| "Alienation" | |
|---|---|
| Season 4, Episode #9 (#82) in series (95 episodes) | |
 Mork and Mindy try to rescue Mearth from cult called the Utopians, after he runs away when he learns that he's an ailen in "Ailenation" in Season 4 (ep.#9). | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Richard Moll John Larroquette |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 409 (4x9) |
| Writer(s) | Wendy Kout & George Zateslo |
| Director | Don Barnhart |
| Original airdate | December 3, 1981 |
IMDB 
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Alienation |
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| "Rich Mork, Poor Mork" | "P.S. 2001" |
| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
Alienation was anepisode from season 4 of Mork and Mindy, also the 82nd overall series episode. Co-written by Wendy Kout and George Zateslo, the episode, which was directed by Don Barnhart, was shot on November 13, 1981 and premiered on ABC-TV on December 3, 1981.
Synopsis[]
With Mearth increasingly upset about his differences to other children, Mork and Mindy decide to tell him about his true heritage. Literally alienated, and upset, he runs away and joins the Utopians, a cult of religious fanatics.
Plot[]
Mork is in full Sushi Chef/Internment Camp Interrogator mode as he chops up vegetables to put the finishing touches on his Vegetable Snowman to entice Mearth to his vegetables, when Mindy brings home an unhappy Mearth Crying, because he has no friends, neither parent can console him before he goes up to his room. Mindy informs Mork that Mearth was having a great time on the sled hill, until he tried to get on the toboggan with the other kids and their parents pulled them off because they thought he was an adult. She tells him he's starting to figure out he's not like the other kids. Mork wants to tell him the truth, but Mindy feels he's still too young (or old) to accept it. She wants to try and protect him for a while longer. But when Mearth starts trying to make himself look younger so the other kids will play with him, Mindy relents. Mork feeling they just have to find the right way.
Upstairs in Mearths' room, Mindy is reminding him that he still has her and his Dad, and...Mork announces...he has 'Senor Goodnews' producing a small Mexican hand puppet. Unfortunately for Mindy, Senor Goodnews and Mork gang up take a vote that she should be the one to break the news. Mindy starts by asking Mearth if he's noticed he's different from the other kids, which of course he has. Mork plucks up the nerve to take over and tells him the reason for that is him, he's not from Earth. Mearth doesn't like that 'joke', so Mindy has to back Mork up, that he's not kidding. Mork explains that he came from Ork to observe Earth, met Mindy, who couldn't keep her hands off him and the rest was history.
Mearth gets more upset however, wanting to know if that's why he's so different. Mork tries to tell him it'll only be for a little while, the older he gets the younger he'll look. Mindy tries to tell him how unique he is, but he only sees himself as a freak, she tells him he should never think that, and on Ork all the kids look just like him, and someday Mork will take them there. Mearth wants to know why he can't go there now. She tells him that he can't go there right now as he lives there with them and Grandma and Grandpa, and that being different isn't bad. Mork tries to show him some of the upside of being a half Orkan and uses his finger to spin Mearth's bed but it just scares him. Mindy tells him someday he'll understand how unique he is and that there's no one else like him in the Universe, and Mork adds how much they love him just as he is. But he wants to be alone to process it, so telling him they'll be downstairs if he needs them, they leave.
The next morning, Mindy & Mork emerge from their bedroom, evidently having *been* frisky, and still feeling it, Mork telling her how much he enjoys it when she wears 'just' the nightcap, Mindy smirking and calling him an animal before he prowls after her distracted, then remembering to go fetch Mearth for his breakfast. But when he gets up there all he finds is the blackboard with a drawing of the three of them, Mearth having crossed himself out, and run away. Mork goes out yelling for him, but later is back in Mearth's bedroom waiting in case he returns, as Mindy returns having been out with her father searching for him. Having been unable to find him, she thinks they may have to call the police but Mork is adamant they can't, saying if they find out Mearth is *their* son they're going to lock them up. Fred arrives back from his search who has mixed luck, he saw Mearth at the airport but he couldn't get near him as he'd fallen in with a group of black-robed cultists, and as Mearth was 'a grown man' the police would do nothing to intervene. Mindy remembers them as the Utopians, a cult she did a piece on, who brainwash their members to give up everything they own, even their identities. She knows that the Utopians have a lodge in the mountains, but its heavily protected, and they only chance they really have is to try and infiltrate it by stealth and get him out themselves. Asking Fred to stay there in case Mearth calls, Mork & Mindy charge to the rescue.
