This Little Wiggy

"This Little Wiggy" is the eighteenth episode of Season 9.
==Synopsis==
While on a day trip to a hands-on science museum, Marge feels sorry for Ralph Wiggum being bullied and suggests to Chief Wiggum that Ralph and Bart be play buddies, which Bart objects to — until he realizes that Ralph is the son of an incompetent police chief and has police equipment at his disposal (including a master key that opens up every lock in town, including one to an abandoned prison's electric chair).
== Full Story ==
A remote controlled robot informs the students of Springfield Elementary School about the newly opened Springfield Knowledgeum, where the family plans to go to later. There, Bart wanders off and walks into an exhibit of the planet Mars. There he sees Ralph Wiggum, who is in the process of being pushed into a giant ear by Nelson and his gang of bullies. When Ralph is freed by a center employee, Marge and Chief Wiggum are there to meet him. Marge observes that Ralph has a vivid imagination and realizes that he has no friends to play with; she arranges for Ralph to spend time with Bart.
Bart is unhappy with the arrangement, he tries to point out the flaws of Ralph being his friend but Marge tells him to give Ralph a chance (she then tunes him out). When Ralph is in Bart's room he gets ice cream on Bart's toys, Bart tells Ralph they'll play hide and seek. When Marge finds Ralph in the closet, he claims Bart hasn't found him in hours. Bart is trying to clean his toys as the sticky stains are bad. Marge tells Bart to play with Ralph outside so they go to Ralph's house. Later while going through Wiggum's closet (which Wiggum allows), when Bart discovers Chief Wiggum has a police master key capable of opening any door in Springfield he decides to take advantage of Ralph's friendship. While having a sleepover Bart and Ralph steal the key and raid several shops together. After encountering Nelson and his gang, the boys go to the abandoned Morningwood penitentiary. When Ralph objects because he is frightened, Bart takes the key and intends to go on without him. However, the bullies turn against him, and Bart is made to feel how he made Ralph feel ("I hope the irony isn't lost on you Simpson," Nelson remarks). Bored with them, the bullies take off - but not before tossing the key into the penitentiary. Ralph and Bart go in after it, in the process activating an old electric chair to melt a wedding cake doll.
Afterwards at the Simpson home, Bart and Ralph learn the penitentiary will once again be used by the town. Having been unaware that the power is active, Mayor Quimby straps himself into the electric chair in a publicity attempt. Unable to warn Mayor Quimby by telephone that he may be electrocuted, Ralph points out to Bart that Lisa can probably figure out a way to warn the Mayor. She plans to launch a small model rocket with a warning message attached and aims it toward the penitentiary. The rocket is blown off-course and crashes through Mr. Burns' office window. Burns reads the note, and realizes that the penitentiary has been receiving free power for over thirty years; he responds to it by shutting off the penitentiary's power. When the power goes out, the mayor is in the middle of being electrocuted, but survives. In the aftermath, the Simpsons congratulate Ralph, pointing out that even Lisa could not solve the problem. Lisa is at first baffled that she received no credit for having thought of the solution and implementation, but she is reminded by Bart that it is rare for Ralph to be useful or praised, and that he needs a little credit. Lisa then joins in the praising. As Ralph enjoys the praise, his imaginary friend the Leprechaun (who he mentions to Bart when visiting Ralph's home) appears on his shoulder and congratulates him, before telling Ralph to burn the house down and everyone inside it. Wearing his trademark vacant smile, Ralph nods in agreement.
== Citations ==
fr:La Clé magique
pl:This Little Wiggy
pt:Um novo amigo
Category:Ralph episodes
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Lisa episodes
Category:Chief Wiggum episodes
Category:Mayor Quimby episodes
Category:Episodes featuring guest stars
Category:Episodes named after a character
Category:Crime-themed Episodes
Category:Kids episodes
Category:Written by Dan Greaney
Category:Directed by Neil Affleck
Category:History
Category:Film Roman
Category:Dramatic episodes
Category:Action-packed episodes