The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 2, Episode 34 - The First Time We Met - full transcript

I think it's cruel and inhuman
to say nothing of unromantic.

Oh, we're discussing
16th century marriages,

you know, arranged by parents.

Oh?

Well, you girls get on
pretty deep subjects

while you're washing dishes.

When two people
meet for the first time,

it shouldn't be like
this king and princess.

Well, it should be
something beautiful

that they can remember
for the rest of their lives.

Oh, well, if it's going to
end up in marriage anyway,



what's the difference
how they meet.

Our sentimentalist.

You know, kings are
always rescuing fair maidens

from a dragon.

I think, once in a while, that
the dragon should slay the king

and marry the fair
maiden himself.

What kind of fairytales did
you read this boy in his cradle?

How did you two
meet for the first time?

Well, it was at Bill
and Dorothy Sawyer's.

They've just been
married a few months.

Dorothy was terribly happy,

and naturally, she
wanted all her girlfriends

to know the bliss
of married life.

- And?
- Well, so I was invited for dinner



and your mother just
happened to drop in that evening.

The rest is history.

Is that the way you remember it?

Did I leave something out?

Oh, just the facts, dear.

Oh, yes, Dorothy had
leg of lamb for dinner.

Honey, your father
saw a picture of me

taken ice-skating with Dorothy

and he kept insisting
on meeting me.

So, finally, Dorothy and
Bill had a dinner and...

That's the way you remember it?

What picture?

Don't tell me you've forgotten
about the picture, too?

Honey, I have a perfectly
good memory and I don't...

I don't remember anything
like an ice-skating picture.

Maybe, you two never met.

Are you saying that Dorothy
arranged to have me there

that evening to be looked
over and approved by you?

Well, Dorothy knew I'd like you.

And she was right.

And you've completely
forgotten about that picture

and how you kept
insisting on meeting me

and finally Bill had
to ask me if I would...

Are we back to
that picture again?

How could two people
disagree about something

that happened on such
a memorable occasion?

Now, look, darling,
it wasn't a fantasy.

I remember it perfectly

and I happen to have
an excellent memory.

What color is the
tie you're wearing?

- What color?
- Mm-hmm.

You put it on this
morning, what color is it?

Uh, blue.

Well honey, that's
just not important.

Well, maybe, it's not
important how we met.

Of course, it is.

That's why I remember
it so distinctly.

Yes, so do I, but
not the way you do.

As a matter of fact, I owe
Dorothy Sawyer a letter.

I'll think I'll write to her.
She'll put you straight.

You do that. You'll
find out you're wrong.

Hmm.

What's their address?

Don't you remember?

Never mind.

The address is
upstairs in my book.

Hi, honey. Ready to go?

Hello, Mrs. Thatcher.

Hi, dear. I'm just finished.

How about you?
Do I get a ride home?

It's your lucky day.

You get to ride home
with a dark handsome man.

Oh, wonderful. Anybody I know?

Well, if you don't, you will.

- Oh, hello, Alex.
- Hello, Hank.

Hank, I'd like you
to meet my wife.

Donna, this is Dr. Landers.

Oh, how do you do, Dr. Landers?

How do you do?

I must say, Mrs. Stone.

You live up to everything your
husband had said about you.

Oh really? What's
he been saying?

Never mind.

Darling, Dr. Landers
has just joined the staff

and I was telling him

he ought to have dinner
with us some evening.

By all means.

How about tomorrow night?

That will be fine.

Good. I'll call your wife.

Oh, I'm not married.

Not married?

I hope you won't
hold that against me.

Of course not.

Dr. Landers, wanted
at the reception desk.

- Will you excuse me, please?
- Yes, sure, Hank.

- I'll see you tomorrow, then.
- Right.

- Bye.
- Bye, Hank.

A nice looking young
man like that not married.

Isn't it a shame?

And that's the way he wants it.

So, you can get that
look out of your eye.

What look? What
are you talking about?

You know, that look
of the retired fire horse

that here's a siren.

Who me?

Well, how about Ms. Collins?

No, I'm afraid...

I'm afraid she's too old.

Not too old to get married
but too old for Dr. Landers.

Hmm.

Well, how about the
receptionist at the beauty shop?

She's kind of pretty.

Hmm, she's too tall.

Dr. Landers is about 5 feet 9.

Well, Momma,
she's about 5 feet 7.

Well, maybe...

No. We couldn't do
that to the poor girl,

make her wear flats
the rest of her life.

Well, mother, how tall
does a girl have to be

to find true love
with a man 5 feet 9?

Well, about 5 feet 4.

Men have complexes about height.

How about Ms. Colton?
The high school teacher?

She's pretty, intelligent.
She's very nice.

Oh, Mother, isn't she going
with Mr. Tucker at the bank?

Oh, you're right.

