Hi, everyone, I'm home.
Hi, honey, supper's almost ready.
Great. I'm starved.
What's in the box, Willie?
I'm fine, Alf. How are you?
Racked with curiosity, cloaked in conundrum
and carrying a thesaurus.
Now, what's in that box?
Did you ever hear the expression "Curiosity killed the cat?"
Yeah, it's usually followed by the expression
"Pass the plum sauce."
Hey, dad, what's in the box?
It's a dead cat, B. I'll split it with ya.
It's not a dead cat.
But I think it is something that you and Brian will enjoy.
Is it the remains of the Elephant Man?
It's a tent!
I thought you might enjoy camping out in the backyard.
Why? The refrigerator and bathroom are in here.
Look, uh, you're gonna get to stay in the backyard
in this tent for a couple of days.
Why?
Because my Uncle Albert called
he's coming for a visit.
- Oh, no. - Uncle Albert?
Why is he coming? He doesn't even like it here.
All he does is complain.
Well, it's not like this place is Shangri-La.
[theme music]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
Willie, we voted fair and square.
Uncle Albert stays in the tent.
No, you're staying in the tent, ALF.
Well, I don't wanna sleep out here.
This place is swarming with armored leeches.
Those are snails.
I don't care if they're slugs with hunchbacks
I'm not sleeping out here.
Look, ALF, we always make you stay in the garage.
I thought sleeping in a tent would be a nice change of pace.
Yeah. Listen, Will and testament.
Since Uncle Albert is such a pain
why don't you just tell the guy to bug off?
Oh, I can't do that, ALF. He's family.
Fine. Now you're stuck with an unwanted house guest.
Isn't it strange how that pattern keeps repeating itself?
Why? Kate's mother's coming too?
- Let's just put up the tent. - Fine.
Why is it taking so long?
[sighs]
It's taking so long because you keep undoing
everything I'm doing.
Would you please hand me..
"...a box of wing nuts?"
Wing nuts?
Uh...I'm afraid I've eaten them.
You ate a box of wing nuts?
I thought it said walnuts.
Don't bother looking for the package marked Tent Stakes.
I think I'd better just finish, finish this by myself.
Fine.
I'll be over here if you need me.
I'll keep that in mind in case things go too smoothly.
Hi, guys. How's it goin'?
Fine. Except ALF's digested most of the parts.
Willie, what happens if the ball hits the paddle?
I don't think you'll have to worry about it.
Willie, Uncle Albert just called.
He's not coming?
He's coming.
He wants to know what shoe size you wear.
Oh, right, why bother to bring shoes
when he can borrow mine.
- Ah. - What a mooch.
Now, whose shoes am I supposed to wear?
He also wants to know my dress size.
Maybe he wants to buy us gifts.
Gifts, schmifts. The guy sounds like a pervert.
I guess I'll have to pound some sense into him.
You're not to beat the house guests, ALF.
Not even Uncle Albert.
Well, this guy sounds like a real monkey's uncle.
No offense, Willie.
Oh, you're right. He, he's terrible.
He's no sooner in the door then, "Hey, it's freezing in here.
"Turn up the heat. What's that stink?
"Is that you cooking, Kate?
Uh, by the way, I'm gonna stay another week."
Wow! What a great impression of Bette Davis.
Willie, I can't stay in that tent.
I'm deathly afraid of the outdoors.
I once got caught in a meteor shower
without my umbrella.
- Nice try, ALF. - Thanks.
I was gonna faint, but I think I made my point.
Too bad we didn't buy it.
You didn't?
[gasps]
ALF, you fainted on a snail.
Whoa. Whoa.
[instrumental music]
Chocolate cake.
Check.
Chocolate ice cream.
Check.
Chocolate pudding.
Check.
- Acne pads. - Check.
What are you guys doing?
ALF's teaching me how to be a box boy.
I'm collecting refreshments
for my stay under the big top.
ALF, it's only for two days.
Well, that's why I'm not bringing my toothbrush.
(Willie) 'Hi, everyone.'
(Kate) 'We're back with Uncle Albert!'
Why do they walk into a house yelling?
That's a signal for you to get into the tent.
Oh. And here I thought they were going deaf.
[sighs] Well, Bri, let's put a smile on for the old fogey.
Oh, slippers.
How thoughtful, and how unexpected.
Uncle Albert, this dress is gorgeous!
Yeah, I know. I picked it out myself.
Oh!
(Albert) Oh.
Would you look at these beautiful children!
Us?
Lynn, you've blossomed into a lovely young lady.
Well, thank you, Uncle Albert.
It's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.
Or anyone.
- And, Brian.. - You remembered my name.
Well, of course I did, Brian.
- Here, give me a five. - I don't have $5.
