Airdate: December 14, 1968
Writer: Nate Monaster
Director: Ida Lupino (*Note* Ida Lupino, once a movie star, also directed and guest starred in a few episodes of "Nanny and the Professor".)
Guest Cast: Kathleen Hughes as Mrs. Coburn
James McCallion as Abner
Linda Sue Risk as Linda
Rating: 5 Bells
Episode Summary:
Carolyn is awakened by her alarm clock and as she jumps out of bed she notices a letter placed on top of her wall lamp. Opening it she reads, "Captain Daniel Gregg requests the pleasure of Mrs. Carolyn Muir's company in the wheelhouse at four o'clock for a leisurely glass of Madeira." Carolyn looks quite surprised yet pleased at this invitation.
That afternoon, Carolyn arrives home with arms loaded with groceries. "Hurry up, kids!" she urges as she glances at the clock and sees that it's almost four o'clock. She runs upstairs and quickly tries to change into something nice. Meanwhile, Captain Gregg is waiting. Carolyn sees that it's now five minutes past the hour and decides she doesn't have time to change after all. The Captain is now growing impatient, and when Carolyn finally bursts through the door apologizing, he greets her coldly and says, "Madam, the invitation was for four o'clock. It's now almost seven minutes past the hour." He hands her the glass of Madeira but both are too miffed to take pleasure in it.
He goes on to state that she seemed a bit upset when she came in and presumed that there was an explanation for her tardiness and for the way she looks. Carolyn looks down, embarrassed to see that she forgot to put her shoes on. Captain Gregg's expression softens a bit as he says to her, "There is more charm and elegance in your appearance at this minute than in other womens' at their most carefully groomed." But the moment is spoiled by Candy yelling that the sink in the laundry room is overflowing . Carolyn apologizes to the Captain for having to cut their date short. "Blast!" says the Captain.
After the mess downstairs is cleaned up, Carolyn is alone in the kitchen when Captain Gregg appears. He is clearly angry at the previous interruption and suggests to her that she arrange her petty household chores so as not to interfere with their leisurely hour of conversation and Madeira. Carolyn explains that when something as vital as a washing machine breaks down then it is NOT petty! The Captain huffs that he hardly thinks a washing machine is vital but agrees that some modern inventions are extraordinary. "But," he asks her, "have you ever tasted hand-churned butter? Have you ever seen a ballroom lighted by a thousand candles? Have you ever been to a cotillian?" "No," she replies. "And I'm sorry I haven't." Captain Gregg then tells her, "Next Tuesday at four o'clock for another glass of Madeira." "All right. But if I'm late . . ." Carolyn replies, but the Captain interrupts her with a stern, "Next Tuesday at four o'clock!"
The following Tuesday arrives, and at 3:30 Carolyn is on the phone with Mrs. Coburn who tells her that she won't be able to pick up the children from school. "Of all times!" Carolyn complains. "Blast!" Carolyn arrives to pick up the kids but when she tries to start the car the battery is dead. "I'll never make it in time for the cotillion," she laments.
Later, Carolyn is at her typewriter. She picks up a crumpled piece of paper and rereads it with a scowl. It's a note from the Captain, "An engagement not kept is a promise broken." Carolyn makes a face and and growls, "Arbitrary, arrogant man!" She goes on to say to the empty room, "So the car battery went dead. Is that any grounds for a court marshall? Didn't horses ever go lame?" She continues calling the Captain stubborn and unreasonable when he suddenly appears in the room with her. They argue about what is considered unreasonable, and Carolyn tells him that he doesn't understand about everyday happenings, nor does he care to understand. The Captain replies, "It's regrettable that our attitudes towards life are at such odds because you have certain qualities that I could admire." Carolyn retorts that women are free to do what they want, and that this attempt at relaxed graciousness of theirs has flopped miserably. She leaves the room visibly upset as the Captain remains looking troubled.
Later, Carolyn is out in the yard when Jonathan asks her to play catch with him. Captain Gregg appears on the balcony and takes pleasure in watching Carolyn playing with her son. He disappears, though, as Abner, the repairman, comes to fix the sink. Carolyn then tells the children she needs their cooperation as she has a story to write. Candy is to help with the dishes and Jonathan is to vacuum the living room. Carolyn goes to her room and is working hard on her story when the Captain appears behind her. He looks remorseful and starts to say something but decides against it. Instead, he goes downstairs where he observes Jonathan and Candy at their chores. Jonathan is soon distracted by Scruffy who has learned a new trick, and soon both he and Candy have abandoned their duties to play with Scruffy outside. The Captain decides to help out with the chores and ends up drying the dishes and vacuuming the living room. (A most amusing sight the Captain using a vacuum cleaner!) Martha, passing by, is puzzled by the sound of the vacuum in the living room and the sound of both children outside.
The next morning Carolyn awakens again to find a letter waiting for her. "Captain Daniel Gregg requests the pleasure of Mrs.Carolyn Muir's company in the wheelhouse at four o'clock for a leisurely glass of Madeira." This time Carolyn looks irritated and crumples the letter in a ball and tosses it.
Later that afternoon, Carolyn arrives home after shopping but Martha is clearly upset with her about something. She tells Carolyn that she is spoiling the children by finishing their chores for them. Carolyn denies having dried the dishes for Candy or vacuuming for Jonathan. "So who did it?" Martha asks. Realizing that the Captain must have finished the chores for the children, Carolyn begins to soften. Glancing at her watch she tells Martha and the kids that she has a cotillian to go to.
Once again Captain Gregg is waiting impatiently in the wheelhouse. This time Carolyn arrives wearing a beautiful long dress and her hair up in the elegant style of long ago. The Captain looks at her admiringly, "How enchanting you look." "The earrings belonged to my grandmother," Carolyn adds. Captain Gregg hands her a glass of Madeira, "Here's to your grandmother." They clink glasses. "And to the legacy of beauty she left behind." They smile at each other.
The following Tuesday finds Mrs. Muir late again due to a heavy rainstorm that causes a roof leak in the kitchen. Martha is manning a large kettle under the biggest leak. Rushing to the attic, Carolyn once again apologizes to the Captain for being late. "That's all right," he replies. "Actually, it's only a few minutes past the hour." They each take a glass of Madeira and are enjoying each other's company when suddenly the doorbell rings and the children are heard arguing about who's going to answer it. The Captain and Carolyn clink their glasses together as they try to ignore the clamor downstairs. Carolyn tells him, "I believe that I accused you of being unreasonable, and I want you to know . . ." Carolyn is interrupted by a loud crash downstairs. Jumping up she hears Martha yell, "I'm okay, but man the lifeboats!" Handing the Captain her glass she says, "Excuse me, a small domestic crisis." As she reaches the door the Captain calls out, "Oh Mrs. Muir . . . next week at four?" Carolyn smiles at him, "I'd love to . . . and thank you. It's been a lovely, leisurely . . . minute!" The Captain raises his glass to her as she exits.
Final Thoughts:
What I liked best about this episode was how much interaction there was between the Captain and Mrs. Muir. It showed the difficulty of a relationship between two people who come from two different worlds. But, it also illustrated how much the Captain cared for Mrs. Muir as he realized how truly different modern times were for women, and eventually changed his attitude and became more understanding.
One of the funniest scenes occured with Martha. Carolyn comes into the kitchen looking dreamy-eyed and says to Martha, "You know, Martha, life was more gracious 100 years ago. Have you ever hand-churned butter?" Martha looks at her like she's flipped out and replies with her dry wit, " I'd be happy to but I have to run up some curtains on my spinning wheel." Then Carolyn laments about how people are in such a rush nowadays and Martha continues wittily, "I think I'll dip some tallow this afternoon. Turning on the light switch is such a nuisance!" Carolyn then asks Martha if she's ever been to a cotillian. "No," she replies. "But I once went to a beer bust with a travelling salesman who had a wax mustache!"
Martha just cracks me up!
Contributed by Sherry Ledenbach