06x16 - Togetherness

[bunniefuu]

(dramatic orchestral music)

- [Narrator] Robert Young

and Jane Wyatt,

with Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin

in Father Knows Best.

- That's what I said, famous.

We are on the verge of becoming a famous family.

- [Betty] Oh, but why, how do we rate that?

- What did we do, Daddy?

- Well, I'm not exactlysure. (chuckling)

All I know is we're gonna be written up in a magazine.

- A magazine, really?- Really, what magazine?

Like, Look?

- Glamour?

- Hardly. (chuckles)

- Probably True Confessions.

(audience laughing)

(laughing)

- No, you're all wrong.

It's the Insurance Executive Sentinel.

- Oh, great.

(audience laughing)

- Oh now, don't knock it.

That's read in the homes of thousands of insurance men.

- That's what I mean.

(audience laughing)

- Furthermore, an article like that

could do me some good in my business.

- Well, why did they choose us for the article?

- Well, partly because we're such a model family.

(audience laughing)

Mostly because the editor's a friend of mine, Fred McClure.

(audience laughing)

- Yes, I remember him, he was here at the house once.

- That's right, the year the convention was in Springfield.

- [Margaret] Was he writing the article?

- No, he sent out a staff writer to do it.

Fellow named Mel Buford.

- (giggling) Some name.

- He seemed very nice.

He was at the officebriefing this afternoon.

The article has something to do with solid family life

contributing to aninsurance man's success

or something. (chuckling)

He'll explain it all to us at breakfast tomorrow morning.

- At breakfast?

You mean here?

- Yes, we decided that Saturday morning breakfast

would be a good leisurely time to catch us all together,

good time to take pictures of us, too.

- Our pictures will be in the magazine?

- Sure.

- Oh, I wish you'd told me

so I could have plannedsomething special.

- Oh no, the whole point is not to do anything special.

He wants to see us just the normal,

ordinary way we live.

- Oh, surely he wouldn't put that in the magazine?

(audience laughing)

- What time is he going to be here?

- Well, I suggested that-- (door slamming)

- Betty, do you know Francine Wolf?

- Bud, your father's talking.

(audience laughing) - Oh, excuse me.

- Francine Wolf?

- Yeah, that real cool blonde

that's been going out with George Bigelow.

(audience laughing) - Bud.

- Oh yeah, I think I know who she is.

What about her?

- Well, she and George broke up.

And so now she hasn'tgot a date for the dance

at the college tomorrow night.

And neither do I.

But how do I ask her--

- Bud, your father is trying to tell us something.

- Oh.

Oh, excuse me, Dad, go on ahead.

How can I ask her whenI don't really know her?

(audience laughing)

What were you gonna say, Dad?

- Frankly, I got so fascinated by the Francine story

I've forgotten what it was.

(audience laughing)

- You were saying whattime the magazine writer

would be here tomorrow morning.

- Oh yes, nine o'clock.

- What magazine writer?

- If you were a little morepolite you would have found out.

A writer is going to doa story on our family

for the insurance magazine.

- Yeah, no kidding?

Say, how can I get acquainted with her?

(audience laughing)

- Well, I don't know.

Maybe you could,

oh, say, Father, I won'tbe here in the morning.

I have to go over to DottySnow's to work on some material

for our next debate.

- Well, you have to eat breakfast first,

and you can stick aroundfor a few minutes.

This is very important to me.

So, in spite of debatesor Francine or anything,

I want you all here.

Is that clear?

Okay.

Nine o'clock at breakfast.

- Oh, no thank you.

My, it certainly was a wonderfulbreakfast, Mrs. Anderson.

Do you people eat this well every morning?

- Well, uh, well, it varies. (audience laughing)

- Yes, it, uh, varies down to, um,

handing the kids a piece oftoast as they rush out the door,

late for school.

(audience laughing)

- Oh, it isn't that bad.

- Well, almost.

