Original subtitles

- David?

- What?

- Which hand do you brush your teeth with?

- My right hand, of course.

Why?

- Nothing.

I usually brush mine with a toothbrush and Listerine

toothpaste.

- Oh, what a funny little man you are.

- Listerine antiseptic and Listerine toothpaste present

America's favorite family comedy,

"The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,"

starring the entire Nelson family.

Here is Ozzie, who plays the part of Ozzie Nelson.

And, of course, his lovely wife Harriet as Harriet Nelson.

The older of the Nelson boys, David, appears as David Nelson.

And his younger brother, the irrepressible Ricky,

played by Ricky Nelson.

The Nelson's next-door neighbor, Thorny,

is played by Don DeFore.

- What do you mean you're not going, David?

- What does it sound like I mean?

- Sounds like you mean you're not going.

- OK, then, what's your question?

- What do you mean you're not going, David?

- How many times do I have to tell you?

I'm not going.

- OK.

- And that's final.

The way you feel.

I'll give you one more chance.

- Thanks a lot, but I'm not going.

I happen to have other obligations.

- Big words.

- I promised to help a couple of friends of mine.

- What about me?

I'm your brother, you know.

- Don't get maudlin.

- I suppose you think I don't know what that means.

- OK, what does it mean?

- Just for that, you can look it up yourself.

- I told you I promised to help a couple of friends of mine.

A guy can have a couple of friends in this world, can he?

- Oh, yeah?

If it wasn't for me, you'd be an only-child.

- What's the trouble, boys?

- Hiya, Pop.

- Ricky's getting a little hot under the collar here.

- We were going to go to the movies this afternoon.

- Well, that's fine.

- Yeah, but now David is giving me some song-and-dance about

not being able to go.

- Oh.

What's the matter, Dave?

- Well, for one thing, I don't have enough money.

- Well, what happened to your allowance?

Did you spend all of it?

- Not exactly.

I loaned it to this guy at school.

- If you wanted to give it away, you should have told me.

- I didn't give it away.

It was a loan.

- What, did you lend it to some pal of yours?

- Not especially, Pop.

Just one of the guys in the class.

- Well, gee, that's a shame.

Now you don't have any money to go to the movies with, do you?

- No, sir.

- Well, I tell you what I'll do.

I think I can make little exception

and give you an advance on your allowance.

How much do you need?

- Never mind, Pop. That's OK.

- No, no, don't worry about it. You can pay me back.

- Honest, Pop. I don't want it.

- What's the matter with you, David?

You've got rocks in your head?

- You let David handle his own financial affairs.

- I sure wouldn't let him handle mine, boy.

- Are you sure you don't want this money, Dave?

- No thanks, Pop. Honest.

I can't go to the movies anyway.

- Why not?

- I have to make some drawings for a friend of mine

in science class.

- This guy has more friends.

- Well, Dave, if the movies don't

start until this afternoon, why didn't you

do the drawings this morning?

- I don't think I can finish in time, Pop.

It's an awful lot of work.

- Gee, this is a shame.

Why can't this boy do his own homework?

- Because this boy happens to be a girl.

- She is not, not unless you call the captain of last year's

football team a girl.

- Not to his face, I wouldn't.

- Dave, it's awful nice for you to do these things for people,

but, gee, it's a shame to have you miss out

on the movies on account of it.

- Well, that's OK, Pop.

I don't mind.

- It's going to be a neat picture too, boy.

- I better get upstairs and get going on this stuff.

- Well, if you change your mind, let me know, Dave.

- Thanks, Pop.

- You know where your mother is Rick?

- She's out in the kitchen.

- Oh.

Are you sure? - Yeah.

But the table's all cleaned up and the dishes

are in the dishwasher.

- Oh, gee, that's a shame.

Oh, I think I want to see her about something anyway.

Harriet!

- I'm in here.

- Oh, there you are.

I've been looking all over for you.

