The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 1, Episode 10 - Guest in the House - full transcript
A young runaway boy spends Thanksgiving with the Stone family.
Crying and fussing for days.
But now the tooth is in,
she's as happy as a lark.
Not really?
Wait till the doctor hears that.
Mother, there's a
policeman at the door.
A policeman? What does he want?
Well, I don't know, but
he's about 10 feet tall.
And you should see the
expression on his face.
First of all, he said,
"Is Dr. Stone here?"
I said, "Well, no, sir." He
said, "Is Mrs. Stone here?"
Mother, what do you
suppose he wants?
Well, if you'll let loose
of me, I'll go find out.
Oh, well, would you
take off your apron
and freshen up your
lipstick or something?
What for?
I don't know, but it might help.
I suppose good
teeth are inherited.
Wouldn't you say so, Mrs. Stone?
Mrs. Stone?
Excuse me, Mother had to
leave. The police just came.
Mrs. Stone?
Yes, Officer. What is it?
The doctor's not in?
No, he isn't. He's
still at the hospital.
What's wrong?
Do you know this boy?
What boy?
Why, no, I don't.
Why? What's he done?
Well, I found him standing
on a street corner like this.
Like that?
Well, what would
anybody do that for?
Never mind, Jeff.
You better bring him inside
before he catches cold.
- Go ahead.
- I don't want to!
But, honey, you're not
dressed. You'll catch cold.
I want to catch cold.
Do like the lady told you.
I wonder if I could
speak to you a moment.
Yes, come this way.
He's a nice kid.
Oh, he's charming.
My guess is he's
run away from home.
He won't tell me his name,
where he lives, or anything.
I see.
All he said was, Dr. Stone
stuck a needle in him
and pulled out all his blood.
Oh, dear.
But if he's a patient
of the doctor's,
it's strange I've
never seen him before.
I'm Mrs. Stone,
the doctor's wife.
What's your name?
I won't tell you.
Let me try.
I have 15 football
cards that you can have
if you tell us your name.
I hate football.
Excuse me.
Hello?
Oh, Alex, am I glad you called.
Well, better not hold
dinner for me, darling.
A kid disappeared
from the hospital.
We're starting a search.
Honey, he's here. A
policeman just brought him.
Well, hold on to
him. I'll be right home.
All right. Oh, what's his name?
Oh, David Barker.
All right. Thanks,
honey. Goodbye.
Officer, that was my husband.
- He's on his way home.
- Good.
I bet I can guess your
name without you telling me.
How?
Those initials on
your suitcase... D.B.
Okay, what is it?
Dolores Banana.
It is not!
Jeff, don't make fun of him.
Well, I was only
using psychology.
He doesn't appreciate your
psychology, do you, David?
Who told you my name?
The doctor. He'll be
here in a few minutes.
I'm not going back
to that hospital!
Oh, now, take it
easy. Calm down.
They do terrible things.
They give you nasty stuff
and make you swallow it.
Oh, but that's only to
make you feel better.
Well, they only make me sicker.
They hate me.
Oh.
Well, Jeff, why don't you
take him up to your room
so he can put his clothes on?
I haven't got any clothes.
Well, what have you got
in your suitcase, David?
None of your business.
Well, Jeff, maybe you can find
some clothes you've outgrown
that David can put on.
Go on.
Okay, Peewee, come on.
Take your hands off that!
Gee, he was just
trying to help you.
I can carry it.
Of course you can.
He's a big boy, Jeff. Let
him carry his own suitcase.
Honey, would you go out
and finish the salad, please?
Yes, ma'am.
You'd think he had a
million dollars in there.
I wouldn't be surprised.
He's probably robbed a bank.
Oh.
Well, good luck, Mrs. Stone.
Thank you, Officer.
Glad to see the house is
still standing. Where is he?
I sent him up with Jeff
to find some clothes.
Those are his
clothes right there.
As soon as he gets into
them, back to school he goes.
School? What school?
Penfield, the military school.
Military school at his age?
Oh, them have them all ages.
But I'll bet little David is
in a class all by himself.
I pity any Goliath
who tackles him.
Are you speaking of that lonely,
frightened little boy upstairs?
That lonely, frightened
little boy upstairs
broke two thermometers,
smashed the nurse's glasses,
and threw a bed
lamp out the window.
The hospital will
never be the same.
Why is he in the
hospital? Is he sick?
Oh, he says he
has stomach pains.
I ran every possible
kind of test on him.
- Of course...
- Oh, I know those tests.
I'd break things, too.
Alex, he's just a baby.
He needs to be at
home with his parents.
No wonder he has stomach pains.
Darling, I know.
That's exactly what I
told the headmaster.
