Treehouse of Horror
Treehouse of Horror
also known as ``The Simpsons Halloween Special''
[Bad Dream House] Written by Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky
[Hungry Are the Damned] and John Swartzwelder
[The Raven] and Edgar Allan Poe & Sam Simon
[Bad Dream House] Directed by Wes Archer
[Hungry Are the Damned] Rich Moore
[The Raven] David Silverman
Title sequence
There is no title sequence for this episode. We go straight into the show
proper.
Didja notice...
... the rats around the manhole cover? @{dh}
... the episode began with Homer saying, ``I love Halloween.''
and it ended with Homer saying, ``I hate Halloween''? \[Chris Colby]
He also begins and ends the episode with a sheet over his head.
... the lighting behind Lisa makes it look like she has a halo around
her head? @{cjb} (Towards the end of the show, when she
says, ``well it was written in 1845...'')
... the Springfield Tire Fire in the opening credits?
| [Bad Dream House]
... the bunny doll beside the box that Bart is unpacking? @{dh}
... Marge is wearing bunny slippers? @{dh}
... Bad Dream House has a moat?
... Bart's hand as he says ``Do It?''
| [Hungry Are the Damned]
... James Earl Jones also played `the Preparer'?
... Homer's apron reads, ``Mafia Staff Apron''?
... when the bug zapper is turned on, there's a big, juicy zap and a
little `Ow' (From `The Fly')? ``My, that was a <big> momma.''
... the aliens are watching `Itchy and Scratchy'?
Reviews
Yours Truly {rjc}: Absolutely stupenderiffic. Lots of lines that are
hilarious in context, like ``Man, this place has got everything!'' and
the fall-out-of-my-chair, ``Hey, listen, lady!''
Movie (and other) References
+ Don't Open `til Doomsday (Outer Limits episode)
- The implosion of Bad Dream House
~ Ghostbusters
- The kitchen acting up as a woman puts away groceries
+ The Lone Ranger
- Tonto
+ Frankenstein
- disclaimer
+ EC Comics Horror Tales
- Halloween episode
The Shining
- everyone trying to kill each other with knives, hatchets, etc.
+ The Exorcist
- Maggie's head turning all the way around.
Poltergeist
- Bart strangled by house
- The behavior of the haunted house.
- Indian graves in the cellar.
Addam's Family house
- inspiration for Bad Dream House
+ The Amityville Horror
- inspiration for Bad Dream House
- Blood oozing down the walls. {my}
- The wall with a chimney running up the center and
quarter-circle windows on each side. {dl}
+ Psycho
- The shape of the haunted house.
The Fall of the House of Usher
- The death of the haunted house.
+ The Fly
- The `Ow' you hear when the bug zapper does its thing.
+ Star Trek
- Kang is the name of the Klingon commander (``The Day of the Dove'')
- Kodos is the name of another bad guy (``The Conscience of the King'')
- Serak is a pun/anagram on Sarek, Spock's father, with perhaps
some influence from Surak, a Vulcan philosopher.
+ Twilight Zone (To Serve Man)
- The cookbook, `How to cook for forty humans'
+ Mafia Staff Car bumper stickers
- Mafia Staff Apron
+ Vertigo
- track and zoom as Lisa seen the spaceship
- the moving staircase in Bad Dream House is also reminiscent of this
+ Alien
- the corridor on the spaceship
+ Edgar Allen Poe [thank you, Curtis Hoffman]
- Bust of Poe
- Cask of Amontillado (on Homer's table)
- Bust of Peter Lorre (who starred in Tales of Terror, inspired by Poe)
- Forgotten Lore, Vol. II
- The Pit And The Pendulum
- The Tell Tale Heart
- The Purloined Letter
- The Raven (well, as long as I'm making a list...)
+ Cornelius Vanderbilt, 19th Century mogul
- Cornelius V. Simpson
+ Casper, the Friendly Ghost
- Casper, the friendly boy
Comments and other observations
.mih ssiM .nam ,daed si luaP
Paul McCartney on the tombstone is a reference to the `Paul is Dead'
hoax of 1969. (According to the hoax, Paul was killed in a car crash in
1966 and was replaced by an exact duplicate.)
