The Séance

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The Seance Episode Info Series: I Love Lucy Season: 1 Episode: 7 Broadcast Info Air Date: November 26, 1951 Channel: CBS Production Info Directed By: Marc Daniels Written By: Jess Oppenheimer Madelyn Pugh Bob Carroll, Jr. Produced By: Jess Oppenheimer The Séance is the seventh episode of I Love Lucy. It first aired on November 26, 1951. Synopsis Lucy has begun studying numerology and horoscopes. After reading Ricky's horoscope, she accidentally says no to a very important business deal. To help Ricky get back in favor of Mr. Merriweather, Lucy pretends to have a séance to help Mr. Merriweather contact the other side. Plot The episode starts with Lucy in the kitchen reading a book on numerology. Ricky walks in, but she is too engrossed in the book to pay attention to him. Ricky thinks numerology is silly, but Lucy believes every word of it. Ricky drops a fork, and Lucy predicts a woman will come to the door. Minutes after, Ethel arrives and repays Lucy money that she owed her, fulfilling the prophecy. Ricky tells Lucy he has a barber appointment, and Lucy checks his horoscope, which says it's okay to get a haircut. Ethel checks her horoscope and finds out that the paper was yesterday's paper. Lucy checks today's paper, and it says that today is Ricky's no day. A call comes through, and Lucy immediately tells them no, thinking it's the barber. Lucy finding Ricky's perfect name Ricky comes home shortly after, and Lucy warns him about his horoscope. Ricky tells Lucy he came back because he is expecting a big business deal call to come through. When he tells Lucy that the man's name is Merriweather, she realizes she said no to a theatrical producer. Lucy tells Ricky her mistake, and Ricky decides they'll go to Mr. Merriweather in person to explain. At Mr. Merriweather's office, Mr. Merriweather is studying the Ouija board. The Ricardos enter, and Lucy tries to explain, but Mr. Merriweather can't conduct business because his horoscope told him not to. Lucy is pleased that he studies numerology as well. Mr. Merriweather asks them if they use a Ouija board, as he's been trying to contact a lost love one, Tillie. Lucy tells him they're having a Séance at their apartment that evening, and Mr. Merriweather is invited. That evening, Lucy and Ricky are preparing for the séance. Fred and Ethel walk in, with Ethel as the medium for the séance. Ricky and Fred walk into the kitchen, and Lucy tells Ethel that she's going to sneak away and pretend to be the voice of Tillie. In the kitchen, Ricky suggests the same thing to Fred. Fred agrees to play the part of Mrs. Merriweather. When Ricky and Fred get into the other room, Fred pretends to have a headache so he can go downstairs. Mr. Merriweather arrives, and the séance is ready to begin. Ethel has everyone close their eyes, and Lucy sneaks away from the group. Ethel tries to contact Tillie, and Lucy pretends to be the voice of Tillie. Mr. Merriweather asks if Tillie liked him or Mrs. Merriweather the best, causing much confusion. Lucy says Mr. Merriweather to please him. Lucy hiding during the Séance After Lucy, Mr. Merriweather wants to contact Mrs. Merriweather, although the group thought Tillie was Mrs. Merriweather. Lucy prepares a voice, but Fred pretends first, making Lucy thinks it's a real spirit. Fred hears Lucy as Tillie and thinks that is a real spirit. After the séance, Mr. Merriweather is pleased that he got to contact the other side. Lucy and Fred both come into the apartment looking for the other spirit that spoke. When Ricky comes back in from walking Mr. Merriweather down the stairs, he tells them that Mr. Merriweather gave him a job. Lucy confesses that she was the voice of Tillie, and Fred confesses that he was the voice of Mrs. Merriweather. The group is still confused about Tillie not being Mrs. Merriweather, and Ricky explains that Tillie wasn't Mrs. Merriweather, but Mr. Merriweather's dog. Cast "The Séance" Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo Desi Arnaz Ricky Ricardo Vivian Vance Ethel Mertz William Frawley Fred Mertz Jay Novello Mr. Merriweather Crew Crew Producer Jess Oppenheimer Director Marc Daniels Writers Jess Oppenheimer Madelyn Pugh Bob Carroll, Jr. Director of Photography Karl Freund Music Wilbur Hatch Associate