- And the dishes are all finished, thank you.

- Oh, that's too bad.

- Oh, you needn't look so unhappy about it.

There's nothing to it anymore.

- No, I'm not exactly unhappy.

To tell you the truth, I am a little concerned about David,

though.

- Well, he hasn't done anything wrong, has he?

- Oh, no, no, no, nothing like that.

It's just that, well, I think he's being taken advantage of.

- Oh, I know what you mean.

That Ricky can be a fast-talker, but David

knows how to handle him.

- No, no, it isn't Ricky.

- Oh, who is then?

- Well, I know the boys aren't doing it intentionally,

but David just doesn't know how to say no to people.

- What are you talking about?

- Oh, it's one thing after another.

Now, you take this morning for instance.

He has no money because he loaned one of his friends

his entire allowance.

He can't go to the movies because he

promised some other kid he'd do his homework for him.

- Well, that sounds very nice to me.

Personally, I think the whole world

could stand a little more friendly and generosity

these days.

- Well, so do I, and I'm glad David's that kind of a boy.

The point I'm trying to make is all

that generosity, like everything else, has its limitations.

He's got to learn to use a little judgment

and common sense.

I want him to be generous, too, but I

don't want him to be a doormat and have

people walk all over him.

- Oh, dear, I hardly think it's that serious.

Besides, maybe he likes doing things for his friends

like this.

You know, everybody likes to be well-liked.

- Mom?

- Yes, dear?

- Do you know where my jacket is?

- Yes, it's right here on the chair.

- Oh, yeah, Thanks. - Going out?

- Oh, just for a couple of minutes.

I'll be right back.

- Say, Dave?

- Yes, sir?

- Uh, could I have a talk with you, son?

- Well, sure, Pop.

- Go ahead.

I'll walk you to the door.

I don't quite know how to begin this, Dave.

- Have I done something wrong?

- Oh, no, no, at least not to anybody but yourself.

It's just what we were talking about before.

See, it's a wonderful thing to do nice things for people,

but you can overdo that the same as anything else.

- Yeah, I know what you mean, Pop.

- See, lots of times, people ask you to do things for them,

and you may not want to.

In fact, you may feel it's an imposition,

but yet, you just don't know how to say no.

- Yeah, but sometimes it's pretty difficult.

- Well, sure it is, but you've just got to do it,

son, or else people will be taking

over your whole life for you.

Now, you take this afternoon for instance.

I know you want to go to the movies,

yet you've got to stay home because you've

promised to do this other boy's homework for him.

- What can I do, Pop?

He asked me and he's a friend of mine.

- Well, you just could have said very politely, I'm sorry,

but I have other plans.

You could have been very courteous, but still be firm.

See, you've just got to learn to say no.

- I guess you're right, Pop.

- You try and remember that next time, will you, son?

It's nice to be considerate of other people,

but you've got to think of yourself, too.

- Here, Pop.

Why don't you take this apple? - Well, no.

I have an apple here.

- Mine's so much bigger than yours.

- But that's yours.

You keep it, Dave. - OK, Pop.

Well, I'll see you later.

I have to go down to the store and get this special drawing

paper. So long, Pop.

- So long, Dave.

- Hey, Oz.

- Oh, hiya, boy.

- I was just coming over to see you.

- Well, good for you, Thorny.

What's on your mind? - Guess what?

We have a little house-guest visiting us for a few days.

- Oh, good.

- Yeah, little niece of Catherine's.

In fact, Catherine just picked her

up at the train a few hours ago.

- Oh, that sounds wonderful.

- Yup, she's going to spend the weekend.

Lovely little girl too, Oz.

About 14, I would say.

- Hey, that's just about Will's age.

How does he like the idea?

- Well, unfortunately, he left last night

for an overnight hiking trip.

Seems he had a plan for several weeks.

- Oh, that's a shame.

- Yeah, the whole thing's sort of a surprise.

