Beaver needs a book to read for a book report and he is prowling through the books in Ward's den using a variation the time-tested method of "eeny, meeny, miny moe" and pulls out The Conquest of Mexico. Ward suggests Treasure Island would be more appropriate. But Ward can't locate his copy so he loans Beaver his library card with the admonition not to lose it as Beaver has already lost a jacket and a baseball glove.
Larry accompanies Beaver to the library. Both boys are amazed at all the books, Larry says they pay people to read all the books in case one might be good enough to make into a movie. Beaver says that his father claimed he used to read four books a week. Beaver finds the book and it has pictures in it. Beaver is told the book is a one week book and has a fine of five cents a day. On the way out of the library, Beaver leaves the book behind and has to be called back. We already know what will happen, the book will be lost.
Time passes and Beaver has his book report done and Wally agrees to listen to it. The book report is pretty crummy by Wally's standards; the reason is simple, Beaver only read thirty pages then he lost the book. Wally tells Beaver he better find that book before the fines pile up; he had an overdue book and it cost him twenty cents, and dad was angry about it.
Eddie is visiting and finds four overdue book notices in Beaver room: it has been twenty days and Beaver owes a dollar in fines. Eddie hands the notices to Wally and thinks there will be fireworks when their dad finds out. Maybe Eddie well be lucky to be there when Ward explodes. Wally is just upset his brother might be in trouble.
Eddie and Wally are coming down stairs to leave when Beaver and Larry come in the front door, Wally tells Beaver he better do something about those notices. When Wally walks off to the kitchen, Eddie says a library cop will come to the house and throw Beaver in jail. But it's not even Beaver's card says Larry. Eddie then says that they will just but Beaver's father in jail. Beaver finally figures out that he is in big trouble.
Beaver asks June what would she do if Ward didn't come home for a few weeks. June is puzzled but says that would be bad as Ward is really important to the family. Larry and Beaver goes to the library because Beaver needs to speak with whoever is in charge, that would be Mr. Davenport. Beaver goes into Mr. Davenport's office alone; Beaver has a request that Mr. Davenport not put his father in jail. Mr. Davenport wants to know what the story is, but he does say after a time they would have sent an investigator. However, Mr. Davenport says they don't put people in jail but Beaver needs to tell his father because the book has to be replaced.
Back at home, Ward is in the den waiting for Beaver to tell him he lost Treasure Island; Mr. Davenport called and gave Ward the details. Up in his room, Beaver is practicing a speech to give to Ward about the lost book. Beaver comes down to talk with Ward; and Beaver gives out his prepared speech. Ward isn't upset but isn't happy about Beaver's hoping that things would just work out if he just told enough lies: lying just isn't an acceptable plan. Beaver acknowledges it's better to tell the truth, but I suspect in his heart that Beaver still has some hopes for lying.
Beaver was able to return Treasure Island. His school has a new rule, no food in lockers. When Larry cleaned out his locker, there was the book. And Beaver paid the fine using the two silver dollars Uncle Billy had given him.
Typical episode where one hopes Beaver has learned a lesson but we know he hasn't. Regardless it is still worth while to try and get kids to understand actions have consequences. I got a kick out of Beaver paying the fine with silver dollars. Those dollars were a prized reward to get from uncles and aunts when they learned of something you had done was not only praiseworthy but deserved a monetary reward. Frequently that translated into a silver dollar. And not one of the puny specimens we currently have but no one uses.
Larry accompanies Beaver to the library. Both boys are amazed at all the books, Larry says they pay people to read all the books in case one might be good enough to make into a movie. Beaver says that his father claimed he used to read four books a week. Beaver finds the book and it has pictures in it. Beaver is told the book is a one week book and has a fine of five cents a day. On the way out of the library, Beaver leaves the book behind and has to be called back. We already know what will happen, the book will be lost.
Time passes and Beaver has his book report done and Wally agrees to listen to it. The book report is pretty crummy by Wally's standards; the reason is simple, Beaver only read thirty pages then he lost the book. Wally tells Beaver he better find that book before the fines pile up; he had an overdue book and it cost him twenty cents, and dad was angry about it.
Eddie is visiting and finds four overdue book notices in Beaver room: it has been twenty days and Beaver owes a dollar in fines. Eddie hands the notices to Wally and thinks there will be fireworks when their dad finds out. Maybe Eddie well be lucky to be there when Ward explodes. Wally is just upset his brother might be in trouble.
Eddie and Wally are coming down stairs to leave when Beaver and Larry come in the front door, Wally tells Beaver he better do something about those notices. When Wally walks off to the kitchen, Eddie says a library cop will come to the house and throw Beaver in jail. But it's not even Beaver's card says Larry. Eddie then says that they will just but Beaver's father in jail. Beaver finally figures out that he is in big trouble.
Beaver asks June what would she do if Ward didn't come home for a few weeks. June is puzzled but says that would be bad as Ward is really important to the family. Larry and Beaver goes to the library because Beaver needs to speak with whoever is in charge, that would be Mr. Davenport. Beaver goes into Mr. Davenport's office alone; Beaver has a request that Mr. Davenport not put his father in jail. Mr. Davenport wants to know what the story is, but he does say after a time they would have sent an investigator. However, Mr. Davenport says they don't put people in jail but Beaver needs to tell his father because the book has to be replaced.
Back at home, Ward is in the den waiting for Beaver to tell him he lost Treasure Island; Mr. Davenport called and gave Ward the details. Up in his room, Beaver is practicing a speech to give to Ward about the lost book. Beaver comes down to talk with Ward; and Beaver gives out his prepared speech. Ward isn't upset but isn't happy about Beaver's hoping that things would just work out if he just told enough lies: lying just isn't an acceptable plan. Beaver acknowledges it's better to tell the truth, but I suspect in his heart that Beaver still has some hopes for lying.
Beaver was able to return Treasure Island. His school has a new rule, no food in lockers. When Larry cleaned out his locker, there was the book. And Beaver paid the fine using the two silver dollars Uncle Billy had given him.
Typical episode where one hopes Beaver has learned a lesson but we know he hasn't. Regardless it is still worth while to try and get kids to understand actions have consequences. I got a kick out of Beaver paying the fine with silver dollars. Those dollars were a prized reward to get from uncles and aunts when they learned of something you had done was not only praiseworthy but deserved a monetary reward. Frequently that translated into a silver dollar. And not one of the puny specimens we currently have but no one uses.