| "Mork Runs Away" | |
|---|---|
| Season 1, Episode #4 (#) in series (95 episodes) | |
 When Mork, who feels that he's invading Mindy's space by living with her, decides to move out, It isn't long until, upon moving onto a commune, that Mork encounters the eccentric Exidor in "Mork Runs Away" in Season 1 (ep.#4) | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Jeffrey Jacquet Robert Donner Ralph James J.D. Hinton |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 104 (1-4) |
| Writer(s) | April Kelly |
| Director | Joel Zwick |
| Original airdate | September 28, 1978 |
IMDB 
|
Mork Runs Away |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Mork Moves In" | "Mork In Love" |
| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
Mork Runs Away is the fourth episode of Season 1 of Mork & Mindy and the fifth overall series episode. Written by April Kelly, the episode, directed by Joel Zwick, was shot on August 18, 1978 and premiered on ABC-TV on September 28, 1978.
Synopsis[]
Mork returns home early while Mindy is with a date, and unintentionally drives him away. Upset, Mindy explains how his being there is impacting on her romantic life. But while she feels she just needs time to deal with the change, Mork privately makes the decision to move out, bringing him into the orbit of Exidor, the delusional leader (and only tangible member) of "The Friends of Venus".
Plot[]
In Mindy's Apartment, Mork is undergoing his first haircut at Mindy's hands, and regaling her about Naugachomps who do the job for them on Ork. He offers to pay her with the 6 dollars he earned from babysitting Eugene, but tells him to keep it. As they finish up her phone rings, and when she answers it is an old friend from Boulder High School, Brad Jackson, who has been away in Law School. When she finishes she tells Mork excitedly tells him that this guy she really used to like is back in town and they are having dinner tonight. Mork is pleased and wants to know where they are going with him to dinner. Trying to be gentle, Mindy suggests that Mork needs to get out and meet other people aside from her. Mork gets it however, noting two is company we is a crowd. Mindy tries to tell him its not that necessarily, it'd also be good for his development to meet others, but when he asks her who, she can't answer.
At the Music Store, Fred & Cora are carrying out an inventory with their usual banter in full flow when Mindy enters, says hi to her Grandma and proceeds to give her father a hugely flattering, ingratiating greeting which immediately makes Fred suspicious. Mindy presents him with two free tickets to the basketball game that night, and tells him he's taking Mork, as she has date, the first she's had since he moved in. He is happy to hear it, but as he doesn't like basketball, and doesn't want to hang out with Mork, he doesn't want to do it. At least until she mentions that if he doesn't help her out she'll just have to settle down and have 'little green' babies with Mork, at which point he starts rapidly spouting basketball calls. .
Later that night over wine in her apartment, Mindy's date with Brad is going well. Having caught up with him, things are relaxed, and starting to get intimate when to Mindy's consternation, Mork returns. Reluctantly introducing Brad to Mork, she braces herself as Mork asks him if he enjoyed having food with Mindy, then says he does too and sits himself down, between them. When she asks him if the game finished early, Mork says he thinks so, her father stopped it, saying 'this has gone on long enough'. Groaning, Mindy asks Mork what he did, and he tells them how he danced to the National Anthem, threw a long pass of coffee to a guy which her father caught with his pants, whereupon Fred danced. Then, after visiting the rest room where he didn't get any rest, they went back to their seats, and some woman asked him to hold her seat which he did as he indicates making a cupping motion, and that, he says, is when they made them leave.
Things really start to unravel for the date however, when Brad asks Mork if he is a friend of the family, and Mork cheerfully replies, no, he lives there. Mindy tries to tell Brad it's not like it sounds, but Brad is shocked she's living with a guy and going out with other men. In an effort to explain properly to Brad alone, Mindy tells Mork she and Brad aren't quite finished yet, trying to get him to leave, but Mork misunderstands thinking they're still hungry so goes to make them his special dessert. When Brad gets up to go Mindy tries to stop him leaving, but Mork echoes her, making them sound like a couple, telling him they want to get know him better. Mindy tries to explain again, but it just makes it sound like she and Mork have an open relationship and Brad has no interest in being a swinger, and he leaves.
