Some Enchanted Evening
Some Enchanted Evening
Written by Matt Groening and Sam Simon
Directed by David Silverman and Kent Butterworth
TV Guide synopsis
With their parents out for a night of romance, Bart and Lisa recognize
their sitter on ``America's Most Armed and Dangerous''.
Title sequence
Blackboard
{I will not yell ``Fire'' / in a crowded classroom.}
{I will not yell ``F} at cutoff.
Driveway
Homer yells ``Auuuugh!'' when the car closes in on him.
Couch
Everyone fits, but it's a tight squeeze.
Didja notice...
... at breakfast, Bart poured the <entire> bowl of sugar onto his cereal?
Maggie meanwhile stirred her brown oatmeal...
... is `melon wrestling' a euphemism for something less printable? @{cjb}
... the gleeful expressions on the girls' faces as they anticipate
watching the Happy Little Elves tape?
... the FBI warning at the beginning of the Happy Little Elves tape?
... The Larry Davis Experience plays the same song Homer was humming?
Dave Hall {dh}
...Marge does join the family at breakfast, but hovers over them?
...Homer and the kids each have something green for breakfast?
...Maggie stirs her mush but doesn't eat it?
...Bart has mush with his bowl of sugar?
...the audio sound of the donut hitting Homer's head?
...Homer sucks the tips of his fingers after inhaling the donut?
...Marge wears bunny slippers?
...one of Dr. Monroe's job requirements is eating stacks of donuts?
...the very first crow call of the series?
...Dr. Monroe's assistant holds the phone with pinkly extended?
...Marge is 34 years old?
...Dr. Monroe butts his cigarette into the console?
...Marge is a phone cord twiddler?
...Dr. Monroe's dramatic use of donuts?
...Moe plays the classic bartender of giving advice?
...the original Moe looks a little like Hank Azaria?
...the music while Marge waits for Homer to come home?
...the tick of the grandfather clock is replaced by the sound of Maggie's
pacifier?
...the fiery look to Marge's eyes?
...Lisa calls Marge `glamorous' yet Marge isn't dressed and still had
hair curlers on?
...the reading material in the bathroom?
...Homer shaves his face in 7 quick strokes of the razor?
...Homer's facial hair quickly grows back after shaving?
...the house shakes when Bart slides off the banister and hits the floor?
...the squeaking sound Homer's head makes when rubbed?
...the heart in the center of the front door when Homer and Marge leave?
...Ms. Botz peculiar walk?
...the cute wave Maggie makes when Ms. Botz carries her away?
...the body shape in the Simpson basement?
...the bowling ball Bart was going to drop on Ms. Botz has `HOMER'
lettered on it?
...Marge plays with Homer's hair strands?
...Maggie knows what a TV remote is used for?
...the cute smirk on Maggie's face after Bart whacked Ms. Botz?
...the `unladylike' position Ms. Botz laid on the floor?
...Ms. Botz's `Life in Hell' rabbit key chain?
...the constant sucking sound of Maggie's pacifier?
...the overuse of footstep sounds in this episode?
Hari Wierny {hw}:
... there isn't a car from the opening shot of the house, even though it's
morning and Homer hasn't gone to work yet?
... Marge drops the kids' lunchboxes when Homer screams, yet she doesn't
pick them up afterwards?
... Marvin Monroe's ash tray is empty?
... the poster of a weird looking woman's face in SNPP?
... when Bart does a prank call to Moes Tavern, he presses the same key on
the phone many times?
... the Simpsons' kitchen clock doesn't have any numbers on it?
... there is a painting of a tropical palm tree beach above OFF's couch?
... when Marge picks up the phone and hears Moe scolding at Bart (and Marge
thinks it's a crossed wire), we don't hear any laughter in the
background from the crank call?
... Homer shaves the bottom half of his chin twice?
... the cool color-gradient on the walls during the part where Marge
explains the video cassette etc.? (note: we only get to see this effect
in the first couple of full length eps.)
... there's a [heart] on the back of OFF's door?
... we hear Homer and Marge drive away as Ms. Botz goes to put the tape in?
... the background on the Happy Little Elves repeats itself as the lame
little elf rides a bear cub?
[In fact, it looks like just the same three or so frames -aag]
... one of the shows Bart flicks past appears to be bowling? (we hear the
pins collapse.)
... Homer's napkin has a picture of a lobster on it?
