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The Front Door is the sixth episode of season one.


Summary[]

When Axl accidentally breaks down the front door, Mike insists that he fix it to teach him a lesson, which leaves the Heck house wide open for days. At work, Frankie needs to sell a car within a week, or she will have to wear a dog suit outside the lot for promotion. Meanwhile, it's picture day at school, and Sue is concerned because she has never had a flattering picture taken of herself.

Plot[]

Frankie wants Mike to force their slacker son Axl to, well, stop being such a slacker. When Axl doesn’t fall in line, Mike says the boy needs to be punished. Axl storms out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.

Thank goodness the Heck family living room doesn’t have hardwood floors. Otherwise, the sound of the front door falling completely off its hinges and crashing inward could have been a lot worse. Mike says the door will stay right where it is until Axl fixes it.

The problem with not having a front door is that Jehovah’s Witnesses can now walk right into your house. This is just one of the reasons Frankie desperately wants Mike to cave. Nevertheless, she supports him in his stubborn attempt to teach Axl a lesson as she rakes away the leaves that drift into the living room overnight. Hey, it gets pretty windy over there in Orson.

Mr. Ehlert tells his employees that whoever doesn’t sell a car within the week will be out on the street. No, they won’t be fired. They’ll literally be out on the street holding an advertising sign while wearing a giant dog suit. Frankie knows that she quickly needs to find a sales technique that works. Otherwise...woof!

Brick is making a pyramid out of sugar cubes. Frankie worries that he waited until the last minute to do a school project. Brick assures her that his school project isn’t due until next week. After a lot of hard work (and many stolen sugar cubes from the coffee station at Frankie’s work), the pyramid is complete. It looks fantastic. Unfortunately, Brick was only working on it for fun.

Brick’s actual school project is supposed to be a model of the state capitol building, and it’s due tomorrow. He says, “I’m gonna need some tongue depressors, 15-hundred stir sticks, and a giant green Styrofoam ball.” Frankie says they’re going to stick a Hoosier flag atop the sugar cube pyramid and pray for a C.

It’s class picture time, and Sue doesn’t photograph well, as evidenced by her first set of prints. Fear not, she can retake the picture. Unfortunately, Sue gets a blister in her mouth the day of the follow-up photo shoot. She was feeling the sore with her tongue when, you guessed it...FLASH! Third time’s the charm, right?

Frankie still hasn’t sold a car which means it’s only a matter of time before she’ll be donning that sweaty, smelly canine costume. When a customer muddies up the floorboard of a car, Frankie lectures the guy about how she has to clean it up. She continues to point out other flaws she learned about the guy during their test drive, primarily his indecisiveness. This motherly tough love speech hits home, and the customer buys a car. Way to go, Frankie! You found your hook. You’re a mom!

The Heck family is still doorless in Indiana. When a deer wanders into the kitchen to get a taste of Brick’s sugar cube pyramid, Frankie’s had enough. She fixes the door herself. Mike can’t believe she didn’t support his stance. Their difference of opinion doesn’t last long once Sue comes home with her third and final school photograph. One look, and they both agree that this one’s a keeper. In other words, they lie. But it’s a good lie. A lie that requires mutual support.

They further agree that Axl still needs to be punished. Frankie promises she’ll come up with something good. Say, isn’t that Axl standing outside the Ehlert car dealership in a giant dog suit?

The Middle Episodes
Season 1
PilotThe CheerleaderThe Floating AnniversaryThe TripThe Block PartyThe Front DoorThe ScratchThanksgivingSiblingsChristmasThe JeansThe NeighborThe InterviewThe YellingValentine's DayThe BeeThe Break-UpThe Fun HouseThe Final FourTV or Not TVWorry DutyMother's DaySignalsAverage Rules
Season 2
Back to SchoolHomecomingThe Diaper IncidentThe QuarryForeign ExchangeHalloweenA Birthday StoryErrand BoyThanksgiving IIA Simple ChristmasTaking Back the HouseThe Big ChillSuper SundayValentine's Day IIFriends, Lies and VideotapeHecks on a PlaneThe Math ClassSpring CleaningThe LegacyRoyal WeddingMother's Day IIThe PromThe BridgeBack to Summer
Season 3
Forced Family FunHecking OrderMajor ChangesThe TestBad ChoicesHalloween IIHeck's Best ThingThe PlayThanksgiving IIIA Christmas GiftYear of the HecksThe MapHecking It UpValentine's Day IIIThe ConcertThe Sit DownLeap YearThe Paper RouteGet Your Business DoneThe Guidance CounselorThe CloverThe TellingThe Wedding
Season 4
Last Whiff of SummerThe Second ActBunny TherapyThe HoseHalloween III: The DrivingThe SafeThanksgiving IVChristmas HelpTwenty YearsLife SkillsOne Kid at a TimeThe FriendThe SmileValentine's Day IVWinners and LosersWheel of PainThe NameThe BachelorDollar DaysFrom Orson with LoveHallelujah HoedownThe DitchThe Graduation
Season 5
The Drop OffChange in the AirThe PotatoThe 100thHalloween IV: The Ghost StoryThe JumpThanksgiving VThe KissThe Christmas TreeSleepless in OrsonWar of the HecksThe CarpoolHungry GamesThe AwardVacation DaysStormy MoonThe WalkThe SmellThe Wind ChimesThe OptimistOffice HoursHeck on a Hard BodyOrlandoThe Wonderful World of Hecks
Season 6
Unbraceable YouThe Loneliest LockerMajor AnxietyThe TableHalloween V: The HangingThe SinkholeThanksgiving VIThe College TourThe Christmas WallPam Freakin' StaggsA Quarry StoryHecks on a TrainValentine's Day VIThe AnswerSteaming Pile of GuiltFlirting with DisasterThe Waiting GameOperation InfiltrationSiblings and SombrerosFood CourtingTwo of a KindWhile You Were SleepingMother's Day ReservationsThe Graduate
Season 7
Not Your Brother's Drop OffCutting the CordThe ShirtRisky BusinessLand of the LostHalloween VI: Tick Tock DeathHomecoming II: The TailgateThanksgiving VIIThe ConventionNot So Silent NightThe RushBirds of a FeatherFloating 50Film, Friends and Fruit PiesHecks at a MovieThe Man HuntThe Wisdom TeethA Very Donahue VacationCrushedSurvey Says...The LanaiNot Mother's DayFind My HecksThe Show Must Go On
Season 8
The Core GroupA Tough Pill to SwallowHalloween VII: The HeckoningTrue GritRoadkillThanksgiving VIILook Who's Not TalkingTrip and FallA Very Marry ChristmasEscape OrsonHoosier MaidPitch ImperfectOvary and OutSorry Not Sorry Dental Hijinks Swing and a Miss Exes and OhhhsThe Par-tayThe ConfirmationAdult SwimClear and Present DangerThe Final FinalFight or Flight
Season 9
Vive La HecksPlease Don't Feed the HecksMeet the ParentsHalloween VIII: Orson Murder MysteryRole of a LifetimeThe SetupThanksgiving IXEyes Wide OpenThe 200thNew Year's RevelationsThe Other ManMommapaloozaGuess Who's Coming to Frozen DinnerToastedThe Crying GameHecks vs. Glossners: The Final BattleThank You for Not KissingBat Out of HeckGreat HeckspectationsThe Royal FlushSplit DecisionA Heck of a Ride
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