Assault and Batteries was the 181st overall series episode of Married... with Children and also 24th episode of Season 8 of the series. Directed by Sam W. Orender and written by David Castro, the episode originally aired on FOX-TV on May 8, 1994.
Synopsis[]
Al rushes to finish fixing the basement step before his favorite movie, Hondo comes on TV. But, in an attempt to get some new batteries for his flashlight, he finds himself locked inside the store. Meanwhile, Bud and Kelly attempt to celebrate Buck's birthday, much to Buck's dismay.
Storyline[]
In this special 3D episode, Al, who is hoping to get back home in time to watch John Wayne in Hondo, gets trapped in a store at the mall while trying to exchange batteries when the computers go down and lock everything down, including the doors. Peggy, who is outside, goes on a shopping spree. He then hallucinates that he, his family and the D'Arcys are in the old west. Finally, in a fit of anger and frustration, he grabs a cash register and throws it at the shatterproof window, but it just bounces off and hits him on the head, knocking him out cold. He then awakens at home in time to hear that the next time "Hondo" will be broadcast is February 18th, 2011. Meanwhile, Kelly and Bud celebrate Buck's birthday after finding his birth certificate in the couch, which Buck hates.
Recurring Cast/Regulars[]
- Ed O'Neil as Al Bundy
- Katey Sagal as Peggy Bundy
- Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy
- David Faustino as Bud Bundy
- Amanda Bearse as Marcy D'Arcy
- Ted McGinley as Jefferson D'Arcy
- Buck the Dog as Buck Bundy
Guest starring[]
- Cheech Marin as voice of Buck
- Cynthia Frost as Customer #1
- Craig Benton as Customer #2
- Jan Hoag as Checker #1
- Brian Reddy as Checker #2
- Jean Speegle Howard as Old Lady
- Biff Yeager as Man
- Gary Simpson as Paramedic
- Mike Mclntosh as Photo Clerk (Uncredited)
Quotes[]
- [Al gets the flashlight from Peg in order to fix the basement step]
- Al: [testing the flashlight] Wait a minute, Peg! It doesn't work! [picks up a coat from the nearby desk and hands it to Peg] Peg, do me a favor and get me some D batteries.
- Peg: Well, what are you going to do?
- Al: Don't worry, Peg, I'm not gonna be having a good time. I'll just do what I can in the dark.
- Peg: Oh ho, like during sex? [smiles]
- Al: No, Peg, I can't fake fixing a step.
- [Al is sitting on the couch with an ice pack atop of his head, while Peggy has just returned home]
- Peggy: Okay Al, I got your batteries.
- [Al gets up and walks over to her then looks at the package in her hand]
- Al: Peg, these are A's, I needed D's.
- Peggy: A's, D's, what's the difference?
- Al: They're too small.
- Peggy: Then use a lot of them.
- Al: Better yet, I'll exchange them... for bullets!
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title of this episode is a reference to the legal expression "Assault and Battery", which are terms used in the legal system to describe the act of threatening of a person (Assault) and the act of physically harming a person (Battery), as well as Al shopping for alkaline batteries.
Trivia[]
- This episode was originally presented during the FOX television network's May 1994 "sweeps" for television network Nielsen ratings. The event called, "Fox-O-Rama" was presented in anaglyph 3-D. The kits could have been picked up at participating 7-Eleven stores.
- Al confirms that this episode takes place sometime in May of 1994.
- This is the second time in the series that Al misses Hondo, the first time was in season 2's "All in the Family."
- During the end of the last scene, after the camera freezes on Buck, the "Written By" and "Directed by" credits are shown as normal, but they come forward at the viewer as part of the 3D effect instead of the normal transition used in other episodes.
- In the original airing of this episode, during the ending credits, Al and Peg are shown wearing 3D glasses and attempt to touch the enhanced text that is scrolling up before Peg gives up and says "I don't get it", as seen here. On the DVD release, the scene is turned into a stillframe of Al and Peg looking at each other while "Love and Marriage" plays, though the enhanced text still remains.
- This episodes marks the final appearance of Cheech Marin, who provided the voice of Buck for three different episodes of MWC.
- Gary Simpson, who played the paramedic that takes Jefferson to the hospital previously appeared uncredited on MWC a few episodes earlier in "Nooner or Later". In that episode he played one of the two paramedics that was trying to save Dexter while Al had to deal with Peg over the phone.
Cultural References[]
- In the Western story scenes, Peggy is looking at a box with a rabbit sitting on top which she believes will one day have little people inside. This is a reference to televisions sets that were more square and box shaped prior to 2010.
- The rabbit on top of the box is a reference to "rabbits ears", a term used to describe two antennas rods that were placed on top of or near the back of televisions sets that were made prior to 2010. While they are still available today, they are less popular compared to wall mounted flat antennas, or internet connected streaming devices that are plugged into the set to watch television.
- When Peggy tries to look for Al's flashlight, as she complains about doing her job (sitting on the couch) and his (finding tools to fix the basement) she says "I tell 'ya, now I know how Hillary feels", referring to then First Lady, Hillary Clinton. More specifically, it is a refence to how Hillary was often involved in all of aspects of her husband's presidential campaign and eventual presidency. Her critics accused her of trying to be "co-president", as she become involved in policy making and had her own office in the West Wing of the White House and even emasculating her husband.[1][2]
- Western film actor and Al Bundy's personal hero, John Wayne is referenced throughout this episode:
- Al desperately tries to seen Hondo which was a film that starred Wayne
- During the black and white western scene, Al is dressed and acts like Wayne and is called "Bundo".
- He also address Marcy, the Bank President as "Pilgrim" a phrase used by Wayne multiple times in the 1962 film, The Man who Shot Liberty Valance that has become commonly associated with the actor and his way of talking.
- After the black and white sequence, Al walks around the store and says "We should do what John Wayne would have done!" before grabbing a register and throwing it into the store's window, screaming "For Hondo!".
- When Peggy finds the 3D glasses at the store, she mentions that they are for a Full House 3D episode, referring to the ABC family sitcom.
- In real life, Full House never did a 3D episode.
- After Bundo shoots the Bank President's computer, she threatens him by promising to bring Muzak the next time she is town.
Locations[]
- Bundy Residence
- Sav*Som Discount Stores
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
- Bundy Backyard
- Sav*Som Discount Stores Aisle / Checkout Lane
Goofs[]
- While looking under the couch cushions, Bud finds Buck's birth certificate that states he is ten years old at that point in time. The original Bundy couch burnt down a few episodes back in "Sofa So Good", so Buck's birth certificate should not have been hidden in the new sofa for that long.
- One other thing to consider is Buck's age. According to the season 7 episode titled, "Christmas", Buck is just a puppy in a flashback from 1974. That would make him 20 years old in this episode but Briards don't live that long, as their average lifespan is about 10 - 12 years old. Buck would have his on-screen death in season 10.
- When the paramedic arrives to help out Jefferson, aside from some water on his forehead, he and his gear are clearly dry even though he walk across the street in the rain.
- When Bud comes into the house from the backyard, he appears to be completely dry, even though it had just been raining heavily and he didn't have an umbrella with him.
- When the old lady pays for her items, she suddenly pulls out a cart with two large containers of coins from the front. Yet, when she goes in line after Al lets her in, she only had a basket in her arm and the four carts she pulled from behind didn't have the coins.
References[]
- ↑ Hillary Clinton: A long journey. BBC News (February 1, 2013). Retrieved on September 5, 2024.
- ↑ Hillary Clinton’s History as First Lady: Powerful, but Not Always Deft. New York Times (December 5, 2014). Retrieved on September 5, 2024.