I didn't realize she was Will's age.

Naturally, we wanted her to have a good time while she's here.

- Oh, naturally.

- So when she received the invitation to the party

last night, well, we were pretty disappointed.

- Uh, party?

- Yeah, it seems Clara Randolph is

giving a party for her daughter, and she called Catherine

to invite little Shirley. - Oh, oh, oh.

- That's the little girl's name. - Well, that sounds wonderful.

- Yeah, except that she can't go alone,

being a complete stranger here and all.

They sort of figured Will was going to take her.

- Oh, yeah.

Too bad.

- So you can see the spot we're in.

She's a very nice little girl, Oz.

Very well mannered.

- Oh, yeah, I'm sure she is.

- I sort of thought you might have a suggestion.

- Hmm.

- It'd be awfully nice if she could go to the party.

- Hmm.

- Of course, if she had an escort, she could go.

Now, if we could think of some young chap about 14 or 15,

very clean cut, well-mannered, agreeable, and very popular

with the rest of the kids.

- Say, pardon me a second, Thorny.

What about David? He's--

- I accept.

- What?

- I said I accept.

Little Shirley will be delighted to go to the party with David.

- Well, thank you, Thorny.

On behalf of David, may I say he'll

be very, very delighted to escort

little Shirley to the party.

- Thanks a lot, Oz.

- Oh, forget it.

After all, if you can't do a favor for a pal.

- Oh, you're a real pal, Oz.

Thanks a million. - You bet.

- Oh, incidentally, uh, thank David for me too, will you?

- Hiya, Pop.

- Hiya, Pop.

- Oh, hiya, boys.

I've got some interesting news for you, Dave.

- Oh, good.

- It seems a little niece of Mr. Thornberry's

just arrived in town this morning.

- Oh, that's nice.

- Now, now, wait till you hear this now.

I understand that she's just about your age and a very

cute little girl.

- Ho-ho!

- Wait a minute, Ricky, I'm talking

to Dave Well, sir, here's the interesting part.

She's been invited to a party at Mary Randolph's, and I

understand she doesn't have an escort.

- Where's Will?

- Well, he's gone on an overnight camping

trip or something, so he can't take her.

Well, sir, Mr. Thornberry and I have been thinking the thing

over, and we've decided that we know another young lad who

would fit the bill exactly.

He's a very well-mannered boy, and a popular young fella

to boot.

- I'd be happy to take her, Pop.

- Ricky, please.

I'm talking to David.

- Gee, for a guy who's a popular young fellow to boot,

I sure get kicked around.

- Well, she's more David's age.

Well, how about it, Dave?

- How about what, Pop?

- Well, Mr. Thornberry and I would

consider it a great favor to us if you'd

agree to escort this charming little lady to the dance.

You hear me, Dave?

- Yes, sir, I heard you.

I was just thinking about something.

- Uh, thinking about what, David?

- What you said before.

- What I said before?

- Yes, sir.

I'm awful sorry, but I have other plans.

- You mean you don't want to go?

- Well, David, this sounds like it'll be a lot of fun.

- Well, thanks, a lot, Pop, and thank Mr. Thornberry for me,

too, but my answer is still no.

- Well, don't you even want to think it over?

- No, thanks, Pop.

And, gee, thanks a lot for the swell advice, Pop.

- Oh, that's OK, son.

Any time at all.

- Come on.

Let's go.

- Hiya, David, old pal, old buddy.

- What's on your mind, little man?

- Not a thing, old pal.

Not a thing.

- You sure are palsy-walsy all of a sudden.

- I've been doing a little thinking.

- I doubt it.

- Oh, I mean it.

I'm a pretty lucky guy to have a swell fellow like you

for a brother.

- Yeah, life has been good to you.

- Best brother a brother ever had for a brother, brother.

- OK, come on.

What's on your mind?

- What do you mean, pal? - Come on.

I know you're after something.

