Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963): Season 4, Episode 37 - Kite Day - full transcript

Starring...

and...

Father and Sons Kite Day.

Boy, isn't that
neat? Twenty prizes!

Fun for dad and son!

Yeah, and the local friendly
merchants giving prizes

for the best-looking kite,
and the most original.

Yeah, and the
mayor's gonna be there

with a whole bunch of policemen

to make sure all the
kids have a good time.

You've gotta build a
kite with your father, huh?



You know, I used to build
lots of junk with my father

until he started coming home
every night with a headache.

Boy, I bet I win first prize,

on account of in the
war my dad flew a P-38.

Is that a kite?

Nah, that was an airplane
they had in the olden days.

They're so out of date,

they don't even make model
kits out of them anymore.

Boy, wait'll you see the
kite me and my dad build.

He's an electrical engineer.

Well, what does an electrical
engineer know about kites?

Look, electricity is the
hardest thing to know about.

On television, only the
smartest-looking announcers

are allowed to
tell you about it.



I might get my father
to build me one,

if I can get him
between headaches.

Is your dad any good
on kites, Beaver?

Yeah, my dad's
good at building stuff,

except he gets mad
when I ask dumb questions.

Yeah, my father's the same way,

only I never know
they're dumb questions

until after I ask them.

Pass the bread, please, Mom.

Thank you.

Beaver, I'm sure your
father will be delighted

to build a kite with you.

Will you be delighted, Dad?

Well, I hope this isn't
one of those ventures

where we start out together,
and I wind up finishing alone.

Oh, no, Dad.

Mr. Fairchild, who's
running the contest

for the friendly
merchants, says,

well, they're having
it so fathers and sons

can get together,
well, and do junk.

Yeah, Dad, that's
the big deal now.

They think that it's
sound psychology

to make fathers feel
like they're participating

in the lives of their children.

Well, I take it Mr. Fairchild
has no children of his own.

Gee, no, Dad. He's
our gym teacher.

Only parents have children.

Well, Beaver, it just happens
that when I was a boy,

I was just about the greatest
kite maker in Shaker Heights.

Was he, Mom?

Well, by the time
I met your father,

his high-flying days were over.

Huh?

Oh, uh, that's one of
those grown-up jokes

you wouldn't understand, Beav.

Oh. Can we start tomorrow, Dad?

Well, Kite Day is this Saturday,

and some of the guys
have almost got theirs

half finished already.

Okay, Beaver.

I'll stop by the
lumberyard tomorrow night

and pick up the balsa sticks
and the other materials we need.

Let's say, uh, paper,
and, uh, glue and string.

Uh, Dad, they've,
uh, they've sure got

some neat kite kits
down at the model store.

Well, I'm sure they have, Wally,

but I think Beaver and
I will get a lot more fun

and satisfaction out of
building our own, huh, Beaver?

But I don't want
fun and satisfaction.

I just want to win a prize.

Hi, dear!

Oh, hi.

You're a little late.

Yeah, a little.

Did you bring it,
Dad? Did you bring it?

Did I bring what?

The junk to make the kite with!

Oh, Beaver, I'm sorry.

I got so busy down
at the office today,

I forgot all about it.

Your father will bring it to
you tomorrow night, Beaver.

Gee, I'm really sorry, son.

It just slipped my mind.

Oh, that's okay, Dad.

I guess it's easier
for big people

to forget stuff
than it is for kids,

on account of when
they forget stuff,

there's nobody
around to yell at them.

Couldn't you have
gone on your lunch hour?

Dear, I had a cheese sandwich

and a cup of coffee
sent in for lunch.

Do you have any idea the
routine I go through at the office?

Of course, I do.

Well.

I know it by heart.

All right, I'll get it tomorrow.

Now I have no intention
of letting Beaver down.

I know you don't, dear.

I just wish you hadn't told him

you were the greatest kite
builder in Shaker Heights.

Hey, Beav, Mom said that we
should get washed up for supper.

Dad called and said he'd be
home in a couple of minutes.

Do you think he's buying
my kite stuff, Wally?

Well, I don't know.

Well, gee, he's gotta
buy it pretty soon.

Some of the guys have got
their kites half built already.

Well, some of the guys
have even cracked them up.

Oh, you remembered!

5:00 came.

I left three or four
millionaire clients

waiting in the office,

and down to the
kite store I went.

Oh, you sent your
secretary for it.

No, dear. I only do that
for your birthday present.

No, sir. This kite was
mulled over and handpicked.

Well, honey, you'd
better take it up to him.

You know, he's been
down here four times

to see if you're home yet?

Yes. All right.

Hey, Wally, how
come you're all the time

rubbing that stuff in your hair?

Well, so when I get
older, my hair won't fall out.

But if your hair did fall out,

you wouldn't have to
waste time combing it.