But, uh, you undoubtedly know how it is, Mr. Buford.

That is if your family operateson a different schedule

as ours does.

(audience laughing)

- Frankly, I don't know, I'm a bachelor.

And I didn't have too much family life as a boy, either,

being raised by an uncle.

I guess that's why Mr. McClure gave me this assignment.

He figured I'd have a purely objective viewpoint.

(laughing)(phone ringing)

- Oh! - Oh, Bud!

(audience laughing)

- [Bud] Hello, oh, yes.

- Well now, Mr. Buford, what would you like to do first?

Would you - What did you find out about

Francine? - like to take some pictures

or, um,

uh,

Bud, tell Claude you'llcall him back later.

Mr. Buford doesn't have all day.

- He's got information about Francine.

(audience laughing)

- Tell him you'll call him back later.

Mmm?

- Yes, sir.

(audience laughing)

I, uh, I gotta hang up.

- Oh, I guess the firstthing I ought to do,

is try to explain what we want to do in this article.

- Uh, good idea.

(audience laughing)

- We want to show that a closely-knit family is an aid

to an insurance man.

And that it provides himwith an understanding

of the problems of his clients and their families and so on.

It's, uh, sort of astudy, I guess, in, uh,

togetherness.

(audience laughing)

I hate that word, it'sso overworked, but, uh,

that's actually what it is.

- Well, I (laughing)

I certainly wouldn't say that we're a outstanding family

in any way.

(audience laughing)

But I do feel that, um,

we are fairly

close-knit.

(phone ringing)

(audience laughing)

- Whoever it is, tell him we're very busy.

- [Bud] Yeah, hello?

- Um, and I find that this helpsme a great deal in my work.

In fact,

I go so far as to say, - Dad.

- Not now, Bud,

that in many ways it's, - It's for you, Mr. Murphy.

- I don't care who it is.

That, uh,

Murphy?

(audience laughing)

Oh my gosh.

Is he calling from the golf club?

Oh, I, uh,

I completely forgot.

I, I, I made a date to play golf with him and his wife.

It, um, wouldn't matter, but,

he's a new client of mine.

- Oh, well, you better run on then.

I understand all about clients.

- Oh, but, I--

- Now, don't worry about me, I have plenty of time.

I can catch you later.

This noon, or whenever it's convenient, you run on.

- Well, I guess I had better.

Oh, this is really unforgivable.

But, I'll see you this noon. (chuckling)

Tell him I'm on my way.

- Hadn't you better go get ready too?

Don't hold back on my account.

- Oh, no, I'm not going.

I never play golf with him.

- Oh, you don't?

(audience laughing)

- Oh, no, he wouldn't want me tagging along.

Besides,

I have so many other things (audience laughing)

to keep me busy.

What with the house

and the PTA and all. (audience laughing)

- I see.

Well--

- I really hate to bring this up, but,

I'm afraid I have to leave.

- Oh, now--

- Mother, I should havehave been at Dotty's

half an hour ago.

We're working on material for a debate.

I'm on the college debating team.

- Oh, that's wonderful.

Well, don't let me hold you up.

- Well, I hate to go, really,

but, as long as you're coming back

later to see Father, I'll try to get back for that.

Bye.

(audience laughing)

- Debating team, hmm?

I imagine you all get quite a thrill

out of going to see her debate.

- Well, as a matter of fact, we've never seen her debate.

(audience laughing) She doesn't want us there.

(audience laughing)

Says it would make her nervous.

(knocking on door)

Oh, now, who can that be?

Excuse me, Mr. Buford.

Oh,

Emily.

- Margaret, I need your help.

I'm afraid that darn hot water heater's going to blow up.

Now, I know how to fix it, but it's a two man job.

I hate to ask you, but,

oh, oh, you have company.

- Yes, Emily, this is Mr. Buford.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Is there anything I could do to help?

- Oh no, no, you stay right there, I'll be right back.

