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| In Ep.14-15 Cloe gets lost in the woods in her
efforts to protect her calf Bluebell from Lex. Mercifully she
meets Tai-San, who not only saves her from marauding Locos (searching
for their missing leader Zoot), but also shows her how to listen
to her heart, to find her way back home. Along the way Tai-San
binds up Cloe's sprained ankle, applying herbs to reduce the
swelling. |
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Cloe introduces Tai-San to her friends at the
Mall. Everyone welcomes her, except Lex who regards her as a
threat.
They are both taken to the Café for a hot meal. Lex continues
to be hostile. Amber reminds him that Tai-San is their guest,
and he ought to show her some manners.
When Tai-San asks the name of their tribe, Lex suggests they
be called "The Rats." Tai-San calls a circle. Trudy
looks down from the balcony and wants to be part of it. The
name "Mallrats" is generally agreed. Tai-San continues,
"As of this day, all those who join hands are bound together
as one - brothers and sisters to the end." |
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| Tai-San
recommends Marriage - Ep.16 |
In Ep.16 Zandra's candlelit dinner for two turns
sour when Lex tries to rape her. She shares her ordeal with
the other girls. Amber wants to see Lex punished, but Tai-San
believes that marriage is the answer, and offers to perform
the ceremony.
Zandra goes back to Lex, and gets an apology. His immediate
reaction to the marriage idea is a definite 'no'. But when Ryan
points out that Tai-San's ceremony wouldn't be legally binding,
he reconsiders. |
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| Meanwhile at the railyard, Ebony has captured Bray,
interrogating him about the disappearance of Zoot. She's sure he knows
something, maybe even holding him captive somewhere? |
| Amber is not sure that Zandra is mature enough
to get married. She finds Tai-San in the Antiques shop looking
for something special, for Zandra's special day. Amber suggests
(a little unkindly) it will rather be Tai-San's special day,
and that she is messing with people's lives. Tai-San is certain
of one thing, it's what they want, and will be good for the
tribe. She also hints that Amber has already made her own choice,
but won't admit it. [She means Bray] |
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| Zandra is nervous about one thing, the wedding
night. She has never been all the way before and needs some
advice. Trudy refuses to comment. Tai-San bestows a few words
of wisdom: "It is one of life's pleasures, but you've got
to stay in control. Don't let the man treat you like an object
- or a slave: that's very important. And don't take risks. If
the guy doesn't have protection, say No. And anyway, you don't
want to end up with a baby, do you? - like poor Trudy." |
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In the meantime at the railyard, while Bray is
still blindfolded, someone cuts his bonds. But when he looks
around, there's no one. Without asking questions, Bray heads
back to the Mall, followed unseen by Ebony.
Bray gets back just as the wedding ceremony is starting. Tai-San
calls Zandra to come down to her husband.
Suddenly Zandra screams. Ebony has followed Bray into the Mall.
The wedding will have to wait for another day. |
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Ebony is caught and put in the cage. The Mallrats
can't let her go lest she return with the Locos. A few, like
Zandra, suggest execution. Tai-San regards all life as sacred,
and believes they must keep her until they 'know' what to do.
Amber draws up a roster - Ebony must be guarded 24/7. Lex enjoys
guarding Ebony, watching her move - watching her. She
entices him inside the cage; kissing is just the beginning...
Then she escapes, leaving Lex locked in the cage.
Bob/Amber raise the alarm. Ebony has gone, and will surely return
with the Locos. Zandra is more concerned what Lex was doing
with Ebony. |
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| The Mallrats prepare for attack by the Locos. Unknown
to everyone, Bray finds Ebony at the railyard and makes a deal. He
tells her the truth about Zoot's death, and gives her the Talisman
that he always wore. It will give her immense standing among the Locos.
In return she agrees to leave the Mall alone. |
Tai-San finds Lex in the Service Area working out on
a punch-bag, and demonstrates her own skill for his approval. She,
however, also guesses that Lex is working out his frustration - that
the punchbag is a sex substitute.
That night, as Lex is about to sleep, Tai-San slips into bed with
him. She believes she is doing what's right, to help Lex be free from
negative energy, and therefore "for the good of the tribe."
Ryan meanwhile is on guard duty in the sewers. In the morning as he
heads back to the Boutique (the room he shares with Lex), Tai-San
waves to him as she walks away. The cheery Good morning from
Lex can leave Ryan in no doubt. |
| At breakfast Zandra sits with Lex. Trudy has taken
an overdose of sleeping pills during the night and Amber has
laid the blame squarely on Bray. Lex of course agrees. Zandra
turns every word Lex says against him. |
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| Lex |
|
That Bray had
it coming to him. He can't treat a girl like that |
| Tai-San |
|
Like what, Lex? |
| Lex |
|
You know....messing
her about and all that |
| Zandra |
|
You mean like
going with other women? |
| Lex |
|
Well, yeah |
| Zandra |
|
Of course you'd
never do a thing like that would you Lex? |
|
| Lex |
|
I mean there's
the kid and all |
| Zandra |
|
It's not his
kid |
| Lex |
|
Well no but....
