November 22-23--Day 1: Mark, Rusty and Andy are hanging out on the old porch. Rusty is glad that Anne Butler, from the previous episode, decided to keep both cats. She must be a neat person. Mark agrees, adding that eventually she will also be a rich person. Abruptly, Mark changes the subject, saying, "I'm going to an outdoor writers meeting, Rusty, and I need a favor!" Rusty prudently asks what the favor is. Mark leads Rusty out into the fields, away from the house. Then he says, "It's a big responsibility...I want you to look after Doc and Cherry, and take care of things here at Lost Forest!" Rusty looks querulous as he replies, "Sure, no problem!" Rusty's answer must serve as a segue. In the next scene, as we view Cherry sleeping, (wearing earrings!) there is suddenly a loud knocking at the door. Cherry throws on a robe and says, "WHO could that be so early in the morning?" (Day 2)
November 25-30--Day 1: Cherry hurries down the steps, her robe flying about her wildly. "WHO could that be this early?" she repeats. She opens the door to find a troubled young woman wearing a heavy coat. Cherry shouts, "JUDY?" Judy says, "Hello, Cherry!" Cherry asks Judy if she is all right. Judy bundles her coat about her shoulders and says she is fine, but she needs to talk to someone. She adds, "I was out walking, Cherry, and I thought I'd come by to see you...do you have time to talk?" Cherry certainly does. Doc spies Judy and wishes her a good morning. Judy apologizes for visiting so early. Doc smiles broadly and insists, "It's always good to see you...I'll get you two some coffee!" Cherry tells Judy to relax and tell her why she is out so early. As Foreground Hawk dives at Foreground Chipmunk, Judy says, "We've been good friends since Tom and I moved into this area...it's been over three years now! I have no right to get you involved in my problems, but I don't know where to turn!" Judy adds that she is embarrassed about coming to Cherry with her problems so early. Cherry tells her, "That's what friends are for, Judy!" Rusty appears, yawning. He says, "Oh, Mrs. Morgan, I didn't know you were here!" Judy hopes she didn't wake him. Rusty says she didn't and asks Judy if she is all right. Judy responds, "Oh, yes, I'm fine...I'd better be getting back home!" She apologizes again as she gets her coat. As we watch from inside the fireplace, flames leap and smoke billows through the living room. Cherry and Judy stand in the smoke which is about knee-height. Cherry says she will come to visit Judy tomorrow. Judy has a distant look on her face. She says, "That will be fine...I don't think Tom will be home until late!" Doc brings a large pile of pancakes to the table. He noticed that Judy was upset. Cherry doesn't know what's wrong. Judy had something to tell Cherry, but never got around to it because she was embarrassed. Rusty blurts out, "I don't think her husband is a nice man!" A disembodied voice asks Rusty, "Why would you say that, Rusty?"
December 2-7--Day 1 to Day 2: Rusty holds a glass of milk and selects a breakfast cookie from the tray Cherry holds. He insists, "Mrs. Morgan's husband doesn't seem to be a nice person!" Cherry allows that maybe they just don't know Mr. Morgan very well. Foreground Songbird sits, expressionless, in a pine tree as Rusty says, "Whenever Andy or Sassy go on his property, he runs them off! I don't think he likes any kind of animals...he doesn't have any around his house!" The next day, (Day 2) Cherry asks Rusty to ride over to the Morgan ranch with her. Rusty says, "Sure, I'll be glad to...But we can't let Andy or Sassy follow us...He (God? doesn't want them on his property!" As the two ride through a beautiful misty forest, Foreground Doe watches alertly, listening with her huge ears as Cherry says, "Thanks for coming with me, Rusty!" Rusty replies, "I told Mark I'd watch after you, and that's what I'm doing! Mr. and Mrs. Morgan don't have any children, don't they like them?" Cherry explains that Judy can't have children, adding, with a faraway look in her eyes, "She loves animals, but her husband Tom won't let her have any pets!" Meanwhile, not far away, Foreground Squirrel watchs Judy pet a deer and tell it, "I enjoy walking in the woods with you, Sweetie...I just wish I didn't have to keep you hidden!" Soon Judy spies the Trails and introduces them to the deer. Rusty says, "A pet deer, neat! Where did you get her?" Judy found the deer almost a year ago, nearly starved. She suspects that the deer's mother was shot. Although Judy knows it's not right to keep a wild animal without a permit, she could not resist helping the helpless animal by raising her on a bottle. The deer, who now thinks that Judy is her mother, is a lot of company for Judy. Judy says, "Let's go to the house and have some coffee...Rusty, you and Sweetie can have some milk!" Rusty gazes into Sweetie's eyes and says, "Thanks!" At the Morgan house, Rusty stands to the side, smiling silently. Cherry asks, "Judy, do you always allow your pet deer to come into the house? Judy serves the coffee from an ornate teapot. As she serves the deer a saucer of milk, she replies, "No...My husband Tom doesn't approve of me having a pet...I keep sweetie away when he is home! Tom is not fond of animals and..." Looking up, she sees a man outside and shouts, "OH NO< it's Tom...he's home EARLY!"
