In Praise of Pip 

A wearied bookie, learning of his grown soldier son Pip dying in South Vietnam, gets to spend one last delightful hour with a ten-year-old version of him at an amusement park.

Director:

Joseph M. Newman

Writers:

Rod Serling, Rod Serling (created by)

Stars:

Jack Klugman, Connie Gilchrist, Bobby Diamond

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jack Klugman	...	Max Phillips
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mrs. Feeny
Bobby Diamond	...	Pvt. Pip (as Robert Diamond)
Bill Mumy	...	Young Pip (as Billy Mumy)

Storyline

In the early 1960s, small-time bookie Max Phillips (Jack Klugman) hates his life. His only pride is his son, Pip, who is serving the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam. When a young man uses company funds to place a bet with Max, the man loses the wager. Max then returns his money, which angers Max's bosses.

---

Plot Keywords:

bookie | amusement park | shooting gallery | injured leg | reference to robin hood | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script originally had Pip stationed in Laos, but the network had Rod Serling change it to Vietnam. Incredibly, CBS didn't want it set in Laos, as that country was at the time the scene of intense fighting and insisted the story be set in the more peaceful location of South Vietnam. This episode was produced about two years before the massive intervention of American forces in South Vietnam.

---

Goofs

When the thug character answers the ringing telephone in the hotel room and speaks to the landlady on the other end, he never pauses long enough between responses, that would allow her a chance to speak.

---

Quotes

Max Phillips: You have to understand this. You have to try and listen and understand. Those times when I wasn't around, and when I was conning, and being a shill or too drunk... and when I dragged you from one rooming house to another...
Young Pip: It doesn't make any difference now, pop.
Max Phillips: It makes a difference, Pip. it does make a difference, because I want you to know that no man... oh, listen to me, son. No man ever, ever loved a boy any more than I love you. It was because... well, because I dreamed instead of did, ...

---

Connections

Featured in Not Fade Away (2012)

User Reviews

All For Him

Jack Klugman stars as Max Philips, a small-time bookie who is in a frantic state upon learning that his son Pip was wounded while fighting in Vietnam, which inspires him to give a second chance to a young bettor his son's age. This angers Max's bosses. who put a bullet in him, but only wounded, Max goes to an old amusement park to see Pip(played by Bill Mumy) young again, which gives him a second chance to be a better father, and offer God a deal to swap one life for another... Heartfelt episode to begin the fifth season sees a welcome return to the half-hour format, and an excellent performance by Klugman, leading to a satisfying end.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1963 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cayuga Productions, CBS Television Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1