04x19 - Lucy Gets in Pictures

Complete collection of episode scripts for the TV series, "I Love Lucy". Aired October 1951 - May 1957.*
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Lucy & Ricky Ricardo live in New York, while Ricky tries to succeed in show business -- Lucy who is always trying to help -- usually ends up in some kind of trouble that drives Ricky insane.
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04x19 - Lucy Gets in Pictures

Post by bunniefuu »

("I love Lucy" theme song playing)

Honey, I'm going downstairs to get
the New York papers.

Can I get you anything?

Oh, will you mail my postcards for
me?

Are you still writing postcards?

You must have written a hundred of
those since we got out here.

Well, I want to share our trip with
everybody.

We're having so much fun, I want our
friends in New York

to have sort of a secondhand thrill.

Well, that's nice, dear.

Uh, honey?

Yeah?

Do you feel all right?

Sure. Why?

Come here. Let me look at you.

I'm afraid maybe you're getting a
cold.

Stick out your tongue.

What's the big idea?

Well, I've stamped so many cards, I'm
all out of lick.

Here you are.

Okay.

Now, remember, don't read them.

Why not?

Because it's not nice

to read other people's postcards.

Well, you and Ethel do it at home all
the time.

Not until after they're mailed.

It's illegal to read them before
they're postmarked.

Oh, I see.

All right, I won't read them.

Okay.

The rules you two have.

Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay.

Lucy.
What?

What do you mean by writing this to
Lillian Appleby?

You read them.

Yes, and it's a good thing I did.

What do you mean telling Lillian
Appleby

that you're going to be in a movie?

I can't get over it.

You stood right here and said you
wouldn't read them.

Honestly, you just don't know who you
can trust anymore.

For heaven's sake, a man who will
read a postcard

after he said he won't will do
anything.

Never mind all that.

I want to know all about this movie

you're gonna be in.

I refuse to discuss anything with a
sneak.

A snick?

All right, a snick.

Why did you told Lillian Appleby

that you were going to be in a movie?

Because I had to told her.

Or she'd be mad if I told Marian
Strong first.

Did you tell all these people

that you were going to be in a movie?

No. I didn't mention it to little
Ricky.

Ay-ay-ay.

I don't understand it.

I don't see how you can say something
that is not true.

How do you know it isn't true?

It's true until it's untrue.

After all, Hollywood's looking for
new faces.

Well, your face is not new.

It is to them.

They've never seen it before.

Well, it finally happened.

Ever since we've been out in
Hollywood,

I've been waiting for you to try to
get into the movies.

What took you so long?

I was lulling you into a false sense
of security.

Yeah. Well, now that you brought the
subject up,

let me tell you something.

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Is this gonna be the one about how
I'm a wife and mother

and my place is in the home?
No.

Is it about one member of the family

in show business being enough?

No.

Oh, well, don't tell me

you're gonna use that ridiculous one

about my not having any talent.

No.

Oh, you have a new one?
Well, go ahead.

Here you are.

Here you are in pretty, sunny
California.

Hundreds of people all over the world

would give their right arm

just for the opportunity to visit
here.

And what do you want to do?

You want to go to a studio and work
from morning till night

six days a week.

Well, I...

It's a beautiful climate.

There's hundreds of things to do.

Hundreds of places to go.

You got your best pals, the Mertzes,
here with you

to go wherever you want to go.

You got a brand-new, beautiful
Pontiac to take you there.

This could be one of the most
wonderful and exciting

experiences of your whole life.

Well, gee, I...

But what do you want to do?

You want to go to work.

I wished you'd used the one about my
not having any talent.

This one's tough to fight.

Why, sure, honey.

Why don't you forget all about being
in the movies

and have fun, enjoy yourself?

Well... Ethel and I did want to go to
Catalina next week.

Sure!

And maybe Pismo Beach.

Yes?

And then there's always Palm Springs.

Palm springs! Even the president
vacations there.

That's true.
(knock at door)

RICKY: Hi. Come in.

Hi.
Hi.

LUCY: Hey. Are we gonna have fun?

I was just planning some big trips
for us.

I'm afraid they'll have to wait a
while.

Yeah.
Why?

Tell them, Ethel.

Well, we were just down in the coffee
shop

and we ran into a fella

who used to be in vaudeville with us,
Jimmy O'Connor.

