[MG14] The Funeral

The Funeral                                            Written by Matt Groening
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[$Id: mg14 1.2 92/03/01 13:48:22 raymond Exp Locker: raymond $]
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> Didja notice...
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    Voice credits:
        DAN CASTELLANETA as Mr. Simpson
        JULIE KAVNER as Mrs. Simpson
        NANCY CARTWRIGHT as Bart
        YEARDLEY SMITH as Lisa

    Animators were Wes Archer, Bill Kopp, and David Silverman.

    The credits list the casting director as BONNIE PIETILA rather
    than BONITA PIETILA.

    ... no mouse holes!

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> Freeze Frame Fun
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>> Funeral Attire

The family are dressed in black, down to the shoes.

Homer accessorizes his suit with a pink necktie.  (That free-thinking
anarchist.)

Marge wears a dress that comes up to the neck, along with a veil and
a red pocketbook.

Lisa wears a black version of her regular dress, except that the bottom
hem is straight rather than jagged.

Maggie is in a black baggie.

Bart is in a black suit, also with a pink tie, his hair still spikey
(not combed down).

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> Animation and continuity goofs
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In the half-hour show, Homer is an only child (with the half-exception of
Herbert Powell), and Marge has two sisters.  Neither has a brother named
Hubert.  (Like we really expected them to try to be consistent with the
shorts.  Duh...)

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> Assorted comments and observations
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Brian Howard {bh} gives the timing for this short as 1:40 whereas the
syndication package contains only 1:28 of animation.

Don't miss the ``Drugs and Guns'' sketch in the rest of the show.

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> Quotes and scene summary
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% B = Bart, L = Lisa, M = Marge, H = Homer, O = Mortician
%
% A nondescript room in the Simpsons house.  A brown couch is in the corner.
% On the wall is a picture of an ocean liner.
%
% Marge and Homer stand together at stage left, facing the three kids
% gathered at stage right.  Bart bounces a green ball.  Lisa holds a
% rabbit doll.  Maggie just sucks away.

H: Children, we have some very sad news for you.
   I think you'd better sit down.

% The kids don't move.

H: Sit down!!

% The kids sit down on the couch.  Bart drums his fingers.

M: Children, your elderly Uncle Hubert has passed away.

% The kids look at each other.

H: Do you have any questions?
L: Yeah.  What does `passed away' mean?

% Bart mimes slitting his throat (with appropriate sound effects).

B: You know.  Kicked the bucket, pulled the croak chain, had a meeting
   with Old Mr. Grim, the...
H: Bart!!
B: [with reverence]  That he died.

% The three kids bow their heads.
%
% [End of Act One. Time: 0:28]
%
% At the funeral home, the family have dour expressions, except for Bart,
% who grins evilly.  The mortician peeks through the curtain.

O: Would the family care to view the loved one at this time?

% They head in.  Bart clasps his hands in wicked anticipation.

B: Oh, boy!  I've never seen a dead body before.
   I bet his skin'll be all green and clammy and stuff.
   It'll be just like a zombie movie, only real!
L: [sticks out her tongue] Ewww...

% They reach the casket.  Homer and Marge look in and continue on.
% The girls look in and continue on.
% Bart (still grinning in anticipation) looks in, the grin vanishes
% from his face, he turns green, and he faints.
%
% [End of Act Two. Time: 0:54]
%
% The pallbearers carry the casket to the grave, the Simpson family
% bringing up the rear.

B: Man, this is so slow!

% Bart runs ahead to the open grave.

B: Steady boys... Easy there...  Whoa!  Little to the left...

% Homer comes up from behind and grabs Bart, covering his mouth.
%
% [End of Act Three. Time: 1:08]
%
% In the car on the way home, Homer drives while muttering angrily
% to himself.  The kids are in the back, Maggie in a pink car seat.

M: Children, you were very, very naughty today.

% Shot of the three kids as they frown, ashamed.  Homer continues
% to grumble.

M: Your father and I are quite disappointed in the three of you.
H: This is absolutely the last funeral we ever take you kids to.
L: Awww!
B: Awww, c'mon, man!

% [End of Act Four.  Time: 1:28]
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Shorts summaries Copyright 1992 by Raymond Chen.  Not to be redistributed
in a public forum without permission.  (The quotes themselves, of course,
remain the property of The Tracey Ullman Show, and the reproduced articles
remain the property of the original authors.  I'm just taking credit for the
compilation.)