The Partridge Family - Season 1, Episode 10 (10)

Title: Go Directly To Jail

First aired: November 27, 1970

Synopsis:

Rueben accompanies the family on the bus for a performance at the Fillmore Federal Penitentiary. They’re rather puzzled and curious to have received an invitation by the prison’s head of entertainment.

On arrival, several prison trustees get busy setting up the band’s equipment. Rueben feels intimidated by one particular trustee by the name of Max, who does not like Rueben giving him advice about the equipment. At the same time another trustee, Hank, insists the family speak with him before they leave the prison.

The family perform outdoors to an enthusiastic prison audience. Rueben is approached by Hank who insists his own songs, which he describes as ‘lyrical symphonies’, must be heard by the family. Rueben refuses to listen to his songs.

Hank, with another inmate, warms a thermometer with a lit match and together they feign illness, insisting the family cannot leave. They claim a disease is infecting the prison and the unvaccinated must not leave the prison until suitably quarantined.

Much to Rueben’s extreme annoyance, he is accommodated in a prison cell! Keith and Danny keep him company. While strumming on his guitar, Keith claims that Hank’s songs are actually very good!

Hank, being a prison trustee, serves the family breakfast in the morning. He’s delighted to learn that Keith wants to record his songs. Rueben discovers a threatening note in his food stating, ‘Partridges, if you try to get away with it, you won’t live long enough to regret it.’ Harry advises them to leave now, but Shirley reminds him they can’t due to the quarantine rules. Harry claims the note is not of his doing, but admits he made up the story about the epidemic. Shirley insists on leaving, but she is confronted by the intimidating Max who claims the songs are his!

Shirley proves ownership of the songs by separating Hank and Max and tasking each of them to write a quality song within two hours. Hank merely rewrites an old song, proving Max to be the real song writer. Hanks dream of making money from Max’s songs upon his release are dashed.

Disappointedly, Max, who wrote the songs for his girl, Rosie, does not want them published. With some persuasion from Shirley, Max agrees to release them using a different name. It’s time now for the family to return home.

Later, Rueben arrives with good news. He has collected Max’s contract and they’ve all been invited to Max’s wedding. The wedding, however, won’t take place for another seven months, two weeks and three days. They’re confused! Max is due for release much earlier than that.

Rueben announces that Rosie won’t be out of jail until then!
Synopsis by Erin Sullivan

Songs:
Singing My Song, Only a Moment Ago

Cast:
Shirley Partridge - Shirley Jones
Keith Partridge - David Cassidy
Laurie Partridge - Susan Dey
Danny Partridge - Danny Bonaduce
Chris Partridge - Jeremy Gelbwaks
Tracy Partridge - Suzanne Crough
Reuben Kincaid - Dave Madden

Directed by: Claudio Guzmán

Written by: Dale McRaven

Guest Stars: Stuart Margolin as Hank, Ron Feinberg as Max, Ken Swofford as Monty

Screen Shots: