| "Long Before We Met" | |
|---|---|
| Season 4, Episode #7 (#80) in series (95 episodes) | |
 Mindy's High School Reunion prompts Mork's jealousy when he meets her handsome, over achieving former boyfriend, Steve, and her friends reminisce about how hot they were together. An unsettled Mork sets out to see whether Mindy would have been attracted to him back then too, and posing as a Russian 'alien' travels back in time to her Senior Prom in "Long Before We Met" in Season 4 (ep.#7). | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Paul Reubens Robin Strand Marilyn Kagan Laura Carlson |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 408 (4x8) |
| Writer(s) | Deborah Raznick & John B. Collins |
| Director | Frank Buxton |
| Original airdate | November 19, 1981 |
IMDB 
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Long Before We Met |
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Long Before We Met was the seventh episode from the fourth season of Mork & Mindy, also the 80th overall episode in the series. Co-written by Deborah Raznick and John B. Collins, the episode, which was directed by Frank Buxton. was shot on October 30, 1981 and premiered on ABC-TV on November 19, 1981.
Synopsis[]
At her High School reunion, Mindy is reunited with her High School boyfriend, the handsome highly successful Steve. As Mork is bombarded with stories of what a couple Mindy & Steve were, he becomes more and more jealous, Despite her assurances that there is only him, an unsettled Mork resolves to travel back in time, posing as Russian exchange student Vladimir Orkov, to see how she and Steve interacted and if Mindy might have loved him then.
Plot[]
Extended Opening to Scene
Mindy, all dressed up and finishing getting ready to go out is followed out of her bedroom by a sulking Mearth, Mindy telling him that she and his father won't be out late. The news that Mork is going too, brand new information for Mearth, increasing his aggravation with the situation.
When he accuses them of deserting him, Mindy assures him they are not deserting him, they're just going to her High School reunion and then coming home. Asking him if he understands, he confirms he does.
They're deserting him.
************
A ring on the doorbell to the apartment indicates to Mindy that her grandmother has arrived to babysit Mearth, while she and Mork head out to her reunion. But Mearth laughs off her assertion that he'll have fun with Cora, stating all she wants to do is play Canasta, and tells her he's going up to his room to hide, heading up to the attic. Letting her grandmother in, Mindy happily takes Cora's compliment about the knockout dress she's wearing, feeling she'll be the hit of the reunion. Mindy hopes so, admitting to being a little nervous. Having only kept up with Glenda Faye from school i(with Susan Taylor having departed), she is eager to find out what has happened to everyone. But feels she may have nothing in common with everyone.
Cora considers that, ruminating on the fact that since Mindy last saw them all last, she married an alien, and has a full grown son. So yes, she probably won't have that much in common with them. On speaking of said Son she wonders where her 'little' Mearth is? When Mindy surreptitiously indicates he's hiding from her up in his room. Cora lures him down by speaking about the wonderful surprise she's made and brought for him...gazumping his eager approach by telling him it's a salad before confessing it's several pounds of brownies. As Mearth tells her she's his absolute favorite babysitter (albeit the only one), Mork enters in full cheerleading mode, having donned Mindy's Boulder High cheerleading sweater that she was surreptitiously modelling the night before, and *thought* she'd hid from him.
Telling Mearth to behave, and that he can't dye Cora's hair, they head out to the Reunion, with Mork teasing Mindy about having dated the entire football team. On arrival at the school gym where the reunion is being held they encounter the nebbish-like Dickie Nimitz, Mork wondering of Mindy if he was one of her old boyfriends. An idea Mindy hastily disabuses him of. Dickie is part of the reunion organizing committee who, back in their high school days, unsuccessfully used to try and get Mindy to 'go with him to the library'. After introductions all around and handing them their name badges, he immediately invites them, both, to go to the library with him. And though Mork is innocently keen, Mindy rapidly informs Dickie her library card has expired, and pulls Mork away spotting Glenda Faye.
As the two old classmates reminiscence about the gym and their days at school they are joined by another, very heavily pregnant woman. Who is so overjoyed to see them, she even includes Mork in her wild enthusiasm before realizing she doesn't know him. Once she departs to greet more people however, Mindy confesses she has no recollection of her either. As Glenda is trying to help her remember Althea, who used to be in the band, Mindy realizes she may not have been as aware of others as she thought she was, only for Glenda to cut off the conversation suddenly and swiftly ask Mork if he will get her some punch. Clearly trying to get rid of him. When he goes, a mystified Mindy looks for an explanation, Glenda excitedly announcing that Mindy's old High School sweetheart, Steve Sanders who she dated for 2 years before graduation, has just walked in.
