Beaver made a promise to babysit for Mrs. Bellamy but at the last minute, he bailed. June is both unhappy and disappointed. What's worse, Beaver didn't even speak with Mrs. Bellamy directly. He left a message with Benjie for him to tell his mother. Beaver has a better offer, he's going out with Gilbert. Ward tells Beaver to call Mrs. Bellamy and sit; but she got someone else and Beaver's out as a babysitter period. And after she promised he would be her only sitter; wow, Beaver has learned a lesson. Women don't keep their promises.
Wally and Beaver are having a slight difference of opinion and Ward has to intervene again; Beaver is just thoughtless and unthinking of others. Ward encourages Beaver to be more considerate of others, reach out, so to speak. So, when a hobo knocks on the Cleavers' back door, what's an enlightened Beaver to do? The hobo overhears the way Beaver and Gilbert are talking, and realizes Beaver might be a mark. For once, Gilbert talks sense and Beaver doesn't listen. The hobo, claims to have worked in the circus as a fire eater. The hobo goes on to take more and more advantage of the incredibly gullible Beaver.
Jeff needs to clean up; and before Beaver knows it, the hobo is in tub. Beaver might have had a chance when Ward comes home to get June's coat, but keeps quiet. Then Wally comes home and doesn't have any luck getting the guy out of the tub either. And then they find the bathroom empty, the bo's clothes on the floor, and Ward's clothes missing. I can't figure out why Wally didn't call the police.
Ward's grey suit, shoes, shirt are all gone. Wally can't believe Beaver was so naïve. Beaver says he was being kind. Wally and Beaver drive around looking for the hobo, then resort to foot. Ward and June arrive home and find a note from Jeff, thanks for everything. Who is Jeff? June discovers their room has been ransacked a bit. What's going on? Whose clothes are these? Beaver has to confess the incident to Ward. Beaver tries to pass his stupidity off as the pitfalls of being kind, rather than his obvious lack of judgement and common sense. Ward is way too kind. Ward lectures but isn't upset that his clothes have been stolen, and that Beaver let a stranger in the house.
After things have settle down and a few days have passed, the Cleavers are returning home from a sports show. They find a letter containing five dollars and a note. It's from Jeff. He claims because of the kindness of Beaver he was able to find a job, and he will send five dollars a week until he has paid for the clothes he took. Wally is unconvinced of the sincerity; but Ward is more philosophical about it. By and large, fire eaters are pretty honest fellows.
I suspect Hugh Beaumont (Ward) either had a hand in writing the script or approval of it. Hugh was a Methodist lay minister and this episode with its "positive" ending and message of kindness throughout was one he no doubt saw as in line with his own views.
Wally and Beaver are having a slight difference of opinion and Ward has to intervene again; Beaver is just thoughtless and unthinking of others. Ward encourages Beaver to be more considerate of others, reach out, so to speak. So, when a hobo knocks on the Cleavers' back door, what's an enlightened Beaver to do? The hobo overhears the way Beaver and Gilbert are talking, and realizes Beaver might be a mark. For once, Gilbert talks sense and Beaver doesn't listen. The hobo, claims to have worked in the circus as a fire eater. The hobo goes on to take more and more advantage of the incredibly gullible Beaver.
Jeff needs to clean up; and before Beaver knows it, the hobo is in tub. Beaver might have had a chance when Ward comes home to get June's coat, but keeps quiet. Then Wally comes home and doesn't have any luck getting the guy out of the tub either. And then they find the bathroom empty, the bo's clothes on the floor, and Ward's clothes missing. I can't figure out why Wally didn't call the police.
Ward's grey suit, shoes, shirt are all gone. Wally can't believe Beaver was so naïve. Beaver says he was being kind. Wally and Beaver drive around looking for the hobo, then resort to foot. Ward and June arrive home and find a note from Jeff, thanks for everything. Who is Jeff? June discovers their room has been ransacked a bit. What's going on? Whose clothes are these? Beaver has to confess the incident to Ward. Beaver tries to pass his stupidity off as the pitfalls of being kind, rather than his obvious lack of judgement and common sense. Ward is way too kind. Ward lectures but isn't upset that his clothes have been stolen, and that Beaver let a stranger in the house.
After things have settle down and a few days have passed, the Cleavers are returning home from a sports show. They find a letter containing five dollars and a note. It's from Jeff. He claims because of the kindness of Beaver he was able to find a job, and he will send five dollars a week until he has paid for the clothes he took. Wally is unconvinced of the sincerity; but Ward is more philosophical about it. By and large, fire eaters are pretty honest fellows.
I suspect Hugh Beaumont (Ward) either had a hand in writing the script or approval of it. Hugh was a Methodist lay minister and this episode with its "positive" ending and message of kindness throughout was one he no doubt saw as in line with his own views.
