View source for Dead Bart: One Strangle too Far

{{Featured}}

You know how Fox has a weird way of counting Simpsons episodes?
[[File:IMG 5461.jpeg|thumb|190x190px]]
They refuse to count a couple of them, making the amount of episodes inconsistent.

The reason for this is a lost episode from season 1.

Finding details about this missing episode is difficult. No-one who was working on the show at the time likes to talk about it. From what has been pieced together, the episode's production number was 7G06, and the title was “One Strangle Too Far”, nicknamed “Dead Bart” by some who worked on the episode.

At some point down the line however, the 7G06 production code would be assigned to Moaning Lisa instead. Whilst this error with the changing of episode production codes caused some short term speculation, even the writers of the show who were pressed on the matter couldn’t remember much of the episode, chalking people's obsession with the episode as just hysteria.

It wouldn’t be around till 2001 that the episode was somewhat pieced together again by some ex and even some current animators who wished to restore the episode for archival reasons, however the higher ups at the studio, being annoyed that private material from the show was being taken without their permission to piece together the episode, shut the project down. What I have with me is only my memory of what this episode was meant to be, alongside a few frames from the episode to try and piece together what is left of this episode.

The episode was the average length for the show, lasting from around 21-24 minutes from what my source told me and was only partly animated and voice acted. Because of this parts of the episode were mute or had frames that were just storyboards, as the final version of what was the episode was only in its early stages.

My source was able to provide me with a plot description of sorts. The following is his recollection of the episode.

It was a perfect day for a family getaway—at least, it was supposed to be. The Simpson family had been looking forward to a relaxing holiday for weeks, and everyone had their bags packed, ready to head to the airport. Everyone except Bart, of course.

In typical Bart fashion, he wasn’t concerned with things like family vacations. Instead, he was focused on something far more important: ruining his dad’s day.

From behind the front door, Bart grinned wickedly as he carefully balanced a bucket of water just above the threshold. He had been planning this prank for days. He had even made sure to attach a thin, nearly invisible string to the door handle, just in case it needed a little extra nudge to tip the bucket at the perfect moment. It was foolproof. And he couldn’t wait to see the look on Homer’s face when the floodgates opened.

The front door creaked as it swung open, and in walked the Simpson family, Marge holding Maggie in her arms, Lisa dragging her suitcase behind her, and Homer, with both hands full, proudly clutching the family’s plane tickets.

"Alright, everybody," Homer grumbled, not noticing the trap at all, "let’s get going before we miss the flight! I’ve been waiting for this vacation for ever!"

Bart, hidden just out of sight, suppressed a snicker. His eyes locked on the bucket, a moment of tension hanging in the air.

But of course, things never go according to plan with the Simpsons.

As Homer stepped forward with a little more enthusiasm than he should have, the string Bart had so carefully set up snapped.

The bucket tipped.

A cascade of water came crashing down on Homer’s head, soaking him through. The plane tickets he was holding—a cherished symbol of their holiday dreams, were immediately drenched.

"SPLASH!"

Homer gasped, his hands instinctively flying up to protect the tickets, but it was too late. His shirt clung to his body like a wet sponge, and the precious slips of paper were now a soggy mess.

“Bart!!!” Homer bellowed, shaking his wet fist in the air. "I was this close to a vacation! How could you—?"

Marge gasped, horrified as she looked at the ruined tickets. She immediately turned her stern gaze on Bart, her face tight with a mixture of frustration and sadness. "Bart Simpson, what have you done?! We were supposed to go on vacation today! Today!"

The family was riled up as Homer yelled, Marge scolded, and Lisa simply sighed in exasperation. They seem to be especially mad at Bart since they were supposed to be going on Holiday and the water had ruined the tickets, since Bart rigged the front door to drop the water down on Homer, of whom was carrying the tickets since Marge was holding Maggie.

Whilst Bart intended it as a harmless prank, the tension between Bart and Homer built up as the two argued, with Homer shouting, "You think it's funny, huh, boy?! This isn't a joke!" Bart taunts him, pushing Homer’s buttons as usual. But as Homer chases Bart around the house, in the heat of the moment, something shifts. 

Flashbacks to 5 episodes of the show as well as scenes of Bart misbehaving from new segments played on the screen, with a slightly translucent effect whilst Homer chased Bart in slow motion. The various clips swirling and shifting around.

Homer, blinded by his anger, grabbed Bart by the shoulders, intending to yell at him. Bart struggles, but Homer’s frustration boils over. Without thinking, Homer’s grip tightens around Bart’s neck in a moment of blind rage.

”Homer stop!” Marge yelled..

…

Snap…

For a few moments, Homer didn’t realise the extent of his actions. His face is contorted in anger, and Bart is gasping for air. When Homer finally snaps back to reality, he pulls his hands away in horror. Bart crumples to the ground. Bart, now with dilated and violently shifting pupils began to convulse on the floor or the Simpson home. Marge screamed in terror, and Lisa ran in, seeing her brother lying motionless on the floor. Homer’s voice catches in his throat as he kneels next to Bart, trying to rouse him, but Bart doesn’t move.

Marge shakes her head frantically, unable to comprehend what’s happened. “No… no, no, no! Homer!” she cries, her voice breaking. Lisa, usually the more composed one, collapses to the floor in a panic, staring at her brother, unable to breathe. Homer stumbles back, his eyes wide with disbelief. The magnitude of what he’s just done is finally settling in.

The next few scenes are filled with the somber aftermath. The family is silent, consumed by grief. The house is quiet except for the occasional sound of Marge sobbing softly. Lisa had retreated into her room, unable to even look at her father. Homer sits in the living room, staring into the space where Bart’s mischievous grin once was. He doesn’t know what to do or how to live with what he’s done. The weight of his guilt is crushing him. Homer’s eyes had turned red, indicating that this was occurring several days after what happened. In his sleep deprived state, Homer got up and walked off screen.

The scene transitions via various swirls as if to indicate that Homer had gone to sleep. In his dreams, Homer is haunted. Every night, and not even only in his dreams. Strange things start to happen around the house. The lights flicker. Items shift around without explanation. The door to Bart’s room creaks open on its own. And then, Homer starts hearing it: Bart’s voice.

At first, it’s a faint whisper—a sound that Homer tries to dismiss as his imagination. But it grows louder. One night, Homer is alone in the kitchen when he hears his son’s voice clearly: “Dad…” It’s soft at first, almost like a plea. He freezes, his blood running cold. He turns around, but there’s nothing there.

Before the night can get anymore rough, something in Homer snaps. The dreams, the weird occurrences and everything else, non of it was making sense. Homer’s whole world was beginning to collapse around him and he couldn’t understand why and how. The once bustling town of Springfield felt empty, almost abandoned after what he had done, with some scenes showing Homer in his depressive state wondering through the now barren Springfield, calling out for Bart’s name. 

“Why is this happening?” Homer would sniffle to himself, still pondering all of what happened. What baffled him the most was before he left the house, he could’ve sworn both Maggie and Santa’s Little Helper had vanished. However his top concern was Marge. Why hadn’t she called the police yet? Not that Springfield’s police were any good in the first place, but Marge was a responsible and caring wife and mom to Homer’s kids, so all of these things happening at once only made him feel more disoriented.

”How could I have done that!?” Homer yelled.

”It’s what I normally did to Bart and he didn’t croak then!” He said almost in disbelief but with tinge of humour.

Homer tries to rationalize it. It’s just grief. But the eerie occurrences only intensify. A doors across now barren houses in Springfield begin to slam shut, and Homer begins to hear footsteps behind him. He spins around nothing. In the darkness of the derelict streets of Springfield, he thinks he sees a shadow darting out of the corner of his eye. Bart’s silhouette, his playful grin twisted into a haunting mockery lingers in the air. Homer’s mind is unraveling, consumed by guilt and terror.

