Close Encounters

## Synopsis

Graham and Elizabeth are eager for each other to meet new people and make new friends in California, so they agree to go on an overnight camping trip with several other local couples. As expected, oldest daughter Marie is left in charge at home. However, the other siblings are less than pleased because they think that Marie can become somewhat of a tyrant when she's left in charge.

Upon arriving at the campsite, Graham and Elizabeth encounter Klaus Dibie, who is known to possess a unique sense of humor that often alienates everyone else around him, including his wife. All of the attendees introduce each other, and the men decide to go fishing for some "male bonding". Elizabeth persuades Graham to join the other men, while the women stay back at camp to bond amongst themselves.

Feeling somewhat out of place, Elizabeth doesn't know what to do or say, so she tries her best to ingratiate herself with the other women. Unfortunately, Kate Dibie accidentally puts her foot in her mouth with an ill-timed remark that offends pregnant Elizabeth, and makes her feel very uncomfortable. Soon, the men return from fishing, and Kate is remorseful of her earlier comments. She discreetly apologizes "to the person whom she has offended", even though Elizabeth knows it's her, and all is forgotten.

After realizing that they really don't fit in with this group, Graham and Elizabeth decide that they already have each other as their "best friend". After feeling like excess baggage at the campout, the Lubbock parents decide to return home later that same night.

Little do Graham and Elizabeth know, their children and teenagers got greedy, and invited a number of guests over. At first, it's only two boys whom Cindy and Wendy invited over, but that's when the evening takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

After acting chaperone Marie bluntly advises the boys to leave, one of them offers to talk to Marie to "soften her up". From there, he admits that he actually came over to see Marie because he thinks that "she's very pretty". Typically conservative Marie is caught completely off-guard; she doesn't know what to think or say, as she never really thought of herself in that way before. She ends up going on an emotional "ego trip" that deflects her focus on being in charge of the household. Control ends up being passed down to each of her younger siblings, which causes the madness to spin out of control even more than it already has.

Upon returning home, the parents are furious at what awaits them. In a sincere effort to calm their irate parents - knowing that "the party is over" - the siblings band together once they realize that everything has gone too far. Unfortunately, it's too little, too late. Trying to re-take control of the household, Graham angrily demands answers for what's going on, but Elizabeth calmly deflects him to let things be until the next morning, so that the two parents can camp-out alone together "as best friends".

## Guest Appearances

*Steeve Arlen* as Gordon Halloway

*Johnny Dark* as Klaus Dibie

*Brandon Douglas* as Mark

*Mary Farrell* as Sydney Halloway

*Butch Hartman* as Rod Grossman

*Cristine Rose* as Kate Dibie

*Karen Lynn Scott* as Heidi Romaine

*Jackie Conneau* as Marsha Grossman

*Jimmy Keegan* as Howie

*Michael Gilbert Lewis* as Jack Romaine

## Memorable Quotes

**Graham**: "*This isn't like New York, where you open the door and there's hundreds of people of all sizes, shapes, and perversions.*"

--

**Mark**: "*I was changing diapers at 7.*"

**Marie**: "*I made oatmeal at 6.*"

**Mark**: "*Instant oatmeal?*"

**Marie**: "*Well, sure.*"

--

**Connie**: "*Will you help me? I'm desperate.*"

**Howie**: *(with mouthful of food)* "*I will if you kiss me on the lips.*"

**Connie**: "*I'm desperate, not stupid.*"

--

**Marie**: "*So this is your fault?*"

**Elizabeth**: "*Oh, nice try, Marie.*"

--

**Graham**: "*Where's Marie?...Where is Marie?...WHERE is Marie?*"

**Connie**: "*Upstairs in her bedroom with a boy.*"

## Trivia

* The teaser briefly provides another glimpse of Bill Kirchenbauer's real-life stand-up comedy act. While teaching a class, he humorously demonstrates how a boomerang attached to another object will still come back after being thrown.
* Johnny Dark, who portrays Klaus Dibie in this episode, goes on to portray recurring character Danny later in the series. His name is likely a reference to the late George "Spiro" Dibie, who played a significant role in helping to create this show.
* Brandon Douglas, who portrays Mark in this episode, goes on to portray Cindy's overly-aggressive date, Derek, in a later episode.

## Mistakes

### Plot Holes

* If Mark really came to the house to see Marie, then his friend with him should have known that from the outset. He really did not act like that was the case at first, and Cindy & Wendy likely would have been upset if that was true. The first hint of such implications comes when Mark offers to talk to Marie after she swiftly orders him to leave.

### Revealing Errors

* Some of the other adults camping with Graham & Elizabeth are mentioned or implied to be employed at St. Augie's, but they are never seen or heard from again. Graham tells Elizabeth some information about Klaus Dibie's personality, but it is unclear exactly when/how they actually met. In addition, the campout is an outing held for the Lubbock parents to make new friends, but it is unclear specifically how they came to know about the campout in the first place. It is possible that a colleague may have invited them.