After Lucy gets several months behind in all the bills, Ricky hires a no-nonsense business manager who puts her on a strict budget. Lucy comes up with a scheme to get some extra money that soon has her rolling in cash.

After Lucy gets several months behind in all the bills, Ricky hires a no-nonsense business manager who puts her on a strict budget. Lucy comes up with a scheme to get some extra money that soon has her rolling in cash.

Lucy pretends to be Fred and Ethel's maid to impress Fred's old vaudeville partner.

Lucy pretends to be Fred and Ethel's maid to impress Fred's old vaudeville partner.

Lucy fakes a crisis to test Ricky's love for her.

Lucy fakes a crisis to test Ricky's love for her.

Lucy tries to get her lonely friend's boyfriend to finally propose. When Ricky tries to save him from marriage, he and Lucy end up having a fight.

Lucy tries to get her lonely friend's boyfriend to finally propose. When Ricky tries to save him from marriage, he and Lucy end up having a fight.

Lucy unwittingly attacks the talent scout sent by a company that wants to cast Ricky in a movie.

Lucy unwittingly attacks the talent scout sent by a company that wants to cast Ricky in a movie.

Lucy sees Ricky's screen test as an opportunity to get discovered as a new movie star.

Lucy sees Ricky's screen test as an opportunity to get discovered as a new movie star.

Lucy meets her mother-in-law from Cuba for the first time.

Lucy meets her mother-in-law from Cuba for the first time.

Convinced that his wife never likes the presents he buys for her, Fred asks Lucy to secretly find a birthday present for Ethel on his behalf. Lucy agrees, and later is with Ethel when she happens to find the gift-wrapped package in a closet. Ethel is less than excited about it, complaining that Fred has a history of giving her horrible gifts. Lucy urges Ethel to sneak a peek at what's inside. Reluctantly unwrapping the gift, Ethel pulls out a pair of strange-looking pants, gives them a quizzical glance and exclaims, Well, he's done it again. Lucy hides her dismay, speaking up for Fred, trying to explain that they are chic hostess pants, the kind you wear when you give smart dinner parties. Ethel is unimpressed, saying, Oh, I've been wondering what to wear to all those smart dinner parties I give. When Lucy reveals that it was she and not Fred who selected the gift, this leads to an argument and an estrangement. In Act II, Ricky and Fred scheme to get the girls together again by ... Written by Tim Hatcher

Convinced that his wife never likes the presents he buys for her, Fred asks Lucy to secretly find a birthday present for Ethel on his behalf. Lucy agrees, and later is with Ethel when she happens to find the gift-wrapped package in a closet. Ethel is less than excited about it, complaining that Fred has a history of giving her horrible gifts. Lucy urges Ethel to sneak a peek at what's inside. Reluctantly unwrapping the gift, Ethel pulls out a pair of strange-looking pants, gives them a quizzical glance and exclaims, Well, he's done it again. Lucy hides her dismay, speaking up for Fred, trying to explain that they are chic hostess pants, the kind you wear when you give smart dinner parties. Ethel is unimpressed, saying, Oh, I've been wondering what to wear to all those smart dinner parties I give. When Lucy reveals that it was she and not Fred who selected the gift, this leads to an argument and an estrangement. In Act II, Ricky and Fred scheme to get the girls together again by ... Written by Tim Hatcher

Everyone's on pins and needles waiting for the results of Ricky's screen test.

Everyone's on pins and needles waiting for the results of Ricky's screen test.

The Ricados and Mertzes prepare for their trip to California where Ricky will be acting in a movie.

The Ricados and Mertzes prepare for their trip to California where Ricky will be acting in a movie.

Lucy insists in learning to drive the new car so she can help with the driving on the way to California. After one bad lesson, she tries teaching Ethel how to drive. Ethel ends up wrecking the car before it has insurance.

Lucy insists in learning to drive the new car so she can help with the driving on the way to California. After one bad lesson, she tries teaching Ethel how to drive. Ethel ends up wrecking the car before it has insurance.

The Ricardos and Mertzes begin their cross-country drive to California.

The Ricardos and Mertzes begin their cross-country drive to California.

Traveling down a deserted road, the gang finds a small restaurant and motel run by a crooked owner. He charges them an outrageous amount of money for four dry cheese sandwiches. Deciding he is crooked they decide to drive on to find another motel. The follow a series of signs that supposedly lead to the highway and find themselves right back at the same motel. They are so tired, that they decide to stay at the motel. Then are rented a run down, seedy room, containing a double bed and a set of bunk beds. The mattress on the double bed is so old that Lucy and Ricky roll to the center of and are almost trapped. They trade beds with Fred and Ethel Mertz, because the Mertz's bed at home is the same. Ethel grabs the bottom sheet, pulls up so Fred rolls to the edge, then wraps the sheet over him and ties it down holding him in place Then a train comes by which vibrates the room causing the bed to travel across the floor where it collides with the bunk beds. A moment later a train passes ... Written by Wayne Adams

Traveling down a deserted road, the gang finds a small restaurant and motel run by a crooked owner. He charges them an outrageous amount of money for four dry cheese sandwiches. Deciding he is crooked they decide to drive on to find another motel. The follow a series of signs that supposedly lead to the highway and find themselves right back at the same motel. They are so tired, that they decide to stay at the motel. Then are rented a run down, seedy room, containing a double bed and a set of bunk beds. The mattress on the double bed is so old that Lucy and Ricky roll to the center of and are almost trapped. They trade beds with Fred and Ethel Mertz, because the Mertz's bed at home is the same. Ethel grabs the bottom sheet, pulls up so Fred rolls to the edge, then wraps the sheet over him and ties it down holding him in place Then a train comes by which vibrates the room causing the bed to travel across the floor where it collides with the bunk beds. A moment later a train passes ... Written by Wayne Adams

After getting lost and ending up south in Tennessee, the Ricardos and Mertzes get arrested for speeding and Tennessee Ernie Ford helped them escape, to continue their trip west, to California.

