The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966): Season 2, Episode 7 - The Neighborly Gesture - full transcript

It seems awfully
quiet around here.

I have a feeling
something is missing.

Didn't, uh, we
used to have a boy?

Darling, I didn't have
the heart to wake him.

Why not?

Well, it's, it's
Saturday, his day off.

Not for Jeff, it isn't.
He's got a lawn to mow.

Oh, but, darling.

You know, my mistake
was paying him in advance.

He's been putting
it off all week.

He let that grass
grow one more day,



he won't be able to mow it.

That's what he's hoping, Daddy.

Oh, I'm on to him.

Mary, go up and
wake your brother.

Oh, with pleasure.

Tell him, I said,
to get down here.

Yes, sir.

Oh, Jeff.

Now, look, Jeff, I
know you're in there

and Daddy says for me
to get you up right now.

Well, cut it out, will you?

Jeff, Daddy says for
me to get you up now.

I was just going to sleep.

You've been asleep 12 hours.



So what? It was
just getting good.

Oh, don't fool me. I know
why you're pretending.

Who's pretending?

Hey, look, there's a moving
van in front of the Farrell house.

Somebody must be moving in.

You're kidding.

Well, if you don't believe
me, come and look.

Hey, what do you know,
they're carting stuff in.

I wonder who bought that house.

Never mind who bought
it. Have they got any kids?

And if they do, I hope one
can throw a decent pass.

Oh, I got to get over
there, and get dressed.

- Well, hurry, Jeff.
- Yeah.

So, they finally sold
the Farrell house, huh?

I sure would like to
know what it's sold for.

The people that bought
it must be loaded.

What makes you think that?

Well, I watched while
I was getting dressed,

the stuff they're carrying in,

boy, I saw them cart in
one of those slinky couches,

you know, like Cleopatra.

Oh. Now, I'm curious.

Leave it to me. I'll find out.

Uh, Jeff, finish
your breakfast first.

I have.

Look, honey, you mustn't go
over there snooping and prying.

So, when you walk by,

just take a look out of the
corner of your eye, hmm?

Jeff?

Before you go,

allow me to bring to
your attention once more

the matter of the lawn.

- Oh, yeah, OK.
- Hold it.

Let me further remind you

that you were paid
in advance for the job.

Well, gee, Dad,
I said I'd do it.

What more can I do?

You could do it.

- Oh, I will, later.
- Uh-uh, uh-uh.

Now, what?

Don't think for one minute
that I'm going to mow the lawn.

Well, gee, Dad, of course not.

Golly.

What do you bet I'd do?

Hi.

Hi. What's your name?

Jeff. What's yours?

Moody.

Moody?

Well, that's my last
name. First name is Joe.

Oh, hi.

Hi. You live around here?

Right there, where
it says on the sign,

"Dr. Stone."

Oh, your father
is a doctor, huh?

That's fine.

Well, he's a pediatrician.

That's a kind of a doctor.

He takes care of children.

Well, of course.

After all, children
grow up to be people.

- You're going to live here?
- Yeah.

Did you buy the place?

Yeah, we bought it.

I bet you paid quite
a lot for it, huh?

Well, it seemed
like a lot to us.

Why? Do you think
we made a mistake?

Well, no.

You don't seem
too sure about it.

Did they tell you
about the cellar?

- What about it?
- It leaks.

Oh?

They had to call a fire
department last spring

to come and pump it out.

I don't think they
mentioned that to us.

What else do you
know about the house?

Oh, it's got a great attic,

with all sorts of little
secrete passages,

where you can crawl
around under the eaves.

Do you want me to show you?

No, thanks, I don't think
we'll be doing much crawling.

Well, it's great for kids.
Have you got any kids?

No, and it's a darn shame.

They could swim in the cellar.

Joe!

Be right there, hon!

Mom's calling. I better
get this in the house.

Oh, hey, you're dropping stuff.

Do you want me to
help you carry things?

Well, yeah, that would
be fine, if you'd like to.

I'm pretty good
at carrying stuff.

I'll bet.

- You sure know how to
carry that football.
- Oh.

We got a helper here, Mom.

Well.

She's not your mom.

- Oh, I just call her that.
- Oh.

