Skyflakes Keep Falling on My Head

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"Skyflakes Keep Falling on My Head"
Season 1, Episode #17 (#17) in series (95 episodes)
Mork and Mindy find themselves stranded, and in danger of freezing to death when taking advantage of the offer of a break at Exidor's cabin while he's away in "Skyflakes Keep Falling on My Head" (episode #17).
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Robert Donner
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	117 (1x17)
Writer(s)	Dale McRaven & Bruce Johnson
Director	Howard Storm
Original airdate	February 1, 1979
IMDB	Skyflakes Keep Falling on My Head
Episode chronology
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"Young Love"	"Mork Goes Erk"
List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

Sky Flakes Keep Falling on my Head was the 17th episode from Season 1 of Mork and Mindy, also the seventeenth overall series episode. Co-written by Dale McRaven and Bruce Johnson, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, was shot on December 15, 1978 and premiered on ABC-TV on February 1, 1979.

Synopsis

With Exidor heading out of town Mork avails of his offer of the use of his cabin to take a weary Mindy on a re-energizing break. But neither the trip to or stay in the cabin goes to plan, and they quickly find themselves stranded in the freezing cold.

Plot

Late at night, in her apartment, Mindy is hard at work typing up a Journalism paper for College, when a freaked out Mork comes down from his room, clutching a blanket, looking nervily back up the stairs, before making his way over to her. Trying to make casual conversation, he notes she gets a lot of work in Collège, and she ruefully agrees that 'Time and Professor Raymond' wait for man. Mindy noting he's up quite late, he tells her to ignore him, she won't even know he's there, before he slides to the floor and clings to her leg in terror. When she resignedly informs she's aware he's there, he begs her not to make him go back up to the attack to 'Him*, of her inquiry who *Him* is, she rolls her eyes when he tells her Vincent Price, and the scary movie with the ghosts on his TV in his room. Asking her why she never told him about ghosts, she tells him it's because there is no such thing as ghosts, and reassures him that Vincent Price is a perfectly nice man. Although he appears mollified, Mork still won't leave her to her work, trying to talk about basketball players, and anything other than going back up to his room. Promising they will spend lots of time together after tomorrow, and suggesting they can even go away together, she asks him just to let her finish up. He agrees, and eager to get on with her work she sits back down, stressed and ignoring his next few comments, as he tries to delay his return to his room, yelping when the stairs moves on him, and finally back up with the blanket over his head.

The next day at the Music Store, Mork tips a liveried Taxi Driver, taking him for a soldier and complimenting Fred on the job they are doing. Thinking that he's looking for Mindy, Fred tells him she isn't there. But Mork knows, telling her father that she slept in, after staying up till 5am to finish her Report for College. Fred is glad to hear she's finished it, knowing how long she's been working on it, which is what Mork wants to talk to him about. He feels she needs to get away for a few days to rest and recharge. Fred wonders where he has in mind, and Mork is thinking of the Dog Star, Sirius. But Fred doesn't think that's feasible for a 2 day trip. They're interrupted however by a flustered Cora, who, in her new music student, has finally met someone who makes Mork look button down and staid. Intrigued, Mork thinks he should go observe him, but there's no need as a second, pushing through his 'crowd', Exidor appears. As he (finally) spots Mork, Cora heads for a 9.30am lunch, unable to take anymore of Exidor. Fred also makes himself rapidly scarce going to tend to a customer. Mork asks Exidor how the street preacher business is going, but Exidor tells him that's all behind him, and he's looking to the future. He informs Mork that next Wednesday afternoon he's going to be 12 years of age., Mork noting he's looking very mature for his age, to which Exidor reveals guilt without sex as the key. He says he's too hold to stand on street corners anymore, its time to settle down, get a straight conventional job, and he's decided on Emperor Of The Earth. Mork offers to be his campaign manager, offering rapid fire ideas, but Exidor cuts him dead, informing him one cant' be 'elected' Emperor, and and asks him does he have any idea who runs the world, Rock Stars he tells him immediately. Rock stars run the world and they don't have a leader, until now!

