01x05 - Live My Own Life

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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01x05 - Live My Own Life

Post by bunniefuu »

Robert Young...

and Jane Wyatt...

with Elinor Donahue, Billy
Gray, and Lauren Chapin...

Want the first-aid kit?

Don't you know your father's
pretty touchy about that shaver?

What shaver?

This shaver.

Oh, gee, Mom, I'm not
even half-shaved yet.

Well, you can finish the job
in about five years from now.

Gee whiz, Mom, I'm
not a kid anymore.

I know, Bud.

Then why is it every time
I want to do something,

somebody always says,
"Don't do this, don't do that."

Bud! Yeah?

Telephone, Bud!

Coming!

Oh, Bud, don't give it to me.

Don't come down the
stairs like that, Bud.

You sound like an
elephant wearing golf shoes.

Hello?

Oh, hi, Joe.

No matter what it is
you 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 fellas on our
motor scooters to the stone quarry?

No. I knew I couldn't.

But, Bud, the reason is...
All right, Snaps. So long.

Bud, will you please
let me explain?

That's right on the main
highway, and there's a lot of fast,

dangerous traffic out there, and
you boys are much too young to...

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

What do you suppose
has gotten into that boy?

He seems to resent
everything you say to him.

Oh, it's nothing, really. Just
the normal signs of growing up.

The young male
animal asserting himself.

Well, I hope that's all it is.

Yesterday, he even
talked about moving away.

He wouldn't do
that, would he? Bud?

You couldn't drive him out
of here with a rawhide whip.

At least not as long as
we've got food around.

So long.

So long... Betty.

Bye, Freddie.

Bye, Freddie.

So long, kiddo.

So long.

Bye.

Bud Anderson!

I couldn't help it.

Well I... I guess
I'd better be going.

Bye.

Bud 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!

"The Hidden Key to Success,

or Harnessing the
Subconscious." Oh.

Actually, I can't understand it.

But I love to read
things I can't understand

'cause then I feel as though
I'm getting somewhere.

Betty? Oh, thanks.

Freddie says the main idea is that
you release your subconscious...

or something.

Understand?

Perfectly.

Think your way to
anything, anything you want.

And how do you do that?

Well, you simply mesh your subconscious
mind with your conscious mind.

I must do that sometime.

Freddie says it'll change my
whole life, so I'm gonna take it up.

Take what up?

Oh, nothing. You wouldn't
understand. Wait'll you grow up.

Eeeek! What hit you?

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 in turpentine or something.

You know, I should
read this right now,

'cause Freddie might
come over later to discuss it.

But I ought to spend
the time fixing my hair.

I don't know what to do.

Well, can't you mesh your
subconscious and think a few curls into it?

Father, you're so pedestrian.

Bud, change your clothes and
wash your hands before you eat.

Okay, okay.

Dad, about that trip to the
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!

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 30 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.

Aw, a lot anybody
cares about my life.

Now, wait, Bud.

Would you like
to buy some taffy?

No!

Gee, what's the matter with him?

Oh, it's nothing, Kitten.

Well, it may be nothing, but I
wish we knew what to do about it.

I feel as though I just don't
know 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.

Here, Daddy. Sign for
the taffy. 50 cents a box.

Now, wait a minute. I didn't say
I was gonna take all 30 boxes.

You try to sell those
to other people first,

and if you have any
left, maybe I'll buy them.

Okay.

Mommy, would you buy some? Nope.

Okay, I tried. I have 30 left.

How many do you want?

Bud!

Hey, Bud!

Oh, hi, Bud.

Hi, Clark.

Wanna look through my telescope?

Naw.

I traded old Whitey out of it.

Gave him my 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.

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

Wanna try it? Naw.

What'sa matter?

You sick?

No, I'm okay.

I'm just sick of this jailhouse.

Your folks clampin' down on ya?

They won't let me do a thing.

That ain't no 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.

You'd think they'd'a
learned more,

considerin' how old they are.

Aw, they don't know
how to handle kids.

It takes the YMCA for that.

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

I put up a punchin'
bag in our living room.

But my old man
took it right down.

Someday I'm gonna
move away from here.

Why don't you do it now?

Now? You ain't gettin'
any younger, boy.

But where would I go?

There's a real keen room
up over Ingle's Feed Store.

Yeah? Only five bucks a month.

All you gotta do is sweep
the store out every mornin'.

Gee, I wonder if I should.

You ain't gettin'
any younger, boy.

I wonder.

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

When you come
back for a visit, boy,

watch 'em knock themselves
out trying to be nice to you.

They'll treat you like a king...

A real, genuine, royal king.

Oh! Oh, why did we
ever let him go away?

I realize now he
was my favorite child.

We were blind fools.
Blind, blind fools!

Will he ever come
back? I doubt it.

We're getting just
what we deserve.

Oh, I wonder how he is.

Oh, he'll get along,
with all of his talent

and personality and ability.

But can we get
along without him?

I know I can't.

I'll perish.

Jim, could that...
could that be?

♪♪ Bud!

My, this little tot
is getting bigger.

And this one will be
grown before you know it.

Thank you.

You may get up now.

Are you... Are
you going to stay?

I don't think so. I have a
lovely room at the feed store:

a 40-inch television set,

a refrigerator full of banana
splits, trapeze, punching bag...

But, son, haven't you noticed

how we've redone
the living room for you?

But look in the dining room!

Bud, this is your place.

Ooh. I'd better wash first.

Oh, that's ridiculous.

Sit down.

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.

Tasted what?

Oh. Uh... You've
sure been acting funny.

Sure you ain't sick?

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

Claude.