This is Jeff. He
lives next door.

- Oh, hi.
- Hi.

Oh, here, let, let
me help, Mrs. Moody.

Oh, well, thanks.
Here, you can carry this.

Hurry, dear.

Hey, is this yours?
Are you in the air force?

Oh, I was.

I couldn't make the weight now.

Well, gee, what's this?

Oh, that's just a little
souvenir they give you.

It's a Distinguished
Flying Cross

and you don't see many of them.

Distinguished Flying...

Mr. Moody! Mr. Moody!

Jeff, where have
you been all day?

It's practically dinnertime

and you were supposed
to mow the lawn.

Are they sore?

Well, how should I know?

Where are they?

Mommy is in the kitchen
and Daddy is upstairs,

taking a shower.

I think I'll tackle Mom first.

Maybe I better wash my
hands first on account...

But if I do, then
I'll run into Dad.

Oh, Jeff.

Hi, Mom! What's for dinner?

Do you know what
time it is, young man?

Mary just told me.

That's the first
inkling you had?

The fact that the sun had
set suggested nothing to you?

Well, I was over at the
new neighbor's, see,

and, well, they're swell,

and I was over there and they
practically begged me to stay.

Why didn't you let me know you
weren't coming home for lunch?

Well, I was going to call, but,

well, their phone
wasn't connected and,

well, I forgot.

Well, did you ever
get any lunch?

Oh, yeah, I had a swell lunch.

- Where?
- At the Moodys.

That's their name. The Moodys.

You invited yourself to lunch?

No, they invited me.

They like me, Mom, no kidding.

You should get to
know Mrs. Moody.

Boy, can she cook.

What did you have to eat?

Salmon patties.

Salmon?

I can't even get you
to touch salmon patties.

Well, I like them now.

I think they were frozen.

Maybe that's why they were good.

I think you should know,

your father has
been looking for you.

Our, uh, prodigal
son has returned,

full of salmon patties.

I was telling Mom, Dad,
you'll like those people.

Mr. Moody, he's a regular guy.

Oh, who is Mr. Moody?

Oh, our new neighbor.

You know, the one that
bought the Farrell house.

He paid 28,5 for it.

Is that any concern of ours?

Well, you're always interested
in what people paid for stuff,

- so I thought— - I
don't want to ask them.

And furthermore, I don't
think you should go moving in

on perfect strangers like this.

They're not strangers.
They're my friends.

They like me.

Mr. Moody was a
flyer during the war

and he got decorated
for being a hero.

Were you in the war, Dad?

You know very well he was.

I mean, in the fighting part.

I was in the Battle of Fort Dix.

Where was that?

New Jersey.

- Who was it against?
- The officers.

Your father is
just joking, dear.

Well, Mr. Moody, he
was a bomber pilot

and he got the
Distinguished Flying Cross.

Well, dear, not all the heroes
were decorated, you know.

Some of them had to stay
home and do the routine jobs.

Yeah, well, not
Mr. Moody. He was all over.

Boy, India, China,
the South Pacific.

Have you ever
been any place, Dad?

I've been to lots of places.

I mean, any place interesting.

We'll discuss
geography later, Jeff.

Right now, let's
get to the point.

What's that?

You know darn well what it is.

You were contracted one
week ago to mow that lawn

and you were paid in advance.

Oh, that completely
slipped my mind.

I better go do it now.

Only, it's pretty
close to dinner.

Yes, it is.

Gee, Dad, I wish you would
have mentioned it earlier.

I have been mentioning it at
the top of my lungs for a week.

I know.

I don't know why I do
things like this, Dad.

I guess I'm just no good.

When I think of you and Mom,

how hard you work and
how good you are to us,

then when we make a mistake,

forget something,
like the mow the lawn,

you never blame us or anything.

You shut up!

Well, she always
spoils everything.

We are deeply touched,

but tomorrow morning,
my boy, rain or shine,

hot or cold, if that
lawn isn't mowed...

Well, gee, I was going to do it.

Give me a little credit.

At the Moodys, at least,
they appreciate you,

- but around here— - I am
getting just a little weary of hearing

about the Moodys.

Now, either you mow that lawn

or you can go live
with the Moody.

