05x09 - Betty, the Pioneer Woman

[bunniefuu]

(dramatic music)

- [Voiceover] Robert Young

and Jane Wyatt,

with Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin,

in Father Knows Best.

(intense music)

(laughing)

(whooping) (crying)

(beating) - Oh, big Chief Hollow-Head.

Bud, the kitchen's no place for a w*r dance, vamoose.

- I'm just gettingready for Founder's Day.

All the guys in our class are going to be in the big parade.

- I don't know, sometimes I think Founder's Day

gets bigger and morecomplicated every year.

- [Jim] No welcome for the weary breadwinner?

- We're in the kitchen, dear.

- Hi, honey. - Hello.

(shouting)

- How.

- Dad, this is for the Founder's Day parade.

- Oh.

- Yeah, these bongos aresupposed to be Indian tom-toms.

- Well, you look real enough

to stand in front of a cigar store.

- Thanks, dad.

- Bud's certainly throwinghimself into the frontier mood.

Mm, pork chops! - Mother, father!

- Run for the hills, partner,

the stampede is a-heading this way.

- Oh, it's been the most marvelous day!

- Whoa, Nellie, steady, girl.

- I just don't know where to begin.

- Well, you can set the table.

- Oh! - Oh, yourself, pale face.

- Well, anyway, it all goes back to ,

when Jonas P. Wentworthand his wife Agatha

left New England and came down the Fox River on a raft

as far as Willow Tree Creek.

- Willow Tree Creek, I used to swim there as a boy.

- Young Jonas and his wife, with no money for a horse,

put all their worldly goods in a hand cart,

and side-by-side, they dragged it from Willow Tree Creek

to the track of this wildernessfor grueling miles,

hacking their waythrough the underbrush,

wading across treacherous streams,

and now, more than a hundred years later,

the chamber of commercehas decided to present

the Wentworth Trek as part

of this year's Founder'sDay celebration.

- Well, it's different,I'll say that.

- The chamber of commerce left it up to the college.

And I'm in charge of the project!

- Well, very good for you! - Congratulations, princess.

It's wonderful.

- I have to choose somerugged young couple

to follow the same routeJonas and Agatha did,

and under the same hardships.

Father, this is going to be the best Founder's Day

Springfield ever had.

- Naturally, with you cracking the whip

over the covered wagon set.

- Do you have any ideawho you're going to get

to represent Jonas and his wife Agatha?

- I do, I came up with an inspiration.

- Oh?

- This tintype is Jonas P. Wentworth and his wife Agatha.

- Oh, well, who's this?

- [Betty] This is TomWentworth, a direct descendant,

Jonas' great grandson.

He's a student at Springfield College.

- Well!

- He's the boy I pickedto make the hike!

- Good for you! - A wonderful idea.

Young Wentworth following in the footsteps

of his pioneer ancestor.

- He's going to use the samecart as his great grandparents.

We're borrowing it from theSpringfield Historical Society.

- Well, then, it's all set.

- Practically, he's coming over tonight

to iron out a few details.

(doorbell ringing)

I'll get it.

- Looks like Wagon Wheels Wentworth

is heading into the ambush! (laughing)

- Good evening.

- Won't you come in? - Thank you.

- Oh, father, I'd like you to meet Tom Wentworth.

- Oh, it's a great pleasure, Tom.

- How do you do, Mr. Anderson? - And this is my brother, Bud.

- Hi. - Hello, Bud.

- Make yourself at home, Tom.

- Shall we go inthe living room?

- Come along, Bud. (laughing)

- Sit down. - Thank you.

- Shall we get down to business?

- Sure.

You know, this girl that's

supposed to help me pull the cart?

- Uh huh?- Do we really need her?

I mean, why can't I do it alone?

- Because it wouldn't beauthentic, that's why.

Oh, after all, Jonas P.Wentworth made the trip

with his wife, your great grandmother, Agatha.

- Let's face it, no college cutie could stand the grind.

They don't make women like my great grandmother anymore.

That was another era.

Pioneer life was hard and basic.

Girls had to be women in those days.

Well, now, I've got nothing against the modern girl

when it comes to modern living.

She's attractive, and dresses well.

(laughing)- Thanks loads.

- And I'll admit, she knows how to use a can opener.

She can cook a frozen dinner,

and toss plates into anautomatic dishwasher.

She is coddled, over-protected.

In fact, she's about as soft as a three-minute egg.

- I thought your guest might like a little refreshment.

- Mother, may I present Tom Wentworth?

- How do you do, Mrs. Anderson?

- Mr. Wentworth.

