Alec is taking a pleasant stroll through the swamp when all of a sudden, Jim, wearing a novelty mask, jumps out of the bushes with a shout in an attempt to catch Alec by surprise. Alec just continues walking past, ignoring the boy. Jim glances downwards and removes the mask, his face a picture of disappointment. He turns and goes after Alec, determined to keep him company. “Want to do something?” He asks cheerfully, following just behind Alec, plaguing the poor man as they continue through the thick foliage. “I have something to do.” Alec says evenly. “Looks to me like you’re just walking.” Jim presses him. “I’m thinking.” Alec explains in an equally calm reply that belies any irritation that might be there. “In other words you’d rather be by yourself.” Jim realises, finally taking the hint. “You should have other friends.” Alec advises. “My own age, you mean?” Jim asks. “Any age.” Alec replies, as he clearly realises that it’s not entirely healthy for the boy’s only friend to be a giant seven foot walking plant (probably for Jim AND himself.) “I don’t know how to make friends.” Jim confides in him as they enter a small clearing in the foliage. Alec stops walking, and puts an arm out to stop Jim. He bends down and picks something up. “To make a friend....be one.” He utters philosophically, as he holds in his hands a large snake and holds it near Jim for him to see. The boy looks at it with both reticence and contemplation
"And for today's lesson, Jim, we're going
to examine Freudian symbolism"
“Hi Oboe!” Jim’s found his next target for boredom relief as he hones in on Oboe who’s working on a boat at the docks. Jim walks down the jetty
towards him. “Want some help?” He says helpfully, leaning on the ropes at the side and looking at Oboe, who’s working with his back to him. “I’m
just about finished.” He tells the boy. “What are you going to do then?” Jim pursues his prey. “I’ve got a date.” Oboe informs him, holding up a
small object and examining it. Jim’s starting to look a little frustrated. “Who with?” Jim plugs him for information. “You don’t know her.” Oboe says
casually, almost dismissively. “Oh, that kind of date!” Jim comments with a combination of frustration but with a small knowing smile. “No, it’s just
for lunch.” Oboe comments. “Want me to watch the place while you’re gone?” The boy asks, getting ten out of ten for persistence. Oboe turns
back to him. “Ah, thanks, Jim. I appreciate that, but I think it’s better if I just closed up, OK?” His words foil Jim’s plans. Just then, a young lady
comes walking down the jetty towards them, smiling at Oboe. Jim takes a look at her, and gives a look of frustration before walking away back into
town; as the woman watches Oboe finishing his work.
In Houma town centre, Jim is standing by a fountain in the middle of the town square. He’s looking pretty dejected and reaches into his jeans
pocket from which he takes out some coins. He selects a nickel and tosses it into the water (presumably wishing for a friend.) He leans on the
railings around the fountain a little longer, then looks around and seems to come to a decision, wandering off.
A game of pinball is in progress in a nearby amusement arcade across the street. 3 boys are playing on it. In the background, Jim enters the place
and walks up to the group. “There’s a trick to playing that game.” He tells them, hoping to join their company by impressing them. “Wanna show it
to us?” One of the boys asks him. “Sure.” Jim says hopefully. “Get lost!” comes the cruel reply by the boy who’s actually playing the machine. One
of the others gives a little laugh; and they all go back to ignoring Jim and getting on with the game. Jim gives up and walks out.
The producers hit on a cunning new plan
to raise money for the next season
Outside, there’s a girl wading in the fountain that Jim was at previously. She’s tall, and quite attractive, and looks a few years older than Jim. He
sees her and goes back to stand by the railings, watching her. “What are you doing?” He asks, and she turns and smiles, holding up a handful of
coins. “I don’t think you’re allowed to do that.” He tells her casually. “There’s nothing else to do around here....” she replies, echoing Jim’s previous
boredom; “....come on in and get some. There’s plenty for both of us.” She wades across the fountain, looking for more coins. Jim follows her
around the outside of the fountain. “You can have my share.” He tells her, and she thanks him, looking down into the water and commenting that her
feet are getting cold. She picks up one final coin, triumphantly. “My name’s Lilly;” she introduces herself, as she climbs out of the water and over the
railings; “what’s yours?” “Jim.” The boy replies. “What are you good at, Jim?” she asks him, sitting down and putting her shoes back on. Jim just
gives a vague and non-committal shrug and stays quiet. She gives him a look. “Bet you’re good at racing.” She suggests. “Bicycle?” Jim enquires.
