I Love Lucy (1951–1957): Season 4, Episode 27 - The Dancing Star - full transcript
Lucy gets to dance with Van Johnson.
("I Love Lucy" theme song playing)
Hi.
-Hi.
-Hi.
Where's Lucy?
She went down to get the mail.
Oh, well, I'll wait for her.
Wouldn't she be the one to do
something like this?
What's the matter, honey?
Caroline Appleby gets in town today!
What are you so upset about?
It'll be wonderful to see Caroline
again.
Sure.
Well, ordinarily it would be, yes,
but somehow she's gotten the idea
that I'm surrounded by movie stars.
Uh-huh. Where did she get an idea
like that, I'm pretty sure.
Well, maybe in a letter
I-I did drop a name here and there.
Like, uh, who, for instance?
Well, uh, I told her
that I ate lunch with Clark Gable
last week.
Oh, fine.
Now, honey, why would you tell her
something like that
when you know that it's not true?
It is, too, true.
I had lunch with Clark Gable.
I was at Perino's
and Clark was there and...
and we ate lunch together.
At different tables, but...
together doesn't necessarily mean...
Okay, okay, we got it, we got it.
Now, who else, who else did you tell
her
that you've been palling around with?
Well, uh, let's see-- Gary Cooper and
Bing...
and, oh, yes, I did mention Marlon
Brando.
Marlon Brando.
Did you see On The Waterfront?
Wonderful. He got the Academy Award,
you know.
Oh, dear, she says she's going to be
here two whole days
and wants to meet them all.
What am I gonna do? Hmm?
You don't even know
what I was going to ask you.
Whenever you get that tone in your
voice, the answer is no.
Oh...
Come on, Fred, we're late for our
golf date.
Let's go to the club.
Oh, come on now, Ricky.
I'll see you later.
Adios.
Bye.
LUCY: What am I gonna do?
I know she's probably on her way over
here right now
and I haven't even got an idea.
You think of something.
Listen, if Einstein can't work out a
problem,
you don't hand it to Mortimer Snerd.
But, Ethel, I'm desperate.
Well, I never have any good ideas.
Well, think!
Well, Van Johnson was asleep down by
the pool a while ago.
Van Johnson?
Yeah. I'll see if he's still there.
Yes, he's still there.
So?
Well...
we could go down and carry him up
here without waking him up.
And then we could put him on the
couch
and when Caroline gets here, we'll
say he's a friend of ours
and he just dropped by to take a nap.
Thank you, Mortimer Snerd.
Well...
Eesh!
Sheesh!
"Carry him up here without waking him
up."
"Just dropped by to take a nap."
(phone ringing)
Whew!
Hello?
Would you ask her to come up, please?
Thank you.
She's here.
What am I gonna do?
What am I gonna do?
Oh, Lucy, this is a tough one.
You know, she'll blab this all over
New York.
Yep.
Well, I guess for once
she's just gonna have to face the
music.
(fingers snapping)
I got it.
From up here, you can't tell
whether Van Johnson's asleep or not.
Now, listen, I'm going downstairs
and I'm going over by Van, I'm going
to sit down
and I'm going to pretend to be
talking to him.
You'll never know the difference,
see.
Now, when-when Caroline comes in,
you take her out on the balcony
and I'll see her and I'll wave
and-and you just tell her I'm down
there chatting
with one of my movie star friends,
see,
and then after I wave, I'll come on
up.
Oh, that's a great idea!
I'll go down the stairs while she's
coming up the elevator.
Give me time now to get out by the
pool.
Okay.
(no audio)
Oh, hi, Caroline.
Oh, Lucy!
Oh, how are you?
Fine, dear.
I'm, I'm sorry I'm late,
but I-I guess you saw me down by the
pool
chatting with Van Johnson.
No, she didn't.
What?
Oh, Lucy, I could just die.
I lost my glasses on the plane
and I can't see a thing without them.
So you didn't see us?
Well, I saw two redheaded blurs.
Ethel told me it was you and Van
Johnson.
Hmm... well, that's a shame.
Gee, that means that you didn't see
Clark Gable
or Walter Pidgeon or Hedy Lamarr.
They were all down by the pool.
They were?
Oh, yes.
Of course they were.
I should have pointed them out to
you, Caroline.
Well, it wouldn't have done any good
anyway.
You really can't see, huh?
Not a thing.
Oh, they're still there.
Hello, Clark. Hello, Walter.
Hello, Hedy.
Oh, let's go down and see them up
close.
Oh. Oh, well, good-bye, Clark.
Good-bye, Walter.
Bye, Hedy.
They're off to the races.
Oh...
Oh, my goodness, Lucy, I certainly am
impressed.
Wait till the girls back home hear
about this.
Yeah.
Uh, tell me,
what's Van Johnson really like?
Oh, he's just wonderful.
Just the greatest.