If anyone wants to know,

these cookies are homemade.

(laughing)

- They're pretty good.

Now, where were we?

Anyway, take my great-grandmother--

- I know.

She held off the Apaches with one hand

while she plowed thesouth with the other.

(laughing) She made soap,

rolled cloth, churned butter--

- I'm glad you see my point.

Man is still the hunter, the warrior, the breadwinner.

It's woman who's changed. - Well!

I've never heard such rubbish in my entire life!

Talk about ego.

You have a bump of male superiority

as high as a camel's back.

- [Tom] You asked me to go trekking across,

have you ever swung an ax? - Well, who has to trek?

- Well, this girl--

- [Betty] The women didn't invent the cars, you know.

We don't have to walk.

- [Tom] Well, if a womanweren't so soft, a man wouldn't

have had to-- - I have a good mind

to march in the living room and take my cookies back.

(laughing)

- You and your sophomoric ideas!

They're nothing but an idiotic echo from the dark ages,

the senseless ravings of a medieval mind!

- Look.

Have you actually tried to get a girl

to go along on this safari with me?

Have you told her that she would have

to pick up her tinted toenails

and lay them down againfor tough miles,

that she would have to help me

drag a heavy cart over hill and dale?

- Well, I sort of mentioned it to a couple of girls and

they said they wanted to think it over.

- Oh, sure they do.

It all bears out what I've been saying.

Women just aren't what they used to be.

- Oh, fiddle-faddle. (laughing)

You come back tomorrow night and I'll show you a girl

who looks like she wasborn in a covered wagon.

- Okay.

When I see her,

I'll believe it.(dramatic music)

- I wish I'd been there.

I'd have told that fugitive from a mule train

a thing or two.- Me, too.

- I'm getting pretty tired of hearing

about his great grandmother.

You'd think she was a cross

between Annie Oakley and Joan of Arc.

We'll show Mr. Wentworth who's soft.

- Now that's the old fight!

Now I'm going to pickone of you to be Agatha.

I don't want to play favorites,so we'll do it the fair way.

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo--- Wait a minute.

Did you say miles?

- Dragging that heavy cart in the hot sun?

- I just spent a fortuneon my new hair-do.

(laughing)

- Thank you, daughters of the pioneers.

- Tom Wentworth's coming over tonight and I don't envy her.

She couldn't get a girl to take part

in that Founder's Day marathon.

- Uh oh. (doorbell ringing)

Young Mr. Wentworth will never let her hear the end of that.

- Oh, good evening, sir.- Come in.

Uh, go right on in.

Oh, Betty, it's Tom Wentworth.

- [Betty] Be there in a minute!

- How are you, Mrs. Anderson? - Won't you sit down?

- Thank you.

(sighing)

(chuckling)

(laughing)

Oh, I wonder what your daughter's going to say now.

She was so sure she could find a girl to take the trip.

- Well, if Betty had only had a little more time--

- Oh, come on, Mrs. Anderson,

we know she turned the campus upside-down.

She knocked herself out.

I told her the modern girl was a cream puff

and this proves it.

- I don't think it proves anything of the kind.

- It was character andcourage that made women

like my great grandmother Agatha so different.

- I think you'll find the so-called modern girl

has her share of fortitude and,

(laughing) and self-sacrifice.

- I could believe that, Mrs. Anderson,

if your daughter had been able to find one girl

willing to face a few hardships.

(gentle music) - Betty!

- Princess!

- What's going on?

- Well, the search is over.

I found someone to make thetrek with you on Founder's Day.

- Yeah, where'd you find her?

- Well, you'll never guess.

I was looking for her everywhere,

and all the time, shewas right here at home.

(laughing)

(awkward music)

Oh, no wonder the pioneer women looked so grim.

It wasn't the Indians or the hardships,

it was getting into these clothes.

- Oh, relax, dear, you'll be worn out before you start

on this trek. - Man, this is the wildest.

Once, (laughing)

once again, it's Founder's Day in Springfield,

highlighted by a special event

when two young college students,

Betty Anderson and Tom Wentworth,

will repeat the trek that led

to the founding of our city years ago.

Will they make it?

Will history repeat itself? (doorbell ringing)

- Well, you're on the front page.

- I guess we're making quite a splash.

- [Jim] I'll get it.

- Yes, but remember, Agatha, the splash of today

is the drip of tomorrow.

- Betty, there's a reporter here to see you.

(laughing)

I didn't realize my daughter was a celebrity.

Oh, Betty, this is Mr. Jennings

of the Springfield Star News.

- How do you do, Mr. Jennings? - How do you do?

