05x28 - An Extraordinary Woman

[bunniefuu]

(orchestral music)

- [Narrator] Robert Young

and Jane Wyatt

with Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin

in Father Knows Best.

- Betty

- Coming

- Oh, you can set the table.

It's almost time foryour father to be here.

- Alright mother, soon as my nails dry.

- Hi, mommy.

- Oh, hello Duke.

- Dinner ready yet?

- Pretty soon, dear.

We're waiting for your father.

Oh, and by the way

the management requeststhat all baseball gear

be checked before entering dining room.

- Okay, gee.

- Oh!

- Ah!

- Well Jim, I didn't know you were here!

- I was deep in the jungles of Africa.

- Well, welcome back to civilization

- What a book this is, Margaret.

- It must be if you don't know whether

you're in Africa or Springfield.

- Written by a woman doctor.

It was all about herexperiences dealing with

the natives of Africa.

- African Darkness.

Where'd you get it, dear?

Came in the mail today.

I didn't order it.

I can't imagine who'd send it to me.

I do know this though:

once you start to read it, you can't put it down.

- You mean to say that

the doctor who wrote this book's a woman?

- She certainly is, bud.

Dr. M. L. Brown.

- I've never heard of her.

- Probably her first book.

- Why would anybodywant to spend their life

in the wilds of Africa?

- Maybe this woman figured the hunting's better there.

You know, a man isn't safe anywhere anymore?

- Well, the woman who wrote this book

is not trying to track down a prospective husband.

She's a doctor.

She's in Africa devoting her life

to making people well.

To educating them in themodern ways of medicine.

In fact she's the only person, man or woman,

who has dared to go into the interiors of the jungles

where the maniacal natives live.

- Who are they?

- You don't know the maniacal natives?

- Well, not intimately.

- They're purple people eaters, maybe.

- They happen tobe head hunters.

- Well in that case,

I must pay them a social call someday.

- You hadn't better mom,might lose your head!"

- It's your father's apparently lost his head, bud.

- Margaret, I don't think you realize

just what a remarkable and courageous woman Dr. Brown is.

- Well if I don't dear,it won't be your fault.

- Oh, I am impressed Jim.

Really, I am.

And because she's a woman

doing such a wonderful thing for humanity,

I'm even more impressed.

In fact, I'd like to know more about her background;

How she happened to become interested

in such a hazardous profession.

- Well I've been soengrossed in her story,

I haven't paid much attention to her history.

- Look inside the book jacket,

it always tells about the author there.

- You look.

I'm right in the middle of a river filled with crocodiles.

- For one thing, the initials M.L. stand for Mary Lou.

- We know a Mary Lou Brown in college.

- I know a Mary Lou Smith, callher Mary Lou Lou for short.

- She has all kinds of degrees.

- Makes the best corned beef sandwich in Springfield.

- Born in New York.

- Mary Lou Lou was born in Peoria.

- She went to New York University for two years,

and then when her familymoved abroad she went-

she went to Springfield College!

- Jim, it is the same Mary Lou!

- It can't be!

- That's why she sent you her book!

- Of course!

- What did she look like?

- She was uh, kind of brunette.

- Brunette?

Well, she was blonde, and beautiful.

She was also very talented and wealthy.

But she was rather unusual.

She was always collecting something or other like

rare paintings or old Indian relics.

- Why didn't she collect you, dad?

- Well, your mother hadalready collected me.

- According to this, she never married.

- She didn't?

Well, I don't understand that.

- Me neither.

- Well I don't know.

As I vaguely remember, she was always trying too hard.

A little too forceful for my tastes.

Of course, maybe that's why she's been so successful.

Mary Lou Brown.

The doctor.

Dr. M.L. Brown.

- Dr. Brown?

- Hmm?

Yes?

- I hope you don't mind, but

I'd love to have your autograph.

I don't mind.

I'm rather flattered that you'd want it.

I guess you know you'retaking a roundabout way

to get to California.

We still have four stops to make before Springfield

and we layover there for two hours.

- Yes, I know.