Mork watches as Mindy walks away from the door to the couch dejectedly. Following her, he notes quietly that her eyes are leaking, and that means something has hurt her. In replying Mindy is short with him, but Mork doesn't pick up on it, thinking it was Brad until Mindy sharply corrects him. Telling him its not what Brad did it's what he misunderstood. That ever since he moved in guys have stopped asking her out. And then when someone does ask her out, like Brad, they end up thinking that she and Mork are, as Mork puts it 'Lovelings', when she tells them they are not they either don't understand or won't believe her. She tells him she' just feeling a little lonely is all. When he suggests its because of him, she tells him its not his fault, it was her idea after all for him to move in. She just needs to work it out in her own head. Heading into her room, she doesn't see him shed his very first tear.
The next morning Mindy is in far better spirits, zipping across to the kitchen, preparing to cook Mork his breakfast, calling up to him, asking what he wants. When he doesn't answer she tries to rouse him, heading toward the attic when she sees the note attached to the stairs ropes. The note informs her that he knows she's sad because people think they are lovelings, and he doesn't want her to be sad anymore, so he's leaving. He feels if people from Ork knew how to love, he is sure he would love her, but he's not even sure what love is, then signs it 'Love, Mork'.
At the Music Shop, Eugene is earning some money doing odd jobs for Cora in order to buy a present for his mother. Cora leaves him to it, and asks him to let her know if any customer comes in. The next person through the door however is a semi-disguised Mork in sunglasses, long coat and a beret, suitcase in hand. Greeting Eugene he asks him if he were taking a vacation where would he go, Eugene suggests France but with only 6 dollars in his pocket, Morks options are somewhat limited. Eugene guesses from Mork's demeanor that he is running away. Mork tells him he doesn't want him to tell Mindy where he's going, he's been a lot of trouble to her. Eugene says with only 6 bucks the only place he'd even be able to sleep is in a flop house, and tells him there are some down on Mission Street. Fred enters and Mork ducks out of sight. Greeting Eugene, he notes the silver suitcase in the middle of floor and asks Eugene about it, when he professes not to know anything about it, Fred thinks about opening it, and whit his back turned Mork pops up and uses his finger to knock the album displays down behind the far counter. With Fred distracted and moving to pick them up, Mork scoots out, grabs his case and heads out the door.
Over on Mission Street in a derelict room, spray-painted with 'Friends of Venus Headquarters' and 'Martians are non-believers', a crazy street preacher in robes, with an 'The End is Near' sandwich board around him enters and begins an aggressive conversation with two invisible individuals. .He tells them that they have to continue preparations for the Venusians arrival to their planet to take them up with them to Venus, before they blow up the Earth. And they are arriving Labor Day. Demanding the passenger list he reminds them there is only room for 1000 people and so far they have, 3. Having pounded the streets of Boulder all day, he's failed to recruit anyone else, and pulls off his waders, his feet killing him. As he sits, Mork enters having seen the sign for the Friends of Venus and dropped in to see if anyone he knows is there. When Mork talks about a family of Venusians he knows, his host seizes on him as a true believer. He introduces himself as Exidor and asks Mork to join him, which he does literally, standing nose to nose with him. Exidor clarifies that he means join his group. Mork tells him that he's looking for a flip house to flap in, and Exidor tells him he can stay with 'them' and work with them. Pleased he's managed to land a place to stay and a job in one fell go, he remarks that Mindy would be very proud of him, before giving a wistful 'heavy sigh' thinking of her.
At the Music Store, Mindy enters swiftly, upset, and runs to her father, telling him that Mork ran away. and he has to help her find him. Fred is not too unhappy with the news and tells her that if he ran away maybe its for the best. She insists that it's not, that Mork is like a child on Earth. As Eugene listens, she tells her father that Mork shouldn't be out in the world alone, he has no concept of trouble or danger. Thinking on something happening to him, she tells Fred she doesn't know what she'd do, and doesn't want him to go. She breaks down, and Fred has to comfort her, and promises to help her find him. He asks her where she thinks he would go, but she doesn't know she's been looking all morning. Something occurs to him, and he tells her he saw a shiny metal suitcase in the middle of the store, and Mindy confirms that Mork has one that sounds just like that. Recreating what happened, Fred recalls the albums falling, and sees Eugene looking shifty. When Eugene immediately responds that he knows nothing, Fred thinks they're onto a clue.
