| "Gotta Run, Part 1" | |
|---|---|
| Season 4, Episode #19 (#92) in series (95 episodes) | |
 Mork & Mindy discover that new friends Neptunian Kalnik and his wife Tracy are not all they appear to be. | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Joe Regalbuto Ilene Graff Milt Jamin |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 419 (4x19) |
| Writer(s) | Cindy Begel & Lesa Kite |
| Director | Don Barnhart |
| Original airdate | May 6, 1982 |
IMDB 
|
Gotta Run, Part 1 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Cheerleaders in Chains" | "Gotta Run, Part 2" |
| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
Gotta Run Part 1 was 19th episode in Season 4 of Mork and Mindy, also the 92nd overall episode in the series. Co-written by Cindy Begel and Lesa Kite, the episode, directed by Don Barnhart, premiered on ABC-TV on May 6, 1982.
Synopsis[]
While making a call to Orson, Mork gets a crossed brain cell with a Neptunian called Kalnik, trying to call his mother. Mork learns that Kalnik is also based on Earth and has also married a human girl. Hitting it off with him, he eagerly reports back to Mindy, and they make plans to meet in person, thinking that finally they have found a couple they can be be totally themselves with.
Plot[]
In the Apartment, Mork is putting in a call to Orson but only gets Geezbalita, Orson out at his club, just as she's hanging up on him, the connection gets crossed and another caller appears trying to get in touch with his mother. Noticing Mork he apologizes, saying he was just trying to reach Neptune, where he's from. It transpires that not only does this new caller know a fried of Mork's on Neptune but in fact dated his sister. He introduces himself as Kalnik, but insists Mork call him Kal, when they go to shake hands and get caught half way between traditional and Earth methods, it comes out that Kal is also based on Earth and has been for some time, observing for Neptune, and like Mork is married to an Earth girl.
While Mork is in the middle of his call, Mindy and Mearth return to the apartment, the rain coming down heavily outside, something Mearth is happy about as the bully across the street has to stay indoors too. Noticing Mork is mid call, Mindy hushes Mearth telling him his Daddy is working. She tries to get Mearth to get out of his wet slicker but standing beside her in the kitchen, he imagines it as the prow of a whaling ship in the middle of a storm instead, and she has to get him to the point the storm is breaking before she gets him to go upstairs. Mork finishes his call and, on noticing Mindy, moves to her excitedly telling her to get all dressed up as they're going out that night with a great new couple, Kal & Tracy Andrews. Mindy sighs and wishes he had checked with her first, as every time they go out with a couple they can never stay close enough to keep seeing them as while the other couple can brag about their kids, they have to pass Mearth off as a visiting Professor from Ceylon. But he happily tells her they won't have to do this with the Andrews, as she's from Chicago, and he's from Neptune.
At the restaurant that night, Mindy is checking with Mork that this couple are 'normal', that Kal doesn't have three heads or eat wood or anything, not seeing that Kal and his wife Tracy are right behind them. Kal takes it in good part though, and he and Mork pick up where the left off, before Kal jokily introduces them to his wife, Tracy. Tracy, like Mindy, is incredibly happy to meet another couple like them, and in fact has a favorite cousin called Mindy. Kal, knowing from Mork that Mindy works in TV asks her about why there's no Channel 1, but while she confesses she can't tell him, Mork cracks a dirty joke about her ability to adjust the vertical hold. As they relax, Mindy asks how Kal and Tracy met and Tracy tells her she was a nurses aide and Kal came in with bad re-entry burns and they fell for one another. Breaking out the domestic champagne they settle in for an enjoyable evening. (*Further excised moments from the dinner are shown in the 'previously' segment at the opening of 'Gotta Run, Part 2)
One that continues in full flow with coffee back at the apartment with the two guys especially hitting it off. So well that Kal suggests they talk seriously for a moment, as he has something he'd like to suggest to him. Asking him if he's noticed that Earth offers opportunities to two guys like them? That rather than just being observers they could actually step in and take a piece of the action for themselves. Intrigued, Mork suggests changing the smell of tar, but that's not exactly what Kal had in mind. Before he can say more Mearth comes down from the attic, delighted to find visitors that he hasn't been hidden away from, and Mork & Mindy are happy to be finally able to introduce Mearth to others as their son. Mork wants to show him off a little and gets Mearth to do a little soft shoe for them. Getting into his swing, Mearth wants to do a Gary Cooper impersonation before Mindy suggests he do the impersonation of Cooper in his bunk, shepherding him back upstairs as he impersonates the actor. Mork hops up saying Mearth can't ever go to sleep until he shows him a picture of the boogeyman getting on the plane, and heads up after them.