... ``The Larry Davis Experience'' looks extremely miserable?
... Lisa doesn't realize Miss Botz is dragging her by the phone cord until
it's too late?
... the VCR remote only has four buttons on it? (these are relatively
large; they just about take up the whole remote.)
... the framed picture of Krusty on the wall when they knock out Miss Botz?
... there's an pictureless frame on the Offramp Inn room's wall?
... Miss Botz's vehicle looks like a golf buggy? (it changes, however --
see Goofs.)
... Homer gets a wad of cash to pay Miss Botz, and says he'll pay her
double, yet when he offers her triple, he doesn't make any additions to
the cash?
Reviews
Chris Baird @{cjb}: One of my all-time favourite episodes.
Yours Truly @{rjc}: An all-time classic. 'Nuff said.
Movie (and other) References
+ The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- ``The Elves! The Elves!''
+ America's Most Wanted and other ``Criminals At Large''-type programs.
- America's Most Armed and Dangerous
- host looks similar to John Walsh
Jaws
- the music as Ms. Botz approaches
+ Night of the Hunter{Robert MacIntosh}
- a murderous thief visits kids
- kids hide in a similar basement
- thief tries to coax kids out
- canned produce on the walls
- board drops on thief
- a local woman (with a voice similar to Marshall's) tries to coax the
kids out, too
+ Patricia, a song by Perez Prado and His Orchestra
- the tune that Homer mimics
+ Some Enchanted Evening, song from Rodgers and Hammerstein's
_South Pacific_
- title
+ ``Life in Hell'' [comic strip]
- Maggie has a rabbit doll{hw}
Freeze Frame Fun
Lunchboxes
* Krusty
* Happy Little Elves
Calls on the line
. Line 1: Marge, 34, another unappreciated wife
. Line 2: Paul Hsi, nail biter (not his own)
The power plant
* [7] days since last accident
The `7' is a replaceable section of the sign.
* In case of meltdown, break glass.
Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers Babysitting Service
* Three babysitters on the couch (incl. Ms. Botz)
* Painting of a dog barking at a burning house.
* Poster with photos of the kids: ``No! No! No!''
* Poster:
THE SIMPSONS
NO! NO! NO! [head shot]
[of Lisa]
[head shot] LISA
[of Bart]
[head shot]
BART [of Maggie]
MAGGIE
The phone booth
poster of a space mutant (Space Mutant 4) on the wall behind the phone
booth
The Number of the Beast
The video tape has the number 666 on it.{dh}
Ms. Botz on ``America's Most Armed and Dangerous'' {hw}:
[front] [side]
[view ] [view]
[face ] [face]
LUCILLE BOTZCOWKI
HEIGHT 6' WEIGHT 178
Sign near Offramp Inn{hw}:
+-----------+
| NEXT EXIT |
| 34 |
| MILES |
+-----------+
Some stuff seen in OFF's closet{hw}:
- a metal canister
- something wrapped up with rope
- a [shoe?] box
- a regular box
- the infamous ``Homer'' bowling ball (funny, the ball was purchased
in 7G11. I guess it fits in with continuity, though, because
7G01 aired after 7G11 despite it being made before.)
- an [gym?] bike
- a mummy (yes, a genuine Egyptian mummy!)
- a few shelf units
- a broken mirror
- a lamp with a smashed lightbulb
- a cupboard filled with home-made pickled beets
Sign on back of Offramp Inn room door{hw}:
CHECK OUT
9:00 AM
-------
-------
The note on Homer's Offramp Inn key{hw}
(note: this was pretty hard to get, because we only see it for about a second,
plus it's small and in the background. It's cool that the animators actually
put this in.):
DO NOT
USE
THIS
Caption on TV{hw}:
HOMER SIMPSON
LOCAL BOOB
Krusty the Clown{hw}
- picture on Bart's lunchbox
- framed picture on the wall when they knock out Botz
- poster on Bart's wall
Slow-mo fun worth seeing{dh}:
- when Marge growls at the kids.
- when Bart and Lisa screams at Ms. Botz.
- when Homer throws Marge into the bed.
- Maggie falling at the bottom of the stairs.
FF worth seeing{dh}:
- when Homer and Marge kiss on the front doorstep.
- Marge with hair curlers.
Comments and other observations
References
Previous episodes
* [7G10] The Off-Ramp Inn.
