Dog Dale Afternoon

Dog Dale Afternoon is the twentieth episode of King of the Hill Season 3, 55th episode overall. The title is a reference to the 1975 film "Dog Day Afternoon".

Synopsis
Dale borrows Hank's mower without permission and after driving it to the store and running out of fuel he leaves it at a gas station unattended. Hank naturally is furious with Dale and scolds at him like a child, and Dale retaliates by buying a brand new state-of-the-art lawn mower, the Allegro X9J, code name "Redeemer". After Dale continues to gloat about his new lawn mower Hank has had enough and conspires with Bill, and Boomhauer to steal Dale's state-of-the-art lawn mower.

They leave Dale clues about the theft, including ransom letters and photographs. Peggy even edited pictures to include aliens and former U.S. Presidents with the mower, which Dale instantly regards as being legitimate. Dale quickly becomes overly paranoid and somewhat crazy and he was barely getting any sleep. When Hank eventually decides to return the mower, Dale was doing a routine extermination at the clock tower at Arlen Community College. Bill saw him from the ground and mistook his equipment for a gun and he called 911 first from a payphone and then he called Hank who informed him not to call the police.

After Dale sees the police, he accidently ignites the fumes from the extermination wand with his ciggarette and he has to throw the tank at the police car because it catches on fire. This causes a small explosion and the police retreat. After reinforcements arrive Dale claims to have hostages and he believes it's part of the lawnmower "conspiracy". After repeated attempts from the police, Hank, and Boomhauer over the police car loudspeaker, they allow Hank to go up and attempt to talk Dale down.

Hank admits that he took the lawn mower and convinces a still reluctant Dale to come down. As they are descending the tower, vigilantes from Dale's gun club fire at them. Hank jumps in front of Dale and takes a bullet for him. Dale is surprised to find that Hank is wearing a bulletproof vest and it is not a major injury.

Other Languages

 * Dog Dale Afternoon/Other Languages

Quotes

 * Dog Dale Afternoon/Quotes

Trivia

 * Jack the barber makes his series debut in this episode. However he is seen looking much younger and different than he would in later episodes (Hank's Bad Hair Day and My Hair Lady).
 * The name of this episode is a humorous take on the title of the movie "Dog Day Afternoon."
 * When Nancy brings Dale the oil filter from his mower, it's clearly shown being inside a shoe box that visibly reads "Size 16" revealing it was a shoe box that belonged to Peggy.
 * The mat/rug that came with Dale's mower is seen in later episodes, in the same spot on the garage floor.
 * Dale requests that Bobby shoot him because he'll put him "down clean." This is likely referencing the episode How to Fire a Rifle Without Really Trying, in which Bobby is shown to be an excellent marksman.
 * Dale states that he dumped his old lawn mower in the Quarry, which is again revealed in the later episode It's Not Easy Being Green, when Dale, while scuba diving to look for Sally, Boomhauer's car, states that he came across his old lawn mower.

Stinger Quote
Dale: "Can you mow your lawn in a hurricane? Nope. Didn't think so. (laughs)"