I wish I had time to delve
into his inner conflicts,
but I'm supposed to get
him back to school tonight.
Alex, suppose...
What if we kept him here
over Thanksgiving weekend?
Oh, wait a minute.
Honey, I know you've
got a tender heart,
but don't go too soft, huh?
That kid is a 7-year-old
version of Baby Face Nelson.
Anyway, the school
wouldn't allow it.
Would you call them and ask?
Honey, they're
responsible for him.
They'll just say no.
Well, you have to
call them anyway.
There's no harm in asking.
All right.
You win. I'll give it a try.
Poor little fellow.
No Thanksgiving.
Colonel Woodward, please.
Dr. Stone calling.
This is ridiculous.
Oh, Colonel Woodward?
Yes, Doctor?
We found the Barker
boy. He's here at my house.
Ask him.
Yes?
Well, I was pretty upset myself.
You're upset?
He's been here 2 months,
and I've aged 10 years.
We have our share
of problem boys,
and we do our best
to straighten them out.
But this one, I'm afraid
I'm going to have to
wire his father to
come and get him.
I see.
Well, under the
circumstances, I don't suppose
you could let him stay
with us over Thanksgiving.
Are you joking?
I'd be delighted.
Well, wouldn't you have to
get his parents' permission first?
How persuasive can you get?
No problem there.
We have blanket
permission from his father.
So if you want
him, you keep him.
And bless you for the thought.
Thank you, Doctor.
Thank you.
Colonel...
Happy Thanksgiving, darling.
You've just won
the prize turkey.
Oh, I know you, Alex.
You feel just as
sorry for him as I do.
And you're just as happy to...
Just you wait! I'm
gonna clobber you!
Hey! What's happening?
What's the matter?
Well, he busted my fishbowl,
and he did it on purpose!
I did not! I was trying to
catch a fish, and it fell over.
That's not true! He
did it on purpose!
Mother, Daddy, watch out.
You're gonna step on them!
Don't get excited.
Here, we'll get them in.
- Take it easy, Jeff.
- There, you see.
- Careful.
- Here, put them in.
There you are. Now,
don't get excited.
There, now.
Everyone's all right.
Oh, yeah? Well, how
about my fishbowl?
That cost me $4!
Honey, I'll buy
you a new fishbowl.
Mary, will you go get a
broom and a dustpan, please?
Yes, Mother.
David, here's your uniform.
Now, why don't you take this
in the bathroom and put it on?
I won't! I won't go
back to that school!
It's the worst
school in the world!
Nobody's gonna make
me! I won't go back!
Begin to see what
I'm driving at, dear.
You didn't mean to
hit me, did you, David?
Yes!
No, you didn't.
Come here.
Don't make me go!
It's all right,
David. It's all right.
My stomach hurts.
Of course it does.
You come with me, and
I'll give you something
that'll make it
feel much better.
Come on.
I hate you.
And you, too.
I don't like you
very much, either.
Alex?
Alex darling?
Yeah?
I want you to come and take
a look at Baby Face Nelson.
What's he got
there, an Airedale?
It's a lamb.
That's what he was
guarding in his suitcase.
Oh.
Imagine if the boys at
school caught him with that.
I'm sure they have.
I also noticed this.
"U.S. Air Force."
I'm tempted to read it,
if you think it's all right.
What if I don't?
I'll probably read it anyway.
But I'll feel guilty.
Let me feel guilty.
Listen to this.
"Dear David,
I have your recent letter
requesting a football helmet.
I would like to send you one.
But the fact is you
haven't earned it.
The only thing you seem
to have earned is demerits.
The school informs me your
conduct record is extremely poor
and your scholastic
record even worse.
If you were in the..."
This is to a 7-year-old boy?
"If you were in the Army,
you would be punished
for being a bad soldier.
I would like to be
proud of my son.
But how can I with
a record like yours?
One of the lessons
you have to learn
is that we don't get rewards in
this world unless we earn them.
Until you have
earned my respect,
you have not earned
a football helmet.
I'm sorry.
Request denied.
Sincerely, your father,
Major R.H. Barker,
U.S. Air Force."
Well, what kind
of letter is that?
It reminds me of every
answer I ever got in the Army.
But this isn't the Army.
This is a father talking
to his son, a child.
"Request denied."
No wonder he's got stomachaches.
Jeff, may I call your
attention once more
to these excellent prunes?
They're really terrific, Jeff.
Sorry, I'm saving
room for the turkey.
Mom, what time we
gonna have dinner today?
Oh, well, I thought about 2:00,
if that's all right
with everybody.
Well, Mom, we can't!
The football game
starts at 2:00.
And Dad and I have
got to leave by 1:00.
I forgot about the
game completely.