That's why I took this flight.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- You must havefriends in Springfield.

- I'm not sure.

After all, it's been a very long time

since I was there last.

People do change.

- I know they'll be delighted to see you, Dr. Brown.

- Perhaps.

(Jim whistles)

- Listen to this, Margaret:

So, It was with a deep prayer

that I pushed my way though the dense underbrush

which led to the small, barbaric village of Zana.

Mary Lou was on her way to help a little native boy,

had a dangerous fever.

I was prepared to secure the good will

of the leader of the tribe with gifts.

She certainly thought ofeverything, didn't she?

- She always did.

- I don't think you appreciate the

courage and daring this woman has.

I don't think you realize the danger

she encounters from day to day.

According to your insurance statistics,

one of the mosthazardous occupations is

that of an ordinary housewife.

- Honey if I didn't know you better,

I'd say you're a little bit jealous

which isn't like you at all.

- I'm not jealous.

I'm just tired of spending half a night battling my way

though the jungles of Africa

trying to take some barbaric headhunter's temperature.

If you want to take somebody's temperature, take mine.

It's boiling.

- Margaret.

- What?

- I'm sorry I kept you awake.

- That's alright, Jim.

- Just one thing puzzles me.

- What's that, Jim?

- How could I forget that Mary Lou was a beautiful blonde?

- And, did father read you the part where Dr. Brown

had to wrestle a panther barehanded until help came?

- He did.

- Was she like that in school, mother?

- I don't know, we didn't have any panthers in my past.

Just wolves.

- Mother!

I believe you're jealous.

- Betty,

tonight when you go out with Ralph,

I want you to stop and think how you'd feel

if he spent the whole evening praising some other girl

who was perhaps doing something that you can't do.

- Mommy, the hot water heater's making

an awful lot of noise again.

- Oh, that water heatergives us more trouble.

I better call a plumber.

- A plumber!

Don't be ridiculous.

Well, what would you do

if you were in the wilds of the jungle,

millions of miles from civilization

and this happened.

Well, I'd call a native plumber.

Just forget calling any kind of plumber.

If Mary Lou Brown can chop her way through a jungle

filled with man-eating tigers,

I guess Margaret Anderson can repair

an ordinary water heater.

With my bare hand.

There.

Maybe this will impress your father.

- Well it stoppedleaking, I'll say that.

- Well.

- Mother, how

how well did you know Dr. Brown?

- Oh, very well;

I guess you could evencall us friendly rivals.

- You mean over father?

- Oh, no.

Nothing like that.

I don't know why, though.

We were competitors in every other field and

I always lost.

- You?

Why?

- She was better than I.

- Well, how do you mean?

- Well,

For example:

we were both nominated for president of the student council.

It was something I wanted very much.

But, Mary won,

By two votes.

Go on, tell me more.

It was the same thing in sports.

Somehow, Mary Lou and I always ended up in the finals

playing against each other.

Mary Lou always won.

I trail behind, second best.

The last time I saw Mary Lou was

was the day before your father and I were married!

We'd invited most of our classmates to the wedding.

Mary Lou, however, had made a sudden decision

to take a trip to London.

She left the daywe were married.

We used to hear from her through friends,

and then somehow we lost track.

Now, after all these years, we hear about her again.

In spite of the fact thatwe're thousands of miles apart,

in a way we're

still competing.

- I bet if you'd chosento be a career woman,

you'd be just assuccessful as Dr. Brown.

- I don't know.

I'm afraid I'm a born housewife.

- Let me see, I think you'd be-

an explorer, or I know,a big game hunter.

- At least.

- I can see it now: Margaret Anderson, explorer!

Adventurist!

The first woman to inv*de the den

of the only living dinosaur!

- Dinosaur?

I'm not that old.

Oh, this one was leftover from the dark ages.

You approach the opening of his cave-

Come on.

You approach the opening of his cave,

- My trusty r*fle in hand, I start inside.

- Did you see his eyes?

- And I'm shaking.

But now, he sees food.

And he'll eat anything, even me!

- So, you protect yourself.

Ya aim!

