The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 2, Episode 11 - Jeff Joins a Club - full transcript

- Hi, Mom.
- Hi, honey.

You're out to break
the world's speed record

for apple eating, right?

No, Mom.

You see, I'm in a big rush.

I just managed to
shake my shadow

and I want to keep
him off my trail,

so I can get over to Pee Wee's
house for the FOOS tryout.

Well, I know it's ridiculous
of me not to understand,

but who or what is
the shadow you shook

and what is a FROOS Meeting?



Not FROOS, FOOS,
Friends of Outer Space.

F-O-O-S. Now, do you understand?

No, but at least I
can pronounce it.

Well, the FOOS is a secret club.

Pee Wee and Zack belong

and they're taking in
some new members.

They have a secret hideout

and secret meetings
and stuff like that.

Well, what about the shadow?

Well, that's Walter.

Walter Pearson? The new boy?

Yeah. He's always
tagging after me.

What a time I had
getting rid of him.

Jeff, you should be
more understanding.



I'm sure the only
reason Walter follows you

is that you're one of the few
people he knows here on Hilldale.

He's probably lonely.

You should have seen
me zigzagging home.

I cut across Madison's backyard,

and then, I went from
there in the alley behind...

behind Elm Street

and then went from there
across the launch by the movie,

- and then, I went to...
- You convinced me.

You went through a lot
of trouble to avoid Walter.

Well, I got to go now,
Mom, or I'll be late.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Hi, Walter.

Hi, Jeff.

I thought I'd go with
you to the FOOS tryout.

I didn't know he was coming.

Neither did I, but there he is.

It's an English racer.

Sure, I know.

I have one just like it.

You do?

Not exactly like yours.

Mine has better tires.

I thought I saw
you riding to school

on a beat-up old
truck of a bike.

Oh, well... That's my old one.

I have two.

The racer isn't here yet.

We don't have all our
stuff from home yet.

Yeah, sure.

We got two candidates
that would make this trip yet.

So, I'll try to set a pace
they can keep up with.

Pee Wee, you got the blindfolds?

Sure, right here, Zack.

All right. Bob, you
take care of this guy.

Pee Wee, you take care of him.

Now, hold on tight to
the man in front of you.

All right. Now, you
guys don't rush it.

It's kind of tricky.

All right. Go ahead.
Hey, watch it, Walt.

All right. Watch
your step in here.

It gets tricky.

Hey, watch out for low branches.

The woods are
kind of thick here.

Ow.

Hey, watch it, Jeff.

You're letting the branches
snap back in my face.

I can't help it. I
can't even see.

Hey, there. You
just did it again.

All right, you guys,
let's keep it quiet.

Keep calm. Follow me, you guys.

Watch your step.

Okay, take it easy.

What's the matter?

Well, I don't think we should
take the blind folds off for this.

It's dangerous.

Nothing doing.

A rule is a rule.

You think it's not dangerous
out there in outer space?

You can swim, can't you, Jeff?

Yeah, I... I can... swim.

And I know Walter can swim.

How do you know?

Well, you know that medal I won
in the swimming meet last year?

Well, Walter won one just
like it back in his hometown.

Only, it was gold,
right, Walter?

Yeah... yeah, but...

But what?

Well... well... My
mother will get mad

if I'd go swimming
with my clothes on.

You won't go swimming.

Not if you watch your step.

Yeah, we'll help you.

There's big rocks
you could step on.

I got you from rock to rock.

Come on, you guys.

Take it easy around here.

Step.

Hey, watch it. You
almost swim in the river.

I'm taking this blindfold off.

Come on, you're
practically on dry land.

You're almost there now.

We must be halfway to Chicago.

We're almost there.

Hey, watch out for
that big fish over there.

All right. There's another
deep part, step up.

Hey, that's awful deep.

Hey, it's slippery.

Keep coming.

Sit down, you
guys. Plenty of room.

Come on. Sit down.

Well, fellows, we're here.

Remove the blindfolds.

We are ready to begin.

The first business is
we've got two candidates,

two who want to become
Friends of Outer Space.

You all know Jeff.

- Sure.
- Yeah.

The other one is Walter.

He's new around here.