“No. I’ve never had a bicycle.” She admits, fastening her shoes; “I mean foot.” She explains, challenging him to a lap round the fountain. “I’ll be the
gun.” She adds, getting to her feet and holding her hand up like a starter’s pistol, as they both take on a racing start stance. She gives a shout and
they both begin running. Lilly takes a wider angle around the fountain, and Jim finishes first. She seems perfectly happy as they both stop and look at
each other. “You’re the first boy who’s ever beaten me;” she admits, and Jim gives a friendly little smile; “I guess that’s why I like you.” She tells
him, pausing. “Nice to meet you, Jim.” She reaches out and takes his hand, shaking it in friendship. “Nice meeting you too.” He reciprocates.
The formalities over, she turns and starts to walk away. “Urm?....” Jim begins to say something to her....anything that will stop her from going. It
works and she turns back to see what he wants. “Where are you going now?” he asks her. “No place.” She gives a shrug. “We could play around
my house?” he suggests hopefully. “You’re mother wouldn’t mind?” she seems both surprised and pleased. “Come on.” Jim invites her casually, and
they both leave. “You’re the first boy who’s ever been nice to me.” She confides in him as they walk together; “I guess that’s another reason for
liking you.”
As they are walking, she suddenly remembers something and turns back. “Wait! I forgot my new shoes.” She says, running back to the fountain
where she picks up a carrier bag that she left. As she lifts it, there’s an ominous looking pool of congealed blood on the stones beneath. She runs
back to Jim, and they leave, engaging in chat as she asks him more about himself and what he likes to do.
From the other side of the road, outside the arcade, the three boys from earlier are watching them carefully. The middle boy is combing his hair.
“Get a load of that!” The boy who was playing the pinball machine sneers, eyeing Jim and Lilly. “Hah! Maybe we ought to warn him about Lilly?”
The middle one suggests, as though surprised by what he’s seeing. The third boy is just shaking his head as though watching something pathetic.
“Huh...what for? He’ll find out for himself.” The first boy says callously and the third continues to give a critical glance. “Yeah.” He agrees coldly,
and they walk away, smiling to themselves.
Any more than one episode without Arcane and
the standard of villain seems to take a nosedive
“You think the swamp is scary....weird?” Jim asks Lilly as they walk back together through a dirt trail in the swamp. “There’s nothing bad in the swamp, you know, except us.” She replies with a wisdom belying her age; “I don’t mean you and me....have you seen the stuff people dump in here?” she adds the comment. “Sure you wouldn’t like a boat ride?” Jim asks her, to which she changes the subject; “Let’s race.” She suggests instead, stopping her walking. Jim doesn’t sound too happy, commenting that it’s pretty hot, but she’s insistent in a friendly way; and they both assume the racing start stance they had when at the fountain. Lilly starts them off, as before, and Jim begins running as fast as he can. Lilly just stays put and watches him go. After a few metres, he begins to realise that nobody is running with him and stops and turns back. “What happened?” he shouts in confusion. “No use running a race you can’t win!” she replies with a philosophical smile. From his usual hidden position in the bushes, Alec watches, nodding his head and a deeply satisfied smile of approval lighting his face.
Lilly was beginning to have doubts as to
whether she should have mentioned the
possibility of a stable relationship at this stage
“Is that your house?” Lilly asks as they reach the edge of the swamp and see the Langford house a couple of hundred metres away through the
foliage. Jim turns and nods, leaning on a nearby small tree and putting his arms round it. “The times I’ve stopped and stared at it.” Lilly admits. “Too
bad I never saw you.” Jim comments wistfully; “we could have been friends all this time. “Every time I come out of the swamp I come this way so I
can stop and stare.” She admits, somewhat in awe of the place; all this and prior comments indicating that she’s from a very less comfortable
background. “How’d you like to see the inside?” Jim offers, and she’s taken aback at the generosity and opportunity. “Are you kidding!? I’d love
to!” she says happily. “ Come on” He invites her, and they set off towards the house.
