The Crepes of Wrath vs. Marge Gets a Job

[stip]

The Crepes of Wrath

Homer trips over Bart's skateboard and falls down the stairs, hurting his back, and is confined to the couch for several days. Marge sends Bart to clean his room and while doing so, he discovers an old cherry bomb among his things. At school the next day, he decides to flush it down the toilet in the boys' restroom with friends, Milhouse, Richard and Lewis. On the same day, Principal Skinner's mother is visiting the school and Bart ends up pulling his prank the same time Principal Skinner's mother is using the facilities in an adjacent girls' restroom. The resulting explosion blows her off of her seat and enrages Skinner. In order to punish him, Skinner proposes deportation to Homer and Marge, by having Bart participate in a foreign exchange program. They decide to send Bart to France, while the Simpsons host a student from the Socialist People's Republic of Albania, named Adil Hoxha. Bart is shown a picture of a lovely château in the heart of France and he immediately agrees to go, much to Homer and Skinner's delight.

In France, Bart arrives at "Château Maison", which is actually a dilapidated farmhouse on a run-down vineyard. He is greeted by two unscrupulous, abusive winemakers, César and his nephew Ugolin, who proceed to treat him like a slave. Bart is starved while being made to carry buckets of water, collect and crush grapes, sleep on the floor, and test wine contaminated with antifreeze.

Meanwhile, in Springfield, Adil arrives and turns out to be very friendly, helping out Marge with the family chores. Homer immediately takes a shine to him, and it is noticeable that he is a better son and role model than Bart ever was. However, Marge challenges Homer that while she appreciates Adil's good behavior, part of being good parents is that they have the same respect for their natural children, in that is Homer being concerned for Bart while he is abroad. Unbeknown to the family, Adil is actually a spy sent by his government to obtain blueprints of the Springfield nuclear plant's reactor. Homer unwittingly takes him on a tour of the power plant and thinks nothing of the many photographs Adil takes, which Adil sends home by a secret fax machine in Bart's tree house.

When Bart is sent by his captors to Paris to buy a case of antifreeze, he sees a gendarme and tries to ask for help, but the gendarme does not understand English and only gives Bart a piece of candy. Bart walks away, despairing over his own stupidity, then suddenly begins speaking French to himself. Realizing he has become fluent in the language, he runs back to the gendarme and tells him about the winemakers. The winemakers are swiftly arrested and Bart finishes his stay in France being hailed as a hero. He is awarded a medal for his bravery and he is kissed by a French beauty queen. Back in Springfield, Adil is caught by the FBI, forcing him to be sent back to Albania in exchange for their own child spy. Bart returns to his family, bringing them gifts from France. Back at home trying out the gifts, Homer has difficulty opening a wine bottle, but is pleased to hear Bart speak French, oblivious that Bart has just called him a buffoon.

Marge Gets a Job

Homer and Marge discover that their house is sinking. Homer tries to repair the house himself, but is unsuccessful. Homer decides to call a foundation repairman and finds out that it will cost $8,500 for the repairs. Homer takes Marge to a party for the retirement of a Springfield Nuclear Power Plant employee. With a new position open at the power plant, Marge decides to apply for it to get the money for the foundation repair. With the help of Lisa, Marge gets the job at the power plant.

Meanwhile, at school, Bart does not want to take a test, so he fakes a stomach ache. Mrs. Krabappel asks if Bart has ever read The Boy Who Cried Wolf. From his office, Mr. Burns watches surveillance footage of his plant. When Marge appears, however, he is infatuated and attempts to win her affection. He begins to take her advice on ways to cheer everyone up around the plant by playing the music of Tom Jones over the plant's speakers, which further depresses the employees.

Bart returns to school, but when Mrs. Krabappel suggests that he take another test, he immediately procrastinates. Grampa comes to pick him up and on the way home and references The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Again, Bart is unfazed. When he returns to school again, he is forced to take the test without any exception. Bart protests, but Mrs. Krabappel ignores him. 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 features a wildlife expert visiting, showing a hawk and a wolf, who warns that the latter is spooked by loud noises. Unfortunately for the wolf, Krusty declares "loud" being the secret word of the day. Celebration and noise ensue, causing the terrified wolf to panic and escape the studio.

The wolf runs to Springfield Elementary School, where it attacks Bart outside the classroom. He cries 'Wolf!' but Mrs. Krabappel ignores his pleas. Groundskeeper Willie rescues Bart by fighting the wolf, telling Bart to return to his classroom. Since he feels that he will not be believed that he was attacked by a wolf, Bart decides to say that he made it up by showing a 'little honesty' to Mrs. Krabappel. He then passes out on the floor, where Mrs. Krabappel pokes him with a metre stick and realises that he was indeed telling the truth. Grampa takes him home, while Willie gives the wolf some alcohol and consoles him about losing.

Mr. Burns attempts to seduce Marge, who tells him that she is married. He dismisses her, so she threatens a lawsuit and enlists the help of Lionel Hutz, who is completely unsuccessful and flees from Mr. Burns's army of real lawyers. Mr. Burns gives up after Homer defends Marge. The episode ends as Homer and Marge enjoy a private show performed by the captured Tom Jones, who secretly begs Marge to help him escape.

[stip]

I am the angel of death. The time of purification is at hand

[Norah]

Crepes of Wrath for now, but that could change.

[LoathedVermin72]

Crepes of Wrath for now, but that could change.

[Simple Torture]

These are both good, but Crepes of Wrath stands out as a good early episode where the show began to explore just how absurd it could get (especially with the whole Sparrow thing).

[tragabigzanda]

These are both good, but Crepes of Wrath stands out as a good early episode where the show began to explore just how absurd it could get (especially with the whole Sparrow thing).

[Mecca]

I always thought the piece of candy made Bart speak French.