I Love Lucy (1951–1957): Season 2, Episode 21 - Lucy Changes Her Mind - full transcript

When Ricky gets upset about Lucy constantly changing her mind and never finishing anything, he tells her she has to finished everything she starts. When she finds an old, incomplete love letter to a former boyfriend, she decides to finish it.

Lucy?

Oh, hi, Ethel. Lucy isn't here.

She took the baby
down to Mrs. Jenkins.

What's going on around here?

Oh, Lucy rearranged
the furniture again.

But she just
rearranged it last week.

No!

Oh, well, she'll rearrange it
back again in a couple of days.

I just hope that she
gets my favorite chair

over there where there's
some light so I can see.

What makes Lucy
change her mind like this?



Ask Lucy, Ethel.

Yeah.

This is nothing.

You remember the time

that we went to the roof
garden to have dinner?

Oh, yeah.

What a night.

The whole evening
started off wrong.

I was just sitting here,
waiting for Lucy to get ready.

Lucy!

I'll be ready in a minute, dear.

"I'll be ready in
a minute, dear."

Hi, Ricky.

Hi, Ethel.



Hi, Rick.

Hi, Fred.

Well, we're all set.

Is Lucy ready?

Oh, sure.

Isn't she ready yet?

I thought you were
going to get her started

earlier tonight so we can have
dinner and then go to a movie.

I started her at
2:00 this afternoon.

That early enough?

What's she doing?

Well, she's trying
to make up her mind.

First she couldn't decide
what movie she wanted to go to.

That took until 5:00.

Then she couldn't decide
what dress she was gonna wear.

She's changed clothes
half a dozen times.

I guess she's just a woman.

No, no, son, that's your fault.

You've trained her wrong.

You mean that doesn't
happen at your house?

I should say not.

The first dress Ethel puts
on is the dress she wears.

Oh, how do you manage that?

That's easy. I've
only got one dress.

Very funny.

Go on, Rick, will
you? Do something.

I'll be ready in a minute, dear!

I swear that she can
see through the walls.

Boy, I'm starved.

Oh, you can live off your fat

for a few more minutes.

You might as well
get comfortable.

Sit down, will you?

Well, come on. What
are you waiting for?

Where are you going to dinner?

I don't know.

How about some
good Italian food?

Oh, you know, I kind of
felt like Chinese food tonight.

Well, that's okay with
me as long as we eat.

Yeah, me, too. How
about you, Lucy?

Gee, they both sound so good.

I like Chinese food, but I'm
crazy about Italian food, too.

Well, maybe we can find a place

that serves ravioli foo yong.

Or chicken chow pizza.

Uh, Italian food
sounds okay by me.

All right. Okay.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Oh, darn it!

As you were, diners.

I just happened to think,

we ate Italian food a
couple of nights ago.

All right, then, we'll
have Chinese food.

All right.

Okay.

Oh, wait a minute!

Don't tell me.

You want a steak.

No, smartie, but I just
happened to remember

that Chinese restaurant
we like so much

isn't open on Monday nights.

Well, honey, there's a lot of
Chinese restaurants in town.

We'll go to another
Chinese restaurant.

Oh, I don't know. I don't
want to go to a strange...

Do you want a steak?

Oh...

No, I don't want a steak. No.

I just want to go anyplace...
Anyplace that I can eat...

Anything at all, I don't
care where we go.

Well, let's go someplace
that's new and exciting.

There's a lot of
ads in the paper.

Lucy.

Yeah, look, here's one
right here. Come here.

Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi...

This looks wonderful.

Look at this.

See?

Fred.

What do you think you're doing?

Well, this may take some time,

and I thought I'd
better fortify myself.

It's a nice restaurant.

Yes, it is, Lucy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Stop whistling.

Well, I know what I want.

Let's get a waiter and order.

Oh, uh, waiter.

Waiter, we know
what we want. Waiter?

He didn't see me.

Uh, waiter. Waiter,
we're ready to...

Waiter?

I'll get him when he comes back.

I'll lay you three to one.

Oh, uh, waiter.

Waiter, dear!

Nice try.

He gets by me again
over my dead body.