All right. I will.

But you'll mow the lawn first.

Now, let's all cool off
and eat our lamb stew,

and don't tell me Mrs.
Moody makes it better.

Alex, what are you looking at?

The lawn.

But it's dark out.
You can't see it.

I don't have to see it. I
know it hasn't been touched.

Donna, you got to do
something about that laundry.

What's the matter, dear?

Well, look at the shirt.

Well, it looks all right to me.

Look, starch, they're putting
starch on the collars and cuffs.

Oh, Alex, that laundry
has been doing your shirts

exactly the same
way for eight years.

Now, nothing has
changed, but you.

- Me?
- Yes, dear.

You're not angry
with the laundry,

you're angry with Jeff.

Oh, what an absurd idea.

Why should I be angry with Jeff?

Oh, yeah, of course,
you mean, about the lawn.

Well, not entirely the lawn.

Mr. Moody.

Well, that's the silliest
thing I ever heard of.

Yeah, but it's perfectly natural
for Jeff to admire Mr. Moody.

All boys go through that

and all fathers go through
what you are going through.

Sweetheart, I don't know where
you got such a ridiculous idea,

but believe, I've
never given a thought

to how Jeff feels
about Mr. Moody.

All right, dear.

If I wanted to brag,

there are plenty of things I
could tell Jeff about myself.

Of course, dear.

I could tell him about when I
graduated from Medical School,

I was second in
the class of 418.

Well, that's very
impressive, dear.

Why don't you tell him?

Because I'm not competing
with Mr. Moody, that's why.

- Good night, Mom.
- Good night, sweetheart.

- Good night, Mama.
- Good night, Mary.

Uh, what, what's so funny?

Oh, it's just a joke
Jeff told me, Daddy.

Mr. Moody told it to me
today. It sure is funny.

Well, why don't you
share it with us, huh?

OK.

Why is a doorknob
like a little baby?

OK.

Why is a doorknob
like a little baby?

Because they're both
something to adore.

What's the matter,
Dad? Don't you get it?

I get it. I get it.

It's just that...
oh, never mind.

Honey, did you know that
when your father graduated

from Medical School,
out of the class of 418,

he was second?

- Is that so?
- Hmm-hmm.

Second?

Who is first?

Mr. Moody.

Come here, young man.

Do you see that lawn?

It's too dark. I
can't see a thing.

Oh, it's there all right,

and I want it cut first
thing tomorrow morning.

Jeff!

Jeff!

I thought Jeff was out
there mowing the lawn.

So did I,

but it would seem our
son has deserted his post

and he promised me
faithfully he'd finish this today,

right after breakfast.

Well, maybe he
stopped to rest a bit.

Rest? He's hardly started.

We live it up to Jeff, we'll
have a jungle in our front yard.

Well, uh, uh,

maybe he's
upstairs, in his room.

No, don't bother,

I have a pretty good
idea of where he is.

Mary, I want you to go
over to the new neighbors

and if Jeff is there,
tell him to come home.

But, Daddy, I don't
even know those people.

You don't have to know
them. You know Jeff.

Now, tell him I want
him to come back here.

Oh, Daddy.

On the double.

Oh, Alex, you're not
going to be too hard on him.

I don't know what
I'm going to do,

but if I do, there's not a jury in
the world that will convict me.

Now, where is Mary?

Does somebody
have to go after her?

Well, you sent her over there.

But that was two hours ago.

What's the attraction
over there anyway?

Isn't our home good
enough for them?

Well, you know how
it is, new neighbors.

You were young once.

I was not.

- Well, anyway, I grew up.
- Oh, I don't know.

And it's about time they did.

There's such a thing
as responsibility.

Yes, I know, dear,

but let's not make an
issue of it before dinner.

Oh, here they are now.

Dinner is almost ready
now. Just sit down.

- Now— - Mary, help
me serve, please?

Yes, Mom.

Well?

Oh, Dad, I, I don't want
you to think I forgot about it.

Well, I tried to mow the lawn,

but, well, it was too wet.

I mean, it was kind of dewy.

I mean, it was damp.

Well, it's not damp now.

Well, yeah, I figured
if I waited a little while,

then I wouldn't get the
lawn mower rusty and...

but if you say it's dry now...