- He's covering the Founder's Day activities for his paper.

- Oh, won't you sit down, Mr. Jennings?

- Thank you.

I know you won't have too much time

for an interview right now.

- That's right, I'm expecting the official car any moment.

They're taking Tom Wentworth and me to the starting point,

Willow Tree Creek. - Willow Tree Creek.

You know, Mr. Jennings, I used to swim there as a boy.

(laughing) - Well, that's nice.

Now, I'll be at the starting line to see you off

and to report your progress on the trek,

but I wanted to ask youa few questions first.

- Okay.

- Miss Anderson, you're going to accompany Tom Wentworth

on a very rugged -mile hike,

dragging a heavy cart cross country.

(scoffing) Why?

- Well, because it's part of the Founder's Day program,

and it's my responsibility.

- There couldn't be anotherreason, say a more personal one?

- Well, Tom Wentworth's great grandmother Agatha did it.

And I wanted to show him that

the spirit of the pioneer woman was still alive.

You see, he takes a pretty dim view of the modern girl.

- As I know, I talked to him yesterday.

Frankly, Tom doesn't think you're going to make it.

- What if she doesn't, this isn't a contest.

It's just a little charade

to honor the founders of our city.

- I'm afraid, Mr. Anderson,

that this little charade has become quite a big deal.

Young Wentworth's blastrocked the whole town.

The honor and the gloryof Springfield womanhood

seems to rest uponyour daughter's arches.

(doorbell ringing) - Oh, nonsense.

Excuse me.

- The hard glare of the spotlight today

sought out the slim figure of a pretty college girl.

- For me?

Remember you carry the banner of the modern girl.

Hold it high.

We're behind youto the last man.

Signed, the Ladies Auxiliary. (laughing)

- For Pete's sake, you'd think she was going off to w*r.

(honking)

- There's the chamber of commerce committee.

(shouting)

- Hurry up, Betty!

- All right.

(dramatic music)

- From Mrs. Simmons, beef broth.

- From Mrs. Miller at the drug store.

- Wentworth Landing.

From this historic point, Jonas P. Wentworth

and his wife, Agatha, throwing their worldly goods

behind them in a cart, plunged bravely into the wilderness.

After many hardships, they reached the present site of

Springfield, and today, arehonored as the city's founders.

Well, in behalf of thishonor, as the mayor,

may I commend you both for this worthy endeavor,

which will do much to remind us of our pioneer heritage.

Good luck, and a successful journey.

We'll see you in Springfield!

- Good luck!- Lots of luck!

(adventurous music)

- You must be proud tohave great grandparents

like Jonas and Agatha. (sighing)

- What is this, the Lewis and Clark expedition?

- Well, I think my family was very thoughtful.

- All this junk for just measly miles.

Look, why don't you just stay here?

Frankly, I don't think you're going to make it anyway.

- You'd love that, wouldn't you?

I'll finish this trek if I have to walk in on my elbows!

(laughing)

- Well, uh, shades of Jonas and Agatha.

Come on, you two, mush, mush, I've got to call my paper.

- Okay, Calamity Jane, you asked for it.

(adventurous music)

(clapping) - Good luck!

- Hey, wait for me! (laughing)

(crowd talking)

(cheering)

- From Al Jennings, our roving reporter.

Betty Anderson and Tom Wentworth

left Willow Tree Creek two hours ago,

and they've just reachedBensonville, that's all for now.

(crowd groaning)

- They haven't gone very far, have they?

- Bensonville, that means they've only

covered two miles in two hours.

- Two down and miles to go.

Betty had better take some of those vitamin pills

Kathy gave her.(laughing)

(adventurous music)

- What's the matter now? - I've got a stone in my shoe.

- Kipling was right,

he travels fastest who travels alone.

(sighing)

I would have been there an hour ago

if it hadn't been for you.

- I'm sorry.

- Okay.

Okay, we'll take five.

You grab a couple of rocks to block the wheels,

I'll hang onto the wagon.

(playful music)

- You can let go now.

(groaning)

- I should have brought my skis along.

Probably going to be snow on the ground

by the time we cross the finish line.

(yelping)

The cart!

(laughing)

The cart!

(shouting)

(crunching) (laughing)

Oh, it's lucky for us the fence was here.

Otherwise, this cart would have rolled all the way

back to Willow Tree Creek.

- Is it damaged?

- No, it's okay.

(sighing)

It's too bad we can'tget it back up the hill

as fast as it came down.

- Why can't we, are you tired already?

(laughing)(playful music)

- Oh, come on, push!

