I Love Lucy (1951–1957): Season 5, Episode 8 - Lucy Goes to the Rodeo - full transcript
Lucy works on a rodeo act to fill in for Ricky at the talent show for Fred's lodge.
("I Love Lucy" theme song playing)
ANNOUNCER: And now, "I Love Lucy."
(applause)
(theme song fading out)
What you doing, honey?
Filling out my 'gagement book.
Your 'gagement book?
Mm-hmm.
Let me see it.
(whistles)
Look at all those 'gagements.
I hope you left some time for me.
Oh, sure, honey.
I wouldn't forget you.
See? Let me see.
Right here.
"February 2."
"Kiss Lucy."
February 2 happens to be Groundhog
Day.
Did you ever kiss a groundhog?
No.
Hey, I didn't know what I was
missing.
Oh, fine.
I'm going to get back in my hole.
I'll see you in February.
Hi, Rick.
Hi.
Oh, hi. Hi.
How you feeling?
Fine, thanks.
Everything's going all right, huh?
Great. Thanks, Fred.
How's Lucy?
She's fine, Fred.
She's in there with little Ricky.
Oh, yeah?
What's on your mind, Fred?
Mind? Well, nothing.
Oh, Fred, go ahead and ask him.
Oh, now, wait a minute, Ethel.
Just hold your horses.
I know how busy you are, Rick,
And well...
well, you are.
There ain't many guys as nice as you.
Oh, boy.
You're a prince!
Fred, what do you want?
What do you mean what do I want?
Oh, Fred, he has to put on a show for
his lodge,
and he wants to know if you'll be in
it for him.
Why, sure, Fred, I'd love to.
You see, Ethel?
I told you all I had to do was ask
him.
Oh, fine.
Oh, boy, what a feather in my cap.
At the election,
I'll be a cinch for sergeant at arms.
(chuckling)
What night is it?
Uh, next Friday.
Oh, I'm sorry, Fred.
I can't do it next Friday.
Oh, you're sure?
Yeah. I'd rather do your show,
but, you see, I'm...
I'm booked to do a radio program that
night.
Oh, well, it looks like
he won't be the next sergeant at
arms.
Well, doggone, I'm not gonna be
flag-bearer again.
I doubt if they'll want you
to be flag-bearer again with that
pot.
The last time they marched down Fifth
Avenue,
the flag was two blocks ahead of the
parade.
Aah! Can't you get out of it, Rick?
Yeah, I wish I could, Fred, but I
can't.
It's a commitment.
Now what am I gonna do?
I got to put a show together.
Oh, I wish I could help you out.
Did I hear someone say
that they had to get a show together?
ETHEL: Lucy, you were way out in
Little Ricky's room.
How did you hear him say that?
Listen, when it comes to hearing
about show business,
Lucy has a special sense--
something that the Navy later
developed and called radar.
Oh... How about it, Fred, you need
some talent
in the show, huh?
Can I be in it?
Now, wait, wait a minute.
Can I...?
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute, will you?
Let me get comfortable.
I'm going to enjoy
watching this happening to somebody
else.
Go on.
Oh...!
Go ahead!
Can I, Fred, Can I be
in the show, please?
(cackling)
Will you be quiet now!
Fred, look, I know there's something
I could do
for the lodge show, I know there is.
Can I be in it, can I?
Okay, Lucy, I'll take you.
Oh, Fred, thank you!
Mmm... Thank you!
Now, that's the kind of appreciation
I like.
Ha, ha, ha!
Can I be in the show, too?
Yep.
Oh, Fred, thank yo...
What kind of show did you have in
mind?
Well, I don't know.
It's for my lodge brothers.
I know just exactly the kind of show
that your lodge brothers would like
to see.
So do I, but you can't do that kind
of a show.
What's the matter with an operetta?
Oh, an operetta!
And I could sing.
The one we did at the women's club.
The one we did at the club.
"Lily of the Valley."
La da dee la
Of the valley...
Wouldn't that be fun?
Yeah, wouldn't it be fun?
La da dee la...
Are you kidding?
They'll throw you out of that place
if they do a show like that.
Lucy...
I got it. I got my act for Fred's
lodge show.
It's just the gypsy in my soul.
Well, just forget it.
Fred's got What? another idea.
He just called. He'll be here any
minute.
What are we gonna do now?
He didn't say.
He's out having lunch with some old
crony of his again.
Another old crony?
Where does he dig 'em up?
I don't know.
I think somebody put Fred on the old
crony mailing list.
(guffawing)
Hi, kids.
Oh, hi.
Hi, Fred.
Well, our troubles are over.
Oh.
Meet, uh, Rattlesnake Jones.
Rattlesnake, my wife Ethel and Lucy
Ricardo.
How do you do?
How do you do?
