Airdate: January 11, 1969
Writers: Tom and Helen August
Director: Oscar Rudolph
Guest cast: Larry Hovis as Norbert Frank
Rating: 4.5 Bells
Synopsis:
Scruffy, in a particularly fractious mood, attacks Claymore while he's working on the front door. Carolyn rescues Claymore and shuts Scruffy in the pantry while she prepares his lunch. When she questions whether Captain Gregg is responsible for Scruffy's attack, he tells her to credit Scruffy's wise perception of Claymore's less-than-admirable qualities. Whereupon Scruffy, as soon as Carolyn lets him in, ferociously attacks the Captain (to his consternation and Carolyn's amusement!)
That night Carolyn is collating a manuscript for proofing when Captain Gregg appears and attempts to discuss "the Scruffy situation." He is baffled by Scruffy's hostility toward him. Carolyn is working late due to Martha's leaving for a trip the next day and doesn't have time to discuss the issue. He goes to the kitchen to make her a cup of coffee. Finding Scruffy asleep (and growling!) there, he attempts a dog food bribe. Scruffy scarfs down the food and then attacks again! The noise brings Carolyn and the children downstairs. Carolyn sees the empty can and realizes what has happened.
Next morning, Carolyn is busily vacumning when Captain Gregg appears and sabotages the vacumn to tell her he has decided Gull Cottage needs a dog "a real dog" other than "that puny mouse" Scruffy. Carolyn vetoes the suggestion unconditionally, but a few moments later a large dog appears at the front door and, with some invisible help, insinuates himself into the house. The children immediately fall in love with the dog, christen him Moby Dick, and assume he's there to stay.
The next day Carolyn checks lost dog notices in the paper and points out to Captain Gregg that Moby Dick is very expensive to have around. He contends that the expense is well worth the protection and peace of mind that Moby Dick will provide. At the sound of fierce doggy battle raging outside, Carolyn hurries downstairs expecting to find shredded Scruffy. Instead, she finds Moby Dick perched on top of one of the stone lions, treed by the ferocious Scruffy. She is amused; Captain Gregg is not!
Martha returns from her trip and is given an exuberant introduction to Moby Dick, who is quite destructive in his enthusiasm. Relief is at hand later in the day when Norbert Frank, a visiting artist, shows up at the door looking for his lost dog named Sheila! Dog and owner are reunited, and Sheila drags Norbert (or is it Frank?) away.
That night, Captain Gregg chides Carolyn for letting Norbert take Moby Dick away so easily. Scruffy darts in and resumes his attack on the Captain, who, fed up, tells Carolyn he will not tolerate such behavior any longer.
The next day, Scruffy is nowhere to be found. Martha even enlists Claymore's help in searching, using him as "bait" because Scruffy hates him so much. At dinnertime Scruffy is still missing. Jonathan suspects foul play, and after Claymore eliminates himself as a suspect, only the Captain is left. When the Captain offers to help Jonathan search, Jonathan's hostility makes his suspicions plain. Such thoughts have obviously been crossing Carolyn's mind as well.
Next day, Captain Gregg is searching the beach through his telescope when Carolyn returns from her own extensive search for Scruffy. The inevitable confrontation occurs when the Captain mentions Jonathan's suspicions and sees that Carolyn has her doubts as well. However, when he asks her directly if she thinks he would do anything to hurt her or the children, she has to answer no.
Later, the Captain finds Jonathan outside and tells him that he has found Scruffy, who will return home on his own when he's ready. After several ill-at-ease attempts to explain the mating behavior of animals, he simply tells Jonathan that Scruffy is in love with Moby Dick, aka Sheila. Carolyn comes to the door in time to hear Jonathan question how the two could be in love when they're always fighting. Captain Gregg explains that deep feelings are sometimes hidden behind quarrelling, and interrupts his explanation when he sees Carolyn. Jonathan, it turns out, has a clear understanding of the situation.
The next day, Captain Gregg is confident that Scruffy will be in a better mood when he returns. Scruffy dashes in and resumes his attack as if he's never been gone.
Favorite quotes:
Captain Gregg: I am NOT intimidated! I may be irritated, aggravated, and alienated, but I am NOT intimidated!
Norbert: Doesn't she look more like a Sheila to you?
Carolyn: She looks more like a Moby Dick to me!
Favorite moments:
Martha and Claymore, after she has used him as bait!
Our sophisticated, suave Captain being so ill-at-ease as he tries to explain the facts
of life to Jonathan.
Note: This scene also alludes to the the outright FEAR that would be part of such a
relationship as it developed; hence the hiding behind fighting on both sides. Think of
poor Captain Gregg, faced with the intensity of his feelings for Carolyn after a life and
afterlife of thinking quite differently of women, and having them neatly categorized to
suit his beliefs. Think of Carolyn, confronted with such a personality! Think of two very
strong wills together in this situation.
The confrontation scene, which was one of those relationship "stepping
stones." The script contains some extra lines which would have added to the
intensity, after Carolyn says, "Not after the way you carried on about that poor
dog."
Captain: May I remind you, Madame, that the dog's behavior was intolerable!
Carolyn: Yes, that's what you said. You wouldn't 'quote' tolerate his antics any longer.
Then he asks the big question.
Cast notes:
Larry Hovis played Sergeant Carter on Hogan's Heroes.
Addendum:
I personally am on the Captain's side in this episode, not being a fan of little yappy dogs, especially ones who behave erratically. Sorry, little yappy dog owners. :)
Contributed by Rhonda Nichols