Modern Family – Five Minutes

By: Paige Zinaman

Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) are onboard a plane heading to Turks and Caicos when Cam tells Mitchell that he caught a glimpse of their pilot who looks like Sully and who he believes is truly Sully. Mitchell tells Cam that he thinks the pilot is a woman when Cam tells him he knows what he’s doing and that he has no problem putting his life in the hands of a female pilot. About that time, the pilot comes over the intercom and tells them that they are ready to go, which is a relief to Cam who realizes the pilot is in fact a man. Cam and Mitchell pull their sleep masks over the heads and take the special pills that their friend gave them. As they lean back, their plane jerks forward and the engines stop. They lift their sleep masks asking if they landed when the pilot comes over saying they had mechanical issues and are heading back to the gate. As Mitchell tells Cam that it means their flight isn’t taking off he looks over noticing Cam is out cold.

When Cam and Mitchell make it to the gate and attendant (Carmella Riley) informs them that they are on the next flight to Dallas that will connect them to a plane to Turks and Caicos. Mitchell and Cam who are feeling the effects of the sleeping pills are not getting what she meant and argues with her until she gives up and hands them their boarding passes. She tells them they have four minutes to get to gate thirty-two and when they go to walk away Cam says gate four she yells at them that it’s thirty-two and to write it down. Mitchell takes the marker and writes thirty two on his arm. As they are going Cam tells Mitchell his bag is gone and that it has his passport in it. He spots another passenger with the same bag thinking he stole it and confronts him when Mitchell tells Cam that his bag is back on his shoulder. Mitchell tells Cam that if they are going to make it to Dallas and survive they are going to need….hats and walks off to the hat stand. When Mitchell comes back with a ton of baseball caps Cam spots little girl hats and says that they should get one for Linda which confuses Mitchell to which Cam says that she’s their daughter. Mitchell corrects him and says her name is Lily (Aubrey Emmons-Anderson) when Cam asks whey Mitchell has thirty-two written on his arm which he says he doesn’t know then says that they should write other stuff down that seems important so they don’t forget. A voice comes over the intercom in the airport telling Cam and Mitchell to report to gate thirty-two immediately making them think they are in trouble. Cam finds a chair and tells Mitchell it looks so inviting and that he can’t go on and tells Mitchell to tell Linda he loves her. Mitchell tells Cam to tell her himself and that he can’t go to Dallas without him because “the portions there are so big.” When Cam sits down Mitchell slaps him across the face telling him to get his act together because he’s going to gate thirty-two with him. A man (Julius Thomas III) driving a cart who works for the airport comes along and they ask him if he can take them to their gate. He drives an itch then stops at their gate. The second gate attendant (Shannon Joy Rodgers) they come across tells them they made it just in time.