“Jim?....Will you do something silly for me?” Lilly asks in trepidation as they approach the house. The both stop and Jim turns back to face her.
“Depends.....What?” he asks. “Will you ask your mom to be standing in the open doorway when I walk up?....That’s what I imagine when I
stare....” she confides her fantasy to him. Jim regards her; “....A beautiful woman standing in the doorway, inviting me in.” She continues, looking a
little hopeful. Jim glances back to the house before turning back to Lilly. “She’s not home right now....Can’t I invite you in?” he suggests. She gives
a little smile and thinks for a moment; “Sure.” She replies, but there does seem to be a small hint of disappointment. They begin walking towards the
porch of the house.
“Let me take your bag for you.” Jim offers gallantly. “NO!” she says sharply, backing off a little. “What’s the matter with you?” Jim asks in surprise.
“Nothing. I just don’t like people pawing my stuff.” She says defensively; “Is there anything wrong with that!?” she snaps, as they begin walking side
by side again. “I wasn’t pawing;” Jim tries to explain; “I just wanted to....oh, forget it.” He gives up disappointedly. She pauses. “Jim.” Her voice is
calmer now, and she looks a bit ashamed. “What?” he replies glumly. “”I’m sorry about blowing up like that.....I’ve got one short temper.” She
explains and apologises. “Everybody hates me for it.” “Maybe you should chill out a little?” Jim advises her as they reach the steps to the porch.
“You don’t hate me though, do you?” She asks as Jim begins to ascend the steps, while she remains at the foot of them. “No.” He turns back as he
approaches the door. “Are you still inviting me in?” she asks in an insecure voice. “Let’s get something to eat.” Jim says casually, from the doorway,
forgetting the earlier outburst, as he opens the door and she runs up the stairs towards him.
Inside, Jim goes to the fridge where he gets a couple of jars. His hands full, he then kicks the door shut gently.
Meanwhile, Lilly is investigating upstairs. She’s on the landing and walking slowly along. She passes the open bathroom and looks in, but doesn’t
enter; and continues further, looking all around as she does so. She proceeds to the end of the corridor where she turns right into Tressa’s
bedroom, through the open doorway. She has a good look round at the place, going over to a piece of Tressa’s night attire that’s hung up by the
door; which she takes down and holds in front of herself, before putting it back on it’s hook. She then wanders round to a large chest of drawers by
the side of the bed. After that, she has a sit down on the bed, patting it and testing it for comfort; after which she gets up and walks to the dressing
table. After looking at the contents before her, she picks up a silver brooch, which she surreptitiously pockets. She then continues to look at the
other stuff in front of her.
Meanwhile, Jim is in the hallway, carrying a sandwich. He goes to the foot of the stairs and looks up, before ascending the stairs, eating the food in
his hand as he does so.
Revealed: The secret why everyone hates Lilly!
Serves her right for taking Tressa's last bottle
of Anton Arcane's patent pheromone formula!
Back in Tressa’s bedroom, Lilly picks up a perfume bottle from the dresser. In the mirror, she sees Jim entering the room, and turns to him, smiling. “You caught me.” She jokes. “Doing what?” Jim says, puzzled. “Stealing some of your mom’s perfume.” She indicates the bottle that’s still in her hand. Jim wanders forward. “I love perfume, but I can’t afford to buy even the cheap kind....which I hate.” She tells him. Jim just shrugs; “Did you put any on?” He asks, innocently unaware of where that line of questioning could lead. “No....Do you want me to?” Lilly replies, not unaware like Jim. The boy ignores the question and shows her the food in his hand. “I made us some sandwiches.....Come on down.” He invites her eagerly, changing the subject as though uncomfortable with the situation here. Lilly’s sensed this though. “Do you hate it when your mom wears it?” she asks him, changing the subject back again. “I never notice it.” Jim gives a vacant shrug. Lilly pauses, looking away a little; “That’s because she knows how to put it on.....Most ladies don’t.” She turns to the mirror and dabs a spot of the perfume on her neck before turning back to Jim, who is watching her silently, almost with a growing feeling of discomfort. “I’m going to love your mom;” Lilly beams eagerly; “I just know it.” Jim just continues to watch her in silence.
