can't let little babies starve.
And anyway, tomorrow
when his father gets $1,000,
maybe Roger could get him to buy
a couple of boxes of cookies from us.
Yeah! At least we can ask him.
Beaver, you mean you
and that goofy Larry...
just took $3 and handed it
over to some kid in school?
Well, he was starving and holding
on to the wall and everything.
And anyway, he's
gonna give it back to us
tomorrow when his father
gets a $1,000 paycheck.
Boy, Beaver. This sounds creepy.
I don't think this guy's
on the level. What'd
you wanna go and say
something like that for?
Well, 'cause that's
what I think, that's why.
You shouldn't say stuff
like that to a guy at night.
He's liable to have all
kinds of bad dreams.
Okay, Beaver,
just forget I said it.
All right. I'll
forget you said it.
- Well, what's wrong now?
- Well, I can't forget it.
Look, Beaver,
all you gotta do...
is tomorrow morning, go to this
Roger guy and get your money back.
Yeah, sure.
Hey, Wally, what if
he doesn't have it?
Well, then you're in a
big mess, that's what.
You know somethin', Wally?
You're a real mean brother.
I thought you left.
What are you looking
for? A paper clip.
Well, dear, they're right in
that drawer in that box. Oh.
Now, who in the world would
do a thing like that? Wally.
He sits there stringing them together
when he's talking on the phone.
Well, that trip to Mexico might
be just the thing for that boy.
Oh, uh, I'll give Beaver
a lift if he's ready.
Oh, he and his money
bags left a half an hour ago.
To sell more cookies? Yes.
But this morning, he looked
kind of worried about something.
If you're gonna learn about the business
world, you might as well learn to worry.
Here he comes now.
Hi, Roger. Hiya, squirts.
Hey, we've been waitin'
for ya. Yeah? What for?
- For our $3.
- What $3?
The—The $3 we
gave you yesterday...
so's your sisters that
are babies could eat.
Yeah. You were gonna
give it back to us today...
when your father got
his $1,000 paycheck.
What are you guys talkin'
about? I don't have any sisters.
And you didn't give me any $3.
Sure we did, Roger. Don't you
remember yesterday by the closet...
when you were almost
faintin' from not eatin'?
Yeah. We gave it to you
out of our cookie fund—$3.
Now, look. If you guys lost
$3 out of your cookie fund,
don't try and put
the blame on me.
But we didn't lose it,
Roger. We gave it to you!
Look, if you guys go around
spreadin' lies like that about me,
I got a gang, and they're
gonna fix you real good.
- But, Roger— -
Beat it, squirts.
Larry, yesterday,
we did give him $3, didn't we?
Sure, we did.
You know somethin',
Larry? He's a crook!
Yeah! Why would
we give a crook $3?
Oh, Larry, Theodore?
Good morning, Miss Landers.
Good morning, Miss Landers.
Good morning. Mr. Preston
is here this morning.
Mr. Preston? From
the cracker company.
He's waiting in the
principal's office.
He wants to see us?
Why, he wants you to turn in your money
and order your cookies for next week.
- But, Miss Landers— -
Now, you run along, boys.
I don't want you to miss
any schoolwork. Go ahead.
Boys, I've been over
these figures twice.
I'm afraid your accounts don't
balance. As a matter of fact,
you're $2.95 short.
- $2.95?
- Yes.
We're five cents better off
than we thought we were.
You knew you were short?
Well, we kind of
thought we were.
Well, what happened? Did you make a
mistake and give away too much change?
- No, sir.
- Did you lose it?
No, sir.
Well then, what
happened to the money?
We gave it to a real big kid.
You gave it to a big kid?
Boys, this wasn't your
money to give away.
We know. But this kid
was faintin' from not eatin'...
and-and holdin' on
to his stomach even.
Yeah, and he said he had two
little babies at home that were sisters,
and they were starvin'.
So we gave him the money,
and he said he'd pay us back
today when his father got $1,000.
We even said he could
eat what was left over.
Well, why don't you go to this boy
and ask him to give you the $3 back?
Well, we did, and he said he
doesn't remember havin' any sisters,
and he doesn't remember
us giving him $3.
He didn't even
remember bein' hungry.
What was this boy's name?
Oh. Oh, we can't tell you that,
'cause he's got a whole
big gang that'll fix us.
You know, boys, I've been going
around to schools like this for years.
I've heard some great stories.
Never one like this.