Simpsons 1992 Fun-Time Calendar
* Dancing lesson
Maggie's 21 falls{dh}:
3 during Bart's first prank phone call.
1 when the kids were waiting for Homer to come home.
1 after Marge growled at the kids.
3 during Bart's second prank phone call.
1 when Ms. Botz introduces herself.
1 when Marge thanks Ms. Botz. for coming.
5 on way to watch video tape:
2 silent, rapid falls in hallway;
1 in front room;
2 in TV room.
1 after landing on a pile of toys.
1 sneaking pass Ms. Botz.
1 at the bottom of the stairs.
1 arriving at the TV room.
1 when she tricks Ms. Botz into following her.
1 at the telephone booth.
What Homer's usual has at Moe's{dh}:
A quick one, some peanuts, hunk of beef jerky, a couple pickled eggs.
The Unabridged Oliver Wendell Holmes
Bart's blackboard punishment references a series of cases from 1917, most
notably Schenck v. US. Schenck was convicted of violating the Espionage Act,
which made it illegal to ``obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service.''
In his ruling, Justice Holmes wrote:
The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in
falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.
This is the first time that the First Amendment had really been limited. All
other limitations on that amendment stem from this.
Save money! Make your season premiere the season finale!
Although this episode is the first in the production series, it was not aired
until the end of the season. This was due to the fact that the production team
was just getting used to creating full-length episodes, and so there were a few
innocent mistakes. Like including an ulttraviolent clip from a show and making
the family look like demons. Matt Groening balked and sent it to be
reanimated. As a result, it wound up last in the production series.
This makes for an interesting chronology:
The series pilot was ``Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire'' [7G08], which aired
on 12/17/89, but the series proper didn't begin until 1/14/90, with ``Bart the
Genius,'' yet the first episode to be produced wasn't aired until 5/13. Phew!
Got that?
But they didn't DO anything!
Because this episode wasn't aired in chronological order, the couch gag makes
even (more/less) sense. Obviously, it was intended that this gag was going to
be ``normal,'' and the others were variations. The result that they got was
just the opposite. According to one fan (Jessi Cuellar):
When ``Some Enchanted Evening'' aired here a few months ago, my 3 year
old son and I were watching. After the couch scene, he laughed, and I
asked him what was funny, and he said ``They didn't do anything.'' Not
really relevant, but I am so proud.
Misc., &c.
Dave Hall notes: Marge states they have a video library, yet we never get to
see this video library anywhere in the whole series?
Homer & Marge supposedly had rushed home, yet they have taken the time
to get completely dressed.{dh}
[Probably keeping up appearances for the kids -aag]
Animation, Continuity, and Other Goofs
= Various items from the kitchen move/disappear from the overhead shot.{hw}
= The amount of pickled eggs changes (between shots) from 12, to 10, to 15!{hw}
= When the kids ask Marge for some ``grub'' it's about 9:37 PM. After Marge
has scared off her children and continues to wait for Homer, it's about 8:32
PM. Then when (and just before) Marge is hallucinating, the clock reads just
past 6:30 PM.{hw}
= When Bart makes a prank call to Moes from the kitchen, the telephone is
different than it was in the ep's opening scene.
[it changes <again> from the side view.]{hw}
= Marge's nose is drawn very oddly during the scene of her prettying herself up
in front of the mirror.{hw}
= The doorknob on OFF's front door changes color between shots.{hw}
= On the first shot of ``The Larry Davis Experience,'' we see the drummer
hitting a cymbal and a tom-tom drum, yet all we hear is the cymbal?{hw}
= When Maggie comes into the TV room where Bart and Lisa are tied up, on the
``Happy Little Elves'' the bear-cub-in-the-honey scene is recycled, but then
from a different shot the ending appears on the screen.{hw}
= Miss Botz's vehicle changes from scene to scene.{hw}
Ms. Botzcowski's car was should have been intercepted by the police that
came from the other direction. Note that she left only second(s) before
the police arrival.
