Our Miss Brooks – Weekend At Crystal Lake. ep7, 480919

"An apple sitting on a school teacher's desk"
Apple on Desk ca. 2001. "Used with permission from Microsoft."

There’s something peaceful about a lake. On the surface, clean, shimmering water, with wind kicking up little ripples on the surface. Ducks swimming, or waddling near the shoreline. A row boat quietly heading to a shady fishing hole. Couples holding hands as they walk the path to stroll the circumference.

How could such an idyllic seen, on a late Summer day, hold anything but rest and relaxation.

As we examine one of the couples more closely, we find they are a pair of high school teachers, invited by the principle and his wife to their lakeside cottage for the weekend. The situation has overtones of tragedy and jealousy, like a torrid romance novel. Will the wonderful weekend to the wild woods end in worry?

The optimism of Connie Brooks is challenged at every turn. The power of suggestion plants seeds of stress in the mind. It would certainly be an American tragedy, if all the plot points in that age old novel were set into play. The dreams of private seclusion with her love interest, Philip Boynton are shattered. But wait! Will he have passionate interests in Connie for once? Has love finally won the day in their hearts?

Someone needs to tell those around them that the silly comparison to the tragic love tale is only in the mind. The stodgy principle, Mr Conklin, takes a heroic step. His efforts are noble indeed. However, the misguided helper soon reverses the tender moment, snatching cupids aero from its target, and sending our lovers into an order of life or death, of being lost at sea… or at lost in the lake.

Salvation comes with Mrs Conklin, and the rays of truth shining through the clouds of mental anguish.

In addition:

The first show of the radio program. At least not counting pilot and audition shows, it’s the first that still exists.

The circumstances are eerily similar to a story called, An American Tragedy. A film was made of the earlier novel by the same name. It deals with a love triangle, jealousy, and a murder on the lake, in a rowboat.

You can see then, why Connie goes from feeling comfortable with her nice outing, to being a nervous wreck, and worrying that her bashful, and backward biologist boyfriend might actually have plans to kill her.

Bravery leads to comedy, to peril, and a few humorous reversals that save the day.