Sixteen Years and What Do You Get

"Sixteen Years and What Do You Get" is the sixth episode of Fox's hit comedy show, Married... with Children. It was written by Katherine Green and Richard Gurman, and originally aired on May 10, 1987.

Plot

On the morning of Al and Peggy's 16th year wedding anniversary, they agree to not make a big deal about it and don't have presents. However, Al then confesses to Bud and Kelly that he is planning to buy Peggy an expensive watch. The kids then tell Peggy about it much to her excitement. Meanwhile Marcy convinces her to invite a chef and a violinist for a big celebration.

In the afternoon, when Al goes to the store to buy the watch, his credit card is declined. Disappointed, he returns home thinking he won't have much trouble because they agreed to not have presents. But when everybody, the kids, the Rhoades, the chef and the violinist - even Al's co-worker, Luke - pop in to surprise him, he doesn't know what to do. When everybody finds out he didn't bring the watch, they all shun him. It is during dinner, that Al realizes that his card was declined due to Peggy and Kelly maxing it out to pay for dinner and presents. When Al confronts her, she is left speechless and he leaves the room.

As she goes to the garage to try to apologize to him, he tells her that he fixed her car radio, something she wanted for a long time. Peggy apologizes and they hug.

Cast

Main

• Al Bundy - Ed O'Neill
• Peggy Bundy - Katey Sagal
• Bud Bundy - David Faustino
• Kelly Bundy - Christina Applegate
• Steve Rhoades - David Garrison
• Marcie Rhoades - Amanda Bearse

Guest

• Luke Ventura - Ritch Shydner
• Violinist - Walter Olekwicz
• Salesman - Don Draper
• Marcel the Chef - Elias Zarou
• Mr. Conner - Richard Sanders

Popular and Cultural References

• Al prepares Tang orange juice for breakfast.
• Peggy wonders what gift belongs to the 16th anniversary to which Al replies "brimstone". In modern tradition, a 16th anniversary gift is silver holloware.
• When Steve and Marcy questions Peggy what they have planned, she replies "I'll fix dinner. We'll exchange presents. Then he'll watch midget wrestling".
• Steve comments of how Al and Peggy's wedding album has Polaroids, whereas they videotaped theirs.
• When Kelly finds out Bud gave Peggy her diary, she calls him "You Nazi Fascist psychopath".
• When Al tries to cover up his lack of a present, he comes to Peggy with a can of motor oil and a road flare.
• When Al finds out that his credit card was declined because Peggy had used it to pay for the dinner, his present, and the violinist, he says "Ol' Mr. Skinflint here kind of paid for everything, didn't he?".
• In the end, Al and Peggy claim that "War", the song from Edwin Starr, is their song.

References

External links

• Episode transcript