Limited Engagement

"Limited Engagement"
Season 4, Episode #1 (#74) in series (95 episodes)
With Mindy torn between heart and head, Mork asks for time to convince her to accept his proposal of marriage.
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Robert Donner Patrick Cranshaw
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	401 (4x1)
Writer(s)	Brian Levant
Director	Bob Claver
Original airdate	October 8, 1981
IMDB	Limited Engagement
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Reflections and Regrets" (Season 3 finale) "Season 4 Promos" (ABC-TV Summer special)	"The Wedding"
List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

Limited Engagement was the Season 4 opening episode of Mork and Mindy also, the 74th overall episode from the series. Written by Brian Levant, the episode, directed by Bob Claver, shot on September 4th, 1981 and premiered on ABC-TV on October 8, 1981.

Synopsis

Having finally declared their love for one another, Mork takes the next step and gets down on bended knee and proposes to Mindy. In love with him, but with her family telling her why it could never work, Mindy is torn between logic and her emotions, with her ardent alien suitor determined to press his cause.

Plot

Walking briskly through her apartment, head down, brushing her hair on her way out to work and a potentially big day career wise ahead for her, Mindy calls up to Mork to wish her luck, before noticing he has filled the living room with an incredible array of flowers for her. Deeply touched, and thinking it's, a somewhat premature, congrats for the newscaster job she's going for that day, she's faced with an even more excitable, hyper, and well dressed than usual Mork, as he descends to her. Her thank you kiss to his cheek sets him off on a near hyperventilating jag of excitement, which he can't quite get under control before she has to leave. Unbeknownst to him. Thinking she's still standing behind him, he tells her she holds his three hearts in her two hands, and asks her to marry him, only to turn and discover (bar a flying return to remind him about putting on the roast for dinner), that the 'Shiksa split'.

Bemoaning his missed opportunity, and making a note to himself that it's always better to propose when she's in the room, his thoughts about how to try again are disturbed by a golf ball being driven through the apartment window. Heralding the arrival of Exidor on his newest crusade as a Golf Tour Pro. Wandering through the apartment, noting the flowers, Exidor voices how much he enjoys playing this 'golf course' as it's 'so well tended'. Mork explains that the flowers were for Mindy as part of his attempt to propose to her. After hearing that her answer was effectively 'put the roast in the oven' Exidor moves on swiftly, telling Mork his focus and aim is to return golf to the people, and the streets. His intent being to use real live hazards, like gang violence, and mopeds to replace sand traps. He asks Mork to join him, but the Orkan is too distracted by proposing to Mindy to be of help.

Believing Exidor to be wise in these things he seeks out his adoptive father's guidance about how best to do it. But in the wake of his own failed marriage, Exidor is embittered against the institution and women both, advising Mork to 'ditch the skirt'. But Mork argues that he is in love with Mindy and the two of them go on to argue about the merits of marriage, before Exidor relents and tells him there are basically two ways to propose. Option "B" which is taking the 'old fashioned' route: riding in on a white horse, tossing her onto the saddle and riding off into the sunset with her. Or, option "C" the boring way. Warning Mork this may shock and nauseate him...Exidor demonstrates getting down on one knee and proposing.

As Mindy gets home that night, Mork watching out the window for her, is nervous but ready. Giving his one knee-ed proposal technique one last run through, complete with protective knee pad, he gets straight down on one knee as she enters. But Mindy, utterly preoccupied, and irked, goes right past him and keeps going, wishing she was a garbage collector, as at least they know when they get up in the morning that their day is going to stink. Distracted and walking back and forth through the apartment, with Mork following her around on one knee, Mindy, oblivious to his continuous attempts to try to propose, vents about Mr. Sternhagen passing her over for the newscaster job. Not, she notes sardonically, because she's a woman, but because he wanted someone who could play shortstop on the station's soft ball team.

As Mork tries to propose to a moving target, Mindy moves away again telling him she needs to get her mind off her day, before suggesting they go out and do something fun, play tennis, or anything he wants. To which he suggests he'd love to go play space invaders, have some pizza and maybe get married? As he goes to go down on one knee again she spins away shaking her head, saying they had Italian food last night. Cute, he notes of her to himself with a sigh, but not the greatest attention span.