Steve, whose pin she wore, and who she dated for 2 years before graduation, is now sporting glasses, but is typical of Mindy's early boyfriends. Blond, well built, classically good looking, a former jock, and about 6 inches taller than Mork. Glenda however seems way more energized by the well dressed, handsome blond's arrival than Mindy. Mindy remarking that she hasn't seen him in 10 years and wouldn't know what to say to him. Glenda takes that as Mindy trying to be cool. But when Steve walks up behind Mindy and announces himself with a series of numbers, that shows he remembers her old locker combination, it's Glenda that gets romantically nostalgic.
Overhearing, a returning, Mork jovially attempts to match Steve's 10 year recollection with his and Mindy's current zip code, and fails. Mindy taking his hand, smilingly introduces her husband to Steve. Who peers at Mork, thinking he recognizes him from somewhere, maybe from another local school like Fairview. But Mork disabuses him of the notion giving his High School from Ork, Chester A *cheekpull* School for Boys. As Glenda excuses herself to go meet another friend. Tommy Perozzi, Steve takes Mindy's hand saying it's hard to believe it's been 10 years. When he wants her to tell him everything about herself since he saw her last, she recounts that, apart from getting married, she got into journalism and is now working at KTNS. On asking about him in return, Steve replies that he's still single, and job wise...he's currently the Lt. Governor of Wyoming.
Both Mork & Mindy seriously impressed, Steve slides his arm around Mindy and asks Mork if he minds if he dances with her? Mork happily relinquishes her, and watches them for a moment before Dickie (calling him Mark) calls him over to the Bleachers to sit with him. Dickie, watching them on the dance floor, starts to wax lyrical about Steve & Mindy being 'together again', just like at Senior Prom. When Steve kisses Mindy on the forehead, Dickie points out how clearly nothing has changed. Informing Mork how into each other they were, constantly kissing. Reminiscing about how he once caught them necking behind the library and Steve beat him up. As Mindy & Steve continue to dance, Dickie wonders how Mork isn't jealous, literally sitting there watching his marriage dissolve? Mork scoffs, blowing off the suggestion, saying he trusts Mindy farther than he can throw her, and he doesn't have a jealous bone in his body. But as Steve kisses Mindy again, he begins to look uneasy, and considers he may be willing to rent one.
By the next morning, unease has turn to full on jealous paranoia. As Mearth plays with his toy cars at the table in the living room, his parents enter from the bedroom in the midst of an argument. One that has been going on since the night before. Mindy annoyed, asking how long Mork is going to keep up his issues with her and Steve, Mork prowling after declaring he saw a side of her the previous night he had never seen before. Her back. Mindy frustrated with Mork's unreasoning jealousy and not wanting to expose Mearth to their argument, sends their son to their bedroom. Once he's gone Mindy informs Mork that he's upsetting himself over something that she told him was over with 10 years ago, and that she really feels she deserves more of his trust than he's showing her. Guilt pricking him, Mork calms himself, saying she's right, and tries to laugh off 'whatsisname' until she calls Steve 'Stevie' and he spirals once again.
Trying to stem the spiral and get through to him, she tells him that the only reason there was *ever* a Steve in her life was because she hadn't met Mork yet. But that doesn't impinge on his green mist Unwilling to argue about it anymore she heads off to work, and Mearth emerges to find out 'who won'? Mork tries to minimize the argument, but when the doorbell rings, a delivery girl drops off flowers for Mindy. Opening the box they find long stemmed red roses for Mindy with a note from Steve, saying it was wonderful seeing her and not wanting to wait 10 years before seeing her again, signing it love 'Stevie'. When Mearth asks who Stevie is, Mork tells him he's the Lt. Gov. of Wyoming...and his future Stepfather.
Later, on the couch Mearth tries to talk his massively insecure and disconsolate father down, reassuring him that Mindy loves him. Mork accepts that, but can't get around the fact that she loved someone else before she loved him. Mearth says that is possible, but that he has to know now that Mindy loves him more than anything else in the world. That he is 'number one', the 'head honcho' in her eyes. Mork hopes that's true, but when Mearth goes to put Mindy's flowers in water for her, Mork starts to consider whether what Mindy told him was true? That there was only ever a Steve because she hadn't met him yet. Wondering if she would have loved him back then, instead of Steve. Rather than standing there debating it with himself, Mork decides to find out.