Bud.

Come on, Emily, we better hurry.

- I'm sorry to take her away.

(audience laughing)

- Well, it looks asthough our family group

has narrowed down a bit.

(audience laughing)

But I guess we can carry on.

Uh, tell me, what group activities--

- Before we get into that, Mr. Buford,

would you excuse me, please?

I have a veryimportant call to make.

(audience laughing)

- Oh, sure.

Go ahead.

- Thank you.

(comical music)

(audience laughing)

Well, Kathy, where do you have to go?

(audience laughing)

- Me?

I don't have to go anywhere.

- Well, good.

(audience laughing)

- You want to take my picture?

(audience laughing)

(cat meowing)

- Uh oh, I have to feed my kitten.

(cat meowing)

And I better do it right now too,

because my mother's against me having this kitten

because every time I get a pet

I say I'll take care of it,

but she always winds up having to do it.

And this time I pledged my word

I'd take full responsibility.

(audience laughing)

- Do it.

My all means, feed the cat.

(audience laughing)

- Thank you.

(comical music)

This is togetherness?

(audience laughing)

I hate to bother you with a long-distance call,

Mr. McClure, but,

are you sure you picked the right family for this article?

(audience laughing)

Why?

They're the most untogether group I've ever seen.

(audience laughing)

- Mel, that's ridiculous.

I know Jim Anderson, been to his home, met his family.

A perfect example ofwhat we're looking for.

Close-knit.

Now you dig into this thing further,

you'll see what I'm talking about.

- Okay, but, uh, let me read you my notes so far.

The husband and wife donot play golf together.

Nor do they--

- Mel.

Stop arguing with me, will you?

Just get the story, is that clear?

- Yes, sir.

Okay.

(comical music)

Close-knit?

(audience laughing)

They're about as close-knit

as a plate of uncooked spaghetti.

(audience laughing)

- You see, Claude's onthe decorating committee

for the dance tonight, and he says so is Francine.

So he's trying to think of some way

to get me on the committee too.

So I can get acquainted with her,

and then ask her for adate for the dance, huh?

How about that?

- He can't get you on the committee, it's too late.

- Furthermore, there are plenty of dances later on

that you'll be able to take her to.

- Oh, no, no, later on every guy in school will know

that she's broken up with George Bigelow.

And then I wouldn't stand a chance.

No, for me it's now or never.

- Well, you can't leave anyway,

because Mr. Buford's coming back.

I mean, we much show him more cooperation than we were

able to this morning.

(audience laughing)

- Well, Dad isn't even back from his golf game yet.

- No, but he will be soon.

Has anyone seen Kathy lately?

- Oh yes, she's out in front playing with her kitten.

- Oh.

(comical music) - Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.

Oh, hello, Mr. Buford.

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty. - Hello, Kathy.

- I was afraid no one was home.

I've been ringing your (cat meowing)

doorbell, but no answer.(cat meowing)

- Oh, it's out of order.

Mom's been trying to get Daddy to fix it,

but he never has time.

(audience laughing)

- That figures.

(audience laughing)

- Come on in, I'll tellthem you're here, okay?

Come on.

Go on, kitty, go get your catnip, go on.

(cat meowing)

Daddy isn't home yet, but everyone else is.

I'll run the mail.

You go in the living room and make yourself comfortable.

- Thank you, Kathy.

- [Bud] Well, would it be too unetiquette

if I just called Francine

and asked her for a date? (audience laughing)

- [Margaret] Bud, if you're so anxious to go to the dance,

why don't you take Betty?

- Take my sister? (audience laughing)

Well, that would ruin me socially.

(audience laughing)

I wouldn't be caught dead doing that.

(audience laughing)

- [Betty] What makes you think I would go with you

if you did ask me? (audience laughing)

I have a little pride, you know.

(audience laughing)

- Mommy, Mr. Buford is here.

- Oh, already?