- How do you like that?

Guy tries to be nice, and right away you

think he's got an inferior motive.

- You're just being nice, huh?

- What else?

I like you, David.

- Thanks.

I think you're cute, too.

- I'm glad you aren't a girl.

- I'm kind of happy about that myself.

- It sure would be awful having a big sister.

Wearing your old clothes is bad enough.

- You don't mind having a big brother, though, do you?

- No, sir, boy.

Especially a real smart guy like you.

- You think I'm a pretty smart guy, huh?

- Yes, sir.

You think I'll ever be as smart as you, David?

- I doubt it.

Hey, I thought you were going to the movies.

- Yeah, I was.

- You'd better get going then.

- I think I'll stay home with you.

- What's the matter? Did you spend all your money?

- No, I've got all my money right here.

- Well, why aren't you going then?

- I like you, David.

- I like you, too.

- You know what I always say?

I always say, "Good old David is the salt of the Earth, boy."

- Is that really what you always say?

- And then I always say, "Good old David

is the smartest guy in town."

- No kidding?

- And then I always say--

- You're a pretty gabby little guy, aren't you?

- Yeah, I would say when it comes to fixing things,

boy, that David is terrific.

- Fixing what sort of things?

- Oh, little things, like a flat tire on my bike.

Will you fix it for me?

- Ricky, my boy, I've got news for you.

- Oh, come on, David.

If you don't fix it, I can't go to the movies.

- Big news.

- Oh, come on.

- Good old Dave's Fix-It Shop, Finance Company,

and Escort Service has gone out of business.

- Ozzie?

- Oh!

Oh, hi, Harriet.

- What are you so worried about?

- I'm not worried.

Oh, I guess I might as well tell you.

Harriet, we have a bit of a problem here.

The Thornberrys little niece is visiting them,

and she's been invited to a party at the Randolph's.

- Well, that sounds very nice.

- Well, yes, but Will is off on a camping trip,

and the poor little girl has nobody to take her.

- Well, what about David?

- I asked David, and he politely but firmly turned me down.

- Well, that doesn't sound like David.

- That was exactly my reaction.

Considering the fact that he does favors for just about

everybody in school, you'd think he could do this one

small one for his own father.

- Well, of course if he doesn't want to, dear, it's up to him.

- Well, you don't understand the extent of our problem.

I promised Thorny that David would take the little girl

to the party.

After all, a man can't go back on a promise.

- You promised Thorny?

- Well, yes, he's my best friend.

I don't think that was too much of a favor for him to ask me.

- Well, he wasn't asking you to take her, dear.

Don't you think you should have spoken to David first?

- Well, yes, I realize that now, but I

had no idea David would take my advice so seriously.

- What advice is that?

- You remember the discussion we had this morning?

See, David is so darn good-natured

and he does favors for just about everybody,

so they take advantage of it.

- Yes, I know.

- Well, Harriet, my case is entirely different.

Well, I'm the boy's father, you know.

- I didn't say anything, but evidently you did.

- Well, it's just that I've promised Thorny,

and a promise is a promise.

It's a little embarrassing to have David go back on my word.

- Why don't you just tell Thorny what happened?

You made a date for David without asking David first,

and David turned it down.

- Well, it'd make me look pretty silly, wouldn't it?

I'm sure there's some way of explaining

exactly what happened without exactly explaining

what happened.

- Well, dear, you work it out any way you want to.

Whatever you do, though, you'd better

do it now so they'll have time to find somebody else.

- I think I'll go out and see if I can find David and make just

one more pitch to see if he won't do

this as a special favor to me.

Oh, would you mind seeing who that

is at the back door, Harriet?

- Oh, you're kidding.

You know very well it's Thorny.

Come on in, Thorny!

- Look, why don't you see what Thorny wants, and I

think I'll go outside and see if I can find David.

- No, you'd better let me go see if I can find David.

