Disclaimer: I do not own the show 'I Love Lucy', or any of the characters.
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Sunday morning: Ricky has a day off work today. The club where Ricky works has just gotten a new owner. The previous owner's last day had been Saturday, and the new owner hadn't planned on "starting" until Monday. So, everybody got a day off.
"So Ricky, what are you gonna' do today?" Lucy asked at breakfast. It's was
about 10:00 a.m., and they were having half-cooked eggs, and burnt toast.
"Maybe I'll go out, and eat another breakfast."
"Oh Ricky, I'm not that bad of a cook," Lucy defended herself.
"You're not?" Ricky teased. "Then who cooked this?"
"Oh...! What ARE you doing today? I'll be gone most of the day shopping."
"Actually, me and Fred are going golfing."
"Oh, well that-- Ricky, you're not gonna' start spending all of your time golfing again, are you?"
Ricky chuckled, "No, just this afternoon."
"Well ... okay. Don't forget to drop Little Ricky off at Mrs. Trumbell's." Lucy cleared the table, then said. "I have to go now. Have fun golfing today, Dear."
"Okay. Lucy..."
"What?" Lucy asked.
"It won't hurt to come back with some money, you know. Don't spend it all."
"Yeah, well..." Lucy said, as she left the kitchen. Ricky followed her into the living room, and picked up the phone.
"Who're you calling?" Lucy asked curiously.
"Fred. I'm gonna' ask him what time he wants to leave."
"Oh. Well, good-bye Dear," Lucy said, then left.
"Hello ... Fred? This is Ricky ... Yeah, I was just wondering what time you wanted to leave ... 11:30? Sounds fine to me ... Alright, see you then."
Ricky hung up the phone, and went into the bedroom to play with Little Ricky.
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At about 3:00, Lucy and Ethel had picked up Little Ricky from Mrs. Trumbell's, and gave him something to play with in the bedroom. Now, they were walking from the bedroom to the living room.
"Lucy," Ethel said shaking her head. "I don't think I've ever seen you go shopping and not buy anything."
Lucy sat down, shrugged and sighed, "I just didn't see anything that looked very appealing."
"Still..." Ethel sat down, too.
"Yeah, I know--" Lucy started. She was interrupted by a knock on the door.
She got up and opened the door. When she saw who was standing there, her eyes grew wide, "Ernie!?"
"Howdy Cousin Lucy!" Ernie said, as he walked past her and into the apartment, then he saw Ethel. "Howdy Cousin Ethel!"
"Ernie?!" Ethel said, surprised.
"Wh -- What are you doing here?" Lucy asked.
"I've come out here for a little trip," Ernie answered.
"Why?" Ethel asked.
"Well," Ernie started. "I just wanted to get away for a few days, so I thought I'd come out here and see you all."
"Oh, well Ernie," Lucy said. "You don't plan on staying here, do you?"
"No, I got me a hotel room. I'm only gonna' be here for tonight and tomorrow night, then I have to go back home. I promised Mama I wouldn't stay too long. Just give myself enough time to say Howdy."
"Oh," Lucy said. "That's so nice that you thought of us."
"Oh, well that's okay. I can't stay right now, I just came over to let you know I was in town. I still wanna' call Mama, and let her know that I'm here." Ernie said, then started to leave.
"Why didn't you call before you left the hotel?" Ethel asked.
"I did. But the phone kept goin' 'beep' 'beep' 'beep' at me. I asked a feller why, and he said the line was busy."
"Oh, well Ernie. Why don't you come over for dinner tonight? 5:00?" Lucy asked.
Ernie thought, then said, "Okay! I'll be here." Then he left.
"Lucy! Why did you invite him over?" Ethel asked.
"Well! I didn't wanna' be rude. Besides, it's only for one night, it's not like he's gonna' stay here."