Come on, we mustn't keep him waiting.

Please, now, no bickering.

- [Bud] I gotta get on that decorating committee someway.

- Well, Mr. Buford, it'snice to see you again.

It's awful, the way we keep you,

keep you running back and forth.

- That's perfectly all right, I have plenty of time

and nothing else to do.

- Well, I promise you have our undivided cooperation now.

(cookie crunching)

(audience laughing)

Mr. Anderson will be along soon, I'm sure.

- Well, fine.

Now, uh, the main thing that Mr. McClure

would like to have us go into is

group activities. (cookie crunching)

(audience laughing)

Things you folks do together as a unit, a family unit.

- Well, uh, let's, let's see now.

Um,

(comical music)

- We eat dinner together.

(audience laughing)

- Oh, well, naturally.

But Mr. Buford means more like, uh, um,

(audience laughing)

- Hobbies.

- Yes.

(comical music)

(audience laughing)

(audience laughing)

- All take up oil painting?

(audience laughing)

Or, perhaps you'd buildsomething together?

(audience laughing)

Games?

Uh,

picnics?

Uh,

or, uh,

- Hey, we went on sort of a picnic together once.

(audience laughing)

Remember when the car broke down?

On the way to Lemon Falls?

We got trapped into going?

(audience laughing)

- Trapped into going?

(phone ringing)

- Betty will answer it.(audience laughing)

- But maybe Claude got into her own way.

- She can tell you.

Yes, every year we takea nice trip together

to a family reunion at my sister's place at Lemon Falls.

We have a lovely time.

- Yeah, lovely.

(audience laughing)

- [Betty] Just a minute.

It's Father, and he sayshe's terribly sorry,

but he has a flat tire.

- [Margaret] Oh.

- And he wants to knowwho took the spare tire

out of the car

without letting him know. (audience laughing)

He sounds furious.

- Oh dear, I should of told him.

Well, it's at the gas station being fixed.

Betty,

found out where he is and tell him that, um, uh,

well, that Bud will pick up a spare

and bring it to him. (audience laughing)

- No, I can't leave. (audience laughing)

Claude may call any minute.

Let Betty go.

- [Betty] I'm too busy.

(audience laughing)

Besides, I'm not gonna lug a tire around.

- [Margaret] Now, Bud, you--

- Look, um, Mrs. Anderson,

I realize you people are all very busy

and I'm sort of an intruder.

- Oh no, no, you're not, not a bit.

- Oh, it really doesn't make any difference to me

when we do this.

I'll come back later.

Mr. Anderson will be here then, and,

I, I do want to get pictures of you all

together. (audience laughing)

- Oh, but this is awful.

Hurry, go get that tire.(audience laughing)

I feel just terrible about all of these interruptions.

- Um, please don't.

Besides, I have to go back to the hotel

and make a long-distance call,

and a few things,

and it will be better for me when you're all together.

- Yes, I, I realize that.

Well, uh, oh, you muststay for dinner tonight.

- I'd love to.

Thank you, I'll see youlater on this afternoon.

(audience laughing)

- Goodbye, Mr. Buford.

- Here's where Father is, corner of rd and Menlo.

- Okay, now look it, if Claude calls--

(phone ringing) - Here, put this on.

(audience laughing)

- Hello?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Cool,

swell,

goodbye.

(audience laughing)

Man, I'm in.

Claude says there's about a million artificial flowers

made over at Nancy Dalton's house.

- [Margaret] But, Bud, your father's waiting for you.

- Yeah, and they have tobe delivered to the gym

for the decorating committee.

And Claude fixed it up for me to do the delivery.

I'm in. (audience laughing)

- [Margaret] You can't hang around the gym,

Mr. Buford's coming back this afternoon.

- I'll be back

as soon as I can. (audience laughing)

Once I break the ice with Francine,

it wouldn't take me long. (audience laughing)

Man, I must lift off.

