The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 2, Episode 17 - The Secret - full transcript

Jeff, get off of that telephone!

Jeff, are you listening
to Mary's conversation?

Oh, no, Mom, I wasn't
listening to her conversation.

No? Well, just what
were you doing?

Well, I was listening to
see when it would be over.

Jeff, dear, let
me put it this way.

I don't want you eavesdropping
on the telephone ever.

Oh, eavesdropping,
that's different.

Listen, you little brat.

Listening in on
someone else's phone call

is the lowest form
of sneakiness.



I didn't know you were
using the telephone.

I wanted to use it.

Who were you going to call?

- Who?
- Yes, who.

Uh, Zach.

- Zach.
- Zach.

Well, call him now.

- Who?
- Zach.

A suspicious sister is the
lowest form of humanity.

Uh... hello? Zach?

Jeff.

What's new?

Oh, nothing. I
just thought I'd call.

I had to call to prove
I wasn't a sneak.



My sister.

I'll tell you when I see you.

Well, why didn't someone
tell me there was a meeting?

Well, who voted for
and who voted against it?

- Jeff, when I say something,
I usually mean it.
- But Mom!

- I supposed you
weren't eavesdropping.
- No. I wasn't.

Your sister is upstairs
on the telephone,

and whatever she
is talking about,

it's her business.

Now, I don't want
to ever catch you...

We're having
spaghetti for lunch.

Mom, can I have
another piece of cake?

I think so.

It's the least I can do to make
up for my unjust accusation.

But, Mother, don't
apologize to him.

If Jeff happened
to be right for once.

It was just an accident.

Now, let's not bring
up his past record.

This boy was unjustly accused

and he very generously
forgave your mother.

Oh, that's all right. Anybody
can make a mistake.

Besides, I never carry grudges.

Jeff.

Why? I can eat it.

Yes. But can you carry it?

Oh! Oh, hi, Carol.

Hi, Mary.

- Hello, Mrs. Stone.
- Hello, Carol.

- How are you, doctor?
- Fine. Thank you, Carol?

Mother, may I be excused,
please. I'm all through.

Well, certainly, dear.

Excuse me...

Daddy, will you keep
him here, please?

He'll be listening to our
conversation through the door.

Who? Me?

Oh, you've been
unjustly accused again.

Stay here anyway.

Why are girls always whispering?

You asked Mary what time it is

and she says "I can't tell
you I promised Susan."

Jeff, girls whisper for the
same reason that boys shout.

Carol, you're
shaking. What is it?

Well, you promise
not to tell anybody?

I promise.

Not even your mother?

Oh, Carol, you know
my mother would...

I promise.

Well.

I mean, even if
someone tortures you?

Oh, Carol, how can I
tell if you won't tell me?

Maybe it's safer that way.

Well.

Oh, Mary, I've got
to tell someone.

I'm going to bust.

Jeff, you were right...

I'm engaged.

Engaged?

Oh, Carol.

Oh, I'm so happy, I could cry.

Oh, you're most so
perfect for each other.

Who is he?

Matthew Morgan.

Matthew Morgan.
Oh, what a nice name.

Carol, what do you mean engaged?

Engaged to be married?

I guess so.

It's only a diamond chip

but he saved the money
out of his allowance.

"To my future wife. Matt."

Oh, Carol.

You know, you're the
first one of my girlfriends

to get married.

Gee, the rest of them can't
even go to the movies alone.

When?

Just as soon as he
gets out of college

and passes his law
exams and starts practicing.

He is just a freshman at UCLA.

But Carol, that will be years.

When you're in love
you expect to suffer.

We can wait.

Well, how do your parents feel
about you're getting married?

They don't know
anything about it.

They must never know.

Well, why? Don't they like Matt?

Oh, they like him as a
boy but not as a son-in-law.

Oh, Mary, that's
why I came here.

You've got to help us.

Anything, Carol.

Two people in love deserve a
fighting chance for happiness.

What do you want me to do?

Will you be our go-between?

Well, Matt will
write his letters here

but he'll address them to you?

Well, sure, Carol.

Thanks.

I can't take a chance on
my parents finding this.

You'll have to keep it for me.

Carol, you can come and visit
this ring anytime you want to.

