Main cast: Soupy Sales (Howard Filby), Stephanie Phillips (Lucy), Bobo Lewis (Ma), and George Hall (Pa)
Director: Michael Warren Powell
Fun fact: Bob Balaban co-wrote the screenplay for The Farmer’s Daughter. Who would’ve thought someone like him would be associated with this show, right? It’s always fun to see which names show up in the credits of Monsters and other so-called lowbrow anthology shows back in the old days, I tell you.
Salesman Howard Filby has an accident one stormy night and is forced to seek shelter at the home of Ma and Pa, farmers that live in the middle of nowhere. They immediately clam up when they learn of Howard’s job, because they don’t trust salesmen.
Still, as Ma says, Howard is soaked. They have no phone for the salesman to use, so poor Howard has to spend the night with them. The only space he can sleep is in the bed belonging to their daughter Lucy that lives in the attic.
A modesty sheet will be put up to make sure that Howard doesn’t have any naughty intentions brewing in his head, but the sheet only lets Lucy seduce him with sexy silhouettes and flirtatious talk. Soon, he claims to be in love with her, and asks her to take down the sheet…
Comparisons to Death of Some Salesmen are probably inevitable, but to be fair, the only things these two episodes have in common are rural old coots that don’t trust salesmen and a daughter looking for love.
This one is an alright episode, although its shorter running time compared to Death of Some Salesmen means that this episode is more rushed and less satisfying as a result.
Much of the episode is devoted to Howard and Lucy flirting back and forth, but the whole thing feels oddly awkward and even bizarre because Howard is acting like a man in the 19th century while Lucy is giggling and talking like someone from present day. There is no hint of sincere love or lechery from Howard, so his declaration of love for Lucy comes out of nowhere in an abrupt manner, just because the script wants him to say that.
The fun part is, of course, when Lucy’s true nature is revealed, but all that is compressed toward the end of the show, with no explanation given as to what I have just seen.
This is still an okay episode, although Soupy Sales’s exaggerated style of acting can be a take it or leave it moment for some people, all things considered. The production values and the overall acting are above average for this show. It’s just that the pacing feels off, and the chemistry between Lucy and Howard is not there to create an effective build-up to the denouement.
Three oogies, then.
