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| ""Mork Runs Down"" | |
|---|---|
| Season 1, Episode #23 (#23) in series (95 episodes) | |
 On Mork's birthday, he gets so run down that he forgets he has to recharge his body with an egg-like Gleek in "Mork Runs Down" in Season 1 of Mork & Mindy (ep.#23). | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Susan Elliot Henry Polic II Michael Danahy |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 122 (1x22) |
| Writer(s) | Ben Starr |
| Director | Howard Storm |
| Original airdate | April 12, 1979 |
IMDB 
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"Mork Runs Down" |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "In Mork We Trust" | "It's a Wonderful Mork" |
| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
"Mork Runs Down" is the 23rd episode of the first season of Mork & Mindy, also the 23rd series episode. Written by Ben Starr, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, first aired on ABC-TV on April 12, 1979.
Synopsis[]
Mork is informed by an ominous Orson that his first birthday has arrived. Rather than it being a cause for celebration, an Orkan's birthday requires him to recharge his lifre-force/energy, with an egg-like Gleek. If he doesn't do this at the appointed time he could die. The only problem is, as an Orkan's energy starts to sputter, so does their memory.
Plot[]
Unusually Mork is woken up by an emergency call from Orson, who wipes the smile off his junior's face when he informs him that 2,000 Zarms have passed, and Mork's first birthday is upon him. Settling a panicking Mork down with a mental slap, informing him that every Orkan has to go through this, Orson provides him the means to ensure everything will be fine, and introduces him to his white-egg like 'Gleek', a life force/energy restoring device that Mork needs to use to recharge himself. He also warns him of what will happen on the day, he'll start to run down, he'll slow down, he'll speed up, he'll have trouble talking, he'll act weird-er. He warns him not to mess with the Gleek, it has to be in perfect working order when he hits it against his head to activate the chemicals inside that will re-charge him. Mork tells him he'll protect it as if his life depends on it, which Orson reminds him it does. Nervily taking that on board, he tells Orson he has to go, he has a new job at a Kennel he has to be up for.
That night in her apartment Mindy is catching up with old, New Age / Flower Child type, friend, Joyce who she's not seen for 3 months. Telling her that so much has happened, Joyce cuts her off, by agreeing starting with the fact her name is not Joyce anymore, but Rainbow. As Mindy is getting her a beer, Mork returns from his new job, which as he retells his day to them is now clearly his ex-job as, after being told to take the dogs out for a walk, and figuring they could manage that on their own just let them all out, telling them to be back by midnight. Resigned, Mindy tells him he may as well not go back the next day, and remarks to Rainbow that he's been having trouble finding a job. Rainbow tells them she runs a Health Food Store 'The Vitamin Vendor' But she's been looking for a revolutionary Moon Child stock boy, and offers him a try out at the job, which he eagerly accepts.
The next day however, Mork comes backwards down the stairs from the attic, a knotted rope draped around his neck, and while he's feeding and talking to the plants, his speech and movement starts to slow, then speed up, then he argues with himself before going to answer a non-existent phone call, having a brief discussion on it before putting the handset down on the counter. Returning to lucidity he reasons he must be reaching the point he needs his Gleek, and goes to fetch it from the armoire, but when he tries to use it, it doesn't react when he strikes it to his forehead. Realizing it must not yet be time, he checks and he has two more hours, setting his ankle watch complete with reminder note already stuck within it. Telling himself he has to keep the Gleek close at hand today, he slides into another 'attack' as Mindy comes cheerily out of her room. Telling her to answer the phone, she picks up the handset thinking there's someone there for her, only to find there's no one. Saying the same thing happened to him earlier, he has another brief argument with himself, then goes over to the phone and picks it up again, putting the Gleek down by the receiver and arguing down the line. Mindy laughs at what she thinks is just his usual goofiness before noticing the rope around his neck and asking him about it. Before he can tell her what its for he falls asleep standing up, then wakes up again, telling her he can't remember what it is though.