"Jim?....Did I tell you I was an extra in 'Psycho'?"
“It was so nice of you to let me stay for dinner.” A while later, Lilly is commenting to Tressa as she carries a dish into the kitchen as they are all
clearing up after dinner. She puts it down on a work surface. “Oh, you’re welcome, Lilly.” Tressa replies, handing a roll of cling film to Jim. “You’re
the first friend I’ve had over since we’ve moved here.” Jim tells her, and Tressa give a big smile of approval at this. “Maybe next time you can come
to our house?” Lilly suggests, picking up a large cooks’ knife and towel, and proceeding to dry it. Tressa sees this, and there is something
disquieting about the careful and exaggerated way Lilly is handling the knife; as the light glints off it. Jim’s oblivious to all this. Just then, Lilly glances
up at the wall clock, which is reading 18.20. “Oh, I didn’t realise how long I’ve been here.” Lilly sighs; “er...I’d better get going. My mom hasn’t
been feeling too good.” Lilly is still cleaning that knife, and Tressa is looking at this with concern. “Can I use your phone and tell her I’m on my
way?” Lilly asks; and with the knife and towel in her hand, indicates the phone on the kitchen wall. This seems to shake Tressa out of her near
trance-like stare. “Of course.” She smiles, but still seems subdued. She turns to Jim and leads him out of the kitchen so Lilly can have some privacy
for her phone call. The girl begins to dial.
In the lounge, Tressa and Jim begin clearing plates from the dining table. However, Tressa makes sure she stays close to the wall with the phone,
and is listening carefully to Lilly as she begins to speak. “Mom....Sorry I didn’t call sooner. My friend, Jim invited me to dinner; and his mother’s so
wonderful....I just plain forgot. How are you feeling?.....Oh....Well, I guess it’s just as well that I ate out then.......Do you want me to bring anything
home from the store?....OK....Then I’ll see you soon. Bye!” The conversation appears polite and thoughtful enough, but as the scene pans round
into the kitchen, we become aware of Lilly holding down the receiver cradle of the phone. Unknown to Jim and Tressa, the entire conversation has
been one way and faked. She hangs up the receiver and wanders over to the work surface. Nearby, next to the kitchen door we can see the carrier
bag Lilly brought, containing her new shoes. Well, her ‘new shoes’ now seem to be leaking more blood which is forming a pool on the floor.
That night, Tressa is asleep in bed when something makes her wake up. Hearing what appears to be a very quiet, rhythmic creaking, she sits up and
listens. She gets out of bed and puts on her dressing gown.
Outside, on the porch, Lilly is there, sitting in a rocking chair and looking around at the place. The downstairs light comes on, and Tressa exits the
front door and sees her. When Lilly sees her she looks very humble and ashamed. “Mrs. Kipp!....I hope I didn’t wake you.” She says ruefully.
Tressa approaches her cautiously. “Why did you come back, Lilly?” she asks suspiciously. Lilly pauses a little before speaking. “I had no place to
go.” She admits sadly. “I thought you went home?” Tressa pushes the questioning. Lilly ponders her next words. “When I got there....” her voice
trails off and she’s clearly disturbed. Tressa kneels down beside her. “What happened?” Tressa sighs, her tone becoming softer and more
sympathetic. “My mom wasn’t sick....” Lilly closes her eyes; “....she was drunk.....and when I got home, she hit me.” She finally admits. Tressa
closes her eyes and looks at her in pity. “I was having such a good time when I left here;” Lilly continues forlornly; “Please let me stay, Mrs. Kipp!”
she asks pitifully; “Just out here, I mean. I won’t rock or anything.” Tressa nods calmly; “We have a room for guests, Lilly.” She says gently,
nodding and smiling; “come on.” She takes her inside, putting an arm round her shoulder and stroking her hair comfortingly.
The next day, Jim is running through the swamp shouting, looking for Lilly. They appear to be playing Hide and Seek, and he can’t find her. “I give
up, Lilly! Where are you?” he calls, before seeing something and setting off.
