The Donna Reed Show Season 1, Episode 25: The Ideal Wife

1

Weekend Trip

In the premiere episode, Donna hopes to get away to a ski weekend with her brood, but pediatrician husband Alex's on-call schedule makes this tricky, especially since one of his young patients, Eddie Barclay (played by one of the Corcoran siblings of Disney film and TV fame; sister Noreen was on "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe), has a mysterious illness and Alex doesn't want to leave him in the care of another doctor.

30 min

2

Pardon My Gloves

Jeff gets a black eye from a boy who mocks Donna's acting in a local play. So, Donna tries to teach Jeff how to box.

30 min

3

The Hike

Donna tries to prove women can outsmart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.

30 min

4

Male Ego

Alex tries to prove his independence when Donna buys a suit for him.

30 min

5

The Football Uniform

Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture, but is told he must work for the money to buy it.

30 min

6

The Foundling

A baby is abandoned at the Stone’s place.

30 min

7

Three Part Mother

Donna spreads herself thin, running between three places on the same night, for her family.

30 min

8

Change Partners and Dance

Mary has a crush on the school basketball star, George, who wants to take her to the prom, but hasn’t asked her because he can't dance.

30 min

9

Dough Re-Mi

Donna tries to get a famous concert pianist to perform at a benefit, and, at the same time, Jeff is trying to raise money for a football tackling dummy. These two seemingly unrelated projects intertwine.

30 min

10

Guest in the House

A problem child takes refuge at the Stone’s house, and Donna tries to get through to him.

30 min

11

The Baby Contest

Alex is judge at a Beautiful Baby contest run by Donna's club.

30 min

12

The Beaded Bag

When Donna longingly admires a lovely, expensive bag at a store, the saleswoman (along with a female friend of hers) schemes to coax Alex into getting it for her for a birthday gift. But Alex is suspicious that Donna is pulling the strings behind the scenes, instead of being forthright about it.

30 min

13

The Busy Body

Charismatic Uncle Fred visits the Stone family and a brouhaha ensues.

30 min

14

A Very Merry Christmas

Donna searches for the mysterious person who puts on a Christmas party in the children’s ward at the hospital every year. The quintessential comedian Buster Keaton guest stars.

30 min

15

Mary's Double Date

Mary's Junior prom is imminent, and she has trouble deciding between two boys on the football team who might ask her. She also dangles another nice boy on a string. But, eventually, the resultant consequences of her selfish decisions come to fruition.

30 min

16

Jeff's Double Life

After nosy neighbor Mrs. Wilgus (the inimitable Kathleen Freeman) alerts Donna and Alex about Mary having a noisy party while they were out, the kids get lectured about being the children of a doctor, and that they should behave accordingly. Not too long after this, Jeff takes a ride from Mary's troublemaker friend Tommy Hendricks, who doesn't have a license and has taken his father's car out for a joyride, and they get into a minor accident while fleeing a cop.

30 min

17

Nothing But the Truth

David Barker finagles a return to the Stone’s home for his birthday celebration.

30 min

18

It's the Principle of the Thing

Mr. Popkin won't let Alex treat Joey because he has no money. So, Donna hires him to do repairs around the house, but Alex fires him. Then Donna tries another method to help him get the finances he needs.

30 min

19

Jeff vs. Mary

Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.

30 min

20

Have Fun

When Mary comes home utterly dejected from a terrible first date, Donna and Alex each, in “Rashomon”-style, tell her about their first date.

30 min

21

Donna Plays Cupid

Donna decides that Alex’s obstetrician friend, Beau, is a lonely bachelor in need of a mate, so she tries to pair him and her good friend Celia (who has recently broken up with her boyfriend) up.

30 min

22

Love Thy Neighbor

Donna and Alex help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wilbur & Celia Wilgus, only for Donna to get caught up in a misunderstanding later.

30 min

23

The Report Card

Donna is worried when Jeff comes home with a report card full of Cs.

30 min

24

Boys Will Be Boys

David Barker is brought to Alex to be treated for rabies, and is invited to stay the night. Later, Jeff is left in charge of David, as everyone else will be gone.

30 min

25

The Ideal Wife

Donna keeps getting praised for being an excellent wife and mother—so much so, that she, illogically, becomes a bit paranoid that people really mean something negative about her beneath the surface of their words, and fears her kids are taking advantage of her.

30 min

26

Mary's Campaign

Mary drives her family crazy, and worries her mother, in her quest to win the class vice-presidency.

30 min

27

The Flowered-Print Dress

Donna and Alex dine at a young couple’s home. The couple are still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage, and the experience gives Donna pangs of nostalgia.

30 min

28

April Fool

When Buzz Barry, teenage idol (played by James Darren), comes to Hilldale to sing at a concert, he falls ill with the measles and the concert is canceled, leaving Mary and her friends devastated. Then he ends up staying at the Stone’s home to recuperate, causing unexpected complications.

30 min

29

The Parting of the Ways

Mary’s friend Babs confides in her that her parents are having troubles and may be divorcing soon. And, though she’s exaggerating, Donna is unaware of this and problems ensue in their family as a result.

30 min

30

The Hero

Alex's roommate, Biff Jameson, comes to Hilldale, and though he charms the family and dazzles Jeff, Alex confesses to Donna that his old pal seems to be off from what he used to be.

30 min

31

Do You Trust Your Child?

Donna gives a speech, at a PTA meeting, on parent/child relationships urging parents to trust their child. Her advice, of course, ends up being tested.

30 min

32

Grateful Patient

Alex takes advantage of a tip on the market, and Donna and the kids start making plans for the expected profit.

30 min

33

The Testimonial

Donna plans a testimonial dinner to honor Dr. Jason, a long-time denizen of the town and a beloved doctor, who finally intends to retire.

30 min

34

Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea

The family searches for a compatible housekeeper to help around the house while Donna manages a charity campaign.

30 min

35

Tomorrow Comes Too Soon

After a particularly long week, Donna and Alex long for a weekend alone without kids. But when they get it, it’s not quite how they imagined it would be.

30 min

36

Advice To Young Lovers

When Mary and George get in a fight over him and her best friend Babs, Donna advises her on how to handle the situation.

30 min

37

Operation Deadbeat

Alex insists Jeff pay back money he owes to develop good character for when he is an adult. Meanwhile, Donna decides to try to get the past due money owed to Alex by his patients.

30 min