Not having seen him do that before, Mindy asks him if he's alright? He tells her he didn't sleep very well, tossing and turning, which isn't easy on a trapeze. Understanding she suggests he goes to have a nap, and he agrees, heading off, but leaving the Gleek by the phone which she finds. Thinking it's an egg he's left out for some reason, Mindy shrugs and returns it to the refrigerator. Just after she does so, Mork come's charging back down saying he remembers what the rope is for, a reminder to remember something. The only problem being he can't remember what he's supposed to remember. But Mindy think's she knows. Today is his try out at the Vitamin Vendor, Rainbow's store. Thinking that must be hit, he thanks her taking his rope reminder off, but when she goes to wish him luck at the store, he gets his hands muddled up repeatedly trying to grasp her hand, telling him not to do that with Rainbow, she heads out, and misses his sudden veering sideways. Realizing he's not right, but not why, he rewinds his memory back to when he was feeding the plants, and recalls the Gleek. But a second later forgets it again. And when the phone rings for real he goes to answer the door.
At the Music Store, as Fred & Mindy work behind the counter, Cora & Eugene emerge from the back from his music lesson, his violin having improved now she's taken his pet turtle out of it. As she's heading for lunch at Chez Eddies where all the French truck drivers hang out, she offers Eugene a ride home as otherwise he'd have to wait for an hour for his mother. He agrees as long as she doesn't pop anymore wheelies while they're on her motorcycle. As they head out, a punch drunk looking Mork staggers in. On seeing him, Mindy makes straight for him wanting to know what he's doing there. He tells her he thought he had an interview, which she reminds him he does but at the Vitamin Vendor not there. He says he doesn't feel too well, especially when he left the house, and that feeling comes and goes before he falls into a quick narcopletic sleep, touching him and asking him if he's alright, wakes him up again, before he starts shooting imaginary skeet in the store, then falls asleep on his feet again. Starting to get worried, Mindy tells Fred she thinks Mork might need a Doctor. When he comes too again starting to jog in place and singing excerpts from Rocky, Fred agrees and takes off to see if he can get the doctor from the clinic on the mall. Moving back to Mork, Mindy tries to wake him only for him to sag to his knees bonelessly. When she gets him back up his anklewatch goes off, and she bends to turn it off she finds his 'footnote' and reads out the message to himself, telling him if he doesn't use his Gleek in an hour he'll be dead, 'love Mork', at which point she has to grab him again as he sags to the floor again.
Getting him up onto a stool, Mindy quizzes him about what a Gleek is, but he doesn't know. She asks him what he meant by he'd die in an hour, he's not sure but he's sure he heard it somewhere, meaning she has to point out it was in the note. On showing it to him, he has no recollection of it, races through a lot of emotions before deciding he has to pack a lot into his remaining hour, imagining carrying the Olympic flame, creating a cure for acne, winning an Academy Award. Telling Mindy with an hour left he wants to reach for all the gusto he can, he grabs her for a short swing dance before pulling her into a hug, and wishing they had an hour and ten minutes. He upsets her with talk of what she'll do after the funeral, and she tries to get him to stop, but he insists he's full of zest for life, only to sag into her arms. Wrestling him back to the stool, she tries to tell him her father has gone for the Doctor and Mork asks if Fred is ill, when she reminds him he's he one that's ill, but he says he can't be, he has to go to the interview...she tells him to forget the interview, and he asks forget what?
Fred rushes back in with the Doctor...but he introduces himself as Doctor Ducky, with a duck sock puppet on his hand, and wants to know where his patient is. Fred and Mindy point to Mork, but he points out that *he* is not a child. He is Dr. Benton Philips, Pediatrician, and Fred sheepishly points out it was either him, or the foot doctor. On Mindy's fretting, Phillips assures her that he is a professional and tries to take his temperature, Mork opening his mouth on Mindy's assurance to go ahead, he takes in the thermometer Philips finds his temperature to be 63 degrees. Noting that as impossible he puts on his stethoscope, which being a child's doctor naturally has bunny ears on it, but can't find a heartbeat either. Fred suggests to Mindy that they may have to *tell him*, but she's very reluctant they promised Mork, but Fred is adamant that its life at stake. Philips wants to know what they're talking about and Mindy tells him, that Mork...hasn't been there long...and tells him he's an alien from another planet. Philips moves back from Mork slightly and regards Mindy closely, clarifying that she's trying to tell me he's been examining a man with no heartbeat, a temperature of 63 who comes from a different planet, picking up his bag and backing away. Telling them he has no time for practical jokes, he has no idea how they tampered with his instruments but no one makes a fool of Dr Ducky and walks out.