Finally as she sits down, he seizes his opportunity, and a flower, presenting it to her as he gets down on one knee once more. Steeling himself he touches her by telling her he's traveled all around the galaxy and never thought he'd fall for an Earthling, That he doesn't know a nicer or kinder being than her. And that he loves her very much...and asks her if she'll marry him.

Sending her straight into near catatonic shock.

As an alarmed Mork is waving his hands in her face and blowing Reveille, trying to break her out of the near trance she has gone into, Fred & Cora arrive with party supplies. On the presupposition that Mindy has gotten the job. As Fred stacks them on the counter, Cora approaches Mork, seeing Mindy staring into space, and asks him what's wrong with her. Mork is mystified, informing her that all he did was ask her to marry him. While Cora reacts in shock to hearing that, Fred turns from the counter, fuming. Cora getting between him and Mork as Fred goes after him, spiraling angrily at the very idea of Mork marrying his daughter. Cora informs Fred that the three of them should have a talk right now and fetch Mindy, who only then snaps out of her shocked state to realize they are even there. Pulling her into her bedroom with them, Fred slams the door in Mork's face, leaving her would be fiancé outside trying to listen in.

Inside, as Mindy sits on her bed flanked on either side by Fred & Cora, she's forced to listen as Fred, as expected, rails against the idea of a 'UFO with legs' as a son in law, and Cora has a go at him in turn 'about son-in-laws!'. As they bicker, Mindy rallies to stop them and defend Mork. Rising to agree that, yes, technically they all know Mork isn't 'exactly human', before defiantly asserting that he has a lot more humanity in him than anyone she's ever met. Reflecting that he's sweet, charming, sensitive...and helplessly admits that she's in love with him. When Fred tries to remind her that she once loved Oliver too and she got over him. She reminds him in turn that Oliver, was her Goldfish, 'and he went belly up!' Exasperated with her father, Mindy tries to get Cora to back her up, asking her to talk some sense into him. Only for Cora to take the wind out of Mindy's sails when, for once, her Grandmother actually sides with Fred.

As Mindy listens with a pained expression, Cora tells her they all love Mork, and they don't mind the crazy things he still does, but, she shouldn't let love spoil her judgement. Any mixed marriage is rough, but this one, Cora feels, is impossible. Agreeing, Fred tells Mindy she has to look at the facts. Mork, he says, can never support her. But she doesn't care about that, seeing no big deal in her being the breadwinner, especially as she wants a career. And what happens to her career, Fred asks, if Mork's transferred to another planet? Caught slightly, she grouses, 'I'll commute', sitting back down on the bed, still holding the flower Mork gave her, not wanting to hear it.

But Fred and Cora continue to remind her of the problems she would face trying to build a life with Mork. Everything she would be giving up in marrying an alien who ages backwards, getting younger while she gets older. Cora pointing out how any chance of a normal life would effectively be gone, while the chances of her having a family with Mork would be low, and they would never want to see her cheated out of the chance of children of her own. Fred tells her its her choice in the end, but they just want her to be realistic, knowing sometimes that is the hardest thing in the world. Unhappy, wanting to say yes to Mork, but aware they are right, Mindy has no idea how to weigh her love for Mork with what she knows is logical. Fred however feels she knows exactly what has to be done. As Mork yells at them to speak up he can't hear anything they're saying, Mindy sags dejectedly, knowing this is going to be a lot harder than flushing Oliver down the toilet.

