Ep 9. Earthquake

Set in a Manhattan municipal courtroom, Night Court is a half-hour comedy series that follows the absurd and unpredictable cases that come before the night shift judge, Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson). In season 4 episode 9, titled "Earthquake," a 4.6 magnitude earthquake rattles the city, causing chaos in and outside the courthouse.

The episode begins with Christine Sullivan (Markie Post) running late for work due to the earthquake. When she finally arrives, she's in a panic because she left her briefcase with all the case files at home. Meanwhile, Harry is trying to keep everyone calm and collected while dealing with a courtroom full of defendants who are freaking out about the earthquake.

In the chaos, we see a range of entertaining individuals in Night Court's usual humorous fashion, such as the eccentric lady who claims she's from Mars and tells Harry she's there to take him to her planet to be her king. There's also an elderly couple who want to get married before the building collapses, and a man who demands a fair trial by combat with a police officer who ticketed him.

As the earthquake continues, Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) tries his best to impress a beautiful reporter who is covering the disaster. He even goes as far as to fake an injury, pretending to be a hero, and participates in an on-the-spot interview. But the reporter quickly catches on to Dan's tricks.

Back in the courtroom, a group of criminals tries to escape during the confusion caused by the earthquake. A prisoner in handcuffs hides under Christine's desk, while another prisoner named Alex (played by guest star Michael J. Fox) manages to convince Bull (Richard Moll) to let him go to the bathroom, only to make a run for it.

Harry is forced to take matters into his own hands to stop the escapees, and he's aided by Alex, who has a change of heart and helps catch the culprits. By the end of the episode, the quake settles down, and everyone goes back to business as usual.

Overall, "Earthquake" is a typical episode of Night Court, filled with the show's trademark humor and wacky characters. However, the earthquake serves as a unique and compelling backdrop that adds to the chaos of the courtroom, making for an entertaining half-hour of television.