About that room
over the feed store.

You sure a fella
could get it? Sure.

I was just down there this
mornin' 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.

I thought I told you
to change your clothes

and to wash those hands.

Wash? Why, that's ridiculous.

Bud, I don't like to
hear 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.

Ohh... 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.

Jim!

Uh, 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, huh?

No, it's not that. A
suitcase'd be too small.

I'll need Mom's big old trunk.

Jim, are you going to
stand there painting all day?

Don't you realize
our son is leaving?

Oh, no, he isn't.

Well, he's upstairs
packing that trunk.

Sure, but that's
just a big bluff.

You know that as well as I.

Well, we know it, but does he?

Margaret, I tell you,
the only way to handle

a situation like this is to...

Bud? Yes?

Uh, it's nothing, son. Go on.

Do you want him to leave?

Of course not.

I just know it's
best to ignore it.

I did the same thing
when I was a kid.

I threatened to run away
just to watch my folks react.

The more they carried on, the
farther I pushed it, so I know...

I'd love to watch him try to pack
that bicycle frame in the trunk.

Dear, why don't you go
upstairs and talk to him?

Margaret, there's nothing
to talk about right now.

He just has to get this out of
his own system his own way.

Well, if you're not gonna
do anything about it, I am.

No, wait. I'll go.

Takes a man to handle
a situation like this.

Here.

You, uh... sure you're
taking enough stuff, Bud?

Enough to get started on.

Yeah, you won't need towels.

Living alone, you won't
have to wash so often.

Besides, there'll always be a lot
of old feed sacks around the store.

Daddy, would you like to buy
some real keen, delicious taffy?

20 cents a box.

20? I thought it was 50.

I had to cut the price.

I can't sell that old stuff.

Hey, where's Bud going?

Well, Kathy, I know this is
going to come as a shock to you,

and I want you to take it
bravely, but Bud is moving away.

He's leaving us.

Can I have his room?

Well, is Bud really
leaving? I mean, really?

And your father keeps
insisting that he isn't,

but I'm not so sure
he's handling it right.

Oh, it's not that I don't
think that your father

has wonderful ideas.

It's just that... well,
they don't work.

Well, he might have
picked out a better place.

I can just hear my friends
say, "Where's your brother?"

And I say, "Oh, he's
living in a feed store."

Well, if I'd had my way...

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 to plead 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 should hear his
conversation. It's horribly deep.

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.

Oh! I'll bet that's Freddy!

Hello, Freddy.

Hi.

Hi.

Hello.

That Freddy's conversation
certainly is deep.

Freddy, I'd like you to
meet my mother and father.

- Oh, glad to know you.
- Hello, Freddy.

Freddy, could you
help us with a problem?

Well, sure. Well, if
you had a little brother

and he was gonna leave
home, how would you handle it?

Well, you take and mesh

the subconscious with the
conscious, and then you...

Never mind.

Dad?

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.

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?

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

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

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.

Yeah.

Well... I'm going now.

Guess I'll... take off now.

So long.

Well, I... guess
I've got everything.

Ta-ta.

Bud, wait!

Well, okay. But
hurry up. I'm going.

What your mother wanted
to say was good-bye.

Good-bye.

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.

Uh, I'll tell you what.
I'll drive 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... let's have
a look at it first.

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

Okay.

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

And it's close to the streetcars
and Birney's fish market.

Some folks don't care
particular about fish.

I don't eat 'em myself.

Now, down there is the
tracks to the BTO&M Railroad,

formerly called the BTMQ&D

Railroad. I like the
old name better myself.

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, uh...

Now, this here is the
kitchen, you might say.

And, uh, it's best to
unscrew the lightbulb

while you're usin' the hotplate.

Get too much juice coming
through, and you blow a fuse.

There's dishes
and pans and, uh...

Oh, uh, if this here
gets leakin', I'll replace it.

Uh, what about the water?

Oh, sure. Got that.

Just down the fire
escape, turn to the left.

Bathroom's in the
rear of the store.

Sounds handy. It is.

Well, you look her over.
And just take your time.

I got to get back downstairs.

Well, thank you, Mr. Engel.

Well, Bud, what do you think?

It's fine.

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

Climbing that fire escape for
your water will keep a guy in shape.

That's a real advantage.

Meals are no problem.

If you feel hungry,
just open a can of soup

and turn off the
light, heat it up.

Eat it right out of the
can. No dishes to wash.

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?

No, sir. I'm staying.

Oh. Uh-huh.

Well, remember, if
you're ever out our way,

be sure to drop
in and say hello.

Sure.

So long.

So long.

I was wonderin' 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
ten 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 a
good home reason enough

and a family that loves him?

I don't think you get my drift.

You see, him and you
have 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.

All right, Betty. Call him.

Here, Daddy. This
will really bust it good.

No, Kitten. We don't
want to wreck it completely.

Aw, shucks. I thought we
were gonna have some fun.

Bud! Oh, Bud!

Telephone!

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's the matter with it.

Daddy busted it. Shh!

Oh, 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 you
might find time?

Well, I'm awful busy right now

doin' some pretty
important junk,

but... maybe I can
squeeze out some time.

No, no. I can't
make it right now.

Well, say, how about...

five minutes from now?

Yeah. Good-bye.

Okay, Kathy. Plug it in.

♪♪

Attaboy, Bud! 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?

Now can you fix this?

My gosh! What happened to it?

A hammer hit it... accidentally.

This is in pretty bad shape.

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

Well, Bud, as long as
you're going out there,

I wonder if you'd mind showing
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.

Mom?

Yes, Bud?

I'm hungry.
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