* The check out time for the Off-Ramp Inn is either 4 or 9 a.m.{dh}
= An unknown hand removes the carton of milk from the kitchen table.{dh}
= The kitchen chairs appear to be knocked over in some scenes.{dh}
= Homer is watching stuff coming down a conveyor belt, yet his station
starts at the very beginning of the conveyor belt.{dh}
= The contents of Barney's beer mug vanish.{dh}
= Homer's wristwatch goes missing from his hand in the shot of him standing
outside the house.{dh}
= The candy box and rose in Homer's hands switches places.{dh}
= Homer's rose appears to have been mishandled, yet it appears pristine when
Marge is holding it.{dh}
= Marge's earrings goes missing in one scene after Marge just put them on.{dh}
= Marge produces the video tape out of thin air.{dh}
= The kids were in the hallway, yet the scene of Homer and Marge leaving
the house depicts an empty hallway.{dh}
= The cover of the Video tape disappears.{dh}
= Bart shoves the video tape upside down into the VCR.{dh}
= Marge leaves the house without her purse, yet she has it at the
restaurant.{dh}
= Intercutting scenes depict Bart and Lisa's feet as dangling or not
dangling over the couch cushions.{dh}
= After Bart falls from the cupboard, there shouldn't be a shadow on Ms.
Botz and him.{dh}
= Homer somehow manages to unlock and open the suite door while holding
Marge in his arms.{dh}
= Marge's head was to the right of Homer when he threw her so Marge should
have landed on the bed with her head to the right.{dh}
* Since we haven't seen Marge with a purse at the hotel suite, there really
isn't anyway for her to bring a change of clothing.{dh}
= TV/VCR remote isn't seen in TV room when Maggie enters the room.{dh}
= Homer & Marge's bedroom door opens inwards, yet the door opens outwards
when Ms. Botz leaves the room.{dh}
* Homer couldn't have helped Ms. Botz with the suitcases if the suitcases
were still on the floor of Homer & Marge's bedroom -- amongst the mess
Ms. Botz made in her quest for `Samson' goodies.{dh}
* Possible Plot-hole:
Where is Homer's car while he stood in front of the house? If the car
were in the garage then Homer should have used the garage door
entrance.{dh}
Voice credits
Special Guest Voice
Penny Marshall (Ms. Botz)
Hank Azaria (Moe)
Harry Shearer (Dr. Marvin Monroe)
Christopher Collins (Worker #1)
June Foray (Receptionist)
Paul Wilson (Florist)
Quotes and scene summary
Breakfast at the Simpsons. Homer and the kids chow down while Marge watches,
standing and sipping her coffee. The radio is tuned to the KBBL traffic
report.
Bad news, drivers. There's an overturned melon truck on the interstate.
Oh, it's a mess. There's lots of rubber-necking and melon wrestling
going on, folks...
-- Bill Pie ``in the Sky'', KBBL traffic report, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Homer reaches for the milk, revealing a box of ``Yummy Donuts''. Bart
and Lisa struggle for custody of the box (Maggie's eyes watch the
back-and-forth) until the donut pops out of the box, bounces off Homer's
head, and lands on his plate. Homer inhales the pastry.
The school bus honks its horn, and the kids head out. Marge holds up two
lunchboxes: ``You forgot the special lunches I made.'' Bart and Lisa
help themselves to Marge's purse. ``That's okay, Mom!'' responds Bart.
``We got money!'' finishes Lisa as she replaces the purse in Marge's
pocketbook. Marge's protest is interrupted by a ``Yaaaargh!'' from
Homer as he glances at his watch and gets up. Marge closes her eyes
for a kiss, but Homer takes and drinks her coffee then leaves.
Overhead shot of the kitchen wreckage. ``Well, Maggie, it's just you
and me again.'' Maggie has fallen asleep.
This is KBBL talk radio, K-Babble. All talk, 24 hours a day.
If you'd like to share your embarrassing problem with our listening
audience, we invite you to call our therapist of the airwaves, Dr. Marvin
Monroe. The number is 555-PAIN.
[Marge drums her fingers and casts nervous glances at the phone]
Don't be afraid, call now!
[Marge dashes for the phone]
-- ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Marge starts to explain her problem. ``Hey lady, save your whining for
when you're on the air, okay?''
At the plant, Homer listens to the radio. Dr. Monroe snuffs out his
cigarette, reaches for another donut, and selects his next call.
Dr.MM: Next we have Marge. She's 34 and trapped in a loveless sham of
a marriage.
Homer: Hey, turn it up! I love hearing those wackos!
-- The SNPP workers listen to a radio call-in show, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Dr.MM: [radio talk show therapist] Tell me about your husband, Marge.
Marge: [on the phone] When we were dating, he was sweeter... and more
romantic! ... [beginning to sob] And forty pounds thinner,
and he had hair... [burbling barely coherently] And he ate
with utensils! [breaks down crying]
-- Marge calls KBBL, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Homer refuses to believe that it's his wife calling.