Pulling a shoe box out from the Armoire, he opens it to reveal a pair of sparkling red men's loafers, 'Liberace's lounge slippers'. Time travel shoes, which he hasn't used for a long time, but feels now is a special occasion. Slipping them on he resolves that he was an alien when he met Mindy the first time, so will be an alien again. Clicking his his heels and chanting for the year of her Senior Prom, he slips away through time.
1971 and the Senior Prom is in full flow in the High School gym. On a packed dance floor, Steve is in a tux with Mindy. Her hair prettily styled, and wearing a pale pink gown. Dressed in a dowdy suit, with knee high boots and a Red Star on his lapel, Mork walks in to see Dickie Nimitz in a purple Nehru jacket on duty, as before checking entrants. Even more officious than he was at the reunion, Dickie refuses to allow Mork in without a student ID. Mork introduces himself as a Russian Exchange student, Vladimir Ivanovich Orkov, but Dickie still won't let him in. The matter is intervened on by one of the Chaperones. Mindy's Dad, a Fred who is only just beginning to go bald. When Mork addresses him as 'Pops' and then 'Mr McConnell', Fred wonders if they've met? Mork covering by saying he has visited the Music Store trying to get a recording of Russian Premier Brezhnev singing Ray Charles. Amused, Fred tells Dickie that as he's an exchange student they can let him in.
While Dickie is giving him the pass stamp, happy there's someone else there who doesn't have a date, Mork spies Mindy across the room. His jaw dropping, taken in by the sight of his then 18 year old wife. Pretending not to know who she is, he asks Dickie about her. As Mork waxes lyrical about how foxy she is and what he would do just to meet her, Dickie somewhat bitterly, warns him off, telling him he has no chance. That he's been after a date with her since 2nd grade, and she only has eyes for 'that nerd', Steve. Mork pulls a little fore-knowledge, telling Dickie he doesn't' care what he says, he is going to marry her. As Mork continues to stare in fascination at her, Mindy and Steve are talking with Glenda Faye and her prom date, Kyle, a Poli-Sci major at Columbia. Which prompts the revelations that Steve is a blinkered Nixon supporter and dismissive of Mindy's aspirations to be a journalist, treating her like an airhead, which she definitely does not appreciate.
The quartet are interrupted by Mork's approach, introducing himself as foreign exchange student Vladimir Orkov, making them laugh when telling them they can call him 'Lumpy'. He then politely asks 'Beefy All American type' Steve if he would mind if he tripped the 'light fanatic' with 'Princess All American beauty' Mindy. Steve tries to laugh him off as drama department dweeb trying to pull a gag, but Mork tells him he is entirely serious, And even offers Steve an autographed picture of Stalin for the privilege of dancing with Mindy. Mindy already finding him funny, tells him he he doesn't have to do that, before becoming massively intrigued at the idea he might know Stalin.
As she tries to talk to him about it, Steve reacts badly to her paying attention to Mork, and pulls her away sharply to the dance floor. Once out there Steve spends his time glaring back at Mork, while Mindy admonishes him for being so harsh on a foreign student wishing he'd mellow out, and wanting to know why he's being so uptight. Things get worse between them a moment later however, when the band takes a break and Dickie arrives to tell Steve that a bunch of the guys are drinking beer in the boys bathroom. To Mindy's indignation Steve blows her off on their Prom Night to go with Dickie to go get loaded, leaving her alone on the dance floor.
As she stands there at a loose end, she catches sight of and starts to smile on seeing Vladimir/Mork tentatively approaching her. Both of them greeting and smiling at one another just like nervous teenagers. Making awkward but earnest conversation she asks him whether he likes Boulder, and he immediately makes her laugh by telling her he came to study Russian Literature, and boy was that redundant. As they talk a little about about the difference between America and Russia the band starts back up again and he again invites her to dance with him. Apologetic, Mindy tells him she can't because she's going steady with Steve. This confuses him, and he asks her is America not the land of the free and 'the home of the foot long hotdog?' Agreeing that it is, thinking about it and recalling that she's been left standing there for beer, she agrees.
Under Fred's watchful gaze they dance and as Mork talks about how much he enjoys her country, Mindy opens up to him about her aspirations to be a journalist and desire to tell the truth about what is really going on in America. But a second later voices her fear that, as a woman, it might be too hard a road for her to break into, and doubts herself, wondering if she'd be any good at it anyway. She is immediately surprised and pleased when Mork tells her she 'must go for it', and is touched when he tells her he has a 'feeling' her family would some day be so proud of her. Finding that so nice of him, she thanks him, wondering how they say thank you in Russia? Pausing their dance, he gently takes her hands and kisses her softly on both cheeks.
Something a returning Steve is in time to see.
