Lucy’s Mother-in-Law – I Love Lucy season 4, originally aired November 22, 1954
In Lucy’s Mother-in-Law,Lucy tries to impress Ricky’s mother on visit from Cuba by having a Spanish-speaking translator on an earphone.
Ricky’s mother comes for a visit with Ricky and Lucy. Lucy wants to make a good impression, of course. ‘Lucita’ however speaks no Spanish, and Ricky’s mother speaks no English, and things go from bad to worse. And then Lucy gets an idea on how she can ‘learn’ Spanish overnight …
One of the acts that Ricky wants for the night club is a mind-reading act. The mind reader — “Professor” — is fed information by his assistant via a wireless microphone. So Lucy has the idea of having the Spanish-speaking Professor hidden in her kitchen. That way, he can interpret, and translate for Lucy, who’s wearing his headphone under a set of ear muffs.
She pretends to have taken a Spanish lesson to help her communicate with her mother-in-law. Ricky is touched, but doubts that Lucy could have learned much in a single lesson. Until she begins understanding everything said from several Spanish-speaking people in their apartment!
Ricky is dumbfounded, and Lucy’s scheme is actually working. Until …
It turns out that the Professor is waiting for news about the birth of his first grandchild. And when it comes, out he goes! Leaving Lucy holding the bag.
Caught red-handed, she confesses everything to Ricky and her mother-in-law. But her mother-in-law is touched that Lucy would go to such extremes for her, hugs her, and we have a happy ending.
Quotes from Lucy’s Mother-in-Law
Assistant to Professor (Virginia Barbour): [whispering to Lucy to set up the mind reader’s trick] Now, what’s the date of your birth?
Lucy Ricardo:(Lucille Ball): [whispering back to the Professor’s assistant] August sixth.
Assistant to Professor (Virginia Barbour): August sixth, what?
Lucy Ricardo:(Lucille Ball): August sixth, period.
Assistant to Professor (Virginia Barbour): Won’t you tell me the year, too?
Lucy Ricardo:(Lucille Ball): He’s the mind reader, let him tell you.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): [comes into the kitchen, where the Professor is secretly translating for Lucy, while waiting for his grandchild’s birth] it’s a boy!
Professor (Fortunio Bonanova): It’s a boy! [rushes out the back door]
Lucy Ricardo:(Lucille Ball): [realizing that her translator’s left] Oh boy …