05x12 - Margaret Wins a Car

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Father Knows Best". Aired: October 3, 1954 - May 23, 1960.*
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The series, which began on radio in 1949, follows the lives of the Andersons, a middle-class family living in the town of Springfield.
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05x12 - Margaret Wins a Car

Post by bunniefuu »

(happy music)

- [Voiceover] Robert Young,

and Jane Wyatt,

with Elinor Donahue,

Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin,

in Father Knows Best.

- Ladies and gentlemen,

this is the Moment that we've all been waiting for.

Because tonight,

some lucky ticket holder

will drive this beautiful car home.

But before we have the drawing,

we'd like to thank you all for your very generous

support of the Home for Children.

All right?

Have all your ticket stubs ready?

All right Billy,

turn the crank.

Billy and little Linda here,

who live at the Home,

appreciate what you do for them.

They've been allowed to stay up tonight,

because they offered tocome down here and do

something for you.

Linda, make somebody happy.

Reach inside and pull out that lucky number.

Thank you, dear.

The winner of the first prize,

the proud owner of this fine automobile,

holds ticket number

one two

eight oh.

(crowd groans)

(woman yells)

Somebody have ?

- I've got .

(audience laughs)

- I'm sorry madam,

but that's just one too many.

(audience laughs)

, anyone?

Well then, I guess we'll have to check the name of the

person who bought this ticket.

As you know,

the winner does not have to be present.

(telephone ringing)

- Hello?

(audience laughs)

(clears throat)

Hello?

Yes.

This is Margaret Anderson.

What?

What ticket?

Oh, yes, I remember buying a ticket.

This is no time to call,

and --

(audience laughs)

What?

I did!

Well, are you sure?

You want me to come downthere now and get it?

Of course I can!

(audience laughs)

Thank you.

(audience laughs)

Jim!

Jim, wake up!

I won!

I won, I just won a $ , automobile!

- I'll take a drive in it first thing tomorrow morning,

go back to sleep.

- I tell you,

I just got a phone call.

I won first prize!

- The only prize you ever won in your life is me.

(audience laughs)

A $ , automobile!

- Isn't it wonderful?

All we have to do is take the ticket down tonight,

and drive the car home.

- Can it wait til morning?

- You think I can sleep now with a $ , car on my mind.

I'm sure I had it in the purse.

(audience laughs)

- Must be there somewhere,

everything else is.

(audience laughs)

- I know.

I had the ticket in thepurse I loaned Betty.

- Hey, ma?

What's going on in here?

- What's all the racket in the middle of the night?

- Children, the most marvelous thing has happened.

I won the automobile they gave away at the

Children's Home Benefit.

(kids yelling)

- You mean, we're millionaires?

- We'll be driving the most fabulous car in town.

- Dibs on driving it first.

- If she finds the ticket.

- It's in the purse you borrowed, Betty.

Where is it?

- Oh, I emptied everything out before I used it.

I put your things on the bed.

You said you'd take care of it,

because you were cleaning at the time.

- Well now,

I remember picking up my wallet,

and the house keys,

and throwing some old grocery receipt,

and premium coupons,

and maybe the ticket in the wastebasket!

(audience laughs)

- Oh, Mom, I emptied the wastebaskets this morning

for trash pickup.

You know, it's a lucky thing I forgot to put this out

this morning for the trash pickup.

- It depends on whether or not you find the ticket.

- Oh, it simply has to be here!

- What does it look like?

- Exactly like $ , .

(audience laughs)

- I found it, I found it!

- She has it, she has it, she has it!

(audience laughing)

- A new baby in the family!

(yelling)

(exciting music)

(audience laughing)

- Oh, it's beautiful!

Mother!

- Have you seen anything so gorgeous?

- It's the most gorgeouscar in the world!

Hey, how does it handle?

I'll bet it'll go miles an hour.

Look, it's got air conditioning!

- I think it has everything.

- Let's sell the house and live in the car.

(audience laughs)

- Would you mind movingso I can put my car

in my garage?

- I'm sorry, sir,

but from now on,

you'll have to park on the street.

(audience laughs)

- I'll put it in the garage for ya.

- Oh, you better let your mother do it this time, Bud.

This is her big night (laughs)

- Well then, I'll sweep the pavement in front of the car,

so the tires won't get dirty.

- Hey, here's some dust on the fender.

- Stand back, and let your mother put her horses

in the corral.

(audience laughs)

Watch it, Bud.

Be careful.

(silly music)

- Oh good morning, beautiful, wonderful car.

- Is it true?

Father, is it really ours?

- Just as much as if we paid $ , for it.

- Oh, I just love theway our new car smells.

(audience laughing)

- Everyone in for breakfast.

- Let's go.

Food smells better thanthe car, right now.

- Hey Mom?

Can we have breakfast out here so we can watch it?

