05x34 - Live My Own Life (Flashback)

[bunniefuu]

(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] Robert Young

and Jane Wyatt

with Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin,

in Father Knows Best.

(books thumping)

(audience laughs)

(comical music)

- Kathy Anderson, don'tyou ever do that again!

- How was I to know you were there?

- You might have looked!

After this don't come charging into a room

like the Notre Dame backfield.

- My gosh, all I was doing - Whatever you were doing,

don't do it anymore!

- Well how do you expectme to get in the house,

climb down the chimney?

(phone rings)

- Don't make so much of a fuss, squidgy,

and don't be shoutin' all over the place.

- I wasn't shouting - Hello?

- I was just trying to get over

- Oh hi, Claude- the point that I live

in this house just as well as Betty.

And I have as much right- Talk about it ...

- To come though the back door as she has.

- My little sister's running over at the mouth.

(laughter)

Now, what?

What time?

- And she doesn't have any more sense

than to bend over behind a door,

well then she deserves what she got.

- Pipe down, shrimp, and don't be yakkin' all the time.

- I'm not yakking.

- Well whatever you call it, don't do it.

(laughter)

Now, what were you trying to say?

- Don't do that Kathy, (laughter)

please don't throw your sweater there.

Hang it in the closet.

- [Bud] Okay Claude, I'll change my shirt

and meet you down there.

(hangs up phone)

- Don't, don't, don't, don't.

(dramatic music)

(comical music)

- Woah! Don't do that, that's no way to treat your clothes.

- Oh my gosh, Daddy, that's all I hear,

don't do this and don't do that,

why can't I live my own life?

(audience laughs)

- Where oh where have I heard those words before?

- I almost wish i didn'tlive here anymore.

- Oh?

- I think maybe I'll move away and live someplace else.

- Well now, that's a pretty good idea.

If you're not happyhere, the thing to do is

go someplace where you will be happy.

Like, say uh, cozy little room above a feed store.

- Feed store?

What are you talking about?

- Oh that's partof an old story.

Before you rush upstairsand pack your things,

I'd like to tell you that story.

Come with me, come on.

- I don't wanna hear a story now.

- But this is a true story, about Bud.

You're in it too.

- I am?

- Sure. Sit down there.

- You may not remember it because you were quite young then.

It happened about five, yes it was exactly five years ago.

Bud was just about the same age you are now,

and he was feeling about the same way that you feel now.

Pretty frustrated.

I remember how I first became aware of his problem.

Unintentionally I happened to hear him talking

to his friend Joel on the phone.

(transition music)

- Hello? Oh hi Joel.

No matter what it isyou want, I can't do it.

Sounds great, but I can't go.

Wait, I'll ask my dad, but it's no use

- How do you know it's no use?

You shouldn't make up your mind in advance,

you make me sound like your jailer instead of your father.

- Can I go with the fellers on our motor scooters

to the stone quarry?

- No.

- I knew I couldn't.

- But, Bud, the reason - All right, so long.

- Bud will you please let me explain?

It's right on the main highway and there's a lot

of fast, dangerous traffic out there,

and you boys aremuch to young to

- Why can't I live my own life?I'm a human being you know.

(laughter)

(door slams)

- That wasn't much of a story.

I don't see what it has to do with me?

- Well wait, I haven't finished.

You see, Bud thought, as you do,

that everybody was picking on him.

For example, Betty had just driven in

with a sappy boyfriend named Freddy,

and Bud accidentally hithim with a tennis ball.

Naturally, Betty jumped all over Bud.

(Kathy laughs) (transition music)

- Anderson don't you ever do a thing like that again.

- Don't, don't, don't, is that the only word

anybody knows around here?

- And don't do that, you'll break a window.

(laughter)

(dramatic music)

- Well you simply mesh your subconscious mind

with your conscious mind.

- I must do that sometime.

(laughter)

Freddy says it'll change my whole life

so I'm gonna take it up.

- Take what up?

- Oh nothing, you wouldn't understand.

Wait till you grow up.

Eee! What hit you?

(laughter)

- [Jim] Oh, for Pete's sake, have you been in the paint?