Mindy grows distraught, and Fred tries to comfort her saying he'll think of something. The only thing she can think of is to call an ambulance Fred saying he told her he'd think of something, as they go to the phone however, Mork wakes up again, and in a daze heads to and out of the door as their backs are turned. On the phone, and immediately put on hold, Mindy turns around and sees Mork has disappeared. Putting the phone down in a panic she looks around, Fred wondering where he would've gone. He could've gone back to the apartment she suggests, or the interview at the Vitamin vendor. Fred doesn't understand why he'd go there with only an hour to live, but Mindy reminds him his mind is gone.
At the Vitamin Vendor, Rainbow is talking to her pet owl when Mork comes in, and immediately asks if it's quitting time. Putting him to work when a customer comes in, she sends him to serve him so she can observe, but the customer ends up utterly bewildered when (among other things) on asking for suggestions for more iron in his diet, Mork tells him to eat his car keys, and when asking for vitamin B12, Mork does an impersonation of a B12 WW2 bomber. Rainbow steps in and tells Mork to go fetch a bottle from a shelf with the green pills in it, which are the Vitamin A on the list of what the guy is looking for. In the meantime she weirds him out further, with her suggestion that he take up transcendental tennis, where you just relate to the ball rather than hitting it. Begging Mork to hurry up, Mork in fact slows down even further, before moving so fast he spills the pills all over the floor. The customer gives up deciding if this is what Vitamins do for you he'll go back to fast food and high tails it out of there. Rainbow is a little concerned about Mork, but Mork acts fine for a second, before noticing something in the display section, a dozen brown free range eggs. Immediately calling out 'Brown Gleeks', gleek, recharge gleek. Mindy rushes in, massively relieved to see him there, and asks Rainbow to help her get him to the car as he's really sick.
In Mindy's apartment, Fred is trying to track down a number for the Vitamin Vendor when the door opens, Mindy entering struggling under Mork's weight. Fred asks why she didn't just take him straight to the hospital, and she tells him Mork insisted on coming home, he kept saying he had to find something. Something called Gleek. As soon as she says the word, Mork jerks alert again and starts staggering around the room, saying Gleek over and over, hunting with an invisible hound before he collapses into Mindy and Fred's arms again. Mindy tells Fred they have to find out what a Gleek is, checking the time with him, she figures if they don't find out in 10 more minutes he doesn't stand a chance. On the word chance, Mork jumps back up again and starts to chant, Hare Krishna. Mindy reminds him he's sick and holds out her arms to him to come to her, he tries to but his sense of direction goes and he backs around the room instead. Both of them wrestle him to the couch again, and Mindy begs him to help them, asking him what is wrong with him? He tells her it's his Birthday, and she reacts in fear, until wondering what is wrong with that? Mork explains how Orkan birthdays only come every 2000 Zarms and when they do they get the 'Gorgles'. This alarms Fred wondering if the Gorgles are contagious. But Mork says the Gorgles are just what Earthlings call dying. This upsets Mindy even further, and Fred insists he has to tell them what a Gleek is. Mork starts to slow down again, slurring his words, but gets out the words "Energy Source, Recharge." When she asks him what it looks like his voice fails him entirely and he's reduced to weak charades still communication, indicating pecking and a chicken noise, then pecking at Fred's bald head until after moving past 'bald chicken' and 'egg head' they figure out its an egg.
Remembering the egg she found on the counter that morning MIndy races for the refrigerator as Fred tries to assure Mork that once he gets his Gleek his Gorgles will be gone, wincing at the statement. Rushing back to him, Mindy presents Mork with all the eggs in the refrigerator asking which one is it. But as Fred helps him up, Mork can't tell and wearily starts to smash them one by one against his forehead sending raw egg over himself Mindy and Fred each time. Leaving Fred to wonder if he really is from a 'more advanced' society? Until he finally strikes the Gleek off his forehead, and it lights up, as does his eyes and he calls out Gleek. But then collapses to the floor, completely still. Thinking they were too late, Mindy starts to break down only for Mork to suddenly shoot back up brightly, completely restored and wanting to know if there were any calls for him while he was out. Flinging herself into his arms, Mindy hugs a happily reciprocating Mork tight, as Fred tries to get the residue of multiple eggs off himself.
