Mork the Tolerant

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"Mork the Tolerant"
Season 1, Episode #15 (#15) in series (95 episodes)
Mork tries to go out of his way to become friends with Mr. Bickley, Mindy's grouchy new downstairs neighbor in "Mork the Tolerant" in Season 1 (episode #15).
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Tom Poston
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	115 (1-15)
Writer(s)	Lloyd Turner & Gordon Mitchell
Director	Howard Storm
Original airdate	January 18, 1979
IMDB	Mork the Tolerant
Episode chronology
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"Mork and the Immigrant"	"Young Love"
List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

Mork the Tolerant was the 15th episode from Season 1 of Mork and Mindy, and the 15th overall series episode. Co-written by Lloyd Turner and Gordon Mitchell, the episode, directed by Howard Storm, premiered on ABC-TV on January 18, 1979.

Synopsis

Mindy is irritated by her grouchy new neighbor Franklin Bickley, who is constantly complaining about the noise from her apartment. While Mork preaches tolerance, she is dubious about his determined quest to become friends with him.

Plot

In the apartment alone, reading comic books, Mork is 'perturbed' enough by the plaudits afforded Superman that he decides to type up a letter, sans typewriter, to the hero, telling him (among other things) that everyone knows Krypton is the Miami Beach of the Universe, and he's a jive turkey in red boots. When Mindy comes out of her room he asks her if they have any stamps, she thinks there's some in the drawer behind the table, though she's nonplussed when he tells her he wants one to send his letter to Metropolis. Both of them however are taken aback when Mork yanks out the half stuck drawer, and when it falls on the floor, a hammering comes in response from below. Mork notes the mice seem to be on steroids, but an irritated Mindy tells him it's 'that Bickley creep'. Their nice new downstairs neighbor, Mork asks? Nice?! Mindy retorts wondering if he's actually met him, and tells him that while Mork has been safe up in hi attic, Bickley has been making her life a misery pounding on his ceiling which happens to be attached to her floor, and she's not even a noisy person. As soon as she says that, Bickley hammers again, and through gritted teeth she tells him she can't stand it. Mork tells her that Earthlings need to learn more virtues, like tolerance, on Ork tolerance is next to cowardice.

Mindy tells him she's been down there three times already and it hasn't done any good. Mork feels she just has to learn to adjust, but how can she adjust to constant pounding she asks. You make it fun, he answers, then starts to pound on the floor rhythmically until Bickley starts to pound back in the same rhythm, and grabbing Mindy he starts to dance with her doing a riff on Bickely's age to Stayin' Alive. While Mindy laughs and enjoys it, she points out she doesn't have Happy Feet, but Angry Ears. Mork feels she just has to be a little more acoustically understanding. Understanding, she queries, then challenges him to go talk to Bickley and see how understanding he'll be. As she heads out to work, Bickley hammers on the floor in response to her closing the door, and Mork yells down no thanks he'll sit this one out.

Later down in Mr. Bickley's Apartment, he tosses an empty alcohol bottle into a bin as he makes his way to his drafting table and yells up at he ceiling as there's a knocking, but Mork yells that he's outside the door. On opening the door to him, Mork introduces himself to Bickley with a Nanu Nanu, only for Bickley to close the door with a NoNo NoNo. When Mork tries again and this time says he's from upstairs, Bickley lets him in as he's been wanting to talk to him. Christening him 'Bigfoot' he tells Mork that he and his girlfriend have been driving him out of his mind. A coincidence Mork says as she has been saying the same thing about Bickley. Bickley remarks that he's trying to work down there but he'd rather live under the Harlem Globetrotters. Mork notices the drafts on the table and Bickley tells him that he designs and illustrates greeting cards. When Mork asks him what they are, he tells them 'a gold mine' before he talks about how any simpleminded fool with 60cents in his pocket and a mother will fish it out for a card with simple, stupid, sappy, faux sentiment. However, when Mork asks him to read him one, Bickley thinking Mork probably would like 'this drivel', picks up one and reads out one 'For my Mother', but can't get through it, breaking down in tears over the sentiment by the final line, but tosses it away proclaiming it 'Garbage'. Mork wonders how he can say that about his own poetry. It pays the bills Bickley says he doesn't have to like it. Mork finds another for 'A Friend' this time, and reads it out, Bickley again breaking down as he reads it out, and again declaring it 'swill' when he's finished. Mork asks him to read him another one but Bickley says he doesn't want to talk to him, yet you are Mork points out saying how considerate Bickley's he's being. Bickley denies he's been anything of the sort. When a ball hits the side of the house, Bickley opens the window to call to the kids, congratulating them, and fooling them into throwing him the ball, before slamming the window shut and adding it to the pile of confiscated toys he has. Toys he plans to take down to the orphanage, to sell. But Mork 'sees behind' Bickley and starts to praise his near sainthood, that his real plan was to save the life of the of kid who owns the ball, that if he hadn't the boy would've chased the ball out into the street and gotten hit by a car in the street and ended up in hospital, where his little friends would have had to send him cards....Mork trails off in admiration 'realizing' Bickley was actually giving up his business, by helping the kid in taking away his ball. Bickley responds by grabbing the ball from Mork and tossing back out the window to the kid.

