 By a transcription Mother is Maxwell house the best coffee in the whole world. Well, your father says so and your father knows best Yes, it's father knows best starring Robert young his father a half-hour visit with your new neighbors the Anderson's Brought to you by Maxwell house the coffee that's bought and enjoyed by more people than any other brand of coffee at any price Maxwell house always good To the last drop Well another year is underway all the excitement of Christmas and New Year's is over But in the average home the usual problems of life and living still remain In Springfield in the white frame house on Maple Street the Anderson's like any average family are back in a well-ordered group But being an average family you can bet they won't stay there very long. They never do do they? Mother yes, Kathy when I finish my dinner me. I go over to Patty Davis's All right, dear if you don't stay too long mother. How can she this is her week to dry? Oh, that's right I'm sorry Kathy. I forgot snitcher Kathy please be quiet and eat your dinner. All right daddy mom. Yes, bud I'll be glad to drive the dishes to Kathy. You will but that's very nice, dear But it's Kathy's chore and she'd better do it herself gee whiz Margaret yes, dear, you know it's very funny, but I could have sworn I heard bud say he'd dry the dishes for Kathy I did you said you'd dry the dishes for Kathy sure you mean just like that Sure, why not? You know, I think I've been working too hard Everything sounds so strange It was the holidays dear. They're quite a strain Well, it's something you feel all right. Don't you bud? I feel fine Maybe I'll go to bed right after dinner that'll fix me up, but dear I told you judge Mitchell said he was going to call He's been trying to get you all day. I know probably wants me to serve on that highway safety committee You know Margaret you think I was the only man in Springfield that could make a speech Every time somebody dreams up a committee or a drive or a bond rally get Jim Anderson get Jim Anderson Speeches here speeches there Jim you love it and you know it, but I don't have the time I don't think I've ever been so busy in my entire life. Anything we can do father No, Betty. I'm afraid not. You know what I've got to do now Margaret I've got to revise the schedule on every automobile policy in the office the rates went up again today No, Jim, really? How come dad? Reckless drivers. That's how come oh 7100 kids between the ages of 15 and 24 killed in one year, and it's getting worse all the time But yes, dad did you take the ashes out this afternoon? Yes, sir. I sure did You don't have a report card. You want me to sign do you oh no dad We won't have those until the end of the month. I see How's your allowance holding up fine dad just great? I Don't get it May I have my coffee, please? Of course, dear There you are. You don't get what dad this sudden burst of sweetness and light What are you up to? Why nothing dad nothing at all. He's probably in love. Oh Mush girls all they can think about is love I'll get it. No Betty wait Margaret. Would you answer it, please? Well, of course dear if that's what you want and if it's Judge Mitchell telling my mouth I had a business engagement and won't be back until late. All right. I just hope you know what you're doing Hello, oh, hello Judge Mitchell No, I'm awfully sorry, but Jim had to go out Yes, a business call daddy Kathy be quiet, please That'll be fine. Judge Mitchell. I'll be sure to tell him as soon as he comes in Good night Daddy What is it Kathy you told the fib I Didn't know such thing Judge Mitchell said he'd try you again later. Fine. Give him a horse and he'd make a Canadian Mountie look sick You said you were out and you were down and if that isn't a fib what is I? I Think I'll have another piece of cake Margaret All right, dear daddy Yes, Kathy you said you were out and you weren't out and if that isn't a fib what is Kathy I heard you the first time well Margaret oh, no don't get me involved in this I have enough troubles of my own Love honor and obey for better or for worse fine stuff Kathy yes daddy has you grow older you learn to distinguish between telling an untruth and Telling something that isn't true. I Mean if you tell an untruth because you're afraid to tell the truth It's worse than if you don't tell the truth merely because you feel that if you do tell the truth You see Kathy There are times when if you tell an untruth it isn't really an untrue Because you mean to tell the truth, but well you you want to be kind that's all Betty please you ought to be ashamed of yourself Betty go ahead dad. I think it's very interesting What is what you just said You mean you understood it of course well, I'm glad somebody did How about you Kathy I guess so it's a fifth when you're little but when you grow up it isn't No Kathy that isn't it at all. It's Well, all right. I told a fib I shouldn't have but I did that's what I Kathy can't you see dad's tired. Why don't you leave him alone, but stick out your tongue what for never mind What for just take your tongue out Look all right to you Margaret just beautiful dear one of the loveliest tongues I've ever seen All right bud put it back in Holy cow now I can't even have any privacy with my own tongue Finish your milk dear. Well, how old do you have to be before people stop looking at your tongue anyway? When you get that old you start looking at it yourself All right, bud. Please see who's at the door. Okay. Why don't you look at Betty's tongue once in a while? Why but Anderson you little snip Betty that'll be enough of that, but I said that'll be enough of that Now either finish your dinner or go to your room. Oh, I'll be glad to after you finish the dishes May I have the sugar, please? Yeah, there you are dear. Tell me I'm goofy. Hey dad It's the minister dr. Swain. Well have him come in. Oh, he said he'll wait for you in the living room Oh dear is my hair. All right. Do you think I ought to change my dress you and dr. Swain going out dancing? Jim stop being ridiculous Bod would you help the girls with the dishes tonight, please sure mom? I'll be glad to thank you dear Well, shall we go in Jim? Hmm. Oh Say Margaret. Yes, dear. What do you suppose wrong with but Jim you have a very suspicious nature No, I just have a very normal son Well, how are you dr. Swain mr. Anderson and mrs. Anderson? Oh, it's so nice seeing you dr. Swain Well, I hope you'll think so after you learn why I'm here. Oh So now dr. Please Mrs. Anderson. Oh, thank you. Oh, there we are That is better, isn't it dr. Swain this visit wouldn't have anything to do with but what it your son Oh dear. No is anything wrong? No, I was just wondering that's all I see no No, my visit is based shall we say on a far more general community requirement a need which applies to our entire Congregation rather than any individual dr. Swain, you know We've just gone through a pretty severe case of Christmas and Jim Well, I just want dr. Swain to know mr. Anderson. I'm not looking for donations Wow At this time No, no what I'm looking for right now is advice. Oh Oh Well, you see at a meeting the other night the question of family relations was brought up for discussion Obligations of parents and children to one another that sort of thing, you know, I say Unfortunately, the majority of those present had rather vague ideas concerning the matter and the discussion and since mrs. Swain and I have never been blessed with a family I could add but little light on the subject of a practical nature that is Hmm That is why I've come to you Well, of course dr. Swain anything we can do to help I knew I could count on the Anderson as I told the others the Anderson children are so thoroughly normal and so Nicely behaved for the most part I'm sure anything their parents tell us will be of the utmost interest and assistance. Oh You mean you want a speech well not a speech really just an informative little talk at our meeting tomorrow night Oh, well look dr. Swain, you know, I'd like to help but I'm actually up to my ears at work Well, I'm sure you must be mr. Anderson, but you see that it's not that I don't want to cooperate dr. Swain you know, I always have in the past of course you have but you see After all this is just a simple problem. I'm sure that any other father in the congregation will be only too glad to help But mr. Anderson, we don't want a father after all family relations are merely a practical application of You what? We don't want a father We feel that the crystal clear viewpoint of a mother is what this particular problem requires a mother You mean precisely we want mrs. Anderson. Oh We'll go along with dr. Swain on that Why any number of problems call for mother's crystal clear viewpoint Take coffee is another example Who knows better than mother the wonderful difference a really good cup of coffee can make coffee like our Maxwell house That wonderful good to the last drop flavor You won't find it. You know in any other coffee no coffee, but Maxwell house And there's a particular reason why It's a recipe the only recipe under the sun for good to the last drop flavor It's mighty important that recipe and here's why After all the most important thing about coffee is flavor And that flavor depends on the blend the kind of coffees in it and how they're put together Now throughout the world coffee grows in countless different varieties and you can combine them in all sorts of ways But there's only one way one recipe for our famous Maxwell house flavor And this recipe of ours accounts for the difference the big difference between the flavor of just any coffee And the wonderfully good flavor of america's favorite brand But i want you to know how truly good our Maxwell house is on your own So tomorrow open up a pound and enjoy Maxwell house The coffee that's always good to the last drop It's less than an hour later in the white frame house on maple street Dr. Swain has gone the anderson kids are deep in their homework father is deep in his newspaper Mother is up to her neck in preparation for a speech and when it comes to speeches Margaret is a wonderful cook pretty too Jim Yes, Margaret What would you say was the most important link between a father and a son? money Jim i'm very serious so am i May I please read my paper? I could only find a central theme Not juvenile delinquency everybody's done that Jim Yes, Margaret Did the automobile insurance rates really go up today? That's right. Did the home office say why? Of course they did the number of accidents involving youngsters under the age of Oh, no, you don't You write your own speech You're mean There isn't one other husband in springfield who wouldn't be glad to help his wife Margaret you're absolutely right I'm nothing but a beast you mean you're going to help me No, but I acknowledge the fact that i'm a beast Now may I read my paper? Jim If you wanted to make the speech why didn't you say so if I wanted Margaret where did you ever get a ridiculous idea like that? Well, you're sulking like a spoiled child I'm trying to read my newspaper it amounts to the same thing Margaret I told dr. Swain I didn't want to make the speech you heard me tell him rubbish You just wanted him to coax you oh for a Pete's sake Margaret why is Certainly isn't my fault that he wanted a mother's viewpoint Jim where are you going? I'm going to indulge in one of my pleasant little whimsies the doorbell rings. I like to see if maybe somebody rang it Oh, uh, hello judge Mitchell, uh come in. Thank you Well, it's certainly nice seeing you. I'm sorry. I wasn't in when you called Let me take your thing. All right. Hello, mrs. Anderson. How are