Forgot about the game.
Did you forget it
was Thanksgiving?
Well, here's David.
Good morning. Come on in.
- Good morning, David.
- Hi, Dave.
Well, aren't you hungry, David?
You didn't have
any dinner last night.
I'm not gonna eat
any breakfast, either.
Well, that's up to you.
Mom, how about another helping
of those famous
hot cakes of yours,
swimming in rich creamery butter
and loaded with
downright goodness?
Oh, and, Jeff, be sure to have
some of that rich, pure,
golden Vermont syrup,
and you'll just say you
never tasted anything so good.
Well, I'm glad you
decided to join us.
I'm not gonna eat.
And I'm not going back to
that darn old school, either.
Well, we were hoping
we could persuade you
to spend the weekend with us.
How come?
Because we'd very
much like to have you.
Wouldn't we?
Oh, yes, sure.
Oh, yeah.
Well, I'm not gonna
eat any darn old prunes.
Well, you can skip the prunes.
Jeff doesn't like them, either.
Who says I don't?
Oh, hello, David.
I thought you were
playing with Jeff.
He told me to beat it.
He's getting ready for the game.
What you doing?
Oh, I've been stuffing a turkey.
Did you ever help your
mother stuff a turkey?
I haven't got a mother.
Oh?
I didn't know.
How long ago did you lose her?
I didn't lose her.
She went away.
Oh.
Tell me, at your school,
don't they let the boys
go home for Thanksgiving?
I guess so.
I guess my father
forgot to send for me.
I guess he was too busy.
Well, he must be
a very busy man.
Yeah, he's about the busiest
man in the whole Air Force.
He's a major.
Well, does he ever find time
to write to you now and then?
Sometimes.
Do you write to him?
No.
Why not?
'Cause he's mad at me.
Why is he mad at you?
There must be some reason.
Won't you tell me, David?
I don't care if he's
mad at me or not.
I don't care!
- David?
- I don't care!
- What?
- David?
What's the matter now?
I guess I said the wrong thing.
He'll be all right. Run
along to the game.
- Have a good time.
- Thanks, darling.
- Goodbye, honey.
- Bye, Mom.
Dad, please don't answer that.
Honey, take it easy. It's
probably nothing at all.
Oh, fat chance.
Every darn time.
Dr. Stone speaking.
Yes.
104?
Yes, I think I'd better.
Oh, that's all right.
That's what doctors are for.
For crying out loud.
There he goes.
- Jeff, don't get excited.
- Jeff.
- You don't even have to tell me!
- I'm sorry.
Gee, Dad, you promised!
The only thing I've
ever wanted to do!
What's the use of
having a father anyway?!
Jeff.
You know what you'd say if I
broke a promise! How about him?!
Jeff.
Don't speak to
your father like that.
Wait. Let him go.
Well, Alex, that's dreadful.
Honey, he has every
reason to be angry.
I'll make it up to him later.
Meanwhile, just let
him blow off steam.
It's better he takes it
out on me or the furniture
than to bottle it up inside
like our little friend upstairs.
You know, you should
have been a doctor.
At times like this,
I'm not so sure.
Goodbye, honey.
Bye-bye. Back soon.
Does your stomach hurt, David?
Yes, it hurts something awful.
Oh.
Would you like us to
send for your father?
No. He wouldn't come anyway.
Well, doesn't he
ever come to see you?
Hardly ever.
Well, maybe if you
wrote him a letter.
People lose touch, you know.
I think that's a very good idea.
Why don't you
write him a letter?
I don't write very good.
He'd just tell me why
don't I learn to write better.
Well, maybe I could help you.
We could write
a letter together.
You could tell me
what to put down.
And I would put it all
down on a piece of paper.
How about that?
I wouldn't know what to say.
Well, you could just
say what you would
if he were right
here in this room.
Boy, if he was right
here in this room.
What would you tell him?
There's plenty
I'd like to tell him.
Well, go on. What
would you tell him?
I'd tell him, "I
wrote you a letter.
And all I did was ask
for a football helmet.
And you wrote me a letter.
All you did was get mad at me.
Well, go ahead and be mad at
me, 'cause I'm mad at you, too,
'cause all you do is tell me
how ashamed of me you are
and all that.
Well, what's the use
of being any good?
You wouldn't like me anyway.
'Cause if that's
the way you feel,
you don't have to
send me the helmet,
'cause I don't want it if
that's the way you feel."
I'd fix him.
I'd tell him, "I don't
blame Ma for going away.
I bet you don't
love her, either,
'cause you don't love anybody.
You just tell them
how terrible they are."
How do you like if I wrote that?
Well, you certainly
told him, didn't you?
Jeff, what is it?
