- 6 years ago
Life with Elizabeth S1E14: Mama's Visit/ Bicycle Picnic/ Nosey Neighbors
Not Rated | 30min | Comedy | Episode aired 1953
In preparation for a visit from her mom Elizabeth turns the den into a bedroom with Alvin oblivious. Everything goes wrong when Alvin and Elizabeth bike into the country. Elizabeth recalls her early distate for a busybody neighbor.
Director: Duke Goldstone
Writers: George Tibbles, Milt Kahn
Stars: Betty White, Del Moore, Loie Bridge
Not Rated | 30min | Comedy | Episode aired 1953
In preparation for a visit from her mom Elizabeth turns the den into a bedroom with Alvin oblivious. Everything goes wrong when Alvin and Elizabeth bike into the country. Elizabeth recalls her early distate for a busybody neighbor.
Director: Duke Goldstone
Writers: George Tibbles, Milt Kahn
Stars: Betty White, Del Moore, Loie Bridge
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Betty White in Life With Elizabeth, featuring Del Moore.
00:20The number one in the life of Elizabeth occurred some time ago.
00:24I believe it was the occasion of one of Mama's rare visits to the home of her daughter.
00:31Elizabeth, how are you tonight?
00:38Moving the furniture again?
00:41You're making the den over into a bedroom, why?
00:48Mama's coming to visit.
00:50Oh, I get it. You need the den as a spare room for Mama.
00:54Well, why don't you get Alvin to help?
00:58Alvin doesn't know?
01:00You're going to make the room over and then tell him, is that it?
01:05Oh, honey, it was a wonderful dinner, just wonderful.
01:10Now, a few minutes with the crossword puzzle, then we'll watch television together.
01:14Alvin, why don't you go outside and...
01:16Oh, no, honey, it's a little too chilly out there.
01:19Where's the television set?
01:22The picture tube went out.
01:25Honey, it's only been in there two weeks.
01:28That's what I told the man. He said, lady, the picture tube's gone out.
01:31And I said, now, isn't it a little young for that?
01:34That was a joke.
01:35I made it up.
01:45In the living room.
01:46How in the world did you get it in the living room? It weighs a ton.
01:50I had on a light movie.
01:54Oh, brother.
01:57Say, speaking of things weighing a ton, how's your mother these days?
02:01Mama? Oh, Mama's fine.
02:04That's good.
02:05You know, we do an awful lot of joking about her, but she's really a swell person.
02:09Sweetheart, what would you say if Mama were to come and visit us for a couple of...
02:16Well, I'd say swell, except we don't have a spare room.
02:19Or maybe I could arrange something.
02:21No, you might as well forget it, honey, because we would...
02:24For how long, did you say?
02:26Oh, with the outside, maybe a couple of...
02:32No, try it again.
02:35Darling, here I am just chattering away when you're trying to finish your puzzle.
02:39Elizabeth, I...
02:39You're so sweet. You're always so ready to forget your chatterbox wife.
02:42Now, you go right back to your puzzle. I want to straighten up around here.
02:45Okay. I may have to yell for help.
02:48I thought by the time sooner or later you would.
02:50Oh, yes.
02:5811 words.
03:04Hey, honey, what's a four-letter word meaning not here?
03:08As gone.
03:10Gone.
03:15Gone.
03:20I need a six-letter word meaning disappear.
03:25How about vanish?
03:29Vanish?
03:32Yes.
03:39Alvin, I found the only way to really work a crossword puzzle is to concentrate completely.
03:44Don't even look up.
03:46What did you say?
03:49I said I talk too much.
03:51Well, I'm going to really concentrate on this and do it good.
03:54Good.
04:02Must say you're taking it pretty good about your mother.
04:04I thought you might try one of your tricks.
04:06Go, Brenda.
04:10Hey, what are you doing back there? I can't see you.
04:12Just work your puzzle.
04:14Oh.
04:17You know, sometimes I think we really ought to build a guest room.
04:23Look at the overhead.
04:24Overhead.
04:26Elizabeth, sometimes I think you're off your rocker.
04:28Rocker off me?
04:30Huh?
04:32I said you're not concentrating.