Back at the Friends of Venus HQ, Exidor gives Mork their manifesto and tells him to study it hard, as he wants him to go out and convert the non-believers. Mork tells him he'll study hard, opens the booklet, memorizes it in less than two seconds and tells him he's ready. Exidor tells Mork to pretend that he is a non-believer and he wants Mork to try and convert him to their cause. Mork gives it a go, and Exidor commends his start but tells him he needs more power and more conviction and Mork tries again, turning full Tele-Evangelist. Giving him full blast, Mork knocks Exidor to the bed, and Exidor arises extolling Morks ability, but he feels there is something missing, that it needs more of Mork's experiences with Venusians here on Earth. Mork tells him that he didn't meet the Venusians on Earth, but on Venus and confirms to Exidor that he's been there, and all the other planets in the solar system. He also tells Exidor the truth, that the Venusians aren't coming, their technology isn't up to it, they've only advanced as far as the garbage can. Exidor doesn't take it well. Accusing Mork of blasphemy, he removes him from the count of the saved, changing the blackboard from 4 back down to 3, tells Mork he's crazy and leaves.
A moment later peeking anxiously in through the open door, Mindy spies Mork and enters in relief. Mork, however, is not as happy to see her as she is to see him, saying her he didn't want her to find him there. But she tells him as soon as she saw the Friends of Venus sign she knew she'd find him there, and she wants him to come home with her right away. But he feels she's just saying that because she feels sorry for him. She contradicts him, saying she doesn't feel sorry for him, she feels sorry for herself. He doesn't understand, with him gone she is free to do as she wishes, she has a home of her own. Mindy replies quietly no, what she has is an apartment, it was only a home when there was someone in it who she cared about. When he queries if she mean's him?' She nods and shrugs sheepishly. But he's still confused, saying he gets in her way, she told him so. She admits it and she apologizes, saying she was blaming him for guys not asking her out, and then when one did ask her out...Mork nods saying he made a real Crimlok of himself.
She tells him that she's a woman and sometimes she just feels like being held. Mork nods, concluding that she wanted Brad to be the one to hold her. But she tells him not Brad necessarily, she never really got a chance to find out. But yeah every so often a hug can really help her get through the day. Looking quizzically at her, he asks her what a hug is. She half heartedly demonstrates on herself, and after a moment, Mork steps forward and slides his arms around her, drawing her into a close hug, holding her, asking her if that's right. Smiling, and hugging him back, she confirms it is. He tells her, she's soft, and can understand why it helps her keep going, it's got him going and he's no idea what it is! As she laughs, he lets her go, picking up his belongings and heads home with her.
The episode ends with Mork's report to Orson, and Mork in super romantic mode, singing until Orson tells him the connection sounds like someone stepped on a Frankl's tale. He tells Orson that what he learned this time was how to make a human happy. He learned how to give a hug. This he says is when you wrap your arms around a human and squeeze. Orson replies that he thought that is what they called wrestling, but Mork clarifies that requires you to squeeze a lot harder till the humans start to get uncomfortable. Instead when you hug them, you just cuddle them till they sigh. Hugging, Orson notes, amazed at what pleases the primitive tribes, he'll never understand them. Mork however dreamily adds that it was good for him too. Orson is shocked and Mork snaps to, signing out.
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- Naugachomps are mentioned here for for the first time. Here though Mork describes them are small green creatures that exist in herds, that Orkans put on their heads to graze, giving them haircuts by default. Later however Naugachomps, though still with a penchant for eating hair, would be re-imagined and introduced in Putting the Ork Back in Mork, as small fuzzy creatures that can grow to 100 ft high, with Mork's pet Naugachomp, Bebo hanging out around the apartment, and in Mork's reports.
- Crimlock - appears to be an Orkan word for fool or idiot.
General[]
- Outside of his occasional unpaid, stint briefly watching over the Music store, Mork gets the first of his Multiple Jobs through the show, Babysitting Eugene. Mork does the 'answering' conversation on the phone into his hand, when Mindy answers it. Something she will later mimic when then do a role reversal, and she 'plays' him in Season 3's Mindy and Mork
- This is the first mention / appearance of Mork's famous/infamous Baloney Sundae, and general obsession with baloney and ice cream
- Exidor was only intended to appear in this episode, but the character was so popular that he wound up recurring throughout the rest of the series, quickly becoming Mork's closest friend outside of Mindy (to Mindy's exasperation) and eventually legally adopting him.
- A few outtakes from this episode appear on the Season 4 DVD set.
