Ugh. Enough with the tragic ladies, am I right? Between Julia Bulette and Emily Pennington, it seems like the only women the
Cartwrights associate with are fading blooms destined to tragically cough and then
die. Time for something different in the female character department.
The episode begins with Annie O’Toole talking to her father
in their San Francisco kitchen. Annie is played by Ida Lupino, who was one of
the most awesome women in the history of television and a trailblazing director.
If you don’t know a lot about her, you should change that.
Annie’s father is trying to tell her that she could do a lot
worse than marrying a fellow called the Swede. Annie is half-listening while
she makes a pot of stew. Apparently, the Swede has been out in Nevada for some
time, trying to strike it rich. And, wouldn’t you know it? Just when they’re
talking about him, he turns up at the door.
And guess what, guess what? He’s the Skipper! The Skipper
from Gilligan’s Island!
The Skipper has a bouquet of flowers for Annie and some great
news: he’s had luck out by Virginia City. (He’s doing a Hollywood Swedish
accent, but it’s actually not too painful.) He steals some of her stew and
shows her and her father the two claims he made. Annie’s happy because now all three
of them can go and live in Nevada and breathe in the scent of pine for the rest
of their lives. Old Man O’Toole thinks that San Francisco air is just fine,
with its constant clouds of tobacco smoke and its stink of dead fish.
But there’s no need to argue. The Skipper is
planning to sell his claims and stay in town. The food in Nevada sucks so hard,
he refuses to go back. Annie thinks that’s the stupidest reason to give up a
silver mine she’s ever heard. And, since she helped fund the Skipper’s trip out
there, one of the two claims is rightfully hers. She grabs one of the tickets
off the table and stuffs it in her bra because your bra is like a portable
safe. It really is the best place to keep valuables and vital documents.
