Midnight Rx

"Midnight Rx"
The Simpsons episode
Homer and Grampa on their way to Canada
Episode no.	341
Prod. code	FABF16
Orig. airdate	January 16, 2005
Show runner(s)	Al Jean
Written by	Marc Wilmore
Directed by	Nancy Kruse
Chalkboard gag	None
Couch gag	The family rushes in and sits on the couch. Nothing happens. Lisa turns and says "What? Can't we sit on the couch without something happening?" Homer is then impaled with a large spear, and says "D'oh!"
Season 16 November 7, 2004 – May 15, 2005 "Treehouse of Horror XV" "All's Fair in Oven War" "Sleeping with the Enemy" "She Used to Be My Girl" "Fat Man and Little Boy" "Midnight Rx" "Mommie Beerest" "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" "Pranksta Rap" "There's Something About Marrying" "On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister" "Goo Goo Gai Pan" "Mobile Homer" "The Seven-Beer Snitch" "Future-Drama" "Don't Fear the Roofer" "The Heartbroke Kid" "A Star Is Torn" "Thank God, It's Doomsday" "Home Away from Homer" "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star" List of all The Simpsons episodes
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"Midnight Rx" is the sixth episode of The Simpsons sixteenth season. It was the first new episode of 2005.

Plot

Mr. Burns reserves the Springfield Air and Space Museum for a plant company party. While there, Burns acts strangely kind to all of his employees. At the end of the party, Burns announces that he will terminate the prescription drug plan. The workers chase after him, but Burns is able to escape in a wacky flying machine, based on Leonardo Da Vinci's flying machine plans. At home, the Simpsons try to figure out how they can afford new prescription drugs. Homer decides to get another job, but he can not have his choice of starring on Friends as Rachel’s Irish cousin, and is unable to get a new job. Other companies follow Burns's lead and all prescription drug plans are cancelled.

At the retirement home, all prescription drugs are unaffordable and the staff decide to let the old folks go cold turkey. Grampa Simpson comes up with a plan to get more drugs for Springfield. He and Homer go to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and with help from Grampa's friend, they are able to get unlimited access to the drugs they need. They take them back into the United States and are praised in Springfield. Later, Apu and Ned ask Homer if they can tag along on one of his smuggling trips. He accepts, even though Ned tries to convert Apu on the way (despite the fact he claims to be sarcastically congratulating him on his bravery of worshiping an idol). Ned even meets his Canadian counterpart, but takes an instant dislike to him when he offers Ned a "reeferino". A coffee accident fools a border guard into thinking Apu is 'expressing his faith' as a Muslim (despite being Hindu) and the men are arrested, but soon let go and banned from ever going to Canada.

Meanwhile, Smithers' thyroid becomes a goiter as he can no longer afford the medicine he needs that was provided under the drug plan. With his assistant dying, Burns vows to help him. He takes Homer and Grampa along in his plane, the "Plywood Pelican", which he built for Nazi Germany. After getting the drugs, while flying back to Springfield, the plane loses altitude and Burns jumps off with Homer and Grampa's parachutes (they are gifts for his nephews). They crash-land in Springfield Town Square, almost crushing Chief Wiggum's squad car. Wiggum arrests Grampa but the people of Springfield protest, as his smuggling has gotten them the medicine they need. Wiggum lets Grampa leave. Smithers is saved with a kiss from Mr. Burns, and Burns then decides to bring back the drug plan to all his full time employees. Homer gets a new job with Burns as a "freelance consultant" and then wonders what the lump on his neck is.

Cultural references

• The music played when Homer and his father go buy drugs is the song White Rabbit by the band Jefferson Airplane.

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