The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 1, Episode 6 - The Foundling - full transcript

Ladies and gentlemen, I have
an announcement to make.

Today Kathleen comes to clean.

Now, after she's
straightened everything up,

don't you undo
everything she's done.

Are you listening to me, Mary?

Yes, Mother.

Jeff?

Oh, I'm listening.

Alex?

Yes, dear?

Oh, Kathleen.



Alex, I don't think you should
tease her the way you do.

- Who? Me?
- Yes. About her boyfriends.

When she says she hasn't
any, she may be telling the truth.

She knows I'm joking. I
just like to see her blush.

Well, deprive yourself
of that pleasure.

We don't want to lose her.

If you must tease,
tease somebody else.

Yeah, why don't you
tease Mommy, Daddy?

Sure. I can always
get another wife.

You better be careful, Pop.

Mom works for nothing.
You have to pay Kathleen.

Good thinking.

Darling, would you ask her
to start with my waiting room?

I've got customers
coming in half an hour.



- All right.
- See you later, kids.

Bye, Dad.

Hey, you took all the milk.

Well, there was barely
enough for one person, Jeff.

Well, I can't eat
cereal without milk.

I'll strangle to death!

Jeff, will you stop yelling?

Milkman's probably here by now.

Mary, would you go
outside and check?

Well, why me, Mother?

'Cause you hogged
it all. That's why.

Hurry up, or I'll
be late for school!

Calm yourself, Jeff. If
you're late, I'll drive you.

Mother, come here, quick!

What is it?

What in the world?

Well, whose is it?

Where did it come from?

Oh, I don't know.
But isn't he darling?

Well, we can't leave him here.

Oh, Mary. Go call
your daddy. Quick.

Let me for just a minute.

Oh, you poor darling.
Are you frightened?

Here. Let me have him.

It's been so long since
I've had one of my own.

I've never had one.

Mary, go get your daddy.
Quick. And bring in the basket.

Jeff, look what we found.

Well, what do you know?

Whose is it?

I haven't the faintest idea.

He was just out there.
Here, Mother. Sit down.

- Thank you.
- What do you know?

Hey, where's the milk?

How callous can you get,
Jeff? The milk hasn't arrived yet.

Mom, I'm gonna
be late for school.

All right, Jeff. Then run along.

Mary, do as I tell you.
Go get your father.

Mom, you promised
you'd drive me.

Well, I can't now,
Jeff. So run along.

Do realize what I've had
for breakfast this morning?

One piece of toast
and some prunes.

Well, then, fix yourself
another piece of toast.

Mom, I'm a growing boy.

And you're no baby. So
you can fix your own toast.

This place is going to pot.

You can't even get a
decent breakfast anymore.

- Hi, Kathleen.
- Good morning, Jeff.

Tie your shoelaces.

I can't. I'm late.

Good morning, Mrs. Stone.

Good morning, Kathleen.

Come and see what we found.

Glory be to...

Found it, you said?

Yes, at the back
door in that basket.

For the love of...

Now, who would be after
leaving a baby on a doorstep?

That's what I'd like to know.

Isn't he sweet?

He's a little darling. May I?

Yes.

- Come here.
- There you go.

Would you look at him?

Are there any
diapers in the house?

The doctor has
some in his office.

Give him to me.

Come on, honey.
Yes. We'll fix you up.

Yes. Come on, darling.

He's a good boy.

Pretty brown eyes.

Isn't he sweet?

- Mother.
- Yes?

Mother, Daddy's just
finishing up with a patient.

He'll be here in just a minute.

Hi, Kathleen. What do
you think of our baby?

He's the sweetest
little thing I ever saw.

Darling, we need
some more diapers.

Right away, Mother.

I don't understand it.

How could a mother
give up her baby?

Mrs. Stone, look.

There's a note or something.

"Dear, Mrs. Stone,
his name is Willie.

He's a good boy
and hardly ever cries.

Please love him and
take care of him for me.

God bless you."

Poor, sweet, little thing.

Sure 'tis a heart of gold
you have, Mrs. Stone.

Are you part Irish,
by any chance?

What's this?

A baby.

I recognize the species. Common.

Willie. That's a darling name.

Wee Willie.

'Tis a darling name.

Alex, I think we still have
Jeff's crib up in the attic.

Whoa. Wait a minute.

Would you please lay
out one of those dry ones?

Why, sure.

Not that way.
Three-cornered like.

That's the way we do it now.

Excuse me, Doctor, but I
reared three small brothers,

and I never saw it
done that way before.

It's the new look.

But you do it your
way. It won't kill him.

Of course, when he sees
what the other fellas are wearing.

