Banking on Marcy was the fifth episode of Season 8 of Married... with Children, also the 162nd overall episode of the series. Directed by Tony Singletary and written by Stacie Lipp, the episode originally on FOX, premiering on October 3, 1993.
Synopsis[]
Marcy works through her fear of public speaking by imagining herself having sex. This leads to a whole new career for her. Meanwhile, Al gets interested in rap videos.
Storyline[]
Marcy is asked by her bosses at the Kyoto National Bank to be a speaker at the annual shareholders' meeting, where she has to announce that the bank is being forced to downsize as a result of a bad investment in financing the 1993 Arnold Schwarzenegger box office bomb Last Action Hero. Marcy reveals that she has a fear of speaking in public due to an elementary school incident in which she took off her dress in front of the class, exposing her Monkees underwear, to get rid of a cockroach that crept up her leg during an oral report on the Pledge of Allegiance. Meanwhile, Al, usually a critic of modern music, becomes hooked on (muted) rap videos.
Peggy suggests Marcy call Dr. Angela, a radio psychologist who advises her to do a transference exercise to get over her anxiety. Taking Dr. Angela’s advice, Marcy tries to overcome her fear of public speaking by fantasizing that she's elsewhere (having sex in the bedroom), which is a real treat for the audience. But the only people that are turned off by Marcy's simulated lovemaking skills are an embarrassed Jefferson, a shocked Peggy, and a disgusted Al, who develops erectile dysfunction as a result of watching the speech.
An embarrassed Marcy, fearing she will be fired for her performance, is informed by Jefferson that her speech was actually well-received and deflected from concerns about the bank's poor financial outlook, so much so that the bank offers Marcy $5,000 per speech to have her deliver bad news to several major corporations while imagining herself in the throes of passion. Marcy’s newfound success, however, causes Jefferson to feel depressed and neglected as she gives the audiences at her speeches the kind of performance that he wants with her physically in the bedroom. The couple discusses the matter in front of Al, who is horrified as they talk in a sexual manner to each other, ignoring he is in the Bundy living room with them. Marcy decides to quit her new speaking gig and offers Jefferson his own "private speech" at home.
Later, Marcy tells Peggy that Dr. Angela helped her wean off the transference exercise, rendering her unable to speak in public, while going back to keeping Jefferson happy in the bedroom. Al (whom, after being subjected to witnessing Marcy and Jefferson’s suggestive conversation, declares that his body is essentially deadened) calls into Dr. Angela’s show under the pseudonym "Sal Undy", disclosing that he is having “ouble-tray with [his] enis-pay". Hearing Al reveal his ailment to all of Chicago, Peggy lowers her head in shame.
Quotes[]
- [Marcy speaks to the audience at the Kyoto National Bank shareholders' meeting.]
- Marcy: Good afternoon. My, there are a lot of you out there today. The last time I saw this many people in a bank, I closed my window and went to lunch. [She laughs, as the joke falls flat with the audience.] All kidding aside, I'm here to report some bad news. Because of some unfortunate investments, the bank is being forced to downsize. [She briefly turns to the side to take a breath and begins visualizing herself having sex to alleviate her anxiety.] But the good news is, all indications suggest that the terrible economy is going to get bedroom... butter... better. [Jefferson slinks down in his chair, as Marcy walks over to a board showing a “Federal Reserve Impact” graph]: As you can see, when the Federal Reserve Board eases restrictions, interest rates fall. [She starts becoming aroused]: But when it tightens... interest rates... rise. Oh, my God.
- Peggy: Al, something's wrong. I've never seen Marcy act like this.
- Al [watching a music video on the Rap Channel on his portable TV]: You wanna see acting, Peg? Check this out.
- Marcy [becoming increasingly aroused]: For years, the Fed held back and interest rates rose and rose and rose. Eight percent, ten percent, 17%, up and up.
- Peggy: Jefferson, have you ever seen Marcy do this before?
- Jefferson: Not in public. Unless you count the Skyway at Disneyland.
- Peggy: You mean that she's about to have...
- Jefferson: Big time. It must be that transference thing that Dr. Angela told her about. I just hope she's near the end of her speech.
- [Marcy moans]
- Jefferson [squirming in embarrassment]: I guess not.
- Marcy [becoming more excited]: Then, when the rates rose as high as they possibly could and the economy could take no more, suddenly the Fed began pumping in money faster and faster.
- Jefferson [facepalming and squirming in his chair]: Here we go!
- [Marcy experiences a simulated orgasm and “climaxes” at the end of the speech as Jefferson, Peggy and Al look on, respectively, in embarrassment, surprise and disgust-turned-sheer horror]
- Marcy: OH, YES, YES, YES! OH, JEFFERSON! OH, STEVE! OH, JAMAAAAAL! [She raises her head up from the podium with a lit cigarette suddenly in hand, which she discards behind the podium] I hope this news was as good for you as it was for me. Good day. [She quickly leaves the conference room]
- Peggy: So that's what one looks like.
