The Trouble with Trillions

"The Trouble with Trillions" is the twentieth episode of the ninth season of the animated television series The Simpsons, which originally aired April 5, 1998. It was written by Ian Maxtone-Graham and directed by Swinton O. Scott III. The episode sees Homer being sent by the FBI to try to obtain a trillion dollar bill that Montgomery Burns failed to deliver to Europe during the post-war era.

Plot
On January 1st, right after New Year's Eve, Ned completes his yearly taxes. Later that year, just before midnight on April 15, Homer realizes he did not do his own taxes. He rushes and provides false information before driving to the post office. The IRS, however, soon discovers Homer's fraud and arrests him. Held by the government, Homer says he will do anything to stay out of prison. Agent Johnson of the FBI decides that Homer can be useful. With a hidden microphone under his shirt, Homer uncovers that his co-worker Charlie leads a group planning to assault all government officials.

With his superiors impressed, Johnson sends Homer on a secret mission. They reveal that in 1945, President Harry Truman printed a one trillion-dollar bill to help reconstruct post-war Europe. He handed the vital cargo over to Montgomery Burns to transport to the Europeans. However, the money never arrived and the FBI suspects Burns still has the money with him. As satellite photography can only confirm that the trillion-dollar bill is not on the roof, Homer is sent in to investigate. Arriving at Burns's estate, Homer searches for the money before Burns, who believes Homer is a reporter from Collier's magazine, reveals that he kept the money on his person. Johnson and Agent Miller burst in and arrests Burns for grand-grand-grand-grand-larceny. Burns shouts how the US government oppresses the average American and tells Homer to write, "Don't let the government push you around!" in his article. Moved by Burns's speech, Homer knocks out the FBI agents and frees Burns.

The two men hurry to obtain Smithers for help, who suggests they leave the country. Burns takes Smithers and Homer in his old plane, setting off to find an island and start a new country. Over the Caribbean, Burns finds a fine island, although it already has a name and is in fact a country, Cuba. Going before Fidel Castro (after learning, much to the surprise of both Burns and Simpson, that Batista is no longer leader of Cuba), Burns fails to buy the island when Fidel asks to see the trillion dollar bill, and is handed the bill. When Burns asks for it back, Castro immediately responds: "Give what back?". Then, the episode immediately cuts to a scene where Burns, Smithers, and Homer are on a make-shift raft. Burns announces he will merely bribe the jury when Smithers, Homer, and himself are put on trial, prompting Homer to exclaim "God bless America!" and salute.

Production
The episode was written by Ian Maxtone-Graham, though the original draft of the plot was much different. Originally, Homer was to learn that he was a Native American, and would try to exploit it to not have to pay taxes. The idea had been going well for a few days, however, the staff had not actually known whether or not Native Americans had to right to not pay taxes, and when they found out that they could not, they had to drop the whole plot. As they were re-working a new plot that had to do with taxes, executive producer Mike Scully's brother, Brian Scully, pitched an idea with a trillion dollar bill to be in the plot, which they agreed to, as they were out of ideas at that point.

Reception
The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, did not enjoy the episode, calling it, "Rather dull and unfunny," and, "A mediocre episode at best that makes Burns out to be altruistic (which he's not) and very stupid in letting Castro have his money (which he so wouldn't)."

Ian Jones and Steve Williams criticized all of season 9 for lacking an episode that centered around Burns, as they consider Burns to be the crux of many good episodes, though they noted that "The Trouble with Trillions" came the closest, with Burns having a supporting role.

Characters

 * Homer Simpson
 * Marge Simpson
 * Bart Simpson
 * Lisa Simpson
 * Maggie Simpson
 * Sea Captain
 * Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon
 * Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
 * Mayor Quimby
 * Dr. Nick Riviera
 * Lionel Hutz
 * Miss Hoover
 * Squeaky-Voiced Teen
 * Lunchlady Doris
 * Superintendant Chalmers
 * Helen Lovejoy
 * Reverend Lovejoy
 * Sanjay Nahasapeemapetilon
 * Kirk Van Houten
 * Luann Van Houten
 * Jasper Beardley
 * Ruth Powers
 * Comic Book Guy
 * Dr. Hibbert
 * Bernice Hibbert
 * Principal Skinner
 * Edna Krabappel
 * Otto Mann
 * Chief Wiggum
 * Nelson Muntz
 * Krusty the Clown
 * Sideshow Mel
 * Ned Flanders
 * Maude Flanders
 * Rod Flanders
 * Todd Flanders
 * Snake Jailbird
 * Lenny Leonard
 * Professor Frink
 * Reiner Wolfcastle
 * Carl Carlson
 * Groundskeeper Willy
 * Kent Brockman
 * Hans Moleman
 * Barney Gumble
 * Kearney Zzyzwicz
 * Gil Gunderson
 * Moe Syzlak
 * Charlie
 * Agent Johnson
 * Montgomery Burns
 * Waylon Smithers
 * Cuban President

Vehicles

 * Pink Sedan
 * FBI Van
 * Burns Car
 * FBI Jet
 * Mr. Burns Plane

Locations

 * Springfield Town Hall
 * Flanders House
 * Springfield Post Office
 * 742 Evergreen Terrace
 * Moe's Tavern
 * Springfield Park
 * Springfield Mall
 * Mr. Burns Mansion
 * Cuba