You Only Move Twice
| "You Only Move Twice" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:You Only Move Twice.gif | |
| Episode no. | Season 8 |
| Directed by | Mike B. Anderson |
| Written by | John Swartzwelder |
| Original air dates | November 3, 1996 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I did not learn everything I need to know in kindergarten" |
| Couch gag | Everyone parachutes into the living room, except Homer who falls flat on the floor. |
"You Only Move Twice" is the 2nd episode from the eighth season of The Simpsons.
Synopsis
Template:Spoiler Hank Scorpio, the head of Globex Corporation and a James Bond-esque international supervillain, is on the prowl for the top nuclear technician in Springfield. After Smithers rejects his offer, his cronies move on to the person with the second longest tenure at the plant: Homer. After they win him over with a slick promotional video, the Simpsons pack their belongings and get ready to move to Scorpio's company town of Cypress Creek. After the family has difficulty selling their house, they abandon it and settle into a utopian neighborhood; however, things are not as they seem. Homer is happy with their new life; despite his destructive schemes, Hank is a dream boss, and Homer finally finds a job that he is good at: bossing other people around. However, the other family members endure various hardships: Bart is initially popular at his new school (he even meets a Milhouse-type), but when his teachers learn he doesn't know cursive or the multiplication table, they tuck him away in the special education class; Lisa falls in love with the local flora and fauna, only to find that she's allergic to most of it; and a house that cleans itself leaves Marge with too much time to drink the company's complimentary wine. They plead with Homer to take them back to Springfield, and after much soul-searching he gives in. It's just as well, as the government raids Scorpio's compound. When they arrive back in Springfield, they learn that Scorpio has taken over the East Coast, Otto and his girlfriend have been squatting in their house, and the Denver Broncos (a farewell gift from Scorpio) are on their front lawn.
Allusion to Silicon Valley (and beyond)
Hank Scorpio bears a striking physical resemblance to Larry Ellison, the controversial CEO of Oracle Corporation. Both men are exuberant, hyperenergetic, bearded Type A personalities with a love of sports and adventure. More supporting evidence:
- Cypress Creek looks very similar to Redwood Shores, CA, the planned community where Oracle's headquarters is located
- The writers' original name for Cypress Creek was "Emerald Caverns," but the former was chosen because it sounded more like the name of a town in Silicon Valley.
- The original town name of "Emerald Caverns" was probably a reference to Oracle's campus, which is nicknamed "The Emerald City" or "Oz" due to the shiny green glass that completely covers all of the buildings.
- The building Scorpio and Homer work in is round, just like Oracle's headquarters
Scorpio also has been noted to resemble (physically and in behavior) former Philadelphia 76ers President and television personality/self help author Pat Croce, as well as Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records and other Virgin Brands.
References to pop culture
- The episode features many references to Ian Fleming's James Bond and EON Productions' subsequent series of films. They include:
- Hank Scorpio is a parody of a typical James Bondian villain, specifically Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Perhaps unintentionally, his name is also similar to that of Vladimir Scorpius, the villain from the James Bond novel Scorpius by John Gardner.
- The episode title is a parody of You Only Live Twice.
- Additionally, Scorpio's doomsday gun room and the battle with soldiers also greatly resembles Blofeld's volcano base and climatic battle in You Only Live Twice.
- The episode ends with a theme song sung in the style as the themes to Goldfinger and Thunderball.
- A British secret agent, "James Bont", is tackled by Homer as he tries to escape. Earlier he is strapped to a table with a laser pointed at him, referencing a famous scene in Goldfinger. Bont asks Scorpio if he expects him to talk, to which Scorpio replies, "I don't expect anything from you except to die and have a very cheap funeral." As Hank congratulates Homer for tackling Bont ("When you get home tonight, there'll be another storey on your house"), in the background guards can be seen surrounding Bont and shooting him with their submachineguns. This is the second time Homer has ensured the death of a secret agent. The first was a deleted scene in $pringfield, when Homers terrible blackjack dealing skills led to James Bond losing and a villain dragging him away.
- A soldier is strangled by a woman using only her thighs, à la Xenia Onatopp from GoldenEye.
Trivia
- The Simpsons' new address is 15201 Maple Systems Road in Cypress Creek.
- This is Albert Brooks' fourth appearance in a Simpsons episode, once again credited as A. Brooks He appeared previously as Bob the RV salesman in "Call of the Simpsons", Jaques in "Life on the Fast Lane", and Brad Goodman in "Bart's Inner Child"and eventually in "The Heartbroke Kid".
- The gaming website ign.com and the shows producers consider Albert Brooks' performance as Scorpio to be one of the greatest guest appearances of all-time.
- Brooks ad-libbed many of his lines.
- Homer buys Tom Landry's hat in this episode. In future episodes (such as "Bart Star"), he can be seen wearing it.
- Coincidentally, the year after this episode aired the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl.
