The episode opens in the swamp. The place is looking pretty vile and polluted beyond belief. Rusted metal barrels are everywhere, and the swamp
is bubbling with the noxious effects of the pollution. Alec arrives on the scene, and, wading through the muck, makes his way over to one of the
upright barrels, where he removes a metal ring holding the lid in place, and proceeds to remove said lid to see what’s inside. Immediately, there’s a
cloud of thick white fumes issuing forth, enveloping Alec, which cause him to stagger, clutching the barrel, and groan audibly. Trying desperately to
grasp the barrel to stay on his feet, his strength is sapped by the toxic waste within, and he collapses to the ground.
It’s a peaceful morning at the Langford house when the phone rings. Jim trots downstairs to answer it. “Hello?” he asks, picking up the receiver.
There’s a pause for a few moments, and Jim looks back upstairs; “Mom, it’s for you!” he calls, putting the receiver down gently on the table in the
hall, by the phone, “I’m going out for a while... see you later,” he adds, leaving it and heading for the door, going outside.
"
Houma on Friday night was so dull, Arcane
was reduced to trying to seduce the talking clock!
“Ah, I’m sorry it’s taken me darn near a week to look into this toxic waste --” It’s Dr. Arcane on the other end of the phone, lying down, relaxing in
his cave as his latest lady friend’s hand starts working its way up his leg sensually, thoroughly massaging and fondling him, “ -- I’ve been out of
town... receiving a very nice honorary degree from some very kind people --” as the scene pans upwards, we see him talking into a mobile phone
as the woman continues her massage. He seems awfully pleasant and relaxed, and his ‘concern’ for the waste doesn’t even begin to sound genuine,
“ -- I don’t remember what I did that so impressed them,” he brags, softly. “It’s been 4 weeks since I asked for your help, Doctor,” on the other
end, Tressa is speaking into the phone irritably, “I’d like some immediate action!” she tells him firmly. Back in the cave, Arcane’s gazing at the
woman he’s with, a blonde, older type, who’s gazing back at him, “The dumping will be stopped, my dear --” he says to Tressa, although his
attention’s firmly fixed on his lover, “ -- and any damaged area will be restored,” he promises, as he moves closer to the woman, kissing her on the
lips passionately; “I almost adore you! ... mmmm” he gives a whispered, sensual comment and sigh of ecstasy to her, not loud enough for Tressa to
hear (probably), “ -- I’ll do it with my own hands, if you like?...” he utters sensually, smiling wryly, clearly talking to his lover but allowing Tressa to
hear the double entendre and have her take it to mean the clear up of the swamp. “And ruin your manicure!?” Tressa gives a snide retort, putting the
phone down and leaving.
Back in the swamp, the place is still looking disgusting, but there’s a pipe being laid, clearly with the intention of cleaning things up. “Man, it’s really
a crime people dump so much crud in this swamp,” a voice says, as a rake is seen combing through the filth and cleaning the place up. “If they
didn’t, you’d be out of a job,” another voice joins in. It’s too workmen, dressed in overalls and heavy rubber boots and gauntlets; and they seem to
be doing something about the waste. The second man wades ashore and picks up a can of drink from atop a barrel marked ‘hazardous waste’,
taking a long swig. After finishing it and giving a loud belch, he just tosses it into the swamp without a second thought, and wades back in to
continue working.
As they continue the raking, the first man seems to notice something. “Hey, look at this!” he calls the other man over. They both look closely, and
one reaches into the weed and water and pulls out something... a huge green hand! “What in the?...” the first one gasps. They drop the hand, and
begin to rake a large clump of grasses nearby, pulling it aside to reveal a weak and helpless Alec, who’s just lying there, opening and closing his
eyes. “Wish I knew what it is,” the first man says as they both stare at the object they’ve found. “Bet even God doesn’t know what it is!” the other
man comments. “Think we should finish it off?” the first man suggests as Alec can only look at them. “Maybe we oughta run it past Dr. Arcane?” the
other man seems cautious. “Why bother? He says he doesn’t care what we do with this stuff,” the first man says casually. “In that case --” the other
man turns to his partner, “ -- I know how we can make ourselves some big bucks off of this thing.” The first man gives a big grin at this.
