33x09 - Mothers and Other Strangers

Episode transcripts for the 1989 TV show "The Simpsons". Aired: December 1989 to present.*
Watch/Buy Amazon  Merchandise

"The Simpsons" - set in the fictional town of Springfield - parodies American culture, society, television, and many aspects of the human condition, and is a satirical depiction of a middle class American lifestyle.
Post Reply

33x09 - Mothers and Other Strangers

Post by bunniefuu »

♪ ♪

(GASPS)

(HOMER AND MARGE GRUNT)

Boring. Boring.

Boring. Boring. Boring.

Seen it.

Lived it.

(WHINES CURIOUSLY)

Looks like you've discovered
Muttflix, Bart.

The premium cable channel made for dogs.

- ♪ ♪

(LOW, INTRIGUED GROWL)

They show short scenes from
a canine point of view.

It's to a dog's eyes

what opening a can of dog
food is to their ears.

Shh! Squirrel.

(GROWLS)

Hmm.

I love my dog

As much as I love you

But you may fade...

And they say there's no good
TV show ideas anymore. (SCOFFS)

(BARKING ON TV)

Your dog bit me.

Made my day.

(GROWLING)

Na-na-na-na-na-na, nana.

(YAPPING)

Ah, what's she doing here?

Santa's Little Helper wanted to invite

his mom over since it's Mother's Day.

Mother's Day...

Aww...

So sweet.

Did you say it's Mother's Day?

(CLEARS THROAT)

Oh, Mom. We haven't forgotten you.

Guess what I've got.
A mug I made at school!

Oh. Great. Thanks.

- (GROANING)

And, Mom, although I believe
Mother's Day is a B.S. holiday...

unlike true holidays,
like my half birthday

or May the Fourth Be With You...

I, too, made you a mug.

Oh. Thank you for trying.

Oh. Nothing in this world
beats a baby's kiss.

(MUTTERING): Thinks she's so cute.

How do you tell someone who
doesn't talk to shut up?

Kids, I love all your presents and...

Homer?

Uh...

This is the one holiday

that means something to me.

Well, I was gonna
make you breakfast in bed,

but you know the food
always comes out bad...

Ugh, so bad.

And we always leave
a mess in the kitchen,

which is worse than making
no breakfast at all.

Basically we're idiots.

Hmm. Where is this going?

So I thought, why not get you
a nice picture frame instead?

It'll last longer than a breakfast

and I carefully chose
a picture of all the kids...

and... pour vous.

Aw, that is nice.

(HOMER CRYING)

What is it, Dad? What's wrong?

It's... it's just...

Homer, it's your mother.

This image is all you've got left of me.

And it's starting to get
a little fuzzier each year.

(STATIC CRACKLING)

Mom.

If only I could kiss your fuzzy face.

Same cold nose, but not the same.

I miss you, Mom.

Oh, my God! Dad's reliving
the great tragedy of his life.

And that is?

Losing your mother.

(GASPS) Oh, my God.

I'm so sorry, Homer.

Nothing can replace your mom.

But you do have your father.

(SOBBING)

Let it out, Dad.

Studies show losing a parent

is the most traumatic thing
that can happen to a child.

What a sad thing to say. (SOBBING)

When Homer croaks we're
gonna have to spring for

an XXL elephant coffin.

Not funny, Bart.

(GROWLS)

- Hey, the cat liked it.
- (MEOWS)

Dad, maybe you should get some therapy.

Mm... Oh.

I just don't know if we can

afford more mental health.

Don't worry, Mom.
Thanks to the app store,

there's a solution to everything.

Nutz, the therapy app.

Woo-hoo!

I can confront my grief on the john!

MALE VOICE: Welcome to Nutz,

the app that can process your loss,

talk you down from highs,
pick you up from lows,


maintain your mediums,

and find CBD gummies

in the shape of your version of God.

HOMER: Fix my brain.

"Nature of grief?"

"Loss of mother."

"Age of loss?"

"Nine years old."

"Are you a robot?"

(CHUCKLES) I wish.

