Television Quiz: "Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?": 10 Questions | 'Simpsons' - Seasons and Episodes

Answer: Sterile

The time of year for the Nuclear Power Plant's annual physical rolls around and Homer strips down to his underwear and stands in line for his turn. The whole debacle isn't really Homer's cup of tea; he goes out of his way to eat food in the body fat tank, bringing his reading up to 104% body fat.

Unfortunately, it's discovered that his years of working at the plant have rendered him sterile, an issue that Mr. Burns decides to combat with a handy payout. Burns calls the lawyers.

Answer: Homelessness

Since Homer could, technically, sue the plant for millions, Burns gathers his lawyers to smooth things over and, ultimately, they decide to give Homer a cash settlement, feeling that a few thousand dollars will dazzle him enough to get him to sign all the waivers they need.
Elsewhere, below some train tracks, Herb Powell talks to the other homeless men about his rich past which, as many would know, was ruined by Homer when the Simpsons came to visit. Fortunately, he says, he just needs an idea and he'll be fine.

Answer: Couch

Bart and Lisa, competing in the sure-to-break-something events of the Living Room Olympics in their own house, end up being at fault for destroying the couch during Bart's 'couch vaulting' event (performed with a broom). When Bart crashes down onto the sofa, it ends up breaking entirely, and he's barely able to get out of the way when Homer finds it in its destroyed state. Homer is, of course, the most broken-up about the loss and takes the extra time to reminisce about all the good times he had watching TV on it.

Answer: Excellence

Herb, sitting in the park, struggles to create a new get-rich idea and it takes next to no time for him to realize the great one right in front of him as a mother struggles to calm her crying baby. At work, meanwhile, Lenny and Carl comfort Homer about his recent loss before Homer's called in to Mr. Burns' office to collect a $2,000 cheque. Homer is very interested in the money up front, but he's very hesitant to sign anything...that is until Mr. Burns claims it's a prize for the First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence. Homer is a bit leery since something that big seems like it would have an award ceremony, so Mr. Burns follows through.

It ends up being extravagant to say the least.

Answer: Spinemelter 2000

Despite winning his award, Homer is exceedingly disappointed since he still has no couch. Even Smokin' Joe Frazier can't cheer him up with some words of wisdom. At the same time, Herb finds a newspaper showing Homer's recent award win and decides to hop on the next train to Springfield.
Walking the streets, Homer finds his new seat-- the Spinemelter 2000, which is a cent under $2,000. He decides that he needs it; he tells Marge it will fill the void in his soul. She convinces him to pass on it since they can afford a whole living room set with the prize money.

Answer: Ned

Herb arrives on Evergreen Terrace but can't seem to determine which house is Homer's. Opting for the one that seems most put together, he ends up walking to the Flanders' door and, in a typical bout of good charity, Ned and the family ends up welcoming him in for food, clothing, and a shower. The send Herb off with a song.
When Herb rings the bell at the Simpson household, Homer opens the door and his half-brother punches Homer in the face. He's still mad at him. Easy to imagine why.

Answer: Monopoly

The Simpsons know they have to bring Herb into their household since he's family, and before they know it he's eating dinner at their table and helping out around the place. Everyone seems happy that Herb is amongst them except Lisa who, after speaking to her uncle, realizes that his letters back to her probably wouldn't have been the best considering the circumstances.

As Herb tucks Maggie into her crib, he notes how she's going to make him rich. That night, over a game of monopoly (which Herb loses), he outlines his plan which, though Homer is skeptical about, Marge says every mother in the country would want.

The catch-- he needs $2,000.

Answer: Yes

Herb's new invention is simple in concept: it's a translator for babies that analyzes their noises and indicates their thoughts to the parents. The problem is, he needs $2,000 to create a prototype (and, of course, Maggie's help). The family feels they have no real choice but to help Herb out with the money and, considering their recent windfall, they decide to give him the cash, even though all of them have their own ideas as to what they can spend the money on. Homer kind of offers up the money just for a water-drinking bird tchotchke.

Herb says he'll give back the investment in thirty days.

Answer: A baby expo

Herb spends a great deal of time implementing research with Maggie, recording her noises for pitch, tone, and urgency before finally presenting a prototype to the Simpsons in their living room. It's a bit ugly as a prototype, but it's clear the thing works, and once he pushes it to the right people, it could be a hit. Homer is still a bit iffy about the whole thing. At a Springfield Baby Expo, Herb demos the translator for the right people and, before he knows it, he's raking in offers, ultimately settling for one that makes him rich all over again. Before his thirty days is up, Homer has a cheque for $2,000 in his hands.

Answer: A new television

When the translator is a success, Herb expresses his gratitude by purchasing items for the Simpsons that they wanted to spend their $2,000 on. Lisa gets her monthly 'Great Books of Western Civilization' set, Bart gets a membership to the NRA (in place of the machine gun he wanted), Maggie doesn't get anything since her request was dog food, Marge gets a new washer and dryer, and Homer gets the Spinemelter 2000. On top of that, Homer finally gets the respect and love he always wanted from his half-brother.

As Herb departs, the family gathers around the TV seated on their new furniture.