By Kathryn Ware
Our tribute to the 35th anniversary of the debut of Maude continues.
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Season 1, Episode 7
Episode Title: Love and Marriage
Original airdate: 24 Oct 1972
Plot: Four days into a marital fight, Walter comes home from work to find Maude is still angry. In the middle of their argument about their argument, Carol comes home after an unsuccessful day of job hunting. It seems her only employment opportunities are with married businessmen looking for a good “personal” assistant. After four weeks of unemployment and who knows how long living under the same roof as her mother and step-father, Carol has reached her limit. There’s only one thing for her to do – get married. Right on Carol!
Commence much screaming and yelling by mother and daughter with Walter caught in the middle. At the old maid age of 27, Carol is looking for security and a father for her eight-year-old son. So, she’s decided to propose to George, a man she doesn’t love though he’s had a crush on her for years. Despite the fact that Maude likes George, she can’t stand the thought of her daughter entering into a loveless marriage. The mother-daughter caterwauling continues.
Carol proposes to George and they have a heart-to-heart where he acknowledges he knows she doesn’t love him, but hey, it’s no problem! Things move fast – Carol informs Maude and Walter they plan to get married that night. Maude makes one last attempt to talk Carol out of it. All her arguments, even the persuasive “Marriage without love is like going through life washing socks for a stranger,” fail to sway Carol. When it comes to stubbornness, like mother like daughter.
Walter is fed up with Maude’s meddling and hysterical outbursts. Not only is she interfering in Carol’s life but it’s keeping him from his dinner. The man of the house asserts himself: “I want you to cater to me for a change and I don’t want to hear any more talk about Carol. C’mon, give me my dinner!”
This sparks a plate-crashing, pot roast-smashing fight that lays waste to most of the crockery in the kitchen. Such an overwhelming display of love is just what Carol needs to see what a big mistake she’s about to make.
Hot button social issue: Love vs. marriage.
Neckerchief count: 1
Decorating tip: The Findlays have a gorgeous linoleum kitchen floor that looks as if it was stained with rancid squash soup. Throwing food on it is only an improvement.
Cocktail hour: Walter opens the pop top on a can of beer with a satisfying snap, whoosh. Ah, the sound of refreshment.
Number of times Maude yells: 9 (a season high)
Pop culture trivia quiz: Walter says: “According to that movie, love is never having to say you’re sorry.” Name that movie. Give up?
Memorable quote: “It’s all my fault Carol. Yes, you’re just like me. I mean you’re really stacked.”
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Previously:
Season 1, Episode 1: Maude’s Problem.
Season 1, Episode 2: Doctor, Doctor.
Season 1, Episode 3: Maude Meets Florida.
Season 1, Episode 4: Like Mother, Like Daughter.
Season 1, Episode 5: Maude and the Radical.
Season 1, Episode 6: The Ticket.
Posted on September 27, 2007