The episode opens in Arcane’s cave. A mutant is chained within an alcove in the wall. It’s whole demeanour and appearance suggest that it has a
personality and mental capacity somewhat akin to a lobotomised gerbil. A young man enters the scene, walking up to the mutant and surveying it.
He’s holding a glass jar in his hand, which is almost empty save the remnants of a red liquid and vapour fumes. The mutant takes little to no notice of
him. He seems satisfied at this reaction and turns, smiling, as he places a lid back on the jar. The man is wearing a blue eye patch over his left eye.
“It’s safe to come in now, Doctor.” He calls, walking away from the alcove. At the entrance to the cave, Dr. Arcane arrives. Still standing just
outside the main chamber, he stands, hands outstretched on the rocks to his side, looking in curiously. “Come near me.” The young man tells him.
Behind him, a full sealed jar of the red liquid and steaming white vapour is sitting on a shelf. “You have a great faith, my Crown Prince;” Arcane tells
him, finally entering the cave fully; “but I do wonder exactly what you place it in.” Arcane’s now fully in the cave, standing several feet in front of the
mutant’s alcove, smiling at Crown Prince. The young man smiles back at him with pride; “If I’d been infected, and...” he looks at the empty jar in his
hands; “....I’ve inhaled enough of this mist to affect ten men my size.....You will want to kill me!” Arcane gives him a long, hard stare.
“And if the urge to kill you is strong enough.....what makes you think I won’t?” Arcane teases him with a hint of menace, to which Crown Prince
smiles. “I never know what you will or won’t do....that’s what makes you such a worthwhile mentor.” Crown Prince answers him, smiling, then
becoming more serious; “I believe in your powers of self control.” He tells Arcane, who thinks on this. “Try it on, er....” Arcane tells Crown Prince,
turning to the mutant; “What DO I call you?” he teases it cruelly, putting his face next to its. It just merely opens it’s mouth and groans vacantly.
Even Arcane was beginning to think he'd
crossed the boundaries of scientific ethics,
after conducting a study on previously healthy
people, who he had made to work at McDonalds
Beaming broadly and giving a little laugh, Arcane turns back to Crown Prince, who’s now looking wary. “He’s not strong enough to break his chains.” He reassures the young man, as he steps out of the way and allows Crown Prince to approach the mutant. Arcane watches intently. “Well, go closer!” he suggests with a mere hint of irritation as Crown Prince is still tentatively standing a little way from the mutant’s slightly moving hands. “Closer!!” He snaps angrily; and Crown Prince walks right up to the creature, which is still moaning. “Oh, you’ve failed!” Arcane says with a patronising tone of voice as the mutant doesn’t seem to show any noticeable response. Crown Prince then turns and walks away. “Perhaps the infection takes a while to work?” He suggests, to himself as much as to Arcane, who’s watching him with deep scrutiny; “I expected the pheromones to react almost simultaneously with the inhalation of the formula; or....” he continues, with a sigh, looking at the jar; “.....maybe it just doesn’t work. Period!” He gives a resigned shrug. “Like so many of today’s young scientists, I :::::another shrug::::: miss the mark now and then.” Arcane faces him, not content with leaving it at that. “Show me the formula!” He says, gesturing to Crown Prince, who takes out a notebook from his shirt pocket. “You’ve probably left out the most obvious element.” Arcane smiles, taking the notebook and thumbing through it. “Which is?” Crown Prince asks. Arcane looks down at the notes carefully; “Did you take the brain tissue from a live brain?” He asks his protégé in a clinical tone of voice. Crown Prince looks downward, as though ashamed, and nods. “Oh, no remorse!....You!?” Arcane berates the young man.
Gee, Doctor. I'm sorry I forgot our anniversary....
Please accept this cheap, murder inducing cologne
as a humble and belated token of affection
“Open another jar!” he orders him, indicating the one on the shelf behind his student. “Try it on me.....just a couple of breaths.” Arcane suggests as he continues to look at the notes. Crown Prince reaches for the jar and proffers it to Arcane, who swiftly slaps him across the face in anger with the flat of his hand. “I don’t want to inhale it, you idiot!” Arcane shouts; “You think I want hoards of people running after me with murder in their hearts!?”
