The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 2, Episode 16 - The Broken Spirit - full transcript

That boy.

Jeff! Jeff!

Jeff!

Mother, is Jeff down there?

I'm looking for him myself.

I just found the elephant
secret burial ground.

Mother, he borrowed my
new pen without asking me,

and now, it's ruined.

Oh, I'm going to get him.

No need for violence, dear.

And besides, I have priority.



Jeff! Jeff!

Care to join the posse?

I have told that boy
a thousand times

to leave my golf clubs alone.

I ran over it in the driveway.

Under the cushion.

Daddy, I just got this pen
and that boy is destructive.

If I get my hands on that boy...

- Jeff!
- Jeff!

Is somebody calling me?

I must say he had a logical
explanation for everything.

Oh, he's a master of them.

You've always been a patsy

for his boyish
charms, haven't you?



Well, that's because I've
known him for such a long time.

- Give it to me, give it to me...
- Jeff...

I just want to look...

The magic charm
isn't working on Mary.

No, I don't want you to...

No boy is a hero to his sister.

Mother!

What's the matter, dear?

Mother, we have to do
something about Jeff.

He was looking at my diary.

Well, he knows better than that.

Jeff...

Jeff?

- Jeff!
- There's an easier way, dear.

Jeff! Dinnertime.

Okay, Mom.

Why didn't you answer
when I called you?

You called, Dad? I wasn't sure.

The Ferguson's on the next
block must have heard me.

Oh, that's different.

You see, sound
carries in a straight line.

And when you called me,

your voice had to
go through the door

and around the corner
and up the stairs and...

Jeff, I don't think your father
is interested in your theory

of sound just now.

Why can't you be
nice to your sister?

Who me?

What did I do? What did I say?

We can hear you.

Your voice comes straight
down through the ceiling.

You've been behaving
like a savage around here.

Now, you and I are
going to have a little talk.

Okay, Dad. I'll talk to you.

This time, I'm going to
do most of the talking.

After dinner, huh?

After dinner.

And the first thing
I want to discuss

are you manners at the table.

- Alex?
- After dinner.

I know why everybody is
suddenly ganging up on me.

Nobody is ganging up on you.

You've been getting away
with murder around here

and it's got to stop.

Gee, Dad, you're making me
sound like a criminal or something.

Oh, it's not that serious, Jeff.

Oh, yes, it is.

In a sense,
criminal is the word.

He's broken just about
every law that a family lives by.

He certainly has.

- Mary, you're just...
- Hold it.

That's one of the laws.

You've got to be more
polite to your sister.

Well, gee, Dad, what
about the way she treats me?

I'm just re... re...

- Retaliating?
- Yeah.

Well, there are going to be
some changes around here,

young man.

You're going to be obedient,
you're going to behave yourself,

and you're going to
stay out of trouble.

Well, gee, Dad.
Nobody is perfect.

Well, I'm not in... in...

- Infallible?
- Infallible.

Do you think he needs
a public defender?

Well, if he can't
pronounce the words,

we can't understand his alibi.

He has no trouble pronouncing
words when he's annoying me.

That's right. Kick
me when I'm down.

You want me to be a
happy child, don't you, Dad?

Yes.

But we'd like to be
happy parents, too.

Jeff, nobody is trying to
deprive you of your childhood.

Well, you want me to walk
around here like a goon?

He's going to get
melodramatic now.

Jeff, you can be well
behaved and still enjoy yourself.

How many times did your
mother have to ask you

to go to bed last night?

Well, let's say it
was more than once.

Do you want me to jump
every time you say something?

Not jump, dear, just respond.

You wouldn't like it if
I was the kind of guy

- who did everything the
first time you ask.
- Why not?

Because those kids only do it

because they're scared
to death of their parents.

We'll file that theory with
the one about my voice

walking up the stairs.

Jeff, darling, have we ever
given you any reason to be

scared to death of us?

Now, look, Jeff,

I want to see some changes

in your attitude
towards your sister,

when your mother ask
you to do something

at the dinner table, all around.

And I don't want
any more alibis,

explanations, or theories.

Do you understand?

I understand.

Well, I have to get an
early start on my paper route

tomorrow morning.

