(classical, orchestral music)
- [Announcer] Robert Young.
And Jane Wyatt.
With Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray,
and Lauren Chapin
in Father Knows Best.
- Dad, look, will you do me a favor?
- Bud, can't you see I'm busy?
- Oh, I don't mean now.
Two weeks from today, there's a rodeo
coming to town and they got a family plan
where you can get in for half price
if you're with a parent.
- Yeah.
- So,
will you take Claude, Kippy, and me?
- Maybe, I'll see.
- Well, I gotta know nowso I can tell the guys.
- Well, I don't know whether I'll be free that day.
I might have to work.
I hope I can go.
- Will ya promise?
- No, I don't make promises unless I know
I can keep them.
I learned that lesson the hard way.
Kathy taught it to me.
- Kathy?
- That's right.
Let me tell you what happens so you know
why I'm wary of promises.
It was about four,
maybe five years ago.
Anyway, it was when Kathy had the measles.
We were in her bedroom trying to get her
to take some medicine.
(dreamy harp tones)
See, it's not bad at all.
In fact, it's pretty good.
Now here, you take some.
- You didn't take hardly any.
- Well, I really have no reason to.
I don't have the measles.
- I'll give 'em to ya.
(audience laughter)
- Come on, angel, take your medicine
like a good girl.
- If I take it, can I have a playhouse
out in the backyard?
- Yes, you may have a playhouse.
Now here.
- Can I eat dinner in my playhouse too?
- You can eat all your meals out there.
Now come on.
- Will you eat out there with me?
(audience laughter)
- Yes, certainly.
- Can I sleep out there too?
- Sure, sure.
Now stop stalling around.
- Will you sleep out there with me?
- Yes, I'll sleep out there with you.
Now, please take this.
- Promise?
- Yes, yes, I promise.
Now come on, please take this.
(cheerfully meandering music)
- Hey, this is good.
Can I have some more?
(audience laughter)
- Kathy soon recovered from the measles
and I thought we'd heard the last
about that playhouse.
(chuckles)
But I didn't know what was going on
in the backyard.
(whimsical harp tones)
Yes, old Kath was out there trying
to build a playhouse out of a refrigerator
packing case.
I didn't notice it whenI came home that evening
because my mind was on other problems.
For one thing, I was upset because a fella
named Harry Keen had broken his promise
in a business deal.
And to me, breaking a promise was a cardinal sin.
And then on top of that, you, Bud,
were needling me about some ridiculous
kind of a job you wanted to take.
What kind of a job?
- At a bakery.
Nightwatchman.
- Nightwatchman?
(mocking laughter)
- What's the matter with that?
- Well it's all you can do to stay awake
in the daytime, let alone at night.
(audience laughter)
- I can take little cat naps when nothing
important's going on.
That's the way Thomas Edison used to do it.
- I never knew Thomas Edison worked
in a bakery.
- Oh come on, dad.
How about it, huh?
- Look, Bud...
- Well, it pays good money.
bucks a week.
- Bud, can we talk aboutthis some other time?
I just got home and I'm tired and I'd like
to read the paper.
- [Kathy] Daddy.
- Go away, squeegee, dad's tired.
- Daddy, can I borrowyour camping flashlight?
- Well I don't know, kitten, I'm afraid--
- Thank you, daddy.
(audience laughter)
- It's an easy job, dad.
- Bud--
- And there's a chance for advancement, too.
- Bud--
- Sometimes, when you get caught up
in your night watching,they'll let you do
other things.
Like sprinkle the nuts on bear claws.
(audience laughter)
- Bud, will you please let me read my paper?
I just want a few minutes of peace and quiet.
- [Betty] Bye, Ralphie.
- It'd be a good chance to learn the business, dad.
- Mother.
- Dad.
- Mother, if Burt Catchall calls me,
tell him I had to go somewhere.
- [Margaret] What did you say, dear?
- [Betty] I said--
- Betty, if you wanna talk to your mother,
go out in the kitchen.
- Yeah.
- Oh hello, father.
- [Margaret] What did you say, Betty?
- Oh, well when Burt Catchall calls
I want you to talk to him.
- Why should I talk to him?
- Well, I made a date with him
for tonight but I don't want to keep it.
Oh, think of a good excuse.
Maybe I had to go to choir practice
or something.
- Now just a minute.
I don't know who this boy is,
but it seems to me if you promised
to go out with him, youshould keep your word.
- But father, it's Burt Catchall
and he's such a goon.
- Hey,
his uncle works at the bakery.
- No, let's drop the bakery for a second.
- He's in rolls and buns.