Oops, looks like Anton expected
flowers and choccies at the very least !
Rebuked, Crown Prince then takes the lid off the jar, closes his eyes and inhales deeply, just once, before replacing the lid again. Arcane moves a
little closer to him, trying to get his scent. Having no success, he gestures with his hand to draw the scent nearer, then waits a few moments. There
doesn’t appear to be any response. He looks at Crown Prince disappointedly.
“This is appalling.” He says slowly, condescendingly; “I don’t feel any murderous rage at all.....You don’t even smell anything!” Arcane seems quite
dismayed. “I thought it ought to be odourless.” Crown Prince explains. “Well, what it ought to be is dumped down the toilet, is what it ought to be!”
Arcane exclaims in patronising criticism. “I’ll get rid of it someplace.” The now sulking Crown Prince snarls, picking up the jar and storming past
Arcane. “No.” Arcane calls out, his tone now lighter and more casual as he fingers the notebook. Crown Prince pauses and turns to look at Arcane.
“Never throw anything away.” Arcane lectures the man; “That’s what my rich, old, mad mother taught me. Never throw anything away.” He gives a
wistful smile; “Good or bad. Evil successes, or glorious failures....Keep it!” He tells Crown Prince. “Where?” the young man asks Arcane. “In your
lab!!” Arcane turns to him and snaps angrily, his patience wearing thin. Crown Prince looks at the jar again. “How long?” He wants to know.
Arcane thinks on this for a moment and gives a smile; “Till the pheromones come home!” he exclaims, giving a cheery grin before turning and
leaving. Crown Prince then puts the notebook back in his pocket and goes over for a last look at the mutant before leaving himself. As he goes,
unknown to him, the mutant’s face develops a look of pure hatred.
In the swamp, Tressa is cycling down a dirt track road. She seems pretty carefree and enjoying the day. She eventually stops and gets off the bike,
resting it on the ground. As she looks down at it, a second bike is lying next to hers. She looks round, developing a concerned expression. “Jim?”
she calls. There’s no reply, and she looks around again, before setting off on foot to find him.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the swamp, Crown Prince is also out walking, and is carrying a large bag with him. He looks around surreptitiously.
Elsewhere, Alec is closely watching Tressa from the bushes, moving the branches out of the way to get a better look. Tressa is continuing her walk,
pushing past a branch as she does so; all the while looking around. As she heads into the distance, a glance by Alec suggests that he’s become
aware of something else.
Crown Prince is now in a clearing of sorts. The ground is parched and barren, and the place is smoking and somewhat desolate in ambience.
Resting the bag on an old tree stump, he looks around to make sure he’s alone, then begins to open the bag. Carefully, he lifts out the jar of
pheromones and looks at it, before beginning to unscrew the lid. From the bushes, Alec is now watching him. A different angle now shows that in
the centre of the clearing is a huge pit. Crown Prince is now standing next to it, removing the lid as though to pour the contents into this pit. “NO!”
Alec cries out, startling Crown Prince who immediately replaces the lid. Alec moves out of the bushes towards him.
Elsewhere, Jim, who is sitting on a bank by the water, fishing, has heard something and turns. A little way from him, on the other side of some
bushes, is Tressa, who also hears something. She looks around, then moves forward.
Back in the clearing, by the pit, Crown Prince is standing rigidly with the jar held firmly in his outstretched hands. He looks at Alec, who approaches
and takes the jar from him carefully. Staring at the man, Alec tightens the lid again. “What is this?” he asks. “Waste....Dr. Holland;” Crown Prince
smiles, obviously recognising Alec and not looking in the least bit scared of him; perhaps even respectful; “Toxic waste.” He adds. “You picked the
swamp to get rid of it!?” Alec utters reproachfully. “I have no toilet in my lab.” Crown Prince explains to him.
"Oy, mister!! Can I have my toxic waste back now!?"
