Ep 10. The Fur Coat

Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) has always wanted a fur coat. Her best friend and neighbor, Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance), tells Lucy about a dealer who has a mink coat for sale that she cannot resist. Lucy tries it on and is thrilled with how it looks on her. However, when she tells her husband, Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), about the coat, he tells her that they cannot afford it.

Despite Ricky's objection, Lucy decides to buy the coat anyway. She goes to the bank to take out a loan and enlists Ethel's help to hide the coat from Ricky until she can show it off at their upcoming club meeting. However, when Ricky finds a mercantile statement with the coat's price tag, he becomes upset and demands that Lucy return it.

Lucy refuses to return the coat and instead comes up with a plan to sell her own furniture to pay for it. She calls a pawn shop dealer (William Frawley) to come and appraise her furniture, but he only offers her a fraction of what she paid for it. In desperation, Lucy dons her new fur coat and goes to a department store to try and sell it.

While at the store, Lucy runs into a woman who mistakes her for a high-end shopper. The woman insists on buying the coat for her own daughter's birthday, and Lucy, unable to resist the offer, sells it to her. Lucy returns home to tell Ricky the good news, but when he learns that she sold her furniture and the coat, he is furious.

In the end, Lucy and Ricky make up and Ricky surprises Lucy with a beautiful, albeit fake, fur coat. The two share a dance and a kiss, reconciling their earlier argument.

"The Fur Coat" stands out as one of the classic episodes of I Love Lucy, highlighting the ongoing push-pull dynamic between Lucy and Ricky and showcasing Lucille Ball's comedic talent. The episode explores themes of temptation, desire, and financial responsibility, all through a lighthearted lens that continues to resonate with audiences decades after the show first aired. Additionally, the episode features cameos from noted character actors William Frawley and Bea Benaderet, further highlighting the all-star appeal of I Love Lucy's talented ensemble cast.