You know, Fred, you always did have a
good eye
for a young heifer.
Glad to know you, Mrs. Mertz.
I'm Mrs. Mertz.
Oh, excuse me.
Well, the heifer part still goes.
Now, Fred.
Honey, I'm just kidding.
Yeah, he's quite a kidder.
Yeah. Sit down, everybody. Sit down.
You say you got a new idea for the
show, huh, Fred?
Yeah. Well, uh, Rattlesnake is in
town to see the rodeo
at Madison Square Garden.
Uh-huh.
His kid brother's in the show.
Is that so?
Oh, that's nice.
He's going to help us put together
a Western show for my lodge.
A Western show!
A Western show! Yeah.
Well, that's great, ain't it,
partner?
You said it, Red.
Yeah, boy.
Well, we gotta get going.
We ain't got much time here.
Let me see what kind of talent we got
around here.
Say, Fred, uh, can you and your
missus,
can y'all do a Western number?
Oh, I'll say we can.
We did "Birmingham Jail" once.
Yeah. "Birmingham Jail"?
You want to hear it? Let me hear
it.
Come on, Fred. Yeah.
Ta ta tum Ba ba ba ba bum
Send me a letter
Oh, send it by mail
Send it in care of
The Birmingham Jail...
(whistling)
Oh, send me...
Wait, wait.
What's the matter?
That's a Western song,
and y'all are doing it Eastern.
FRED: What do you mean?
ETHEL: What's the difference?
Western music, you gotta take your
time.
Now, you was rushing through that
song
like your britches was on fire.
Well, we can sing it slower.
Yeah, we'll slow it up.
Yeah, you gotta slow it up a little
bit.
You know what you gotta do?
You gotta take your time on it
and you really gotta make it sound
sad.
Sounded pretty sad to me.
And I'll tell you what to do.
Give it to me again this time.
And when I bend...
Just bend them notes a little bit.
"Bend them notes," what do you mean?
Bend 'em, just bend...
When I move my hand
down like that, bend them.
Oh, that way.
RATTLESNAKE: That's right.
ETHEL: Oh, we can do that.
Yeah, we can try.
Now, make it sad.
Real sad, huh? Yes, ma'am.
Bum... bum... bum...
bum... bum... bum...
Send... me... a... let-ter
Send... it... by... ma-il...
Send.... it...
in.... care... of...
The... Birmingham...
jail-il-il-il...
Oh, we can do that.
That's it, that's it.
Now, that's it.
Okay.
We'll do that.
All right.
Can't go wrong on that there.
Now, little lady...
What you aiming to do?
I'm aiming to do anything you aim at
me.
Well, what we need, we need a pretty
girl
that can sing a song and yodel.
Well, then you can just stop looking.
Oh, Lucy, you can't yodel.
Well, if you're gonna be technical,
she can't sing either.
You just pay them no never mind,
Rattle.
They don't know everything about me.
All right, then give me a little
touch
of yodeling and singing, then.
All right, um...
Ah, ah, oh, oh, oh
Oh... oh....
(singing off-key): Give me a home
Where the buffalo roam
And the deer and the antelope play
Yodel, yodel, yodel
And seldom is heard
A discouraging word
(whistling)
And the skies...
What's the matter?
You're about to hear
your first discouraging word.
Well, now, I know my yodeling's a
little rusty
but how about my singing?
You're about to hear
your second discouraging word.
Oh...
Wait a minute.
Now, there must be something we can
do with that voice.
Well, I can make a few suggestions.
Now, Fred!
Now, listen, little lady,
all you got to remember that us
Western folks,
we always sing through our noses
right here.
Oh, you do?
Yep. It keeps the prairie dust out
our lungs.
Oh, is that right?
Now, this time, give it to me
and really whine it out.
Okay.
I will. Whine it.
Mm. Yeah. Oh...
(singing through nose :)
Oh, give me a home
Where the buffalo roam
And the deer and the antelope play
Yodel, yodel, yodel...
How's that?
Can you spin a rope?
No.
Well, can you play a fiddle or-or-or
a steel guitar?
No.
I don't know, little lady.
You just don't seem to be the
Western-type entertainer.
Oh, I'm not the Eastern-type
entertainer either.
I'm just an all-American flop.
Aw, now, honey.
You gotta to think up something for
her to do,
'cause Fred promised her she could be
in the show.
Yes, I did.
Well, I got it.
Say, I know an act you can do.
What is it?
I'll do anything.
All you got to know is your right
hand from your left.
My right hand from my left.
Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
I know. I know.
(muttering)
Ah. This is my left hand!
Good girl!
The idea of this act--
to make tune on bells.
Like a Swiss bell ringer.
No, like a Western bell ringer.
Oh.
Now, you take these bells
Yeah.
and you tie 'em all over you.