- For heaven's sake, Bud, go take those clothes off

and I'll soak them inturpentine or something.

(Jim sighs)

- You know I should read this right now,

'cause Freddy might come over later to discuss it.

But I oughta spend the time fixing my hair.

(laughter)

I don't know what to do.

- Well can't you mesh your subconscious

and think a few curls into it?

(laughter)

- Father, you're so pedestrian.

- Bud, change your clothes and wash your hands

before you eat.

- Okay, okay.

Dad, about that trip to stone quarry,

I'd be real careful.

- But Bud, those cars travel awful fast,

it just wouldn't be safe for you kids.

If anything should happen to you, I'd

- Daddy, can I sell some taffy?

It's for our club, the Little Squaws.

- Well, if the Little Squaws need it, sure.

- Oh boy, I have to sell three boxes.

- How come she gets to do everything she wants to do,

and I don't get to do anything?

- Now that's not true, don't you understand,

I just don't want you risking your life.

- Oh, a lot anybody cares about my life.

- [Jim] Now wait Bud.

- [Kathy] Would you like a box of taffy?

- No!

- Gee, what's the matter with him?

- Oh it's nothing, kitten.

- It may be nothing but I wish we know that to do about it.

I feel as though just don'tknow how to handle him anymore.

- Oh, he'll get over it if we just

don't make an issue of it.

Things are crowding him a little now,

and he's feeling trapped as all boys do now and then.

Half an hour from now he'll be over it.

- Hey Bud! (laughter)

Oh hi, Bud.

- Hi Claude.

- Want to look through my telescope?

- No.

- I traded Old Whitey out of it, gave him old banjo.

Good deal, huh?

Boy, this is powerful!

I can see a man's foot and you'd swear it was

right here in your own yard.

(laughter)

Just think what it'll do when it gets a lens in it.

(laughter)

Wanna try it?

- No.

- What's the matter?

You sick?

- No, I'm okay.

I'm just sick of this jailhouse.

- [Claude] Your folks clampin' down on you?

- [Bud] They won't let me do a thing.

- [Claude] Ah that ain'tno way to live, boy.

- They treat me like I was a little kid.

- What do you suppose gets into parents?

They got the same advantages we got.

Look how they turn out?

(laughter)

- [Bud] You'd think they'd have learned more,

considering how old they are.

- Ah, they don't know how to handle kids.

Takes the YMCA for that.

The Y's got a ping pong table, punchin' bag, trapeze,

I put up a punchin'bag in our livin' room,

but my old man took it right down.

(laughter)

- I know. Someday I'm gonna move away from here.

- Why don't you do it now?

- Now?

- You ain't gettin' any younger, boy.

- Yeah, but where would I go?

- There's a real keen room up over Engel's feed store.

- [Bud] Yeah?

- [Claude] Only five bucks a month.

All you gotta do is sweep the store out every morning.

- Yeah, I wonder if I should.

- You ain't gettin' any younger, boy.

- I wonder.

- Just think how sorry they'll be for treatin' you so mean.

When you come back for a visit,

boy, watch 'em knock themselves out

tryin' to be nice to you.

They'll treat you like a king.

A real, genuine royal king.

(fanfare music)

- Bud!

(laughter)

- Ah, this little tot is getting bigger.

And this one'll be grownbefore you know it.

- Thank you.

- You may get up now.

(laughter)

- Are you going to stay?

- I don't think so.

I have a lovely room at the feed store.

Forty inch television set,

refrigerator full of banana splits,

trapeze, punching bags

- But son, haven't you noticed how we've

redone the living room for you?

(laughter)

- Look in the dining room.

(cheerful music)

(laughter)

- Bud, this is your place.

- Oh, I'd better wash first.

- Oh, that's ridiculous. Sit down.

(laughter)

- Wait a minute, Bud, wait a minute.

- Wait a minute, Bud, - Wait a minute, Bud,

wait a minute, what's the matter with you?

- Let go, I haven't even tasted it yet.

(laughter)

- Tasted what?

- Oh,

- You sure been actin' funny.

Sure you ain't sick?

- No I'm okay, I never felt better.

Claude, about that roomover the feed store,

you sure a feller could get it?

