The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 2, Episode 12 - The Punishment - full transcript

Do you want me to feel
that I can't trust either of you?

- But, Mom...
- No, but's.

- Oh, gosh, Mom.
- Gee, Mommy.

No gosh's or geez, either.

I told you I wanted
you home at 5 o'clock.

Mom, I couldn't come
home at 5 o'clock.

I didn't have the bus fare and
I had to walk from downtown.

You were supposed
to wait for Mary.

She had the bus fare.

I was only 20 minutes late,

and when I got
there, he was gone.



I waited an hour

and the policemen was
beginning to give me the fisheye.

You were only 20 minutes
late and Jeff waited an hour.

Now, what happened
to 40 minutes?

Well, maybe, I was a
half an hour late, Momma.

Well, the clock in
the jeweler's window

was always a little bit fast.

So, maybe, I waited a
little less than an hour.

Well, we're getting
a little closer.

Mary, why were you late?

Well, I was shopping
with Carol Donovan

and she was trying to
decide between two dresses.

That's fine.

In the meantime, your little
brother was walking home



in all that traffic.

And I was trying to tell
Carol that with her coloring,

a red dress would
be just all wrong.

Don't you agree, Momma?

Your taste is good,
but your timing is bad.

See?

And why didn't
you wait for Mary?

Well, I couldn't
stand there forever.

Yes, you could.

Now, this is the second
time this has happened.

Mary, you're going to stay
home for the whole weekend.

Oh, Momma, this
weekend is Carol's party.

You can't do this to me.

Serves you right.

Your little brother could
have been run over by a truck.

And the same goes for you, too.

But, Mom, I was supposed
to go fishing with Zack

and his father Sunday morning.

Now, well, I'll write
a note to the fish

- explaining your absence.
- Oh...

And you know how
this one thing upsets me.

I just have to make sure
that it doesn't happen again.

Oh, Momma, if you'll let
me go this one weekend,

I wash dishes for the
next four weeks, please.

And I'll watch her to
make sure she does it,

and if you let me go,

I'll be so good,
you won't believe it.

I'm sorry.

- Oh, Momma.
- Golly.

- Oh, hi, Dad.
- Daddy!

- Hi.
- Well...

Well, I can see you
haven't been swept up by

this tidal wave of love.

No, old husband.

Say, why don't you
two get ready for dinner,

and then afterwards,
we'll go somewhere,

maybe, a movie, huh?

- Oh, hey, great, come on, Mary.
- Sure, Daddy.

Can you explain this
sudden rush of affection

for dear old dad?

It's very simple.

They hate their old mom.

But darling, didn't know the
circumstances when I came in.

They rushed at me lovingly
and I merely responded.

You should have
suspected their motives.

You know, I've never
really trusted those children

from the day they were born.

Haven't you noticed
Mary shifty the eyes

and Jeff's curled lip?

Honey, a mother is with
her children all day long,

acting as a referee and
putting out brush fires and...

Well, then, big daddy
comes home at night,

and they adore him.

I want to be loved, too.

Honey, you don't think
they love you any the less

just because you
punish them, do you?

Well, no. But...

Oh, that whipped
dog look they give you.

All right.

Immediately, after
dinner, I'll go on record

as upholding the
sentence you've imposed

on those darling brats.

Well, couldn't you
do it before dinner?

No excitement before mealtime.

Well then, could
we eat in a hurry?

Now, you know what eating
quickly does to the system.

Well, we'll have a
calm leisurely dinner,

and then, you'll explode?

Darling, I promise you

the children will know
I'm backing you up 100%.

I'm going to find a movie
we haven't seen yet.

Find a murder mystery.

Those love stories make me sick.

- Excuse me.
- Just a minute, dear.

Sit down.

Your mother told me what
happened this afternoon.

You want to hear my
side of the story first?

Not especially. You're
a biased witness.

Daddy, it was more
my fault than Jeff's.

Darling, we're
not affixing guilt.

We're just trying to
discuss what mother

was forced to do this afternoon.

She really threw the book at us.

You know why?

Because kids can't fight back?

Jeff, would you like
to try for two weekends

confined to the house?

Not me, Dad. I'm no gambler.

Jeff, Daddy is trying
to explain something.

Thank you, dear.

Now, when a parent
punishes a child,

she still loves him,
sometimes, more.

Mom, could you
love me a little less

and let me go fishing Sunday?

Your father is in charge
of the proceedings here.

I completely agree with
your mother's decision.

And she's got a lot
of responsibilities,

taking care of the
house, the meals,

the volunteer work
she does at the hospital.

She's only human.

Then, if she gets a
little irritated or upset

because Jeff might get hurt,

then we have to
understand her position.

Is that clear?

Of course, Daddy.

I suppose so.

All right.