you this evening? What judge Mitchell what a pleasant surprise won't you come in and sit down? Yes, thank you Jim what I have to say won't take very long. There's no need to rush judge You know, I was just saying to Margaret just a little while ago The fathers of this community ought to take a more active interest in public affairs Wasn't I Margaret went to what dear wasn't I saying what I just said? Oh, of course yes Naturally being in the insurance business. I have to make a great many calls during the uh evening But in spite of them, uh, I'm sure you're leading up to something very interesting But I'm a busy man and I haven't got much time. Is bud at home My uh, yes, he's in his room. Would you call him please? Of course Bud you want me dad? Yes, would you please come down here? Okay Bud and the stairs don't get along very well. Is there anything that you want me to do dad? I Oh Good evening bud bud Judge Mitchell is speaking to you. I know I mean hello uh Good evening, sir But have you told your parents? No, sir. I haven't oh There was something I had a feeling well go ahead bud. Let's get on with it dad mom I was out for a ride with the fellas this afternoon and we We knocked over judge Mitchell's tree his tree. Oh, bud Oh, you're driving a tank Well, it It was just a little tree dad and all the fellas are gonna chip in and buy a new one Gosh, we said we were sorry. I should think you would be Judge Mitchell bud and his friends will replace your tree. I give you my word Jim it's not the tree that bothers me You mean there's more or my principal concern is the manner in which the tree was destroyed Tell him bud well We were playing chicken bud After all I've said to you Jim. I'm afraid I don't understand. What is chicken? Oh, it's a game these kids thought of we didn't think it up dad Well, whoever did ought to have his head examined if he still has a head Driving a car at full speed with nobody holding the wheel The first one who gets a little sense into his thick skull and tries to control the car He's chicken and he loses. Oh bud. How could you gosh mom? Everybody does it and if all the fellas hadn't gotten chicken at the same time we'd have been all right, but Well, everybody grabbed for the wheel at once and Heck it was only a tree It was only a tree Bud you can kneel down and thank all of your guardian angels that it was only a tree What if your mother had been standing where that tree was oh betty or kathy Would you've been able to stop any sooner or steer any better? No, I I guess not You guess not Well, we'll go into this matter in great detail believe me Judge Mitchell. Yes, Jim bud was wrong But I want you to know that I feel he isn't solely to blame Oh, I suppose not but it's uh, I don't mean the other boys I have reference to myself Oh I'm going to be very honest judge Mitchell. Very frank. I owe you a very humble apology You mean for not being home so consistently I uh, avoided you all day because I thought you wanted me to serve on your highway safety committee I thought I was too busy. I'd let someone else take care of it after all my son was a competent driver Why worry about the other fellow's problem? Judge Mitchell my son is not a competent driver And the fault is mine I taught him the mechanics of driving how to start and stop a car and how to steer But I failed to teach him the responsibility that goes with a car I put a ton of steel in his hands a weapon as deadly as any gun And I failed to impress upon his mind the fact that When he's in a car. He holds the power of life and death in his fingertips But he's going to be taught judge Mitchell Before he touches a steering wheel again. He's going to know the full meaning of his responsibility The car is not a toy. It's not an instrument for childish games And he'll drive sensibly safely courteously or I give you my word. He'll never drive again Now, um About the tree. Well, we can just forget the tree jim Let's say that it died for worthy cause Jim yes, Margaret. Do you know what you just did? You just gave my speech Oh, well, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to mussel in on your territory Jim. Will you please stop being silly Why don't you go along with me tomorrow and tell the same things to the other parents? I think they learned a great deal Margaret, you know, I don't want to make any speeches. Well Whatever you say dear, but as long as you insist I uh Well, I guess I might as well. All right, dear father knows best So father's going to make his speech after all. Well, that's fine because he does have something important to say And right now so do I These days when you buy coffee You want the most in flavor for every penny you spend After all flavors what you're paying for And we don't think you can beat the famous flavor we pack into every pound of Maxwell house But here's the point air can steal coffee flavor and ordinary containers like paper bags Can't prevent roasted coffee from losing flavor whether it's ground or whole bean That's why we take our Maxwell house still fresh and fragrant from our roasting ovens And carefully vacuum pack it in the familiar blue tin That way no air gets in and none of that wonderful flavor gets out So the next pound of coffee you buy be sure you get all the flavor and fragrance you pay for You will with Maxwell house coffee Always good to the last drop Ladies and gentlemen tonight father knows best is honored by a celebrated and rather unusual guest An article concerning him and his wonderful work Appeared in the november issue of liberty magazine and was reprinted in the december issue of readers digest That takes care of the celebrated part of it As for the unusual Well so far as I know he is the only traffic court judge in the history of the united states ever to have warranted the use of the term popular It's an honor and