Now, the FOOS are
interested in rocket ships,

space platform,
and stuff like that.

And we're getting ready
for interplanetary travel.

I've got a giant-sized model
of a rocket ship at home.

Quiet.

New members just listen.

It's all yours.

Before a new member
can even be voted upon,

he got to take some tests.

You two willing to take tests?

The tests are all part of
getting ready for space travel.

They see if you can spend
long periods of time alone

with no one to talk to.

Hello, Jeff.

Jeff, I said hello.

You suppose you could
bring yourself to say hello?

Can't you say anything?

Oh, hi, dear.

Oh, hi, darling.

You're back just
in time for dinner.

I've been trying to get
Silent Sam here to say hello,

but he seems to have
lost the power of speech.

Oh, he's taking his
silence test, dear.

He hasn't spoken
a word for hours.

Honey, go upstairs
and get ready for dinner.

Our son, Jeff Stone,
hasn't spoken for hours?

Six hours of silence.

It ends at 8:25.

Silence test.

That's the best thing I've
heard of since penicillin.

How'd you trick him into it?

Oh, I didn't.

It's one of the
requirements for joining

the Friends of Outer Space,

you know, part
of the initiation.

And Jeff has been
quiet all this time?

Not a peep out of him.

It's the miracle
of the space age.

- Hi, Daddy.
- Hi, honey.

You know, it's kind
of creepy, isn't it?

I can't think of a better
way to describe it.

- Dinner in five minutes.
- Oh, fine.

This is one meal I hate to miss.

Well, now, what part of
the chicken would you like?

The back?

The neck.

Oh, the wings.

Yes. Well, here you are.

Alex, the garage
needs to be cleaned out.

It's a mess.

- It is?
- Uh-huh.

Well, it's mostly
Jeff's stuff in there.

Jeff, you'll clean the
garage now, won't you?

I guess that means yes.
Well, that takes care of that.

Jeff will clean out the garage.

Jeff, it was very nice of
you to take Walter with you

to the FOOS meeting today.

What's the matter?
Something hurt?

You don't like the chicken?

You don't like Walter?

Why don't you like him?

He's too fat?

Sounds like...

Uh... rope?

Pole?

Pole... C... Carry?

Drag?

Carry?

Drag?

Walter is a drag.

Oh... sounds like?

Carry, carry, drag.

Uh... flag?

Tag?

Brag?

Walter brags.

Jeff, it's just that
he's trying too hard.

I mean, when Walter feels
more comfortable around here,

well, he just won't
have to boast then.

You want the rolls
and the butter?

You know, I never would
have believed it possible.

He hasn't said a word,

but he's completely
dominated the conversation.

Yay! Yay!

Whoopee!

It's 8:25.

Well, I'm five minutes slow.

Dear, that garage
is still a mess.

- It is?
- Uh-huh.

Jeff, haven't you
taken care of that yet?

Well, gee, Dad.

There's as much stuff of
yours in there as there is mine.

But you promised last
night that you'd do it.

At least, you didn't say no.

I don't care who does
it. I just want it done.

You can start right after lunch.

You got the whole
afternoon ahead of you.

You ought to
accomplish quite a bit.

Well, Dad, I wanted
to talk to you about that.

Oh, this is going to be good.

Well, I was thinking that,
from a medical point of view,

maybe, I should
rest up this afternoon.

Rest? For what?

Well, it's part of
the FOOS initiation.

The all night survival test.

Dear, do you have
to stay up all night?

Couldn't you stay
up just until midnight?

When the FOOS say all
night, they mean all night.

This is my last test

and I don't want
to take a chance.

Dear, you don't think
a boy his age should

stay up all night
outdoors, do you?

Well, I wouldn't recommend
it as a regular practice,

but I wouldn't worry
about once sleepless night.

No school tomorrow,
you can sleep all day.

And I can rest
up this afternoon.

All right, but no
excuses next weekend.

That junk in the
garage has to go.

That's my last word.

Okay, Dad. It's a deal.

I don't care who does
it, but it'd better be done.

And that's my last word.

It's me, Jeff.

Oh, hi.

Hi, honey.

How's it going?

Oh, fine, swell.

Well, you know,
it's a funny thing.

