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ALF in shock after experiencing his first earthquake.
Shake, Rattle, and Roll is the twenty-fifth episode of ALF's third season. It originally aired on May 1, 1989.
Plot Summary[]
When there is an earthquake in Los Angeles. ALF becomes paranoid about dying. His anxiety rubs off on Brian and ALF must come around in order to keep Brian from living in fear.
[]
ALF is sneaking into the kitchen with a large barbecue fork, opens the refrigerator and prepares to stab a pork loin, There is a note on it telling ALF not to eat it. When he stabs it, an earthquake strikes immediately, and ALF thinks the gods are mad at him
Act one[]
After the quake has ended, the family surveys the damage and Brian finds ALF hiding in a cabinet. He's in emotional shock and Willie snaps him out of it with a slap to the face, ALF says the damage was not his fault and they all say they know. ALF not knowing what an earthquake is, is given a short description. The Ochmoneks come over, Trevor remains outside as he's been traumatized, and Willie tells him that he'll be fine. Kate then says she'd hate to see him in a big earthquake, to which ALF is worried could happen.
The next morning, Willie does inventory of emergency rations kept in the garage to discover ALF has consumed them all. Willie then mentions they'll secure the supplies with a lock once they are replaced. The bottled water delivery driver has brought a very large amount and it's due to ALF having had ordered more. Willie heads up to the attic to find ALF nailing his bed to the floor for safety. An aftershock hits which frightens ALF particularly since a globe hanging from the ceiling falls and lands on his bed. ALF then realizes that there are so many things on Earth that can be deadly
Act Two[]
Kate is explaining to Brian that the show Win Lose or Draw is the same no matter who hosts. Jake comes over to talk about Trevor, and ALF comes in to talk to everyone and mentions how the earthquake has made him more mindful that each moment of life is to be savored because one never knows what tomorrow may bring.
Lynn is in the living room practicing French. ALF comes in with a flower and talks about savoring again. He laments about missing many moments. In the garage Brian talks about the idea of moving someplace with no earthquakes Each place Brian suggests ALF has issue with. Kansas has tornadoes Hawaii has volcanoes, Canada has blizzards and Florida has old age. ALF knocks over the model railroad Brian is playing with to demonstrate a disaster. Jake comes in and Brian leaves both of them being asked by ALF if they've been savoring. Jake is annoyed and prepares to leave, and ALF continues his talk. Willie is looking for Brian and finds him hiding under his bed. He says he's there to be safe from dangers. ALF his scared him about potential disasters to hit. ALF comes in and Willie lectures him about catastrophic expectations which make people unhappy. Willie then explains to both of them that it's ok to be cautious, but focusing on mortality will have pieces of you to succumb to it.
Epilogue[]
The bottled water person comes back to pick up the excess water. ALF comes in and laments that it could have been used for a waterpark in the backyard.
Trivia[]
- This marks the last appearance of Jake in the series.
Title Reference[]
"Shake, Rattle, and Roll" is a song by Joe Turner that was made popular by Bill Haley & His Comets.
Goofs[]
- Continuity: ALF suggests getting Dorothy to leave by telling her that the house is built on a fault line and pretending that they are having an earthquake in the Season 1 episode Mother and Child Reunion, but in this Season 3 episode ALF claims not to have known anything about earthquakes.