"Martha Meets the Captain"

Airdate: February 20, 1970

Writer: Arthur Alsberg and Don Nelson

Director: Lee Phillips

Guest Cast: Guy Raymond as Mr. Peevey

Rating: 5 Bells

Synopsis:

Martha's sister phones from Florida to say that her Navy husband is being transferred to Alaska.  Martha tells Carolyn that she will have to go to Florida to look after her mother, and Carolyn suggests to the children that they have a surprise going away party for the housekeeper.

Martha is upset when the children come down to breakfast looking happy and unconcerned.   She suggests a last outing with them after school, and is disappointed when they refuse.

Later, Carolyn makes an excuse to get out of the house, and Martha gets the feeling that no one really cares that she is leaving.

Carolyn tells Ed Peevey the news and invites him to the party.   Peevey, who has enjoyed Martha's company on many occasions, says he will miss her.   Carolyn cautions him that it is a surprise.  So he is prepared when Martha phones.  She suggests they spend the evening together and is hurt when he says he has other plans.

Martha then calls Claymore to ask him to drop off her insurance policies at the house before she leaves.  Carolyn arrives at his office in time to tell him about the party, and he tells Martha he can't make it.

Martha's sister phones again, asking her to take an earlier flight, and the Captain, overhearing, realizes he must stop her. Disturbed by the sound of Martha's sniffling as she packs, the Captain sends Scruffy in to do some tricks, but she only cries harder.   Then he removes her things from the suitcase as she packs them.  Finally, he appears, telling her not to cry over a family who loves her so much.   Martha, after one look at him, faints dead away.   The Captain then instructs her to call her sister and postpone her flight then disappears as she regains consciousness.

Martha isn't sure what she saw.   She is in her room later when Carolyn and the children get the party things out.   Peevey and Claymore arrive with their gifts, and Carolyn tells Candy to call Martha.

Candy finds her lying on the bed, not feeling well.  Carolyn goes in and realizes what has happened.   She explains that it was Captain Gregg she saw, and he appears,  saying he is glad they have finally met.  He leaves to attend to some business, and Carolyn persuades Martha to come out of her room.

The party is a happy affair, but tinged with sadness.  The children give her a picture they drew of Gull Cottage.  Carolyn gives her a suitcase.  And Claymore has flight insurance for her.   Peevey, hinting that he has something special to say to her, gives her a needlepoint pillow.

While Peevey is in the kitchen talking to Martha alone, the Captain appears.  The phone rings, and he tells Martha to answer it and find out what his gift is.  It is her sister calling to say that her husband isn't being transferred.  Eager to break the news to everyone, Martha ignores Peevey, who was about to declare his intentions.   They are all pleased to learn she won't be leaving.

When asked by Carolyn how he managed to pull it off, the Capem explains that he had to use a lot of influence in past and present Naval circles to get the transfer orders cancelled, thanks a lot in part to John Paul Jones!

Favorite Scenes:

There are several little moments that are memorable in this episode.  For instance, when Martha begins showing Carolyn the ins and outs of housekeeping--if there's a clunking sound in the dryer, don't panic, it's the electric iron, plus Scruffy`s bone.

And there's the phone call Martha made to Claymore, for as he's epitomizing her virtues and their friendship, he`s also checking those adjectives off a list he's previously made.

Finally there's the scene that I think was a gaff.  It's when Murtha finally sees (and recognizes) the ghost of Captain Gregg for the first time.   She rolls her eyes and faints dead away on her bed, and the bed collapses to the floor.  I honestly believe this was a blooper, as in subsequent scenes the bed is whole and upright, even though the action taking place is supposed to be happening just moments later.

Favorite Quotes:

(Ahhh, gotta love the kids.)
Candy:  Can't you brush your teeth any faster?
Jonathan:  I don't feel like brushing my teeth, now that Martha's leaving.
Candy:  You don't feel like brushing even when she's here.
Jonathan:   Now I don't feel like brushing them double.

Or when Ed Peevey gives Martha the antique pillow that says REMEMBER ME.
Peevey:  My grandmother made that for my grandfather when he went onto the Spanish-American War.
Martha:  I hope you're not inferring there's any relationship between me and the battleship Maine.

There's also the moment when the Captain comments that the ringing phone is his gift to Martha, to which she replies: Can a ghost send a singing telegram.

Finally, there's the tete-a-tete between the Captain and Carolyn about how he managed to get Martha to stay.
Carolyn:  How did you arrange it?
Captain:  Perfectly simple, Madam.  As is tradition in the Navy, to change an order, it has to go through the proper channels. Carolyn:  Such as...
Captain:  Well, I did a little investigating, and I discovered that the Admiral who initially issued the orders in the first place was related to Admiral Dewey, who in turn served under Admiral Farragut, whose First Mate was a distant relative of John Paul Jones.
Carolyn: Where do you come in?
Captain:   Madam, to start it through channels, who the blazes do you think spoke to John Paul Jones?

Least favorite whatever:

It didn't feel right to have Martha whining throughout the entire episode.  Yes, I could understand how her beliefs that the family and friends "didn't really care if she were leaving" was crucial to the plot of the story.  But after a while all the "poor me" weeping got to be a bit much.

Odd Thoughts:

It was nice to have Martha the crux of the episode.  She'd only gotten to shine one other time, in the episode "Love is a Toothache".  But overall, I've always believed Reta got the best "comeback" lines and "zingers" in the show.  Atta girl!

Contributed by:  Linda Mooney