Further, many Beatles songs supposedly featured ``clues'' to Paul's
demise. ``Number nine'' (Revolution #9) backwards says ``Turn me on,
deng men'' and the babble at the end of ``I'm So Tired'' backwards says
``ul is debneh, miss him, miss him, miss him.'' And the best clue,
``the Walrus *was* Paul'' from ``Glass Onion.'' According to the
rec.music.beatles FAQs, all four Beatles have vigorously denied any
connection to the hoax (I suppose Pete Best was unavailable for comment).
Misc
Matt Groening wanted the title for the Alien book to be ``How to Cook
for Forty Humans and then Eat Them,'' but it was vetoed.
For this capsule, the text of the Raven used is that which is listed by
the E.A. Poe Society of Baltimore as `T'. It was the last version printed
before Poe's death. The full poem may be found here:
<http://www.eapoe.org/works/poems/ravent.htm>
References
Previous episodes
[7G10] Fried shrimp for Lisa.
Animation, Continuity, and Other Goofs
= The Pong ball sometimes rotates like a real ping pong ball, even though I
don't think that the original Pong did.
- Marge is spreading something from a jar labeled ...onaise. I wouldn't eat
anything from a jar that misspelt its contents, but then again, I don't
even like mayonnaise.
= When Marge is chewing out the house for the last time, the rest of the
family blinks in unison twice. This might not be a goof, but it is really
creepy.
Freeze Frame Fun
Tombstones in Springfield Cemetery
* Ishmael Simpson
* Ezekiel Simpson
* Cornelius V.~Simpson
- see references
* Garfield
* The Grateful Dead
* Casper The Friendly Boy
* Elvis
* Your Name Here
* Paul McCartney
- see comments
* Disco
| Brian Howard @{bh} reports that in the script for this show, the final
gravestone at the beginning was going to be ``Erwin Rommel -- Desert
Fox and Loving Husband'', but it was one of the things that got edited
out.
The tombstones in the basement
| As observed by Curtis Hoffmann
* Hiawatha
* Cochise
* Sitting Bull
* Pocahontas
* Crazy Horse
* Not So Crazy Horse
* Geronimo
* Sacajawea
* Mahatma Gandhi [a different kind of Indian --rjc]
* Tonto
Books in the episode:
American Literature - has Poe's ``The Raven''
Music Book for Saxophone - Lisa unpacks this
Quotes and scene summary
On a stage, Marge pops out from behind a curtain.
Hello, everyone. You know, Hallowe'en is a very strange holiday. Personally,
I don't understand it. Mm mm... Kids worshipping ghosts, pretending to be
devils. Oooh, things on TV that are <completely> inappropriate for younger
viewers. Things like the following half hour. Nothing seems to bother <my>
kids. But tonight's show, which I totally wash my hands of, is really scary.
So if you have sensitive children, maybe you should tuck them into bed
early tonight instead of writing us angry letters tomorrow. Thanks for
your attention.
-- Marge's disclaimer, ``Treehouse of Horror''
``The Simpsons Halloween Special''. Thunderstorm. Pan across Springfield
Cemetery... Push in on the Simpsons' home, panning upward to the treehouse,
where Lisa's distinctive hairstyle can be seen in the window. Down below,
a sheeted ghost approaches. It's Homer, carrying a bag of treats.
Ooh, what a haul this year. I <love> Hallowe'en!
-- Homer returns from a night of trick-or-treating, ``Treehouse of Horror''
He spots the light on in the treehouse and investigates.
Inside, Lisa holds a flashlight to her face and concludes telling her
scary story to Bart and Maggie. Bart is hardly impressed and says it
wasn't scary. After a brief ``Is not!''/``Is too!'' argument, Lisa
hands Bart the flashlight and tells him to give it his best shot.
``Here's a story that's reeeeeeeeeeeeally scarifying.'' (``Oh, brother.'')
==============================================================================
Bad Dream House Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Wesley Archer
==============================================================================
The mover finishes moving the Simpsons' stuff into their new mansion;
Bart and Lisa set to unpacking. Homer tips the moving man a dollar.
