Diff'rent Strokes/The Bicycle Man (1)

The Bicycle Man (1)
Season 5, Episode 16
Airdate	February 5, 1983
Production Number	0516
Written by	Blake Hunter
Directed by	Gerren Keith
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Diff'rent Strokes — Season Five

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The Bicycle Man (1) is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season of Diff'rent Strokes, and the one hundred eleventh episode overall.

The episode 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)

Plot Overview

Michael Horton was the owner of Horton's Bicycle Shop, a family-friendly shop with what was then America's pastime: bicycling. Horton is established as a civic-minded, charitable businessman who is friends with many of lower Manhattan's residents ... including the Drummonds.

When we first meet Horton, Mr. Drummond is returning bicycles his family had just rented to the shop. Arnold and Horton become fast friends and start doing one another favors -- Arnold passes out flyers at his school advertising the bike shop, and Horton gives him a handlebar radio in return. Business perks up at the shop, and Horton is happy with Arnold's work. The two decide to become more than just casual friends ... as Horton suggests that Arnold come to his shop every afternoon after school to spend some time together. Ice cream and comic books do the trick, and it isn't long before Arnold brings his friend, Dudley, along.

It's at this point when a slow reveal of a different side of Horton starts to emerge ... although no one ever would know it on a casual glance. He's suggested a number of games they can play by having Dudley take his shirt off! Also, he's told both of the boys that their together time should remain secret -- of course, there's no veiled threats or anything like that, but it's just the "Don't tell your dads that we're spending time together" line that makes things seem not right.

But the signs that something's not right with Horton start becoming more overt: As he runs his shop, Horton has the boys go into his apartment to read some of his magazines and comic books ... but everyone's naked in them. And then, he shows them some pictures he took of himself and a couple of his friends on a recent camping trip at the lake ... except they are all naked, too. What's worse: Arnold and Dudley don't suspect a thing, and for now, Horton is an all-around nice guy, all about fun, games and camaraderie.