“May I go?” He asks, after a pause, probably eager to be away from here, and reaching for the jar in Alec’s hands. On seeing this, Alec moves his
hands, and the jar, away and out of the young man’s reach. Crown Prince takes one look at the stony expression on Alec’s face and takes the hint.
He collects his bag and turns to leave. Looking downwards, he seems to ponder something, then turns back to Alec. “I’m looking for a cure for
hatred.” He explains calmly. Alec regards him curiously. “Good luck.” He wishes the man, who now leaves.
Once Crown Prince has gone, Alec turns to the jar in his hand and unscrews the lid, removing it. He gets a sudden and intensely violent reaction
from the contents, and in his shock, the lid goes flying off somewhere. Alec can’t bear holding the jar, and in a flustered panic, puts it down on the
tree stump. He then looks around to see where the lid fell to. He spies it on the ground, just at the edge of the pit, but as he fumbles to retrieve it, he
accidentally knocks it over the edge and into the hole. “Jim! Where are you!?” Tressa’s voice is heard crying out as she begins to enter the clearing.
Alec turns in shock and surprise. He has no time to do anything, and scurries away before she sees him.
Tressa enters the clearing and looks around fully. Her gaze immediately falls on the glass jar on the tree stump, now with thick red fumes pouring out
from it. She approaches it cautiously. “No, Tressa!” Alec whispers to himself from the bushes, watching her with concern. As she gets nearer, she
begins to cough as the fumes engulf her. She crosses her arms in front of her, shielding her eyes with her hands, and vainly trying to disperse the red
cloud around her; still coughing loudly. “Jim.” Alec utters quietly as he watches.
After this fiasco, Tressa vowed never to
buy non-branded perfume from JC Penneys again
Nearby, Jim, who has heard the coughing and knows something is wrong, runs from the water where he was fishing and heads for the clearing.
Meanwhile, Tressa has finally stepped out of the main cloud of fumes, and is just standing there, looking disoriented. As Alec watches, Jim finally
arrives and stares at his mother. “What happened?” he asks with concern. She just looks at him, as though in a daze, remaining silent. “Are you all
right?” Jim asks again. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?” Tressa finally asks him, as though nothing’s happened. “No. What did you want?” Jim
replies. She just looks perplexed. “I don’t remember.” She answers, shaking her head and shrugging. After a moment, they both turn and leave.
Behind them, on the stump, the jar is now completely empty.
Back at the Langford house, Jim enters. “I’m going to get something to eat;” He calls, heading into the hall as Tressa shuts the front door behind him
and walks past to the foot of the stairs; “want anything?” He adds. “Oh, just a shower.” She says absently, turning back to face Jim. “Er, you want
to go shopping with me later?” she asks pleasantly. Jim asks where. “Well, I need to get a wedding gift for a friend in Philadelphia....erm....an art
gallery, maybe?” she suggests. Jim thinks about this and gives a shrug; “I get bored at art galleries....you’d better go alone.” He tells her. She grins
and nods, starting up the stairs. “Maybe I’ll run into you and we’ll have ice cream or something?” The boy comments to her, and she laughs,
ascending the stairs with a grin on her face. Jim then goes to the kitchen where he removes some bread and a glass jar from the fridge.
@*%!*!# cheap breast implants!! Last time
I hire Anton Arcane for cosmetic surgery!!
In the bathroom, Tressa is robed and approaches a mirror on the wall. She’s looking disturbed and concerned at herself. She goes over to a
shelving unit where she picks up a dispensing container of something. She still seems disturbed, and begins rubbing at the skin on her wrists, getting
more agitated as she does so. The then starts rubbing her neck; then inside the front of her robe, and finally her hands. It’s as though she can sense
something unpleasant on her. Going over to the shower, she turns the water on, then returns to the shelving unit. She suddenly becomes faint and
light headed, and holds the unit to steady herself. Taking some deep breaths to collect herself, she then turns to the shower, with her back to us, and
removes her robe. She proceeds to hang it on the wall and then goes into the shower.
Downstairs, Jim is eating the sandwich he’s made, and reading a comic. Oblivious to what’s happening upstairs, he takes a drink of milk and
continues reading.
