03x22 - The Partridge Connection

[bunniefuu]

♪ Hello, world, hear
the song that we're singin'

♪ Come on, get happy

♪ A whole lot of lovin'
is what we'll be bringin'

♪ We'll make you happy

♪ We had a dream
we'd go travelin' together

♪ And spread a little lovin'
then we'd keep movin' on

♪ Somethin' always happens
whenever we're together

♪ We get a happy feelin'
when we're singin' a song

♪ Travelin' along there's
a song that we're singin'

♪ Come on, get happy

♪ A whole lot of lovin'
is what we'll be bringin'

♪ We'll make you happy

♪ We'll make you happy

♪ We'll make you happy ♪

Mr. Phelps, could
you help me, please.

I'll be right with
you, Mrs. Fromacher.

Cincinnati Whizzers!
How much do we have left?

Um, I've cents.

Wait, I've got some money.

Great. Now we have cents.

I don't like to carry
large sums of money.

Well, I guess we can
forget about the yo-yos.

Not necessarily.

Wait a minute,
you can't do that.

I just did.

It's easy. Go on.
Phelps ain't watching.

But I... Chicken?

I could take one
anytime I feel like it.

I just don't feel in
the yo-yo mood.

Let's face it, some guys
just don't have what it takes.

Okay, now what?

We make our getaway. Come on.

Danny?

Yes, sir?

Could you come here a moment?

I think I'll get a
little fresh air. Bye.

Mrs. Fromacher's trying to decide
on a present for her grandson,

and he's just about your age.

So we were wondering whether
you'd rather have a boomerang

or a Cincinnati Whizzer.

Oh, a boomerang. I
hate Cincinnati Whizzers.

I wouldn't take one
if you gave it to me.

You're quite sure, young man?

Positive.

Kids my age hate yo-yoing.

It's too tangly.

Well, I'd love to stay
around and talk to you,

but I'm late for dinner.

"Partridges honored. For the
first time in this city's history,

"there are six recipients of the San Pueblo
Citizenship Award. The Partridge family.

"In addition, the chamber
of commerce pointed out that

"Keith Partridge deserves special
merit for his good looks, charm, wisdom..."

And vivid imagination.

Give me that.

"The awards dinner will
be held this Friday night

"followed by a special
performance by the Partridge Family."

Hi, Danny.

Um, hi.

Where have you
been? It's almost :.

Till : I was in school. From
: to :, I was at the park.

A lot of people saw me there.

From : to :, I
walked to Punky's house.

From : till now I listened
to records, seven of them.

Would you like
to know the titles?

Couldn't you be a
little more specific?

Sounds like a police report.

I just wanted you to know
where I was, that's all.

Well, I better get upstairs
and wash my hands.

I'll leave the door open
so you can hear me.

Danny?

Yeah, Mom?

Is there anything
else you'd like to say?

Say? No, what's to say?

Well, I better get upstairs.
Don't want to be late for dinner.

Was it my imagination, or is
he acting stranger than usual?

He was acting
stranger than usual.

Well?

Better not press him. It'll
come out sooner or later.

Well, to me, love is total.

It's a direct communication
between two people.

The key word is honesty.

Right. When you love someone,
you know you can trust them.

That's another
big part of it, trust.

Yes, but you have to earn
that. You just can't take it.

Sure you can. Haven't you
ever heard of stolen kisses?

Cute, Keith.

Mom, when was the first
time you were in love?

Oh, I guess I must
have been about nine.

Tommy Miller walked me home
from school. We stopped in the park,

and he'd just started to
carve our initials in a tree,

and a policeman
came up and caught us.

All right, I can't
take it anymore.

Milking me with your
slanted questions.

Keith, with that
suspicious look on his face.

You've known all the time!

Known what?

You wanted me to
confess? Okay, I confess.

I stole it from
Phelps' drugstore.

Congratulations.
Your trick worked.

Excuse me.

I think someone's
waiting to be interrogated.

Our trick worked?

Danny?

Do you want to tell
me why you did it?

I don't know.

It must have been inflation.

I mean, the price of yo-yos has
skyrocketed right through the ceiling.

You better try again.

Okay. Money wasn't the reason.

