Original Air Date: January 8, 1970
Writers: Arthur Alsberg and Don Nelson
Director: Lee Phillips
Guest Stars: Joe Flynn as George Turner
Stanley Adams as Blackbeard
Jim Boles as Jesse James
Laurie Main as Nero
Gloria Hill as Enid*
Julie Connors as Teresa*
Nina Martinez as Cansuella
John McCartt as The Voice
Rating: 2 Bells
Synopsis:
If you're familiar with the short story "The Devil and Daniel Webster", then you know all you need to know about this episode. Therefore spare yourself watching it. But if you're a glutton for punishment, let me tell you what happens.
Claymore bnngs Carolyn a new lease which she refuses to sign because his hand is covering most of it. The Captarn appears and discovers that the rent is the same as last year, but is to be paid twice a month. He orders Claymore to change it, and then Carolyn signs it. After Claymore is gone, the Captain says it's time to teach him a lesson.
While Claymore is sleeping that night, the Captain appears and creates a nightmarish dream. In Claymore's dream, Mr. George S. Turner, a somberly-dressed man with little horns on his head, arrives at Gull Cottage in a handsome car. He tells Carolyn that the Brimstone Publishing House has a proposition for her. He asks her to translate a Western novel into one of her sea stories and offers her sole credit and profit. Carolyn refuses, saying it would be plagiarism, and Turner is disappointed.
Turner tries to make deals with Scruffy, Martha, Candy, and Jonathan. Each refuses his enticements, much to his disgust. Then the Captain appears and suggests Claymore as a better prospect.
Tuner uses a phone in his car to call his boss, Big D. The children overhear him ask about Claymore's background and say that he seems to be just the man they want.
Representing himself as an agent far Bnmstone Realty, Turner discusses a shady real estate deal with Claymore. Unable to pass up the chance to make a great deal of money, Claymore agrees to the deal and shakes hands on it.
The Captain appears too late to stop the deal, and Claymore is terrified to learn he has made a bargain with the devil.
Turner challenges the Captain to plead Claymore's case before a panel of judges. If he wins, Claymore goes free. But if he loses, he and Claymore will be taken below.
Turner, running the trial on instructions from Big D, selects thejudges: Blackbeard the Pirate, Jesse James, and the Emperor Nero. Claymore promises never to cheat Carolyn again, and the Captain agrees to defend him.
Mentioning the judges' evil deeds, the Captain points out that Claymore is hardly worthy of their company. He says he has even done some decent things, and calls Carolyn as a witness. Carolyn testifies that Claymore is nothing more than a mischievous child and pleads with thejudges to spare him.
The judges, impressed and deeply touched, declare that they would demand new trials if they had a witness like her. Turner, afraid to risk losing the judges and others, calls off the trial and releases Claymore.
The nightmare is over for Claymore, but he remembers it when he awakens. An insurance salesman, who looks like Turner, rings his doorbell, and Claymore slams the door in his face.
A reformed Claymare brings Carolyn an amended lease but a little of the old Claymore shows itself when he refuses to repair the front gate. Then Candy and Jonathan appear outfitted as devils for a school play. Terrified, Claymores says he's not taking any chances and promises Carolyn anything.
Favorite Quotes:
(When Turner approached Martha.)
Turner: Don't tell me you weren't on the stage-the grace, the beauty are still
there.
Martha: Well, I was connected with the theater at one time.
Turner: New York? Broadway?
Martha: Hackensack, New Jersey. They couldn't find anyone else strong enough to pull
up the curtain.
Oddly Enough:
The entire episode revolved around Halloween, including the children's school play and their dressing up in costume. However, Claymore mentioned his change of heart as his New Year's Resolution. The final draft of the script is dated October 31, 1969, yet this episode didn't air until lanuary 8th. Either Christmas didn't exist that year (skipped entirely), or someone forgot about CONTINUITY.
In addition, someone forgot to change the names of the young ladies to whom the Captain had fancied during his lifetime. Although credited in the script and in the final credits rolled at the end of the episode, "Enid" was called "Lady Cakinsmeyer", and "Theresa" became "Natasha" by the Captain in the show! Even more odd, on page 12 where the Captain actually refers to "Enid", he calls her "Lady Freebairn Smith". Possibly an "in joke" gone backwards?
Not So Favorite Whatever:
The trial itself has a very surreal look to it, reminding me a lot of the way the Hereafter appeared in the movie "BeetleJuice". But Carolyn`s appearance as a floating white fairy and her subsequent behavior in that scene were so totally off the mark that it jarred this viewer.
Although this episode started promisingly, it quicky descended into sheer nonsense. It may have played better if the jury and judge were transported into the living room of Gull Cottage (who knows? The children may have thought there was a costume party going on! After all, it's set pre-Halloween.)
This episode is also a prime example of the silliness and emptiness which marked the second season. The emphasis was entirely on Claymore, rather than on the two main leading characters, and there was no trace of the romantic angst which initially won viewers to the show. In addition, there are just too many glaring continuity problems.
To this day, this episode marks one of the low points of an otherwise terrific show. But, on the other hand, you need a few duds in order to appreciate the rest of them!
Reviewed by: Linda Mooney