You know, he's appearing in a
nightclub here in the hotel.
Yeah, I know.
I'd love to see a show.
Oh, we see it almost every night.
Oh, yeah, we've seen it 14 times,
and does he work.
He rehearses two or three hours every
afternoon.
You know, um, Caroline,
Van and I have gotten very chummy.
Yes, as a matter of fact,
he asked me to, uh, rehearse with him
this afternoon.
What?! What?
Yeah, and, uh, you know, Caroline,
if you promise to be very quiet,
I could have Ethel sneak you in the
back of the ballroom,
and you could watch the rehearsal.
Oh, Lucy, you're a doll!
What time is rehearsal?
Uh, 2:00.
Oh, that's wonderful because I was
going to do some shopping
this afternoon, but I'll go out and
get done now,
and then I'll be back.
Oh, where is everything?
Well, bye.
Bye. Good-bye.
See you two.
Good-bye.
Bye.
Lucy, you had such a fascinating
little mind.
I kinda hate to see it go.
What do you mean telling Caroline
I could sneak her in the back...?
Well, bub-bub-bub-bup.
Now, Ethel, you've seen Van's act as
often as I have.
Now, what does his partner look like?
Well, she's tall, she's got red
hair...
And how far can Caroline see without
her glasses?
Well, she said she could only see
from about here to...
Oh...
Your little mind wasn't gone.
It was just catnapping.
Now, look, I'll hide over in your
apartment.
When Caroline comes back, you take
her down to the ballroom.
She'll see Van's partner, she'll
think it's me.
Bring her back up here.
I'll come in, all out of breath,
wiping my face with a towel.
Oh, you've done it again, champ.
How could you ever have doubted me?
I was a fool.
Hi, Ethel. I'm back.
Hi.
What are those?
What?
Those.
Oh, my glasses.
The airline's found them on the plane
and sent them over.
Isn't that wonderful?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, that's wonderful.
Uh... is, uh, Lucy rehearsing with
Van?
Oh, yes.
Well, then, let's go.
Uh, well, uh, uh, well,
I think I'll, uh, I want to make a
phone call.
I got to tell Fred something.
Oh.
Give me Room 317, please.
(ringing)
Hello.
Hello, Fred?
No, Fred isn't here right now.
This is Ethel, Fred.
Now, what's the matter with you,
Ethel? This is Lucy.
I know that, Fred.
I want to tell you something.
Caroline's here, and we're going
downstairs
to watch Lucy rehearse with Van
Johnson.
Oh, Caroline's there.
That's right, Fred,
and, uh, we thought maybe you'd like
to go along.
And if you do go along,
I want you to be sure and wear your
glasses
so you can see as good as Caroline
can.
Wh-Wh-What... my glass...
Caroline found her glasses?
You guessed it, Fred, old girl... uh,
boy.
Well, look, uh, uh, stall, stall.
Uh, give me 15 minutes before you
bring her down.
What are you gonna do?
I don't know, but I'll think of
something.
Okay, Fred.
Good-bye, Fred.
What's new, Caroline?
Uh, is, uh, Fred coming with us?
Fred who?
Oh, uh, oh, that Fred?
No, no, he's not going with us.
He had something he had to do.
Oh, well, then, let's go.
Go?
Oh, uh, down to watch them rehearse,
huh?
Yeah.
Well, okay, let's go.
Fred!
Hi, Caroline.
How are you?
I just came over here...
Oh, bless his little heart!
He came over to kiss me good-bye.
Well, good-bye, Fred.
Good-bye? Why, I just got home.
Well, we're just leaving.
I want to show her the hotel before
we watch them rehearse.
Come on, honey.
Hello, Marco.
Hey, Van.
I was pretty sloppy last night.
We'd better get down to work.
Where's Hazel?
She's not here yet.
That's funny.
She's usually on time.
Let's see what I was doing wrong with
that second number.
Take it from the top, Marco.
(piano playing lilting song)
I'm sorry, but I'm rehearsing.
Yes, sir, I know.
But nobody's allowed in here during
rehearsals.
Well, I know, I know, but, uh, well,
we don't have much time.
We don't?
Uh, no. No, you see, it's like this,
Mr. Johnson.
Uh... my name is Lucy Ricardo and...
and my husband is Ricky Ricardo and
he's in the movies, too,
or at least he will be real soon,
so we're all showbiz folks
and it isn't like...
it isn't like
some stranger coming up to you on the
street and asking a favor
and, uh, we really don't have much
time.
Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
Oh, no, that's impossible.
Now, look, Mr. Johnson, it's like
this:
I have this friend from New York
and I've been writing her from time
to time
and-and, uh, you know how it is.
I've been, I've been telling her
that, uh,
well, that I know a lot of movie
stars.
You know, anything to brighten up
their drab little lives.