Oh, look, in case anything
ever happens to me,

I want you to know
where your ring will be.

- Mary, I want you to
be my maid of honor.
- Me?

And for my bride's maids,

I'll have Penny and
Susan and Pamela,

and we'll have a
great big wedding cake.

I just saw Carol
leave and I thought...

Yes, mother, Carol and I
were just talking about nothing.

You know, girls sometimes
talk about nothing.

Do you want me for
something, Mother?

No. It was nothing.

Sometimes Carol and I talk
for hours and never say a thing.

- Hi, honey.
- Hi.

Alex, our daughter has a secret.

And you can't tell me.

Oh, she hasn't even told me yet.

Jeff, put down that magazine
and start washing the car.

Okay, Dad.

He gets more
reading done that way.

You know, that's the first time

she's every kept
anything from me.

Oh, Donna, she's reached an age

where she can't come running
to mommy with every problem.

Yeah, but, couldn't she come
running to me as a friend?

Friendly mothers have a
way of giving exactly the advice

little girls don't want to hear.

You know, the minute
I walked into the room,

she... she took a
little package and...

and quickly hid it
in the music box.

It's the first time
that's ever happened.

Honey, there's a
first time she walked,

the first time she talked,

the first she kept
something from you.

There will be the first
time she gets married

and the first time you'll
become a grandmother.

Will you stop rushing things?

I wish I knew what
was in that box.

It's my birthday in a few weeks.

Maybe it's a surprise.

Probably.

Of course, that's what it is.

Alex, it... it is a little
tiny box about this size.

What do you think it is?

Oh, I don't know.

Maybe a mink coat.

No, dear.

That's what you're
going to give me.

My, how time flies.

Would you believe it I
have another birthday

in a couple of weeks?

Really?

Now, there's a
gracious reaction.

I also read weather
reports, you know.

Oh?

Oh, birthday.

Well, it's about time to start
thinking of a little surprise

for mother, isn't it, Mary.

Oh, I already have my
gift picked out, Daddy.

So soon, dear?

Well, I'm not going
to ask you what it is.

Oh, I don't mind. I
want you to like it.

I thought I'd get you one
of those bulky knit sweaters.

Well, Mother, you
look very good in them.

Would you rather I get
you something else?

Oh, no, dear. The
sweater will be lovely.

Mail call.

Dr. Alex Stone, Dr. Alex Stone,

Mrs. Donna Stone,

Dr. Alex Stone,

Ms. M... Ms. Mary Stone.

Matthew Morgan, University
of California-Los Ange...

Jeff, give me that.

Wow. What's gotten into her?

I about lost a hand.

Sorry, Jeff.

He is a boy I met at a party

and he is going to UCLA

and I asked him to
send me a brochure

because they have
some wonderful courses

in dramatic arts out
there, and I thought...

Of course, dear, we understand.

Certainly, brochures
are pretty personal.

Mother, would you
excuse me, please.

I can do all these dishes later.

Well, it's all right.

Alex, this is more
than a girlish secret.

First, the package
and, now, this letter.

What package?

Now, come on now, let's not
build this up into a big mystery.

All you have to do is find
out what's in that package.

Alex, I can't go
through Mary's drawer.

Well, suppose
you lost your watch,

and you thought
maybe Mary borrowed it.

So, you go into her room
and you open the drawer,

and what have we here?

You know, you still
haven't washed that car.

Okay.

But, Mom, I still think you
should lose your watch.

Honey, we don't know
that there's any connection

between the two incidents
and even if there were.

But something is bothering Mary.

You saw how jumpy she was.

Oh, girls that age get
jumpy trying to decide

which flavor of
ice cream to order.

Alex, I know Mary.

I can't ignore a
mother's instinct.

You know, you're creating
a crisis that doesn't exist,

and that's a doctor's instinct.

Alex, do you remember
just before Mary was born

and you said I had a
few more days to go?

So?

And I said, "Alex, you better
take me to the hospital right now,"

and Mary was born 10
minutes after we got there.

What does that prove?

That I'm a mother
and you're a doctor.

"Some of the courses are tough

but I don't mind because I
feel like I'm study for both of us.

