The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 1, Episode 18 - It's the Principle of the Thing - full transcript

Mr. Popkin doesn't have the money to pay for his son's expensive treatment and he won't allow Alex to do it for free. Donna figures she can hire him for household chores instead.

Good morning.

I am Popkin.

This is my son, Joseph.

Well, I'm very happy
to meet you both.

I'm Mrs. Stone.

Naturally.

Is there something
I can do for you?

Well, I am told
that it's customary

to hang upon the walls
diplomas, credentials,

certificates of training
that they may be inspected.

You wanted to see the doctor.



My husband has his office
in the other part of the house.

May I ask one
question, Mrs. Stone?

Well, certainly.

The doctor has got
diplomas, credentials,

certificates of training?

Of course.

For myself, it would not matter.

But I do not wish to entrust
my son into unskilled hands.

My husband has an
undergraduate degree,

a medical degree, and a
license to practice in this state.

He interned two years
at the medical center,

had a residency at
Children's Hospital,

and is now chief of pediatrics
at the Hilldale Hospital.

And, besides, he's the best
doctor in the whole state.



Look, Papa. A new design.

Well, your feeling
for your husband

is commendable, Mrs. Stone.

And perhaps that will enable you

to appreciate my
feelings for my son.

I did this years ago.

Well, of course. I understand.

But you needn't worry. My
husband is a fine physician.

What seems to be troubling Joey?

What's the matter?

Well, if I tell you, you
will tell your husband.

What's wrong with that?

With such a fine doctor with so
many diplomas and credentials,

he should be able to find
out what's wrong himself.

Come on, Joseph.

It's more bothersome
than serious, Mr. Popkin.

However, the treatment
takes some little time,

so I'd like to start
on it right away.

Joseph, leave alone.

One question, Doctor.

How much will
the treatment cost?

Oh, about $100.

If you like, you can
pay it in installments.

What's wrong?

Installment buying has made
us a nation of refrigerators,

washing machines,
and television sets.

If you don't like
the installment plan,

you can pay it
whenever you're able to.

You don't like
that idea, either?

You owe a man money,
you're in bondage.

Mr. Popkin, I
don't think your son

should be denied
treatment because of money.

We will not deny
it. We will delay it.

When I have the money,
we'll start the treatment.

There's no use
arguing with Papa.

He always wins.

Joey, how would you like to go
outside and play with my son?

- His name is Jeff.
- I know his name.

We go to the same school.

Well, good. Run along, then.

I can't.

Why not?

Papa says, "Never
listen to strangers."

You may go, my son.

Mr. Popkin, I am not trying
to ensnare you or enslave you.

I just want Joey to
have the treatments.

So there will be no charge.

Charity!

The most insidious
obligation of all!

Mr. Popkin...

One question, Doctor.

Will it hurt Joseph to
delay the treatment?

Well, no. I can't
honestly say it'll hurt him.

The discussion is closed.

Mr. Popkin!

Please, Doctor.

I'm not accusing you

of deliberately trying
to take advantage of me.

That's a relief.

Although, subconsciously,
who knows?

Switch, Mom!

All right.

Switch!

I know, but which button?

The switch!

That was close, wasn't it?

Time to go, Joseph.

Can't I stay a
little longer, Papa?

Yes. They're having such
a good time with the trains.

Well, I will make you a
set of trains out of wood.

Wooden electric trains?

They will not be electric.

My father made me a
jet airliner out of wood.

You ought to see it.

My father can do anything
better than anybody.

You better restrain
your enthusiasm, my son,

even though what
you say may be true.

What was that?

My daughter likes
her music loud.

That you call music?

Well, it's a question
of taste, I suppose.

Strange household.

Mary, turn it down a little!

Please, Mother, I
can't hear the beat.

Turn it down!

Coffee's on, dear.

I'm gonna be
using the diathermy,

so don't turn on anything
that uses a lot of current

until I tell you.

All right, dear.

The wiring in this
house is ridiculous.

It's high time we did
something about it.

Yes, dear.

Don't you suppose we could
put something under this table leg

so it doesn't wobble?

Would you like a dog
biscuit with your coffee?

The way you've been
barking at everyone.

I'm sorry, darling.

It's that Popkin.

His son needs a
course of treatments

that he won't let me begin
until he's got the money.

Well, Daddy, I
should think you'd offer

to do it for nothing.

I offered to do it for nothing,
which prompted Popkin to say

that subconsciously I'm
taking advantage of him.

That man is a menace.

Maybe I better have a
talk with Joey's mother.

Joey has no mother.