- Sure, I was justdown there this morning

talking to Old Man Engel.

Want to look through my telescope now?

- I don't need it, I can see everything real clear now.

Everything.

(laughter)

- I thought I told you to change your clothes

and to wash those hands.

- Wash? Why that's ridiculous.

- Bud! I don't like tohear you talk that way.

- Well maybe you won't have to listen to me much longer.

I just might get a room.

- Get a room?

- Sure, over Engel's feed store.

- Oh, what are you talking about?

- Just that, I can get this room for five dollars

and all I have to do is sweep out

the feed store every morning.

- Probably get your meals there too.

Sounds like a pretty good idea, why don't you do it?

- You mean you'd let me?

- Sure, as you say, you're old enough to live your own life.

- [Margaret] Jim!

(laughter)

- Ah, I think the first thing you'll have to do is pack.

You'll need a suitcase, I'll get that old brown one

of mine for you.

- Wait, Dad, don't get a suitcase.

- Oh, changed your mind uh?

- No it's not that, a suitcase would be too small,

I'll need Mom's big old trunk.

(laughter)

(dramatic music)

- Did Bud really leave and move into the feed store?

- Oh, I'm coming to that.

Frankly, I didn't think he'd do it.

However, your mother was afraid he might,

and she was worried.

But I stuck to myguns, because I figured

it was just a bluff.

Like the ones I used to use on my parents when I was a kid

(laughter)

Anyway, Bud was making apretty good show of it,

packing everything he owned into that old trunk.

(transition music)

(cheerful music)

- You sure you're takingenough stuff, Bud?

- Enough to get started on.

- Yeah, you won't need towels,

living alone you won't have to wash so often.

(laughter)

Besides, there'll always be a lot of old

feed sacks around the store.

(laughter)

- [Margaret] Well?

- Well what?

- Did you talk him out of it?

- I didn't try.

- But Jim!

- Oh honey stop worrying, he isn't gonna leave,

he just wants us toplead with him to stay.

- Well, let's do it.

- No, no, no, no,that'll just prolong it.

If we stop him now he'll feel all the more frustrated.

He's got to feel that this is his own decision.

- Say, I bet Freddy could tell us how to handle this.

- Freddy?

- Certainly. You shouldhear his conversation,

it's horribly deep.

- Well I don't doubt that, but I don't need a genius

to tell me the only way to handle Bud

is to ignore the whole thing.

Now remember, when he comes down to leave,

sit down, act as though it's nothing out of the ordinary.

- Well, what if he does leave?

- Honey, believe me, he'll never leave this house.

(laughter)

- Dad!

- [Jim] Yes son, you all packed?

- Well, the trunk's all packed.

But it's so heavy I can't get it out of the bedroom.

(laughter)

- [Jim] Oh I see.

Well, don't worry about it, why don't you go on ahead

and I'll have it sent down to you.

- Oh, well, if it wouldn't be too much bother.

- Oh no, no, no. No bother at all.

(laughter)

- I hope we'll see you once in a while.

Christmas, Fourth of July.

But we don't want to clutter up your life,

we know you'll be busy,

sweeping and all. (laughter)

(sentimental music)

- Well, I'm going now.

Guess I'll take off now.

- So long.

- Well, I guess I've got everything.

(laughter)

Ta ta.

- Bud, wait!

- Well okay, but hurry up, I'm going.

- What your mother wanted to say was goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Son, uh, are you sure you want to go through with this?

- I want to live my own life.

- Well that's fine, I just wanted to make sure.

- I tell you what, I'lldrive you down there,

I'd like to have a look at that room before you move in.

- I'm gonna take it.

- Oh I know, but you know, let's have a look at it first.

Why don't you wait in the car while I change my clothes?

- Okay.

(sentimental music)

(laughter)

- Ain't what you would call fancy, but it's clean.

And it's close to the streetcarsand Bernie's fish market.

Some folks don't care particular about fish.

I don't eat 'em myself.

Now down there's the tracks to the BTO and M railroad,

formerly called the BTMQ and D railroad,

I like the old name better myself.

(laughter)

The last party that occupied the room,

he put these papers under here,

claims they keep out the cold.

