"Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk" (German: Burns to Sell the Power Plant) is the tenth episode of Season 3.
Synopsis
Mr. Burns sells the Nuclear Power Plant to a pair of German businessmen for $100 million. As a result of the takeover, Homer loses his job, and falls into a state of depression. Homer sees Burns and Smithers in Moe's, and speaks his mind to him. He realizes he no longer has his position of power, and buys the power plant back for $50 million - and immediately rehires Homer.
Full Story
Homer learns he owns stock in the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and sells his 100 shares for 25 cents a piece to a shady stock broker, netting $25, which he spends on an expensive beer. Soon after the sale, he learns that the value of the stock had kept rising over the course of the day to end at $52 per share. While Homer misses out on the windfall – he could have made $5,200 – other employees who clearly had larger shares make small fortunes, buying new cars and Lenny gets a facelift. Homer regrets selling so low for beer and his family's disappointed about Homer's recklessness.
German Dealers
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. 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 now-infamous fantasy about cavorting through "The Land of Chocolate." Homer soon gets laid off.
A depressed Homer mopes around the house, insisting he is a competent safety-minded worker while jabbing at a plugged in toaster with a mangled fork. Meanwhile, Burns is not having a good time in retirement and decides to go to Moe's Tavern to have a drink. However, Burns is called out by Homer, who says he lost his job after the sale. Homer asks if Burns' money cheers him up, but when Burns says yes, Homer tries another avenue, if his money expresses love for him. When Burns says no, Homer and the other barflies start a chant of "Nobody loves you" and similar taunts. Humiliated, Burns leaves Moe's Tavern and remarks to Smithers that the men no longer fear him as he is no longer in a position of power. He also realizes ownership of the plant gave him that power and prestige and is resolved to regain ownership.
Meanwhile, the Germans, who have completed their assessment, are shocked by the substandard conditions of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and realize it will cost another $100 million to bring the plant up to code. Burns, noting their desperation to sell, offers them $50 million for the plant saying that, "you will find it [the offer] most unfair." Burns cleans out his old office, which the Germans had made into a nursery, except for a toy pig. He takes a letter opener and orders Smithers to hire Homer Simpson. When Smithers reminds Burns of the disrespectful behavior of Homer at the bar, Burns says he is well aware of that, and remarks how Homer will work for Burns a long time, likely forgetting about the incident and how the Sword of Damocles is dangling over him. When Homer lets his guard down, Burns decides his plan as evidenced by stabbing the toy pig. The episode ends at the Simpson residence, where Homer, having just gotten off the phone, joyously tells Marge he got his job back..
