The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 1, Episode 32 - The Grateful Patient - full transcript

Mother?

Mother, I can't find
the tape measure.

Can we use this and measure
it against something else?

That's a good idea.
Hold this end, now.

I think this is either
a 6- or a 7-foot couch.

Hey, Daddy is about 6 feet.

Dear, would you mind lying down?
We'd like to measure the couch.

Sure.

Very good.

Daddy plus this much.

I always thought
couches came in even feet.



Daddy, have you
measured yourself lately?

Just standing up.
It's not too accurate.

Dear, what color shall
I get for the couch?

I don't care.

But before you
have it re-covered,

let me know so I can get off.

Stay. Overstuffed
furniture is coming back.

Doctor! Doctor!

- Mr. Wilgus!
- Oh, Doctor, hurry!

It's Celia!

She's stretched out,
not saying a word!

Get my bag!

Get Daddy's bag.

Jeff, get Daddy's bag.



Yes, get Daddy's bag!

She's stirring, Mr. Wilgus.

You'll notice she's gone.
I tell you, she's gone.

If my Celia were alive,
she'd say something.

Celia?

Celia!

Celia. Thank heavens, Doctor.

You brought her back.

You tried to kill me!

No, no, no, no.

I wasn't trying
to kill you, honey.

I was only practicing
my backswing.

I was developing a slice,
and the pro told me...

You'd better take
up tennis, Mr. Wilgus.

Keep that jaw quiet for a
couple of days, Mrs. Wilgus.

Now, how much do
I owe you, Doctor?

My practice is
confined to pediatrics,

so let's call it a neighborly
emergency and forget it.

Well, please, Doctor.

If you hadn't pulled
her out of that coma...

You know, Celia is
all I have left in the...

Here's $5.

Oh, please don't try
to talk, Mrs. Wilgus.

Your jaw needs the rest.

You saved her life.

Why, if I didn't have my
Celia, I'd... Take the $5.

Please keep your
mouth shut, sweetheart.

Now, if the swelling
isn't down in the morning,

you call your doctor.

Let's go, darling.

Give Mrs. Wilgus
a chance to rest.

- Good night, dear.
- Good night.

I'll make it up to you,
Doctor. I'll find a way.

I'm sure you will, Mr. Wilgus.

Good night.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

My name is Alexander.

I'm from Carter's interior
decoration department.

Oh, yes, Mr. Alexander.
Come on in.

- Right this way.
- Thank you.

By the way, weren't you in
Men's Clothing at one time?

I asked to be transferred.

Men's suits don't
permit much creativity.

Oh, I see.

Well, I called to
get an estimate.

I'd like to have this
couch re-covered.

Excellent idea.

Well, when we bought
this house, it was furnished,

and naturally we had to
take everything that was in it.

It's homey.

Well, let me see
what we'll need.

This is about a
7-foot couch, isn't it?

Well, I'm not sure.

It's about this much
longer than my husband.

We have some
hand-woven Siamese silks.

Very colorful.

Oh, it's lovely, just lovely.

But I don't think I
should get something

that would clash with
the rest of the room.

You wish to maintain
the present decor?

Well, I intend to
change it gradually,

but I'd like to keep
this lived-in feeling.

You've achieved that very
successfully, Mrs. Stone.

Thank you.

How much are the prints?

Where quality and good
taste are concerned,

I don't think price
should be a consideration.

Oh, I agree with
you, Mr. Alexander,

but I'm, by nature,
very curious.

How much are they?

They start at $16 a yard.

Well, I could almost get
a new couch, couldn't I?

Yes, I'd consider that.

These heavy textured twills
are a little less expensive.

They run about $11 a yard.

I see.

Well, they're not as
attractive as the Siamese silks,

and if I were going to
spend more than I can afford,

I'd prefer the Siamese silks.

Oh, well, this is
very interesting.

Where does this come from?

Let me see.

It's not American,
and it's not English.

Who do you suspect?

Here's some chintz at $3.50.

Are these the
colors it comes in?

Yes, those and smudged cocoa.

Alex, please try to be helpful.

I know the silks are
more than we can afford,

and the cottons and
twills are much cheaper.

But if we try to save money now,

it may cost us
more in the long run.

What do you think?

Darling, I hate to see you faced
with this agony of indecision.

Why don't we just
leave the couch as it is?

That's a very
interesting suggestion.

I'm sorry you thought of it.

Oh, good evening. Come in.

Well, how is your
jaw, Mrs. Wilgus?

Well, considering that I
was on the brink of death

due to an accident...

And I'm not quite sure still

that it was entirely
an accident...

I'm fine, thanks
to you, Dr. Stone.

Oh, hello, children.

Doing your homework, I see.

How nice.

Hello, Mrs. Wilgus.

