The Haw-Hawed Couple

The Haw-Hawed Couple is the eighth episode of Season 18.
== Synopsis ==
Nelson invites Bart's classmates to his birthday party, but Bart and Martin convince the other kids not to go. Bart is forced to attend Nelson's party by Marge, and Bart becomes friends with Nelson.
== Full Story ==
Marge and Homer are making love in their bedroom while playing a tape of their arguments so the kids will not come in. When one of Marge's slippers hits the boombox and plays America's "A Horse with No Name", Bart and Lisa plan to come in. Bart becomes traumatized by the sight and is an emotional wreck that day. While he is coping, Nelson coerces Bart and Milhouse for their lunch money but also invites Bart and the rest of the class to his upcoming birthday party. Milhouse states that he can't stand Nelson's parties as he just makes everyone look at his card collection and make them say it's cool even though it's not. Even though Bart convinces all of his friends not to go to Nelson's birthday party—and prompts Principal Skinner to terminate Groundskeeper Willie's employment when Groundskeeper Willie chants "Hell, no! I won't mow!" after the students chant "Hell, no! We won't show!" for —Marge forces him to attend, telling him to not be selfish. When Homer takes Bart to the party, he tries to get Homer to change his mind by giving him a back rub but Homer tells Bart everyone has to do something they don't want to do in life. At first Bart plans to not stay long but after seeing how well the party is decides to stick around. Nelson hopes that the rest will show up, but when no one else does, the two actually fun together.
After the party, Bart becomes Nelson's new best friend and under Nelson's protection no one dares to mess with Bart. There is a single drawback to his newfound friend/bodyguard; he is unable to hang out with Milhouse because Nelson has never had a best friend before and is overly protective and jealous. Eventually, Nelson discovers that Bart had been having fun with Milhouse, which leads him to no longer consider Bart as a friend. He eventually chooses to forgive Bart, however Bart tells Nelson that he thinks he is a schizophrenic. Afterwards, during a field trip to some tidepools, Nelson confronts Bart in a cave, telling Bart that he is a bad friend.
Suddenly, the high tide comes and Nelson saves Bart (but only because they were field trip buddies). Later, at home, Bart remembers the good times he had with Nelson while hugging a "Nelson vest" he had received (a Brokeback Mountain movie reference). Nelson rides by on his bike and shouts "Haw Haw! I touched your heart!"
=== Sub Story ===
Homer finds himself hooked on one of Lisa's fantasy books, choosing to read an "Angelica Button" book to Lisa, as opposed to snuggling with Marge. Homer eventually reads ahead when Lisa has a sleepover at a friend's house and finds that one of the characters, Headmaster Greystash, is killed while trying to save Angelica. Then, hearing that Greystash dying would be the end of Lisa's childhood, Homer is unable to bring himself to read the last chapter to Lisa, and improvises a happy ending, instead involving Greystash defeating the evil wizard, Angelica managing to get out of the trap and they ride in a sports car Greystash had conjured to a castle.
After Homer kisses Lisa good night, Lisa secretly reads the real ending to the story and decided that Homer's ending was better. During the credits, Homer is seen at Moe's Tavern, still mourning the loss of the Headmaster ("No man should have to outlive his fictional wizard!") while Moe, Carl and Lenny look at him.
== Citations ==
fr:Mon meilleur ennemi
pl:The Haw-Hawed Couple
pt:Casal Esquisito
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Nelson episodes
Category:Outstanding Animated Program Emmy nominated episodes
Category:WGA Award nominated episodes
Category:Birthday Episodes
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Lisa episodes
Category:Kids episodes
Category:Episodes on DVD
Category:Episodes named after a film or TV Show
Category:Episodes with alternate end credits
Category:Highly Rated Episodes
Category:Episodes Where Homer cries
Category:Episodes in which a Character Swears Censored or Uncensored