A little while later, Tressa’s now finished her shower and is robed again. As she walks into the bedroom, she adds some final drying touches to her
neck with a towel, which she puts down on the bed afterwards. She then sits on the edge of the bed and picks up a stocking, which she starts to put
on. As she does so, she begins to rub her leg again, just like before, and then smells both her hands as though something bad is still on her despite
the shower, but she can’t tell what it is. Not satisfied, she begins to rub her leg hard with the towel to try and remove whatever it is. Her whole
demeanour is full of anxiety. Eventually, she puts down the towel and puts the other stocking on, still not looking completely happy.
Shortly after, Jim is carrying his sandwich out of the kitchen and begins to ascend the stairs. He passes Tressa, who’s coming downstairs, now fully
dressed and ready to go out. “Hmmm...hey, now don’t take a nap on a full stomach!” Tressa exclaims with a smile, giving Jim some friendly
parental advice as she picks at his sandwich, examining what it is, and licking her finger from it. “Why not?” he grins back. She starts to laugh, but
suddenly, Jim backs off from her, his attitude suddenly becoming perplexed and alienated. “What’s the matter?” she asks with concern as she
notices the look on his face. Jim pauses and collects himself, blinking a little. “Nothing.” He says casually, now seemingly over whatever was the
problem; “Catch you later!” he says cheerfully, continuing upstairs. Tressa looks bewildered and unhappy, rubbing the palms of her hands again,
before leaving with a shake of her head.
In Houma town centre, Arcane is prowling the streets in his Porsche. He stops it and parks. Meanwhile, nearby, Tressa is looking in a shop
window, and is smiling pleasantly to herself. Her face drops into dismay when she turns and sees Arcane getting out of the car. She turns round and
tries to blend into the wall in the hope that he won’t see her. No such luck. Arcane shuts the car door and has spotted her. With a determined look
on his face he straightens and buttons his suit jacket, then strolls casually towards her, putting on a hugely broad smile when he gets near.
"Tressa! Hi! How are the breast implants?"
"Much smaller than that smile....but lots more convincing"
“Tressa! You look so marvellously afternoon!” He greets her extravagantly, arms outstretched in a gesture of friendship. She puts on a smile.
“Er....you look...well.” she gives a little laugh and a somewhat understated, though friendly reply; “How have you been?” she asks, indulging in small
talk. “Happy....busy!” he responds enthusiastically, putting an arm round her shoulder as they walk together. “And where have you been?” He
begins to ask; “Ah, this town needs your involvement, Tressa. There must be something here to excite your interest?” he asks her, putting his hands
in his pockets casually and giving what is perhaps a subtle hint that it could be himself. Tressa nods. “Um, Quite a few things in fact.” She replies,
then seems struck by a clever idea and turns to Arcane. “Oh! Er, do you happen to know where the old town gallery is?” she asks him. He pauses
as he seems to have lost his advantage. He gives her a helpful smile. “Yeah....halfway down the street.” He says casually, pointing to indicate the
way. “Oh, thanks!” she takes the opportunity, smiling and waving him goodbye as she begins walking towards it.
Not about to give up that easily, Arcane dashes after her, overtaking her and blocking her advance. “So...er...when do we have dinner together?”
he gets to the point. “When? Well, er, I dunno.” She says casually, as though she hasn’t given it any thought, nor is she likely to. “Well, name the
night.” Arcane gets in quick and keeps up the pressure. She thinks for a moment. “Friday.” She announces, sounding like it’s just the first day she
thought up rather than having actually considered it. Arcane’s realised, and has seen an opportunity; “Any Friday?” he asks. She nods and smiles.
“Fine. I’ll look forward to it.” She replies; not entirely gushing at the idea. “Why don’t we make it this Friday night?” Arcane seizes his opportunity,
smiling smugly. “Well....that would be tonight.” Tressa realises she may have trapped herself. Arcane already knows; “At your place....late....” He
moves in closer to her, more sensually and developing a predatory air to him. “....after the boy has gone to bed.....Midnight supper! How does that
sound, Tressa?” he whispers, moving his face close, as though to kiss her. She’s looking rather unnerved by this.