- Hi, Harriet. Hi, Oz.

- Hi, Thorny. - Hiya, Thorny.

- Boy, excitement is sure running on a fever

pitch at our place today.

- Well, I know you boys have a lot to talk about,

so if you'll excuse me, please. - Uh, Harriet?

- Oh, you ought to see little Shirley.

- Uh, Thorny.

- She's so excited, she could hardly wait.

I've never seen a kid so happy in all my life.

- Pretty happy, huh?

- Oh, delirious.

Well, you'd think this is the first dinner

party she was ever invited to.

Come to think of it, I think it is.

Where's David?

Getting dressed, I suppose?

- Well, I really don't know where he is, Thorny.

- Oh, ho, ho.

That little Shirley can hardly wait to meet him.

Well, she's even been thinking of excuses

to go out in the backyard, hoping to get a glimpse of him.

- I'm, uh, pretty worried about something, Thorny.

Uh, David isn't much of a dancer, you know.

- Well, so what?

I don't imagine any of the kids are.

- Well, and then there's another thing.

Maybe David isn't her type.

- Oh, of course he's her type.

He's a boy, isn't he?

- Well, it's just that maybe she might prefer somebody

like the little Peterson boy.

Now, he's been going to dancing school and all.

- Oh, no, Oz.

She wouldn't care for him at all.

- You see, it's just the idea that David isn't

much of a social type boy.

He's a wonderful kid and all that,

but he's not what you'd call a party man.

Say, wait a minute.

How about little Georgie Dunkle?

- Well, Georgie's on the overnight trip with Will.

- Say, I've just got an idea.

He's a lot younger than she is, and she's about a foot taller

than he, but that Ricky always gives the girls a-- a-- time...

It was just a suggestion.

- Oh, ho, ho.

Quit worrying, Oz.

Believe me, David and Shirley are

going to get along together just fine.

Well, I've got to be running along now.

She's very anxious to model her new dress for Uncle Thorny.

- She even bought a new dress for the affair?

- Oh, certainly.

This is the biggest thing in her young life.

Just tell Prince Charming that the Pumpkin Coach will arrive

for him at 6 o'clock sharp.

Well, I'll see you later, Oz.

- Harriet?

Harriet!

- Yes, dear?

- Oh, Harriet, this is terrible.

- Was Thorny pretty upset when you told him?

- Well, now you've got to realize, Harriet,

that this is a very delicate situation we've got here.

Everybody's terribly excited about the party.

The little girl's looking all over, anxious to meet David.

She's bought a new dress.

This is going to be a terribly crushing blow to the poor girl.

- Ozzie, you did tell Thorny?

- Oh, of course, I--

I-- I-- I plan to tell him.

- In other words, you haven't told him yet.

- Well, like I say, Harriet, now,

this is a very delicate situation.

There are lots of different apples-- uh, uh,

factors involved that make it extremely difficult to-- to--

I chickened out.

- Well, dear, I know how you feel,

but the longer you put it off, the harder it's going to be.

- I can't argue with you because you're absolutely right.

Only thing I can do is just face the music

and call Thorny and tell him exactly what happened.

- Good for you.

- May I have the phone, please?

I don't suppose--

- No, I wouldn't.

- This is probably the last time I'll hear old Thorny's voice.

Say, maybe if I just saw David and spoke to him once more

and pleaded with him and explained to him

what a wonderful thing it would be

to do this favor for his kindly neighbor, Mr. Thornberry,

and his dear old dad.

Maybe I could bribe--

Not bribe.

I mean, maybe I could offer the boys a couple of dollars.

- Well, look, dear, he won't be back until dinnertime.

It'll be too late by then.

- Yeah, I guess you're right.

- Hello?

- Hello, Thorny?

This is Oz.

- Hi, Oz.

What's up?

- Something has, uh--

- Hi, Mom. Hi, Pop.

- Oh, David!

Where have you been?

- Out back by the garage.

