Yesterday, despite Homer's rush out the door and coming back to rehearsal, turned out successful. The next day at rehearsal, however, was bound to get ugly due to Homer's behavior.
It was the last rehearsal before opening night. This rehearsal was full costume, makeup, lights, effects and sets to prepare for the actual shows. Everyone in the show was there.
Homer was walking straight to the men's dressing room with Lenny as Scrooge's nephew, Fred, when he dropped his phone. At the same time Homer dropped his phone, Luanne Van Houten arrived to get Homer for something.
"Mr. Scrooge… I mean, Mr. Simpson." She told Homer. "We've been looking for you. We need you in costume and makeup. Come in and get changed."
Before he went in the dressing room, Homer turned his head to Lenny.
"Hey, Lenny, get me phone and bring it here." He ordered Lenny. "I can't keep these people waiting."
"For God's sake, Homer, it doesn't take fifteen minutes to retrieve a dropped cell phone and give it to someone." Lenny replied with frustration. He noticed Homer had already walked in.
"I have three words for you, Homer." He thought to himself. "Go to Hell!"
"Homer, since you're one of the cast members who will have regular stage makeup, I will have you get into costume while I work on Moe's makeup." Luanne told Homer.
As Homer, turned to his costume as it hung on the rack, Luanne came to Moe, who got the role of Jacob Marley.
"I still think I should've gotten the part of Scrooge." Moe complained. "Mr. Burns would, too, but no competition! We'd be better as Scrooge than Homer! At least I didn't act so Scroogie after getting my part!"
"Now, Moe, you also have an important role in this show." Luanne explained to Moe. "Someone's gotta warn Scrooge about his fate. Besides, I think you're perfect as Jacob Marley. Now if you please."
Luanne pulled a rope that was tied to a bag of flour hanging from the ceiling. The flour was required for Moe's ghostly makeup. Out poured flour that landed on Moe and covered his entire body, turning him white like a ghost.
"Looking good, Moe." Luanne complimented the bartender's appearance with a smile. "After I finish your makeup, you may get your chains from your prop box and you'll be all set."
Before Luanne could finish Moe's makeup, Homer called her over.
"Hey, Mrs. Milhouse's mom!" Homer called out. "There's a tear in my sleeve that needs to be sewn!"
"Well I'm in charge of hair and makeup, not costume flaws." Luanne replied. "If you need to see someone for a costume flaw, you need to see your wife. After all, she's in charge of that."
Homer went to a busy Marge, who sat by her sewing machine.
"Marge, this is a costume emergency!" Homer panicked. "There's a tear in my sleeve. We're due to go on any second!"
Marge sighed in annoyance and sewed the sleeve.
"Homer, I know you have an important part in this." She told Homer. "But that does not mean that you have to feel important and order everyone around like your servants."
"Homer." Flanders went to tell Homer something important. "We need you backstage immediately. You're practically the only one who remembers where Fred exits after he leaves Scrooge and Bob's workplace! I unfortunately cannot."
"He exits stage right like Snagglepuss does!" Homer replied. "Surely you'd know, too. After all, you're in the same scene. I'm busy right now so you'll have to help him yourself!"
"Homer, do you really think playing Scrooge has made you handicapped!?" Lisa complained. "You may be busy but it's important that you help everyone else! And by the way, Snagglepuss says exit, stage left, not right."
"Eh, what the hell. If Stupid Flanders won't help me." Homer grumbled sarcastically. "I'm the lead actor. What can I do to help besides helping in the scenes I share with my castmates?"
"Every single cast member, even the leading actors and actresses, have an important job to do and are told to help others when needed." Lisa reminded her dad.
"Even I'm stuck doing good deeds I regret." Bart said coming to Homer. "But hey, I'm doing this for the sake of my pals and for the sake of no longer being the target of Nelson and the other bullies."
After saying that, Bart fearfully caught Nelson stalking him.
Nelson: "Ha-ha! I made you look, theater geek!" He then ran off.
"Oh, Homer, there's something you're in big trouble for." Marge warned him. A lecture was coming its way.
"What happened? What did I do?" Homer got nervous.
"Remember when I told you to pick up Maggie from Patty and Selma's home?" Marge lectured. "Well you didn't show up at all so they had to take her here. In case you're wondering Scrooge, Ned's got her right now."
Homer: "Marge, you know I've been busy! I forgot! Cut me some slack!"
Marge: "What? You've been too busy to remember your own child! My ass would've been beaten for that!"
Homer: "Keep your chin up, I'm coming to her!"
All Marge could do was sigh in frustration and irritation.
"Now kids, remember that I still love your father." She told the kids. "He's not perfect, just like everyone else. But it's just his behavior I can't stand. I hope he learns because the real Scrooge in the story does."
Homer ran straight to Flanders, who was with Rod and Todd keeping Maggie occupied.
"Oh, Maggie, I'm so sorry I forgot!" Homer lifted his baby girl up and held her. "Daddy has just been busy with the show, so these things happen. And it won't happen again."
"Don't bet on it." Ned muttered sarcastically. Homer could hear him.
"Mind your own business, Preachy Le Pew." Homer snapped back. "I really didn't mean to forget her."
"There's no guarantee it won't happen again!" Ned was really frustrated this time. "My parents would've gotten me in boiling water for leaving behind my boys!"
Homer: "Well, excuse me, for getting the lead role! That's something beyond my control!"
Ned turned to Rod and Todd.
"Boys, Homer and I are getting into a bit of a jiffy." He told them. "Could you take Maggie and head to the stage?"
This made the boys nervous.
"Okay." Rod said picking up Maggie and taking her to the stage with Todd next to him.
"Homer Simpson! I am really unimpressed by your stingy ways!" Ned argued. "I wish you never auditioned and got cast as Scrooge! If you hadn't, you would not be acting like this!"
"Smile, Flanders! At least I'm taking this part seriously!" Homer argued back.
Ned: "Taking it seriously!? You may be remembering your lines and you may have great acting skills, but all you do is order everyone around and treat them unfairly just like Scrooge did! At least Scrooge learned from his mistakes! You on the other hand, are not!"
Homer: Hey, I am learning!"
Ned: Name three mistakes you've been making lately that you learned from."
Homer: Today I learned that next time I'm busy, I need to make time to pick up my kids from their babysitter, regardless of them being total bitches to me!"
Ned: "Any more mistakes you've learned from this week?"
Homer just stammered in a confused manner.
Ned: "Wow, you really haven't learned, have you!?"
Homer: "I have learned! My memory just gets bad at times!"
Ned: Excuses, excuses. Day after day you keep doing these things to your friends and family, so there's no way you've learned! I'm not going to take it anymore! Good luck rehearsing your lines on your own, and Merry Christmas, Homer Grinch-son!"
"And a Bah Humbug to you, too, Stupid Flanders!" Homer shouted back.
Homer walked backstage in frustration from the fight he had with Ned. Before he could enter, Marge caught him.
Marge: "Homer, Ned happened to tell me what happened!"
Homer: "It's his fault; he shouldn't have stuck his nose in my business!"
Lisa: "Actually, dad. Flanders had a right to."
Bart: "You're really becoming reality's Scrooge, aren't you!?"
Homer got nervous and kept his silence.
Marge: "You might as well save it for the couch, which is where you'll be sleeping tonight until you learn from your mistakes and wake up a better man tomorrow. At least Scrooge did. Since you got this part you've been acting selfish, bossy and argument-addicted."
Homer: "Hey, I only argue to defend myself!"
Marge: "There's no need to now. Let's go home, Reality's Scrooge. There, I said it."