Elsewhere, near the swamp, there’s a side-show carnival type place. Outside are billboards advertising freaks of nature, such as ‘Jungle Monster’
(showing a picture of a ferocious Gorilla type thing), and ‘Spidora’ (picture of a large spider). Jim’s out riding his bike when he comes across the
place, and a sign advertising it, calling the place ‘Simon’s Grotesqueries: See nature’s gruesome mistakes with your own eyes”. Putting a piece of
paper (some money?) into his pocket, he sets off again towards the place.
Shortly after, he’s peering through the opening in a tent, and can see a row of cages with some humanoid beings in them. He’s so engrossed that he
fails to see a man dressed in a top hat and frilled shirt coming round the corner of the tent and approaching him: Clearly Simon, the owner of the
place. “Taking a free peep!?” Simon shouts angrily, surprising Jim who turns in shock. “I didn’t see anything!!” he shouts defensively, trying to
explain himself. “I can always tell when boys lie --” the man smiles menacingly, approaching him. Jim stares at him mutely, “ -- they tighten their
bums! Makes ‘em stand funny! --” He gets closer, looking down at Jim, “ -- You’re standing funny right now... aren’t you?” The man’s clearly
British, by his rather gruff accent. “I wanna buy a ticket!” Jim announces hurriedly. The man seems taken aback... and pleased, “You got any idea...
what’s inside my grotesquery!?” he savours the question with pride, almost trying to scare the boy. Jim thinks for a moment, “You mean
anomalies?” he asks matter of factly, and Simon’s eyes widen in surprise before he bursts into shrieking laughter; “Oh... so it’s ‘human anomalies’ is
it? --” he looks down at Jim, mocking him, “ -- and what fancy pants boy school did you escape from?” he sneers. Clearly bored and feeling he has
better things to do than stand around and get insulted by Simon, Jim turns his back and walks back to his bike without another word, but Simon’s
intrigued, and follows him. “You think it’s going to rain?” he tries to make conversation with the boy, as Jim begins walking his bike away. “The
sun’s out,” Jim replies, obviously not as impressed with Simon as the man is with him. “Ah, the sun’s a cover up,” Simon dismisses that with a wave
of his hand. Jim walks a bit further, and Simon considers something, “How’d you like to work for me?” He finally brings himself to ask. Jim stops
walking at this. “Doing what?” he asks. “Maybe your stomach can’t take a job like this, eh?” he gets close to Jim, goading him with reverse
psychology. It seems to work, because Jim appears to be considering it.
Inside the main tent we see cages (with ‘Wild Animals Circus’ painted on them) of exhibits: mutated or anomalous humans: There’s a midget, a
person of indeterminate gender, a tattooed man, one with body hair like an animal’s. All seem jittery, looking out of their cages as Jim enters,
wheeling a little trolley behind him. The occupants seem to have an air of expectancy about them, craning their heads to get a better view. As he
approaches them, Jim looks around the place warily, obviously uncomfortable with their predicament, before going up to the first cage -- containing
a man with strangely pock marked skin who is seated, watching him calmly -- and opens a flap in the front, marked ‘danger’. Jim reaches back to
the trolley and takes a dish, which he puts through the opening into the cage; “Here you go. Hope it tastes better than it looks,” he says, then moves
onto the next cage with a fierce looking bearded man in it. He repeats the feeding procedure. The first inmate is still just seated, calmly watching, but
as Jim puts his hand through the opening, the second man takes it, mumbling something quietly, and begins gently stroking Jim’s hand. He then takes
the bowl of food and begins eating as Jim backs off and moves on. It appeared to be a gesture of thanks and affection. The third inmate -- the
dog-like little man -- is anxious and waiting as Jim lowers the flap. “Better eat this while it’s hot,” Jim tells him in a friendly manner.
At that point, Simon enters the tent. “What’s taking you so long!!??” he shouts angrily. Jim is startled, and the inmates seem afraid, also backing off,
as Simon strides past their cages, hitting the bars with a walking cane. He looks at Jim, then back at the anomalies, giving the cage another whack
with the stick for good measure, scaring the occupants. “Eat up, you filthy misfits!!” he shouts at them, and they comply in submissive terror. Simon
seems to take a great delight in teasing and being cruel to them. He turns to Jim.
A deep groaning from a cage across the tent catches his attention, and he goes to look. Jim watches as Simon approaches this cage and looks
inside, where Alec is lying, weak and helpless, and in great pain. “Oh no!” Jim mutters to himself, as he realises just who’s in the cage.
Get used to the view Jim !
As Simon leaves, Jim approaches the cage, and Alec groans out to him. “Oh... Jim... help meee...” he manages to groan out, barely managing to
grasp the bars with his hand, as Jim stands beside him. From the other side of the tent, in the first cage, the silent, and more dignified anomaly looks
on, concerned. Outside the tent, Simon’s shadow can be seen leaving, and the man takes this as a sign that it’s safe to help. “He needs good swamp
water, and algae,” he tells Jim, in a surprisingly eloquent and educated voice. Jim turns in surprise, and the man sees his confusion, “I was once a
scientist,” he explains gently. “I’ll go get some,” Jim says, turning back to look at Alec, but the man shakes his head. “You can’t bring the cure to
him... You must take him to the cure.” Jim seems at a loss; “But how can I get him out of this cage?” he asks. “Magic?” the man replies, with a
helpless and cynical smile. “unhhh... I don’t know how much longer I can last...” Alec gasps, clearly dying, “... Hurry... pleeeaasssee!” He just lays
there, groaning weakly, and Jim looks down at him through the bars. “I’ll get you back to the swamp... some way...” he replies; “... I promise!”
Shortly after, Jim leaves the main tent and wanders over to a couple of chairs, when Simon exits a tatty old trailer, putting his jacket on. “Going to
be gone long?” Jim asks, seeing he’s about to go somewhere. “Why? You gonna miss me?” Simon replies cynically, hurrying past Jim; “Just do you
work and mind your own business,” he growls, leaving in a hurry. Checking to make sure he’s not being watched, Jim begins hurrying over to the
tent, breaking into a run.
Inside, he approaches the cage again, where Alec is still moaning feebly. He clutches the bars and looks in helplessly, as Alec gazes back at him. An
idea seems to come to Jim, and he turns and runs out of the tent. The caged ex-scientist watches him go with a definite interest.
Inside Simon’s trailer, resting on a jar of some indeterminate specimen preserved in a yellow fluid, there’s a set of keys on a dice keychain. Jim
enters, and is about to take them, when he hears the unwelcome sound of Simon’s voice approaching. “Nothing to be afraid of, my dear,” it says,
and the man’s clearly talking to someone other than Jim. The boy immediately darts for cover behind a chair, as Simon gets nearer; “My place...” he
hears the man talking to whoever he’s with; “... ought to look good to you after sleeping in the streets,” A shadow enters the trailer: Simon, and he’s
brought a pretty blonde young woman with him. He turns and they face each other. “You look almost pretty when you’re afraid,” he teases her,
patting her cheek with his finger. “I’m not afraid... I’m hungry!” she retorts, with controlled anger, “... you said you’d buy me a hot meal!” she
reminds him. He glances around the place casually, gesturing. The place is one disgusting mess: Paint and paper peeling off the walls, bare electrical
wires, dirty clothing strewn everywhere: A complete pigsty! “Well, I’ve got some soggy potato chips around here somewhere... You can have
them... if you can find ‘em,” (a near impossible task, judging by the state of the place!) he tells her with disinterest, picking up a big bundle of dirty
clothing from a chair. He looks around for somewhere to put them, then just settles on tossing them in a heap over the back of the chair, where they
land on Jim’s head. Removing them from his face (one doesn’t want to think too much about where they’ve been!), Jim continues to listen in.
Simon turns back to the woman. “So how did you get to be a homeless?” he asks, curious. “I fell through the cracks!” she mutters bitterly, turning
to leave. He grabs her cardigan, pulling it from her. “Come over here!” he growls, then looks at the garment in his hands and begins a cackling
laughter again, pleased he’s again in a position to tease and dominate someone else. She reaches for it, but he throws it away, behind the chair with
the rest of the stuff, where it again bounces off Jim’s head. As Simon giggles inanely, Jim stays very quiet. As the woman reaches behind for it, she
sees Jim... and stares. Jim looks up at her mutely, but all she does is retrieve it and try to get away from Simon, who, still giggling, grabs her. “LET
ME GO!!” she shouts. “Or what?... You’ll scream?” he taunts, grinning into her face. He gives a laugh, gesturing round the place; “YOU CAN
SCREAM BLOODY MURDER!!... Nobody around here to hear you!...” he says with menace, as she puts the cardigan back on. “... Nobody
except those... misbegottens out there!” he gloats, as Jim listens. It’s starting to appear disturbing, and that perhaps he has the intention of raping
her, but if that’s the case, a different idea seems to come to him instead. Simon grabs her and pulls her close. “How’d you like to meet ‘em, eh?...
huh?” he says with relish, not giving her much choice, “... I’m sure they’d really like to meet you!” He gives an insane laugh again, before dragging
the struggling and frightened woman out of the trailer. Jim watches them go, and when he’s certain it’s safe, gets up and sneaks out from his hiding
place, picking the keychain up as he goes.
Outside, from behind a window in the trailer door, Jim sees Simon manhandling the woman, hitting her harshly across the face and dragging her into
the tent. When he’s out of sight, Jim finally takes the opportunity to leave the trailer.
Inside the tent, clutching the woman’s arm, Simon seems to look round for something. He spies it on the floor, and with manic laughter, picks up the
walking cane and begins hitting the cages to get the occupant’s attention; “Meet Lady Clair, gentlemen!” he announces, proudly showing her off as
he runs up and down the cages, rattling the stick against it and laughing with glee. Clair is left standing by the first cage, looking confused, but Simon
runs back to her, grabbing her again. “Come ‘ere!” he shrieks with laughter, dragging her round the back of the cages, running the stick along them
again, terrifying both Clair and the occupants. He stops outside the dog-like man’s cage, and mocks him, making a ‘woof’ type sound at the poor
creature.
Meanwhile, outside, Jim is sneaking round the back of the tent. Simon’s teasing and laughter can be heard clearly. Back inside the tent, Simon
continues his entertainment, leaving the frightened dog-man, and forcing Clair to the edge of the tent. Something catches his eye to distract him
though. “I wonder what that little bugger’s up to!?” he mutters, seeing Jim’s shadow creeping around the outside of the tent. Well, whatever he’s
going to do about it will have to wait, as another visitor has just arrived...
"Are you sure this is the best of 'those' type of
premises in Houma!? Well, anyway, I'm the
scientist, you're the assistant. I get first pick, so,
I guess you're stuck with the one on the left!"
A young man holds open the entrance to the tent, as Dr. Arcane arrives on the scene and enters, looking imperious. Simon’s revelry seems to vanish, and he stares in what looks like fear, dropping the stick. Meanwhile, outside, Jim is listening in at the entrance.
".... Well, I guess you're stuck with the one on the left!!"
“We have another glorious failure for you, Simon...” Arcane says cheerfully, sauntering in like he owned the place. His henchman follows close
behind, “... a playmate for Amos there!” he grins, pointing to the pock marked ex-scientist in the first cage. Well, now we know where the
‘anomalies’ come from: They’re failed experiments of Arcane’s (some, if not all). “Well, as you can see, Doctor, I’ve no more room...” Simon’s
getting a taste of what it’s like to be afraid of someone, and his posture is stooped, and he’s clearly reserved, if not outrightly terrified of Arcane,
practically apologising for breathing in his tone of voice; “... No more room at all... er, er, plus which...” “... ‘Pluswhich’??” Arcane interjects,
mocking Simon, “... What’s that mean?” Simon is speechless, and Arcane turns back to his henchman; “Kid Brother? Do you know what
‘pluswhich’ means?” “‘Pluswhich’. I never heard the word in my life,” the henchman plays along with Arcane’s joke. Simon seems to pluck up
courage and confront the Doctor with a nervous smile; “You haven’t paid me yet for taking Amos...” he tells Arcane. At this, Jim leaves and walks
back round the tent. “... remember?...” back in the tent, Simon continues talking to Arcane, “... Our agreement? Amos, plus a thousand,” he
reminds Arcane, who just looks at him. “I see,” he has an eager look to him; “... and for the new one... another thousand...” Arcane whispers
calmly, glancing back. Simon takes a step back. “I suppose so...” he agrees, “... if I must take him!” he seems to want to add a statement to give
himself a measure of control back in the situation. “He’s outside, go get him,” he tells Simon, after a brief pause of contemplation, then turns to his
henchman; “Kid Brother... help this gentleman,” he tells the man with him. “eh... what about the money?” Simon reminds him, gesturing by rubbing
his fingers together. Without saying a word, Arcane reaches into his jacket and produces a wad of money, which he puts into Simon’s hand.
Meanwhile, behind them, Clair takes advantage of the situation, weighing things up, before sidling off behind the cages to make her escape.
Simon takes the money, looks at it, then stares back at Arcane, again gesturing with his fingers to indicate that it’s not complete and he wants more.
Still in silence, Arcane reaches into the other side of his jacket and removes another wad and hands it to Simon with a contemplative look implying
he almost got away with paying the man only half. “Don’t spend it all in one place!” he says disdainfully to Simon, who smiles greedily at the money;
“Thank you, Doctor. I always knew you were a man of your word,” he fawns. “and the word is... ‘pluswhich’!... right?” Arcane grins, mocking him
again and turning back to Kid Brother, who agrees, “Right!” With a gentle pat to Kid Brother’s back, Arcane indicates he go help Simon with the
new cargo, and both Simon and the henchman leave, Kid Brother giving Simon a much less subtle pat on the shoulder as they leave.
Meanwhile, outside, Jim is examining a blue Chevrolet van where the new mutant is being kept in a covered crate. On hearing the two men
approaching, he jumps down from it, puts the keys in his pocket, and sneaks round the far side of it, looking underneath the thing, where he sees the
feet and legs of Simon and Kid Brother approaching the new crate. “I hope this one’s really ugly!” He hears Simon saying; “The uglier, the better
for business,” he says callously. While they’re preoccupied, Jim sneaks round the front of the van and across to the tent, where he hides in a small
booth.
Meanwhile, back in the tent, something catches Arcane’s attention. He turns to see Clair, who’s sneaked round the back of the cages, on all fours
trying to crawl away quietly. “Simon, you’ve got company...” he says softly, slowly sauntering up to the woman who turns to look at him. “...
charming company,” he whispers seductively. Taken with her beauty, he starts to snap his fingers slowly and deliberately... rhythmically,
approaching her in a sleazy yet predatory manner, closing in and circling her, and reaching out to touch her hair gently.
"Look, be reasonable! I know this episode's dull,
That's why they want me to do the Lambada -- to
get the ratings up -- and it's either with you or Jim!"
“You’re very pretty,” he says softly, gazing down at her with rapt attention. She stares back up at him, and any fear and loathing she may have had of Simon isn’t evident here. He holds her gaze with his, continuing to circle her as she kneels at his feet. He begins the rhythmic snapping of his fingers again as he moves round her front, still holding her gaze; and at an unspoken command, she rises to her feet, her eyes not leaving his for a second.
"This is all $20 will get you, mister. If you want all
those other sick things you asked for, it'll cost extra!"
The whole scene is filled with dangerous sexual tension as he hypnotises her as a snake would its prey, and Clair is neither struggling nor
complaining. “I’m sure you’ve never been with anyone like me,” he whispers to her, moving round the back of her as she leans back into him,
trusting in him completely and closing her eyes, licking her lips and giving a soundless sigh of ecstasy.
