Original air date: November 6, 1969
Writers: Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso
Director: Jay Sandrich
Guest Star: Shirley Booth as Madam Tibaldi
Rating: 3.5 bells
Synopsis:
Carolyn is struggling to come up with a much needed idea for an article. She rejects Martha’s ideas, and then declines the Captain’s suggestions to write about one of his more colorful adventures. Carolyn decides to write about a spiritualist when she reads in the local paper that Madam Olivia Tibaldi, a well-known medium, is in the area on a lecture tour. The miffed Captain tells Carolyn it is a waste of time, energy and paper to write about such a fraud, and declares he’ll not stand for any medium being under the same roof with him. Carolyn retorts that when the medium arrives for an interview, he can wait outside.
Within a few days and in response to Carolyn’s telegram, Madam Tibaldi arrives unannounced at Gull Cottage. The medium is immediately drawn to the Captain’s portrait, about which she makes certain perceptive and flattering observations. While the medium is reading the children’s fortunes in the living room, the Captain agrees with Carolyn’s request not to interfere with her interview. During the interview, Madam Tibaldi tells Carolyn of her past lives and prior experiences communicating with the spirit world.
The interview over, Madam Tibaldi insists she feels vibrations from spirit forces at Gull Cottage. An anxious Carolyn is unable to stop her, as the medium charges through the house like a bull in a china shop. The Captain struggles to contain himself and his temper, when in the alcove the medium spills the inkwell on the sea chart he’s working on, and then upstairs in the bedroom, she grabs the telescope from him while he’s viewing the bay. (According to the script but not the filmed version, in the bedroom, the medium tells Carolyn of feeling vibrations from all the dazzling women who have been there).
The Captain can’t contain himself any longer, when the medium interrupts his peace and quiet in the attic, and he causes a ghostly emanation with an old dress in the sea chest attempting to frighten her from the house. Contrary to being spooked, Madam Tibaldi excitedly declares that she must conduct a seance at Gull Cottage that night to raise the 19th spirits that want to talk with them. The incensed Captain tells Carolyn that she must not permit such a sideshow, to which a piqued Carolyn retorts that since he’s the cause, he’ll just have to deal with it.
Meanwhile, Claymore has been offered a great deal of money by a land developer for the Gull Cottage property, but he knows he can’t sell as long as the Captain’s spirit is around. While at the general store buying supplies for the seance, Madame Tibaldi is introduced to Claymore. Hearing of her plans to conduct a seance at Gull Cottage that evening, Claymore hires the medium to exorcize the Captain’s spirit from Gull Cottage forever.
That evening, Claymore arrives at Gull Cottage, having invited himself to the seance. Jonathan overhears Claymore and Madam Tibaldi talk of their plan to exorcize the Captain’s spirit. An alarmed Jonathan tells the Captain, who is amused by the plans of that "misbegotten pair". When Carolyn hears of the intended exorcism, she tells the Captain she intends to call off the seance, but he insists it go on, echoing her earlier words to him that the seance would make an exciting ending to her article. " I don’t want that kind of ending!", she protests, but the Captain stubbornly insists that he’s looking forward to the challenge.
The seance begins with Madam Tibaldi, Carolyn and Claymore joining hands around a table in the living room. The Captain with the children’s help encourages the medium by causing ghostly sounds and happenings. The Captain’s handsome image appears to them in a haze when summoned by Madam Tibaldi, and when she says a few words of hocus pocus and declares the Captain’s ghost is to be gone forever, his image abruptly disappears. Claymore is ecstatic, "You did it!...He’s gone! ", " No, he can’t be!" says a distraught Carolyn.
The next morning, the children and Carolyn are downcast by the possibility the Captain maybe gone forever. Alone and facing his portrait, Carolyn seeks some sign of him, apologizing for having invited the medium to the house. When he does not respond she is forlorn, until she turns to see him standing behind her smiling warmly. To her blush, he accepts and thanks her for the apology, quickly admitting that she was only half-wrong.
Claymore suddenly arrives, and believing the Captain to be gone for good, he tells Carolyn he’s terminating her lease and having Gull Cottage torn down. Carolyn warns Claymore not to be so hasty, and the Captain chases the "penurious penny-pinching lease-breaker" out the door.
On her way out of town, Madam Tibaldi stops by and expresses her regret to Carolyn for exorcizing the Captain’s spirit. She tells Carolyn how she believes her actions have separated Carolyn and the children from someone they’ve become very fond of, and she offers to conduct another seance to bring the Captain back. Carolyn quickly refuses the offer, saying she’s sure the Captain will find his way back somehow. After the medium remarks that she hopes he forgives her, the Captain kisses her on her cheek. After she leaves, the Captain asks Carolyn that it be their secret, for if his spectral fraternity ever heard he kissed a medium, they might really exorcize him.
Favorite Moments & Quotes:
When Madam Tibaldi first arrives at Gull Cottage, she makes certain observations about the Captain’s portrait, while the Captain offers his commentary:
Madam Tibaldi: "....That portrait!"
Captain: "I will not have that fraudulent ghost-caller under my roof."
Madam Tibaldi: "Oh, you rascal. I must know, my dear... who is this handsome man?"
Captain; " However, she does have taste."
Carolyn: "That’s Captain Gregg. He built this cottage over a century ago. But I hardly think handsome is the word."
Madam Tibaldi: " You’re absolutely right. The man’s magnificent! Such a strong face. Such compelling eyes. Such a masculine chin."
Captain: "She’s terribly astute, you know."
Madam Tibaldi: "On the other hand, I don’t like his mouth."
Captain: "I want her out of this house immediately."
Madam Tibaldi: "He seems a bit spoiled."
Carolyn: "That’s him."
Madam Tibaldi: "It must be difficult living in the house with that portrait...."
Carolyn: "It is challenging..."
Madam Tibaldi: "Strong, proud, predatory male who says you’re mine, and has a way of making us love it–!"
Captain: "You see what a treasure you have in me, Madam?"
When Carolyn thinks the Captain may be exorcized, she offers an apology:
Carolyn: " Alright...I know I should have listened to you when you first said you wanted her out of the house. But, as you always say, ‘female! totally, eternally, female!’ - we’re a stubborn lot...However, if you would have listened to me when I wanted to cancel the seance, none of this would have happened... So, if I can forgive you for your mistake, can’t you forgive me mine?.. Please?.."
Captain: "I’ve never refused a lady’s apology -- especially when she admitted she was wrong....ah, half wrong."
Carolyn: "Generous to a fault."
Captain: "Of course. But, thank you."
Carolyn: "You’re welcome... Now, how could you have let us worried us like this?"
Captain: "Awfully sorry about that, Madam. But, you see if I wouldn’t had disappeared, you would have had Madam Tibaldi as a permanent houseguest - conducting seances right, left, and center."
General Comments:
MWD is a fairly entertaining episode for the second season, with the medium providing a catalyst for the play of a familiar theme between the main characters, where their mutual stubbornness and test of wills create a situation neither intended. It seems Carolyn tempts fate by inviting the medium in the first place, but no doubt her interest in the subject matter is due to the importance of a certain spiritual presence in her life.
Contributed by Lynn Murray