The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 2, Episode 35 - The Gossip - full transcript

- Hi, Donna.
- Oh, hi.

I brought some things for
the for the rummage sale.

Oh, marvelous. Put
them on the sofa.

They are my things there, too,

and we can sort them
into these cartons.

Put the children's
in this, all right.

Okay.

Have you seen Margaret Harrison?

I mean, lately?

Oh, no, I haven't. Why?

Don't ask me,
Donna. I can't tell you.



I promised not to tell a soul.

Oh, if you promised
then don't tell me.

Oh, there's that blue dress
of yours I've always liked.

You wouldn't believe
it about Margaret.

I mean, Donna, you
just wouldn't believe it.

Believe what?

I can't tell you.

Oh, well, Emily, if there's
something you can't tell me,

then don't tell me.

Oh, I won't.

I wish I could.

Is it something about
Margaret's new house?

Huh? Oh, no.

Is it something
about her husband?



Donna, please, don't ask
me. I'm not allowed to tell.

All right. I'm not even curious.

Excuse me, dear.

Hello?

Oh, Kaye.

Yes, tomorrow night.

About seven.

Is that all right for
you and Ralph?

Good.

What?

Oh, yes, Alex told me the news.

Oh, I think it's just wonderful.

Yes, yes. Terribly...

Terribly exciting.

Yes, well, we will talk
about it some other time.

Hmm-hmm. I'll see
you tomorrow night.

Good bye, Kaye.

That was Kaye Watson, and she...

Oh, Emily. It's a secret
and I can't tell you.

That's all right.

Okay, Donna, if you promise
you won't breath a word

to any of the girls.

Oh, I won't.

- Hi, dear.
- Hi, honey.

What's up?

Nothing.

Nothing.

Me thinks you protest too much.

What's on your mind?

Honey, did you know
that Margaret Harrison

had her face lifted?

It's been stolen?

Oh, you know what I mean.

Aren't you interested?

Should I be? Is it
some news-worthy?

I didn't read it
in the headlines.

Well, of course not. It's
supposed to be a secret.

Well, why then
Margaret tell you?

Oh, she didn't tell me exactly.

Well, who did she tell?

She told Helen.

Ah, and Helen told you.

No. Helen wouldn't tell
me. We're not that close.

- Helen told Amy.
- And Amy...

Amy told Ruth who
told Alice who told...

Hold it, hold it.

Who is your immediate
source for this precious tidbit?

Emily.

Oh.

She brought some clothes
over for the rummage sale

and we just got to talking.

And one thing led to another,
and before you know it,

you two girls were
gossiping away.

Alex, what a
hateful thing to say.

You knew I'm not a gossip.

Not usually but Emily is.

She is a carrier.

She has a way of
spreading the contagion.

I hope you had the good
sense not to tell Emily

that Kaye Watson
is having a baby.

Is that really supposed
to be a secret?

It certainly is.

She wants to be able to
work as long as possible,

and her company has a strict
rule about expectant mothers.

They'd let her go right away.

Darling, you didn't
tell Emily, did you?

I?

Well, if you don't know
me better than I, Alex Stone.

Hello?

Speaking.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Donoghue.

Mm-hmm.

Does he have a temperature?

I see.

What are the symptoms exactly?

Hey, Mom, is
it all right if I...

What would I do now?

Well, of course, I know
what I'm talking about.

Margaret had her face lifted.

If you ask me, it isn't
the first time either.

Not only that but...

There's somebody
at the door, Maude.

I have to call you back.

- Oh, hi, Donna.
- Good morning, Emily.

Come on in. I was
just talking to Maude.

- She— - Emily. Emily.

You haven't told
anyone yet, have you?

What?

About what I mentioned
to you this morning,

Kaye going to have a baby.

Oh, of course not.

Oh, thank heaven.

But why? Is there something new?

No. But Kaye doesn't
want this to get around

- because of her job.
- Oh.

She wants to work
as long as possible.

Oh, I feel terrible
that I gossiped, uh,

mentioned this to
you this morning.

I feel even worse if
it went any further.

Oh, of course, dear.

- Now, not a soul, Emily.
- Oh, of course not.

You promise?

Donna, if you don't know
me any better than that.

I wish you hadn't said that.

Why?

Because someone I
know said that recently

right after blabbing
her head off.

Donna, you know
you can trust me.

Of course, Emily, I do.

And thank you, dear.

Well, I have to run
and thanks again.

You have no idea how
much I appreciate it.

Hi, darling.

Darling?

You mean, you're not mad at me.

I didn't do anything wrong?

What?

Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.

Honey, how would
you like some cake?

Well, sure.

All right. Go wash your hands.

Thanks, Mom.

- Hi, Mommy.
- Oh, hello, sweetheart.

Oh, you seem to be
in pretty good spirit.

Oh, yes. Well, I suppose I am.

Well, uh, then I guess it will
be a good time to ask you.

Oh, ask me what?

Can I get a purse and shoes
to go with my new dress?

Well, certainly. We'll
go shopping tomorrow.

Oh, thank you, Mommy.

Oh, Mother, did you know Kaye
Watson is going to have a baby?

How did you know?

Well, I stopped over at
Julie's house on the way home

and I heard her
mother telling Harriet...

Julie's mother. How
did Julie's mother...

- Emily.
- Who?

She promised she
wouldn't tell a soul.

Who?

Mom, look at those hands.

I washed them and
they're all clean...

Now, what did I do?

I don't know.

Hi, kids.

- Hi, Daddy.
- Hi, Dad.

You're not mad at me, are you?

Why should I be?

That's what I'm
trying to figure out.

Will somebody please tell me
what's going on around here?

Well, what's the
matter with you?

Nothing.

The minute I started to talk
to mother about Kaye Watson

- having a baby, she— - What?

I said, the minute that I
started to talk to mother about

Kaye Watson
having a baby, she...

Your mother told you that?

No. I heard it
from Julie's mother.

She was telling
Harriet Lindsey and...

Daddy, is it a secret?

Not anymore.

Well, anyway, the minute
that I started to talk to her...

Jeff, you saw her.
She just walked away.

Donna.

So you know.

Donna how could you?

That's what I
keep asking myself.

I don't know what to say.

Kaye told us
something in confidence

and now her secret...

Well, what she thinks as
a secret is all over town.

Alex, I'm not a gossip.
Really, I'm not a gossip.

Honey, I know you weren't
being mean or vicious

when you told Emily.

But the effect is the same.

Honey, when I told Emily,
she promised not to tell a soul.

And she meant it. But
gossip is kind of sickness.

Emily just can't help talking.

Well, I guess the worse
that could happen is that

Kaye will lose her job
before she is ready to leave.

Alex, I'll never be able
to face Kaye again,

ever as long as I live.

I'll go to a new beauty parlor.

I'll go to the market
early in the morning.

I'll change banks.

I'll quit the women's club.

What are you making?

I don't have the vaguest idea.

Alex, if I work this right, I
won't have to face Kaye ever.

That's all very fine but
you're overlooking one thing.

I am? What's that?

Kaye and Ralph are coming
here for dinner tonight.

What time is it, dear?

Come on, honey. Relax.
They'll be here any minute.

I don't know why you
would not let me call Kaye

and tell her I was sick.

Because you're not.

Darling, you'd have to face
Kaye sooner or later anyway.

No matter where you
shopped or banked.

Well, later would be better.

Alex, I think I've got a fever.

Nope. You're not sick.

Why do I feel so awful?

Wait.

She must have heard by now.

Darling, answer the door.

Oh, no. She'll do
terrible things to me...

- Hi, Kaye.
- Hey, Ralph.

- Hi.
- Hello.

- Good to see you again, Ralph.
- How are you?

Oh, Donna, isn't it wonderful
about the baby, I mean.

Yes, it is.

You think that no one
have had a baby before.

Nobody ever did.
Not like this one.

Wouldn't they even be
surprised when they find out.

Sure they will.

Won't you come in?

I'll be right with you.

We'll let you have Jeff's
old bassinet and playpen.

They're down the basement
somewhere, aren't they, dear?

Yeah. I can find it.

Oh, Donna, that will be wonderful
with all the new expenses,

bathinette, bassinet

and fixing up the
room for the new baby.

We thought we'd
have to let Elsie go

but we decided to keep
her until I go to the hospital.

Really?

Yes, because I will be able
to work a few weeks longer.

- Are you all right?
- What happened?

Oh, too bad, dear.

I don't think Donna
is not feeling well.

Oh, she is fine, Kaye.
Don't worry about her.

Would you like some help, dear?

No. Just go back in
the other room, dear.

All right. Come on, Ralph.

Donna, I'm worried about you.

Oh, don't worry about me, Kaye.

Thanks, again, Donna and
Alex. Thanks for everything.

You're very welcome, Ralph.

Donna, I hope
you're feeling better.

Thank you, Kaye.

Let's see. Tomorrow is Saturday.

I'm not working.
How about lunch?

We'll talk about babies.

Tomorrow?