Yeah, but if a guy
doesn't have any hair,

he has to waste all that
time washing his bald head.

Yeah, there's always
something, isn't there?

Oh, hi, Dad.

You brought it,
Dad! You brought it!

Yeah, I thought we'd
get started on it tonight.

Hey, did you go by
the lumberyard, Dad?

Uh, no, to save time,

I got one of those kite
kits at the model store.

Yeah, the guy down
there says they've got kits

that even a six-year-old
could put together.

Thank you, Wally.
That's very encouraging.

Well, uh, come on, fellas.

Better hurry it up.
Dinner's almost ready.

Dad!

Hm?

Beaver, I thought you
were getting too big

to kiss your father.

I thought I was, too,
Dad, but I guess I'm not.

Cross strut A from
upright 1 to upright 2.

Cement firmly.

Dad?

Oh, uh, I'm sorry, Beaver.

I forgot you were still here.

Do you want something?

Oh, no, sir.

I just wanted to let you
know I was still here.

Oh, well, I guess I got a
little carried away, Beaver.

Well, come on, get
in here and help!

Uh, I'll tell you what,
while I hold this crossbar,

you put just a drop of, uh,
glue on each corner, huh?

Yes, sir.

Just a minute. Let
me get 'er in here.

All right.

Squeeze a little harder, son.

Sorry, Dad.

Oh, that's okay, boy.

Tough, huh, Dad?

Yeah, a little. We've
got to be patient.

We, uh, can't take our temper
out on inanimate objects.

What's an inanimate object?

Oh, you know, wood,
paper, glue, string,

like this kite here, things
that can't fight back.

Boy, for something
that can't fight back,

it's sure giving
us a lot of trouble.

Yeah, I guess it is, Beaver.

Well, come on, let's
try 'er again, huh?

Why, Beaver!

Beaver, it's way
past your bedtime!

Gee, Mom, I was just
helping Dad help me.

Yeah, well, uh, maybe
you'd better run along, Beaver.

Uh, I'll stick with this a
little while longer, huh?

Okay.

Good night, Dad.
Good night, Mom.

Good night, Beav.

And we'll get up first
thing in the morning,

and we'll finish this together.

Yes, sir.

I'll be up in a
little while, Beav.

Okay, Mom.

Is the greatest little kite maker
in Shaker Heights having trouble?

Is the belle of East St. Louis

trying to annoy the greatest
kite maker in Shaker Heights?

All right, all right, honey.

You gonna stay down
here and finish it alone?

It's a temptation, but
I'm going to resist it.

This is a joint project.

Hey, Beav, how's dad
making out with your kite?

He was having
kind of trouble on it,

so he told me to come
up here and go to bed.

Well, maybe he was embarrassed.

- Embarrassed?
- Well, yeah.

Yeah, maybe he didn't
want you to see a guy his age

having trouble following
modern instructions.

Yeah, I guess so.

Oh, hi, Mom.

- Hi, Mom.
- Hi.

We were just going to bed.

Fine, Beav.

Come on, Wally. Turn
out the lights, honey.

Okay. I guess I've
improved my mind

enough for one night.

Hey, Mom.

Is Dad still
working on the kite?

Beaver, you know, I'm
sure you and your father

are going to build just a
wonderful kite together.

Well, yeah, Mom. I
guess I'm sure, too.

Goodnight, honey. Goodnight.

Goodnight, Mom.

What's the matter
with you, Beaver?

I just wish I was
sure I was sure.

Yeah, Wally, me and Dad
got up at 6:00 this morning

and finished it together.

Boy, it sure is a
great-looking kite.

It looks like almost
an expert built it.

Well, I mean, it looks great.

Well, Beaver, we're going
to have to find a place

to put all those trophies!

Well, you kite builders
ready for breakfast?

Isn't it neat, Mom?

Yes, it's real neat, Beaver.

What are you going
to do with it now?

I want to be sure this
glue sets up real good.

I think I'll just
leave it right here

'til Saturday morning.

Oh, no, you don't.

Well, not on my
dining room table!

June, suppose the
Wright Brothers' mother

had taken that attitude?

Well, sure, Mom.

We'd still be riding
in trolley cars.

Well, I can keep
it up in my room.

Yeah, well, all right,
but be real careful with it.

We've put a lot
of work in this kite.

We wouldn't want anything
to happen to it, would we?

We sure wouldn't, Dad.

Beaver, take it up
after breakfast, will you?

Come on, now.

Okay, Mom.

Proud of yourself?

Oh, I'm proud of Beaver, too.

Building this kite was
good for both of us.

You know, you're
a very fine father.

Oh, I've been telling
you that for years.

Boy, Beaver, this is the
neatest kite I've ever seen!

Yeah, me and my
father built it together.

I bet you'll really
show off Richard's pop,

even if he did fly P-38s.