It'll never be dryer.

Great. Right after dinner, then.

You know, Mommy,
you would just love them

and you would, too, Daddy.

I tell you, they are
the darling-est couple

and she is just a lamb.

You know, she was making cookies

and she let me help her.

Hasn't your mother
ever made cookies?

I didn't send you over
there to make cookies.

I asked you to deliver
a message to Jeff...

Did you deliver it?

Well, yes, I, I think I did.

I told you Daddy wanted
you to come home.

- You did not.
- I did, too.

Well, you didn't say positively.

Well, it doesn't really
matter now, does it?

Jeff is home, so let's
have a pleasant dinner

without any arguments.

Chicken?

What does it look like?

I thought you liked chicken?

Well, I do.

Only, at the Moodys' house, they
were having hotdogs and beans

and boy, did they smell good.

You know, Mr. Moody used to
be a professional football player?

Is that a fact?

Yeah. I got him to
pass me a couple.

You should see him.

How come you never got
anywhere in football, Dad?

I couldn't make the weight.

Oh, he's the same
size as you are.

Well, I didn't have
the time either.

Well, he was working
in a lumberyard

and going to night
school at the same time,

but he did it.

I wasn't interested in football.

Is there anything
wrong with that?

Well, Mr. Moody, he's
not afraid of anything.

He's driven racing cars even.

That was before
they got married.

Mrs. Moody made him give it up.

Jeff, how'd you get all of this
information about these people?

I don't know. I guess
I just ask them. Why?

Honey, how many
times have I told you

that there are some questions
you just don't ask people.

Like what?

Well, I'm not going to
tell you or you'll ask them.

He already has.

Mr. Moody talks to me a
lot. He's a real great guy.

I don't doubt that.

I don't doubt that he plays
a better game of football,

he knows more about
lumber, he flies a plane

and he drives a car
more recklessly than I do.

However, I do say...

Honey, you, you sound
just a teensy bit jealous.

Jealous? Jealous of what?

I'm just getting a little tired

of hearing what a hero
this fellow is, that's all.

Now, mow the lawn!

What are you stopping for?

Oh, Dad, I'm
dying from the heat.

Can I have some lemonade?

You had a lemonade.

I know, but it's all
oozed out of me by now.

One lemonade is enough.

Gee, at the Moodys, they
let you have all that you want.

This is not the Moodys.

You said it.

Dad, that lawn mower needs
some adjusting or something.

All it needs is pushing.

But it's killing me.

It'll be in a good
cause. Back to work.

After all, he is only a child.

Do him good,
build his character.

If it doesn't wreck mine first.

- What's that?
- What?

Something stopped.

I don't hear the lawn mower.

Oh, that stopped
a half-hour ago.

Don't tell me he's finished.

Donna!

Donna, come out here, will you?

I want you to be my witness.

Exactly half the lawn.

He hasn't touched
the sides or the back.

What do you, you
heard what I told him.

Where is he?

You tell me.

Next door, probably,
admiring Moody's muscles,

listening to his
tales of derring-do.

Will you look at that?

- Darling, I— - With
my lawn mower, too!

How does he get the nerve?

Please, honey, I...

- Wait until I get my hands
on that kid— - No, now, please!

Don't make a scene in
front of the new neighbors.

Oh, I don't know a
better place to make one,

- they steal our kids, they
bribe them with lemonade.
- Shh. Shh.

Well, can I get him
to mow our lawn?

This football-talk muscle
man, Fearless Fosdick.

It's easy enough, you know, to
be a hero to other people's kids,

but try to live with
them day in and day out.

I have lived with them, I
know, but that's the way it is.

Well, it's not the
way it's going to be.

I've given Jeff his last chance.

When he comes back here...

Well, just stand
aside, that's all.

Stand aside!

Dad! Dad! Come quick, Dad!

Dad!

Jeff, I want a word with you...

Not now, Dad! They
need you over there.

Come on!

Oh, Jeff, what's wrong?

Mr. Moody, he fainted.

Well, aren't you
going to do something?

He fainted. The hero fainted?

Oh, Alex, you're a
doctor. It may be serious.

Dad, will you hurry up?
He's, he's out of cold!

