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Steve Michaels gives Willie an arm full of Sendrax souvenirs.
Stayin' Alive is the twenty-first episode of ALF's fourth and final season. It originally aired on Feb. 26, 1990.
Plot Summary[]
ALF becomes very concerned about how humans are harming the environment. ALF begins a letter writing campaign to Sendrax, a corporation that produces CFCs.
When Sendrax threatens to sue, Willie has to go in and tell them that he is going to stop the boycott campaign. However, Willie's conscience bothers him and he decides he has to take a stand.
[]
Brian and ALF are looking as pictures of Earth from space, ALF jokes he can see Willie waving in one of the pictures. Willie comes home, and ALF tells Willie that Brian is going to inherit a dying world, and talks about all the story on the news about the ozone hole, rainforest depletion, and other ecological troubles
Act One[]
ALF is up early unable to sleep. Kate and Willie come in to wonder what's going on and ALF talks about having heard about Chlorofluorocarbons on the radio, and that a local company Sendrax is one the country's largest supplier of CFC's . Willie asks if he's going to send a letter to the radio station, but ALF says he's written a letter to Sendrax. Kate is supportive, but Willie is upset over it. Later, ALF is talking to a call-in radio show and goes off topic. The host admonishes his assistant, Murray for not screening the calls. Lynn comes in with the mail which includes a letter from Sendrax. The letter talks about concern for the environment and ALF finds it inadequate.
ALF is in the garage writing another letter to Sendrax and signs it Marvin Hamlisch. Willie comes in asking about a $300 payment to the post office which ALF made to buy enough stamps to write 1,000 letters to Sendrax. ALF mentions that each letter he's writing quotes him. The phone rings and it's for ALF. He speaks to them and realizes its from Sendrax, when they mention a lawsuit, he hands the phone to Willie.
Act Two[]
In the house, Kate asks ALF what was in the letter he wrote which made them sue-happy. Willie tells everyone what the lawyer he called said, and then Kate suggests Willie go to their office and beg for mercy. At Sendrax's office, Steve Michaels, (whose real name is Stefanovich Miglarisky) introduces himself and talks about how a stir was created over ALF's letters. Steve mentions they have a plan to phase out CFC's over the next decade, and that angering their legal staff would be pointless. Willie agrees, and then Steve gives him some shirts and baseball caps with the Sendrax logo on it. Willie tells him that their kids would be happier not being left in an environment not decimated by corporate indifference. Willie talks about how 50 years later it will be too late and that the problem won't go away if ignored. Steve then offers him a job in public relations and season tickets next to Jack Nicholson's seat all the Lakers games. At home ALF sees the Sendrax hat with "We care" written on it, and Willie ponders working there and that he can elicit change from the inside. ALF suggests taking the job so the company be sabotaged form within. Kate is reminded of what she and Willie did on Earth Day in 1970 where they got rashes from a carpet during a sit-in at a company polluting the bay.
Willie decides to decline their offer. He goes back and Steve tells him he's leaving too, and starts packing a box of stuff. Willie then tells Steve that he won't be taking he job, and tells him people have to care. Steve then tells his secretary, Laurel to call Rob Jacobs at their Baton Rouge plant. When he gets on the line, he tells Rob that he's gotten orders from the top that they will stop making CFC's effective at noon. Willie asks how just one phone call is all it takes and Steve says that they'll start up realizing it was a mistake, but starting could be made harder if Willie calls the media and lets them know.
Epilogue[]
At home, ALF is reading suggestions from 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save the Earth Which Kate and Willie find annoying.
Background information[]
Production history[]
- Premiere airdate: February 26, 1990
- Production number: 4020
Trivia[]
- This is the last episode to air on Monday nights.
Title Reference[]
"Stayin' Alive" is a song by The Bee Gees.