Ep 22. Mel's Cup

Alice season 1 episode 22, entitled "Mel's Cup," is a comedic episode that centers on Mel, the tough-guy cook at Mel's Diner. As usual, chaos reigns at the diner and Alice is trying desperately to keep things under control, but Mel is making it impossible.

The episode begins with Mel stumbling in to work after a long night out, hungover and disheveled. He's supposed to be cooking breakfast, but he's in no shape to do so. Instead, he spends most of his time sitting at the counter, nursing a cup of coffee, and grumbling at anyone who dares ask him to do anything.

When the regulars at the diner notice that Mel isn't acting like himself, they start to get concerned. One of them suggests that he might be sick, but Mel brushes off their worries and insists that he's just tired. Alice, however, knows that something must be wrong and sets out to discover what's going on.

As she tries to investigate, Alice finds out that Mel has lost the cup he always uses for his coffee. This may not seem like a big deal, but to Mel, it's catastrophic. The cup has sentimental value to him and he can't imagine drinking his coffee out of anything else.

Alice decides to take matters into her own hands and enlists the help of the other waitresses to try to find the missing cup. They search high and low, turning the diner upside down, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Mel grows increasingly agitated and continues to yell at anyone who crosses his path.

Finally, just when things seem at their worst, Alice has a stroke of genius. She realizes that the cup may have gotten mixed up with the dishes in the back, and sure enough, that's exactly where it is. Alice returns the cup to Mel, who is ecstatic to have it back in his possession.

In the end, all is well at Mel's Diner once again, and Mel is back to his old self. The episode ends with the usual banter between the employees of the diner, as they joke and laugh with one another, grateful for the little moments of joy that make life worth living.

Overall, "Mel's Cup" is a lighthearted episode of Alice that highlights the importance of sentimental objects and the bonds we form with the people and things around us. With its witty writing and charming performances, this episode is a must-see for fans of the series.