Wally and his friends are setting up to play a sandlot game of baseball with Wally and Chester picking teams. Beaver is the designated holder, i.e., Beaver holds the stuff the kids don't want to get dirty or get broken. After the game, everything is handed back except for Lumpy's watch. Beaver claims Lumpy never gave him a watch. Fred Rutherford shows up to pick up Lumpy and asks the strike-out king how he did. Since Fred wasn't there to watch, Lumpy says he hit a couple of homers.
Up in his room Beaver is practicing how to ask Ward for $15, the price of Lumpy's watch. Wally says lookout out for dad because he is in a bad mood; he just balled out Wally for leaving his fishing things around, then gave him a lecture about responsibility. The phone rings and it's Lumpy demanding his money or he will call the police and have Beaver taken to jail. Beaver has two days to show up with the watch or the money. As a possible backup, Beaver asks Wally if he could beat up Lumpy. Wally isn't sure, Lumpy is a big guy and is a junior in high school.
At breakfast, June wants to know if Beaver is in trouble. Beaver says no, but eventually poses his hypothetical problem to Ward. Ward's answer is disturbing as Ward concludes if someone lost his stuff and didn't make restitution, he would call the police. On Beaver's way to school, he is waylaid by Lumpy who threatens to go to Ward or the police. If Beaver doesn't have the money then sell something. Lumpy will be over after school to get his money.
Ward gets home from the office to find June looking for a bond that Aunt Martha gave to the Beaver. Beaver is at the bank trying to redeem his bond. The bank teller can't redeem the bond because Ward has to sign it. The teller is concerned and asks why Beaver needs to cash the bond; Beaver says if he doesn't he will go to jail. The teller calls Ward who is now furious. When Beaver gets home he finds he is in big trouble.
Beaver explains he needs the money to pay for a watch and if he doesn't Lumpy Rutherford will put him in jail. Beaver says he is sure Lumpy never gave him a watch. Upset at the way Lumpy has terrorized Beaver, Ward calls Fred to explain what's been going on. Fred says he knows Lumpy lost the watch but two weeks ago. His wife found the watch and they were waiting for Lumpy to admit he lost the watch. After hearing what has happened, Fred says he is sending Lumpy over to apologize for his behavior.
When Lumpy shows up and apologizes, Wally and Beaver are surprised Ward didn't hit him. Ward explains that at times you need to show compassion to people who have made a mistake. After Ward enters the kitchen, Beaver asks Wally if this would be a good time to tell dad they knocked the teeth out of his new saw. Wally figures there won't be a better one.
A serious episode with a good story and a lesson for parents on being able to listen to their children with compassion when they feel trapped and really don't know what to do. Interesting also as we met Lumpy Rutherford in the first season when he was a junior in high school and Wally was in eighth grade. Now Wally is a freshman and Lumpy is still a junior. Then of course when Wally is a senior, Lumpy is also a senior and in the same graduating class. Actually, Wally and Eddie and Lumpy become the Mayfield version of the three musketeers. Somebody must have liked Frank Bank to keep him for all six seasons.
Up in his room Beaver is practicing how to ask Ward for $15, the price of Lumpy's watch. Wally says lookout out for dad because he is in a bad mood; he just balled out Wally for leaving his fishing things around, then gave him a lecture about responsibility. The phone rings and it's Lumpy demanding his money or he will call the police and have Beaver taken to jail. Beaver has two days to show up with the watch or the money. As a possible backup, Beaver asks Wally if he could beat up Lumpy. Wally isn't sure, Lumpy is a big guy and is a junior in high school.
At breakfast, June wants to know if Beaver is in trouble. Beaver says no, but eventually poses his hypothetical problem to Ward. Ward's answer is disturbing as Ward concludes if someone lost his stuff and didn't make restitution, he would call the police. On Beaver's way to school, he is waylaid by Lumpy who threatens to go to Ward or the police. If Beaver doesn't have the money then sell something. Lumpy will be over after school to get his money.
Ward gets home from the office to find June looking for a bond that Aunt Martha gave to the Beaver. Beaver is at the bank trying to redeem his bond. The bank teller can't redeem the bond because Ward has to sign it. The teller is concerned and asks why Beaver needs to cash the bond; Beaver says if he doesn't he will go to jail. The teller calls Ward who is now furious. When Beaver gets home he finds he is in big trouble.
Beaver explains he needs the money to pay for a watch and if he doesn't Lumpy Rutherford will put him in jail. Beaver says he is sure Lumpy never gave him a watch. Upset at the way Lumpy has terrorized Beaver, Ward calls Fred to explain what's been going on. Fred says he knows Lumpy lost the watch but two weeks ago. His wife found the watch and they were waiting for Lumpy to admit he lost the watch. After hearing what has happened, Fred says he is sending Lumpy over to apologize for his behavior.
When Lumpy shows up and apologizes, Wally and Beaver are surprised Ward didn't hit him. Ward explains that at times you need to show compassion to people who have made a mistake. After Ward enters the kitchen, Beaver asks Wally if this would be a good time to tell dad they knocked the teeth out of his new saw. Wally figures there won't be a better one.
A serious episode with a good story and a lesson for parents on being able to listen to their children with compassion when they feel trapped and really don't know what to do. Interesting also as we met Lumpy Rutherford in the first season when he was a junior in high school and Wally was in eighth grade. Now Wally is a freshman and Lumpy is still a junior. Then of course when Wally is a senior, Lumpy is also a senior and in the same graduating class. Actually, Wally and Eddie and Lumpy become the Mayfield version of the three musketeers. Somebody must have liked Frank Bank to keep him for all six seasons.