But it's the truth, mister.
Even the two of us together
couldn't make up a story like this one.
Well, is the cookie
company gonna put us in jail?
Could you please put us under different
names so our parents won't know?
No, you're all right
with our company.
But when you turn your profits over
to your class, you're gonna be $3 short.
2.95.
Are you gonna tell
Miss Landers on us?
No.
No, I'll give you a chance
to replace the money.
I'll give you till tomorrow
when I deliver the new order.
Thank you, mister. We'll
get it from someplace.
You know, boys, this
is quite a serious thing.
Your class had confidence enough in
you to put you in charge of their money.
We have to trust people in life,
but it's a terrible disappointment
when they let you down.
We know, mister. We just found
that out with the kid we gave the $3 to.
Hi, Mom. Hi, Mom.
Well, hi. You came
home together.
Yeah. I found Beaver sittin' on a curb over
on Grant Avenue, so I brought him home.
Is Dad home yet? I saw the
car. He's in the living room.
Yeah? I wanna talk
to him about somethin'.
Beaver? What were you
doing sitting on a curb?
Well, I wasn't doing
anything bad, Mom.
I was just thinkin'. Oh.
Oh, hello, Wally. Hey,
Dad, about the Mexican trip...
Oh, yeah. I've been
thinking that over,
Wally, and I still wanna
talk to Mr. Nelson.
But I don't see any reason
why you can't go. I'm sure
he'll have everything well
organized for you guys.
- Well, that's what I was
gonna say, Dad. It's all off.
- The trip's off?
Yeah. A couple guys
were horsin' around in
science class today, and
Mr. Nelson blew his top.
He said he wouldn't take
anybody in our class to a dogfight.
Well, that's too bad.
Hey, what'd you goof up now?
You want something, Beaver?
Yeah, Dad.
Could I ask you a question?
Sure. What is it?
Well, uh,
it's the kind of question I'd like
you to be listening to when I ask it.
All right, Beaver.
What's the question?
Well, if I ask it, will you just tell
me yes or no without askin' why?
Well, I guess so. Can I
have a dollar and a half?
A dollar and a half? What for?
You said you wouldn't ask me why.
Oh, yeah, that's right.
Well, is this very important to
you, Beaver? Real important, Dad.
All right. I guess
your past record...
is good for a dollar and a half.
Thanks a lot, Dad. Beave,
I'm, uh—I'm not going to
ask why you want this money,
but you can tell
me if you want to.
If it's a bad reason, you won't
take the money back, will you?
Nope. Well, Larry and I were
$3 short in our cookie fund.
Oh. Well, whose fault
was it, yours or Larry's?
It was on account of we trusted
somebody— a kid in school.
All right, Beaver.
Dad, thanks a lot for not
asking me a lot of questions.
Well, Beaver, you may have
made a mistake in trusting someone,
but I'm not going to make
the mistake of not trusting you.
You understand that, son?
Well, not all of it,
but it sure does make
me feel good anyway.
Supper will be ready
in a half an hour.
Thanks a lot, Mom.
Well, now, what was that for?
Well, the way he feels,
he had to hug someone,
and I guess he feels he's getting
a little too big to hug his father.
So you see, Miss Landers,
that's how it all happened.
Well, I see. I see.
Miss Landers, Whitey's
throwing erasers at Charles.
You tell them I'll
be right in, Judy.
She'll be right in.
I wanna thank you boys for
telling me what happened.
We're sorry we believed
Roger's goofy story, Miss Landers.
Yeah. We didn't think anybody'd
make it up that he had sisters.
Well, I'm going to speak to
Mrs. Rayburn about Roger,
and you can be sure
he'll be punished.
All the money's been put
back. My dad gave me a
dollar and a half without
asking a single question.
My pop gave it to me too.
He hollered at me first,
but he gave it to me.
Well, I'm glad this is
all straightened out.
Miss Landers, we don't think we should
be the chairmen of the cookies anymore.
Yeah. You should
have a chairman...
that wouldn't even give money
away to a hundred starving babies.
But, boys, you've done
such a good job otherwise.
And who would I get
to sell the cookies?
- We'd like to nominate Judy Hensler.
- Why Judy?
Well, if anyone's gonna get in
trouble with the cookie money,
we figure Judy’s the
best one in the class for it.
No, boys.
I think you'd better
stay on as chairmen.
You know, you've
learned by your mistake.
