Ep 3. Beaver Becomes a Hero

In the fourth season of Leave It to Beaver, viewers are treated to an array of heartwarming and oftentimes comical episodes featuring the beloved Cleaver family. In the third episode of the season, titled "Beaver Becomes a Hero," audiences get to see young Beaver Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) demonstrate his bravery when a stranger in a car asks him for help.

The episode opens with Beaver hanging out at the local drugstore with his pal, Larry Mondello (Rusty Stevens), when a stranger accosts them both. The stranger, who introduces himself as Mr. Phillips (Howard Wendell), explains that he's been in a car accident and needs help getting his car out of a ditch. Despite initially feeling uneasy about the situation, Beaver agrees to help Mr. Phillips, who promises to pay him $5 for his trouble.

Mr. Phillips drives Beaver and Larry to a deserted area, where Beaver is tasked with pulling the car out of the ditch with a rope. However, when Beaver attempts to lift the car, he realizes that it's stuck firmly in the mud. Mr. Phillips then suggests that Beaver go to a nearby farmhouse and ask for help.

Beaver and Larry trek to the farmhouse, where they meet an elderly woman named Mrs. Donaldson (Gladys Holland). Mrs. Donaldson is skeptical of the boys' story, but ultimately decides to help them. She drives them back to Mr. Phillips' car in her own vehicle, where she uses her own rope to help pull the car out of the mud.

As Mrs. Donaldson and the boys are working on the car, they see a police car approaching. Mr. Phillips suddenly panics and tells Beaver and Larry to get in his car and drive away quickly. The boys are confused and scared by Mr. Phillips' behavior, but they comply with his demands.

Later, Beaver returns home and tells his family about the strange encounter with Mr. Phillips. Ward (Hugh Beaumont) and June (Barbara Billingsley) are concerned and decide to contact the police. It's revealed that Mr. Phillips is actually a con artist who has been using the same trick to rob young boys in several other towns. With Beaver's help, the police are able to track down Mr. Phillips and apprehend him.

The episode ends with Beaver feeling proud and happy that he was able to help capture a criminal and prevent him from victimizing other kids. The Cleavers all praise Beaver for his bravery and quick thinking in a dangerous situation.

"Beaver Becomes a Hero" is a classic episode of Leave It to Beaver that showcases both the innocence and the smarts of the show's titular character. Beaver is portrayed as both vulnerable and strong, hesitant to get into the stranger's car but ultimately clever enough to find a way out of a dangerous situation. The episode also presents a cautionary tale for young viewers about the importance of being wary of strangers and trusting one's instincts. Overall, "Beaver Becomes a Hero" is a delightful episode that both entertains and educates viewers of all ages.