1952 - FRANCIS GOES TO WEST POINT

Prod: Robert Arthur
Peter Sterling: Donald O'Connor
The mule: Francis
Lori Nelson
Alice Kelley
Palmer Lee
William Reynolds
Les Tremayne
Otto Hulett
Dave Janssen
James Best
Leonard Nimoy
 

Story and screenplay: Oscar Brodney
Additional dialogue: Dorothy Reid
Producer: Leonard Goldstein
Dir: Arthur Lubin
Writer: David Stern

Peter Sterling is a young man going to the army in this third part of the series. His best friend Francis, a speaking mule, often helps him out of difficult situations. In this episode Sterling gets into trouble because his superior officers force him to explain some strange circumstances they noticed. As he reveals his secret they feel fooled: He has a mule as a friend who can talk.

At first no one believes him. Only until the coach of army's the soccer team gets hints how to win the game - from Francis.
Ballplayer No 52 and his friend watch Francis talk to the coach of the army team just before an important soccer game. His friend wonders why the manager speaks to a mule, but he feels as if the mule has been talking to the coach.

Francis is brought in and explains a strategy how they still can beat the opposing navy team. After the first moments of disbelieve the team is all ears and the ballplayer is sure now: I knew the mule was talking to him.