As he gets really close, he suddenly grimaces in anger and revulsion, then surprise; and pulls away from her sharply, blinking in shock. She regards
him oddly. He seems to give her a long and curious look; and one can almost see his thought processes putting two and two together and coming up
with the right answer. “I’ll call you.” is all he says, rather distantly, as he walks past her and leaves. She just stares at him in surprise.
*Oh bugger!! She's been buying that bloody
perfume from JC Penneys again. Guess I'm
going to have to use the nose plugs!*
Very shortly afterwards, Arcane is sitting in the car having a conversation on his cell phone. “I’m calling you, my Crown Prince, because something
very peculiar just happened.....No, I’d rather discuss it face to face....Yes, it IS that important.” His fingers are tapping on the car door. His manner
is calm and reserved, but there’s definitely a strong underlying anger. “Where are you parked now?....Well, drive to the mouth of Old Ribsen’s alley
in the old town area and I’ll be there!” he says, ending the conversation abruptly. He puts the phone down on the passenger seat beside him, then
starts the car and sets off.
Inside the old town gallery, Tressa is looking around. She sees a vase on a pedestal that she takes an interest in. A woman behind a desk, who is
wrapping something, smiles at her “Your mother bought one like that for the Mayor’s wife, Mrs. Kipp.” She tells her. Tressa seems to like it, and
smiles broadly, before putting it back. Tressa pauses and takes out a handkerchief, mopping her neck and forehead. The woman behind the desk
notices and looks up at her; “Er, turn on that electric fan, why don’t you?” she suggests with a friendly smile, pointing to a large standing fan behind
Tressa; “....for my sake if not for yours!” she adds, to make Tressa more at ease. Tressa complies and switches the thing on, standing in front of it
for the cool breeze.
Word of caution: *Never* criticise the
merchandise in the old town Houma art gallery !
As the rush of air from the fan, containing the pheromones of course, crosses the room and reaches the woman, a startling transformation occurs.
Her face begins to twitch uncontrollably in rage, her eyes widening. Meanwhile, Tressa is still looking round the gallery. She looks into a mirror and
sees a reflection of the woman, who is now snarling and hyperventilating. She turns to look at her in surprise. By now, the previously gentle woman
is now groaning in fury and reaches for a huge knife that she’s been using to cut wrapping paper. Brandishing it like someone out of a Psycho movie,
she gets up from behind the desk and rushes at Tressa. Defending herself, Tressa deliberately pushes a pedestal and display into the woman’s way,
knocking her to the floor and delaying her. Tressa uses the opportunity to escape out of the door.
As she runs from the gallery, through an alley, she passes a workman in a yellow hard hat, who is working on some drains. As she goes past, he
catches the scent, and begins to undergo the same transformation as the woman in the gallery. He begins roaring in rage.
By now, Tressa is in a state of near hysteria. She rushes to her car, throwing her handbag onto the seat and getting in. By now, the woman with the
knife is running towards her, shrieking like a mad thing. Panicking, Tressa fumbles for her car keys, desperately trying to fit them into the ignition, but
failing in her panic. As she looks up, she’s greeted by the furious workman, who’s armed with a coil of wire. He screams with rage; she screams in
terror, and crawls to the far side of the car. The man tries to reach after her, but she just manages to get out and runs away down the street, pursued
by the crazed duo.
The life of a single woman in
Houma is not a happy one!
We are now seeing the same scene, from the perspective of looking out of the windows of a parked van. “Those people are trying to kill Tressa Kipp....” Arcane casually points out to Crown Prince, who’s standing beside him; “...why?” he says slowly and deliberately, as though he’s chosen his words carefully beforehand, as he turns to face his protégé. The young man stays silent, regarding his mentor, then looking away with a disgruntled expression. This action annoys Arcane, and he uses it as a cue to vent the anger that’s clearly been building up. He slaps Crown Prince viciously across the face, then grabs him by his jacket, pulling him towards him; “How did Tressa Kipp, of all people, become infected with your formula?” He asks, now back to subdued anger again. “How do I know!?” Crown Prince snaps harshly back at Arcane; “Last I saw it was Dr. Holland took it away from me.” At the mention of Alec’s name, Arcane lets Crown Prince go and shoves him away in disgust. This comment has hit a sore spot. “Don’t call that THING Dr. Holland! That thing is a.....thing....an ill-natured, dream-busting thing.” He says calmly, as he gets his emotions under control again; but with a brooding hatred that shows the extent of the resentment he harbours for Alec.