Well, are we ready to order now?

Yes, we're ready to order.

I'd like roast beef, please.

Yeah, one roast beef.

Henry?

Uh, yes, pardon
me just a second.

I'll be back in a moment.

Honey, that's the first time

that I heard you make up your
mind and order just like that.

Well, I happened to
know what I wanted.

Look, honey, there's
an empty table

back there by the window.

Let's move back there.

Honey, what's
wrong with this table?

Oh, but look, we
have that nice view

while we're eating. Come on!

Oh, now, Lucy!

Honey, now, wait a minute.

We got the silverware,
the water, everyth...

Oh, take the silverware
with us. Come on.

It's chilly.

Oh, come on.

Oh, this table is taken.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Come on.

Okay.

There we are.

See how much
nicer it is over here?

There. Now, has everybody
got everything they need?

I've got three knives.

I beat you, I got
a full house...

Three forks and
a pair of spoons.

Give me a fork, Fred.

I'll give you a knife.

I got nothing.

And a spoon, Fred.

Okay, okay, I got it.

How's that? Is that it?

Fine, fine.

Okay. Oh, okay.

Fine.

Psst! Psst! Psst!

Henry.

Oh, there you are!

Yes, now, uh, where were we?

We were over there.

Never mind.

I ordered roast beef.

Eh, one roast beef.

And what would you like, Ethel?

I think I'll have
the lamb chops.

One lamb chops.

What looks good to you, Rick?

Well...

Lamb chops, huh?

See, that sounds good.

They're not fattening either.

Would you mind changing
my order to lamb chops?

Two lamb chops.

That's two for each of us.

Yes.

Oh, an-and, uh, I don't
want too much fat on mine,

but I would like
them extra thick.

Maybe you'd like to
have me trot the lamb by,

and you can pick out

the chops you want.

Well!

Lucy, please?

Go ahead, Rick, order somethin'.

Sirloin steak.

Uh, yes, sir.

How would you like it?

Rare.

Thick and juicy.

Yes, sir. And you, sir?

Well, uh, let me see.

I believe I'm going
to try the, uh...

Sirloin steak, huh?

How would you like it, madam?

Well, medium or rare?

Rare.

Pork chops.

Yes, sir.

Now, what would
you like to drink?

Well, I...

You order last.

Um, coffee for me.

I'll have coffee, too.

Two coffees.

Milk.

Milk. Now, madam,
what would you like?

Pork chops, huh?

Would it be too much bother

to change my
order to pork chops?

Why, no, madam.

Whatever gave you that idea?

I'd like two pork chops, please.

Very well.

Why don't you write it down?

I already did
when he ordered it.

Now, let's see if
I've got this straight.

Lamb chops for you,
sirloin steak for you,

uh, pork chops for
you, pork chops for you,

and a new eraser for me.

You know, with all this
talk about pork chops, I...

Yeesh!

I guess I'll stick
to lamb chops.

Now, how about shrimp
cocktails all around?

Uh...

That'd be fine.
Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

What did you do that for?

Honey, I'm sick and tired

of hearing you change
your mind every two seconds.

Well, I couldn't help it.

Everything everybody
ordered sounded so wonderful.

Fine thing, you
come to a restaurant

and you can't even
order what you...

Bless you!

You catching a cold, honey?

Well, there's a
horrible draft in here.

You want to change
places with me?

Oh, no, that
wouldn't do any good.

Oh, look, there's an
empty table over there.

Let's go over there.

Stand by for another
troop movement.

Honey, we're going
to stay right here.

No, now, come on.
It's nice over th...

Sit down!

What do you want me to do?

Catch my death of cold?

No, but we came from there...

Well, then come on.
Come on over here.

There's no reason why
we can't move over here.

Why fight it?

Okay, here we go again.

See how much
better it is over here?

Mm-mm-hmm.

I hate to sit in a draft.

All right, hon.

Oh, uh, we're over here now.

You see, we were over there,
but there was such a draft,

I couldn't...

♪ ♪

Good morning, Lucy.

Hi.

What are you doing?

Oh, I've been
cleaning out that closet.

Oh.