And he's a producer at your studio
now, Ricky,

and guess what.

What?

He gave us parts

in his new picture.

FRED: And we start tomorrow.

Isn't that exciting?!

That's great!

Whee.

What's the matter with you?

I thought you'd be happy for us.

I am.

Well, you don't sound happy.

Now, look, honey, this won't change
anything.

The Mertzes would probably

only be in the picture a day or two.

Oh, no. It's for two whole weeks.

Yeah.

Congratulations.

ETHEL: What's the matter with her?

Well, just before you came in,

I talked her out of wanting to get
into the movies

and convinced her that she could have
a lot more fun

just taking trips with you two.

Oh, dear.

Oh, now, don't you worry.

Lucy, we'll take lots of trips
together.

Just as soon as we wrap up

our picture commitments.

Oh, sure. We'll still want to see
those places.

Well, we got to go over

to wardrobe and get fitted for our
costumes.

Hey, listen, I got to go over to the
studio, too.

I'll drop you off.

Oh, fine.
Fine.

Aw, honey, don't be blue.

Come on.

See you later, huh?

Well, see you later.

So long, Lucy.

Bye, dear.

ETHEL: Imagine us in the movies.

Yeah.

(knock at door)

Come in.

Hi, Mrs. Ricardo.

Oh, hello, Bobby.

I brought up your cleaning.

Would you hang it

in the bedroom for me, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Enjoying your stay in Hollywood?

Yech.

Hey, you, uh, you got the red eight
on the red nine.

Yeah. I thought it might spice up the
game

if I cheated a little.

Uh, Mrs. Ricardo,

you won't be seeing me for a few
days.

Oh, you going on a trip?

No, I got a part in a picture.

You have?

Yeah.

Remember last time I was only a
stooge?

Uh-huh.

This time I got a line to read.

A whole line!

Yeah. Oh, it's a very dramatic scene.

See, I play a hospital orderly.

Now, this woman comes rushing in.

Her hair is messed up 'cause she's
very upset

'cause her husband's been in an
accident.

Now, she sees me and she says, "What
room is my husband in?"

Then I say, " ."

(sobbing)

Sort of gets you right here, doesn't
it?

.

(sobbing louder)

Boy, I got more talent than I
thought.

No, you don't understand, Bobby.

You see, my husband is starring in a
picture,

and today my best friends, the
Mertzes, told me

that they got parts in a picture

and now you tell me you got a part.

I just feel left out.

I feel like an ugly duckling.

Well, that's ridiculous!
You're prettier than any of us.

And talented, too!

Oh, can-can you act?

Can I act?

Can I act?!

What room is my husband in?

.

Thank you!

See?

Hey, you're great.

Yeah, well, thanks a lot.

I'm afraid my light's always gonna be
hidden under a bushel.

What about your husband?

Can he help you get in pictures?

You mean, Ricky Ricardo, the Cuban
bushel?

Well, you'll just have to go out

and let somebody else discover you.

How?

Oh, a lot of people get discovered.

Why, there was...
there was Champ Butler.

He was discovered parking cars.

And then there was Dorothy Lamour.

She was discovered running an
elevator.

And then there was Lana Turner.

She was discovered at a soda
fountain, sitting on a stool.

Well, I don't think I'd be very good

at parking cars, and elevators make
me dizzy,

but I do know how to sit.

Well, great. Why don't you give it a
whirl?

What soda fountain was it?

The one at Schwab's Drugstore up on
Sunset Boulevard.

Schwab's?

Schwab's.

Schwab's. Thanks a lot.

(knock at door)

Come in.

Hi.
Oh, hi!

How did everything go?

Oh, Ricky, it was just wonderful.

We got the cutest gay ' s costumes
you ever saw.

The funniest thing happened in
Wardrobe.

Oh, now, Fred, I didn't think that
was very funny.

It was pretty funny.

What happened, Fred?

Well, we had tried on our costumes

and were all rest up in our own
clothes ready to leave.

Now, Fred.

And the head of Wardrobe accused
Ethel

of trying to sneak out with one of
his bustles.

(guffawing)

Oh, that's very funny.

(laughing harder)

How's Lucy?

I don't know.

She wasn't home when I got here,

and I'm beginning to worry about her
a little bit, you know.

She was so blue when I left.

Oh, she's probably just gone
sightseeing.