It must have been the
pressures of school.

I mean, it's not like
when you were a kid.

They use TV now... Danny.

'Cause Punky Lazaar
called me chicken.

Do you think that's a reason to
do things? 'Cause you're dared?

No.

I'm sorry.

Danny, I'm afraid saying you're
sorry just isn't good enough this time.

I should take it back to
Mr. Phelps and tell him I stole it.

Will you come with me?

If you want me to.

We'll go tomorrow after school.

Oh, Mrs. Partridge, Danny. I'll
be with you in just one second.

That's okay. Take your time.

Now, what can I
do for you today?

Well, can I talk to
you for a minute?

Sure, Danny,
what's on your mind?

Oh, not much. How's business?

Fine. Couldn't be better.

That's nice.

Do you remember when I
was in here the other day?

Yes.

Well, I sort of took
something without paying for it.

As a matter of fact, I
sort of stole something.

Here.

I'm sorry.

I'll pay for it if you want
and not even keep it.

It takes a big man to admit
when he's made a mistake,

and a bigger one to correct it.

I'm sorry and I'll
never do it again.

I'm sure you won't.

Thank you, Mr. Phelps.

You've got a good boy
there, Mrs. Partridge.

I know.

It was hard, but I'm
a better man for it.

Yeah, I think that'll work for
the bridge. Now, for the chorus,

I think we can take that song that
we heard last night from the 's.

Okay, I think that
would work. Okay.

You can do that and still
look me straight in the eye?

What's that supposed to mean?

Why steal songs?

With a little more work,
you can keep your integrity.

Look, I know what you're
doing. I've been there myself.

Danny, shouldn't you be down
at the jail giving away Bibles?

Two days ago, I would
have laughed at it, too.

But you've got to stop your
dishonest ways before it's too late.

Danny...

Look, I know it takes a
big man to do what I did.

But try it. It's amazing
how good you'll feel.

I know how good I'd feel if we
could drop this whole conversation.

Okay.

If you want me to
drop it, I'll drop it.

Good.

Now, I think we should
change the tempo here and...

Did you know that Abe Lincoln once
walked miles to return a penny?

And George Washington said,
"Honesty is the best policy."

Are you through?

George and Abe.
That's where it's at.

Remember, the
squirrel that steals a nut

eats alone.

I'm gonna k*ll him.

Thou shalt not...

It takes a lot of courage to do
what I did, Punky. It really does.

Yeah, I could imagine.

No, I don't think you
can. You had to be there.

I met the fury of Mr. Phelps
head-on. But was I scared?

Yes.

You bet I was.
But I told the truth,

and I'm a new man for it.

Terrific.

Hi, Mr. Phelps.

Here I am, ready to make a
rather sizable purchase for my mom.

What can I do for you, Danny?

I'd like the family-size
bottle of hair care shampoo.

Coming up.

Boy, it feels great to be able
to order a bottle of shampoo

with a clear conscience.

Yeah, Danny, you're
right. You really got to me.

I'm never gonna steal again.

After today. Punky, wait!

It's for my mother's birthday.

Yeah, but you don't have to
steal it. Make her something.

A potholder. Mothers
go gaga over potholders.

Hey, what's that you
put in your pocket?

Me? Nothing. I've got nothing.

All right, boys, follow me.

Mr. Phelps, honest,
I didn't do anything.

Then how come you sent me to get
the shampoo? So I wouldn't see, huh?

After what you
said the other day,

I'm shocked that you'd
encourage a friend to steal.

Mr. Phelps, he didn't...

As for you, I saw another yo-yo missing
and I have a good idea where it went.

I don't think I want the two of
you coming in here anymore.

Mr. Phelps, he only did it
for his mother's birthday.

I'll wish her many happy
returns when I call her.

Both your names
will be on these cards.

They'll be on record
in my file from now on.

Yes, Mr. Phelps.

I see.

Thank you for calling.

Goodbye.

What's the matter, Mom?
That was Mr. Phelps.

It seems that Danny's involved
in stealing from the store again.

I just don't understand
this, you know.

After all that boy's
been through.

What are you gonna do now?

Well, the first thing I'll do is wait
and hear what Danny has to say.