It doesn't look that much
better for single men either!
Crown Prince is looking decidedly unhappy with the abuse he’s taking from Arcane. “Whatever you say....MENTOR!” he snarls back at Arcane
with sarcasm. Arcane changes the tone after this, turning back to the young man. His ensuing question seems designed to get a straight answer
rather than play mind games; “What were you doing in the swa....” “I CHOSE to get rid of it!...for Mankind’s sake!” Crown Prince interjects
quickly, shouting back at him, which suggests that HE’S still angry, even if Arcane isn’t; and isn’t likely to take any more of this treatment from
Arcane. The Doctor gives him a long look, then they both seem to try and cool their tempers a bit, and go back to looking out of the window,
avoiding each other’s gaze.
Meanwhile, outside the Langford house, a gardener is tending the bushes with a pair of shears. In the background, Tressa comes running, still fleeing
for her life. The gardener hears and turns to greet her, smiling. Just then, the wind strikes up and he catches the scent. As he does so, he becomes
wild eyed with rage, brandishing the huge shears, which he snaps open and shut quickly, again and again, with menace. Seeing him, she screams and
runs. He sets off in pursuit.
She manages to get to the front door in time, and opens it. Rushing inside, she swiftly shuts the door behind her, chaining it for security. She’s
terrified and gasping for breath in fear; near hysterical. Outside the door, the gardener appears to be trying to force it open, but Tressa is resisting it,
trying to keep it closed. She’s having problems, and the man manages to get an arm through the door, flailing it wildly. She backs off in terror,
screaming. When away from the door, she looks around the interior of the room and immediately notices the window, where there is a shadow.
Rushing over, she manages to close it in time, knocking over a vase from a nearby table in her panic. She then looks around desperately for
something to do, still hyperventilating and gasping in fear. The room begins to grow quiet....too quiet. Tressa looks round again and walks across the
room, terrified, but now slightly calmer. Suddenly, a shadow appears at the window, which sets off her panic again. She screams and runs to the
phone. She’s now so hysterical she can barely compose herself enough to dial for help. “Come on, come on...!!” she chants to herself, mantra-like,
as she waits what seems an interminable time before somebody on the other end answers.
Before this can happen, the glass window in the back door is shattered by the shears, and Tressa shrieks in terror, dropping the phone. She
hurriedly rushes to the front door, which the gardener is now obviously not blocking. As she makes her escape, the gardener is still trying to break
through the back door, shears cutting through the air and curtains menacingly.
Tressa is now running through the swamp. She stops and turns to see if anyone’s still following, and there doesn’t appear to be any signs of such.
She’s still in a panic though, and continues running, eventually reaching the clearing with the pit. She stumbles, but manages to avoid falling in.
Confused, she runs back into the undergrowth again. Alec is watching all this from the bushes. He sees that as Tressa is running, the branches and
leaves of the plants seem to be impeding her, and attacking; entangling and scratching her. “Stop it!” He orders the plants; “Stop it.....stop.” But the
branches are still flailing at Tressa. “Leave her alone.....Let her go.” Alec tries again to be the voice of reason, but to no avail. Still the flora is
assailing Tressa and she’s thrown to the ground where she cowers a little, dazed and confused. “What is happening?” Alec asks the plants; “WHY
are you harming that woman!?” A wind strikes up, and Alec sees the plants all around glowing with a red aura, as they commune with him.
NO, NO!! Let me go! I don't
want to do another series!!
