The Runaway - Recap

Lassie is roused from her sleep in the middle of the night. She hears a creaking door. She looks out Jeff's opened bedroom window and sees the barn door slowly swinging shut. She leaps out the window but is unable to open the barn door. She looks through a window. She sees something then hurries back to Jeff's bedroom and wakes Jeff. Jeff dons his robe, climbs out the window and goes to the barn with Lassie. He opens the door and sees the shadow of a human figure flitting through the barn. He runs to the house.

Lassie's barking has wakened Ellen and Gramps. In the kitchen, they meet Jeff who tells his mother and grandfather what he's just seen in the barn. After arming themselves with flashlight, baseball bat, and broomstick, the Millers trek to the barn to investigate.

There they discover a waif of a boy in tattered clothing. The camera zooms in on his dirt smudged face. Ellen speaks warmly to him. The boy remains mute. Ellen tries to gain his trust with gentle words and a friendly smile. Jeff introduces himself and his dog. The boy remains silent. Ellen tells the boy she's going to fix something to eat. The boy licks his lips. Ellen takes Gramps with her to the house while Jeff remains in the barn with the boy. Jeff tells the boy that Lassie likes him. Jeff shows the boy some of Lassie's tricks. Lassie shakes hands with the boy. Jeff smells scrambled eggs and lets Lassie lead the runaway to the house.

In the kitchen, Ellen prepares Timmy's scrambled eggs. Gramps urges her to call the sheriff. Ellen tells him she is going to do so but she wants to find out who the boy is first. Jeff, Lassie, and the boy enter the kitchen.

The table is set. Smiling faces urge the boy to eat. The boy is reassured that he's surrounded by kind people. Ellen leads Jeff from the kitchen, leaving the runaway with Gramps. The boy eats and shares his food with Lassie. Suddenly, the boy falls asleep in his chair. Ellen returns and asks Gramps to carry the boy to the spare room where Jeff is making up the bed.

Ellen calls the sheriff. The sheriff has had no reports of a missing boy and advises Ellen to call the child welfare agency in Capitol City in the morning.

Ellen goes to the spare room where the boy is sleeping. Ellen tells Gramps and Jeff about her conversation with the Sheriff. The phone rings. The Sheriff tells Ellen he has no reports from the State Police about a missing child. The family realize nothing can be done until morning and go to bed. Ellen and Gramps look in on the runaway one last time. The boy sleeps soundly.

The next morning, the runaway wakes. On tiptoe, he sneaks to the kitchen and prepares to slip away. Lassie is wakened, goes to the kitchen, and prevents the runaway from leaving. Jeff wakes and discovers the runaway in the kitchen talking to Lassie. He knows now the runaway can talk and offers him a breakfast of flapjacks with "real maple syrup." Jeff sends the boy to wash up.

Jeff quizzes the runaway while they eat. Gramps listens quietly at the kitchen door. He lets slip
some clues to his identity and his home. Ellen and Gramps enter the kitchen. Gramps goes to the barn. Jeff asks his mother to step outside the kitchen a moment to tell her all he's learned from the runaway. Ellen asks the boy to stay until she can talk to him. The boy promises to remain. Ellen and Jeff leave the room; the boy prepares to slip away again. But Lassie reminds him he promised to stay until Ellen had a chance to talk with him. He remains.

Ellen and Jeff return to the kitchen. Jeff goes off to collect eggs. Ellen chats with the runaway and learns his name is Timmy. Ellen asks him to trust her; she tells him he can stay for awhile with them and maybe she can help.

Jeff's friend Porky arrives. Jeff, Porky and Timmy play baseball in the farmyard. In the kitchen, Gramps and Ellen discuss the boy. Ellen has called Timmy's guardians -- an elderly aunt and uncle, and now decides to call the welfare agency. Ellen suspects Timmy is not well provided for by his guardians. Timmy trusts her and she won't betray his trust. She suspects he's being mistreated and wants to meet the guardians at the welfare agency.

Ellen calls the welfare agency. At the back door, Timmy listens unseen while Ellen arranges a meeting at the agency. Timmy walks away worried and thoughtful.

Ellen confers with a social worker and Timmy's elderly aunt and uncle at the welfare agency. Timmy's relations admit they are inadequate as guardians; they are aged, overworked on their farm, and plagued with bad health. Ellen's eyes fill with tears and she dabs at her nose with a hankie. She suggests Timmy remain on the Miller farm for the summer. The Clausens readily agree, believing it will be best for Timmy.

Back at the farm, Jeff and Gramps are tinkering with the truck. Timmy slips away from the house and tiptoes away behind their backs. Lassie hurries after Timmy.

In the woods, Lassie seizes Timmy's wrist and tries to take him back to the farm. Timmy wrenches himself from Lassie's grip and continues on his way. Lassie tags along with him.

Back at the farm, Ellen has discovered Timmy's absence. She is frantic with concern. Jeff and Gramps have searched and can't find the boy. They know Lassie must be with him because she's missing, too. They decide to search the north woods.

Timmy and Lassie walk wearily through the woods. Timmy is obviously exhausted. In another part of the woods, the Millers search while calling for Lassie and Timmy.

Lassie spots a bear stumbling down a bank towards Timmy. Lassie knocks Timmy to the earth to protect him from harm. Timmy hugs Lassie; he is frightened. Jeff is heard calling Lassie from afar. Lassie rushes to Jeff and brings him to Timmy. Jeff breaks the good news to Timmy about being able to remain on the farm. Ellen and Gramps appear. Ellen sweeps Timmy into her arms. The Millers are overjoyed to have recovered Timmy. Timmy can hardly believe he will stay the summer with the Millers. Jeff carries Timmy home piggyback.

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