So, if you'll excuse
me, I'm going to bed.

Don't you see? I didn't
even have to ask him once.

Alex, you don't think
we were too hard on him,

all ganging up at one time?

Oh, darling, that
boy is so crushed,

he will have forgotten
everything we said

by the time he gets
to the top of the stairs.

Well, that's only because
he's a happy child

and doesn't carry grudges.

Hey!

You missed me, young fellow.

I'm sorry, Mr. Barnhill.

I didn't see you
behind that bush.

I know you didn't.

Or you would have thrown
a curve, wouldn't you?

I don't think even
a big league pitcher

could curve a paper
around that bush.

Huh, well, you make out somehow.

Now, listen here, young fellow.

How many times have I told
you not to throw the newspaper

on my steps?

I guess, maybe, more
than once, Mr. Barnhill.

Uh-huh.

And why did I ask you not to
throw the paper on the step?

Because you said
that you might slip on it

coming out of the house
and have an accident,

Mr. Barnhill.

That's right.

Now, do you suppose
it would be possible

for you to toss the
paper in the yard

instead of on the steps?

Oh, it's possible.

I'll do it starting
tomorrow. Honest.

That's fine. That's fine.

And now, listen, young fellow.

If you ever throw the
newspaper on the steps again...

Yes, Mr. Barnhill.

Hi, honey.

Hi, dear.

You're tired.

Oh, it's been quite a day.

Hi, Jeff.

How has his hearing been today?

I'll test it in a minute.
It's almost bedtime.

Oh, by the way, Mr. Barnhill is
on Jeff's paper route, isn't he?

Something happened?

He was brought into
the hospital today,

a little accident.

Oh, poor Mr. Barnhill.

What kind of an accident?

He broke his leg, a
simple fracture of the tibia.

What did he do?

Slipped in the
bathtub or something?

No, Dr. Warren said
he fell on the stairs.

Stairs?

- He fell on the stairs?
- Uh-huh.

Did you see Mr. Barnhill

when you delivered
his paper this morning?

No. I wish I did.

Mr. Barnhill is alone, isn't he?

Yeah, I guess so.

He's all right. A
couple of weeks.

Poor man.

Oh... did you have dinner?

I was so busy at the hospital,

I completely
forgot about eating.

Now that you
remembered, you're hungry?

- I'm starved.
- All right, dear.

- I'll fix you something.
- Thank you, honey.

Oh, Jeff, it's
getting a little late.

Huh? Oh, okay, Mom.

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight, honey.

Goodnight, Dad.

Well, your little talk must
have had some effect after all.

Yeah, I must have been
more convincing than I thought.

Well, he's a very
sensitive child.

I mean, exuberant,
but sensitive.

Maybe, old man Barnhill
won't squeal on you.

Not a chance.

He warned me the
day before it happened.

Then, I forgot and I threw
the paper on his steps.

It's my fault he's
in the hospital.

Boy, are you in trouble.

Why don't you tell your folks

and throw yourself
on their mercy?

I can't.

I caught the
dickens the other day

and I need some time
to build up goodwill.

Whenever I'm in trouble, I
pretend I got a stomachache.

My pop believes I'm
sick, he won't whack me.

Stomachaches won't
work in my family.

That's right, a doctor.

Boy, you know, you're almost
in as bad shape as Jimmy Curtis.

His father is a minister.

Well, I better not get in
any trouble around home

before they find out.

I'll have to behave.

Maybe, it's easier
to get whacked.

No, not this time.

I'm going to have to be
the nicest guy in the world

until the ax falls.

Jeff, would you mind getting
your books out of the living room.

I'm tidying up.

Oh... okay, I'll be
there in a minute.

I'll even help you.

I'll see you tomorrow,
Timmy. If I'm not in jail.

Well, I still think it's
easier to get whacked.

And after he helped
me with the living room,

he went out and cleaned
up the garage all by himself.

Mother, I tell
you, it's a miracle.

It's almost like having a
stranger around the house.

I take it we're
discussing the reformation

of our beloved son and brother?

Daddy, you won't believe it.

Do you know what
Jeff said to me today?

