 Willard Waterman as the great Gildersleeve as water commissioner There's no telling what the great Gildersleeve does all day But his life falls into a definite pattern every afternoon at five minutes to five he moves the clock to five and closes his office By 5 15 he's home greeting his little family at 5 45 He has enjoyed a romp with the twins and at six o'clock sharp. He's at the dinner table Hey, it's a quarter past seven. Where is he tonight? Yeah, where is he? I haven't the slightest idea, Leroy. Uncle Mort's never done this before. Don't you think we should start dinner, Bronco? Well, let's wait a little longer, Marge. If we wait any longer, I'll be too weak to eat. Just take another hitch in your belt, Leroy. It's left around me now like a yoyo string. Maybe we should give him a few minutes more. Sure, Uncle Mort's probably working late at the office. I phoned the office and nobody answered. I even phoned Mr. Peavey. Any news from Mr. Gildersleeve yet? Not yet, Bertie. I'm sorry about your dinner, Bertie. Can we wait a little longer? Bertie can wait, but she's not sure the dinner can. Boy, I can't wait to tie into that beef stew. Leroy, we're not having beef stew. We aren't? We started out with beef stew, but I had to add so much water. We winded up with beef stew. Now, I see what you mean, Bertie. Yes, the Bertie started out with beef stew, but the water commissioner didn't show up, so she had to add water, and now we have beef stew. Oh, well, yes, Bertie, the water commissioner didn't show up. That's right, I had to add so much water. Well, at least Uncle Mort could have phoned. Let's go to the table. Franco, will you carry me? You're not that weak, Leroy. Hello, Judge Hooker. I thought I'd drop by and take Gilded to the Jolly Boys meeting to see. Well, Uncle, he hasn't come home, Judge. He hasn't. I haven't even heard from him. We haven't even... I might be, Judge. No, I haven't, Marjorie. This is very unusual for Gilded. I suppose I should tell you that... No, I don't want to worry you. Well, of course, we're not worried. Or are you going to say, Judge? Well, I was by his office this morning and again this afternoon. He hasn't been there all day. He hasn't. But if I were you, I wouldn't worry. Perhaps he spent the day reading meters. Hey, maybe... Why, Uncle... He doesn't, but the meter reader could be sick. No, no, something's happened. Her uncle more to be home by now. They could be having dinner downtown. You still want to call? And we phoned everywhere. Maybe he tried to phone you and your line was busy. I wouldn't worry. Heck, I wasn't worried till you came, Judge. Well, I have to run along. But I have no doubt what he'll turn up at the Jolly Boys meeting. Bye, all. Goodbye, Judge. Goodbye. Bye. Guess we'd better have dinner. Yeah, I guess we'd better. Yeah? I guess we'd better tell Bertie we're ready to eat. Yeah, I guess we'd better. We decided to eat. Yes, Nick! That looks wonderful, Bertie. Thank you. Did the Judge know anything about Mr. Killsley? Not a thing, Bertie. It seems that he wasn't in his office today. Ain't that strange? Well, I'm sure nothing's happened, Uncle. I'm wondering what it called. There's a phone now. Yeah! Read too many detective stories. Well, but I would like to know who Bronco's talking to. With the phone in the hall, you can never hear what anybody's saying. If that's what you wanted, I'll keep it a secret. I won't tell a family. That's the way I wanted Bronco. Yeah, I guess they would. And I don't want any... If that's what you wanted. Good piece. Just as you say, Mr. Killsley. Yeah, Bronco. Yeah? Mr. Killsley, are you sure you're doing the right thing? Pass the bread, please. Is Uncle all right? That's one of the things he said. He'll be all right. Well, that's a relief. Yeah, now I'll... Thank you, Killsley Roy. Are you sure he's all right? Why should I? I just told you he was all right. He says he's fine. He says not to worry. I know, but... He's okay. He's fine. Great. He told me so himself. What do you want me to do? Get him to sign an affidavit over the phone? Where's my coffee? You just poured it over your bread. Thank you, sir. Mr. Bronco, you're a little nervous. Me? Bronco. See, I'm Marge... Where was Uncle Mort when he called? Where was he? Well, there are a lot of phones around town. Marge, he could have been any place. Well, that's everybody's, huh? When is he coming home, Bronco? Fine, dinner, birdie. Yes, sir. Bronco. Uh... I asked you, when is Uncle Mort coming home? Yeah, when? Oh, birdie. Then