I almost left off the quote because this is the first episode with about a dozen possible quotes for "Best (or Most Representative) Line of the Episode". This one is packed. I would call this the first of the Really Great episodes of the show. Yes, Lisa and Oliver a bit too laughy in the beginning and Lisa's "Mooo!" doesn't do anyone any favors but they don't really get in the way.
Lisa is continually smiling and happy in this episode, except when the furniture doesn't arrive on time. It seems odd until Oliver joins in. They are in a very nice space, once the opening scene is out of the way. "Hoyt-Clagwell!" That darn tractor. Oliver tries to use it to pull up a stump but it just falls to pieces. Apparently, the Hoyt-Clagwell line of tractors is mostly junk. And, there's nothing Oliver can do because Hoyt & Clagwell broke up years ago because their wives couldn't get along. Oliver declares that he will never purchase another thing from Mr. Haney!...and then they go and deliver the Douglas's furniture to Mr. Haney's house.
Apart from this opener, both Lisa and Oliver are in high spirits. Oliver's Mom gets the short end of the dramatic stick here. She arrives at the Hooterville station and calls "The Haney Place"...but, of course, Oliver & Lisa don't have a phone and she speaks to Mr. Haney. From that point on, she goes on an all-day journey with Uncle Joe. The scene where she is pumping the handcart down the track as Uncle Joe sits in front is wonderful. Mom ends up in a field being attacked by a bull.
So much joy in this episode. The quote above begins the "things that country folk say to city folk because that's what they want to hear" thread. "Pushing a straw hat through a key hole" is a great one. The red wagon up the steep hill is the first. Throughout the show, these strange sayings that make no sense will pop up and confuse Oliver. They're spoken as charming colloquialisms but, really, they make no sense. I love 'em.
The furniture does arrive by the end of the episode and it fills up the house. Everything is crammed everywhere. The daybed in the kitchen is a nice touch. But, the bed in the bedroom literally fills up the room. There is a nice scene with Oliver and Lisa trying to maneuver through the crowded room. Lisa does a athletic bounce on the bed and falls onto Oliver's back. It's very charming. I'm not sure what Lisa is thinking throughout this episode. Most likely, "I'm a month-and-a-half into the six months. I am going to make the best of this." And, she certainly seems to be.
Oliver doesn't do anything really farmy here, except for the tree stump pulling. It's all about the wallpaper and the furniture. He seems quite contented. Even the thought of his Mother coming to visit doesn't chill his bones. It probably helps that she doesn't actually make it there by the end.
Sam Drucker has a nice chat with Sarah the operator. Oliver has to make a call to New York City. Sam insists that he put the call through because long distance calls can scare Sarah. "Hold on to your plugs." When Oliver gets the info he needs from a man who comes in the store, he leaves while the call is being put through. "Sarah, don't cry. He'll make another long distance call someday." In Mayberry, Sarah is very competent and always helps Andy and Barney get what they need. In Hooterville, Sarah is a little shaky.
This episode is excellent. One of my favorites from this season. It's funny, weird, paced very quickly and ever-so-charming. And, the great thing is that the show just keeps improving. There's so much great stuff coming.
Next episode: Bring on the neighbors!
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