Mom, I'm sorry I blew
up at Dad like I did.
Well,
it's something that happens
to all of us sometimes, I guess.
Doesn't it, David?
I'm gonna go down and
listen to the game on the radio.
You want to listen to
the football game, too?
Okay.
What do you say we make
Dagwoods and eat them while we listen?
What's a Dagwood?
Oh, you'll love
it. It's really cool.
You pile on a whole lot of
stuff like bolognas and pickles.
It's great. You'll
really love it.
Can I?
Well, what about your stomach?
Oh, it's fine now.
It doesn't hurt a bit.
- Go ahead.
- Come on, Dave.
You're not gonna send
that letter, are you?
Well, that's up to you.
You better not. It
might make him mad.
All right.
Come on, Dave.
Dear Lord, for what
we are about to receive,
may we be truly thankful.
And make us mindful
of the needs of others.
Amen.
All right, Jeff,
pass me the plates.
Mary, would you see who that is.
- Hey, I want a drumstick.
- I want a drumstick, too.
- I'm starved.
- Me too. I'm starved, too.
Are your parents
home? I'm Major Barker.
Oh, just a minute, please.
Major Barker?
David, where are you going?
Jeff, see where he's
gone and bring him back.
Dr. Stone, I'm Major Barker.
They told me at the
school my son was here.
This is my wife,
my daughter, Mary.
- Come in and sit down, Major.
- Thank you.
David is...
He just stepped out
somewhere. He'll be around.
Oh, may I smoke?
- Go ahead.
- Thank you.
I'm sorry to break
in on you like this.
I got a wire from the school
to come and get David.
I had to fly all
the way up here.
That kid.
I can imagine what
you've been going through.
Oh, we've survived.
Well, I'm not sure I will.
This is the fifth school
he's been thrown out of.
I was hoping that
military school
might knock some
discipline into him.
I think what he really
needs is a home.
Now, how do I manage that?
My ex-wife lives in Arizona.
She didn't care
much for military life.
Doesn't care for
children, either.
Me, I'm here one month
and somewhere else the next.
You've got yourself a home.
You're all set.
All I've got is a problem.
I'll tell you something, Major.
David has a problem, too.
He certainly has.
He can't learn. He can't behave.
I don't know. Maybe some
kids are just born troublemakers.
Dave's in the garage,
and he won't come in.
I'll get him in.
Major?
Just a moment.
Jeff, you go out and
keep an eye on David.
Okay.
You've, made it pretty clear
what you think is
wrong with David.
Now, maybe you'd like to hear
what David thinks
is wrong with you.
What's that?
It's a letter David wrote.
I put down everything he said.
He wasn't going
to mail it to you.
But maybe he should have.
Mary, go help Jeff.
Yes, Mother.
I wrote you a letter.
And all I did was ask
for a football helmet.
And you wrote me a letter.
All you did was get mad at me.
I don't blame Ma for going away.
I bet you don't
love her, either,
'cause you don't love anybody.
You just tell them
how terrible they are.
It's not very pleasant
reading, is it?
No.
You can't solve a
problem like David's
by just sending him
away someplace.
A mother who doesn't
want to be a mother.
A father who
doesn't love his son.
Doesn't love him?
He's the only thing I
have that means anything.
What do you mean
I don't love him?
I was hoping you'd say that.
David, come here.
Listen to me.
When I said you have
to earn things, it's true.
Grades, promotions,
good-conduct record...
All those things
you've got to earn.
But you don't have
to earn my love.
Do you understand that?
You're my son.
No matter what
you do, I love you.
Do you understand me, David?
I love you, David.
Don't ever forget that.
There's a turkey getting cold
in there, Major. Will you join us?
No, I've ruined
your dinner already.
Oh.
Please, Major. We'd
love to have you stay.
I wish you would.
Come on, we got
enough for an army.
He's right.
All we needed was the army.
All right, son.
Thank you, Jeff.
- Good girl, Mary.
- Thank you.
Here we go.
Now, David, remember,
as your father said,
you don't have to
go back to that school
if you don't want to.
But if you do go back, you
have to behave yourself.
I want to go back. I
want to behave myself.
Good. That's fine.
David, are you all set?
- All set to go.
- Good.
Well, thanks for Thanksgiving
and everything, you know.
Well, you're welcome, David.
You come and see
us anytime you like.
No kidding? How
about next weekend?
Well, how about it, Mom?
Yeah, why not, Mother?
Yes, Mother, why not?
Well, all right, David.
We'll be expecting you.
Can I bring a friend?
This guy hasn't got any
friends at all except me.
Gets in trouble all the time.
He's a real nut, this
guy. Can I bring him?
Sure, bring the guy.
