Clerical Error

"Clerical Error"
Season 2, Episode #24 (#49) in series (95 episodes)
After yet more trouble finding a job, and seeing how much Mindy respects Father Denny, the local priest, Mork decides he wants to be one. Getting into big trouble when he dresses as one and starts doling out advice in church in "Clerical Error" in Season 2 (ep.#24).
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Garry Goodrow Mary Betten Wendy Cutler Brad Savage Paul Willson
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	224 (2x24)
Writer(s)	April Kelly
Director	Howard Storm
Original airdate	February 28, 1980
IMDB	Clerical Error
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Looney Tunes and Morkie Melodies"	"Invasion of the Mork Snatchers"
List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

Clerical Error was the 24th episode from season 2 of Mork and Mindy, also, the 49th overall episode in the series. Written by April Kelly, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, first aired on ABC-TV was shot on June 15, 1979 and premiered on February 28, 1980.

Synopsis

Mork's latest job hunting disaster, leads him into the path of Father Denny, whose ability with people and the respect he garners, leads Mork to decide to become a priest. A weary Mindy arranges to take him to meet Father Denny to talk him out of his worst idea yet. But serious complications ensue when he pre-empts the meeting and heads to the church, dressed as a priest and starts doling out advice.

Plot

Mindy, pouring coffee in the kitchen of the Apartment, calls for Jeanie to come on in when there's a knock on the door, asking her if she'd like something to eat before they head out. Jeanie declines as, to her surprise, Remo made breakfast in bed for that morning. Mindy reminisces about when Mork did that for her once, recalling the surprise of sliding under the covers into a bowl of oatmeal. Before they can Mork arrives in, in full Ice Hockey gear, mask included, taking it off to reveal a massive gap in his teeth, startling both women, until he tells them it's just black paper. His attempt at fitting in with the other players. Mindy asking him how he enjoyed his first game, Mork tells her it seems to him the idea of the game is to hit the guy nearest to you when the ref drops the puck, skate around tripping as many guys as you can for 2 hours and then take a stick through your head. Wanting to share more with them he tells them he has to go get ready for his latest job interview.

Later, at the NY Deli, Mindy is watching out the window wondering where Mork is, a half hour late to meet her there. Sitting down at the bar with Jeanie, she hopes fervently that it means he's found a job. As they're waiting Remo, in Chef's hat wheels out and presents his first ever Wedding Cake created in a corkscrew downward spiral. Looking it over, Mindy is very impressed. It's for the wedding reception that will be held there tomorrow. Remo directs their attention to the corkscrew element, betting they are wondering why, only to produce a toy car and lets it run down the spiral, asking them whether they dig the symbolism? Mindy is nonplussed, Remo explaining 'Marriage is like a ride down a wedding cake' proclaiming himself 'deep'. Jeanie however still thinks it's weird to have a wedding reception in a Deli, but her brother argues that he wants to be more than a 'tongue and tuna' man, and this is their chance to be a class operation. Offering to help him decorate the 'Betty Crocker Speedway' the siblings depart into the kitchen bickering, leaving Mindy alone, just as Mork enters.

And enters in a battered state, his hair wild, his clothes ripped and splattered liberally with green paint, the Orkan looking like he's been through a pitched battle. Alarmed, Mindy rises up quickly moving to him, wanting to know what happened, but Mork turns his face away from her, telling her she doesn't want to talk to him, he's 'spider spit', not fit to Oil her Olay. He didn't get the job, Mindy observes not overly surprised. Worse he tells her, he got it and lost it because of his suspenders. Looking at him she notices he doesn't have them on. He explains how he he was attacked by the kids he was working with, getting bitten in places he couldn't even reach, playing leapfrog with a kid into 'realism' who splashed him in paint, and who to get away from him, he wrapped his suspenders around his head and left him bouncing up and down. As she sympathizes with him Mork, upset, wonders what is wrong with him, why can't he hold onto a job? Mindy prevails on him not to give up, there has to be a job out there for him, but he can only laugh derisively.