I'll get it, Mom.

Hello?

Yes, she is. Just a minute.

Mom, it's for
you. It's the police.

Hello?

Mrs. Partridge? This is Sergeant
Donakovsky down at the rd precinct.

I believe we have your son here.

Danny? What happened?

Nothing. He hasn't
done anything, really.

But he's confessed to everything
he's ever thought about doing or may do.

We've been trying
to get him to go home,

but he says this is his home.

He wants us to lock
him up to protect society.

I'll be right down, Sergeant.

All right, Danny,
what's this all about?

I'm no good. You've
raised a loser.

Danny, I don't think...

Mom, I can prove it.

What about the time I kept
the change from the movies?

When was that?

Last Saturday, seven cents!

It's a pattern, Mom. Yesterday
change, today yo-yos,

tomorrow getaway cars,
faces in the night, loose women.

Sit down here. You still haven't
told me what happened today.

Mr. Phelps caught Punky taking
some perfume for his mom's birthday.

I didn't do anything.

I even tried to
talk him out of it.

That's the truth.

I believe you.

Mr. Phelps didn't.

He wrote my name on a
card. And now I've got a record.

Honey, you have to try and
understand Mr. Phelps' position.

I mean, you did
steal from him once.

Yeah, but I took it back
and I said I was sorry.

Saying you're sorry doesn't
always erase the things you do.

When he caught
you and Punky, well...

I guess every family has
to have a black sheep.

I always thought ours was Keith.

Danny, you're not a black sheep.

Just because Mr. Phelps
has one opinion

doesn't mean everybody
else feels that way.

Think of those
who know you best.

Those who know me best have probably
been hiding their yo-yos for years.

Danny, you're feeling
sorry for yourself.

Do you think your brothers and sisters
trust you any less because of this?

Well, if they don't,
maybe they should.

Okay, that's go. Where's Danny?

He said he'd sneak
in after we started.

So he wouldn't have to face us.

Mom, this is getting ridiculous.

The awards dinner is three
days off and we need to rehearse.

We've got to do something. He's
been moping around for four days.

One of my shirts got
into his drawer by mistake,

and he returned it with a
six-page letter of apology.

All he does is listen to
that album he bought.

The Sounds of Loneliness
by the San Quentin Glee Club.

This is a very
difficult time for him.

Since this whole thing happened,

he's convinced he's
destined to be a criminal.

Have you talked to him?

Nothing I say seems to help.

He feels he's a
disgrace to the family.

He even wants to change his
name to protect the innocent.

Sounds worse than I thought.

It is.

Danny has a real problem.

And it's up to us to solve it.

Now, there must be some way for us to
convince Danny that he's not a criminal.

We could try being
real nice to him.

He'd know that was a trick.

Why don't we just
treat him normally?

What kind of a plan is that?

Keith, let's face it, we'll never
convince him that he's not a criminal.

He's got to convince himself.

That's it.

What's it?

We'll help Danny
convince himself.

Temptation is the answer.

What are you talking about?

Look, Danny's no criminal.

So, we'll set up a few things
around the house for him to steal.

When he overcomes
the temptation,

he'll realize he's all right.

I don't know. Didn't work
too well for Adam and Eve.

Yeah, well, it will
work for Danny.

It'll give him a chance
to prove himself.

We know why Danny
thinks he's a criminal.

Oh? Why?

Because he is a criminal.

We should put
locks on the doors.

We should put locks on Danny.

Okay, what's this all about?

Well, we wanted Danny to prove
to himself that he wasn't a criminal.

So we planted things around
the house for him to steal,

knowing full well
that he wouldn't.

But he did. He took everything.

Kids, don't you see
how wrong that was?

Testing him like that
could only make him want...

If you were going to test me,

at least you could
have been more clever.

Keith, here is your wallet.

Laurie, here is your wallet.

And, Chris, here is your wallet.

And, Tracy, here's
your wet-a-bye doll.

I didn't have a wallet.

Danny, they were
only trying to help.

It was okay when other
people didn't trust me,

but even the Capone
family trusted Al.

It was bad enough when he thought
the whole world didn't trust him.

Now, he thinks his whole
family doesn't, either.

