A Test of Friendship is the fourteenth episode of the third season of Family Matters, which aired on ABC on January 10, 1992. It was directed by Richard Correll and written by Regina Stewart Larsen.
Synopsis[]
Urkel faces expulsion from school when he colludes with Eddie (who didn't study) to cheat on a chemistry test. Laura orders her brother to confess and save their friend from expulsion. Meanwhile, Carl becomes the laughingstock of the precinct (thanks largely to Lt. Murtaugh) when revenge-seeking burglars use sleeping gas to put Carl to sleep, then rob the Winslows blind. However, their second attempt is foiled when Estelle, Harriette and Rachel comes home to nab the burglars by clonking them in the head with a snow shovel and chases them inside the house. End result: the Winslows get their furniture back, Eddie is grounded, he and Steve must retake the test before their suspension is lifted and burglars are back in jail. As punishment for his ungratefulness in saving his job, Harriette and Rachel chases Carl around.
Plot[]
The episode begins with the Winslow family all getting ready to go ice skating, except for Carl, who is exhausted after working a double shift and just wants to rest. The family leaves as Carl lies back on the sofa and relaxes, eventually falling asleep. As he slept, the next scene shows the Winslow house totally cleaned out: they were robbed! The family returns from spending the day at the ice skating rink and are horrified to find their house totally empty, as the robbers only left the sofa pillows that Carl is sleeping on. Harriette repeatedly tries to wake Carl up before he finally does after she screams his name and asks where was the furniture to which Carl replies "What Furniture, Harriette ???" before FULLY waking up to find out that they were robbed and that he slept through the entire thing. The rest of the family races through the house to see what else was stolen, leaving Rachel with Carl. She wants to call the police but Carl stops her, telling her that he IS the police and that if his co-workers found out that he slept through the robbery of his own home, he'll be the laughingstock of the Chicago Precinct. Then, Steve enters the Winslow home, greeting them by saying "Heidy-Ho, Winslows !". The nerd takes a look around and sees that the house is empty and jumps to the wrong conclusion: the Winslows are moving without telling him, leaving Rachel & Carl annoyed. Harriette later explains to Steve that they were robbed.
Next, Carl's co-worker from the precinct named Al, is dusting for fingerprints as he tells Carl that there are no fingerprints, then Al's got jokes by calling Carl "Sleeping Beauty" and telling him that "someday his prince will come" as he starts laughing hysterically and Carl is annoyed before telling him that it would be a long time before he'll make sergeant, to which Al abruptly stops laughing and resumes dusting for fingerprints. Then, Lt. Murtaugh emerges from the kitchen, referring to Carl as "Rip Van Winslow" and proceeds to tell him that he's almost finished with the robbery report and asks for a description of the perpetrators before he realizes that Carl slept through the entire ordeal as he & Al start laughing hysterically, making Carl more agitated as he tells his boss & co-worker to "get it all out" and then tells them that HE will have the last laugh, that he WILL find his furniture AND track down the culprits who did the dirty deed to him and that ALL of his fellow officers will say that he is one HECK of a cop, circling him in a giant "doughnut of admiration". Lt. Murtaugh then says to Carl that he misjudged him and then he is not the kind of guy who things lying down; but the kind of guy who lies down while OTHER people take things as he & Al resume their hysterically laughing fit (and Al accidentally dumping the fingerprint powder on Carl's shirt).