Well, this friend of mine from New
York is out here
and, uh, I told her that I was
rehearsing with you
this afternoon and she'll be here any
minute.
Who's gonna be here any minute?
Caroline Appleby.
Who do you think?
You'll pardon me, madam, but you're
talking nutsy cuckoo.
Oh, no, no, Mr. Johnson.
I'm not... no, no.
I'm in a terrible jam.
Now, I know this is a lot to ask,
but I really do have a friend from
New York
and she's coming right here to see me
rehearse with you.
Please, couldn't I just do a few
steps with you?
I'm sorry, that's out of the
question.
Oh, please, Mr. Johnson!
Please.
I'll be eternally grateful.
I'll, I'll, I'll go see your next
picture three times.
I'll, I'll name my next child after
you if I have one.
If I don't, I'll, I'll,
I'll change the name of the one I
already have.
Please?
Will you please get up?
I understand your problem and I'd
like to help you...
Oh, thank you! Thank you!
But I can't.
Oh, Mr. Johnson...
Please? Caroline will blab it all
over New York.
Please say that I can do it.
Please say you'll help me.
Look, even if I say I would, uh...
uh...
you don't know any of my routines
and I don't have the time to...
Oh, oh, but I do.
I've seen your show 14 times.
Really?
Yeah.
Yes, I-I-I know how your, how your
partner makes the entrance.
Look, I'll show you.
See, she comes in here and you go...
Da da da dee dee dee
Da da da
And then she waits for you to sing
and I even know the patter in between
that she sings in the song.
No.
The little things
that she says in between.
Well, I'll be...
Yeah, well, can I do it, then?
Well...
Oh, please?
I'll do it.
Oh, thank you.
LUCY: Ah, bless your heart.
Now-- oh, there they are.
Uh, come on in.
Come in.
It's all right, Ethel.
LUCY: It's okay.
This is my friend.
VAN: Oh.
Mrs. Appleby, Mr. Johnson.
How do you do, Mrs. Appleby?
Oh, how do you do, Mr. Johnson?
And Mrs. Mertz.
How do you do, Mrs. Mertz?
Hello.
Sit down, Ethel.
Sit down.
LUCY: Now, uh, let's just get on with
the rehearsal.
They won't bother us.
Oh, uh, Lucy, Yes?
I'm not sure about that next routine.
You may have to tell me how it goes
again.
You're not sure?
Uh...
Oh.
Well, we-we-we come in,
make the entrance, you know, from
both sides
and then we just all...
together.
That's it, that's it.
Thank you.
(piano playing "How About You?"
intro)
I like New York in June
June?
How about you?
Well, it's kinda hot, isn't it?
I like a Gershwin tune
Gershwin?
How about you?
Well, I like 'em, but I can't sing
'em.
I like a fireside when the storm is
due
Who's gonna empty the ashes-- you?
I like potato chips
Moonlight and motor trips
How about you, dear?
I'm wild about good books
Good books?
Can't get my fill
What do you do, eat 'em?
And Greta Garbo's looks
Greta Garbo.
Give me a thrill
Did you see Camille?
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low
May not be new
Yeah, well...
But I like it
How about you?
Well, now you're talking, boy.
(Caroline laughing)
Oh, Lucy, this has been an afternoon
I will never forget.
Oh, it was nothing.
Oh, I just can't get over the way you
rub elbows
with all the celebrities out here.
(chuckles)
Well, that's true.
Our elbows are practically raw.
(laughing)
And wait till the girls hear
about you dancing with Van Johnson!
You be sure and tell 'em.
Oh, yes.
And all those movie stars I just
missed seeing this afternoon.
Mm...
When do you think you'll see them
again?
When are you leaving?
Tonight.
Oh, what a shame.
We're having a big open house here
tomorrow afternoon.
Maybe Charlie will let you stay.
No... no, I don't think there's a
chance.
These reservations were too hard to
get.
Yeah.
Well, it's a shame, Caroline,
because practically every star in
town will be here--
Cary Grant, mm... Walter Pidgeon and
Marlon and...
Oh! Well, at least I got to meet Van.
That's true, that's true.
ETHEL: Yeah.
Well, I guess I'd better say
good-bye.
Okay.
It's just been wonderful.
It's been nice seeing you, Caroline.
I'm so glad you came out here.
Oh, it was wonderful.
(all talking at once)
Hi, Caroline.
Hi.
How are you?
Hi, Caroline.
Good to see you.
Oh, yeah.
How's Charlie?
Oh, he's just wonderful
and I can't wait to see him
to tell him about Lucy dancing with
Van Johnson!
Isn't that nice?
Well, bye, everybody.
Bye.
FRED: Good-bye.
Good-bye.
(door closes)
LUCY: Oh, boy, I sure envy them going
to Honolulu.
Sounds like an awful lot of fun,
doesn't it?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but-but- but-but
wait a minute here.