As Mindy goes to tell Vladimir/Mork more about some other ideas she has, to her shock Steve storms across the dance floor grabbing hold of Mork by his suit collar. Telling him he's had enough of the 'Borsht Brain' he drags Mork away from Mindy and tries to shove his head into the punch bowl. Mindy's efforts to stop him fail, Steve only relenting when Dickie takes to the stage to tell everyone it's time for the announcement of Prom King and Queen.
Glenda rushing to her side, Mindy fumes at Steve, Mork standing by agitatedly as Dickie reads out the results. Steve supremely smug as he & and an embarrassed Mindy are given the Crowns. Mork looking down as Fred proudly takes snapshots of his little girl, and she and Steve go out onto the dance floor for their slow dance. But Mindy remains furious over Steve's actions towards Vladimir/Mork, quietly and sarcastically informing him that she hopes he's happy. It becomes apparent to her that he actually is. Showing no remorse about his behavior, and that all Steve cares about is that they won. Wanting her to smile for the photos, he tells her it's the biggest night of her life. Mindy replying that it just might be, because this is their last date. Startling him, she informs him that she used to think he was a good guy but has definitely changed her mind, and leaves him standing on the dance floor.
Making her way over to Vladimir/Mork, Mindy nervously asks 'Lumpy' him if he'll dance with her. Mork, quietly stunned and overjoyed that the Queen wants to dance with 'a humble peasant', happily agrees, and fingers entwining, they slow dance together into the gathering prom crowd on the dance floor. When the crowd parts, however a bewildered Mindy suddenly finds that she's alone again, Vladimir having vanished, along with her tiara.
Back in the apartment, Mork back in his nightgown, returns to the present. Checking his watch, he ascertains his trip through time there and back again to '71 only took him two minutes in 'actual time', even if the trip back was ideal to show a 4 hour movie. Just as he figures this out, he hears the door opening and is surprised to see Mindy return. Unsettled about how they left things, she puts aside her coat and work portfolio, telling him she came back because she felt they really need to clear the air about Steve.
She's slightly bewildered however, when Mork pre-empts her. Taking her hands and telling her that 'that' is all in the past. That jealousy is just insecurity. That she's never given him anything to feel insecure about, and that he loves her. Touched, Mindy confesses that sometimes she feels as if she's waited her whole life for him, and thanks him for showing up. Mork thanking her for waiting for him. Sharing a sweet kiss, both of them relax, Mork telling her he's picked her up a little gift. Pointing to a brown bag on the couch. Smiling she sits down to open it, blinks, and pulls out the tiara. Recognizing it as the one she lost on Prom Night, she looks up at Mork in shock, while he grins and hums the Twilight Zone theme.
Goofs[]
- In this episode, Mindy attends the 10 year high school reunion for the Class of 1971. However, in the Pilot, Mindy says she's 21, which would make her graduation year, just three years prior in 1975 (short of her being a prodigy graduate at 14!). The fact Mindy is only 21 is also confirmed in S1s Mork's Seduction when Susan Taylor, who Mindy hasn't seen since High School, says it's been 3 years since they met. It's also confirmed in Mork Goes Public, when Clint Mullet confirms she's 21, it with Mork. She turns 22 in S1's Mork's Mixed Emotions, and Mork says she's 23-ish at the end of S2.
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- After attending P.S. 1,000,000 (Mork and the Immigrant) Mork went on to attend High School at Chester A *cheekpull* School for Boys.
- Orkan ability to time travel does not solely exist in regards to the Eggs they travel in. Individual time travel is feasible using (in this case) shoes. Neptunian's also have this ability as evidenced by Kalnik in Gotta Run, Part 3. Mork's red sequined time travel shoes are also featured in the Mork & Mindy Cartoon Episode Time Slipper Slip Up.
General[]
- A slightly Extended version of the opening scene was shot, featuring Mindy and Mearth discussing she and Mork going to reunion amidst Mearth's assertion that she and Mork were deserting him. This was trimmed down with just a few lines retained from the exchange overdubbing an exterior of the house to kick off the episode.
- Pam Dawber wore the dress Mindy wore for the High School Reunion in public both prior to the episode and several times in the years after the show to various events.
- Paul Reubens playing Dickie, had already been performing his Pee-wee Herman character, but he wouldn't skyrocket to fame for a few more years. He was spotted in his act by producer Bruce Johnson who so enjoyed it, spoke to and engineered this appearance for him.
- Glenda Faye Comstock returns, having been a regular in season 3, but dropped, like Nelson, Jeanie and Remo when the show was retooled to make way for Jonathan Winters. This marked her final appearance on the series.