The more, the merrier.
Bye, Dave.
Goodbye, David.
But now the tooth is in,
she's as happy as a lark.
Not really?
Wait till the doctor hears that.
Mother, there's a
policeman at the door.
A policeman? What does he want?
Well, I don't know, but
he's about 10 feet tall.
And you should see the
expression on his face.
First of all, he said,
"Is Dr. Stone here?"
I said, "Well, no, sir." He
said, "Is Mrs. Stone here?"
Mother, what do you
suppose he wants?
Well, if you'll let loose
of me, I'll go find out.
Oh, well, would you
take off your apron
and freshen up your
lipstick or something?
What for?
I don't know, but it might help.
I suppose good
teeth are inherited.
Wouldn't you say so, Mrs. Stone?
Mrs. Stone?
Excuse me, Mother had to
leave. The police just came.
Mrs. Stone?
Yes, Officer. What is it?
The doctor's not in?
No, he isn't. He's
still at the hospital.
What's wrong?
Do you know this boy?
What boy?
Why, no, I don't.
Why? What's he done?
Well, I found him standing
on a street corner like this.
Like that?
Well, what would
anybody do that for?
Never mind, Jeff.
You better bring him inside
before he catches cold.
- Go ahead.
- I don't want to!
But, honey, you're not
dressed. You'll catch cold.
I want to catch cold.
Do like the lady told you.
I wonder if I could
speak to you a moment.
Yes, come this way.
He's a nice kid.
Oh, he's charming.
My guess is he's
run away from home.
He won't tell me his name,
where he lives, or anything.
I see.
All he said was, Dr. Stone
stuck a needle in him
and pulled out all his blood.
Oh, dear.
But if he's a patient
of the doctor's,
it's strange I've
never seen him before.
I'm Mrs. Stone,
the doctor's wife.
What's your name?
I won't tell you.
Let me try.
I have 15 football
cards that you can have
if you tell us your name.
I hate football.
Excuse me.
Hello?
Oh, Alex, am I glad you called.
Well, better not hold
dinner for me, darling.
A kid disappeared
from the hospital.
We're starting a search.
Honey, he's here. A
policeman just brought him.
Well, hold on to
him. I'll be right home.
All right. Oh, what's his name?
Oh, David Barker.
All right. Thanks,
honey. Goodbye.
Officer, that was my husband.
- He's on his way home.
- Good.
I bet I can guess your
name without you telling me.
How?
Those initials on
your suitcase... D.B.
Okay, what is it?
Dolores Banana.
It is not!
Jeff, don't make fun of him.
Well, I was only
using psychology.
He doesn't appreciate your
psychology, do you, David?
Who told you my name?
The doctor. He'll be
here in a few minutes.
I'm not going back
to that hospital!
Oh, now, take it
easy. Calm down.
They do terrible things.
They give you nasty stuff
and make you swallow it.
Oh, but that's only to
make you feel better.
Well, they only make me sicker.
They hate me.
Oh.
Well, Jeff, why don't you
take him up to your room
so he can put his clothes on?
I haven't got any clothes.
Well, what have you got
in your suitcase, David?
None of your business.
Well, Jeff, maybe you can find
some clothes you've outgrown
that David can put on.
Go on.
Okay, Peewee, come on.
Take your hands off that!
Gee, he was just
trying to help you.
I can carry it.
Of course you can.
He's a big boy, Jeff. Let
him carry his own suitcase.
Honey, would you go out
and finish the salad, please?
Yes, ma'am.
You'd think he had a
million dollars in there.
I wouldn't be surprised.
He's probably robbed a bank.
Oh.
Well, good luck, Mrs. Stone.
Thank you, Officer.
Glad to see the house is
still standing. Where is he?
I sent him up with Jeff
to find some clothes.
Those are his
clothes right there.
As soon as he gets into
them, back to school he goes.
School? What school?
Penfield, the military school.
Military school at his age?
Oh, them have them all ages.
But I'll bet little David is
in a class all by himself.
I pity any Goliath
who tackles him.
Are you speaking of that lonely,
frightened little boy upstairs?
That lonely, frightened
little boy upstairs
broke two thermometers,
smashed the nurse's glasses,
and threw a bed
lamp out the window.
The hospital will
never be the same.
Why is he in the
hospital? Is he sick?
Oh, he says he
has stomach pains.
I ran every possible
kind of test on him.
- Of course...
- Oh, I know those tests.
I'd break things, too.
Alex, he's just a baby.
He needs to be at
home with his parents.
No wonder he has stomach pains.
Darling, I know.
That's exactly what I
told the headmaster.
I wish I had time to delve
into his inner conflicts,
but I'm supposed to get
him back to school tonight.
