Decision - Recap

Timmy and his new friend Ricky bicycle home along a country lane after school. They pause for a moment to catch their breath. Timmy reminds Ricky about an upcoming Scout party. Ricky is unsure he wants to go. Timmy is astonished; he tells Ricky the Scouts are swell guys and he's got to give others a chance. Ricky reluctantly agrees to attend the party.

Lassie spots a squirrel in the grass and rushes off to play. The boys watch her antics with amusement. Timmy calls Lassie. Ricky pets her affectionately.

Ricky is French. His father is dead and he's living with an aunt and uncle in the Calverton area. He tells Timmy he misses the fun he had with his father and he misses "Paree" too. He's lonely and has a difficult time making friends. Timmy tells him there's lots of fun around a farm. Ricky throws a stick for Lassie to fetch. Lassie retrieves the stick. The boys bicycle away and then go their own at a fork in the road.

Timmy sees a terrier running along the road. Lassie plays with the terrier. Timmy calls Lassie and they set off for home. The terrier follows Lassie and Timmy.

In the Martin kitchen, the terrier has been allowed in and eats his dinner. Ruth and Paul tell Timmy the dog certainly belongs to someone because he's an expensive purebred dog. Timmy wants to keep the dog but Ruth and Paul tell him that the Sheriff must be notified and the lost and found ads in the newspaper must be checked.

Later, Timmy goes to Ricky's home with the terrier. Timmy tells Ricky that the Sheriff has no reports of a missing dog. Lassie and the terrier frolic. Ricky is amused and falling in love with the terrier by the moment. Ricky wants to name the dog Pierrot after a famous French clown. Timmy suggests Bozo. Bozo it is and Ricky and Bozo become fast friends.

Two weeks later, Timmy bicycles into the Martin farmyard after school. Ruth is hanging clothes on the line; she asks Timmy where Bozo is. Timmy says the dog is at Ricky's house. Paul says he's placed an ad in the newspaper about the terrier. Timmy is distressed. He tells his parents he gave the dog to Ricky. Timmy tells his parents that two weeks have passed and no one has claimed the dog. Ruth and Paul reprove Timmy and tell him that if someone claims the dog, Ricky will have to surrender him.

The next day, Timmy and Ricky bicycle home after school. Lassie and Bozo accompany them. Bozo is riding in the basket on Ricky's handlebars.

In the Martin kitchen, Ruth takes a phone call. A pet shop owner in Capitol City named Mr. Lattimer is calling to claim the terrier. Ruth hangs up with a look of concern on her face. The back door opens and Timmy, Ricky, and the dogs enter the kitchen boisterously. Ruth tells the boys that a man has just called to claim the terrier. Ruth explains that the dog escaped from Mr. Lattimer's pet shop. Ricky looks lovingly at Bozo. He scoops the dog into his arms and says no one will take Bozo from him.

Later at dinner, Timmy can't eat. Neither can Lassie. Ruth and Paul try to distract Rimmy with chat about their neighbors. Timmy expresses no interest and excuses himself. He can think only of Ricky and the terrier.

Late in the night, Timmy lies awake crying; Lassie is at his bedside. In his own home, Ricky lies awake crying, too; he cuddles Bozo. Timmy kneels beside his bed and prays.

The next afternoon after school, Timmy bicycles along the road to Ricky's house with Lassie in tow. Lassie begins barking frantically and runs away. Timmy drops his bike and runs after Lassie as quickly as he can.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lattimer has arrived at the Martin home. Paul tells him that Timmy will be home from school at any moment and is bringing the dog with him. The Martins and Mr. Lattimer seat themselves in the parlor to await Timmy's arrival.

Timmy and Lassie find Ricky and Bozo at the edge of a turbulent river. Ricky treats Timmy with hostility. He blames Timmy for his pain. He shoves Timmy and knocks him to the ground. Lassie snarls threateningly. Ricky backs away and then runs into the river carrying Bozo. Timmy calls after him.

Ricky tries to cross the river but is swept away with the dog in his arms. He grabs the weeds growing along the edge of a small island in the middle of the river and manages to stabilize himself in the turbulence. Timmy remains on the bank and sends Lassie home for help.

Ricky loses his hold on the weeds and is swept into the current again. Timmy dives into the water and swims after Ricky. The boys are carried downriver but manage to grasp the weeds at the edge of another island in the river. There they remain.

The Martins and Mr. Lattimer speed over the road in Paul's pick up truck. Lassie runs ahead of the truck and leads it to the river. On the bank, Paul throws a rope to the boys. The men order Ricky to release the dog. Ricky refuses. Mr. Lattimer holds one end of the rope as Paul enters the river. Paul swims to the boys. He secures Ricky and Bozo with the rope; Mr. Lattimer begins hauling them to the bank.

Moments later in the Martin parlor, the boys, wrapped in blankets, are sitting with their feet in a tub of hot water. Ruth bustles about with a teakettle. Mr. Lattimer tells Ricky that Bozo was valued at $150 but, at this point, the dog is "used" and worth only $40. The pet shop owner says the $25 reward Ricky earned recovering the lost dog can serve as Ricky's down payment on the dog, if Ricky wishes. Ricky is told he can buy Bozo for $15. Ricky is thrilled. "C'est si bon!" he cries. But he says he has no money to buy the dog. Timmy tells Ricky he'll help him earn the money to buy the dog. The boys splash their feet in the water laughing with joy.

Days later, Ricky rides his bicycle into the Martin farmyard with his newspaper sack. He's a newspaper boy now and earning the money to buy Bozo. Bozo is carrying the Martin newpaper and gives it to Lassie. Bozo is working, too!

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