Oh-oh, the Tanner wit.
First I've heard of it.
Brian, how would you like an Angels' baseball hat, huh?
- How much? - Come on, it's free!
Thanks, Uncle Albert!
I'm gonna go show A..
The guy in the tent.
The guy in the tent?
- Uh.. - He has an imaginary friend.
Oh.
Now, Lynn, guess where this is from.
You found it on a bus?
No. It's from Gucci's.
Gucci?
Well, what happened to the army-navy store?
Oh, not anymore. Not for my Lynnie.
- Well...thanks. - It's my pleasure.
Now, let's all go to dinner, huh?
- Oh, I, uh-- - Don't worry. The tab's on me.
Oh, but I'm not payin' for Brian's invisible friend.
[instrumental music]
Oh, could you believe the size of that dinner check?
And Uncle Albert left a 30 percent tip.
He usually only leaves 30 cents.
Oh. What are we gonna do with all those leftovers?
[ALF burps]
I think they may have been taken care of.
Meatball?
No, thank you.
ALF, did you eat all of that food?
Yeah, and for the first time in my life
I actually feel full.
Why aren't you out in that tent?
It's too dangerous out there.
I had to kill a 50-foot water snake
with my pocket knife.
There, there are no 50-foot water snakes
in the backyard.
I'm tellin' ya, it was bright green
and it spit water.
Psst. Psst.
That was my new garden hose.
Well, no wonder it was sucking on the spigot.
Go on. Go back to the tent.
I can't. I'm bored.
I need companionship.
I need a woman.
What?
I'm desperate. Species is no longer a priority.
Alf..
You only have to stay in that tent one more day.
Uncle Albert is leaving tomorrow night.
That's not soon enough.
Look, I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow morning.
That leaves you and Uncle Albert alone in the house.
I want you to promise me
that you will stay zipped into that tent.
But I'll miss my soaps.
- Tsk. - You don't watch soaps.
[sighs] He means the one where the coyote
tries to catch the road runner.
Exactly.
One Friday, the coyote fell off an 80-foot cliff.
I've gotta see if he survived.
Well, he's not made of iron, people.
[instrumental music]
(Albert) 'Let's go in the kitchen, huh?'
I'll make you breakfast.
Katie, why are you washing the dishes?
- They're dirty? - Here, let me do that.
Uncle Albert, could, could I ask you a question?
Shoot.
- What's wrong with you? - Wrong?
Why are you acting so nice?
Yeah, the dinner and the cab rides
and the Gucci and the slippers and the 30 percent tip.
Alright, alright, I'll tell you.
Come on, sit down.
I have changed.
It all began when they took me to the hospital..
...after my heart attack.
We didn't know you had a heart attack.
Who did?
Nobody missed me, so nobody checked on me.
I was flat on my back for a month.
No visitors. You know, no get-well cards.
Not a phone call even.
And that's when I began to realize
what a louse I must have been.
I realized I had to mend my ways.
That's why I came.
Well, you're off to a good start.
We hardly remember the old you.
Thanks, Katie, that's what I wanted to hear.
Now, you two go on, before the old me comes back.
Well, we wouldn't want that to happen.
Go on. I've got tuna fish to make.
Okay. Uh, see you after work.
I'll be back in a little while.
Come on, now you're making me
feel all squishy inside.
Get out of here, will ya?
[comical music on T.V.]
[music continues]
Care for a cookie?
Alright, after your nap.
[instrumental music]
[telephone rings]
Hello, social services.
Hold, please.
Hey, Willie, call for you on line four.
Sounds like Sammy Davis Jr.
Hello.
Hey, man, how'd you like this clever ruse?
(Willie) Why are you calling me at work?
You promised to stay in the tent!
But we're out of canned peaches.
You.. You called me for peaches?
Well, I also need grape leaves, yellow cellophane.
- And a tag for the toe. - A tag for the what?
(ALF) 'You're not writing this down, are you?'
No, I'm not! What is this all about?
Alright, it was gonna be a surprise
but Uncle Albert's dead.
What?
Hey, hey, don't worry.
I've already started the embalming process.
That's why I need the peaches.
Wait!
Willie, is it true Sammy is going on the road again?
[instrumental music]
[door opens]
ALF...what is going on here?
We're celebrating.
Uncle Albert is gone.
[rattling]
He left without saying goodbye?
It was rather sudden.
Kate.
Where are my peaches?
Is it true about Uncle Albert?
Well, apparently so.
[scoffs] I mean, talk about the perfect guest..
He came, he was nice
and he left before we got tired of him.
Oh, Kate, please.
Hey, come on, man! Lighten up.
Here, have a hat.
Have you no respect for the dead?
Dead?
ALF, you said Uncle Albert was gone.