a very great privilege to introduce a young man who has made the city of los angeles a safer place in which to live Judge roger fa Thank you. Good evening. Bob your honor. I uh Don't go on. I just can't get used to feeling comfortable with the traffic court judge I feel like i've just gone through a red light or something. Well, that'll be 25 dollars I said I feel like i've gone through it Well in that case we'll suspend sentence, but don't let it happen again. Thank you judge fa I believe you know what we on father knows best are trying to accomplish I do bob and I can't recommend too highly or endorse more heartily the program you are spearheading The question of accidents involving young drivers and the unfortunate incidents of traffic casualties and fatalities Has become a serious problem in every community in the nation Something has to be done about it and fast You see bob if it were a single problem we could cope with it quite easily If all the teenage drivers were incompetent or careless We could insist that they avail themselves of the driver education and training courses being given in many high schools throughout america A great many boys and girls have taken these courses and are taking them right now But our problem is with competent drivers skill drivers The youngster who is so confident of his ability that he takes ridiculous chances with his life and yours Less than a year ago a lad was brought into my courtroom on a charge so fantastic that it is almost unbelievable This boy was driving a car in excess of 55 miles an hour without a steering wheel There's only one suitable comment for that bud's favorite and all-inclusive holy cow This boy was steering with a pair of pliers And he was so confident of his ability that he couldn't for the life of him understand why we considered him a Potential murderer You see bob that's the way these boys and girls must think of themselves Whenever they take those wild split second chances Whenever they play chicken or hubcap tag or any of their other reckless and ridiculous games In spite of their skill which we do not question In spite of their youth which gives them reflexes much faster than yours or mine These drivers are death on wheels They're accidents going somewhere to happen. Well judge pa if you don't mean that of course to apply to all young drivers Oh, no, bob, of course not Most of them I know are sensible intelligent youngsters But it's hard to tell the innocent from the guilty and so they all get a bad name That's why I think the highway safety plan as you explained it to me should be welcomed by the young drivers Why don't you tell them about it? Okay, I'll do it right now Through the inter-industry highway safety committee, which was formed at the request of president truman Two clubs have been set up a man-to-man club for fathers and sons And a counterpart on the disc staff side for dads and daughters Voluntary good driver agreements are provided for these are agreements between parents and children to be signed by both And they involve pledges on both sides The father promises to grant permission to his son or daughter to drive the family car at appropriate times And the youngster Well, he or she has to promise to abide by eight good driving rules But they're sensible rules designed not to take the joy out of life But rather to give you a longer life to enjoy With each man-to-man or dad-to-daughter agreement. There is a membership card And I'd like to see them riding in teenage pockets and hat bands all over the country You know bob, that's quite an idea Those membership cards will help to separate the black sheep from the innocence of the flock The youngsters who are careful drivers Intelligent drivers will no longer have to protest that it's the other fellow who takes chances The other fellow who plays the wild games the other fellow who gives all drivers a bad name They can prove by living up to the terms of these membership cards that they have a right to the respect of their elders And they write to share the highways with their fellow citizens parents and young drivers Why don't you get one of these agreements right away? They're yours for the asking just send a note to the robert young good drivers club care of your local nbc station And we'll shoot the works right back at you Well, I guess that just about does it can you think of anything else judge foth? Yes, just one other thing You know, I have a slightly selfish interest in your whole highway safety movement. How is that? Well, I figure that if you can get all the drivers of this country to operate their vehicles safely Carefully and with simple good old-fashioned american courtesy Well every once in a while fellows like me will have a chance to go fishing. Good night bob. Good night judge bob And thank you for coming You like good things the easy way Good things the easy way No trouble no ground to the very last you know what? Yes instant Maxwell house means great coffee instantly in your cup Here's real instant coffee all pure Maxwell house coffee in instant form. Enjoy instant Maxwell house instantly Join us again next week when we'll be back with father knows best starring robert young is jim anderson With roye bargy and the Maxwell house orchestra and yours truly bill foreman Don't forget parents and youngsters for your voluntary pledges and membership cards Just write to the robert young good drivers club care of your local nbc station Now it's time to say good night. So until next thursday Good luck from the makers of Maxwell house america's favorite brand of coffee always good to the last drop Father knows best was transcribed in hollywood and written by ed james Now stay tuned in for screen gill theater, which follows immediately over most of these stations Here dan dailey and an baxter on screen gill theater next on nbc