Ep 31. Teacher's Petrie

Rob Petrie, the head writer of the "Alan Brady Show," suddenly remembers that he had promised one of his old high school teachers that he would come back and give a talk about writing for television. It turns out, however, that Rob forgot to clear the date with Alan, who is none too pleased about Rob missing work for the day. Feeling guilty about letting down his former teacher, Rob decides to go through with the visit anyway, despite the disapproval of both Alan and the show's producer, Mel Cooley.

While at the school, Rob meets a group of young, aspiring writers who are all eager to learn from him. One of the students, however, stands out as a particularly skilled writer: a young girl named Peggy. Peggy is shy and reserved, but Rob recognizes her talent and encourages her to keep writing and pursuing her dream of becoming a professional writer.

As the day goes on, Rob finds himself enjoying his time with the students more and more, and begins to feel that maybe his true calling is not in writing for television, but in teaching. When Alan sends a messenger to the school to tell Rob that he must immediately return to work, Rob decides to stick it out with the students and continue teaching them about writing.

Back at the show's studio, Alan and Mel are at a loss as to what to do without their head writer. They attempt to write a sketch themselves, but quickly realize that they are not cut out for the job. Meanwhile, Rob continues to teach the students, even staying late after school to help Peggy finish her story.

When Rob finally returns to work, he finds that Alan and Mel have not been able to create anything of value in his absence. Instead of being angry, however, Alan is curious about what Rob has been doing at the school all day. When Rob explains that he spent the day teaching, Alan realizes that he has underestimated Rob's creative potential, and offers to let him create his own pilot episode for the show.

Despite the success of his time at the school, however, Rob can't help but feel that something is missing from his life. He realizes that he truly wants to pursue a career in teaching, and decides to quit his job at the "Alan Brady Show" to become a full-time teacher.

In the end, Rob's decision to follow his passion pays off, as he becomes a beloved and respected teacher at the same school where he once visited as a guest speaker. Peggy, meanwhile, goes on to become a successful writer, thanks in large part to the encouragement she received from Rob.

"Teacher's Petrie" is an engaging and heartwarming episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" that explores themes of passion, creativity, and the importance of following one's dreams. With its strong writing, clever humor, and memorable characters, this episode is sure to leave viewers feeling inspired and entertained.