And remember, I'm
behind your mother

even when you think she's
being unfair or too severe.

Oh, thank you, Daddy.

You're okay with me, Dad.

Well?

You were marvelous.

Well, after all, children
are my profession.

If mother gets
upset or is irritated,

just be understanding.

You know how
neurotic mothers are.

Honey, I didn't say that.

I told them I completely
agreed with your judgment.

Now, what did I do wrong?

Nothing, nothing.

You're still the hero
and I'm still the villain.

- Hi, darling.
- Hello, dear.

How things go at the hospital?

Well, nothing serious.

How were the kids today?

I didn't yell at them once.

Well, that's something new.

They were perfect?

I wouldn't say that.

Now, don't be mysterious.

I want to know whether
to return their love

when they come in or kick them.

I would say that's
entirely up to you.

Up to me? What are
you talking about?

I didn't scold or punish
the children all day.

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

But that doesn't mean
they were perfect angels.

Darling, I'm sure you'll get
to the point sooner or later.

Every time Mary
and Jeff misbehaved,

I ignored them.

Go on.

Instead, I kept a list
of all things they did.

And the purpose for all this is?

You can be the
parent who disciplines

and I can be the
one who is loved.

Oh, I see the madness
in your method.

- They argued all day.
- That's right.

- What about?
- Nothing.

Noth... oh, people don't
argue about just nothing.

Oh, Mary and Jeff do.
They're very imaginative.

Mary?

Yes, Daddy?

Would you get Jeff

and come in here
for a minute, please?

Yes, Daddy.

When they start passing me
on the street without speaking,

will you say a good word for me?

I'll remind them of what a
wonderful father you were

until today.

Hurry up, Jeff.

I'm coming.

- Daddy, hi.
- Hi, Dad.

All right, all right. I
want to talk to you two.

Sit down.

Alex, I think...

Donna, you're always
protecting them,

now, let me handle this, please.

Mary, why didn't
you make your bed

before you went to school today?

I did, Daddy.

I mean, Jeff.

Why didn't you make your bed?

Gosh, Dad, I was
almost late as it was.

Well, then, get up earlier.

Mary, why didn't you
hang up your clothes

when you got home?

Oh, I'm sorry, Daddy. I forgot.

Well, the least you could
do is have a good excuse.

Next.

As for you, young man...

I didn't rake the leaves.

Oh... Well... I
suppose you forgot?

No, something came up.

What?

That I forgot.

And why were you
two scrapping all day?

- Me scrapping with Mary?
- Oh, it happens.

You've been getting
away with murder.

Well, I'm taking over the
discipline around here.

Now, go get washed.
We'll discuss it later.

- Okay.
- Yes, Daddy.

And remember,

a parent never disciplines
a child for revenge

or because he's bigger.

Oh, we understand, Daddy.

I know you never get angry
unless there's a good reason.

Sure, Dad. You couldn't help it.

Mom gave you a list.

That's just fine.

You're still a hero,
and now, I'm a squealer.

Honey, what did I do wrong?

Oh, Daddy can do no wrong.
They knew I gave you a list.

Oh, what other way is there?

I can't come in
at night swinging.

I might catch them
on a good day.

There's very little
chance of that happening.

All I know is I can't come in
every night and punish them

for what they've
done during the day.

Well, all I know is that I
am not going to punish them

all day long so that
you can come home

at night and be
adored at my expense.

Well, you can't function
without law and order.

You want to turn this into
a lawless pioneer town?

Why not?

I've often wondered what it
was like living in Dodge City.

Honey, may I borrow
some hairclips?

Of course, Mother.

Honey, why don't
you wear this dress?

It's so pretty.

Well, I was going
to wear it to...

I will wear it, Mother.

All right. Thank you
for the clips, dear.

Sure.

No, I... Look, I know, Zack,

but I can't go
fishing and that's it.

Dear, Jeff is going
to drop that vase.

Probably.

You might tell
him to put it down.

Oh, if I do, he'll think
you informed me on him.

That's true.

I know it's cruel, Zack,
but I probably deserved it.

Look, Zack, I can't...

I'll call you later.

I... I broke this.

I thought I heard
a shattering noise.

- Didn't you, dear?
- Yeah.

I thought it was lightning.

Well, I'll pay for it
out of my allowance.

Did you cut your hand, dear?

No damage.

I don't think you understand.

I was tossing it and it dropped.

Well, what goes up must
come down, you know.

That's Newton's
law or something.

I think Newton
did it with apples.

Jeff, what is the matter?
They've been like that for days.

I know.

What will we do? It's scary.

I'm leaving now.

I think I'll wait and get
a ride home with Daddy.

Is there something we can
do while you're gone, Mother?

- Like what?
- Like getting off the hook.

Well, like getting
off what hook?

I'll rake the leaves.

Oh, if you feel like it.

- Bye, dear.
- Goodbye, Mom.

- Goodbye, Mommy.
- Goodbye honey.

I don't get it.

Me either.

I mean, when
parents are that sweet,

I start worrying.

Something's got to give.

I know. It's kind of like
the warm desert breeze

before the sandstorm.

These days, when I
goof off, nothing happens.

What's wrong with them?

I don't know, Jeff. It's
worse than being punished.

Maybe, they don't love us.

You mean, they're being nice
to us because they don't love us?

Well, Jeff, remember
what Daddy said about

punishment being love?

Yeah.

Well, I... I guess we've
pushed them too far.

They just don't care anymore.

You know, Jeff, they've
lost the will to shout at us.

Well, there must be
something we could do

that will get them sore again.

There must be something
we can do to let them know

how terrible we feel.

Why don't I go downtown and
walk home in all that traffic again?

That's what started it all.

Hey, Jeff. Come with me.

Where?

Well, Mother will be at the
hospital gift shop all afternoon,

and we can straighten
out all the drawers

and clean out the closets
and then go upstairs to the attic.

What for?

Well, Jeff. We're fighting
to win back their love.

Come on.

Okay.

But why do you have to
do everything the hard way?

Thank you very much.

Now, how about some
chocolate-covered mints?

I can't eat chocolates.
They don't agree with me.

Oh.

Maraschino cherries?

Oh, yes.

I haven't had any of
those since I was a little girl.

All right. Let's see.

That will be $2 and
10 cents with tax.

$2 and 25.

Uh-huh. Thank you.

Dr. Dorsey, 218.

Dr. Dorsey 218...

I'm sure, you'll enjoy these.

Oh, they're not for me.

Dr. Martin...

They're for my sister-in-law.
I'm just visiting her.

Oh.

Well, I hope your sister-in-law
gets out of the hospital soon.

Thank you.

There's really
nothing wrong with her.

Personally, I think my
brother pampers her too much.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

Oh, may I help you, sir?

Yes, Miss. I think you can.

Dr. Martin...

There's some lovely
things in the shop.

Yes, now, he's
going to be charming

and complimentary.

Could you suggest a
gift for a woman about...

Is she patient?

Well, she's in the hospital.

Oh, nothing serious, I hope.

Oh, not really.

It seems she has a
inflamed disposition.

Bad temper, I
think you'd call it.

He has such a
keen sense of humor.

I beg your pardon?

Was this attack sudden?

Quite acute.

It seems she felt she
was bearing the brunt

of a certain emotional
responsibility

and a very sad case.

I suppose her husband
has been very understanding

through the whole thing?

Oh, yes.

Her husband happens to
be the soul of understanding.

I'll bet.

Now, darling, look.

When two people were in
a temperamental deadlock

and they each feel the other is
wrong unless someone tries to...

Hey, I'm a father. I'm a father.

Oh, congratulations. What is it?

Oh, a girl. A little girl.

She's so pretty.

Oh, I'm sure she is beautiful.

How's your wife?

Well, she's fine.
Everything is just fine.

You know what Mildred said
when they wheeled her out,

she said,

"Leo, you're not disappointed
because it's not a boy, are you?"

Can you imagine that,
after all she went through

and she was worried
about me being unhappy?

She sounds like
a wonderful girl.

She's an angel, a perfect angel.

Well, excuse me.

I got a million calls, but
I had to tell somebody.

- I just had to, you know.
- I'm glad you did.

- Oh, have a cigar, sir.
- Oh, thank you.

It's a little girl.

A little girl.

Congratulations.

Oh, we became friends
while he was pacing.

I bet he bought five
packs of cigarettes.

You look silly.

Well, I rather fancy
myself as looking like a

captain of a clipper ship.

Darling, look, why don't
we have dinner out tonight

and break the deadlock?

Well, thank you, honey.

I'll call the children
and tell them...

No, no, no, just the two of us.

We'll get acquainted.

It sounds intriguing.

But dear, there's very
little food in the house.

What will the children do?

There's water. They'll survive.

Thank you, honey,
but some other time.

We've been pretty hard
on the kids the last few days.

Hard?

They've been getting away
with murder while we smile.

But it isn't a smile of love.

They looked
bewildered when I left.

Honey, they like pizza.

Why don't we get some and
take it home for dinner, huh?

Now, don't go
dissolving into tears

and rushing into their
arms begging forgiveness.

Oh, not me.

They still have to stay
home the whole weekend.

- Honey, do you think...
- No, I don't.

Now, call me when
you're off duty, huh?

And when we get
home to the natives,

be friendly but firm.

Firm.

White hunter.

I hope the pizza is still warm.

Warm, we can put it in the
fireplace and heat the house.

Well, Mary could have
set the table for dinner.