I may be wasting my
time doing this homework

'cause sometimes the teacher
doesn't even pick up the papers.

When you grow up,
you will be very glad

that you did your homework
even though you hate it now.

Celia is talking
much better, isn't she?

- Yes.
- A miraculous recovery.

Of course, it still hurts
terribly when I open my mouth.

Poor Celia. I beg
her to keep it shut.

- Shall we sit down?
- Oh, thank you.

Would you like some coffee?

- Oh, why that would be...
- Thank you. No.

That would be very
nice. Thank you. No.

Oh, we were trying to decide
upon a fabric for the couch.

Of course, the one we like
the most is the most expensive.

Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

What? Oh.

Yes, dear?

Here is a doctor dedicating
his whole life to humanity,

and his poor little
wife cannot even buy

a single yard of cheesecloth.

Tell him!

Tell him? Oh! Yes.

I was thinking...

Oh, he'll take all
night. I'll tell you.

Won't that be tiring on
your jaw, Mrs. Wilgus?

Sometimes using the injured
member can facilitate recovery.

Isn't he sweet?

Since the doctor will not
accept a fee for saving me,

we have found a
way to repay you.

Wilbur has an option
on a big, empty lot,

and as soon as a
big company buys it

for a department-store
location...

A big syndicate is behind this.

Can't mention any
names, you know,

but you can triple your
investment in one month.

Alex, wouldn't
that be wonderful?

If there's one thing he
knows, it's real estate.

Well, that's very generous
of you, but I'd rather not.

If it'll make you feel
more comfortable

to send me $5
for last night's visit,

well, you go right ahead.

You doctors, do
you like to be poor?

Well, actually, Mrs. Wilgus,

there hasn't been a case
of malnutrition in this house

for over three years.

Jeff's been looking
a little pale recently.

In the past year,

I have more than tripled
my assets in real estate.

Let me cut you in for $5,000.

Wilbur.

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie.

You saved my Celia's life.

Make it $10,000.

Triple $10,000?

I don't think we can
afford to get that rich.

Mortgage the house.
It's a chance of a lifetime.

Oh, you can't miss on this
deal. I'll guarantee it myself.

Our little town is growing.

Grow with the
community, I always say.

I appreciate your motives
and I'm very grateful,

but may I have a little
time to think about it?

Well, if you don't have the
money, I'll put it up for you.

But I must know by tomorrow.

I'll let you know by tomorrow.

Yes, we'll have an
emergency meeting

of the finance
committee tonight.

Wilbur, let's go home.

I must soak my jaw.

I was only practicing
my backswing.

Whether Alex
decides to invest or not,

we're both very,
very grateful to you.

He owes it to you.

Good night, children.

And, remember, do your
homework even though you hate it.

We all have to put up
with things we don't like.

Come along, Wilbur.

Good night.

Good night, Mrs. Wilgus.
Good night, Mr. Wilgus.

Isn't she a brave woman?

In spite of the pain,
she goes right on talking.

Wilbur!

Good night, Mr. Wilgus.

Daddy, I have $18
saved up in a cigar box.

And we could sell our
books and raise some money.

The gold rush is on.

Now, look, friends,
I must urge caution.

Oftentimes the lure of
gold can be a mirage.

But caution never
carved this great nation

out of the wilderness.

Can we talk about it?

We can talk later.
Now it's bedtime.

Time to sleep, perchance
to dream... upstairs.

Well, Daddy, I could
give up lunches.

I've been gaining weight anyhow.

Upstairs.

We could save money

if I didn't have to go
to the dentist for a year.

Upstairs.

In a time of emergency, the
sacrifices those kids will make.

Oh, Alex.

Darling, I know you're
thinking about ethics,

but won't you please try
to think about the furniture?

Donna, how can I
accept a real-estate tip

as a medical fee?

Frontier doctors used to
accept barrels of flour or hogs.

All right. Send the
Wilguses a bill for two hogs.

Honey, there isn't anything
in the Hippocratic oath

against growing
with your community.

And if there's anything
he knows, it's real estate.

I don't want to dim the
dollar signs in your eyes,

but where are we
going to get the money?

Well, couldn't we take some of
the money we have in the bank,

like $1,000?

Nope.

$700?

$600? $500? $400?

Honey, I'm not going under $300.

Please?

Don't you want to grow
with your community?

Okay, Madame Dewberry.

I love you.

Let's see. $300 tripled is $900.

Yeah, but what if the
big deal doesn't work out?

Oh, you heard Mr. Wilgus.
The syndicate's behind it.

How can we say
no to the syndicate?

All right, all right.

I'll give Mr. Wilgus
the money tomorrow.

But I don't want this family

to start living like the
House of Rothschild.

Then, honey, nothing
will change radically.

I'll just get the
couch re-covered

and buy some clothes
for the children and...