- Well, sit down, son.

I want to have a talk with you.

Harriet, will you go get my wallet?

It's up on the dresser.

- You have to speak up, Oz.

I can't hear what you're saying.

- Well, Dave, remember this morning

when I had that little talk with you

and I explained that sometimes generosity and doing

nice things for people can be overdone?

- Yes, sir. - Oz, where are you?

- Well, in my anxiety-- - Hey, Oz!

- --not to have people take advantage of you,

I think I perhaps made my point a little too strong.

- Gee, I'm glad to hear you say that, Pop, because I really

enjoy doing favors for people.

- Oh, that's wo-- oh.

That's wonderful, son, because I'd

like to request that you do a little favor for Mr.

Thornberry and me.

- Hey, Oz!

Oz!

- Pop, do you hear voices?

- Well, yes. - Operator!

- Oh, for goodness sakes.

Pardon me.

Yes, Thorny, here I am.

- Well, you had me worried, Oz.

What happened?

- Uh, uh, well, it's nothing important, Thorny.

- What did you call up about?

- Well, I just wanted to say hello.

Well, goodbye, Thorny.

- Was that Mr. Thornberry, Pop?

- Yes, it was, David.

- Does he still want me to take his niece to the party?

- Well, yes, he does.

- Because I'd be happy to take her.

- Oh, that's wonderful, David!

I'm sure Mr. Thornberry appreciates it, and I do, too.

- Well, heck, I'm glad to do it, Pop.

- Well, that's a fine attitude to take, son.

- What time am I supposed to pick Shirley up?

- Mr. Thornberry's going to stop by here about 6 o'clock.

- David, how did you know her name was Shirley?

- How do I know her name?

Well, she was over in the Thornberry's backyard.

- Well, yes, but how did you know her name?

- Oh, that.

Well, I was in our backyard, you see,

and I saw this girl over in the Thornberry's backyard,

and then I remembered that Will Thornberry had

a pair of my old tennis shoes in his garage.

- So you went over to the Thornberry's backyard?

- Yes, sir.

That's where their garage is.

- And that's also where Shirley was.

- Oh, and I suppose you and Shirley

talked for a few minutes?

- Well, kind of.

And she said to me, you must be David Nelson, which I was.

We started talking, and--

Well, anyway, I'd be happy to take her.

In fact, it'd be crazy if I didn't.

- I take it then she's a rather cute little girl?

- I'll say she is.

- I think I'm beginning to understand this change of heart

and neighborly spirit.

- I sure am glad I was out by the garage fixing Ricky's tire,

otherwise I might not have seen her.

- Well, I'm glad it worked out well.

- I wanted to tell you about it myself.

I didn't want Ricky coming in here blabbing it to you.

- Yeah, we understand.

- David, hadn't you better start getting ready now?

- OK, I'll be right back.

- David, where are you going?

You've got to get dressed.

- Oh, I will.

First, I'd better let Ricky out of the garage.

Of all the sneaky tricks to play on your own brother.

- What's the matter, dear? - It's that Ricky, Mom.

We've got to do something about him.

He's getting to be a real wise guy.

- In what way?

- I had a pretty good time at the party last night.

I was feeling fine today.

So Ricky asked me if he could borrow some money

to go to the show.

- And you let him have the money?

- Yeah, and then he was worried about who

would do his homework if he went to the show.

- Oh, so you did his homework?

- Yeah.

Then he wanted to borrow my bike to get to the show.

- And you let him take the bike?

- Yeah.

All those sneaky tricks.

Borrows my bike.

Takes my money.

- Well, dear, you told him you could

take the bike and the money.

- Yeah, but I didn't tell him he could take Shirley, too.

- Next week, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,"

starring the entire Nelson family--

Ozzie, Harriet, David, and Ricky--

Will be brought to you by Hotpoint Quality Appliances.

Remember, look to Hotpoint for the finest first.