(HUMMING)

(PHONE RINGING)

Okay, people. Let's earn those PhDs.

Who wants "lost his mother"?

Lost his mother?

Oh, come on, that's a premium disorder.

You can't make him worse.

I'll take it.

Okay, we've also got a jumper,
a bed-wetter,

and a guy who's still messed up

because the Patriots traded Brady.

And remember, if you get 'em to cry,

you get a turn in the cash tornado.

(GASPING)

- Hello, Homer.
- Ooh!

Please enter date of loss.

MONA: I wrote this on the liquor
cabinet so you would see it.


I am wanted by the FBI

and leaving forever.

(GROANS)

Abe! Put down the booze
and take care of Homer.


Go to him. Be gentle and sensitive.

Strong and... Absolut Vodka.

Now you're just reading the label.

When's Mommy coming back?

- She's not.
- Why not?

Uh... she's dead.

GRAMPA: That oughta hold him.

That must have been rough.

But I know something that could help.

Simply...

AUTOMATED VOICE: Press button to pay

- another cents.
- (GROANS)

- (DINGS)
- Think back...

back to when you first realized

you didn't really know what
happened to your mother.


I was .

I had just learned to drive.

(SCREAMS)

(SINGSONGY): Same time tomorrow.

Well, well, well.

First-time driver, eh?

Well, this is my first case.

And I'm doin' this by the book.

Which, uh, I left back at the station.

So, uh... Yeah. I better go get it.

Donuts? What are those?

I better investigate.

Hmm?

She's alive! She's alive.

Who's alive?

No one! And I'm going to find her.

♪ ♪

Letting that postcard go through

was the smartest thing we ever did.

Yeah. That kid's gonna lead
us right to Mona Simpson.

My mom's alive.

I'm so mad at her and my dad.

This is the greatest day of my life!

Oh, why did I get
a lifetime subscription?

Hey, how do ya sell these, anyway?

- By the dozen.
- Hoo boy. Mmm.

♪ ♪

(BOTH GROWLING)

THERAPIST: Now that you know
your mother had left you,


how did you deal with the fact

that it was all your fault?

Wait. What? Th-That can't be right.

AUTOMATED VOICE: Congratulations.

You have been upgraded to
a much better therapist.


Pay $ . to accept.

- (HOMER GROANS)
- (DINGS)

Hoo boy.

Mr. Simpson, when you found out

your mother was alive,
were you conflicted?


- (BUZZING)

I decided it was time
my father and I had a talk

about what really happened to my mother.

(MOANS)

- You told me Mom was dead!
- She is.

Why wasn't there a funeral?

There was too much going on.

My wife just d*ed, for God's sake.

Dad, there's something you're
not telling me about Mom.

Well, son, when a man and a woman

love each other very much,

they want to make a
baby that is immediately

a source of huge conflict.

Not that. Where is she?

Well, the truth is, I don't exactly know

what happened to your mother.

She's alive and wanted by the FBI

for some radical hippie nonsense.

When she said "outta sight,"
she wasn't kidding around.

- Why did you lie?
- To protect you.

Protect me from what?

To protect you from a woman

who didn't love me enough!

Oh, my God, I wasn't protecting you,

I was protecting me.

From the shame of a wife who left.

Because I never gave her
what she wanted most,

which was to leave me.

And as TV shows have
shown us again and again,

that moment of self-realization is

all it takes to cure my alcoholism.

(CAT YOWLS)

Yippee! God bless ya, son!

You and I have each other
and that's all we'll ever need.

- Oh.
- (GRUNTS)

HOMER: This isn't over.

GRAMPA: What did you just think?

HOMER: You heard me!

THERAPIST :
That must have been difficult.


How did you deal with your grief?

I tried everything.

I went to the guidance counselor.

I'm torn up inside.

Have you considered the Army?

They're always looking for angry,
messed-up young men.

No, thank you!

I went to the church.

It didn't help.

I lost my mother

and I can't get rid of the pain.

Have you considered
another religion? Hmm?

Then one night, I came to a decision.

Why did she go to Utah?

Every kid there already has
more moms than they need.

