Ep 4. Summer of '82

Set in the early 1980s, Family Ties follows the adventures of the Keaton family, a tight-knit bunch who are bound together by their love for each other. Season 1 Episode 4, titled "Summer of '82," opens with the Keatons taking a family vacation to a nearby lakeside cabin. While everyone is excited to get away for some R&R, the vacation isn't quite what they expected.

As the family settles into their new home for the next few days, they quickly find that they aren't alone at the cabin. Enter Steve (played by Tom Hanks), a cheerful and outgoing young man who has rented the cabin next door to the Keatons.

At first, the Keatons are hesitant to interact with Steve, not wanting to be disrupted by an outsider. However, it doesn't take long for them to realize how much they've misjudged him.

Steve quickly becomes a fixture in the Keaton's vacation, offering up his boat so they can go out on the lake, lending them fishing gear, and even building a massive sandcastle with the youngest Keaton, Andy.

Despite their initial reservations, the family quickly grows to appreciate Steve and his easy-going nature. He fits right in with their brand of humor and jibes, and the family is sad to see him go when their vacation comes to an end.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to glimpses of the Keaton's relationships with each other. Alex and Mallory engage in one of their classic sibling rivalries, while Elyse and Steven continue to balance their different parenting styles.

But, at the end of the day, you can't help but smile as you watch the Keatons come together and laugh alongside their new friend Steve. The Summer of '82 may not have been exactly what they expected, but it certainly left them with memories that will last a lifetime.