Marge on the Lam
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"Marge on the Lam" is the sixth episode of The Simpsons
Synopsis
The family is watching a public television marathon when Marge calls in and donates $30. She gets two tickets to the ballet, which is Romeo and Juliet. At work, Homer gets his arms stuck in a soda machine and a candy machine, which means he can't be home in time to go to the ballet with Marge. Marge invites Ruth to come since Homer can't. The next night, Marge and her friend Ruth Powers head out for a night on the town in Ruth's convertible. They visit a bar that Marge calls "Shotkickers", although the third letter in the bar's exterior sign is missing and could be the letter "i". Afterwards, they go to an empty farmer's field and Ruth instructs Marge on how to shoot a pistol she has brought with her by targeting some old tin cans. The kids during all this are being babysat by Lionel Hutz who at one point claims to them that he is now Miguel Sanchez. As Ruth is driving Marge home at the end of the night, Chief Wiggum (who is giving Homer a ride home) claims that one tail light on Ruth's car is slightly smaller than the other, and tries to pull them over. Ruth informs Marge that the car is not really hers, and manages to escape from Wiggums by turning off her headlights (Chief Wiggum: "A ghost car!"). Marge and Ruth are eventually chased by a large number of police cars, and drive towards a large ravine. Homer, thinking that Marge is purposely heading over the cliff, apologizes to Marge through a bullhorn for "just about everything" and begs her not to drive over the cliff. Ruth and Marge, upon hearing about the cliff, immediately slam on the brakes and stop short. Homer and Chief Wiggum, following behind them, are not so lucky, and fly into the air. The scene fades out (just like the end of Thelma and Louise), but quickly fades back to reveal that the ravine is actually a landfill, and Homer and Wiggum are safe. The very end of the episode ends in a Dragnet-like sequence (including the music), telling the fates of each of the characters involved in the episode (Ruth gets her child support money, Lionel Hutz gets his payment for babysitting Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, Marge has to pay for the cans she shot, and Homer is taken back to a military base in Maryland for extensive testing). The voice for this part was by George Fenneman, who did the original Dragnet endings as well.
References
- Much of the plot, along with the blue convertible is a parody of Thelma and Louise
- Crystal Buzz Cola is a reference to the fad Crystal Pepsi.
- The SPRINGFIELD letters on the hill are reminiscent of the famous Hollywood sign.
- The comedian who performs at the telethon that Homer does not find funny is a parody of Garrison Keillor.
- When Ruth tells Marge that she "better get home before that naked talk show comes on", she is referring to the Robin Byrd Show.
Goofs
- Ruth tells Marge that she divorced her husband because all her he did was eat, sleep, and drink beer, but in "New Kid on the Block", she told Marge that they divorced because all he cared about was his career.
- The police car doesn't start falling until it is well over the chasm and has stopped forward motion.
- Where did Wiggum and Homer get the eggs to cook on the engine?
- Kent Brockman describes the women causing chaos of Biblical porportions as being in the Book of Revelations. The last book of the Bible is actually Revelation.
- In Homer's vision of providing snacks for Maggie's wedding, how did Homer manage to get the coat of his suit on if he couldn't get his arms free to stick them in the sleeves?
Trivia
- In Homer's vision of Maggie's wedding, Maggie still has her pacifier when she's an adult.
- It is implied that Chief Wiggim ordered an inflatable man instead of an inflatable woman.
- The total amount of money raked in at the telethon is $23.58.
Memorable quotes
- Homer: Marge, you can't go out on a Saturday night! That's our special night. Marge: What's so special about it? Homer: (sarcastically) Oh, I don't know. A little show called Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman?
- Marge: What was it you wanted to show me? Ruth: This (pulls out a gun) Marge: (gasps) You're not going to hunt me for sport, are you? Ruth: Oh, Marge, I would never pull a gun out on another human being. (aims gun at cans on fence): My husband on the other hand...
- Homer: Marge, I know you didn't believe me about the vending machines, that's why I had the firemen write me a note! Marge: (Reading) "Mrs. Simpson, while we were out rescuing your husband, a lumber yard burned down." Homer: D'oh! (Ruefully) Lumber has a million uses.
- Bart (wakes up): Hey, it's morning and Mom and Dad aren't home yet.
Lisa: Don't worry. Mr. Hutz is here to take care of us.
(Lisa taps Lionel Hutz's shoulder. He wakes with a start, brandishing a knife)
Lionel Hutz (growls): Don't touch my stuff! (looks at the three scared Simpson kids and realizes where he is): Hey, this isn't the YMCA.
- Bart: You're absolutely right, Homer. We don't need a babysitter!Homer: (suspicious) Wait a second...(Pulls a paper from his pocket: "Always do the opposite of what Bart says") Hmm...you kids do need a babysitter!Bart: Blast that infernal card! (to Homer) Don't give that card to me.Homer: Here you g -- (pulls back) No!
- Chief Wiggum: Oh, Simpson, what are you doin' up here? Homer: My wife's having a girl's night out! Chief Wiggum: Ah, just get one of those inflatable women. But make sure it's a woman, though, 'cuz one time I...(chuckles sheepishly)
External links
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