There is something here that needs
'splaining.
What needs 'splaining?
What's this nonsense about you
dancing with Van Johnson?
It's not nonsense.
I did dance with Van Johnson.
She's told so many of those wild
stories,
she's beginning to believe them
herself.
No! I was there and I saw her.
Well, whatever Lucy's got, it's
catching.
It's true. I've van...
I danced with Van Johnson this
afternoon.
Now look, honey.
Wait a minute.
This is me, this is not Caroline.
(phone ringing)
You're talking to Ricky, remember?
Vance with dance? What is that?
She's gone completely...
Hello.
(chuckles)
Hello, Van.
How are you, boy?
It's funny that you happened to call
now because...
My wife?
Yeah.
Hello, Van.
What?
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Who, me?
Well, yes.
Yes, I'll be right down.
Bye.
Van's partner is ill
and he wants me to dance with him
tonight.
You?
Yes. I'm off to rehearsal.
Oh, isn't this gonna be exciting?
It'll be great for her.
How do I look?
Oh, grand, grand.
Oh, you look beautiful.
How do you feel?
You feel all right?
Sure. I feel fine.
Good. Now you're not gonna be nervous
or anything?
Of course she's not nervous.
Sure. Why should I be nervous?
Oh, nothing, nothing.
Uh, I guess you can, uh, jance,
uh, dance just as well alone with him
as out there in front of all those
people.
You're more nervous than I am.
Yes, I know it.
All those people?
Yeah.
Oh, now, Lucy, don't pay any
attention to Fred.
He doesn't make any sense.
The whole world's out there!
Oh, now, honey...
RICKY: Honey!
I've never seen so many people.
Everything all right?
Yeah, but-but there're all those
people out there.
So what? What's the difference?
What's the matter?
What happened?
Oh, thanks to bigmouth Mertz,
she's suddenly discovered there's a
big crowd out there.
So what, honey?
Well...
You don't have to worry about the big
crowd.
Now, look, honey, let me tell you
something.
Just-just think about this just like
it was a rehearsal.
You just go...
When you start dancing, you forget
about those people.
Sure.
Dancing is just dancing.
Just like a rehearsal?
Just like a rehearsal, honey.
Oh, look.
Isn't that beautiful?
Oh, yes, you look lovely.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah. You look nice and everything.
Sure, don't worry about it. You can
do it.
Okay.
Hi, Van. Well...
you all set, Lucy?
Yeah.
We're on in two minutes.
Okay.
Lucy's saving my life tonight, you
know.
It's a sellout. It's the biggest
crowd they've ever had.
That's right.
Biggest crowd they've ever had!
Yeah, that's all right, honey.
Biggest crowd they've ever had.
Honey, now, look, you'll be all
right.
I can't do it, honey.
Yes, you can.
You go to your table, I'll take care
of her.
Honey, I haven't had enough
rehearsal, I can't do it.
I haven't had enough rehearsal,
honey.
Honey, it's all right.
I only had a chance to go through it
twice.
I'm telling you, you have to think
it's just about...
I can't.
Come on, I'll help you.
I can't, honey.
I'll help you there.
You've got to go on.
Honey, I can't.
Honey, it's just like it was a
rehearsal.
EMCEE: Beverly Palms Hotel takes
great pride in presenting
Van Johnson and partner.
(applause)
("How About You?" intro playing)
I like New York in June
How about you?
I like a Gershwin tune
Gershwin?
How about you?
I-I don't know how to sing 'em.
I like a fireside when the storm is
due
Who's going to empty the ashes-- you?
I like potato chips
Moonlight and motor trips
Smile.
How about you, dear?
I'm wild about good books
Good books?
Can't get my fill
What do you do, eat 'em?
And Greta Garbo's looks
Greta Garbo?
Give me a thrill
Did you see Camille?
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low
May not be new
Yeah, well...
But I like it
How about you?
Now you're talking, boy.
Yes, sir.
(tempo picks up)
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low
May not be new
But I like it
How about you?
(applause)
You were wonderful, Lucy.
Thank you very much.
(gasps)
Oh...
Oh... whew!
Honey, you were wonderful!
Oh, Lucy! You were just wonderful!
I've never been so excited in my
life.
Wasn't she good?!
How about that!
You did it perfect!
Oh, thank you!
Oh, Lucy, you were wonderful!
Caroline, what are you doing here?
Well, I talked Charlie into going on
without me
and I'm taking another plane.
Another plane?
Why, yes. I just couldn't miss your
party tomorrow.
I'm going to stay over
and meet Clark and Bing and Cary.
Eww!
ANNOUNCER: Next week I Love Lucy will
be brought to you by
Lilt Home Permanents.
("I Love Lucy" theme song playing)
Caroline Appleby was played by Doris
Singleton
and Van Johnson portrayed himself.
Choreography by Peggy Carroll.