Producer Al Simon Art Director Larry Cuneo Editor Dann Cahn Make-up Max Factor Memorable Quotes "Lucy, don't you like the way I vibrate?" - Ricky "Oh, I burned myself. It's awfully hot here." "Oh, that's where you are!" - Lucy, Mr. Merriweather I Love Lucy Episodes Season 1 The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub • Be A Pal • The Diet Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her • The Quiz Show • The Audition • The Séance Men are Messy • The Fur Coat • Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer • Drafted • The Adagio The Benefit • The Amateur Hour • Lucy Plays Cupid • Lucy Fakes Illness Lucy Writes a Play • Breaking the Lease • The Ballet • The Young Fans • New Neighbors Fred and Ethel Fight • The Moustache • The Gossip • Pioneer Women The Marriage License • The Kleptomaniac • Cuban Pals • The Freezer Lucy Does a TV Commercial • The Publicity Agent • Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio Lucy's Schedule • Ricky Thinks he's Getting Bald • Ricky Asks for a Raise Season 2 Job Switching • The Saxophone • The Anniversary Present • The Handcuffs • The Operetta Vacation From Marriage • The Courtroom • Redecorating • Ricky Loses His Voice Lucy Is Enceinte • Pregnant Women Are Unpredictable • Lucy's Show Biz Swan Song Lucy Hires An English Tutor • Ricky Has Labor Pains • Lucy Becomes A Sculptress Lucy Goes To The Hospital • Sales Resistance • The Inferiority Complex The Club Election • The Black Eye • Lucy Changes Her Mind • No Children Allowed Lucy Hires A Maid • The Indian Show • Lucy's Last Birthday The Ricardos Change Apartments • Lucy Is Matchmaker • Lucy Wants New Furniture The Camping Trip • Ricky And Fred Are TV Fans • Never Do Business With Friends Season 3 Ricky's 'Life' Story • The Girls Go Into Business • Lucy And Ethel Buy The Same Dress Equal Rights • Baby Pictures • Lucy Tells The Truth • The French Revue Redecorating The Mertzes' Apartment • Too Many Crooks • Changing The Boys' Wardrobe Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined • Ricky's Old Girlfriend • The Million-Dollar Idea Ricky Minds The Baby • The Charm School • Sentimental Anniversary Fan Magazine Interview • Oil Wells • Ricky Loses His Temper • Home Movies Bonus Bucks • Ricky's Hawaiian Vacation • Lucy Is Envious • Lucy Writes A Novel Lucy's Club Dance • The Black Wig • The Diner • Tennessee Ernie Visits Tennessee Ernie Hangs On • The Golf Game • The Sublease Season 4 The Business Manager • Mertz and Kurtz • Lucy Cries Wolf • The Matchmaker Mr. and Mrs. TV Show • Ricky's Movie Offer • Ricky's Screen Test • Lucy's Mother-In-Law Ethel's Birthday • Ricky's Contract • Getting Ready • Lucy Learns to Drive California, Here We Come! • First Stop • Tennessee Bound • Ethel's Home Town L.A., At Last • Don Juan and the Starlets • Lucy Gets Into Pictures • The Fashion Show The Hedda Hopper Story • Don Juan is Shelved • Bull Fight Dance Hollywood Anniversary • The Star Upstairs • Lucy in Palm Springs • Dancing Star Harpo Marx • Ricky Needs an Agent • The Tour Season 5 Lucy Visits Grauman's • Lucy and John Wayne • Lucy and the Dummy Ricky Sells the Car • The Great Train Robbery • Homecoming • Face to Face Lucy Goes to a Rodeo • Nursery School • Ricky's European Booking • The Passports Staten Island Ferry • Bon Voyage • Second Honeymoon • Lucy Meets the Queen The Fox Hunt • Lucy Goes to Scotland • Paris at Last • Lucy Meets Charles Boyer Lucy Gets a Paris Gown • Lucy in the Swiss Alps • Lucy Gets Homesick in Italy Lucy's Italian Movie • Lucy's Bicycle Trip • Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo Return Home from Europe Season 6 Lucy and Bob Hope • Little Ricky Learns to Play the Drums • Lucy Meets Orson Welles Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright • Visitor from Italy • Off to Florida • Deep-Sea Fishing Desert Island • The Ricardos Visit Cuba • Little Ricky's School Pageant I Love Lucy Christmas Show • Lucy and the Loving Cup • Lucy and Superman Little Ricky Gets a Dog • Lucy Wants to Move to the Country • Lucy Hates to Leave Lucy Misses the Mertzes • Lucy Gets Chummy With the Neighbors Lucy Raises Chickens • Lucy Does The Tango • Ragtime Band • Lucy's Night in Town Housewarming • Building a B-B-Q • Country Club Dance • Lucy Raises Tulips The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue