Bart Gets Hit By A Car - Plot

Plot

While skateboarding one day, Bart crosses a road where he is hit by Mr. Burns' car. Bart has an out-of-body experience as he ends up on the escalator to heaven. He then ends up in Hell after spitting over the side of it and ends up meeting Satan. He floats back into his body as it was not his time yet. Bart wakes up in a hospital room, surrounded by his family and a smiling stranger. The man introduces himself as attorney Lionel Hutz, and suggests that the Simpsons sue Mr. Burns. However, Bart's injuries are minor–"a bump on the head and a broken toe"–and Homer is hesitant to sue his boss. Later, Mr. Burns tries to avoid a potential lawsuit by offering Homer $100. Homer is hesitant to accept the offer because it barely covers Bart's medical bills, so Burns, who calls him an extortionist, throws him out. After the meeting, Homer goes to see Lionel Hutz, who promises him a cash settlement of $1 million (of which Hutz gets 50% as his "fee"). Hutz takes Bart to see Dr. Nick Riviera, a quack doctor who claims that Bart has extensive injuries; he diagnoses a fingerprint on Bart's x-ray as "trauma". Marge, however, is skeptical of Riviera's real medical qualifications and decries him for exaggerating Bart's condition. She immediately confronts Hutz for his action and reminds him that Dr. Hibbert has been their family physician for years and knows he's fine. At the house, Hutz coaches Bart on what to say on the witness stand during the trial, encouraging him to exaggerate his condition. While, Marge and Lisa state their opinion that they're against suing Burns from the start and demands that Bart tells the truth.

At the trial, both Bart and Mr. Burns tell outrageous versions of what happened. The jury shows sympathy for Bart, but Marge and Lisa are still convinced that Hutz made him lie. Things seem to be looking up for both him and Homer. After the trial, Mr. Burns yells at his lawyers, ordering them to bring Homer and Marge to his house. At his mansion, Burns offers Homer a $500,000 settlement and leaves them to discuss it. Feeling guilty for lying, Marge pleads with Homer to drop the case and accept the money. He objects to her request and demands to know why he should accept the settlement. Marge reveals that she was against suing Mr. Burns from the start and would've been happy with him apologizing for the incident and paying for Bart's medical bills. Homer refuses, insisting that Burns knows he will lose the trial and will have to pay the family $1 million. Marge admits she dislikes the situation for what it's become, including Homer's greed and the "phony doctors". Mr. Burns overhears this, and withdraws his offer.

The next day at the trial, Mr. Burns' lawyer calls an unprepared Marge to the stand. When asked about her opinion on Dr. Riviera, she is hesitant to talk stating what her mother taught her to do in not talking about anyone that you have nothing nice to say about them. Mr. Burns' lawyer asks Marge again and reminds her that she's under oath. In her testimony, she denounces Dr. Riviera as a fake and outlines how limited Bart's injuries actually were. Marge also reveals that Hutz made him lie about his injuries and being in intense pain, when he was really fine. She gives the hardships resulting from the accident a dollar value of $5, the sum they would have paid Bart for taking out the trash, had he been able to. Homer watches in disbelief and betrayal as the case slips away. Marge's honest testimony destroys Hutz's case and the Simpsons get nothing, although Bart receives good treatment for his injuries.

That night, a downbeat Homer is angry and blames Marge for costing him $1 million. He leaves for Moe's to drown his sorrows. Marge visits him at Moe's and asks him to forgive her for her testimony, even though she did the right thing by telling the truth. However, Homer says that he is not sure he loves her anymore, until he looks her in the eyes and realizes he still loves her as much as ever.