All over you?
Yeah, and then you start jingling a
little tune.
Uh-huh.
Yeeng...
Yeeng, yeeng, re-reeng...
We-re-weeng...
Oh, she can do that.
I'll be able to do that.
All you gotta do
is to play the right note with the
bell.
Yeah, I'll be able to do that.
...mill stream
Where I first... met... you
Down by the
Old... mill...
Stream
Where... I... first...
Met...
You...
Down by the old...
Hi, honey.
Oh, hi, dear.
Hi, sweetie.
Dinner ready?
Not yet, but soon.
Okay.
(humming)
(humming)
Lucy...
Yeah?
What are you doing?
Rehearsing.
Oh.
Rehearsing?!
Yeah, for the act
I'm going to do at Fred's lodge.
Oh.
Lucy, you can't do that kind of an
act.
Ricky, I'm gonna have bells tied all
over me
and I'm going to jiggle a tune.
You know, I've been married to you so
long
that that sounds logical.
It's gonna be the hit of the show,
now, you see.
Hmm, hmm, ho, ho, ho...
Would you mind stop rehearsing long
enough
to jiggle me some dinner?
Okay.
(humming)
You'd better make it scrambled eggs.
Hey, your agent called.
I forgot to tell you.
He wants you to call him.
Johnny?
Yeah.
(phone ringing)
Johnny Clark speaking.
Hello, Johnny, this is Ricky.
You called me?
Yeah. I just wanted to check on what
numbers you're gonna do
Friday night on the Western show?
Western show? What Western show?
Well, don't you remember?
I asked you to get together a program
for the rodeo.
Yeah?
Well?
What's that got to do with a Western
show?!
Oh, no!
Don't you know what a rodeo is?
Of course I know what it is.
It's a little box, and it has a dial
and out of it comes music
and football games and all that
stuff.
Not radio, rodeo.
Rodeo is a big Western show with
horses and cowboys.
Oh, are you crazy or something?
I can't do that.
I got a rumba band.
You want to be sued for breach of
contract?
Well, I don't...
Breach of contract?
Fine. I knew you wouldn't disappoint
your public.
I'll tell them everything's all set.
Good-bye.
Mira, que tiene cosa de decirle a
esta gente mira...
(grumbling)
What's the matter, honey?
What's the matter?
I'll tell you what's the matter.
I'm going back to Cuba where the
language makes some sense.
You Americans sure have a funny way
of talking.
We have a funny way of talking?
Yeah. You know that radio show I was
supposed to do?
Yeah?
It turned out to be a rodeo.
Oh, no!
Oh, yeah.
Now I got to put a whole Western show
in two days.
Well, what do you know?
A Western show.
Yeah. I'd never been in such a mess
in my life.
You never had it so good.
What are you talking about?
If I was a Western snake, I'd bite
you.
I got to go back to Cuba.
No, no, listen.
Ricky, Ricky, the show we're gonna do
for Fred's lodge is a Western show.
Oh, now, honey, now, come on.
Look, it's a natural.
You need a Western show, we got a
Western show.
It's heaven-sent.
Well, send it back.
Now, Ricky,
you'd better think twice about this.
Now, honey, I got a lot of work to
do.
I got to call some agents and see if
they've got some
Western acts in town.
Now, don't...
(grumbling)
Hello, Harry?
Look, this is Ricky.
Look, they've booked me
into a Western show,
and I want to know if I can get some
Western acts from you.
Yes.
What about Tex Ritter?
He's out of town.
What about that, uh, fellow, that
Gabby Hayes?
He's very good. No.
RICKY: Well, how about that fellow
that plays Wyatt Earp?
You know, O'Brien.
Oh. Well, look, I-I know that the
rodeo
is booked into the Garden for two
weeks,
but there must be some Western acts
around
that are not at the Garden.
You couldn't get anybody at all?
Uh, all right.
Thanks for trying. Bye.
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Wait a minute!!
Wait till you hear the rest of it
before you turn us down.
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay...
Yahoo!
I am not going to turn you down.
You're not?
No. After I found out
that I can't get anybody else,
you're beginning to look pretty good
to me.
You mean you'll take us?
I'm afraid so.
(clamoring)
I've already had a wonderful act.
Well, there's one thing
that I like real good about your act.
What's that?
It won't cost me any money.
Fellow Western performers who are the
only ones available,
may I see you for a minute?
About that Western show you need so
badly,
I am afraid we have other
commitments.
Uh, yes.
Fred's lodge show is that night.
Of course, we can postpone the lodge
show
if the price was right.
All right, all right.
I know when I'm hooked.
How much do you want?
How much will you pay?
How much do you want?
You go first.
All right.
I'll give you $25.
We'll take $100.
Twenty-five.
A hundred.
Twenty-five.