- This episode was adapted in Mork & Mindy, a novelization by Ralph Church which also included elements from The Mork & Mindy Special and Mork Moves In.
- A clip from this episode was featured in the best-of show, The Way Mork Were.
Pop Culture[]
- When giving Orson his report, an increasingly enamored Mork hums the opening bars of Mendelssohn's Spring Song and sings a snatch of The Indian Love Call from the Operetta and Movie, Rose Marie.
Quotes[]
- Mindy: Mork, I have a date!
Mork: Don't tell me. June 2nd, 1852.
____________________
- Fred: Are you ready to start the inventory, Cora?
Cora: Certainly, Fredzo.
Fred: And don't call me "Fredzo," it sounds like a detergent!
Cora: Yes.
_____________________
- Mindy: Daddy! How's the nicest, sweetest, most wonderful father in the world?
Fred: Suspicious
_____________________
- Mindy: I have something for you. Two free tickets to tonight's basketball game. You're taking Mork.
Fred: That's the nicest thing you've given me since the chicken pox. - Cora: Fredzo, it's only 11 o'clock. You're not usually a wiener before noon.
_____________________
- Mindy: Well, if I can't date other men, I guess I'll just have to settle down with Mork and have cute little green babies that drink their formula with their finger.
_____________________
- Brad: Is Mork your first or last name?
Mork: Yes.
_____________________
- Mindy: So did the basketball game end early?
Mork: I guess so. After about an hour, your father stopped it.
Mindy: My father stopped it?
Mork: Yeah, he said, "This has gone on long enough!"
Mindy: Oh Mork, what did you do?
Mork: Oh, lots of things. I had a great time!
_____________________
- [Mindy finds a letter from Mork]
Mork: Mindy, I know you are sad because people think you and I are lovelings. I don't want you to be sad anymore, so I'm going away. If people from Ork knew how to love, I'm sure I would love you, but I don't even understand what love is. Love, Mork.
_____________________
- Eugene: Grandma Hudson, thank you for letting me work today. I need the money so I can buy my mom a birthday present.
Cora: Oh well, that's alright, Eugene. What are you gonna buy her?
Eugene: The best present in the whole world: a catcher's mitt!
Cora: Wow, that's great! And it'll go so well with those shin-guards you gave her last year!
_____________________
- Mork: If you were taking a vacation, where would you go?
Eugene: I've always wanted to see France.
Mork: Kayo! Das Vadanya!
Eugene: Or maybe the Swiss Alps.
Mork: Heeyyy! Make up my mind!
Eugene: It depends on how much money you wanna spend.
Mork: Uh, six smackers.
Eugene: You can't go to the Alps with six dollars.
Mork: Then France, it is! Arrivederci!
_____________________
- Eugene: Are you running away?
Mork: How can you tell?
Eugene: It's written all over your face.
Mork: Shazbot, I've broken out in words!
_____________________
- [Addressing invisible people.]
Exidor: I told you never to sit on my throne! I leave you two alone for five minutes and the whole place goes to pot! You scoff, you don't believe, but I tell you men from Venus are coming down to take us to their planet! They arrive Labor Day. Then they're gonna blow up the whole world! And you sit there eating a sandwich?
_____________________
- Exidor: Where's the passenger list? There's only room on the escape ship for one thousand people and so far we've lined up... three.
_____________________
- Mork: I saw your signs outside, The Friends of Venus. I thought I'd stop by to see if there's anyone here I know.
Exidor: Do you know any of the friends of Venus?
Mork: Oh, I know some people from Venus. I know one guy who's kind of cute if you're into short and fuzzy.
_____________________
- Exidor: Do you believe in people from outer space?
Mork: Shazbot! Na-nu, Na-nu!
Exidor: Precisely.
_____________________
- Exidor: What we need is more of your experiences with the Venusians here on Earth.
Mork: I didn't meet them on Earth, I met them on Venus.
Exidor: You've been there?
Mork: Oh yes, I've been to all the planets in your solar system.
Exidor: Mars? Mercury? Pluto?
Mork: Oh, don't ever go to Pluto, it's a Mickey Mouse planet.
_____________________
- Exidor: I had high hopes for you, Mork, but you're crazy!
_____________________
- Mork: *hugging Mindy* Soft. I can understand how this keeps you going. It's got me going and I don't even know what it is!
Image Gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring:[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
- Elizabeth Kerr as Cora Hudson