[MG22] The Pagans

The Pagans                                             Written by Matt Groening
===============================================================================
[$Id: mg22 1.1 92/03/19 07:16:05 raymond Exp Locker: raymond $]
===============================================================================
> Didja notice...
===============================================================================
    Voice credits:
        NANCY CARTWRIGHT as Bart
        YEARDLEY SMITH as Lisa

    Animation producer was Margot Pipkin.
    Animators were Wesley Archer and David Silverman.

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

===============================================================================
> Freeze Frame Fun
===============================================================================
>> Sunday Best
   Homer:   A blue two-piece suit with a purple necktie over a white shirt.
   Marge:   A green dress that comes up to the neck.  Red neck trim instead
            of a necklace.
   Bart:    The same as Homer's suit, but with an orange shirt underneath.
   Lisa:    A red dress that comes up to the neck.  White necklace.
            Straight hem.
   Maggie:  Her blue baggie.

===============================================================================
> Assorted comments and observations
===============================================================================
Brian Howard {bh} gives the timing for this short as 1:06, whereas the
syndication package contains only 1:02 of animation.

Matt Groening chats with Tracey Ullman at the beginning of the show in a
brief sketch.

===============================================================================
> Quotes and scene summary
===============================================================================
% B = Bart, L = Lisa, H = Homer
%
% The family are driving to church.  Homer and Marge in front, the three
% kids in the back (from left to right, Bart, Maggie and Lisa).  Maggie
% sits forward on her seat.

H: You kids better behave in church today.
B: I don't see why <I> have to go, anyway.  I'm a pagan.
H: Bart!
L: I don't want to go to church either.  I'm a pagan, too.
H: Well, you're going to church, so you can like it or love it.

% We hear a tire blow out.  Bart raises his hand.

B: Uh, if I'm not mistaken, Dad, the tire just blew.

% Bart and Lisa clasp their hands and look skyward.
% Maggie sits back in her seat.

B+L: Thank you, Nature!

% [End of Act One.  Time: 0:18]
%
% Pan across to see Maggie and Lisa standing by the car, Bart sitting
% on the fender, Marge inside with a concerned expression, and Homer
% struggling with the right front tire.  Lisa waves her arms.

L: What a beautiful paganistic day!  Come on, Maggie, let's dance.
H: [annoyed] Grab that tire iron, boy.
B: We pagans would like to help you Homer, but it's against out beliefs
   to soil our hands with the greasy tools of sin.

% During Bart's speech, we see that Lisa and Maggie are dancing in an
% unusual manner.  Lisa chants incoherently.

H: Lisa, Maggie, knock that nonsense off.

% Maggie falls down from the strain of it all.  The sky darkens.

B: Too late, Dad.

% Bart heads into the car.  It starts to rain.

H: What the hell are you talking about?

% The kids are safely tucked in the car.

B: Pagan rain dance.  Works every time.

% [End of Act Two.  Time: 0:39]
%
% The sky has since cleared.  Lisa, Bart and Maggie have discarded their
% oppressive clothing (except for Maggie's bow) and are clad instead in
% leaves.  They wave their arms.

B+L: Mom, Dad, look!  We're pagans!

% Homer, struggling with the front tire, turns his head.

H: Why those little...

% Homer chases the kids (his suit all tattered), who head into the church.
% The doors close behind them.  Homer bursts in, and we see that the kids
% are seated in the front pew.

L: Ironically enough, Bart, this house of worship has proven to be our
   sanctuary.
B: Yes, but still, my pagan soul yearns to roam free.
L: No problem.  After the sermon we'll make a run for it.

% [End of Act Three.  Time: 1:02]
===============================================================================
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.)