They are interrupted by the arrival of a Catholic priest, Father Denny, who asks Mindy if Remo is around. Directing him into the back, Mork asks Mindy why she called him Father. She explains that's what everyone calls him, he's a priest, with the Church, his job is to help people. Father Denny comes back out with Remo who is trying to convince him that holding the reception there will be the right first step for the soon to be Winslows, telling him about the decorations he has planned (involving salamis). As Father Denny goes to leave, Mork stops him 'Excuse me Everyone's Father?'. Mork asks if it's true he helps people? Mindy stepping in quickly tells him that Mork's depressed because he can't hold a job. Mork asking him if he can help him? Father Denny offers him some philosophical, baseball based, advice, which sort of makes life sense, but leaves Mork & Mindy exchanging looks. As it happens though he is only trying out some of his sermon for the wedding tomorrow, and asks Mork if he really wants to work, when Mork confirms it absolutely, Father Denny turns to Remo and asks him why doesn't he help Mork out with a job? Remo starts to laugh at the idea, before taking in Father Denny's face and explaining the last time he asked Mork to help him, Mork used the exhaust fan to slice bologna and they ended up with sandwiches 3 blocks away. Father Denny prevails on him to give him a job at the reception at least, countering Remo's 'God helps those who help themselves' argument with 'He can also be a little rough on those who don't help others'.

Left with an offer he cant refused Remo puts Mork to work with Jeanie before the reception the next day, his usual well meaning intentions providing the usual results. Father Denny arrives to see how things are going, and is slightly disconcerted to see the carving of the bride and groom Mork has done in chopped liver. Before more can be said Laurie, the soon to be Mrs Winslow arrives to speak to him. Mork commenting in amazed tones to Remo that he can see her clear as day, explaining to a confused Remo that Mindy told him you can' see the bride before she gets married. Laurie has developed cold feet, not sure if she wants to give up her independence and Father Denny draws her aside to speak with her. Only to find himself sitting in a fascinated Mork's lap who slides into his seat before him.

That night, Mork is pacing back and forth in the Apartment, waiting for Mindy to get back. As soon as she gets in he breaks the news that he has decided what he wants to do with his life. Telling him that's the spirit, she turns on her heel and walks away with a 'That's ludicrous,' when he tells her he wants to be a Priest. Wanting to know why he'd want that? He tells her because he wants to celebrate. Celebrate what, she presses. Whatever Father Denny celebrates he tells her. Rolling her eyes she tells him Father Denny didn't say he celebrates, he said he was celibate! Confused he asks her what that means, and awkwardly she explains it means he's 'Married to the Church' which Mork doubts, wondering where you could get a ring that big. She tells him straight out, he cannot be a priest, but Mork wants to know why, they do what he wants to do, help people, solve problems, play bingo. Yes, she agrees but sometimes those problems are life and death and a Priest can only deal with them through his Faith. Standing up she tells him tomorrow she'll take him to the Church and Father Denny can explain it to him himself, leaving him to his wild imaginings in the living room.

Leaving him alone however, proves a misstep as a little later that evening, Mork walks into St. Peter's Church dressed in a priest's Cassock. Looking around he's awed, declaring it wonderful, beautiful, even if the stained glass windows don't match. Staring up into the high vaulted roof he tries out the Echo, yelling up into it, and disturbing some of the parishioners at prayer. One of them, a teenage boy, approaches him telling him he shouldn't be yelling in Church, but says he's been hoping to talk to a priest, concerned by the some of the things he's been writing on the Bus Station walls. He whispers some of them in Morks ear, and Mork looks him over suggesting there should be flies buzzing around the boy. The boy agrees, but doesn't know how he can be forgiven. Mork suggests that he erase all that stuff, and put stuff that people want to read up instead like 'Nuclear Energy cures Acne' or 'Frank Sinatra has made his last comeback'. Thanking him the boy says he'll go do that, but off of Mork's query says he hasn't seen Father Denny that night, and thinks maybe it's 'Disco' Night.

Deciding he should call Father Denny at home, he looks around for a phone and starts to make his way towards one of the Confessionals, only to be stopped by a female parishioner who greets him thinking he's the new priest. Calling her 'my son' and punching her in the shoulder telling her to come back in a year and he'll be a little older, when she comments on how young he is, he unnerves her and she beats a hasty retreat. Walking into the confessional, thinking it's a telephone booth, his voice reverberates out into the Church that "Woah! You'd think this was New York! Somebody ripped off the phone!" While he's still in there, another male member of the congregation, nervously enters to make his Confession. Mork's voice loudly exclaiming to all and sundry outside "You did what with whom?!" and pursues the poor man fleeing from the Church wanting to tell him a story, sending yet another man running out..

