"Centennial"

Original Air date: September 25, 1969

Writer: Ron Friedman

Director: Jay Sandrich

Guest Stars: George Mitchell as Jonah Applewhite

Irwin Charone as Delbert Peterson

Mason Curry as Deke Tuttle

Rating: Four bells

Synopsis:

Schooner Bay is preparing to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Seafarer Festival and Ball, and Carolyn is writing an article covering the event. While attending the town council meeting, Carolyn nominates Claymore Gregg as the festival’s Honorary Grand Admiral, he being the descendant of the first festival’s Grand Admiral, Captain Daniel Gregg. Claymore gleefully accepts the honor, but the Captain soon makes his disapproval plain. Blustering that Claymore is not his descendent and unworthy of the Gregg name, the Captain commands Claymore to write out his resignation. Carolyn convinces the reluctant Captain to allow Claymore to be the Grand Admiral for one day with her promise to include some of the Captain’s more colorful adventures in her article. The Captain vows to keep a "sharp, cold eye" on Claymore.

Later, Candy and Jonathon search the wheelhouse for something to donate for a centennial games prize. The Captain refers the children to Claymore, claiming that his great nephew has been pilfering his possessions for years. Claymore is reluctant to donate anything until the children tell him the Captain sent them. He eventually drags out a dusty sea chest which they find to contain a tarnished silver tea service set. When the Captain finds out, it is a "blasting situation", as the valuable silver tea service was given to him by the British Admiralty in gratitude for a daring rescue. When Carolyn explains to the fuming Captain that he can only get it back if Claymore wins the festival’s athletic contests, the Captain is determined to train that "splay-footed marshmallow" into shape to win the games in order to get his tea service returned. Over Claymores’s protests, the Captain starts Claymore in a physical conditioning program.

At the festival, Schooner Bay’s pier looks as it did a hundred years ago, with everyone dressed in period costume. While overlooking the festivities, the Captain exclaims to Carolyn how the event makes him feel young and alive again. She enjoys hearing the Captain’s revelry as he reminisces on how a hundred years ago as the strongest man in New England, he won all the contests with records that have never been equaled. She is less enthusiastic hearing of the string of women admirers who cheered him on.

When it’s time for the athletic contests, Claymore shows up with his leg bandaged and a note from the doctor saying he can’t compete, but the Captain doesn’t buy it. As Carolyn, Martha, and the children cheer Claymore on, he is "spirited" with the Captain’s help to win all the events - fish cleaning, deck swabbing, cargo loading, harpoon tossing, and mast climbing.

That evening, Carolyn and family prepare to attend the Seafarer’s Costume Ball and the Captain admiringly complements Carolyn when she appears beautifully dressed in a long flowing gown. When Grand Admiral Claymore arrives to escort Carolyn to the ball, he admits he doesn’t know how to dance. In Gull Cottage’s living room, Carolyn tries to teach the clumsy Claymore how to waltz, as the sullen Captain watches. Claymore is suddenly waltzing expertly, as the Captain spirits himself into Claymore’s body to waltz Carolyn around the room.

When Carolyn and Claymore arrive at Gull Cottage after the ball, the Captain tells Claymore he’s beginning to have hopes for him as a Gregg.

Favorite Quotes and Moments:

Captain: "Madam, you are even lovelier than the young lady I escorted to the Seafarer’s Ball one hundred years ago tonight."

Carolyn: "Thank you. Was that Abigail or Prudence, Kathleen or Melanie?"

Captain: "A pity you don’t have an equally dashing escort."

The wistful look Carolyn gives the Captain when she’s dancing with Claymore. The fleeting expressive look she gives him gives away that she harbors a powerful attraction and deep feelings for the Captain.

Carolyn: "You’re suddenly dancing beautifully!"

Claymore/Captain: "Madam, I have always danced beautifully with such a lovely partner."

Carolyn: "Claymore?"

Captain: "Not very likely."

When Jonathan and Candy rummage through the Captain’s treasurers in the wheelhouse searching for a centennial day prize, they find a woman’s corset among his artifacts.

Jonathan: "..All we can find is this junk."

Captain; "Junk! Oh lad! This trusty garment served a valuable function in its day!."

Jonathan: (to Candy) "I told you he wore it into battle."

Captain: "A battle yes, but it was not I who wore it."

Least favorite:

The Captain substituting himself in Claymore’s body was typical of some of the second season gimmicks that caused the series to lose some of the charm and quality of the first season episodes. The dancing scene is potentially a good (if not great) one, but would have been so much better if through the use of ghostly powers or a little imagination, the Captain could have somehow danced with Carolyn as himself.

Centennial is enjoyable for shedding a glimmer on how magnificent the alive Captain was in his time, with references to some of his adventures, impressive athletic abilities, and powerful attraction to women. The centennial festivities seem to be a bittersweet experience for the main characters, as it is a poignant reminder that the alive Captain was of another time.

-- Lynn Murray