Continuity issues
Interestingly, neither Scorpio's control of the US East Coast or Homer's ownership of the Denver Broncos has ever been referred to again in the series, although the latter might explain how Homer supports his family between jobs in later seasons. However, in Simpsons Comics #117 (which features Hank Scorpio; who at one point refers to his own entry on Wikipedia), there's a flashback scene showing Homer giving the Broncos to Moe to cover his bar tab, prior to them winning the Super Bowl. The comics aren't always considered canonical. The Simpsons, and most shows of the same nature, rarely exhibit continuity between episodes.
Quotes
- Globex Employee: We're from Globex Corporation. We'd like to talk to you about an exciting employment opportunity in our nuclear division.
Smithers: Flattered, but spoken for.
Globex Employee: We're prepared to offer you an impressive salary plus health benefits for you and your life partner.
Smithers: The answer is no. What's wrong with this country? Can't a man walk down the street without being offered a job? - Apu: Hello. I am not interested in buying the house. But I would like to use your restroom, flip through your magazines, rearrange your carefully shelved items, and handle your food products in an unsanitary manner. Ha! Now you know how it feels! (runs off)
Homer: Thank you! Come again! - Hank: Hey, look at my feet. You like those moccasins? Look in your closet; there's a pair for you. Don't like them? Then neither do I! (throws them out) Get the hell outta here! Ever see a guy say good-bye to a shoe?
Homer: (chuckling) Yes, once. - (Homer enters Hank's doomsday facility)
Hank: Hey, Homer. I'm keeping two of my fingers crossed that you're gonna have that nuclear generator up to full power by tomorrow.
Homer: Uh, yes, sir. No problemo.
Hank: Good. By the way, which is your least favourite country? Italy or France?
Homer: Ummm, France.
Hank: Heh, heh, heh. Nobody ever says Italy. - Hank (communicating to a UN council in a videoconference, with Homer standing looking out the window in the background, unaware that all this is going on): Good afternoon, gentlemen. This is Scorpio. I have the Doomsday Device! You have seventy-two hours to deliver the gold or you face the consequences! (gets out a remote) And to prove I'm not bluffing, watch this!
(Hank presses the big red button and a massive explosion occurs near the UN headquarters)
British Delegate: My God! The 59th Street Bridge!
African Delegate: Maybe it just collapsed on its own.
British Delegate: We can't take that chance!
African Delegate: You always say that! I want to take a chance!
Hank: "Collapsed on its own"? You sch... (takes a breath) ...you got seventy-two hours. See ya. - Hank (seconds before his doomsday weapon fires): You need anything you call me!
Homer: Okay. What's the number?
Hank (puts on a flamethrower pack): I never had to call my own company. Someone will tell you upstairs. But Homer, on your way out if you feel like killing someone, it would help me a lot.
(Homer walks, dejected, as Hank charges at a US army platoon. He fires his flamethrower, scaring the troops away)
Hank (laughs): Hey Homer, you're missing out on some fun!
(Homer kicks away a grenade, which detonates off camera) - Homer (reading a telegram): "Project Arcturus could not have succeeded without you. This will get you a little closer to that dream of yours. It's not the Dallas Cowboys, but it's a start. Drop me a line if you’re on the East Coast. Hank Scorpio." (camera pulls out, revealing the Denver Broncos practicing on the Simpsons' front lawn) (Homer groans) The Denver Broncos!
Marge: I think owning the Denver Broncos is pretty good.
Homer (uninterested): Yeah, yeah.
Marge: Then explain to me why it isn't.
Homer (sighs): You just don't understand football, Marge. - Kids in remedial class: (playing musical chairs with more chairs then there are people and singing to the tune of "I Love You") I like me, I like me, I'm as good as I can be, with a smile and a wave and a happy melody, (the kids slow down singing, noticing the teacher about to stop the music)I'm...as...good...as...I...can...(they all sit down).
Teacher: Hooray! Everyone's a winner! (Bart sighs in despair) - Homer: Do you have any sugar?
Scorpio: Sugar? Sure. (Scorpio reaches into his pockets, and comes out with handful of sugar) I'm sorry it's not in packets. Want some cream?
Homer: Umm, no. - Bont (A facsimile of Sean Connery's James Bond): So, you expect me to talk?
Scorpio: I don't expect anything from you except to die and have a very cheap funeral. - Scorpio: Having a place like this has always been my dream. What's your dream, Homer?
Homer: Uh, to work for you.
Scorpio: Ha ha ha, don't do that. My butt is for sitting, not for kissing. Now you tell me your real dream, your real dream!
Homer (hesitant): Uh, someday...I'd like to own...the...Dallas Cowboys.
Scorpio: I bet people laughed at you when you told them that dream.
Homer: Yeah.
Scorpio: Homer, don't give up! They laughed at me the first time I wore jeans with a sport coat. I was the first wealthy man in America to ever do it, now they all do it! Ya ever hear of Mike Milken?
Homer: Yeah, er, no. - Lisa: Hi Mr. Chipmunk! You're a Northern Reticulated Chipmunk! Yes you are, you are sooo reticulated!