The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 1, Episode 17 - Nothing But the Truth - full transcript

David Barker, who had previously spent Thanksgiving with the Stones, decides he would like to visit them again. He tells them that it's his birthday even though it's actually not for several more months.

Hello?

Yes, this is Mrs. Stone.

Who's this?

David?

Your friend David Barker.

Don't you remember?

I just called up to tell
you what a swell time I had

at your house on Thanksgiving.

Holler if you see
anybody coming.

Yeah, I sure had a swell
time there on Thanksgiving.

Well, I'm glad you did, David.



It's nice to hear
from you again.

Oh, everyone's just fine.

What's new with you, David?

Oh, nothing much.

I just got a bloody
nose playing soccer.

But that's about all.

Of course, it's gonna be
my birthday pretty soon.

But I guess I won't
be having one,

my father being
busy in the Air Force.

Nobody else cares if
it's my birthday or not.

So I guess I won't
be having one.

Well, David, wouldn't
you like to come over here

and have your birthday?

No, I couldn't do that.



It'd be too much trouble
baking a cake and fixing a party.

Could I bring a friend?

Certainly. Come
and bring a friend.

By the way, when
is your birthday?

Oh, tomorrow?

Well, I wouldn't have
to wait till tomorrow.

I could probably come
tonight if that's better.

Oh, well, I don't know
that it would be any better.

But if you'd rather
come tonight.

Okay, if you say so.

Only we better not have
the party till tomorrow

'cause Mousie's
got detention tonight.

He put some chewing
gum down the rifle barrel.

Mousie?

Mousie Myers. He's my friend.

Listen, I wouldn't want you to
come and get me or anything.

I can walk.

It's only about 10 miles.

I wouldn't want
Dr. Stone to do that.

You think he could
get here before supper?

Goodbye.

Well, it's all set for
the birthday party.

That's swell.

Only what if they find
out it's not your birthday?

Mother, it's just not fair.

It's Jeff's turn
to set the table.

Darling, Jeff isn't around.

And it won't kill you to set
the table two days in a row.

Oh, he always manages
not to be around

when there's work to be done.

I'm afraid it's more
than that this time.

Why? Has Jeff done something?

I'll take that up with
Jeff when he gets here.

You know, he didn't make
his bed this morning, either.

I have that on the list, too.

Oh, we'll need an extra place.

David's coming
to dinner tonight.

David who?

Oh, you remember David.
He was here at Thanksgiving.

The boy whose father
is in the Air Force.

That problem child?

Oh, he's not so bad.

Everyone's a problem now
and then, even your brother.

I'll say. He's worse
than David any day.

Here they are now.

Here we are.

Come on in, David.

Hello, David.

How nice of you to
come and see us again.

That's okay.

We've been meaning
to have you again.

But, well, you
know how time flies.

Yeah, it sure does.

How's your father?

He's swell.

He thinks you're swell, too.

He wrote me and told me so.

Oh, well, that's
very nice of him.

You remember Mary.

Hello, David. I'm awfully
glad to see you again.

Yeah, sure. Hi.

Have you still got Jeff?

Yeah, we still have Jeff.

We let the cat go,
but we kept Jeff.

We should have kept the cat.

Well, I got a
phone call to make.

See you later, David.

See you later, Doc.

Well, how's the birthday boy?

Mary, did you know that
tomorrow is David's birthday?

Really? Congratulations, David.

Oh, it's nothing much.

Just my birthday, that's all.

Well, how old will you be?

How old?

Mm-hmm.

7.

No, I mean, I was
7, and I'll be 8. No.

Well, right now I'm 7 1/2.

If you count, I'm 8 practically.

Well, you don't seem
very sure about it.

Well, you know how time flies.

Doesn't it, though?

David, wouldn't you like to
change into some playclothes?

- Okay.
- All right.

I think you can find some
old jeans of Jeff's upstairs.

Oh, I brought my
old brown uniform.