It's a matter of opinion.

Now, this here is thekitchen, you might say,

and it's best to unscrew the light bulb

while you're usin' the hotplate,

get too much juice comin' through and you blow a fuse.

(laughter)

There's dishes and pans, and oh,

if this here gets leakin' I'll replace 'em.

(laughter)

- What about water?

- Oh sure, got that. Just down the fire escape,

turn to the left, bathroom's in the rear of the store.

- Sounds handy.

- 'Tis. (laughter)

Well, you look her over,and just take your time,

I gotta get back downstairs.

- Well thank you Mr Engel.

Well, Bud, what do you think?

- 's fine.

- Not fancy, but it's close to the fish market.

Climbing that fireescape for your water'll

keep a guy in shape,that's a real advantage.

Meals are no problem, if you feel hungry

just open a can of soupand turn off the light

and heat it up.

Heat it right out of thecan, no dishes to wash.

(laughter)

Nobody to tell you what to do, or what not to do.

By George, this is the life.

- Yeah.

- I'll have your trunk sent down right away.

That is, unless you'd like to wait a few months

till school's over?

(sentimental music) - No sir, I'm staying.

- Oh fine.

Well, remember, ifyou're ever out our way

be sure to drop in, say hello.

- Sure.

- So long.

- So long.

(sentimental music)

(train engine and whistle)

(laughter)

- I was wondering how come a boy like him

was rentin' a room. Yeah.

- Trouble is I never thought he'd go this far.

I was positive he'd never get feet out of our front yard.

- Well, you take boys.

- I wouldn't want to tell his mother this,

but frankly, I'm worried.

He acts as though he doesn't want to come back.

- Well, maybe he needs a reason.

- Reason? Well isn't agood home reason enough

and a family that loves him?

- I don't think you get my drift.

You see him and youhave pushed this so far

that neither one of you can back down.

He wants to come back in the worst way,

but his pride won't let him.

- Well, what do we do then?

- Mr Anderson, would you take a suggest from an old man

who never had any boys of his own?

- Are you sure Mr Engel knows what he's talking about?

- It made good sense to me.

There, that'll fix it so it won't work.

(laughter) All right, Betty, call him.

- Hey Daddy, this will really bust it good.

(laughter)- No kid, we don't want

to wreck it completely.

- Ah shucks, I thought we were gonna have some fun.

(cheerful music)

(laughter)

(sentimental music)

- [Engel] Bud, oh Bud! Telephone!

(laughter)

(action music)

Steady, boy, you'll break a leg!

- Hello?

- This is Betty.

Say I hate to bother you, but my radio's

gone on the blink again.

No, I don't know what'sthe matter with it.

- Daddy busted it!

- Shhhhh (laughter)

- Well, I hate to ask you to come out here and fix it,

but well, you seem to be the only one that understands it.

Do you think youmight find time?

- Well, I'm awful busy right now,

doing some pretty important junk.

Maybe I can squeeze out some time.

No, I can't make it right now.

Well, say, how about, five minutes from now?

(laughter)

Yeah. Goodbye.

(radio music plays) - Atta boy!

- Oh Bud that's wonderful!

- That was your whole trouble right there,

the rectifier tube needed readjusting.

- Gee, how do you know all that stuff?

- [Kathy] Now can you fix this?

- My gosh, what happened to it?

- A hammer hit it.

Accidentally.

- Well this is in pretty bad shape.

I'll have to work on it out in the garage.

- Well Bud, as long asyou're going out there,

I wonder if you'd mindshowing me how to adjust

the lawnmower, I can't make head nor tail of the thing.

- Don't worry about it Dad, I'll take care of the lawn.

- Gee Bud, I never realized how much we needed you.

- Gosh, neither did I.

I think I'll stick around.

(Jim laughs)

Mom?

- Yes Bud?

- I'm hungry.

(laughter)

(transition music)

- So uh, what do think, Kat?

Now you'll understand, we need you as much as

we need Bud around here.

But, if you want me to, I'll call Mr Engel

and see if that room is still available.

- Daddy.

- Yes Kat?

- I'm hungry.

(laughter)

(applause)

(theme music)