Leave It to Beaver (season 4)

Beaver won't eat his Brussels sprouts and thus jeopardizes his chance to join an upcoming family outing. Ward comprises and says Beaver can go with the family but must eat his sprouts the next time they're served. At a restaurant, Beaver finds the vegetable du jour is Brussels sprouts. He reluctantly puts one in his mouth and Wally slaps him on the back. Beaver suddenly swallows the sprout. He decides Brussels sprouts are not so bad.

Beaver's weekend guest Chopper Cooper is the victim of his divorced parents' manipulative games: he is shuttled about and the recipient of extravagant gifts as they vie for his affection. Beaver envies Chopper's unusual life until Chopper's mother calls. She has "the weepies" and Chopper is forced to cut short his weekend with Beaver. When Chopper leaves, Beaver realizes he is very lucky to have a stable life and parents who love each another.

While fishing with Wally, Beaver retrieves a drifting canoe and returns it to its owner. At school, the story makes the rounds and is embellished into a tale of rescuing a rich man's daughter in a runaway speedboat. Without Beaver's knowledge, the class sends the story to the newspaper. Beaver is taken aback to find the misinformation in print and corrects the tale in class. Miss Landers suggests he is a real hero for bravely telling the truth.

Guests: Richard Correll as Richard Rickover, Stanley Fafara as Whitey Whitney, Burt Mustin as Gus the Fireman, Sue Randall as Miss Landers, Neil Seflinger as Student, Larry Thor as Willard Watson, Jeri Weil as Judy Hensler. Director: Gene Reynolds. Writers: Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher. Story: Frank Gabrielson.

Wally expects to be a lifeguard at Friends Lake but, once on the site, he is assigned hot dog vending. When his family arrives with Gilbert and Whitey along, Beaver is humiliated with Wally's mundane job and refuses to talk to his brother. Later, Ward tells Beaver he tried to use Wally to make himself a big shot in front of his friends and now is disappointed because it didn't work out. Beaver feels like a heel and begins talking to Wally again.

Beaver hates his freckles. He sandpapers his face and comes to the dinner table wearing his mother's make-up. Ward tries to put Beaver's freckles in proper perspective. Later, Beaver talks to befreckled Clyde Appleby who says he likes his freckles because they attract people's notice. Beaver then begins to like his. Ward says one of the great advantages of being a kid is that problems seldom last more than a day.

Beaver sells raffle tickets and, when he sells a complete book, he gets a free ticket for himself. Beaver wins the raffle's expensive sports car but Ward tells him the car must be sold and the money put in Beaver's bank sccount. Beaver becomes angry and grows unreasonable. He gives his father the silent treatment. Later, he realizes his father is right. The car is sold and Beaver begins talking to his father again.

Guests: Ken Osmond as Eddie Haskell, Burt Mustin as Gus the Fireman, Rusty Stevens as Larry Mondello, Mark Allen as Policeman, Lenore Kingston (credit only). Director: Gene Reynolds. Teleplay: Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher. Writer: Arthur Kober.

Beaver is crushed when he learns Miss Landers is engaged to Tom Brittingham. He gets sick and stays in bed. When Miss Landers arrives at the house with his homework assignment and learns the cause of his illness, she explains to him that teachers have as much right as anyone else to fall in love and get married. Beaver understands. Miss Landers assures Beaver he will like her husband.

Wally overhears Eddie's new girl Caroline telling her friends she can't stand Eddie and is only going with him because her boyfriend is grounded for two weeks. Wally tells Eddie, and Eddie accuses his friend of making up stories to move in on his girl. Eddie later tells Beaver he realized Wally was telling the truth but didn't like his best friend knowing other people thought he as a creep. Beaver thinks the two should make up and be friends again.

Beaver thinks he may fail an intelligence test and studies the encyclopedia. Ward tells him one can't study for an intelligence test. After the test, Ward and June learn Beaver placed in the top ten. Beaver now thinks he doesn't have to study but Ward says the test is only a measure of potential and he must continue do his homework. Beaver glumly accepts his fate.

