Episode no. Season 2
Episode 13 Production code 213 | Directed by Trey Parker Original air date September 30, 1998 | |
Written by Trey Parker
David Goodman | ||
"Cow Days" is the thirteenth episode in the second season of the American animated television series South Park. The 26th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on September 30, 1998. The episode was written by series co-creator Trey Parker, along with David Goodman, and directed by Parker. Dian Bachar makes a guest appearance. In the episode, the town of South Park holds a festival known as "Cow Days".
Plot
A couple named Tom and Mary win a trip to South Park for the "Cow Days" festival. Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman are at the festival, but find it less than satisfactory. They find something enjoyable in a ball-throwing game that allows them the chance to win a pair of Terrance and Phillip dolls, but the game is rigged and cannot be won. Kyle attempts to bring Officer Barbrady's attention to the rigged game, but his last throw is successful. Once Barbrady is gone, the carny tells them they have to win seven times to get the dolls. They decide to enter Cartman in the bull-riding contest to try to win $5,000, enough money to play until they get the dolls.
Meanwhile, all the cows in the town discover the festival's symbol, a Buddha-shaped clock with the head of a cow which moos every hour, and carry it off to start their own cult. The visiting couple are accused of stealing the clock and are thrown in jail. The townspeople later find the cows and confront them, before witnessing them commit mass suicide. During practice for the bull-riding contest, Cartman hits his head and believes himself to be a Vietnamese prostitute. The boys enter him in the contest anyway and he wins the grand prize. Cartman's memory returns overnight.
The carny decides to just let the boys buy the dolls with their $5,000 rather than having them play for them. The boys discover that the dolls are not authentic but cheap knock-offs. Kyle calls back Barbrady, making everyone else realize how lame the carnival is, leading to the carnies being arrested as the town riots. Tom and Mary are forgotten and starve to death in prison. A plan to cover up the deaths is arranged; everyone is instructed to claim that the couple never arrived in South Park, thus ending the Cow Days Festival.