[MG23] The Closet

The Closet                                             Written by Matt Groening
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[$Id: mg23 1.1 92/03/22 10:15:17 raymond Exp Locker: raymond $]
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> Didja notice...
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    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.

    ... Maggie fell thrice?  One when walking to the keyhole,
        a second time walking away, and a third time while going
        down the stairs.

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> Freeze Frame Fun
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>> The TV room
    red comfy chair
    mouse hole behind it
    picture of Homer with an angry expression

>> The staircase
>>> As Bart runs up the stairs five steps at a time
    picture of Marge, looking upstairs suspiciously
    picture of Homer with an angry expression
>>> As Maggie goes downstairs
    picture of Homer holding a pitchfork

>> The toy room
    green toy chest with red polka dots
    picture of Marge and Homer
    mouse hole beneath the picture

>> The closet room
>>> When Bart decides to hide in the closet
    picture of Marge with a scowl
>>> When Bart decides to go back in
    picture of Homer screaming happily as streamers and confetti fall
        behind him

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> Assorted comments and observations
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Brian Howard {bh} gives the timing for this short as 1:13, whereas the
syndication package contains only 1:10 of animation.

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> Quotes and scene summary
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% B = Bart, H = Homer, L = Lisa
%
% Bart sits in a comfy chair watching TV and eating chocolate chip cookies.

H: [o.s.]  Bart!  Bart!

% Bart spits out a mouthful of crumbs.

B: Uh oh.  Chores!

% Bart discards his box of cookies and runs upstairs.

B: The toy chest...

% Bart rushes to the toy chest and opens it.  Lisa is inside.

L: Shhhhhhhhh!

% Lisa angrily closes the top.

B: The closet!

% Bart runs in and closes the door.  It is pitch black.

B: Ah, safe at last.

% He shakes the doorknob.

B: Oh no!  It's locked!

% Bart panics.

B: I'm trapped in here.  Trapped like a rat.  Help!  Help!
H: [o.s.] Bart!
B: [whispers]  Uh oh.  Dad'll hear me.  [still whispering]  Help.  Help.

% [End of Act One.  Time: 0:24]

B: I've got to get out of this closet.

% Bart's eye zooms towards the camera.
%
% A Bart's eye view through the keyhole.  Maggie wanders into view.

B: Maggie!  Maggie!  In here!

% Maggie looks around, unable to find the source of the voice.

B: In the closet!

% Maggie finally spots the keyhole and walks up to it (one well-timed fall
% along the way), putting her eye right up against the keyhole.

B: Maggie, go... get... help...

% Maggie's pupil wanders, not paying attention.

B: Maggie, come <on>, man!

% Maggie has lost interest and starts to walk away.

B: Do what I'd do if I were in your place!

% Maggie walks down the stairs, sits in Bart's chair, and watches TV.

% [End of Act Two.  Time: 0:46]

B: I can't take it any more!  I've gotta get out of this closet!

% Bart tries to break down the door.  (*whump*)  He finally busts
% out on the third try and emerges into daylight.  His eyes are
% still dazed from the experience.

B: I give up.  I'll do chores!

% Bart's eyes clear up, and he spots a note on the table.

B: Huh?

% He picks it up, and we read it with him.

B: [reading]  Dear Bart, The family has gone out for frosty chocolate
    milkshakes.  Sorry we couldn't find you.  Love...

% Bart looks out the window, just in time to see the car pull out of the
% driveway (with Maggie in the back seat).

B: ... Dad.

% He tosses the note aside, walks into the closet, and shuts the door.

% [End of Act Three.  Time: 1:10]
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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.)