The Black Eye is the third episode in the series.
Summary[]
Believing that every boy should know how to defend himself- especially after he sees Beaver's new black eye- Ward decides to give the boys boxing lessons. But what happens when the person responsible for Beaver's shiner is... a girl?
Plot[]
The episode starts with Wally and Beaver in their bedroom. Beaver is in pain because he has a black eye, Wally is rubbing some makeup on it to conceal it. The boys go downstairs for dinner, Beaver walks backwards to the table, which draws attention to himself and he had just sat down. Ward and June notice the makeup job and they question Beaver who claims he got a black eye from falling down, but then adds he fell down because he was fighting. The boys are sent upstairs. Beaver tells Wally that he was hit by a girl, revealing it was Violet Rutherford. He then asks Wally to keep it a secret.
Ward wants to teach Beaver to some fighting pointers so he can defend himself should he encounter another round of fisticuffs and begins boxing lessons in the garage. Beaver is knocked to the floor by a punching bag. Ward makes it clear to Beaver that he should not go around picking fights, but if another boy wants to be aggressive, he is to stand his ground and not back down.
Fred Rutherford drops by and Ward learns that he was awarded with a coveted contract. Fred brags on both of his children, who he says mature faster than others, and even shows Ward a newspaper clipping touting his daughter's dancing prowess. Ward learns from Wally that a member of the Rutherford clan has caused him angst outside the workplace. Wally tells him that it was Violet Rutherford, Fred's daughter, who hit Beaver. Wally is then banished to his room.
Beaver heads to Violet's house ready to be aggressive with her, but Violet comes to the door and greets Beaver as a friend as if she didn't blacken his eye the day before and she doesn't want to fight and Beaver doesn't either. The two instead have a day of fun together.
While Beaver and Violet engage in a day of harmless fun, Ward and Fred frantically search the town for the pair to stop a rematch. Upon questioning other kids of their own's whereabouts, the rumors start a viscous fight. They find the two sitting on the steps quietly chewing gum. The two fathers are initially alarmed to see their children missing teeth, but the children have not been fighting, only having fun. Fred gets irritated with Ward because they looked all over town for nothing but losing the contract at work. Ward backs down from the fight and assures him nothing of the sort happened.
The episode ends with Beaver and Wally were talking about complex differences in the way children and adults behave. Beaver asks his father why he didn't get into a fight with Mr. Rutherford. Ward says that boys are supposed to fight, but adults shouldn't as they can control themselves. Beaver is confused about this and Wally replies that is because grown ups make the rules.
Appearances[]
Fred Rutherford (debut)
Violet (debut)
Notes & Trivia[]
- This episode marks the debut of Fred Rutherford and his daughter, Violet Rutherford.
- This is the only time Violet is played by Wendy Winkelman, in later episodes, she would be played by Veronica Cartwright.