Episode Reviews - "The Merchant Marine" - season 5

[stevea]

Doing the dishes, June explains to Beaver that Ward is dressing Wally down for being late and not phoning.

Later, June is allegedly putting away Wally's shirts but snoops and finds a letter about the Merchant Marine. Assuming this is related to the scolding, she informs Ward he may have been too rough on Wally.

Next day, another letter arrives and June calls Ward at the office. While Ward is discussing it, Fred enters, unnoticed. Fred tells Ward he's not close enough to his boy.

Ward decides to talk to Wally about the letters, at which time Wally tells him that it's Lumpy who's wanting the info, since Lumpy says Fred unfairly took away his car key. Ward calls Fred, who asks if this about the Merchant Marine. Ward says yes, and Fred cuts him off, saying he'll be right over.

When he gets to the Cleavers', Wally and Lumpy join Fred and Ward in the den, and Fred explains the wonderful relationship he and his lad have. Encouraged by that statement, Lumpy asks for his key back, and, backed into a corner, Fred says yes.

This solves the problem, as Ward and June wonder if Fred ever found out it was Lumpy who was going to join the Merchant Marine.