No mother?

Nope, just the two of them.

Well, what does Mr. Popkin do?

Well, I don't know exactly.

He has a workshop in his
garage where he makes things.

You mean he's
sort of a handyman?

I guess so.

Hey, Mother, that's
a wonderful idea.

What is?

Hiring Mr. Popkin to do
some work around here.

Honey, go get me the
telephone book, please.

- Okay.
- Hey, don't bother.

Mr. Popkin doesn't
believe in telephones.

He doesn't believe in them?

Well, that's what Joey says.

Anyway, they don't
have a telephone.

And Mr. Popkin never talks
on anyone else's phone.

Jeff, would you go over
there on your bicycle

and tell Mr. Popkin that
I would like to see him?

Sure. Bye.

Bye, honey.

Mrs. Stone, have
you ever been told

that your circuits
are overloaded?

No, I don't believe...

Is that bad?

Atrocious.

But even though
I'm not an electrician,

I think I can solve
your problem.

Wonderful.

My husband's always
complaining about the wiring

and something else.

Come here.

And this is another thing
that irritates my husband.

That's a simple problem.

It is?

Surely.

This one leg is
shorter than the others.

All I have to do is shorten
the other three legs

till they're of equal length.

Well, that's wonderful.
You can start right now.

When you get finished,

I'm sure I can find
some other jobs for you.

One minute, Mrs. Stone.

If you wish to hire me, you
will have to pay me by the hour.

That's all right. You
can start right now.

What's the matter?

We have not yet
agreed on the hourly rate.

All right, then. Let's agree.

How much do you
think it should be?

Well, I don't know.

I've never done exactly
this kind of work before.

Well, why don't you
go ahead and do it?

And then when you're finished,
you'll know how much to charge

Shall we synchronize
our watches?

Please, Mr. Popkin,
that won't be necessary.

I trust you.

You trust me. Fine.

But trust cannot be
one-sided. It must be mutual.

Please, Mr. Popkin.

Please, Mrs. Stone!

You are wasting
my valuable time!

May I get started?

Yes, Mr. Popkin, please do!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Are you finished already?

My husband will be very pleased.

Restrain your
flattery, Mrs. Stone.

This job could be
done by any fool.

It wobbles less
than it did before.

Well, why don't you get
started with the wiring?

It's much more important.

Fine.

In the future, Mrs. Stone,
buy a better-quality table.

That's indoor sunshine, Linda.

In a little while, you'll
feel much better.

What happened to the sun?

I don't know, but
I'll soon find out.

What's going on? My
heat lamp just went off.

My trains have stopped!

There's something wrong
with my record player.

Calm down, everybody.
Nothing's wrong.

Mr. Popkin's here.
He's fixing the wiring.

Why don't you warn people
before turning off their power?

I need electricity.

Very well.

If you wish to have overloaded
circuits, blow out fuses,

and burn your home down,
that's entirely up to you!

Darling, I do think

you could have been a
little nicer to him about it.

Daddy, I think you
hurt his feelings.

Will you two go
back and sit down?

Donna, why did
you hire that man?

So he could earn enough money
to pay for Joey's treatments and,

at the same time, fix up all the
things that are bothering you.

I was only trying to kill
two birds with one stone.

I'm a little more worried

about killing two
Stones with one Popkin.

You know, either I'm growing
or this table's shrinking.

Mr. Popkin was fixing
it so it wouldn't wobble.

I know your intentions
are of the best.

But I have a feeling
that Mr. Popkin...

Hey, there goes
my record player!

I think the power's back on.

Turn that thing down!

Help! Mom and Dad, come quick!

Hurry!

What is it?

Mr. Popkin!

- Daddy, do something!
- Is he electrocuted?

Are you all right?

All right. Calm down,
every one of you.

He's going to be all right.

How much will this
examination cost?

Mr. Popkin, there
will be no charge.

And there's nothing
wrong with you,

at least nothing
that I can treat.

All I want from you
is the assurance

that you won't touch any
other wiring in this house,

nor the tables,
chairs, furniture,

or any other equipment.

Alex.

He's right, Mrs. Stone.

You've been very kind.

But I shouldn't try to
do what I cannot do.

I should have...

Mr. Popkin, the
doctor didn't mean it.

Don't feel bad.

I know how to accept failure.

I've had a great
deal of experience.

Goodbye, children.

Oh, the poor thing.

Alex, really!

I'm sorry I hurt his feelings.

I think you should
apologize to him

and get him back here working.

That's the only way
you can save his pride.

And pride is very important
to a man like Mr. Popkin.

