Joey - Recap

This recap is based on an airing of "Joey" on Discovery Kids March 5, 2006. Please note that Lassie episodes are often "cut" in airings today in order to accomodate more and more commercial ads. "Joey" as aired on Discovery Kids March 5, 2006 may or may not be as complete as the initial airing of the episode on CBS November 19, 1961.

Timmy and Lassie are romping in the fields when Timmy sees a dark colored DeSoto station wagon driving along the road. He hurries towards the car.

The car pulls up to a cottage. Timmy watches from behind a shrub. A woman gets out of the car and hurries around to the passenger side. She helps someone out of the car. It is a blind boy about Timmy's age. The woman guides the boy to the cottage and they enter together. Timmy steps forward; there's a look of concern on his face. He goes to the cottage door and rings the bell.

The woman opens the door. She is Mrs. Young, mother of the blind boy Joey. Timmy wants to talk to Joey, his former playmate, but Mrs. Young is not sure it's a good idea. Joey hasn't spoken to his friends since the accident that took his eyesight. Mrs. Young tells Timmy that Joey prefers being alone. Timmy prepares to depart when Mrs. Young calls him back. She has had second thoughts and allows Timmy into the house.

Timmy finds Joey sitting idly by his bedroom window. Timmy cheerfully suggests they have a talk or take a hike like they used to do. Joey declines, reminding Timmy he can't see and will never see again. Timmy expresses his sympathies and decides to leave. Joey rises to stop him; he trips and falls to the floor. Lassie rushes to Joey and lies beside him on the carpet. Joey puts his arms around her and hugs her. She is a comfort to him.

Later that night, Ruth enters Timmy's bedroom with a a glass of milk for her son. Timmy and Lassie are sitting at the window staring into the night. Ruth apparently has had a telephone call from Mrs. Young; she tells Timmy that Mrs. Young wants him to return to the cottage. Ruth says Joey won't reach out to others but people must reach out to him. Timmy is angry that a firecracker exploded in Joey's face and destroyed his sight but he realizes being angry won't help. He climbs into bed. Timmy wonders aloud what he can do for Joey. Ruth tells him the best thing might be just being a good friend. Timmy wants something more to do; Ruth tells him to think about it and she leaves. Timmy is bothered, troubled, unhappy; Lassie empathizes and puts her head in his lap. Timmy is determined to do something for Joey. His eyes brighten; an idea begins brewing in his head.

The next day, Timmy wanders about the farmyard with a blindfold over his eyes. He has fashioned a harness for Lassie. Timmy is teaching Lassie to be a seeing eye dog for Joey. Ruth is not sure it's a good idea. She says she will call Mrs. Young.

At the cottage, Timmy is met by Mrs. Young. She allows Timmy to enter. Timmy finds Joey in his bedroom. Joey reaches out to pet Lassie and discovers she's wearing the harness. Timmy explains and suggests they go for a walk. Joey declines. Timmy says he will leave Lassie to keep Joey company. Mrs. Young takes Timmy to the parlor and explains to him that it will take time for Joey to accept offers from others. Joey suddenly appears with Lassie; he wants to take a walk. Lassie leads Joey out the front door. Timmy encourages his friend. Joey, Lassie and Timmy walk slowly away from the cottage and into the trees as Mrs. Young watches and smiles happily.

At a later time, Timmy and Joey are taking another walk and identifying birds by their calls. Only Joey though hears a deer walking nearby. His hearing has sharpened to compensate for his loss of vision. Joey says it's not necessary for Timmy to come along on every walk; he doesn't want to keep Timmy from other things he may want to do. Joey says his mother wants him to go to a camp for blind children but he'd rather not do so. Joey says he wants a dog so he can get around without taking Timmy's time. Timmy tells Joey he should work hard with Lassie so he can prove he can use a dog. Timmy says he'll contact an agency that provides seeing eye dogs to the blind. Joey is excited by the idea. They decide to keep the idea a secret between themselves.

In the farmhouse kitchen days later, the Martins are sitting down to lunch. Paul has a letter for Timmy. Timmy opens the letter, reads it, and runs to his room angry and upset. Paul picks up the letter and reads it aloud to Ruth. They discover Joey's application for a seeing eye dog has been denied because Joey is too young for such a dog. Paul and Ruth go to Timmy's room.

Timmy sits on his bed dejectedly. Ruth has read the agency's enclosed pamphlet and learns the agency has denied Joey's application because children tend to make pets of seeing eye dogs. The dogs then lose their sense of discipline.

Timmy insists that Joey must have a dog; it's what Joey wants and needs. With a broken heart, Timmy decides to give Lassie to Joey. He says he's got to do it because Joey cannot get about without her. Paul says there are other ways to help Joey. But Timmy has made up his mind. Timmy buries his face in Lassie's ruff and cries heartbrokenly; he realizes he must surrender Lassie to serve a noble purpose.

Later, Timmy presents Lassie to Joey. Joey is thrilled but says Lassie belongs to Timmy. He wonders how Timmy will get along without her. Timmy says he will visit every day and that will be almost like having Lassie at home. Timmy tells Joey he is sure he is doing the right thing. They go to tell Mrs. Young, who, when she learns of Timmy's gift, is amazed and grateful.

Mrs. Young tells the boys that Mrs. Martin has invited them on a picnic the next day. Joey asks Timmy to come in and listen to records with him. Lassie looks back at Timmy with longing and incomprehension. Timmy looks at Lassie with love and silent heartache. Joey goes to his room with Lassie. Mrs. Young tells Timmy that Joey will remember his generosity the rest of his life. Timmy thanks Mrs. Young and decides he doesn't want to listen to records. He opens the door to leave. He hands a list of Lassie's favorite foods to Mrs. Young; his voice is filled with sorrow as he says goobye.

The next day, the Martins and the Youngs drive up to a rustic area with their picnic things. They hear children playing. Paul tells them there's a children's camp nearby. As the boys walk away, Paul sends the women off to find the camp director and hurries forward to join the boys. Timmy passes a sign that reads "Foundation for the Junior Blind -- Camp Bloomfield."

The women find Mr. Morton, the camp director near the swimming pool and introduce themselves. Mr. Morton is blind. The three head off to find the boys.

Timmy, Paul, and Joey wander into an area where blind children are relay racing and practicing archery. Joey wonders if the camp is for Boy Scouts. Paul tells Joey that the camp is for blind children. Joey is stunned. He is amazed the children are doing so many things.

Mr. Morton and the women join the boys. Mr. Morton explains the wonders of the camp. He tells Joey he should be doing a lot of things for himself and not relying on a dog. Mr. Morton says he does a lot of things solely on his own although he does have a dog. He says there's also a school for the children. He invites Joey to walk forward with him and join the activities. He puts his hand out. Joey takes it and together they walk forward to join the other children in their races and play. Mrs. Young hugs Timmy gratefully. With Mr. Morton's encouragement, Joey shoots an arrow at the target and hits the bull's eye. He is thrilled and calls excitedly to Timmy.

Timmy realizes Joey is going to be happy in his new surroundings. He takes the harness off Lassie and hugs her with joy saying, "And you can come home now!"





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