Later, after Fred & Cora have gone, Mork hovers outside her bedroom door asking if she's going to come out? Calling 'Yes' before she emerges, Mork takes her answer as *the* Yes, and joyously presents her with an engagement ring. While she tries to correct him, he slides the ring onto her finger, catching her off guard by just how beautiful the ring is. The jewels sparkling, shimmering and, as she looks closer, realizes...moving. A happy Mork telling her 'that's his little eyes', blinking. While Mindy reacts with alarm that it's a 'he' and alive, Mork tells her it's very handy as it will follow her home if she loses it. Taking it off as rapidly as she can, she thanks him, but gives it back, telling him she can't accept it. Finding it difficult to explain to him why, she tells him that there are some things in life, no matter how how much you dream and wish for them, they just can't be. And that what she's trying to say, is she can't marry him. Thinking she's joking at first, he gradually realizes she's not. Hurt, and rejected, he asks her does she not want to be...Mrs Mork? Unable to answer him without caving or lying Mindy says nothing. Mork though wants to know why she's turning him down, and she confesses, though she hates to say it, it's because he's an alien. But he refutes this as a good enough reason, citing other couples who came from 'different worlds', and he's not going to give up, 'like glue, I'm stuck on you'.

Trying to get him to think logically, she asserts he must know deep down there is probably a barrier that should not be crossed. But Mork is thinking only with his heart and not his head, and tries to get her to do the same, reminding her with cheerleader moves that she said she loved him. Mindy agrees that she did and that she meant it, but, determined to be strong, tells him she has made up her mind, and moves purposively back into her bedroom. Disconsolate, he calls after her, pointing out that she took longer to decide on her bathroom wallpaper, and that he thought he meant more to her than that. Hearing his hurt, she rushes back to him, assuring him that he does. Taking her hand, and kissing it, he begs for 24 hours to change her mind. Never able to resist his puppy look, she gives in, but warns him she can't promise anything. To which he reminds her she changed her mind about the bathroom wallpaper.

That night, after she's gone to bed, he steals in to her bedroom dressed in black, as she's sleeping and attempts to plant a 'hypno suggestion' tape by her bed. Turning it on it plays his Mork Promo Tape 1, his voice chanting pro-him slogans, 'You will marry Mork. You love Mork. Mork loves you.' 'Mork is great. He's a today kinda guy', As he sneaks out, Mindy turns over watching him go, amused, before turning it off.

The next evening at 10pm in a near empty studio in KTNS, Mindy sits at a typewriter, typing, as Jake heads out, telling her to lock up before she goes. Stopping him suddenly, Mindy notes that it's been a while since they had a heart to heart talk. Only for him to point out they've never had one. Wryly suggesting they're passed due then, she explains that she has this really important decision she has to make in two hours. Revealing she's not anywhere as firmly decided on Mork's proposal as she gave Mork to understand, she tells Jake that she knows logically what her answer should be, but, emotionally she feels exactly the opposite. Asking Jake whether he tends to go with head or heart, the misanthropic old cameraman replies that people tend to think he's only interested in camera focus and going home early. That because no one asks about his problems, he doesn't care about theirs. And they're right, he informs her, before walking straight out. As he leaves, Mork trying Exidor's 'B' plan, arrives on the studio floor, in full cowboy gear, riding in on a white horse (pony) to carry her off into the sunset (four hours after its set). Unable to stop him he packs her onto the horse, which takes off.

Two hours later, when they get home, a nervy Mork suggests she's never had a date with an Earth Man like that. Fully agreeing, she points out that it's almost midnight, and time for their talk and her decision. But Mork rushes away saying there's still time for the Grand Finale. Despite her trying to stop him, telling him there's no need, Mork is resolute and determined to press on with his last ditch attempt, and gets her to stick a cassette into the tape deck, heralding a full on Broadway style number. In top hat and tails (with paddle ball game), he gives it his rhythmic, athletic and romantic all, singing, and dancing with her and for her. leaping from the table top for his big finish with the proposal written on the window blind. But despite being hugely impressed and deeply moved, Mindy still holds firm when he moves back to her hopefully, and he realizes the reviews aren't good.

Deeply pained, Mindy tell him this is by far the hardest decision she's ever had to make. He tries to convince her that maybe the decision has already been made for her. That in fact they were meant to be, asking her to think about the fact that he traveled across five galaxies to this one tiny planet, and out of all the people on it, she found him and they fell in love. Coincidence? He doesn't think so. He believes that some cosmic force has brought them together and they were meant to be married. Smiling sadly, she tells him she wishes she could believe that.