Smiling and standing up with him, Kal and Tracy tell him to go on ahead. But when he's disappeared upstairs their smiles vanish, and Tracy asks Kal whether he's satisfied with the Orkan. Kal calls him a 'feeb' whose powers though strong, aren't any match for his, but he can still be molded to be useful to him. When Tracy asks about Mindy however, Kal says she is of no use to them and will have to be eliminated. Tracy asks about 'the child' and unseen to them, Mindy comes down the steps from the attic in time to hear Kal call Mearth a useless mutant, her smile fading from her face. A second later Tracy notices her, and slides back into her upbeat mode, trying to say they were just talking about precious Mearth was, but Mindy cuts her dead. She informs them she heard exactly what they said, and berates them for talking about their son that way. She orders them out of the apartment, just as Mork comes down the stairs and hears her. Trying to joke with her about whether they had used her good little soaps, the smile vanishes from his face, when she tells him they called his son a mutant. Turning to Kal, his tone and expression utterly serious, he wants to know how they could call a special little boy who never hurt anyone that? When Kal tells him to lighten up, that they have things to talk about, Mork tells them they have nothing to talk about and suggests they leave. Kal doubles down on Mearth being nothing but a hefty half breed, and Mork tells him to take a hike. At which Kal's entire persona changes. Pointing at Mork viciously he tells him he could have been an ally, but he's made his choice and will live to regret it, but not for long, before he blows the front door outwards with his powers. He marches out, Tracy following, leaving both Mork and Mindy shell shocked.
A couple of days later, Mearth is waiting for Mindy to come out of the bedroom, ready to throw a tantrum if she doesn't only to jump in shock when she comes in through the front door, with his kite in her hand, having been waiting for him downstairs. Taking him to the door to get his coat, intending to take him to the park to fly his kite before the winos wake up, they are both shocked this time when Mork comes barreling through the door, locking it behind him. The expression on Mindy's face makes it clear that this isn't the first time Mork has done this. When she asks him what's wrong, and Mork answers nothing, Mindy not wanting to get it into it with him says 'good' and heads for the door, Mork immediately trying to stop her and panicking tells her that someone is following him. Exasperated Mindy says he's been doing this for three days now, and no one is following him. So Kal made a few idle threats, it doesn't mean he's going to do anything. But Mork is adamant she doesn't know how vicious Neptunians can be. Mindy gives him a choice come with them or stay in the apartment and be afraid of his shadow. He chooses the latter, and they head out to the park.
While alone, Mork hears Tracy's voice from outside the door, and pretends he's a child whose parents aren't there, but Tracy pleads for him open the door. Untrusting that this isn't a trick he calls out to Kal twice. And when he doesn't answer that's good enough for him and he opens the door. On the other side there is a teary Tracy who moves into his arms telling him he was the only one she could turn to, that her life has fallen apart. She's left Kal, saying she should've known he was evil when he laughed at old Yeller. Sitting on the couch with him, she bursts into tears and sobs on his shoulder. Putting a hankie on his shoulder to protect his shirt and soothes her till she stops. Telling him he's sweet, Tracy confesses that Kal didn't meet him by accident that it was all part of his plan, that he was just using Mork, to find out what his ultimate mission was on Earth. Mork tells her that his mission is just to observe Earth's culture but is interested in why she wants to know, she just says its because she hasn't had a chance to talk to anyone since Kal left her. Mork notes that she said before that she left Kal, but she says they both sort of left each other. Suspicious Mork accuses her of trying to deceive him but standing up she takes of her jacket, and asks him what does it matter...as long as they're together. Realizing what she means, especially as she starts to prowl towards him, Mork reminds her, that though he may be irresistible, he has a wife and child, even as she starts to run her hand up and down his arm. Running into the kitchen area away from her Tracy cuts him off, sliding her hands up him again, wanting to know what pleases him, what his joys are...and he runs again trying to hold her off with a baguette, before he runs again. As she chases him around the couch he calls a time out. He wants to look at it rationally, both of them are married people and he can't keep this up he's starting to hyperventilate. Her eyes flashing, she tells him she loves a heavy breather, and forces him down into the chair, clambering onto his lap, tickling him and trying to pull his suspenders down. The door to the apartment opens and first Mearth and then Mindy enter to witness what is going on, Mearth with a frown of confusion asking his father if he's telling Tracy a story. Mindy however, has no such confusion.