- My bag, it's in my office.
- I 'll get it!

I'm Dr. Stone.

Oh, Doctor, I'm
so glad you came.

- You better just take it easy
a little— - No, no, I'm all right.

- until we find
out what's wrong.

Sit down.

- This is my dad. Here you go.
- Thank you, Jeff.

I'm sorry that they
dragged you over here.

I, I— Oh, we're awfully
grateful to you, Doctor.

Not at all. It's my business.

Tell me, what happened?

The silliest darn thing, but
it always gets me this way.

Well, it was Jeff here.

He was sharpening the
sickle and he cut his finger.

Well, let me see,
Jeff. Oh, it's nothing.

All I did was bleed
a little, that's all.

He gets hurt and I faint.

Can you beat it?

Darndest thing.

I, I just can't stand
the sight of blood.

Now, take it easy.

It doesn't bother Dad.

There's nothing
to be ashamed of.

It just affects some
people that way.

I'm sorry that I have to throw
a fit to get you over here,

but I'm sure glad that you came.

We've been anxious to meet you.

Well, your kids here are...

Oh, I, I'd like you to
meet my wife, uh, Eleanor,

uh, Dr. Stone.

- Oh, we've met.
- How do you do?

Well, this is my mom.

- Hello.
- Donna.

Hi.

We've, uh, been
hearing a lot about you,

haven't we, dear?

Uh, yes, we have.

I'm so glad we're
going to be neighbors.

Well, so am I.

As a matter of fact,
Alex was just saying we,

uh, we must invite the Moodys
over for supper sometimes.

Well, hey, how about tonight?

Well, sure.

Oh, well, now that you're here,

you must stay and
have supper with us.

Oh, we couldn't possibly.

- Why not, Mama?
- Yeah, why not?

Well, darling, I...

Well, why can't everybody
have supper with everybody?

Oh, please, we
have plenty of food.

Yeah, they've got loads.

But, uh, the doctor has plans...

- What plans?
- Atta boy, Dad.

Well, if you'll let me
help with supper, I...

Well, we'll all help,
even me. Come on, Mary!

Oh, come on. It's fine.

Sit down, Doc, make
yourself comfortable.

Oh, thank you.

You know, I sure envy
you that son of yours,

great boy,

quite a worker,
too, for a kid his age.

Yeah, yeah,

well, it's, uh, not quite the
same when he's at home.

Tell me, I, uh, hope he isn't
making too much of a pest

- of himself over here.
- Oh, no, no,

we love having him around.

You know, we don't
have any of our own.

I get such a kick out
of his enthusiasm.

Well, you should hear him.

He'll talk your head
off, if you let him.

Uh, just as a
matter of curiosity,

what does he talk about?

Well, don't you know?
He talks about you.

- He does?
- All the time.

Well, I hope you don't
believe everything he tells you.

All he does is boast about
what a great dad he's got,

how he wants to be a
doctor himself someday.

Well...

Here's some lemonade, you guys.

Well, Jeff, thank you.

Here you go, Dad.
Here you go, Mr. Moody.

Thanks.

Don't worry about the lawn, Dad.

You see, Mr. Moody, he
offered to adjust the lawn mower,

so I thought it
was only fair that,

well, I'm going over
there right now to do it,

- so don't worry.
- Hold on, hold on, relax.

Sit down and enjoy yourself.

Have some lemonade.

Is it OK?

Sure, sure, relax.
Sit down for a while.

We can mow the lawn any time.

Fine boy, even if I
do say so myself.

I don't know.

I just don't know.

Joe, what a thing to say.

Well, am I right, Doc?

You took the words
right out of my mouth.

Isn't he terrible?

I think he's nice.

Listen, when can you
two have dinner with us?

What's a good night?

Well, I'll tell you, Joe usually
bowls on Monday nights.

Oh, you bowl, Joe? Great.

Jeff, where are you going?

I better get over there and
do that lawn before it gets dark.

Well, what are you
worrying about?

Listen to them.

I know.

You know, I've never seen
them in such a good mood.

Yeah.

You ever noticed about parents,

how different they
are with neighbors,

always patting you on
the head and everything?

The minute they get you alone,

pow, back to normal.