He grumbles, ``I'm glad there's a curse on this place,'' on his way out.
Marge wonder why they were able to buy the house for so little.
Prime location, eighteen bedrooms, moat...
-- Marge admires the family's new mansion,
``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Meanwhile, Bart unpacks. He removes a book and sets it down, which
mysteriously floats into the air and goes back into the box. Bart removes
the same book and sets it down, etc. Another book propels itself across
the room, hitting Lisa. Lisa accuses Bart of throwing the book.
House: Geeettt ooouuuttt...
Marge: What on earth was that?
Homer: Probably just the house settling.
-- The Simpsons buy a haunted house,
``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Marge carries pots and pans into the kitchen, which is dripping with blood.
Mm... This kitchen <certainly> could use a woman's touch.
-- Marge discovers a blood-covered kitchen in their new home,
``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
She discovers a swirling hole in the wall and calls Homer in.
Lisa: It looks like a vortex. A gateway into another dimension.
Homer: Oooh, a vortex. [takes an orange and tosses it in] Catch!
[the orange disappears with a pop]
Heeeeey! Pretty slick!
[a crumpled-up piece of paper comes back]
Lisa: [reads the message] ``Quit throwing your garbage into our dimension.''
-- ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Quit throwing your garbage into our dimension.
-- A message from the beyond, ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
A cry for help is heard from the living room, where the family discover
Bart and Maggie suspended in midair, assorted objects flying about.
Homer pulls Bart down. ``Okay, boy. Let's see you talk your way out
of <this> one!'' Lisa shivers with fear.
Lisa: I can feel an evil presence in this house.
Marge: Evil!?
Homer: Quiet, Lisa. You're scaring your mother.
-- First things first, ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Marge tells the kids to get their coats; they're leaving right now.
The kids' coats magically float into their arms.
It's only natural there be <some> things wrong with an old house like this.
It's a fixer-upper!
-- Homer explains the family's new (haunted) house,
``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
``We get a bunch of priests in here...'' As Homer defends his position,
he floats into the air. Then falls twenty feet to the floor. Marge
reluctantly agrees to sleep on it. (The idea, not the floor.)
That evening...
House: They are all against you, Bart... You must kill them all...
They all must die...
Bart: Are you my conscience?
House: I... [pause] ... Yes, I am.
-- A conversation with the... ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Meanwhile, the house tells Lisa, ``Lisa... The butcher knife, Lisa...''
Lisa takes a butcher knife out of her drawer. (``Weird kid,'' observes
Chris Baird @{cjb}.) She tests its sharpness and grins evilly.
In his bedroom, Homer wields an axe. ``They are all against me... They
all must die...'' In her crib, Maggie sits up, and her head spins around.
In the kitchen, Marge reaches for a serrated bread knife...
Homer wanders into the kitchen, followed by Bart (cleaver), Lisa (butcher
knife), and Maggie (paring knife). Maggie holds the knife between her
teeth. The four march in a circle, laughing maniacally. In the kitchen,
Marge lowers her knife...
To spread mayonnaise on a sandwich. She emerges into the living room
and asks, ``What's going on out here!'' Everyone apologizes to each
other. (Maggie sucks apologetically.)
This family's had its differences, and we've squabbled,
but we never had knife fights before.
-- Marge, after the infamous knife scene,
``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Lisa opens the door to the cellar and discovers...
Lisa: It's an ancient Indian burial ground...
Bart: Man, this place has got everything!
-- ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer angrily dials the phone.
Mr. Bloot? Homer Simpson here. When you sold me this house, you forgot to
mention one little thing: YOU DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS BUILT ON AN INDIAN BURIAL
GROUND! ... NO YOU DIDN'T! ... Well, that's not <my> recollection. ...
Yeah? Well, all right, goodbye! [angrily hangs up] He said he mentioned
it five or six times.
-- Homer, ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Marge is about to leave.
You will diiiiieeeee. You will die slowwwwwwwly.
Your stomach will swelllllllll, your intestines will wriiiithe and booooil.
Your eeeeeyes will buuuuurst. And some horrible stuuuuuuuff, possibly
your braiiiiin, will start coming out through your noooooooose.
