The Discount of Monte Cristo is an episode from the seventh season of Garfield and Friends.
Synopsis[]
Orson reads the story of "The Count of Monte Cristo", with Aloysius warning that it is an expensive story.
Plot[]
Orson is reading the story of "The Count of Monte Cristo" to Roy and Wade. Before they can imagine it, Aloysius comes in and tells them not to do it, as it is a very expensive story to tell. Orson tells him they are only going to imagine the story. Aloysius replies that since it is to be drawn and animated by the show's staff team, it will be expensive in that respect. Roy and Wade think they should tell a different story if that is the case. Orson insists on telling "The Count of Monte Cristo".
As the story begins, Orson attempts to tell it with his friends playing certain roles. Unfortunately, Aloysius points out many costly aspects he does not like and complains about the budget being used up for these elements in the story every time something comes up. Among his concerns are the costumes, the guards having speaking roles and thus getting a paycheck, a huge courtroom wasted for a quick trial scene, an exiling boat across an ocean to an island prison, and the fancy food that Roy and Wade have at a restaurant.
Aloysius then starts cutting out some things to save money, such as firing actors in certain roles, canceling Orson's musical number, reusing the same background for Orson's jail cell as the one for the neighboring prisoner's, firing the painters (thus leaving everything in black and white) and forcing Roy and Wade to double as the undertakers, because he did not want to pay anymore actors. The final straw comes when Aloysius refuses to put on a battle scene, that involves a hundred of the king's finest soldiers.
Orson ultimately stops the story altogether, blaming Aloysius for all of his penny pinching. To return the favor (and with the help of Roy), he casts Aloysius in the story of Robinson Crusoe (as the title character) and cut out important elements, including Robinson's partner Friday and the ship that comes to save Robinson later. Aloysius is left stranded on the island as he tries to think of a way out.
Characters[]
Main characters[]
Minor characters[]
- Mercedes
- Guards
Trivia[]
- Aloysius breaks the fourth wall by explaining the animation process and complaining about costs throughout the episode.
Cultural references[]
- The episode title is a play on the 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo.
- At the end of the episode, Aloysius asks for Cub Scouts on a raft and Flipper to come and rescue him.
Goofs[]
- When Orson says "Just leave me alone, I'll get through this!", Aloysius' bowtie disappears.
- When Aloysius begins to take off Orson's costume, his notepad and pencil fall on the floor. They are not seen again after this shot.