And, well, I don't know that
we could trust even Judy...
not to believe a
story like Roger's.
Now, you come along.
Whitey!
Starring Barbara Billingsley,
Hugh Beaumont,
Tony Dow...
and Jerry Mathers...
as the Beaver.
And then I went to two other
stores, and they didn't have them.
So I went back to
Martinson's, and I got the
material and I just decided
I'd make them myself.
Oh, and Beaver was elected
cochairman of his class cookie committee.
What happened at the office?
Well, compared to homemade
curtains and cookie committees, nothing.
Thank you.
Beaver's all excited about the job. He's
upstairs now counting his money with Wally.
Counting what money?
Well, you see, his class
is selling cookies at recess.
And then they put the
money in their treasury,
and at the end of the year, they
all go on a little trip somewhere.
Oh, boy. I don't know if I like the
idea of Beaver handling a lot of money.
After all, dear, a
boy who's lost three
pairs of socks on the
way home from school...
is hardly the
banker of tomorrow.
Larry Mondello's the other
cochairman. And the way Beaver tells it,
he gets to hold the money one
week, and Larry gets to hold it the next.
Well, at least we only have
to worry alternate weeks.
Fifteen, 20, 25.
The factory man
brings the cookies at the
beginning of the week,
and then we sell 'em.
And then he comes around
the next week and brings
the new cookies and takes
the money for the old ones,
except for the stale
ones we got left.
I know, I know, Beaver.
We had the same thing
with chocolate milk
when I went to school.
- Wally, you're still goin' to school.
- Well, uh, I mean,
when I went to kids' school.
Oh. 20, 25... Now, where was I?
I think you were
someplace in the 20s.
I think I'd better
start over again.
Well, hi, boys. Hi, Dad.
Ten, 15— Hi, Dad. 20, 25...
Well, Beave, I understand you're
the head cookie man down at school.
Yeah, Dad. Larry and I are the
co-chairmans of the whole cookie fund.
Yeah, Dad. He's got $8.35 there.
Well, that's quite a bit of money. I
just hope you'll be very careful with it.
Oh, sure, Dad. We keep
it in this real bank bag.
And we buy the cookies
from the factory man,
and we sign for 'em with our
names, and we make change.
And Miss Landers says it's all
training us for our future lives.
Hey, Beave, I thought
you wanted to be a lawyer?
Whoever heard of a
lawyer that sells cookies?
Well, a lawyer's gotta do somethin' while
he's waitin' for people to get in trouble.
Well, Beaver, I think your
cookie fund is very fine training.
But I do want you to promise
me to be careful and conscientious,
because, you know, as far
as money's concerned, this
is the first real responsibility
you've ever had.
Don't worry, Dad. In the
daytime, I'll tie the bag to my belt.
And in the night, I'll sleep
in the same bed with it.
Well, that's fine, Beaver.
Five, 10, 15, 20, 25.
Hey, Wally, if I did
lose the cookie money,
what do you suppose
they'd do to me in school?
Well, the kids
might ostracize ya.
Gee. What's that?
We just read about it in history.
It's what they did to Benedict Arnold.
Oh. Did he lose
some cookie money?
Nah. He was just
one of those traitors.
But you'd better
watch it anyway.
Five, 10, 15...
Hey, Mom, how come Beaver left so soon?
He and Larry wanted to get there early.
Larry said they might sell some
cookies before the school opened.
You'd better hurry
up too. Sure, Mom.
So long. Bye.
Hey, Mom, can I go to Mexico?
Mexico? Yeah, with Mr. Nelson.
And who's Mr. Nelson?
He's our science teacher.
He's goin' to Mexico this
summer, and he said he
might take some of the
guys from his class with him.
Well, I don't know, Wally.
What would we have to do?
All you gotta do is
sign this thing sayin'...
if we get hurt or killed
or anything, it's okay.
Oh. I'd better ask
your father, Wally.
Sure, Mom. Bye. Bye.
Here. Change from a quarter.
Okay, Willie, you're next.
I want three boxes of raisin
cookies, and this is a whole dollar.
Change from a dollar.
Change for a dollar.
Change for a dollar.
One, two, three.
There you are, Judy.
We don't got that
kind of change.
You'll either have to give
one back or buy one more.
Well, I'm not gonna
buy one more.
If I'd been elected chairman,
I'd have the right change.
There you are, Judy.
Now you're next, Willie.
