After an extremely disappointing display of teamwork during a fire drill, Mr. Burns forces his workers to participate in a cabin race at a mountain retreat, where the last one to find the cabin will be fired.
Full Story[]
Mr. Burns plans to hold a good old-fashioned fire drill in order to excite things up around the Nuclear Plant. Upon hearing the bells ring, the employees (save Homer, who proceeded to block the fire exit with a bench) panic and fail to clear the plant within at least 15 minutes, when recommended clearance time should be 45 seconds. When Homer asked if he won, Burns, with thinly veiled anger, told him ominously that Homer "won far more than Homer bargained for." with Homer being overjoyed (not quite getting that Mr. Burns was not meaning that he won something good). Eventually everyone makes it outside but the building is totaled so much so they had to use lots of equipment to get out the window. Outraged, Burns declares that everyone will be subjected to a teamwork competition at Mt. Useful in order to be better prepared. Homer ends up being partnered with Burns while Smithers has to make the journey on his own, fuming that he was not paired with his employer and saying:" Why if you're here i'd kick you in your Bony Old Behind".The object of this competition is to reach a cabin at the top of the mountain; the last team to arrive will be fired. Homer explains to the family about the competition so they will be going to the event this weekend. When Homer arrives with his family, Burns is displeased that Homer brought his family to a work challenge. Because of this, Marge and the kids will have to stay there during the competition.
Along the way, Burns talks Homer into cheating and they use a snowmobile to reach the cabin. Arriving several hours early, they settle down in the comfortable surroundings. Burns and Homer quickly become friends. However, while clinking their champagne glasses, they inadvertently cause an avalanche that buries the entire cabin in snow. Despite Burns's attempt to operate a telegraph machine or Homer's attempt to dig through the snow, the pair remain trapped. The pair attempt further tunneling escapes, but each time they speak, they cause more avalanches that place even more snow between them and freedom. Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa meet Smithers and agree to help him proceed to the cabin, though they cause more stalling than helping.
Back in the cabin, Burns and Homer are besieged by cabin fever. They build snowmen to pass the time (although Burns insists they build real men out of snow) and clothe them at the expense of their own warmth. The other employees reach what appears to be their destination—however, it is actually a ranger station and they begin to realize that something bad has happened to their colleagues. In the cabin, Homer and Burns stare at each other's eyes, filling their minds with paranoia. They are driven crazy and attempt to kill each other. After a vicious struggle, Burns ignites the cabin's propane tank, launching the building out of the snow and propelling it toward the horrified onlookers. Once it comes to a halt, Burns reminds everyone of the contest, and all the workers hurry inside.
Lenny is the last person to enter the cabin, and is told he is fired. In the end though, Burns chooses that no one will be fired after all. The episode finishes with Burns and Homer alternately both laughing and frowning at each other.
Broadcast History[]
United States[]
Broadcast date(s)
Channel aired
February 2, 1997
July 27, 1997
December 20, 2020
Behind the Laughter[]
Production[]
"Mountain of Madness" was written by John Swartzwelder, although the script underwent many rewrites. The story was completely rewritten and as a result, the plot became odder and quirkier with the scenes of paranoia deriving from this. Before the script was turned in, the script was "very crazy" but a lot of the more insane material was cut. However, most of the rewrites were done during the script writing and did not require any major animation changes. The forest ranger was based on Al Gore who was asked to guest star but turned the role down.
