Airdate: October 12, 1968
Guest Cast: Bill Bixby as Paul Wilkie
Vaughn Taylor as Dr. Hewitt
Michael Fox as Professor Maxwell
Writer: Joseph Bonaduce
Director: Gary Nelson
Rating: 4 Bells
Episode Summary:
Carolyn is walking about her room struggling with a story she is writing. The ever-helpful Captain types something on her typewriter. Carolyn smiles as she reads it, "Nice try, Captain, but definitely not for a family magazine!" Captain Gregg materializes and seems to be in a great mood. "At least we share a craving for privacy," he muses. His mood is soon spoiled by the arrival of Claymore who has brought a stranger with him.
Claymore nervously approaches the front gate and mentions that someone might mind their coming. Suddenly the windows slam shut and Scruffy comes tearing out of the house only to latch on to Claymore's pantleg. Claymore changes his mind and tries to give his friend his money back. Finding the money harder to part with than he thought he changes his mind again and brings Paul up to the door.
Paul introduces himself as a student of New England architecture and asks to come in and look around and take some pictures. Suddenly the chandelier begins to swing and Paul takes a picture of it. Carolyn tells Paul that she's in the middle of working and doesn't want any pictures taken of the house. Paul won't take no for an answer and continues to look around the house. Standing in front of Captain Gregg's portrait he procedes to tell Carolyn what a sour looking man the Captain is and how a man like that could have built a home like this! The Captain, hovering nearby, wants to send the man packing. Paul continues his verbal attack and Captain Gregg promptly pulls the rug out from under him. He's a bit dizzy from the fall so Carolyn pours him a glass of water which the Captain makes her throw in his face. "I'm beginning to sense there is a very hostile presence in this house," he says. Carolyn tells him he must leave as she has to go to the library to do some research and then she, Martha and the children were going to the movies and wouldn't be home until late. Paul asks to take one more picture before leaving and while Carolyn leaves the room he sneaks over to the window and unlatches it. The Captain is watching him. "So that's the lay of the land is it?"
It's nighttime and Paul comes back with flashlight in hand. Climbing the trellis he enters Carolyn's room. Immediately Captain Gregg makes ghostly noises. As Paul walks through the room he observes the pencil cup rising and then is suddenly pinched. "Why don't you show yourself?" he demands. He procedes to the kitchen where he gets pummeled by tomatoes, eggs and flour and then is tossed by the Captain into the door where he promptly passes out.
When the Muirs arrive home they find Paul on the floor. Martha immediately suspects he's a burglar and Jonathan astutely replies, "I'll bet Captain Gregg caught him!" Paul comes to and tries to explain to Carolyn, "I've been pummeled, punched, pinched, and pelted! Isn't it wonderful?"
Over coffee Paul tells Carolyn that he's really a parapsychologist looking for ghosts. Carolyn almost chokes on her coffee. He's convinced that the ghost of Captain Gregg is in the house. He wants to expand the parapsychology department at the University and he feels he's found enough evidence in Gull Cottage to convince the skeptical school board. He wants to bring them the next night to Gull Cottage. Carolyn reiterates her need for privacy and says no. Paul threatens to tell the media and blackmails her into letting them come.
Alone with Captain Gregg, Carolyn tells the Captain that his ghostly actions are the reason Paul and company are coming back. They accuse each other of being gullible and the argument gets rather heated. Realizing that they are quarreling they both come to their senses and stop. Carolyn apologizes to the Captain but he, ever so stubborn, refuses to say he apologizes but admits that things were said that were regrettable. Carolyn smiles as she realizes this is the Captain's way of apologizing. They start to plan the event ahead of them. Carolyn tells Captain Gregg that the group will be coming at night. "Why at night?" the Captain asks. "Well he says you're more active at night, " Carolyn replies. The Captain exclaims, " What does the fellow think I am? A blasted owl?"
The next night Paul and two school board members are in Mrs.Muir's living room. Paul tries to demonstrate how the rug rose up but the other two men are looking skeptical. Just as they look away the Captain pulls the rug out from under Paul again. No one believes Paul. Then Paul asks them all to pool their concentration in order to get the Captain to appear. Captain Gregg is looking bemusedly looking over Paul's shoulder. Nothing happens. Then Paul suggests that maybe Mrs. Muir has some influence over the Captain. The Captain looks amused. "Who, me?" she replies looking at Captain Gregg. "I hardly know the man!" Paul asks her to call out to the Captain. Carolyn obliges with a "Captain Gregg are you here?" The Captain stands there and shakes his head "No." Then the typewriter begins to type. Paul is sure it will be a message from the other side but he reads, "See Spot run. Run Spot run." One of the school board members finds Jonathan hiding behind the curtain. "Son, are you responsible for the typing?" Jonathan asks his mother, "Mom, what happens if I tell a lie?" "No dessert for two weeks, " she replies. Jonathan decides, "Okay, I did it."
"Wait!" Paul cries. "Maybe Captain Gregg is working through the boy! He may be a medium. Son, are you a medium?" he asks Jonathan. "I think I'm a small," he replies. Next, Paul sees the chandelier swaying. A schoolboard member finds a string and follows it to find Martha behind the door. "What are you doing?" he asks her. "Pulling a string," Martha deadpans. Next, Candy is found dressed in a white sheet coming down the staircase. "Mrs. Muir I demand an explanation!" Paul says. Carolyn explains that since he practiced deceit to get into her house and tried to blackmail her she thought she'd to something nice in return. As the schoolboard members leave one of them asks Carolyn, "Did you ever see a ghost around here?" She replies while glancing at Captain Gregg, "No, I never did." "Do you believe in ghosts?" he asks her. Carolyn replies, "Do I look like a woman who would believe in ghosts?"
TAG:
Captain Gregg is complimenting Mrs. Muir on the way she handled the whole situation. "However, you did lie about never having seen a ghost. No dessert for two weeks!" Carolyn replies by sticking her tongue out at him.
My thoughts:
I always enjoyed this episode because I found it to be very witty. Bill Bixby, who starred in "My Favorite Martian," "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," "The Magician," and "The Incredible Hulk," has always been a favorite of mine. I thought he made a very funny ghost hunter and yet I felt sorry for his character in a way since he really did experience real ghostly manifestations that no one (outside of the Muirs!) will ever believe.
Contributed by Sherry Ledenbach