I had trouble
sleeping and I thought,

maybe, you wouldn't
mind keeping me company.

I was lonely.

Oh, gosh, no. I don't
want you to be lonesome.

I'll talk to you.

Are you sure it won't
interfere with your survival test

or initiation or anything?

Oh, gosh, no. Stay
as long as you want.

Thank you, Jeff.
That's very nice of you.

- Hi, darling.
- Hi, dear.

Guess who I ran into
at the store just now?

- Who?
- Walter Pearson's mother.

She came over and
introduced herself to me.

She's a very nice person.

Well, I'm sure she is.

What did she have to say?

Well, I... I guess she just
wanted to talk to somebody.

She's awfully
worried about Walter.

Why? Because
Jeff doesn't like him?

Oh, I don't think
she knows that.

But... Well, she told me that
Walter had been turned down

by the FOOS.

Children can be so cruel.

And so can adults.

Yes but she... She tells me

that Walter is
absolutely heartbroken.

There's a very high rate of
recovery from broken hearts.

Well, honey, maybe, I could
get Jeff to talk to Zack and...

Hi, Mom. H, Dad.

- Hi, honey.
- Hi, Jeff.

Walter Pearson's
mother just told me

that he'd been turned
down by the FOOS.

What's the matter?

- Are you all right?
- What's wrong, Jeff?

The FOOS turned me down, too.

Now, Mary, I want
you to be nice to Jeff

when he comes down to breakfast

because he's very upset
about being turned down

by the FOOS.

Yeah, I will, Mama.

I tried to get him to drown
his sorrow in work like,

clearing out the garage.

I got nowhere.

- Good morning.
- Good morning, Jeff.

Mom, should I wear my
white sweater or my blue one?

Uh, well I like the blue one,

but either will look
very nice on you.

Well, I thought the white
one might look a little bit better.

Well, why don't
you wear it, then?

Anything that will
make you comfortable.

You know, some people in
this family have real problems.

Well, Jeff, but...

Oh, I'm sorry, Jeff.

I know you feel terrible about
being kicked out of the FOOS.

Aren't you going to eat?

I'm not hungry.

And I wasn't kicked
out of the FOOS.

They wouldn't even let me in.

Jeff, I just don't
understand it.

All these boys are supposed
to be friends of yours.

Now, why did they turn you down?

I don't know.

I guess they just don't consider
me good FOOS material.

Oh, nonsense.

Come in.

Hi, Pee Wee.

Hello, Mrs. Stone.

Hi, Pee Wee.

Hi, Doctor.

Can I talk to you
a minute, Jeff?

Well, sure. Excuse me.

Mother, maybe, the FOOS have
changed their mind about Jeff.

Oh, I certainly hope so.

About Walter, too.

You know, I think, I will
wear the blue sweater.

Oh, well, I'm sure you'll
look lovely in it, dear.

Gee, Jeff.

I'm sorry about the
FOOS turning you down.

Zach and me were outvoted
by the rest of the guys.

I'm not blaming you, Pee Wee.

I know it wasn't your fault.

It wasn't personal.

None of the FOOS have
anything against you.

They all like you.

Is that the reason
they turn me down?

Because they like me?

Gosh, no.

You know why
they did it, don't you?

Well, sure. They don't
want me in their club.

No.

Listen, Jeff.

I'm not supposed to reveal
anything that happens

in our secret meeting,
but you're my friend.

And this is the way it happened.

You know, while we calmly
sit here drinking coffee,

that conference between
Pee Wee and Jeff

may change the
future of the world.

You think they'll do
any worse with the world

than our generation did?

Not likely.

Well, you regained
your appetite, hmm?

Have the FOOS seen
the error of their ways?

Yeah, I'm in.

- Well...
- Jeff, that's wonderful.

- Congratulations.
- Thanks.

I'm so glad for Walter, too.

I didn't say anything
about Walter.

I said I'm in.

Then Walter isn't?

Well, he is the reason
they turned me down

in the first place.

They thought he
was a friend of mine,

but I told Pee Wee, he wasn't,

and now, they're going to
accept me into the FOOS.

Well, it's true. He's
not a friend of mine.

Well, I told you, I didn't
like him, remember?

Yes, I remember.