In the Utopian compound led by Baba Hope (John Larroquette) and the hulking Baba Gentle (Richard Moll) have already begun Mearth's induction as Baba Swell. Trying to get all Mearth's worldly possessions out of him, all the end up with is Bonzo is flattened teddy bear and half a yo yo, so they put him to work with his 'love broom' so he can get his full heart and become a full Utopian. When he's gone Baba Hope tells another acolyte that due to Fred's interference at the airport, they're going to ship out their newest worker convert to their compound in Oregon that night, to ensure they keep him. When they leave, with the room empty, Mindy in black robes, appears at the window checking, and manages to open it, calling quietly for Mork, both of them climbing in, both of them scared. Having to pretend they're one of the number, Mindy discovers KTNS's old anchorman is among them, before they catch sight of Mearth.
Approaching him, they can't get him to come with him, Mearth explaining that when he was at the airport trying to find flights to Ork the Utopians explained who they were to him, and he loves what they have to say. Mindy tries to convince him the Utopians aren't' what he thinks they are, but he still wants to stay and is now Baba Swell. Mork tries to de-program him using the Yiddish Mother approach, but Mearth doesn't want to go and worse wants them to meet his new friends, calling for them before they can stop him. Baba Hope orders Baba Gentle to seize them, which the giant does. Stamping on his foot though, Mindy gets free and pretends that they are emissaries from Baba Love the head of the cult, and that they've brought a message from him. Baba Hope & Gentle eagerly ask what it is, and Mindy runs out of ideas lobbing the ball to Mork, calling him Baba...Loo. Going with the flow, Mork takes on the persona of an Indian Swami telling them that Baba Love wants to puts the Fun back in Fundamentalism. And announces the first Baba Love Scavenger Hunt. Baba Hope however is more than skeptical and stops them going, and Mork sliding into his mellow surfer mode decides he nees a sign from Baba Love and set the fire burning in the hearth with his powers.
More than convinced, Baba Hope et al head straight out, Mork & Mindy having to stop Mearth from going with them all. Mork asks him why he ran away? Mearth tells them it was because he was an alien, no one would play with him and he finally found somewhere where everyone was the same. Mindy tells him it's an easy thing to be just like everyone else, it's very safe, but being different takes courage, he could stay there and never have to make a decision for himself, or, come home to where people love him for who he really is. Mearth agrees to come home, and back at home tucked up in bed, Mindy reminds him that he can always talk to them no matter what. As they leave him to go to sleep Mindy tells Mork how nice it is to have Mearth home and be a family again, more Mork replies now that he knows he's an Alien, Mork can finally teach him Orkan things, like sitting on his face, drinking with his finger, and things like Orkan songs...and going back to him, he and Mearth sing a verse of 'New Ork, New Ork'. Gently cutting them off as it's a bit too late for Orkan stereo, Mindy wishes Mearth a good night and heads downstairs with Mork...after a minute Mearth looks at his hands points his fingers at his bed and is delighted when it starts to spin around.
At the episode's conclusion, both Mork and Mearth sign off with Orson. Orson more than pleased to see his Godson, and Mork tells him it's been a difficult week for him as he and Mindy had to break the news about his heritage. Orson is understanding, thinking it must've been hard to accept he's half Earthling. Mork corrects him saying he's accepted his birthright and his heritage as well as the fact he can't order off the kids menu. Mearth comes to greet his Godfather and Orson notes he makes up in manners what his father lacks, before Mearth calls him fatso. Mork quickly tells Orson it's naptime then goes off chuckling with his son.
Goofs[]
Continuity Shot - While Mork (as Baba Lou) is listing the mostly metaphysical items the cult members have to get for their scavenger hunt, Mindy is immediately over his shoulder beside Baba Hope (John Larroquette) then as it cuts back to a long shot Mearth is standing where she was, and she's to the right of him.
Trivia[]
General[]
- During their breaking the news to Mearth, when Mearth wants to know if that's why he looks different from the rest of the kids, something seems to disturb Pam Dawber and she looks in the direction of the camera/director before continuing on.
- This is the only time both Mork (Mine) & Mindy (Hers) wear candy cane nightgowns, though he'll continue to wear the 'Mine' one.
- Mork says there's a cult of Rasarians on Mork obsessed with dry cleaning.
- Mork/Senor Goodnews votes for the Shiksa Queen to tell Mearth of his heritage.
Popular Culture[]
- An upset Mearth says he feels like George Steinbrenner, the controversial and divisive owner of the New York Yankees.
- Three years after this episode aired, John Larroquette and Richard Moll were both cast in the long-running NBC-TV hit sitcom series Night Court.
- Mork tells Mearth the older he gets the younger he'll look, just like Lena Horne, the seemingly ageless singer and actress
- As they leave him alone to process the news, Mork comments to Mindy that the whole situation must be harder for him to understand than an episode of Hill Street Blues which had just started earlier that year, and was making waves for it's jam packed reality based storylines with shades of grey ambiguity.
