Marge Be Not Proud

"Marge Be Not Proud" is the 11th episode of The Simpsons' seventh season. This is the second-ever The Simpsons Christmas themed episode. There was a six-year gap between this one, and the first one, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", which was also the first-ever Simpsons episode, this episode aired on the same date as "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" had, six years earlier. The writers had been thinking about doing a second Christmas show for many years, but no one wanted to take it on because they thought that they would just be repeating the first episode. After this episode, new Christmas episodes were made almost every following year.

Synopsis

While the family watches a Christmas special hosted by Krusty the Clown, Bart sees a commercial advertising the fighting game Bonestorm, and decides he must have it. However, Marge tells him no, since the Mortal Kombat-type game costs too much.

Other attempts to obtain the game fail. At Android's Dungeon, the Comic Book Guy tells Bart all available copies of the game have been rented, however multiple copies of the golf game Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge, which is portrayed as being incredibly boring, remain. Passing it up, Bart later learns that Milhouse, has the game and comes over to play, but Milhouse quickly has Bart thrown out.

Discouraged, Bart visits the local Try-N-Save discount store. Inside in the electronics section, a spoiled kid (Gavin) demands that his mother buy him Bonestorm (she gives in), and sees Jimbo and Nelson shoplifting from the store. Bart - seeing the video game case has been left open, and hearing the voices of various video game characters whispering to him (Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Lee Carvallo [the only one who tried to talk Bart out of shoplifting], and Sonic the Hedgehog)- can no longer resist temptation; he takes a copy of Bonestorm, hides it in his jacket and walks out of the store.

Outside, Bart thinks he's home free, until he feels a heavy hand on his shoulder. He's been caught by the store's security officer, Det. Don Brodka. Bart is taken to a back room, where Brodka calls his parents (he leaves a message because they weren't home) and tells him to leave and never return, or else he'll face criminal charges. Bart races home, barely beating his parents home and managing to replace Brodka's phone message with another tape, and puts the real tape where nobody would ever listen to it. Bart has avoided trouble, temporarily.

The next day, Marge announces plans to have their family's picture taken at a photographer's studio at Try-N-Save - the very Try-N-Save that Bart has been banned from entering. Bart tries to convince Marge to go elsewhere, but the family goes to the Try-N-Save. Bart tries to avoid detection, but Brodka grabs him just as the photographer snaps the picture. He explains to Marge and Homer that their son broke the "11th Commandment": Thou shalt not steal. When Marge tells him that her son is not a shoplifter, the store detective shows them the surveillance tape on one of the TVs in the store. Bart blocks the TV, crying out: "I did it!", but the incriminating tape is also playing on all the other TVs for sale, over and over again.

Bart's parents are very disappointed in him. Homer begins to lecture him, but goes off into a mindless rant about the Police Academy movies, and ending with "stay outa my booze". Marge, however, becomes distant with her son and sends him to bed. Later, Bart is left out of family activities, such as decorating the tree and making snow statues of themselves.

Bart fears he has lost his mother's love, and decides he must repent. He visits the Try-N-Save, and returns with a bulge in his coat. Marge confronts him, believing he was shoplifting again, and finds Bart has hidden a handsome picture of himself (as opposed to his usual wacky look in photos) bought as a Christmas present for Marge, with a receipt saying "Paid in full."

Marge is overjoyed, and in gratitude for receiving her Christmas gift so early she gives Bart his, telling him it is the video game "every boy wants" according to the store clerk. Bart eagerly opens the present only to find out it's Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge. Although he's disappointed, Bart smiled and embraces his mother.

Presumably, Bart plays the putting game over the ending credits for the first (and last) time.