I Love Lucy is a Desilu Production.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
will be back next week at this same
time.
Hi.
-Hi.
-Hi.
Where's Lucy?
She went down to get the mail.
Oh, well, I'll wait for her.
Wouldn't she be the one to do
something like this?
What's the matter, honey?
Caroline Appleby gets in town today!
What are you so upset about?
It'll be wonderful to see Caroline
again.
Sure.
Well, ordinarily it would be, yes,
but somehow she's gotten the idea
that I'm surrounded by movie stars.
Uh-huh. Where did she get an idea
like that, I'm pretty sure.
Well, maybe in a letter
I-I did drop a name here and there.
Like, uh, who, for instance?
Well, uh, I told her
that I ate lunch with Clark Gable
last week.
Oh, fine.
Now, honey, why would you tell her
something like that
when you know that it's not true?
It is, too, true.
I had lunch with Clark Gable.
I was at Perino's
and Clark was there and...
and we ate lunch together.
At different tables, but...
together doesn't necessarily mean...
Okay, okay, we got it, we got it.
Now, who else, who else did you tell
her
that you've been palling around with?
Well, uh, let's see-- Gary Cooper and
Bing...
and, oh, yes, I did mention Marlon
Brando.
Marlon Brando.
Did you see On The Waterfront?
Wonderful. He got the Academy Award,
you know.
Oh, dear, she says she's going to be
here two whole days
and wants to meet them all.
What am I gonna do? Hmm?
You don't even know
what I was going to ask you.
Whenever you get that tone in your
voice, the answer is no.
Oh...
Come on, Fred, we're late for our
golf date.
Let's go to the club.
Oh, come on now, Ricky.
I'll see you later.
Adios.
Bye.
LUCY: What am I gonna do?
I know she's probably on her way over
here right now
and I haven't even got an idea.
You think of something.
Listen, if Einstein can't work out a
problem,
you don't hand it to Mortimer Snerd.
But, Ethel, I'm desperate.
Well, I never have any good ideas.
Well, think!
Well, Van Johnson was asleep down by
the pool a while ago.
Van Johnson?
Yeah. I'll see if he's still there.
Yes, he's still there.
So?
Well...
we could go down and carry him up
here without waking him up.
And then we could put him on the
couch
and when Caroline gets here, we'll
say he's a friend of ours
and he just dropped by to take a nap.
Thank you, Mortimer Snerd.
Well...
Eesh!
Sheesh!
"Carry him up here without waking him
up."
"Just dropped by to take a nap."
(phone ringing)
Whew!
Hello?
Would you ask her to come up, please?
Thank you.
She's here.
What am I gonna do?
What am I gonna do?
Oh, Lucy, this is a tough one.
You know, she'll blab this all over
New York.
Yep.
Well, I guess for once
she's just gonna have to face the
music.
(fingers snapping)
I got it.
From up here, you can't tell
whether Van Johnson's asleep or not.
Now, listen, I'm going downstairs
and I'm going over by Van, I'm going
to sit down
and I'm going to pretend to be
talking to him.
You'll never know the difference,
see.
Now, when-when Caroline comes in,
you take her out on the balcony
and I'll see her and I'll wave
and-and you just tell her I'm down
there chatting
with one of my movie star friends,
see,
and then after I wave, I'll come on
up.
Oh, that's a great idea!
I'll go down the stairs while she's
coming up the elevator.
Give me time now to get out by the
pool.
Okay.
(no audio)
Oh, hi, Caroline.
Oh, Lucy!
Oh, how are you?
Fine, dear.
I'm, I'm sorry I'm late,
but I-I guess you saw me down by the
pool
chatting with Van Johnson.
No, she didn't.
What?
Oh, Lucy, I could just die.
I lost my glasses on the plane
and I can't see a thing without them.
So you didn't see us?
Well, I saw two redheaded blurs.
Ethel told me it was you and Van
Johnson.
Hmm... well, that's a shame.
Gee, that means that you didn't see
Clark Gable
or Walter Pidgeon or Hedy Lamarr.
They were all down by the pool.
They were?
Oh, yes.
Of course they were.
I should have pointed them out to
you, Caroline.
Well, it wouldn't have done any good
anyway.
You really can't see, huh?
Not a thing.
Oh, they're still there.
Hello, Clark. Hello, Walter.
Hello, Hedy.
Oh, let's go down and see them up
close.
Oh. Oh, well, good-bye, Clark.
Good-bye, Walter.
Bye, Hedy.
They're off to the races.
Oh...
Oh, my goodness, Lucy, I certainly am
impressed.
Wait till the girls back home hear
about this.
Yeah.
Uh, tell me,
what's Van Johnson really like?
Oh, he's just wonderful.
Just the greatest.
You know, he's appearing in a
nightclub here in the hotel.
Yeah, I know.
