Failure is not a Factory-Installed Option

Failure is not a Factory-Installed Option
Stan loses his confidence, and his job, when he gets out negotiated by a car salesman, meanwhile, Roger and Steve set up a makeshift drive-in.

Season: 2 Episode: 3
Total Episode Count: 26
Prod. no.: 2AJN07
First Aired: September 24, 2006

Guest Starring: Patrick Stewart, Beau Bridges and Swoosie Kurtz
Featuring: Stan Smith, Francine Smith, Steve Smith, Hayley Smith, Roger, Klaus
Also Appearing: Barry, Snot, Toshi
Director: Rodney Clouden
Writers: Etan Cohen

Newspaper Headline: "Despondent Pluto drowns two of its moons"

Plot: Stan was formerly the CIA's best interrogator until he lost his confidence and his job when a car salesman gets the best of him in a negotiation. To get even, Stan comes up with an elaborate scam that temporarily costs his family their integrity. He pretends to go crazy and to try and earn money, leading to Hayley having to sell herself for money, an event which traumatizes her. When Stan finally gets a better deal on the car, he reveals that he actually scammed the car salesman. After learning he pretended to go crazy just for a better car deal, the family is... shocked to say the least.

Meanwhile, Roger and Steve set up a makeshift drive-in to try to get to first base with popular schoolgirls.

This episode continues the saga of Roger's solid gold, jewel laden turd, which began in the episode Homeland Insecurity. The scene begins with the screen turning to a 16:9 aspect ratio, and we see a drunk man who agonizes over the fact he killed his best friend for just a golden turd, then found out that his wife was cheating on him. He drives his car onto the railroad tracks and gets hit by a train.

A cop (voiced by Beau Bridges) and his partner come to investigate, and when one of them sees the gold turd, he hides it from his partner and takes it home to his wife (Swoosie Kurtz). They begin to speak of how it will pay for a great retirement and a house in Boca Raton, but the cop regrets his decision and wants to take it back and face the consequences. He's a week from retirement and afraid that he might get fired if found out. The wife apparently accepts his decision, but when she starts making tea, she adds rat poison to his cup, followed by a "To Be Continued" slate.

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