Bewitched (1964–1972): Season 4, Episode 3 - Business, Italian Style - full transcript

A potential new client for McMann & Tate is the Italian based company, Romani Foods, which is moving into the American market. Mr. Arcarius, Romani's account executive, believes Mr. Romani will only sign with McMann & Tate if their personalities mesh. What he really means is that Larry and/or Darrin must be able to speak to Mr. Romani in Italian. On the spot, Larry tells him that Darrin is fluent, which is the farthest from the truth as Darrin has no aptitude at all in learning foreign languages. However, Darrin decides to take on the challenge. Believing it impossible but wanting to provide Samantha the opportunity to travel to Italy for this account the mortal way, Endora places a spell on Darrin making him fluent in Italian. However, what her spell also ends up doing is making Darrin no longer understand English. This language issue not only causes the obvious problem of dealing with his English speaking colleagues - namely Larry - but also with the Romani account, as Mr. Romani may feel that Darrin's use of Italian is going overboard and thus mocking his own Italian roots.

That should give you an idea how we
handle the Chef Romani products...

in our European market.

Now we come to invade
the American market.

This is one invasion we Americans
will surrender to without a fight.

With the proper propaganda.

- We prefer to call it commercials.
- Of course.

Mr. Arcarius, I pride myself
on being an average American...

and the average American
eats Italian food once a week.

- I sometimes eat it twice.
- Good boy.

Now, I'm certain we here at
McMann & Tate have the personnel...

the imagination...



I am aware of your reputation,
Mr. Tate.

But there is something
more important.

Mr. Romani's impression of you will
be based not so much on campaigns...

as on personality.

Now, it might be a nice little touch
of diplomacy...

if one of you had
a smattering of Italian.

No problem.

Darrin is fluent in the tongue.

Well, I wouldn't exactly say fluent.

I have a smattering of fluency.

- He speaks French too.
- Oh, marvellous.

It's been a splendid meeting,
gentlemen.

I am very encouraged and certain
we will do business together.

- Good.
- I will keep in touch. Goodbye.



Goodbye.

He speaks German too.

Bye-bye.

How was that
for fancy footwork, huh?

You put your fancy foot
in my mouth.

I don't know a word of Italian.

So for $500,000
in billings, you'll learn.

I don't have a facility for languages.
In college I was a D student.

How hard can it be
if every little kid in Italy can speak it?

Don't be funny.

Okay. Let me put it this way.

You understand English?

Yes.

Then listen very carefully
to Great White Father.

He speak softly but carry big stick.

Chef Romani, he big account.

So you learn to speak
simple Italian...

or find other job.

So I accepted the challenge.

At first I was mad.

But then I asked myself,
"Who am I mad at? Larry?"

No. I was mad at myself...

for being afraid
to accept the challenge.

So I went over to the
World Wide School of Languages...

- and bought these albums.
- Sweetheart, I'm very proud of you.

Thank you. It's just a matter
of concentration, right?

Right.

But you didn't have to buy records.
I speak a little Italian.

- Perhaps I...
- Yeah. I know, I know.

I'd rather do it by myself.

Now, if you'll go,
I have to get to work.

- Go. Go.
- Okay.

Hello.

My name Alfonso Martinelli.

I am your teacher.

- What is your name?
- Darrin Stephens.

Now say it in Italian.

Dino Stevanso?

In Italian you say:

"Io sono il signor blank, blank."

Io sono il signor blank, blank.

You see how easy?

Easy for you, difficult for me.

You meet beautiful girl in caf?
and you wish to become acquainted.

Which means,
"You have a body made for love."

Repeat after me.

Again.

Twice is enough.

If she does not respond,
find another table.

What kind of a record is that?

"Simple phrases
for the American bachelor in Italy."

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Darling, you and I can go
to the opera at La Scala...

and weekends we can
motor down to Venice.

Prince Pepe will put us up
at the pink palazzo.

And afternoons, we can go
to the American bar.

We can...

We can just stop dreaming.

What's-his-name will never
learn the language.

And you'll be stuck here
in this stultifying suburb...

for the rest of your
unnatural life.

Mother, in the first place, I do not like
the opera or Prince Pepe.

In the second place,
what's-his-name's name is Darrin.

In the third place, I read "stultifying
suburb" as home sweet home.

And in the fourth place...

I'll bet Darrin does learn Italian.

That would be nice.

That would be very nice.

That way, if you ever do
make a trip to Europe...

dum-dum wouldn't be a source
of embarrassment.

- Mother, dear?
- Yes?

Butt out.

Of course.

Good.

Now you will count, please.

Time.

If you counted to 10,
you are a superior student.

To seven, you are average,
and to five, stupido.