- Bud Anderson,

have you been out here all night?

- Well, you can't leave a car like this unguarded.

(audience laughs)

- Auto or no,

we're going to eat.

- Hey Mom?

Can we take it out for a ride this morning,

and break it in?

You know you have to get the first miles on it,

before she really starts to percolate.

- Has it even got a percolator?

- No, Kitten, your mother stillmakes coffee in the kitchen.

Let's go have some.

- Then let's drive around town and see our friends.

Can you imagine the lookon Dottie Snow's face

when she sees this?

- Hey, that's a good idea!

We can buzz some of the kids houses,

and show 'em how the other half lives.

- Why, don't be silly.

- Now just a minute,

I see no reason why we should change our whole way of life.

It's just another automobile.

- A $ , car?

Just another automobile?

- Daddy, when a car costs $ , ,

it's not just a just.

- Well I have a suggestion.

It's Saturday,

we have nothing to do.

Let's drive up to Greenwood Springs.

(kids cheering)

- That's a wonderful idea.

We can have lunch at that swank lodge.

- They'll see us drive up in that,

and the prices of the lodge'll go up %.

- Father, we have to go to a nice place.

It's what people expectof a car like this.

- Princess, I'm moreconcerned with what the

Bureau of Internal Revenue expects.

- I will have to pay taxes on it, won't I?

- Well, it's still a good buy for a buck.

- Let's decide about Greenwood Springs.

- Yeah!

- Make up your minds, I'll get the phone.

(telephone ringing)

- Well, I'm not gonnabe a part pooper today.

- Hello?

Oh yes, Mr. Hodges.

Well, congratulationsare definitely in order.

Thank you.

Well, we were going outof town for the day.

Oh, I see.

Well in that case,

of course I'll come.

Will it take very long?

Fine, I'll be there in an hour.

Goodbye.

- [Jim] C'mon Kathy, the car isn't going to run away.

- That was Mr. Hodges,

at the Home for Children.

They're having a photographer out there this morning,

to take pictures of the car,

so they can announce the winner in Sunday's paper.

- Well, is our trip off?

- Hey, what about our trip?

- Oh, we can still go.

This'll only take a little while.

I couldn't refuse.

- Of course you couldn't.

The public will want to know

if these car deals are on the level.

- We're definitely goingto Greenwood Springs.

- Definitely.

- When are you gonna be back, Mom?

- As soon as possible

I'll rush.

Everybody get ready,

and I'll dress and run over to the picture.

- I'm ready.

(lively music)

(horn honking)

(kids yelling)

- Boys, boys.

It isn't our car.

- Won't it start yet, Mr. Griffin, huh?

How soon can we get going?

- I'm workin' on it, Joey.

I'm workin' on it.

- Okay kids, line up with Mrs. Anderson in front of the car.

I want the girls in front, you know?

Pamela?

Pamela, come over here dear.

- Do you have any children?

- Yes, Joey.

Three.

- Boy, they surehave a keen Mom.

- I'm glad you think so, dear.

- All right.

Now everybody settle down.

(people talking)

Okay?

All right now.

Big smile.

(audience laughs)

Hey you, stop stealing the act.

- Oh, Joey.

- All right now, hold it.

Okay, that's it.

- Oh, there we are.

That wasn't too bad, was it?

- Mrs. Anderson,

we can't thank you enough for taking the time

to come over here this morning.

- [Margaret] Oh, I wouldn't have

missed it for anything, Mr. Hodges.

- All right, children,

let's go see how our picnic (children yelling).

- Bye kids!

- Pretty nice car, for a dollar.

- Yes, isn't it wonderful?

- Well, like they say,

them that has, gets.

- Well I'm afraid it doesn't apply in my case.

- I'm just wondering if people would be so interested in

helping charity,

if they didn't get their picture in the newspaper.

- Well, the picture wasn't my idea.

- Maybe not.

Anyway, you won the car.

Got your picture taken for the newspaper.

Now,

we'll never see you around here again.

- Just, what do you mean?

- I mean that when folks like you give your money,

you think you've done your biddin'.

But who cares about whathappens around the Home?

- Well I'm sure everybody cares.

- You probably didn'teven think about what's

really needed here.

People should give more of themselves.

A little love,

some attention.

The kind more fortunate kids get,

that's what these children need.

I know.

I was raised in a home like this.

Never knew my folks.

- We're ready, Mr. Griffin,

is the motor fixed?

- Well now, Joey,

I hate to tell ya this,

but I gotta tell ya.

- Yeah?

- We gotta have somenew parts for the motor.

I just can't see how youkids can go on a picnic

in that old wagon today.

I kinda held offtellin' anybody,

hopin' that I couldpatch that old wagon up.

There's no use for us kiddin' ourselves.

Ah, there'll be othertimes for picnics, Joey,

so don't you be too disappointed.

