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"The Texas Panhandler" is the one hundred-ninety-ninth episode of King of the Hill. It was first aired on April 30, 2006. The episode was written by Tony Gama-Lobo and Rebecca May, and directed by Ronald Rubio and Ken Wong.

Summary[]

When Bobby wants money for the latest trend of jeans, Hank has him get a job to earn the money. In typical Bobby fashion, he tries to find an easier way to get what he wants and believes to have found a way through panhandling teenagers.

Plot[]

Joseph and Bobby are not invited to Amy's party. Although Bobby accuses Joseph of his creepy behavior with Amy, he also realizes his clothes are out of style. After asking Hank for a new pair of designer jeans, Hank expectedly refuses since he finds the idea of paying a lot of money for clothes that only look heavily used or not for working to be ridiculous. However, in addition to the anticipated tirade that Bobby's clothes are adequate, Hank says Bobby will wear whatever he is given if they were acquired by Peggy and Hank. Bobby asks what would happen if he footed the bill for the designer jeans. Hank responds there is nothing he can do about that, as a man who earns his own money he can save or spend it how he sees fit.

Bobby and Joseph get jobs working for a real estate company standing on the street waving arrows to direct potential tenants to an apartment complex but are met with taunts by the other kids. When they meet a group of unemployed men, Bobby and Joseph are taken in by how they beg for money in a way that they praise others for "spreading the wealth around". The teasing from the arrow job and the desire to make money sets off a chain reaction for Bobby and Joseph; they abandon their legitimate jobs and join the beggar clique. Soon, they are acquiring lots of money and get good pointers on how to be cool from Derek and his clique. When Spongy, a derelict, complains the clique took his spot, he is forced away, with Bobby realizing that Spongy is a decrepit beggar who creeps people out, while Derek's clique begs in a way that make passerby feel they are getting something by being praised for "being cool."

Bobby soon takes Derek's advice in other ways, playing up to other kids' egos to get what he wants, and even manages to stupefy Amy and her group when they see him hanging with Derek's clique. Hank worries that he taught Bobby too well when he sees Bobby not only with the new ripped jeans, but also picking up the check at Sugarfoot's, arguing he can spend his money on his parents "because I earned it."

Later on Hank notices Spongy begging in another part of town and cleaning windows (albeit slapdash) to earn money to survive, causing Hank to think more hobos are moving into Arlen and ruining the few chances of generosity for Spongy's situation. While Hank runs an errand in the business district of town, he sees Bobby begging, and is appalled. Hank chastises Bobby that he has not earned a penny; all he has done is sit on his duff while people hand it to him. When Bobby protests that if people want to spare some change, so what? Hank clarifies that a man dependent on welfare or the generosity of others is not in control of his life; he is allowing others to decide how he should live. Hank then forces Bobby to "un-bum" (give back) all the money that he begged for from the general public. Derek and his friend's return and convince Bobby to do them a solid and give them the money instead. Even Dale comes to Bobby's defense (as he gets a cut of Joseph's begging), but this is not agreed upon by Bill, who thinks that begging is for those on skid row, as well as Hank, who points out that "guys like Spongy beg because they must, but these punks are doing it to get their thrills."

Soon after, Bobby is asked out on a date by a girl at school, and he panics since he no longer has money; he asks the panhandlers to return what he gave them, only to be snubbed, causing him to yell his need for money. Later, Hank hears from a joke from Kahn which he takes seriously that Bobby is back on the street corner. Furious, he finds Bobby wearing a sign and, thinking its a sign telling him he needs money, is about to punish him even further, but instead sees his son at work in a new job, advertising for a doctor who performs vasectomies. Bobby says that he took all of his father's lessons to heart; in that he cannot sit around dependent on handouts. Hank, relieved and invisibly proud that his son is finally working, decides to get him a soda from a nearby stand. When the panhandlers tease Bobby for being suckered into working, his frustration comes to a head, and he begins telling the passersby not to give money to them. Bobby reveals that one of them is spending the money on tennis lessons and another subscribes to premium cable. Disgusted, the people walk away and Derek grabs Bobby's hand menacingly. Hank backs him up by threatening to kick their asses, driving them from the block. Later, Spongy is seen in that spot begging, where Dale praises Spongy for reclaiming his territory and "winning...sort of."

Characters[]

Stinger Quote[]

  • Joseph: "Sup, sup, sup?"
  • Bobby: "Sup?"

Gallery[]


Season 9 Season 10 Season 11

Hank's On Board · Bystand Me · Bill's House · Harlottown · A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Clown · Orange You Sad I Did Say Banana? · You Gotta Believe (In Moderation) · Business Is Picking Up · The Year of Washing Dangerously · Hank Fixes Everything · Church Hopping · 24 Hour Propane People · The Texas Panhandler · Hank's Bully · Edu-macating Lucky
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