This, Exidor, tells him, is why he's taking lessons from Mrs Hudson. He intends to go touring, starting slow at first the Superdome, Madison Square Gardens, Woodstock, then to Europe, and through the rest of the world, in a Hitler-esque plan of world conquest, at the end of which, they make him Emperor. Exidor expresses his gratitude to Mork for his friendship, and when he's Emperor he can say he knew Exidor when, and if there's anything he needs he can always come to him...which Mork immediately does. He tells Exidor there is something, and explains that Mindy has been working very hard, and he feels she needs a place where she can go rest for a few days, get away from it all. Exidor asks him would he like to drive or take a little hike? Mork thinks a hike sounds good, and Exidor tells him he has the perfect place, his summer home that he bought a few years previously when he was a doctor, they can take a scenic 3 mile hike around the lake to his cabin. Mork is very grateful on behalf of himself and Mindy, but expresses concern that Exidor's plan is predicated on his having talent. Exidor reminds him he hasn't seen him play, and rushes to get his axe, prevailing on Mork to give him an intro. When he does Exidor appears with his 'axe', an accordion, and starts to sing Lady of Spain.

Mindy and Mork's get away does not start promisingly, with Mindy informing Mork that she's freezing, and Mork trying to gee her along and saying they're almost there, and they are, with Mindy leaning heavily on Mork as she limps badly alongside of him in the dark and the snow to the front of Exidor's cabin. Having lost the trail and fallen off a cliff, with Mork landing on her, Mork checks on the state of her ankle only for her to yelp, the foot still sprained but the toes are at least facing forward again, she grumbles. He tells her that first thing in the morning he'll go looking for their luggage, hoping it hasn't floated off down river, though he's not sure if it was cases he heard hit the water or the avalanche. He voices the hope that beaver they met wasn't hurt, but she's less sympathetic wanting to know what a beaver was doing out strolling at that time anyway, not in his darn damn guarding his sticks and twigs, and does he have any idea how yicky it is to stand on a beaver's tale? Mork just didn't know that beavers could scream. She is rather more satisfied that he won't be sending any more messages with that beaver tail for a while, as she limps to a tree stump to sit down. Mork feels she won't really enjoy the weekend if she doesn't purge herself of these negative thoughts she's having. But she recounts once again, that since they started out, she stepped on a beaver, fell off a cliff and he landed on her, she sprained her ankle and her luggage is shooting the rapids on the way down to Lake Mead, while his scenic little 3 mile high was up the face of a cliff. But she's right she concedes sarcastically why should she be negative? What else could go wrong? He jokes he could've lost the key, but when she asks him to just open the door, he just stands there. Staring at him in disbelief she asks if he's actually lost the key, and he tells her Exidor never actually gave him one. At the end of her tether, she tells him to the kick the door in, and every time he tries to raise an objection she just demands more strenuously and dangerously, until he gives in and give it a mild kick....the entire front of the cabin folding in on itself like a house of cards as a result.

Inside, or as inside as much as they can be in a 3 sided cabin, Mork offers to flip Mindy for the top bunk, but she gives it to him, not sure she could make the climb. When he throws the one bag they have left on it, the bottom falls out of the bunk and takes out the bottom bunk as well, meaning they're sleeping on the floor. Worn out, Mindy gives in and feels they just have to make the best of it, sitting down at the table, before she leans on it and it gives way under her. Mork, indefatigably optimistic, says at least they have 3 walls and a roof. As Mndy looks up, she glances over at Mork, as almost inevitably it starts to snow and the 'roof' does nothing to stop it landing on them.