Lilly explains it's OK; and that she only
practices on trees before going on to people
Lilly is carving her initials into the bark of a tree with a red penknife. “Hey! That’s my knife.” Jim says, approaching her from the far side of the tree and walking round. “I only borrowed it.” She says. He watches what she’s doing; “You shouldn’t do that. It’s bad for the tree.” He lectures, and she turns to him angrily. “Who do you think you are? My mother!? Stop telling me what to do!” Jim pauses and lets it go. “Just give me the knife.” He asks calmly. She begins to smile menacingly, turning her attention from the tree to Jim. “You want your knife back?” she asks, brandishing it towards him, advancing on the boy. “Yeah.” Jim replies. She repeats her question, this time her tone louder, more teasing....more menacing perhaps? Jim begins to look worried. “Just say the word!” she adds with venom. “Get away from me!” he shouts, turning and running.
Jim's still not reacting too well
to the concept of commitment
A chase through the swamp develops, and Jim soon loses Lilly. She stops in a small clearing and looks around. Jim continues running though, and
she hears him and follows. She’s catching up. Jim ducks into a copse of trees to his right as Lilly arrives on the other side of them, unable to see him.
She stops and looks around as he waits nervously out of her sight. She begins to walk off, and he cautiously, still from his hiding place, follows her.
He peeks out from a tree and catches sight of her. “Jim!” she calls, now in a more friendly tone. “I know you’re round here. You come out right
now!” she sounds more upset than menacing now. “Do you hear me, Jim?” she looks around, but he stays hidden and silent. “Jim! Come on out.”
She cries, with a little more desperation to her voice. He continues to just watch silently from his hidden vantage point (probably taken lessons from
Alec, no doubt.) “If you’re mad at me because I took your knife....here!” she tosses it to the ground, saying she’s giving an honest apology. She
seems to think this is the reason, and not that he’s afraid of her. She looks around a bit more, but Jim’s not coming out. Eventually, she picks the
knife back up again and turns to walk away. Jim continues waiting until she’s gone; and the expression on his face suggests he’s carrying the weight
of the world.
Meanwhile, Tressa is downstairs in the kitchen. It’s obviously still morning because she’s still wearing her pyjamas and dressing gown. She picks up
a note on the table which reads: “Jim and I went to the swamp -- love Lilli” Tressa puts the note back and goes to the coffee percolator to make a
drink. As she bends down to go into a cupboard under the sink, she seems to notice an odour in the place. She turns and looks round, walking to
the back door where she sees the carrier bag. With one hand covering her face, she gingerly picks it up at arms length and finally takes a look
inside. She gives a short scream of surprise as she’s greeted by the sight of a dead rabbit wearing a purple ribbon; and puts one hand over her
mouth to stifle any nausea.
Well, Tressa! That'll teach you to look
at that sell by date next time you go to Safeways
Meanwhile, Jim is still hiding behind the trees. He dares to look out and sees that Lilly’s gone now; and he plucks up courage to venture out.
Meanwhile, back at the Langford house, Tressa is on the phone. “Sheriff. It’s Tressa Kipp. I’m calling about Jim.” Elsewhere, in his office, Sheriff
Andrews is sitting back at his desk with the phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. “Hope nothin’s wrong.” He says, taking a look at
his newspaper as he talks to her, before putting it down again. “I don’t know.” Tressa replies from the other end; “He’s got a new friend. There’s
something strange about her.” As Andrews is listening, he takes a sip of coffee and gives a refreshed little sigh. “Anybody I know?” he asks. “Her
name’s Lilly.” Tressa tells him, and he gives a knowing little laugh which seems to concern Tressa no end. “What does THAT mean!?....Is she....”
“She’s....just a lot of trouble, Mrs. Kipp;” Andrews grins, picking up a plump choccie donut and examining it with relish; “...that’s all.....Mostly a
case of, er, you give me the name and I’ll play the game!” he says, taking a bite out of his donut. “She brought a shopping bag with her.” Tressa
continues, all the while pacing up and down with the phone in her hand; “There was a dead rabbit in it.” At this, Andrews puts down his donut and
looks a little more thoughtful. “She there now?” he says, looking at his fingers as thought they’re unpleasantly sticky. “She’s in the swamp with Jim!
