Mountain of Madness
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Mountain of Madness is an episode of The Simpsons
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[edit] Synopsis
Mr. Burns goes to work and decides to skip his usual morning coffee. But within an hour, he feels sleepy and has his drink. Energized, Burns decides to hold an evacuation drill but ends up settling for a good old-fashioned fire drill. However, instead of clearing the plant complex, the employees panic, and fail to get out in less than fifteen minutes. Outraged, Burns declares that everyone shall be subjected to a teamwork competition at Mt. Springfield. Homer gets partnered with Burns while Smithers has to journey on his own. The object of this competition is to reach a cabin at the top of the mountain; the last team to arrive will be fired.
Along the way, Burns talks Homer into cheating and they use a snowmobile to reach the cabin. Arriving several hours early, they get comfortable. Burns and Homer quickly form a friendship. However, while clinking their champagne glasses, they cause an avalanche that buries the entire cabin. They are unable to get a message to the outside world. Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa meet Smithers and agree to help him, though they do more stalling than helping. In the cabin, Burns and Homer fail to tunnel out. Each time they speak, they cause more avalanches that put more snow between them and freedom.
Soon, cabin fever begins to fall upon the two men. They build snowmen to pass the time (though Burns insists they build real men out of snow) and give them their clothing. As for the other workers, they reach what they think is the cabin. However, it is actually a ranger station and they realize that something bad has happened to their colleagues. In the cabin, Homer and Burns stare at each other's eyes, filling their minds with paranoia. Burns is driven mad and attempts to kill Homer. After a struggle, Burns ignites the cabin's propane tank, launching the cabin out of the snow and next to the other workers. Reminding everyone of the contest, all the workers run in and Lenny, being the last one to reach the cabin, is fired (though Burns decides that everyone has learned their lesson and that no one is fired after all). As for himself and Homer, the episode ends with the two of them exchanging paranoid glances.
[edit] Trivia
- Contrary to his established character, Mr. Burns remembers Homer's name throughout the episode.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title of this episode is based on At the Mountains of Madness, a novella written by H.P. Lovecraft.
[edit] Quotes
- Homer: So, Burns is gonna make us all go on a stupid corporate retreat up in the mountains to learn about teamwork. Which means we'll have to cancel our plans to hang around here.
Bart: Teamwork is overrated.
Homer: Huh?
Bart: Think about it. I mean, what team was Babe Ruth on? Who knows.
Lisa and Marge: Yankees.
Bart: Sharing is a bunch of bull, too. And helping others. And what's all this crap I've been hearing about tolerance?
Homer: Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
(This line is often quoted online as a response to internet flaming.) - Smithers: What time is it?
Bart: Twelve eighty. No wait. What comes after twelve?
Smithers: One.
Bart: No, after twelve. - Smokey: Only who can prevent forest fires? (Bart presses a button labelled "you") You've pressed "you", referring to me. That is incorrect. The correct answer is you!
- Lisa: Mr. Smithers! Mr. Smithers! That moose is on fire!
- Homer: Mr. Burns, I insist that we cheat!
Burns: Excellent. - Carl (reaching the ranger station): There's no other cabin around for miles. This must be the one Burns was talking about.
Lenny: Well, we made it first, thanks to teamwork.
Carl: Yeah, my teamwork! - Smithers (pairing the workers): Simpson...and...Burns?
Homer: Ah.
Homer's brain: Quiet, you fool. You're on the one team that can't possibly be fired.
Homer: Oh.
Smithers: Sir, this can't be right. You assured me this drawing was rigged so we'd be teammates.
Burns: Yes, well, frankly you've been a bit of a pill lately.
Smithers: Why do we always fight on vacation? - Homer: Oh, these sure are comfortable chairs.
Burns: Oh yes, sitting--the great leveler. From the mightiest pharaoh to the lowliest peasant, who doesn't enjoy a good sit? - Burns: Well, Simpson, I must say after you've been through something like that with a person, you never want to see that person again.
Homer: You said it, ya weirdo!
(the two laugh, then exchange paranoid glances. They laugh again and then exchange paranoid looks once more.) - Homer: Dear Lord, please protect this rocket house and all who dwell within the rocket house.
- Burns: What's a good time for a mass evacuation of the plant?
Smithers: 45 seconds.
Burns: And what's our time so far?
Smithers: I don't know, sir, this stopwatch only goes up to 15 minutes. - Homer: (gasping for air) I think I won.
Burns: Yes, you won alright. You won more than you bargained for.
Homer: WooHoo!!! - Lenny: Did you hear something?
Carl: No.
Lenny: Did I?
Carl: I don't know! - (in the cabin, Burns and Homer stare at each other)
Burns' brain: I'm trapped with a madman. Look at him, staring into me, filling my mind with paranoid thoughts.
Homer's brain: Unn... look at his eyes! He's trying to hypnotize me, but not in the good Las Vegas way!
Burns' brain (gasp): I know what he's up to! He's thinking of killing me and riding my carcass down the mountain to safety. He's truly gone mad if he's thinking that. Well, he can't kill me if I kill him first!