You really know how to hurt a guy.

Now I will test you
on the months of the year...

which we had in the beginning
of the record.

Begin, please.

January.

February. Forget February.

March.

April...

I wish he might, I wish he may

Speak like an Italian
At the break of day

Hey, how about that?

Now we'll review the conjugation
of the verb "to see."

Darrin, did you say that?

You were expecting maybe
Marcello Mastroianni?

- That's beautiful.
- Yeah, it was, wasn't it?

I guess sticking to it paid off.

- What time did you get to bed?
- Who got to bed?

I was up with those records all night.
Honey, it was exciting.

Suddenly, I felt like a sponge
soaking it all in.

That Miss Petruccelli
is quite a teacher.

- Hey, ask me the time.
- What time is it?

That's perfect.

They do smell nice, don't they?

Ask me something else.

Why don't you ask me how I feel.

- Darrin.
- Now, just a minuto, Samantha.

Now I gonna tell you
the colours in a rainbow.

Why are you talking like that?

Why am I talking what way?

With an Italian accent.

Are you crazy?

Who's talking
with an Italian accent?

I tell you what I gonna do. Now I
gonna speak to you the furniture.

How you like them apples?

I can't get over it.

I said, I couldn't get over it.

What do you mean
you don't understand me?

Oh, I see. You want some
more practice, huh?

Well...

What do you mean, "what it says"?

Darrin...

wipe that glazed look
off your eyes. You're scaring me.

Darrin, quit fooling around.

You don't understand.
You really don't.

Mother did it.

Mother. Mother!

Take it easy, sweetheart.
I'll fix everything.

Speak Italian but spoil the spell

And speak your mother tongue
As well

Mother!

Endora!

Cat.

Cat.

Oh, Darrin.

I'm sorry, but it's the only way
until I can find Mother.

The old-fashioned way,
like in school.

I am happy
to make your acquaintance.

I am happy
to make your acquaintance.

I am.

I am.

- Happy.
- Happy.

- To make.
- To make.

- Your acquaintance.
- Your acquaintance.

Now say it.

Darrin.

Endora!

Larry Tate.

Hi, Sam, I thought
I'd unclog the freeway...

and have Darrin drive with me.

Well, you certainly picked
a fine morning to be thoughtful.

Well?

- Aren't you gonna ask me in?
- What for?

I mean, do come in,
Larry, but Darrin's not here.

His car's out front.

I mean, he's upstairs.

- Well, that's here.
- Not really.

- He's in bed.
- Too much studying, huh?

Oh, you wouldn't believe it.

Well, as long as he can
fake a few "Arrivederci Roma" s...

- I'll be satisfied.
- Oh, he can fake that, all right.

- Well, I won't keep him long.
- Larry, I wish you wouldn't.

Son of a gun.

Marvellous. You sounded
just like a native.

He says, "Won't you have a seat?"

Boy, oh, boy. You're great.
Just great.

I'm impressed.
I'm really impressed.

Now, come on.
Cut out the United Nations routine.

Darrin, Romani's coming to the office
at 3 this afternoon.

Larry, I'm afraid you're wasting
your breath.

Darrin can't understand
a word you're saying.

- I beg your pardon?
- Well, it's quite normal.

Quite normal that he doesn't
understand a word I'm saying?

Yes. Isn't that marvellous?

Now I don't understand
a word you're saying.

Well, let me see
if I can explain it to you.

It's a technique.

It's called total immersion.

Darrin is drowning
in the Italian language.

He is, huh?

Well, tell him to come up for air.

I'm afraid it's a little late, Larry.

He can't think or speak
in anything but Italian.

You're not serious?

Boy, am I serious.

I know it's a put-on,
but I'll go along with it.

Darrin, I want your
recommendation...

on who to assign as copywriter
and art director.

Bill Baxter e Sam Kaplan.

- He says Bill Baxter...
- Oh, I got the gist of it. Thank you.

Happy to make your acquaintance.

All right, Darrin,
you've had your little joke.

Now, come on. Let's go to work.

Larry, I'm afraid that might be
a little dangerous for him.

You see, he has to
decompress from...

From the immersion.

- Yes.
- All right, Sam.

You make sure
he's at the office at 3:00.

Three o'clock.

Three o'clock.

- Endora! Endora!
- Mother! Mother!

Oh, dear.

Sweetheart, you go on
to the office. I'll find Mother.

Welcome to the agency,
Mr. Romani.

I hope the relationship
will be long and fruitful.

Come in.

This is my associate
Darrin Stephens. Mr. Romani.

He wants to know
what part of Italy he comes from.

He says he wasn't born in Italy.
He was born in the United States.

I know that.

He does not believe him.

No, no, signor Romani.

