Third Season

The Great Indoors

Guest Stars Elizabeth Leslie Joyce Gorden Billy Van Summary The Clements family is heading up to their cottage for the weekend to prepare it for its new owner. Dr. Jeffcoate is coming along to help, and Kirk is coming along for reasons unknown to anyone. At the last minute, and after some not-so-subtle hints, Mrs. Shellenbach gets herself invited along but turns it down because it's her weekend for serving on WHARP - Women's Helicopter Action Rescue Program. Andrew is unhappy about the cottage being sold. He recruits Erin to help convince their mom to keep it. The campaign is badly executed and unsuccessful. On top of which, the whole trip quickly begins to break down. Kirk leaves the radio in the car. With a blizzard starting up, Dr. J is sent to retrieve it. Which he does successfully only to find that the radio had been left on and the batteries are dead. They construct a natural battery out of some oranges and strips of metal and are able to verify that they are caught in a blizzard, complete with avalanche warnings. An evening of singing campfire songs and telling scary stories sets everyone on edge. An ill-timed diversion manifests in the form of the new buyers for the cottage showing up: Rocky Kalish and his second wife Irma, two people with little love for each other. To top things off, the avalanche warnings become a reality and the cabin is buried, trapping the seven people. As it happened, Mr. Kalish tried to fill his insatiable appetite by eating the oranges, thus leaving the seven people trapped without any contact to the outside world. In a late night conversation with Dr. J, Andrew finally realises that Dr. J likes his mother. Andrew encourages Dr. J to ask her out. The next morning, Mr. Kalish eats all the supplies in one sitting. Andrew finds some cans of creamed corn in the pantry, but it becomes useless when they discover that the pipes are frozen. A few seconds later, the power goes out. They find an old-fashioned diesal engine, which Andrew is able to start by using his powers. It returns light to the premises, if not heat. Stephanie expresses worry that the Kalishes no longer wish to buy the place. Andrew expresses hope to the same effect, then tries to convince his mother once again not to sell. It comes out that Stephanie can no longer afford to keep the cottage. Andrew apologies for misunderstanding her motives. But it turns out that the Kalishes have rethought their position and no longer wish to buy. Dr. J offers to buy the cottage, but only if he and Stephanie split it. The deal is accepted. That problem solved, they are now left with the problem of survival. Andrew suggests to Dr. J that he fly off to find help. But, in order to do so, they have to reveal his powers. After a lengthy build-up, it becomes unnecessary. The day is saved by the timely arrival of Mrs. Shellenbach and WHARP.