At the McConnell's Music Store, Mindy is telling Fred how Bickley is making her a life a misery, feeling the guy would pound if she dropped a hint. Fred offers to go talk to him for her, but she declines saying she has to handle it herself, but she just gets so mad when it happens. Fred says that's the trick, you have to handle it without getting mad. Sighing she tells him that's what Mork told her, and Fred starts to second guess himself. When a customer, Jack, enters, addressing Mindy as 'Babe' and asking if she's 'The Chick' who sold him the ABBA album he has with him the previous week, things don't get off to an auspicious start. She agrees they sell the album but wants to know if he has a receipt, which Jack claims she never gave him. When she informs him she always staples the receipt to the bag Jack asserts she didn't give him a bag, calling her 'Honey' for good measure, to which she sarcastically asks, what was he going to do, listen to it on the way home? When Fred intervenes Jack accuses Mindy of trying to rip him off, asserting she gave him no bag, no receipt and a defective album. When Fred asks what's wrong with it however, Jack replies he doesn't like it. Mork enters just as Fred is pointing out to Jack that he can't return it just because he doesn't like it, Jack arguing he wouldn't return it if he *did* like it. When Mindy starts to lose her temper and accusing Jack of having a bad attitude, Mork jumps in reminding her 'tolerance'.

Taking on a California hippy mellow mode, Mork asks Jack what the problem seems to be, Jack lies and tells him the record is scratched. Mork takes this in his stride, telling him not to itch it and let it achieve it's own energy and heal itself. Not sure how to handle Mork, Jack tells him awkwardly he doesn't like his attitude, but Mork tells him that's because he hasn't got to know his essence yet, and suggests they get together, have cocktails and achieve their karma together. When Jack turns that offer down, Mork suggests breakfast, lunch, dinner instead and tells him he feels an incredible vibration from him. As Fred watches on grinning, and Mindy with interest, Mork enfolds Jack in a hug. Correctly guessing he's an Aries, he walks Jack to the door telling him he sees great potential for him in show business, and as it happens Jack plays guitar. Mork claims he knew it and tells him to have his service call him service, and be here now if not get there later, and Jack leaves contentedly. Both Fred and Mindy have to admit they were really impressed, and Mork replies you just have to use kindness, that's how he overcame Mr. Bickley.

Mindy reacts to that, clarifying first that he went to see Bickley, and then in utter disbelief when he says that they are the best of friends now. Yes, Mork insists, Bickley even asked him to drop by again real soon. Before he asks them when exactly Hell freezes over? On hearing that, Mindy feels all makes sense with the world again, nodding and smiling, as Fred chuckles. Mork tells Mindy they probably need to be a little considerate of Bickley as he is obviously losing his memory, having asked Mork 10 or 12 times if he'd like to take a hike. Mindy asks him if he ever got around to talking about the noise problem, but Mork says they mostly talked about her. He thinks Bickley must've been a repair man at one time or other, as Bickley want's to 'fix her wagon'. Mindy's eyes narrow, responding she bets he would, but he's not going to get the chance, but Mork says he will, and her mouth drops when Mork tells her he's invited Bickley up to their place for dinner at eight.

