Diff'rent Strokes Season 4 Episode 16 The Car
- TV-PG
- February 25, 1982
- 22 min
-
5.5 (64)
The episode "The Car" from season 4 of Diff'rent Strokes follows the ups and downs of the Drummond family as they navigate their way through a serious car accident involving Willis and his girlfriend.
After a night out, Willis and his girlfriend, Charlene, borrow Mr. Drummond's car to go back to Charlene's place. On the way there, they get into a car accident and the car is totaled. The accident causes Charlene to break her leg, while Willis is left unscathed.
Mr. Drummond is understandably upset when he finds out about the accident, but he is relieved to hear that Willis and Charlene are okay. However, his relief is short-lived when he learns that the other driver involved in the accident has sustained serious injuries.
Feeling guilty about what has happened, Willis decides to take responsibility for the accident by working extra hours at his job to pay for the damages caused by the crash. He also makes the difficult decision to break up with Charlene, feeling that he cannot bear the thought of putting her in danger again by driving.
The accident and its aftermath also serve as a lesson to Arnold and his friend, Dudley, who have been messing around with Mr. Drummond's car and joyriding. Seeing the consequences of what can happen when you are careless while driving is a wake-up call for the boys and they vow to never take driving safety for granted again.
Meanwhile, Charlene's parents are understandably upset about what has happened to their daughter and are considering taking legal action against Willis. However, after talking to Mr. Drummond and learning about Willis' efforts to take responsibility for his actions, they decide not to press charges and instead focus on helping their daughter recover from her injuries.
As Willis struggles with the aftermath of the accident and the guilt he feels about what has happened, he turns to Mr. Drummond for support. With Mr. Drummond's help, Willis comes to terms with what has happened and learns to forgive himself for his mistakes.
Overall, "The Car" is a powerful episode that tackles the serious issue of driving safety and the consequences of reckless behavior behind the wheel. Through the Drummonds and their experiences, viewers are reminded of the importance of being responsible while driving and are shown the devastating consequences that can arise when we are not.