We have to take things as they come sometimes, Joey.

So don't you cry.

- Nothing can make me cry.

Nothin'.

- (laughing) Oh, this is gonna be the most fun day, Patty.

We're driving milesto Greenwood Springs,

just for lunch,

I'll tell ya all about it when we get back.

Well, bon voyage.

(audience laughs)

Oh, you look so handsome in your new jacket, Daddy.

- Well, I have to look like I belong with this family, too.

- I'm gonna take lots ofpictures of the family

in the car parked in front of the lodge.

(Dad laughs)

- Would you like tostart with a candid sh*t

of Mister America?

(audience laughs)

- What's the idea of the yachting cap?

- Oh, there's a big lake up there, Dad.

When we get out of that big car,

you know, they'll just naturallyassume we have a yacht.

(audience laughs, telephone rings)

- Hello.

Oh hi, honey, what's keeping you?

We're waiting for you.

Everything all right?

You're going on a picnic?

Oh, oh,

oh, I see.

Well yes, if that's the way it is,

I can take a load.

Oh sure, the children will understand.

Right, I'll join you in a few minutes.

Goodbye.

- What's that all about, Dad?

- Well, I'm afraid we're going to have to postpone

our little trip into outer space.

- Postpone it?

- What?

- Your mother's taking some of the children from the Home

on a picnic,

and she drafted me to help.

She sounded like it waspretty important to her.

- What about her own children?

- She asked you to be charitable,

and forgive her.

- Why did Mother have to get involved?

- Well, it seems the children out there don't have

transportation, the station wagon they planned to use

blew a gasket or something.

So, your mother volunteered.

- Well, how about that?

We're all set to ride,

and she sh**t us rightout of the saddle.

- Oh, come now.

You can give up one day.

- But this is the most important day, Daddy.

By the time we get in the car,

all the new will be worn off.

(light music)

- Oh, I hate disappointing our own children.

How did they take it?

- When I left,

they were flying flags at half mast.

(audience laughs)

We can take them up toGreenwood Springs next Saturday.

- Mr. Hodges,

I want you to meet my husband.

- Nice to meet you, Mr. Hodges.

- It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Anderson.

(kids yelling)

But I'm distressed that you two are giving up a holiday

with your own family inyour wonderful new car.

- We can't think of a better way to break it in,

than by taking theseyoungsters on a picnic.

- It'll be a rare treat for them.

- I told 'em, Mrs. Anderson,

we could make other arrangements,

but she insisted.

- Well, it would've taken anhour or two to round things up.

- If we're ever going anywhere,

don't you think we'd better get started?

(audience laughs)

- Just as soon as we finish loading things, Joey.

- Can I invite myself to go along with you?

(audience laughs)

- I was hoping you would, Joey.

- I'm going in her car, too.

I drew the ticket that won it.

- Of course you did,

and you're going to ride with me on the front seat.

- I get to ride in the front seat, too.

I invited myself first.

(audience laughs)

- Isn't anybody going with me?

- Who wants to ride in that old pile of junk?

(audience laughs)

- Joey, that isn't being very nice.

- Well, it's not bad looking.

For junk.

(audience laughs)

- We'll divide them up, Mr. Anderson.

David, Ted, Roger, Johnny,

we older boys'll go with Mr. Anderson.

All right, let's go.

(kids yelling)

- You think we have enough food for this army?

- We've already loaded the rest in Mrs. Anderson's car.

Now, if we haven't forgotten something,

we're ready to go.

(kids yelling bye)

- Hey, wait!

Mrs. Anderson!

Mrs. Anderson!

(sad music)

- Well, children, home at last!

- Mother, if I'd known this was going to happen,

I wouldn't have broken my date.

You ruined my whole day.

- I'm sorry, Betty.

I apologize for spoilingeverybody's day,

but it was just one of those things.

- What good's an apology do now?

You knocked us out of a sensational deal.

- Everybody gets a ride in the new car before we do.

And I told Patty Davis you were takin' us on a trip,

and I'd tell her all about it.

Now all I can tell her is you took a lot of strangers.

- I told you children I was sorry.

Besides, we can go next week.

- It won't be the same, Mother.

I understand how Bud and Kathy feel.

It's like,

like waking up Christmas morning,

and finding your presents have all been given to

somebody else.

I think I'll say goodnight.

- Me too.

- Yeah, I think I'll check out, too.

I don't understand how you could neglect your own

family and go runnin' off with a bunch of brats

you don't even know.

- It seems to me,

the only brats I know atthe moment are my own.

I never thought I'dbe so thoroughlyashamed of my children.

(sad music)

- Hi there.

Boy, am I bushed.

Where do those kids gettheir energy (chuckles)?

You know, if I'd thought about it,

you could have gone along and helped us.

I tied more shoelaces today.

