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Mary's landlady, Phyllis (Cloris Leachman), takes great pride in her progressive, meticulously preplanned relationship with her 11-year-old daughter, Bess (Lisa Gerritsen). But circumstances change unexpectedly when Mary babysits Bess and chooses to improvise rather than map out the evening ahead of time. Surprisingly, Bess enjoys playing life by ear, and decides that she'd rather live with Mary than with Phyllis. Every fan of The Mary Tyler Moore Show can easily imagine what happens next. "Bess, You Is My Daughter Now" was originally broadcast on October 3, 1970.