Meanwhile, outside, Kid Brother and Simon are carrying the covered new exhibit. They take it past the booth, where Jim ducks down and hides.
“Better put this down right here, for the time being,” Kid Brother says in a weary voice, clearly straining under the weight of the thing. They deposit
it at the tent entrance. They both pause for a moment, and Kid Brother takes a look through the tent opening as Simon moves round the crate to do
likewise. As he does so, Kid Brother steps back.
Inside, they’re watching Arcane and Clair in their bizarre ‘mating ritual’, as Arcane sways back and forth, Clair following his movements, enraptured
and captivated by him.
Back outside, Kid Brother gives a big grin and produces a cosh, which he uses to hit Simon on the head with, from behind, rendering the man
unconscious. Jim watches the henchman search Simon and retrieve the money, which he places in the top pocket of his T-Shirt, before taking
another look at the antics going on inside the tent. Jim’s also watching, and seems to slip away from the booth.
Inside the tent, Arcane is still swaying, cradling Clair’s face in his hands, their lips so close as to be almost touching, but not quite. With a wave of
his hand over her face, she gracefully falls back into his waiting arms, and the hypnotic seduction has reached its conclusion. She’s completely
entranced and has lost consciousness. As though she’s weightless, he effortlessly picks her up in his arms and carries her out of the tent.
Meanwhile, Jim’s crawling on hands and knees to the tent entrance. Suddenly seeing that Arcane is about to leave, he scuttles back round the side
of the crate, hidden from view. He pokes his head round to see Arcane carrying Clair off towards Simon’s trailer.
Looks like his dating technique's
getting almost as subtle as Alec's
“This’ll be a nice afternoon diversion,” Arcane says to himself, “... hup... over you go!” he comments, hoisting the woman over his shoulder as he
climbs the steps into the trailer. “That Simon is such a pig!’ he sighs with disgust as he’s obviously seen the state of his little love nest for the
afternoon. After a moment of obviously putting Clair down somewhere, he’s seen in the doorway again, looking round furtively before closing the
trailer door behind him.
With a final look to make sure Arcane’s out of sight, Jim continues crawling round the tent. As he enters, Amos sees him. Once inside, Jim gets up
and approaches Alec’s cage. The other mutants watch him eagerly. Using the key, he removes the padlock holding the cage door, and reaches in to
Alec. “It’s me... it’s Jim, I’m here!” he says, but there’s barely a reply or a movement from Alec. He tries to pull Alec towards him, but he’s not
strong enough. All Alec can do is reach out to Jim with his arm.
“I’ll help you. Let me out!” Amos calls out to him. “Me too!” calls the bearded man. “Over here!” the dog-man shouts, beckoning. Jim regards
them and leaves the groaning Alec for the moment.
Meanwhile, Kid Brother arrives in the tent and approaches the mutants. The dog-man backs off. Alec’s groaning catches the man’s attention, and
he turns to look. He approaches, eagerly, pointing to Alec; “I know who you are! Oh yes I do!!... You’re that thing that treed my brother!” he says
spitefully (see ‘The Emerald Heart’), “Oh my saints! Are you ever going to pay for that!!” he vows, eyes wide in glee. He backs off, leaving the tent,
“DOCTOR!!” He calls out.
Meanwhile, in the trailer, Arcane and Clair are kissing passionately. Arcane’s removed his jacket, and his tie has been loosened. “DOCTOR!!...
THAT THING THAT TREED MY BROTHER... IT’S IN ONE OF THE CAGES!!” Kid Brother screams from outside the tent. Unbeknown,
behind him, Simon’s regained consciousness and gets up, grabbing a crowbar and swinging at the man, narrowly missing him.
Inside the tent, Arcane continues with his diversion, kissing Clair. It takes a few moments for Kid Brother’s words to sink in through the Doctor’s
preoccupation with his sexual conquests. Of course, when it does, he instantly straightens up and stares in shock, dropping Clair with a little thud
onto the bed... now forgotten. He hurries away.