Seeing he can't convince her, and sadly wishing she could believe it too, Mork finally admits defeat. Heartbroken, he slowly walks away, heading for the door, telling her he will send Exidor for his clothes. Mindy realizing with shock that he means to leave.

Rushing after him quickly she tries to stop him, telling him he doesn't have to go, that she doesn't want him to go. That just because they can't get married, they don't have to end their relationship. That they could just go on as they are. But Mork is the pragmatic/logical one now and shakes his head, telling her again that he loves her, and that he couldn't stay knowing she wouldn't ever be his. When she tries to tell him it doesn't have to be like 'that', he asks her plainly if it were the other way round, and she couldn't have him, could she stay? Though she doesn't want to, she forlornly admits she couldn't. Offering her one final 'big kiss', he gently kisses her on the forehead and, reminding her to eat properly and take her 'Fem-Iron', slouches for the door.

As he touches the door handle however, Mindy reacts, calling out his name. Stopping him. Turning, he returns to her hopefully, but while she clearly wants to say more, she's caught again in indecision, and all she can get out is a sad little 'Bye'. Mork however, reacts with a small knowing look, which starts to undo her. Her plaintive 'Mork', leaving her near tears in upset and frustration. His smile growing he says he can tell she doesn't want him to leave. That it's clear on her face. Warring with herself, she tells him that marrying him will mean giving up any chance she has of having a normal life. But tails off when considering all it would mean if she lost him.

Forced to face the real cost of listening to her head over her heart, the prospect of a life without him far outweighs anything else she might be giving up. After a further moment, she starts to smile, finally giving in to what she really wants, and asks him if he will marry her. Naturally, Mork can't resist a little give and take, pretending he didn't hear her, making her say it again. Then coyly suggesting her proposal is 'so sudden', before she reacts in faux outrage and they come together hugging and kissing joyously.

Alone later, Mork makes his report to an Orson who is peeved that Mork always makes his reports when he's eating. When Mork tells him he could wait till he's finished, but the Earth's sun does have a limited lifespan, Orson warns him that he better have an interesting report. At that, Mork confidently tells him Orson is bound to decorate him for this one, buoyantly and eagerly informing him that he and Mindy are getting married. Only to be taken aback by Orson's outraged "What?!" A furious Orson reminds him that no one on Ork has married since the Dark Ages and the law against it is one of Ork's must fundamental tenets. When he orders Mork to 'correct the matter' however, Mork tells him he will correct the problem by quitting, defying Orson and telling him he's abdicating his post for the woman he loves. Something Orson tells him he cannot do, he's given him an Order and he is to carry it out 'or else'. Scoffing, Mork tells him he *is* marrying Mindy and Orson can try and stop him. Whereupon Orson fries him with an electrical shock. Admitting that's a nice try, Mork appeals to Orson trying to get him to understand how on Earth, when a man and a woman love each other...but Orson loudly silences him, telling him the matter is closed, and puts an end to the call. Left alone in his mind, Mork digs his heels in, yelling that the silent treatment isn't going to work. That he's going to remain right there until Orson lets him marry Mindy. That he has patience. Taking out his paddle ball game, he remains there, refusing to leave.

Continuity Queries

Orson and Mork both confirm that Marriage has been outlawed on Ork for millennia. But in Mork's Seduction Mork tells Mindy that on Ork, when people get married they don't thrown them a Bridal Shower, they just hose them down. Again, up to the viewer if is this to be taken as merely one of Mork's jokes.

Trivia

Orkan 'Facts'

• Marriage has been outlawed on Ork for millennia. The law prohibiting it is one of their highest laws, though not as high as the law regarding emotions that Orson knows Mork has already breached.

General

• The theme music gets a makeover with a circus flare, including an excerpt of Entrance of the Gladiators.
• Conrad Janis once again receives star billing in the opening credits.
• Exidor in full golfing mode is a nod to Robert Donner's being an avid golfer, part of a noted Hollywood golfing group, who frequently played in celebrity tournaments and fundraisers.
• Mork uses a glass (the wrong way around to try and listen at the door to what they're saying in Mindy's bedroom) but there is a hallway (at least at this point!) between the living room and the bedroom, so he's listening at the wrong door.
• Cora's siding with Fred, and in urging Mindy to heed her head over heart is relatively well set up previously. As it took her 15 years to admit to it being love at first sight with Mr Hudson, Mindy's maternal grandfather, after first meeting him (Mork In Love). And when Mindy was urging her to listen to her heart over her head as logic can often get in the way of things, Cora took the opposing view (Old Fears).
• By accident or design, Mindy initially tries to stop Mork from leaving in the same spot, using the same words she did when first trying to stop him leaving in Mork Moves In.

