Postcards From the Wedge

"Postcards From the Wedge" is the fourteenth episode of Season 21.
==Synopsis==
When Homer receives a letter from Edna Krabappel saying that Bart is way behind in his studies, he tries to take a hard line with him, but Marge thinks he has too much work, so Bart finds a way to turn their difference of opinion into a full-scale fight, only for it to end up with the pair choosing that they need to worry about themselves more than Bart - at least until Bart discovers that running trains on the old Springfield Subway System is causing the school's structure to crumble.
== Full Story ==
After watching a film, Edna Krabappel demands everybody's history report on Hopi Indians. Bart never did it, so Edna sends a letter to his parents to say that Bart is unprepared. Despite Bart's attempts to stop them from seeing the letter, Homer and Marge receive the letter, informing them that Bart is one month behind on his homework, Homer, in an unusually strict act, not only wants Bart to do all his homework, he wants him to do more than was given to him and refuses to let him take even a small break until it is done (provided he doesn't have to help). Marge, however, is concerned that the heavy workload will have a negative effect on Bart's enthusiasm for education in general. When Bart realizes his parents' opposing viewpoints, he uses it to avoid his homework entirely. Lisa explains that homework is a wedge issue, an issue that sharply divides two parties who may otherwise agree on most ideas.
Marge and Homer begin to argue more and more, even about matters that don't involve Bart's homework, as Bart manipulates them against each other. Marge seeks council from Ned Flanders, who recalls having a minor argument with Maude about their hand towels on the day she died, saying it has haunted him every day since. Marge then consults Selma and Patty, who encourage her to stick to her guns, even if the issue would endanger her marriage, prompting Marge to relent and leave to apologize. Meanwhile, Homer falls asleep at work, and dreams that he wins the fight and the town celebrates with a parade. But the float he is riding accidentally runs over Marge and kills her. Homer wakes up and realizes that he also wants to sorrow over this as well. The two observe each other in traffic, get out of their cars and embrace. They then choose to let Bart fend for himself.
Meanwhile, Bart and Milhouse play a prank on Principal Skinner. To evade capture by Skinner, they hide in the abandoned Springfield Subway System where they discover the subway trains still work. They race down the tracks and cause a seismic tremor to shake the town, like its first run. Homer and Marge fail to react to this, having choose not to let Bart get between them. Bart confesses to Nelson that he no longer feels a thrill when he plays a prank. Nelson suggests Bart does not get gratification from pranks unless someone gets outraged.
Bart plans to destroy Springfield Elementary, which was damaged by the first subway run, by driving the train under it. Homer and Marge find a note from Lisa informing them of this prank and they agree to stop ignoring Bart. They rush to the subway station, where Homer pulls the emergency kill switch (after picturing Bart's head on the lever and saying,"Why you little...!"). Homer and Marge become furious at Bart as Bart gets punished for his actions but is happy that his parents are paying attention to him once more, and possibly for Skinner crushing the school (he was too happy and raised flag that fell onto the school). At the end, Lisa found out that Bart actually forged the note about the subway prank by misspelling the word 'elementary', implying that he wanted to be caught to get Homer and Marge's attention. However, seeing that Bart learned his lesson about driving both Homer and Marge apart, Lisa promises to keep it a secret to protect his bad boy reputation.
== Citations ==
fr:Élémentaire, mon cher Simpson
pl:Postcards from the Wedge
pt:Postais de Cunha
ru:Открытки с развода
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Marge episodes
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Edna Krabappel Episodes
Category:Education-themed episodes
Category:Groundskeeper Willie Episodes
Category:Episodes in which Homer almost loses Marge
Category:Episodes with alternate end credits
Category:Written by Brian Kelley
Category:Directed by Mark Kirkland
Category:Principal Skinner episodes
Category:Milhouse episodes
Category:History
Category:Film Roman