Homer The Great - Plot

Plot

Homer notices that Lenny and Carl are enjoying inexplicable privileges thanks to their rings such as free soft drinks, massage chairs, and great parking spots at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Homer investigates and discovers that they are part of an ancient secret society known as The Stonecutters. When he tries to join, he learns that in order to gain membership, one must either be the son of a Stonecutter or save the life of a Stonecutter. He pretends to have saved Lenny's life, but fails. Homer complains about not being let in and reveals to Marge his past experience being excluded from clubs; when he was young, a group of children formed the "No Homers Club" and did not allow him to join, though a boy named Homer Glumpet was not rejected. While extolling the Stonecutters at the dinner table, he discovers that his father is a member and is admitted.

After joining the Stonecutters, which is made up of many of the male characters on the show, Homer takes great pleasure in the Society's secret privileges, such as an underground byway past Springfield's traffic jams, the Society's drinking bouts and free rollerblades (in order to get to his workplace from the car park quicker). During a celebratory rib dinner with his fellow Stonecutters commemorating its 1500th anniversary, he unwittingly uses the society’s Hallowed Sacred Parchment as a napkin, tissue and cotton swab, destroying it. He is stripped of his Stonecutter robes and as part of his punishment is forced to walk home naked dragging the "stone of shame". Before he leaves, however, it is discovered that Homer has a birthmark in the shape of the Stonecutter emblem, identifying him as "The Chosen One" who, it was foretold, would lead the Stonecutters to greatness. He is then unshackled from the "stone of shame" and shackled to an even larger "stone of triumph".

Homer is crowned as the new leader of The Stonecutters. Initially enjoying himself, Homer soon feels isolated by his power when the other members treat him differently due to his new position, and asks Lisa for advice. She suggests that he ask the Stonecutters to do volunteer work to help the community. This angers the Stonecutters, who convene their World Council and consider killing Homer. They finally decide against it and realize that Homer will control them for as long as they are known as Stonecutters, so Moe suggests they instead break off to form a new society: "The Ancient Mystic Society of No Homers". Needless to say, Homer is not allowed to join. Adding insult to injury, a now grown-up Homer Glumpet is among the new club's members.

Homer becomes despondent about losing his secret club and replaces every member with monkeys which he gets drunk and makes act out civil war battles. Marge consoles him by telling him he is a member of a "very exclusive club": The Simpson Family and only two members have special rings. The family then subjects him to some hazing and paddling.