 Father, a Polk 40% brand flakes really the best tasting cereal of them all? Well your father says so and father knows best Yes, it's father knows best transcribed in Hollywood starring Robert Young as father a half-hour visit with your neighbors the Anderson Brought to you by America's largest selling brand flakes post 40% brand flakes and by instant post them the good tasting drink That's entirely caffeine free Well Friday afternoon is always an interesting time around the white frame house on Maple Street During the week it seems that some new facet of life is bound to appear and develop and finally reach its zenith as the junior members of the Anderson family begin to arrive home after the close of school on Friday on this particular Friday afternoon It's Betty who has come home on a towering wave of enthusiasm She has Jim and Margaret in the kitchen telling them all about it like this and oh mother You should see how she dresses well personally I think it shows bad taste for a girl to overdress for school Oh, but that's the whole point mother. She doesn't overdress at all No jewelry very little makeup no nail polish and you know why probably can't afford them. Oh Father, please Actually your family loaded simply and gloriously loaded. How do you know that? Does she tell you these things? No, she'd be the last person on earth to say anything like that. You can just tell from her conversation She's so sophisticated so Ultra, she's real utterly ultra Well, you can't be ultra other than that What's her name you haven't told us that yet it's Cynthia. It's not a divine sophisticated name What's your last name Binkley Cynthia Binkley Very nice. They've traveled all over but all over New York Saratoga Paris, France Niagara Falls just everywhere Sounds very continental especially Niagara Falls What does her father do? Retired Duke or something like that. Oh, I don't know what he does. He's on oodles of boards. I think Oodles of boards. Oh You know what? I mean father boards like on steel companies oil companies railroad companies all that Wonder how he's fixed for insurance Probably has oodles of it Her younger brother goes to some very very exclusive military Academy in the east She showed me a picture of him very Suspicated looking especially for a boy his age very suave very Sounds like quite a boy. How old is he? Oh, but they do a little older all the time. She was telling me about her brother I kept thinking of mine didn't even dare mention him. Oh Now that's not a very nice way to talk about buds. All right, but he's so We'll just look at him in the den there. Can you see him? Oh? Well, yes But I got him lying on the floor with his feet up in a chair one tennis shoe off reading a comic book Blue jeans his hair looks like he slept in it creepy Well, I'll admit he does need a little shall we say polish Betty I think you're overlooking a few rather important attributes in Bud like honesty integrity generosity ambition Well, I guess ambition isn't one of his strongest points But he's a good solid boy. I'll get it. I'll get it. No, I'll get it. It might be Listen to Lady Van Cleave. Oh Yeah, he's here your but it's for you I don't know Must be Joe Hello Oh, hi Joe. Listen to this phone conversation and you'll see what I'm talking about. Oh, not much Joe Well, it's hard to tell when I'll be done because I'm not doing anything in particular I'd say it takes a pretty sophisticated mind to figure out a sentence like that Oh Why don't you take her What time would I have to call for well now that sounds encouraging I Think I'll stay home tonight and put lots and frog gigs. Does that sound encouraging? Well, I don't want to be out late if I go frog hunting in the morning. Can you imagine Cynthia's brother going frog hunting? Yes Which slingshot do you mean? The one you made or the one you bought Now you'll have to make a better offer than that. You may not be a Prince charming, but he's a good businessman Your dinosaur bones No Now I asked you is that any way to get a date your uncle's moose head Is that belong to you now? Josh you're you're making it so hard to turn down. Isn't that just too disgusting? Well, okay, it's a deal. Where does she live? Oh? Yeah, yeah, I know Okay, Joe. Goodbye Say mom. Yes, but I got a date to take a girl to the junior high dance tonight. Well, that's fine Where's that pair of blue jeans I had on yesterday? Creepers you're not going to wear those to a dance. Are you no? I left a wrench in the pocket of them and I got a fix the wheel on my bike Bicycle are you going to take her on that? No, I just want to go out and pick up something before I go to the dance Of course, I had no moose head I'm sure you'll look good in it. It's just your type. Thanks. I'll be right back mom Well, you'd better hurry you haven't much time. Okay? Mother isn't there something we can do about him do about him. What do you mean? Well, how am I ever going to explain him to Cynthia? Father, have you no understanding of gracious living? I guess not Here's Cynthia has this terribly refined