Alex, how are we
going to find the mother?

Darling, that's not up to us.

Can't we keep him, Daddy?

Of course not.

Well, the people who left
him must not have wanted him,

so why can't we keep him?

Honey, a baby isn't in the
same category as a stray cat.

Daddy's right.

What a baby needs
most is its mother.

That's why we've
got to find her.

Darling, that's not our job.
Our job is to notify the police.

The police?

Certainly.

What is he? A criminal?

Surely, you're not
gonna get the little tyke

mixed up with the police.

Well, what would the police do?

They'd send him
to the county home.

You're not going to
send him to the asylum.

It's not an asylum. It's a
home and a very good one.

Alex, listen, please.

Whoever the mother
is, she knows us.

She was probably
desperate or panicky.

I don't know.

But before the day's over,
she'll phone or come running in.

Darling, the law requires
us to call the police.

It's bad enough
it's my own father.

But, well, how can a
baby doctor be so cruel?

Honey, will you go to school?

I'm trying to run a practice
here, not an orphanage.

Goodbye, Mother.

Bye, Mary.

Now, either you call
the police, or I will.

All right. I'll call the police.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Come on.

We're gonna put
you in your crib.

Yeah. Yes.

Here we go.

There.

Sergeant?

Sergeant, please,
you misunderstand.

I'm not trying to tell you
how to run your business.

I'm just telling you
what you ought to do.

Yes. Mrs. Stone.

My husband's a pediatrician,

so, you see, we do know
something about babies.

Now, what this child
needs most is its mother.

So you get busy
and locate the mother,

and we'll keep the child until
we... till we hear from you.

Donna.

Bye.

That must be the
milkman. Excuse me.

- High time you arrived.
- What's the matter, sister?

Tony, thank heaven
you finally got here.

- Hiya, Doc.
- Good morning, Tony.

Hey.

Well, what do you got there?

Look what we found.

- You found him?
- Yes. At the back doorstep.

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle.

Just like Moses in
the bulrushes, huh?

Well, you sure are
lucky, Mrs. Stone.

Most people go through all
kinds of trouble to have a baby.

Right, Doc?

And here you got
one for nothing.

You're gonna need more
milk with this kid around, right?

You can leave a couple of
extra quarts from now on.

- From now what?
- We got new A1 certified milk.

- Have you heard about it?
- Yes.

This milk... The company's
just putting it on the market.

This milk is so...
God bless you, son.

They're just putting
it on the market.

This milk is so special.

This is not milk
from ordinary cows.

These cows are
selected, Mrs. Stone.

The bad ones are weeded out.

If they don't make the grade...
Off to the slaughterhouse.

That's right.

They got these cows living
in special accommodations.

They don't even
touch the ground.

That's how clean they are.

These cows live so
strict, Doc, so strict.

Well, I wouldn't want to be
one of these cows, I tell you that.

Tony, will you listen to me?

He's only thinking
about the baby.

- Kathleen, would you?
- Yes, ma'am.

Doc, you know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna leave you a
couple of extra quarts

of this A1 special
certified milk.

And I guarantee you'll be
delighted once you try it.

And it's not gonna
cost you a cent, Doc.

It's gonna be compliments of me.

Thank you, Tony.

You don't have to
thank me, Mrs. Stone.

Wait till you get
a taste of this.

You're gonna love it.
You'll be hollering for more.

Will you leave the milk, and
we can discuss it all later?

I'll get the milk.

- Mrs. Stone.
- Yes?

There's a policeman outside.

A policeman?

He's come about the baby.

Here, Kathleen.

Yes?

Good morning. I'm
Officer O'Connor.

- Are you Mrs. Stone?
- Yes, I am.

There was a radio
call to pick up a baby.

But I didn't ask to
have a baby picked up.

I explained the whole
thing to your sergeant.

Now, Donna...

Why aren't you
looking for the mother?

Instead of picking on a baby.

Will you calm down?

The officer is just
doing his duty.

Did you bring your
handcuffs and your tear gas?

This kid looks pretty
tough, you know?

All I know is, the radio
says, "Pick up a baby."

Do you believe everything
you hear on a radio?

That's telling him, Kathleen.

Now, listen, you two.

What part of Ireland
do you come from?

Some part where
they don't have babies.

Well, now, there's no call
to be bringing politics into it.

You ought to be
ashamed of yourself.

Why aren't you out
chasing burglars?

Tony, Kathleen, be quiet!

Alex, you don't have to
shout. We can hear you.

Now, can't we settle
this calmly and rationally?

The officer and I are the only
rational people in this house.

That's the truth.

