| Finding
the Mall - Ep.1-2 |
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Ryan and Lex first became friends at boot camp.
Then there's Zandra, who is halfway to being Lex's girlfriend
- if he weren't so mean to her (and everyone); and there's Glen,
Lex's potential rival for Zandra, and who doesn't really trust
him. Four people with too much self-interest to be described
as friends. Yet here they are, led by Lex, hoping to join the
Locos. It's a question of survival.
Ryan might be described as 'slow', and he pretty much does whatever
Lex tells him. He even copies Lex's tribal markings, often a
single black line under each eye. As time goes on (Seasons 1-5)
Ryan becomes more independent and somewhat smarter.
Lex is no diplomat, and he runs foul of Zoot almost instantly.
Lex gives the order to run. As they scale a wall, Lex ditches
Glen, sacrificing him to the Locos. Ryan and Zandra never learn
the truth about this. Glen and Lex will meet again....
By chance Lex's group (of 3) encounters Amber's group in a Kids'
play area. While Lex tries to bully Amber into handing over
any food, the Locos catch up with Lex. Then the Demon Dogz arrive
and a fight between the two rival tribes ensues. Amber's group
escape, and find the Mall. Lex's group sit the fight out under
cover.
Lex spots the teddy Cloe has dropped and tracks Amber's group
to the Mall but his renewed threats are thwarted when Jack lowers
the grille in front of and behind him. They are trapped.
Despite issuing threats and ultimatums, Lex and his companions
have no choice but to spend their first night behind the grille.
Lex commandeers the only couch for himself, leaving Ryan and
Zandra to sleep on the stone floor. Ryan uses Cloe's teddy as
a pillow.
The following day, Amber allows the three out when intruders
are heard in the sewers. Ryan makes a point of handing Cloe's
teddy back to Amber, revealing a softer, kinder heart than Lex,
who comes across as hard and ruthless. |
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| The intruder turns out to be Bray, and despite Lex's
bravado and self-proclaimed expertise in protecting people, Bray outwits
him and Ryan, and he sneaks into the Mall while they go on a wild
goose chase. |
Once Lex, Ryan and Zandra have joined the fledgling
tribe, Zandra sleeps in the furniture store with the other girls
and younger kids. For a short time Lex and Ryan take up residence
in the boarded-up Jewelry store.
Lex has brought the red couch from the grille area for himself,
leaving Ryan to sleep on the floor with nothing more than a
blanket or quilt.
Some time after Ep.8 Lex and Ryan move to the Boutique. As before
Lex sleeps on the couch, and Ryan on the floor. |
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We soon understand that Ryan has a thing for Zandra,
not that it's ever likely to happen. Zandra plays on this, stringing
Ryan along whenever Lex is being mean.
Zandra has an eye for design and gracious living. With a little
effort, and Ryan's help, she turns one half of the furniture
store into a comfy living space for everyone, leaving the remaining
half for sleeping.
Zandra gives Ryan a job, a pile of scatter cushions. Ryan takes
her at her word and throws them in the air. Ryan's understanding
of scatter cushions. |
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When Bray brings a heavily pregnant Trudy to the
Mall, a vote is taken whether she can stay. Ryan votes with
Lex - no. Zandra votes yes. It's 5 to 4 against. Trudy goes
into labor, which changes everything.
With Amber generally supervising the birth, Zandra remembers
that Lex has some paracetamol. Amber sends her to get some for
Trudy. She meets Ryan on the way, retrieving a backpack from
behind the CD counter. "Personal items" he explains.
This story runs, on and off, from Ep.4 to Ep.28.... |
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| Ryan's
"Personal Items" - Ep.4-28 |
| In Ep.6 Ryan checks on his bag, now
hidden away in the old clock in the Antiques store, muttering,
"Money, lovely money." |
In Ep.7 Ryan counts his money again.
Either he can't count or some has gone missing. |
| "Lex, someone's stolen our money...this
was our life-savings." Lex suggests Ryan should set a trap. |
Ryan asks Jack to help with a hypoth--[etical]
problem concerning some hypothetical money that has been stolen.
Jack recommends putting his name on all the notes. "Jack,
that's brilliant!" |
| Ryan has actually written his name
on every note. Back in the Antiques store Ryan counts it all
again. From the Phoenix Jack watches him with glee for being
so stupid. |
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| At the Tribal Gathering (Ep.28-29),
KC spots Dal in a line of slaves. The Mallrats discover
that he has been sold to Ebony. Ryan produces his bag
of money, a ransom to buy Dal back. Ebony laughs, as does
everyone nearby. Amber explains that money is useless
now, it is worthless. It all ends up on the fire. |
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Back at the Mall in Ep.30 Ryan
is shocked to learn that Lex knew all along that the money
was worthless. Water on the other hand is worth a fortune.