Sure.
Oh, here she is.

Oh, here she is.

Hi, Lucy.

Hiya, honey.

Hi.
Where you been?

I was beginning to worry about you.

Well, I've been out not getting in
the movies.

What are you talking about?

Well, after you three abandoned me
today,

I went and sat in Schwab's Drugstore

so I could be discovered like Lana
Turner.

Oh, no.

Yeah, I sat there all afternoon.

Well, what happened?
You look kind of funny.

Yeah, well, you'd look kind of funny,
too,

if you'd just had three chocolate
malts,

two hot fudge sundaes,

a pineapple soda and a banana split.

You ate all that?

I had to.

It was the only way I could keep my
place at the counter.

They have a rule: "No eat, no seat."

Aw... and nobody did any discovering?

Well, only me.

About an hour ago, I discovered I was
getting green.

Well, at least she's not blue
anymore.

Oh, Fred.

Oh, dear.

Why don't I give up?

The only way I'll ever get in the
movies is to buy a ticket.

Oh, now, honey.

I just can't go back to New York and
face my friends.

As soon as I get to feeling a little
better,

I'm gonna k*ll myself.

Now, look, don't you talk like that.

Listen, if it means that much to you,

well, maybe there's something that I
can do.

What?

Well, if you just want to say that
you were in a picture,

maybe I can call one of the directors
at Metro--

I got a couple friends in there--

and see if they can give you

a little part or something, you know.

Ricky, would you?

Well, I can't promise you anything,
but I can try.

Oh, thank you, honey.

I'll call tomorrow morning and see
what they say.

Thank you.

Hey, Frank.

Oh, hi, Ricky.

Where's your wife?

Oh, she's just coming out of
Wardrobe.

She'll be here in a minute.
She is so excited

about doing this part in this
picture,

you wouldn't believe it, and when she
found out

that she gets to die in the scene,
she almost did.

Oh, well, it really isn't anything.

Well, she thinks she's playing
Camille.

She's been practicing how to die all
day long.

(chuckling)

RICKY: Oh, here she is.

Come over here, honey.

Come on, I want you to meet your
director.

Oh.

Frank, this is my wife, Lucy.

Frank Williams, the director.

How do you do?
How do you do, Mrs. Ricardo?

How do you do?
I'm glad to have you with us.

Well, thank you. It certainly is nice
to be here.

I sure hope I do a good job for you,
sir.

Oh, I'm sure you will.

Now, here's what I'd like you to do.

You're the star of this nightclub
sequence.

The star?

Now, as our scene opens,

you're discovered at the top

of the steps with these four girls.

On the cue music, you come about
halfway down,

a sh*t rings out, you clutch your
heart and you drop.

Yeah. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir, I'm pretty excited, but I'm
sure I can do it.

That's how simple, honey, huh?

Yeah.
You can handle that.

I'm sure I can.

Now, just be calm, and good luck to
you.

Okay, dear, bye.

I got a date with Mr. Minnelli,

so I got to go.
See you later.

Good-bye, honey.
See you, Frank.

Good-bye.
Don't worry, now.

You'll be all right.
Uh, Nick...

Nick, would you get that headdress on
her, please?

Oh, boys, no!
That spot-- no.

I don't want that there.

NICK: Here you are, Mrs. Ricardo.

Is that for me?

Uh-huh. I'm afraid it's kind of
heavy.

Oh, well, that's all right.

I'll be able to manage it.

Can I let go now?

Yeah, that's all right.

Thank you.

Well, just a minute.

Just a minute.

Oh, dear.

Yeah, well.

There.
All right now?

There we are. Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Have you ever worn one of these
before?

Well, no, sir, but I-I'm sure that I
can handle it.

It's quite a trick. It's just getting
used to balancing it.

How's that?

Just getting used to balancing it.

Oh, yes, I'll be able to! Thanks.

All right.

All right, places, girls!
Get into positions!

FRANK: Line up at the top of the
steps, please.

Mrs. Ricardo, would you like...

What?

Take your position at the top

of the steps, please, Mrs. Ricardo.

Oh... yes, sir!

Thank you.

Don't go up too far.
That's it.

Now, Would you mind turning around,
please,

coming towards the center?

A little more to your...

A little more to your left, please.

Your left.

Your left, Mrs. Ricardo.