Back at the apartment, Mork is playing Supreme Court chess, integrating the white pieces with the black, when a mildly peeved Mindy returns. She wishes, he would start checking with her before he invites people over. Like Bickley, Mork asks, and...Mindy adds, Susan Taylor and that Russian guy Sergei. Mindy is adamant that she doesn't want Bickley in her apartment, Mork says that proves there's an incredibly energy between her and Bickley as he doesn't want to be in her apartment either. She blinks, wanting to know if that means he talked him into it?! When Mork says yes, and indicates that she's going to make dinner for them, she puts him in no doubt that as this was his idea, he's going to be the one doing the cooking. Mork points out he doesn't know how to cook, and that he's not even met Julia Child, but accepts he's made his bed and has to hang from it.

Later, with Mork in the kitchen, and Mindy crocheting on the couch, Bickley knocks on the door. He tells them he brought them a gift, a bottle of bourbon, and just as Mindy is about to thank him, he hands them a miniature airline sized bottle, then asks for a glass of bourbon. When Mindy waggles the bottle he brought as all they have he complains 'you couldn't pickle a cricket in that'. But Mindy says they've nothing stronger than wine in the house, and hushes up Mork rapidly when he reminds her about the 20 year old bottle of Scotch her father gave her, reminding *him* that's for special occasions. But Bickley finds Scotch, disgusting and putrid...and speaking of, Mork says, his salad is burning, and zips back to the kitchen. As Bickley starts to query that with Mindy, she informs him that Mork has a lot of exotic recipes, starting to enjoy herself and the fact that Bickley is in for some surprises. Mork announcing the appetizers will be Maalox au Gratin, and some Fromage a Trois, and as Bickley starts to fret over that while he sits down at the table, he notes he only has three knives, Mindy cheerfully announcing she has four. Mork apologizes saying he forgot the soup forks. Bringing over the wine, he welcomes them to Chez Mork, and asks Bickley if he'd like to see the wine list, tipping the bottle sideways, before serving them their first course, Le Peas Frozen, and Bickley stares at him as he puts a block of frozen peas on each of their plates, because, Mork says, Bickley's always asking for Peas and Quiet.

As Mork rushes back to the kitchen, playing a variety of roles Bickley watches him wide eyes while Mindy, oblivious to Mork's shenanigans', digs in happily and declares the peas delicious. Bickley stares at her like she's crazy too, pointing out they're not even cooked. Yes, but this way they don't lose any of their vitamins, she grins. Bickley decides he'll have some of that Scotch after all. When Mork brings the next course he piles on a pile of unidentifiable green stuff, which he tells Bickley is, in French, Le Soup, in English Soup, a Gestalt Gumbo featuring tiny shrimp he couldn't bear to kill. Running back to the kitchen he puts on a 'little entertainment' for them, ramping up Bickley's bewilderment even further, Mindy deliberately adding to it, by trying the concoction and enthusiastically declaring it to be 'like a soup and sandwich all in one!'

Bickley starts to get suspicious and accuses Mindy of being in league with Mork, the pair of them trying to get rid of him. But Mindy assures him with complete honesty that Mork is doing his absolute best to cook him a good dinner. Mork arrives with 'Le Specialite du Apartment' a Souffle, that is burned down to what looks like a smoking rubber shoe sole. As Bickley quaffs yet more scotch, Mindy asks Mork if he followed the recipe? He replies it called for him to beat eggs and he couldn't bring himself to do that. That tears it, and Bickley says he's can't take anymore of it, Mork pointing out he hasn't taken any of it. Bickley tells him he's not hungry, and Mork insists on putting it in a doggy bag (or in his case 'grouch pouch) so he can take it with him. Mindy, starting to feel a little bad for Mork, confides in Bickley that this is the first time Mork has ever cooked. Bickley retorts he's not surprised. Getting irritated, Mindy retorts that maybe it wasn't great but at least he tried, and Bickley tells her he shouldn't' have. Mindy stands her ground and replies that he should be more tolerant of people, and that they have had to put up with a lot from him lately. Like what Bickley wants to know seemingly surprised. Like the constant pounding, and rudeness, Mindy answers, telling him he's been making her life miserable, and that he's the worst neighbor she's ever had. Mork congratulates him on reaching the top of his field and presents him with his 'snack sack'. Bickley wanting to know if he's so terrible why is Mork always so nice to him? Mork believes the meaner the person is the nicer you should be to them, which is why he's treating Bickley like an Emperor.