We'll take it.
All right, all right, come on.
Call that fellow...
I'll get him right away.
Frank call him right away.
We got two days to do this, you know?
Madison Square Garden!
In two days we got to put the whole
thing.
(laughing uncontrollably)
What are you laughing at?
You will probably be the first Cuban
cowboy
that ever hit Madison Square Garden.
ETHEL (laughing): A Cuban cowboy!
Well, it so happens that I was born
West Havana.
No kidding.
Well.
That's correct,
and I also know how this cowboy talk
goes.
Oh, really? Well, give us a little
sample.
Well, it goes something like this.
They said something like, uh...
"Howdy, pardner.
"I reckon I mosey along down yonder
and saddle up Old Paint."
Muzzy along dun yonner and sall up
Ole Pain.
Oh, brother.
Some cowboy.
Well, I'd like to hear Roy Rogers
sing "Babalu."
(applause)
(band playing flourish)
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
This is Doye O'Dell again
and I want to tell all of you folks
that we have a great treat in store
for you here at the rodeo tonight.
A new MGM star--
in fact, a great singing cowboy
star-- Ricky Ricardo,
and I want to tell you that he
brought along
his whole rootin'-tootin' gang.
So, here he is, Ricky Ricardo.
(rousing musical introduction,
applause)
They call me Texas Pete
I'm the king of the western beat
When I play my gee-tar, I go
yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay
A-ha!
(band answers with "a-ha")
Yes, sir, I'm Texas Pete
And I sweep the gals off'n their feet
When I start to twang, everything
goes
Yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay
A-ha!
So little darlin'
I know that you will like the yippee
yahoo
'Cause it's the dance of western
romance
And Texas Pete doesn't teach you in a
hurry
Like Hop Along Murray
You're out on the range
So don't be strange...
Hold it there, men.
I think I lost something here.
There we go, folks.
So everybody dance
Grab a gal and commence to prance
And I'll teach you to yippee-ki-yay
Yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay
Yip, yip, yip, yippee-ki-yay
Yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay.
Yahoo!
(applause)
Thank you, everybody.
(applause continues)
Thank you, thank you.
Folks, I want to tell you that I'm
sure happy
to be here with you'uns tonight,
and it is my pleasure to introduce to
you
two lovable darlins from the West--
Fred and little Ethel Mae Mertz
and they're gonna sing for you
their version of "Red River Valley."
Let's bring them on, folks.
What you say? Bring them on.
(musical introduction, applause)
From this valley they say you are
leaving
I shall miss your bright eyes and
sweet smile
For you take with you all of the
sunshine
That has brightened my life for a
while
Listen to the mockingbird
(harmonizing): Ha, ha
Listen to the mockingbird
Ha, ha
Ha... ha...
He's singing of the coming
Of the day Ha...
From this valley (yodeling in
harmony)
They say you are leaving (yodeling)
I shall miss your bright eyes
(yodeling)
And sweet smile (yodeling)
For you take with you
(yodeling)
All of the sunshine (yodeling)
That has brightened (yodeling)
My life for a while. (yodeling)
(song ends, but musical reprise
continues; applause)
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
Well, so while they're getting all
changed
for the grand finale,
which, by the way, is gonna feature
Miss Lucy, uh, "Cannonball"
McGillicuddy
and all of her famous Western
Bell-Ringers,
why, I would like to do you a little
cowboy song
called "The Old Chisholm Trail."
Come along, boys, and listen to my
tale
I'll tell you my troubles on the Old
Chisholm Trail
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
On a ten-dollar horse and a
forty-dollar saddle
I started punchin' Texas cattle
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Well, I went to the boss to draw my
roll
And he figured me out nine dollars in
the hole
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Oh, a stray in the herd and the boss
said kill it
So I hit it in the neck with a
long-handled skillet
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Well, it's cloudy in the West and
lookin' like rain
And my doggone slicker's in the wagon
again
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
I'll sell my outfit soon as I can
And I won't punch cows fer no man
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay.
(thunderous applause)
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, here they
are--
Lucy "Cannonball" McGillicuddy
and all of her famous Western
Bell-Ringers
in their version of "Down By The Old
Mill Stream."
(musical introduction playing)
(ringing bells to melody)
(bells ringing melodiously)
(bells ringing rhythmically)
(band joining in for finale)
(band stops playing)
(bells ringing)
(band playing finale)
(band resumes playing upbeat music,
applause)
Yeah!
Yeah!
(applause continues)
("I Love Lucy" theme song playing)
ANNOUNCER: Mark "Rattlesnake" Jones
was played by Dub Taylor,
Johnny Clark was played by John
Gallaudet,
and the master of ceremonies was
played by Doye O'Dell;
choreography by Jack Baker.
"I Love Lucy" is a Desilu Production.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
will be back next week at the same
time.
ANNOUNCER: And now, "I Love Lucy."
(applause)
(theme song fading out)
What you doing, honey?
Filling out my 'gagement book.
Your 'gagement book?
Mm-hmm.
Let me see it.
(whistles)
Look at all those 'gagements.
I hope you left some time for me.
Oh, sure, honey.
I wouldn't forget you.
See? Let me see.
Right here.
"February 2."
"Kiss Lucy."
February 2 happens to be Groundhog
Day.
Did you ever kiss a groundhog?
No.
Hey, I didn't know what I was
missing.
Oh, fine.
I'm going to get back in my hole.
I'll see you in February.
Hi, Rick.
Hi.
Oh, hi. Hi.
How you feeling?
Fine, thanks.
Everything's going all right, huh?
Great. Thanks, Fred.
How's Lucy?
She's fine, Fred.
She's in there with little Ricky.
Oh, yeah?
What's on your mind, Fred?
Mind? Well, nothing.
Oh, Fred, go ahead and ask him.
Oh, now, wait a minute, Ethel.
Just hold your horses.
I know how busy you are, Rick,
And well...
well, you are.
There ain't many guys as nice as you.
Oh, boy.
You're a prince!
Fred, what do you want?
What do you mean what do I want?
Oh, Fred, he has to put on a show for
his lodge,
and he wants to know if you'll be in
it for him.
Why, sure, Fred, I'd love to.
You see, Ethel?
I told you all I had to do was ask
him.
Oh, fine.
Oh, boy, what a feather in my cap.
At the election,
I'll be a cinch for sergeant at arms.
(chuckling)
What night is it?
Uh, next Friday.
Oh, I'm sorry, Fred.
I can't do it next Friday.
Oh, you're sure?
Yeah. I'd rather do your show,
but, you see, I'm...
I'm booked to do a radio program that
night.
Oh, well, it looks like
he won't be the next sergeant at
arms.
Well, doggone, I'm not gonna be
flag-bearer again.
I doubt if they'll want you
to be flag-bearer again with that
pot.
The last time they marched down Fifth
Avenue,
the flag was two blocks ahead of the
parade.
Aah! Can't you get out of it, Rick?
Yeah, I wish I could, Fred, but I
can't.
It's a commitment.
Now what am I gonna do?
I got to put a show together.
Oh, I wish I could help you out.
Did I hear someone say
that they had to get a show together?
ETHEL: Lucy, you were way out in
Little Ricky's room.
How did you hear him say that?
Listen, when it comes to hearing
about show business,
Lucy has a special sense--
something that the Navy later
developed and called radar.
Oh... How about it, Fred, you need
some talent
in the show, huh?
Can I be in it?
Now, wait, wait a minute.
Can I...?
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute, will you?
Let me get comfortable.
I'm going to enjoy
watching this happening to somebody
else.
Go on.
Oh...!
Go ahead!
Can I, Fred, Can I be
in the show, please?
(cackling)
Will you be quiet now!
Fred, look, I know there's something
I could do
for the lodge show, I know there is.
Can I be in it, can I?
Okay, Lucy, I'll take you.
Oh, Fred, thank you!
Mmm... Thank you!
Now, that's the kind of appreciation
I like.
Ha, ha, ha!
Can I be in the show, too?
Yep.
Oh, Fred, thank yo...
What kind of show did you have in
mind?
Well, I don't know.
It's for my lodge brothers.
I know just exactly the kind of show
that your lodge brothers would like
to see.
So do I, but you can't do that kind
of a show.
What's the matter with an operetta?
Oh, an operetta!
And I could sing.
The one we did at the women's club.
The one we did at the club.
"Lily of the Valley."
La da dee la
Of the valley...
Wouldn't that be fun?
Yeah, wouldn't it be fun?
La da dee la...
Are you kidding?
They'll throw you out of that place
if they do a show like that.
Lucy...
I got it. I got my act for Fred's
lodge show.
It's just the gypsy in my soul.
Well, just forget it.
Fred's got What? another idea.
He just called. He'll be here any
minute.
What are we gonna do now?
He didn't say.
He's out having lunch with some old
crony of his again.
Another old crony?
Where does he dig 'em up?
I don't know.
I think somebody put Fred on the old
crony mailing list.
(guffawing)
Hi, kids.
Oh, hi.
Hi, Fred.
Well, our troubles are over.
Oh.
Meet, uh, Rattlesnake Jones.
Rattlesnake, my wife Ethel and Lucy
Ricardo.
How do you do?
How do you do?
You know, Fred, you always did have a
good eye
for a young heifer.
Glad to know you, Mrs. Mertz.
I'm Mrs. Mertz.
Oh, excuse me.
Well, the heifer part still goes.
