Ricky’s Contract — I Love Lucy season 4, episode 107, originally aired December 6, 1954
In Ricky’s Contract, Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) is slowly going crazy waiting to hear the results of his movie audition … and is making everyone else crazy as well. His wife Lucy (Lucille Ball) is not allowed to use the phone, since it might give a busy signal when “the call” comes. While taking messages, their landlord Fred Mertz (William Frawley) jots down what he wants to be true — Ricky got the part — and Ricky sees the “message” and jumps to conclusions! Luckily for Fred (and Lucy, and Ethel) it turns out that Ricky did get the part, and the crew will soon begin their trip to Hollywood!
Ricky’s Contract is available on the I Love Lucy Season 4 DVD.
Funny quotes from I Love Lucy – Ricky’s Contract
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): I’ll get the money.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): How did you know why we were here?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): There’s only one thing that can put a smile like that on Fred’s face.
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): [answering phone] No, she’s not here. [Hangs up phone]
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Who’s not here?
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): You.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): No, nothing’s wrong. Ricky’s expecting an important phone call, and he’s been keeping the line free. Lucy’s quite a talker, especially when she’s talking with one of her gabby friends like Carolyn Appleby. Well, I’ll leave a message, Marge … Carolyn!
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): My stomach’s rumbling.
Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance): Well, tell your stomach that lunch is going to be a little bit late today.
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): [patting stomach, talks to his stomach] You hear that, Charlie?
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): In the second place, why don’t you keep quiet in the first place?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Fred, how could you do that?
Fred Mertz (William Frawley): I didn’t know what I was doing! I was half-crazed with hunger!
Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz): Mr. Benjamin wanted to know … he only received the telegram 20 minutes before. How did you know? Do you have a friend at the telegram office?
Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball): Good! Yeah, a friend at the telegram office.
Trivia
- Songs performed include When You’re Smiling and I’ll See You in C-U-B-A.