I'd love to see a show.
Oh, we see it almost every night.
Oh, yeah, we've seen it 14 times,
and does he work.
He rehearses two or three hours every
afternoon.
You know, um, Caroline,
Van and I have gotten very chummy.
Yes, as a matter of fact,
he asked me to, uh, rehearse with him
this afternoon.
What?! What?
Yeah, and, uh, you know, Caroline,
if you promise to be very quiet,
I could have Ethel sneak you in the
back of the ballroom,
and you could watch the rehearsal.
Oh, Lucy, you're a doll!
What time is rehearsal?
Uh, 2:00.
Oh, that's wonderful because I was
going to do some shopping
this afternoon, but I'll go out and
get done now,
and then I'll be back.
Oh, where is everything?
Well, bye.
Bye. Good-bye.
See you two.
Good-bye.
Bye.
Lucy, you had such a fascinating
little mind.
I kinda hate to see it go.
What do you mean telling Caroline
I could sneak her in the back...?
Well, bub-bub-bub-bup.
Now, Ethel, you've seen Van's act as
often as I have.
Now, what does his partner look like?
Well, she's tall, she's got red
hair...
And how far can Caroline see without
her glasses?
Well, she said she could only see
from about here to...
Oh...
Your little mind wasn't gone.
It was just catnapping.
Now, look, I'll hide over in your
apartment.
When Caroline comes back, you take
her down to the ballroom.
She'll see Van's partner, she'll
think it's me.
Bring her back up here.
I'll come in, all out of breath,
wiping my face with a towel.
Oh, you've done it again, champ.
How could you ever have doubted me?
I was a fool.
Hi, Ethel. I'm back.
Hi.
What are those?
What?
Those.
Oh, my glasses.
The airline's found them on the plane
and sent them over.
Isn't that wonderful?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, that's wonderful.
Uh... is, uh, Lucy rehearsing with
Van?
Oh, yes.
Well, then, let's go.
Uh, well, uh, uh, well,
I think I'll, uh, I want to make a
phone call.
I got to tell Fred something.
Oh.
Give me Room 317, please.
(ringing)
Hello.
Hello, Fred?
No, Fred isn't here right now.
This is Ethel, Fred.
Now, what's the matter with you,
Ethel? This is Lucy.
I know that, Fred.
I want to tell you something.
Caroline's here, and we're going
downstairs
to watch Lucy rehearse with Van
Johnson.
Oh, Caroline's there.
That's right, Fred,
and, uh, we thought maybe you'd like
to go along.
And if you do go along,
I want you to be sure and wear your
glasses
so you can see as good as Caroline
can.
Wh-Wh-What... my glass...
Caroline found her glasses?
You guessed it, Fred, old girl... uh,
boy.
Well, look, uh, uh, stall, stall.
Uh, give me 15 minutes before you
bring her down.
What are you gonna do?
I don't know, but I'll think of
something.
Okay, Fred.
Good-bye, Fred.
What's new, Caroline?
Uh, is, uh, Fred coming with us?
Fred who?
Oh, uh, oh, that Fred?
No, no, he's not going with us.
He had something he had to do.
Oh, well, then, let's go.
Go?
Oh, uh, down to watch them rehearse,
huh?
Yeah.
Well, okay, let's go.
Fred!
Hi, Caroline.
How are you?
I just came over here...
Oh, bless his little heart!
He came over to kiss me good-bye.
Well, good-bye, Fred.
Good-bye? Why, I just got home.
Well, we're just leaving.
I want to show her the hotel before
we watch them rehearse.
Come on, honey.
Hello, Marco.
Hey, Van.
I was pretty sloppy last night.
We'd better get down to work.
Where's Hazel?
She's not here yet.
That's funny.
She's usually on time.
Let's see what I was doing wrong with
that second number.
Take it from the top, Marco.
(piano playing lilting song)
I'm sorry, but I'm rehearsing.
Yes, sir, I know.
But nobody's allowed in here during
rehearsals.
Well, I know, I know, but, uh, well,
we don't have much time.
We don't?
Uh, no. No, you see, it's like this,
Mr. Johnson.
Uh... my name is Lucy Ricardo and...
and my husband is Ricky Ricardo and
he's in the movies, too,
or at least he will be real soon,
so we're all showbiz folks
and it isn't like...
it isn't like
some stranger coming up to you on the
street and asking a favor
and, uh, we really don't have much
time.
Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
Oh, no, that's impossible.
Now, look, Mr. Johnson, it's like
this:
I have this friend from New York
and I've been writing her from time
to time
and-and, uh, you know how it is.
I've been, I've been telling her
that, uh,
well, that I know a lot of movie
stars.
You know, anything to brighten up
their drab little lives.
Well, this friend of mine from New
York is out here
and, uh, I told her that I was
rehearsing with you
this afternoon and she'll be here any
minute.
