- When Beaver's teacher Miss Landers assigns the class a book to read Ward suggests Ivanhoe, one of his favorite boyhood books. Impressed by the tale of knighthood, Beaver forms his own knight club and sets out to defend his neighborhood.
- Beaver is happy that Miss Landers is returning to teach class, following a two-week illness. The first assignment she issues is for everyone to read another book, after providing a list of suggestions. Instead of the childlike fare that Miss Landers suggests (such as "Hoppy the Kangaroo"), Ward would rather Beaver read something that he was interested in reading as a child, and suggests "Ivanhoe". Beaver does become enthralled with the tale of knights and chivalry so much that when he sees a young boy beating up a young girl, he goes to defend her honor. Unfortunately, the young girl, who ends up being the young boy's sister, doesn't defend Beaver when asked why he was beating up her brother. She states that she and her brother were minding their own business when Beaver started beating him up. Later, learning what truly happened, Miss Landers praises Beaver in front of the class for his actions, despite the fight. Feeling the hero, Beaver decides to start his own club of knights to defend those who can't protect themselves. But Beaver faces a problem when some of those against whom he must fight are bigger and tougher than he, and when the fight seems to be all in the name of fighting instead of coming to a reasonable outcome.—Huggo
- Over breakfast, Wally Cleaver (Tony Dow) asks his father Ward Cleaver (Hugh Beaumont) for permission to buy Eddie Haskell's (Ken Osmond,) father's rowing machine. Ward wonders if this is such a good idea. Wally confesses that Eddie's father doesn't know that Eddie is selling the rowing machine. June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley) asks Wally what he would do with a rowing machine. Wally considers attending a college that has a crew team. Beaver Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) leaves for school, excited that his teacher, Miss Landers (Sue Randall) is coming back to school after being out sick for two weeks.
In class, Judy Hensler (Jeri Weil) reads a poem to welcome back Miss Landers, expressing the class' relief that Miss Landers did not die from her illness. Miss Landers thanks Judy and the class. Miss Landers tells the class that it would be a good idea to read another book. Whitey (Stanley Fafara) asks if the book has to be a fat book, or if it could be a thin book. Miss Landers tells Whitey that she has made a list of suggested titles. Whitey helps Miss Landers hand out the list.
At home, June and Ward go over the book list. June remarks that "Hoppy the Kangaroo" sounds like a cute book. Ward laments the lack of boy books and asks June if she ever read "Call of the Wild" when she was a girl. June confesses that the only books she read were of the "Dorothy Vernon of Hutton Hall" type.
Ward gives Beaver a copy of "Ivanhoe" to read, and tells him it is about knights who avenge wrongs and protect the weak. Wally remarks that in between times, the knights ate like pigs. Ward tells Beaver that he will enjoy the book.
Beaver stays up late reading Ivanhoe. June asks Ward to speak to Beaver about staying up past bedtime. June tells Ward that Whitey and Beaver were dueling with garbage can lids and sticks, and that Whitey's mother wanted to know why Whitey had gotten so dirty.
Beaver thanks Ward for the book. Ward tells the Beaver that defending women was a code of Knighthood, and that it is a manly thing to do. Beaver tells Ward that he never really cared what happened to girls before. Beaver leaves to catch the bus for school.
On the way to the bus stop, Beaver sees a dog. He talks to the dog. Beaver sees a boy (Neil Seflinger) and girl (Karen Sue Trent) fighting. The boy pushes the girl. She falls down. Beaver confronts the boy and asks why he doesn't have any respect for women. The boys fight. The bus arrives and the bus driver, Mr. Crawford, (James Parnell,) breaks up the fight. The girl blames Beaver for starting the fight, and says she and her brother were just standing there doing nothing. The girl calls Beaver a bully. Mr. Crawford asks Beaver what got into him. Beaver wishes he read "Hoppy the Kangaroo."
June is upset. She tells Ward that Beaver got into a fight. Ward asks if Beaver won. June tells him that Miss Landers called and said Beaver started hitting a new boy on his first day on the bus. June said that, when asked, Beaver said it was about defending womanhood. Ward worries that he may have given Beaver a bum steer.
Ward speaks to Beaver. Beaver explains he was trying to be an Ivanhoe. Ward understands that Beaver's heart was in the right place and tells him that he will speak to Miss Landers.
At school, Miss Landers tries to explain to the class why Beaver hit the other boy. Judy Hensler tells Miss Landers that Beaver is a bully. Miss Landers tells the class that the other boy was hitting his sister and provoked the fight. She tells the class that the Beaver was chivalrous.
Wally tells his father that the rowing machine deal is off. Eddie's father told Eddie that he'd kill him if he sold one more thing from the attic. Beaver writes an Oath of Knighthood. He tells Wally that he will charge ten cents each to kids who want to take the oath. Wally corrects Beaver's spelling.
Whitey takes the Oath of Knighthood. Judy Hensler says he's goofy. Whitey says that Clyde Appleby (Stephen Wootton) steps on other kids' marbles and wants to take care of him. Beaver is reluctant. Judy calls him a chicken-knight. Beaver says after school, he'll show Judy who's a chicken-knight.
The kids find Clyde Appleby. Whitey says since he just joined up, Beaver should show him how it works. Beaver tells Clyde to stop stepping on kids' marbles. Clyde asks for a marble. Beaver gives him one. Clyde steps on it. The boys start fighting. Clyde pummels Beaver.
Ward comes home. Wally tells him that Beaver got into another fight. Upstairs, June is cleaning up Beaver's face. Ward apologizes to Beaver, telling him that he feels to blame. Beaver says its okay. Ward tells Beaver that the virtues of Ivanhoe are still good, but not the violence, and that discretion is the better part of valor. Wally explains that it means not to fight with big guys.
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