Now, Fred.
Honey, I'm just kidding.
Yeah, he's quite a kidder.
Yeah. Sit down, everybody. Sit down.
You say you got a new idea for the
show, huh, Fred?
Yeah. Well, uh, Rattlesnake is in
town to see the rodeo
at Madison Square Garden.
Uh-huh.
His kid brother's in the show.
Is that so?
Oh, that's nice.
He's going to help us put together
a Western show for my lodge.
A Western show!
A Western show! Yeah.
Well, that's great, ain't it,
partner?
You said it, Red.
Yeah, boy.
Well, we gotta get going.
We ain't got much time here.
Let me see what kind of talent we got
around here.
Say, Fred, uh, can you and your
missus,
can y'all do a Western number?
Oh, I'll say we can.
We did "Birmingham Jail" once.
Yeah. "Birmingham Jail"?
You want to hear it? Let me hear
it.
Come on, Fred. Yeah.
Ta ta tum Ba ba ba ba bum
Send me a letter
Oh, send it by mail
Send it in care of
The Birmingham Jail...
(whistling)
Oh, send me...
Wait, wait.
What's the matter?
That's a Western song,
and y'all are doing it Eastern.
FRED: What do you mean?
ETHEL: What's the difference?
Western music, you gotta take your
time.
Now, you was rushing through that
song
like your britches was on fire.
Well, we can sing it slower.
Yeah, we'll slow it up.
Yeah, you gotta slow it up a little
bit.
You know what you gotta do?
You gotta take your time on it
and you really gotta make it sound
sad.
Sounded pretty sad to me.
And I'll tell you what to do.
Give it to me again this time.
And when I bend...
Just bend them notes a little bit.
"Bend them notes," what do you mean?
Bend 'em, just bend...
When I move my hand
down like that, bend them.
Oh, that way.
RATTLESNAKE: That's right.
ETHEL: Oh, we can do that.
Yeah, we can try.
Now, make it sad.
Real sad, huh? Yes, ma'am.
Bum... bum... bum...
bum... bum... bum...
Send... me... a... let-ter
Send... it... by... ma-il...
Send.... it...
in.... care... of...
The... Birmingham...
jail-il-il-il...
Oh, we can do that.
That's it, that's it.
Now, that's it.
Okay.
We'll do that.
All right.
Can't go wrong on that there.
Now, little lady...
What you aiming to do?
I'm aiming to do anything you aim at
me.
Well, what we need, we need a pretty
girl
that can sing a song and yodel.
Well, then you can just stop looking.
Oh, Lucy, you can't yodel.
Well, if you're gonna be technical,
she can't sing either.
You just pay them no never mind,
Rattle.
They don't know everything about me.
All right, then give me a little
touch
of yodeling and singing, then.
All right, um...
Ah, ah, oh, oh, oh
Oh... oh....
(singing off-key): Give me a home
Where the buffalo roam
And the deer and the antelope play
Yodel, yodel, yodel
And seldom is heard
A discouraging word
(whistling)
And the skies...
What's the matter?
You're about to hear
your first discouraging word.
Well, now, I know my yodeling's a
little rusty
but how about my singing?
You're about to hear
your second discouraging word.
Oh...
Wait a minute.
Now, there must be something we can
do with that voice.
Well, I can make a few suggestions.
Now, Fred!
Now, listen, little lady,
all you got to remember that us
Western folks,
we always sing through our noses
right here.
Oh, you do?
Yep. It keeps the prairie dust out
our lungs.
Oh, is that right?
Now, this time, give it to me
and really whine it out.
Okay.
I will. Whine it.
Mm. Yeah. Oh...
(singing through nose :)
Oh, give me a home
Where the buffalo roam
And the deer and the antelope play
Yodel, yodel, yodel...
How's that?
Can you spin a rope?
No.
Well, can you play a fiddle or-or-or
a steel guitar?
No.
I don't know, little lady.
You just don't seem to be the
Western-type entertainer.
Oh, I'm not the Eastern-type
entertainer either.
I'm just an all-American flop.
Aw, now, honey.
You gotta to think up something for
her to do,
'cause Fred promised her she could be
in the show.
Yes, I did.
Well, I got it.
Say, I know an act you can do.
What is it?
I'll do anything.
All you got to know is your right
hand from your left.
My right hand from my left.
Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
I know. I know.
(muttering)
Ah. This is my left hand!
Good girl!
The idea of this act--
to make tune on bells.
Like a Swiss bell ringer.
No, like a Western bell ringer.
Oh.
Now, you take these bells
Yeah.
and you tie 'em all over you.
All over you?
Yeah, and then you start jingling a
little tune.
Uh-huh.
Yeeng...
Yeeng, yeeng, re-reeng...
We-re-weeng...
Oh, she can do that.