Well, darling, they
didn't know exactly when

we were going to be home.

The table looks lovely.

Thank you, Mother.

- Mother, you can sit there.
- Oh. All right.

- And Daddy right next to mother.
- All right, thank you.

Here you go, Mom.

Oh? Thank you.

- Here you go, Dad.
- Thank you, Jeff.

- Parsley?
- I thought of that.

Oh.

Hmm. It gives the
juice a nice tang.

I don't want to seem ungracious,
but what's the occasion?

Well, Daddy, can't we just do
something nice once in a while?

Of course, but you'd
better have a good excuse.

Honey, you often do nice things.

It's just that...

Well, you mean that
when we do nice things,

no one sits us down and says,

"I want to talk to you.
You did something nice."

- Well, Alex, I think we
ought to start doing that.
- Yeah.

I'll keep a list of all
the nice things you do.

Then, if we do three good
things and three not so good,

we'd be even.

Now, let's not start a
bookkeeping system.

Jeff, go get the
order, then the...

"Jeff get." This has
been going on all day.

Mary, have you been
browbeating that boy?

Oh, no, Daddy.

He's been very
sweet and cooperative.

Here you go, Mom.

- Oh.
- Well.

Thank you.

- Here you go, Dad.
- Thank you, Jeff.

Hmm.

Daddy?

- What's this?
- Oh.

- This is for you, Mom.
- Thank you, honey.

- Oh, Jeff.
- This is certainly is an occasion.

The pin will stick you.

Well, it's beautiful, Jeff.

Hmm...

I paid for the flowers out
of my newspaper money.

Oh, Jeff.

Well, when I do something
nice, why should it be a secret?

Of course not. It's very
sweet of you, honey.

I'll shout it to the world.

I'll take a full page ad
in the medical journal.

Mary paid for the
food out of her savings,

and you know how stingy she is.

Now, Mary is not
stingy. She's just thrifty.

Can we eat now?

Well, anything you
say. You're the host.

Jeff, help me serve the food.

You say anything
snide, I'll slug you.

Who me?

Just give me back
the handkerchief.

I'm in need of it myself.

Still thinking about
that touching dinner?

Wasn't it beautiful?

To think they use
their own money.

I'll bet that's the
last act of sacrifice

we get from them in years.

Alex?

Darling, you're going to ask
me if there's any way we can let

the kids off the hook
for the weekend?

No, I'm not.

- Is there?
- No.

If we do, what do they learn?

That we rave and
rant and then relent.

Could we delay the
punishment a week?

Oh, fine, then discipline
becomes something they can serve

at their own convenience.

Well, in England,

they used to let people
go off to debtor's prison

at their own convenience.

And in some countries, they
cut off a hand for stealing.

You're not being much help.

We couldn't just
pretend we forgot?

No, no.

Oh, Alex, think.

I'm for letting the
discipline stand.

But you think of
face-saving device,

I'm on your side.

Come in.

- Goodnight, Mommy.
- Goodnight, Daddy.

- Goodnight, sweetheart.
- Goodnight, Jeff.

- Goodnight, Mom.
- Goodnight, Daddy.

Goodnight, honey.

All right. Off to bed, will you?

About this weekend?

Yeah, Mom? What about it?

Well, I hope you'll understand,
but you still have to stay home.

Well, of course, we're
disappointed, Mother,

but I guess we understand.

Not me. I'm still
hoping for a pardon.

The warden will be
waiting at his telephone.

You see, if we rescind
your punishment,

then the next time, it will
just be an empty threat

and continuous threats
are worse than discipline.

I'm sorry.

Well, gee, Mom, if you're
going to be unhappy

and we're going to be unhappy,
there must be a way out.

I'm afraid not.

Well, couldn't we stay
home the next weekend

when we're not doing anything?

The Supreme Court
just threw that out.

Momma, I know you
don't want to punish us,

but well, I guess you have to.

Sure, Mom. Don't worry about it.

It may even be good for us.

Come on, Mary.

- Goodnight, Momma.
- Goodnight.

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight, Daddy.

Jeff, Mary.

Yes, Daddy?

Now, as far as I'm concerned,
the punishment still stands,

but according to the newspaper,

there's a maharaja
visiting at West Point.

And as the visiting
head of a foreign state,

he's permitted to
rescind punishment

imposed on the cadets.

And it's called
granting amnesty.

Thank you, dear.

Now, Hilldale is a part
of the United States...

And we want to be
courteous to visitors.

So, interpreting this
custom very loosely...

Why don't we consider
that the maharaja

has rescinded your punishment.

- Oh...
- Great!

- Daddy, I love you...
- I love you...

- I love you.
- I can hardly wait to get...

Thanks, Mom.

Oh, thank you, Momma. Thank you.

Don't thank me.
Thank the maharaja.