The Partridge Family - Season 3, Episode 4 (53)

Title: Each Dawn I Diet

First aired: October 6, 1972

Synopsis:

Gloria Hickey tells Danny that he is too fat to attend her swimming party and consequentially he becomes self-conscious about his weight. He decides to lose some weight and is very unhappy during dinner and eats nothing. Shirley wants to help him, so she puts him on a sensible diet. However, after a week he weighs more because of cheating and eating energy food.

Reuben teases him that he lacks will power. Shirley asks Reuben if he has enough willpower to quit smoking. Danny challenges Reuben and the bet is taken on. Danny has to lose weight and Reuben quit smoking.

Because Danny doesn’t trust Reuben, the manager starts living with the family. But being on a diet and giving up smoking is not easy and at night Danny sneaks to the garage with a huge slice of chocolate cake only to meet Reuben who is there to smoke a cigarette. Shirley also shows in the garage. She proposes that Reuben moves to Danny’s room so they can watch each other. They complain that it’s very difficult for them to fight hunger for eating and smoking, Shirley says that in that case when they feel their will weaken, they can ask anybody in the house for help and support. At any time!

Unfortunately, this means that Shirley, Keith and Laurie don’t get much sleep. Reuben wakes Keith to tell him how he longed for a cigarette. Danny wakes his mother to tell her about his suffering. Later they go together to Laurie’s bedroom.

In the middle of the night all of them (except Tracey and Chris) meet downstairs to talk about what to do because no one can sleep. Shirley announces that from now on Danny and Reuben have to take care of themselves and she gives Danny a cake and Reuben a cigarette then she, Laurie and Keith go upstairs to their bedrooms.

Left alone downstairs, initially Danny wants to eat, and Reuben wants to smoke, but they understand that from now on they can only count on each other and their strong will. They decide not to eat and smoke and go to Danny’s bedroom together.

A few weeks later Danny returns from a party with a trophy which reads ‘Best Body Gloria Hickey’s First Annual Swimming Party Competition’. Reuben is also very proud of himself because he hasn’t smoked a single cigarette at the party. But it seems that he should go on a diet, because has gained a few pounds.
Synopsis written by Weronika Cyrynger

Song:
It's All in Your Mind

Cast:
Shirley Partridge - Shirley Jones
Keith Partridge - David Cassidy
Laurie Partridge - Susan Dey
Danny Partridge - Danny Bonaduce
Chris Partridge – Brian Forster
Tracy Partridge - Suzanne Crough
Reuben Kincaid - Dave Madden

Directed by: Richard Kinon

Written by: Lloyd Turner, Gordon Mitchell

Guest Stars: None.

Screen Shots: