6.17 The Graduate

Chris: My god, they've taken out the whole transcendental 45th. Emerson! Fuller! Thoreau! They've taken out the whole western canon! (6)

Original Air Date(2): March 8, 1995

Production Number: 77815

Written by(1): Sam Egan

Directed by(1): Jim Hayman

Log line(1): Maggie learns the harsh realities of running a business; Chris gets his Masters degree in Comparative Literature; Holling's dark secret is revealed.

Synopsis(1): Maggie outbids Maurice to buy Cicely's only movie house and hires Ed as manager and film consultant and Heather Haines to work the counter. Trying to run a loose, employee-friendly ship, she silently gets angry when Ed schedules obscure cult films and Heather leaves early, arrives late, and poisons the customers with rancid butter on the popcorn. When Maggie gets so frustrated where she can't sleep or eat because of stress, she fires Heather and instructs Ed to book some mainstream hits. Although Ed is initially crestfallen and Heather is furious, the theater business picks up and Maggie gains the respect of Ed.

Having passed his equivalence exams and written a thesis, Chris has to pass oral exams to earn a Masters degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Alaska. After Chris passes his first day of orals exams, he dreams that he is in heated battle with Poe, Shakespeare, Beethoven and Van Gogh and, after they are all slain, he is revealed as the enemy. He realizes from this dream that art speaks for itself and if you analyze something enough, you will figure out what it means. He moves his second round of orals to a baseball field that explains his conclusion -- the poem "Casey at the Bat" is about something in your gut -- which earns him his degree.

Patrick Dulac comes to town convinced that Holling is his father since he has been sending Patrick and his mother monthly checks ever since he was a child. Since neither Shelly nor Patrick will believe the truth, Holling agrees that Patrick is his son and goes along with the charade. Breaking down, Holling finally bursts out that he murdered Patrick's father in self defense during an argument. Feeling guilty of taking away mother and son's source of income, Holling began sending money after he left town. Attempting to defend the honor of his father, Patrick challenges Holling to a duel but, when Holling refuses, Patrick calms down and the two begin to bond like family.

Details(2): Chris' homespun dissertation: "Casey at the Bat - an AntiFiliopietistic Metaphor for America's Role in Post-Cold-War-GeoPolitics".

Patrick Dulac, 26. Vincoeur family friend and translator for the Canadian Defense Ministry. On his way to Kyoto, Japan. Wears the uniform of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Holling and Philemon (Patrick's father) worked on a tobacco farm in the St. Lawrence lowland.

Ed's movie selections include: "Diabolique", "Last Year at Marienbad", "Dr. Mabuse, King of Crime", "The Italian Straw Hat", "Eyes Without a Face", "The Bicycle Thief", "The Wages of Fear", "Mr. Hulot's Holiday" and "The Blue Angel".

Members of Chris' transcendental 45th Regiment include Van Gogh, Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Beethoven, Emerson, Fuller, Thoreau.

Most Memorable Quote: "So much depends upon a red wheel barrow, glazed with rain water, beside the white chickens." William Carlos Williams

Guest Stars: (1)
Owen - George Barril
Professor Martin - Jack Blessing
Dick Schuster - David Spielberg

Patrick Dulac - Peter Simmons
Heather Haynes - Charmaine Craig (also appeared in 6.2 and 6.19)
Patron - Brad Gooding
William Shakespeare - William Salyers (also appeared in 5.9)
Edgar Allen Poe - Robert Tompkins

Chuck Greywolf sighting:
Chris and Dick Schuster walk from KBHR to the Brick - Chuck passes them on the street. I also think he is sitting up behind Maggie during Chris' graduation ceremony.

Music: [Help! Email me if you know these missing tunes.]
• piano tune (schoolish) when Chris explains his graduate work.

• accordian tune in Brick when Patrick arrives.

• Suddenly Last Summer - The Motels
[Prof. Martin arrives at KBHR.]

• jazzy dance tune when Ed and Heather dance instead of work at the movie theater.

When the Ice Worms Nest Again (sung by Holling, Shelly and Patrick.)
[The three and Randi go on a sleigh ride.]

• classical piano piece at Maurice's house when the professors argue.

• What I Say - Ray Charles
[Chris debates what to do.]

• country female singer in the Brick when Holling gives Patrick the Panama hat.

• classical tune at end when Chris gets his diploma.

Shelly's Earrings:
white bars? milk bottles? [Patrick arrives at the Brick.]
Gold revolvers [Talks to Holling about Patrick.]
white balls [Patrick leaves.]

Additional Notes :
The first movie Maggie's movie theatre plays is The Bicycle Thief. Then she requests Dumb and Dumber.

Footnotes and additional research:
1. MCA TV Promotional Kit dated 9/27/95
2. Revised NE Bible: New and Improved fro 94-95 season! Memo from: Ursula Wendel and Cynthia Cohen- Gugisch
3. Print-out of Jude Shabry's music list from the Moose's Guide to Northern Exposure.
4. Intertain 2000 collection of NX music online
5. Geoff's Miscellany
6. Kevin Wright's Culture NX Quotes for Season 6.


Created 3/9/02

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