(laughing)

- Oh, wait!

- There we go.

- Oh, mosquito bite, it hurts!

- You know what my great grandmother did?

(grunting)

- Gee, thanks.

(grunting)

- You know what my great grandmother did?

She got behind and pushed.

(sighing)

(grunting)

Push, come on, push it.

Oh, come on, push!

(laughing)

- Don't tell me what your great grandmother did.

She's done enough. (laughing)

(cheering)

- Another on-the-scene report from Jennings.

The expedition had a little hard luck

crossing Squirrel Creek.

Betty Anderson fell in.(crowd groaning)

- Women, they always slow you down.

- Now, Harry.

- I told you she'd never make it, not in a million years.

- Yes, you told me. - They don't make--

- [Both] Women the way they used to.

(laughing)

- Oh, she must be wringing wet.

She'll catch her death of cold.

- No, mom, this time of year,

Squirrel Creek'spractically dry.

- Well, then, it couldn't have been too bad.

- You know, Tom's right,

he never should have taken Betty along.

How can a guy roll whenhe's got a flat tire?

(adventurous music)

- Hey, wait a minute.

(gentle music)

Well, we picked up a couple of miles.

(laughing)

Lucky for us, this partof the road's been paved

since Jonas and Agatha's time.

Dried out yet? - It will be,

by the time we reach the finish line.

(laughing)

- I'm sorry you fell in the creek.

- Well, don't spoil it by feeling sorry.

I want to remember you as your old obnoxious self.

(laughing)

- Look, why don't you just hop in the back of the cart

and take a lift, nobodywill know about it.

You've taken a pretty good beating, missy ma'am.

- No, no, it wouldn't be right.

Your great grandmother would haunt me.

(laughing)

- Hallelujah, you're doing great.

I'll phone in the glad tidings,

tell them you're on the home stretch.

Hey, you know, you're beginning to look

a little like Agatha Wentworth.

- Well, you think you can make it, Agatha?

- I reckon I can, Jonas.(laughing)

(adventurous music)

- Excuse me, excuse me.

There's something that might interest you, Mr. Anderson.

Jennings says that Tom and Betty

just passed through Ridgedale!

They've only gottwo miles to go!

(cheering)

* Oh, my darlin'

* Oh, my darlin', oh, my darlin' Clementine

* Now we're lostand gone forever

* Dreadful sorry, Clementine

(laughing)

- Oh, watch out for those gopher holes.

(yelping)

- Tom, oh, you all right?

Oh, dear.

I'll get your shoe off.

- Hey, come on, what's going on?

- Sorry, folks, still no word since that last bulletin.

(groaning)

- Well, beats me.

When I saw them, they were onlya couple of miles from here.

That was two hours ago.

- Well, do you suppose they got lost?

- There's not a chance.

(crowd murmuring)

- Hey, there they are! - Oh, there's Betty!

(cheering)

- Daddy, they're coming!- Yeah, where?

- Look, you see them? - No, not yet!

(cheering)

- There they are!

(cheering) (triumphant music)

(laughing)

- Oh, she's alone, where's Tom?

- There he is! (laughing)

(applauding)

(laughing)

- I'll get it.

Hi, Tom.

(gentle music)

- Well, may I come in?

- Here, let me help you.- I can,

I can manage, thanks.

- Your poor ankle, does it hurt?

- The doctor's fixing that.

It's my busted ego thatdefies medical science.

(laughing)

I'll never hear the end of it.

Being wheeled in by a girl

in front of practicallythe whole town.

- I'm terribly sorry.

(gentle music)

(sighing)

- I guess I had it coming.

I have been bullheaded, insufferable, egotistical--

- Keep going, I'll tell you when to stop.

(laughing)

- I know I gave you a hard time.

- Oh, I managed to survive.

- My, um, great grandmother Agatha

couldn't have done any better.

- Thank you.

- From all I've heard, I'd say

you were a lot like her.

Anyway, uh, Agatha and I

both want you to have this.

It's an early American cookbook, it belonged to her.

It's supposed to be a collectors item.

- You didn't have to do this.

But if you have a favorite recipe,

I'll cook it for you sometime.

- There is one on page .

- Oh, here it is.

How to bake a humble pie? (laughing)

- If you make it, I'll eat it. (laughing)

- You're certainly aglutton for punishment.

(laughing)

(applause)

(uplifting music)

- Would you expect in this day and age

to be challenged by a woman born in ?

Well, Betty is in our next presentation.

I hope you'll join us, because she really has to overcome

tremendous obstacles to defeat this odd rival of hers

and to prove father knows best.