Darling, if I could
only tell you..."

Oh, isn't that sweet?

Oh, isn't that sweet?

"My roommate is
a great guy from LA

who once saw Zsa Zsa
Gabor in a delicatessen store.

But, don't worry, Carol,
for me, you're the only girl."

Isn't that sweet?

Hey! There's a chance
Matt will be home

for the dance next weekend.

Oh, Carol, that
would be wonderful.

It's so cruel to be
separated by distance.

I know.

And Matt says if he can make it,

he's going to take
you to the dance.

Taking me?

Carol, you're engaged to him.

Oh, my parents are beginning
to suspect something.

My mother says
I'm a walking ghost.

But Carol, I already have a
date for the dance with Herbie.

Mary, please.

I'll go with your date
and when we get there,

we can switch.

Please.

All right, Carol.

Thanks.

Now, Matt says he'll call you
long distance Wednesday night

and let me know
if he can make it.

Call me?

But I can't take a chance, Mary.

He'll just call and
leave a message for me.

Look, Carol,

my mother is beginning
to suspect something, too.

I don't like keeping
things from her

and hiding your ring
in my music box...

Well, I just feel guilty.

Mary, remember
what happened to Juliet

when she thought she lost Romeo?

Of course, Carol.

Honey, I just couldn't bring
myself to look at the package.

It was a touch-and-go struggle
with my conscience but I won.

One look on your
face, I'd say you lost.

I sure like to know
what's troubling Mary.

Mom, Dad! Look what I found.

Well, it's a ring.
Where did you find it?

In Mary's music box.

Jeff, you had no
right to do that.

Well, I lost my fountain pen

and I thought maybe
Mary borrowed it,

and so I went there and looked.

I know, the first place
you happen to look

was Mary's music box.

Now, Jeff, this is something
that even you can explain away.

You're mother and...

Donna?

Jeff, get your mother
a glass of water.

Jeff,

make it two glasses of water.

It's no longer a question of
prying into her personal affairs.

This is serious.

We've got to find
out what's happening.

- Supposing she tells us.
- Well then we'll know.

- I'm not sure I want to know.
- Oh, great.

What do you want to do?

Close your eyes during
the marriage ceremony?

Alex, don't use
that terrible word.

Mary is only a baby.

Your baby is about to be
carried down the aisle of a church

and not in a bassinet.

Well, actually, Alex, what
are we getting excited about,

just an inscription that
reads "To my future wife."

At Mary's age,
this could be a joke.

- You feel like laughing?
- No.

Neither do I.

But you know I don't believe in
smothering a child with protection

but beyond a certain point,

it's our responsibility to
act even if it's painful to her.

Where is the ring?

I made Jeff put it
back where he found it.

Alex, what are you going to do?

Well, I'm going to talk to her.

Now, just a minute, you
know how children react

when they're forced
to do something.

They get hurt and defiant.

I'd rather have a defiant daughter
than a premature son-in-law.

Hello?

Yes, just a moment.

It's Los Angeles, California
calling Ms. Mary Stone.

It's him. It's the boy.

Mary.

Yes, Daddy.

Long-distance call for you.

Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles.

Oh, I wonder who'd be
calling me from Los Angeles.

I'll take the hall
phone in my room.

Long distance, huh.

Well, anyway, our future
son-in-law is well-heeled.

Maybe he only wants to read
her the brochure over the phone.

Honey, is there something
you want to tell me?

About what, Mother?

Oh, just anything,
about school, your dance,

boys, new friends, boys.

I got a long distance phone
call from a boy at UCLA.

Really? All the
way from California.

What do you have to say?

Did you, Mother, that the sun
shines practically every day

in Los Angeles.

That's interesting.

Mary, you feel free to come to
me at any time about anything

even if it's bad news
or even if it's good news.

I do, Mother.

Well, then, why haven't you?

Why haven't I what?

Come to talk to me.

About what, Mother?

Mary, now, how long have
you known this boy, Matt?

Not very long.

Well, how is it you've never
mentioned his name before?

Well, Mother, you see it's...

Don't you think Daddy
and I want to meet him?

Oh, you will. You will
meet him this Saturday.

He is coming to town
to take me to the dance.