04:34Oh, that's right.
04:3617-letter word meaning huh.
04:4017.
04:47See if you can move from that chair into this without breaking your train of thought.
04:52Sure.
04:58Sorry.
05:10Sweetie, without breaking your train of thought,
05:12how would you move a heavy bookcase without asking somebody to help you?
05:17I'd get the roller skate Kathy left here on our last visit.
05:21Go on.
05:23Lift up one end of the bookcase, slide it underneath,
05:26and wheel the whole thing out.
05:33Let's see.
05:35Let's see.
05:39Yeah.
05:41I like that.
05:44Honey, what's a five-letter word meaning stupid?
05:49L.
05:52I'm doing pretty good so far.
05:56S-A-L-B-I-N.
05:58You got it.
06:01It says here that some guy completed one of these things in ten minutes.
06:05Maybe he just wasn't concentrating.
06:09Honey, what's a word for base of mountain?
06:14Foot.
06:17Foot.
06:24I'm almost through now.
06:26I'm almost through now.
06:29Can you imagine anyone saying that he can work one of these things in ten minutes?
06:34Guy ought to be hanged.
06:37Well, whatever you say, dear.
06:46Hey, I am almost through.
06:49So am I.
06:56I can't get over anybody saying he can do one of these in ten minutes.
07:00That's a lot of funk.
07:04It has to be free. It's for Mama.
07:07Hmm?
07:22Can you move over someplace else without breaking your train of thought?
07:26I want to straighten up the room a little.
07:28Yeah, yeah.
07:30Yeah, I'll move you out of bed.
07:32Six.
07:36Hey, honey, have you changed the bedroom around?
07:38No, I just made it in...
07:40Yeah.
07:42Do you like it?
07:44Yeah, I'll just take a little getting used to, that's all.
07:49I'll be right back.
07:51I'm going into den for a minute.
07:55Hey, honey, what's a five-letter word meaning shark?
07:58Elvin!
08:00Honey, what's the matter?
08:02I can't find the den.
08:04You can't find the den?
08:06It was here a minute ago.
08:08Elizabeth, this smells like one of your tricks.
08:10What do you mean you can't find it?
08:12While you were concentrating, I changed the den into a spare room.
08:16Mama's going to pay us a visit.
08:18You check.
08:20Well, I shall leave you at this point, Elizabeth.
08:23Why?
08:25She's on a wire. She can't make it.
08:27That's why I thought I'd change it into a spare room with a...
08:33Mama, she can't make it.
08:35What do you mean she can't make it?
08:37She just can't make it, that's all.
08:39Here.
08:42Dear Elizabeth, I can't make it.
08:45By the way, Elizabeth, what's a nine-letter word meaning not too bright?
08:50Elizabeth.
08:52Thank you. Good night, Elizabeth.
08:54Elizabeth, aren't you ashamed?
08:58I've been meaning to talk to you about that in the first place.
09:01Elizabeth, aren't you ashamed?
09:09Incident number two in the life of Elizabeth occurred in the summer of last year.
09:13Anyway, it was a swell day for a picnic,
09:15and Elizabeth managed to borrow two bicycles from somewhere,
09:19and away they went.
09:21That's a nice little scene.
09:23We may as well wait right here until Elizabeth and Alvin come gliding up.
09:41Alvin?
09:43Come on, honey, I think I found a pretty place.
09:46Hurry up.
09:48Hurry up.
10:11Will you put that down?
10:13There.
10:17Oh, look.
10:19You ride a few miles on that bicycle,
10:21and you discover muscles you didn't even know existed.
10:23Well, it's not those muscles that bother me.
10:25Alvin?
10:27It's pretty out here.
10:29Yeah.
10:30Elizabeth, why did you get me a bicycle with a front wheel?
10:32It won't turn.
10:34What, really?
10:36It won't even budge. Look at this.
10:39The bearing must be frozen.
10:41Maybe if you leave it in the sun for a while,
10:43it'll thaw out.
10:45Elizabeth, when it comes to things mechanical,
10:47you're a nudnick.
10:49Well, then explain to me how a bear
10:51could freeze in weather like this.
10:53Not a bear, a bearing.
