13-year-old Hal (David Doremus) is upset that his father Professor Everett (Richard Long) will not let him go alone on a bus ride to his uncle's for a fishing trip. A new eight-year-old paperboy named Timmy McGovern (Clint Howard) comes to the house and tells the professor that he's traveled by bike from 7 miles away to deliver newspapers. 11-year-old Jimmy Okura (Brian Tochi) has come 23 miles by bus himself to take his father's place in mowing the Everett's lawn. This has shown the professor that he is underestimating his son's abilities to take care of himself. The family goes to the bus station where the ticket seller (everyone's favorite stone-faced character actor, Charles Lane) also gives his seal of approval. While waiting on the bus alone, Hal is approached by a businessman (Pat Harrington Jr., "One Day at a Time"). The man gives a sob story asking for money for a bus ticket to see his wife in the hospital and talks Hal out of his extra $10. He then apparently swipes Hal's wallet with his bus ticket. Once back home his younger brother Butch (Trent Lehman) says even he wouldn't have fallen for that. He gives Hal the money to get another ticket like nothing happened. The professor's brother Bob calls to say Hal wasn't on the bus, forcing Butch to explain the situation. When the professor and Nanny (Juliet Mills) arrives at the bus station, they find a few surprises. More moral-driven than comical, the episode is a lesson in trust and breaking overprotective stereotypes.
An aside, this is the first time in the series that someone in the household besides Nanny (Juliet Mills) has a mysterious musical cue. It sounds when the professor picks up the phone and knows Prudence (Kim Richards) is on the line.
An aside, this is the first time in the series that someone in the household besides Nanny (Juliet Mills) has a mysterious musical cue. It sounds when the professor picks up the phone and knows Prudence (Kim Richards) is on the line.