I'll be able to do that.
All you gotta do
is to play the right note with the
bell.
Yeah, I'll be able to do that.
...mill stream
Where I first... met... you
Down by the
Old... mill...
Stream
Where... I... first...
Met...
You...
Down by the old...
Hi, honey.
Oh, hi, dear.
Hi, sweetie.
Dinner ready?
Not yet, but soon.
Okay.
(humming)
(humming)
Lucy...
Yeah?
What are you doing?
Rehearsing.
Oh.
Rehearsing?!
Yeah, for the act
I'm going to do at Fred's lodge.
Oh.
Lucy, you can't do that kind of an
act.
Ricky, I'm gonna have bells tied all
over me
and I'm going to jiggle a tune.
You know, I've been married to you so
long
that that sounds logical.
It's gonna be the hit of the show,
now, you see.
Hmm, hmm, ho, ho, ho...
Would you mind stop rehearsing long
enough
to jiggle me some dinner?
Okay.
(humming)
You'd better make it scrambled eggs.
Hey, your agent called.
I forgot to tell you.
He wants you to call him.
Johnny?
Yeah.
(phone ringing)
Johnny Clark speaking.
Hello, Johnny, this is Ricky.
You called me?
Yeah. I just wanted to check on what
numbers you're gonna do
Friday night on the Western show?
Western show? What Western show?
Well, don't you remember?
I asked you to get together a program
for the rodeo.
Yeah?
Well?
What's that got to do with a Western
show?!
Oh, no!
Don't you know what a rodeo is?
Of course I know what it is.
It's a little box, and it has a dial
and out of it comes music
and football games and all that
stuff.
Not radio, rodeo.
Rodeo is a big Western show with
horses and cowboys.
Oh, are you crazy or something?
I can't do that.
I got a rumba band.
You want to be sued for breach of
contract?
Well, I don't...
Breach of contract?
Fine. I knew you wouldn't disappoint
your public.
I'll tell them everything's all set.
Good-bye.
Mira, que tiene cosa de decirle a
esta gente mira...
(grumbling)
What's the matter, honey?
What's the matter?
I'll tell you what's the matter.
I'm going back to Cuba where the
language makes some sense.
You Americans sure have a funny way
of talking.
We have a funny way of talking?
Yeah. You know that radio show I was
supposed to do?
Yeah?
It turned out to be a rodeo.
Oh, no!
Oh, yeah.
Now I got to put a whole Western show
in two days.
Well, what do you know?
A Western show.
Yeah. I'd never been in such a mess
in my life.
You never had it so good.
What are you talking about?
If I was a Western snake, I'd bite
you.
I got to go back to Cuba.
No, no, listen.
Ricky, Ricky, the show we're gonna do
for Fred's lodge is a Western show.
Oh, now, honey, now, come on.
Look, it's a natural.
You need a Western show, we got a
Western show.
It's heaven-sent.
Well, send it back.
Now, Ricky,
you'd better think twice about this.
Now, honey, I got a lot of work to
do.
I got to call some agents and see if
they've got some
Western acts in town.
Now, don't...
(grumbling)
Hello, Harry?
Look, this is Ricky.
Look, they've booked me
into a Western show,
and I want to know if I can get some
Western acts from you.
Yes.
What about Tex Ritter?
He's out of town.
What about that, uh, fellow, that
Gabby Hayes?
He's very good. No.
RICKY: Well, how about that fellow
that plays Wyatt Earp?
You know, O'Brien.
Oh. Well, look, I-I know that the
rodeo
is booked into the Garden for two
weeks,
but there must be some Western acts
around
that are not at the Garden.
You couldn't get anybody at all?
Uh, all right.
Thanks for trying. Bye.
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Wait a minute!!
Wait till you hear the rest of it
before you turn us down.
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Yahoo!
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay...
Yahoo!
I am not going to turn you down.
You're not?
No. After I found out
that I can't get anybody else,
you're beginning to look pretty good
to me.
You mean you'll take us?
I'm afraid so.
(clamoring)
I've already had a wonderful act.
Well, there's one thing
that I like real good about your act.
What's that?
It won't cost me any money.
Fellow Western performers who are the
only ones available,
may I see you for a minute?
About that Western show you need so
badly,
I am afraid we have other
commitments.
Uh, yes.
Fred's lodge show is that night.
Of course, we can postpone the lodge
show
if the price was right.
All right, all right.
I know when I'm hooked.
How much do you want?
How much will you pay?
How much do you want?
You go first.
All right.
I'll give you $25.
We'll take $100.
Twenty-five.
A hundred.
Twenty-five.
We'll take it.
All right, all right, come on.
Call that fellow...
I'll get him right away.
Frank call him right away.
We got two days to do this, you know?
Madison Square Garden!
