De-Kahnstructing Henry

De-Kahnstructing Henry
Air date	February 2, 1999
Written by	Paul Lieberstein
Directed by	Klay Hall
Episode guide
Previous	"Three Coaches and a Bobby"
Next	"The Wedding of Bobby Hill"

"De-Kahnstructing Henry" is the 48th episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on February 2, 1999. The episode was written by Paul Lieberstein and directed by Klay Hall.

Summary

Kahn's boasting and proud behavior finally catches up to him when he is fired from his job after letting Hank see a top-secret project and the news travels around. After Kahn fails to keep several minimum wage jobs, Hank is forced to look after Minh and Connie when Kahn suddenly vanishes.

Plot

Kahn slowly drives his car down the alley, creeping up on Hank and his buddies as they sip their beers with Dale examines the temperatures. Suddenly, Kahn drives up and honks his horn, startling the men. After trading barbs with Hank and Dale, Kahn proudly announces that he received a new promotion that comes with a new car and inflatable side curtains that makes someone want to crash. Hank replies that since he's an assistant manager of Strickland Propane that he is already in the top position. Kahn sarcastically replies to Hank by letting him think about that statement before driving away before Dale teases about both Hank and Kahn's workplaces. At home, Minh waits for Kahn in the garage to give him some beer (which are Heineken or Beck). Kahn replies that there's no dark beer for his promotion as the new systems manager of the Coordinated Project Systems. Minh was thrilled at the news and they begin to make their romantic love night.

The following day, Kahn drops by Strickland Propane, where he needs the propane to be filled to the top for his grill, because of his big party tomorrow to celebrate his promotion. His news draws Strickland's attention who begins to like it and tells Debbie to be her new title, but Kahn rejects his claims. Hank asks Kahn about which systems that he's managing on, believing it's the phone. He invites Hank to join him for a tour of his workplace, Composite Analysis Incorporated, and hints about a large propane contract, causing Hank to accept the offer before he explains about Strickland Propane, which annoys Kahn. Once at Kahn's company, Kahn warns Hank that anything he sees inside the company is strictly confidential in nature and demonstrates the details. Hank makes jabs about how simple and secluded his office is having no windows and needing to do his own typing. Kahn then steers Hank towards a giant hangar where he opens a glass display and removes a golf driver. After placing a ball on a range tee, Kahn hits a seemingly endless drive. Hank is greatly impressed. Kahn explains that the club is made of a resilient ceramic composite, which could be used by the U.S. Army's tanks. Hank then sets up a ball and takes a swing. An ecstatic look crosses his face as the ball disappears on the horizon. As Hank starts to ask about the propane contract, Kahn admits that his company has no need for propane and the company uses a "safer and more efficient" fuel supply. Annoyed at missing work from the fake offer, Hank attempts to leave, but is unable to exit the hangar, which Kahn laughs at him, annoying Hank more.

Later, in the alley, an incised Hank tells his friends about the golf club swearing them to secrecy. At the Fort Blanda Army Base, Bill later accidentally mentions the golf club and Kahn's company to an Army General during his haircut, which catches the General and an Officer's attention. Mistaken that they already knew about it, Bill adds that the composite is going to be used on the army's tanks and then he quickly steers the conversation away by saying that Private Taylor being gay, to both general and officer's shock and Taylor's embarrassment. The same day, two security guards and a company supervisor enter Kahn's office and inform him that he and his contract have been both terminated for breaching the security agreement. Kahn replies he never told anybody until he realizes that he told Hank.

Returning home in a taxi disheveled and with a box of his possessions, Kahn confronts Hank that he lost his job because the company secrets were leaked. Hank looks to Dale who denies sharing their conversations over the internet again and then to Bill who admits he accidentally told an army general not thinking they were "on the record". Kahn is in disbelief that Hank would talk about the golf club, but Hank fires back that it is Kahn's own fault for telling him in the first place. Kahn dismisses it and claims that a severance package will take care of his family for quite some time than Dale's salary. Dale rebuffs about Kahn's statement.

In the garage, Hank is organizing his tools before Peggy walks up to him with a bowl on her hands. Hank reports Peggy about Kahn losing his job. Peggy blames Hank's "loose lips" for their neighbor's predicament. Despite Hank's insistence that Kahn's mistake was his own, Peggy retorts that people make gossips are called "gossipers" and even calls him "chatty Kathy". Peggy walks over to the Souphanousinphones and meets Minh to return her bowl after she relates her about Kahn losing his job. While Minh thanks Peggy for dropping by, she assures Peggy that her family will be fine and reminds her about many collections they've had to their appreciation. At the unemployment office, Kahn demands his severance check but since he violated his contract when he broke their confidentiality agreement he is no longer entitled to the severance package. Kahn still demands his check once again, to no avail. Kahn leaves the unemployment office angrily when Dale, under his disguise as 'Rusty Shackleford', requests a severance check, to which the worker gives him.