With a look that could kill she asks them what is going on. On hearing her voice, Mork manages to get out from under Tracy and up, swearing that nothing is going on, his voice cracking nervously, as she walks dangerously around the couch to them. Appealing to her that she knows him, Mork reminds her that he's straighter than Chinese children's bangs, and fidgets as stony faced she orders Mearth to his room. He goes, but reluctantly, leaving Mork facing a Mindy with arms folded and an ice cold look in her eyes, Tracy making it worse for him by running her fingers up and down the back of his arm even though he's trying to get her to stop. Mork appeals to the simmering Mindy that she knows he'd never cheat on her, except in Monopoly, when he's the banker. Giving him a dangerous smile she tells him she's sure there's a perfectly logical explanation. And he has 5 seconds to give it to her. Under pressure he babbles that Tracy just can't keep her hands off him, realizing immediately that's not the right thing to say, he appeals to Tracy to tell her the truth, that her marriage may be over, but he and Mindy have just got their monogrammed towels.
Seeing Tracy's hand slide over Mork's shoulder is the final straw for an infuriated Mindy who tells her to get her hands off him, while grabbing hold of Tracy's hand to ensure it happens...pulling Tracy's hand right off her arm in doing so. Leaving the hand, wires sticking out of the wrist in Mindy's grasp. Tracy immediately going rigid. Shocked Mindy stares at the hand in hers, and looks at Mork, voicing the impression that she's not from Chicago. Tracy speaks, but not like before, unmoving, and in robotic tones, calling them a pair of feebs. She tells him she's programmed to extract and transmit information for her master, Kal. Mork realizes she's an android, which she confirms, before adding that she is also, a bomb, at which a ticking sound begins. On hearing that Mindy tosses the hand away, grabs at Mork and dives over the couch, Mork reacting a second later vaulting over after her, as Tracy rocks from side to side, then clicks into place, the explosion that follows decimating much of the main room of the apartment.
A stunned Mearth descends from the relative safety of the attic to see the blown out windows, the destroyed armoire and chairs, sections of the ceiling on the floor and much of what remains scorched. Mindy lifts her head from behind the smoking remains of the couch, and asks if Mearth is okay, before asking Mork, and getting no answer asks again in alarm, only for him to stick his head up a fraction of a second later to ask her if she still thinks he's being paranoid. With no doubt left she admits he was right, Kal is out to get them, and they have to get somewhere he won't find them. When Mork goes to get her jewelry and the photo album she stops him, telling him they have to run now before Kal comes back. They clamber over the debris to the front door and head out, only for Mindy to turn back and look at the ruins of her apartment in tears. Coming back to her, Mork tries to console her saying it'll still be there when they get back, but she has a feeling they may never see their place again, before moving her family out.
Goofs[]
As Mindy is in the kitchen putting away the remainder of the groceries, she clearly puts down the grocery bag and starts to fold it up, just as Mork comes out of his head goes to speak to her about their dinner date that night. However, when it cuts to her reaction shot and comments about Exidor and his sister, the paper bag is clearly right back up again behind Mindy, and she turns again to put it down.
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- There is an Orkan Soap, Edge of Ork that apparently Elizabeth Taylor appears in.
General[]
- Another 'appearance' for Geezbalita, Orson's housekeeper.
- Apparently Cora's handwriting is terrible.
- Mork says Neptunian's end their National Anthem with a Human Sacrifice.
- Inside Gag - Mork asks Kal if his wife uses Noxzema (the make up remover and skin cleanser marketed by Unilever) too? Pam Dawber had early in 1982 started doing National ads for Noxzema, appearing both on TV and in major publications like Cosmopolitan prior to this episode.
Pop Culture[]
- Feeling she's getting overheated, Mork feels he shouldn't have given Geezbalita a poster of Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican former professional baseball pitcher.