A little while later, with the table propped back up, it's metal top allowing them at least to build a fire on it, they are roasting wieners over it, shivering. Mork enthuses about eating out, but Mindy's not sure she could envisage John Wayne sitting out roasting Vienna Sausages. Mork notes it's all Exidor had in the cabinet, that and the mouse, which Mindy points out was a moldy fuzzy grey avocado. Mork however, insists it crawled, which she concedes! She points out to him that right now the only thing between them and death is their fire. Looking around she spots a trunk and on investigating it, apart from Confessions of a Schizophrenic by Exidor as told to Exidor, they find His and Hers flannel Prophet Robes. While Mork thinks that's enough for them to bed down in, Mindy tells them they have to stay awake and keep the fire going or they'll freeze to death. Sitting back down by the fire, Mork asks what she normally does to stay awake when going camping. Thinking about it she recalls roasting marshmallows and sing songs. Mork leaps on singing songs and launches into an Orkan version of 99 Bottles of Beer, but she points out she doesn't know how to count backwards in Orkan. Kumbaya doesn't' fare much better either. Asking what else they could do, she tells them they also used to tell ghost stories. He enthuses over that too, but after his earlier reaction to the movie there's no way she says she's telling *him* a ghost story, but he insists loudly till she gives in. Starting into it, she barely gets to the end of the first sentence about the creepy house when he's up and running, pulling the robes over his head before walking back to her.

Later still, now huddled together, arms around one another, both of them asleep, the fire ominously gone out. Jerking awake, Mork looks about to notice it, and wakes Mindy up rapidly. Alarmed she tells him to stir the embers so they can get it going again, but he finds they're cold. Asking him about the matches, he searches about and panics when he can't find them, his pockets or feel his fingers, before realizing he has his gloves on. Pulling out the matchbook happily, they both get nervous when they see there's only one match left and they have to make it count, as Mindy figures there's still 6 hours left before daylight and if they don't get the fire going again they're not going to make it. Mork is determined to make it work, and pulls out the last match, striking it, and doing so successfully, only for Mindy pleading with it to work to accidentally and to her horror, blow it right out again. After Mork's panic attack, Mindy suggests he use his finger to restart the fire which would be a good idea but he can only use it for that when the temperature is over 60F.

Trying to get her to keep moving, so they can keep warm, Mindy's ankle gives out, and she slips to the snow covered floor, Mork freezing, falling beside her. Huddled together, hope starting to ebb, he apologizes for getting her into this. That ever since she met him he's been getting her into trouble. But an emotional Mindy shakes her head and tells him she wouldn't trade a minute of the time they spent together. She recalls the first time she saw him, wearing his suit backwards, and he remembers the first emotion she taught him, happiness. Her smile at that fades a little, sorry that the last emotion they're sharing is fear. He realizes that he is afraid, but feels its nice to be sharing it. Mindy smiling a little at that too, looks at him, and prevails upon him to try and make it down the mountain himself, after all what he has he got to lose? And he tells her simply, You. Touched, Mindy reflects that whenever people have the time they never get around to saying the things they really want to say, and now she really wants him to know how she feels...but he tells her she doesn't have to, he knows how she feels...gazing at him, she answers that she knows how he feels too.

Holding on to one another, Mork's head turns slightly as a sound distracts him, asking her if she heard what sounded like a car? She points out you have to have a road to have a car. But then she hears a man singing....Lady of Spain. And Mork excitedly exclaims its the future Emperor of the World, pulling himself and Mindy to their feet, as Exidor with ear muffs and yelling at his contingent to stay in the car that they can't just go barging in on Mork & Mindy, they have a life! Seeing them he asks them if they had any trouble getting in, not noticing the lack of front on the cabin anymore. Mindy asks him relievedly if he has a jeep? And he tells her yes just 30 yards away on a fire road, he was all set to go out on tour when he realized he hadn't given Mork the key! Mork blinks and confirms they could have driven right up to the cabin? Exidor telling him sure but he said he wanted to hike! Handing him the key he tells them to enjoy themselves and goes to head off, Mork stopping him quickly telling him Mindy hurt her ankle and asking for a lift back down the hill, which Exidor is happy to provide as long as they don't mind all seven of them jammed into one jeep? Mindy happily tells him seven people sounds wonderfully warm...until Mork informs her that his kind of people don't have much warmth. Zippo.