Bickley says its easy for them to be nice, they have each other. He hears them above him laughing, while he has no one. Mindy conjectures that if he was a little nicer to people he'd have lots of friends. Bickley doesn't mind not having friends he just wishes he had someone to come home to, someone who needed him, cared for him...turning his nose up at himself he feels he better go, thinking he's starting to sound like one of his own greeting cards. When he goes, Mork observes how sad Bickley is, and wonders what they can do to help. Mindy isn't sure they can, people just don't want to be around him. Mork suggests they could hire someone, and Mindy smiles saying it doesn't' work like that, telling him of the old Earth saying that money can't buy love. At that Bickley comes back in, thanks them for the dinner, tells them it stunk and drops the bag Mork gave him on the floor smashing everything and leaving.

The next day, Bickley's back at his drafting table working, and grumbling when there's a knock on the door, opening it to Mindy. Holding a cake she asks can she come in, and he says it depends on whether she intends talking to him. When she says she is, he tries to close the door but she sidesteps it, and follows him in, asking him if he's embarrassed about the night before, about what he said about being lonely. He wonders if she actually bought that swill, saying that was just the scotch talking. But she says yes, she did believe it, which is why she baked him the cake, in the hope they could be friends. He notes it has icing on it, and tells her he hates cake with icing on it. That's why he hates winters in Colorado, the Rockies look like they're covered in icing. Sighing, Mindy starts to wonder how he could possibly react like that when there's another knock on the door, and grousing it's probably someone trying to sell him cookies with icing on it opens it to Mork just back and still in his jacket. Mindy asks Mork where he's been all morning, and he tells her out to disprove an old Earth saying.

Unzipping his jacket a little he shows her the puppy he has inside, telling her he sprung the pup from a doggy jail, where he was in for assaulting a fire hydrant. Bickley starts to complain about having to put up with the noise of a dog along with them. But Mork says no, the pup is for him, because he doesn't want Bickley to be lonely anymore. Bickley is his usual mixture of hard and soppy, telling Mork that's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for him, buying him a stupid dog. Mindy deeply touched by Mork's actions, draws him back to her and tells him that was a wonderful thing he did, and asks him what he meant by disproving an old Earth saying. That money can't buy love, he tells her, even if it's only puppy love.

Mork makes his report to Orson in 'flying mode' shooting across the screen and 'acting superhero-ish' he tells Orson. Funny Orson notes, he doesn't look Superhero-ish, and asks him did he meet any interesting Earthlings this week. Mork tells him met a greeting card writer, cards being what humans send to those of them who are sick. Orson wonders why don't they send a doctor instead like on Ork? No, Mork says, on Earth Doctors are worshipped, they don't go to see you, you go to see them. They also live in luxury hotels called hospitals, places so over-crowded that humans have devised clever ways to visit them there. One of them being called Skiing where they climb to a top of a huge mountain covered in Sky flakes, strap two pieces of wood to their feet and slide down and if they're lucky they'll hit a tree and gain admittance to a hospital. And he adds you should see how they gain admittance to a mortuary.

Trivia

General

• The first appearance of the great Tom Poston, as Mr. Bickley.
• This is also the first appearance of Bicky, the dog that Mork gives Bickley.
• There was initially supposed to be far more to Bickley's character than just the grouchy neighbor, with his drinking masking a secret (see Bickley's character page for more).
• Mork reads a Superman comic book and criticizes the superhero. Presumably this was Robin Williams' playful jab at close friend Christopher Reeve, who had recently skyrocketed to stardom in the 1978 film.
• Mindy relates back to events in the previous two episodes when Mork invited Susan Taylor (Mork's First Christmas) and Sergei (Mork and the Immigrant) without checking with her first.
• Mork pretty much proves that he makes up 'Orkan Facts' as it suits him, with his 'old saying' that if someone pounds on your ceiling, invite them over to dinner. Something Mindy calls him on with a 'old Earth saying' of her own.
• The Orkan reverence for Eggs shows up again, with Mork unable to make the soufflé for dinner as it called for him to beat Eggs.