You thought he left?
- Oh, my God. - What happened?
ALF, exactly what happened?
Well, I was in the tent watching T.V..
Incidentally, the coyote did survive.
...when Uncle Albert stuck is head in.
- He saw you? - Yeah.
I offered him one of Kate's cookies
but he keeled over.
Hey, don't take it personally.
Some people just don't have a sweet tooth.
Speaking of which
did you get those canned peaches, Willie?
I need to finish basting the deceased.
Hey, hey, let the guy marinate in peace.
Hey!
- Are we having a party? - I'm trying to.
This isn't a party.
Sure it is!
It's just like a birthday party
only someone else has to blow out the candles.
It, it's true.
- Told ya. - Told ya what?
Brian..
Un-Uncle Albert..
...ha-has passed away.
What?
He's gone.
Sleeps with the peaches.
He's a forest lawn jockey.
ALF, you're upsetting Brian.
No, he's not.
Thattaway, Brian!
Death is a happy time.
A time to...to celebrate.
Well, at least on Melmac it was.
This is not Melmac, this is Earth.
And on Earth, death is a very sad occasion.
Really?
Well..
I guess few of the things I've said
could be interpreted as somewhat tasteless.
I don't get it.
Am I supposed to be sad or happy?
Sad.
Brian, someone who loved you is gone.
I say happy.
Look at it from Uncle Albert's point of view.
He'll never be sad again.
Or tired...or hungry.
Or late for work!
His time came, and he went.
I-I can't help think it was my fault.
I should have been more careful.
I put ALF in the tent, now Albert saw him
and he, he probably died of shock.
Hey, come on.
Don't blame yourself, Willie.
Gosh, if anyone killed Uncle Albert..
...it was me.
[instrumental music]
Kate, you think this tie is too loud for a funeral?
Willie, the tie is black.
It's charcoal.
It's fine.
How you guys holding up?
[sighs] Okay, I guess.
It just doesn't seem fair that Uncle Albert had to go now
just, just when he was learning how to be a good person.
I know. How's ALF taking it?
Oh, not too well. He still thinks it was his fault.
But it's not, he couldn't help it
if Uncle Albert stuck his head in the tent.
I told him that but he said that his looks were lethal
and we should get him a permit for his face.
- I'll try talking to him. - 'Thanks, honey.'
(Kate) 'Willie, we really should go.'
Now, if you need us, we'll be at the Waxman Funeral Parlor.
Okay, have fun.
Sorry.
[somber music]
ALF?
ALF, are you in there?
(ALF) 'Go away.'
I brought you some banana bread.
ALF, please come out of there.
'No! If you see me, you'll die.'
[chuckles] I've already seen you.
I know what you look like.
ALF..
I'm double-bagged for your protection.
Come on. Eat some banana bread.
I'm not hungry.
You really are upset.
What was death like on Melmac?
Predictable.
Everyone died at the same age.
Six hundred and fifty.
There were no surprises.
And you could plan.
You could stock up on fruit and things?
Exactly.
And the week before you go
you give away your personal belongings.
The year before you go..
...your credit cards are canceled.
I'd be afraid to know exactly when I was gonna die.
Hey, I'd be afraid not to know.
That's why I feel so bad about Uncle Albert.
I took him before his time.
Thanks to me..
...he didn't have a chance to wrap things up.
Yes, he did.
What are you talkin' about?
See, Uncle Albert came here to make amends
to show us that he really could be a nice guy.
A lot of people don't get a chance to do that.
But he did.
- Really? - Really.
Well, if that's true
then I'll get over this eventually.
But I'd still like to stay in this box awhile.
I understand.
You need some time to think.
Yeah.
Oh, hey, Lynn?
You could leave that banana bread.
[instrumental music]
Hey, you're outta your box.
Yeah. How was the funeral?
Oh, not so bad as I thought it would be.
When I first got there, I-I was feeling pretty down.
But then I-I started thinking
about the last few days with Uncle Albert
and I-I started remembering
some of the things that you'd said.
[chuckles] You know, I had to smile..
...because I- I could see him now
in an entirely different light.
He, he didn't have a care in the world.
I, I actually felt happy for him.
Spoken like a true Melmackian.
I'll bet..
...I'll bet he's up there right now
listening to us.
Uncle Albert..
...thanks for stopping by.
So, ALF, what are you doing out here?
Well, pondering our place
in the vastness of the universe.
It is humbling.
You know, it's been said
"A man's life is but
a small parenthesis in eternity."
Looking at the stars..
...makes one realize how inconsequential
we all really are.
Yeah.
It also gives one a crick in one's neck.
Could you, uh, push my head down?
[screams] A, a snail!
Thanks.
That's more like it.
[theme music]
[laughing]