- [Al is slowly walking down the stairs, with his hands in his pocket and looks rather depressed, while Peggy has finished reading the newspaper]
- Peggy: Al! Uh,... [gets up and follows behind Al to the couch] Marcy's making another appearance today. So what do you say we... we have a candle light dinner and... take in a speech? [both of them sit down]
- Al: [depressed, shrugs] It doesn't work anymore, Peg.
- Peggy: What doesn't work?
- Al: ..."It".
- Peggy: How can you tell?
- Al: I've been reading Playboy, Big 'Uns, Little 'Uns, In-Between 'Uns. Nothing. Then I remembered. It hasn't worked since the afternoon I saw Marcy do that horrible thing at the bank meeting. Marcy killed it, Peg. You made it sick, but Marcy killed it. [sinks into the couch and lays his head on Peg's shoulders]
- [Jefferson confronts Marcy at the Bundy residence and tells her that he's been feeling neglected ever since she began her public speaking.]
- Marcy: Listen, Jefferson, if you're going to talk about personal matters, then let's go someplace private. [they both walk to the couch and sit down, wedging Al between them] Now, what's bothering you?
- Jefferson: Well, you've been having such a good time on stage, you've forgotten about us.
- Marcy: Oh, Sugar Tush. I always think about you when I'm up there.
- Jefferson: But it... it... it's not the same. Marcy... I miss our rodeo nights. The nights when you come out in your little teddies and your batting gloves. [Al's eyes widen in horror, as the D'Arcys lean in even closer, unaware of Al's presence]
- Marcy: I have been neglecting my little Fluff Bunny.
- Jefferson: Ah, look, Marcy, your speeches are your career. You're making good money, I shouldn't stand in your way. I'll just... [leans in closer] go home and dream of you totally naked... [Al's eyes widen in horror again] swarming all over me. [Al's eye roll up and he briefly passes out]
- Marcy: I've got a better idea. Before I go to the college tonight, how about we go home and I give you your own private little speech? [Al becomes horrified again]
- Jefferson: [breathing heavily] Would you... talk to me, Marcy? Talk to me.
- Marcy: "Four score and seven years ago..."
- Jefferson: Oh, yes! [Marcy starts to get up, take his hand and lead him to the front door]
- Marcy: "Our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation."
- Jefferson: [spins Marcy around] Emancipate me! SET ME FREE!
- [Marcy and Jefferson quickly exit the house, while Al appears to be near death]
- Al: [sluggishly] Well, my body's dead. I suppose a detached head could live on.
- [As Peggy and Marcy are in the Bundy kitchen, the radio begins to plays some music before a talk show is heard]
- Dr. Angela: [voice over] Yes, welcome back to 'Dr. Angela's Loser Line'. Go ahead, next caller?
- Al: [v.o.] Uh, yes... Dr. Angela? My name is...uh... Sal Undy. And I'm having a little... ouble-tray with my... enis-pay.
- [Peggy lowers her head in shame as Marcy holds her hand to comfort her]
Guest stars/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 as Buck Bundy
Guest starring []
- Beau Billingslea as Moderator
- Marilyn Kagan as Dr. Angela (voice) (as Marilyn Kagan LCSW)
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title of this episode is a reference to the idiom, "Banking on...", meaning to rely on someone to successfully complete something.
- It may also be a play on Marcy working in the banking industry.
Trivia[]
- Beau Billingslea, who played the moderator in this episode, would later play Rev. Hightower in the season 11 episode "A Bundy Thanksgiving".
- Peggy reveals that Marcy had a tragic incident involving a relative named "Uncle No-Pants".
- During Marcy's climax, she screams out the names of Jefferson, her ex-husband Steve Rhoades and a lover named Jamal.
- Al reveals that he has impotency from seeing Marcy's orgasm onstage at the bank.
- Marcy's current husband Jefferson and ex-husband Steve both also had temporary impotency, as respectively seen in "Impo-Dent" and "T-R-A-Something-Something Spells Tramp".
- During her intimate talk with Jefferson in front of a suffering Al, she calls him "Sugar Tush" as she reassures him that she won't neglect him anymore. Marcy had previously used that nickname for her ex-husband, Steve, in the season 3 episode "The House That Peg Lost", after he calls her "Angel Cups" and then reassures her that things will work out for them.
Cultural References[]
- When Peggy asked Marcy how much trouble the bank was in, she tells her "We backed 'Last Action Hero" and hangs her head in shame as Peggy comforts her.
- Last Action Hero was a 1993 action-fantasy film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and was considered a major failure during its theatrical run. The movie was a parody of action films in which a kid (played by Austin O’Brien) gets sucked into the world of the fictional action film featured in the movie. On the surface, the movie took in $137.3 million in a worldwide box office against a $87 million budget. However, the film clearly bombed as negative publicity overwhelmed the film following a rough showing during its opening weekend in June 1993. Last Action Hero lost 47% of its opening weekend audience and lost a declared $26 million.
- It didn't help matters that the film, against Schwarzenegger’s pleas to Universal to move the release date to avoid the stiff competition, was released the weekend after Jurassic Park (released on June 11, 1993) came out.
- The film was produced by Columbia Pictures, which also produced MWC through its television division.
