The Raven Written by Edgar Allan Poe and Sam Simon
Directed by David Silverman
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As Lisa reads, the scene changes to a scary mansion.


Lisa: Once upon a midnight dreary,[...]
Narrator: [...] while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore --
-- Lines 1-2 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer sits, asleep, with a book titled ``Forgotten Lore Vol.~II'' on his
lap.

When the tapping occurs in the next stanza, Homer wakes up with a start and
looks around nervously.

Narrator: While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door --
Homer: "'Tis some visiter,"
Narrator: I muttered,
Homer: "tapping at my chamber door --
Only this and nothing more."
Bart: Are we scared yet?
-- Lines 3-6 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer returns to sleep.

Narrator: Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; -- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow --
-- Lines 7-10 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer wakes up and walks to a tall portrait of Lenore (Marge), her hair
going up so far that it requires a second panel.

Narrator: sorrow for the lost Lenore --
Homer: [plaintively] Oh, Lenore...
Narrator: For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore --
Nameless here for evermore.
-- Lines 10-12 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

A rustle is heard outside. Homer screams and hides behind the chair.

Narrator: And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me -- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
-- Lines 13-15 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer hides under the chair.

Homer: "'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door --
This it is and nothing more."
-- Lines 16,18 (17 omitted) of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Narrator: Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
Homer: "Sir,"
Narrator: said I,
Homer: "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you "
Narrator: -- here I opened wide the door; ----
Homer: [throws open the door and covers his eyes]
Bart: [impatiently] This better be good.
Homer: [peeks through his fingers]
Narrator: Darkness there and nothing more.
Homer: Huh?
-- Lines 19-24 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Sitting outside the treehouse is Homer, clearly scared. Bart complains,
``You know what would have been scarier than nothing?'' ``What?''
``ANYTHING!''

Narrator: Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping something<1> louder than before.
Homer: "Surely,"
Narrator: said I,
Homer: "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -- ["]
-- Lines 31-34 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer opens the window.

Narrator: Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
-- Lines 37-38 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

The raven bears a striking resemblance to Bart.

Narrator: Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door --
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door --
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
-- Lines 39-42 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer chuckles.

Homer: "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,"
Narrator: I said,
Homer: "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore --
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night'* Plutonian shore!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: Eat my shorts!
-- lines 45-48 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Lisa tells Bart that the Raven says ``Nevermore'' and nothing else.
Bart reluctantly gives in.

An odor wanders past, and Homer catches a whiff of it.

Narrator: Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed by some<2> unseen censer
-- line 81 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

The `unseen' censer whaps Homer upside the head. (``D'oh!'')

Narrator: Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
-- line 82 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

The seraphim in question are an angelic Lisa and Maggie.

Homer: "Wretch,"
Narrator: I cried,
Homer: "thy God hath lent thee -- by these angels he hath sent thee
<3>respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore;["]
-- lines 83-84 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''


Homer orates before the portrait of Lenore.

Homer: ["] Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: "Nevermore."
Homer: D'oh!
-- lines 85-86 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer is really angry now.

Homer: "Be that word our sign of<4> parting, bird or fiend!"
Narrator: I shrieked, upstarting --
Homer: "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night'* Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul has<5> spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! -- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: "Nevermore."
Homer: [trying to stay calm]
["]Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Narrator: Quoth the Raven
Bart/Raven: "Nevermore."
Homer: Why you little...!
Bart/Raven: Uh-oh!
-- lines 99-104 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer lunges for the Raven, who flits off. Homer chases the bird across
and around the room, but it remains barely out of reach.

Homer: Come back here, you little Raven!
-- An incidental moment of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer'* chase makes a mess of his chamber.

Homer: D'ah, grf, son-of-a, d'oh!
-- An incidental moment of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Homer throws a potted plant at the Raven, who dodges the projectile. In
true cartoon fashion, the plant hits Homer on the head. Tiny Ravens dance
around Homer'* head, chanting, ``Nevermore, Nevermore, Nevermore...''

The chase continues. The Raven plucks books from the shelf and drops them.

The Raven has returned to its place atop the bust of Pallas. Below lies
the carnage it has wrought upon the room.

Narrator: And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon'* that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted -- nevermore!
-- lines 105-110 of ``The Raven'' in ``Treehouse of Horror''

Notes:

<1> Original says ``somewhat'', not ``something''.
<2> Original says ``from an'' not ``by some''
<3> Original has ``Respite -- '' at the beginning of the line
<4> Original says ``in'' not ``of''
<5> Original says ``hath'' not ``has''

The Raven chuckles evilly.