You'd better not eat any
of those cookies yourself,
or I'll tell Miss Landers.
What's the matter
with that Judy anyway?
She's a girl. Yeah.
Next week, I get to carry the money,
and you get to carry the cookies.
Yeah, sure, Larry.
And next week, I get
to carry the key too.
Nobody ever let me
carry a key before.
Yeah, sure, Larry.
You kids want some help? Yeah.
Gee, thanks a lot.
How are you kids doin'?
You rakin' in the money?
We don't know yet. We don't
get to count it again till recess.
Well, here. I'll help you
count it now, if you want.
Well, I'd better get to class.
Hey, Larry, who was that guy?
That's Roger Delacy. He's a
new kid in the eighth grade.
- That was okay, him helping us.
- Yeah.
Most of the time, the big guys
are shovin' us around or somethin'.
Yeah.
Beaver, what are you all the
time jingling the money for?
That's all right, Larry. Next
week, it'll be your turn to jingle it.
Hey, Mom?
In here, Wally.
Hey, Mom, did you ask Dad yet?
- Ask Dad?
- Yeah, about Mr. Nelson?
Oh, Wally, I'm sorry. I forgot.
Well, when are you gonna ask
him? Well, don't worry, Wally.
I'll ask him.
May I ask what it is I'm
supposed to be asked?
- Oh. Well, I was just wondering
if I could go to Mexico this summer?
- Mexico?
- Yeah, with Mr. Nelson.
- Well, who's Mr. Nelson?
Wally's science teacher, dear.
Yeah, Dad.
He's takin' a bunch
of guys from the class.
We're all gonna go down in station
wagons, and we'll sleep in sleepin' bags.
Here's all the junk
about it. Oh, I think this
is something that'll
take a little thought.
Heck. I thought you'd say no.
Wally, I didn't say no. I said
I'd think about it, and I will.
Wally, did your brother
finish his homework?
Yeah. He's countin' his cookie
money, and then he's goin' to bed.
Mexico? What do
you think about it?
I don't know, dear. What
do you think about it?
I think I'd better
think about it.
Hey, Wally, you comin' to bed?
As soon as I finish my homework.
Hey, Wally, in the night,
if a crook came in after my
money, what would you do?
Well, heck, Beaver. No
crook's comin' in after your $11.
- How come?
- You've seen how it is on television.
You gotta have at
least two or $3,000...
before a crook'll
ever mess with you.
Yeah.
I sure hope the crooks in
Mayfield watch television.
Hey, Larry, it jingles like
we did pretty good today.
Yeah.
Hey, where do you think they'll take us
on the class trip with the cookie money?
I don't know.
My brother Wally might
get to go to Mexico.
You think we'll get
to go to Mexico? Nah.
Nobody ever got to go
to Mexico sellin' cookies.
Yeah.
Oh. You kids want
some help again? Yeah.
Gee, thanks, Roger.
Gee. What's the matter?
Nothin'. It's just my stomach.
I guess that comes from
not eatin' for four days.
You mean you haven't
eaten for four whole days?
Golly! Don't you wanna eat?
Well, gee, everybody
wants to eat.
But how are you gonna eat
when there's no food in the house?
I could get you an apple
out of my lunch box.
No, no, that's all right. I-I
can make it till tomorrow.
I think we're gonna have food then on
account of my father gets his paycheck.
He gets $1,000.
He always gets that.
Gee. Why didn't he buy food
the last time he had $1,000?
Uh, he must've spent
it on the way home.
You know how it is.
Gee! Maybe we
should call the principal.
No! No, no. That's all right.
It's my sisters
I'm worried about.
- They're both babies.
- Little babies?
That's the only kind
of babies there are.
If I could find somebody with some money,
my father could pay 'em back tomorrow...
when he gets the $1,000.
But... I don't know any
nice people with money.
Uh, how much does it
cost to feed the little babies?
About $3. I don't have
to eat anything myself.
Here's $3. Maybe you could
eat what the babies leave.
No, no, no, no. I couldn't
take that from you guys. No.
Oh, it's all right, Roger. You
could pay us back tomorrow...
when your father
gets his $1,000.
Well, gee. Thanks a lot, kids.
Oh, you're two of the
nicest little kids I ever met.
Hey, Larry, you think we should've
given him the cookie money?
Well, gee, Beaver. You
can't let little babies starve.
And anyway, tomorrow
when his father gets $1,000,
maybe Roger could get him to buy
a couple of boxes of cookies from us.