I never even got to give this to her.

Who knows where she ranks now?

I'm gonna find my mother.

So one day I set out on my own.

♪ ♪

(ENGINE STARTS)

(CHUCKLING)

Where the hell do you
think you're going?

(YELPS) Old Man Simpson!

I'm here to stop you, son.

You remember your mom
as a perfect woman.

But... I hate to say this...
she wasn't perfect.

She hogged the blankets something awful.

She had a hard-to-remember birthday.

Please, Dad. I need to know
what happened to her.

Oh, I can't say no to that face.

I think everything's gonna
be better from now on.

Just drive!

HOMER:
As my father and I drove fatefully


through the badlands of Utah,
our relationship


grew deeper and closer
than ever before.


Say, boy, are you left-handed or right?

- Right.
- (GASPS) I never knew that.

Do you like books or TV?

- TV.
- Me, too!

You've answered all my questions.
Let's eat.

Can I help you boys?

I'm lookin' for my ex-wife.

Aw. Well, when was
the last time you saw her?

Seven years ago.

Trust me, it's over.

Just tell me if you've seen her!

I seen a runaway rose like her
workin' a gas 'n' go

near the slot canyons.
Who wants to know?

Let's just say a man
who's had his heart broken

and a boy whose closest
thing to a mother

was the lady on the
bottle of maple syrup.

Hmm.

I see.

You look lonely, cowboy.

Well, only if you consider "lonely"

being without companionship of any kind

for , days.

Well, some of us
get pretty lonesome, too,

when the night comes
and your double wide

seems double empty.

Hint, hint.

Oh, I hear ya.

But I got the boy with me.

So we'll skip the first date
that starts awkward

but ends with potential,

the second date where we hit it off,

the third date where you find out

beneath my crusty exterior
is some sweet apple pie,

and skip right to the part
where we break up

because I gotta take
my son to his mother.

Aw. We had some good times, didn't we?

Yeah, we sure did. (CHUCKLING)

♪ ♪

Mm. Oh, Mona.

Hey, I thought you stopped drinking.

I stopped drinking at night.

Oh, here comes the remorse.

Oh...

♪ ♪

, ...

, ...

, stars in the sky.

- I think you missed that one.
- D'oh!


One, two, three...

Ah, so peaceful.

It reminds me of another
night when the sky

- looked just like this...
- (g*nf*re)

I'm gonna tell you a w*r story, son.

A story of patriotism, sacrifice,

and sexy ladies drawn on planes.

I was trapped in a foxhole
with my best friend Charlie...


Abe, I got a funny feeling...

I ain't gonna make it.

That's crazy talk! Uh...

did you always not have a bottom half?

- (GULPS)
- I just got one request.

Tied to my dog tags is a
picture of my gal, Clara.

Take 'em to her.

Tell her I used up my last breath

sayin' her name. Clara.

(g*nf*re CONTINUES)

Ooh.

Uh-oh.

Let that be a lesson to you, boy.

Don't procrastinate.

So it's good we're lookin' for your ma.

And I'm passin'
these dog tags along to you.

Aw.

(CHUCKLING)

It's your job now, son.

Boy, somewhere there's
a hundred-year-old woman

waiting for ya.

We Simpson men won't let her down!

- (CLEARS THROAT)
- Uh, I'm sorry, I digress.

Never be afraid to digress.

Some of the best
insights come that way.


Oh, is it digression you want?

Well, you know,
shoes didn't always have tongues...

- Not from you.
- Oh...

Homer, so you were closing in
on your mother.


Did that bring up any fears? Did it?

- Did it?
- Yes.

Would she still love me
as much as she did

when she left me forever?

I mean, it's a pretty low bar.

(WIND WHISTLING)

(DOOR BELLS JINGLE)

How old is your boy?

- .
- Oh, I thought so.

I always cry at any boy
between and .

I have a son that age.
Haven't seen him in years.

It's heartbreaking.
I don't know if I'll ever...

Oh, there he is.

Can that really be my little Homer?

- D'oh!
- (LAUGHS) It's him!

Mom?

