I Love Lucy (1951–1957): Season 6, Episode 4 - Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright - full transcript

Little Ricky develops a case of stage fright.

( fanfare plays)

ANNOUNCER: Lilt, all new.

Wonderful new Lilt.

The only home permanent

with squeeze-bottle
magic presents...

The Lucille Ball, Desi
Arnaz show "I Love Lucy."

( applause)

Lucy?

Yeah.

What about my lunch?

Oh, yeah. Right away, dear.



I was getting Little
Ricky ready for his recital.

He looks so cute. Good.

Oh, I'm so nervous.

Imagine our son playing
drums in public for the first time.

Yeah, it's quite an
occasion all right.

Oh, it sure is.

Hmm.

Well?

Well what?

What about my lunch?

Oh, yes, honey.

I got a nice sandwich for you

all ready in the refrigerator.

That's funny.



Lucy... What?

The refrigerator is that
big, white thing back there.

Oh, sure. What's
the matter with me?

Here it is.

There you are, dear.

Thank you.

And I have some hot coffee here.

Here we are.

Oh, gee, isn't this exciting?

Mm-hmm.

Mmm!

What's the matter?
What's the matter?

Oh, honey, it's too hot.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, look, we'll just do this.

This is what my
mother used to do.

There we are.

That'll cool it off.

There you are, dear.

It's cooler all right,

but I like it a little stronger.

Oh, for heaven's sake!

Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.

There you are, dear.

Mmm, honey, it's still too hot.

Maybe an ice
cube will help, huh?

An ice cube, an ice
cube, an ice cube. Yeah.

Okay, dear.

Here we are.

There's an ice cube for you.

That's a very good idea.

Lucy... Yeah?

Do you always put the
ice cubes in the oven?

Oh, no.

Not always, dear. No.

Honey, calm down.

Why are you so nervous?

Oh, honey, I can't help it.

I just can't help it.

He's such a baby.

Do you think we're rushing him?

Aw, now, honey,
it's just a little recital

at his music school.

I know, I know, but this
is such a big moment

in my child's life.

I'm just nervous
about it. That's all.

What's with you?
It's your child, too.

How come you're so calm?

Well, what is there
to be uncalm about?

Nothing to worry. At
the recital, he'll be great.

Now, uh, are you ready?

Yeah, I'm all ready.

Is Little Ricky ready?

Yeah, he's ready. How about you?

I've been ready for hours.

Come on, let's go.

Oh, honey, look at you.

Not nervous, huh?

Well, I guess so.

Yeah, I guess you are.

I'll call the Mertzes
and see if they're ready.

Hi, Lucy. Hi.

Have you seen Ethel?

I can't find my green tie.

No. She hasn't been here.

Well, I'll be ready in a minute.

Yeah, hurry up.

Lucy, have you seen Fred?

I was taking the
spot off his tie.

I can't find him anywhere.

He was just here
looking for you.

Oh, thanks.

Are you sure Ethel
isn't over here?

She was just here
looking for you.

Well, I'll find her.

Lucy, he isn't over there.

Over there.

FRED AND ETHEL:
Where have you been?!

I've been looking
all over for you.

How do you like that?

For the first time in 20 years,

we've been trying
to find each other.

Get your tie on.

Let's go.

Oh, hi. ETHEL: Yeah, hi.

Come on. FRED:
Let's get going. All right.

ETHEL: We're all ready, dear.

Oh, I'm as nervous as a cat.

Me, too.

I was so nervous, I
couldn't eat my breakfast.

And, believe me, for
Ethel, that's nervous.

Oh, look who's talking.

He was so nervous,
he got dressed first

and then took a shower.

Ethel, have we
no family secrets?

Why is everybody so jittery?

Yeah, what's the matter with us?

It's silly to be this way.

'Course, the kid has been
taking drum lessons for a month

and we know he's good.

Good? Why, he's wonderful.

That kid's dynamite.

That's right. So what do
we have to worry about?

Yeah, why worry about it?

Honey, do you
really think he's good?

Now, look, Lucy,

I have complete
confidence in the boy.