June sets up a date between Wally and the daughter of an old friend who's in town, Kitty Bannerman. Wally is nervous, and Beaver learns Wally and Kitty exchanged a series of letters at summer camp. In his letters, Wally created an exotic life for himself and now Kitty will learn the truth. Later, Kitty confesses to Wally she also created a fanciful life in her letters. With the truth out in the open, both feel they are going to have a nice date.

Mrs. Murdock asks Wally to take her son Chuckie to buy new shoes but Beaver volunteers for the job. At the department store, Chuckie becomes difficult, throws a tantrum and, when Beaver steps aside to pay for the shoes, wanders off. The boy meets a family friend and is taken home. When Beaver can't find Chuckie, he calls his father and tells him he's not coming home because he's lost "a whole kid." Ward assures him Chuckie is home safe.

Kenneth is a lonely boy at school who steals things. He gives Beaver a few of the stolen items in order to make friends with him. June learns of the various thefts from Miss Landers, and, while housecleaning, finds the stolen items in Beaver's room. Beaver is unware the items are stolen. Kenneth confesses to Miss Landers. She assures him he doesn't need to steal to make friends.

Beaver orders an accordion through the mail for a trial period without his parents' knowledge. He intends to return it but puts it in a closet and forgets about it. A representative of the accordion company arrives. When the closet is opened, the accordion falls to the floor and is damaged. Ward pays for the damage because he knows how easy it is for a boy to be enticed with offers received in the mail.

Ward's uncle Billy arrives for a visit. Billy tells tales and promises the boys all sorts of goodies. One day, Beaver finds Uncle Billy in the barber shop. The barbers are rolling their eyes over Billy's tales and Beaver is embarrassed. Ward wants to lecture Billy on how his tales and promises hurt people but Beaver asks him not to "holler" at Billy. Beaver knows from experience that people sometimes make up tales to impress others.

Wally dates classmate Julie Foster, the daughter of his English teacher. Eddie thinks the situation may affect Wally's grades. Ward wants Wally to date others besides Julie. Wally breaks up with Julie and later finds Lumpy strolling with Julie. Wally is now sure he will fail English and Lumpy will get a good grade. When tests are graded and returned however, Wally has an 'A' and Lumpy an 'F'.

Beaver wants his father to become a millionaire and buys him a book on the subject. Ward says the book will have an honored place on his shelf but, in a moment of distraction, June puts the book in the kitchen cookie drawer where Beaver discovers it. He's hurt. Ward explains he only said he'd place the book on his shelf because he didn't want to hurt Beaver's feelings. Beaver admits he didn't really think his father would become a millionaire.

Beaver wants to be a writer when he grows up and Ward suggests he keep a journal. Beaver records his daily activities in his journal, then begins to elaborate in fanciful ways. When Beaver doesn't come home for supper, Ward and June read his journal looking for clues to his whereabouts. They are shocked and concerned about Beaver's adventures. Beaver later admits they are just stories and Ward says he was too quick to believe them.

Wally is suspended from the track team after a towel fight in the locker room initiated by Eddie and Lumpy. Ward and June are concerned. Beaver knows the truth about the fight and asks Lumpy to confess because the team will lose the upcoming track meet without Wally. Lumpy confesses but, rather than reinstating Wally, the coach suspends Eddie and Lumpy. Wally has learned a hard lesson.

Beaver is excited about having an old friend named Jackie Waters stay for the weekend and plans activities around all the things they once enjoyed doing. However, the boys find they have little in common any longer and grow bored with each other's company. Jackie decides to end the visit and calls his parents to pick him up. Ward consoles Beaver over his disappointment and tells him everyone goes through such an experience.