Sometime later, Hank and Kahn leave for work where Kahn boasts about getting a job in the "reprographics imaging industry", which in reality is taking a position at a photocopying store. Chuck Mangione asks to post some of his posters on the photocopy store's windows, but Kahn threatens to beat him up if he doesn't leave. Dale calls out for help until he encounters Kahn where he mocks Kahn by wanting him to not disclose anything that Dale is working on. Kahn loses his patience and lashes out at everyone in the photocopying store for their stupidity before his boss fires him since he reached his third strike. Kahn protests that it was only the second, but his boss replies that he overheard his intimidation at Chuck Mangione. Kahn realizes his belligerent attitude had cost him his own jobs. Meanwhile, Hank relates his family at the dinner table that Kahn can't keep his job because of his personality not because of Hank. Bobby is worried about Connie's broke as well, which Peggy explains that the Souphanousinphones family got nothing for their home. To show good grace, Peggy has asked Minh to teach Bobby Lao in return for some cash.

Desperate for cash, Kahn holds a yard sale, placing many of his belongings on display. While Hank and Peggy attend the Souphanousinphones' yard sale, Minh shows Peggy some of her clothing designs. Dale attempts to buy a panda radio, but Kahn refuses and Dale says to name the price. Kahn replies $700 then $800 after seeing Dale's "enthusiasm" to buy, but Kahn loses his temper and takes the radio away from him. Minh sternly demands him to give it to Dale. Kahn objects and Minh protests before she quickly tells Dale to pay a check to her instead of Kahn. Before Dale attempts to buy the panda radio, Kahn gets angry and then smashes the panda radio on the ground, to both Dale and Minh's disappointment. Kahn berates Minh and Dale and then orders everyone to leave or he'll hose water on them, but only for Minh to say that the hose had already been sold, much to his dismay. Inside the kitchen, Hank proclaims that Kahn has "lost it" after attacking his own yard sale as Peggy reassures him that Kahn is acting out as he has grown desperate without having any job. After the pairs discussion, Bobby asks Hank for $15 dollars in Lao for his tutoring lessons. Hank retorts about the payment and decides to confront Kahn.

Hank walks next door where he sees Minh crying, saying that Kahn is in the bathroom and locking himself in as well. She reveals to Hank that Kahn's attitude has caused him to be fired several times before from places like Orange County, Portland, and Mississippi, and that Kahn never received the severance package before shedding in tears. Feeling sorry for the family, Hank decides to purchase ten Lao lessons in advance, which Minh agrees with him. Suddenly, Kahn appears, outraged seeing Hank giving money and claims that his family isn’t a charity case until Minh argues his mistakes leads them here. Insulted and humiliated, Kahn declares he's leaving and storms out of the house and drives away, causing Minh to breakdown. Three Days later, Peggy and Nancy are sitting on the patio table until they notice Minh calling out for Connie in Lao and Joseph is confused at this reception where he asks Bobby about their language and then Bobby explains the serious assumptions. As Connie heads back inside her home, Minh sees Peggy and Nancy waving at her and they both have their conversations after Peggy reminds Nancy about Kahn's absence and without making any phone calls. Nancy assumes Kahn is on his journey and Peggy asks her about Dale leaving her the same way as Kahn exactly did, but Nancy replies that she'll never leave her bed for weeks.

When Peggy and Hank return from the grocery, she notices Minh struggling with some bags of trash and sends Hank to help her out before she accidentally falls down from holding too many grocery bags. Minh gratefully accepts his help and asks him to perform difficult chores around the house that Kahn would normally do (Cleaning the roof gutters and polishing the door). Peggy notices Hank at work cutting the bushes with Minh feeding him some cookies from the kitchen window, she becomes jealous and reminds him that they don't like the Souphanousinphones very much. In the meantime, Hank mows each lawn from back and forth as Peggy and Minh hand him treats like (Cookies, Lemonades and Beers). He casually greets to Dale, Bill and Boomer and goes back to work when Dale calls Hank by a 'polygamist'. An offended Hank backs up his lawnmower, making Dale run off and jump over the fence.