Tressa looks up, still confused and sobbing. Suddenly, something grabs her from behind and begins pulling her back along the ground. She gives a
surprised cry of denial and digs her fingers into the dirt, clawing at it to stop herself being pulled along. A vine has caught hold of her right ankle and
is dragging her back. She’s now clawing furiously at the earth, but it’s having no effect. She’s still being pulled backwards. Seeing this, Alec rushes
round to try and help. Meanwhile, Tressa is still battling on, but the vine is too strong.
From the far side of some bushes, Alec watches, then tries to break through to help her; but he’s also pushed back by the foliage. He shakes his
head in surprise and shock, then seems to collect himself, looking very determined. If he can’t get to her, he’s going to have to try and help from a
distance. As he concentrates, a root tendril begins growing from his foot and into the ground, where it grows and burrows underneath, splitting the
parched top soil as it does so.
Meanwhile, Tressa is screaming and pulled further back. She is dangerously close to the edge of the huge pit, and the vine is pulling her in. The root
Alec projected now breaks ground, just next to Tressa, by the edge of the pit. It’s grown from a thin twig-like thing into something more resembling
a small, thick stump. Tressa sees it and grabs hold for purchase. The vine continues to pull at the woman mercilessly, but Tressa is now clutching the
root firmly, and not letting go. As Alec watches the struggle helplessly, he attempts to commune with the plants again, clenching his fists; “She is life.
You must not destroy.” The plants again glow with that red aura as they communicate with him. “What can?” He asks them. The Swamp has
presumably told him what is causing all this, and Alec needs to know how to deal with it.
Back at the pit, The vine has almost succeeded in pulling Tressa down, but the strain eventually becomes too great, even for it, and it snaps in two,
releasing the pressure on it’s victim. From the bushes, Alec looks very, very relieved.
Meanwhile, Arcane and Crown Prince are also walking through the swamp with some degree of determination (presumably to look for the
formula.) Unknown to them, Alec has seen and heard them.
They both continue to walk on, unaware. As Arcane walks through some light foliage by the side of the track, his was is blocked by an outstretched
branch. It takes him a moment to realise that it isn’t a branch at all, but Alec’s arm; and his nemesis is right beside him, camouflaged as a tree and
blocking his way. As soon as the ‘branch’ and ‘tree’ move, Arcane realises what’s happening, and becomes surprised and very afraid. As Alec
moves behind him and traps him by the neck in a stranglehold, Arcane’s eyes go wide, darting from left to right like a cornered animal; and he gives
a frightened cry. As Alec holds him firmly, Crown Prince watches, looking startled himself and taking a step back. In a soft, but menacing voice,
Alec threatens the now terrified and gasping Arcane, asking if he would like to become a tree. “No!...o..oh no!” Arcane shakes his head in an
impassioned plea. “The woman must not die!” Alec tells him, in no uncertain terms. Crown Prince is watching all this with concern. “The antidote.”
Alec orders Arcane. “To what!?” Arcane cries, feigning surprise and innocence. “The pheromones infecting the woman.” Alec tells him. “I had
nothing to do with it!” Arcane pleads. Alec tightens his grip on the man’s throat and Arcane gives a little cry of terror. “Ah!...I swear it! He invented
the stuff!” He pleads to Alec, his voice rising in desperation, as he indicates Crown Prince to whom he’s trying to pass the buck. Crown Prince is
still watching the pair of them. “At your command.” Alec insists, not fooled for a second. Under pressure, Arcane reluctantly admits; “Yes!”
Later, Jim is waiting by a large blue van as Alec arrives, roughly dragging Arcane in front of him by the collar of his jacket. Crown Prince is
following behind them. The boy watches as Alec frog-marches Arcane unceremoniously past him. Crown Prince looks down at Jim and smiles. A
little way away, Alec and Arcane stop, although Alec’s still holding the man firmly by his jacket, which is looking the worse for Alec’s manhandling.
Arcane stays very still, although his eyes glance around warily to Alec and away again, and he’s still looking uneasy and sick with fear. “Give the
command!” Alec orders him. Arcane pauses, seemingly to weigh up any options, his eyes darting between Alec and Crown Prince. “Make the
antidote.” He finally tells his protégé, glancing at the van.