Mork apologizes to Exidor for what's happened to the cabin, but Exidor still doesn't see anything wrong with it, and urges his entourage after him back to the jeep. As they move to follow him, the snow starts to follow him again, and happily safe again, Mork opines that it sure is a beautiful night, a smiling Mindy looking at him, and agreeing that it sure is. After a moment, he scoops her up into his arms, and carries her through the snow away to Exidor's jeep.

Mork's report to Orson commences with a slight delay, Mork pretending to continuing to call him from inside an imaginary phone box in his head. When Orson finally appears, Mork reports that this week he wants to talk about the silliness of Earth Language. On Earth words can mean more than one thing, which Orson finds illogical, and Mork agrees. Exampling the word run, he shows Orson how it can mean the physical act of running, rivers running, people run down, men can run stores, women can get a run in their stockings. Orson notes it sounds very confusing, and Mork agrees again but they still manage to communicate, for example the word 'buck', they know when to pass it and when to spend it Orson asks him how do Earth People understand each other? And Mork thinks that many times they don't, and that sometimes human's find it very difficult to tell each other how they feel about one another until its too late. A pity, Orson feels, Mork agreeing once more recalling a strange custom they have here...he believes that people should receive flowers while they are still alive not after they're gone. Mork then tells Orson that he's never told him he likes him...and he does. A moment of silence passes, and then a small bouquet of flowers appears in Mork's hands. Touched, Mork thanks him, tells him Nanu...and then starts to graze on the flowers.

Trivia

Orkan 'Facts'

• Mork's finger only works to ignite things when it's over 60F.

General

• Mindy's assertion to Mork that there is no such thing as ghosts, ultimately proves false given the events of A Morkville Horror and Reflections & Regrets. Given his sensitivity to such things, it is probably no surprise then that he is uniquely scared/nervous of scary/supernatural things.
• Mork tells Fred that their army is doing a fantastic job, that since he's been on Earth he hasn't seen one Necroton. The third time the race gets mentioned before their appearance in Season 2.
• Mork wants to take Mindy to the Dog Star, Sirius for her break, so they can watch an entire Galaxy 'fetch'.

Pop Culture

• Mindy says that horror actor Vincent Price is a nice man who "makes soufflés and sells art at Sears." Price co-authored the best-selling book " A Treasury of Great Recipes" and marketed artwork at Sears.
• During his rapid pitch to be Exidor's campaign manager, Mork references the Watergate Scandal both the burglars, and the 18 minutes missing from the Watergate Tapes.
• Exidor's plans to conquer Europe, and the Rest of the World, musically take on a decidedly Hitler-esque Rant
• Mindy says her luggage is probably shooting the rapids on the way to Lake Mead a man-made lake that lies on the Colorado River, about 24 mi (39 km) from the Las Vegas Strip.
• After his Orkan version of 99 Bottles of Beer, Mork tries to get Mindy to sing the ubiquitous Kumbaya but without much success either.
• Mork sings a snatch of the Bee Gees' 1977 Hit, 'Stayin Alive' as he tries to lead Mindy in walking around the room to keep warm. Saturday Night Fever having only come out the year before.

Quotes/Excerpts

• Mindy: What are you doing still up?
• Mork: Oh, me? No reason. Just thought I'd come down here and hang loose for a while. You won't even know I'm here. *sits on the floor by her feet and clutches Mindy's leg in terror*
• Mindy: *jumps and inhales* Mork? I know you're here.
• Mork: Oh Please don't make me leave! I'll do anything! I'll shovel the dishes, I'll wash the snow! But don't make me go back upstairs to him! Ple-ease!
• Mindy: Him? Him, who?
  Mork: Vincent Price! *Mindy rolls her eyes and goes back to typing* He's upstairs in the TV in the attic!
• Mindy: Mork, why don't you turn him off?
  Mork: I did, and then it became real dark! *sticks his face against her leg again*
• Mindy: Don't tell me you're afraid of a TV show?!
• Mork: Hey! Whaddya think, I just got off the egg yesterday? Vincent Price doesn't scare me. It was the ghosts! And the swamp! And that dude with his head cut off, carrying it in his hands!

