Willona's Surprise

"Willona's Surprise" featured the one time only appearance of Willona's much mentioned ex-husband Ray, played by Carl Lee. This accounts for the surprise on her birthday, seeing him for the first time in six years after he sweet talked Florida into letting him come. 'Tall, dark and double crossing' is how Willona thinks of him, a man with 'more girls numbers than a Chicago telephone!' Insisting that he's turned over a new leaf, Ray wants the wary Willona to take him back and for a while he keeps his word. Unfortunately, it's not long before his roving eye catches sight of the lovely Thelma, who has no intention of hurting Willona's feelings by revealing the depths of his depravity. The climax is both heart breaking and fitting.

Willona's ex-husband comes to town. At first, Willona can't forgive him for the two-timer he was in the first place. Then, she suddenly decides that it's possible for a tiger to change his stripes. Curiously, Florida has to remind Willona, two times, that a tiger has stripes, and not spots. Maybe not so curiously, Ray immediately sets his sights on Thelma. One thing I've always noticed in this episode, is that Thelma is very hyper, throughout. In fact, she was so hyper, I wondered whether it was in the script, or was something else going on with Ms. Bern Nadette? Note: this is not a criticism, just an observation! Thelma's a sweetheart, and her edginess only made her more sexy! Overall, some great comedic and dramatic moments, up to and including Willona giving Ray what's coming to him.