3.12 Our Tribe

 

 

 

 


Original Air Date: January 13, 1992 Production number: 77512
Written by: David Assael
Directed by: Lee Shallet


Joel: What's the story here? We're talking testimonial, rubber chicken, followed by speeches, we smoke a peace pipe, I get a plaque, that sort of thing?

Log line (1): Joel reluctantly undergoes a cultural conversion after receiving a goat as a gift from a grateful village elder, who insists on "adopting" him into her tribe, and a mysterious Holling shuts down the Brick, ostensibly to wax the floors.
Synopsis (1):

When Joel gracefully tries to refuse a goat as payment for treatment, Mrs. Noanuk (guest star Rosetta Pintado), the tribal elder, opts for a bigger reward - making Joel a member of her tribe! Joel still doesn't want to become an Indian, and Mrs. Noanuk takes this as an insult to her tribe and ancestors. Marilyn also takes this as an affront and gives Joel the silent treatment until he finally relents. The first thing he has to do is give away all his worldly possessions. Thinking it is only a symbolic giving away, Joel allows many of his belongings to be taken away and later becomes very upset when some of his things show up at a garage sale. Next, he must fast, then he has to go into the woods at night, with Ed as his guide, to search for his vision - only then can he be initiated into the tribe as Heals With Tools.

Meanwhile, Holling sends Shelly to Saskatoon, claiming he needs to refinish the floor, and closes up the bar. Maggie becomes suspicious when Holling starts receiving secret packages. She sneaks in one night and discovers that Holling is searching the night sky with a telescope. He tells her he is looking for a star he bought for Eleanor almost forty years ago. She was the most remarkable woman he ever knew, and he tried to let her know where to look in the sky. Eventually, a friend wrote that Eleanor had died. This is the last chance he has to see the star before it fades into astral oblivion. He intended to keep this a secret from everyone and asks Maggie to keep the secret with him.

Background
(Production Bible):

Rabbi Ragins encouraged Joel to continue his religious education.

Facts to Wax
(Production Bible):

Eleanor was a friend of Holling's a long time ago in Calgary days, who into astronomy.

Gloria first gives Joel a goat which he names Dizzy after Gillespie.

The tribe gives him a bearskin vest.

Council of elders: Henry Morning Star, president; Judy Baker, George Tuck and Libby Stevens.

Joel's a republican, a Knicks fan and a 40 regular.

Next closest bar is the Mule Kick in Sleetmute 200 miles away.

What do you see when you look at the moon? Alan Shepherd's feet (Maurice.) Mitch the Pizza Face (Joel). A bunny (ed). The moon (Maggie) [MC: when she was a teen, thought she would see the person she would marry. Mostly Mick Jaggar but once it was Ron Howard].

Guest stars (9): Gloria Noanuk - Rosetta Pintado
Morning Star - Harry Pringle
Indian Chief - Robert Nicholson
Judy Baker - Mary Waskey
George Tuck - Al Hood
Libby Stevens - Katherine Davis
Goat Sounds - Frank Welker

Music:
(Note music listed is from the original TV airings. The DVD may differ.)

On Monday - Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers
[Ruth-Anne and Holling talk about waxing the floors.]

Going Steady - Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers
[Holling kicks everyone out of the bar.]

On the Alamo - Benny Goodman Sextet
[Joel and Marilyn talk on the street.]

The Sky Fell Down - Tommy Dorsey
[Joel goes to Rutn-Anne's. Everyone is waiting in line for coffee since the Brick is closed.].]

Honey Babe - Red Clay Ramblers
[Joel enters his office. The town has transformed his office into a makeshift Brick.]

Blue Interlude - Artie Shaw
[Holling tealls Maggie about his star charts and Eleanor.]

Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington
[Chris on the radio, bummed about the Brick being closed. Maurice tries to cheer him up.]

Shelly's Earrings: Tropical fish [At Joel's ceremony at the end.] (She was in Saskatoon most of the show.)
Ed's Movie References: A Man Called Horse (1970)
[Fleischman drinks his tea and commiserates with Ed.] (Thanks John!) 

Additional:

Joel's indian name is Heals With Tools
Name a Star - the Star Registry

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© Copyright, 2007 • Northern Exposure is Copyright © Universal City Studios. All Rights Reserved. • Created 1/29/02 • Updated 10/7/07