MAUDE: FLORIDA'S AFFAIR (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy programs, a spin-off of "All in the Family," about the outspoken, liberal Maude Findlay and her family. In this episode, Florida calls her husband Henry to pick her up at the Findlays', but he declines, much to her annoyance. The plumber, Whitnauer Fulton, takes a break from repairing the furnace to flirt with Florida, comparing the older woman to a "fine wine," but she dismisses him. Walter is irked to learn that the furnace repair will cost another $600, but Maude urges him to be polite to the man, not wanting to seem racist. Florida tells Maude about Whitnauer's advances, and though Maude tells her that he is harmless, Florida seems uncomfortable. When Maude talks to Whitnauer, however, he assumes a stereotypically servile tone and asks if she is happy with his work, and she finds herself unable to criticize him. She departs for the movies with Walter, leaving Florida alone with Whitnauer, and when Stella soon arrives, she is intrigued by the charming workman and encourages Florida to have fun with him. Whitnauer promises Florida that he respects her "erudition," and she begins to warm to him. He invites her to share a dance with him, and Henry arrives in time to overhear and misunderstand their merriment. When he confronts them, Whitnauer runs, and thought Florida protests that they were merely dancing, Henry leaves in anger.
The next day, Maude, Carol and Vivian cut coupons in the still-freezing kitchen, and Florida arrives, upset that Maude left her alone with Whitnauer and contributed to Henry's leaving her. The other women, all of whom have been divorced, reassure her that she did nothing wrong and that Henry will not leave for good. When Whitnauer arrives at the home, Florida declares that she will leave if he is not sent away and Maude tries to fire him, but Walter, arriving home with Arthur in tow, insists that they need the furnace repaired. Henry comes over and Florida apologizes to him, despite Maude's objection, and the others begin arguing about the unfair double standards between men and women regarding harmless flirting and sex drive. Florida and Henry depart the scene, laughing at their cluelessness and deciding to make up. Later, Florida returns after spending a day off with her husband, and learns that Maude has recruited another hunky handyman to fix the furnace: Walter. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: October 16, 1973 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:24863
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1972-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Norman Lear … Executive Producer, Created by
- Rod Parker … Producer
- Gene Marcione … Associate Producer
- Hal Cooper … Director
- Alan J. Levitt … Writer
- Marilyn Bergman … Theme Music by
- Alan Bergman … Theme Music by
- Dave Grusin … Theme Music by
- Donny Hathaway … Theme Music by
- Beatrice Arthur … Cast, Maude Findlay
- Bill Macy … Cast, Walter Findlay
- Adrienne Barbeau … Cast, Carol Traynor
- Conrad Bain … Cast, Dr. Arthur Harmon
- Esther Rolle … Cast, Florida Evans
- Rue McClanahan … Cast, Vivian Cavender
- John Amos … Cast, Henry Evans
- Ron Glass … Cast, Whitnauer Fulton
- Helen Martin … Cast, Stella