What other unattached
females do we...

Mary, would you go rinse
out those clips for me, please?

Sure, Mother.

You are planning Hank
Landers' married life for him?

What is there about a man's
ego that makes him think

that all women just live
to trap him in marriage?

That's a question
of years not ego.

Honey, he's a happy
bachelor, let him alone.

Besides, these
things never work out.

You can't create a romance.

Honey, it isn't a matter
of creating a romance.

You just put the right two
people together and... poof.

They make their own romance.

Well, anyway, I'm not going
to concern myself anymore

with Dr. Landers.

A man with an attitude like
his doesn't deserve a wife.

That's right, dear.

Let him suffer.

Oh, remember.

No surprises tonight.

- Do you like the table?
- Lovely.

Alex, you must have used
the heady aftershave lotion.

Oh, I felt like this about
you for a long time.

And all this time, I
felt we were pals.

Oh, the wasted years.

Hey, I thought the kids are
eating dinner at home tonight.

Well, knowing how
Dr. Landers feels about women,

I thought he'd be just
as happy without children.

Oh, he likes women.

He just thinks they
make bad wives.

You know, when
he does get married,

I hope he gets the kind of
woman he thinks we are.

The children are
eating with friends.

Well, I think I'll stir up some
of my special concoction.

Oh, good. I put
some ice in a bowl.

Thanks, darling.

- Good evening, Dr. Landers.
- Hello.

Hank, huh?

Donna.

- Come on in.
- Well, thank you.

Hey, this is a very nice house.

Well, thank you.

I promise no one will come
floating down the stairs.

Huh?

I'm sorry.

I hope Alex didn't
give you the impression

that I considered
myself a prime catch.

Oh...

Hank, is there anything
so underhanded

about trying to get two
compatible people together,

hoping that
something will spark?

Donna, those things
are always awkward.

The young lady
feels uncomfortable.

I'm uncomfortable.

And then, when
it doesn't work out,

the hostess feels
terribly letdown.

But she tries again.

And again.

Tell me something.

Why do they think they can
pick two people right out of the air

and spark romance?

Well, you don't pick
people out of the air.

Sometimes, it takes
weeks to find the right girl

to drop by accidentally.

Not tonight.

Marriage is all right,
but it just isn't for me yet.

There are a lot of
things I want to do first.

Study in Europe, for one.

My timetable doesn't call for
me to get married until I'm 40.

Forty?

Well, isn't that a little late?

That's the way I've
got it figured out.

- Hi, Hank.
- Oh, hello, Alex.

Sit down.

We were just discussing
well-intentioned matchmakers.

Oh? Don't worry, Hank.

I've searched the
house from stem to stern.

She may come out of the cake.

Look, Donna, I realize
that a husband and wife

have to meet somehow.

It's advisable.

For instance, tell me, Alex.

How did you and Donna meet?

Well, there seems
to be some dispute.

We're searching
for an eyewitness.

Thank you.

Well, however it happened,
you are a pretty lucky guy.

I know.

Why, just before you arrived,

I was telling Donna
how much I admired her.

- Wasn't I, dear?
- Hmm.

And for my anniversary,

he gave me a plaque
for distinguished service.

Oh, excuse me. I'll get that.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Florence.

Fine. Yes, drop by tonight.

Well, anytime later will be
fine. We're be home all evening.

All right. I'll see you
later, Florence, goodbye.

I'm sorry.

Who is Florence?

Oh, Florence Kessler.
You don't know her.

I wanted her to
drop by because...

I think we know why, dear.

Oh, but how could you?
She's on my committee and...

You don't actually think...

I really don't mind, Donna.

Hank, you were
invited for dinner.

Shall I put the food in a
paper bag, so you can run.

- As a matter of fact, Florence...
- You don't have to explain, dear.

But I gave you
credit for subtlety.

Shall we dine, gentlemen?

Let's...

No sense in facing Florence
on an empty stomach.

Hank.

Well, Jeff started talking
when he was 10 months old.

He hasn't stopped since.

Thank you, darling.

Well, naturally, he's a
great trial to his older sister.

Oh, Alex, stories about
children are boring

to everyone but parents.

Oh, no, Donna. I enjoy them.

Oh, you do? Really?

Uh-huh.

Oh, well, I must tell
you about the time

when Jeff was only 4 years old.

Oh, excuse me. That
must be Florence.

Oh, out this way, Raffles.

Buck up, old man.

Donna has impeccable taste.

- Hi, Donna.
- Hi, Florence. Come on in.

Oh, thank you.

But I just wanted
to drop the list.

For just a moment.

There's somebody
I want you to meet.

Florence.

This is my husband, Alex,
and Dr. Landers, Florence.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

Oh, won't you sit
down and join us?

Oh, no. I don't want to intrude.

And besides you
weren't expecting me.