Now, enough's enough.

Now, stop showing off, Darrin.
Speak to him in English.

He says that to honour Mr. Romani,
he wishes to speak Italian only.

Forget the italiano.
Speak to me in the English.

What do you mean
you don't understand?

I heard you speak English
yesterday.

I know you can hear me, Mother...

wherever you are,
so you hear me good.

Now, I'm gonna count to three.

Not five, not four, but three.

And if you're not here
on the count of three...

no matter where you are,
what you're doing...

I am gonna forbid you
to set foot in this house again.

One, two, three.

You said wherever I am.

Well, just don't stand there. Here,
do some work on your mama's back.

Mother, do you realize
what you've done to Darrin?

Well, I've just given him
a little private tutoring.

You have deprived Darrin of the use
of the English language.

Oh, I have?

Well, so I've given him an overdose.

Your overdose can cost him his job!

Please don't shout, Samantha.

I will have to ask you
to leave my bathroom.

And I will have to ask you
to leave this house forever...

unless you un-spell Darrin.

Nag, nag, nag.

Cancel the spell.

That's an incantation?

What do you expect
at this hour, darling? Poetry?

Now, it isn't that I don't trust you,
Mother, but you're coming with me.

Get dressed.

Mr. Romani, Stephens, like everyone
else in McMann & Tate...

is dedicated to doing things
to their fullest fruition.

No halfway measures
at McMann & Tate.

Stephens is to be prided on his
devotion to all Italian or no Italian.

Don't you agree?

You're going to speak to me
in the English...

or I'm going to walk
right out of here.

Okay, you want me
to speak to you in English?

I'm gonna speak to you in English.

Darrin, are you out of your mind?

How dare you.

I'm doing the best I can.

Mother, do something.

I'm doing the best I can.

It has to take time, Samantha.

You are lying, Mr. Stephens.

No americano
speaks italiano like that.

I swear to you, signor,
I am 100 percent Yankee.

You're gonna be 100 percent
unemployed Yankee...

if you don't apologize
to Mr. Romani this minute.

I...

am...

very sorry if I've done
anything to offend you, Mr. Romani.

But I'm sure I can explain.

You speak perfect English.

You was mocking me.

You were deliberately mocking him.

Deliberately!

And do you know why?

- Do you know why?
- No, but it better be good.

I'll tell you why.

Because...

Go on.

I was trying to impress
on Mr. Romani...

the danger of the Romani image
becoming provincial...

and laughable.

I hope there's more.

I despise those people
who find dialect humour amusing.

My boss is a very sensitive man.

He didn't know what I was doing.

I'll take an oath on that.

Did you notice
how incensed he was...

at my accent because he thought
I was mocking you?

He was right!
I was mocking you deliberately.

- And do you know why?
- No, why?

If you multiply Mr. Tate
by 100 million consumers...

I think you'll get
what I'm driving at.

And I believe I can say
without fear of contradiction...

that if you decide
to give us the campaign...

our account will be
100 percent American sell.

The food may be Italian...

the accent American.

I understand what you say.

- What did he say?
- "What did he say?"

- "What did he say?"
- "What did he say?"

You got me cuckoo,
but I don't care.

I like to do business with you.

You won't regret it, Mr. Romani.

Now, let me introduce
you and Mr. Arcarius...

to the rest of the staff.

Happy to make your acquaintance.

Yes. Likewise, I'm sure.

That's the greatest salesmanship
I've ever seen. You're a genius.

You're not going to understand
this, Larry, but I have to be.

I don't expect any thanks,
but at least a tiny pat on the head.

- How about a kick in the...?
- Darrin!

She's my mother.

Oh, stop pouting, Dino.

All's well that ends well,
as what's-his-name said.

I'm famished.

Why don't you take my daughter
and me to a nice Italian dinner.

It's only 4:30 in the afternoon.

Oh, I'm still on European time.

Then why don't you go
to dinner in Europe?

That's a splendid idea! Let's go.

Sam!

- And on Mother's last trip to Italy...
- Quite recently.

Yes.

She brought back two paintings,
three evening dresses...

and 400 pounds
of Romani products.

You know, I must congratulate
you, Samantha.

You have a most brilliant husband.

His campaign makes Chef Romani
as an American as apple pie.

Well, we like him.

But he is a naughty boy.

Come on, naughty boy.

Speak to me a few words in italiano.

I feel like getting homesick.

He speak so delicious.

Oblige him, Mr. Stephens.

Do it for me.

Signor Romani.

Listen how he speaks.

So beautiful.

So beautiful.

Why he denies he is italiano?

You tell me, Samantha,
what province he comes from?

Would somebody tell me, please?
Somebody tell me.