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Private Notes
This is the very first episode of the long-running series, in which audiences were introduced to the beloved Stone family. In this episode, we get a glimpse of the sometimes chaotic day-to-day life of the Stones, always buffered by the sweet and loving persona of Donna Reed as Donna Stone, TV's first ""highly visible"" Mom of the 1950s. She dispenses advice, discipline, humor and wisdom to her family, something that was usually reserved for the TV Dads of the era.
In the premiere episode, Donna hopes to get away to a ski weekend with her brood, but pediatrician husband Alex's on-call schedule makes this tricky, especially since one of his young patients, Eddie Barclay (played by one of the Corcoran siblings of Disney film and TV fame; sister Noreen was on ""Bachelor Father"" with John Forsythe), has a mysterious illness and Alex doesn't want to leave him in the care of another doctor. Not wanting to disappoint Mary and Jeff (who are both experts at verbally matching wits and insults wit
Jeff gets a black eye from a boy who mocked Donna's acting in a local play, so Donna tries to teach Jeff how to box.
Donna tries to prove women can out smart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.
Alex feels bad about his ego and proves his independence when Donna buys the suit he wants.
Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture. Jeff must work for the money to buy it.
A woman abandones her child at the Stones place. Attached to the baby is a note, that upsets the entire household, including their Irish maid:
Dear Mrs.Stone, His name is Willie. He's a good boy and hardly ever cries.
When the local police is informed, Donna can't part from the baby. She wants to stay with him until his mother is found. Alex caves in to Donna and allows the baby to stay for the time being. Jeff, meanwhile, doesn't like the thought of a person who might become a sibling, but he soon warms up to it.
Meanwhile, Donna does some invesitagtion on her own. She realizes that a baby name Guillermo might be called Willy. And who has a son named Willy? The milkman!
Donna goes to his house to investigate. She finds out that the milkman is upset due to his young wife dying while having little Willy. But why did he choose Donna Stone to look after it? Because he knows Donna has a happy and loving home, and that she'd look after the child.
The milkman says he realizes he did the wr
Donna tries to go to 3 places on the same night.
Mary has a crush on George the basketball star George who wants to take her to the varsity Prom but can't dance.
Donna tries to get a concert pianist to perform at a benefit at the same time Jeff is trying to raise money for a football tackling dummy.
An ex-patient seeks refuge at the stones.
Alex is judge at a Beautiful Baby contest run by Donna's club.
Donna tries to get an expensive bag for birthday.
Uncle Fred brings trouble to the stones.
Donna searches for the person who gave money for the hospital party.
Mary's Junior prom is coming up, She feels two boys on the football team are two possible dates to choose from. She waits until the day of the prom to decide.
After nosy neighbor Mrs. Wilgus (the inimitable Kathleen Freeman) alerts Donna and Alex about Mary having a noisy party while they were out, the kids get lectured about being the children of a doctor, and that they should behave accordingly.
Not too long after this, Jeff takes a ride from Mary's troublemaker friend Tommy Hendricks, who doesn't have a license and has taken his father's car out for a joyride, and they get into a minor accident while fleeing a cop. He hides it from Donna and Alex, but must tell Mary when she notices him favoring his injured left arm. Not wanting to disappoint his parents or ruin his father's practice with a small-town scandal (i.e., Jeff (to Mary): ""I can see the headlines now: 'Doctor's Son Injured as Police Chase Hot Car'. It would ruin Dad!""), Jeff goes incognito to the new pediatrician who has just set up shop in Hilldale.
David Barker returns to the Stones home for his birthday.
Mr. Popkin won't let Alex treat Joey because he has no money. Donna hires him to repairs around the house, Later Alex fires him. Donna sees that he is an inventor and helps Mr. Popkin market his product.
Jeff fells Donna and Alex love Mary more than Jeff. Donna and Alex turn on an intercom after finding out the information and hope Jeff listens.
Mary comes home from a date in tears. Donna And Alex tell 2 different stories on how they met each other on there first date.
Donna Tries to get Bo and Celia to fall in love.
Donna And Alex help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Willber & Celia Wilgus only to find that Celia walked out.
Donna feels that Jeff is just an average Student.
David Barker is brought to Alex to be treated for rabies only to learn that student bit David.
Everyone praises Donna,""the ideal wife,""so much that she goes on a rampage and purposely loses her temper at people.After a day of this she regrets her tirage and apologizes to all.
Marry is elected class secretary, and may drive her family crazy trying to Win the election.
Donna Tries to make her marriage more romantic.
Buzz Barry America's Idol comes to Hildale to sing at a school Dance but then is ill with the measles.
The Stones campaign to help the Kelppers marrige backfires on them!
Alex's roommate Biff Jameson comes to Hilldale but Alex and Donna have trouble finding out what he does for a living.
Donna gives advice on how raise children.
Alex takes advantage of a tip on the market.
Donna plans a speech for Dr. Jason
A housekeeper is hired to help Donna.
Donna wants a day alone without kids. But is she and Alex ready for that?
Mary gets advice on how to handle love.
Alex collects money Jeff owes.