- Mork tells Mindy they can't call the police as if they find out Mearth is their kid they'll lock them up and he's not that eager to see a Johnny Cash concert, Cash having been doing his Prison concerts for the previous 20 years.
- Mork says it sounds like it'd be easier to get James_Watt into the Sierra Club then get into the Utopian Compound. Watt was Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Interior at the time the episode came out, and was widely considered 'anti-environmental'; the Sierra Club is an environmental preservation organization.
- John Larroquette's 'Baba Hope' name is of course a pun on comedian Bob Hope
- Among the list of items Mork sets the Utopians to find on the scavenger hunt is a copy of the 1920s religious tract The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, autographed by the teen heartthrob actor/singer Shaun Cassidy '(whose show with ABC had run into trouble earlier that year).'
- The classic Frank Sinatra hit, New York, New York, is given an Orkan twist with Mork and Mearth's duet 'New Ork, New Ork'.
Quotes[]
- Mindy: Oh, sweetheart, stop crying, it's all right!
- Mearth: No! It isn't all right! It isn't! I don't have any friends, none at all. Nobody'll play with me! I feel just like George Steinbrenner.
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- Mork: Do I smell a salad burning?
- Mindy: Probably
- Mork: Oh mon dieu, mon dieu, mon dieu!
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- Mearth: Daddy, could I... could I borrow one of your new razor blades? The reason I ask is, mine are all dull from trying to sharpen my crayons.
- Mork: Oh, surely son.
- Mearth: See, I want to get just real clean, so that I can play with the kids or they in turn will play with me. You know, solitaire is a game, but it's not a way of life.
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- Mindy: Senor Goodnews has something he wants to tell you, doesn't he Daddy?
- Mork: He sure does, Min! What about that Senor Goodnews? *As Senor Goodnews* Why should I tell him he's your child take responsibility!
- Mindy: *with a strained smile* Well one of you tell him.
- Mork: Alright Mind! Tell you what lets take a vote! What do you vote for? *As Senor Goodnews* I vote for the Shiksa Queen! *As Mork* Me too! Its unanimous!
- Mindy: Are you chickening out?
- Mork: *As Senor Goodnews* You got it, sweet shorts!
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- Mork: Son, you see...I was sent here to observe.*as Senor Goodnews* Si? *as Mork* Yes, see, observe. And...I met your mother, and she couldn't keep her hands off me and the rest is history!
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*coming out of the bedroom in his and hers candy cane night gowns. Mindy avoiding his wandering hands behind her*
- Mindy: Don't! *rolls her eyes and smirks*
- Mork: *prowling after her grinning* Mind I love it when you wear *just* the hat!
- Mindy: Don't!
- Mork: *growls flicking his night cap tassel at her*
- Mindy: *grins, laughs and pushes at him* You're such an animal!!
- Mork: *growls and leaps across the room after her like a Tom Cat, before remembering and deviating to go up into Mearths room* Oh! Mearth?! Breakfast time, come and get it! Come on now! *goes up to fetch him* Min?
- Mindy: *setting table* What?
- Mork: Mind, he's not there!
- Mindy: What?!
- Mork: He's gone, this was on his bed! *shows her blackboard drawing of the three of them with Mearth crossed out and Adios across the top*
- Mindy: Oh no! Mork I knew we shouldn't tell him he's an alien! Mearth's run away!
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- Mork: *to Mindy* Now, be brave little pooter. I mean we Orkans have an incredible way of communicating with each other. Don't you worry about a thing! *opens the apartment door and yells* MEARRRRRRTH!!! *goes out* MEARRRRRRRRTH!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?!?"
_________________________________
- Mindy: Let's just find Mearth and get out of here! You check up the stairs and I'll look through there *points to door*
- Mork: *takes a step then moves back to her* Min, Min, Got a better idea. How 'bout you check down here and I'll hide under your robe?
_________________________________
- Mindy: *faking it big time* This! Is an outrage! We bring a special message from Baba Love! *points to his picture*
- Mork: *joins her* Yes! Yes ditto!
- Baba Hope: Awww children perhaps this is the dental plan we've all been chanting for!! *looks to her* What is it?
- Mindy: *deer in headlights* What is it? *lays her hand on Mork's shoulder* Yes!! Tell them what it is Baba......Loo.
- Mork: *stares at her, Mindy winces* Ehh Thank you....thank you Baba Pooter.
Promo[]
ABC Mork & Mindy Best of the West promo 1981
Promo for Alienation aired on Dec. 2,1981 (followed by Best Of The West)
Image gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring:[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
- Jonathan Winters as Mearth
- Ralph James as Orson
