Original air date: November 30, 1968
Writer: Jean Holloway
Director: Lee Phillips
Rating: Five bells
Synopsis:
During a windstorm one evening, the Captain overhears Carolyn and Martha discuss how the monkey puzzle tree in the front yard has grown dangerously close to the house and should be cut down. When Carolyn retires to her room, the Captain greets her with harsh words and a display of violent temper forbidding her to touch the tree he brought from Santiago and planted with his own hands 137 years ago.
The next morning on the balcony, the Captain appears to a miffed Carolyn. At first, she gives him the cold shoulder when he attempts a light-hearted apology for his bout of temper the night before, but then she engages him in a serious discussion. She speaks of her need to make Gull Cottage more of a home for her children, and her concern he will not allow the necessary changes. While avoiding the subject of the tree, the Captain agrees to let her make any changes to the house she wishes. He also promises never to get angry again. Although charmed by his anxiousness to set things right between them, Carolyn is skeptical of the Captain’s ability to keep his promises. With great relief that their rift is apparently patched, the Captain confirms they are back to being friends again.
However, their argument resumes shortly thereafter, when the Captain frustrates Carolyn’s attempt to replace his worn but treasured sofa in the alcove. Carolyn displays a temper of her own and refusal to compromise, threatening to leave if he doesn’t make good on his promise and allow her to replace the alcove furniture. When he hesitates, Carolyn tells Martha to start packing. The Captain relents a second time. Appreciating the gesture, Carolyn thanks him.
In a pout, the Captain watches the alcove transformed from a cabin on a man’s ship to a room in a family home. Afterward, he is sulking in the wheelhouse, consoling himself that at least she can’t touch his monkey puzzle tree.
When Carolyn proudly shows the children the redecorated alcove, Jonathan perceptively remarks how the Captain must be as mad as a harpooned whale. Carolyn settles the children’s argument about whether the Captain’s spirit is at Gull Cottage by telling them that although the Captain’s physical presence is gone, the dreams and thoughts of the strong man remain with them. Carolyn agrees with Candy’s sentiments that she does not want to ever live anywhere else, as the house always feels warm and welcoming.
Sometime later after another windstorm, Carolyn decides to have the Captain’s tree cut down, curtly rejecting his plea to salvage it. When Carolyn has his beloved tree cut down, the Captain’s presence leaves Gull Cottage. Almost immediately, she knows she’s made a mistake. After he searches the wheelhouse and widow’s walk for the spirit to no avail, Jonathan finds Carolyn apologizing to the Captain’s portrait. "He can’t hear you. He’s gone," the despondent boy tells his mother.
At dinner, the mood of the entire household is downcast. Claymore stops by and despite his great nephew’s presence and obnoxious taunts, the Captain does not appear or respond, except for giving Claymore a sly kick down the stairs. Believing her actions have caused the Captain to leave perhaps permanently, Carolyn is in acute despair. Alone on the balcony, an emotional Carolyn calls to the Captain in the night - apologizing and inviting him to berate her to set things right, but he does not appear or respond. Realizing that words are not enough, she leaves before dawn the next morning for Boston, on a quest to replace the tree.
Appearing when Carolyn returns late that night and is planting a "puny" monkey puzzle tree, the Captain thanks her for the gesture, appreciating the trouble she went to in replacing it. When Carolyn admits she prefers his company to others, he chides her for finally admitting she is lucky to be aboard his ship. When she retorts that Gull Cottage is a house not a ship, he declares in frustration how she is typically female without imagination or comprehension. Rather than break his promise that she see him lose his temper, the Captain spirits to the widow’s walk to pace and tirade, while Carolyn plants the tree.
The next morning, Claymore, carrying a bouquet of flowers, comes to court Carolyn and raise the rent believing the Captain gone for good. The Captain kicks Claymore off the property, spiriting the flowers to Carolyn’s desk while she’s working at the typewriter. After he confesses the flowers are from Claymore, the Captain and Carolyn share a laugh watching Claymore high-tailing it down the road, looking like he’s just seen a ghost.
Favorite Moments and Quotes:
(on the balcony)
Captain: "You have a lovely smile Mrs. Muir."
Carolyn: "Thank you. And you have a lovely house for a sailor."
Captain: "Seaman blast it! Sailor is a landlubber’s word!"
Carolyn: "I’m terribly sorry . . . seaman."
Captain: "Friends, Mrs. Muir?"
Carolyn: "Friends, Captain Gregg."
Captain: "Good! You’ll never see me lose my temper again."
(as Carolyn starts to plant the tree)
Captain: "....Puny or not, you went to a lot of trouble over this. I thank you for it."
Carolyn: "It was lonely with only humans to talk to."
Captain: "Some of them are quite dull aren’t they?"
Carolyn: "Most of them are - compared to you."
Captain: "So! You finally admit you are lucky to be aboard my ship."
Carolyn: "Captain.., ships are on water, houses are on land, and I’m standing on land.."
Captain: "You are standing on my land, Madam, and I am a man of the sea."
Carolyn: "Then why can’t you tell the difference between water and land?"
Captain: "Oh! No comprehension! No imagination! Totally . . . eternally . . . female!"
General Comments:
This episode is an important stepping stone in the development of the main characters’ evolving relationship, as the two strong personalities establish boundaries of relative dominance and mutual respect. The Captain, used to giving orders and not taking them, humbles himself like he’s unlikely to have done before, when he agrees to let Carolyn have a free hand with the house. He shows he’s willing to sacrifice nearly everything to keep her at Gull Cottage. He cannot, however, sacrifice his male pride and self-respect, which she damages by cutting down his beloved tree. His leaving causes Carolyn to realize his importance in her life and the need to respect his feelings in their relationship, as she humbles herself to replace the tree admitting she prefers his company.
This is another well-written episode by Jean Holloway, where the idea originated from the novel. In the book , when Mrs. Muir has the Captain’s monkey puzzle tree chopped down to make way for a bed of roses, he fumes, "Bed of roses be damned! May the whole blasted bed die of blight!" The Captain leaves until Mrs. Muir makes a gesture to respect his feelings by planting two bay trees in its place.
Interesting Notes:
In an interview with the NY Times in February 1969, HL referred to a rift she had with producers over the props used in the alcove scenes. Insisting on realism, she protested to no avail that her character would never toss out such valuable antiques. I have to agree with HL, especially in regard to the chart rack ("...a gift from the admiral!")
As confirmed by our loop-mate Deanna Dube`, EM’s former residence in Van Nuys, California has a large monkey puzzle tree growing in the front yard. Evidently, the tree was a special memento of his two year role as our favorite sea captain.
Contributed by Lynn Murray