"Richie Almost Dies" was the eighteenth episode of Season 5 of Happy Days, also the 106th overall episode in the series. Written by Marty Nadler, the episode, directed by Jerry Paris, premiered on ABC-TV on January 31, 1978.
Synopsis[]
Against Howard's better judgment, Richie buys a motorcycle, but he and Lori Beth get in an accident and Richie winds up in the hospital unconscious.
Plot[]
Richie buys a motorcycle from Fonzie, but when Howard angrily refuses to let him keep it Richie deliberately throws a tantrum to embarrass him, and Howard reluctantly capitulates when Fonzie assures him that as long as Richie wears safety gear there should be no problem.
Days later, Richie takes Lori Beth for a ride while Fonzie is out on a call; at the garage Chachi is repairing a truck rented by Al, Potsie and Ralph. The group is ecstatic when Chachi gets the engine running, but then Lori Beth rushes into the garage injured and wailing for help; Richie is lying unconscious in the street after they crashed on the motorcycle. The others all rush out to help him, but Al tells Chachi to stay with Lori Beth.
Richie is rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and the doctor's prognosis is not encouraging; while Richie has a broken left arm and a bad bruise on his forehead, he stands a good chance of recovery, but only if he regains consciousness; the doctor then adds that Richie was wise to wear his helmet or his injuries would have been much worse. Everyone else (except Fonzie) gathers at the Cunningham's house. Howard is certain that Richie will be okay, and the others try to reassure one another of the same thing before Leather wordlessly contributes a song on the piano.
Back at the hospital, Richie has stabilized, but is still comatose. After the doctor and nurse leave Richie's room, Fonzie sneaks in to visit with him alone. While there, he talks to Richie about all the things he still wants to do, and then, after asserting that Richie is his best friend, Fonzie prays to God (calling him "Sir") to help Richie to recover, saying, "I can fix a lot of things, but, um... this one is all Yours". As Fonzie continues praying, he breaks down in tears, sobbing.
The next morning, Howard and Marion arrive at the hospital to find Fonzie asleep in a chair next to Richie in his room. Howard and Marion both advise Fonzie to go home and get some sleep, but he refuses to leave. As the three start squabbling, Richie comes to. Howard calls the doctor in to check Richie out, and Fonzie steps to the side and looking up toward heaven, gives a thankful thumbs-up and an "A-ay-yy" to God.
Epilogue[]
Back home and with his left arm in a sling, Richie is with Lori Beth doing homework in the living room and are just beginning to make out again when Howard and Marion come through the front door. Seeing the two of them, Howard quips to Marion, "I told you he'd be his old self before long". Howard tells Richie that the motorcycle is fixed, but he decides he is better off getting rid of it.
Fun Fact(s)[]
- This is the first ever episode in which Fonzie refers to Richie as his best friend. It is also the only episode where Fonzie breaks down crying. According to Garry Marshall, the writers wanted to show to Fonzie's younger fans that's it was alright to cry.
Memorable Quotes[]
- Lori Beth: Help somebody! Help!
- Chachi: What happened?
- Lori Beth: We crashed!
- Chachi: What?
- Al: Are you alright?
- Lori: Not me, it's Richie! He's not moving! He's not moving!!
Fonzie's vigil dialogue and prayer[]
- Fonzie: (to Richie) How ya doing, Red? They wouldn't let me stay before, but I'm here now. Chachi says hello, hello... he loves working at that garage you know... you can't do this, a lot of people counting on you, you know, Mother, Father, Joanie, Ralph, Potsie, you can't go yet, you got a whole lifetime ahead of you. I mean you didn't even make the editor of that college paper, there's a lot of crummy journalism around, you gotta make it all straight, they need you. I need ya! You're my best friend. I know I've never said that before, but I'm saying it now. You're my best friend, and I don't want to lose you... (Fonzie's voice begins breaking as he turns to God in prayer...) Hey uhh, Sir? We gotta have a little chat here. It's my best friend Richie. He's in really bad shape. Yeah, I know you know that, but the world's kinda goin' a little wacko, y'know? And, uh, y'need need people down here like him, you know I do! (breaks up even more) I can fix a lot of things but um, this one's all yours, so let's make a little deal. (barely speaking) You do this for me, and I'll owe you one.
(begins sobbing uncontrollably)
Image gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham
- Henry Winkler as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli
- Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
- Anson Williams as Warren "Potsie" Weber
- Don Most as Ralph Malph
- Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
- Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio
- Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola
- Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
Guest starring/Recurring cast[]
- Lynda Goodfriend as Lori Beth Allen
- Robert Patten as Doctor
- Suzi Quatro as Leather Tuscadero