Oh, good for you.

And I brought my toothbrush
so I wouldn't need Jeff's.

Oh, good boy.

Mary, why don't
you take him upstairs

and show him Jeff's room?

Oh, I know where it is. Goodbye.

Well, Mary, why don't
you go upstairs, anyway?

Well, what for, Mother?

Because I'd like a word
with your father alone.

About Jeff?

Never mind.

Well, Mother, if you want
me to leave the room,

all you have to do is say so.

I can take a hint.

Well, take the hint.

Well, what's Jeff been up to?

Alex, I hate to
say I told you so.

Oh, you love it. Everybody does.

Told me what?

Well, remember when you
decided to get Jeff an air rifle

and I was dead set against it,

and you said,
"There comes a time

when every boy has to
learn how to handle a gun"?

And I said...

All right, what's he done?

I had a phone call from
Mrs. Wilgus this afternoon.

It was after you had left.

Well, I'm glad I was out.

What's she complaining about
now besides her husband?

Jeff.

It seems she saw him
and some other boys

shooting at her window.

You sure he was shooting at her
window and not at Mrs. Wilgus?

Alex, I don't know what
you propose to do about this.

- But I think it's pretty...
- Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.

Jeff, come over here.

What's the matter?

Jeff, you're late.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mom.
I just got hung up.

What's up?

Suppose you tell us.

Where have you
been all this time?

Oh, around.

Around where?

Well, just around. Why?

What have you been
doing with the air rifle?

Oh, this?

Well, I was just practicing.

Practicing what?

Well, practicing.
You know, shooting.

What were you shooting at?

Tin cans and bottles and stuff.

Is that all you
were shooting at?

Well, sure.

You weren't, by any chance,
shooting at any windows?

Well, Dad, you wouldn't want
me to shoot at any windows.

A window could get broken.

That's right.

And if it were open,
you could hit somebody.

Well, that's right.

So, you didn't do that?

Well, no.

Jeff, Mrs. Wilgus phoned

to tell me that she saw
you shooting at her window.

I knew I couldn't
trust that woman.

Well, did you or didn't you?

Well, I wasn't
shooting at her window.

I was shooting at
her weather vane.

Her weather vane?

You know, the one
on top of her roof.

I hit her window by mistake.

Well, whether you were aiming
at the weather vane or the window,

when we asked you about it,

you didn't tell us
the truth, did you?

Jeff, you know what happens
to people who tell lies?

Mary, this doesn't concern you.

Mother, I just thought
he ought to know.

People who tell lies
don't go to heaven, Jeff.

Mary.

I'll tell you what happens
to people who tell lies.

You're not to shoot that
gun again for three months.

Jeff, you've been very reckless.

And worse still, you
weren't honest with us.

Now, I think you'd
better go upstairs

and think about
this for a while.

Leave the gun, Jeff.

- Hi, Jeff.
- Hi.

How are things going?

Just great.

- Is dinner ready, Mother?
- Just about.

Would you finish
setting the table?

Sure, Mother.

I'm sorry, David.

But let's forget all about it.

Now, what did your daddy
send you for your birthday?

Nothing much. Excuse me.

What? Is there
something wrong, David?

I don't feel too
much like eating.

I think I better go
up and lie down.

Well, of course.

Well, now, what's come over him?

Are you about ready
to turn out the light?

- Have you brushed your teeth?
- Yep.

Jeff, have you
said your prayers?

What's the use, if I'm not
going to heaven, anyway?

Well, I think this might be a
very good time to say them.

Well, that was fast. You
sure you covered everything?

Yep.

Good night, Jeff.

Amen.

There you go.

Good night, David.

Good night, boy.

Feeling better now?

I guess so, sort of.

Good.

Good night, Jeff.

Why is it whenever Jeff
has done anything wrong,

he makes me feel
like the guilty one?

It's a fiendish knack they have.

But don't let it get you.
He's got it coming to him.