10:55It's in here.
10:57For the first five miles, this wheel was turning fine.
10:59Then somebody forgot to oil it,
11:01the bearing got hot, and it froze.
11:03It got hot and froze?
11:05That's right.
11:07When we get home, remind me to boil up a few ice cubes.
11:10That's right.
11:12Anyway, if I can get this wheel off,
11:14I think I can fix it.
11:16Okay, while you do that,
11:18I'll fix lunch.
11:20This break is breaking my back.
11:24How would you like
11:26some nice tuna sandwiches?
11:28I brought some tuna,
11:30mayonnaise,
11:32pickles, and iced coffee.
11:34Honey, you didn't have to bring
11:36any pliers, did you?
11:38Will a bobby pin help?
11:42Don't look at me like that.
11:44I don't carry pliers in my hair, you know.
11:48You know, this place is absolutely
11:50ideal for a picnic.
11:52No ants, no flies,
11:54no bees, and no rain.
11:56Yeah, you just wait.
11:58We'll find something that'll make us miserable
12:00before the day is over.
12:02Oh, now, don't be like that.
12:04Honey, I didn't bring much food.
12:06I brought tuna,
12:08and mayonnaise, and pickles, and iced coffee.
12:10Yeah, well, that's fine.
12:12If I could just get this wheel off now,
12:14everything would be complete.
12:18Yeah, take it over.
12:20No ants, no flies,
12:22no bees, and no rain.
12:24I'll take that bobby pin after all.
12:26Oh, now you come running.
12:28Hey, by golly, you're right.
12:30No ants, no flies,
12:32no bees, and no rain.
12:34Why not?
12:36I don't know. I guess they must have jarred loose
12:38when I hit that tree back there.
12:40Oh, this is a fine kettle of fish.
12:44I don't have the kettle, but I do have the fish.
12:46I brought tuna, mayonnaise,
12:48pickles, and iced coffee.
12:50Yeah, that's fine, but I can't enjoy a meal
12:52knowing I have to carry this thing back to town.
12:56How about that?
12:58No ants, no flies,
13:00no bees, and no rain.
13:02Yes, and I have no pliers,
13:04no wrench, and no cooperation from you.
13:08Well, how did I know the beer was going to freeze?
13:10Elizabeth, don't you have anything
13:12in this basket I can get that wheel off with?
13:14No, honey, all I brought was
13:16tuna, mayonnaise,
13:18pickles, and iced coffee.
13:20Now, do you want to tell me again about the ants
13:22and the flies?
13:24Well, it's true. No ants, no flies,
13:26no bees, and iced coffee.
13:28Uh, no rain.
13:30I'll fix the bike later.
13:32Hey, that isn't poison oak
13:34over there, is it?
13:36Darling, would you get the bread? I think I left it in the other basket.
13:43Hey, no bread over here.
13:45You sure?
13:47Funny.
13:49Guess I must have jarred loose when I hit that tree
13:51back there. Well, we can spread the tuna on the pickles.
13:53Oh, that sounds great. What's this?
13:55Oh, you asked if that was
13:57poison oak over there. That isn't, but
13:59this is. See, you can tell by the leaves.
14:01What's your
14:03mind? Albert, don't look
14:05so horrified. The doctor told us we weren't allergic
14:07to poison oak. That's the baby
14:09we've got to be careful of. Why?
14:11Poison ivy.
14:13Look, you can tell the difference between...
14:15Let's eat. We'll have
14:17the botany lesson later.
14:19Okay. You open
14:21the thermos, and I'll open the pickles.
14:23Fill you up.
14:25Little ice coffee, Elizabeth?
14:35Elizabeth?
14:41Squeeze it.
14:43Honey, let's face it.
14:45You brought the wrong thermos jug.
14:47I'm sorry.
14:49See if you can open the pickles.
14:55It's no use.
14:59It's no use. I can't open it.
15:01Why don't we just have to
15:03put the tuna on our...
15:05on the mayonnaise.
15:07Then it'll be good. See if you can open the mayonnaise.
15:15What do they do?
15:17Weld these things on?
15:19It's no use.
15:21We can't do it. We just spread the tuna
15:23on our hands.