That's it.
Thank you very much.

Now, would you tilt your head a
little bit?

How's that?

Tilt your head a little bit, please.

That's fine, that's fine.
Yes, that way.

Now, would you drop your arms very
grace... gracefully.

That's it. Kind of put your foot out
a little bit,

like on your toe...

Fine. Do you feel comfortable?

No, sir-- yes, sir.

That's it.
Now smile, everybody.

All right.

Hit the music, Harry.

(piano playing "A Pretty Girl Is Like
A Melody")

Mrs. Ricardo, what seems to be the
trouble?

Well, sir, the headdress was just a
little heavy

and it sort of tilted forward.

I'm-I'm sorry, sir.

I'll be able to manage it.

Well, I-I don't want you to be
uncomfortable.

Perhaps I'd better give it to a
bigger girl.

Oh, no, sir. I'm big enough. Thank
you.

I can do it.

All right, all right, let's try it
once again.


Now let's rehearse it this time.

All right, fine.
Now, that's it.

Now, same positions now.

Remember, smile.

The hands... see?

That's right. Tilt the head a little
bit, girls.

Lots of life.

All right, music.

(piano playing "A Pretty Girl Is Like
A Melody")

It's all right.

Mrs. Ricardo!

Now, what seems to be the problem?

Well, my train is caught, sir.

It's a nail.

I'll get it.

Yes, sir.

There, that's clear.

All right.

Okay.

Here we are.

You know, I...
I'm afraid perhaps

this headdress is a little too much
for you.

Oh, no, sir, no, sir.
Now, Mr. Williams,

my train just got caught.

That could happen to anyone, sir.

Well, I-I'd feel much better if it
was handled

by a girl who could really handle it.

Oh, I can, I can handle it, sir.

I'm sure I can.

Annette, would you kindly switch
headdresses, please?

Oh, no, sir, Mr. Williams!

Mr. Williams!

Yes?

Isn't the girl who wears that the one
who gets k*lled?

Yes, that's right.

Would you put this on, please?

Well, I... I don't really think that

that's very fair, Mr. Williams.

I... I didn't really get a chance,
you know.

Mr. Williams...

All right, all right, now, look,

now you take Mrs. Ricardo's place in
the center.

You'll be the lead girl now.
Thank you.

Mrs. Ricardo, would you mind

standing over there by the rail?

Thank you very much.

You're doing very well.

Very well, very well.

Now let's have a nice walk- through
this time, girls.

No stops, like go all the way
through,

right up by the rail, please. Thank
you.

I'd like to try another run-through
now,

only this time I'd like you

to come down the stairs a little
faster.

Music.

(piano playing "A Pretty Girl Is Like
A Melody")

Ah!

Mrs. Ricardo, just what do you think
you're doing?

Well, you said you wanted us to come
down a little faster.

I'm sorry I tripped on my train.

It was sort of a train trip.

You like to try it once more, please?

Mr. Williams, are you sure

you don't want me to be the girl who
gets k*lled?

Please, Mrs. Ricardo.

Wouldn't you like to see me die?

Don't tempt me.

Well, I-I certainly wish

I could be the girl who dies, Mr.
Williams,

because it means so much to me, you
know. I...

Mrs. Ricardo...

I have rehearsed it a lot.
I know what...

Mrs. Ricardo...

I'm sure that if you could see me do
it,

Mrs. Ricardo...
you'd appreciate that I'd

probably do it better than any of the
girls.

Would you please let me get a word in
edgewise?

Yes, sir. I just felt that

you should know how I feel about it,
you know.

Yes, I certainly do.

Mrs. Ricardo, would you please

get up to the top of the stairs
there?

We'll try it once more.

Just once more, please.

I'd like to rehearse it.

Please.

Thank you very much.

You're doing very, very well.

Doing beautifully.

Yes. Uh, could we hurry it a little?

You see, we're a little behind on
schedule.

Thank you very much.

All right.
Are we all set now?

All right, remember, girls, now,
smile.

Smile pretty.

That's it. Music.

(piano playing "A Pretty Girl Is Like
A Melody")

(g*nsh*t)

Mrs. Ricardo, just...

just what do you think you're doing?

That sh*t was supposed to be for the
other girl.

Well, he missed.

Look, Mrs. Ricardo, you just don't
seem to understand.

You see, I-I-I'm the director on this
picture.