Come out, you ugly monster!

Fire, mother!

- Boom!

- That got him!

- Hold it, Dr. Anderson.

- I shall go down in history.

- Margaret!

What one Earth?

- I just bagged my first dinosaur, dear.

and this is my first safari into the jungles of Africa.

- We um-

thought we'd surprise you.

- I'm sorry you caught us at such a mess, Mary Lou.

- We're usually through by noon.

- We don't usually entertain in the kitchen.

- Well, at least the chairs are right-side up in here.

- Well, it's a treat forme to be in the kitchen.

Thank you.

- Oh, no!

Don't sit down there.

Wouldn't want you to sit on my spark plugs.

- It's safe now, Mary Lou.

- Thank you.

- I didn't know a lady doctor could be so pretty, Dr. Brown.

- Why, thank you Kathy.

- Why don't you go outside and play, kitten.

- I don't want to, I might miss some'n.

- Oh please Jim, let her stay.

- Alright

- How about, have youhad breakfast Mary Lou?

- Oh yes, I ate on the plane.

I'd love some coffee though.

- Oh, I'll get some!

- It's on the stove, Jim.

It should be hot.

- Hot!

(Jim whistles)

- Boil away!

- Dear, I was so busy cleaning

I must've forgotten to turn off the burner.

I'll make some more.

- We're out of coffee, mother.

I'll run next door and borrow some.

- Don't go to any trouble Margaret.

Oh, it's no trouble, really.

- Of course not, we'll have some in no time.

- Do you know any headhunters personally, Dr. Brown?

- Well Kathy, you don't really have time

to get to know them personally.

- Our kitchen isn't usually this upset Mary Lou,

but the hot water heater broke down and I had to fix it.

Margaret, you fixed the hot water heater?

- Yes.

- I don't think you should tamper with

something that dangerous, honey.

- I hardly consider the hot water heater dangerous Jim.

- I bet it wouldn't seemvery dangerous to you,

huh Dr. Brown?

- Something I've never encountered, Bud.

- Sure hope mommy did a good job fixing it.

I keep my bugs in back of it.

- Here's the coffee, mother.

- Oh, thank you Betty.

- What's that?

- The water heater.

- Oh, no!

- My grasshoppers!

My grasshoppers!

- Oh Kathy, don't go near that, you'll hurt yourself.

Bud, take Kathy to the other room.

Margaret, get a mop, it's leaking all over.

- Mary Lou, you'd bettergo in the other room.

- Yeah, or get a canoe.

- Looks like you hit therainy season, Mary Lou.

Bud, call a plumber!

- Okay.

Mary Lou, wouldn't you like to go upstairs and relax a bit

while I try and get a little organized?

I'd like another chanceto welcome you properly.

- Come on Dr. Brown, youcan relax in my room.

- That sounds like a wonderful idea.

- I'm sure I can help best by staying out of the way.

- Hello?

Certainly.

-

- I'll take care of that, Jim.

- And as soon as you can.

- Oh no, I'll-

- Right now, I'd appreciate if you'd put the furniture

in the living room back in place.

- A guy said he'd be right over.

- Bud, kindly help your father.

And I want you to change your clothes

and come down looking like a gentleman.

- But, I don't-

Okay mom.

- Kathy, that goes for you too.

- But, my gra-

I just left.

- Honey.

- You might at lease have called me, Jim.

- I meant to honey, but believe me.

It just never occurred to me that you'd be-

that is uh-

well, I certainly didn'texpect to come home

and find you stalking dinosaurs in the living room.

If it were anybody but Mary Lou Brown, I wouldn't mind.

- Well honey, we don't have to show off in front of her.

- I'm not trying to showoff in front of her.

I'm merely trying to present an accurate picture

of what our home is really like.

Mary Lou has been successful in everything she's done

since I've known her.

And I've always been the one who

always came in second place.

Today, I refuse to come in second place.

I'll show her that I'm as good a housewife and mother

in my home as she is a doctor in her jungle.

And furthermore, the only reason I tried

to fix that hot water heater was because

I was trying to show you I was resourceful.