Alex, suppose...
What if we kept him here
over Thanksgiving weekend?
Oh, wait a minute.
Honey, I know you've
got a tender heart,
but don't go too soft, huh?
That kid is a 7-year-old
version of Baby Face Nelson.
Anyway, the school
wouldn't allow it.
Would you call them and ask?
Honey, they're
responsible for him.
They'll just say no.
Well, you have to
call them anyway.
There's no harm in asking.
All right.
You win. I'll give it a try.
Poor little fellow.
No Thanksgiving.
Colonel Woodward, please.
Dr. Stone calling.
This is ridiculous.
Oh, Colonel Woodward?
Yes, Doctor?
We found the Barker
boy. He's here at my house.
Ask him.
Yes?
Well, I was pretty upset myself.
You're upset?
He's been here 2 months,
and I've aged 10 years.
We have our share
of problem boys,
and we do our best
to straighten them out.
But this one, I'm afraid
I'm going to have to
wire his father to
come and get him.
I see.
Well, under the
circumstances, I don't suppose
you could let him stay
with us over Thanksgiving.
Are you joking?
I'd be delighted.
Well, wouldn't you have to
get his parents' permission first?
How persuasive can you get?
No problem there.
We have blanket
permission from his father.
So if you want
him, you keep him.
And bless you for the thought.
Thank you, Doctor.
Thank you.
Colonel...
Happy Thanksgiving, darling.
You've just won
the prize turkey.
Oh, I know you, Alex.
You feel just as
sorry for him as I do.
And you're just as happy to...
Just you wait! I'm
gonna clobber you!
Hey! What's happening?
What's the matter?
Well, he busted my fishbowl,
and he did it on purpose!
I did not! I was trying to
catch a fish, and it fell over.
That's not true! He
did it on purpose!
Mother, Daddy, watch out.
You're gonna step on them!
Don't get excited.
Here, we'll get them in.
- Take it easy, Jeff.
- There, you see.
- Careful.
- Here, put them in.
There you are. Now,
don't get excited.
There, now.
Everyone's all right.
Oh, yeah? Well, how
about my fishbowl?
That cost me $4!
Honey, I'll buy
you a new fishbowl.
Mary, will you go get a
broom and a dustpan, please?
Yes, Mother.
David, here's your uniform.
Now, why don't you take this
in the bathroom and put it on?
I won't! I won't go
back to that school!
It's the worst
school in the world!
Nobody's gonna make
me! I won't go back!
Begin to see what
I'm driving at, dear.
You didn't mean to
hit me, did you, David?
Yes!
No, you didn't.
Come here.
Don't make me go!
It's all right,
David. It's all right.
My stomach hurts.
Of course it does.
You come with me, and
I'll give you something
that'll make it
feel much better.
Come on.
I hate you.
And you, too.
I don't like you
very much, either.
Alex?
Alex darling?
Yeah?
I want you to come and take
a look at Baby Face Nelson.
What's he got
there, an Airedale?
It's a lamb.
That's what he was
guarding in his suitcase.
Oh.
Imagine if the boys at
school caught him with that.
I'm sure they have.
I also noticed this.
"U.S. Air Force."
I'm tempted to read it,
if you think it's all right.
What if I don't?
I'll probably read it anyway.
But I'll feel guilty.
Let me feel guilty.
Listen to this.
"Dear David,
I have your recent letter
requesting a football helmet.
I would like to send you one.
But the fact is you
haven't earned it.
The only thing you seem
to have earned is demerits.
The school informs me your
conduct record is extremely poor
and your scholastic
record even worse.
If you were in the..."
This is to a 7-year-old boy?
"If you were in the Army,
you would be punished
for being a bad soldier.
I would like to be
proud of my son.
But how can I with
a record like yours?
One of the lessons
you have to learn
is that we don't get rewards in
this world unless we earn them.
Until you have
earned my respect,
you have not earned
a football helmet.
I'm sorry.
Request denied.
Sincerely, your father,
Major R.H. Barker,
U.S. Air Force."
Well, what kind
of letter is that?
It reminds me of every
answer I ever got in the Army.
But this isn't the Army.
This is a father talking
to his son, a child.
"Request denied."
No wonder he's got stomachaches.
Jeff, may I call your
attention once more
to these excellent prunes?
They're really terrific, Jeff.
Sorry, I'm saving
room for the turkey.
Mom, what time we
gonna have dinner today?
Oh, well, I thought about 2:00,
if that's all right
with everybody.
Well, Mom, we can't!
The football game
starts at 2:00.
And Dad and I have
got to leave by 1:00.
I forgot about the
game completely.
Forgot about the game.
Did you forget it
was Thanksgiving?
