"Speed Trap" is the sixth episode in the second season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on November 9, 1983, and is the twenty-eighth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Alex turns to amphetamines to get through a particularly stressful period of exams and scholarship applications.
Plot[]
Alex is studying for midterms, writing multiple term papers, and studying for the state scholarship exam and is under great pressure to do well. With his workload, he pressures Mallory to get some amphetamines from her obese friend Effie Blatts, who has a prescription for them, which Mallory reluctantly does.
In exchange, Alex has to agree to take Effie on a date, after all the exams are over. Alex hesitantly starts taking them, and the drugs throw him into a frenzy of academic and household activity. While he finds success with his term papers and exams, his attitude becomes increasingly erratic, and takes its toll on the family. He even goes so far as to attack Mallory and steal her purse, to obtain more pills, when she refuses to give him more.
The night before the state scholarship exam, Steve, who had experimented with amphetamines in college himself, realizes what's going on, and confronts Alex about his drug use. Alex admits he borrowed some pills to get through the workload, but he ends up passing out before they can discuss it any further. Alex ends up sleeping through his scholarship exam, and wakes up in a sickly daze, having experienced the inevitable crash landing of amphetamines. At this point, Alex finally realizes the error of his ways and apologizes to Mallory and the rest of his family for his behavior while under the influence of the drugs. His family forgives him, but Mallory reminds him of his date with Effie.
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[]
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- The title references "speed traps" catches speeding drivers, whereas Alex gets trapped by Speed.
- Alex's History Term Paper is called: "Herbert Hoover - The Lost Savior" (Archie Bunker would agree: "Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again..." (All in the Family theme song).
- Alex has a talk with Richard Nixon as he decides what to do with the pills.
- One of Steven's roommates in college was Roland Koonikowski.
- This episode features Monopoly as the Keaton family Board Game.
- During the Monopoly scene, Alex was extremely particular about Jennifer being allowed a do-over on her roll, when it was against the rules. However he had overlooked another rule on his own turn. He had rolled doubles on his turn and technically got another turn.
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