Hey, Beav, how high does it fly?

I don't know.

You mean, you haven't
given her a test run yet?

Well, uh-uh.

I think the glue

is supposed to be
setting up or something.

Well, Kite Day is tomorrow.

You'd better make sure it flies.

You know, they're
not giving away prizes

for the kite that's
glued together the best.

Hey, Beav, why don't we
take it out and fly it now?

There's a neat breeze.

Nah, I don't think my
dad would want me to.

Well, let's go ask him.

I can't. He goes shopping
with my mom every Friday,

so he can carry
home the heavy junk.

Well, let's take it
out and fly it now,

and you can tell him
about it when he gets home.

Come on, we can
have a lot of fun.

Nah, I don't think my
dad wants me having fun,

well, while he's not here.

I think he only wants me
having fun while he is here.

Well, look. Is it your
kite, or is it his kite?

Well, it's my kite.

Well, any neat father
would want his kid

to have fun with his own kite.

Well, my father's a neat father.

Okay, then, what
are we waiting for?

Boy, Beaver, it's lucky
you have a neat father.

How come?

'Cause any other kind of
father would slaughter you.

What are the plans?
This is the big day.

Oh, Kite Day doesn't start
until 3:00 this afternoon.

I told Fred Rutherford
I'd meet him at the Club.

I thought I could
get in nine holes

and still get back to
pick up Beaver by noon.

You know, Beaver was
awfully quiet at breakfast.

Hardly mentioned
the kite at all.

He's probably thinking
about all those prizes

we're going to win.

Have a good game, dear.

With Fred?

Well, Ward, why do you
play with him every Saturday?

Well, because if I don't, he
sulks all week at the office.

Beaver!

Beaver!

Yes, sir.

I'll be back around noon, son.

There'll be a good breeze then.

We can try out the kite.

Yes, sir.

Boy, Beaver. This is a mess.

Yeah, but I figured
maybe we could fix it,

so it wasn't such
a mess of a mess.

Boy, Wally, now
you went and did it.

Now I went and did it?

This is like putting a hunk
of sawdust back together.

Do you think Dad will notice it?

Well, sure, he's
gonna notice it,

and he's gonna clobber you, too.

He was planning on
getting a bigger kick

out of Kite Day than you were.

You should have
told him, Beaver.

Yeah, I know I should've, well,

but I figured something might
happen before he came home.

What do you mean,
something might happen?

You know, there might be,

well, maybe a flood
or an earthquake,

and they'd have
to call Kite Day off.

You mean, you'd
rather take a chance

on getting wrecked
in an earthquake

than having Dad get mad at ya?

Sure, I know what it's
like when Dad gets mad,

but I don't know what it's like

getting wrecked
in an earthquake.

Let's face it, Beaver.

The only way that Kite
Day could be called off

is if it rains.

Hey, it might rain.

Look, there's a cloud!

That's not a cloud, stupid.

It's a contrail.

Boy, everything's
against me, even the sky.

Hey, Mom, when will Dad be home?

Oh, in a couple of hours.

Are you all excited
about Kite Day?

Yeah, Mom.

I'm all excited about Kite Day.

Hey, Mom, is there
any way to make it rain?

Well, sometimes
people go up in airplanes,

and they drop dry
ice on the clouds.

That'll make it rain.

Yeah, I figured it'd
take at least an airplane

to make it rain.

Sometimes, when the
farmers need rain real badly,

people pray for rain.

Is there any other way
to make it rain, Mom?

Well, once, when I was in
New Mexico with Aunt Martha,

we saw some Indians
do a rain dance.

Well, did it work, Mom?

Well, as a matter
of fact, it seemed to.

The next day, they
had a cloudburst,

and Aunt Martha and I had to
stay over because of the flood.

Well, do you think Mrs.
Thompson down at dancing school

would know the
Indian rain dance?

Oh, honey, I'm afraid that's
a little bit out of her line.

Yeah. The only thing that
happens after her dances

is you get all sweaty.

Beaver, are you studying
about rain in school?

No, Mom.

Well, then, why
all the questions?

Oh, well, I was just
asking the questions

in case we study
about rain next year.

Hey, Wally, are there
any Indians in Mayfield?

Why? Do you want
one of them to scalp you

before Dad gets home?

Cut it out, huh, Wally?

I really mean it.

Gee, Beav, there haven't
been any Indians around here

in a couple of hundred years.

I think they all got out

when they started paving
the streets or something.

There's gotta be
at least one Indian

in the whole of Mayfield.

Well, maybe you could call
Mr. Henderson an Indian.

There's an Indian
named Mr. Henderson?

Well, he's a judge.

He's got this daughter

who's always claiming
to be part Indian.

You think he really is?

I don't know, but there
must be something to it

because once in assembly,

they let her sing
The Indian Love Call.

Well, I'll see you, Wally!