Sheriff?....” She puts her hand to her forehead; “The rabbit had been shot. The bag was all bloody.” Andrews looks concerned. “I’ll come right
out.” He says. “Should I go look for them?” Tressa asks helpfully. “NO! No, you...you stay right there, Mrs. Kipp, OK? Will you do that for me?”
he says. Tressa gives a frustrated sigh and puts the phone down.
"No, Ma'am; I don't care if it is an emergency,
*never* try to separate a cop from his choccie donut!"
Jim is still out walking in the swamp when he comes across Alec, who puts out a hand to stop him. “What’s wrong?” he asks the boy, who’s
looking glum. “I took your advice yesterday and made a friend.” He begins to walk away; “She had dinner with us, slept over....” he pauses and
turns back to Alec; “...but I think there’s something wrong with her.” He sighs. “Why do you think that?” Alec asks. Jim continues his pacing back
over to Alec, looking downwards; “Well...I’ve had it with her.” He mutters. “Maybe she deserves a second chance, Jim?” he suggests. “You think
so?” Jim wonders. “I don’t know. She’s your friend.” Alec admits. “Did she hurt you in any way?” he asks. Jim paces a bit more and turns; “No.”
He says quietly; “Sure looked like she was going to though.” He pauses in contemplation. “I guess she’s calmed down by now....If I can find her.”
He gives a shrug, leaving to look for Lilly. Alec watches him go, then decides to follow behind.
“Hey Lilly! Where’s your friend, Lady Grey!?” a boy is taunting Lilly in the middle of a clearing. It’s the short middle one from the group seen
earlier. The rest of them are there too. “Did you shoot her?” she shouts accusingly. “He only kills puddy cats...*I’m* the rabbit exterminator!” The
first boy steps forward. He and Lilly approach, and he lashes out at her. She dodges and runs past, stopping a few metres from them. With her
back to the gang, she takes out the knife and readies it. The first boy urges the middle one forward, but Lilly spins round, knife in hand; and the boy
backs off in surprise. Lilly advances on them. “You believe this!?” the first boy grins incredulously, before advancing on Lilly himself, with a cruel
grin; “I think we ought to take that thing right off of her.” Lilly backs off, still holding the knife in front of her for protection. “I’d really like to hurt her
for this!” the middle boy snarls. Meanwhile, the third boy has sneaked round Lilly’s back, and grabs her from behind, pinning her arms. The first
boy then knocks the knife from her hand, and the group laugh mercilessly as they toss and shove her around between them. Meanwhile, Jim arrives
and sees what’s happening. From the trees he sees the third boy throw Lilly to the ground. Jim turns, and sees Alec standing behind him. “That’s
Lilly;” he tells him; “You gotta do something!” He turns back in time to see the third boy picking up a large branch and raising it up to club Lilly.
Jim badly wanted his swamp lessons from
Alec, but he was buggered if he'd listen
to any more of his Pat Boone collection!
Alec gives a cry of anger, and the whole swamp reacts immediately, shaking, and a huge hurricane force wind strikes up. In the clearing, the boys
are looking bewildered. Even Jim has to cover his ears with his hands. The boys are shielding their faces, and Lilly is just cowering on the ground,
bruised and dirty. Alec continues the assault, and Jim looks round at him in concern. Eventually, the boys cut their losses and run off, and Lilly gets
up to her knees, still covering her eyes from the wind.
Alec stops, and the winds die down, and Jim removes his hands from his ears. He looks between Alec and Lilly, torn, and Alec gives him a
reassuring pat on the shoulder. Jim sets off to see how Lilly is.
“What happened?” she asks, when she sees Jim heading towards her. He helps her up. “Why d’you come back?” she asks with more than a little
surprise; “I was so rotten.” She admits to him. “You look like you needed help.” Jim replies, retrieving the knife from the ground, closing it up and
putting it back in his pocket. “Why are you treating me so nice?” she asks again, perplexed at this seemingly alien behaviour towards her. “You’re
my friend.” Is Jim’s simple reply. “That’s the first time anybody’s ever called me that.” She says softly. She seems to be covered in dirt and bruises
to her arms and face, and Jim puts a finger to one on her face, but she flinches. “I’ve never had a friend. I’ve never had anything....except Lady
Grey.” She says. “Who’s that?” Jim enquires. “My rabbit;” she looks saddened; “One of those kids shot her dead.” Jim looks away, then back at
her. Lilly seems to be preparing to say something. “I stole this from your mother’s vanity.” She admits, fingering an object; “Tell her I’m sorry.” She
opens her hand to show Jim the silver brooch. “She always forgives me when I’m honest.” Jim tells her, implying she should do it herself; “come
on.” He gestures for her to follow him home, and they leave together.
