Diff'rent Strokes/The Bicycle Man (2)

The Bicycle Man (2)
Season 5, Episode 17
Airdate	February 12, 1983
Production Number	0517
Written by	Blake Hunter
Directed by	Gerren Keith
← 5x16 The Bicycle Man (1)	5x18 → Family on Ice
Diff'rent Strokes — Season Five

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The Bicycle Man (2) is the seventeenth episode of the fifth season of Diff'rent Strokes, and the one hundred twelfth episode overall.

The episode (a two-parter also available in feature-length) was among the most famous of the series -- its plot centered on an unsuspecting Arnold and Dudley falling prey to a child molester -- and helped cement the situation comedy's reputation for presenting heavy-handed "very special episodes." Already having presented episodes with adult themes such as racism, student busing and drug abuse, "Bicycle Man" ratcheted things up a notch, using comedy to frame a very un-comedic situation.

Starring: Conrad Bain (Philip Drummond), Gary Coleman (Arnold Jackson), Todd Bridges (Willis Jackson)

and Dana Plato (Kimberly Drummond)

Gordon Jump (Mr. Horton), Shavar Ross (Dudley), Le Tari (Ted Ramsey), Brad Trumbull (Detective Simpson)

Plot Overview

Michael Horton was the genial operator of Horton's Bicycle Shop, and was a civic-minded businessman with a seemingly genuine interest in youth-related causes. He also had a unique rapport with Arnold and Dudley ... but it soon became creepy in the worst kind of way, as the boys never suspected anything amiss as -- after he got to know the boys and they established that they were friends -- he started playing "games" with them and showing them pornographic photos, magazines and comic books.

One afternoon, Horton tries to make his first move, hoping to lower the boys' guards by feeding them pizza ... and wine! A customer comes into the shop and Mr. Horton has the boys go into his bedroom to jump on the bed (hoping to "wrestle" with them later), but then Arnold can see that it's Mr. Drummond! As Drummond tells a rambling story that keeps an increasingly impatient Horton occupied, Arnold and Dudley decide to hightail it home and leave Horton behind. When Arnold comes home, Willis and Kimberly notice Arnold chewing a large wad of gum and have him spit it out ... only to smell wine on his breath. They get Arnold to admit he was drinking, but wanting to cover for Horton, he says that he and Dudley were given wine by Mr. Ramsey.

The next day, Arnold and Dudley again visit Horton, who says he was a little disappointed that they ran off, but Arnold says he had to get home, which is OK with Horton. He decides to show them some cartoons, but these cat and mouse games are clearly X-rated ... and while Dudley is clearly amused, Arnold finally has enough and decides that he's got to be going. Horton says, OK, more for Dudley and me!

Before Arnold gets home, Mr. Ramsey pays Drummond a visit, wanting an explanation for why he's serving wine to Dudley. Drummond is, of course, confused as to what's going on, and then Willis and Kimberly tell Mr. Ramsey that Arnold came home the other day with wine on his breath and said that Ramsey had given him wine. Arnold then arrives home and Drummond wants answers. Arnold tries to stall but then blurts out, "Mr. Horton." "Mr. Horton?" a confused Willis asks, and Kimberly asks, "What's Mr. Horton got to do with this?" Arnold then fills Drummond in with all the details, Willis begins to ask, "You don't think?" after which Drummond suggests that Horton may not be the friendly man he thought he was. When Arnold lets slip that Dudley was still at the bicycle shop, everyone fears the worst, with Willis wanting to come along and Drummond calling the police.

Horton is just beginning to lock up the shop when Drummond arrives. "Sorry, we're closed," but the police come in and stop him from trying to get to the apartment. Inside, Dudley apparently vomits into the toilet, and then reveals to his father that Horton tried to touch him, and when Dudley tried to resist, he gave him a pill to "relax."

In the end, the detective tells the family that they apparently had their eye on Horton for awhile and that by calling the police first instead of confronting him directly, they were able to get a lot of evidence he was involved in child pornography and pedophiliac behavior. Everyone learns a lesson about trust and friendship.