Come on.

Jeff?

I'm sorry, Jeff.

Forget it. It wasn't your fault.

Jeff?

Yeah?

Do you really think that
you don't go to heaven

if you tell a lie?

I don't know.

That's what Mary says.

Does she know for sure?

Nobody knows for sure
which place you're going.

Not till you get there.

What do you suppose it's
like in the other place you go?

Would you stop
worrying where I'm going?

Aren't you worried?

When I go, then I'll worry.

I'm worried now.

Well, what have you
got to worry about?

Why don't you go to sleep?

I can't.

All right, then. Stay awake.

Jeff?

Now what?

What if I was to tell you it's
not my birthday tomorrow?

Do you mean that you
made up the whole thing?

Well, yeah.

What'd you do that for?

So she'd invite
me over, I guess.

So I'd have a party.

You know, for a kid,
you're pretty cagey.

I didn't mean to do
anything bad, Jeff.

I guess it was a lie, though.

What do you mean was it a lie?

Of course it was.

I guess it was a
worse lie than you told.

What should I do,
Jeff? What should I do?

Well, just don't say
anything about it.

Maybe they won't find out.

Yeah, maybe they won't find out.

The trouble is, though,
they always do find out.

What's she doing with a weather
vane on her house, anyway?

I don't know.

She doesn't care which
way the wind blows.

It's sheer ostentation.

Are they down yet?

They're having
breakfast already.

I can hear them
knocking dishes around.

What are they saying?

Do they sound like they're mad?

Well, how should I know?

You go down and
find out. I'll wait here.

Oh, come on. You got to
act like nothing's wrong.

If you even look scared,
they'll smell it a mile away.

- They're like bloodhounds.
- I think I'll go back to bed.

Oh, come on!

Just don't think about it.

How can you just
don't think about it?

Oh, come on.

Good morning, boys.
Happy birthday, David.

Yes, David. Happy Birthday.

Yeah, happy birthday.

Well, come on. Sit
down. Join the party.

Yes.

Mother, can I bring them in now?

If you like.

Well, how'd you
sleep last night, David?

Oh, fine.

We slept just fine.

Good for you.

You know, when
I was a little boy,

the night before a birthday,
I was always so excited,

I could hardly sleep at all.

I didn't sleep too good.

Here we go, David.
Excuse me, Jeff.

Happy birthday, David.

Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday, David.

Well, aren't you
going to open them?

They're yours.

Well, I...

Go ahead, Dave. Open them.

Go ahead, David.
Open your presents.

That one's from Jeff.

From me? What do you know?

Where do you suppose
he got the money?

They're just small
things, David.

We didn't have much
chance for shopping.

A flashlight!

Thanks, Jeff. But how
come you bought me...

That's okay. Don't mention it.

Does it work?

Jeff, it's David's birthday.

That's okay. He
can play with it.

Go ahead, David.
Open another present.

This one's from me.

I hope he likes them.

Jeff, help him.

A handkerchief.

Just what I needed in case I get
another bloody nose sometime.

All these presents.

Well, your main present
is one we couldn't wrap.

What's that?

Well, we thought
since it's your birthday,

you might like to call
your father at the air base.

Call up my father?

Yes, so that he can
wish you a happy birthday.

That's too far to call up.

Well, you can call
him long distance.

Well, I don't think
he'd be there.

He's probably up in an
airplane or something.

Well, we could try, anyway.

I think he moved. Yeah.

He wrote me moved someplace.

Oh, really?

Hey, Jeff, want to go out
and throw some passes?

But, David, you haven't
had your breakfast.

I'm not hungry.

I'll go get the football.

But, David, you haven't
opened up all of your presents.

Jeff, what's wrong with David?

I don't know.

I guess he's just excited.

You know how kids get.

Do you want to toss the
football around or don't you?

I don't feel much like it.

Well, what do you want
to sit there moping for?

Anybody would think you
were the one that got found out.