Pop Culture

• Mork does his 'Barely Alive' riff to the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive
• Bickley tells Mork he'd rather live under the showboating basketball The Harlem Globetrotters than Mork and Mindy.
• The Customer is trying to return ABBA: The Album which came out right at the end of 1977.
• Mork frets over Mindy's insistence that he has to be the one that does the cooking, saying he's never even met Julia Child who in the 70s and 80s was probably the world's most famous chef, with numerous TV shows, her hearty, cheerful, down to earth, (and much imitated) demeanor making her much loved.
• Another Wizard of Oz reference, when Mork refers to the tiny bottle of bourbon Bickley presents to Mindy on his arrival, as 'Munchkin sized'.
• Mork's menu ostensibly includes 'Maalox au Gratin' the antacid sprinkled in breadcrumbs/cheese and grilled, followed by a little cheese for the three of them, or 'Fromage a Trois' playing on a 'Ménage a Trois', three way love affair.
• Mork gives Mindy & Bickley a 'little entertainment' getting down on his knees as 'Carl' a Munchkin who hasn't worked since The Wizard of Oz, doing a refrain of 'Feelings' the 1975 hit by Morris Albert

Quotes/Excerpts

(Mork, as he reads a Superman comic book)

• Mork: Able to leap over tall buildings? Ha! Anybody can do that in zero gravity. What's the big deal about that?... They call him Superman for that?!

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• Mork: *actually typing letter with no typewriter* Dear Superman, I am writing you this letter because I'm really perturbed. How can you call yourself a Man of Steel if you wear blue tights with the underwear on the outside? Everyone knows that Krypton is the Miami Beach of the Universe. You're a jive-turkey in red booties! Love, your friend, Mork from Ork. P.S. Don't you sweat a lot, wearing two suits?

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• Mindy: Morning!
• Mork: Ah! God bless you! *Mindy frowns in confusion*

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• Mork: Do you know where I could get a stamp?
• Mindy: Oh sure, I think there are some over there in the drawer. Where are you sending a letter?
• Mork: Metropolis!

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(Someone bangs from below the floor)

• Mork: Whoa, the mice must be taking steroids!

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• Mork: Mindy, you Earthlings must learn some more virtues, like being more tolerant. We have a saying on Ork: Tolerance is next to cowardice.

• Mindy: Don't Orkans ever have any problems with unreasonable neighbors?
• Mork: Well, one time the planet next to us blew up. We all complained about it and they never did it again.

______________________________________

• Mindy: How can I adjust to constant pounding?
• Mork: Make it fun. Watch this. *starts to stamp his foot rhythmically, then takes Mindy's hand and starts to dance with her, as Bickley starts to pounds on the floor in time* You can tell by the way you hold your teeth you're an older man with a lot to bequeath. Ah ah ah. You can tell by the way you take that pill you're about to sign your only will. Ah ah ah ah barely alive! Barely alive!

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(introducing himself to Mr. Bickley)

• Mork: I'm Mork from upstairs.
• Mr. Bickley: Oh, you! I've been wanting to talk to you, Bigfoot.

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• Mindy: You went down to see Bickley today?!
• Mork: Ah yes, we're the best of friends now.
• Mindy: *in disbelief* Oh come on!!
• Mork: Oh yes, he said stop by again, real soon! By the way, when does Hell freeze over?

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• Mindy: Look Mork I don't want Bickley in my apartment!
• Mork: Oh! See there's an incredibly energy right there, because he doesn't want to be in your apartment either!
• Mindy: *stares* And you talked him into it?!
• Mork: Well it wasn't very hard I told him him you'd fix him a nice dinner. Then we'd all get together and talk for a little while.
• Mindy: Wait a minute!!! I'll fix him dinner?!?
• Mork: Wow! Deju vu!
• Mindy: Uh uh! You got that one wrong. You invited him over so you invite him dinner.
• Mork: Oh I get it. I made my bed so I gotta hang from it.
• Mindy: You got it.
• Mork: But I've never even met Julia Child
• Mindy: Well there's an old saying on Earth. Fake it.
• Mork: Ohhh...impending culinary doom.

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• Bickley: I just complain a little, it's not that bad.
• Mindy: It's terrible! Do you know you're the worst neighbor I've ever had?
• Mork: Isn't' it wonderful? You're the top of your field!
  

Promo

Mork and Mindy Promo

ABC Promo for Mork the Tolerant

Image Gallery

Cast

Starring

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

Guest starring/Recurring cast

• Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley
• Ed Greenberg as Jack