-- A house that knows how to get its point across,
``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Marge finally blows up and gives the house a good tongue-lashing. She
then catches herself. ``My hands are shaking!'' Homer consoles her,
``Better than your eyes bursting. Ugh.''
Bart: Do it again!
House: What?
Bart: Make the walls bleed.
House: No!
Bart: Hey, man, we own you. Let's see some blood!
House: I don't have to entertain <you>.
Bart: Come on, man, do it. Do the blood thing. Come on, do it.
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it!
-- Bart talks to the ... ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Meanwhile, Lisa takes a more sensitive approach. The house whines,
``Leave me alone...'' Marge steps in, ``Don't talk to her like that.''
The house rejoinds, ``Hey, listen, lady!'' Marge tells the house that
that will have to learn to live together. The house asks to think about
it, and the family step outside.
Hm... Life with the Simpsons. What choice do I have? [self-destructs]
-- The House, ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
The house folds in on itself and explodes.
Bitchin'!
-- Bart watches the house self-destruct,
``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
It chose to destroy itself rather than live with us. One can't help but
feel a little rejected.
-- Lisa, ``Bad Dream House'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
The family trudge down the street.
[End of Act One]
Lisa is unimpressed, so Bart decides to show her... ``This severed finger!''
He opens a matchbook, revealing a severed finger. (Insert scary music.)
Maggie removes her pacifier and sucks on the finger. Bart quickly discards
the matchbox. (``Ewww! Baby spit!'')
``That was just a warm-up for this mock-a-bree tale which I call...''
==============================================================================
Hungry Are the Damned Written by Jay Kogen and Wal Wolodarsky
Directed by Rich Moore
==============================================================================
The Simpsons are having a barbecue on the back patio. Homer turns on the bug
zapper, then empties an entire can of lighter fluid into the grill. ``That
should just about do it.'' He tosses in a match. FOOM! A mushroom cloud
forms over the Simpsons house.
Lisa is the first to spot a flying saucer hovering over the backyard. All
investigate. (Homer eats a hamburger.) A shaft of orange light descends
and lifts one by one the members of the family into the saucer. (Though
it has considerable difficulty lifting Homer.)
A drooling, green, octopus-like alien introduces himself.
Alien: Greetings. I am Kang. Do not be frightened. We mean you no harm.
Marge: You, you speak English.
Alien: I am actually speaking Rigelian. By an astonishing coincidence,
both of our languages are exactly the same.
-- The Simpsons are abducted by aliens,
``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Kang explains, ``Kodos and I are taking you to Rigel IV, a world of
infinite delights to tantalize your senses and challenge your intellectual
limitations.''
Look, I know that to you, we Simpsons are a lower order of life.
We face that prejudice every day of our lives...
-- Lisa pleads for mercy from the aliens,
``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
But her plea is interrupted by a buffet cart. ``Take all you want, but
eat all you take.'' For Lisa, fried shrimp. For Bart, Sloppy Joe's.
For Homer, pork chops. And for Marge...
Radish rosettes! These are hard to make. They're a very advanced race.
-- Marge admires the aliens' food,
``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Kang, drooling, invites them to ``grow large with food.'' Lisa suspects
something isn't quite right, and Homer agrees. He orders applesauce.
Alien: [drooling] Your wife is quite a... dish.
Homer: Oooh, thanks.
-- ``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
The family are shown to the entertainment center.
Alien: On this cable system, we receive over one million channels from the
furthest reaches of the galaxy.
Bart: Do you get HBO?
Alien: No, that would cost extra.
-- Showing the flying saucer's entertainment center,
``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Next, Kang shows the family video pong. The family scoff.
Alien 1: Anyone from a species that has mastered intergalactic travel
raise your hand. [raises his tentacle]
Alien 2: [raises his tentacle]
Bart: [raises his hand]
Homer: [slaps Bart's hand]
Alien 1: All right, then.
Marge: I'm sorry. Your game is very nice.