And you said yourself,

no one has the right to tell
you who your friends should be.

Do you think anyone
has the right to tell you

who your friends should not be?

Well, no one is doing that.

Oh, the FOOS are.

Well, nobody likes Walter.
He's always bragging.

Anything anyone
has, he's got it too,

only bigger and better.

Jeff, Walter hasn't any of those
things that he boasts of having.

I know. They're all back home

and they haven't
arrived yet. Who cares.

No, there isn't
anything at home.

You mean, he doesn't have
a bike and electric trains?

He has seven
brothers and sisters

and his father doesn't
make very much money.

What does he go
shooting off his mouth for?

Well, it may be that he
wants a bike and electric trains

and everything else so badly

that pretending he has
them makes him feel better.

Maybe, he figures that
if he convinces the boys

that he has all of these
things, they'll accept him.

Well, he figured it wrong.
It worked the other way.

Anyway, that's his problem.

What are you going to do?

He'll be over here
in a little while,

and when he comes, I'm
going to give it to him straight.

Walter, I'll tell him,

I don't want you hanging
around me anymore,

not at my house, not
at school, nowhere.

And Walter, that's
how you rate with me,

nowhere.

You're going to argue with me?

No, I'm not.

It's your decision, not ours.

I have a patient due about now.

I have lots of things
to do this morning.

Come on in, Walter.

Listen, Jeff.

I want to talk to you
about the FOOS.

That's just what I want
to talk to you about.

Have a seat.

I got it all figured out.

The reason they turned you
down was on account of me.

Who told you that?

Nobody told me.

I know these kids are
all buddies of yours

but they don't like me.

They turned you down
because you're a friend of mine.

Oh, that's just guess work.

But what other
reason could there be?

Well, I don't know.
Lots of reasons.

Jeff, I'm not coming
here anymore.

And I'll stay away
from you at school, too.

I just wanted you to know why.

So long, Jeff.

Well, hey, wait a minute.

Nobody has the right to tell
me who my friend should be

or shouldn't be.

- Hello, Walter.
- Hello, Mrs. Stone.

You want to get in
the FOOS, don't you?

Well, sure,

but I'm not going to let them
tell me who my friends are.

Well, what are you going to do?

Gee, I don't know.

Darn old FOOS.

Look, why don't you
start your own club?

Our own club?

Well, anything the
FOOS can do, you can do.

You think the two of us
could get a club started?

Well, sure. You can meet
right here at the house.

Hey, I got a name for it.

The Pioneers of Outer Space.

Great, the POOS.

- The POOS?
- Yeah, the POOS.

Hey, Jeff. How are
the POOS doing?

This is it. Just Walter and me.

Well, did you tell the FOOS
that you were starting a new club?

Yeah. They just laughed.

It's my fault.

They don't want to have
anything to do with me.

Don't you worry.
They'll show up.

Oh, sure.

They're having a meeting
of their own right now.

- Hey, where you going?
- Just out.

Hey, wait for me.

- Hi.
- Hi, Mrs. Stone.

Hi, Mrs. Stone.

Welcome to the first
meeting of the POOS.

Hotdogs?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

All right.

There we go.

What would you like on it?

- Mustard, please.
- Mustard?

All right.

- Lemonade.
- Yes, thanks.

Okay.

All right.

- Come on, fellows.
- Come on in.

Come on in.

Here, hotdog?

- Hi.
- Hi.

Say, what's this got
to do with outer space?

It's got a lot to do
with outer space.

You see, in space travel,

we have to have pills and
vitamins and stuff like that.

So, we got to enjoy this kind
of food while we're earthbound.

Yeah. I never thought that.

Everybody find a
place to sit down?

- Sure.
- Yeah.

Thanks, Mom.

Anybody like any more lemonade?

Yeah.

Are you going to a dance, dear?

No, I'm going to
clean out the garage.

Well, I thought Jeff is
going to do that for you.

Oh, I can't pin him down.

Besides, now that he's
president of the POOS,

he might think it
beneath his dignity.

Take a look, dear.

How did he ever manage that?

It's part of a test for
membership in the POOS.

How did he ever sell those
kids on a thing like that?

Well, it's not so farfetched.

After all, someone sold
him on six hours of silence.