But I Didn't Shoot the Deputy

Infobox Television episode | Title = Pilot
Series = Married... with Children
Season = 1
Episode = 3
Airdate = April 19, 1987 (Fox)
Production = 1.03
Writer = Ron Burla
Director = Linda Day
Episode List = Episode Chronology
Prev = Thinergy
Next = Whose Room Is It Anyway"But I Didn't Shoot the Deputy" is the third episode of Fox's hit comedy show, "Married... with Children". It was written by Ron Burla and originally aired on April 19, 1987.

Plot

A wave of robberies in the neighborhood reaches its peak when Steve and Marcie's house is robbed. Meeting at the Bundy's house, the Neighborhood Watch tries to come with a way to stop the thefts, during which somebody steals the radio from Al's car. Finally, Steve and Marcie agree to buy a guard dog, while Al thinks about buying a gun, much to Marcie's disapproval.

A day later, the Rhoades have already bought a guard dog whose constant barking is bothering the Bundy's. The dog, named Bella, has apparently bothered other neighbors since Al implies that he killed someone's cat. That same morning, another house in the neighborhood is stolen to what Marcie claims the success of their acquisition.

At night, Al and Peggy wake up with a sudden noise in their house. As Al goes to the patio with his gun to check on it, he accidentally kills Bella, while the dog was defecating. When Steve and Marcie are awakened by the shot, they come to the house and upon finding out, they lash at Al and leave angered.

The next morning, Al has already dispatched Bela's body with the garbage men and is about to leave for work. Steve then arrives to apologize to Al for their argument. But when Steve asks Al for Bella's body to give the dog proper burial, Al is stunned and assures Steve that he and Peggy will deal with it out of guilt.

On the night, a funeral ceremony is being held on the Rhoades backyard with some neighbors invited. Al and Peggy drag a crate that is supposed to hold Bella's corpse to a hole. While Steve says a few words, Al finds out from Peggy that she put his new bowling ball, with some rocks, on the crate to add weight. As Al starts bawling for his ball, Steve comforts him, thinking he is crying for his dog.

Cast

Main

* Al Bundy - Ed O'Neill
* Peggy Bundy - Katey Sagal
* Bud Bundy - David Faustino
* Kelly Bundy - Christina Applegate
* Steve Rhoades - David Garrison
* Marcie Rhoades - Amanda Bearse

upporting

* Muldoon - Thomas Hull
* Norris - Frank Lloyd
* Bronson - J. Jay Saunders

Popular and Cultural References

* The title of the episode is an excerpt of Bob Marley's song "I Shot the Sheriff".
* The restaurant mentioned in the TV commercial is called "Ahab's", perhaps in reference to the fictional Capt. Ahab in the novel "Moby-Dick".
* Bud says that Al was practicing quick-draws during the "Phil Donahue Show".
* Upon learning that the Rhoades had named their dog, Bella, Al asks if it was for Bela Lugosi, to which they reply it was for Bella Abzug.
* After Al kills Bella, Kelly questions how he wasn't able to tell the difference between a dog and a burglar, to which Al replies that the dog "was wearing a hat". Bella Abzug was known for her habit of wearing noticeable hats.
* Peggy calls Al "Dead Eye" for his sharpshooting.
* The song "Amazing Grace" is sung by the neighbours during Bella's funeral.

References

External links

* [http://www.albundy.net/marriedaniac/ate/script/0103t.html Episode transcript]