Mork makes his report to Orson looking around with 'hand' binoculars. Orson asks him if he got through his Birthday alright? And Mork replies yes, but they threw a very strange ceremony for him, Mindy making him a cake which caught on fire. Orson wonders what he did, and Mork tells him he's always ready and he stomped that sucker right out. Orson informs him that now he's getting older he's going to have to settle down. Mork says since he's been on Earth he's not a Bleemager anymore, and does that mean he has to become boring now? Not Boring, Orson corrects, just more like him, and he means it, telling him to stop acting like a child and start calming down. But Mork disagrees, saying the dullest people on Earth are the ones who think they have to settle down and set a pattern for themselves, and that pattern dictates who they should be, giving them very little room to be who they are. Orson responds that everyone knows as you grow older you have to become more serious. Mork smiles and says but doesn't' everyone also know as you grow older you also have to keep just a touch of the child, a little bit of the Mondo Bozo, and then you'll never *feel* old.
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- On Ork a birthday comes only every 2000 Zarms. When it does their bodies go Shazbot and they get the Gorgles, requiring a recharge from a chemical filled egg called a Gleek, or they die.
- Orkan's tie rope around their necks when they want remember.
General[]
- Mork's latest jobs include working at a dog pound, and trying out as a stock boy at Rainbow's 'Vitamin Vendor'
- Venusians look like dogs, but are dumber than their Earth canine varieties
- Moon children are two inches tall with mold on their heads and terrible acne.
- Martians have eight legs.
- Mork mimics winning an Academy Award, which if course Robin Williams would do in 1992.
- Talking with Rainbow, she tells him time is money and money is relative, to which Mork replies 'Reality what a concept', which was the title of Robin William's first Comedy Album.
- Susan Elliott who played Rainbow, was a member of the Comedy Store Improv Group Robin William's belonged to before he landed the role of Mork, and appears in archival footage of Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind.
Pop Culture[]
- Mork comes down from the attic singing an Orkan version of Camptown Races.
- Ring around the Rope is yet another jokey play on Ring around the Collar, the old 1970s Wisk ad
- As he starts to degenerate, Mork starts to echo various movie characters. First up being a couple of fictional boxers, using the "I coulda been a contender" line made famous by Marlon Brando's character in "On The Waterfront" followed by a paraphrased excerpt of 'Gonna Fly Now' from Rocky.
- In answer to the customer's request for Vitamins starting with A, Mork gives a little Fonzie "Ayyyyyy" with thumbs up, for an inter-show joke.
- When Mork sees the eggs and calls out 'Everything's Brown Gleeks' Rainbow enthusiastically says that's her favorite Rod McKuen album, the eclectic poet and songwriter
- Fred does a Vulcan nerve pinch from Star Trek on Mork to try and get him to sit down, and it works.
Quotes/Excerpts[]
- Mindy: Do you want some coffee?
- Rainbow: No I never drink caffeine
- Mindy: Oh, well how about a soft drink?
- Rainbow: Mindy, sugar is suicide.
- Mindy: Can you drink water?!
- Rainbow: Got fluorides in it.
- Mindy: *amused* Well what can you drink?!
- Rainbow: Do you have a beer?
________________________________________
- Rainbow: Sooo, by the way what's your sign? *Mork looks confusedly form her to Mindy*
- Mindy: I think Mork's a Moon Child.
- Mork: Oh c'mon Mindy, you know that Moon Children are only this big *holds fingers about 2 inches apart* with mold on their head and terrible acne.
________________________________________
- Mindy: *a little concerned* Are you alright?
- Mork: I think so, I had trouble sleeping last night, tossing and turning. which is not very easy considering I sleep hanging from a bar.
- Mindy: Oh. Well if you're tired why don't you go crash for a while?
- Mork: I'm not into pain but I think a nap will do.
________________________________________
- Mork: Mindy!
- Mindy: What?!
- Mork: Mindy!
- Mindy: What?!
- Mork: I remember what the rope is for! It's an old Orkan custom when we want to remember something we tie a rope around our neck.
- Mindy: Oh! We do the same thing! Only we tie a little string around our finger.
- Mork: Oh on Ork that's how we used to hang cattle rustlers.
________________________________________
- Mindy: Daddy I think he might need a doctor
- Fred: Ehhh...he's asleep standing on his feet is that normal for him?
- Mindy: Not at all! Normally he sleeps hanging from a bar!
