Original Air date: March 8, 1969
Teleplay by Albert E. Lewin
Story by Edith Sommer
Director: Gary Nelson
Guest Stars: Don Scardino as Dr. Ferguson
Kathleen Hughes as Mrs. Coburn
Rating: Five Bells
Synopsis:
Carolyn is having an unproductive morning at the typewriter, and although unwilling to admit it, not feeling well. She is short tempered with Jonathon, ordering him out of her room. When the Captain’s coaching of Jonathan in the fine art of dealing with women doesn’t improve Carolyn’s mood, the Captain suspects she is not well.
Carolyn is defensive to the Captain’s inquiries about her health, protesting she is distressed only by the lack of an idea for an article. She curtly dismisses the Captain’s idea for a story about women being more feminine and gracious in the 19th century, after hearing his description of a certain lawn party he hosted at Gull Cottage over a hundred years ago with a lament that he wishes she could have been there with him.
The Captain is convinced she is not well when his watchful eye sees her experience a brief dizzy spell on the stair (in the script), and she has a lack of appetite. Sure enough, Carolyn can’t bring herself to eat Martha’s famous red flannel hash at lunch, and she has a fever. Using the ghostly powers of persuasion, the Captain enlists Martha’s help. Over Carolyn’s protests, Martha insists Carolyn get bed rest and calls the doctor. (In the script although not the filmed version) Martha and the children mistake the young doctor for the paperboy at the door.
The Captain watches the doctor’s every move with a critical eye and comment. After seeing Carolyn, the doctor diagnoses her condition as virus x, and calls in a prescription at the local pharmacy. The Captain has no confidence in the pup of a doctor, calling him a "peep, too young to be a quack." The Captain declares that only he knows what ails her - the ague, and he insists he will prepare the necessary cure. With Jonathan’s help and tossing Martha’s simmering vegetable broth in the process, the Captain cooks up the Willow Bark Golden Elixir - a concoction of willow bark, foxglove, alfalfa, sage, thyme, parsley, and (the better part of a bottle of) brandy.
When Claymore arrives with Carolyn’s prescription, the Captain tries unsuccessfully to divert the delivery, which has Claymore misjudging the Captain’s motive as trying to hasten Carolyn’s demise so she can join him in haunting Gull Cottage. While Martha is fetching "broth" at the stove, the Captain makes a switch of glasses so Martha serves Carolyn his elixir rather than the prescribed medicine. He watches from the shadows as Carolyn downs the elixir, and he bids her pleasant dreams as she drifts off to sleep.
Carolyn experiences a dream where she awakens to hear music coming from the front lawn. At the bedroom door, she finds the electric light switch gone and a gas lantern in its place. She walks out onto the hall and down the stairs to find the house ablaze with candles. Reaching the foyer, she peers out the front door and sees a 19th century formal lawn party underway as described to her by the Captain, complete with paper lanterns and formally attired couples dancing to a waltz played by the music ensemble. As she steps back into the house, she looks down to see that she is appropriately dressed for the occasion in a long ball gown, with a fan in hand, and longer hair swept in a style of long ago.
A liveryman exits the doorway carrying a tray of food, and Carolyn follows him to join the party. She greets Martha, Claymore, and the children, but they all ignore her. Alarmed, she turns to nearly walk into host Captain Gregg, dressed in formal Naval finery standing next to her. He confirms that she is invisible to all but him. Amused by being invisible, Carolyn sticks out her tongue at Mrs. Coburn making eyes at the Captain.
Telling Carolyn there are greater advantages tonight than being invisible, the Captain raises her hand to his lips and escorts her to the dance floor. He leads as they share a romantic and beautiful waltz. Carolyn is mesmerized with dancing in his arms as they move about the floor. They stop dancing to the music, eyes locked as they tighten their embrace. Their lips almost meet, when there is an interruption by the commotion of women fainting and shouts of alarm. The Captain abruptly leaves Carolyn on the dance floor to attend to the fainting guests, amidst whispers that it is the ague. Carolyn awakens emotionally spent and pensive, to find Martha at her bedside.
A few days later and Carolyn having recovered, the Captain confesses to switching her medicine, proudly telling Carolyn it was his Willow Bark Golden Elixir that was responsible for her cure. She responds coyly that she will forgive him for interfering, but only because he waltzes so beautifully. He responds to the compliment by looking bewildered .
Sometime later, Candy is coughing and has a fever. Jonathon suggests to Carolyn they administer the Willow Bark Golden Bark Elixir, with brandy "to put a keel under it."
Favorite Moments:
The waltz, of course. For the romantics, the scene is one of the best and tells much with few words. The Captain in splendid Naval finery leaves us breathless. Aside from the dream, the Captain shows his deep affection for Carolyn by his genuine concern for her health and well-being. Despite her irritability and abruptness, he is persistent, firm but gentle with her in insisting that she take care of herself.
Favorite Quotes:
Captain: "That (the 19th century) was a time made for women. The fashions, feminine; the manners, gracious; the parties, elegant. I remember one lawn party out there...the soft flickering lights of paper lanterns, a music ensemble playing a waltz - - the dance of romance. If only you could have been with me there!"
Carolyn: "What do you know about illness? You’re dead."
Captain: "But Madam, you forget. I died in the best of health."
Captain: "Madam, there is nothing wrong. It’s just that they can neither see nor hear you."
Carolyn: "They can’t?"
Captain: "No one can."
Carolyn: "But you see me."
Captain: "Of course. And a lovely sight you are."
Carolyn: "Being invisible does have its advantages."
Captain: "Well, tonight there are even greater advantages."
Interesting Notes:
In the script, the Captain says to Carolyn at the end of their waltz as he is about to kiss her, "I’ve waited so long for this moment...Carolyn." The line was left on the cutting room floor. Although subtlety is most often used to convey the characters’ deeper sentiments, perhaps the line should have been left in - as it confirms longing desires and not just impulsive or flirtatious behavior. It’s a dream sequence anyway! The dream has some metaphoric elements of the characters’ bittersweet relationship: in the Captain’s time, Carolyn is invisible to all but him; and as in their relationship beset by practical limitations, the Captain is called away before he can kiss his lovely dance partner.
Query: Whose fantasy was the dream, the Captain’s or Carolyn’s? In my honest opinion, I believe aside from the Captain’s power of suggestion, the dream was all Carolyn’s - a manifestation of her deeper feelings for and attraction to the Captain. If he had orchestrated the dream, surely he would have taken credit for dancing so beautifully.
As contributed by our loop-mate Jane Kirtley, the first waltz heard in the dream is from the 1954 movie Desiree, and was composed by Alex North and arranged by Lionel Newman, the latter who was the music supervisor for this episode. The tune is heard over the radio in a scene in the second season episode Ladies Man.
Kathleen Hughes makes her third and final appearance as Mrs. Coburn, having previously appeared in Madeira, My Dear and Way Out Broadway.
Contributed by Lynn Murray