Well, here's David.
Good morning. Come on in.
- Good morning, David.
- Hi, Dave.
Well, aren't you hungry, David?
You didn't have
any dinner last night.
I'm not gonna eat
any breakfast, either.
Well, that's up to you.
Mom, how about another helping
of those famous
hot cakes of yours,
swimming in rich creamery butter
and loaded with
downright goodness?
Oh, and, Jeff, be sure to have
some of that rich, pure,
golden Vermont syrup,
and you'll just say you
never tasted anything so good.
Well, I'm glad you
decided to join us.
I'm not gonna eat.
And I'm not going back to
that darn old school, either.
Well, we were hoping
we could persuade you
to spend the weekend with us.
How come?
Because we'd very
much like to have you.
Wouldn't we?
Oh, yes, sure.
Oh, yeah.
Well, I'm not gonna
eat any darn old prunes.
Well, you can skip the prunes.
Jeff doesn't like them, either.
Who says I don't?
Oh, hello, David.
I thought you were
playing with Jeff.
He told me to beat it.
He's getting ready for the game.
What you doing?
Oh, I've been stuffing a turkey.
Did you ever help your
mother stuff a turkey?
I haven't got a mother.
Oh?
I didn't know.
How long ago did you lose her?
I didn't lose her.
She went away.
Oh.
Tell me, at your school,
don't they let the boys
go home for Thanksgiving?
I guess so.
I guess my father
forgot to send for me.
I guess he was too busy.
Well, he must be
a very busy man.
Yeah, he's about the busiest
man in the whole Air Force.
He's a major.
Well, does he ever find time
to write to you now and then?
Sometimes.
Do you write to him?
No.
Why not?
'Cause he's mad at me.
Why is he mad at you?
There must be some reason.
Won't you tell me, David?
I don't care if he's
mad at me or not.
I don't care!
- David?
- I don't care!
- What?
- David?
What's the matter now?
I guess I said the wrong thing.
He'll be all right. Run
along to the game.
- Have a good time.
- Thanks, darling.
- Goodbye, honey.
- Bye, Mom.
Dad, please don't answer that.
Honey, take it easy. It's
probably nothing at all.
Oh, fat chance.
Every darn time.
Dr. Stone speaking.
Yes.
104?
Yes, I think I'd better.
Oh, that's all right.
That's what doctors are for.
For crying out loud.
There he goes.
- Jeff, don't get excited.
- Jeff.
- You don't even have to tell me!
- I'm sorry.
Gee, Dad, you promised!
The only thing I've
ever wanted to do!
What's the use of
having a father anyway?!
Jeff.
You know what you'd say if I
broke a promise! How about him?!
Jeff.
Don't speak to
your father like that.
Wait. Let him go.
Well, Alex, that's dreadful.
Honey, he has every
reason to be angry.
I'll make it up to him later.
Meanwhile, just let
him blow off steam.
It's better he takes it
out on me or the furniture
than to bottle it up inside
like our little friend upstairs.
You know, you should
have been a doctor.
At times like this,
I'm not so sure.
Goodbye, honey.
Bye-bye. Back soon.
Does your stomach hurt, David?
Yes, it hurts something awful.
Oh.
Would you like us to
send for your father?
No. He wouldn't come anyway.
Well, doesn't he
ever come to see you?
Hardly ever.
Well, maybe if you
wrote him a letter.
People lose touch, you know.
I think that's a very good idea.
Why don't you
write him a letter?
I don't write very good.
He'd just tell me why
don't I learn to write better.
Well, maybe I could help you.
We could write
a letter together.
You could tell me
what to put down.
And I would put it all
down on a piece of paper.
How about that?
I wouldn't know what to say.
Well, you could just
say what you would
if he were right
here in this room.
Boy, if he was right
here in this room.
What would you tell him?
There's plenty
I'd like to tell him.
Well, go on. What
would you tell him?
I'd tell him, "I
wrote you a letter.
And all I did was ask
for a football helmet.
And you wrote me a letter.
All you did was get mad at me.
Well, go ahead and be mad at
me, 'cause I'm mad at you, too,
'cause all you do is tell me
how ashamed of me you are
and all that.
Well, what's the use
of being any good?
You wouldn't like me anyway.
'Cause if that's
the way you feel,
you don't have to
send me the helmet,
'cause I don't want it if
that's the way you feel."
I'd fix him.
I'd tell him, "I don't
blame Ma for going away.
I bet you don't
love her, either,
'cause you don't love anybody.
You just tell them
how terrible they are."
How do you like if I wrote that?
Well, you certainly
told him, didn't you?
Jeff, what is it?
Mom, I'm sorry I blew
up at Dad like I did.