Next scene shows Eddie and his best friend, Waldo Geraldo Faldo, in the empty kitchen with only a lamp, table & two chairs, studying for the upcoming chemistry exam when Steve comes over. Eddie tells the nerd that he is so glad to see him and that he's having a difficult time, that's he's way behind and that he may flunk the course. Steve says "Oh, don't be a fuddy-duddy, I'll be your study buddy" as he proceeds to hang his coat on the wall, only to discover that the robbers even ripped the coat hooks off the walls. Eddie then explains to the nerd that he could study all night long and STILL flunk the course....unless Steve helps him....by cheating. Steve & Waldo are horrified at Eddie's suggestion but he prefers to call it "sharing". Waldo is appalled and reprimands his friend for it. When Eddie questions why he's offended, Waldo points out that cheating is wrong and he should know better. As he grabs his jacket to leave, Waldo faces him and mentions that he may get F's in school, but by God, he earns them instead of resorting to cheating like Eddie is doing. Steve says that he'd never thought he'd see the day when he actually AGREED with Waldo. He then tries to persuade Eddie NOT to cheat on the upcoming exam and that he may soon have a serious problem if he makes this a habit. Eddie swears that this will be a one-time thing and begs Steve to help him just this once but the nerd refuses to budge. The only Winslow son then makes a desperate plea to Steve, even going as far and to put his arm around him, calling him "Buddy" to which the nerd sobs and caves in to Eddie's pleas.....but only if he agrees to study chemistry with him day & night until he's caught up, Eddie agrees. Steve then comes up with a way to help Eddie cheat; by pretending to have a cold (he'll sneeze if the answer is A, cough is the answer is B, blow his nose if the answer is C, hiccup if the answer is D).
The next day, the day OF the chemistry exam, Steve has run into a MAJOR problem: he really DOES HAVE a cold. The chemistry teacher, Mr. Howard, then instructs his students to take their seats to begin testing just as Eddie arrives at the last possible second, insisting that he "studied really hard" before the teacher instructs him to sit down. As the students begin their chemistry exam & Mr. Howard pacing up and down the aisles, Eddie tries to get Steve's attention by exaggeratingly clearing his throat. The nerd sneezes as Eddie thinks the first answer to the test is "A" but then Steve proceeds to cough, then blow his nose, leaving Eddie confused as Mr. Howard walks up to Steve asking him if he had trouble controlling his bodily fluids to which the nerd replies that he woke up with a cold and then the teacher sarcastically replies back that Steve decided to "bring it in for show & tell". Eddie believes it's a cover as Steve whispers to him that he really DID come down with a cold before Mr. Howard bellows "No Talking !" as he continued to pace through the aisles. Eddie then tosses Steve a handwritten note that read "(with Eddie's voiceover) Steve, Please Help ! Give me the answer to the test". The nerd reluctantly proceeds to write down the answers on the handwritten note just as he gets caught by Mr. Howard and confiscates the note. The teacher then demands to know whom Steve was helping to cheat as Eddie looks over at him. Steve does not rat him out as Mr. Howard orders the nerd to march down to the principal's office and give him a good reason WHY he should NOT be expel him for cheating as he sadly leaves the classroom, leaving Eddie to fend for himself.
Back at the Winslow household, lawn furniture is placed in the living room as Harriette is shown propping pillows on a lounge chair, then she grabs her magazine and proceeds to lay back in the chair as the chair's back support snaps all the way back, leaving Harriette facing the ceiling just as Carl arrives home from a frustrating day on the task force and warns his wife that the subject about the furniture being stolen is closed but Harriette opens that can of worms anyway. She tells Carl that she's tired on having to sit in lawn chairs, stating how uncomfortable they are but he's already having a difficult time as he's beginning to have doubts about himself, having slept through the robbery and everyone on the force making fun of him because of it. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Laura is seen chewing her brother out, demanding to know whether or not, would he confess the truth about him neglecting to study for the chemistry test and relying on Steve to help him cheat. Eddie nonchalantly replies that he hadn't planned on it, stating that one person is already in trouble and two people would be in trouble in he confessed. Laura is irate at the fact that Eddie forced Steve to help him cheat and left him high and dry now that he's faced with the possibility of being expelled from school. She then shouts at her older sibling, reminding him that Steve has been a real friend to him and it's high time to return the favor. Steve is grateful and glances at her praising "God, I love you". Heeding Laura's advice, Eddie finally realizes his part in the whole ordeal and announces that tomorrow morning, he'll meet with Principal Shimata and confess the truth (and putting himself in MAJOR trouble).