The doctor wants to remove Beaver's tonsils but Beaver is frightened. Ward boosts his morale with stories about all the gifts he'll receive and all the treats he'll eat. Beaver looks forward to the operation but the doctor then decides Beaver's tonsils should remain where they are. Beaver is crestfallen over the turn of events but his parents buy him a telescope to assuage his disappointment.

The pet store where Eddie is employed holds a fish-counting contest; a puppy is the grand prize. Beaver really wants the puppy, a fact Eddie tries to exploit when he tells him that he knows the winning number. Lumpy learns the number of fish from Eddie and tells others. The pet store owner is then confronted by a crowd of children who all have the correct count. He fires Eddie. Beaver wins a "constellation" prize — a pair of goldfish.

Beaver volunteers to make a poster for school. He wants his father to actually make the poster but Ward refuses. Beaver's attempt at creating a poster is disasterous but he enters his work at school anyway. Miss Landers suggests the posters be judged on their originality and Beaver's poster easily wins. He gives the prize to Ward for not helping him.

June calls housekeeper Mrs. Manners for help. Mrs. Manners is busy with other clients and sends her daughter, Margie. Wally becomes smitten and hangs around the kitchen every day to help Margie. June is concerned with Wally's infatuation and calls Mrs. Manners to straighten things out. When Wally comes home from school one day and heads to the kitchen to help Margie, he finds Mrs. Manners instead.

Beaver is thrilled when he's cast as a Dutch boy in a school play but then discovers to his horror he must kiss a girl onstage. He refuses to participate and locks himself in the bathroom. At school, the girl in the play says she is repulsed with the idea of kissing him. They agree to do the kiss because the show must go on. After the performance, Beaver says he'll never enjoy kissing girls as much as Wally does.

Wally helps a shy new boy named Dudley fit in at school, despite efforts by Lumpy and Eddie to sabotage the effort. When Dudley is invited to a party, Eddie and Lumpy plan to embarass him. The two boys don't know that Dudley has several hidden talents that will help him break the ice with new friends. When the hi-fi fails, Dudley becomes the center of attention with his expert piano playing and makes several friends.

Eddie spends the weekend at the Cleavers, but a fight between Eddie and Wally may do more than just end the stayover. It might expose some of Eddie's well-hidden personal secrets. Eddie leaves abruptly saying the boys were mean to him. Ward learns Eddie's parents are out of town and Eddie is "edgy" when having to stay home alone. They find Eddie at home with all the lights on and persuade him to return to the house.

Guests: Ken Osmond as Eddie Haskell, John Alvin as Frank Haskell. Director: Norman Abbott. Writers: Dick Conway, Roland MacLane, Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher.

While Lumpy and Eddie are visiting the Cleaver house, Gilbert arrives to deliver Beaver's report card. Eddie changes Beaver's 'D minus' in math to 'B plus'. Later, Ward and June discover the card and are thrilled with the mark. They give Beaver a new train set. June learns from Miss Landers Beaver actually received a 'D minus'. Beaver denies tampering with his report card. Wally gets the truth from Eddie.

Beaver's friend Richard breaks a window at an abandoned house and gives Beaver's name as an alias to the police. In the evening, Ward is astonished when the police chief and the arresting officer arrive at the house. Beaver enters and the arresting officer realizes he's not the boy involved in the incident. The truth is discovered and Richard apologizes to Ward for his dishonesty.

A new girl at school has Wally dreaming about romance. Wally is too shy to ask her out so June calls her mother and invites the girl to a picnic. On the outing, Wally discovers his dream girl is allergic to chicken and breaks out in lumps in the sunshine. Later, June apologizes for meddling but Wally is glad she did and thanks her. He doesn't want a dream girl with lumps.

Beaver and Gilbert agree to make funny faces when their class picture is taken for the yearbook. When the photo is snapped, Beaver makes a face but Gilbert doesn't. Mrs. Rayburn spots Beaver in the photographer's proofs and calls Ward. At home, Ward disciplines Beaver for his disrespectful act. When the yearbook is published, Beaver discovers the photographer has airbrushed the photo and he's hidden behind a classmate's large hair ribbon.