Who's gonna be here any minute?
Caroline Appleby.
Who do you think?
You'll pardon me, madam, but you're
talking nutsy cuckoo.
Oh, no, no, Mr. Johnson.
I'm not... no, no.
I'm in a terrible jam.
Now, I know this is a lot to ask,
but I really do have a friend from
New York
and she's coming right here to see me
rehearse with you.
Please, couldn't I just do a few
steps with you?
I'm sorry, that's out of the
question.
Oh, please, Mr. Johnson!
Please.
I'll be eternally grateful.
I'll, I'll, I'll go see your next
picture three times.
I'll, I'll name my next child after
you if I have one.
If I don't, I'll, I'll,
I'll change the name of the one I
already have.
Please?
Will you please get up?
I understand your problem and I'd
like to help you...
Oh, thank you! Thank you!
But I can't.
Oh, Mr. Johnson...
Please? Caroline will blab it all
over New York.
Please say that I can do it.
Please say you'll help me.
Look, even if I say I would, uh...
uh...
you don't know any of my routines
and I don't have the time to...
Oh, oh, but I do.
I've seen your show 14 times.
Really?
Yeah.
Yes, I-I-I know how your, how your
partner makes the entrance.
Look, I'll show you.
See, she comes in here and you go...
Da da da dee dee dee
Da da da
And then she waits for you to sing
and I even know the patter in between
that she sings in the song.
No.
The little things
that she says in between.
Well, I'll be...
Yeah, well, can I do it, then?
Well...
Oh, please?
I'll do it.
Oh, thank you.
LUCY: Ah, bless your heart.
Now-- oh, there they are.
Uh, come on in.
Come in.
It's all right, Ethel.
LUCY: It's okay.
This is my friend.
VAN: Oh.
Mrs. Appleby, Mr. Johnson.
How do you do, Mrs. Appleby?
Oh, how do you do, Mr. Johnson?
And Mrs. Mertz.
How do you do, Mrs. Mertz?
Hello.
Sit down, Ethel.
Sit down.
LUCY: Now, uh, let's just get on with
the rehearsal.
They won't bother us.
Oh, uh, Lucy, Yes?
I'm not sure about that next routine.
You may have to tell me how it goes
again.
You're not sure?
Uh...
Oh.
Well, we-we-we come in,
make the entrance, you know, from
both sides
and then we just all...
together.
That's it, that's it.
Thank you.
(piano playing "How About You?"
intro)
I like New York in June
June?
How about you?
Well, it's kinda hot, isn't it?
I like a Gershwin tune
Gershwin?
How about you?
Well, I like 'em, but I can't sing
'em.
I like a fireside when the storm is
due
Who's gonna empty the ashes-- you?
I like potato chips
Moonlight and motor trips
How about you, dear?
I'm wild about good books
Good books?
Can't get my fill
What do you do, eat 'em?
And Greta Garbo's looks
Greta Garbo.
Give me a thrill
Did you see Camille?
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low
May not be new
Yeah, well...
But I like it
How about you?
Well, now you're talking, boy.
(Caroline laughing)
Oh, Lucy, this has been an afternoon
I will never forget.
Oh, it was nothing.
Oh, I just can't get over the way you
rub elbows
with all the celebrities out here.
(chuckles)
Well, that's true.
Our elbows are practically raw.
(laughing)
And wait till the girls hear
about you dancing with Van Johnson!
You be sure and tell 'em.
Oh, yes.
And all those movie stars I just
missed seeing this afternoon.
Mm...
When do you think you'll see them
again?
When are you leaving?
Tonight.
Oh, what a shame.
We're having a big open house here
tomorrow afternoon.
Maybe Charlie will let you stay.
No... no, I don't think there's a
chance.
These reservations were too hard to
get.
Yeah.
Well, it's a shame, Caroline,
because practically every star in
town will be here--
Cary Grant, mm... Walter Pidgeon and
Marlon and...
Oh! Well, at least I got to meet Van.
That's true, that's true.
ETHEL: Yeah.
Well, I guess I'd better say
good-bye.
Okay.
It's just been wonderful.
It's been nice seeing you, Caroline.
I'm so glad you came out here.
Oh, it was wonderful.
(all talking at once)
Hi, Caroline.
Hi.
How are you?
Hi, Caroline.
Good to see you.
Oh, yeah.
How's Charlie?
Oh, he's just wonderful
and I can't wait to see him
to tell him about Lucy dancing with
Van Johnson!
Isn't that nice?
Well, bye, everybody.
Bye.
FRED: Good-bye.
Good-bye.
(door closes)
LUCY: Oh, boy, I sure envy them going
to Honolulu.
Sounds like an awful lot of fun,
doesn't it?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but-but- but-but
wait a minute here.
There is something here that needs
'splaining.
What needs 'splaining?
