Ep 19. Lucy Meets the Law

Lucy Meets the Law is the 19th episode in the fifth season of the classic sitcom, The Lucy Show. The episode centers around Lucy Carmichael, played by Lucille Ball, who finds herself in a legal tangle when she accidentally runs over a policeman's foot.

The episode begins with Lucy rushing to the bank to cash a check before it closes. As she is in a hurry, she drives her car erratically, causing a traffic jam. In the chaos, a policeman named Officer Jenkins, played by Dick Elliott, tries to stop Lucy, but she accidentally runs over his foot. Jenkins, despite the accident, dismisses Lucy's apologies and insists she is arrested for reckless driving.

Lucy is taken to the police station, where she tries to explain the situation to the arresting officer. However, the officer brushes her off, telling Lucy that she will have to explain her case in court. Meanwhile, Lucy's starched and high-strung neighbor, Theodore J. Mooney, played by Gale Gordon, hears about her predicament and decides to come to her aid. Initially, Mooney tries to convince the officer to drop the charges, but when this fails, he decides to hire a lawyer to defend Lucy in court.

In court, Lucy's case attracts a lot of attention, particularly that of the judge presiding over her case, played by Willis Bouchey. Lucy's lawyer, Mr. Cheever, played by John Holland, argues that Lucy's actions were not intentional and that Officer Jenkins contributed to the accident by not moving out of the way. However, things take an unexpected turn when Lucy's lawyer starts flirting with the judge's attractive secretary, causing the judge to become distracted and angry.

As the trial continues, Lucy becomes more and more frustrated as it seems that everyone is against her. Even her lawyer seems to lose interest in her case. However, Lucy manages to turn things around when she discovers that Officer Jenkins was wearing sandals at the time of the accident and not proper police boots. Jenkins had been using his sandals because he felt that he was too old to run after criminals. Therefore, Lucy was not responsible for recklessly driving over his foot.

As the case is dismissed, Lucy is overwhelmed with relief, and the judge apologizes to her for putting her through such an ordeal. Mooney and Lucy's friends and family come to the courtroom to congratulate her, and Jenkins admits that it was his fault for wearing improper footwear on duty.

In typical Lucy fashion, the episode is full of comedic moments, witty dialogue, and physical comedy, all performed to precision by the talented cast. The storyline is relatable, and the characters are lovable, making it an enjoyable episode to watch and a testament to the timelessness of the show.

Overall, The Lucy Show season 5 episode 19, Lucy Meets the Law, is a must-watch for fans of classic sitcoms and those who enjoy good old-fashioned humor.