- Mork's Russian character subterfuge to meet with Mindy for a new 'first time' may be an inside joke on the first time Robin Williams met Pam Dawber. Acting as if he was a shy Russian actor, he did so so convincingly that she came away sure he was Russian, until being informed by one of the crew that he wasn't Russian, 'just nuts!'
- The line that Mork says to Dickie when he sees Mindy for the first time at her Senior Prom "I would walk ten miles in the snow to stand in her garbage" is exactly the same one Mork uses to describe Mindy to Richie Cunningham, on his second Happy Days' visit, Mork Returns.
- The question of whether Mork explains to Mindy how he got her Prom crown, and whether she remembers that Mork was in fact Vladimir/Lumpy is left open. But his travelling back does help add a layer of explanation as to how, at the reunion, Steve feels he's met Mork before, in a paradoxical fashion.
Pop Culture[]
- Canasta as a favorite card game/past time of the older set at the period gets another nod, Mearth alleging that all Cora wants to do is play the game with him.
- Mork trots out the old Henny Youngman gag and gesture "Take my wife....please!" when Steve asks if he minds if he has a dance with Mindy for old times sake.
- When Mearth plays with his toy car, he pretends it's being driven by famous stunt-man Evel Knievel.
- Mork in his jealousy over Mindy & Steve, remarks that he now knows how the other two Supremes felt, referring to how they were left behind when Diana Ross moved on to solo stardom without them, before pointedly breaking into a brief rendition of Diana Ross' version of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' her first major hit she had after breaking away from The Supremes to go solo.
- Mork describes the red sequined shoes as 'Liberace's Lounge Slippers' the flamboyant celebrity pianist being famous for his glittering wardrobe.
- Both the red sequined shoes and how they are used, along with Mork's 'I want those shoes!' witch imitation, marks yet another Wizard of Oz reference in the show.
- The sign the girl at Mindy's Prom carries across the dance floor reads 'Silent Vigil. Tom Hayden will Never Conform." Tom Hayden, was a prominent Californian anti war, civil and environmental rights activist, who at the time time (of the Prom) was being investigated for inciting riots. He would marry Jane Fonda in 1973 and later go on to a prominent political and academic career..
- When Steve prepares to dunk his face in the punch bowl, Mork says, "I would not like to do Esther Williams impression." Williams was an Olympic class swimmer (though she never got to participate due to the outbreak of WWII), and a major Movie Musical Star at MGM during the 40s and into the 50s, with her elaborate aquacade musical numbers often imitated and spoofed.
- Dickie reads out Katharine Hepburn as the winner of the Prom King & Queen competition at the Prom, a joke about the iconic actress having won 2 (of her 4) Oscars in quick succession in the run up to the year the prom was set.
- Mork mentions on his return through the time stream of their finally finding a place to show Heaven's Gate, a notorious 1980 box-office flop, but more to the point in the case of this joke, also almost 4 hours long.
- When Mindy opens up the brown bag gift he brought her back from the past and discovers her long lost Prom Queen crown, Mork sings a little of The Twilight Zone theme as she looks up at him in shock.
Quotes[]
- Mork: I don't have a jealous bone in my body. *watches Steve kiss Mindy again* But I'm willing to rent one.
_____________
- Mork: Yeah. Guess I have been kinda foolish. Yeah, come to think of it I ...I don't even know what....what's his name?
- Mindy: *laughs* Stevie
- Mork: Stevie! So it's Ste-vie, now! Oh the pain! The anguish! The solitude! Now I know how the other two Supremes felt.*sings* Ain't no Mountain High enough...ain't no river...*Mindy clamps her hand over his mouth*
_____________
- Delivery Girl: Flowers for Mindy McConnell
- Mork: Thank you very much, and here's your tip. Never eat Mexican Food and stand next to a flame.
_____________
- Mork: I wonder would she have loved me then? Well...got two choices, I can either stand here and talk to myself like a Soap Opera, or go back in time and really find out!.
_____________
- Mork: *clicking his heels together* There's no place like Home, there's no place like severe pain in the ankles.
_____________
- Glenda Faye: So tell me Vladimir, what part of France are you from?"
Image Gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
- Jonathan Winters as Mearth
- Elizabeth Kerr as Cora Hudson
- Crissy Wilzak as Glenda Faye Comstock
- Ralph James as Orson
Guest stars/Recurring cast[]
- Paul Reubens as Dickie Nimitz
- Robin Strand as Steve Sanders
- Marilyn Kagan as Althea (Blylieben)
- Laura Carlson as The Messenger
