"The Real Thing, Pt. 2" is the second episode in the fourth season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on October 3, 1985, and is the seventieth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Time is running out for Alex when he discovers that Ellen intends to marry another man.
Plot[]
Alex is taking an essay exam on the Ming Dynasty, and instead daydreams about he and Ellen spending time together (not seen in Part I). He never completes the essay. When Ellen leaves for Lancaster on the train, Alex drives all night trying to stop her.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton
- Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
- Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton
- Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton
Guest Starring[]
- Marc Price as Skippy Handelman
- Tracy Pollan as Ellen Reed
- Suzanne Snyder as Tricia Armstrong
- Peter Van Norden as Janitor
- Danny Ponce as Shoeshine Boy
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
- Alex P. Keaton: "And you know what type I am. You've got me all figured out."
Ellen Reed: "Let me take a shot. You're an Economics major. You voted for Reagan. You're in the Debating and Young Executives Club. And you wear a jacket and tie everywhere you go."
Alex P. Keaton: "Ha! That just shows what you know. I quit the Debating Club last spring." - Alex P. Keaton: "I wear a jacket and tie everywhere I go. Except train stations at three in the morning, in which case I wear a tuxedo."
Trivia[]
- The train station scene (when Alex tells Ellen he loves her) at the end of this episode is used as a flashback scene in "Wrap Around the Clock".
- Starting with this episode, Family Ties introduced a new opening sequence, which remained in use until the show's ending on May 14, 1989. The intro starts with the Family Ties logo appearing over a picture frame shot of the Keaton family, as well as interacting with clips from various episodes. The cast's names appear onscreen over headshots of the Keaton family, and ending with the same picture frame shot of the Keaton family from the beginning of the intro, as the text "Created by Gary David Goldberg" appear.
- "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing" (sung by Steven, with Alex pantomiming)
- "At This Moment" by Billy Vera & The Beaters (the song became very popular after these episodes)
Gallery[]
