#142- "Lucy Meets the Queen"
EPISODE NAME: "Lucy Meets the Queen"
EPISODE NUMBER: 142
DATE AIRED: January 30, 1956
DATE FILMED: December 15, 1955
RATING/SHARE: 54.3/74
EXTRA CAST: Bellboy- Sam Edwards, Man on the Street- Robert Shafter, Maid- Nancy Kulp, Dancers- Betty Scott, Patti Nestor
SUMMARY: The Ricardos and Mertzes arrive in London and Lucy and Ethel are anxious to see the sights, and see the Queen of England. At Buckingham Palace, Lucy and Ethel see a palace guard, who in English tradition must not smile, laugh, or move. Lucy tries to break the tradition, but she is not successful. Then Lucy and Ethel encounter a fast-talking English gentlemen who tells them that the Queen will be at the Wimbershire Hotel. Discovering that she is appearing at their hotel, Lucy and Ethel rush back hoping to see the Queen. A mob of autograph hounds forms around the Queen. Lucy manages to sneak a piece of paper into the crowd hoping to obtain her autograph. But alas, when the piece of paper resurfaces, it is not the Queen's autograph, it is Ricky's. Lucy is angry at him, until he tells her that they will be presented to the Queen. Lucy and Ethel are estatic, and practice their curtseying. Later, Ricky discovers that only he will be presented to the Queen. Knowing that only people in the show can be presented to the Queen, Lucy threatens Ricky and makes him let her into the show. However, all of Lucy's curtsey practice has left her with a charley horse in her leg. The performace at the London Palladium turns into a comic performance. Feeling so embarassed about messing up the performance, Lucy turns down her once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the Queen. Ricky then tells her that the Queen has requested to meet the girl who did the comical dancing. Feeling honored, Lucy decides to be presented to the Queen afterall.
QUOTES:
LUCY: Did you hear about the book that the dog psychiastrist wrote?...Is Your Cocker Off His Rocker?...Is Your Poodle Off His Noodle?...Collie Off His Trolley?
(Lucy asks Ethel if her London guidebook says anything about the Queen in Buckingham Palace)
ETHEL: No it just says how old it is and how many rooms it has
LUCY: Oh, how many rooms does it have?
ETHEL: Over 500!
LUCY: No wonder the Queen hasn't come out yet, she's probably lost!
(After speaking with the fast-talking English man)
ETHEL: You got to excuse us, we're American, we don't understand English
LUCY: Ricky, if you don't let me in your show, I'll give you such a punch, you'll talk funnier than you do now!