Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) Beaver Says Good-bye (1959) User Reviews

Tis Better To Give Back Than Keep

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 26 January 2007]

Ward and June would like to move. They want a bigger house and they particularly like one they've seen in Madison. Wally doesn't want to movie because of losing friends, of course, and the fact that Madison High's sports teams always get "skunked."

"Who wants to go to the school where you get skunked all the time?" he asks. Beaver, meanwhile, doesn't care. The new place sounds cool to him, especially after he sees it.

What happens next isn't cool. The Cleavers find out someone paid cash and got the house they wanted. If they are moving, it won't be right away. Meanwhile, Beaver had already told his friends at school about leaving and they - well, Whitey and Larry, at least - said they would miss him. Judy, of course, just stuck her tongue out and was nasty.

The next morning, after Ward and June tell the kids they aren't moving, Beaver walks into the class and - wham! - a surprise party, in his honor. The sing, "Goodbye Beaver, goodbye Beaver, goodbye Beaver, we're sad to see you go." They all shower him with gifts. Of course, he says nothing and takes them home, trying to hide them from his mom. What a predicament!

He gets found out quickly and the kids in school are not happy, once word gets out. Beaver learns another lesson.

The move of Judy's discontent.

[pensman · 8/10 · 1 August 2017]

Ward and June are considering moving but Wally doesn't want to change schools. Both boys are invited to come along to look at possibilities, Wally is spending the day with Tooey, but Beaver goes along and he likes the house Ward is considering. Wally tries to dissuade Beaver but maybe too late, Ward has put an offer on the house.

Next day at school, Beaver is telling the class he is moving to a house over in Madison. Whitey and Larry say they will miss Beaver, but Judy says if Beaver moves then he will be put back a grade. When Beaver gets home he leans the move has fallen through. Ward says the owners took an all cash offer. Now Beaver has to go back to school and tell everyone he isn't moving.

At the start of school, Beaver and Larry are cleaning the erasers which is done at the end of the day. When Beaver walks in the classroom, Miss Landers is leading the class in singing a song about missing Beaver, and all his classmates load his arms with a pile of going away gifts. Maybe Beaver should have said something about not moving right away.

Beaver arrives home with all the presents and leaves them at the front door and checks to see if anyone is home. When June greets Beaver, he says he thinks he smells something burning, and quickly brings the gifts upstairs. Wally wants to know what Beaver intends to do with the presents. He says he plans on keeping them. Wally says then Beaver would be a crook. Not liking that response, Beaver goes out to the garage to speak with Ward.

Beaver asks Ward if got a bunch of gifts when he got married, but then didn't get married, would he have to give the presents back. Beaver gets another answer he doesn't like but has to go into the house to pick up his room.

Larry stops by and is in the garage talking to Ward. Larry says he came by to look at the swing and mentions the presents that were given to Beaver. As Larry leaves he asks Ward when they are moving. Ward says they aren't moving. Larry wants to know what happened to the presents.

Ward and June are in Beaver's room talking to him about the presents and what happened. Wally is busy acting as defense attorney for Beaver. Beaver decides he has to return the presents and June offers to go with him to help carry them.

Apparently, Larry is a good class crier as a classmate has written Beaver is a rook on the blackboard. We clearly understand that Judy Hensler, Beaver's nemesis, has been encouraging a class rebellion against Beaver. Beaver walks in unaware but quickly gathers he is on the outs with everyone as no one will look at him. Judy says if she was Miss Landers then she would expel Beaver right out of school. Miss Landers tells Judy she isn't Miss Landers and that Beaver brought back all the presents unopened and they are in the principal's office. Everyone can get their presents back if they want to. Judy starts to stand up but Larry tells her to sit down or he'll sock her won. Even Miss Landers has a smile at that comment. Everything and everyone is back to normal.

Beaver is talking with Ward trying to figure out why the kids were sorry when he was leaving but angry when he stayed. Ward tells Beaver it is a form of selfishness that most everyone grows out of. Even Judy wonders Beaver?

Farewell To Beaver

[StrictlyConfidential · 5/10 · 9 February 2021]

(*Wally quote*) - "Well, heck, dad. Last year we skunked Madison High in basketball, football and track.

Ward Cleaver puts in an offer for a new home over in Madison.

Beaver is so sure that he and his family are moving that he tells his classmates that he'll be leaving Grant Avenue School real soon.

A farewell party is held for Beaver where each student gives him a going-away present.

Suddenly the Cleavers aren't moving and Beaver is left with a tough decision to make.

Another redo

[vitoscotti · 5/10 · 9 March 2021]

The thing about the episode is why not just give the presents back? Why should Beaver keep them? Beaver is benefiting from a mistake. Wouldn't the gift givers parents be bewildered he kept them?