Having cleared the Church out, Mork looks around, before he's joined by another parishioner, a disturbed man looking for a priest to give the Last Rites, and gets irritated when it seems Mork doesn't know what they are, which he doesn't. Stating they are what priest gives when someone is dying, Mork is startled to hear someone is dying? Yeah, the man says, 'Me', and tells Mork he intends to commit suicide. Why? Mork wants to know. Because he has nothing to live for, the man replies. Following him, Mork asks doesn't he know that living is a precious thing, that its' the 'meat in the sandwich of life'. But the man comments its his life, he can have it here or to go. Mork decides it's bad taste to say 'good luck' so punches him the shoulder and tells him 'Ciao!'. Bewildered the man follows him wondering isn't he even going to try to talk him out of it? Why? Mork queries, he said it was his life. All he has to do is go up to the plate of life and 'bunt!' The guy startes to get burned, in disbelief that he would tell him he's trying to kill himself and Mork wouldn't even try to help him. You want help, Mork asks? Teh guy nodding, before Mork starts to suggest different ways to kill himself, bombarding him with so many bizarre ways to do it, the guy takes flight.

The next morning back in the Apartment, Mork still in vestments, sneaks in and opens the attic with his finger, only for Mindy to emerge from her bedroom just finishing getting ready and catching him, not realizing he's only getting in, and wanting to know what he's doing dressed 'like that'. He tells her he just wants to be dressed correctly when they go see Father Denny. That, she opines, is not appropriate. She's happy to go with him to the Church but she really wishes he'd dress like a normal person and try and fit in? I fit in last night, he comments, immediately regretting it as she fixes him with a look, wanting to know what he means by that? Muttering 'Oh dopey me', Mindy figures out he went to St. Peters last night, dressed like that, and is horrified when he tells her it's okay, he helped a guy to commit suicide, offering him 50 Ways to meet his Maker. Aghast, Mindy feels he really may have done it this time and drags him out with her back to St. Peters.

When they arrive, Father Denny is in the Church and gets up to greet Mindy and looking Mork over in his vestments, 'Father Mork?' Uneasy, Mindy tells him that Mork has a confession to make. Father Denny nods and asks if Mork wants to step into the confessional, but Mork tells him he was in there last night and someone ripped off his phone. Last night, Father Denny repeats, before demanding to know if he was dressed like that when he was there? That's sort of what he wants to confess, Mindy tells him. Mork tells him he wants to be priest, Father Denny asking if he has a genuine calling. No, just the dress, Mork remarks. He came there the night before to apply for a job and fill out the application form and people started coming up to him asking him for help. Clearing her throat, Mindy tells Father Denny that apparently someone came in on the verge of suicide. Father Denny reacts in alarm, wanting to know his name, what he looked like? Growing angry with Mork he asks him doesn't he realize he could've contributed to someone's death just by wanting to play priest? When Mork tells him he didn't want to play he wanted to be a priest, exasperated Father Denny tells him it took him 6 years of study to be a priest. Unable to do anything but watch on as Mork is raked across the coals, Mindy listens as Father Denny tells Mork its no sin to be a nitwit, but if you go around handing out counselling and advice without the tools of education and experience he could do more harm than good. Upset, and looking to Mindy at that, all she can do is nod to show Mork that Father Denny is right.

Telling him he's done something unforgivable, and there's no excuse, Father Denny instructs him to go into the confessional and take the cassock off. With him gone, Mindy approaches Father Denny to make an appeal on Mork's behalf, apologizing about it all, but telling him that Mork is just so impressionable and he really did want to be a priest. In the midst of that the suicidal man returns, looking brighter and dressed well, approaching them and asking to speak to the young priest who was on duty the night before. He's surprised to hear from Father Denny that he is no longer with St. Peters. Mindy saying he was only temporary, like a Kelly Girl only carrying rosary beads rather than little white gloves, laughing until she sees Father Denny's face and sitting down quickly. The man expresses the wish that he was there, as he wanted to thank him for saving his life, both Mindy and Father Denny startled.

