Beaver is going "armed" to school: he's packing a piece of coal. Unfortunately, June confiscates it. Wally wants to know if Beaver was really going to throw the coal at Lumpy. At least, he would have made believe so.
At this time in the series, Lumpy Rutherford is a giant and a bully who is currently terrorizing Wally and Beaver. The one aspect of his character that is a constant is he immediately kowtows to his "daddy," Fred Rutherford. The actor, Fred Banks, who plays Lumpy is the size of Richard Deacon who plays his father. Lucky for him the other actors got their growth spurts or Fred Banks would have had a limited run in the series.
Up in their room, Beaver and Wally are trying to figure out if there is any way to pay Lumpy back. Ward is concerned that the boys are getting home late from school; but they don't want to tell them they are being bullied. Finally, they admit who it is, Lumpy and he's sixteen. Ward offers to intervene but the boys decline the offer. Ward does provide a story from his youth about how he got revenge on a bully using barrel hoops. June is not amused. Ward doesn't believe the boys would follow through on his misadventure; but they do. There is a difference: Fred goes out and the hoops do their job.
Now Wally and Beaver are worried they might be found out. The Rutherfords are coming over, but to play cards. June tells Ward they are running late because Fred had some sort of accident. Ward chuckles because he says Fred is the sort of friend you don't mind seeing fall down.
So far, the boys haven't been caught but that might be ending. June thinks it would be nice for the boys to come down and say hello. If there is anyone they don't want to say hello to, it's Fred Rutherford. Ward wants the boys to come down after they get their pajamas on.
Fred has started playing cards and begins with one of his boring stories. The conversation changes over to the "gang" who knocked him down in his backyard. Mrs. Rutherford says, with a wink, that Fred believes it's the same gang who stole tires off his rental car in Acapulco.
When Ward goes upstairs to get the boys, they are worried if they will be sent to reform school. Fred has the cap of one of the hoodlums but can't decide what he should do. Ward in a sort of joking manner suggests Fred should take the cap to the police; he would be doing a community service. When the boys come down they're wearing cowboy hats and bandannas, but even when they are removed they aren't recognized. They do get an invitation to come over and play with Clarence (Lumpy). Fred is still going on but his wife feels enough is enough. When Fred mentions barrel hoops, both Ward and June react.
Ward and June go out to the kitchen where as usual June over reacts to the situation. Ward says just to relax, he will take care of it. Ward confronts the boys and they admit their responsibility; but Ward knows he is on the hook too, it was his idea. Ward tells the boys to just not pay too much attention to his stories anymore; they agree but get Ward to promise he won't stop those stories.
In the epilogue, we see Ward has told Fred. Fred has also accepted responsibility that his son Clarence might be a bully, and he will talk to him about it. Mrs. Rutherford understands and is embarrassed by the entire situation. On the way out, Fred asks Ward not to tell the story at work: we don't want to give the men ammunition.
Beaver is still up and he has a question for Ward. How come there are bigger guys who pick on little guy. Ward says unfortunately there will always be guys like that. Sometimes you just have to learn how to get along with them. What's important is that to remember the only way to really beat bullies is you don't become like them. Maybe we should petition the major networks to show this series again. It still has much to teach us.
At this time in the series, Lumpy Rutherford is a giant and a bully who is currently terrorizing Wally and Beaver. The one aspect of his character that is a constant is he immediately kowtows to his "daddy," Fred Rutherford. The actor, Fred Banks, who plays Lumpy is the size of Richard Deacon who plays his father. Lucky for him the other actors got their growth spurts or Fred Banks would have had a limited run in the series.
Up in their room, Beaver and Wally are trying to figure out if there is any way to pay Lumpy back. Ward is concerned that the boys are getting home late from school; but they don't want to tell them they are being bullied. Finally, they admit who it is, Lumpy and he's sixteen. Ward offers to intervene but the boys decline the offer. Ward does provide a story from his youth about how he got revenge on a bully using barrel hoops. June is not amused. Ward doesn't believe the boys would follow through on his misadventure; but they do. There is a difference: Fred goes out and the hoops do their job.
Now Wally and Beaver are worried they might be found out. The Rutherfords are coming over, but to play cards. June tells Ward they are running late because Fred had some sort of accident. Ward chuckles because he says Fred is the sort of friend you don't mind seeing fall down.
So far, the boys haven't been caught but that might be ending. June thinks it would be nice for the boys to come down and say hello. If there is anyone they don't want to say hello to, it's Fred Rutherford. Ward wants the boys to come down after they get their pajamas on.
Fred has started playing cards and begins with one of his boring stories. The conversation changes over to the "gang" who knocked him down in his backyard. Mrs. Rutherford says, with a wink, that Fred believes it's the same gang who stole tires off his rental car in Acapulco.
When Ward goes upstairs to get the boys, they are worried if they will be sent to reform school. Fred has the cap of one of the hoodlums but can't decide what he should do. Ward in a sort of joking manner suggests Fred should take the cap to the police; he would be doing a community service. When the boys come down they're wearing cowboy hats and bandannas, but even when they are removed they aren't recognized. They do get an invitation to come over and play with Clarence (Lumpy). Fred is still going on but his wife feels enough is enough. When Fred mentions barrel hoops, both Ward and June react.
Ward and June go out to the kitchen where as usual June over reacts to the situation. Ward says just to relax, he will take care of it. Ward confronts the boys and they admit their responsibility; but Ward knows he is on the hook too, it was his idea. Ward tells the boys to just not pay too much attention to his stories anymore; they agree but get Ward to promise he won't stop those stories.
In the epilogue, we see Ward has told Fred. Fred has also accepted responsibility that his son Clarence might be a bully, and he will talk to him about it. Mrs. Rutherford understands and is embarrassed by the entire situation. On the way out, Fred asks Ward not to tell the story at work: we don't want to give the men ammunition.
Beaver is still up and he has a question for Ward. How come there are bigger guys who pick on little guy. Ward says unfortunately there will always be guys like that. Sometimes you just have to learn how to get along with them. What's important is that to remember the only way to really beat bullies is you don't become like them. Maybe we should petition the major networks to show this series again. It still has much to teach us.
