This episode is well-written and the plot develops organically. It's a fan favorite but for some reason it just doesn't grab me. It does have a rare timely reference in that Lucy decides to rent out Viv's room to boarders as there is an accommodation shortage due to the 1964 New York World's Fair.
In the opening scene, we learn Viv owes three months back rent, and she later borrows five dollars from Lucy, establishing the financial difficulty angle. Lucy's boarders are two bank robbers who appear to be otherwise refined gentlemen. John Williams' character is named "Carter Harrison" which is a fun in-joke since we know Gale Gordon's HERE'S LUCY character would be named "Harrison Carter".
The scene where Lucy bursts into the bank straight from the beauty parlor next door shows her looking very Lucy Ricardo-ish with her head wrapped in a towel.
I think what doesn't fly IMO is the fact that Lucy discovers a fortune in the mattress, and immediately suspects Vivian instead of the strangers renting the room. The accusations against Viv---though the script sets them up to make sense---still ring false and that makes this one less than it could have been.
In the opening scene, we learn Viv owes three months back rent, and she later borrows five dollars from Lucy, establishing the financial difficulty angle. Lucy's boarders are two bank robbers who appear to be otherwise refined gentlemen. John Williams' character is named "Carter Harrison" which is a fun in-joke since we know Gale Gordon's HERE'S LUCY character would be named "Harrison Carter".
The scene where Lucy bursts into the bank straight from the beauty parlor next door shows her looking very Lucy Ricardo-ish with her head wrapped in a towel.
I think what doesn't fly IMO is the fact that Lucy discovers a fortune in the mattress, and immediately suspects Vivian instead of the strangers renting the room. The accusations against Viv---though the script sets them up to make sense---still ring false and that makes this one less than it could have been.
