- Ward composes a simple verse for Beaver after the third grader waits until the night before it's due to write a poem for school; but the helpful dad's good intentions go awry when "Beaver's" poem is chosen to win a prize.
- After a hard day, Ward and June are looking forward to a night out at the movies. Their plans are sidetracked when Beaver tells them that he needs help with a poem that is due tomorrow, but the assignment which he has known about for three weeks. Tired and irritated, Ward is angry that Beaver seems so unfocused about the project. To make his own life easier, Ward ends up sending Beaver to bed and writing the poem for Beaver instead. Wally and June soon learn that the poem won a special prize at the school and Beaver is required to read it at a school assembly. Although he knows that he can't let Beaver accept that prize, Ward is reluctant to tell Beaver, who truly does believe he wrote the poem and did only what his father told him to do. Beaver and Ward have to come to an understanding on the issue, with a little guidance from school principal Mrs. Rayburn.—Huggo
- June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley) offers to help a frustrated Wally Cleaver (Tony Dow) with his homework. Wally politely declines, noting that "it's high-school stuff," too hard for Mom to understand. June tells Wally that she will leave him to his homework, and that she will read her paper in the other room, explaining that Wally's father, Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont,) is downstairs helping the Beaver (Jerry Mathers) write a poem for school. Wally wonders if Dad is yelling at the Beaver.
Downstairs, an exasperated Ward yells at the Beaver to concentrate and think of a word that rhymes with "bear." Beaver unhappily complains that he can't think - his stomach hurts and he can't work anymore. Ward calms down. He tells Beaver to go to bed, explaining that they will work on the poem in the morning. As Beaver leaves to go upstairs, Ward asks why he didn't write the poem three weeks ago, when the assignment was given. Beaver explains that he didn't want to take the chance of losing the poem before it was due to be turned in. After Beaver goes to bed, Ward ponders the opening line of the poem, "I would like to be a bear," and comes up with the next line, "Gay and happy, free from care." Ward quickly becomes engrossed in finishing the poem - without the Beaver.
At breakfast the next morning, Ward tells June that the Beaver is busy copying his poem for school. June confronts Ward about the poem. Ward admits to having written it for the Beaver. June is upset. Ward explains that Beaver thinks he actually wrote it himself, because he did come up with the first line without help. June disapproves. Wally and June ask Beaver to read the poem. Wally laughs at the line "climbing trees with my mother." Embarrassed, Ward leaves for work. Beaver worries that the poem is corny.
After school, Wally loads up on cookies and bananas. He tells June that they all need to go to Beaver's school next week for an assembly, and that the Beaver won a prize for his poem. June worries.
June asks Ward to talk to the Beaver. Ward stalls. June insists, saying that the Beaver can't accept an award for a poem he didn't write. Ward stalls some more.
Upstairs, Larry Mondello (Rusty Stevens) and the Beaver trade marbles. Larry tells Beaver he has to run home so that his dad doesn't holler at him for being late to supper. Ward comes in to talk to the Beaver.
Downstairs, June frosts a cake while Wally watches. June explains to Wally that Ward is telling Beaver that he can't accept a prize for work he didn't do himself. Wally licks the frosting spatula.
Beaver is upset. Ward explains to him that he can't accept the prize. Beaver insists that it is his poem, so the prize is his. Ward tells him that he only came up with the first line. Confused, Beaver says he thinks he wrote the poem himself, and that he only went to bed because Ward told him to, and now everyone will think he did something bad. Beaver tells Ward that he's never going back to school and locks himself in the bathroom. Ward leaves. Wally comes in. Wally tells Beaver that Dad is gone and to come out of the bathroom. Beaver comes out. Wally notes that Beaver has been crying and asks if Dad hit him. Beaver says no. Wally asks why Beaver is crying if he didn't get hit or yelled at. Beaver explains that sometimes things get so messed up, there is nothing else to do.
On Saturday, June helps the boys make their beds. She tells them that Ward went to school for a special appointment with Mrs. Rayburn (Doris Packer.) Wally says that Dad shouldn't have written the poem for the Beaver in the first place. June agrees, but explains to the boys that sometimes fathers love their kids so much that they help them too much.
Ward confesses to Mrs. Rayburn about writing the poem for Beaver. Mrs. Rayburn reads the poem. Ward uncomfortably explains that he tried to write down how the Beaver really felt about animals. Mrs. Rayburn offers to have Beaver write his own poem by Monday morning. Ward apologizes again and thanks Mrs. Rayburn for understanding. Mrs. Rayburn accepts Ward's apology, telling Ward that some parents at school don't care enough to help their children at all.
At breakfast Monday morning, June tells Wally that she wants him to look decent for Beaver's school assembly. Ward tells Wally to wear his blue suit. Wally grumbles. Beaver reads his poem, "A Duck," to the family. Wally wonders if Beaver will still get a prize. Beaver assures him that he will, because he was the only kid in third grade who even wrote a poem.
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