Phil (Ty Burrell) and Claire (Julie Bowen) are headed to Alex’s (Ariel Winters) dorm room to check on her after their text messages go unanswered causing Phil to get worried. Claire tells him that maybe it’s not such a good idea to barge in on her like thi and she says maybe they should give her a heads up that they are coming. Phil knocks on the door and when it goes unanswered Claire tells him maybe it’s a good sign and that maybe she’s out with friends right as the door opens with Alex in a robe. When she asked them what they were doing there Claire tells her they thought they’d stop by to see how she’s doing and maybe take her to get a bite to eat. About that time the microwave goes off and she tells them her burrito is ready. When they come in Claire notices the wine and asks if she’s drinking. Alex tells her that wine helps her sleep sometimes and that she wished they would have called because she is so busy with school stuff right now. When a cat came out of the blankets Claire asks about it. Alex tells her that it’s not hers. Claire asks Alex if she’s sure she’s alright because it’s a Saturday and she’s drinking wine in her bathrobe and a come from nowhere cat. Alex tells her that if they take away the cat she’s basically Claire. When they mention how she is maybe depressed Alex goes off and says that maybe she’s spending time with someone special; about that time Ben (Joe Mande) pops out of a chest in boxers and a t-shirt shocking Phil, Claire and even Alex. Claire is not comfortable with Alex dating Ben, while Phil asks if that’s why Alex hasn’t been coming home. When Ben explains his job to Phil it is Claire that shakes her head. Phil tells him that it may go a lot better if he threw a towel on. Ben asks Claire to not fire him and Claire asks how long they have been sneaking around. Alex tells them that they’ve been together for about two months and they took a break when she went to San Diego, which was a shock to Ben. Claire who is still not okay with Ben and Alex tells her that she knew she recognized the cat and that she should know that Ben brings his cat to work and on dates. Alex informs her parents that Ben thought it was time the two most important “girls” in his life met. Claire tells them that she can’t go to work every day and wonder why Ben has that stupid smile on his face. Alex asks Claire one simple question, “Why are you making this all about you?” She then tells her parents that this is the first adult relationship she’s had in forever. Phil asks Claire if he can talk to her for a second when she tells him he can tell her in front of everyone. He tells her that she’s overreacting a little; continuing on saying that they went there thinking their daughter was depressed when it turns out she is dating someone and he turns out to be pretty sweet and harmless. Claire decides to tell everyone that Ben kissed her, which Ben explains he thought he had to or he’d lose his job telling them that Claire reached over to grab the last Spring Roll and whispered in his face “Mama’s Hungry.” Phil tells Claire that it sounds like that one was on her which she says she’d use her position to get Tony from the warehouse and not Ben. Ben tells her that it was a mistake. Alex jumps to his defense and says that “Maybe I like a little off. And that’s not all he is, he’s an amazing person who somehow gets me. He’s thoughtful and smart and I feel like I can be myself around him.” Phil tells Claire that Alex isn’t sad and lonely; Claire tells him that it’s so much worst. Phil tells her to look at Alex then asks her when she’s ever seen her so happy.

Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is driving with Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) in the back seat. They are headed for a movie when Jay informs him that the movie starts in five minutes and to speed it up. Manny tells Jay that he is not going over twenty miles per hour with the cappuccino machine not fastened. Gloria points out a spot for Manny to park who says it’s tight, but he’ll give it a try. Jay tells him that he’s too close to the curb and that he’s going to hit it right when the car hits. Gloria tells Manny that it’s okay and that he can do it. A car honks their horn causing Manny to roll down the window and tell them to go around him. He tries to back into the spot again when Jay tells him to get out and that he will park the car. Gloria tells him that it’s not a surprise that he wants to take over. Manny tells them that the spot just isn’t happening and goes to find another as Gloria tells Jay about all the times he takes over the situation. Manny finds another spot and tries to back in before hitting the curb again and goes to find another one as the two bicker in the backseat. He tells them that he’s going to pull into the parking garage when he notices it’s twelve dollars and goes down the street. Jay tells Gloria to retell the story to Manny about her trip to the grocery store, and about how she thought how she saw Sandra Bullock. Manny follows a woman down the road thinking she’s going to go to her car and leave, but turns out the woman thought Manny was stalking her. When Gloria asks if Manny is listening and he tells her no, Jay finishes the story for Gloria when Manny finds another spot and turns on his blinker when another car steals the spot. Gloria tells Jay that it’s not about who tells the best stories it’s about how he jumps into the conversation like he wanted her to stop talking and about how it makes her feel stupid and hurts her feelings. Jay tells her that it’s the last thing he meant to happened and tells her about the little boy in his neighborhood who stuttered and how the kids would laugh and the teacher would tell him to study harder. He tells Gloria he was the little kid it and it made her feel a little better. Manny has finally found a parking spot.

Haley (Sarah Hyland) and Rainer (Nathan Fillion) are out to dinner for Rainer’s birthday, Haley has the waitress prepare the cake and birthday song as she goes to sit down. Rainer tells Haley he’s a little nervous and proposes to Haley. After giving a speech Haley agrees to marry Rainer telling him that she doesn’t want to over think it. While getting a closer look at it Rainer tells her that the ring was his grandmother and that he is so happy he can’t stop smiling. At that time, it starts storming. Rainer says he can’t believe his forecast was wrong and wonders what else is going wrong. This causes Haley to panic. It ends in Haley and Rainer cancelling the engagement and ultimately ends their relationship.

A lot of things can happen in five mintues.