Maybe I'd feel better if I did.

Well, all right, if you're
just gonna sit there.

Jeff, where are you going?

Well, I don't know.
Over to Eddie's, I guess.

And leave David all by himself?

The least you can
do is stick around.

After all, it's his birthday.

Okay.

Him and his birthday.

Tell me, David, what's
your favorite kind of cake?

I haven't got any favorite.

Oh, you must have.

I don't like cake much.

I mean, any kind will be okay.

I don't care.

David.

David, what's wrong?

Can't you tell me?

Is it because your father didn't
send you a birthday present?

No.

I just don't want
to make everybody

a whole lot of
trouble, that's all.

Oh, but it isn't any trouble.

I want to make you a cake.

I wish everybody wasn't
so darn nice to me.

Mrs. Stone, you don't
know it, but I'm terrible.

David, what is it?

Well, there's this guy
named Snyder, see, at school.

So one day, Snyder's father and
mother were gonna come to school

and take Snyder out
to dinner on his birthday.

And they said he can
invite anybody he wanted.

Snyder started bossing
everybody around,

telling them if they
wanted to come to his party,

they have to clean up
his room, make his bed,

shine his shoes,
and all like that.

And I got mad.

I said I wouldn't.

And Snyder said
I wasn't invited.

And Mousie wasn't,
either, 'cause he's my friend.

So I told Mousie, "Never mind.

You can come to my party."

Snyder said I wasn't having one.

And I told him I was so.

And Snyder said, "When?"

And I said, the same
day as Snyder's.

Snyder said, "Prove it."

And that's when I called you up.

So that was it.

I told a terrible
lie, Mrs. Stone.

It isn't my birthday till
three weeks from now.

Oh, David.

That wasn't such a terrible lie.

Three weeks don't make
that much difference.

Really?

No kidding?

I don't care when
your birthday is.

You're going to have a party.

And it's going to
be the best party

that anybody in
that school ever had.

But who would come?

Everybody's at Snyder's party.

Well, Mousie isn't.

And neither is Jeff or
Mary or the rest of us.

Why don't you and
I go get Mousie?

Okay.

All right, off you go.

Mrs. Stone,
about that lie I told.

If you're saying any prayers...

I'll put in a word for you.

Put in a word for Jeff, too.

I'll put in a word
for Jeff, too.

While you're at it,
mention my name.

Hey, wait for me!

Okay, Jeff. Come on.

See you later!

Mother, look at the
size of this thing.

We're gonna be
eating cake for weeks.

Oh, no, we're not.

What's left I'm going to send
back to school with David.

And if he plays his cards right,

he can make a bum
out of that Snyder.

Mother, why is
it in every school,

there always has
to be one big bully?

Oh, I don't know.

There's the car. They're back.

You know, I can hardly
wait to get a look at Mousie.

Oh, what in the world?

Mother, he's brought
the whole school.

Come on!

Hurry up!

Come on, Jeff!

Come on, Jeff! Throw it!

Alex, how did you do it?

Well, I just have
a way with kids.

Mary, we're going to have
to make more of everything.

Oh, I hope this
is more ice cream.

- That's what it is.
- Wonderful.

- Mary, take this inside.
- Yes, Mother.

- I hope you don't mind.
- Oh, I'm delighted!

I just wish Snyder knew what
he was missing, the big bully.

Have you ever
seen the big bully?

Well, of course not.

Come on over and meet him.

You mean he's here?

Dad, can we get the air rifle
out and have target practice?

The kids would love it. Please?

You're getting to be quite
a con artist, aren't you?

Oh, I'm not trying to
pull anything. Honest.

But the kids would
love it. I won't shoot it.

Well, I guess if we keep an
eye on them, it'll be all right.

Okay, Jeff. I'll get it for you.

Mom, have you ever
met Dave's friend Mousie?

- No.
- Hey, Mousie!

Mousie, this is my
mother, Mrs. Stone.

