"A Tale of Two Springfields" is an episode from season twelve of the animated TV series The Simpsons. The title is a spoof of Charles Dickens' classic book, A Tale of Two Cities.
Episode details
Production Number: BABF20
Original Air Date: November 5, 2000
Writer: John Swartzwelder
Director: Shaun Cashman
Blackboard: "I will not plant subliminAL messaGOREs"
Couch Gag: Homer sits on a whoopee cushion that Bart has planted
Guest Voices: The Who
Synopsis
While feeding Santa's Little Helper, Bart finds a badger in his doghouse. Bart and Lisa try to get rid of it themselves, but are unsuccessful. After Homer suggests they blow up the doghouse with dynamite, Lisa tells them to call animal control. When Homer calls them, he gets a tri-tone and a recording indicating that he did not enter the correct area code. Marge informs him that the phone company ran out of numbers, so they had to spilt Springfield into two area codes. One half keeps the old 636 and the Simpsons' half get the new 939. He is outraged that they changed the code so suddenly (even though Lenny and Carl say that they had weeks of advance warnings). While at a town meeting, with Homer covered with dynamite, Lyndsey Nagle shows a film that two area codes are better. The whole town agrees with it. However, Homer stands up, reminding them how terrible it was and points out that the original 636 code was kept by the rich side of town! When Homer fails to blow himself up, he leds a rebellion of the poor and goes off to form a new town.
Homer names the town with the new 939 code "New Springfield", while the half of the town with 636 is now called "Olde Springfield". Homer is quickly appointed mayor of New Springfield and quickly abuses his power, such as using his sash as a napkin. Rivalry quickly ensures between the two towns. When Old Springfield insults the inefficiency of his half of town, Homer cuts power to Old Springfield. Old Springfield retaliates by hijacking a beer truck and dumping its contents in the river. Homer and New Springfield strike back by cutting off the river into Old Springfield; however this causes its inhabitants to find gold in the river and buy a water factory from France. Homer decides to build a giant wall right through town, a'la Berlin. When he tells his citizens they don't have enough supplies to get past tomorrow and that a wave of disease will kill the weak, everyone except the Simpsons leave.
Now the mayor of a ghost town, Homer boasts to himself that the Who is coming to their town, when they are actually performing in Old Springfield. Together, he and Bart are able to get them to perform in New Springfield. When Old Springfield is waiting for the band, they find them in New Springfield and prepare to riot. Just before a major conflict, the Who suggests they get speed-dial to solve their rivalry. They also agree to play if Springfield tears down the wall, which Pete ends up doing with his guitar.
Quotes
- Homer: We need to block them from our sight with a giant wall!
Marge: Like the one in Berlin?
Homer: Good idea! Maybe we should call the guys they used.
(Homer dials a number, but gets the tri-tone. His eye begins to twitch)
Marge: Uh, Homer...
Homer: (insistently) It's ringing!
- Homer: Area code!? But it's a local call!
Marge: The phone company ran out of numbers, so they split the city into two area codes. Half the town keeps the old 636 area code, and our half gets 939.
Homer: 939!!!?? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!? Oh my life is ruined.
Marge: Geez, you just have to remember three extra numbers.
Homer: Oh if only it were that easy Marge.
(someone's at their front yard)
Homer: Go away! We got bigger problems now.
(he leaves)
External links
Last updated: 05-21-2005 05:25:34
