Ok, here's my attempt at a short, 3-scene Tapped-Out-themed Simpsons vignette! Hope you guys like it!!
SCENE 1:
Bart had just finished tagging the City Hall with his famous “El Barto” signature street art. Instead of taking a step back to admire his handiwork, the way Milhouse was sycophantically doing, this time he just sighed and hung his head. Lisa was randomly strolling down the street near him, so he took the opportunity to gripe.
“This place stinks, Lis. There’s nothing for kids to do!”
Lisa was surprised, and a little indignant. “Well I’m sorry if my first priority wasn’t to open a skate park, Bart, but I’m trying!
“Seriously? This is trying?” Bart scoffed, “Besides the Aztec and the Bowlarama, the only thing to do around here is vandalize the buildings... and I think they’re starting to catch on to me.”
“Well I did think that maybe if I kept teasing you with Krustyland you wouldn’t notice...”
“It’s hard not to notice. Even Nelson over here has taken to pointing and laughing at people for whole days at a time!” He pointed at Nelson who was nearby chortling derisively at... something. Perhaps Mount Carlmore.
“Ok, Bart, you’re right! But what do you suggest I do? EA controls our fate!” She added, “Don’t you think I would have found more female characters by now?”
“It has been awfully quiet without Patty and Selma...” The mention of his profane, chain-smoking, inappropriate aunts reminded him what was the real problem here: adults. “That’s it! We need to come up with a secret activity, something none of the adults can ruin like they did with Squidport!”
Lisa was visibly hesitant. Oh, the logistics!
“Bart, while I agree that a rock wall is a lot more fun than the Frying Dutchman, anything we do here will be seen by the adults! I’m not even sure I’m allowed inside most of these buildings.”
“Grown-ups are dumb, Lisa. They only notice something happening if you try to hide it. I’m going to get the kids together at the tree house to crowd source some ideas –”
“No need, Simpson. We’ve all been giving this some thought.” Nelson jumped in, grateful for the chance to stop pointing and laughing. He and Kearney sauntered over.
“Ever since the all-powerful finger-in-the-sky dropped that Open-Air Stage on us, we’ve been practicing for a Battle of the Bands,” Nelson said, air-guitaring for emphasis.
“Our band needs a lead vocalist, though, or else that Martin kid and your sister are going to smoke us!” Kearney said, thumb-pointing toward Lisa.
Bart was confused until he realized the betrayal. “Lisa! You didn’t tell me you had already planned an awesome kids-only event!!” He turned to Nelson with a passion that could only come from months of skateboarding around the same dull streets, “Ok, that’s it. I’m in, Nelson. And YOU,” he jabbed at Lisa, “are going down.”
Lisa laughed nervously, and ran off to meet with Martin, who was tuning his lute. Now that Bart knew about the competition, their band was going to lose for sure!
It doesn’t matter how much *superior musical talent* one has, since these things are always popularity contests. She had to do something...
SCENE 2:
“Martin!” Lisa ran toward the MENSA gazebo shouting frantically,
Martin! We’ve got trouble!”
“Trouble?” thought Martin aloud, “With a capital T? That rhymes with B! AND THAT STANDS FOR BART!! Oh, no, Lisa, what plague hath thy wicked fraternal menace brought upon us this time? Please tell me he doesn’t know about th-“
“He does, Martin,” said Lisa solemnly, “and what’s worse is he’s joined Nelson’s band! They’re going to win unless we do something!”
“I do have an idea, milady, but I’m not sure you’ll like it...” Martin himself sounded hesitant.
“What is it?”
“Well, gruff and unshaven though he is, Springfield Elementary’s own Groundskeeper Willie has displayed an impressive level of proficiency with the bagpipes, not to mention Principal Skinner’s various musical forays...”
“Martin, you’re not seriously considering that I ask the Skinner Sisters to play with us!” Lisa was mortified, “We’ll be the laughing stock of the whole town!! 50-ish other people will laugh every time we walk through them on the street!”
Martin continued offering suggestions of local players for a while, before Lisa finally had to veto any adult participation. As much as she wanted to win, the other kids would never forgive her... And she was unpopular enough as it is!
“I’m sorry, Martin,” Lisa said, defeated, “We’ll have to practice really hard and come up with some fresh sax/lute duet material. Hard to believe we’ve exhausted everything in such a popular genre!”
At that, Moe, who had been hiding in the bushes nearby hoping Midge would come to pick up Lisa relatively soon, got an idea. So the kids were putting together some big, fancy shindig out at the open-air thinga-ma-whatsit, eh?
Who did these kids thinks they weres? They’re not the only ones in this badly-designed, polluted, slant-perspective hell hole who are sick of the same old tasks!
The other grown-ups deserved to know about this. And heck, Moe had always wanted to join a band.
SCENE THREE:
The day of the Battle of the Bands, Lisa and Martin arrived early to the Open-Air Stage so they could rehearse before the competition. They stopped dead at what they saw:
Luigi was on the accordion.
Otto was on the guitar.
Fat Tony was plucking his violin.
Willie was blowing out what Lisa hoped was a spit valve on his bagpipes.
Sideshow Mel was fi-ga-ro-ing like a wounded elephant.
The Be Sharps were tappa-tappa-tapping and tambourining.
Even Cletus was there - with a woodblock, of all things!!
Lisa ran over to her father, who was dressed as some kind of old-timey candy striper for his ensemble, frantically hoping to get them all to leave before Bart and the other kids showed up.
“DAD!!” Lisa cried, “WHAT are you all DOING here?? How did you-“
“Lisa, honey,” Marge stepped in before Homer could childishly gloat at having taken his daughter’s fun away, “I know you worked really hard and everything on this new Springfield... But the fact is that we ALL needed a little something to break up the monotony.”
Lisa looked around at all the cheerful residents of Springfield, happily tuning their instruments and dancing if they didn’t have one. She decided that once again, her popularity would just have to take a hit.
She climbed up on the stage.
“Attention, everyone!!” Lisa took a deep breath, knowing this could not be undone, “Welcome to the FIRST OFFICIAL ANNUAL SPRINGFIELD BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! As well all know, Springfield is home to many talented musicians” As she announced this, she noticed Bart, Milhouse, Nelson, and Kearney had arrived, and were glaring at her with folded arms from the back of the crowd. She gulped, “So without further ado, put your hands together for Captain McAllister, and his... is that a swordfish?”
“Aye, it be one of them singin’ swordfish that ye mount on yer wall!” he growled.
Lisa shrugged, and quickly cleared the stage, bumping into Bart and the others.
“You just had to do it, didn’t you, sis?” Bart was wearing war paint, a sleeveless tank, and a thin bandana tied around his forehead like Rambo. Clearly, he was in no mood to be upstaged.
“I don’t even know how they found out, Bart, I swear!”
Bart held up his hand, refusing to let her speak. “It’s ok. I get it. You didn’t want to lose.” Lisa made an annoyed face, trying to object to his assumption, but he cut her off again, “Which is EXACTLY why Nelson never told you the real top secret idea. Later, loser!!”
Lisa was left dumbstruck as the boys took the stage.
END SCENE. [Exuent.]