That's why he called all
the way from Los Angeles.

I thought you're going
to the dance with Herbie.

I am.

I mean, I was but... well...

Matt is someone special.

Yes, he is.

Mother, maybe after you
meet him on Saturday,

you'll understand why but...

Well, I just can't explain
everything to you now.

Maybe after
Saturday but not now.

All right.

We'll meet him on Saturday.

Mary, don't worry.

We'll make every
effort to like him.

Good night, honey.

Good night, Mother.

Well?

What did she say about the ring?

I didn't even mention the ring.

He is coming to
town on Saturday.

For the wedding?

No. To take her to a dance.

Oh, did she say anything else?

The sun shines practically
every day in California.

Is that all?

Honey, I hope I am
an intelligent parent but,

honestly, this just
throws me completely.

Darling, we'll be fair about it.

We'll be polite.

We'll listen to his story
then throw him out.

Is Mary dressed
for the dance yet?

Just about, dear.

Aren't you going to say
anything to him, Mom?

What am I going to say?

If you get married
without permission,

you can't go to the
movies on Saturday?

Your father and I will
have to talk with that boy

as soon as he gets here.

I bet I hate him.

Jeff, as your says we
have to be fair about this.

Dad, what are you
going to say to this guy?

On the way in or the way out?

Good evening, sir.
I'm Matthew Morgan.

Oh, we've, uh... we've been
looking forward to meeting you.

I'm Mary's father.

- This is her brother, Jeff.
- Hi, Jeff.

Hi.

And her mother.

- How do you do, Mrs. Stone?
- How do you do?

Won't you sit down? Mary
will be here any minute.

Oh, thank you.

I'm afraid I'm a little early.

Oh, that's all right.

We can all sit around and
have a friendly talk while we wait.

Matt, don't you think
you're a little young

to be thinking about marriage?

You know about it?

Oh, Mary didn't tell us.
We just happen to find out.

By accident.

He was looking
for his fountain pen.

Well, I appreciate
your interest but...

You appreciate our interest?!

Don't you think we have a
greater stake in this matter

than a casual interest?

Well, I don't like
to be rude, sir,

but frankly no.

I think the people involved
should make the decision.

You listen to me, young man...

- Hello.
- Hello.

You must be Mary.
I'm Matt Morgan.

It's very nice to meet you.

They're engaged and they
don't even know each other.

Excuse me.

Hello, Carol. Hello, Herbie.

Hi, Mary.

- Hello, Doctor.
- Herbie.

How are you, Mrs. Stone?

I'm not quite sure.
Thank you, Herbie.

Matt, it was just too painful.

I told Mother and
Daddy all about us.

What did they say?

They want to talk to
you after the dance.

I have to be home by 11 o'clock.

Well, I'm glad that's
straightened out.

I guess I'm
taking you after all.

I guess so, Herbie.

Mother, do you see now
why I couldn't tell you.

I promised Carol.

You know, you looked
positively petrified

after the long-distance
phone call.

Not to mention the ring, dear.

Well, how did you
know about the ring?

Have you seen my fountain pen?

I'm awfully sorry.

I hope I didn't get
Mary in any trouble.

And I'd like to apologize, sir.

Matt, I can safely
say all is forgiven.

Matt, even though we
are not directly involved,

Mary and Carol are
just about the same age.

You're not seriously
considering marriage.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Stone,

just as soon as I get
through with college,

law school,

establish a practice and
I'm able to support a wife,

we won't wait a minute longer.

Well, I guess, we'd
better be going.

- Good night, Mother.
- Good night, honey.

- Good night, honey.
- Good night, Daddy.

- Good night, Jeff.
- Good night, Mary.

Good night, Herbie.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- Good night everybody.
- Have a nice time.

- Enjoy yourselves.
- Good night, Herbie.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Oh.

College, law school,
establish his practice.

Dear, do you think 34 is
too young to get married?

Well, I'm still going to
have a talk with Mary

for causing all this panic.

Oh, dear, she promised Carol,

and besides you
should know that Mary

would never keep
a secret from me.

- I should know.
- Oh, sure, Dad.

Mary is goofy
but not that goofy.

- Go wash the car.
- In the dark?

I'll hold a flashlight.