Poppy's by the Tree (Part 1) is the first episode and season premiere of Season 2 of the FOX sitcom Married... with Children, as well as the 14th overall episode in the series. Written by Ron Leavitt and Michael G. Moye, the episode was directed by Linda Day and premiered on FOX on September 27, 1987.
Synopsis[]
The Bundys take a vacation to near-beautiful Dumpwater, Florida and stay in a cut-rate motel where an ax murderer that hates tourists, shows up every five years since 1962, and redneck locals begin to make bets on who the psycho will strike next.
Plot[]
To be added.
Cast[]
Regular Cast[]
- Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy
- Katey Sagal as Peggy Bundy
- Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy
- David Faustino as Bud Bundy
- Amanda Bearse as Marcy Rhoades
- David Garrison as Steve Rhoades
Guest Stars[]
- Gary Grubbs as Delbert
- Richard Paul as The Sheriff
- Charlie Dell as Roy
- Ian Patrick Williams as Beany
- Becky Phelps as Gloria
- Kim Morgan Greene as Becky
- Dan Gauthier as Kelly's Boyfriend
- Sandy Sprung as Dottie
- Bill Marcus as Harold
Quotes[]
- [Al gathers the family around him]
- Al: Now I know this isn't your first choice for a vacation.
- Bud: Till this show, dad?
- Al: Shut up, Bud! I'm trying to explain something important to all of you. Now, we're poor, so we're going to Dumpwater, Florida! But look at the positive side: It's a week where you don't have to go to school. It's a week where I don't' have to go to work. And Peg,... [pauses] w-well every day is a vacation to you, so why am I talking to you for? [puts his arm around Peg] Now let's see some smiles, because tomorrow... the memories begin!
- Becky: I'll just put the T.P. in the B.R..
- Al: Uh, no, no.. not over there. Could you put it over there [points to the ottoman next to the dresser]
- [Becky bends over, with her butt in full view, and puts the towels and toilet paper atop of the ottoman, while Al gleefully stares and Peg become annoyed. She then turns to face Al and Peg.]
- Becky: You two look like a nice couple!
- Al: Aww, you too. Hehe... [gets up and hands Becky a $20 bill. She happily accepts it and hands over one more towel]
- Becky: I picked this towel special for you. Don't tell anybody that I gave it to you. Is there anything else I can do for you?
- Peggy: [gets up and mocks Becky's southern accent] Gee, I don't know, Al, you want her to bend over again, you know, to pick up your tongue or anything?
- Al: Uh, Peg, just stand there and age, I'm busy!
- Bud: Dad, can we go down to the high school tomorrow night and meet "The Man Who Met Andy Griffith"?
- Al: [smiling while being suspicious] Since when do like Andy Griffith?
- Kelly: [teasingly] Since "Glloorria" wants to go... [singing] Bud's in looovvee!
- Bud: I am not!
- Kelly: He's blushing, mom!
- Bud: She's pregnant, dad!
- Kelly: [mortified] Am not!
- Bud: Oh, well then I guess it's just your beer belly. [Kelly slaps the back of his head]
Notes[]
Title[]
- The episode title refers to the motel Poppy's by the Tree the Bundys stay at for their vacation.
Trivia[]
- This is the first two-parter on Married... with Children.
- Part 1 and 2 of this episode were originally shown as a one-hour episode.
- The addition "by the Tree" is a reference to the common Florida beachfront resorts addition "by the Sea".
- This episode starts off in black and white.
- Dumpwater is a fictional town but according to the map shown in the episode it is located near Lake City, Florida.
- The name "Dumpwater" could be a play on the name of an actual town called Clearwater in Florida.
- As the townspeople stare at Bud before he drinks his soda, he raises his cup and tells them "To Dixie!".
- Dixie is a term used to describe the Southern United States, typically the states that seceded to form the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
- Al and Peggy stay in room 21 and Bud and Kelly stay in room 22.
- Sandy Sprung, who plays Dottie in this episode, was also a producer and writer on the show.
- Charlie Dell, who plays Roy in this episode, would later play Leslie Baum in the season 9 episode "Shoeless Al".
- This would not be the last time when the family go on vacation and their lives are in danger. It happens again in "The England Show Trilogy".
- Gary Grubb, who plays Delbert in this episode, would later play Cal Stevens in the season 11 episode, "Requiem for a Chevyweight (Part 2)".
- Ian Patrick Williams, who plays Beany in this episode, would later play Inspector Fitzpatrick in the season 10 episode "Al Goes to the Dogs".
- The ending credits for this episode show a still frame of the Bundy family entering Poppy's instead of Al and Peggy on the couch.
- As evidenced by the production code, this was the second episode produced for the season, though it was the first to air.
Cultural References[]
- Bud mentions that the family will stay at a "Howard Johnson's" hotel and have Pez.
- Al calls Delbert "Jethro", referring to the dimwitted character Jethro Clampett from the television series, The Beverly Hillbillies.
- Al calls Beany "Elmo", which is a character from the children's TV show Sesame Street.
- Throughout the episode, it is mentioned that the highlight of Dumpwater is seeing "The Man Who Met Andy Griffith".
- Andy Griffith was an American actor who was best known for playing Sherriff Andy Taylor on the 1960 television sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show.
- At the time this two part episode aired, Griffith found renewed success as a television actor as he was starring in the legal drama series, Matlock which ran from 1986 until 1995.
- Kelly compares the town to Hee Haw a variety show that aired on CBS from 1969 to 1971 and in syndication from 1971 to 1993. The show was known for showcasing country music and themes of living out in the country.
Music[]
- The song that plays in the beginning of the episode is "Ode To Billie Joe" by Bobbie Gentry.
- Al sings the nursery rhyme "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" during the roadtrip.
- The song the Bundys sing as they return back to their hotel room is "A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams, Jr.
Locations[]
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room/Kitchen
- Poppy's by the Tree Motel Lobby
- Peggy and Al's Poppy's by the Tree Motel Room
- Kelly and Bud's Poppy's by the Tree Motel Room
Goofs[]
- The hole on Al and Peggy's bed, which the killer shoves the machete up through in the end, is visible the entire episode.
- Bud asks to go down to the high school "tomorrow" to meet the man who met Andy Griffith. Earlier Al reads the events page in newspaper. The event was said to be "tonight." It's possible he does it several times.
- Bud tells Beany that he wants his can of Coke to be unopened, yet when it arrives at the table it is already open and he proceeds to drink it.
- At the end of the episode, the killer shoves a long machete up through the mattress. This isn't possible considering he's under a bed and there's not enough vertical space to shove a machete straight up.
External Links[]
Poppy's by the Tree (Part 1) at the Internet Movie Database- Poppy's by the Tree (Part 1) on Bundyology
- Poppy's by the Tree (Part 1) - Illustrated Transcript on albundy.net
- #15 Poppy's by the Tree - MWC Podcast on Horrorphilia
