| “ | I need you to focus, okay, Court? | ” |
"Boogie Days" is the seventh episode in Season 15, being the two-hundred-and-eighty-third episode overall.
Plot[]
When Louise signs up for a father-daughter boogie board contest, Bob's past comes back to haunt him.
Full story[]
The Belchers are having breakfast. Louise reminds her dad about the father-daughter boogie-boarding contest they should enter. She recalls that her mom stated that he was once skilled in boogie-boarding. Tina asks why he stopped, which brings to Bob's mind an incident where he got submerged in water while boogie-boarding. Linda comments the accident was minor, while Bob claims he almost drowned. Regardless, Louise convinces her father.
Bob and Linda are in the restaurant with Teddy, and Linda brings up that Teddy's birthday is soon. Linda swears she will host a birthday party at the restaurant for him to make up for his past unfortunate ones.
A week later, Bob and Louise are getting ready to go to the boogie-boarding contest. Teddy calls Linda, telling her the birthday party can't happen as he's going to a funeral. He explains it's for Vernon, someone who provides tools for contractors, and that it'll be at Mort's funeral home. Linda suggests the party can happen after the service, but Teddy declines. When he hangs up, Linda tells her family she already got cupcakes, which excites her kids.
Bob and Louise arrive at the beach for the contest. Bob looks at the waves hitting the shore, making him worry and recall his incident again. An enthusiastic Louise makes him more anxious. Bob asks the lifeguard ("Lifeguard") multiple questions about the safety of boogie boarding due to the waves, but Bob's concerns do not interest him.
Louise encounters Corutney, who points out she's here to boogie-board with her father. Doug is busy giving the contest announcer ("Announcer") a jingle for Little Squirt Surf Shirts, the event sponsor.
Linda is with her kids at the restaurant, being upset about not being able to give Teddy a party. The cupcakes are Tina and Gene's more significant concerns.
Bob teaches Louise how to boogie-board near the shore, which disappoints her. She tells her father they should be practicing further and asks where his boogie-boarding energy went, causing him to flashback again. It distracts Bob, and he doesn't realize Louise is already further from the shore, forcing him to have to get to her.
Tina and Gene manage to persuade their mom to give them the cupcakes before Teddy arrives with Glenn and two other handypeople from the funeral, Joyce and Lou. Teddy stops Linda from bringing up his birthday and tells her they're only here for Vernon. Linda has a meeting with her kids in the kitchen. She tells them that they'll get tired of talking about Vernon and want to do something else to lighten the mood, suggesting that's when they can bring up Teddy's birthday.
Louise gets excited about a big wave coming, but Bob gets him and his daughter to duck under. When another one comes, Louise ignores her father and rides the wave, expressing her joy afterward. Louise asks her father why he is acting strange about boogie-boarding. Bob describes his incident to his daughter, which makes Louise apprehensive. Noticing his daughter's behavior, Bob tries to cheer his daughter up when the announcer states the waves will continue to get larger.
The contest is about to begin, with the announcer explaining the rules.
Teddy and the other handypeople in the restaurant talk about Vernon. Hearing them laugh about their memories of him, Linda believes this is the right time to bring out the cupcakes. Linda listens to their conversation, waiting for the moment to get her kids to initiate the party. Linda decides to bring up Teddy's birthday to the other funeral-goers. She calls her kids to get the cupcakes, and as she is about to sing "Happy Birthday," Glenn starts crying about Vernon. Glenn apologizes for crying, and Teddy sarcastically thanks Linda. Mort arrives, making Teddy more upset, though he reins in.
Bob and Louise are nervously boogie-boarding, with Bob trying his best to help Louise. Despite this, a wave crashes on Louise that submerges her, causing her to get a scrape on her chin. After, Louise decides that the reward for winning money isn't worth it. She decides they should leave. Doug sings his Little Squirt Surf Shirts with Courtney.
Teddy's party is uncomfortable and silent. As the other handypeople begin to make their leave, Linda gets the idea to serve everyone ice cream. She says everyone gets to have it for free, changing their minds about leaving. Linda gets frustrated about trying to work the soft serve machine, which gives the handypeople ideas about how to fix it. Linda suggests they could make fixing the machine a party game.
As Bob and Louise walk home, Bob apologizes to his daughter for telling her his story. Louise admits that she had fun before her incident, which makes Bob recall a joyful time when he did have fun boogie-boarding. Bob considers they should go back for the contest. He tells his daughter that he's grateful she got him to try boogie-boarding again.
At the restaurant, a blindfolded Glenn is trying to fix the soft serve machine as Teddy tries to instruct him. Linda announces that it's Joyce and Lou's turn, with Joyce teasingly telling Teddy that they're going to win. Bob and Louise come home, and Louise announces that they got fourth place in the contest. Linda sees Louise's injury, but Louise brushes it off. Bob and Louise pull out the visors they won. Linda decides to celebrate with ice cream, and Joyce and Lou fix the machine. Teddy thanks Linda for hosting a party for him while adding how much he urged it not to happen. Linda gets everyone to sing "Happy Birthday" to Teddy.
Videos[]
External links[]
- "Boogie Days" on IMDb
- "Boogie Days" press release via The Futon Critic
- "Boogie Days" script via Springfield! Springfield!