What's this nonsense about you
dancing with Van Johnson?
It's not nonsense.
I did dance with Van Johnson.
She's told so many of those wild
stories,
she's beginning to believe them
herself.
No! I was there and I saw her.
Well, whatever Lucy's got, it's
catching.
It's true. I've van...
I danced with Van Johnson this
afternoon.
Now look, honey.
Wait a minute.
This is me, this is not Caroline.
(phone ringing)
You're talking to Ricky, remember?
Vance with dance? What is that?
She's gone completely...
Hello.
(chuckles)
Hello, Van.
How are you, boy?
It's funny that you happened to call
now because...
My wife?
Yeah.
Hello, Van.
What?
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Who, me?
Well, yes.
Yes, I'll be right down.
Bye.
Van's partner is ill
and he wants me to dance with him
tonight.
You?
Yes. I'm off to rehearsal.
Oh, isn't this gonna be exciting?
It'll be great for her.
How do I look?
Oh, grand, grand.
Oh, you look beautiful.
How do you feel?
You feel all right?
Sure. I feel fine.
Good. Now you're not gonna be nervous
or anything?
Of course she's not nervous.
Sure. Why should I be nervous?
Oh, nothing, nothing.
Uh, I guess you can, uh, jance,
uh, dance just as well alone with him
as out there in front of all those
people.
You're more nervous than I am.
Yes, I know it.
All those people?
Yeah.
Oh, now, Lucy, don't pay any
attention to Fred.
He doesn't make any sense.
The whole world's out there!
Oh, now, honey...
RICKY: Honey!
I've never seen so many people.
Everything all right?
Yeah, but-but there're all those
people out there.
So what? What's the difference?
What's the matter?
What happened?
Oh, thanks to bigmouth Mertz,
she's suddenly discovered there's a
big crowd out there.
So what, honey?
Well...
You don't have to worry about the big
crowd.
Now, look, honey, let me tell you
something.
Just-just think about this just like
it was a rehearsal.
You just go...
When you start dancing, you forget
about those people.
Sure.
Dancing is just dancing.
Just like a rehearsal?
Just like a rehearsal, honey.
Oh, look.
Isn't that beautiful?
Oh, yes, you look lovely.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah. You look nice and everything.
Sure, don't worry about it. You can
do it.
Okay.
Hi, Van. Well...
you all set, Lucy?
Yeah.
We're on in two minutes.
Okay.
Lucy's saving my life tonight, you
know.
It's a sellout. It's the biggest
crowd they've ever had.
That's right.
Biggest crowd they've ever had!
Yeah, that's all right, honey.
Biggest crowd they've ever had.
Honey, now, look, you'll be all
right.
I can't do it, honey.
Yes, you can.
You go to your table, I'll take care
of her.
Honey, I haven't had enough
rehearsal, I can't do it.
I haven't had enough rehearsal,
honey.
Honey, it's all right.
I only had a chance to go through it
twice.
I'm telling you, you have to think
it's just about...
I can't.
Come on, I'll help you.
I can't, honey.
I'll help you there.
You've got to go on.
Honey, I can't.
Honey, it's just like it was a
rehearsal.
EMCEE: Beverly Palms Hotel takes
great pride in presenting
Van Johnson and partner.
(applause)
("How About You?" intro playing)
I like New York in June
How about you?
I like a Gershwin tune
Gershwin?
How about you?
I-I don't know how to sing 'em.
I like a fireside when the storm is
due
Who's going to empty the ashes-- you?
I like potato chips
Moonlight and motor trips
Smile.
How about you, dear?
I'm wild about good books
Good books?
Can't get my fill
What do you do, eat 'em?
And Greta Garbo's looks
Greta Garbo?
Give me a thrill
Did you see Camille?
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low
May not be new
Yeah, well...
But I like it
How about you?
Now you're talking, boy.
Yes, sir.
(tempo picks up)
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low
May not be new
But I like it
How about you?
(applause)
You were wonderful, Lucy.
Thank you very much.
(gasps)
Oh...
Oh... whew!
Honey, you were wonderful!
Oh, Lucy! You were just wonderful!
I've never been so excited in my
life.
Wasn't she good?!
How about that!
You did it perfect!
Oh, thank you!
Oh, Lucy, you were wonderful!
Caroline, what are you doing here?
Well, I talked Charlie into going on
without me
and I'm taking another plane.
Another plane?
Why, yes. I just couldn't miss your
party tomorrow.
I'm going to stay over
and meet Clark and Bing and Cary.
Eww!
ANNOUNCER: Next week I Love Lucy will
be brought to you by
Lilt Home Permanents.
("I Love Lucy" theme song playing)
Caroline Appleby was played by Doris
Singleton
and Van Johnson portrayed himself.
Choreography by Peggy Carroll.
I Love Lucy is a Desilu Production.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
will be back next week at this same
time.