Back at the Langford house, Tressa rushes from the porch as she sees Sheriff Andrews arriving. She runs up to him as he gets out of the car, hat in
hand. “They’re still out there!” she says worriedly, arms outstretched in a gesture of frustration and helplessness. “Not any more.” Andrews says,
pointing behind her. She turns to see Jim and Lilly walking out of the swamp.
“You know, she’s really one of the unlucky ones;” Andrews explains to Tressa as they walk to meet the two kids; “Mother drinks; father’s around
off and on....and all the other kids, they hate her for no good reason.” Tressa just seems relieved and overjoyed to see them safe. “It’s OK, Lilly.”
She reassures her as she puts her arms out to greet Jim and hugs him. “Oh, you’re OK, aren’t ya?” she says, holding his face. “Yeah.” Jim replies.
“Come on, let me clean up those scratches.” Tressa says, seeing the state Lilly’s in, and leading her into the house. As they set off towards the
porch steps, Andrews stops Jim. “Hey! She do anything wrong out there?” he asks. “Tried to carve her initials into a tree.....I stopped her.” Jim
says casually, before turning away and going into the house. Andrews just gives a bemused look and leaves.
"No Dear. Sheriff Andrews hasn't come to
take you away to a slave labour camp....
That's not for another 3 episodes yet"
In the kitchen, Tressa is treating Lilly’s cuts and bruises, mostly the ones on her arm. She’s gentle, and apologises for it stinging as she dabs
antiseptic on with cotton wool swabs. Lilly winces a little. Jim watches, and seems to get an idea. “Be right back.” He says, opening the kitchen
door and leaving, as Tressa takes out a plaster for Lilly.
Once outside, Jim goes straight for the garbage cans. He takes the lid off the first, but what he’s looking for isn’t there so he replaces it. He then
tries the second, and finds the carrier bag of Lilly’s, which he takes, after checking inside it.
“I stole those from you.” Lilly says with a grimace as she tells Tressa, who is still tending the wounds. She shows her the brooch. Tressa picks it up
in amazement. “It’s one of my favourites!” She exclaims softly. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am.” Lilly says sincerely, in a very apologetic voice.
Tressa thinks for a moment and looks at her, giving her a pat; “You’ve told me.” She says softly, putting the brooch back, although she still seems a
bit shocked and distant.
In the swamp, Jim is carrying the body of Lady Grey in his arms. “It’s Lilly’s rabbit. It’s all she has.” He explains, as he sees Alec standing before
him; “Can you do something?” He hands the rabbit to Alec. “Wait here.” Alec tells him, before disappearing behind some trees where he sits down,
cradling the lifeless rabbit in his arms. He puts a hand to it and concentrates, and a vivid green glow fills the area. This continues for a while, but
eventually returns to normal, and when Alec removes his hand, the rabbit stirs slightly, although it’s still a little dazed. Alec then hands Lady Grey
back to Jim, who’s followed him after all. He watches quietly as the boy leaves with the rabbit.
"I'll hug him and pet him and call him
George.... Oh!...Still here, Jim!?"
Back in the kitchen at the Langford house, Tressa is giving Lilly some tablets and water (painkillers, presumably). If there’s any residual hostility
over the brooch, it’s not evident at all. As the kitchen door opens, both of them turn to stare in amazement. “Lady Grey?” Lilly recognises her friend
in Jim’s arms and is stunned. Jim hands her the rabbit. Tressa looks astonished and very happy, as Lilly takes the rabbit in her arms and hugs it
close. Jim looks up at Tressa, who gives a huge smile, as does Jim. Lilly’s too preoccupied to notice, holding Lady Grey to her, cuddling her and
running her fingers through the fur in happiness.