- Last Action Hero was a 1993 action-fantasy film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and was considered a major failure during its theatrical run. The movie was a parody of action films in which a kid (played by Austin O’Brien) gets sucked into the world of the fictional action film featured in the movie. On the surface, the movie took in $137.3 million in a worldwide box office against a $87 million budget. However, the film clearly bombed as negative publicity overwhelmed the film following a rough showing during its opening weekend in June 1993. Last Action Hero lost 47% of its opening weekend audience and lost a declared $26 million.
- When Al calls into the video channel, one of the songs he requests is "Rump Shaker", which is an actual song by rap group Wreckx-N-Effect.
- When Peg mutes the TV set and Al says "Whoomp! There It Is!", it is a reference to the song of the same name by the rap group, Tag Team.
- When Al is trying to make a request to the video channel, he is wearing a Chicago White Sox baseball cap backwards.
- Al confuses actress Shirley MacLaine with Boris Karloff, when Marcy makes Al watch the 1989 film Steel Magnolias.
- Al was previously forced to watch Steel Magnolias in the season 6 episode "Just Shoe It" after the family leaves an injured Al alone and Buck jumps on the couch, hitting the TV remote to change the channel to the movie. As Al screams in horror, Buck remarks positively of Julia Roberts’ role in the film.
- During Marcy's childhood story, she said that she had on panties that read "Hey Hey We're the Monkees" on the day of an oral report at school and after she accidentally showed them to her schoolmates during a freak-out over a cockroach on her leg, the boys would ask her "Can Davey come out and play?". Both refer to the American band The Monkees and its lead singer, Davy Jones.
- Marcy previously mentioned that she liked the band, particularly bass player Peter Tork in "My Dinner with Anthrax".
- They were also referenced in "Rock of Ages" when one of the musicians, Spencer Davis, thought Axl Bundy was "The Fifth Monkee".
- Al confuses singer Mel Tormé with actress Kathy Bates, after Marcy forces him to watch the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes.
- Jefferson mentions that the last time she saw Marcy have an orgasm in public was in the Skyway at Disneyland, a gondola ride that transported guests between between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. The ride was shut down in 1994, about one year after this episode aired.
- Al mentions that he had to read Playboy and Big 'Uns to help with his impotency.
- Al mentions Oprah Winfrey and sarcastically tells Peggy that she might have a show about women with chaffed thighs who start forest fires.
- Marcy recites the opening of the Gettysburg Address to Jefferson and a tortured Al.
- The newspaper headlines shown after each of Marcy’s speeches (during which she uses the simulated sex transference method as performed in her speech to the bank) reference the following events:
- "D'Arcy Says IBM to Slash 36,000 Jobs" "Workers Cheer"
- References a real-life event that took place in 1993 as IBM was a money-losing company and the new CEO cut jobs in order to help the bottom line.[1]
- "D'Arcy Announces Closing of All North American Military Bases" "Receives 21 Gun Salute"
- References the real-life base realignment and closure commissions put forward by the US Government.[2]
- "Venus on a Collision Course with Earth, Says D'Arcy" "Doomed Citizens Yell Encore"
- This is not possible even though Venus gets close to Earth's orbit, but the closest the planets get to each other is 25 million miles or 41 kilometers.[3]
- "D'Arcy Announces New CBS Fall Schedule" "Audiences Still Depressed"
- CBS was considered a third-place network despite landing David Letterman to host his own late-night talk show after leaving NBC earlier in 1993, after losing out to Jay Leno to be Johnny Carson’s successor on The Tonight Show. It didn't help matters any that, the year prior, the network also lost baseball to NBC and ABC, and the NFL's NFC football package to FOX.[4]
- CBS would have major changes on five of seven nights for its 1993–94 fall schedule. The only nights remaining unchanged were Sundays and Tuesdays.[5]
- "D'Arcy Says IBM to Slash 36,000 Jobs" "Workers Cheer"
Music[]
- The song "She Works Hard For The Money" by Donna Summer is played during a montage of newspaper headlines revealing bad news that Marcy told to various companies and even the U.S. military, but still received applause.
Locations[]
- Bundy Residence
- Kyoto National Bank Business office
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
- Shareholder's Meeting Room
Goofs[]
- When the last newspaper headline is shown, "D'Arcy Announces New CBS Fall Schedule - Audience Still Depressed", the camera zooms in on the article's text underneath the headline and is clearly visible to the viewers. The text doesn't read about what happened with CBS and the audience, but a story about a new municipality court center opening and the legal challenges that it may be facing.
- One of the articles mentions that Marcy received a 21 Gun Salute from the military. A 21 Gun Salute is typically reserved for the President of the United States and visiting foreign leaders (and not to be confused with the the Three Volley Salute used in military / police funerals)
References[]
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_IBM#1993%E2%80%932018:_IBM's_near_disaster_and_rebirth
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base_Realignment_and_Closure
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus#Orbit_and_rotation
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS#Programming:_Tiffany_Network_in_distress_(1986%E2%80%932002)
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993%E2%80%9394_United_States_network_television_schedule