- Oh, but we were.
- Oh, well, thank you.

But I was going to
meet my husband.

He's working late tonight.

Dr. Landers is new in town

and I thought it would be nice
if he met some of our neighbors.

Oh, here's that list, Donna.

Oh, thank you.

Have you had any trouble finding

a place to live for
your family, doctor?

Oh, Dr. Landers is a bachelor.

Well, you must
come and have dinner

with us some day, Doctor.

Thank you very much.

I'd love to have
you meet my cousin.

She's a lovely girl.

Well, I'm a little
busy right now,

getting settled at the
hospital, but I look forward to it.

Oh, you'll love Vicki.

She takes shorthand
and cooks superbly.

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

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight, Florence.

- Thanks.
- Thanks again for the list, dear.

- I'll call a meeting very soon.
- All right.

Well, there's your Florence.

I'm sorry, dear.

I should have known
you'd be subtle.

Florence is married.

But Vicki...

Oh.

Well, I never
knew Vicki existed.

You don't think I...

Thank you.

So... and after the movie,
Helen and I had some chop suey.

- Oh, just you girls?
- Uh-huh.

Oh, we have a lot of fun.

Sometimes, five or six of
us nurses go out together.

But what about dating?

Nobody interesting.

What with the crazy hours
we have in this hospital,

it just doesn't...

- Hello, Donna.
- Hello, Dr. Landers.

May I have some of
that pipe tobacco, please.

Oh, certainly.

How are you, Ms. Archer?

Well, fine, thank
you, Dr. Landers.

Thank you.

Oh, by the way,
Mrs. Kessler called.

She wants to know
when you can meet Vicki.

I said I'd ask.

Tell her you haven't
seen me, huh?

Oh, what a wonderful man.

Well, he is a fine doctor,

but don't you think
he's a little aloof?

Oh, no, Donna.

- You should see him
with the patients.
- Oh?

Oh, he's so kind and gentle.

Fireworks?

If he ever lights a match
near me, I'll explode.

You won't tell him now.

Oh, I should say not.

Dr. Landers is the last person
you'd let suspect how you feel.

- Oh, I never would.
- Hmm.

But Donna, he
doesn't know I'm alive.

And if he did and thought
you were interested in him,

he'd be off to some
island in the South Pacific

working on Beriberi.

If he ever looked at me
the way he looks at a patient

with postnasal drip, I
think I was in heaven.

Oh, he'd never even.

May I have a match, please?

Oh, certainly.

- Here you are.
- Thank you.

Donna, can you break
away for a cup of coffee?

Oh.

My relief doesn't
get here for half hour.

I'm sorry. Thanks anyway.

How about you, Ms. Archer?

Would you care
for a cup of coffee?

No, no, doctor, thank you.

Uh-huh.

What did we do?
Why did I say no?

It's too soon. You'll
frighten him away.

Ever since he
came to this hospital,

I've been dreaming of
the first time... I said no.

Yes, but now, he knows you
exist and you're not a threat to him.

- Excuse me a minute, dear.
- Oh.

Yes?

Oh, thank you.

Pat, how would you like
to go to the school bazaar

with Dr. Landers?

- Bazaar?
- Uh-huh.

Oh, sure, anywhere.

But he won't ask me.

Dr. Landers doesn't know it,

but he's going to ask
you to go to the bazaar.

How can you be so sure?

Because men are like fish,
they all wind up getting caught,

if you use the right bait.

And you're the nicest looking
bait I've seen in some time.

Jeff, that was a move.

Oh, I had my thumb on it.

Oh, he's always
doing that to me.

That's all right, Mary.

Under our rules, you're
allowed to cheat once a game.

Well, if you think
I was cheating...

Why don't we
call it a draw, Jeff?

- Oh, okay.
- Oh, there you are.

- Oh.
- Help yourselves.

Hank, it just occurred to me.

Would you like to go
to a school bazaar?

There will be a buffet
supper and dancing.

Oh, I'm sure I'm rusty, Donna.

I haven't danced at all
since I came to Hilldale.

You've been too busy
dodging marital prospects.

Mary, why don't you
dance with Dr. Landers?

Let's see how rusty he is.

Is it all right, Dr. Landers?

- Well, I'm game if you are.
- Okay.

Well, you are a good dancer.

Any girl would enjoy
dancing with you.

Thank you.

Speaking of girls,

I ran into Florence
Kessler today with Vicki.

That the cousin that
cooks, sews and types?

What does she look like?

Oh, very nice.

Her hair is dark,
no, it's blond.

And her face is very pleasant

and if she losses a little weight,
she'll have a very nice figure.

You have just described
the girl that I meet

every time I'm invited
to somebody's house.

By the way, Hank, would you
like to take a girl to the bazaar?

I'm afraid I don't know
any girls here, Donna.