________________________________________
*Morks anklewatch goes off*
- Mindy: Oh! You're foot is ringing! I'll get it!
- Mork: Don't answer it they'll just hang up.
- Mindy: It's your anklewatch. *turns it off* What's this piece of paper?
- Mork: Must be a footnote.
________________________________________
*reads note*
- Mork: I'm gong to be dead. Oh I'll miss me.
- Mindy: Oh!
- Mork: Oh no I'm going to die. Heavy sigh. Anxiety. Anger mixed with inner turmoil! Oh no I'm seeing my whole life flash before my eyes!! *races hands back and forth in front of face* No big deal.
________________________________________
- Mindy: Mork what are you doing!?!
- Mork: I've only got an hour left Mindy! I've want to reach for all the gusto I can!
- Mindy: *upset* Oh! Mork.
- Mork: *grabs her and swing dances with her wildly, before pulling her tight into him, before pulling back and looking at her meaningfully* Oh if only there were an hour and ten minutes!!! *pulls her in tight again, then looks back at her* Mindy what are you doing after the funeral!?
- Mindy: *getting really upset* Oh Mork stop!
- Mork: No, don't stop me now! I'm full of real zest for life! *moves back to her but sags into her arms*
________________________________________
- Rainbow: Hi Mork! Here about the job?
- Mork: No, what are they saying?
________________________________________
- Mork: *to customer* WHAT DO YOU WANT?!
- Customer: Do you have any wheatgerm?
- Mork: Ugh!! I hope not!! *shrugs and brushes at himself violently* Everybody off!!
- Customer: *bewildered* My doctor says I need to get more iron. What do you suggest?
- Mork: Eat your car keys.
- Customer: *stares, looks at list* Uhh...do you have any clover honey?
- Mork: Oh I'll check, sweetheart.
- Customer: Ne...nevermind! I'll just get some Vitamins *checks list again* I need some A?
- Mork: *ala Fonzie* Ehhhh!!! *thumbs up*
- Customer: Eh, B12?
- Mork: *does impersonation of Airforce plane and Japanese anti aircraft gunners* Too big for this store.
________________________________________
- Mindy: Mork, you've got to help us! What is wrong with you?
- Mork: *weakly* It's my Birthday.
- Mindy: *gasps in fear, looks to her father* Oh no! It's his Birthday!!
- Fred: What's wrong with having a birthday?
- Mindy: I don't know what *is* wrong with having a birthday?
- Mork: On Ork a birthday comes only every 2000 Zarms. When it does our bodies go Shazbot and we get the Gorgles.
- Fred: *agitated* Gorgles. *pushing up and back slowly* Are these Gorgles contagious?
- Mork: Oh no they are just what you Earthlings call dying.
- Fred: You have got to tell us what a Gleek is!
- Mork: *slurring* Energy source, recharge.
- Mindy: What does it look like?! *Mork tries but can't get words out, looks exhausted* Now his voice is going! Mork, you've *got* to tell us what a Gleek looks like!
- Fred: Give us a clue how big is it?! *Mork tries to make his hands work, but ends up using one hand to peck at the couch making a chicken noise*
- Mindy: I think he's trying to tell us something.
- Fred: *rubs his hand over his eyes* Yeah, I feel like I'm in a Lassie movie. *Mork continues to make chicken noises* A Gleek is a chicken? *Mork's eyes brighten and he moves his pecking motion to Fred's bald head, and tries to lift his ass from the couch*
- Mindy: It's a bald chicken! *Mork looks at her*
- Fred: A bald chicken!? No! No! It's an Egghead! Its an Egghead!! *Mork tries to get him to make it smaller* It's an Egg! *Mork screeches* It's an Egg!! *Mork shakes his hand vigorously* Just relax!! *Mork collapses*
- Mindy: I know! I found an egg...I found an egg on the counter this morning and I put it in the refrigerator! *runs to kitchen*
- Fred: *shakes Mork* Okay now Mork! Mork! Look don't worry. After you get your Gleek your Gorgles will be gone! *smile fades* I can't believe I said that.
Promo[]
Mork & Mindy - Mork Runs Down - Episode Promo
Promo for Mork Runs Down for ABC's Thursday April 12, 1979
Image Gallery[]
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
- Elizabeth Kerr as Cora Hudson
- Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley
- Ralph James as Voice of Orson