Ep 19. Sprained Ankle, Country Style

Oliver Wendell Douglas, a successful lawyer, and his wife Lisa have left New York City to fulfill their dream of living a simpler life on a farm in Hooterville, despite the protests of their friends and family. In episode 19 of season 1, titled "Sprained Ankle, Country Style," Lisa is convinced by her friend Ralph Monroe to participate in a charity auction to raise funds for a new fire truck for the small town.

The episode opens with Lisa practicing an auction chant in preparation for the event. Oliver, meanwhile, is busy preparing his latest invention, an ergonomic pitchfork. He's convinced it will revolutionize farming, but Lisa is doubtful. They attend the auction and Lisa successfully bids on a weekend stay at the Shady Rest hotel, a rundown establishment in need of some serious renovations. Lisa is excited about the prospect of turning it into a charming guesthouse, while Oliver is aghast at the amount of work it will take.

While checking out the Shady Rest, Lisa trips over a loose floorboard and sprains her ankle. The hotel's owner, Kate Bradley, recommends a local doctor, but Lisa refuses to see him, preferring to tough it out. As the days go by, her ankle only gets worse, and Oliver becomes increasingly concerned. Kate suggests they ask the Monroe brothers, who have a reputation for healing people with their homemade remedies.

Oliver is skeptical, but Lisa is willing to try anything. The Monroes arrive and, much to Oliver's chagrin, begin their treatment by having Lisa eat a concoction made from weeds and other wild plants. The next step involves wrapping her ankle in hot mashed potatoes and then cold buttermilk, followed by a mud poultice. Oliver can't bear to watch the strange treatment and steps out of the room.

Despite his doubts, when Lisa wakes up the next morning, she's feeling much better. She's able to walk without pain and declares the Monroe brothers miracle workers. Oliver, still skeptical, tries to attribute her recovery to the placebo effect, but Lisa is convinced that the Monroes have tapped into some ancient healing knowledge.

Inspired by the Monroe brothers' success, Lisa decides to turn the Shady Rest into a health spa, where people can come to receive their unique brand of treatment. Kate is hesitant but agrees to help Lisa get the spa up and running. Oliver, still wary of the Monroe brothers' methods, wants no part of it. He's afraid that if something goes wrong, the entire town will hold them responsible.

Despite Oliver's misgivings, the health spa opens to much fanfare. However, their first client is a woman with a sprained ankle, and Lisa insists on treating her herself, using the same methods the Monroes used on her. The woman's ankle doesn't improve, and Lisa realizes that perhaps the Monroe brothers' remedies are not effective for everyone.

As the spa begins to attract more customers, Oliver becomes increasingly concerned about the responsibility they've taken on. He urges Lisa to be more careful, but she's convinced that they're providing a valuable service to the town. When one of their clients develops a serious stomach ailment, Oliver steps in and takes her to the hospital. The doctors there successfully treat her, and Oliver is reminded that modern medicine has its benefits.

In the end, Oliver and Lisa come to a compromise. They decide to continue to provide their spa services but are careful to recommend that anyone with a serious ailment should seek out proper medical attention. The Monroe brothers continue to work their healing magic, and Lisa is happy to have found a calling for the Shady Rest. Oliver, ever the skeptic, concedes that there may be some truth to the Monroe brothers' methods.

"Sprained Ankle, Country Style" is a lighthearted episode that showcases the clash between modern medicine and old-fashioned remedies. It's a classic example of the humor and charm that made "Green Acres" a beloved sitcom of the 1960s.