Well, you're the only one I
can talk to about it, you know.

Not even Ralph's mother knows.

I love her but... well, she
just can't keep a secret.

Well, I don't think
I can make it.

Well, Monday?

Uh, no. I maybe
going out of town.

Really? For how long?

Well, I don't know.

She is only kidding, Kaye.

Well, good night and
thanks for everything.

Good night, Kaye.

I'll help you out to the
car with the stuff, Ralph.

I appreciate it, Alex.

Goodnight, Kaye.

Good night, Alex.

Good night, Kaye.

Good night, Ralph.

I never saw Donna
like that before.

Huh?

Looking so tense and nervous.

Didn't you notice
how edgy they were

with each other all evening?

So what? They're married.

I got the distinct feeling
that there was something

they were keeping from us.

I wonder.

Ralph, it's not so late.

Let's stop by Emily's
on the way home.

Okay.

Hey, Mary, it's boiling.

How much of this
cereal do I put in?

Four.

It looks a little thin.

- Good, morning, honey.
- Oh, hi, Daddy.

- You overslept.
- Yeah.

- Hi, Dad.
- Good morning, Jeff.

Gee. You look terrible.

Were you up on calls all night?

No but I didn't get much
sleep neither did your mother.

No, it was the other way around.

Daddy, would you
like some juice?

No, thank you, honey.

Hey, Dad.

How would like some Uncle
Jeff's homemade cereal?

Sure. Uh, no, thank you.

Daddy, would you
like some coffee?

I made it.

Please, honey.

Good morning.

- Good morning, Mom.
- Good morning, Mommy.

Sorry, I'm late.

Oh, that's all right, Mommy.
We're getting breakfast.

Here, have some Mary's coffee.

I had coffee all over the
world. This is the best yet.

Oh, Daddy.

Hey, Mom. Why don't
you try this cereal?

I think this is the
best I've ever made.

Really?

Jeff, you've never
made it before.

Well, that's what I mean.

You know, whenever
Zach's mother make cereal,

it comes out all lumpy.

I don't want this to get around,
but she makes the worst cereal.

Jeff, I don't want
to hear about it.

Well, gee, Mom, all I was
going to say is Zach's mother...

I don't want to hear a
single word of gossip,

not a single word.

Jeff, your mother
didn't mean anything.

She is just a little upset.

Sure, Dad.

- You know what I think, Mary?
- What?

I think that... uh-oh.

Oh, thank you, dear.

I guess I was a
little rough on Jeff.

Oh, I wouldn't worry about it.

He probably had it
coming for something else.

But if Zach's mother
makes lumpy cereal,

it's all over town anyway.

You can't keep a
thing like that a secret.

The only one who probably
hasn't heard it is Zach's mother.

Are you trying to send me a
message of comfort and hope?

Darling, all I'm trying to say
is stop worrying about Kaye.

Everyone in town will
hear about her baby

but I'll bet a thousand dollars
Kaye will never hear about it.

Well, people will tell each other
but nobody will say a word to Kaye.

That's the way
it is with gossip.

What about her job?
Her boss will hear about it.

That's another thing.

Ralph really doesn't
really want her to work.

He's been after her
to give up her job.

- He has?
- Mm-hmm.

Oh, Alex, you're not
just telling me this

to make me feel good.

Scout's honor.

Alex, I think
everything is all right.

Kaye won't hear that I was
the one who started the gossip,

and even if she losses her job,

that's what Ralph
wanted all along.

That's all it is.
You're in the clear.

Oh, honey, I feel
so much better.

As a matter of fact, I feel good
enough to some of Jeff's cereal.

Well, that good, I don't
feel, but if you will so will I.

Oh, I'll get that, dear.

Oh, hello, Margaret.

Oh, Donna, dear, I was
just in the neighborhood

and I thought I'd drop by

and tell you we're postponing
the rummage sale for a day.

Oh. Well, thank you, Margaret.

Won't you come in?

Well, I really don't have time.

Well, just for a minute.

Oh, Alex, you know
Margaret Harrison.

Of course. Margaret.

Well, I have the list of women
who will be on your committee.

- Oh yes, here it is.
- Oh, thank you, dear.

I put Sylvia Maple on your list.

- Poor Sylvia.
- Poor Sylvia?

Haven't you heard?

Married 18 years and now
they take the quarreling in public.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Oh, it just goes to show
you never know about people.

They may seem
happy on the surface

but you'll never suspect
what really goes on.

Yes, I suppose so.

It happens all the time

even with couples
who are ideally suited.

Yes, I suppose so.