Why all the gloom?

Where's your mother?

- She went upstairs.

- [Bud] Yeah, she went upstairs.

(sad music)

(doorbell rings)

I'll get it.

- I'd like to speak to Mrs. Anderson, if she's home.

My name is Griffin.

- Well, she's not feeling very well right now.

Can I take a message?

- What's the matter?

Orphan's picnic too much for her?

- How'd you know about that?

- I work at the Home.

You're her children, I take it.

- Yeah.

- You look a lot likeyour mother, young lady.

Not as pretty,

but you'll do.

- Thank you.

- Would you give her this purse?

She left it at the Home when she drove off with the kids.

- How nice of you to bring it over.

- Oh, I'd a brought it over sooner,

but I had to work on that b*at up station wagon all day.

That thing oughta be in the junkyard.

You young people oughta be mighty proud of your parents.

If it hadn't been for them,

those orphans wouldn't a had a picnic.

Yeah.

You're mighty lucky kids.

- Yeah, I guess you're right.

- Well, I gotta get goin' home now.

Tell your mother I apologize.

- Apologize?

For what?

- She'll know.

Good night.

- Good night.

(light music)

- I don't know about you two,

but I could crawl into a hole.

- Me too.

How stupid can you get?

- Well it's all on account of that silly car.

- I don't care if I never see that car again.

After the way our children behaved!

- Well children can be pretty thoughtless, honey.

But, I'm sure they didn't fully understand the situation

at the Home.

Of course, that doesn'texcuse their behavior.

(knock at the door)

Come in.

(light music)

- Can we ...

Can we talk to Mom for a minute?

- It's okay with me,

but don't you think she's the one you should ask?

- Mother, a Mr. Griffin justcame by and brought your purse.

- He said you left itat the Children's Home.

- I wondered what I did with it.

I'm surprised that Mr. Griffin bothered.

- He said to tell you he apologized.

- As a matter of fact,

we all want to apologize.

- We're more ashamed of us than you are.

- Yeah,

I guess we got pretty far off base.

Mr. Griffin kind of cleared things up.

- We've been thinking, Mother.

$ , is an awful lot of moneyto have tied up in one car.

I mean,

well it's really much too pretentious for our family.

- I'll go along with that.

- We bet that if you wanted to, Mom,

we could sell that car and get enough money to buy

two cheaper ones.

- I'm already upto here in cars.

- Oh, that's not the idea, Mother.

We were thinking that you could buy two station wagons.

- One for us to use, you know?

We could go on camping trips and stuff.

- And you can give the other station wagon to the

Children's Home.

- They need the transportation.

What do you think, Mother?

(sad music)

- Jim,

are the car dealers open tonight?

- Are they open?

They're probably already rolling out their red carpets.

Those fellas can smell a deal a mile away.

(audience laughs)

(happy music)

- Children, this was awonderful idea of yours.

- It sure was!

It'll be great to take on vacation.

We can get all the camping equipment and fishing gear

we need in here.

(kids yelling)

- Hello there!

Howdy!

- Hello, Joey!

- Good morning, Mr. Hodges.

- Good morning.

- Ah, Mr. Hodges,

I want you to meet our own children,

Betty, Bud and Kathy.

- Hi, Mr. Hodges and Joey.

- Hello, Mr. Hodges.

- I'm glad to know all of you.

- Hi Betty, Bud and Kathy.

(audience laughs)

- Mrs. Anderson, we weretrying out the new wagon

you gave us and the children wanted to drive by

with a little token of their appreciation.

All right children.

- Mrs. Anderson,

us kids made you a medal.

- A plaque, Joey.

- Okay then, it's a plaque.

(audience laughs)

- "From the children,"

"to Mrs. Anderson, with love."

It's beautiful.

Thank you, children.

It's the most wonderful gift anyone could receive.

- It's not bad for home made.

- That's why I appreciate it all the more, Joey.

- All the writing was b*rned into the wood.

Boy, a lot of work went into that job.

(audience laughs)

- I'm sure it did.

The children have done me a great honor, Mr. Hodges,

but I'm afraid I don't deserve it.

The names on this plaque should be,

Betty, Bud and Kathy.

After all, the whole thing was their idea.

- Well, I am sure the children will be glad to remedy that.

Shall we make another plaque for Betty, Bud and Kathy,

Joey?

- Okay kids?

- [Kids] Yeah!

- Okay.

- Well, it's swell of your youngsters to wanna do that,

Mr. Hodges,

and I'm sure Betty, Budand Kathy appreciate it,

but as Joey pointed out,

a lot of work goes into those jobs.

- It'll be a labor of love.

Won't it, Joey?

- Sure.

I'll do it.

But it's pretty darn tough tryin' to write

with a red hot poker.

(audience laughs and applause)

(upbeat music)

(jingle playing)
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