"Say, Alec? Don't you think there's already
been more than enough overt hostility in this
episode? Give peace a chance, I say!"
As Crown Prince opens the doors to the van, inside, a whole portable laboratory is revealed, with various workbenches, utensils, equipment,
chemicals etc. “Is he going to help my mom?” Jim asks, as Crown Prince climbs into the lab and looks around, removing his eye patch to reveal a
perfectly normal eye; the only difference is that it is brown in colour, unlike the right eye which is a vivid blue. Jim watches anxiously as Crown
Prince looks around some more. “So many drugs and simples....” he ponders thoughtfully; “...where to begin?” “At the beginning.” Alec calmly
states the obvious. With hand on hip, Crown Prince regards Alec, then starts work, taking a large flask of liquid.
Jim and Alec watch intently as Crown Prince takes a sample of some red liquid from a beaker, in a pipette, and continues his work; looking back at
Alec and Jim as he does so. Meanwhile, Arcane seems to have recovered his composure as he now seems fairly sure that he isn’t going to end up
as a tree. His clothing has been straightened again. As the work is proceeding, he seems to be pondering something. “You have a problem.” He
says, turning to Alec. “Somebody will have to get close enough to her to give her the antidote.” It’s uncertain whether he’s trying to cover himself in
case of failure; but his comment does appear to be meant helpfully. Jim listens with interest. “Meanwhile, the pheromones...you go to cure her, you
end up...killing her.” Arcane continues. Jim looks thoughtful and sad at this, and Alec turns to him. “If anyone can do it, you can.” He tells the boy.
Jim looks sad and worried; “But what if I?....I don’t want to hurt her....I love her.” “That’s what I’m counting on.” Alec explains, walking forward
and leaving Arcane, who’s still eyeing them warily. Alec goes over to Jim, where he kneels down beside the boy to give a pep talk. “Your love for
her will be your immunity to her affliction.” He says. Jim doesn’t look entirely convinced. “Sometimes....I don’t love her.” He admits, looking
downwards. “No.” Alec says softly, putting a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder; “Sometimes you don’t like her.....You always love her. That’s
what led you out here, looking for your mother.” “I guess so.” Jim says in a subdued voice. He looks straight at Alec; “I hope so.” He adds. Alec
gets up and moves back as Crown Prince exits the lab carrying a glass jar of fuming liquid similar to the pheromone one, only that the liquid in this
one is blue. He hands it carefully to Jim. “Tell her to open it, and inhale deeply, three times.” He slowly explains to the boy, who clutches the fuming
and bubbling jar, staring at it intently.
Back in the clearing, Tressa is sat down in the centre, tired and desolate. Jim arrives, carrying the jar. “Mom?” he calls nervously, upon seeing her.
This gives her a jolt and she looks up and stares at him. “Oh no! Don’t come near me, Jim!” she says, terrified; but the boy continues to walk
forward. “I told you NO! STAY AWAY!!” She shrieks. He pauses and she looks up at him. “I’ve got something. It’ll cure you.” He explains, and
she just stares. As he begins to walk closer, the wind strikes up and he catches the scent, and grimaces. “See!!” She shouts, noticing this; “You
can’t come near, Jim!” She cries again; “Please....go away!!” she sobs in a broken voice. Jim closes his eyes and walks forward further, the jar held
out in front of him. “Trust me, mom.” He says gently, fighting off the effects of the pheromones. “I said go away!!!” she screams and cries
hysterically, totally at her wits’ end. He’s now standing next to her, and hands her the jar as she just sobs uncontrollably. “Inhale deeply....three
times.” He instructs her, handing her the jar, which she almost takes, but pulls away from at the last moment. Instead, he puts it on the ground before
her and sits down beside it.
Sod the antidote! One whiff of Jim's
gluepot would soon make things all nicer
She takes the lid off cautiously and inhales deeply. They then wait, looking at each other long and hard for some sign. Things seem more peaceful. Eventually, they realise it’s over, and they hug each other firmly as Tressa cries in relief.
Aahhh....that wonderful prozac moment :)
From the hidden safety of the bushes, Alec watches the scene with a deep satisfaction.