Arcane prays to every known deity and producer
that these aren't his new premises for the next season
Meanwhile, Jim’s also hurrying, having gone back into the tent and begun unlocking the padlock of another cage.
Outside, Simon and Kid Brother face off against each other, the henchman adopting a martial arts stance, and Simon swinging wildly with the
crowbar three times... and missing three times. Back in the tent, Jim’s unlocked the padlock. Meanwhile, Arcane strides out of the trailer with
determination, adjusting his tie, and approaching the tent, as the sounds of his henchman’s conflict can be heard... and are ignored.
Inside the tent, Amos and Jim carry Alec outside, just before Arcane enters. When he does go in, it’s all peaceful again... too peaceful! Arcane
looks around cautiously, and the mutants stare at him, and he edges forward with apprehension. He pauses, looking ahead, then continues reticently,
past the cages... unaware that they’re unlocked!
Outside, the struggle continues, and Kid Brother grabs Simon’s arm, stopping him using the crowbar, before crescent kicking it out from his hand,
followed up by a side thrust kick to Simon’s gut. With a snarl of rage, Simon charges the man, grabbing him and grappling him to the ground so he
can’t use his kicks.
Back in the tent, the silence is filled with tension as Arcane inches forward, with the mutants all glaring at him from within their cages... their unlocked
cages. When his back is turned, they signal each other, and begin their escape.
Back outside, Amos is carrying the groaning Alec to the van. Jim runs on ahead and opens the door, at which Amos helps Alec in. “I’ll go help the
others,” he tells them, setting off back to the tent.
Back at the fight, Simon and Kid Brother are still rolling around on the ground. Simon’s on top now and tries to club Kid Brother, but he misses and
unbalances, giving his opponent chance to get a foot into his gut, kicking him away. Looking behind him, Simon spots something and runs towards
it, picking up a rubber hose with a weight at the end of it... a good distance weapon, which he swings round his head, grinning and laughing, looking
on an adrenaline high. Kid Brother’s adopted a defensive stance for whatever he’s planning.
That's it, Kid Brother. Stay well away.
Doesn't bare thinking about what he's
going to do with 2 metres of rubber hose!
Back in the tent, Arcane’s turned back to the entrance, but is backing towards the other end, where the mutants are sneaking up behind him. He turns, and is greeted by a mob of his angry victims. With a shocked and surprised look, he stops abruptly, and back off, away from them, understandably not too happy with this situation.
Anton recoils in shock as Clair gives him the
bill, and it amounts to the half the season budget
Meanwhile, Alec’s struggling to get the car keys in the ignition, still groaning at the effort. “Jim... help... ah, the keys...” he calls out, as Jim runs to
the passenger side, then returns to Alec. He sees that Alec’s dropped them, and reaches in, retrieving them from the floor of the van and giving them
back to Alec. “I.. I don’t have the strength,” Alec gasps, repeating his words, weaker the second time. “Ah... you take over...” he whispers, moving
over painfully for Jim to get into the driver’s seat. Jim grabs the keys, gets in, and shuts the door.
Meanwhile, back at the fight, Simon’s still swinging the weapon round, while Kid Brother is doing a series of circle kicks, which seems rather silly,
considering he’s at least a couple of metres away from Simon! Needless to say, he misses (well... duh!) On the other hand, Simon’s weapon can
easily be swung across two metres, and he does so, giving a cry of anger, hitting Kid Brother squarely in the face, twice, sending him crashing to the
ground. “That’ll teach ya!” Simon snarls, looking at the fallen form of his opponent, lying flat on it’s face.
Back at the van, Jim’s started the engine and grasps the wheel to set off, as, beside him, Alec continues to moan. “Oh no, I can’t reach the pedal!”
Jim realises with horror. He has another problem as well: The noise of the engine has alerted Simon, who turns to listen, setting off in panicked fury.
As Simon approaches, Alec manages to put his foot to the gas pedal, and the van screeches away at the last possible second, Jim dealing with the
steering. “STOP... STOP YOU LITTLE DEVIL!!” Simon shouts in fury, chasing after the van and making a futile grab for it as Jim and Alec make
their getaway. “OH, I’LL PUT YOU IN A CAGE WHEN I CATCH UP WITH YOU...STOP!!” He rages after them impotently, as the van
speeds out of the grotesquery, towards the swamp.