It just so happens

that he has inherited
his father's musical ability.

Yeah, but is he good?

Look, didn't Mr. Crawford said

that he was the best
drummer in the school?

Uh-huh. Well, there you are.

'Course he's the only
drummer in the school.

RICKY: Now,
honey, don't worry...

Hi, Uncle Fred. Hi, Aunt Ethel.

Oh, hi!

RICKY: There he is.

Well, now, how
do you feel, honey?

Fine, Mommy.

Look how calm he is.

Sure. Perfectly relaxed.

That's kids for you.

You're not nervous,
are you, honey?

No.

Yeah, he's not a bit nervous.

We knew you wouldn't be.

Mommy... What, honey?

What's nervous?

Nervous? Well, that's, uh,

when you get stage fright,

like when you're playing
drums in front of strangers!

Oh, go get your coat on, honey.

Yeah, get your coat.

We'll get our hats
and coats, honey.

We'll be right back.

We can help you with the drums.

Okay. What's the
matter with you?

Oh, honey, I didn't mean to
say anything in front of him.

I didn't want to put
ideas in his head,

but I just didn't think...

Well, maybe it didn't register,

but just, you
know, if we're calm,

then he'll be calm now. Yeah.

Just you and I don't...

It's kind of hard to be calm.

Well, just you and
I don't get nervous

Okay. And then the kid

will be all right.

If we don't get all upset...

I just didn't think that...

Come on now, we
don't want to be late.

( Ethel laughing)

You're not nervous,
are you, Rick?

No, not nervous.

Well, the two coats were there,

and then we were talking.

I didn't... didn't see
what I was doing.

Let's go. Let's get this...

Everybody grab something.

All right. Let's go.

I can carry this.

Okay.

Now... ( thud)

Have we got everything?

I think so. Sorry, dear.

I got the bass drum.
Here's the snares.

I got the cymbal.

I got the tom-tom.

Okay, we've got
everything. Let's go.

All right, here we go.

( playing simple lilting melody)

( song ends, applause)

Thank you. Thank
you, Laurie Blaine.

That was very nice, Laurie.

That was really very nice.

Now, Diana Van Fossen

will favor us with a
selection on the violin.

Diana.

( applause)

That's my little girl.

Oh, she's very sweet.

( playing "Old Folks
At Home" off-key)

( off-key violin continues
playing "Old Folks At Home")

She's very good.

Thank you.

( playing slowly
and discordantly)

( hitting sour note)

( stumbling over keys)

( hitting off-key notes)

( song ends)

( applause)

Oh, that was Diana Van Fossen.

Oh, say, Diana...

Aw, say, that was nice.

Now, as a, as a finale
for our little recital here,

our own little six-piece
band is going to play

"Has Anybody Seen My Gal?"

( Lucy guffaws, others applaud)

Well, well, first, on
bass, Buddy Noble.

Buddy, Buddy, come in.

Bass.

Ukelele, Earl Robie.

Come in, Earl.

( applause)

And trumpet, Robert Norman.

Come in, Robert.

And trombone, Jeff Woodruff.

Hello, Jeff.

And accordion, Larry Gleason.

Come, Larry.

Come on, Larry.

And on drums, Ricky Ricardo, Jr.

Yeah!

( whistling loudly)

( continues whistling)

And on drums, Ricky Ricardo, Jr.

( loud whistling)

LITTLE RICKYY: No, no!

No, no, no, no, no!

Mom-mom-... What...

LUCY: What's the matter, honey?

Mommy, Mommy...

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

I'm nervous, Mommy.

I got stage fright.

I told you... He's
got stage fright.

Oh, he's sorry.
He's got stage fright.

It's all right.

Look, Ricky. It's
all right, Ricky.

Lucy. What?

What are you doing?

Well, his drums have been in
the closet for three whole days.

He hasn't even gone near them.

I thought maybe
if I put them out

in plain sight...

I thought we agreed
not to force him to play.

Who's forcing him?

I'm just going to use
the power of suggestion.

If he sees the drums out here,

he may want to
play them, that's all.

All right, but I don't
want to make him play.

