Marge Gets a Job

Episode Information
Episode Number	66
Production Code	9F05
Original Airdate	November 5, 1992
Main character(s)	Marge Simpson Mr. Burns Bart Simpson
Chalkboard Gag	"I will not teach others to fly"
Couch Gag	Mismatched Heads couch gag
Special Guest Voices	Tom Jones as himself Phil Hartman as Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz Marcia Wallace as Edna Krabappel
Written By	Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein
Directed By	Jeffrey Lynch

General	References/Trivia	Gags	Appearances	Gallery	Quotes	Credits

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Good news, boy! I found a pharmacy that carries leeches! Well, it wasn't exactly a pharmacy ... more of a bait shop.Grampa uses old home remedies on Bart

"Marge Gets a Job" is the seventh episode of Season 4.

Synopsis

When the house needs expensive repairs, Marge is forced to get a job to help make ends meet. She is hired at the nuclear power plant and Mr. Burns quickly becomes attracted to her. Meanwhile, Bart tries his darnedest to get out of taking a test at school.

Full Story

The far left side of the Simpsons' house is sinking and they have to somehow raise $8500 to repair the foundations. Against Homer Simpson's wishes, Marge Simpson gets a job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant; the job was previously held by the newly retired — even though he did not want to retire (as his dog recently died, he never married, and his job is the only thing that he has left in his life that keeps him sane and happy), and was only an excuse so Charles Montgomery Burns could host a party — Jack Marley.

Meanwhile, Bart learns he has an upcoming test, so he fakes a stomachache, much to the chagrin and skepticism of Mrs. Krabappel.

From his office, Mr. Burns watches surveillance footage of his plant (including workers limbo dancing, playing chess, and betting on a cockfight) without enthusiasm. When Marge appears, however, he is enamored and begins a crusade to win her affection. He begins to take advice as to cheer up things around the plant; for example, "Funny Hat Day" and Tom Jones music (with doesn't work for a power plant worker who won't stop crying, a catatonic woman who drinks alcohol all the time, and a crazed man who just declared himself "The Angel of Death" and is cleaning his rifle in preparation for a workplace shooting).

Bart returns to school, but when Mrs. Krabappel suggests that he take a makeup test, he immediately begins to groan. ("Ohh, my ovaries!") Grandpa comes to get Bart on the way home and again is asked if he has read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Again, Bart is unfazed.

Edna does not believe Bart

When Bart returns to school once more, he is forced to take the makeup test. He begins to protest, but Mrs. Krabappel is unimpressed. She scolds Bart for his behavior and tells his symptoms; he has had "smallpox, the bends, and an unfortunate bout of Tourette's syndrome (original airing)/rabies (all American English reruns)." She places him alone outside the classroom, hands him the test, and leaves.

At Krustylu Studios, the taping of Krusty the Clown's latest show is not going well. A wildlife expert is visiting, and with her is a large hawk that has painfully clamped itself to Krusty's head and a huge Alaskan timber wolf, whom she warns is spooked by loud noises. Unfortunately for the wolf, "loud" is the word of the day (a la "Pee-Wee's Playhouse"). Celebration and noise ensues, the wolf becomes terrified and escapes the studio.

Willie reassures the wolf after winning against it

The beast runs to Springfield Elementary School, where it attacks Bart outside the classroom. He cries, "Wolf!" but Mrs. Krabappel, who no longer believes Bart, ignores his pleas. Groundskeeper Willie rescues him only after serious damage has been done, and after all of Bart's lies, no one believes that he was attacked by a wolf. Since he feels that he will not be believed, he chooses to say that he made it up, thus showing a "little honesty" to Mrs. Krabappel. He then passes out on the floor, causing Mrs. Krabappel to realize that Bart really was attacked. Grandpa takes him to the hospital, while Willie gives the wolf some of the contents of his flask and consoles him about losing, saying that "I was wrestling wolves back when you was at your mother's teat."

Meanwhile, Burns attempts (with the help of a hostage Tom Jones, whom Marge stated was her favorite singer) to seduce Marge, but when she reveals to him that she's married, he fires her. She threatens a lawsuit and enlists the help of Lionel Hutz, who is completely unsuccessful and runs yelping from Burns' squad of real lawyers.

Burns has a change of heart after seeing Homer stand up for Marge after learning he was her husband. The episode finishes as Homer and Marge enjoy a private show performed by the chained-up and protesting Tom Jones who secretly asks (but is ignored because she thinks he is kidding) Marge to call for help.