Well,
it's something that happens
to all of us sometimes, I guess.
Doesn't it, David?
I'm gonna go down and
listen to the game on the radio.
You want to listen to
the football game, too?
Okay.
What do you say we make
Dagwoods and eat them while we listen?
What's a Dagwood?
Oh, you'll love
it. It's really cool.
You pile on a whole lot of
stuff like bolognas and pickles.
It's great. You'll
really love it.
Can I?
Well, what about your stomach?
Oh, it's fine now.
It doesn't hurt a bit.
- Go ahead.
- Come on, Dave.
You're not gonna send
that letter, are you?
Well, that's up to you.
You better not. It
might make him mad.
All right.
Come on, Dave.
Dear Lord, for what
we are about to receive,
may we be truly thankful.
And make us mindful
of the needs of others.
Amen.
All right, Jeff,
pass me the plates.
Mary, would you see who that is.
- Hey, I want a drumstick.
- I want a drumstick, too.
- I'm starved.
- Me too. I'm starved, too.
Are your parents
home? I'm Major Barker.
Oh, just a minute, please.
Major Barker?
David, where are you going?
Jeff, see where he's
gone and bring him back.
Dr. Stone, I'm Major Barker.
They told me at the
school my son was here.
This is my wife,
my daughter, Mary.
- Come in and sit down, Major.
- Thank you.
David is...
He just stepped out
somewhere. He'll be around.
Oh, may I smoke?
- Go ahead.
- Thank you.
I'm sorry to break
in on you like this.
I got a wire from the school
to come and get David.
I had to fly all
the way up here.
That kid.
I can imagine what
you've been going through.
Oh, we've survived.
Well, I'm not sure I will.
This is the fifth school
he's been thrown out of.
I was hoping that
military school
might knock some
discipline into him.
I think what he really
needs is a home.
Now, how do I manage that?
My ex-wife lives in Arizona.
She didn't care
much for military life.
Doesn't care for
children, either.
Me, I'm here one month
and somewhere else the next.
You've got yourself a home.
You're all set.
All I've got is a problem.
I'll tell you something, Major.
David has a problem, too.
He certainly has.
He can't learn. He can't behave.
I don't know. Maybe some
kids are just born troublemakers.
Dave's in the garage,
and he won't come in.
I'll get him in.
Major?
Just a moment.
Jeff, you go out and
keep an eye on David.
Okay.
You've, made it pretty clear
what you think is
wrong with David.
Now, maybe you'd like to hear
what David thinks
is wrong with you.
What's that?
It's a letter David wrote.
I put down everything he said.
He wasn't going
to mail it to you.
But maybe he should have.
Mary, go help Jeff.
Yes, Mother.
I wrote you a letter.
And all I did was ask
for a football helmet.
And you wrote me a letter.
All you did was get mad at me.
I don't blame Ma for going away.
I bet you don't
love her, either,
'cause you don't love anybody.
You just tell them
how terrible they are.
It's not very pleasant
reading, is it?
No.
You can't solve a
problem like David's
by just sending him
away someplace.
A mother who doesn't
want to be a mother.
A father who
doesn't love his son.
Doesn't love him?
He's the only thing I
have that means anything.
What do you mean
I don't love him?
I was hoping you'd say that.
David, come here.
Listen to me.
When I said you have
to earn things, it's true.
Grades, promotions,
good-conduct record...
All those things
you've got to earn.
But you don't have
to earn my love.
Do you understand that?
You're my son.
No matter what
you do, I love you.
Do you understand me, David?
I love you, David.
Don't ever forget that.
There's a turkey getting cold
in there, Major. Will you join us?
No, I've ruined
your dinner already.
Oh.
Please, Major. We'd
love to have you stay.
I wish you would.
Come on, we got
enough for an army.
He's right.
All we needed was the army.
All right, son.
Thank you, Jeff.
- Good girl, Mary.
- Thank you.
Here we go.
Now, David, remember,
as your father said,
you don't have to
go back to that school
if you don't want to.
But if you do go back, you
have to behave yourself.
I want to go back. I
want to behave myself.
Good. That's fine.
David, are you all set?
- All set to go.
- Good.
Well, thanks for Thanksgiving
and everything, you know.
Well, you're welcome, David.
You come and see
us anytime you like.
No kidding? How
about next weekend?
Well, how about it, Mom?
Yeah, why not, Mother?
Yes, Mother, why not?
Well, all right, David.
We'll be expecting you.
Can I bring a friend?
This guy hasn't got any
friends at all except me.
Gets in trouble all the time.
He's a real nut, this
guy. Can I bring him?
Sure, bring the guy.
The more, the merrier.
Bye, Dave.
Goodbye, David.