Steve (Fred MacMurray) enjoys working with a woman engineer (Dorothy Green), who is beautiful. He asks her out for dinner, but she is only interested in work.Steve (Fred MacMurray) enjoys working with a woman engineer (Dorothy Green), who is beautiful. He asks her out for dinner, but she is only interested in work.Steve (Fred MacMurray) enjoys working with a woman engineer (Dorothy Green), who is beautiful. He asks her out for dinner, but she is only interested in work.
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Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsDr. Johnson, the lady engineer, departs on a propeller-driven airplane and lands in a jet airplane.
- Quotes
Steve Douglas: You know, Guthrie said something to me the other day. He told me it would be easier to reach the moon than to reach JM Johnson.
[What may be a new twosome, they're seated side by side in the front seat of Steve's convertible, top down; following a late night working together at the design table back at the office then a light supper - 'getting-to-know-you' time]
Joan Johnson: The moon is 240,000 miles away.
[Silent stares; Steve slowly leans in for what Joan - and the audience - are waiting for, hoping for: their first kiss - on the lips]
Steve Douglas: Tell me something, Johnson.
Joan Johnson: Hmmm.
Steve Douglas: What's your first name?
Joan Johnson: Joan.
Steve Douglas: [He pulls back slowly] Well, I'll tell you. I'll call you Johnson in the office, and Joan in the moonlight.
[Clearly, Steve is smitten. Johnson isn't quite that eager for a relationship. She's on a plane back to her home office in Washington, D.C. the next day]
When we saw Steve in the pilot, he was very apprehensive and even scared of dating. But this episode proves to be a game changer as he thinks he might have found his next big love. I think Steve is positively adorable here, as we for the first time see him act really nervous around someone, and embarrass himself on one occasion when he tries to give his "business meeting" with Dorothy a romantic feel. Her quiet observation and his subsequent reaction when he discovers she's been watching the whole time is comedy gold. Though you also feel bad for Steve since he wanted the dinner to be special, but after she sees him he can no longer follow through with the romantic gesture and sits down to do paperwork with her.
On their last day before she has to go the airport we get a really cute scene where they're tired after working all night. Steve gets the idea of them going out late for lunch, and offers to drive. He has such a gut feeling that everything is going in the right direction and kisses her on the mouth. But instead of kissing back she just casually accepts it, maybe not sure how she should respond. It hints at an imbalance in their relationship, or maybe Dorothy not feeling ready to settle down with someone yet.
When she leaves an hour in advance instead of letting Steve drive her to the airport, you find yourself sympathizing with his hurt and disappointment. That someone he thought was "the one" doesn't seem to want anything more to do with him.
Mike and Robbie are up to their usual hijinks plugging and unplugging the dishwasher, and Bub is complaining about all the dirty laundry. It's a neccessary bit of levity to not let Steve's downfall weigh on you too much. But we do get a somewhat happy ending when Chip gives him a note with a message Dorothy left him written down, suggesting that maybe they'll cross paths again. It's a little bittersweet for me considering we never see Dorothy again, but is a pleasant ending to a very pleasant episode.
- mattiasflgrtll6
- Oct 5, 2019
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1