Homer vs. Dignity
"Homer vs. Dignity"
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Episode Information
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"Homer vs. Dignity" is the fifth episode of the Simpsons twelfth season.
Plot
When Bart gets his first A+ (not realising that what he thinks was cheating was actually studying), the family celebrates by eating at "The Singing Sirloin". However, they are not able to pay the bill and have to play mariachi music to pay the restaurant back. Marge sees that they're in financial trouble, and suggests they should see a financial planner. The planner tells them that because of Homers numerous costly medical problems, antics and being too stupid to budget his money, they will go through bankruptcy several times and still need more cash. Meanwhile, Smithers leaves Mr. Burns for a little while, to star in a play he wrote about Malibu Stacy. Mr Burns seeks the opportunity to go have fun sans Smithers. Homer winds up the courage to ask Burns for a raise, and he gets the chance when Burns wanders into the "cafitorium". Homers asks for money, but Burns will only give him some if he hits Lenny with pudding. Homer objects, but once he does it, Burns cracks up and hires him as his official "prank monkey".
Burns' pranks harm the dignity of others and Homer, but he doesn't care as long as he gets paid, keeping his goings-on a secret from the rest of his family. When one prank involves Homer dressing as a new panda donated to the zoo, he becomes the mate of a male panda. When he tries to escape, Homer gets caught on the fence, and Lisa discovers him.
Lisa isn't proud the her dad is selling his dignity away. Homer stands up to Burns, but retracts his comment for more money. Homer wonders what he could do with the money. Lisa suggests he donates it to charity. Homer goes to a store and buys all the toys for poor children. The store owner is moved by his gesture and makes him the Santa Claus for the annual parade. Burns sees this as a perfect way to pull a prank - by replacing the presents (to be thrown out to bystanders) with fish guts. Once on the float, Homer can't bear to dose the kids with fish guts, until Burns comes up on another float an offers him a huge amount of money. Lisa sees Santa tossing the fish at the crowd and is disappointed, until she realises that Homer isn't the Santa on the float anymore; Burns is. Seagulls come and invade the town, attacking all those with the fish on them.