Uh, are you Mr. Henderson?

Oh, yes, I suppose you're
collecting for the afternoon paper.

Wait just a minute.

Oh, no, sir.

Well, I'd like to
ask you something,

if I'm not being too personal.

Well, fire away, boy.

Well, I was just wondering,

well, is it true what
people say about ya?

Well, people say a
lot of things about me.

Just what did you have in mind?

Well, is it true
you're an Indian?

Yes, I have some Indian
blood, and some Scotch,

and some French, and
some Scandinavian.

Well, do you think you have
enough Indian blood in ya

to do the Indian rain dance?

Oh, I'm afraid my
dancing days are over.

Well, could you show me how
to do the Indian rain dance?

Well, I'm afraid you're barking
up the wrong Indian, young man.

You see, my great grandfather,

he was the only Indian
on our family tree.

He made his money
in Oklahoma oil.

He didn't care
whether it rained or not.

In fact, I imagine he
preferred if it didn't.

Well, thanks anyways, Mister.

June! Oh, June, I'm home!

Lunch is almost ready.

Oh, fine.

Mm-hm. Did you have a nice game?

Fred was miserable.

That's nice.

Is, uh, Beaver
about ready to go?

Well, I guess so. He's
up in his room with Wally.

They've been awfully quiet.

Well. Beaver!

Beaver!

All of us old pros
get a little nervous

just before the big
event, you know.

Hey, Beav, go on back
upstairs and get your kite.

Bring it down. We'll
give 'er a test run.

Yes, sir.

Well, go ahead.

Yes, sir.

Beaver doesn't look
well. Is he sick, Wally?

Not yet, Mom.

What?

Oh, nothing, nothing.

Son, what's the matter with you?

Nothing.

Well, then, will you
please go back upstairs

and come back with your kite?

I can go back upstairs,

but I can't come
back with my kite.

Something happen to it?

Yes, sir.

It's busted.

Uh, Dad, uh, he and
Gilbert tried to fly it,

and they cracked it up.

Oh, Beaver, how could you,

when you and your father
worked so hard on it?

Beaver, I think that was
a very selfish thing to do.

I did work hard on that kite,

and I gave up my entire
afternoon to be with you.

Yes, sir, Dad.

Well, I'm sorry I
wrecked Kite Day for you.

Well, son, it's not a
matter of spoiling Kite Day.

That kite was a, well,
it was a kind of symbol

of you and me
doing things together,

having fun together.

Did you ever think of that?

Yes, sir.

I thought of it real hard

when the kite was
laying there in the street.

Well, maybe it can be fixed.

Where is it?

It's upstairs, Mom, but it's
just a big hunk of nothing.

Well, I think you
should go anyway.

Go on, join in the fun.

Gee, Mom, we couldn't do that.

Well, now Beaver, it's
not going to do any good

to start crying and
feeling sorry for yourself.

I'm not crying for myself, Dad.

I'm crying for you.

You're crying for me?

Yes, sir.

I don't mind going to
Kite Day without a kite

and looking like a creep,

but I don't want to go to
Kite Day without a kite,

well, and have the guys
think you're a mean dad

for not building me
a kite for Kite Day.

Oh, I see.

Yeah, I want them to think

you're the greatest kite
builder in the whole world.

I guess I understand, Beaver.

I'll tell you what.

Let's you and I go
out and buy a kite.

Now, it won't be the greatest,

but at least we'll be a
part of Kite Day, huh?

Come on!

Gee, Dad, that'd be neat!

What about lunch?

Oh, keep it warm.

Us two kite builders
have got work to do.

You know, Mom, I think I
know how the Beaver feels.

You do, Wally?

Yeah.

You know, when you're
a kid the Beaver's age,

you want all the guys to think

that your father's just
about the greatest.

Did you?

Well, sure.

Yeah, I remember
telling all the guys

that once my dad held the
world record for the half mile.

You made up things like
that about your father?

Well, sure.

Yeah, I would have told them

he was the world's
heavyweight champ,

except dad was a lot
skinnier in those days.

You know, Beav, that's not bad,

third place intermediate class.

Yeah, our kite
only cost a dollar.

They had it worked out

so no matter how
crummy-looking your kite was,

it got a prize.

Hey, Beav. Richard's
dad was a pilot.

Did his kite come
in first place?

Nah.

It was too heavy, so
when the wind died down,

they couldn't get
it off the ground.

Boy, that must have
been something to see.

Yeah.

You know, after
you've been in trouble,

it makes you feel good seeing
somebody else in trouble.

Hey, Wally, how come you're
rubbing that stuff in your hair?

Oh, I, uh, I've
sort of got a date.

I know.

You want to smell
good for a girl.

Well, heck, Beav, don't
you ever want to smell good?

Well, sure, but not for a girl.

To keep from getting yelled at.