After getting lost and ending up south in Tennessee, the Ricardos and Mertzes get arrested for speeding and Tennessee Ernie Ford helped them escape, to continue their trip west, to California.

The gang arrives in Ethel's hometown of Albequerque, New Mexico, where the locals are under the impression that she, and not Ricky, has been hired to star in a Hollywood movie.

The gang arrives in Ethel's hometown of Albequerque, New Mexico, where the locals are under the impression that she, and not Ricky, has been hired to star in a Hollywood movie.

When the Ricardos and the Mertzes arrive in Hollywood, Lucy goes to the Brown Derby restaurant where her sighting of William Holden turns catastrophic.

When the Ricardos and the Mertzes arrive in Hollywood, Lucy goes to the Brown Derby restaurant where her sighting of William Holden turns catastrophic.

The studio makes Ricky do movie publicity with four starlets, leaving Lucy alone.

The studio makes Ricky do movie publicity with four starlets, leaving Lucy alone.

Lucy gets a bit part in a movie, but has a problem with the costume.

Lucy gets a bit part in a movie, but has a problem with the costume.

Lucy convinces Ricky to let her buy a dress from the exclusive Don Loper salon, but he will only let her spend $100, which will only get her the cheapest dress in the salon. The few dresses that she and Ethel manage to see the price tags of are retailing for $500, so Lucy asks for something simpler, figuring that simpler equates to cheaper. At the same time, Sheila MacRae aka Mrs. Gordon MacRae comes into the salon, and talks to Don about the upcoming charity fashion show where the wives of movie stars will be modeling their Don Loper exclusives. Lucy does her not so subtle best to get herself into the fashion show, which she manages to do. But in doing so, she is forced to declare to Sheila on the spot which dress she bought and will be modeling, that dress Lucy chooses to be the simple one. It isn't until she gets the altered dress home that Lucy finds out it costs $500. Not able to take the dress back since it has already been altered, Lucy figures that her best course of action is... Written by Huggo

Lucy appears in Hedda Hopper's gossip column.

When Variety reports that M-G-M has shelved its Don Juan movie, Lucy is afraid that she and the gang might have to leave Hollywood. She schemes to find a man to pretend to be a producer interested in Ricky, thinking this will convince studio head Dore Schary to put him in another film. Written by Attmay

When Variety reports that M-G-M has shelved its Don Juan movie, Lucy is afraid that she and the gang might have to leave Hollywood. She schemes to find a man to pretend to be a producer interested in Ricky, thinking this will convince studio head Dore Schary to put him in another film. Written by Attmay

Lucy blackmails Ricky to get a role on a national TV show, but the part isn't exactly what she expected.

Lucy blackmails Ricky to get a role on a national TV show, but the part isn't exactly what she expected.

Ricky can't remember the date of their anniversary. He calls Western Union at 3am, sending a wire to the head of the license bureau in Greenwich, CT for the date.

Ricky can't remember the date of their anniversary. He calls Western Union at 3am, sending a wire to the head of the license bureau in Greenwich, CT for the date.

Phipps Department Store offers Ricky a job as a morning TV show host, but only if it includes Lucy as well.

Phipps Department Store offers Ricky a job as a morning TV show host, but only if it includes Lucy as well.

When Lucy learns that Cornel Wilde is staying in the penthouse upstairs, she poses as the bellboy to try and get in to meet him.

When Lucy learns that Cornel Wilde is staying in the penthouse upstairs, she poses as the bellboy to try and get in to meet him.

After having a fight with Ricky and Fred, Lucy and Ethel go to Palm Springs. They meet Rock Hudson there, who helps get everyone back together.

After having a fight with Ricky and Fred, Lucy and Ethel go to Palm Springs. They meet Rock Hudson there, who helps get everyone back together.

Lucy gets to dance with Van Johnson.

Lucy gets to dance with Van Johnson.

Lucy and Ethel convince their friend Caroline that while in Hollywood, they always meet famous celebrities. Learning of Caroline's vision impairment, Lucy hides Caroline's glasses and disguises herself as famous celebrities for Caroline. Meanwhile, Ricky and Fred meet up with Harpo Marx, and ask him to visit Lucy in the apartment. Written by PatrickRsGhost

Lucy and Ethel convince their friend Caroline that while in Hollywood, they always meet famous celebrities. Learning of Caroline's vision impairment, Lucy hides Caroline's glasses and disguises herself as famous celebrities for Caroline. Meanwhile, Ricky and Fred meet up with Harpo Marx, and ask him to visit Lucy in the apartment. Written by PatrickRsGhost

Lucy is frustrated that Ricky is waiting in Hollywood while MGM tries to find a movie for him to star in. She pretends to be his new agent and confronts the MGM brass, saying he has an offer to do a big Broadway musical. Instead of putting him in a movie right away, MGM releases Ricky from his contract. Written by Ronny Bailey

Lucy is frustrated that Ricky is waiting in Hollywood while MGM tries to find a movie for him to star in. She pretends to be his new agent and confronts the MGM brass, saying he has an offer to do a big Broadway musical. Instead of putting him in a movie right away, MGM releases Ricky from his contract. Written by Ronny Bailey

Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife. Instead she tries constantly to perform at the Tropicana where he works, and make life comically frantic in the apartment building they share with landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz. The first major show to be put on film rather than kinescope. Written by Ed Stephan stephan@cc.wwu.edu