Lucy and the Dummy, I Love Lucy season 5, originally aired October 17, 1955
Lucy and the Dummy begins with Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) surprising his wife Lucy (Lucille Ball) by entering their Hollywood apartment with a duplicate of his head that the studio made for his movie. After some horseplay, a phone call comes in inviting Ricky to perform at a studio party. And since Lucy took the phone call, she invites herself into the act. Ricky, however, has made plans to go deep sea fishing for several days. And despite Lucy’s wheedling and manipulating, he refuses to go.
Lucy’s plan to dance with Ricky … when he’s not there
The Mertzes who have wandered in during the fight, and Lucy unintentionally surprises them with the bust of Ricky’s head. And soon afterward, Ricky leaves, and Lucy gets inspiration for performing with Ricky — even when Ricky’s not there. She auditions her idea for Ethel and Fred: dancing with a dummy, topped off with Ricky’s duplicate head. Unexpectedly, after Ethel refuses to help, Fred agrees. Since he knows that they will give in eventually, and it’s the path of least resistance.
That night, Ethel and Fred smuggle “dummy Ricky” into the theater, and after a moment of dancing, Lucy pretends that “Ricky” has taken ill, and she takes him off-stage to finish the act by herself . But the dummy gets caught on her costume’s long headdress, and unexpectedly rejoins her on stage, for a very slapstick performance.
Lucy’s Hollywood offer
The next day, Ricky comes home only to find out that the executives thought that it was a comedy act, and want to sign her to a one-year contract. Ricky decides to use “psychology” to talk her out of it … Since she’ll be in Hollywood all alone, since Ricky’s contract on the Tropicana in a few weeks, and landlord Mertzes have to get back to their apartment building.
This leads to an internal dream sequence, where Lucy imagines what her future would be like, and the episode ends with a moment both funny and sweet. While Lucy checks on the baby, Ricky comes out and sees the dummy, blaming the situation on him, and hits him. Knocking the dummy out of the chair, where Ricky proceeds to sit. Lucy comes out from checking on the baby and likewise blames the dummy, hitting Ricky by accident. She has decided that she wants her happy home life more than a career in Hollywood, and the episode ends with the happy couple embracing.
Lucy and the Dummy is a very good episode, and is available on the I Love Lucy season 5 DVD collection.
Funny quotes from Lucy and the Dummy
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Do you want the truth?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): That would be refreshing.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): The whole truth?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): That would be even more refreshing.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You’re impossible.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): You’re impossible. I’m very possible.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): They won’t want you without Ricky!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Why do you say that?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): It’s the truth.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): I know, but why do you say that?
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): What’re we going to tell Ricky?
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): I maintain that honesty is the best policy.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): I agree, but what’re we going to tell Ricky?