15:25Oh, what now?
15:27I can't find
15:29the can opener. Don't tell me.
15:31It bounced out when you hit the tree back there.
15:35Maybe if we punched a hole in the top
15:37with a rock, we could drink it through straws.
15:39We haven't got any straws.
15:43You've been sitting in the sun a little bit too long.
15:45Some picnic.
15:49It's fine.
15:51Alvin?
15:53Yes?
15:55Here come the ants.
15:57Those'll starve to death.
15:59I've got news for you.
16:01The flies and the bees are arriving.
16:03There's no rain.
16:05Pivot time.
16:09Alvin, I have an idea.
16:11Elizabeth, I no longer trust you.
16:13I think your brain's bounced out
16:15when you hit that rock in the tree back there.
16:17I'm talking about the tree back there.
16:19The can opener, the bread, the bobby pin,
16:21they're all by that tree, and it's only a couple of miles back.
16:23By golly, you're right.
16:25You're right.
16:27Let's go.
16:29You get the bicycle, and I'll get these things right here.
16:31I'll turn this around.
16:33We can do this if we just go back and get the little ones.
16:35Sure we will.
16:37We'll have fun yet, huh?
16:43I told you to throw out.
16:49Come on.
16:55Don't worry about the rain.
16:59Alvin?
17:01Yes, here I am.
17:03Alvin?
17:05Come on.
17:11Incident number three
17:13in the life of Elizabeth
17:15occurred the first time she met Mrs. Skinridge.
17:17You may be interested to know
17:19that their relationship as neighbors
17:21started off very badly
17:23and then rapidly deteriorated.
17:41Root rot.
17:43I can tell clear over from my yard
17:45that these plants had root rot.
17:47What kind of root rot?
17:49Red.
17:51Red root rot?
17:53Red root rot.
17:55How do you get rid of red root rot?
17:57Can't.
17:59Just get rid of the plants.
18:01Would you care to sit down, Mrs. Skinridge?
18:03Chloe Skinridge.
18:05I'm your neighbor from the other side, Elizabeth.
18:07Where's Alvin?
18:09Oh, he's in the house.
18:11How did you know his name?
18:13Well, you're certainly frank about it.
18:15No point in being any other way.
18:17People say I talk funny.
18:19Isn't true. I talk a lot.
18:21Well, now, why in the world
18:23would they say you talk funny?
18:25I haven't the least idea.
18:27Oh, can I help you empty the trash?
18:29The thrash?
18:31Yes, the thrash is a waste paper basket here.
18:33Oh, this thrash?
18:35Uh-huh.
18:37I can get it. I'll be right back.
18:39Oh.
18:42This is a nice suit of fur you have, Elizabeth.
18:44When the movers was carrying it in,
18:46I thought it was wrought iron.
18:48You thought it was what?
18:50Wrought iron. It's just the right height.
18:52You mind if I make a joke on that?
18:54I'm always making up jokes.
18:56Don't tell me
18:58you have a sense of humor.
19:00You too?
19:02Oh, I've been waiting for this.
19:04Me too.
19:06Why, only last night I said to Pierre,
19:08I hope to goodness that girl Elizabeth
19:10said I was wrenching out
19:12some of his clothes at the time.
19:14I turned to him and I said,
19:16I may be a nosy neighbor,
19:18but I'll say one thing for me,
19:20I'm a funny nosy neighbor.
19:24Now you go on.
19:26You tell me the joke.
19:28Oh, no, I forgot it.
19:30We were talking about the morphine furniture.
19:32Oh, yes.
19:34Well, it isn't funny now.
19:36Go on. Tell it anyway.
19:38Well, you were just saying
19:40about the wrought iron
19:42and I was going to say
19:44that I didn't know Mr. Wrought made irons.
19:46Go on. Tell it anyway.
19:52Oh, hello, Alvin.
19:54How do you do?
19:56And this is Mr. Skinridge.
19:58She lives next door.
20:00She came over to kind of...
20:02Hmm.
20:04Hmm.
20:06Where do you want me to put the papers?
20:10Why don't you put them
20:12in the trash can?
20:14What?
20:16You heard her.
20:18Over there by the palm tree.