brother and what can I say about mine? Can't you just hear me saying oh, yes, my brother's quite social. He has lots of dates He got his last one in a trade for a moose head Well, why don't you try it to me? That would sound like a real fascinating way to open a conversation. Oh Father Mother do you think I'd look good with my hair perfectly straight? Personally, I think you look just fine the way you are right now Betty You're old enough to have learned by now that the best thing you can be is yourself That's what I'm trying to do, but I want to be the real me not this flouty decorated up thing I've been I think I'll go upstairs and do my hair some other way. Well, don't ruin it If Cynthia she happened to call me tell her I'm in the salarium reading proof. It's French Who is this Binkley family anyway? When did they move to Springfield? This week apparently After the build I'll bet he's given them. I'm rather anxious to meet them see what they're like She and some of Betty's classes. Is that where she met her mommy? That's right. Yes, Cathy. Mommy. I don't know is something wrong It's kind of funny. She talks like this Hello, darling. Oh Well, I wouldn't worry about that angel. She's just suffering from acute aristocracy From what? Nothing. No answer that will you angel if it's for bought he'll be right back Okay, I'll tell them Is it for me? No, you should hear who's on a phone. Who is it? I don't know but she talks just like Betty does Hello, dear. I Guess she didn't learn how to talk I can tell who it is without even hearing her isn't that awful. I think Culture is rampant tonight. I tell you. Yes. I have a brother Well, it's hard to describe him He's very handsome. He looked at it. Just take a look at my moose head. It's a little more feeden But I can get some glue and a lot but Betty's on the phone. Oh, yes, very handsome and very sophisticated He's remarkably swabs for his age What a swab ring He's a beautiful dancer paints quite well reads all the time travels a lot who's she talking about You'll never guess Hortsman too had some fine trophies and utterly fascinating moose head. I'll bet it's not as good as mine Where did you hear that I had a brother? He's what? Oh, I just Cynthia, let me call you back later. I hear major calling me. I will what's the matter with Tallulah? She's got aristocracy daddy says Did you tell me tell you for that your date for tonight was with Cynthia's sister. Oh, oh, I don't know any of Cynthia's sisters I don't even know Cynthia the girl you're taking to the junior high dance is named Roberta. Isn't she Roberta big clean? Yeah, what about it? What about it? She sent the as little sister Here I gave you that beautiful beautiful build-up now she'll get to see you and find out it's all untrue But you've got to cancel your date with Roberta. No Betty wait, you've got to you simply got to I can't I'll lose the moose head He's got to make him bother leave me out of this. This is between you and bud in the moose head What are you talking about? Oh, why was I born? Why why? I don't know. What are you talking about? Why can't I wailing and tearing your hair? I'll never be able to pay Cynthia. What's she gonna leave the country for? But did she pop a gasket Well, but I'm just standing here with my moose head and she pops a gasket What's everybody talking about? But yeah, you've heard the expression into every life a little rain must fall Yeah Put up your umbrella Well, if Betty has her way the Andersons will be having crumpets and tea every afternoon and serving petite continental breakfast in the morning But mother if you want to give your family a good old American breakfast, that's good for them Listen, I'm sure that most of you mothers know that Bran is good for your family because it provides those important keep regular benefits Maybe you've even served it in your home only to find that the family wasn't overly enthusiastic about its taste Well, try it again now. You'll discover that something wonderful has happened Yes, now post 40% Bran flakes have a marvelous new flavor a Magic oven flavor and new crisp texture. That's truly delicious Matter of fact, it's so good. Many people who have tried new post Bran flakes tell us it's their favorite cereal Briefly mother if this means that when you serve post 40% Bran flakes You'll be giving your family the important keep regular benefits of Bran their daily ounce of prevention in a cereal They'll truly enjoy eating Here's a catchy little tune that'll help remind you to start serving post 40% Bran flakes soon For goodness sakes Eat post Bran flakes So good and so good for you When you do your weekend marketing mother be sure to get post 40% Bran flakes America's largest selling Bran flakes. They're good and so good for you For Betty she was getting along so nicely Apparently making quite an impression on her new school chums Cynthia Binkley by telling about her smooth and oh so sophisticated brother bud Wouldn't you know that tonight of all times bud would have a date with Cynthia's younger sister avert Well, it's