The Old Man and the Lisa
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"The Old Man and the Lisa" is the twenty-first episode in the eighth season of The Simpsons.
Synopsis
A discussion with Lisa makes Mr. Burns question just how much money he really has. When he decides his fortune is unsatisfactory and attempts to grow it, he makes numerous bad decisions and goes bankrupt. Waylon Smithers takes him in, and Mr. Burns attempts to do Smithers' shopping. Unfamiliar with the store's atmosphere, Mr. Burns acts rather strangely and is moved to the Springfield Retirement Castle.There, Mr. Burns meets Lisa again, and begs her to help re-build his fortune. She agrees, on the condition that he drop his evil ways, and the two begin earning money through recycling. Eventually Mr. Burns is able to own a recycling business, but Lisa discovers the business kills sea life and turns it into farm animal food, in what Mr. Burns defends as using "100% recycled animals." Lisa sees this as a violation of their agreement to refrain from evil, and she severs her ties with him. Nevertheless, Mr. Burns, having regained the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, is willing to pay Lisa a sum of $12 million. Lisa decides she cannot accept what she sees as dirty money, giving Homer such a shock that he suffers from 4 simultaneous heart attacks.
The episode parodies the film Soylent Green when Lisa begs people to stop recycling, after having found out what Mr. Burns is doing to the sea creatures.
Trivia
- The episode title is a play on the Ernest Hemingway novel The Old Man and the Sea.
- Bret Hart was the first and (as of 2006) only WWE superstar to appear on the show.
References
- The scene where Mr. Burns chases Lisa through town is a spoof of the opening to That Girl.
- At the end of the episode, Lisa runs through town begging people not to recycle. The townsfolk then respond robotically and Lisa discovers a truckload of animal slurry, a'la Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Quotes
- Homer (while in the hospital after his first round of heart attacks): "It's all right. I understand. But we really could've used that twelve thousand dollars."
Lisa: "Um, Dad, ten percent of 120 million dollars isn't twelve thousand dollars. It's-" *Cuts to hospital corridor where the loudspeaker goes "Code Blue, Code Blue."* - Mr. Burns: "The whole plant is environmentally sound. It's powered by old newspapers, machinery is made entirely of used cans, and the windows are from the old liquor bottles we collected." (to Barney) "Hey! I thought I told you to stop licking my windows!"
Barney: "I know you told me. But when I woke up this morning, I said, 'Barney, you're not gonna lick that-'" - Homer: "See that, boy? Why aren't you making any business deals?"
Bart: "I'll do it this afternoon!" - Burns: People, if we meet this week's quota, I'll take you to the most duck-filled pond you ever sat by! (the old folks begin working faster)
Grampa: Oh, hot-diggity! That's how they got me to vote for Lyndon LaRouche! - Mr. Burns: Ooh don't poo-poo a nickel, Lisa. A nickel will buy you a steak and kidney pie, a cup of coffee, a slice of cheesecake and a newsreel. (Lisa looks unimpressed) With enough change left over to ride the trolley from Battery Park to the Polo Grounds.
Lisa: There's a can. - Lisa: You haven't changed at all! You're still evil and when you try to change, you're even more evil!
Mr. Burns: I don't understand. Pigs need food, engines need coolant, dynamiters need dynamite. I'm supplying it to the world I am...and not a single sea creature was wasted. (very creepy) You inspired it all...Li'l Lisa. - Bret "Hitman" Hart: Eww! This place has got old man stink!
Mr. Burns: Ooh.
Smithers: Don't mind him, sir. You have an enchanting musk. - (When Lisa asks him about recycling)
Mr. Burns: Oooh, so Mother Nature needs a favor?! Well maybe she should have thought of that when she was besetting us with droughts and floods and poison monkeys! Nature started the fight for survival, and now she wants to quit because she's losing. Well I say, hard cheese. - Mr. Burns: (checking his stocks) Ah, right where I left off September, 1929 ... oh... oh no... Smithers, why didn't you tell me about this market crash?!
Smithers: Um, well...sir, it happened twenty-five years before I was born.
Mr. Burns: Oh, that's your excuse for everything! - Lenny (at Burns' desk, he activates the PA): Uh, attention everyone... (pauses) Um, work harder! Bye! (sits back)
- Mr. Burns: (addressing Homer at the Simpsons' front door) Sir, we've never met before, but my name is Mr. Burns and I want your daughter to help make me rich again.
Homer: You mean Maggie? (Maggie stares at Mr. Burns and gestures her hand like a gun aimed at him)
Mr. Burns: Ahh -- the baby who shot me -- no, I was referring to your other daughter.
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