Elsewhere in Springfield, Superintendent Chalmers walks up to the
door of a neatly-kept house. Principal Skinner greets him there.
Chalmers just grunts as the two men go inside. Skinner heads for
the kitchen, where he notices smoke billowing out from the stove.
The worst has happened -- the roast he has prepared is burnt.
Skinner, however, has an ace up his sleeve. He plans to purchase
fast food from the Krusty Burger across the street and pass it as his
own cooking. Skinner starts to climb out the window when Chalmers
suddenly comes into the kitchen.
Chalmers: Seymour!
Skinner: Superintendent; I was just, uh, just stretching my calves on
the windowsill. Isometric exercise. Care to join me?
Chalmers: Why is there smoke coming out of your oven, Seymour?
Skinner: Uh, oh, that isn't smoke, it's steam. Steam from the steamed
clams we're having. [rubs stomach] Mmm -- steamed clams.
-- Skinner and the Superintendent,
"Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield"
Either Chalmers is satisfied with this explanation, or decides not
to pursue the matter further. In any case, he goes back to the
dining room. Skinner jumps out the window and runs over to the
Krusty Burger after Chalmers leaves.
A few minutes later, Skinner makes an entrance the dining room
carrying a big platter of Krusty Burgers.
Skinner: Superintendent, I hope you're ready for mouth-watering
hamburgers.
Chalmers: I thought we were having steamed clams.
Skinner: Oh, no, I said, "steamed hams." That's what I call
hamburgers.
Chalmers: You call hamburgers steamed hams.
Skinner: Yes, it's a regional dialect.
Chalmers: Uh-huh. What region?
Skinner: Uh, upstate New York.
Chalmers: Really. Well, I'm from Utica and I never heard anyone use
the phrase, "steamed hams."
Skinner: Oh, not in Utica, no; it's an Albany expression.
Chalmers: I see.
-- Skinner and the Superintendent,
"Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield"
Chalmers suspends his disbelief long enough to enjoy some of
Skinner's steamed hams.
Chalmers: You know, these hamburgers are quite similar to the ones the
have at Krusty Burger.
Skinner: [laughs] Oh, no, patented Skinner Burgers. Old family
recipe.
Chalmers: For steamed hams.
Skinner: Yes.
Chalmers: Yes, and you call them steamed hams despite the fact that
they are obviously grilled. [shows Skinner the grill marks]
Skinner: Uh ... you know ... one thing I sh-- ... 'scuse me for one
second.
Chalmers: Of course.
-- Skinner and the Superintendent,
"Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield"
Skinner retires to the kitchen for a second. When he walks back
into the dining room, we can see that the entire kitchen is in
flames.
Skinner: [faking a yawn] Well, that was wonderful. Good time was had
by all. I'm pooped.
Chalmers: Yes, I guess I should be --
[notes entire kitchen is on fire]
Good Lord, what is happening in there?
Skinner: Aurora Borealis?
Chalmers: Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? A this time of day?
In this part of the country? Localized entirely within your
kitchen?
Skinner: Yes.
Chalmers: May I see it?
Skinner: Oh, erm... No.
-- Skinner and Superintendent,
"Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield"
Skinner escorts Chalmers back outside.
Agnes: [offscreen] Seymour! The house is on fire!
Skinner: No, mother. It's just the Northern Lights.
Chalmers: Well, Seymour, you are an odd fellow, but I must say you
steam a good ham.
[Chalmers walks off. He looks back at Skinner, who flashes
him the "thumbs-up" sign]
Agnes: Help! Help!
-- Skinner and the Superintendent,
"Twenty-Two Short Films About Springfield"
A fire engines rushes to the Skinners' rescue. It rushes past
Homer, who is carrying Maggie, a bundle of groceries, and is holding
Santa's Little Helper's leash. He notices a disturbing news story in
the "Springfield Shopper" kiosk -- Senator Helms (R-NC) is calling
for a tax on donuts. (Mmmm ... taxable food item.) Juggling the
baby, the groceries, and the dog, Homer pays for and gets his copy of
the paper. ("Done, and done!") He quickly realizes the mission
wasn't entirely successful -- somehow, Maggie got locked in the
kiosk! He fishes in his pockets for another quarter, but the coins
are all stretched out because of his stop at the railroad tracks.
Rushing off to get change leaves Maggie overly upset, so Homer
stays and tries various techniques to save her, all unsuccessful,
until he stumbled on the solution.