Ward and June are going to a housewarming party, this leaves Beaver and Wally on their own. It also leaves the car at home, no worry: Beaver is going to Gilbert's but Gilbert comes over instead. As Gilbert is Beaver's Eddie, we know there will be a disaster. Beaver decides to pretend driving, and the dialog between him and Gilbert is dead on 1960 parent to child dialogue. But Beaver pulls the brake release, and the car slides into the street. For some unknown reason—talk to the writers—every car in Mayfield finds itself on Beaver's street. On his way home, Wally bumps into Gilbert who says Beaver's in the middle of the street. Wally arrives home to find a bunch of angry drivers and a frightened Beaver. Wally manages to find the spare key, under the floor mat, and drives the car back into the driveway. Of course, a police officer shows up and Wally gets a ticket.
I blame poor writing on this episode. Any police officer would have asked what happened. Would have listened and probably just given the boys a verbal warning depending on their behavior. Chances are he wouldn't even contact the parents. My dad was a cop and I knew about half the patrolmen, and none of them would have said, "I write tickets, judges are for listening." I will admit my views might be skewed in favor of the police; but the incident as it unfolded here did a disservice to both the police and juvenile judge.
Now Wally has to show up in juvenile court for Beaver's misadventure. Initially, Beaver seems to behave as all of this is Wally's problem. When Ward yells at Wally, Beaver just stands there. Finally Beaver admits the truth. And when Wally and Beaver show up, the juvenile court is filled, and some of Wally's friends are there to add to the tension. Finally, it gets settled but poor Wally just couldn't find a "human" being anywhere; but he gets off with a stern warning as does Ward. Sorry, I knew all the juvenile court judges; and they would have both listened and asked questions to find out what happened. I used to haunt the courthouse, and frequently sat in to listen to the proceedings. Beaver might have been given a look, but Wally would have been praised for the mature way in which he responded. You can write to entertain and still get it right. Not a favorite episode for me, but it is saved by the dialogue in the car between Gilbert and Beaver. A lot of parents would have heard themselves in that bit of fun.
I blame poor writing on this episode. Any police officer would have asked what happened. Would have listened and probably just given the boys a verbal warning depending on their behavior. Chances are he wouldn't even contact the parents. My dad was a cop and I knew about half the patrolmen, and none of them would have said, "I write tickets, judges are for listening." I will admit my views might be skewed in favor of the police; but the incident as it unfolded here did a disservice to both the police and juvenile judge.
Now Wally has to show up in juvenile court for Beaver's misadventure. Initially, Beaver seems to behave as all of this is Wally's problem. When Ward yells at Wally, Beaver just stands there. Finally Beaver admits the truth. And when Wally and Beaver show up, the juvenile court is filled, and some of Wally's friends are there to add to the tension. Finally, it gets settled but poor Wally just couldn't find a "human" being anywhere; but he gets off with a stern warning as does Ward. Sorry, I knew all the juvenile court judges; and they would have both listened and asked questions to find out what happened. I used to haunt the courthouse, and frequently sat in to listen to the proceedings. Beaver might have been given a look, but Wally would have been praised for the mature way in which he responded. You can write to entertain and still get it right. Not a favorite episode for me, but it is saved by the dialogue in the car between Gilbert and Beaver. A lot of parents would have heard themselves in that bit of fun.
