Maggie attacks Homer in the basement with a mallet. Wondering where Maggie is getting such ideas, Marge joins her children as they watch their favorite TV cat-and-mouse cartoon, "The Itchy & Scratchy Show." Marge is stunned by the show's violence and writes a letter to its creators.

When her letter has no effect, Marge protests in front of the studio where the show is being produced. Soon, her protest turns into a nationwide boycott. Marge appears on TV and asks parents to write letters to the producer. A flood of negative mail pours into the show's offices. As ratings plummet, the producer asks Marge to come up with acceptable story ideas.

Itchy & Scratchy soon turns into a tame cat-and-mouse team, and the show's ratings hit rock bottom. Subsequently, Michaelangelo's nude "David" is exhibited at the museum, and other crusaders ask Marge to rally to their cause. But Marge finds nothing objectionable about the statue. Caught in a dilemma, she realizes that she was wrong for protesting against one form of free speech while supporting another.