Cape Feare

Plot

Somebody is sending Bart threating letters, written in blood. It is actually Sideshow Bob, who is soon released from prison. Upon discovering that it was Sideshow Bob who sent him the letters, Bart and his family join the Witness Relocation Program.

The family move to Terror Lake under the new name "The Thompsons", living in a houseboat. However, Sideshow Bob straps himself to the underside of the car and follows them to their new home.

In the middle of the night, Bob cuts the boat loose from the dock, ties up the Simpson family and chases after Bart, cornering him. Stalling for time, Bart asks Sideshow Bob to sing the entire score from the HMS Pinafore as a last request.

Just as Bob finishes, the boat enters Springfield and crashes into some rocks. Bob is arrested and sent back to prison.

Memorable quotes

Homer: Oh my God! someone's trying to kill me!! Oh, wait, it's for Bart.

Bart: Grampa, Matlock;s not real.
Grampa: Neither are my teeth, but I can still eat corn on the cob, if someone cuts it off and smushes it into a fine paste. Now that's good eatin'!

Milhouse: I checked around. The girls are calling you ''fatty-fat fat fat'', and Nelson's planning to pull down your pants, but...nobody's trying to kill you.

Wiggum: I'd like to help you ma'am, but, heh heh, I'm afraid there's no law against mailing threatening letters.

Parole officer: Uh, we object to the term "urine-soaked hell-hole" when you could have said, "peepee-soaked heck-hole".

Parole officer: No one who speaks German could be an evil man.

Bart: I'll be Gus, the lovable chimney-sweep. Clean as a whistle, sharp as a thistle, best in all Westminster.

Agent: Now, when I say, "Hello, Mr. Thompson," and press down on your foot, you smile and nod.
Homer: No problem.
Agent: Hello, Mr. Thompson! (presses on Homer's foot)
Homer: (whispers to other agent) I think he's talking to you.

Bart: Mom, Dad, I saw Sideshow Bob and he threatened to kill me!
Homer: Bart, don't interrupt!
Marge: Homer, this is serious!
Homer: Oh, it is not.

Bart: Take him away, boys.
Wiggum: Hey, I'm the chief here! Bake 'em away, toys.
Lou: What'd you say, chief?
Wiggum: Do what the kid said.

Agent: We have some places your family can hide with peace and security: Cape Feare, Terror Lake, New Horrorfield, Screamville...
Homer: Ooo, Ice Creamville
Agent: Uh, No, Screamville.
Homer: AAAHH!!!

Homer: BARTDOYOUWANTABROWNIEBEFOREYOUGOTOBED???!!!
Bart: AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
Homer: Come on, let me cut you a brownie while they're still hot.

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Notes

• Sideshow Bob steps on a total of ten rakes in this episode.
• Bob doesn't mention Rod and Todd Flanders on his list of people he won't kill.
• Bob spells LOVE and HATE on his knuckles, but having only three fingers, it's written as LUV and HAT (the A has a line above it).
• When on the houseboat, Bart goes to bed at 7pm.
• The sign outside Springfield Penitentary reads: ''America's Fastest Growing Prison.''
• Sideshow Bob's tattoos include ''Die Bart, Die'' and a picture of Bart's head on a skateboard, with a speech bubble reading ''Ouch, Man!''.
• Homer's huge cigar in the cinema says "Knocksville Worlds Fair" on it.

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References

• The title of this episode, the plot and several other elements parody the film ''Cape Fear''.
• The Itchy & Scratchy cartoon parodies the James Bond film, ''Goldfinger.''
• Sideshow Bob stays at the Bates Motel and there are stuffed birds in the background a la ''Psycho.''

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