Pop Culture

• Exidor enters in his golfing mode wearing a giant Buzzard on his prophet robe. Many of the biggest golfers had personalized nicknames and logos, e.g. Jack Nicklaus (The Golden Bear), Greg Norman (The Great White Shark), Ben Hogan (The Hawk), Exidor is evidently The Buzzard.
• Mork notes that getting down on one knee to propose worked for Prince Charles, whose marriage to Lady Diana Spencer was *the* television event of that year.
• Mork also notes that, to his advantage in proposing to Mindy in this fashion, he looks a lot less like Howdy Doody than Prince Charles does, referring to the puppet Howdy Doody the title character of the classic kids TV show that ran on NBC from 1947 to 1962.
• Fred tells Mindy that if she accepts Mork's proposal, when they're older she'll be on Medicare, and Mork on Pablum. Pablum being a processed cereal for infants originally marketed and co-created by the Mead Johnson Company in 1931, which ceased being sold in 2015. Fred is factually incorrect however, as Mork's longer lifespan as an Orkan would mean he wouldn't revert to that age by the time Mindy got older.
• Mindy says she always thought her life would be like a Doris Day movie, namely a romantic comedy. Instead it's turned out like Barbarella the 1968 sci-fi sex comedy starring Jane Fonda.
• Canasta, that favorite of the older married couple set, gets another mention, when Mork wants to know what Mindy's reasons are for turning down his marriage proposal and the chance to play Canasta and bicker for the rest of their lives.
• Mork argues with Mindy that coming from different worlds never affected.....firstly... Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier the famed Hollywood actress who married the crowned head of Monaco. Secondly....the (fictional) romance between Native American 'princess' Pocahontas and English colonist John Smith. Thirdly.... Mickey Rooney the diminutive hyperactive movie star who married 8 times to some of the world's most beautiful women, including Ava Gardner, all of whom would have been considered out of his league. Hence 'Pick A Number'.
• Morks 'Broadway' proposal is made up of a medley of 3 numbers:
  • All I Need Is The Girl, by Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim, from the musical Gypsy (1959)
  • This Guys In Love WithYou by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, made famous by Herb Alpert (1968)
  • .I Want To Be Happy by Vincent Youmans & Irving Caesar, from the musical No, No, Nanette (1925).

• Mork breaks out a paddle ball (or Bolo Ball) game in the middle of his Broadway medley, sending Mindy scurrying. The game popular with kids either as a solo or competitive game against one another from the 20s through the 80s.
• Mork tells Orson that to marry Mindy he intends to 'abdicate my position for the woman I love', which is a direct quote from the famous speech given by Edward VIII when he abdicated the British throne to marry Wallis Simpson
• After Orson commands he breaks it off with Mindy and leaves Mork hanging, Mork says he can wait him out, he has patience having once sat through a Bobby Vinton concert. Vinton was known for his lush slow ballads (most famously Blue Velvet) and his Polish inspired Polka music. And then breaks out the Paddle Ball again.

Quotes

• Mork: *snaps his fingers in frustration* The Shiksa split! Make a small mental note. It's always better to propose when she's in the room.

_________________________

• Mork: But Exidor, I love Mindy! Isn't...isn't marriage the ultimate commitment? The eternal bond? And besides a wicked tax break?!
• Exidor: It's a sham.
• Mork: It's...it's a blessing!
• Exidor: It's barbaric.
• Mork: It's fulfilling!
• Exidor: It's a candyman
• Mork: Its a breath mint!

_________________________

• Mork: Exidor, please, please!! Pull out your putter and drive me out of the sand trap of life into the fairway of love!