- It is pretty late to call it off, dear.
After you promised him you'd go.
- I didn't know he was such a goon
when I promised.
- Yes, he should havetold you he was a goon,
very sneaky of him not to.
- If he had any brains at all, he'd know
the only reason I agreed to go with him
is because I'd had a fight with Ralph.
And now Ralph and I have made up.
Oh, you'll think of some good excuse
to tell him, won't you?
- Whoop, wait a minute.
Betty, you can't do this.
You're gonna learn to keep your word.
- But father, I'll be bored to death.
- All right, then you'll be bored.
Next time you won't be so free
with your promises.
- Oh, all right.
But if this date leads to a nervous breakdown
you'll know whose fault it is.
- Aren't you making a fairly big issue
of this?
- I don't think so.
I was always taught that a promise
is supposed to mean something.
- You wanna speak to Burt?
- She certainly does.
- Hello?
- Betty.
- Yes.
Oh, wait just a minute, will you?
- Betty.
- Jim.
Jim, it's Ed Davis.
They're planning on coming over this evening.
Almost forgotten about it.
Maybe I better tell 'em next week.
- Why do that?
- Well, you're tired and they always stay so late.
Anyway, it wasn't anything definite.
- Oh no, all you said was, "We wanna see you
"Thursday evening at eight o'clock,"
but it wasn't anything definite.
- We're only neighbors,we don't stand
on ceremony.
- It's not ceremony, it's the idea
of the thing.
If you say you're gonna do something,
do it.
- I haven't got time for a lecture.
You talk to him.
All he wants to know is what time to come tonight.
- Hiya, boy.
Oh, about eight o'clock, I'd say.
You what?
- I got the slides back today.
The color slides of our fishing trip.
Boy, you should see yourself landing
that big trout.
- Really?
Gee, I wanna see those.
Why don't you bring them along tonight?
Okay, Ed.
Get here a little early so we'll have
plenty of time for the pictures.
Swell.
Goodbye.
- And I could get allour bread wholesale too.
(audience laughter)
- Come on, everyone.
Betty.
- I'm here.
I'm not hungry though.
- Boy, I am.
- I'm just thinking about dancing
all evening with Burt Catchall's enough
to k*ll anyone's appetite.
- Take a good dealmore than Burt Catchall
to spoil my appetite for a meal like this.
- Hi, daddy.
I'm all ready for dinner.
- Good, sit right down.
- Oh, but I'm not eating in here.
- Where are you eating?
- Outside.
- Okay, we got thatsettled, now let's eat.
- Hold your horses, Bud.
Kathy, who told you you could eat outside?
- You did.
- I did?
- Uh huh.
Last month when I had the measles.
If I took the medicine, you promised
I could have a playhouse and I could eat in it too.
- Did I say that?
- I'm afraid you did, dear.
- So I built one out inback and I got dinner
all ready in it.
- A playhouse, huh?
So that's the secret project.
Well, if I made you a promise, I'll stick to it.
I keep my word.
Go ahead, Kathy, but you're gonna miss
a wonderful dinner in here,
eating out there alone.
- Oh, but I'm not eating alone.
- No, who's eating with you?
- You are.
(audience laughter)
- Huh?
- You promised you'd eat out there too.
Remember?
- Did I say that too?
- We must all learn to keep our word,
father dear.
- Come on, daddy.
I got the table all set.
I'm using my new doll dishes.
- Well,
what are we
having to eat?
- Oh, something real good.
Graham crackers and butter
and radishes and orange pop.
- Look, kitten,
don't you think maybe tomorrow
might be a better day?
- You promised, daddy.
- I was always taught that a promise
was supposed to mean something.
- We don't want any Harry Keens in this family.
- Come on, daddy.
- Just don't eat all of that,
because I'll be back.
- Enjoy your dinner, father.
- Well let's get to working on ours.
(audience laughter)
- Oh wait, you better get your pajamas.
- What for?
- You're sleeping out there too.
- What, in that pile of boxes?
- You promised, daddy.
- Goodnight, dad.
- Sleep tight, dear.
- Happy dreams, father.
- You work and you sl*ve and
look what you get.
(audience laughter)
(audience laughter)
(whimsical music)
- Boy, isn't this fun, daddy?
- Yeah, it sure is.
- Do you want some more fried chicken?
- Well, I forgot now which is the fried chicken.
- Well this is.
Have all you want.
- Uh, thank you, I believe I've had
all the fried chicken I can handle.
May I have this apple?
- That's not an apple.
- What is it?
- A great, big strawberry shortcake
with lots of whipped cream on it.
