| Previous episode: | Next episode: |
| Hooked on a Feeling | The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face |
He Ain't Heavy, He's Willie's Brother is the seventh episode of ALF's fourth and final season. It originally aired on Oct. 30, 1989.
Plot Summary[]
When Willie is trying to comfort Neal on the phone after his divorce, he tells him that he needs to take charge of his life. Neal goes overboard with this advice and quits his job and buys a camper.
[]
Willie is on the phone with his brother, Neal. ALF is annoyed and keeps bugging him to get off the phone. Lynn comes in, and tells ALF that Neal is upset over his wife leaving him. Willie tells him to take charge his life and be a free spirit
Act One[]
The family is having dinner, and Kate is feeding Eric. The phone rings and Willie says that if it's Neal to tell him he's not home. The next morning. ALF is having breakfast and Lynn asks about a camper parked in front of the house. The door bell rings and it's Neal. Willie invites him in, and Kate asks why he showed up unannounced. Neal says he's being spontaneous. Neal tells him it was his idea to free his spirit. There is a noise in the kitchen and Lynn goes in to check on ALF. He's clattering the sliverware to look for a shrimp fork. That night Neal is in his camper making his bed, and Willie comes in to let Neal know the utilities are connected. Willie tells Neal that earlier he meant to settle down, and not be hasty.
The next morning Neal is making breakfast for everyone. Brian asks Lynn if she's going to finish hers. Neal tells him that there is plenty left. Willie comes in and Neal asks him what he wants for breakfast. Lynn lets Willie know ALF is upset about Neal being there, and that he's made a vooodoo doll in his image. Willie goes up to the attic to talk to ALF about Neal, and ask him about a note that was left for Neal that he caught before Neal did.
Willie tells ALF that Neal is welcome to stay at the house.
Act Two[]
Kate and Willie are in getting ready for bed. They are talking about Neal and that Willie is catering to his wants too much. Neal knocks on the door, to ask for some toilet paper. The next morning ALF is having breakfast with Lynn and Brian. Willie comes in to ask him to hide upstairs because Neal could be in any minute. ALF says that Neal left. Willie asks why, and is made because ALF wrote Neal another note. That night, at dinner, everyone is mad at ALF over the note. They all admonish him for what he did but are interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Neal has come back and they all are super-nice to him about coming back and Willie mentions the note, which Neal dismissed as facetious. Neal tells Lynn and Brian the story about a bully that he had named Marshall Ludwig. Willie had told Neal that Marshall picked on him because he was a sissy, so Neal stopped being a sissy. Neal then says he took the note as a message to continue to take charge of his life. Kate asks Neal what he did during the day. He sold the camper and but a deposit down for an apartment nearby and applied for a job. ALF was listening in and re-Christened the voodoo doll for Neal
Epilogue[]
ALF is writing another letter to Neal claiming to be from Marshall Ludwig. Willie catches him in the act. Kate and Neal are coming home with groceries and Willie sends ALF away. In the other room, ALF is on the phone and calls Marshall, saying he's about to make him a very happy man.
Background information[]
Production history[]
- Premiere airdate: October 30, 1989
- Production number: 4006
Title Reference[]
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is the name of a song by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell and recorded by Neil Diamond. The animated series had similarly borrowed a title from this song with the episode "He Ain't Seafood, He's My Brother."