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183
"The Cartridge Family"
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| "The Cartridge Family"
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| Episode Information
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"The Cartridge Family" is the fifth episode of season 9 of The Simpsons and the one-hundred and eighty-third episode overall. It originally aired on November 2, 1997. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Pete Michels.
Synopsis[edit]
- "After a wild soccer riot tears up Springfield, Homer purchases a handgun to protect his family. But when Marge's repeated requests to dispose of the weapon go without notice, she whisks herself and the kids away to a seedy motel."
The Simpsons attend a soccer match between Mexico and Portugal. When the game starts, the crowd begins to lose interest and it turns into a violent soccer riot. Eventually the riot escalates and spreads all over Springfield, forcing Mob rule to be installed. Homer does not want to pay $500 for a Home Security System and decides to buy a firearm. After the five day waiting period, Homer surprises Marge with his new Revolver. She is horrified and appalled, demanding that he get rid of the gun at once. Homer persuades Marge to come with him to the local National Rifle Association ("Come in and shoot your mouth off.") meeting to try and get her to change her mind. After the meeting, she still remains unconvinced.
Homer treats the gun as though it were a toy, casually carrying it into the Kwik-E-Mart, firing bullets to retrieve items from the roof and shooting dinner plates as if they were clay pigeons. Finally, after a near fatal accident at the dinner table, Marge reveals just how uncomfortable with the gun she is, begging Homer to get rid of it. Homer promises to do so, but hides it in the vegetable crisper instead. Later, Bart and Milhouse discover it and play William Tell in the kitchen. Marge steps into the kitchen just in time to stop them, and rounds on Homer for breaking his promise. She then gives Homer an ultimatum: "Until you decide what's more important, your gun or your family, we can't live in the same house!" After that she promptly leaves with some suitcases and the children in tow. That night, Homer hosts an NRA meeting at his house but his reckless gun usage appalls the other members and he is kicked out of the association, and the house until the meeting was over. Realizing what his gun has cost him, Homer goes to the Sleep-Eazy Motel where Marge and the kids are spending the night, meaning to reconcile.
Homer and Marge make up, after Homer explains he has finally gotten rid of the gun. While leaving, Snake arrives to rob the desk clerk, demanding the cash register's contents while holding a knife to Mayor Quimby's throat. Homer pulls out his gun and foils the robbery. Marge is angry at Homer for lying again, but whilst he's apologizing to her, Snake snatches the gun. The other NRA members arrive and stop Snake from shooting, but he runs off with the money all the same. While Marge is about to throw the gun away, she sees her reflection in the trash can lid. With a bad girl glint in her eyes, she likes the look and decides to keep it.