I want it to be Oh,
honey. his own idea.

Now you know I won't make him
do anything he didn't want to do.

I won't say a word. The
drums will be out here.

If he wants to play them, fine.

Okay. I gotta go
get finish dressing.

I gotta get out of here.

All right, honey.

Hi. You want to go to
the grocery store with me?

I can in about half an hour.

Oh, Lucy, Little Ricky's
playing his drums again.

No, no, no, honey,
this is just my idea.

I thought if I put them out,

maybe I'd put the
idea in his head.

Oh. Gee, I sure hope it works.

Oh, me, too.

Call me when you're
ready to go to the store.

Okay, dear.

Maybe I can get a
little dusting done.

Okay.

Now, Lucy...

you'll be glad to know

that I'm going to fix that
loose railing on the back porch.

Well, what's the rush?

We only reported it five years
and three delivery boys ago.

Very, very funny.

Hey, is my godson
coming out of retirement?

No, your godson isn't
coming out of retirement.

I'm just putting
the drums out here.

If he wants to
play them, he can.

Now, listen, mother
hen, don't peck at me

because you're upset
about your baby chick.

Little Ricky.

Yes.

Hi. What you doing, honey?

Just playing.

Oh.

Oh, boy!

That's what I've been
wanting to play with!

It is?

Yeah.

My crayons.

Your crayons.

By George, somebody
put your drums out here!

They look kind of lonely.

I bet they wish somebody
would play them.

Well, if nobody wants
to play them, I think I will.

I'm playing your drums.

( raucous drumming)

( cymbals clashing, drumming)

Oh, Little Ricky,
come back here.

Look at the fun I'm having.

♪ Da, da, da, da,
da, da, da, da ♪

♪ Bum, bum, bum, bum bum,
bum, bum, bum, bum, da, da... ♪

Little Ricky!

I knew it! I knew it!

Honey, you were right...!

Back to your chores,
fellow loved ones.

I goofed.

Didn't anything happen?

Well, nothing, except
I may put out an album

called Music To Color By.

( cymbals clashing)

♪ ♪

Do you really think
so, Mr. Crawford?

CRAWFORD: Ooh, absolutely.

Stage fright is just
like falling off a horse.

If you don't get right back
on, you'll never ride again.

Is that so?

Yes, and I want you
to know, Mrs. Ricardo,

I'm every bit as
concerned about your boy

as you and Mr. Ricardo are.

Well, thank you, Mr. Crawford.

We certainly appreciate
that, and thanks for the advice.

I'll... I'll talk to my
husband when he comes in.

Ah, good-bye.

Good-bye, Mr. Crawford.
( hangs up phone)

What does he want to
talk to me about, honey?

Little Ricky's got to get
right back on his horse.

What?!

When you fall off a horse,

you've got to get right back on.

Little Ricky fell off a horse?

What was he doing on a horse?

Oh, relax, honey, he
didn't really fall off a horse.

Oh. Why did you say so?

Mr. Crawford was just
using a figure of speech.

He meant that if we
wanted to help Little Ricky

get over his stage fright,

we wanted to make sure
that he played in public again

as soon as possible.

Oh. Well, that's the
way he got frightened

in the first place.

That's just the point.

This is now the cure.

Well, I don't know, honey.

I think we're making
too much of this.

Maybe the kid just doesn't
want to play the drums.

Look, whether he wants
to play the drums or not

is no longer important.

The big thing now is his fear.

Being afraid to play at the
recital was only the beginning.

From here on, he could develop
a fear of all sorts of things.

He might be afraid
to go to school.

He might be afraid to meet
people, appear in public.

Why, if we don't
conquer this right now,

it could ruin his whole life.

Well, that makes a lot of sense.

Boy, I'm sure glad

that you're the
mother of my child.

Well, thank you, dear.

When I think of all
those other women

I might have married...

( chuckling): Yeah,
you sure were lucky.

All what other women?

Uh... like you say,

we have enough problems already.

Yeah. We'll just
talk about that later.

Right now the important thing

is finding a place
for Little Ricky

to play in public as
soon as possible.

All right. What do you suggest?

Well, I was thinking...

why can't Little Ricky
and his band play

at your club one night?

Lucy...

what's come over you?

Bad idea, huh?

No.

Good idea.

What's come over you?

Well, I don't know.

I guess I just make a
mistake now and then.

I think it's a wonderful idea.

You do?

Oh, sure. It's probably
just what he needs

to snap him out of
this mood that he's in.

Uh-huh. And I bet you

that the audience will love it.

Well, honey, I'm so happy
you like my suggestion.

Yes, baby.

( laughing)

( lips smacking)

Close your eyes, Ethel.

I don't want you to
get any wild ideas.

Hi.

RICKY: Hi.

We bought Little
Ricky a present.

Oh, how cute.

A little teddy bear
that plays the drum.

We figured he
might take the hint.

That cost 49 cents,

but in a case like this,
money is no object.

( laughs)

Well, gee, it's a wonderful idea

and thanks a lot,

but I think we've got
the problem all settled.

You have?

Yeah. Yeah, we're gonna have

Little Ricky and his band play
at the Club Babalu one night.

You are?!

Yeah. We decided
that if he's not going

to go through life
being afraid, he has...

he just has to play
the drums again.

Right away.

Oh, of course!

Oh, boy, I'm
glad it's all settled.

Wait a minute.

Is it all settled?

If we can't get him to
play here in the living room,

how are we going to get
him to play at the club?

ETHEL: Hey, that's right.

If we could get him
to play at the club,

we wouldn't have to get
him to play at the club.

That makes sense.

Or does it?

Of course it does.

The trick is how to
get Little Ricky to do it.

Oh.

One of us will just
have to go in there

and talk him into it.

Okay.

Well?

Well?

You're his father.

You're his mother.

Well, now that
we got it straight

who his parents are,

which one is going in
there and talk to him?

Why don't you?

Me?

Yeah. Why not?

You're his godfather.

Well, you're his godmother.

Well, now that
we got it straight

who his godparents
are, which one of you

is going to go in
there and talk to him?

Go ahead, Ethel.

Me?

RICKY: Yeah, go ahead, Ethel.

All right, I will.

I'll use reverse
psychology on him.

That always works with children.

LUCY: Mm-hmm.

( door closes)

( door closes)

Well?

What happened?

Did your reverse
psychology work?

Not exactly.

I said, "Little Ricky,
you don't want to play

those nasty old drums, do you?"

And he said, "No."

Oh, my.

Well, now what will we do?

( mutters)

All right, all right.

You can talk him
out of his stage fright.

If anybody can talk anybody into

doing anything, it's Lucy.

Yeah, she's good
at that sort of thing.

Sure.

Next.

What's the matter?

Can't you talk him into it?

I got stage fright.

Oh, no.

Well, I guess that
leaves you and me, Fred.

It leaves you.

I'm chicken.

Very well.

Hi, pardner.

Hi, Daddy.

I brought a surprise for you.

It's a present from Uncle
Fred and Aunt Ethel.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Um...

What do you say we
have a little talk, huh?

Okay.

You know, when I was
a little boy your age,

I used to love to go down to
my daddy's office and visit him,

but I don't have an office.

I work in a nightclub.

The Babalu?

That's right.

How'd you like to come
to the Babalu and visit me?

I'd like that, Daddy.

Okay.

And, uh, would you like to
bring your drums with you

and your little band
and play there?

Will you be there, Daddy?

I sure will.

Will other people be there?

Yeah.

I'll stay home.

You'll stay home, huh?

Why? Are you afraid?

Well, now, you come
over here, pardner.

You know, I want
to tell you something.

It's all right to be afraid.

You know, when I play in
front of people, I'm afraid, too.

I don't know whether
they're going to like me

or whether they're going
to laugh at me or what.

Is that the way you feel?

Yes, Daddy.

But... the minute
I start playing,

the minute that
I hear the music,

I'm not afraid anymore.

I'll show you what I mean.

You see our little friend here?

Look at that.

He's so scared,
he can't even move.

Now, let's pretend

that he's gonna
play at the club, see?