I'm on a new regime.

I'm gonna finish
everything I start.

I started cleaning out
that closet 11 years ago.

11 Years ago?

Yeah, right after
we were married.

You should see the
stuff I found in there.

I've just been reading
some of my old mementos.

Uh, Lucy, tell me something.

How did you happen to
start on this new regime?

Oh, I just thought it
was the thing to do.

Lucy, does anybody
else on this floor

speak with an accent?

What do you mean by that?

Well, last night

when I was out in the
hall changing a lightbulb,

and I heard some Cuban

yelling at his wife

and saying that from now on,

she had to finish
everything she starts.

Ethel, do you sleep with your
ears under or over the covers?

Well, the walls of this
apartment are pretty thin.

He really was upset, wasn't he?

Wasn't he?

Why, his face turned
absolutely purple.

These walls are a lot
thinner than I thought.

Uh...

I mean, he sounded
like it was purple.

Oh.

Hey, listen to this. I
wrote this 15 years ago.

"Dearest, darling Tom,

As long as I live, I
can never forget you."

Tom who?

I don't remember.

Oh, fine.

"Being with you the other
night was pure heaven.

Remember how we..."

Well, don't stop now. Go on.

That's all there is.

Oh.

Oh, I remember now.

It was Tom Henderson.

And just as I was
writing this letter,

he called on the phone,
we had a big fight,

and I never finished it.

Oh.

Oh, I should never
have fought with him.

He now owns a swanky
fur salon downtown.

Oh, you fool.

Yeah.

Oh, well, so much
for Tom Henderson.

Hey... I'm supposed to finish
everything I start, aren't I?

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Lucy, are you gonna
finish that letter?

Uh-huh.

Are you gonna mail it?

No.

Well, what's the
use? Who'll see it?

A certain purple-faced
Cuban we both know.

As long as he's so insistent
that I finish everything,

I'm going to have
a little fun with him.

Let's see now.

"Being with you the other
night was pure heaven.

"Remember how we...

"Remember how we...

laughed... and what fun we had?"

Hee, hee.

Uh, "See you for lunch
tomorrow. Love, Lucy."

Now, I'll just be finishing
this when Ricky comes in,

and I'll get all flustered
when he catches me, see?

Oh, Lucy, I wish you had
a window in your forehead

so I could peek in and
watch those wheels go 'round.

You'd better go now.

Ricky's gonna home
for lunch any minute.

Okay. Good luck.

Okay.

Well... oh, I... I...

Oh, Ethel!

Oh, I'm sorry, but I just
got to thinking it over.

Do you think this is safe,

what with Ricky's
temper and all?

Oh, sure.

Well, good luck.

Okay.

Psst! Psst!

Hey, Rick.

Hiya, Fred.

I've been waiting for ya.

Yeah? What happened?

We men have to stick together.

What do you mean?

Ethel couldn't keep her
big blabbermouth closed,

so she told me a secret.

What's that?

Lucy found an old,
unfinished love letter.

Oh?

Yeah, but she finished
it this afternoon,

and now she's waiting to
have a little fun with you.

Is that so?

Yeah.

All right, Fred,
thanks for telling me.

I'll see you later.

All right.

Ha, ha, ha!

A little fun, eh?

Oh! Hi, honey.

Hi, honey.

Oh! Uh...

Uh... oh.

Uh, what you got there?

Where?

In back of you there.

Oh, nothing.

It-it's not for you to see.

Oh. Oh, it's a
surprise for me, eh?

Uh, yeah.

Well, I can wait.

All right, all right.

You want me to see
the letter, let me have it.

No, no. I don't
want you to see it!

Honey, you've been
waving it around like a flag.

Now, come on. What is it?

Is it a bill?

No.

What are you laughing at?

Oh, this is very
funny, this letter.

What's the gag?

It's no gag.

I guess I had to expect
that sooner or later,

you'd... find out.

Now, Lucy...

we've been married for 11 years.

I know you like a book,

and every time
you act like this,

you must have
an interior motive.

"Ulterior," and I have not.

Come, come, now.

Are you by any chance

trying to get back at
me for that scolding

that I gave you the other night?