you do know when he'll be home. I do not. But you do know where Uncle is. Sure, I know all about it. But he said not to tell you, so I can't tell you. Well, I guess he ain't going to tell you. Big sequence. Big deal. I should have answered the phone. I can tell you. Well, I know how to get it out of him. I'll be back in a minute. Bronco. Bronco, where are you going? Going upstairs. Wait a minute, darling. What do you want? Come on. Sit down here on the stairs. No, Marge, don't... Sit down here beside me. Well... Okay. Now, if Uncle Mort asked you to keep a secret, I understand you didn't want to say anything in front of Leroy and Birdie, but I'm your wife. You've never kept anything from me. No, I haven't. All right. Up until now. You mean... Now, Marge, a man can't tell his wife everything. Well, I thought... It isn't what I want to do. Uncle Mort said I had to. Who are you? Marge, you're being unreasonable. I'll answer another phone. What is, Mr. Bronco? Oh, he's upstairs sulking. Yes. You sure it's nice to know Mr. Gilsev is all right? You didn't find out anything else, did you? Oh, I can't get anything out of Bronco. That big lug. No, Mr. Marge, let's take it easy. Well, Birdie, if he knows something about Uncle Mort, there's no reason why he can't confide in me. No, ma'am. And I told him so. Yes, ma'am, I heard you clear in the air. You ought to take it easy, Mr. Marge. Well, I guess I did let my temper get the best of me, but this whole thing seemed so ridiculous. Yes, ma'am. But when one man of the house is already gone, we want to be sure where the other man is. Well, I may have said things I didn't mean to to Bronco, but he'd never take me seriously. Marge! Hey, Marge! Wasn't that any wrong? Come on, let's go! ...to his son-in-law Bronco telling him to pack a bag for it. To put it mildly, the water commissioners' little family is puzzled. He's supposed to be at the Jolly Boys meeting tonight. Let's see what's going on up there. The key's hot, Peavey. I'm ready to sing. I'm always ready. County town, we'll be sure it's handy. Yeah, I wonder what's keeping the commission, the judge. Judge me? I don't want to search you, all I'd find is some old pill boxes. Ha-ha! Hey, Barber. That sounds like a judge, and he's in a hurry. Yeah, what does the judge take to give him all that pep? When he tried everything. Good evening, gentlemen. I have news. Son of a whee, you're late. Aren't you excited, Judd? Have you seen Gilday? No, he's late, too. Yeah, he's holding up the singing. Well, if Mr. Big Shot President don't take no more interest than this, let's go on without him. Get you three of it? Why not? Wait, gentlemen, and hear my news. I was by Gilday's house, and he did not come home to dinner. Stood them up, too, huh? Lloyd, that's unusual for Gilday. You mean to miss a meal? Maybe he's having dinner with that widow friend of yours. If so, he would have told the family, Pee-Vee. Why? He's over 21. Way over. I bet he'd rather be with that dame than with us. Who wouldn't? Gentlemen, I think that you're taking this too lightly. Well, if you ask me, he's taking this club too lightly. I don't usually take a stand like this, but I think it's time to teach Mr. Gilday a lesson. Let's sing his favorite song. I'll even sing his part. It's a good idea. Well, if you refuse to be concerned... Here we go. Sweet 16. Back to Gilday. I hate to sound a sour note. Why? You sounded plump when we were singing. A little that nobody seems to know Gilday's whereabouts. Well, maybe it's home by now. Why don't I call and find out? Again, if you get him, tell him I'm singing his part. He'll be here in two weeks. Birdie, this is Judge Hucker. We thought perhaps he'd be home, but now... No, he ain't home. Don't worry. Don't worry! Look on the bright side. If anything serious had happened, we would've heard, but now... Yes, sir. Just keep calm and call us if Gilday shows up. Yes, sir. Goodbye, Birdie. Goodbye. Pretty upset at home, huh, Judge? Naturally, Floyd. But as I told Birdie, if anything serious had happened, we'd know, but now... It's a fine time for the chief of police to be out of town. I doubt it, but there could have been foul play. Maybe our president is vacationing in Florida. Hey, let me look in the piano bench. Floyd, what are you up to? I'm checking the club's funds. We had eight dollars and a half in the treasury here between the feet of the... Oh, Floyd! It's here. We got nothing to worry about, fellas. If Gilday's lead wouldn't do anything like that... Of course not. I'm certain we'll hear from Gilday's family soon. Yeah, why don't we sing another song? Maybe we'll pass the time. This song's for the commiss, our missing member. Poor Gilday. How about singing my buddy? After all, he was our buddy. Yeah. Hey, gang, do you think something could have happened to him? Well, that's not better our imagination since you're in a way of it. No, indeed. Let's sing. Okay. Just because he's a water commissioner don't mean he fell in the reservoir. Floyd, just play the piano. Sure. My buddy, but a commiss. Looking for Gilday. Well, I think we ought to call the police. I know a guy's got a bloodhound. We'll stop by the police department, then go to Gilday's house and start the search from there. It's a good idea. Follow me, then. You follow me, I'm with you. You judge it, sweet of you, jolly boys, to come over. What are we going to do? Now, Marjorie, don't worry about Gilday. Well, I'm not just worried about Ike. He did. Two out of the suitcase and beat it. No, kid. Where do you go? I don't worry. We'll do something. Yeah, we'll do something. Yes, we will. The police department has been alerted. Yeah, I got a bloodhound coming. What? Trying to find him. Now, now, now, quiet, everybody. In the absence of the chief of police, I, being a judge, will take charge. Oh, yeah? Who's punishing the bloodhound? Floyd, please. Well? Now, then. Verde? Yes, Your Honor. What do you know about this situation? Well, all I know is the house is falling apart. Yeah, we know. But can you cast any light upon these mysterious disappearances? Well, I didn't see Mr. Gilday disappear, but I sure saw Mr. Brockville disappear. Do you know of any reason why Bronco would pack a bag and leave? Shall I tell him, Miss Margaret? Well, we did have a little spat, but it wasn't serious. Get her! He leaves home and she says it was serious. I can't believe you like that. Judge, I'm sure Bronco knows what happened to Uncle Mort. Oh? But he won't tell us anything. He got a phone call and he climbed up. That's what he did, Judge. He climbed up. Come on, Verde, don't get excited. I'll get to the bottom of this. I wish that bloodhound would get here. We need some brains in this case. Hey, hey, Bronco! Hello, everybody. Oh! Sorry, Mort, but I can't tell you. You seem good. You won't tell us anything. Bronco, do you know what happened to Mr. Gilday's being? Come on, kid, loosen up. Did you see, Aki Bronco? Oh, wait a minute. How many times do I have to tell you that I can't talk? Right on. Watch it, little brother-in-law. Come on, now. This is no time to lose our temper. All of us should not be firing questions at Bronco. I'll do the interrogating. I am the judge. Never, Mort. You obviously have pertinent information regarding Gilday's whereabouts. Judge, believe me, I can't talk about it. My boy, put your mind sitting in this chair. Well... Sit down, Bronco. Okay, okay. Now then, when you receive the phone call from Gilday, what did he say? I've told everybody a million times he said he was all right and not to worry. Where was he when he made the phone call? I can't tell you. Well, where did you go when you left the house? I can't tell you! Guess he ain't gonna sing. Bronco, is it true that before you left the house you packed the suitcase? Yes, Judge. Would you mind telling us what was in the bag? I can't tell you. Then it could be anything. I know a burglar acquaintance who carries his tools in a bag. Man, this is ridiculous! You know that Mr. Killer's sleeve isn't involved in anything? No, no, I wouldn't care that. No, you don't know what's going on. But Bronco does! Man, please, I can't talk! Gentlemen, I don't think that we should cross-examine Bronco any further at this time. He's obviously distraught, carrying some sinister sequence. The hospital, follow me, and you follow me. We've been trying. I was talking to Bronco. Oh, he's beckoning to us. Come on, Leroy. Yes, let's go. Stop pushing, Judge. Wait a minute, men. I'm sorry, the nurse said just the fact. Uncle Mort's in this room, Marge. But come on, Leroy. Bronco, take my hand. Sure. What a day. Let us know as soon as you find out what happened. Shh! This is it. Yeah, I feel fine. I went to the doctors this morning, and he said the old appendix had to come out right away. I checked in at the hospital and phoned Bronco to pack my bag. Now it's all over. Boy, am I glad it's over. Uncle, why didn't you let us know? They're like I told Bronco. I didn't want anybody to worry. Operation isn't it, Bronco?