Nitrate

The Donna Reed Show · S1 · E19

Jeff vs. Mary

  • TV-PG
  • Jan 28, 1959
  • 30 min

Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.

About this episode

Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.

Season 1

37 episodes
  1. 1Weekend Trip

    30 minSep 24, 1958

    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.

  2. 2Pardon My Gloves

    30 minOct 1, 1958

    Jeff gets a black eye from a boy who mocks Donna's acting in a local play. So, Donna tries to teach Jeff how to box.

  3. 3The Hike

    30 minOct 8, 1958

    Donna tries to prove women can outsmart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.

  4. 4Male Ego

    30 minOct 15, 1958

    Alex tries to prove his independence when Donna buys a suit for him.

  5. 5The Football Uniform

    30 minOct 22, 1958

    Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture, but is told he must work for the money to buy it.

  6. 6The Foundling

    30 minOct 29, 1958

    A baby is abandoned at the Stone’s place.

  7. 7Three Part Mother

    30 minNov 5, 1958

    Donna spreads herself thin, running between three places on the same night, for her family.

  8. 8Change Partners and Dance

    30 minNov 12, 1958

    Mary has a crush on the school basketball star, George, who wants to take her to the prom, but hasn’t asked her because he can't dance.

  9. 9Dough Re-Mi

    30 minNov 19, 1958

    Donna tries to get a famous concert pianist to perform at a benefit, and, at the same time, Jeff is trying to raise money for a football tackling dummy. These two seemingly unrelated projects intertwine.

  10. 10Guest in the House

    30 minNov 26, 1958

    A problem child takes refuge at the Stone’s house, and Donna tries to get through to him.

  11. 11The Baby Contest

    30 minDec 3, 1958

    Alex is judge at a Beautiful Baby contest run by Donna's club.

  12. 12The Beaded Bag

    30 minDec 10, 1958

    When Donna longingly admires a lovely, expensive bag at a store, the saleswoman (along with a female friend of hers) schemes to coax Alex into getting it for her for a birthday gift. But Alex is suspicious that Donna is pulling the strings behind the scenes, instead of being forthright about it.

  13. 13The Busy Body

    30 minDec 17, 1958

    Charismatic Uncle Fred visits the Stone family and a brouhaha ensues.

  14. 14A Very Merry Christmas

    30 minDec 24, 1958

    Donna searches for the mysterious person who puts on a Christmas party in the children’s ward at the hospital every year. The quintessential comedian Buster Keaton guest stars.

  15. 15Mary's Double Date

    30 minDec 31, 1958

    Mary's Junior prom is imminent, and she has trouble deciding between two boys on the football team who might ask her. She also dangles another nice boy on a string. But, eventually, the resultant consequences of her selfish decisions come to fruition.

  16. 16Jeff's Double Life

    30 minJan 7, 1959

    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.

  17. 17Nothing But the Truth

    30 minJan 14, 1959

    David Barker finagles a return to the Stone’s home for his birthday celebration.

  18. 18It's the Principle of the Thing

    30 minJan 21, 1959

    Mr. Popkin won't let Alex treat Joey because he has no money. So, Donna hires him to do repairs around the house, but Alex fires him. Then Donna tries another method to help him get the finances he needs.

  19. 19Jeff vs. Mary

    30 minJan 28, 1959Now viewing

    Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.

  20. 20Have Fun

    30 minFeb 4, 1959

    When Mary comes home utterly dejected from a terrible first date, Donna and Alex each, in “Rashomon”-style, tell her about their first date.

  21. 21Donna Plays Cupid

    30 minFeb 11, 1959

    Donna decides that Alex’s obstetrician friend, Beau, is a lonely bachelor in need of a mate, so she tries to pair him and her good friend Celia (who has recently broken up with her boyfriend) up.

  22. 22Love Thy Neighbor

    30 minFeb 18, 1959

    Donna and Alex help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wilbur & Celia Wilgus, only for Donna to get caught up in a misunderstanding later.

  23. 23The Report Card

    30 minFeb 25, 1959

    Donna is worried when Jeff comes home with a report card full of Cs.

  24. 24Boys Will Be Boys

    30 minMar 4, 1959

    David Barker is brought to Alex to be treated for rabies, and is invited to stay the night. Later, Jeff is left in charge of David, as everyone else will be gone.

  25. 25The Ideal Wife

    30 minMar 11, 1959

    Donna keeps getting praised for being an excellent wife and mother—so much so, that she, illogically, becomes a bit paranoid that people really mean something negative about her beneath the surface of their words, and fears her kids are taking advantage of her.

  26. 26Mary's Campaign

    30 minMar 18, 1959

    Mary drives her family crazy, and worries her mother, in her quest to win the class vice-presidency.

  27. 27The Flowered-Print Dress

    30 minMar 25, 1959

    Donna and Alex dine at a young couple’s home. The couple are still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage, and the experience gives Donna pangs of nostalgia.

  28. 28April Fool

    30 minApr 1, 1959

    When Buzz Barry, teenage idol (played by James Darren), comes to Hilldale to sing at a concert, he falls ill with the measles and the concert is canceled, leaving Mary and her friends devastated. Then he ends up staying at the Stone’s home to recuperate, causing unexpected complications.

  29. 29The Parting of the Ways

    30 minApr 8, 1959

    Mary’s friend Babs confides in her that her parents are having troubles and may be divorcing soon. And, though she’s exaggerating, Donna is unaware of this and problems ensue in their family as a result.

  30. 30The Hero

    30 minApr 15, 1959

    Alex's roommate, Biff Jameson, comes to Hilldale, and though he charms the family and dazzles Jeff, Alex confesses to Donna that his old pal seems to be off from what he used to be.

  31. 31Do You Trust Your Child?

    30 minApr 22, 1959

    Donna gives a speech, at a PTA meeting, on parent/child relationships urging parents to trust their child. Her advice, of course, ends up being tested.

  32. 32Grateful Patient

    30 minApr 29, 1959

    Alex takes advantage of a tip on the market, and Donna and the kids start making plans for the expected profit.

  33. 33The Testimonial

    30 minMay 6, 1959

    Donna plans a testimonial dinner to honor Dr. Jason, a long-time denizen of the town and a beloved doctor, who finally intends to retire.

  34. 34Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea

    30 minMay 13, 1959

    The family searches for a compatible housekeeper to help around the house while Donna manages a charity campaign.

  35. 35Tomorrow Comes Too Soon

    30 minMay 20, 1959

    After a particularly long week, Donna and Alex long for a weekend alone without kids. But when they get it, it’s not quite how they imagined it would be.

  36. 36Advice To Young Lovers

    30 minMay 27, 1959

    When Mary and George get in a fight over him and her best friend Babs, Donna advises her on how to handle the situation.

  37. 37Operation Deadbeat

    30 minJun 3, 1959

    Alex insists Jeff pay back money he owes to develop good character for when he is an adult. Meanwhile, Donna decides to try to get the past due money owed to Alex by his patients.

Guest stars

Jackie Kelk