-- After the Simpsons chuckle at the `Pong' video game on the UFO,
``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Dinner is announced. Lisa asks why the aliens never eat, and they explain
that they are saving their appetite for a great feast that awaits them on
Rigel IV. Marge asks if they're invited. Kang answers, ``You'll be at the
feast. I have a feeling you'll be the Guests of Honor...'' The aliens
chuckle. Homer asks for more details, but Kodos explains, ``When we arrive,
there will be plenty of time to chew the fat...'' Lisa doesn't touch her
food.
While the aliens weigh Bart and Homer, Lisa explores. She discovers the
cook reaching for a spice rack. ``This will give the humans the perfect
flavor...'' He licks his lips and carries off the pot. Lisa looks at the
cookbook: ``How to Cook Humans.''
She rushes back to the dining room and shows the family her discovery.
Nobody, but NOBODY eats the Simpsons!
-- Homer, ``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
(Homer's face is smeared with barbecue sauce.) Kodos takes the book and
blows off the dust. The real title is ``How to Cook <for> Humans.''
Lisa blows off more dust: ``How to Cook <Forty> Humans.'' Kodos blows
off yet more dust. The full title reads ``How to Cook <for> Forty Humans.''
The aliens are shocked and hurt that the Simpsons thought they were going
to eat them. (``Frankly, you people made pigs of yourselves.'') Serak the
Preparer cries.
The flying saucer returns the Simpsons to their backyard.
Alien: We offered you paradise. You would have experienced emotions
a hundred times greater than what you call love. And a thousand
times greater than what you call fun. You would have been treated
like gods and lived forever in beauty. But, now, because of your
distrustful nature, that can never be.
Marge: [aside] Mmmm. For a superior race, they really rub it in.
-- ``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Lisa poetically observes, ``There <were> monsters on that ship, and truly
we were them.''
Lisa, see what we mean when we say you're too smart for your own good?
-- Marge, after Lisa ruins things yet again,
``Hungry Are the Damned'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Bart chimes in, ``Way to go, Lis.'' Homer adds, ``Yeah, thanks, Lisa.''
[End of Act Two]
In the treehouse, Lisa reads a book. Bart chokes himself, trying to get
her attention. Lisa is reading ``a classic tale of terror by Edgar Allan
Poe.'' Bart suspiciously observes that she's reading a school book.
``Don't worry, you won't learn anything. It's called...''
==============================================================================
The Raven Written by Edgar Allan Poe and Sam Simon
Directed by David Silverman
==============================================================================
As Lisa reads, the scene changes to a scary mansion.
Lisa: Once upon a midnight dreary,[...]
Narrator: [...] while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore --
-- Lines 1-2 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer sits, asleep, with a book titled ``Forgotten Lore Vol.~II'' on his
lap.
When the tapping occurs in the next stanza, Homer wakes up with a start and
looks around nervously.
Narrator: While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door --
Homer: "'Tis some visiter,"
Narrator: I muttered,
Homer: "tapping at my chamber door --
Only this and nothing more."
Bart: Are we scared yet?
-- Lines 3-6 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer returns to sleep.
Narrator: Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow --
-- Lines 7-10 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer wakes up and walks to a tall portrait of Lenore (Marge), her hair
going up so far that it requires a second panel.
Narrator: sorrow for the lost Lenore --
Homer: [plaintively] Oh, Lenore...
Narrator: For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore --
Nameless here for evermore.
-- Lines 10-12 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
A rustle is heard outside. Homer screams and hides behind the chair.
Narrator: And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me -- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
-- Lines 13-15 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer hides under the chair.
Homer: "'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door --
This it is and nothing more."
-- Lines 16,18 (17 omitted) of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Narrator: Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
Homer: "Sir,"
Narrator: said I,
Homer: "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you "
Narrator: -- here I opened wide the door; ----
Homer: [throws open the door and covers his eyes]
Bart: [impatiently] This better be good.
Homer: [peeks through his fingers]
Narrator: Darkness there and nothing more.
Homer: Huh?
-- Lines 19-24 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Sitting outside the treehouse is Homer, clearly scared. Bart complains,
``You know what would have been scarier than nothing?'' ``What?''
``ANYTHING!''
Narrator: Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping something<1> louder than before.
