 Due to the amount of interest in the ending of this episode , David Mirkin wrote several " terrible endings " and , with just Harry Shearer , recorded several alternate endings . His original intention was to fool the production staff and also leak the endings to various media outlets , but much to his surprise he was unsuccessful . Several endings were animated that showed various characters shooting Mr. Burns . Several of the alternate endings aired during the clip show " The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular " . Various clips showed Apu , Moe , Barney , Tito , and even Santa 's Little Helper as the gunmen . There was also a full @-@ length conclusion that aired in which Smithers shot Burns and explained his doing so at Burns 's bedside after Homer 's wild chase , and fell on " W " and S " on the compass , Waylon 's initials ; Burns then decides to give Smithers a 5 percent pay cut for attempting to kill him . 
