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Was Fred Right that Ricky Should Pay for the Motorcycle?

posted 6 months ago by Corryveckan45 (169)
2 replies | jump to latest

As ILL fans know, in "Ricky Sells the Car," Ricky sells the new Pontiac that brought the Ricardos and Mertzes to Hollywood, and plans to go back to New York on the train. He forgets to buy tickets for the Mertzes and Fred and Ethel storm out in a huff when they find out about it. Fred goes out immediately and buys a dilapidated old-fashioned motorcycle for him and Ethel to get home on.

Fred wrecks the motorcycle by putting it in the wrong gear and when Ricky agrees to buy the tickets, Fred complains that he (Fred) should not have to pay for the motorcycle, since he wouldn't have bought it if Ricky had bought the Mertzes their train tickets in the first place, and Lucy agrees with him.

Although I think this is one of the funniest performances by William Frawley and Vivian Vance as Fred and Ethel, I'm always a little uncomfortable with Lucy agreeing with Fred that Ricky should pay for the motorcycle. After all, the Ricardos and the Mertzes have been best friends for about 14/15 years by this time. Ricky had a lot on his mind with saying goodbye to everyone at the studio, selling the car, buying the tickets, and it's clear that he simply forgot about the Mertzes.

I think Fred and Ethel (who wouldn't even be in Hollywood if it wasn't for Ricky, and, as best I can recall, contributed nothing financially to the cost of the trip) owed it to Ricky to discuss the matter before taking any action.

Thoughts?

Come to think of it, Fred and Ethel basically did the same thing as the trip to Hollywood was being planned when Ethel overheard Ricky complaining to Lucy about Lucy's mother showing up unexpectedly expecting to go on the trip. The Mertzes sure were thin skinned weren't they?

[–] [email protected] (5871) 6 months ago

I agree that Ricky had a lot on his mind and didn't intentionally forget the Mertzes. They should have realized that because of their years of friendship. I never thought Ricky should have paid for Fred's purchase of a motorcycle.

Anyway, it was a silly move on Fred's part. A pair of bus tickets would've cost less in the long run. I mean, riding home on a motorcycle would mean that the Mertzes would've had to stop and sleep at a motel several times. It would be hard to drive three thousand miles without rest! Or was Fred planning on driving off into the woods where they could bed down for the night?

And Fred ended up making out in the deal. He traded the expensive compartment for berths and used the difference to PAY for the motorcycle anyway. Ricky ended up paying for his compartment twice.

[–] Corryveckan45 (169) 5 months ago

I know. Ricky was so good to Fred and Ethel. You'd think the Mertzes would contribute something to make things right, like Fred agreeing to pay for half the cost of the broken railing and busted washing machine in "Never Do Business With Friends."