Like most parents, Modern Family‘s Claire and Phil Dunphy [Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell] strive to maintain a united front as they raise their two children, and on the Oct. 9 episode of ABC’s comedy, the parents concoct a plan to both beg out of their son Luke’s soccer game on the same day.
Claire launches into her plan — mildly struggling with mom guilt at first — as Luke suits up for his game, in his team jersey and a neck pillow. (“My neck gets pretty tired watching all those games,” benchwarmer Luke admits in the preview video clip above.)
“We were talking about you maybe wanting to go to the game without us today,” Claire [Bowen] tells Luke [Nolan Gould]. “You can either ride with some of your teammates — like the L.A. Kings — or you can ride with us, like Gloria [Sofia Vergara] and Grandpa [Ed O’Neill] take Joe to play dates. Professional athletes, little poopy baby: Your call!”
That does it for Luke, who decides to ride with a pal and leave mom and dad scot-free. Beams Claire, high-fiving Phil once they’re off cheering duty for the day: “Yes! I love that kid!”
“Can you imagine how easy it’d be if it were just him? I mean . . . ” replies Phil, as their daughter Alex [Ariel Winter] walks by. Deadpans a bored Alex: “I know what you mean!”
Watch more of the Dunphy family’s antics in the video above before Modern Family airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. (EST) on ABC.