_________________________________

• Mork: Mindy, why didn't you tell me about ghosts?
• Mindy: Well, I didn't tell you about ghosts because there is no such thing as ghosts! *Mork whimpers and clings to her again* Vincent Price is a nice man! He doesn't live in a swamp, he makes souffles and sells art at Sears. *leans back to look at him and lays her hand on his head soothingly* There's no such thing as ghosts too. Do you believe me?
• Mork: Alright! I'm glad you got that off your chest.

_________________________________

• Mork: If there's anything else you'd like to chat about, I'm here any time you need me.
• Mindy: Why don't we chat about you going upstairs while I finish my report?
• Mork: Alright, if the subject's upsetting to you, we can always change it. How 'bout those basketball players? Those suckers sure are big, aren't they?

_________________________________

• Mork: *about Mindy* I think she needs to get away for a couple days, rest.
• Fred: Well, did you have any place in mind?
• Mork: Yes, I'd like to take her to the dog star, Sirius. It's incredible to see a whole galaxy fetch!

_________________________________

• Cora: If I should go belly up tomorrow, you can put "She saw it all" on my tombstone.
• Fred: What are you talking about?
• Cora: Well, I've met a man from outer-space, but that's nothing compared to that student out in back! This bozo looks so weird! He makes Mork look like a Republican!
• Mork: Whoa, my kinda guy! Do you think I should observe him?
• Cora: Somebody should keep him under observation!

_________________________________

• *Exidor enters along with his imaginary friends*
  Exidor: Step aside! Don't push! We can't all get through the door at the same time!

_________________________________

• Exidor: *about Fred* The man exudes charm. I have a feeling in a previous life, he was a dust cover.

_________________________________

• Exidor: Mork, do you have any idea how old I am? *Mork opens his mouth* Wrong!!! Next Wednesday afternoon, I'll be twelve years old.
• Mork: Whoa, you're awfully mature for your age.
• Exidor: Guilt without sex! That's the key!

_________________________________

• Exidor: I'm too old to stand on street corners preaching! I've got to settle down! Get a straight, conventional job.
• Mork: What do you think you'd like to be?
• Exidor: Emperor of the Earth!

• Mork: "Exidor the Emperor." Has a nice ring to it. You won't be taking anybody else's job. I know what I can do. I'll help you get elected! I'll be your campaign manager! I know what we'll do, first we'll get a tub to thump, some babies to kiss! Then we'll get another set of lips so you can talk out of both sides of your mouth!
• Exidor: Mork!!
• Mork: Yes, yes, yes! You know, it'll work! Then we'll get you some hands to shake, some backs to slap, we'll get you some money to pass money under a table, a laundry to clean it, a Korean park!
  Exidor: Mork!
• Mork: I know, we'll build a public image for you! First of all, you'll have a debate, you'll lose it, you'll make a comeback! Then you'll rent a motel, you'll get Cuban burglars to break into it! Then you'll have some tapes - 18 minutes will be missing from the tapes!
• Exidor: Mork! Wise up! You can't get elected emperor!

_________________________________

• Exidor: Do you have any idea who runs this world? *Mork goes to answer once more* Wrong, again! I'll tell you who runs this world... Joe Cocker!
• Mork: No!
• Exidor: Yes! Mick Jagger!
• Mork: Him too?
• Exidor: Bette Midler!
• Mork: I'd serve under her!
• Exidor: Yes, rock stars, Mork! Rock stars! And they don't have a leader! Until now! That's right, I am going to be THE rock star! That's why I'm taking lessons from Mrs. Hudson. I'm going out on tour, Mork!

_________________________________

• Mork: You have a summer home?
• Exidor: I bought it four years ago, when I was a doctor.

_________________________________

• Mork: Your plan to become emperor sounds really good but it relies on one thing, your having talent.
• Exidor: Well, that's never stopped any rock group before. Besides, you've never seen me perform! Mork, you wait right here, I'll get my axe!

_________________________________

• Mindy: Well, I can't believe we finally made it! I thought you were supposed to be such a trailblazer!
  Mork: *grimaces* Well, I made it from Ork to Earth but there were no trees.

_________________________________

• Mork: I wonder when we lost the trail?.
  Mindy: *looks back at him* I suspect it was right before we fell off the cliff.
  Mork: Well, I owe you an apology, next time you can land on me!

_________________________________

• Mork: I hope that beaver isn't hurt.
• Mindy: What was a beaver doing out strolling in the middle of the night, anyway? Why wasn't he in his darn dam, guarding his sticks and his twigs? Do you know how yucky it is to step on a beaver's tail?
• Mork: I didn't know those little suckers could scream!

_________________________________

• Mindy: Mork! I stepped on a beaver. I fell off a cliff and you landed on me! I sprained her ankle, and my luggage is shooting the rapids on the way to Lake Mead! While your scenic little 3 mile hike was up the face of a cliff! I knew we were in big trouble when that Mountain Goat tumbled by.

_________________________________

• Mindy: Mork we'll freeze to death if we stay out here! Kick the door in.
• Mork: But it's my frie....
• Mindy: Kick the door in!
• Mork: But on Ork we....
• Mindy: *Kick* the door in!
• Mork: But...
• Mindy: Kick!! *Mork gives it a tap, Mindy eyes him dangerously* Mork. *Mork nervous of her, kicks it harder, and the whole front of the house caves in*
• Mork: *Sheepish, as Mindy stares at him* It wasn't locked.

_________________________________

• Mork: If it wasn't snowing, the stars would be awfully pretty.

_________________________________

• Mindy: D'you know the only thing between us and death is this fire? We've got to do something else to keep warm! *looks around and suddenly notices something behind her* Hey wait a minute what about this old trunk? *puts her sausage on a stick down and limps to the trunk*
• Mork: Mindy both of us couldn't fit in there! *follows her over* Although might be fun to try!! Ahrr Ahrr Ahrr!!

_________________________________

• *Mork picks up a book*
• Mork: What's this? Confessions of a Schizophrenic by Exidor as Told to Exidor.

_________________________________

• Mork: *huddling to keep warm* What else can we do?
• Mindy: Well...we used to get ghost stories by camp fire.
• Mork: Ohhh!! That'd be fun! Lets do it! *claps insistently* C'mon! C'mon! C'mon! Let's go!
• Mindy: *laughs* Ohhhh I'm not telling *you* a ghost story.
• Mork: *loudly* C'mon!! C'Mon!!!
• Mindy: No!! You'll get scared! I'm telling ya!!
• Mork: I wont' get scared!!! Besides would you rather be a snowcone? Let's do it!!
• Mindy: Okay *thinks* Uhh...There was this spooky old house sitting waaaay at a top of a hill...
• Mork: *shivers* NOOOOOOO!! *gets up and runs pulling robes over his head*

_________________________________

• Mindy: Y'know whenever people have the time they...they never get around to saying the things they really want to say. Now I really want you to know how I feel.
• Mork: *softly* You don't have to, I know how you feel
• Mindy: *presses her forehead to his* And I know how you feel.

Promo

1978 PROMOS- FARRAH, MORK, HAPPY DAYS, STARSKY & HUTCH

1978 ABC Short Promo for - Skyflakes Keep Falling on My Head (First up on video!)...followed by Promos for Farrah Fawcett's return to Charlies Angels, Three's Comapny, Starsky & Hutch etc.

Image Gallery

Cast

Cast:

• Robin Williams as Mork
• Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
• Elizabeth Kerr as Cora Hudson
• Conrad Janis as Frederick McConnell
• Robert Donner as Exidor
• Ralph James as Orson

Guest starring/Recurring cast

• Robert Donner as Exidor