Here, do you want it?
- Kathy, let's
sneak in the house and see what mommy
fixed for dessert.
- Well don't you want this strawberry shortcake?
- Well, sure, but--
- Well then here.
Isn't this fun?
It's a lot more comfortable eating lying down,
isn't it?
- Oh yes, I
may eat lying down from now on.
- Have you ever had this much fun before?
- No, never.
- Ed, I tell you,they're not expecting us
until eight.
- I know, but Jim said get here early.
He's anxious to see these.
- But he didn't mean forus to come to dinner.
Honestly, Ed, sometimes you--
- Hi, Margaret.
- Hello, Margaret.
- Oh, hello.
- I know we're a touch early, but old Jim
wanted us to hurry so he could
see these pictures and all.
- Look, sweetie, you can throw us out
and we'll come back later.
Oh no, no.
Come on in.
It's perfectly all right.
- Yeah, old Jim is sure anxious to see these too.
I got some great sh*ts.
- Oh, put your stuff anywhere.
Make yourselves at home.
We'll be through dinner in a minute.
- You're not through?
- Oh well, why don't you join us
for dessert?
Would you like some strawberry shortcake?
- No thanks. - Yeah, sure.
- No.
- Oh, come on, I've got plenty.
And you can have old Jim's
because he's not here right now.
- He isn't?
Where is he?
- At the moment, he's out in a refrigerator packing case.
- Oh, I see.
(audience laughter)
Packing case?
- We've got to keep a nice, clean house.
- Yeah.
Oh, Kathy, I have a good idea.
Let's pretend it's Thanksgiving
and we have to go visit our relatives
in the house.
- Okay.
But only we can't go now.
It's bedtime.
Put on your pajamas.
(audience laughter)
- Kathy, it's a little early for bed.
Besides, I don't think there's room enough
in here for both of us to sleep.
- There's lots of room.
Put on your pajamas and go in the bedroom.
- Well, where is the bedroom?
- You're in it.
- I was afraid of that.
- [Bud] Dad, you in there?
- Bud, don't yell through the roof.
If you want us, knock on the front door.
- Well where is the front door?
- That potato sack.
- Just how do youknock on a potato sack?
- Bud, please do as she asks.
(playful music)
- Hey, dad, you left your shoes out here.
- [Jim] Ow.
(audience laughter)
- Sorry.
- [Jim] What do you want?
- Mom wants to see ya.
- She does?
Tell her I'll be right in.
Kathy, I have togo in the house,
mother wants to see me.
- I'll go see what she wants.
- No no no no, I better do this myself.
- Will you come right back?
- Well, that all depends.
Mother may need me for quite a little while.
- Aw, daddy.
- Well, kitten, I--
- You promised you'llsleep out here with me.
- I know I did, but theDavises are coming over
and I have to be polite to our guests.
- You promised.
- Okay.
Okay, I'll be back.
- Children, will you finish off the dishes?
I can't leave the Davises alone.
- Oh thanks, honey, forthe th inning stretch.
- Don't thank me.
It seems you told Ed to come early
and he did.
He's in there setting upa projector right now.
Are you free?
- Well, I'm supposed to go out there
and put my pajamas on.
But I think, maybe, she'll get interested
in something else and forget about me.
- You think so?
- Daddy,
you said you'd be right back.
- Yes, but the Davises got here earlier
than I expected and theyhave some picture slides
they want me to look at and--
- You promised.
- Yes, father, you promised.
- Yeah.
I'll be right with you.
Maybe she'll go to sleep real fast
and I'll bring her in.
- Well, hurry, Ed won't hold still
very long.
A man armed with vacation films
is not to be denied.
- Okay.
- Dad, you promised we'd talk
about that job at the bakery.
- Oh, Bud, I said later.
- Well, it's later now.
- Yes, but I've got another promise
I'm working on now.
- Hurry up, daddy.
- I'm coming.
- I'll talk to you later, dad.
(audience laughter)
(loud sigh)
- Comfortable, daddy?
- Oh yes, wonderful.
Well,
just turn out the lightand have a fine sleep.
- Okay.
- Good night, kitten.
- Good night, daddy.
Isn't this fun, daddy?
- Yes, yes, yes, go to sleep.
- I can't sleep with the light off.
It's too dark.
- Well, you can't sleepwith the light on.
- Yes I can.
Goodnight, daddy.
- Goodnight, dear.
- Daddy.
Daddy, I heard something outside.
- There's nothing out there.
Close your eyes now, honey.
That's a girl.
- Goodnight, daddy.
- Goodnight, dear.