Let's see.

For myself, I'll buy a car, a
fur coat, and a diamond tiara.

That all?

Oh, darling, you
have to be sensible.

After all, you're
only investing $300.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Come in, Mr. Alexander.
- Thank you.

Did you talk to your husband?

Practically all
through the night.

Well, we finally
made our decision.

This one.

I'm so happy. It's
exquisite material.

It's $16 a yard.

It's the fabric we like.

Excuse me.

- Oh, hello, Mrs. Wilgus.
- $300.

You try and do people a favor.

I know, Mrs. Wilgus,

but we didn't want
to get rich so quickly.

We just want to
adjust to it gradually.

Well, of course, if you
don't want to get rich.

Wilbur got a call this morning.

Naturally, I can't mention
any names, but... Oh.

Mr. Alexander, this is
our neighbor, Mrs. Wilgus.

How do you do, madame?

Well, I'm fine,
considering. Thank you.

Oh, you're not going to get
the cheesecloth, are you?

No. As a matter of fact, we've
chosen something very expensive.

Do you like it?

Well, of course, if you
have your heart set on it.

Well, it is a neutral shade,
and it does go with the rug.

I don't like to say
anything, hon,

but why don't you get a
new rug to go with the couch?

I mean, after all, hon, you're
the one that has to stay at home

and stare at these rugs all day.

I absolutely agree.

Shall I send out our
man with carpet samples?

Oh, it's not that bad.

If it gets too depressing,

I can always look at
the walls or the children.

As you know, I never interfere
in other people's affairs,

but I think you should do
something about that, too.

Exactly my
sentiments, Mrs. Wilgus.

You're going to make a great
deal of money on this deal.

My husband made a
financial investment.

The syndicate is behind it.

Naturally, we don't just
strew it around, young man.

I would be the
soul of discretion.

As long as you're coming
into a financial windfall,

why don't I go through
the rest of the house

and make suggestions
for improvement?

It's part of our service.

Good idea. I'll help.

We can't afford it.

Honey! It won't cost anything.

It's coming out of the profits.

Where shall we start?

We'll re-cover that chair
in the same material.

Good.

I think we should have
a beige rug... all wool.

Naturally.

And I'd like to see some
heavy textured velour

instead of those drapes, right?

Right.

Right.

We'll tear out the
mantel and replace it

with a Chinese modern
screen with marble facing.

I don't agree. I like limestone.

That might work.

What do you think, Mrs. Stone?

I like this one.

Honey, it will come
out of the profits.

Limestone.

Now, we'll take
this table and...

Oh, no, you're not
going to take this table.

My aunt gave it to us
as a wedding present.

That's very sentimental,
Mrs. Stone, but...

I'm keeping the table.

Well, Chinese modern

sometimes combines
very well with antiques.

Pardon me.

Isn't he wonderful?

Well, what do you think?

This room will have
to be done completely.

You mean nothing can be saved?

No.

I'll prepare some preliminary
sketches and cost estimates.

Don't stint.

We want everything to
be right, don't we, hon?

Well?

Shall we go
through the upstairs?

I've got some wonderful ideas.

Now, you've been very helpful,
but $300 tripled is only $900.

But, hon, you plow back
the $900, you get $2,700.

Then you plow back the $2,700.

Now, there is a wall upstairs

that is simply crying
to be demolished.

Wait until you see it.
And then the boy's room.

Oh, my dear!

3 times 7 is 21.

Carry the 2...

$8,100?

But don't you see, dear?

All you have to do is keep
plowing back the profit.

Mother, you know, if I get all
those new things for my room,

I'll have an incentive
for keeping it neat.

And, besides, I won
a great victory today.

I get to keep this table.

That must've been a battle.

And we can take the
table, move to another town,

and start a whole
new life around it.

Mom! Dad!

Mr. Wilgus is coming over,
and he's got a briefcase with him.

- Hey, maybe it's full of money.
- Now, let's stop the hysteria.

This whole deal may
blow up in our faces.

Hello, everybody!

Hi, Mr. Wilgus!

Just thought I'd come over
and break the good news to you.

Why don't you sit down before
you tell us the good news?

Thank you.

Now...

This is all very confidential.

You're among
friends, Mr. Wilgus.

I got a call today from
an Eastern financier.

Now, he tried to
play it cool with me,

but I saw right through him.

And he ended up by offering
me a big profit on our investment.

- How much?
- Children!

How much?

I can't tell you the
figure, but it was big.

Big.

Big? Well, let's take it.

Well, you can't
grab a profit and run.

If R.J. wants it, he
knows something.

Who's R.J.?

Big wheel.

Lots of spokes.

Oh, dear, he's absolutely right.

Why should we give
all the profits to R.J.?