December 9-14--Day 2: Judy repeats that Tom is home early. She has got to get Sweetie out of the house. She hurries the deer to the back door and says, "Come on, Sweetie, HURRY out the back door!" Returning to the living room, she greets her husband and introduces her guests, who Tom knows. Cherry says, with a pert smile, "It's good to see you again, Tom!" Tom says, "Yeah, hi!" Cherry says, "We'd better be going, Rusty, it was nice seeing you, Tom!" Tom says, "Same here!" Judy tells Cherry, "I'll talk to you later, Cherry!" As soon as the Trails leave, Tom shouts, "You'll talk to her ABOUT WHAT?" Judy says, "Just girl talk, honey!" Cherry tells Rusty that Judy seemed afraid of her husband seeing the deer in the house. Rusty had that impression too. He wonders why this might be the case. Back in the Morgan house, Tom confronts his wife: "Why is this bowl on the floor...have you had that blasted deer in the house again? I DON'T WANT ANY PETS IN THIS HOUSE!" With that, he hurls the bowl into the blazing hearth. Judy holds her hand before her head and says, "Tom, you can't be JEALOUS of a little deer!" Tom, (looking much like Mark but sporting bangs, sideburns and cauliflower ears) issues an ultimatum: "If you bring that deer in the house again, I'll KILL it!" Judy begs, "Please, Tom, if I don't care for the deer, a hunter might shoot it!" That is fine with Tom. Judy looks Tom in the eye and says, "I can't have children and you're gone most of the time, I need something to care for!" Tom's eyebrows grow increasingly low and black. His eyes are glassy. Suddenly he slaps Judy with sickening force, his hand held in the shape of a Nazi salute. He says, "I don't want to hear that sob story about adopting a baby again!" Back at Lost Forest, Cherry sews as Rusty asks, "Do you think Mrs. Morgan would mind if I came over to her house and took pictures of her pet deer?" Cherry thinks this would be fine if Rusty calls first to ask permission. Rusty calls Judy, who says, "Sure, Rusty, Sweetie is usually in the pasture...I try to keep her away from the house!" Rusty will be right over. He grabs his camera and tells Cherry he will be back later. Cherry tells Rusty to say hello and for her to come back for a visit soon. In the pasture, Judy greets Rusty, who is on horseback. Sweetie is ready to have her picture taken. Rusty has not seen a deer that friendly before. Judy tells Rusty that, "I found her when she was a baby...she doesn't know to be afraid of people!"
December 16-21--Day 2: Rusty would like to have a picture of the deer by the fireplace. Judy says she told Tom she wouldn't let Sweetie in the house again. Foreground Horse watches as Judy notes that her husband is not as fond of animals as she is. Judy says, "Maybe some other time you can get a picture of her inside the house!" Rusty understands. Mark will be surprised when he sees the pictures Rusty already has. Rusty wonders why Tom hates the deer. Is Sweetie destructive? Judy says Sweetie would never harm anything. Judy lays next to the deer and smiles as Rusty takes another picture. Judy suggests she take a picture of him with the deer, so Rusty can show Cherry and Mark. Rusty says, "Yeah, that will be neat!" Judy would like copies of the pictures. Rusty will get them enlarged for her. As he shows Judy how to look through the viewfinder, Tom appears in the background with a gigantic question mark ballooning from his head. Sweetie watches him alertly. Tom says, "That's the kid from Lost Forest...WHAT'S he doing here?" Raising his fist, he shouts, "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" Rusty calmly says, "Oh, Hi, Mr. Morgan, I'm just showing Mrs. Morgan how to use my camera!" Tom looks severe and says, accusingly, "WHY are you here, son?" Rusty smiles and says he came over to take pictures of the pet deer. Tom says Rusty will have to leave. He is not to return unless Tom invites him. "Yes'ir," replies the respectful Rusty. Judy intervenes, saying, "Tom, for heaven's sake, I said Rusty could come over here...all he wanted was to get a picture of the deer!" Tom sternly admonishes Rusty to "Remember what I said, son!" Rusty says, "Yes'ir," the smile gone from his face.