- Poor little baby.
- Kathleen, you go to work.

If I hear another
word out of you,

we'll switch to
another milk company.

Alex, I've never
seen you like this.

That's because I've never been
driven out of my mind before.

All right. I'm not going
to argue anymore.

If you want to turn a
poor, defenseless baby

over to an orphanage...

go ahead.

Don't consider the
poor mother's feelings.

Just turn him
over to the police.

Officer, would you just
leave the child in my custody

for the time being until
you find the mother?

With the greatest of pleasure.

God bless you, Doctor.

You know, you may seem
a bit hard on the outside,

but I know you're a
good, decent man.

Well, he didn't fool
me for a minute.

No, sirree.

Anybody married to Mrs.
Stone, he's got to be okay.

Let's get some of that fine
milk you were talking about.

A1 certified milk.

You know, those cows, they
look into their whole pedigree.

That's for being a
good, decent man.

Now, I warn you,

if that mother isn't found,
if she doesn't phone...

I know.

Off to the slaughterhouse.

Mom, I'm home!

Jeff, be quiet.

That's a nice welcome.

Makes you feel good all over.

"Mom, I'm home."

"Jeff, be quiet."

Turn that off, stupid, or
you're gonna wake Willie up.

Willie? Who's Willie?

The baby.

Is he still here?

Yes, and turn it off, or
you're gonna wake him up.

Well, good. Maybe he'll
take the hint and clear out.

Did you get that milk from
the bottle with the orange cap?

Yeah. Why?

Well, put it back.
It belongs to Willie.

Don't I have any
rights around here?

No. Go put it back.

Who asked him to
come here, anyway?

Go on.

Don't I have enough
troubles already?

Mother, did Jeff wake Willie up?

I'm afraid he did.
But it's all right.

The baby's laughing and playing.

Oh, Mother, can't I stay
home and take care of him?

Do I have to go to
that ballet lesson?

Yes, you do. Go on upstairs
and get your things together.

Okay, but don't let
Jeff get near Willie.

Where's Kathleen?

- Upstairs with...
- With the baby.

Honey, she hasn't done a lick
of work since she's been here.

All she's done is
moon over that baby.

Now, my waiting room is a mess.

Kathleen, if it wouldn't
be asking too much,

do you suppose you could...

Yes, Doctor. I'll be
back in a minute.

- Kathleen.
- Yes, ma'am?

Give me the baby.

You go get the bottle and
then start with the cleaning.

- All right.
- Take this.

He had his bath in that.

You sweet little angel.

Somewhere your mother
is crying her eyes out,

torn between love
and what's best for you.

Here we are. Now.

Good. He's hungry.

The little darling.

About how old do
you think Willie is?

Oh, between 10
and 11 months. Why?

I'm going to check
the birth records.

You're gonna check...

Do you have any idea how
many babies are born in a month?

Well, there can't be too many
Williams born in one month.

Yeah, but what good is
William without a last name?

That's why I've got
to find his mother.

Jeff?

Jeff, would you come
here a minute, please?

Yeah?

Honey, I have to take
Mary to her ballet lesson.

Now, Kathleen and
Daddy are going to be busy,

so I'm going to
put Willie in his crib,

and I want you to keep an
eye on him for me, all right?

And if he cries, all you
have to do is call Kathleen.

But Howie's outside.

Well, ask him to come in.

Do you think I want him to
know I take care of babies?

Your father does
it all the time.

And he gets paid for it too.

I also paid to learn how.

You're getting
experience for nothing.

Mary?

Mary, are you ready?

I'm coming, Mother.

Good.

Thanks, Jeff.

Howie, I can't come
out. I got to do homework.

How would you like a
punch in the nose, huh?

Hey, what's the matter with
you? Are you a nervous wreck?

Can't you hold still?

Oh, you're gonna
rassle with me, huh?

Well, first, you got to sit up.

Come on, sit up, will you?

Oh, boy.

You got pretty strong muscles.

Couple years, you might
be able to chin yourself.

Hey, roll over now.

Ready? Come on. Roll over.

Roll over.

Thataboy.

Now, come on. Crawl
right to me. Crawl right here.

Come on.

Hey, you're pretty good.

Everything under control?

This kid's pretty smart.

Watch what he can do.

He's pretty good.
Was I that smart?

Sure you were.

Of course, you've
lost it all now.

If I had a lot of time, I could
teach him a lot of tricks.

It would be kind of fun having
a baby around the house.

Oh, brother. You too?

"William Benson."

Amazing.

This was certainly a
good month for Williams.

You got about 50 names there.

What happens now?

One of these lucky mothers
is going to get a baby.