Well, let's see.

I guess I could ask
Pat Archer again.

Ms. Archer, the
nurse at the hospital?

You mean again?

Well, I asked her a
couple of days ago

and when I told her that I was
going to ask Dr. Landers, too,

she said she had
something else to do,

but never mind. We can
think of someone else.

How about Vicki?
She's very nice.

With all due respect,
no, thank you.

Well, you can go without a
girl. There's no law against that.

Why would Ms.
Archer change her mind

after you told her I was going?

Oh, I didn't say that.

She just said she happened to
remember another date she'd made.

Oh... Excuse me. I've
forgotten the cream.

That's strange.

Well, Hank, you know the reaction
most nurses have to doctors.

They either hate
them or idolize them.

Go figure out women.

You said it.

But not too often, please.

She's a nice girl.

I... I hope I wasn't
inadvertently rude to her.

- Who?
- Pat.

Ms. Archer.

Oh, well, I can't honestly say

whether she changed her mind
before I mentioned you or after.

Cream?

Oh... please.

Second floor, Ms. Archer.

Yes, Donna.

He did ask me and I
said no, like you told me,

but it nearly killed me.

Well, maybe, he
won't ask me again.

What will I wear?

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Well, I have a black
jersey dress that clings.

Do you think that it'd be too...

All right. Whatever you say.

Bye, Donna.

Good morning.

Oh, good morning, Dr. Kane.

Ms. Archer,

are you sure you
won't change your mind

about going to the
bazaar with me?

I explained, Doctor. I
already have a date.

Break it.

Oh... I don't see
how I could do that.

Please break it.

Well...

Please.

All right, I will.

Wednesday at 7.

He's a very good doctor,

but he doesn't know
a thing about women.

And Dr. Landers
really had a nice time?

He seemed to be
enjoying himself,

didn't you think, dear?

Immensely.

You know that Ms. Archer
out of starched cotton

was quite a sight.

What did she wear, Mother?

Just a simple black jersey
with matching accessories.

It clung.

Jersey always clings.

Why is that? A
flaw in the material?

Mother, I thought Ms. Archer
had another date or something?

Well, so did I, but
somehow, they got together.

And when they did,
they stayed that way.

Honey, it's your bedtime.

All right. Goodnight, Mommy.

Goodnight, dear.

- Goodnight, Daddy.
- Goodnight, sweetheart.

Well, Hank and Pat really
seemed to enjoy each other,

didn't they?

Yeah, I'd say it's more
than a passing interest.

Oh, by the way, Hank gave
me a message to give to you.

I don't understand it.

What?

He said to tell you that
tonight, he was 40 years old.

He did?

Yeah, what does that mean?

That's a secret
between Hank and me.

Oh.

Well, if they write to
us 15 years from now

and want to know the
circumstances of their first date,

we can agree.

In every minute detail.

Oh, I can just hear
Pat telling her daughter,

I was a nurse at a hospital

where your father
worked as a doctor,

and one day, he asked
me to a school bazaar.

No. I'm afraid the
facts are slightly off.

Now, she'll say to her daughter
there was another doctor's wife,

Mrs. Stone, who told
daddy that I refused to go

because he was
going to be there.

So, your daddy's
curiosity was peaked,

his ego was wounded, and...

You really think it
happened that way?

Do you really think it didn't?

Do you like black jersey?

Which jersey?

The way it looks on Ms. Archer?

Who's Ms. Archer?

Mail call.

Mother got a letter
from Ms. Sawyer

and Daddy got a
letter from Mr. Sawyer.

Oh, another one of
Jeff's puzzle contests.

I'll go give it to him.

Well, what did the Sawyer's have
to say about your first meeting?

- Well...
- Well...

Honey, we were both wrong.

You know, I don't know how
we could have forgotten this.

It happened when your
mother was first a nurse.

I was a young doctor assigned
to the hospital where she was.

But the very first day I met
her in one of the corridors...

Oh, yes.

I remember, and you came right
up to me and introduced yourself

and asked me for
a date and I said no.

But then, I agreed to
go on a picnic with you

the following Saturday.

And for the next three
Saturdays, we went on a picnic.

We held hands, strolled
the meadow together...

And the lilacs bloomed
and the birds sang.

Oh, it was beautiful.

And the third Saturday,
you let me kiss you.

And all in one breath, I
proposed and you accepted.

Yes, that's just the way it was.

Oh, Mommy and Daddy, I'm
so glad it happened that way.

Its' beautiful.

Do you know it's almost
like a scene from a movie?

It's beautiful.

As a matter of fact, it
is a scene from a movie.

You mean to say,
you don't remember

that's the way it happened?

I mean to say, that I
watched Spellbound on TV

with you the other night.

Pretty good movie, wasn't it?

I like the way
you tell it better.