It's not long before Lex needs a favor. Zandra wants him
to make a list of wedding vows. Unable to read or write,
he needs Ryan's help. Ryan refuses, sore that Lex was
laughing at him all along about the money.
It's not long though before Lex sweet-talks him into changing
his mind. |
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| Ryan
enforces Lex's bullying |
| Because Ryan let's Lex tell him what to
do much of the time, we often see Ryan restraining people whenever
Lex requires it. Lex does the talking, shouting, or punching. |
| In Ep.6 Lex has been helping himself to
Jack's batteries for his Gameboy. Jack objects, and wants the batteries
back. Lex threatens to hurt Jack "really bad." |
| In Ep.8 Paul and Patsy wake Lex, for they believe there's
an intruder. Lex and Ryan find Zoot, leader of the Locos, talking
to Bray and Trudy. Even though Zoot is unarmed, and seems peaceable,
Lex wants a fight. Ryan does as Lex tells him, restraining Bray while
Lex lands punches to his stomach. Zoot escapes up the stairs, and
the others follow. Zoot falls over the balcony to his death when he
defends his brother Bray against Lex. |
| In Ep.11 Lex refuses to let Bray eat, or even
to take food for Trudy. Ryan prevents Bray going any further.
Why? Because Bray didn't do guard duty last night. He has to
promise to do double guard duty to make up before he can eat. |
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| Ryan
teaches Paul and Patsy to play Poker - Ep.9-10 |
In Ep.9 Amber institutes a chores roster so that
everyone does their share of the general household chores. Ryan
has a plan for bucking the system.
He teaches Paul and Patsy to play Poker, letting them win with
matchsticks. He raises the stakes to chores, and plays to win.
Patsy and Paul end up doing all Ryan's cleaning duties for the
next 4 days. Generously, he offers to finish walking Bob!
It doesn't end there. In Ep.10 they play for food rations. Ryan
wins as before and to stay in the game Patsy cajoles Jack into
giving her food from his secret stash. |
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| When Patsy goes a second time, while Lex looks after
his cards, Ryan follows her, all the way to Jack's food stash. |
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| Ryan runs back to Lex with some of the evidence,
a can of creamed rice. Ryan tucks into it without delay. Lex
turns the situation to his advantage. Jack must promise to vote
for him and not Amber in the upcoming election for leader. |
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Ryan resumes the Poker game. What he doesn't know
is that in return for Paul's promise to vote for him, Lex has
been switching cards in Paul's favor. Ryan loses everything
and is totally shocked.
When Lex wins the election, Ryan lets slip to everyone about
Jack's food stash. So Lex's first task as leader is to put Jack
on trial. |
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When Lex appoints Ryan as judge he insists on
wearing his special hat. Before Jack has had a chance to speak,
Ryan votes to have Jack thrown out.
To keep his own water stash secret, Lex must have the charge
against Jack dropped. Jack has made that very clear. |
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| Lex hints that if Jack is found guilty, maybe the court
should look into other crimes, like people gambling for food rations.
Needless to say, Ryan switches his vote and the majority end result
is "not guilty". |
| "Boys
and Sticks" - Amber |
| As leader,
Lex gives all the chores to the girls. The boys are to learn self
defense - or "the noble art of bearing arms". Amber notices
that the kids are using brooms with no handles. When the girls are
summoned to watch a demonstration, they see where the handles went.
Lex ticks Ryan off. |
Ryan |
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You said
to get sticks....so I did |
| Lex |
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I didn't
say get broom handles |
| Ryan |
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You didn't say not
to |
| The
Girls Rebel. Ryan gets a piece of the Pie - Ep.12 |
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To persuade Lex to see reason, the girls go on
strike, cooking only for themselves and the kids. When Salene
tells Ryan she is making a pie to celebrate Trudy naming her
baby, he wonders if he might have a slice if he provided water
to make gravy.
Jack and Dal are also invited, to show them what they can expect
if they share the chores. Trudy announces the name "Brady"
and Ryan cuts the pie.
Only Lex is left out. He tries to prevent the boys eating with
the girls, but it's too late. The boys are beginning to side
with the girls against Lex. |
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