- Howdy.
- Hi.

Darling, why don't you
call him by his right name?

By the way, what is your name?

Fillmore.

Tell me, Mousie.
Which boy is Snyder?

That one over there.

That child?

Excuse me just a minute.

Come on.

Hello.

I'm Jeff's mother.

Oh, hi, Mrs. Jeff.

I mean, hi, Mrs...

David tells me
this is your birthday.

Well, it was gonna be.

But then my mom phoned.

They couldn't make it.

They had to be in
a golf tournament.

Oh, well, that's too bad.

Well, I'm glad you
could come here, then.

- You are?
- Certainly.

Why don't you go and
join the rest of the boys?

Come on! Let's get a touchdown!

Jeff!

Here you are.

Hey, an air rifle!

- Here you are.
- Thanks, Daddy.

Oh, shut up, you guys. Shut up.

Now, we're gonna have
some target practice.

What's that?

Boy, an air rifle!

All right, now, we're
gonna need a target for this.

So somebody go look in that
trash can and find a tin can.

- I will!
- It's right there.

All right, now, you guys.

Now, line up right
here, right there.

All right, now, we're
gonna shoot for a prize.

The one who gets the
highest score will win a prize.

I don't know what, but my
mom will think of something.

Wait, hold on.

David gets the first
shot. It's his party.

No, let Snyder go first.

It's his birthday.

No, you go first. I don't care.

Well, somebody's
got to go first.

Hey, I tell you what.

David, now, you hold
the gun and aim it.

And, Snyder, you
pull the trigger.

Now, you get that
can right in there.

See that? Right in there. Okay?

Oh, now, wait a minute.

Remember, you guys, a
gun is a dangerous weapon,

so you always got to be careful.

Never point it at a person

or a weather vane or
a window or anything.

- You understand?
- I understand.

I wouldn't do that.

All right, then. Are you ready?

Okay.

You ready?

Don't jiggle me, now.

Fire!

Bull's-eye!

Hey, we're good!

You said it!

Well, judging from the rumpus
and the wreckage outside,

the party's a huge success.

Yeah.

How's it going, boys?

Fine.

Best birthday I ever had.

I mean, it wasn't my birthday.

I mean, even if it wasn't,
it wouldn't have been.

Better, I mean.

I know what you mean, David.

Oh, Jeff.

I was just gonna
put it away, Dad.

You know, somebody
might get careless.

Well, your mother
and I have been talking.

You've been a pretty good
sport about things today.

We were thinking of
reducing your sentence.

Jeff, I hope you've
learned your lesson.

Well, which lesson did you mean?

The one about telling the truth.

Well, I kind of got the message.

Well, I'm glad.

All right, go put the gun
away and hurry back outside.

- That's what we were gonna do.
- Good.

Dr. Stone speaking.

Oh, well, how are
you, Mrs. Wilgus?

Well, that's very nice of you.

But just a moment.

She wants us to come
over and play bridge tonight.

- Do you want to go?
- Of course not.

- You talk to her.
- Well, what shall I tell her?

I don't know. Think of
something, anything.

Hello, Mrs. Wilgus.
This is Donna.

Just a minute.

What shall I tell her?

Well, tell her I'm busy.

Tell her I may have to
go out of town tonight.

Mrs. Wilgus, we'd
just love to come.

But Alex is going
to be busy tonight.

Yes, he may have
to go out of town.

Well, thank you so much, anyway.

Bye.

Fine, good work.

Dad, are you really
going out of town tonight?

Well, actually, no, as
a matter of fact, Jeff.

You see, the thing is, boys.

There are times when, in
order to spare people's feelings,

you have to tell what
is known as a white lie.

I mean, it's not
really the same as a...

Alex, you explain it to him.

Me?

It's all right, Mom. I
know what you mean.

Don't worry, Mrs. Stone.

When I'm saying my prayers,
I'll put in a good word for you.