Homer: "Surely,"
Narrator: said I,
Homer: "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -- ["]
-- Lines 31-34 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer opens the window.
Narrator: Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
-- Lines 37-38 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
The raven bears a striking resemblance to Bart.
Narrator: Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door --
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door --
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
-- Lines 39-42 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer chuckles.
Homer: "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,"
Narrator: I said,
Homer: "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore --
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: Eat my shorts!
-- lines 45-48 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Lisa tells Bart that the Raven says ``Nevermore'' and nothing else.
Bart reluctantly gives in.
An odor wanders past, and Homer catches a whiff of it.
Narrator: Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed by some<2> unseen censer
-- line 81 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
The `unseen' censer whaps Homer upside the head. (``D'oh!'')
Narrator: Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
-- line 82 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
The seraphim in question are an angelic Lisa and Maggie.
Homer: "Wretch,"
Narrator: I cried,
Homer: "thy God hath lent thee -- by these angels he hath sent thee
<3>respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore;["]
-- lines 83-84 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer orates before the portrait of Lenore.
Homer: ["] Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: "Nevermore."
Homer: D'oh!
-- lines 85-86 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer is really angry now.
Homer: "Be that word our sign of<4> parting, bird or fiend!"
Narrator: I shrieked, upstarting --
Homer: "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul has<5> spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: "Nevermore."
Homer: [trying to stay calm]
["]Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: "Nevermore."
Homer: Why you little...!
Bart/Raven: Uh-oh!
-- lines 99-104 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer lunges for the Raven, who flits off. Homer chases the bird across
and around the room, but it remains barely out of reach.
Homer: Come back here, you little Raven!
-- An incidental moment of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer's chase makes a mess of his chamber.
Homer: D'ah, grf, son-of-a, d'oh!
-- An incidental moment of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Homer throws a potted plant at the Raven, who dodges the projectile. In
true cartoon fashion, the plant hits Homer on the head. Tiny Ravens dance
around Homer's head, chanting, ``Nevermore, Nevermore, Nevermore...''
The chase continues. The Raven plucks books from the shelf and drops them.
The Raven has returned to its place atop the bust of Pallas. Below lies
the carnage it has wrought upon the room.
Narrator: And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted -- nevermore!
-- lines 105-110 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''
Notes:
<1> Original says ``somewhat'', not ``something''.
<2> Original says ``from an'' not ``by some''
<3> Original has ``Respite -- '' at the beginning of the line
<4> Original says ``in'' not ``of''
<5> Original says ``hath'' not ``has''
The Raven chuckles evilly.
Fade back to the treehouse.
Bart: Lisa, that wasn't scary. Not even for a poem.
Lisa: Well it was written in 1845. Maybe people were easier to
scare back then.
Bart: Oh, yeah. Like when you look at ``Friday the Thirteenth, Part 1''.
Pretty tame by today's standards.
-- Lisa reads ``The Raven'', ``Treehouse of Horror''
Marge calls the kids to bed, and Bart brags that he won't have any trouble
falling asleep tonight. As the kids descend, we see Homer sitting outside
the treehouse, shivering.
Maggie, Lisa, and Bart all sleep soundly in their respective rooms. Homer
begs Marge not to turn off the light, with no success. Through the window,
he sees the Bart/Raven, which chuckles before flying away. ``Oh, I hate
Hallowe'en.''
[End of Act Three]
Voice credits
Starring
Dan Castellaneta (Homer)
Julie Kavner (Marge)
Nancy Cartwright (Bart)
Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
\: and
Harry Shearer (House, Kang)
Special Guest Voice
James Earl Jones (The moving man, Serak the Preparer, Narrator)
Boring distribution restrictions
Episode summaries Copyright 1991--1993 by Raymond Chen. Updated 2003
Andrew A. Gill. All I got was a rock. Not to be redistributed in a
public forum without permission. (The quotes themselves, of course,
remain the property of The Simpsons, and the reproduced articles
remain the property of the original authors. I'm just taking credit
for the compilation.)
HTML conversion by
Howard Jones(ha.jones@ic.ac.uk) on Sat 10 Sept 1994