Personally, I think that
when people are unhappy,

they shouldn't just
sit and endure it.

They should do
something about it.

How does the poet put it?

"Take arms against
the sea of troubles."

That's a good way to put it.

Well, if you'll excuse me.

I have to eat a
miserable breakfast.

Now, I'm not
looking forward to it.

I really must go now.

- Oh, Donna.
- Yes.

Some busybody has been
spreading rumors around town

that I've had my face lifted.

If you hear anything, let
me know who told you.

Naturally, it's a lie.

Yes, of course.

Good bye, my dear.

Good bye, Margaret.

You brave, wonderful girl.

Take arms.

Bye-bye.

Alex.

Honey, take it easy.

So Margaret knew that
everybody was saying

she'd had her face lifted.

Alex, you said that the
person who was gossiped about

never hears of it.

I know, but maybe
Margaret is the exception

that proves the rule.

Yes. Well, maybe Kaye
is another exception.

Alex, I'm not going to wait.

What do you mean?

I'm not going to let Kaye
hear of this from someone else.

She is going to hear it from me.

Now, that's my girl.

It won't be easy.

It will be painful.
It will take courage.

Absolutely.

When are you going to see her?

I'm not. I'm going
to send her a letter.

Do you think the postman will
have the courage to face her?

- Hello, Alex?
- Oh, hi, Jim.

- Alex.
- Yeah.

We've been good friends
so I feel I can talk to you.

Why, of course, Jim.

I've been married a long time.

Longer than you.

And well, there'll be times
when a man just doesn't

get along with his wife.

Yes, I know, Jim.

Yes.

Well, it isn't easy for two
people to adjust themselves

to each other.

Certain amount of
friction is inevitable.

Do you know what I mean?

Sure, Jim.

All it takes is a
little understanding,

a little give and take.

A sound ship can
weather any storm.

Well, that's just
what I'm talking about.

After all, is it so important
if your wife gives you

a miserable breakfast?

That's right.

After all, it can only
happen once a day.

Right. Why worry
about the thorns

when the rose is so beautiful?

I couldn't have put it better.

- We do understand each other.
- Perfectly.

Nothing like a little talk
to straighten things out.

- I'm very glad we
had this little talk.
- I am too.

It wasn't easy but I promised
my wife I'd talk to you.

She is a fine woman, Jim.

The best, a prize but
don't forget so is Donna.

You said it.

Dr. Krutcher.

Dr. Krutcher 4014.

Poor Jim.

Who would ever have thought
that he was having trouble

with his wife?

Hello, Elsie.

I came to see Mrs. Watson.

She is not in, Mrs. Stone.

Oh.

Well, do you expect
her back soon?

I couldn't say, Mrs. Stone.

Well, then I'll
come in and wait.

I think she'll be longer
than that, Mrs. Stone.

Well, how long is that?

How long would you wait?

Half hour or so.

She'll be longer.

Well, Elsie...

Well, tell Mrs. Watson
I came by to see her.

I will, Mrs. Stone.

Well, darling, maybe it wasn't
Kaye you saw at the window.

Who could have it been?

Ralph?

With his hair up in curlers?

Why didn't I tell
Kaye last night?

Why didn't I keep my big
mouth shut in the first place?

Now, darling, if
you will just calm...

Now, she's found out
from someone else.

She wouldn't even
let me in her house.

She doesn't even want to see me.

She... she is furious.

She probably won't ever talk
to me again as long as I live.

- She— - Hello, Kaye.

She's here.

Donna, I'll have
something to say to you.

Yes, I know.

You do?

That's why you wouldn't
see me this morning.

Yes.

Well, when we were
at your house last night,

Ralph and I...

Well, the peculiar
way you behaved...

Well, it made me think,
then after talking to Emily...

Well, Donna,

I told her that I thought you
and Alex were having trouble.

Huh?

What?

Yes, Donna. I
gossiped about you.

You gossiped about me?

Yes. I felt just miserable
ever since but... well,

that's why I was too
ashamed to see you

when you came over this morning.

Then when you left,

I decided to come
and tell you myself

before you heard it
from somebody else.

Now, Donna, I'm not
asking you to forgive me.

I just want you to
try and understand.

Understand... Kaye,
I'm the guilty one.

I've been the gossip.

No. No, Donna.
You've been wonderful.

It's been me.

No, Kaye. Let me tell you.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Jim.

What?

No, Jim.

I never said you and your
wife weren't getting along.

Oh, what I said
was..well, I said...

Well, I did say that
but I didn't mean it...

Now Jim. Take it easy.

Jim.

Jim.

Jim.