Beaver pays fifty cents for a rat then sells him to Violet Rutherford for three dollars. Fred visits Ward and tells him Beaver pulled a fast one on his daughter. Beaver returns the three dollars and regains the rat. Fred later offers five dollars for the rat because his wife had grown fond him. Beaver accepts only his original fifty cent investment and asks his father why Mr. Rutherford would make such an offer. Ward says we're never too old to do "goofy stuff".

A billboard in the neighborhood displays a picture of a woman holding a three-dimensional cup of steaming Zesto Soup. Whitey urges Beaver to climb up to the cup to discover how the steam is produced. Beaver falls into the cup and can't get out. Whitey hurries home. Curious onlookers gather with Wally and his friends among them. Eventually the fire department arrives to rescue Beaver.

Guests: Ken Osmond as Eddie Haskell, Frank Bank as Lumpy Rutherford, Stanley Fafara as Whitey Whitney, Harry Holcombe as Frank Whitney, Lenore Kingston as Mrs. Whitney, Jack Mann as Fireman, Jimmy Gaines as Little Boy. Director: Norman Abbott. Teleplay: Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher. Story: Dick Conway, Roland MacLane.

Beaver collects for a charity and loses the collection can. Ward says he will replace the money if Beaver goes to every house he visited and records the exact donations made. People gladly contribute again when they realize Beaver lost the original donations. In the meantime, the collection can has been found and returned. Ward tells Beaver he will have to return the second collections because people gave only after hearing about his loss.

Beaver's class elects him junior fire chief. Beaver plays the role to the hilt, citing his family and neighbors for various violations. He brags to Gus about writing citations and yelling at people. Gus advises him that more is accomplished by being nice to others. Beaver realizes the truth of Gus' words and tears up the citations in class. Beaver has learned a lesson and Miss Landers is proud of the junior fire chief.

Beaver needs money. Richard knows a man who buys live frogs. Beaver collects frogs at Miller's Pond and keeps them at home, hoping to sell them. Richard says the frogs will be killed and used in experiments. Beaver has grown fond of his frogs and returns them to the pond. Later, Ward tells Beaver he can earn money by waxing his car but Beaver knows the car doesn't need polishing. He appreciates his father's kindness.

Beaver and Gilbert start a lawn mowing business but most neighbors have professional lawn servicemen. Eddie suggests they mow lawns then ask for payment. Beaver mows a lawn without permission and the homeowner becomes angry. Gilbert quits. Beaver mows a lawn and the homeowner gives him a five dollar check that bounces. Beaver's faith in others is sorely tried. The homeowner reimburses Beaver and his faith is restored.

Ward and Beaver build an elaborate kite for a special father-and-son event. Gilbert persuades Beaver to give it a trial flight. The kite crashes and is ruined. Beaver hides the kite and hopes the event will be cancelled. Ward finds out, however, and chastises Beaver for his carelessness. At the last moment, they buy another kite, attend the event, and bring home a prize ribbon.

Beaver needs wheels for his coaster cart and Penny Woods offers the wheels from her old doll buggy. Beaver pushes the buggy through the streets of Mayfield, feeling self-conscious. When he spots Richard and Gilbert heading his way, he shoves the buggy into a weedy ditch. Gilbert finds it and claims the wheels for his own cart. Beaver doesn't have the nerve to tell him the wheels are his. Ward buys Beaver the wheels he needs.

When Ward takes a business trip, Wally becomes man of the house until his father's return. Beaver calls a schoolmate a bad name and is sent home with a note. Beaver doesn't want to repeat the word to his mother so Wally goes to the school in Ward's stead. Miss Landers accepts Wally as Beaver's substitute father. Beaver promises never to use bad words again and thanks Wally for being a good brother and a good father.