December 23-28--Day 2: As Rusty rides off on his horse, Tom tells Judy he doesn't want anyone from Lost Forest on the property again. Judy says, "But they are my friends! Tom, WHAT'S the matter with you?...you're not acting like yourself...you can't be that jealous of a little deer!" Sweetie looks at Tom, apparently wondering the same thing. Tom's eyebrows descend and he screams, "I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S JEALOUS!" He has had it. Every time Tom comes home, Judy is with that stupid deer. Well, Tom is GOING TO FIX THAT! Tom picks up a rifle and Judy shouts, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?" Tom prepares to aim at the alarmed Sweetie as Judy runs at Tom, shouting extremely loudly, "TOM, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT! TOM, NO!" Tom shoves Judy, who falls to the ground. He says, "DON'T interfere, Judy...this is for YOUR OWN GOOD!" As Tom aims once more, Judy shouts, "SWEETIE PIE, RUN!" Before the pet deer can escape, a bullet slams into her head. Tom says, "THAT SETTLES THAT, NOW NO MORE PETS! I have to go on a short business trip...when I return we'll plan a vacation." He smiles and adds, "You pick out a nice place while I'm gone!" Judy holds her hands to her face and says nothing. Tom puts his bags into his car and says he will be back soon. Judy is to try to FORGET the deer. As Tom speeds off, Judy runs to where Sweetie was shot, shouting, "PLEASE, OH, PLEASE, LET SWEETIE BE ALIVE!" But the deer is gone. Judy is sure she has found the spot where she fell when Tom shot her. Judy says, "There are blood marks here...thank heaven, she must have been just wounded! SWEETIE, SWEETIE, WHERE ARE YOU?" Judy knows the deer has to be out there somewhere. She hopes Sweetie hasn't gone off to die. "PLEASE let her still be ALIVE," she prays.
December 30-January 4--Day 2 to Day 3: The pet deer has moved into the deep woods. Judy is unable to find her and decides to ask Mark what to do. At Lost Forest, she apologizes for bothering Cherry again. Cherry thinks it is terrible that Tom shot her deer, but Mark cannot help since he is not at Lost Forest. Rusty says, "I'LL help you find her!" Judy knows the deer may be dead, but she's got to find out for sure. It is too dark to look for the deer. Rusty will help Judy tomorrow. Foreground Beaver is alert as Cherry says, "Since Tom is out of town, why don't you stay with us tonight?" Judy would like that. Cherry knows how attached Judy is to that animal. Judy thinks this is because she and Tom can't have children. As the girls put on lowcut sleepwear and brush their hair, Judy tells of Tom's jealousy over the deer. Foreground Owl zeroes in on a rotund rodent as Cherry says jealousy can be very dangerous. Perhaps Judy and Tom should see a doctor. Judy drops her robe and sits on the bed. She loves Tom, but she doesn't know what to do about his jealousy. Cherry hopes they can work things out. The next day (Day 3), Rusty and Judy search for the Foreground Pet Deer, who lies unconscious and resembles a horse. Rusty knows the deer is close if she was seriously wounded. Soon he spots the prone pet deer. Judy says, "OH, NO, SHE LOOKS DEAD! IS...IS SHE ALIVE?" Rusty thinks so, however the deer has a bad wound behind her ear.
January 6-11--Day 3: Rusty believes that Doc can help the deer. Doc examines the little doe at Lost Forest and cleans the wound. He also gives it a shot of medicine. The deer feels much better. Doc will keep the deer penned at Lost Forest until Judy decides what she is going to do with it. Rusty tells the deer, "Don't worry, you'll be fine...I'll take care of you! I'm sorry we have to put you in a pen, but it's just for your own good." The deer stares at Rusty with an enigmatic, sphynx-like demeanor. Rusty tells Andy to leave the deer's pen. He can play with the deer when she is feeling better. Andy watches the deer as Rusty pulls him from the pen. Rusty knows he must not let the deer out. Tom Morgan will shoot the deer if it goes back home. Rusty forgets to fasten the door, and the nosey deer soon leaves the pen. Foreground Squirrel's vestegial front legs dangle uselessly as he or she watches the deer bound into the woods. The deer heads home. Later Rusty discovers his error. Cherry will call Judy to warn her.