Yeah! At least we can ask him.
Beaver, you mean you
and that goofy Larry...
just took $3 and handed it
over to some kid in school?
Well, he was starving and holding
on to the wall and everything.
And anyway, he's
gonna give it back to us
tomorrow when his father
gets a $1,000 paycheck.
Boy, Beaver. This sounds creepy.
I don't think this guy's
on the level. What'd
you wanna go and say
something like that for?
Well, 'cause that's
what I think, that's why.
You shouldn't say stuff
like that to a guy at night.
He's liable to have all
kinds of bad dreams.
Okay, Beaver,
just forget I said it.
All right. I'll
forget you said it.
- Well, what's wrong now?
- Well, I can't forget it.
Look, Beaver,
all you gotta do...
is tomorrow morning, go to this
Roger guy and get your money back.
Yeah, sure.
Hey, Wally, what if
he doesn't have it?
Well, then you're in a
big mess, that's what.
You know somethin', Wally?
You're a real mean brother.
I thought you left.
What are you looking
for? A paper clip.
Well, dear, they're right in
that drawer in that box. Oh.
Now, who in the world would
do a thing like that? Wally.
He sits there stringing them together
when he's talking on the phone.
Well, that trip to Mexico might
be just the thing for that boy.
Oh, uh, I'll give Beaver
a lift if he's ready.
Oh, he and his money
bags left a half an hour ago.
To sell more cookies? Yes.
But this morning, he looked
kind of worried about something.
If you're gonna learn about the business
world, you might as well learn to worry.
Here he comes now.
Hi, Roger. Hiya, squirts.
Hey, we've been waitin'
for ya. Yeah? What for?
- For our $3.
- What $3?
The—The $3 we
gave you yesterday...
so's your sisters that
are babies could eat.
Yeah. You were gonna
give it back to us today...
when your father got
his $1,000 paycheck.
What are you guys talkin'
about? I don't have any sisters.
And you didn't give me any $3.
Sure we did, Roger. Don't you
remember yesterday by the closet...
when you were almost
faintin' from not eatin'?
Yeah. We gave it to you
out of our cookie fund—$3.
Now, look. If you guys lost
$3 out of your cookie fund,
don't try and put
the blame on me.
But we didn't lose it,
Roger. We gave it to you!
Look, if you guys go around
spreadin' lies like that about me,
I got a gang, and they're
gonna fix you real good.
- But, Roger— -
Beat it, squirts.
Larry, yesterday,
we did give him $3, didn't we?
Sure, we did.
You know somethin',
Larry? He's a crook!
Yeah! Why would
we give a crook $3?
Oh, Larry, Theodore?
Good morning, Miss Landers.
Good morning, Miss Landers.
Good morning. Mr. Preston
is here this morning.
Mr. Preston? From
the cracker company.
He's waiting in the
principal's office.
He wants to see us?
Why, he wants you to turn in your money
and order your cookies for next week.
- But, Miss Landers— -
Now, you run along, boys.
I don't want you to miss
any schoolwork. Go ahead.
Boys, I've been over
these figures twice.
I'm afraid your accounts don't
balance. As a matter of fact,
you're $2.95 short.
- $2.95?
- Yes.
We're five cents better off
than we thought we were.
You knew you were short?
Well, we kind of
thought we were.
Well, what happened? Did you make a
mistake and give away too much change?
- No, sir.
- Did you lose it?
No, sir.
Well then, what
happened to the money?
We gave it to a real big kid.
You gave it to a big kid?
Boys, this wasn't your
money to give away.
We know. But this kid
was faintin' from not eatin'...
and-and holdin' on
to his stomach even.
Yeah, and he said he had two
little babies at home that were sisters,
and they were starvin'.
So we gave him the money,
and he said he'd pay us back
today when his father got $1,000.
We even said he could
eat what was left over.
Well, why don't you go to this boy
and ask him to give you the $3 back?
Well, we did, and he said he
doesn't remember havin' any sisters,
and he doesn't remember
us giving him $3.
He didn't even
remember bein' hungry.
What was this boy's name?
Oh. Oh, we can't tell you that,
'cause he's got a whole
big gang that'll fix us.
You know, boys, I've been going
around to schools like this for years.
I've heard some great stories.
Never one like this.
But it's the truth, mister.
Even the two of us together
couldn't make up a story like this one.