No, and you think
you're so smart.

Lucy?

Well, I'm not!

That's just what it looks like.

It's, it's a letter to
Tom Henderson.

Oh, Tom Henderson?

Yes. He's a big fur man downtown

and-and Tom and I used
to go to college together

and-and we used to
go around a lot together

and we've been seeing
each other since, that's all.

Oh, well, if that's all...

You don't believe me, do you?

Sure, honey, sure,
I believe you, yeah.

It's the truth!

Well, then, uh, you don't
mind if I mail the letter?

No. I-I wrote it to be mailed.

All right.

I'll mail it on my way
to the club tonight.

Go ahead and see if I care.

See if I care about
anything that you do!

I heard the voices being raised.

Oh, boy, is she mad.

What did you do?

I told her I was going
to mail the letter.

That's not cricket, old boy.

Are you really gonna mail it?

No. I'm just gonna
to let her stew

in her own goose for a while.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

I know what you mean all right,

but I just never heard
it put that way before.

I don't know why you wanted
to come down here anyway.

Because Ricky mailed the letter.

I have to explain to Tom.

Okay. Come on.

Now, wait a minute.

I have to think what
I'm going to say.

I haven't seen Tom
Henderson in 15 years.

He'll think I'm crazy.

Oh, he'll understand.

Well, I hope you're right.

Gee, Ethel, do you think
I've changed any in 15 years?

I got a little older, huh?

Don't be silly.
Women don't get older.

They just mature a little.

Men get older.

Yeah. Well, of
course, in Tom's case,

it won't make any difference.

He was so
handsome to start with.

He was certainly a
gorgeous hunk of man.

Well, come on.

Hey, wait a minute.

You don't suppose
that's Tom, do you?

Oh, he couldn't have
changed that much.

I'll have it for you Tuesday.

Good-bye, Mrs. Corner.

Good-bye, Mr. Henderson.

Mr. Henderson.

That must be Tom.

That's a gorgeous hunk of man?!

Looks like my hunk has shrunk.

Come on, let's
forget the whole thing.

Look!

Ricky and Fred!

Yeah. They must
have followed us.

Well, let's make
a run for it, huh?

No, honey, they've
seen us. It's too late.

Listen, you-you go in there
and pretend to buy a coat

or something get
Tom out of the way.

What good will that do?

Go on. I'll think of something.

Okay.

I have just what
you want, Mrs. Mertz.

I've got one on
display in the window.

Uh, silver fox?

You know, Fred,
I think this time

she's really jumped her trolley.

Looks like.

Oh, hi, Ricky.

How nice to see you, dear.

And don't bother
turning around, Tom.

It's just my husband.

What's going on here?

Oh, uh, Tom was just going
to teach me a new dance step,

Weren't you, dear?

How's that go again now?

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

One, two...

Is this your old boyfriend?

He isn't half the
man he used to be.

Where, uh... where
is Tom Henderson?

Oh, Ricky, that
letter was just a gag.

You were so darn smart about
it, you made me mad, that's all.

Well, what... what about
this dummy routine?

Didn't you know this guy at all?

Sure I did, but when I knew Tom,

he was tall, dark and handsome.

I saw him today and he's
short, bald and dumpy.

You never would have
stopped kidding me about that.

Well, honey, I guess
I was a little cruel.

Listen, you'll have
lunch with a tall, dark

and handsome man anyway.

Come on. I'll take you.

Okay.

You know, it's a good thing
he was a funny-looking guy,

otherwise you'd be
plenty worried by now,

'cause I was gonna
go through with it.

Yeah, I don't have
the slightest doubt.

Oh, Lucy?

Yeah?

Lucy, we made an awful mistake.

This isn't Tom Henderson.

It's his brother, Harry.

Oh!

Tom!

Why, Lucy!

The waiter was
played by Frank Nelson.

Tom Henderson was
played by Johnny Hart.

The woman in the fur
salon was Sally Corner

and the fur salesman
was Phil Arnold.

I Love Lucy is a
Desilu production.

Lucille Ball and Desi
Arnaz will be back next week

at this same time.

This is the CBS
Television Network.