He saved your life, Father Denny queries him, and the guy nods saying he came in all ready to end it. He never expected a priest to give him advice on how to do it. It was the one thing he wasn't prepared for. When Father Denny asks him how he feels about suicide now, the guy says suicide is no answer, and Mork made him realize just how foolish he was being. To their astonishment he asks them to tell him if they ever see him again to tell him he's a great priest and a wonderful judge of human nature. As the guy leaves, Mork emerges de-frocked and looking abashed, cringing slightly as Father Denny comes towards him, only to brighten massively as Father Denny tells him despite his efforts to the contrary he actually managed to save the guys life last night, that what he said to him was exactly what he needed to hear. Pleased with himself Mork prepares himself for Father Denny's thanks when he tells him he has only one thing left to say to him, before Father Denny tells him if he tries it again he'll kick his cassock from here to Kingdom come.

Marching off he leaves Mork and Mindy alone, Mindy saying she still doesn't understand why he suddenly decided to be a priest. He confesses that he saw how much she respected Father Denny, and he thought if he became a priest she might respect him too. Startled and touched, she sits with him in one of the pews, assuring him that she respects him more than any person she knows. Down on himself, Mork shakes his head saying he can't seem to get a job, he can't even make it through interviews. She assures him that what he does have is the integrity to be himself, even when it means he's out of step with the entire planet. That, she tells him, is pretty special. Feeling a little better he tells her at least he finally knows he doesn't want to become a priest. Smiling and standing up with him she is happy to hear that at least, before turning back rapidly when he tells her he wants to become a nun.

Mork makes his report to Orson making his call in Gregorian style chant, Orson wanting to know what he's up to know. Mork tells him its been a wonderful week, he's learned to have faith in himself. That's all any person needs Orson notes. Not on Earth though, Mork tells him, there they have the bigger, the Jumbo sized. Faith in God. Do all Earthlings believe in God, Orson asks. Most of them, especially when things get real hairy, Mork nods. But how can they believe in something that science cannot prove, Orson queries. That is the amazing part, Mork confirms, that's where the faith part comes in. He explains that many people believe in God even though they can't see him, they're called religious. Then there are a few people who believe in God and they do see him, and they are called Prophets or Meshuggenehs. Orsons considers Earthlings strange for needing to believe in something they cannot see. Mork nods but says they don't have to see it, they feel it, in their souls. When Orson asks him what a soul is, Mork replying neither he nor anyone knows what it is or where it is. Trying to get it straight Orson suggests on Earth, faith is something you can't see, which you feel in a place you can't feel. You got it, big boy, Mork tells him. Orson declaring he needs a drink.

Mork says its really not that hard, all one has to do to prove ones faith is to look up in the sky. For example, he asks him. Where do stars come from? They were created long ago by natural forces, Orson answers. How does he know, Mork asks, was he there? Its a scientific theory, Orson asserts, you just have to believe it. On faith? Mork asks, leaving Orson flailing slightly before asking Mork what he believes. He believes that the universe is one great big ball, he has no idea what created it, but if God didn't create it, at least he lets us play with it and hopes that we don't fumble.

Continuity

Mork's confusion over why she calls Father Denny, 'Father' is somewhat disingenuous considering 'Father' was her first word to Mork the night she met him. Something she called him that repeatedly on their walk back to Boulder after she was stranded before she discovered he was wearing the suit backwards, and noted overtly to him that he wasn't 'a priest'. (The Pilot).

In addition Mork started working at the Pine Tree Day Care Center in the previous episode, recruiting kids for Nelson's TV Morning show, something he's enjoying and which Mindy tells him she can't think of a better fit for him. Yet here, he (again) gets a job working with kids and loses it within a day. Indicating the shooting and running order of these episodes were, at the very least, reversed.