Dr.MM: Your husband sees you as nothing.
Marge: [pause] Oh, okay. Well, thank you. [about to hang up]
Dr.MM: No no no, don't hang up!
-- Marge calls a radio talk show therapist, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
The plant employees nudge each other knowingly.
Dr.MM: The pig has made you into his mother.
You are not the hot love object you deserve to be!
Marge: Really?
Dr.MM: I'm as sure of it as I'm sure my voice is annoying.
Marge, tonight, the second he comes through that front door, you've got
to tell him you're fed up, and if he doesn't start loving you,
you will be leaving.
Marge: Leave Homer!?
Dr.MM: Please! Don't use his real name!
Marge: Leave Pedro!?
-- Marge calls a radio talk show therapist, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
The employees crack up. Homer swallows hard.
At the Simpsons residence...
Lisa: Aw, come on, Bart, not again!
Bart: [dialing the phone] Aw, where's your sense of humor.
Moe: Moe's Tavern.
Bart: Hello, is Al there?
Moe: Al?
Bart: Yeah, Al. Last name: Coholic.
Moe: Lemme check... [calls] Phone call for Al. Al Coholic.
Is there an Al Coholic here?
[bar denizens laugh]
Wait a minute...
[to phone]
Listen, you little yellow-bellied rat jackass, if I ever find out
who you are, I'm gonna kill you!
-- ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Homer's at the bar, dreading going home. While Homer eats a pickled
egg, he explains that Marge is going to leave him because he's a pig.
Moe agrees; he <is> a pig. Homer goes for a second opinion.
Homer: Hey, Barney, am I a pig?
Barney: You're even more of a pig than I am! [huge belch]
-- From someone who should know, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Moe: Homer, buy your wife some flowers and take her out for a night on the
town. Candles, tablecloth, the whole nine yards.
-- Gee, I didn't mean to put you to so much trouble, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
And after dinner, Moe suggests they check into a motel. Homer likes the
idea and heads out.
The kids sit at the dinner table. ``Wow, a quarter past six. What's
keeping Dad?'' asks Lisa. Bart mutters, ``Yeah, he couldn't possibly
be late on Meatloaf Night.''
Homer wanders into the florist shop.
Homer: [unsure of himself] Uh, I'd like some flowers.
Florist: What kind of flowers?
Homer: Uh, you know, pretty ones, not dead.
Florist: Well, we've have some beautiful long-stemmed roses. They're $55
a dozen.
Homer: [thinks] One, please.
-- Think small, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
It's now 8:35. Marge stares angrily at the front door, growling.
The kids approach her from behind with their empty plates and ask for
some food. Marge turns around and *ROARS*. The kids scream and dash
off in fright. Marge turns back towards the door and waits...
[End of Act One. Time: 5:33]
As Marge growls at the door, evil thoughts penetrate her mind, and her
eyes turn red...
Outside in the rain, Homer holds a heart-shaped box of candy in one hand
and a wilted rose in the other. He practices his entrance, but realizes
it's no use and just heads for the door. Marge pulls the door open as
Homer tries to insert the key. Stunned, Homer holds up the candy and
the flower. ``I love you, Marjorie.'' Marge softens, and they kiss.
In the kitchen, Bart dials the phone...
Bart: [dialing the phone] A little pre-dinner entertainment.
Moe: [answering the phone] Moe's Tavern.
Bart: Is Oliver there?
Moe: Who?
Bart: Oliver Clothesoff.
Moe: Hold on, I'll check. [calls] Oliver Clothesoff! Call for Oliver
Clothesoff!
Bart+Lisa: [laugh]
-- ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Homer fills Marge in on their itinerary...
Homer: And, I made reservations at Chez [pron. /chez/] Paree!
Marge: Oh, but Homer, that's expensive!
Homer: It matters not, mon frere!
-- A night on the town with the boys? ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Marge picks up the phone to call a babysitter, and hears Moe: ``Listen,
you lousy bum, if I ever get a hold of you, I <swear> I'll cut
your belly open!'' She hangs up, figuring it was a crossed wire,
and tries again. She calls the Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper Babysitting
Service, but they refuse when she identifies herself as Mrs. Simpson.
Clerk: Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper Babysitting Service!
Homer: Hello, this is Mr... Sam-son.