- Honey, I think everything you do is perfect.

You know that.

As far as the hot waterheater is concerned,

if I'd wanted a plumber in the family, I'd have married one.

- At least that might'vebeen more exciting

than marrying an ordinary housewife.

(knocks on door)

- [ Margaret] Mary Lou?

- Come in, Margaret.

- Well, I think everything is practically

back to normal now.

I feel like a new person myself.

Betty talked me into a bubble bath.

You'd think that isn't a luxury for me.

- Cream or sugar?

- No, black, thank you.

Thank you.

- Tell me, how did you ever happen to become a doctor, and

and practice Africa of all places?

Somehow I supposed you'd marry a

a very wealthy, titled Prince Charming

and settle down in a small villa on the riviera.

- I wanted to do something different.

- You certainly did that.

- I know.

You're wondering why I made a special point

to go out of my way to visit you in Springfield.

- Well, I

I must admit, I

I am curious.

- It's a little bit like reading a story.

I always like toknow the ending.

You see, all through school, you were more or less

my idea of what I'd like to be.

- I was?

Why?

- Because you always seemed to know

the true value of everything.

You were so confident.

I had to keep winning tournaments and elections

to prove myself.

I had to win to be happy.

When you lost to tennis, you didn't seem to really mind.

You enjoyed the game for the game itself.

You were like that about everything.

Everything to me is a challenge.

I'm not happy unless Iconquer whatever it is.

I can't stand losing.

- I can't recall ever seeing you lose anything.

- Yes I did.

- Jim?

- I'm sure Jim didn't know how you felt.

- I did my best to let him know.

You get a lot of time to think in the places I've worked.

You can read just so much and listen to records

until they all begin to sound alike.

So, I used to play a game.

I'd think of all the people that I knew in school

and then I'd try to guess what happened to them.

I used to think about you and Jim mostly.

I wondered if the storybook romance turned out

as beautifully as it started.

- And?

- I knew the answer to that

before I ever stepped into your home.

Coming back from the airport,

all Jim talked about was you.

He said you were the most

extraordinary woman he's ever known.

- Jim said that?

- He said that the one thing that he always admired

in anyone is theirability to do a job well

regardless of what it is.

He said that the way you goabout being a wife and a mother

makes it an enviable art.

- Mom?

- Yes, Bud?

- Do I look ravishing?

- You look beautiful.

- Father says you can come downstairs now.

He's got most of thefurniture back in place.

He says there's just one thing wrong though, mommy.

- What's that?

- That he didn't come out even.

- What?

- He's got one end table left over.

- Well, tell your fatherwe'll be right down.

- What about the end table?

- Well, don't worry, because

everything's in it's right place.

- No

- Alright mother.

- No, he's just got it there, you know?

- Come on, come on.

- What's he gonna do with it?

- It's fine.

- You know Margaret,

you have the world at your feet.

You have everything any woman could possibly want.

- I know.

Once in a great while,

not very often,

I forget that.

And then something happened to remind me.

- And uh, you don't always have

to come in first place to win.

Oh Margaret, uh

I know I don't have to ask, but

well after all it was so long ago.

You won't tell him, will you?

- That would be the last thing I would do, Mary Lou.

You see, I wouldn't want him to know

what he'd missed in not getting you.

- I thought Dr. Brown would never get on that plane.

She must've said goodbye at least a million times.

She's probably not too anxious

to get back to those headhunters.

- She is a remarkable woman, isn't she?

- Mm hmm.

Almost as remarkable as you.

- She kissed me goodbye.

- Yeah, she even kissed me, too.

In front of everybody.

- Oh I don't know whyyou should complain Bud,

she kissed me and I rather enjoyed it.

First time I've everbeen kissed by a doctor.

- Did you find your friends alright, Dr. Brown?

- Yes, I did.

- Had they changed very much?

- No.

They're just as they were the last time I saw them.

Wonderful, wonderful people.

- I suppose you'll be starting a new story now Dr. Brown.

- Oh, no I don't think so.

You see, I just finished an old one.

(orchestral music)