Trivia

General

• This is the first of two appearances of Paul Willson who was one of the founding members of the Off The Wall Improv group that Robin Williams belonged to before he landed the role of Mork, and appears in archival footage of Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind. The second comes as the process server who subpoenas Mindy in S4'sCheerleaders in Chains.
• This is one of several projects with plots involving suicide that Robin Williams starred in during his career.
• More Yiddish comes into play during Mork's report, when he tells Orson people who both believe and see God are called Prophets or Meshuggeneh, which is the Yiddish for crazy.

Pop Culture

• Jeanie figures Remo's aspirations to be thought of as more than a tongue and tuna man are not something she's ever heard on Fantasy Island the wish granting fiction, sister show on ABC.
• Jeanie calls Remo's cake the 'Betty Crocker Speedway', referring to the cake/food ingredient producers.
• Mork tells Mindy he's not fit to Oil her Olay, one of many references to Oil of Olay (usually in relation to Mindy's skin care products) in the show.
• Mork's impersonation of the boy bouncing on his suspenders going 'Help Me! Help Me!' referencing the classic 1958 version of The Fly
• Mork tries to extol the virtues of his being a priest to Mindy, saying he'd look like (Man in Black) Johnny Cash in the black habit.
• He conflates McDonalds with the Church 'Look for the Golden Arches over 8 billion souls'
• He refers to job advancement with a little puff of smoke, meaning the white smoke that goes up when a new Pope is chosen.
• And there's another Wizard of Oz reference with 'There's No Place Like Rome, There's No Place Like Rome!"
• It became a running gag that Frank Sinatra made repeated 'comebacks' through the 60's 70s and 80's, hence the gag that people would want to hear that he's made his last one.
• Mork telling Mindy he offered the suicidal guy '50 Ways to Meet His Maker' is another play on Paul Simon's '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' hit song.

Quotes/Excerpts

• Jeanie: What kind of job is he looking for?
• Mindy: Anything that earns him enough money to live on
• Jeanie: He's looking in the wrong country.

_____________________________________

• Mindy: You didn't get the job
• Mork: *distraught* No Its worse, I got it and then I lost it because of my suspenders!
• Mindy: What are you talking about?
• Mork: There are 32 homicidal midgets masquerading as children! They bit me in places I cant' even reach!
• Mindy: Well where did you get all the green paint?!
• Mork: Mindy never play leapfrog with a child who is in to realism.
• Mindy: What does this all have to do with your suspenders?
• Mork: Well, I left 'em wrapped around his little head. As I left I saw him going 'help me, help me!' *bounces up and down*

_____________________________________

• Mork: I know! Dressed like this I could be a punk comedian! Knock Knock!
• Mindy: *blinks* Whose there?
• Mork: WHO CARES!?

_____________________________________

• Mork: Why did you call him Father?
• Mindy: Well 'cause everyone calls him Father!
• Mork: Boy he must be a real busy guy!

_____________________________________

• Father Denny: Now, do you really want to work?
• Mork: Oh yes sir! I don't want to be a hickey on the neck of life.
• Father Denny: *takes a moment* That's very poetic Mork.

____________________________________

• Remo: I think I remember hearing that God helps those that help themselves
• Father Denny: *pulling Remo's face towards him* Well maybe you also heard that He can be a little rough on those that don't help others? You get my drift?

____________________________________

• Mork: *walking across apartment* Pace, pace, pace, pace *walking backwards* Ecap, ecap, ecap, ecap.

____________________________________

• Mork: I've decided what I want to do with my life.
• Mindy: *smiles* Oh that's the spirit!
• Mork: Close! I want to be a priest!
• Mindy: *beat* That's ludicrous. *walks away*

____________________________________

• Mork: It's okay though, I helped a guy to commit suicide.
• Mindy: *aghast* You WHAT?!
• Mork: *fidgets* Well he didn't know what to do, so I gave him 50 ways to meet his maker.

Image Gallery

Cast

Starring

• Robin Williams as Mork
• Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
• Jay Thomas as Remo DaVinci
• Gina Hecht as Jeanie DaVinci
• Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley
• Jim Staahl as Nelson Flavor
• Ralph James as Voice of Orson

Guest stars

• Garry Goodrow as Father Denny
• Mary Betten as Woman in Church
• Wendy Cutler as Laurie
• Brad Savage as Boy in Church
• Paul Willson as Suicidal Confessor