Clerk: Did your wife just call a second ago?
Homer: No, I said Samson, not Simpson.
-- Just checking, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Actually, the Simpsons are neighbors of ours, and we've found them to be a
quite misunderstood and underrated family.
-- Homer pretends to be Mr. Samson, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Upstairs, Lisa watches Marge pretty herself up for a night out.
Bart listens to Homer talk about his mambo dancing, but his smart
mouth gets him thrown out. Homer shaves (and his beard grows back
almost immediately).
The doorbell rings, and Homer tells Bart to answer it.
Aye-aye, Mambo-Man!
-- Bart, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Bart slides down the banister (*thud*) and answers the door as Lisa
and Maggie join him. He opens the door. The kids swallow hard.
It's the babysitter. (Insert jarring chord.) Curiously, Ms. Botz
has brought two suitcases. Marge leaves her with brief instructions:
Maggie should be put to bed immediately; Bart and Lisa can watch
``The Happy Little Elves Meet The Curious Bear Cub''.
[moaning] Oh! The Elves! The Elves!
-- Quasi-Bart-o, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Marge kisses the kids good-bye. Bart tries to get Ms. Botz to approve
alternate viewing, but a menacing threat puts him in his place. Ms. Botz
carries Maggie away to bed. (Maggie waves bye-bye.)
At the restaurant, Homer checks out the lobster tank and chooses...
the one floating upside-down at the top.
Bart suffers through the Happy Little Elves...
Bart: [watching a Happy Little Elves tape] Oh, man, I can't take it any more!
Lisa: But I want to see what happens.
Bart: You <know> what happens. They find Captain Quick's treasure.
All the elves dance around like little green idiots. I puke. The End.
Lisa: Bart, you're just like Chilly, the elf who cannot love.
-- ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Bart switches to ``America's Most Armed and Dangerous'', though Lisa
finds the show too scary.
The Cue-ball Killer should be considered extremely armed and dangerous.
If you think you've seen him, call 1-800-U-SQUEAL.
-- ``Some Enchanted Evening''
At the restaurant, the bubbly stops flowing, so Homer orders another bottle
of their second-cheapest champagne.
Back at the house...
The defenseless youngsters were tied up and gagged in the living
room, while the bandit roamed the house at will,
[TV pans over an empty house]
stealing the valuable objects it took the family a lifetime to shop for!
-- Watching `America's Most Armed and Dangerous', ``Some Enchanted Evening''
To the music of the Larry Davis Experience, Homer and Marge mambo divinely.
Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa watch more of America's Most Armed and Dangerous,
and as the description of the Babysitter Bandit continues, they become
increasingly frightened. ``In a moment, we will show you a picture of the
real Babysitter Bandit, Miss Lucille Botzcowski [pron.\ /botzokowsky/],
and remember... she may be using a clever alias.'' A picture of Ms. Botz
appears on the screen, and the kids scream. Ms. Botz appears, carrying
a length of rope. Bart and Lisa scream,
``Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!'' Thunder roars outside.
[End of Act Two. Time: 13:23]
The kids make a run for it. Bart ducks into the basement. Lisa skids
(cartoon style) into the kitchen and grabs the phone. But she gets a
busy signal. Meanwhile, Homer and Marge are on the highway looking for
Ye Olde Offramp Inn. They spot it, but miss the exit. ``No problemo,''
says Homer. ``We'll just get off at the next exit.'' A sign reads,
``Next Exit 34 Miles.''
Ms. Botz descends into the basement looking for Bart. While searching,
she finds a cabinet of pickled beets and helps herself. Atop the
cabinet is Bart and a bowling ball. Bart tries to roll the ball onto
Ms. Botz, but he loses his balance and falls.
Seeing as no one was hurt, I think it would be really silly to dwell on this.
-- Bart to The Babysitter Bandit, after a failed capture attempt,
``Some Enchanted Evening''
Meanwhile, Lisa hides under the kitchen table and finally gets through.
As she talks, she is dragged by the phone cord out from under the table.
By Ms. Botz. Oops.
Homer carries Marge across the threshold, stumbles, and trips, tossing
Marge (``Wheeeee!!'') onto the waterbed, where she relaxes, while Homer
rubs his knee.
Back at home, Ms. Botz has finished tying up Bart and Lisa...
Bart: We know who you are, Ms. Botz. Or should I say, Ms. Botzcowski.