And let's pretend that all these
are the people in the audience

and they're all sitting around

and they're gonna watch
him play the drums, see?

Now, let's see what
happens to him, okay?

( drumming)

( laughing): Look
at him go, see?

He's not afraid anymore.

And look at them.

They're not laughing at him.

They like him.

And if they like him,

they'll like you a lot more,

because you're a much
better drummer than he is.

So, uh...

what do you say, pardner?

Okay, pardner.

Good boy.

ETHEL: There you are, Robert.

Oh, Robert looks
great, doesn't he?

There you are, honey.

Okay. There you are.

RICKY: Oh, hi.

Everybody here, Mr. Crawford?

Everybody but Earl
Robie, the ukelele player.

Well, you'd better call the
house and find out if he's left.

Well, that's a good idea.

Yeah. Listen, kids,
you want to peek

at the audience
through the curtains?

Yeah. Yeah.

ETHEL: Peek at the
audience, that's lots of fun.

Get your instruments.

We might as well put them
on the bandstand, huh?

Well, listen, honey, will
you bring him right back?

Want to go, Ricky? Sure,
I'll bring him right back.

Because I haven't
finished dressing him yet.

Okay. I'll bring him right back.

You come right
back now, darling.

Just let him take a peek.

Okay. Oh, don't they look cute?

I'll say. Yes, yes.

Oh, boy, I hope this idea works.

Me, too. My stomach's
so full of butterflies,

I could start a collection.

Honey, now, whatever
you do, don't say anything

about being nervous
in front of Little Ricky.

Oh, no, now, Fred, don't
even mention the word "scared"

or "stage fright" now.

Okay, okay. Be sure.

Don't forget now.

Okay, son. Hey, uh...

Get him ready right away, Mom.

I'm starting the show right now.

All right, honey, we will.

Well, did you see
all the nice people?

I'll say.

How do you feel, honey?

Fine, Mommy.

Attaboy. You're not
the least bit ner...

What are you
trying to do, scare...

Watch yourselves.

You're going to give
Little Ricky sta... ay

as sweet as you are, dear.

Oh, dear!

What's the matter?

Of all things.

What?

Earl Robie can't be here.

He has the measles.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

No ukelele player.

And they've rehearsed for six,
and now they've only got five.

I don't know how it'll sound.

It will just blow the
whole thing wide open.

Mr. Crawford...

Oh, oh, this is the
most terrible thing

that could have happened
to us. Mr. Crawford...

Oh, what a cata...

No, ukelele!

Mr. Crawford...

Yes, but I told Mr. Ricardo

that I... I'm so nervous.

Mr. Crawford.

( guffawing)

Here, honey. Put your
hat on, sweetheart.

Here we go. We're all ready now.

Mommy... Yes, dear?

I don't want to play
without a ukelele.

Oh, now, honey, don't
worry about a thing.

Everything is
going to be just fine.

Here are your drumsticks.

But I don't want to
play without a ukelele.

Now, look, honey...

Honey, look, I promise you...

I promise you, you'll
have a ukelele player.

Do you hear?

Fred, get a message to Ricky.

Tell him the band
will play as scheduled.

All right, all right.

Look, fix his coat.

Okay, I'll fix his coat.

I'll button up your coat.

And you go out
there and just be great

and play your drums.

( applause)

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Ladies and gentlemen,

tonight we have a-a-a
wonderful new attraction for you

here at the Club Babalu

and I am indeed very
proud to present to you

Ricky Ricardo, Jr.
And his Dixieland Band.

( applause)

( playing "Has
Anybody Seen My Gal?")

RICKY: Hey!

RICKY: Let's go!

Hey, hey, hey!

Yeah!

RICKY: Hey, hey!

Let's get it on!

( song ends with a flourish)

( applause and cheers)

("I Love Lucy"
theme song playing)

Okay, pardner?

You bet!

Well, uh, you were wonderful!

You sure were.

( closing orchestral
flourish playing)

("I Love Lucy"
theme song playing)

"I Love Lucy" is a
Desilu production.

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz

will be back next
week at this same time.