Well, if you feel kind of
nervous about this, Doctor,

I'll be glad to buy
back your interest.

- No, Daddy, don't!
- You'd better not!

No, I'll stay with
it, Mr. Wilgus,

and thank you very much.

Don't thank me.

After what you did for my Celia.

How is Mrs. Wilgus feeling?

Oh, she's the
old... Celia again.

By the way, there's some
legal papers that need to be filed.

Now, your end of this
will come to about $20.

Oh, I shouldn't even
bother you with this at all.

Oh, no, I want to pay
my share, Mr. Wilgus.

Well, I'll send Jeff
over later with a check.

We're gonna come out even
better on this deal than I thought.

Oh, there's another thing.

Celia tells me that you're
going to redo the whole house.

Mrs. Wilgus was very helpful.

I'd hold on, if I were
you, for a little while.

You may want to buy a new one.

Yep! I'll keep you posted,
so good night, girls.

Bye, Mr. Wilgus!

I know the way. No,
no, I know the way.

- Bye!
- Goodbye!

Oh, dear, don't
worry about the $20.

- After all, if R.J. wants...
- Oh, I'm not worried.

I consider the $20
our first dividend.

Dear, I promised Mr. Alexander

that I would call today and
give him some kind of answer.

Yeah?

Dr. Stone speaking.

Oh, hello, Mr. Wilgus.

Yes?

Well, that's fine.

R.J. has raised his offer.

Don't sell.

Mr. Wilgus, I'll go along.

Yeah. What?

Yeah, sure.

I guess those
things are necessary.

Well, I'll send it over later.

Yeah.

Goodbye, Mr. Wilgus.

- Are we rich?
- We're close.

We need some new
surveys made on the land.

My end of it comes to $35.

Now, look, darling, I know we're
gonna get rich plowing it back,

but couldn't we just sell
out now and get our money?

Hon, and have our couch
covered with cheesecloth?

We won't be able to
face Mrs. Wilgus again

as long as we live.

I'd like that.

Now, Dad, all I'm asking you to
do is just double my allowance.

Now, look, will you all stop
counting our profits and relax?

Well, Daddy, Mr. Wilgus said

he was coming over
with some important news.

That could only mean one thing.

I could use an English
racer, an outboard motor.

Well, I figured out my
wardrobe for the next semester,

and it comes to $389.

Now, let's not get hysterical.

We'll just get a few
things for the house,

buy some clothes, and
put the rest in the bank.

No yacht?

Well, maybe a small one.

Good evening. Won't you come in?

Tell them.

Well, as you know, a certain
chain was gonna buy our property

to build a new department store.

Naturally, everybody else
would start building around there,

and the prices would
start to skyrocket.

We'd all be on easy street.

Yes?

The department store
is going to be built.

On the other side of town.

Oh, that's terrible.

What about R.J.?

R.J.?

He's buying into a
titanium mine in Nairobi!

Don't worry, now. If we
could wait for a few years...

A doctor saves my life,

and you let him in on a deal

that takes the food from
his children's mouths.

Oh, now, it's not all that bad.

Mr. Wilgus honestly was
trying to do me a favor.

We knew we were taking a chance.

Well, maybe in a few months.

You can't hit the
bull's-eye every time.

Wilbur, let us go.

I have a few
things to say to you,

and they are
strictly confidential.

I'm so sorry.

You save her life,
and she ruins ours.

I had three dresses picked out.

I'm sorry.

Why should you be sorry?
We all made the decision.

As a matter of fact, Mother,

you were the one who warned
us to be careful, remember, Jeff?

Well, sure. And
Dad talked you into it.

Oh, now, Donna, it isn't tragic.

I fell for the lure
of get-rich-quick.

How will I explain
it to Mr. Alexander?

Now, we've all learned a lesson.

Let's just do what we started
out to do... re-cover the couch.

But we can't afford it.

Oh, Mother, I think the
couch looks beautiful

just the way it is.

Me too.

Yes, it does look nice.

And, besides, it goes so well
with the rug and the drapes.

Maybe I'll just get a new table.

Dr. Stone!

Dr. Stone, come quickly!

It's Wilbur! I think
I've killed him!

He's just lying there!

- Get my bag!
- Get Daddy's bag!

He's stirring, Mrs. Wilgus.

Wilbur. Wilbur!

I didn't aim it at him.

I was just talking to him
with that golf club in my hand.

Now, just lie there
for a moment.

What hit me?

I did, darling.

Oh, thank heavens you brought
back my Wilbur to me, Dr. Stone.

Well, I'm so grateful
to you, Doctor.

I'll make it up to you.

I have a little piece of
property on 3rd Street.

$300.

You can't miss on
this one, Doctor.

I sure say!

Grow the community.

If you're short on cash... No,
get a mortgage on the house.

Get a mortgage!

Grow!