You're the Babysitter Bandit.
Ms.B: You're a smart young man, Bart. I hope you're smart enough to keep
your mouth shut.
Lisa: He isn't.
-- A little knowledge, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
... disables the phones, tapes Bart's mouth shut, and leaves them on the
couch to suffer through The Happy Little Elves. Bart protests, but Lisa
says, ``Quiet, Bart! Let's make the best of this.''
At the motel, Marge offers to go ``slip into something more comfortable'',
and Homer hopes it's the blue thing with the... things.
Maggie wakes up and grabs the mobile above her crib, which she uses as a
trapeze, landing in a pile of stuffed animals. She spots Ms. Botz in the
hallway, relieving the closet of its valuables (and some unvaluables).
Maggie then wanders downstairs and spots her elder siblings, as well as
the Happy Little Elves. She decides to watch the Elves.
The movie ends, and Maggie tries to turn off the TV with the remote control.
Lisa asks, ``Wanna watch the Happy Little Elves again?'' Maggie nods.
``But ya hafta untie me, first.'' Maggie does so.
``Oh... Homer...'' calls Marge seductively. She's indeed wearing the blue
thing with the... things. Homer gives one of his lustful, ``Ohhhhh...''s.
Ms. Botz continues her pillaging and spots Maggie walking through the
hallway. She follows the sound of the sucking, which leads her into
a dark room. (*whump*) The lights come on. Bart (sucking on Maggie's
pacifier) has clobbered her with a baseball bat.
Homer and Marge relax in the waterbed, and Marge decides to check up on
things at home. There is no answer because Bart, Lisa, and Maggie
(clutching Bart's neck like a knapsack) have escaped out the window.
The kids call from a pay phone. (Bart goes down on all fours so Lisa
can stand on his back to reach the phone.)
Operator: Hello, vigilant viewer. How may we help you?
Lisa: We caught her! We caught the Babysitter Bandit! She's tied up
at our house right now!
Bart: Ask if there's a reward.
Lisa: Is there a reward? ... [to Bart] If she's convicted, we get T-shirts.
Bart: Yeah!
-- Calling America's Most Armed and Dangerous, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Homer and Marge return home to find Ms. Botz bound and gagged, being forced
to watch, yes, The Happy Little Elves. Homer and Marge untie her and
apologize profusely. Ms. Botz's first words: ``Please turn off the TV.''
Homer helps Ms. Botz with her luggage (``Oh, these things are heavy!'')
and pays her triple the rate, just so there are no hard feelings.
Ms.Botz: Mr. Samson, can I give you a bit of advice?
Homer: Sure.
Ms.Botz: Don't turn your back on that boy for a second.
-- Words of warning from the Babysitter Bandit, ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Ms. Botz speeds off just before Homer is surrounded by police cars.
Bart explains that they left her tied up in the house, but Homer snags
him and scolds, ``I just had to untie your babysitter and pay her off
so that...'' Microphones are shoved in his face. A reporter asks,
``Are you telling the world that you just aided and abetted the escape
of the notorious Babysitter Bandit?'' Homer fumbles, ``Actually, it
was quite a struggle!''
Homer and Marge watch the news. The caption reads, ``Homer Simpson,
local boob.'' TV-Homer says, ``Have you ever seen a kung-fu movie?
It was just like that!''
Homer shuts off the TV.
Homer: Lord help me, I'm just not that bright.
Marge: Oh, Homer, don't say that. The way I see it, you raised three
children who could knock out and hog-tie a perfect stranger,
you must be doing <something> right.
-- ``Some Enchanted Evening''
Homer thinks... ``Yeah!'' and the two kiss as Marge turns off the lights.
Homer asks, ``Can we make up again?'' Responds Marge, ``Oh, my goodness!''
[End of Act Three. Time: 20:17]
Boring distribution restrictions
Episode summaries Copyright 1991--1992 by Raymond Chen. Updated 1999 by Andrew
A. Gill. Unattributed discrepancies between this and the previous revisions
are mine. Penny Marshall hates Triangle Man. They have a fight, Triangle
wins. Not to be redistributed in a public forum without permission.
(The quotes themselves, of course, remain the property of The Simpsons, and the
reproduced articles remain the property of the original authors. I'm just
taking credit for the compilation.)
HTML conversion by
Howard Jones(ha.jones@ic.ac.uk) on Sat 10 Sept 1994