Chris, get back up there
and change those shoes.

We're going to an awards
dinner, not a basketball game.

Aw, Mom.

You heard me. Is
Danny ready yet?

I don't know, Mom. I
didn't see him upstairs.

Hello?

Hello, Fleameyer's garage.

This is Reuben Kincaid, and I was wondering
if I could bring my car in tomorrow.

Reuben, this is Shirley.
You've dialed the wrong number.

No, no, I think it was the brakes
and I don't want to wait till Monday...

Yeah, hold on.

Danny, would you run into the other
room and get me a pencil and paper?

Reuben, Danny's there?

Yeah.

Yeah, Shirley, he says he's
not going to the awards dinner.

He doesn't feel he deserves
to be part of the family anymore.

What was that, Fred?

Reuben, you have to get
him to the auditorium by :.

Well, I don't know.

Reuben, you have
to get him there.

Well, I'll try, Fred, but
I'm sure it's the brakes.

Thanks. Bye.

Well, it'll be a cold day in June
before I ever bring my car to you.

And Detroit will
hear about this.

Boy, the nerve of that guy.

Was Mom mad?

Mom? What are you talking about?

Let's face it.

Sir Laurence Olivier you're not.

Yeah.

But, Danny, they really want you
to go with them to that award dinner.

I don't belong there.
I'd only disgrace them.

Let's face it, I'm a bad seed.

Well, maybe you're right.

I mean, only a bad seed would
let his family down like this.

The award is for all of you.

They've earned it. It's
their moment, not mine.

Danny, what if there was a
way that you could share it

without anyone
knowing you're there?

Thanks, but you're a
manager, not a magician.

And so, without further ado,
it is my great honor to present

this year's Good
Citizenship Award

to a group who have made
San Pueblo a nice place to visit

and an even
better place to live.

The Partridge Family.

They make a nice
family, don't they?

Accepting the award is a
fine mother of a fine family,

Mrs. Shirley Partridge.

Thank you very much,
but I can't accept this.

We took a vote on who would
accept the award, and I lost.

In fact, the vote was unanimous
for another member of the family

who best knows what
good citizenship is all about.

You know, you can find the
meanings of the words "truth,"

"honesty" and "trust"
in the dictionary,

but they mean so much more when you
find them through personal experience.

And now I'd like to ask the person we
chose to come up and accept the award.

Mr. Danny Partridge.

Well, go on up there. You don't
want to keep your family waiting.

Mom, for the first time in my
life, I don't know what to say.

Just say what's in
your heart, honey.

I'm very proud to be
a part of this family.

It's nice to know you have people
around you who care, no matter what.

Thank you.

♪ I don't care where
you've been before

♪ And I don't care
what you've done

♪ Just care that
you're here with me

♪ And I'm the one

♪ I don't care if you've known
a hundred others in the past

♪ I don't care
if I'm not the first

♪ I just want to be the last

♪ Leave your pride
♪ Right outside

♪ Come on in

♪ Whoa, my, my, my sweet baby

♪ I don't care what they say

♪ I don't care if they say
you've never been a lady

♪ I don't care if they say
your past is kind of shady

♪ I only know I love you
so and I want you for my baby

♪ So let them put you down

♪ I won't march in that parade

♪ I don't want to hear about
mistakes you might've made

♪ I don't have the time to
keep my mind on yesterday

♪ And I don't
have the time to play

♪ The games those people play

♪ Throw away
yesterday ♪ Come on in

♪ Whoa, my, my, my sweet baby

♪ I don't care where you've been

♪ Whoa, my, my, my sweet baby

♪ I don't care
where you've been ♪

Boy, it all seems so silly now.

But at the time, it
was a nightmare.

I guess I was running scared.

Yeah, well, I gotta tell you,
I'm awfully glad it's over.

I don't think I could have taken
another one of your confessions.

Too honest? Too boring.

Well, I think Danny's learned a
very important lesson out of this.

And I think it's something
Punky will never forget either.

Mom, did you ever have to learn
that lesson through experience?

Yeah, did you
ever steal anything?

Me? Not that I can
recall. No, I don't think so.

You sure?

Well, maybe once.