Wally is moving up the athletic ladder becoming a three-letter man having played in three sports; but Beaver hasn't found a niche for himself at school. Wally can't get a fourth letter because the Board of Education has this idea you need to develop your mind not just your muscles in school.
Eventually Beaver manages to find a school activity: he's joining the dramatic club, and will be in the school play. Then Miss Landers finds her play: The Little Dutch Boy. Plus she has her stars: Beaver and Victoria Bennett. But another teacher suggests kissing a girl might be a problem for a fifth-grade boy, Miss Landers believes the Beaver is mature enough to handle it.
Ward is pleased that the Beaver is cast as the lead. His acting career has taken off since his first performance in kindergarten as a shaky tree. But when Ward and Wally go over the lines with Beaver, they come to the part where the Dutch Boy kisses the Dutch Girl. Beaver says no, and he runs upstairs and locks himself in the bathroom. This leads to our father and son discussion. Ward tries to offer solid arguments (Even John Wayne and Gary Cooper kiss girls in the movies) but to no avail; so Ward has to resort to insisting Beaver follow through on his commitment. Beaver agrees on the condition that Ward, June, and Wally not attend the play to see their son make a creep of himself.
I can empathize with Beaver's revulsion at having to kiss a girl. He's in the fifth grade and girls still have "cooties" (as I recall); and kissing a girl is, well, it's yuk. Still, he doesn't have to kiss Penny which would have been Hell.
Beaver asks Wally to explain kissing, but Wally says it's like when he tried to explain geometry to Beaver, Beaver just didn't get it and won't get kissing until he's ready. Beaver decides to discuss the situation with Victoria, and she feels the same way about kissing: yuk. And she too is being forced to continue as her mother said after paying $4.98 for a costume, Vicky was not going to back out. Vicky says she just will pretend Beaver is someone else; Beaver feels that's a great idea, and he can pretend Victoria is Uncle Billy. (Watch the episode for the explanation.)
Having been banned from attending the play, a stipulation for forcing Beaver to go through with it, Ward and June are desperate to know how it went. Beaver eventually says it went OK, but he doubts if he'll ever enjoy kissing girls the way Wally does. And that comment has June look at Wally with consternation on her face. Heck, Wally say, kids Beaver age are always saying goofy things. Ward, however, smiles at the situation looking somewhat pleased.
Eventually Beaver manages to find a school activity: he's joining the dramatic club, and will be in the school play. Then Miss Landers finds her play: The Little Dutch Boy. Plus she has her stars: Beaver and Victoria Bennett. But another teacher suggests kissing a girl might be a problem for a fifth-grade boy, Miss Landers believes the Beaver is mature enough to handle it.
Ward is pleased that the Beaver is cast as the lead. His acting career has taken off since his first performance in kindergarten as a shaky tree. But when Ward and Wally go over the lines with Beaver, they come to the part where the Dutch Boy kisses the Dutch Girl. Beaver says no, and he runs upstairs and locks himself in the bathroom. This leads to our father and son discussion. Ward tries to offer solid arguments (Even John Wayne and Gary Cooper kiss girls in the movies) but to no avail; so Ward has to resort to insisting Beaver follow through on his commitment. Beaver agrees on the condition that Ward, June, and Wally not attend the play to see their son make a creep of himself.
I can empathize with Beaver's revulsion at having to kiss a girl. He's in the fifth grade and girls still have "cooties" (as I recall); and kissing a girl is, well, it's yuk. Still, he doesn't have to kiss Penny which would have been Hell.
Beaver asks Wally to explain kissing, but Wally says it's like when he tried to explain geometry to Beaver, Beaver just didn't get it and won't get kissing until he's ready. Beaver decides to discuss the situation with Victoria, and she feels the same way about kissing: yuk. And she too is being forced to continue as her mother said after paying $4.98 for a costume, Vicky was not going to back out. Vicky says she just will pretend Beaver is someone else; Beaver feels that's a great idea, and he can pretend Victoria is Uncle Billy. (Watch the episode for the explanation.)
Having been banned from attending the play, a stipulation for forcing Beaver to go through with it, Ward and June are desperate to know how it went. Beaver eventually says it went OK, but he doubts if he'll ever enjoy kissing girls the way Wally does. And that comment has June look at Wally with consternation on her face. Heck, Wally say, kids Beaver age are always saying goofy things. Ward, however, smiles at the situation looking somewhat pleased.