Not in front of your mother.

Oh, really, Daddy.
He said, "please."

What did he want?
Your savings bank?

No, he just said please
for no special reason.

And you didn't even think
he could pronounce the word.

The mystery deepens.

It's no mystery.

Now, why don't
you give him credit

for making an honest
effort to improve.

Well, personally, I
need more evidence.

Well, I'll be quite happy
to be proven wrong.

Where is he now?

Upstairs, cleaning out a closet.

Jeff? Cleaning out his closet?

- No, Mary's.
- Mary's closet?

He's been doing strange
things like that all day, Daddy.

Dinner is ready.

Jeff!

Sorry, I didn't come
when you first called, Dad.

Daddy only called
you once, dear.

Oh, would you like to go upstairs
and wait for the second call?

Well, thank you, dear.

Here you go, Mary.

Well, thank you, Jeff.

Oh, I forgot the bread.

Oh, sit still, Mom. I'll get it.

This is too good to be true.

There must be
something behind it.

Don't be so suspicious.

Why not accept the fact
that your son has decided

to lead a better life.

Hmm, you may be right,
but... I know what it is.

- Thanks, Jeff.
- Uh-huh.

- Well, by the way, Jeff.
- Yes, Dad?

You know that combination
generator headlight

that you've been asking
me to buy for your bike?

Oh, that's all right, Dad.
I'm going to buy it myself.

I've started to save already.

Aren't you going to
drink your juice, dear?

Oh, may I start?

By the way, I dropped
in on Mr. Barnhill today.

How was he?

Oh, he's fine, yelling at
all the doctors and nurses.

Maybe, I should send him
a get well card or something.

Well, that would
be very nice, Jeff.

Well, he's on my
paper route and...

Well, you don't have to
explain. It's a very sweet thought.

Would you like some
meat loaf, Mary?

Yes, I would. Thank you, Jeff.

Okay.

Sorry.

I'll come around the other side.

Thank you, dear.

- Sir?
- Well...

Thank you, Jeff.

Don't you want any meat, dear?

Will there be
enough to go around?

Somebody might want seconds.

I wonder why old man
Barnhill hasn't told them yet.

Maybe, he's talking
to his lawyer first.

And in the meantime, you got
to go on being a sweet little boy.

How long do you
think you can hold out?

Well, I don't mind that so much.

It's that thing
hanging over my head.

Oh, yeah, the sword of Damocles.

That's right.

What an awful feeling.

Say, do you know
how old you have to be

before they can put you in jail?

I think if you
have a little drag,

you can be under 12.

What are you, a wise guy?

With the trouble you're in, pal,

I wouldn't go
around hitting people.

What are you doing? You
just raked up those leaves.

When you're in a jam like me,

you got to keep on building
goodwill until it hurts.

- Hi, Mom.
- Hi, dear.

- Thank you, Jeff.
- You're welcome.

Why don't you go out
and play with the boys?

No, I'd rather help you, Mom.

But you've been up
since early this morning,

delivering your papers

and you've been working
around the house all day.

I'd rather hang
around the house.

I baked your favorite
chocolate cake.

Would you like some?

I don't think so.

It'd spoil my
appetite for dinner.

Honey, it's almost three
hours until dinnertime,

supposing it does
ruin your appetite.

As you say, a childhood
is a time for happiness.

That's all gone now, Mom.

It's all gone? Where
did it go, dear?

Jeff?

Yes, Mom.

That scolding Daddy
and I gave you...

- Jeff?
- Yes, Mom?

Honey, I've already
vacuumed the rugs.

Well, let me do them again, Mom.

It keeps me from thinking.

Now, what's wrong with thinking

and what are you trying to
keep from thinking about?

All the trouble I've been.

Well, honey, you've
been in trouble before,

but you've never
taken it to heart like this.

That was when I was a child.

Now I know that
when I make mistakes,

I have to pay for them.

Alex?

Hi, honey. What's up?

Honey, I don't like the
way Jeff has been acting.

Look, honey, I want him to
be obedient and respectful

and well mannered,

but most of all, I
want him to be happy.

Darling, so do I.

I can understand the
way Jeff has been acting.