Well, is the cookie
company gonna put us in jail?
Could you please put us under different
names so our parents won't know?
No, you're all right
with our company.
But when you turn your profits over
to your class, you're gonna be $3 short.
2.95.
Are you gonna tell
Miss Landers on us?
No.
No, I'll give you a chance
to replace the money.
I'll give you till tomorrow
when I deliver the new order.
Thank you, mister. We'll
get it from someplace.
You know, boys, this
is quite a serious thing.
Your class had confidence enough in
you to put you in charge of their money.
We have to trust people in life,
but it's a terrible disappointment
when they let you down.
We know, mister. We just found
that out with the kid we gave the $3 to.
Hi, Mom. Hi, Mom.
Well, hi. You came
home together.
Yeah. I found Beaver sittin' on a curb over
on Grant Avenue, so I brought him home.
Is Dad home yet? I saw the
car. He's in the living room.
Yeah? I wanna talk
to him about somethin'.
Beaver? What were you
doing sitting on a curb?
Well, I wasn't doing
anything bad, Mom.
I was just thinkin'. Oh.
Oh, hello, Wally. Hey,
Dad, about the Mexican trip...
Oh, yeah. I've been
thinking that over,
Wally, and I still wanna
talk to Mr. Nelson.
But I don't see any reason
why you can't go. I'm sure
he'll have everything well
organized for you guys.
- Well, that's what I was
gonna say, Dad. It's all off.
- The trip's off?
Yeah. A couple guys
were horsin' around in
science class today, and
Mr. Nelson blew his top.
He said he wouldn't take
anybody in our class to a dogfight.
Well, that's too bad.
Hey, what'd you goof up now?
You want something, Beaver?
Yeah, Dad.
Could I ask you a question?
Sure. What is it?
Well, uh,
it's the kind of question I'd like
you to be listening to when I ask it.
All right, Beaver.
What's the question?
Well, if I ask it, will you just tell
me yes or no without askin' why?
Well, I guess so. Can I
have a dollar and a half?
A dollar and a half? What for?
You said you wouldn't ask me why.
Oh, yeah, that's right.
Well, is this very important to
you, Beaver? Real important, Dad.
All right. I guess
your past record...
is good for a dollar and a half.
Thanks a lot, Dad. Beave,
I'm, uh—I'm not going to
ask why you want this money,
but you can tell
me if you want to.
If it's a bad reason, you won't
take the money back, will you?
Nope. Well, Larry and I were
$3 short in our cookie fund.
Oh. Well, whose fault
was it, yours or Larry's?
It was on account of we trusted
somebody— a kid in school.
All right, Beaver.
Dad, thanks a lot for not
asking me a lot of questions.
Well, Beaver, you may have
made a mistake in trusting someone,
but I'm not going to make
the mistake of not trusting you.
You understand that, son?
Well, not all of it,
but it sure does make
me feel good anyway.
Supper will be ready
in a half an hour.
Thanks a lot, Mom.
Well, now, what was that for?
Well, the way he feels,
he had to hug someone,
and I guess he feels he's getting
a little too big to hug his father.
So you see, Miss Landers,
that's how it all happened.
Well, I see. I see.
Miss Landers, Whitey's
throwing erasers at Charles.
You tell them I'll
be right in, Judy.
She'll be right in.
I wanna thank you boys for
telling me what happened.
We're sorry we believed
Roger's goofy story, Miss Landers.
Yeah. We didn't think anybody'd
make it up that he had sisters.
Well, I'm going to speak to
Mrs. Rayburn about Roger,
and you can be sure
he'll be punished.
All the money's been put
back. My dad gave me a
dollar and a half without
asking a single question.
My pop gave it to me too.
He hollered at me first,
but he gave it to me.
Well, I'm glad this is
all straightened out.
Miss Landers, we don't think we should
be the chairmen of the cookies anymore.
Yeah. You should
have a chairman...
that wouldn't even give money
away to a hundred starving babies.
But, boys, you've done
such a good job otherwise.
And who would I get
to sell the cookies?
- We'd like to nominate Judy Hensler.
- Why Judy?
Well, if anyone's gonna get in
trouble with the cookie money,
we figure Judy’s the
best one in the class for it.
No, boys.
I think you'd better
stay on as chairmen.
You know, you've
learned by your mistake.
And, well, I don't know that
we could trust even Judy...
not to believe a
story like Roger's.
Now, you come along.
Whitey!