0221 - FATHER LODE


Synopsis:  Al finally makes it big at the race track with a small fortune of money he won on a 
horse.  Steve won some cash also and can’t wait to spend it with Marcy which brings up a problem 
for Al since if Steve spends, Peg will eventually learn he’s sitting on money too and take it 
from Al.  Bribing Steve to keep his mouth shut and hiding his money from Peg quickly turns into 
hell.

Thoughts:  A high for season 2 which was mostly a tepid affair stemming from a pre-slut Kelly 
(she was a self centered brat in the beginning if you forgot) and a couple of awful two-parters.  
From the start the episode is about money:  Al’s paycheck money which the family steals, Steve 
and Al’s horse money, Steve’s bribe money, money money money.  None of it retreats and you gotta 
wonder if any of it will get spent or if the family and won’t kill each other in some sort of 
Mexican Standoff with blood and money all over the floor.

	 The episode shows how low the family can be, what a twerp Steve can be and what a sad 
sack Al is.  The ending to the show gets spoiled with some of Marcy’s "revenge" talk early on of 
how she would hurt people who would hurt her.  (Considering her psychological damage from 
childhood, you would think that she would have killed her parents by now, but I digress).   Al’s 
problem is a little on the perplexing side.  Why doesn’t he just buy a new TV instead of deciding 
what he should buy?  All the family members use the TV?  Where would the problem be then?  He 
wouldn’t have to be subject to torture of sex with Peg or paying off Steve.  Again though, then 
there would be no episode and Al’s suffering is our amusement.

	Al does get some bright spots with another meeting by "Shoe Babe" Teri Weigel and the end 
where he does get something back for his plight.  The kids finally get put to some good use in 
combing the house for Al’s cash.  Marcy is the anchor who keeps Steve from spending his money and 
causes Al’s dilemma and as for Steve, well Al said it, he’s a weenie.

        	Greed should be part of many Bundy credo’s that have appeared throughout the 
shows run.  Greed is at center here and on display hopefully it won’t be so hard next time.  Al 
can suffer for our enjoyment, but he needs a break after this one.

Rating:  7.5 shoes out of 10.  The family never got so conniving then they did here, but at least 
it didn’t end terribly for Al after all.  Seeing him in pain anymore then he did here may have 
been unbearable.


Quotable Quotes:  (thank you transcript section!)

Jade (sexy shoe store customer):  Remember me?
Al:  Nightly. I mean, 'vaguely'. Can I help you?


Peggy: You see, it's good for our marriage. If Al has money then he doesn't come home. 
Marcy:  Will he take a check? 'Cause I know the rest of the block will kick in.


Al:  Ah, Peg, just once, couldn't we do something I like?
Peggy:  I don't wanna dig in my ear and grin like an idiot.