- When Mindy tells Mearth that his Dad is working, he alleges Mork watches ABC's romantic comedy/drama television series set on luxury passenger cruise ship S.S. Pacific Princess the Love Boat the same way, but Mindy comments that if he was he'd be complaining about the actor Denis Cole, often seen as the quintessential surfer dude, being on it again
- In his whaler fantasy Mearth imitates Gregory Peck's Ahab, from the 1956 version of Moby Dick
- Mindy says whenever they go out with others they have to pass Mearth off as visiting Professor from Ceylon, which has since changed its name to Sri Lanka.
- Tracy suggests to Mindy that they must be the two luckiest girls since the other two Mandrell sisters. Barbara Mandrell and her sisters all had careers singing and acting, together and separately, but Barbara's was the most stellar, the gag indicating that she and Mindy had done well, but there was room for improvement with their respective spouses.
- Mork jokes that he and Kal are going to be closer than Karen Black's eyes, the popular 70s actress having notably large eyes.
- Mork takes another poke at Secretary of State Alexander Haig, lumping him in with famine and flood when Kal suggests they talk seriously.
- Mindy compares Kal's threats to Ronald Reagan's idle threats in the first term of his Presidency.
- Mork scoffs at Tracy's assertion she's alone by saying it's as likely as Tip O'Neill wearing tapered (fitted) shirts. The longest serving Speaker of the House in U.S. History and a rather large man whose figure was not given to tapered shirts.
- Mork jokes that originally he was sent to observe the culture of the Earth but he just wants to see if Nightline knocks of Carson's Tonight show in the TV ratings.
- Mork suspects that Tracy is trying to pull a Dacron over his eyes, Dacron being an artificial cloth...as opposed to the usual natural 'wool' over ones eyes.
- Mearth heads to his room after Mindy orders him there, commenting he still thinks the prospect of Mindy having caught Mork with Tracy will make a 'sensitive movie' some day. The term often used at the time for TV shows or Movies that dealt with sexual matters.
Quotes/Excerpts[]
- Mearth: *mid Whaler fantasy* When will see the Whale sir?! When will we see the Whale?! *as Captain* Well you can't miss it! they're *quite* large. It'll have Gregory Peck on it like this *spreads arms out* And the little girl *points at Mindy* she'll be on the bow like this! *leans forward like a figurehead*
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- Mork: Min! Oh Min, Min! Put away those groceries, and do something wonderful with your hair! Put some magnetic beads in, because tonight we are stepping out with a terrific couple.
- Mindy: *inhales* Mork, I told you, I am *not* going to the Salvation Army Luau with Exidor and his sister!!
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- Mindy: Now would you check with me first? You know what happens whenever we go out with another couple, we can never get close enough to them to stay friends. I mean they brag about their kids and we have to pass Mearth off as a visiting Professor from Ceylon!
- Mork: Now come on now we won't have to do any of that stuff with these people.
- Mindy: Why? Are they blind?
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- Kal: Mindy, Mork tells me you're in television? Maybe...maybe you can answer this, why is there no Channel 1?
- Mindy: Oh! Oh oh oh oh! Ah well see when television was first invented eh eh..ah...no...see the FCC has special frequency regulations and uh...uh..I haven't the faintest idea.
- Kal: And the search goes on!
- Mork: She may not know that but she sure can adjust the vertical hold if you get my drift!
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- Tracy: Oh! Remember Mindy, you owe me that carrot cake recipe! Night! *clambers out over the blown out door*
- Mork: *turns to Mindy both of them shellshocked* Well...well we'll show them. Give them your grandmother's carrot cake recipe. They'll starve to death trying to read her handwriting.
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- Mork: Wait a...wait a minute...wait a minute now, I know...I know I'm irresistible but I...I have a wife and child! I can't support 'em but I got 'em!
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- Mork: *petrified* Mind, you know I'd never cheat on you. Except in Monopoly, when I'm the banker!
- Mindy: *faux sweetly but simmering* Mork...I'm sure that there's a perfectly logical explanation.
- Mork: Oh there sure is
- Mindy: *steps closer, dangerously* And you have five seconds to give it to me.
Image Gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell (credit only)
- Jonathan Winters as Mearth McConnell
Guest stars/Recurring cast[]
- Joe Regalbuto as Kalnik
- Ilene Graff as Tracy Andrews
- Milton James (as Milt Jamin) as Waiter