Meanwhile, Lisa is trying to stay composed but is increasingly concerned about her father’s state. She knows something is wrong. Homer’s paranoia is growing worse, and he refuses to leave the house. But the more Lisa tries to reach him, the more he distances himself. One night, Homer disappears without a word, his absence sending Lisa into a panic.

From what I was told the next few scenes would have been a montage of Lisa walking throughout familiar yet empty locations in Springfield trying to find Homer, before eventually ending up in a forrest. After letting out a sigh of frustration and sadness, Lisa would walk offscreen, with her monologging to herself about how she couldn’t find Homer alone and that maybe the police could help. 

Lisa would soon track down Chief Wiggum at the Springfield station. "Wiggum, I need your help! Dad’s gone missing, and I think he’s in trouble!" she’d pleads. Wiggum, always the bumbling, incompetent yet well-meaning officer, assures her that they’ll find Homer, but he’s clearly in over his head. “Don’t worry, kiddo, we’ll get this all wrapped up faster than you can say, ‘not guilty!’” He tries to crack a joke, but Lisa’s not amused.

The two hop into Chief Wiggum’s squad car, which Wiggum drives with his usual ineptitude. He’s fumbling with the radio and taking a wrong turn when, out of nowhere, Homer emerges from an alley, wandering aimlessly. He looks disheveled, his eyes wild, and his face drawn in exhaustion. He doesn’t even see the police car coming.

Wiggum slams on the brakes, but it’s too late. The car hits Homer with a sickening thud. Lisa screams as Wiggum swerves to a stop, realizing what he’s done.

Lisa scrambles out of the car, her heart pounding as she rushes to Homer’s side. He’s lying motionless in the street. His eyes are closed. She kneels beside him, her hands trembling as she shakes him. “Dad! Dad, please wake up!” she cries, her voice breaking.

Tears spill from her eyes as she begs him to wake up. She shakes him again, harder this time, her desperation rising. “Please! Please, Dad, you have to wake up!” Lisa’s sobs echo through the empty street, her grief and fear overwhelming her. She looks down at her father, the man who had unintentionally caused so much pain to their family, now lying in front of her, possibly dead.

Her hand moves to his chest, checking for a heartbeat—nothing. A long, heart-wrenching moment of silence follows.

But then, just as the sound of sirens begins to approach, the atmosphere shifts.

Suddenly, Homer’s eyes flutter open, and he’s back in his hospital room, gasping for air. His heart is racing. The lights flicker above him. He looks around, confused, but everything is too real. It’s all a dream.

Homer jerks awake in a cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest. He looks around frantically, realizing he’s in his bed. It’s 4:30 AM. The clock reads exactly that. His hands shake as he glances at Marge, who is still sleeping peacefully beside him. The weight lifts from his chest. It was all just a nightmare.

Relief floods through Homer. He is still in the comfort of his own bed. Bart is still alive. The house is still intact.

But Homer feels the need to check. He quietly gets out of bed, his heart still racing from the haunting dream. He tiptoes to Bart’s room, the floor creaking underfoot. When he opens the door, the sight of his son asleep, breathing peacefully, brings a lump to his throat.

Homer slowly walks over to Bart’s bed and kneels beside him. His heart aches. He reaches down and gently kisses Bart on the forehead. Tears fill his eyes as he whispers, “I’m so sorry, Bart… I never meant to…”

For a moment, Homer just sits there, looking at his son, overcome with relief. His nightmare is finally over.

He turns to leave but pauses in the doorway, taking one last look at Bart’s peaceful face. “I love you, son,” he murmurs before slowly leaving the room.

Homer returns to his own bed, sliding back under the covers next to Marge. She stirs slightly but doesn’t wake. He holds her close, a sigh of deep relief escaping his lips as he drifts back to sleep.

And then, we hear the familiar sound of Bart’s snores from the next room.

The camera lingers on the Simpson house, now quiet and peaceful. The haunting has ended. Homer’s nightmare has been put to rest.
[[File:IMG 5460.jpeg|center|thumb]]

{{By-user|Djdeadpig 6934}}

[[Category:"Lost Episodes"]]
[[Category:SUGGESTED READING]]