January 13-18--Day 3: Judy tells Cherry she has to find the deer before Tom returns. As she searches the woods, Tom spots her. A huge question mark erupts above his head. He says, "WHERE is Judy going?...she's headed into the woods...I wonder WHY!" Judy finds the deer and tells her they must get AWAY from there. They are both in a lot of trouble if Judy's husband, Tom sees the deer. Tom's silent silhouette lurks in the brush. Meanwhile, Rusty and Andy head for the Morgan house to help search for the deer. Tom hides behind a tree and says, "That blasted deer is STILL ALIVE...well it WON'T BE MUCH LONGER!" Judy tells the deer she must make other living arrangements for her. Tom leaps into view with his rifle and shouts, "JUDY, GET AWAY FROM THAT ANIMAL!" As her head spins, Judy shouts, very loudly, "TOM!" Tom grabs Judy and screams that he will not miss this time. Rusty appears, shouting, "MISTER MORGAN, WAIT!" Tom gives Rusty a shove, sending him flying as Andy grins oddly. Tom tells Rusty to, "GET OUT OF THE WAY, KID!"
January 20-25--Day 3: Andy snarls viciously as Tom shoves Rusty a second time. Andy charges immediately. Tom shouts, "CALL OFF YOUR DOG OR I'LL SHOOT IT!" He stands woodenly as Andy mounts him and falls backwards, dropping his rifle. Looking much like a wooden dummy, Tom lies unconscious. Judy screams, "TOM! TOM!" Rusty shouts, "OH, NO, HE FELL ON THOSE ROCKS! Judy shouts unhappily, "GO GET HELP, RUSTY, AND HURRY! PLEASE don't die, Tom PLEASE...Help is on the way!" Later, at the hospital, the doctor tells Judy, "He is VERY lucky, Mrs. Morgan, he'll be fine soon!" Judy says, "Thank heaven!" Addressing her bandaged husband, she says, "Tom, it's me, Judy...the doctor said you're going to be fine!" Tom replies, "Thanks for coming, honey!" Judy insists it is her fault that the deer caused trouble. Tom disagrees. He has been stupid. His jealousy caused him to loses his senses. Tom and Judy agree that they love each other. Foreground Rabbit bounds. Judy says that they can make it work even though they can't have children.
January 27-February 1--Day 3: Tom says, "Judy, I think it's time we gave some thought to adopting a child!" Judy is excited. Meanwhile, Rusty confesses to Cherry that Andy has pushed Mr. Morgan over a cliff. Cherry says, "Is Tom ALL RIGHT?" Rusty says that Tom was unconscious and taken to the hospital. It is his and Andy's fault. Rusty is certain that Mr. Morgan will sue. Cherry isn't concerned about a lawsuit, but she is concerned about Tom's injuries. They had better get to the hospital. Rusty glumly observes that he is in big trouble. At the hospital, Tom tells Cherry he will be fine. Rusty asks, "Are you going to SUE US?" Tom says, "SUE you...absolutely NOT...what you and Andy did knocked some sense into my head!" Rusty shouts, "REALLY?" Tom thanks Rusty and Andy for knocking him down. He needed that blow on the head to make him realize how stupid he'd been. Rusty can come and visit Tom any time.
February3-7--Day 3: Judy announces that she and Tom are planning to adopt a child as soon as possible. Cherry says, "That is GREAT news, Judy! What about your pet deer?" Although Tom said Judy could keep the deer, Judy will try to make other arrangements for it. Cherry will ask Doc if the deer can live at Lost Forest. Back at Lost Forest, Cherry hears a car. It is Mark. Andy gives a Cheshire Cat smile as Cherry hugs Mark. Rusty has a lot to tell Mark. Mark says, "Sounds interesting, what did I miss?" Doc watches wordlessly. Rusty explains. Mark says, "I'm glad Tom wasn't hurt, and knowing him, I'm surprised he didn't sue us!" Rusty reminds Mark that the blow on Tom's head knocked some sense into him. Rusty wonders if Mark still trusts him to take care of things while Mark is on trips. Mark doesn't think that will be a problem. Rusty asks, "Are you going to be home for a while now, Mark?" (Rusty still refuses to refer to his adoptive father as his Dad, choosing to call him by his first name.) Mark is sort of thinking about going on a trip. He wants to talk to everyone about it. Rusty demands to know WHERE Mark is going.