The Last Chapter 

After five years of struggle, Rob finally finishes his first book. As Laura reads it, she discovers its about their life from marriage proposal to a point shortly after Ritchie's birth.

Directors:

Jerry Paris, John Rich

Writers:

Carl Reiner, Bill Persky

Stars:

Dick Van Dyke, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Dick Van Dyke	...	Rob Petrie
Rose Marie	...	Sally Rogers
Morey Amsterdam	...	Buddy Sorrell
Larry Mathews	...	Ritchie Petrie
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Laura Petrie
Richard Deacon	...	Mel Cooley
Jerry Paris	...	Jerry Helper
Ann Morgan Guilbert	...	Millie Helper
Dabbs Greer	...	Chaplain (archive footage)
Herbie Faye	...	Vendor (archive footage)
Frank Adamo	...	Delivery Boy / Best Man (archive footage)
Tiny Brauer	...	Cabbie (archive footage)
Greg Morris	...	Mr. Peters (archive footage)
Mimi Dillard	...	Mrs. Peters (archive footage)
Carl Reiner	...	Alan Brady

Storyline

Rob and Laura put aside all else for one evening after Rob tells her that he has finished the manuscript for his first book. He hopes Laura will read the manuscript while he watches her, nervously trying to gage her reaction, but she'll have none of that. As Laura starts reading, she is excited to learn that the book is the story of their life, and she begins to reminisce about the situations written. Regardless of Laura's reaction, Rob is equally as anticipatory about the reaction of the publisher to whom he sent the manuscript.

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Plot Keywords:

manuscript | marriage proposal | flashback | tripping | clip show | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 1966 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Calvada Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In this show, the series finale, (a "best of" show), Rob writes his autobiography and shows it to everyone. At the end of the show Alan decides to buy the rights to the manuscript and turn it into a TV series with him as the star after he finishes the variety series - which is what Carl Reiner did when he starred in the first unaired pilot for this series.

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Quotes

Rob Petrie: Are you ready for a little bit of good news?
Laura Petrie: Yeah, I think so.
Rob Petrie: I heard from the publisher today.
Laura Petrie: Yeah?
Rob Petrie: He hates it, boy!
[laughter]
Rob Petrie: He said it reminded him of about fifty other books.
Laura Petrie: He's kidding.
Sally Rogers: No, no, that's what they said.
Maurice (Buddy) Sorrell: That's right. One editor said it stunk!
[...]

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Connections

Features The Dick Van Dyke Show: That's My Boy?? (1963)

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