One question... Is
Mr. Popkin's pride

any more important to
him than my sanity is to me?

Very well, then.

I'll apologize to Mr. Popkin.

Mrs. Stone, when I said I
have experience with failure,

I didn't mean that I
consider myself a failure.

No. It's rather the
buying public...

The buying public which
has failed to keep up with me.

Like, for example,
my silent alarm clock.

Really? How does it work?

Why, you strap this to the
sole of your foot, you see?

And instead of a bell ringing,

this brush rotates, tickles
your foot, wakes you up.

And it didn't sell?

Oh, lost.

Oh, that's cute.

Did you make this toy?

Unfortunately, yes,
and a lot more like it.

Here, I'll show
you how it works.

All right.

There you are.

Oh, it's a beautiful rabbit.

I've never seen one like it.

Mr. Popkin, that's the answer.

What's the question?

Well, I'm sure you can
make a deal with a toy store.

Mrs. Stone, when
a man is drowning,

you don't invite him to swim.

I made a deal
with the toy store.

The little money I had left
over from my silent alarm clock

I lost on the rabbits.

They wanted the
rabbits for Easter.

But Papa didn't deliver
them until the Fourth of July.

What difference can
a few months make?

Mr. Popkin, let
me take this rabbit,

and then meet me
tomorrow morning at 10:00

at Johnson's Toy Store...
Do you know where it is?

Many times have I
sneered at his window.

What do you hope to
accomplish with him?

Mr. Popkin, do you
trust me or don't you?

My judgments, my
instincts tell me no.

But where have my judgments
and instincts got me so far?

Take the rabbit.
Take all of them.

Yes?

Who is it?

Well, come in.

Isn't that the cutest
toy you've ever seen?

Isn't it just darling,
Daddy? Don't you love it?

It's kind of cute at
that. Very ingenious.

You see? Mr. Popkin
isn't such a dope after all.

Popkin! Get it out of
here before it blows up.

Alex, don't be silly.

Dear, do you remember
a child with strep throat

that you took care of
about two weeks ago?

Mm-hmm. Yeah, the Johnson girl.

Well, didn't she have
some kind of complications?

Yes. Her father
runs a toy store.

And to quote your
friend Popkin, "Aha!"

What do you mean, "Aha!"?

If you think I'm going to impose
Popkin on a grateful patient.

Impose?

Why, we'd be doing
Mr. Johnson a favor.

No. Out of the question.

Here. Take this and be
on your way, children.

Are you and Dad gonna
have a father/mother talk?

Out.

Darling,

I promised Mr. Popkin that
I would try to sell his rabbits.

And so he's letting
have his total supply.

I told him we could
store them in the garage.

Our garage? How many has he got?

300.

300?

Poor Mr. Johnson.

If he thought a
strep throat was bad,

wait till he meets Mr. Popkin.

Hey, maybe we can sell
some of these rabbits.

How, Jeff?

We can pitch them on television

like they do automobiles
and refrigerators.

Hurry on down, folks,
and bring your checkbooks.

We will not be undersold!

Don't be stupid, Jeff.
That costs a lot of money.

Yeah, that's right.

Hey, I've got a
sensational idea.

What is it?

It's such a great idea,
it even surprises me.

What is it, Jeff?

Tomorrow is Saturday.

And a lot of people are
downtown shopping, right?

And they got plenty of loose
cash in their pockets, right?

So we take a dozen
or so rabbits downtown,

and I'll set up a little stand.

And when there
are enough people...

Step right up, folks.
Don't be bashful.

See the toy sensation
of the century.

Well.

Thank you very much.

See it hop. See it jump.

Yes, you have to
look pretty close

to make sure this marvelous
little rabbit is not alive.

Yes, sirree, folks. Your
kids will love this toy.

How can I be so sure?

'Cause I'm a kid, and
I'll tell you, I love this.

I'd like one of these
marvelous little rabbits, please.

You know, for a minute there,
I thought it actually was alive.

Nice going, Sis.

Tell me, young lady,

are you buying this for a
younger brother or sister?

No, sir, this is so cute

that I'm going to
keep it all for myself.

There goes a smart young lady.

Selfish but smart.

Who's next? Step right up.

The price is right, but
the supply is limited, so...

All right, sonny.

I think you better gather
up your toys and go home.

Officer, why?

Well, because what you're
doing is against the law.

Really? No kidding?

One moment.

Do you have a warrant
for this boy's arrest?

I'm not arresting him. I'm
just asking him to go on.

One question... Are you against
the right to free enterprise?