At first, it was too
good to be true,

but honey, I
just can't stand it.

He jumps 6 feet
every time you or I call.

Huh, he's crushed but athletic.

He's afraid.

Honey, we tried to
instill discipline in him,

Do you know that when he went
on his paper route this morning,

He must have slept on the floor.

Honey, couldn't we, we
just tell him that what we said

the other night
wasn't that serious?

I can't tell him I didn't mean
something I meant every word of.

Honey, he's so only a child.

Or as he puts it, he
used to be a child.

Come in.

Excuse me.

Well, sure, Jeff.

Of course, dear.

Where are you going?

I have to buy some flowers.

Flowers?

With your own money?

That's a very
sweet thought, dear.

It's the least I could do. Bye.

He's buying me flowers.

Yeah, I heard it.

A whole new Jeff.

Do you realize how long it
took him to save those pennies?

He carried papers
through rain and snow.

While everybody else was
asleep, he was out there.

Now, darling,
don't get emotional.

You're an adult.

You mustn't let yourself
get so sentimental.

Oh, come in.

Come in.

Good morning, young fellow.

What are you doing down here?

Well, I just wanted to
leave you these flowers,

Mr. Barnhill.

Flowers, huh?

Well, you make
me feel kind of bad

after the way I talked
to you the last time.

Recollect, young fellow?

Yeah.

Gee, I'm awfully
sorry, Mr. Barnhill.

How do you feel?

Terrible.

I haven't had such a long
rest since I was a toddler.

Oh, I'll have to get something
to put those flowers in.

But every time I
ring this buzzer,

the nurses scatter.

Well, I'll go find one.

No use.

They've got secret
hiding places.

Did you buzz, Mr. Barnhill?

I hope I didn't break
up your poker game.

As a matter of fact,

we were dancing with
some of the interns.

Well, that doesn't
surprise me any.

Now, this young fellow,
he delivered my papers

and he fetched me some roses.

He must have
thought I was demised.

Well, that's very sweet of him,
and I'll put these in the vase.

Stop growling.

All the nurses are asking
for extra pay on this floor.

Sit down.

No, no, no.

Up here where I can look at you.

Who told you that I
was in the hospital?

My dad knows Dr. Warren.

Dr. Warren, nice fellow,

but don't they teach
them anything else

in these medical
college besides rest?

I should have come
sooner, Mr. Barnhill.

I'm awful sorry
about the accident.

And how do you think
that I feel, young fellow?

Some people have to
be told a thousand times

and still they won't listen.

Well, maybe, I could
get a job after school

and help pay for the
hospital expenses.

What for?

I think that darn old Mrs.
Higgins should pay for it.

Mrs. Higgins?

Yeah, the woman who
cleans up every week.

Imagine, leaving a
broom on the cellar stairs.

- The cellar stairs?
- Yeah.

And I opened the cellar door,
tripped on the broom and...

Well, the cellar stairs, that's
how you had your accident?

Sure. What did you think?

Aren't they pretty?

As soon as this young
gentleman leaves,

Dr. Warren wants you to rest.

Rest?

That's all they think about.

If I had a real doctor, I'd
be out of here in a day.

I know, but it's a conspiracy.

We're keeping you here

because you're so
charming and delightful.

We can't bear the
thought of your leaving.

Nice girl.

Thanks for the
flowers, little fellow.

But you shouldn't
have spent the money.

It did take a few months'
savings, Mr. Barnhill,

but I was very happy to do it.

Well, it was very
sweet of you to call.

Thank you very much.

Goodbye.

- Alex...
- Good news?

The best. Honey,
do you know that...

Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.

I think he's got his
childhood back again.

Dear, that was
Mr. Barnhill on the phone.

- Oh, how was he?
- Oh, he's fine.

I think I better talk
to that young man.

- No dear.
- No?

Those flowers?

They were for Mr. Barnhill.

Our Jeff took flowers
to Mr. Barnhill?

Mr. Barnhill has no
friends or relatives.

Jeff was the only visitor
he had at the hospital.

That's my son.

And mine.

Jeff?

Oh, stop complaining again.

Jeff, if you don't
stop, I'll tell Daddy.