Back in the tent, at Arcane’s unfortunate predicament, the now very scared Doctor is backing up and trying to run from the mutants. At this point,
the tent flap opens, and Amos returns to block Arcane’s escape, looking at the Doctor with a rather vengeful, grim and satisfied smile. Cornered,
Arcane backs against the cages, where the mutants grab him and hold him firmly. Grimacing, and gasping in fear, he’s held by the throat.
"Don't.. don't hurt me! I'll give you anything
you want! Money, new lives... a triple strength
shaver and some *really* good acne cream..."
At that moment, the mutants are distracted a little by Simon’s return to the tent. Unaware, as yet, of what’s going on, he pushes his way inside
angrily, and looks ahead. Amos spots him, and attention is diverted from Arcane for now, and he approaches Simon purposefully. Simon looks on
incredulously. “First you, simple Simon!” Amos says, lifting a crowbar, raising it high, and smashing it into Simon’s head, felling him instantly. Then,
in the same, single fluid movement he turns his attention back to Arcane, strolling back towards him, crowbar in hand.
On seeing how they’ve just dealt with Simon, Arcane’s fear at this point steps up a notch, not surprisingly, and he’s gasping and wide-eyed in terror
as the mutants start to play with him, teasing him... roughly pushing him into Amos, who shoves him back again. Like a toy, he’s pushed and spun
around between the mob and angry victims. Frightened and disoriented, he’s starting to whimper and cry out in fear as he’s pushed more brutally,
forced to his knees in the middle of the group.
Autograph signing sessions at the Swamp Thing fan
club were always a harrowing experience for Anton
“I’ll give you each a thousand... a.and a new life!!” he begs in terror, desperately getting a wad of notes from his shirt pocket and trying to bribe
them with it. As they all cackle and shriek in glee, a dwarf takes it from him and shoves it down his throat. “We don’t want your money!” Amos is
heard saying, as Arcane’s hoisted into the air, on their shoulders, as they continue to shriek raucously in pleasure around him. Held high above their
heads, they carry him to the tent entrance, where they throw him roughly to the ground outside, where he lands, unceremoniously, with a cry of fear
and pain, and a dull thud.
Meanwhile, Jim’s trying his best to steer the van, while Alec’s groaning and trying to stay conscious. As it speeds round the corner of the dirt track,
Jim tries to reassure him; “Hang in there,” he says, driving as fast as he can. “Oh no! We’re out of gas!” Jim cries, as he sees the gauge showing the
unpleasant truth, as the van crawls to a stop. Beside him, Alec just groans (not many lines to learn for this episode!) “Can you make it from here?”
Jim asks. “Aah...I..I think so...” Alec croaks a reply. Jim gets out, and Alec follows suit, slowly and painfully, grasping the door for support. Jim
comes over and stares in concern, as Alec seems to steady himself. It’s as though he’s drawing strength just from being in this place.
Jim rushes round, and Alec stares straight ahead, seeing the waters of the swamp for the first time, and knowing he must make it to them. He begins
to move. He already has the strength to walk, although he’s still groaning, weak and in pain. He puts an arm on Jim’s shoulder. “Gonna make it...
aren’t you?” Jim asks, as Alec heads away from him, towards the water.
Still groaning, he enters the thick mud and wades in. The further he gets, the less his pain seems to get, and the more easier he seems. By the time he
reaches the still, clear waters, he isn’t even staggering anymore. Jim just watches in wonder as he sees Alec begin to submerge to his waist, beyond
a bank of reeds. “You really are The Swamp!” he gasps, finally understanding; “...Amen!...” he utters, as Alec sinks below the surface of the water.
"er, have the cameras stopped rolling guys?? Can I get out now?? It's all
muddy! The water's getting in the suit, the mosquitoes are sticking to the latex
and a dozen leeches are making friends with my legs!!... Anybody there??... Hellooo!?"