One day, Hank sets off to the hardware store to pick up a compressor cable for Minh's refrigerator. During the trip, Hank notices Kahn's minivan parked outside Luly's. He discovers Kahn has been living out of the establishment's bathroom. Hank tells Kahn he's been picking up the slack at home and tells him to go home and take care of his family. Kahn vows not to return home until he has found a new job that will make his family proud and that makes Hank feel jealous. Hank tries to comfort Kahn saying that his old job did impress him but doesn't fully understand Kahn's issue. He tells Hank that as an Asian there is much more that is expected of him when it comes to work and that Hank would never fully understand that, in the same moment he even admits that Hank is his best friend, much to Hank's surprise. While Minh practices Bobby with Laotian with Connie watches them, Hank drops by and gives them an extra fried chicken bucket that he accidentally had ordered during his ride back home. Bobby questions Hank about his knowledge of the Extra chicken, making Hank speechless.

A few days later, Kahn pulls up in front of the house driving a brand new car in the middle of the night and honks his horn that wakes up his wife and the Hills. Minh is upset at him for being gone for so long as Kahn proudly announces that he found a new job that pays more than the last one. She happily accepts him back on the condition that he sleeps on the couch. He tells Minh and Connie to pack their belongings, as they are moving to Houston for his new job. But Minh rejects the idea right away, saying they finally have a home where the community accepts them, insisting that Kahn instead make a daily three-hour commute. Kahn goes back to boasting at Hank where he shows his gratitude to him. Hank plays along and lets Kahn feel proud of himself. When the Hills go back inside their house, Kahn continues to boast at Hank and quietly says "thank you Hank" for helping him.

Characters

• Hank Hill
• Peggy Hill
• Bobby Hill
• Luanne Platter
• Dale Gribble
• Nancy Gribble
• Joseph Gribble
• Jeff Boomhauer
• Bill Dauterive
• Kahn Souphanousinphone
• Minh Souphanousinphone
• Connie Souphanousinphone
• Buck Strickland
• Debbie Grund (non-speaking)
• Kahn's Boss
• Chuck Mangione
• Lady Bird
• Old Lady Matlow (mentioned)
• Doyle Harcavy (mentioned)

Stinger Quote

• Kahn: "Prepare your brain for razzle-dazzle!"

Trivia

• The episode title is a reference to the 1997 Woody Allen film Deconstructing Harry.
• Kahn's van has a license plate reading "KINGKAHN".
• Kahn reveals Houston is a 3-hour drive from Arlen.
• While in the garage with Kahn, Minh reminiscently says "we had pa son pate (Lao: ພາ ສອນ ເພດ) all night long", which literally translated means "we had sexual education all night long." This term was used by Kahn in the Season 2 episode "The Son That Got Away".
• Minh teaches Bobby that the Lao language only has four tone markers, 42 consonants, and 35 vowel and vowel clusters. This is incorrect, as the Lao language actually has four tone markers, 27 consonants with six compound consonants, and 28 vowel sounds.
• Dale evidently does not know Minh's name.
• Bobby asks Hank for 15 "ngeun bak-gow" for Laotian lessons with Minh, in which Hank responds with "ngeun bak-gow better not mean dollar." Ngeun bak-khow (Lao: ເງິນ ບັກ ຂາວ) roughly translates to a very rude way to say "white-boy's money."
• We find out in this episode that the Souphanousinphones have lived in other U.S. states, including Orange County, Portland, and Mississippi, but were forced to relocate every time Kahn was fired for his poor attitude at both his job and towards their other neighbors.
• While drinking iced tea, Peggy and Nancy say "yep," "yeah," "mm-hmm," mirroring the recurring lines Dale, Hank, Bill, and Boomhauer say in nearly every episode.
• Connie can speak Lao in this episode, but cannot in other episodes:
  • Minh: "Connie, cow mah nung num cu" (Lao: ຄອນນີ, ເຂົ້າມາ ນັ່ງ ນຳ ກູ), translates to "Connie, come inside, sit with me." The usage of cu (Lao: "ກູ") is considered the impolite form of saying "me".
  • Connie: "Mae, how lin num moo how" (Lao: ແມ່, ເຮົາ ຫຼິ້ນ ນຳ ໝູ່ ເຮົາ), translates to "Mother, I am playing with my friends".
  • Minh: "Cow ma nai diao nee! Jow gaw took ku gun" (Lao: ເຂົ້າມາ ໃນ ດຽວນີ້! ເຈົ້າ ກໍ່ ທຸກ/ຖືກ ຄື​ກັນ), roughly translates to "Come inside at once! You will be poor the same (like them)".
• Minh tutors Bobby how to pronounce the word noi (Lao: ນ້ອຍ/ຫນ້ອຍ/ໜ້ອຍ) which commonly translates to little, small, or less.
• When Minh confronts Kahn saying “Kahn, you got a lot of (speaks Laotian) to come back here,” her Lao is actually gibberish.
• When Kahn is shirtless, he has a flabby midsection and love handles. In later seasons, when shirtless, he is shown with a trim midsection and six pack abs.

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