In two days we got to put the whole
thing.
(laughing uncontrollably)
What are you laughing at?
You will probably be the first Cuban
cowboy
that ever hit Madison Square Garden.
ETHEL (laughing): A Cuban cowboy!
Well, it so happens that I was born
West Havana.
No kidding.
Well.
That's correct,
and I also know how this cowboy talk
goes.
Oh, really? Well, give us a little
sample.
Well, it goes something like this.
They said something like, uh...
"Howdy, pardner.
"I reckon I mosey along down yonder
and saddle up Old Paint."
Muzzy along dun yonner and sall up
Ole Pain.
Oh, brother.
Some cowboy.
Well, I'd like to hear Roy Rogers
sing "Babalu."
(applause)
(band playing flourish)
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
This is Doye O'Dell again
and I want to tell all of you folks
that we have a great treat in store
for you here at the rodeo tonight.
A new MGM star--
in fact, a great singing cowboy
star-- Ricky Ricardo,
and I want to tell you that he
brought along
his whole rootin'-tootin' gang.
So, here he is, Ricky Ricardo.
(rousing musical introduction,
applause)
They call me Texas Pete
I'm the king of the western beat
When I play my gee-tar, I go
yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay
A-ha!
(band answers with "a-ha")
Yes, sir, I'm Texas Pete
And I sweep the gals off'n their feet
When I start to twang, everything
goes
Yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay
A-ha!
So little darlin'
I know that you will like the yippee
yahoo
'Cause it's the dance of western
romance
And Texas Pete doesn't teach you in a
hurry
Like Hop Along Murray
You're out on the range
So don't be strange...
Hold it there, men.
I think I lost something here.
There we go, folks.
So everybody dance
Grab a gal and commence to prance
And I'll teach you to yippee-ki-yay
Yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay
Yip, yip, yip, yippee-ki-yay
Yippee-ki-yay, yippee-ki-yay.
Yahoo!
(applause)
Thank you, everybody.
(applause continues)
Thank you, thank you.
Folks, I want to tell you that I'm
sure happy
to be here with you'uns tonight,
and it is my pleasure to introduce to
you
two lovable darlins from the West--
Fred and little Ethel Mae Mertz
and they're gonna sing for you
their version of "Red River Valley."
Let's bring them on, folks.
What you say? Bring them on.
(musical introduction, applause)
From this valley they say you are
leaving
I shall miss your bright eyes and
sweet smile
For you take with you all of the
sunshine
That has brightened my life for a
while
Listen to the mockingbird
(harmonizing): Ha, ha
Listen to the mockingbird
Ha, ha
Ha... ha...
He's singing of the coming
Of the day Ha...
From this valley (yodeling in
harmony)
They say you are leaving (yodeling)
I shall miss your bright eyes
(yodeling)
And sweet smile (yodeling)
For you take with you
(yodeling)
All of the sunshine (yodeling)
That has brightened (yodeling)
My life for a while. (yodeling)
(song ends, but musical reprise
continues; applause)
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
Well, so while they're getting all
changed
for the grand finale,
which, by the way, is gonna feature
Miss Lucy, uh, "Cannonball"
McGillicuddy
and all of her famous Western
Bell-Ringers,
why, I would like to do you a little
cowboy song
called "The Old Chisholm Trail."
Come along, boys, and listen to my
tale
I'll tell you my troubles on the Old
Chisholm Trail
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
On a ten-dollar horse and a
forty-dollar saddle
I started punchin' Texas cattle
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Well, I went to the boss to draw my
roll
And he figured me out nine dollars in
the hole
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Oh, a stray in the herd and the boss
said kill it
So I hit it in the neck with a
long-handled skillet
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Well, it's cloudy in the West and
lookin' like rain
And my doggone slicker's in the wagon
again
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
I'll sell my outfit soon as I can
And I won't punch cows fer no man
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay,
yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi- yippee-yippee-yay
Come-a-ty-yi-yippee- yippee-yay.
(thunderous applause)
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, here they
are--
Lucy "Cannonball" McGillicuddy
and all of her famous Western
Bell-Ringers
in their version of "Down By The Old
Mill Stream."
(musical introduction playing)
(ringing bells to melody)
(bells ringing melodiously)
(bells ringing rhythmically)
(band joining in for finale)
(band stops playing)
(bells ringing)
(band playing finale)
(band resumes playing upbeat music,
applause)
Yeah!
Yeah!
(applause continues)
("I Love Lucy" theme song playing)
ANNOUNCER: Mark "Rattlesnake" Jones
was played by Dub Taylor,
Johnny Clark was played by John
Gallaudet,
and the master of ceremonies was
played by Doye O'Dell;
choreography by Jack Baker.
"I Love Lucy" is a Desilu Production.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
will be back next week at the same
time.