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Butterflies - Nov 24, 1978 Episode 1-3,   Grade B Detailed Summary by John T Burt 2001 Main Butterflies Page

    Food Disasters:
Rock like toated sandwiches for a picnic breakfast.

    Mini Cooper use:
Leonard tows the Mini home in the opening scene.

    Special Events:
Wendy Craig does a good job imitating the Ruby character.

    Summary:
Ria is driving the Mini but actually, Leonard is towing her home. He accuses her of breaking down on his lunch route on purpose in an attempt to seduce him. When he drives off he happy and is stopped for speeding and loses his license.

Ria "cleans" up the dining table as a dance to classical music and ends up tossing food all around. She tells her boys she feels like a trapped drudge. They tell her she needs to get out more and suggest she get a job.

The next day the whole neighborhood can hear Ben and Ria arguing about her getting a job and the cascade of ever worse affects Ben rattles off. When he leaves, without breakfast, to catch butterflies, the boys have to move their two cars before he can use his. Ria calls about a chauffeur job not knowing it is Leonard hiring and Leonard says no, not knowing Ria is calling. Ruby says the house is like a funny farm.

Ria takes Ben some hard toasted sandwiches for breakfast and they have a mostly quiet talk. Ben apologizes but doesn't change his mind. Ria is still unhappy and lost. Ben feels lost too. Ria lets a butterfly go.

On the way home, Ria finds the boys singing on the sidewalk for tips. Ben is upset and embarrassed about it. Ria comes in dressed as Ruby calling herself a true housewife (good imitation of Ruby). Leonard calls offering Ria the job but never lets her say yes or no and she doesn't speak up. To make his point, Ben dons the boys singing clothes and guitar and goes outside, but the boys won't move their cars this time.