<P> They cannot understand each other until Tony expresses his wish that Jeannie (a homophone of genie) could speak English, which she then does . Then, per his instructions, she "blinks" and causes a recovery helicopter to show up to rescue Tony, who is so grateful, he tells her she is free, but Jeannie, who has fallen in love with Tony at first sight after being trapped for 2,000 years, re-enters her bottle and rolls it into Tony's duffel bag so she can accompany him back home . One of the first things Jeannie does, in a subsequent episode, is break up Tony's engagement to his commanding general's daughter Melissa, who, along with that particular general, is never seen again . This event reflects producer Sidney Sheldon's decision that the engagement depicted in the pilot episode would not be part of the series continuity; he realized the romantic triangle he created between Jeannie, "Master", and Melissa would not pan out in the long run . </P> <P> Tony at first keeps Jeannie in her bottle most of the time, but he finally relents and allows her to enjoy a life of her own . However, her life is devoted mostly to his, and most of their problems stem from her love and affection towards Tony, and her desire to please him and fulfill her ancient heritage as a genie, especially when he does not want her to do so . His efforts to cover up Jeannie's antics, because of his fear that he would be dismissed from the space program if her existence were known, brings him to the attention of NASA's resident psychiatrist, U.S. Air Force Colonel Dr. Alfred Bellows . In a running gag, Dr. Bellows tries over and over to prove to his superiors that Tony is either crazy or hiding something, but he is always foiled ("He's done it to me, again!") and Tony's job remains secure . A frequently used plot device is that Jeannie loses her powers when she is confined in a closed space . She is unable to leave her bottle when it is corked, and under certain circumstances, the person who removed the cork would become her new master . A multiple - episode story arc involves Jeannie (in miniature) becoming trapped in a safe when it is accidentally locked . </P> <P> Tony's best friend and fellow astronaut, United States Army Corps of Engineers Captain Roger Healey, does not know about Jeannie for several episodes; when he finds out (in the episode "The Richest Astronaut in the Whole Wide World" (January 15, 1966)), he steals her so he can live in luxury, but not for long before Tony reclaims his status as Jeannie's master . Roger is often shown trying to make a quick buck or girl - crazy, and hopes to claim Jeannie so he can use her to live a princely life or gain beautiful girlfriends, but overall he is respectful that Tony is Jeannie's master, and later her husband . Both Tony and Roger are promoted to the rank of major late in the first season . In later seasons, Roger's role is retconned to portray him knowing about Jeannie from the beginning (i.e., to him having been with Tony on the space flight that touched down, and thus having seen Jeannie introduce herself to Tony). </P> <P> Jeannie's evil fraternal twin sister, mentioned in a second - season episode (also named Jeannie - since, as Barbara Eden's character explains it, all female genies are named Jeannie--and also portrayed by Barbara Eden in a brunette wig), proves to have a mean streak starting in the third season (demonstrated in her initial appearance in "Jeannie or the Tiger?" (September 19, 1967)), repeatedly trying to steal Tony for herself, with her as the real "master". Her final attempt in the series comes right after Tony and Jeannie get married, with a ploy involving a man played by Barbara Eden's real - life husband at the time, Michael Ansara (in a kind of in - joke, while Jeannie's sister pretends to be attracted to him, she privately scoffs at him). The evil sister wears a green costume, with a skirt rather than pantaloons . </P>

When does major healy find out about jeannie