(audience laughing)

- You'd think now that he's in college,

he'd stop being so sappy.

(audience laughing)

- Well,

well, now wait, Mr.McClure, let me finish.

I can not write the story the way you want it.

I can't put down a pack of lies.

(audience laughing)

I have a little integrity left, you know.

(audience laughing)

- Mel, darn it, this is Saturday afternoon,

I'm trying to get home to my family.

Now, what do you mean, a pack of lies?

- Just that.

You want togetherness?

Listen to what actually goes on.

Bud, take my sister to a dance?

Wouldn't be caught dead.

(audience laughing)

Betty, what makes you think I'd go with you anyway?

(audience laughing)

That sound like togetherness?

(audience laughing)

Wait.

I have a lot more.

(audience laughing)

- So, what time did Mr.Buford say he'd be back?

- Well, he just said, later.

It wouldn't surprise meif he never came back.

(audience laughing)

- Yeah, we've sure goofed this so far.

(grunting)

A good article comes out of this mess, it'll be a miracle.

- Well, I invited him for dinner, so,

- Good. - maybe it'll all turn out--

(audience laughing)

Bud!

How did you get so dirty?

- Um,

trying to fish paper flowers out of muddy water.

(audience laughing)

- Out of muddy water?

- Yeah, I was carrying this bigbox of flowers out to my car

and I tripped.

- Oh, no.

- Yeah, and they, they fell right into a excavation

full of water.

(audience laughing)

This is all I salvaged from the whole .

(audience laughing)

- Bud.

- And now I'll never get acquainted with Francine.

- Well, that's not the worst of it.

Do you realize you've left that committee

with no decorations for tonight?

- You're tellin' me.

Nancy said there was no possible way

of replacing these flowers now.

It's up to me to do it anyway.

How do you like that?

It's impossible, but I have to do it.

(audience laughing)

Dad?

- Well, don't look at me.

(audience laughing)

- Well, what am I gonna do, Dad?

This is the worst jam I've ever been in.

(audience laughing)

- Kathy, Mommy's been trying to get Daddy

to fix the doorbell, but he never has time.

(audience laughing)

I tell you, Mr. McClure,

the husband and wife can't even get together long enough

to tell each other about a flat tire.

(audience laughing)

- Hmm.

I can hardly believe this.

Why, this sounds like my family.

(audience laughing)

And we couldn't print that.

(audience laughing)

Well, okay, Mel, if you feel that strongly about it.

You better pack up and come home.

- No, wait.

Let me write it, but let me tell the truth.

Now, don't blow your top.

Listen, we know now this togetherness jazz

is a complete myth.

So we can junk that idea.

But we also know Anderson is a successful insurance man.

So maybe there are otherfactors in family life

that contribute, I don't know.

But let me write the story my way,

and if you don't like it, fire me.

(audience laughing)

(peaceful music)

- I never thought I'd come to this.

If any of my friends walked in here now

I'd sh**t myself. (audience laughing)

- Don't talk so much,Father, and work faster.

- Oh, I'm working.

- Oh, yeah, Daddy, you're a bottleneck.

(audience laughing)

- Thanks, I think you're cute too.

(audience laughing)

(growling)

- Together?

Oh, my,

in the excitement we'veforgotten all about Mr. Buford.

- Oh my gosh.

I can't let him catch me doing a ridiculous thing like this.

(audience laughing)

- I can't let him takea picture of our house,

in this mess.

Can't you just imagine what those insurance men's wives

would say about my housekeeping?

- Yeah, and the remarks the men would make if they read,

Mr. James Anderson, successful insurance man,

spends his Saturday afternoons making paper pom-poms.

(audience laughing)

I'll never live it down.

Bud, I hate to do this to the poor guy again,

but, give him a call, will ya?

- Sure, what do I tell him?

- Oh, tell him an emergency came up

and we can't see him until dinner.

- Oh, but I won't have time now to fix a dinner.

- Oh.

Okay, uh, tell him to come back tomorrow

and he can have the whole day.

- Okay, but you guys keep working.

I've gotta get those things over to the gymnasium

in about minutes.

(audience laughing)

- Boy, I've spent somezany days in this house,

but this tops 'em all. (audience laughing)

- Amen, brother.

- Oh.

Well, when he comes in,

tell him that there's been an emergency.

And that the Andersonswon't be able to see him

until tomorrow.

Right, thank you.

He's not there now, but I left a message for him.

- Good, oh, open the door while you're there, Bud,

and let a little air in, I'm hotter than a fire stoker.

- All right.

- How many silly thingsdo we have to make?

- About , .

(audience laughing)

- It's more than half full, only about to go.

(audience laughing) - Oh, ah,

I don't know.

You couldn't get that party postponed

until next Sunday, could you?

(audience laughing) How's this for a bottleneck?

(family chattering)

(knocking on door)

* I've been workin' on the flower line

* All the live long day

(audience laughing)

(family singing together)

(audience laughing)

- Dad, what are you doing?

This one's lopsided.

(audience laughing)

- Well, nature and I nevermake two flowers exactly alike.

(audience laughing)

(family singing together)

- Say, I hope Francine appreciates

what I'm going through for her.

(audience laughing)

(family singing together)

(audience laughing)

(audience laughing)

- Excuse me.

- Oh.

(audience laughing)

Mr. Buford.

(audience laughing)

(dramatic music)

- You people are the worst double-crossers I've ever met.

Just when I sell McClure on the idea that togetherness

is a lot of nothing,

you come up with this operation.

(audience laughing)

(family singing together)

- Now we're rolling, you're holding up the line.

- Hey, now, Bud, how soon do you have to get this junk

over to the decorating committee?

- Well, it oughtto be there now,

but we're almost finished.

- Oh, well in that case,

I'd better get a pictureof this operation

before you all scatter again.

- Oh, you're not gonna print this?

- Darn right, I am.

(audience laughing) (family talking)

It's good stories, too.

But, you see, I finally

discovered what thistogetherness gimmick really is.

It's none of the surface nonsense we've all taken it to be.

It's a,

all right,

hold it!

(audience laughing)

(heartwarming music)

(audience laughing)

- It's none of the surface nonsense

we've all taken it to be.

It's deeper than that.

It shows when the chips are down.

It's in the blood.

(heartwarming music)

The Anderson family, like yours,

is combined of distinct,separate individuals

who go their distinct, separate ways.

(chuckling)

There is no sentimentalgushing over the home

as an institution.

To them, it is simply adarn good place to live.

And it is from thishealthy, free atmosphere

that insurance man Anderson leaves each morning

to do a darned good day's work.

(chuckling) (heartwarming music)

This is the kind of togetherness

that works.

(heartwarming music)

Pretty good, huh?

(chuckling)

- Yeah, that's not bad, it didn't get gooey once.

(audience laughing)

- You know, we ought to celebrate our newfound togetherness

by all going out to dinner tonight, together.

- Yes.

(family chattering)

- Oh, I can't tonight, I have a debate.

(audience laughing)

- Oh, I'm sorry, Dad,but I'm taking Francine

to the basketball game tonight.

(audience laughing)

- Well, I have to-- - Nevermind, Kathy,

go ahead.

(audience laughing)

Honey?

- I'm sorry, Dear,

(audience laughing)

Emily and I are going to a fashion show this evening.

(audience laughing)

I better hurry and get dinner.

(audience laughing)

(heartwarming music)

- Well, you're a darn good article anyway.

(audience laughing)

(heartwarming music)

In our next presentation we are, believe it or not,

chosen as the model family for a feature magazine article.

(chuckling)

I hope you'll join us, because the surprising things

that happen during the interview

shouldn't happen to a model family,

if I want to prove Father knows best.