Donna (Donna Reed) and the other mothers in the audience are moved to tears by Mary (Shelley Fabares)'s "Freshman Class Essay Contest" speech on "The most beautiful word in the English language, Mother." Brother Jeff (Paul Peterson) notes, "She's really pouring it on." And, father Alex (Carl Betz) feels under-appreciated. When Donna's reputation as a "super-mom" becomes the talk of the town, Alex begins to wonder about his worth. So, Donna turns Alex's birthday party into an homage to father Stone.
A pre-"Green Acres" Alvy Moore appears as reporter "Hank Cole" of the "Daily Sentinel", desiring to do a human interest story on Donna, "the modern woman," and get a shot of her in a bathing suit.
*** The Male Ego (10/15/58) Oscar Rudolph ~ Donna Reed, Carl Betz, Shelley Fabares