Why, no.

Keep selling them.

You can't keep on selling them

because there's a law against
peddling without a license.

This law is obviously
unconstitutional.

Pay no attention.

Listen, Mr. Chief Justice,
are you related to this kid?

Aren't we all members
of the same family?

The family of man?

No, sir, he's not related to us.

Us?

Are you his sister?

No, sir. I never saw
her before in my life.

Yes, sir, I'm his sister.

Then you were just shilling when
you bought that toy from him?

Well, you two better
come along with me.

We'll talk the whole thing
over down at the police station.

But what about my card
table and my rabbits?

It'll be all right.

Your civil rights are being
violated, but don't worry.

There are still
laws in this country.

Hello?

Dr. Stone?

Yeah, I'm breaking a
long-standing principle

by using the telephone.

But I feel it's justified
because of my great respect

for you, Mrs. Stone,
and your fine children.

That's very
heartwarming, Mr. Popkin.

What?

I don't think I heard you right.

It sounded as though you
said Mary and Jeff were in jail.

That's correct, and you better
get down there right away,

because Mrs. Stone can't.

She and I have an appointment
at Johnson's Toy Store.

As a matter of
fact, I'm late now.

Goodbye.

Oh, they're handsome
rabbits, Mrs. Stone.

But a toy store is run like
any other business enterprise.

I'd like to do you
the favor, but...

That's exactly what I told
my husband... the doctor.

By the way, Mr. Johnson,

how's your sweet,
little daughter feeling?

Oh, she's very much
better, thank you.

Yes, if it hadn't been
for your husband...

Yes?

I...

They are handsome rabbits.

I think I can find a place
for them in the window.

That's very kind of you.

Mr. Popkin should
be here any minute.

And he'll be
delighted to see his...

There he is now.

- Good morning, Mr. Popkin.
- Good morning.

I was just telling Mr. Johnson
how happy you'd be

to see your rabbits on display.

Well, they are not displayed,

but they are very
cleverly concealed.

Just a moment.

If there's one thing I
know, it's window display.

Gentlemen, you haven't even met.

And here you are
arguing like old friends.

Mr. Johnson, Mr. Popkin.

How do you do?

A pleasure.

Gentlemen, now, maybe we
can work out some compromise

that'll be agreeable
to both of you.

Impossible.

There's only one way to
properly display these rabbits.

Just a moment!

I beg your pardon.
Not in my window.

Hey, what's all the
excitement about?

Never mind.

Our little adventure
in the police station

was excitement
enough for one day.

- Hey, that's Mother.
- What?

You've tried to help me.

And I've repaid you
with nothing but trouble.

I don't know what to say.

Don't say anything. Just listen.

Now, I don't want any "ah-has"
or speeches on any subject.

The combined efforts
of you and my wife

to finance Joey's treatments
have cost me time, money,

and a lot of wear and
tear on my nerves.

Please, no more.

I'm gonna treat
Joey without charge.

I can't afford not to.

Upstairs and finish
your homework, children.

Are you Mr. Popkin?

That all depends.

What is it, Officer?

The boys down at the station
all want to buy one of these.

Have you got any more?

Did you hear that,
Mr. Popkin? Isn't that wonderful?

Who authorized you
to sell my merchandise?

Mr. Popkin!

Officer, throw that man out.

Now, wait a minute.

What is it, Mr. Johnson?

Well, that bedlam
this afternoon.

Now everybody wants one
of those miserable rabbits.

How marvelous.

Here's a copy of my offer,

which I think you'll find
more than generous.

We have 300 of them.

Oh, not nearly enough.

We'll have to learn to
produce them in quantity.

My dear sir, your
offer is a joke.

It reduces my creative
power to bondage.

It disposes of my talent

as if it were a sausage to
be consumed in two bites.

In brief, sir, your offer is
an outrage to my sensibilities

and an insult to my principles.

Mr. Popkin.

But I'll take it.

My latest invention...
A barbecue fire maker.

Doesn't use
matches or electricity.

It works on a "chemical
plus friction" principle.

One question, Mr. Popkin...
Does it have to be so large?

Yeah, wouldn't it be a lot
easier to carry matches?

A chip off the old block.

Well, it sounds like a
wonderful idea to me, Mr. Popkin.

I'm sure it is.
Can we try it out?

Oh, thank you, dear lady.

I'll admit, it's still
a little too large.

Size is one of the bugs
I haven't worked out yet.

And now, Mrs.
Stone, if you please.

Thank you, Mr. Popkin.

That's another bug I
haven't worked out yet.