Michael Cholden.

Gail Morgan.

Guglielmo Ferrucci.

Ferrucci.

Who do I know named Ferrucci?

Anthony Burke.

Eric Stern.

Guglielmo Ferrucci.

Guglielmo. Isn't that...

Italian for "William."

Anybody home?

Mrs. Stone.

Did you... Did you come
to see me about something?

I came to find out what
kind of people you are...

You and your wife.

Mrs. Stone, I haven't any wife.

What?

I had a wife, but she died.

I'm sorry.

That's no reason
to abandon a baby.

That's no excuse to take...

Mrs. Stone, I'm not
looking for excuses.

I was looking for help.

I thought you were the
kind of woman that...

That's my wife, Mrs. Stone.

She died five months ago.

The last thing she said
to me before she died...

She said, "Take
good care of Willie."

Then how could you
pack him in a basket

and leave him on some
stranger's doorstep?

What was I gonna do?

Tell me, Mrs. Stone.
What was I gonna do?

Look, 4:00 in the morning, I
got to be out with the truck.

Now, you can't get anybody
to take care of a little baby

at 4:00 in the morning,
for love or money.

Love I got.

I tried leaving him with a
woman down the street for a while,

but it didn't work out.

I'm going crazy.

What was I gonna do?

Turn him over to some place

where they look him
up in a card index?

I got to know this
kid is taken care of.

That's why I thought
of you and the doc.

I see your kids so happy
and the love you give them.

And I see the way
the doc looks at you

when he thinks
nobody's watching.

You know, a milkman,
he gets to know

his customers' homes
pretty well, Mrs. Stone.

I know you've got a happy home.

So I even figured I'd get
to see Willie every morning

when I delivered the milk.

So I said to myself... I said...

I said, "If you got to pick
somebody to love your baby

and take care of him, and if it
can't be me, it would be you."

Thank you.

But that's still no reason
to abandon a baby.

No.

I guess I did the
wrong thing, Mrs. Stone.

I'm sure sorry.

I'll come and get the baby.

No. Now, just wait.

Why don't you leave him with us
until we can think of something?

I'd sure be
grateful, Mrs. Stone.

Now do you see why I abandoned
little Guglielmo with you?

Well, would you like
to see him today?

Why don't you
come by about 5:30?

We give him his bath then.

I'll be there.

Mrs. Stone.

And one thing I want
you to get straight.

His milk and his clothes,
everything... That's all on me.

And you know what?

I'm gonna bring you
a present, Mrs. Stone.

Something you'll really
like... Some cheese.

Cheese?

It's a new product the
company's pushing.

This cheese is terrific. It's
got vitamins and proteins.

You name it, and
this cheese has got it.

Cut it out, Mrs. Stone.

I see a woman cry,
and I go all to pieces.

What are you crying about?

I don't know.

I guess it's just
that I like cheese.

Alex, if you could have only
seen the look on his face.

I know you'd have
done the same thing.

Anyway, it's only temporary
till we find some solution.

What solution? Name one.

I don't know.

Suppose he finds a
nice girl and gets married.

Honey, we're already
running an adoption agency.

Let's not start a
matrimonial bureau.

I had no such thought.

Hello, Tony.

- Hello, Doc.
- Hi, Tony.

Mrs. Stone.

The cheese.

Thank you, Tony.

You're just in time.

We're holding his
royal bath in the kitchen

because there's more room
for his audience out there.

Will you look at that?

Hey, Guglielmo.
How's it going, huh?

Boy, he sure is
having a good time.

Kathleen's just
wonderful with him.

He adores her.

You do that like you
handled kids before.

She has. Plenty.

Have you got a few of your own?

- I'm not married.
- Is it a crime to be married?

Here, hold him. He's yours.

Hey, Guglielmo.

What way is that to
be holding a baby?

Are you trying to tell me
how to hold my own baby?

Kathleen holds him
like a mother should.

You hold him like he
was a sack of potatoes.

Supposing I was to hold you
like that, how would you like it?

Can't really tell till we tried.

A bit on the fresh
side, aren't you?

Sure. Any objections?

Hey, Guglielmo.

Well, see if you can hold him

without dropping
him all over the place.

And dry him off before
he catches his death.

Well, you give orders
like my old Army sergeant.

Mother, I just had
a nice inspiration.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if
Kathleen and Tony got married?

Sure. They've already
started to scrap.

Well, honey, they
hardly know each other.

Well, they both love Willie.
Isn't that a good enough start?

I'd never given it a thought.

Well, why don't we just
let nature take its course?

Yeah, let's.

Mother Nature will work it
out in her own mysterious way.