Yes, sir, I know that.

See, I make all the decisions.

I say what happens on this set.

I understand that, sir.

You understand that.

You know, one more thing like this,

and you won't be in this picture at
all.

Oh, well, look, Mr. Williams,

I-I just feel that I just have to be
the girl who dies.

You see, you don't understand.

I-I couldn't go back to New York

and face my friends.

I've told them that I'm going to be
in a picture,

and I, and I can't just let it be
walk-on-and-off, you know.

This is my big chance.

Yeah, so I understand.

Yeah, well, you see, all right, Mrs.
Ricardo.

I've told them for months and months
and months,

you know, and I...
Yes, Mrs. Ricardo...

and then when I got this,

I figured it was going to be a really
big thing, you know.

I really understand-- believe me, I
feel for you--

but you've got to understand my
situation, too.

Well, you know how friends back home
are, you know.

Yes. Oh, yes, I know how friends are,

but, you see, I have a problem, too.

I know, but the problem is...

I'd like to get this picture done

before the end of this year.

I understand that.

Thank you.

I understand that.

So, you can be the girl who dies.

Oh!

Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you.

I'd like that headdress, please.

Oh, hold it!
No, no, wait.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

I-I-I've got an entirely new concept
for this scene.

Much more dramatic.

Oh?

Yes. You are going to be discovered
dead

as the scene opens.

I'm already dead?

Already dead.

Oh, uh, but...

Oh, no, no, no, no-- no buts.

You just lie down here, Mrs. Ricardo.

Just lie down.

Thank you very much.

Just lie down.

Uh... face down.

Face down?!

Face down.

But Mr. Williams, I've seen lots of
pictures,

and when people die, they don't
usually die face down.

They die face up into the camera.

Okay, okay, we'll do it another way.

Oh, thank you.

Yeah. Uh, boys, will you bring in the
stretcher, please?

This will work very, very well.

It's very dramatic, too.

Would you lie down on the stretcher,
please?

Thank you very much.

Face up?

Face up.

Yes, sir.

All set?

All set.

There we are.

All right, now, girls, as we start
this scene now...

Mr. Williams...

how will my friends know it's me?

Your feet will be showing.

Oh, swell.

All right, now, boys, will you change
the setup now?

I'll be right back.

And, girls, I'd like...

Where are you going now?

I'm going to powder my feet.

All right, girls, will you gather
round here, please?

In this setup here...

Hi!

Oh, hi, Ricky.

How's Lucy?

Oh, she's fine.

I'm a nervous wreck.

What happened?
Something went wrong?

Oh, no, no, no, everything's fine.

Oh, good.

Okay, sir, we're ready to go.

Are the attendants ready?

Yes, sir.

All right, well, where's the dead
woman?

LUCY: Here I am.

Oh, Mrs. Ricardo.

Fine. Would you excuse me a moment,
Ricky?

Sure.

We'll get on with this scene.

Will you just lie down here, please?

Yes.
Thank you very much.

Pick up the sheet, please.

Yes. I'll just put your dress up here
nicely.

There we are.

All right, there.

Could you cover her?

Oh, that's beautiful.

Now, remember,

this is a very dramatic scene.

You're very sad. You're very upset.
Lots of emotion.

Let's get this scene done this time.

Not a word from anyone.
Ready? Roll 'em.

FRANK: Action!

(all sobbing)

Cut! Print it! Thanks!

That's beautiful! All right, boys,
you can take it away now.

Oh, girls, that was just wonderful.

Just wonderful.
Just wonderful.

Lucy, what happened?

Nothing.

Well, that's not the way that they
explained the scene to me,

nobody will know who you are.

Oh, well, I'm not too unhappy.

That's show business, you know,
darling.

I'm sorry, Ricky, but...

Well, that's all right.
At least you got in the picture.

That's right.
Sure.

Excuse me, sir, but, uh...

What?

Mrs. Ricardo...

Yeah, well, let's go, Ricky.

May I see your feet, please?

Certainly.

You know what I mean.

("I Love Lucy" theme song playing)

ANNOUNCER: The director was Lou
Krugman, the bellboy was Bobby
Jellison,

d*ck was Louie Nicoletti and the
showgirl was Onna Conners.

I Love Lucy is a Desilu Production.

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz

will be back next week at this same
time.
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