Later that night, the burglars (named Ned & Langweaver) who've ripped off the Winslows earlier, are back at the scene of the crime, ready to rob them of more loot. They look through the window to see Carl sitting in one of the lawn chairs reading a newspaper. One robber, named Ned, asks why were they robbing the Winslow home again, stating they've already took everything to which the other robber replies that he wants revenge on Carl for having him put away in prison, receiving a 12-year sentence. He then sticks a pump through the mail slot, releasing sleeping gas into the living room as this is what put Carl to sleep when the robbers took everything the first time around. As Carl continues fumbling through the newspaper, Eddie & Steve emerge from the kitchen wanting to speak with him as the Winslow patriarch invites them to sit down and make themselves uncomfortable (due to the lawn chairs). Eddie begins to confess the truth to his father about having cheated on his chemistry exam as the gas continues to seep through the mail slot. Carl is upset, stating that he can't remember the last time he's ever been so angry....and sleepy as the gas starts to take effect on him, Eddie & Steve as all three men collapse to the floor in deep sleep. As Carl and the boys slept, a loud metal bang is heard and the two robbers are busted by Rachel, Harriette & Estelle as they chase the men into the house with shovels. Harriette warns them not to try anything or they'd get another taste of her shovel but one of the robbers beg the ladies to go easy on him, stating he's a bleeder. Carl awakens long enough to ground Eddie, who's still knocked out due to the sleeping gas, before falling BACK to sleep and the Winslow women order the robbers to get against the wall and the police were called.
Now, that the robbers have been captured, all of the furniture & electronics that were stolen from the Winslow home have been returned. While helping everyone put everything back into place, Eddie grows tired of studying periodic table of elements but Steve reminds him that they must memorize the periodic table of elements in order for Principal Shimata to lift their suspensions & allow them to return to school as Steve mentions that he wants to get back to school, craving "academic nourishment". Eddie thinks that Urkel needs to lay off studying and have a social life. The boys then continue to study the table elements as they carry the dining table chairs into the kitchen while Harriette & Rachel strain themselves bringing a living room chair back in with Carl only carrying a table lamp and instructing the women where to place the chair. After they sit the chair down, the ladies stop to catch their breath before Carl puts his foot in his mouth by saying "that looked heavy" as they stare him down before he makes a mad dash for the kitchen as Rachel charges after him with Harriette shouting "Get him, Rach!" and the EP credits appear on the screen.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Reginald VelJohnson as Carl Winslow
- Jo Marie Payton as Harriette Winslow
- Rosetta LeNoire as Estelle Winslow
- Darius McCrary as Eddie Winslow
- Kellie Shanygne Williams as Laura Winslow
- Jaimee Foxworth as Judy Winslow
- Bryton James as Richie Crawford (credited as Bryton McClure)
- Jaleel White as Steve Urkel
- Telma Hopkins as Rachel Crawford
Guest[]
Recurring[]
Cameo[]
- Patrick Cornin as Mr. Howard
- Gary McGurk as Ned
- Gregory White as Al
- Howard George as Langweaver
Trivia[]
- Waldo's full name is supposedly Waldo Geraldo Faldo.
Quotes[]
- Carl: You find any prints, Al?
- Al: No... but don't worry, Sleeping Beauty, someday your prints will come.
- [laughs]
- Carl: Oh, cute, Al. Real cute. Haha. Be a long time before you make Sergeant.
- Al: [Stops laughing and continues dusting for prints]
- Eddie: I was thinking you could help me during the test.
- Waldo and Urkel: Cheating?
- Eddie: Shh! I prefer to call it sharing.
- Waldo: Well, I for one, am appalled.
- Eddie: Why are you upset, Waldo?
- Waldo: Cheating is wrong, Eddie, and you should know that. I may get Fs, but by God, I earn them.
- Urkel: I never thought I'd see the day when I actually agreed with Waldo Geraldo Faldo.
- Urkel: Eddo, cheating is like wearing your grandma's underpants. Sure, it might cover your heinie, but if you make a habit of it, you've got a serious problem.
- Laura: So, big bro, you gonna haul your ugly, guilty mug down to the principal's office and come clean?
- Eddie: Hadn't planned on it.
- Laura: Well, why not?
- Eddie: One person is already in trouble. If I confess, two people will be in trouble. All that does is put more people in trouble. I wouldn't be able to live with that.
- Laura: [angry] Eddie, you forced Steve to cheat! And now, when he needs you, you leave him high and dry! Steve was a real friend to you and it's about time you returned the favor!
- Urkel: [to Laura] God, I love you.