20:20Instead, I think I'll put them over
20:22by the palm tree in the trash can.
20:26Elizabeth,
20:28what part of the country is he from?
20:30His accent is fantastic.
20:34Well, he spent quite a bit of time
20:36in Detroit.
20:38And who's been tearing up the plants?
20:40Mrs. Skinridge, honey.
20:42She says they have rot root.
20:44Root rot. Root rot.
20:46They also have scale stems.
20:48See that?
20:50They break off like that because they belong to the begonia family.
20:52Maybe we ought to give them back.
20:54See how brittle they are?
20:56No, I didn't mean that.
20:58You said the begonia family.
21:00Elizabeth, she doesn't mean people.
21:02She means plants.
21:04Et tu, Brutus?
21:06My land, you both have an accent.
21:10Elizabeth, do you want her
21:12to think we're stupid?
21:14It isn't et, it's eaten.
21:16I'll remember that, darling.
21:18Have you eaten too, Brutus?
21:22That'll come in real handy
21:24if I meet a fella named Brutus who hasn't had lunch.
21:26Sure it will.
21:28Alvin.
21:30Rot root.
21:32You're teasing me.
21:34I'm threesing you here.
21:36Now tell me about Rot Root Annie.
21:40She has no sense of humor
21:42and she's a fantastic gossip.
21:44How do you know she's a gossip?
21:46She seems to be proud of it.
21:48She knew my name as well as yours.
21:50When I came out, she was poking around in the plants.
21:52Yoo-hoo, I'm back.
21:54I've been looking through your trash can.
21:56I find out a lot about people that way.
21:58Almost as good as a party line.
22:00Boy, are we gonna lead a life.
22:02Don't let her bother you.
22:04She doesn't do any good to whisper.
22:06I also read lips.
22:10Why don't you sit down and tell us about yourself?
22:12Yeah.
22:14Well,
22:16everybody calls me Chloe
22:18but my real name is Chlorine.
22:20Chlorine?
22:22Oh, but you changed it
22:24to pool.
22:26I didn't have a pool.
22:28Even as a child, I loved to gossip.
22:30So Papa bought me a telescope
22:32when I was nine.
22:34Or was it then?
22:36You smile, people?
22:38All day.
22:40Except when I practice my saxophone, of course.
22:42Saxophone.
22:44Naturally.
22:46I knew I was going to like you folks.
22:48The minute I washed Elizabeth's face,
22:50you washed my face.
22:52I kissed you goodbye.
22:54I washed your face.
22:56Get a net.
22:58Oh!
23:00You scared me for a minute.
23:02She washed my face
23:04through the telescope.
23:06Get two nets.
23:08She washed my face
23:10and then she watched you get in the car
23:12and we both watched you drive away.
23:14Then I went right into the house
23:16and exploded some breakfast food.
23:18Don't look like that.
23:20I always explode
23:22my own breakfast food.
23:24Excuse me.
23:26Just a second.
23:28Oh, my land, it's time to take my pooper lesson.
23:34Mrs. Skinridge.
23:36Mrs. Skinridge.
23:38Why are you deliberately
23:40trying to make yourself obnoxious?
23:44These plants definitely haven't rot.
23:48Are you hoping we'll move away?
23:50They have stale stem, too.
23:52Hey, she's pretending to be a stinker
23:54so we'll move away.
23:56Welcome to the party, Alvin.
23:58Well, Mrs. Skinridge?
24:01I have a little dog
24:03and he barks.
24:05So what?
24:07Not so what, Alvin.
24:09It's what difference does that make?
24:11So what?
24:13Well, the last people that lived here
24:15kept reporting him as a nuisance.
24:17I thought you might do the same.
24:20Well, that's no problem.
24:22Listen, just a moment.
24:24Humphrey!
24:26Humphrey!
24:28I'll see.
24:30Mrs. Skinridge.
24:32Storm! Stormy!
24:36We'd better get these plants back on the ground.
24:38Why?
24:40There's no such thing as root rot.
24:42No more stale stem.
24:44What do you want?
24:50Hey, say goodbye to the people.
24:52Goodbye, everybody.
25:14You
25:16You
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