_________________________

• Exidor: Bunny, I may not be the handsomest man, or the brightest, or the wealthiest man in the world, but I've got his phone number.

_________________________

• Mindy: Sometimes I wish I was the garbage man because when they wake up in the morning, they expect the world to stink.

_________________________

• Mork: Mind? Although we've only known each other now for 26,802 hours. I feel basically that...
• Mindy *walks out of the bedroom past him* Well, I didn't get the news caster job! But am I bitter?! Noooo-hoo-hooo! Mr Sternhagen said it had nothing to do with me being a woman. It's just that he needed a short stop for stations the softball team.

_________________________

• Mindy: Ohhh I gotta get my mind off this! I know lets go do something fun! Wanna play tennis? Or...or we'll do anything you wanna do!
• Mork: Well I'd love to play Space Invaders, then we could go for some Pizza, and maybe get married? *goes down on one knee again*
• Mindy: *moves away* No, we had Italian food last night.
• Mork: *sighs* Cute, but not the greatest attention span

_________________________

• Mork: *goes to bunch of flowers* Eeneie Meenie Miney Mo! *plucks one* You Die!!

_________________________

• Fred: Marry?! *approaches Mork dangerously*
• Mork: Yes, sir thank you for...
• Fred: Marry...*my* daughter?!
• Mork: Oh yes! Thank you for your blessing!
• Fred: *fixed smile* Blessing?! I'll give you blessing! *goes for Mork's throat*
• Mork: *rapidly hiding behind Cora* You wouldn't hit a man standing behind a woman wearing glasses would you!?

_________________________

• Mindy: *to Fred & Cora* C'mon you two!! Alright we technically we all know Mork isn't exactly human! But he has a lot more humanity in him then anyone I've ever met! He's sweet, he's charming, he's sensitive.*helpless* And I love him!!
• Fred: Now Mindy, you loved Oliver too. But you got over him!
• Mindy: *stares at him* Oliver was a goldfish! And *he* went belly up!

_________________________

• Mindy: Y'know I always thought my life would be like a Doris Day movie. Not Barbarella!

_________________________

• Mindy: Oh Mork it's a beautiful ring!
• Mork: Mmhhm!
• Mindy: Look at the jewels, they're sparkling!
• Mork:: Uh huh!!
• Mindy: They're...they're glittering?!
• Mork: Mmmhimm!!
• Mindy: *pauses and looks closer* They're moving!!!
• Mork: Yeah...those are his little eyes, he's blinking.
• Mindy: Him?!?! He's alive!?! *shakes her hand violently trying to get it off*
• Mork: Don't do that you'll give him whiplash!

_________________________

• Mindy: *gesturing to pony* Mork this is ridiculous!
• Mork: No it's not! It's romantic! We're going to ride off into the sunset!
• Mindy: The sun set 4 hours ago!!
• Mork: I guess we better haul it then!

_________________________

• Mindy: Boy you really topped yourself that time, Mork!
• Mork: Guess you've never ridden a pony through a carwash before huh? Boy did he scamper when he hit that hot wax! Bet you haven't had a date like that with an Earthman.
• Mindy: You're right there!

_________________________

• Mork: *heartbroken heading for the door* I'll send by Exidor to pick up my clothes.
• Mindy: *shocked* Wow. *moves after him quickly* You don't have to go! I don't want you to go!
• Mork: You could go but the lease is your name *half hearted* Ahrr Ahrr Ahrr

_________________________

• Mindy: Oh Mork, if I married you, I'd be giving up any chance I might have to have a normal life.....*gazes at him* ...but if lost you? *gives in with a smile* Will you marry me?
• Mork: What?
• Mindy: *blinks* Will you marry me!?!"
• Mork: *looks taken aback* This is so sudden I'll need some time...

.

Image Gallery

Cast

Starring

• Robin Williams as Mork
• Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
• Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
• Elizabeth Kerr as Cora Hudson
• Ralph James as Voice of Orson

Guest starring/Recurring cast

• Robert Donner as Exidor
• Patrick Cranshaw as Jake Loomis (as Pat Cranshaw)

More External Links

• "Limited Engagement" at TV.com