All in the Family/The Bunkers and the Swingers

The Bunkers and the Swingers
Season 3, Episode 7
Airdate	October 28, 1972
Production Number	306
Teleplay by	Michael Ross & Bernie West and Lee Kalcheim
Story by	Norman Lear
Directed by	John Rich and Bob LaHendro
Produced by	John Rich
← 3x06 Edith Flips Her Wig	3x08 → Mike Comes into Money
All in the Family — Season Three

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The Bunkers and the Swingers is the seventh episode of the third season of All in the Family, and the forty-fourth episode overall.

Starring: Carroll O'Connor (Archie Bunker), Jean Stapleton (Edith Bunker)

Co-Starring: Rob Reiner (Mike Stivic), Sally Struthers (Gloria Bunker Stivic)

Additional Cast: Vincent Gardenia (Curtis Rempley), Rue McClanahan (Ruth Rempley), Isabel Sanford (Mrs. Jefferson)

Plot Overview

Edith innocently answers an ad in a "swinger" magazine from a 'mature lonely couple seeking friends to swap good times". She truly believes she has made a new pen pal friend.

Gloria and Michael are in a hurry to get to the ballet, but realize what Edith has done. Mike sends a telegram to the couple telling them not to come and tells Edith they will explain it all to her the next day.

The couple, the Rempleys, arrive at the Bunker home a day earlier than Edith expected, so they never received the telegram.

Rue McClanahan and Vincent Gardenia are absolutely perfectly cast for their roles. The veiled sexual inuendo is hilarious, as the Rempleys make references to the swapping encounter they are expecting, and Archie and Edith are simply confused by it, but trying to act as if they understand.

Finally, Mrs. Jefferson drops by, sizes up the situation and tells Edith in private in the kitchen.

Almost simultaneously, Mr. Rempley shows Archie photographs of some of their 'friends'. Archie believes that Mr. Rempley has accidentally left stag pictures in his viewer, and Rempley explains that it is Mrs. Rempley in the photos.

Archie says 'these are two dirty people here' and shows them the door. They try to explain that 'swinging' saved their marriage, but there is an undertone of sorrow and shame about them as they try to put a good face on the situation.

They leave, and Archie gives Edith his famous 'look' and says, "And don't YOU read no more magazines."

Quotes

• Archie: So youse two don't smoke, you don't drink - whadda youse do for fun?

(The Rempleys begin to laugh at his clever wit)

Archie: What'd I say?

• Archie: (while dancing with Mrs. Rempley) Come on over here Edith. This guy's a professional. Maybe you'll learn something.

Edith: I don't wanna learn nothing!

Mrs. Jefferson: (as she runs for the door) I don't wanna learn nothing either.

• Mrs. Rempley: Edith dear, perhaps you can understand. Our marriage just didn't seem to matter anymore. No more than the two car garage and the new washer/dryer. We were drowning. Swinging saved us.

Edith: I think I'd rather have drowned.