I Love Lucy – Lucy Misses the Mertzes – Season 6, originally aired February 11, 1957
Lucy Misses the Mertzes is part of the “move to Connecticut” story arc. After moving to rural Connecticut becomes real, there’s a tearful farewell between Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) and landlady Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance). Their husbands, Ricky (Desi Arnaz) and Fred (William Frawley) do the “manly” thing and try to not show their emotions — and almost succeed.
Shortly after the Ricardos move into their new house, they find themselves missing the noise of the big city. And missing their friends the Mertzes even more. So, they decide to pay a surprise visit to them — which doesn’t work. The reason it doesn’t work is that the Mertzes have had the same idea at the same time, even bringing an expensive fruit basket as a housewarming present.
The Ricardos return, unaware that the Mertzes are in the house, planning to stay the night and leave in the morning. Lucy hears “burglars” but after a few moments of humor, the two families find each other, and all ends well.
Lucy Misses the Mertzes is available as part of the I Love Lucy Season 6 DVD collection.
Funny quotes from I Love Lucy – Lucy Misses the Mertzes
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): [after Lucy and Ricky have left] I’m proud of you, Ethel, you didn’t even whimper.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Waaaah!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): [upon receiving fruit basket from the Mertzes] They must feel as bad as we do.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Bad? For Fred to have spent 10 dollars on a fruit basket, he must have been hysterical!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Ricky?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Yah?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): This quiet is so loud that I can’t sleep.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Did the wind blow the lights on?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): See, we just forgot to turn out the lights, that’s all.
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Did we forget to turn out the fruit? [points to half-eaten fruit on the table]
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): [she and Ricky are looking for ‘burglars’] Go get ’em, Ricky, go get ‘em!
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): I don’t wanna go get ’em!
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): You were looking for them!
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Yeah, but I didn’t want to find them!