(DISTORTED): Homer!
I miss you so much!


Such a beautiful voice.

(DISTORTED): Wait right there.

Here I come. I love you.

Mm.

FBI!

How did she spot us?

Mom...?

♪ ♪

(GRUNTS)

HOMER: If I find her,
we'll be a family again.


With the yelling, and the resentment,

and the slamming doors.

It'll be wonderful.

GRAMPA: D'oh! Son! I can't get through!

Oh, forget me. Just go ahead.

Hurry. If you don't go soon,
you'll lose her forever.

♪ ♪

No! You didn't leave me, Dad.

I can't leave you.

You came back... for me?

Yes.

I love you, Dad.

I love you too, boy.

But that was a dumb
choice you just made.

FBI. Official business.

Sir, put your son down and
kick him in front of you.

Never! What the...

Watch it! That part ain't for grabbin'!

I thought you guys were untouchable...
get off me!

Help! Police!

Where you goin', lady?

Anywhere you are.

To San Francisco! Till it gentrifies.

(ENGINE BACKFIRING)

You ever think of all the
violent criminals going free

while we were chasing
after this one woman?

That's why I don't read the papers.

Smart.

We never found Mona. Oh...

You know, I just realized
I could have found her,

waited, then gone back for you
and I would have had everything.

Woulda coulda shouda, loser.

FEMALE VOICE: Misbehaving child?

Check out our list of pacifying dr*gs.

♪ ♪

- (SNIFFLES)
- Oh, boy, that's really sad.

- (GRUNTS)
- That's it, boy.

Deal with feelings like I taught you.

That must have been so confusing.

You actually found your mom,
then lost her again.


HOMER: That's right.
Misery piled on misery.


A seven-layer dip of woe.

And that's how I met your mother.

- Aw.
- Who turned everything around.

That is fantastic.

And since you know that
she'll always be there,


you don't have to be
afraid of abandonment.


You're right. What a great therapist.

- Delete app.
- Wait, what?

I warned you about
solving people's problems.


He was so simple I-I just
couldn't stretch it out.


You're fired. Put that coffee down.

You have major hostility
and control issues.


Bye-bye!

But there's a little more to the story.

Something I've never told anyone.

It happened when Bart was born...

Homer, would you like to cut the cord?

My pleasure.

What the...
It's so tough you can't cut it.

Why is this like... Why, you little...

Such a beautiful moment.

More morphine, sweetie?

Oh, no, thank you.

You sure? It's free.

Mm... Maybe just a little for mama.

(SIGHS HAPPILY)

What the... Hey.

He's mooning me.

Newborns don't moon people.

(GIGGLING)

(YAWNING):
Everything I need is in this room.

♪ ♪

I'm the... (CLEARS THROAT) pediatrician.

Just want to take a look at your boy.

So beautiful.

Really? Don't you see a lot of these?

Not one that's my grandson.

Mom?

When I heard about the baby,

I just had to come and see him.
But I can't stay.

Just know I'm always with you in here.

(SOBS)

I guess that'll have to do.

(HUMMING)

(DEEP VOICE): I even miss you sometimes.

Wait! Doctor! Let's talk!

Was it a dream?

There's no way I'll ever know.

It wasn't a dream. I was there.

There's no reliable way I'll ever know.

Either way, Dad, it's wonderful.

AUTOMATED VOICE:
You have found closure.


Closure. Disclaimer:

Closure is no longer considered
a valid psychological construct.


Closure!

This is the best Mother's Day ever.

ALL: Aw...

- Aw...
- (MARGE GROANS)

Or it will be the best
Mother's Day ever.

Once I take your mother to
the finest restaurant in town.

Where I actually made reservations.

(GASPS) This is the
best Mother's Day ever!

Everything I need is in this room.

Sir, this is not a buffet.
Please stay out of the kitchen.

When a sign says "brunch," I brunch.

(BLIPPING)

(PANTING) Honey, can we

have dinner on the floor tonight?

No.

♪ ♪

Mom?

♪ ♪

D'oh!

♪ ♪

Shh!
Post Reply