I LOVE LUCY

When Lucy and Ethel spy handsome Charles Boyer seated alone at an outdoor café in Paris, they prepare to carry out their usual movie star assault. While the girls powder their noses, Ricky, fearing the worst, approaches Boyer and warns him about his wife, the scourge of Hollywood.

Forewarned, Boyer decides to play a little trick on Lucy. When she sits down at his table, he tells her that his name is Maurice DuBois, he's a struggling actor, and he is annoyed that so many people mistake him for Boyer. Satisfied, but disappointed, Lucy departs.

Later that day, Lucy reads an item in Art Buchwald's column that Ricky is supposed to meet with Boyer regarding a possible acting assignment on his "Four Star Playhouse" TV series. Naturally, she begs to tag along.

Feigning jealousy, Ricky forbids it. This prompts Lucy to prove her faithfulness by hiring Charles Boyer look-alike, Maurice DuBois to pose as the famous actor and have him unsuccessfully flirt with her in Ricky's presence.

When Boyer/DuBois arrives at the Ricardos' hotel suite, he proceeds to express love to Lucy, who responds by nonchalantly peeling an orange. But when Ethel tips off Lucy via phone that Ricky is playing a trick on her and that DuBois really is Charles Boyer, she nearly chokes on the fruit and becomes totally flustered by the presence of the French star.

Her efforts to get his autograph leave him with ink on his shirt; she rips his raincoat and destroys his hat; and, finally, slams the door into his head. The scourge of Hollywood lives up to her name.

Special Notes: Jerry Miggins, the Desilu propman, had a friend at American Express who made arrangements to fly in copies of the Paris edition of the "Herald Tribune" for Charles Boyer to read during the opening café scene.

This episode was originally written with Maurice Chevalier in mind. Charles Boyer is on I Love Lucy to promote his show "Four Star Playhouse". While guest starring, he refused to wear the Desilu provided wardrobe and didn't want his own clothes ruined. Invisible ink was squirted on Boyer's shirt and the torn raincoat belonged to Desi Arnaz.

This episode will be rewritten in 1964 for The Lucy Show with Ethel Merman taking over Charles Boyer's part.