evening now, and I'm sorry to report that things don't look much brighter for daughter Betty She's in the den with Jim right now, and he's trying to explain the situation like this Well, I talked to him Betty, but he can't see your point Creepers if he cancels the date with Roberta, you'll have to give the moose head back to Joe And this he doesn't want to do. Oh, it's just too painful to think about that big oath going over to the Binkley's After all the things I told Cynthia it just can't happen. That's all well. Have you solved your waiting problem? I wish you wouldn't make light of it mother put yourself in my place. How would you feel? Well, I know I know I asked for it once we practice to deceive. Oh, what a tangled web we weave Cheaters never prosper. I know but I'm in it now, and how am I gonna get out? Where is bud? Well, I think he's upstairs combing the hair on his moose head He won't give up the idea of going father tried that Had you thought of possibly Well coaching him a little Coaching him why not as far as I can see it's your only chance princess I doubt if you could make a continental out of him, but you might smooth off some of the rough edges Well, he has to leave in half an hour But it has to be done. You're right father. It simply has to be done I think I'll go finish up in the kitchen. It's the matter honey. Don't you want to see this? I Don't think I'm up to it. You can tell me what happens now. Don't expect too much princess What you want bud would you do me a favor? Now listen to me if it's about cancelling the date with Roberta. The answer is no I Can't say anything about cancelling the date All I ask is that you do just a couple of little things for me What kind of things I'm going in the living room and read the paper Well, look father probably told you I told Cynthia you were Well kind of different than you really are Yeah, I had to you see because well, they're very sophisticated people. They've been everywhere Well, I want you to be like them. I'll tell you just what to say you want me to put on an act No, it's not like putting on an act. It's just being smooth and gentile. That's fraud won't do it All you have to do is look and act and talk like you know a little something. That's fraud won't do it Look I'll wash your share of the dishes every night for a week. I'll do it You will remember starting tomorrow dishes every night for a week. All right. All right now come on in the living room Oh jeez. We've got a hurry. You only have a couple of minutes. Come on. Okay. Okay. Don't pull my sleeve. I'm coming Well, how did it come out? Did you reach an agreement? He's gonna do it Kathy. What are you calling the shrimp for? She's gonna be Roberta what you want. You're going to be Roberta Binkley. I am Now you stand over there by the couch that'll be the big police front door and your greeting, but as he comes to take you to the dance Okay All right the door of this gorgeous mansion is open and you the Sophisticated Continental young man greet the young lady. What do you say? Hi And father if you can't be serious, I'm sorry for it But how do you know about this gorgeous mansion of the Binkleys? Have you ever been there? No, but from what Cynthia told me it must be fabulous. All right now listen bud You don't say hi You bow from the waist make a sweeping gesture with your right hand and say with a smile. Good evening, madam Yeah Go ahead go ahead Well go on say something don't just stand there Good evening, madam Hi Kathy you don't have to talk if I got a mansion. I got a right to talk Look, I got to get going not yet. You still have a couple of minutes now when you're in the house A butler will probably take your coat. What do I say to him? Nothing just a polite. Thank you. Should I be the butler? No Now you'll be introduced to the rest of the family. Do I make the sweeping gesture? You shake mr. Binkley's hand and say how do you do sir? What do I do with Mrs. Binkley? You bow from the waist and kiss her hand Mrs. Binkley you may kiss my head I That's all won't do it All right, so you don't kiss her hand you lift it lightly and bow and say so nice to meet you Mrs. Binkley and then you say something like Threadfully, sorry. I'm late, but I was detained at the club. What club? Well, how's it going? I don't think it's gonna work. It is to now pretend mothers mrs. Binkley go ahead bud. Good evening, bud. Good evening, mrs. Binkley You're a little late Where have you been? Oh? I don't know how the instruction is coming along, but it's about time for you to leave bud I'll get the car out of the garage. What are you gonna do with the car? Take bud over to pick up Roberta and drive them to the dance any other suggestions, but can't be driven over there In the family car He has to pick up Roberta in a taxi taxi taxi. I've never been in a taxi. If you go in a taxi. Can I go with you? I'm not going in a taxi Betty I think you're carrying this a little far. It's bad enough trying to impress the Binkley's by coaching bud But the tax please father I'll pay for it out of my own money It's so smart so sophisticated to arrive in a taxi here Here's some money have the cab driver stop at a flower shop and buy a corsage. What's that? Flowers for Roberta. Is she sick? No, no, she's not sick Flowers for to wear to the dance and don't forget to tip the cab driver. What for give him a quarter Where are you going princess? I'm gonna call a cab get your coat and scarf but and try to find some gloves. I haven't got any gloves I got a pair of mittens Oh, I'd love to be a mouse in the corner of the Binkley's. Oh, this should make history Talk about keeping up with the Joneses Maybe I ought to call John. Well, there's the world's fastest service Your cab just arrived. It's out there in front. It can't be I just called it's there. All right, but how could it? I mean, it's impossible someone's coming to the front door probably the driver Well, I shouldn't one of us go to the door. We can't leave the man standing out there I'm not sure I want to meet a man who can get a cab out here from downtown in two seconds He might have pointed ears. Oh father Go to the door bud. Who me go on go on. All right. You don't have to push me You better come with me dad. I'm right behind you. What are you doing over here? Well, I came over in the taxi. Is this young lady a friend of yours bud? Oh, this is Roberta Roberta This is my dad. Oh, uh, how do you do sir? This is indeed a most delightful pleasure Indeed Well, it's indeed for me too Won't you come in thank you Father, where's the oh? Who's there? This is Roberta Roberta Roberta big clean. How do you do madame? This is indeed a most delightful pleasure. I'm sure yes, but what don't look at me. I don't know anything Jim did you say oh, hello there Roberta. This is mrs. Anderson. How do you do madame? This is indeed a most delightful pleasure Delightful How do you do Roberta? She came over in the cab but But why are you shouldn't have gone to all that trouble dear? I know bubba's a little late But it wasn't my idea mrs. Anderson. Oh, it was my sister's she said fashionable people all always riding taxicabs How do you like that that's what my sister said But I had a hard time finding your house. I was looking for a mansion Sister sure gets some crazy ideas Gee your house is just like ours. It is. Where do you keep the butler? What butler I think there's been a little misunderstanding, but we won't go into it now Jim if you want to get the car out and drive bud and Roberta to the dance good now. We're making sense By the way, where did Betty go? I? Think our wealthy and sophisticated young debutant has retired to her solarium Before the final curtain let's drop into the Anderson's kitchen for a minute seems Kathy snuck off there all by herself Honestly this family thank goodness a girl can get away from it all once in a while Now, let's see one spoonful and The water's hot Sugar Mmm, there's nothing like good old post them Kathy's got something folks and it's something that you can have and enjoy Whenever you want as often as you want force well tasting instant Postum is completely caffeine free contains no caffeine at all So there's no chance for coffee nerves no risk of sleepless nights due to caffeine How about getting a jar of instant post them tomorrow? Let the whole family enjoy post them cup for cup. It's less than one third coffee's cost See that young girl sitting up in a room at 607 Maple Street. That's Betty Anderson, and she's just a trifle weary She's been hurrying this evening trying to keep up with the Joneses or in this case the Binklet Downstairs Jim has just returned from his trip to the junior high dance. Well after all the excitement It seems we ought to do something or somewhere. Yes, you've been cooped up here in the mansion all week You've had a hard day at the club. Oh, yes dreadful Margaret tell the upstairs maid to tell the downstairs maid to tell the butler that we're dining out Where are we going down to the corner to get a hamburger? Join us again next week when we'll be back with father knows best starring Robert young as Jim Anderson until then good night And good luck from the makers of post 40% brand flakes America's largest selling brand flakes and instant post them That drink that's entirely caffeine-free in our cast were Dorothy Lovett as Margaret Rota Williams Ted Donaldson Helen Strom and Norma G. Nilsson Mom I think you're beautiful. Well, thank you Johnny. You're the most beautiful woman in the whole world. Thank you Johnny Mom. Yes, Johnny. Can I have wheat meal for breakfast tomorrow? Sure make him happy mom with the best hot cereal anywhere post wheat meal is packed full of solid nourishment Great for kids and so wonderfully delicious post wheat meal cooks in just three minutes Try rich hot post wheat meal with a picture of Roy Rogers on the package post wheat meal the best hot cereal you ever ate Father knows best based on characters created by Ed James was transcribed in Hollywood and written by Paul West and Roswell Rogers This is Bill Foreman speaking tonight play truth or consequences on NBC