Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk

"Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk" (German: Burns to Sell (sic) the Power Plant) is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons' third season; the title uses incorrect German grammar. The episode aired on December 5, 1991.

Synopsis

Homer learns he owns stock in the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and sells his 100 shares for 25 cents apiece to a shady stock broker, netting $25, which he spends on beer. Soon after the sale he learns that the value of the stock was $52 per share. While Homer misses out on the windfall – he could have made $5,200 – other employees make small fortunes.

The reason for the stock's inflated value is because a depressed Mr. Burns wants to sell the plant to pursue other interests. The sale is completed at a value of $100 million to two German businessmen, Hans and Fritz, who have been hanging out in Moe's looking for just such an opportunity (provided the purchase leaves them with enough change to buy the Cleveland Browns). They immediately begin a thorough evaluation of the plant and its employees. When they interview Homer, he is unable to intelligently answer their questions and begins slipping into a fantasy about cavorting through "The Land of Chocolate." It isn't long before Homer gets laid off.

A depressed Homer mopes around the house, insisting he is a competent safety-minded worker. Meanwhile, Burns is not having a good time in retirement and decides to go to Moe's Tavern to have a drink. There, Homer and the other bar patrons laugh scornfully at Burns. Burns realizes that only his ownership of a nuclear plant gave him power over ordinary men and is resolved to buy back the plant.

The German investors are more than willing to sell the plant back to Burns because as they say, it will cost another $100 million dollars to bring the plant up to code. Burns, noting their desperation to sell and saying so offers them $50 million for the plant saying that, "you will find it {his offer} most unfair." Homer is re-hired, and Burns plots his revenge on him at some unspecified point in the future.