- Daddy.
Daddy, there's a big, ugly animal outside.
- No there isn't.
- Yes there is.
I can see his eyes and his horrible face.
(audience laughter)
- Bud, for Pete's sake, what's the idea?
- How about the bakery?
Well how about it, dad?
- Bud, won't you please go away?
Can't you see Kathy's trying to sleep?
- Daddy,
will you please stop talking?
You're keeping me awake.
- I'm sorry.
- Goodnight, daddy.
- Goodnight.
- Mother.
We're leaving now, mother.
- All right, dear, you and Burt have a good time.
- Oh we will.
(audience laughter)
- [Ed] How much longer do you think he'll be out there?
- I hope not much longer.
- Maybe we better dothis some other evening.
- Oh no, I'm sure he'll be here soon.
- Sure he will.
In the meantime, maybe we can just warm up
on a couple of these.
Make sure everything's okay.
Bud, flip off thelight, will you, please?
- Sure.
- Boy.
Old Jim's gonna love these pictures.
Man oh man, isn't that a beauty?
(audience laughter)
- What is it?
- It's a trout.
An eastern brook trout.
- Do you mean you boughtall that equipment
and drove miles just to catch
that poor, defenseless little thing?
- Go and get your father, Bud, hurry.
(audience laughter)
(playfully mischievous music)
- [Bud] Dad.
- Huh?
- Mom wants to know if Kathy's asleep yet.
- Well, she was.
- What's the matter, daddy?
- Nothing, kitten, nothing.
Go back to sleep.
- Well, they're waiting for you, dad.
Mr. Davis is starting to run the pictures.
- He is?
I'm not interested in that, I just
wanna get to sleep.
Don't we, kitten?
- Uh huh.
- Well, what do I tell him?
- Just go back in the house and don't tell them anything.
- Okay.
(heavy sigh)
- Let's settle down now.
- It's nice to have holes in your roof.
You can look up and see the stars.
- They're pretty too.
Now
close your eyes and go to sleep.
And hurry.
- I can't hurry.
- Well, try.
- Okay, sweet dreams.
- Sweet dreams, dear.
(whimsical music)
Are you asleep, Kathy?
- No, are you?
(audience laughter)
Daddy,
are you waiting for me to go to sleep
so you can get up and watch the fishing pictures?
- What ever gave you an idea like that?
- You would like to see 'em,
wouldn't you?
- Well, I can see them some other time.
It's all right, kitten.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight, angel.
Oh dear.
- Oh now here, here's one old Jim
wouldn't wanna miss.
It's old Jim landing that big rainbow.
Maybe he mentioned it.
- Oh yes, he mentioned it.
- About , times.
(audience laughter)
- Oh boy, you don't often get a picture like that.
It's just luck that I happened to have
the camera on him at the time.
Pure luck.
Look at that action.
And I made one little mistake,
I underexposed it.
(sweet music)
- Is she asleep?
- Finally.
Are the pictures over?
- Almost.
But I have a hunch you could talk Ed
into running them over ahalf a dozen more times.
(audience laughter)
(dreamy music)
Bless her heart.
She's exhausted.
She worked all day on that playhouse.
- Well I kept my promise, didn't I, honey?
- You're a good father.
And a pretty good husband.
Aw, she looks just the way she did
when she was a baby.
- You know, honey,
just before she droppedoff, she asked me if
I was just waiting for her to go to sleep
so I could come and see the pictures.
- You didn't tell her, did you?
- Oh no, of course not.
She wouldn't understand.
- Come on, dear. - Little angel face.
- You better get dressedand come downstairs.
Ed's waiting.
- Goodnight, kitten.
- Goodnight, daddy.
- Let me tell you what else happened that night.
About : a.m., Kathy wakened us.
She was sure she heard prowlers
trying to break in to her beloved playhouse.
(audience laughter)
The only way I could get her back to sleep
was by promising her I'd find some watchman
to guard it.
- You mean you trapped yourself
in another promise?
- Still hadn't learned my lesson.
(audience laughter)
- Well where could you find watchmen
stupid enough to guard apile of junk like that?
- It wasn't easy, but Ifinally found someone.
(harp strums)
(audience laughter)
Well, it's not the most comfortable bed
in the world, honey, but it does
have certain advantages.
For example, when you turn off the light,
you can look up through the holes
in the roof
and see the stars.
Goodnight, honey.
(cheerful music)
05x32 - The Promised Playhouse (Flashback)
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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.
The series, which began on radio in 1949, follows the lives of the Andersons, a middle-class family living in the town of Springfield.