|
| Zandra |
|
And he'd never
asked her to marry him had he? |
| Lex |
|
Well, no |
| Zandra |
|
What do you
think Tai-San? What do you think of a man who's promised one
girl, turned out to have had it off with someone else? |
| Tai-San |
|
I think people worry too much, right,
Lex? |
| Lex |
|
Yeah.... yeah...right...that's
right |
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| Zandra |
|
Listen to who's
talking |
| Lex |
|
You're the
one that made such a thing of it. Look, if you hadn't been so
uptight |
| Zandra |
|
You wouldn't
have wanted to marry me, if you ever really did |
| Lex |
|
Maybe I've
changed my mind. Maybe I don't need to any more |
| Zandra |
|
No? its the
only way you're going to get what you want |
| Lex |
|
Says who? |
| Zandra |
|
Says me. I
mean...Look at you. Who'd have you? |
|
| Zandra is of course referring to Lex and Ebony in the
cage. She has NO IDEA that Lex slept with Tai-San last night. |
Tonight is Lex's turn for guard-duty, but he really
wants to sleep with Tai-San again. Without explaining why, Lex
asks Ryan to spend another night in the sewers.
Tai-San is not so obliging. Sex last night doesn't mean sex
tonight, and will let him know when she's ready again. She resumes
her meditation. |
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| The following morning Lex declines Zandra's invitation
to breakfast, lying that he must check the water supply. She presently
finds him with Tai-San and drags him away. At breakfast Zandra gets
into conversation with Salene. When she looks round... Lex has vanished! |
| Back at the Pharmacy, Lex watches Tai-San exercising
martial arts. In his mind, her words about Karma, or harmony, translate
to sex. While her back is turned he grabs her. In one deft move, Tai-San
demonstrates her skill with a staff. |
| Here's a nice pic. of Tai-San looking down from
the Pharmacy to the Market Stall area below. (Taken from Ep.22). |
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| The following morning at dawn, Trudy leaves the Mall
with Dal. Seeing them emerge from the sewers, KC goes in the way they
came out. |
| Sensing bad vibes, Tai-San orders a rearrangement of
the Café furniture, in accordance with Feng-shui. Meanwhile
Lex discovers an intruder stealing from his room, and frog-marches
him upstairs to the Café. Tai-San believes he must be the source
of the bad vibes. And despite finding all manner of stolen personal
items in his bag, KC is voted in as a member of the tribe. |
| At the end of Ep.23 Tai-San once again slips into bed
with Lex. "Hallelujah". It's what he's been longing for
since the first time. In the morning, Tai-San meditates! Lex wants
her back in bed, and becomes angry that she doesn't want to. She observes
that when Lex doesn't get his way he behaves like a "cross little
boy - most unattractive!" |
| Jealousy,
Jealousy, Jealousy |
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Zandra has started to notice just how much time
Lex spends with Tai-San and isn't so sure they are just pretending
any more. Maybe Zandra should do something about it?
Lex notices that Ryan has been getting friendly and flirting
with Zandra and warns him off. |
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Lex continues to hang round Tai-San, now helping
her to clean the Mall floor. This really bugs Zandra, and although
she writes it off as "pathetic", she decides to play
her own jealousy game and knows "just the person"
- i.e. Ryan.
Ryan gladly accepts Zandra's offer of a makeover cum scalp massage.
But why does she choose the entrance to the Café at the
top of the stairs where everyone will see her? Lex is not amused. |
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Lex's final gift to Tai-San for the day is a can
of creamed rice. Now comes the bottom line, he wants to sleep
with her again tonight. Tai-San sees through his kindness and
generosity as a ploy for getting sex. It's no deal, and she
hands back the rice.
Lex storms off back to his room in a foul mood, passing Zandra
on the way. He totally ignores her.
Ryan at last summons courage to go tell Zandra how he feels
about her, but he can't get a word in. Zandra talks nonstop
about Lex and asks Ryan to let him know she still loves him. |
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Ep.25. Lex hasn't totally given up with Tai-San.
Maybe he could get on her wavelength by learning to meditate?
Tai-San remembers that he used to call her "Space cadet".
Tai-San is willing to teach Lex, but there's one important rule
he should know: spiritual teachers never get it on with
their students.
Meanwhile, Trudy has returned to the Mall, but without Dal. |
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Now that Tai-San has firmly closed the door on
Lex, his only option is to get back with Zandra. Turning on
the charm - flattery, humor, a little honesty about what happened
with Ebony - he begins to win her over.
Later in the day Zandra finds some perfume waiting for her.
It's her favorite. Lex comes out of hiding from the Leather
store and, what do you know - they're back together again. |
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Zandra sits down in the Café and gets chatting
to Tai-San about men. She admits she was becoming really jealous,
and even thought there might have been something going on between
her and Lex. Tai-San is amazed she should have thought that,
and explains they only slept together twice as an aura balancing
exercise.
It takes a few seconds for the words to sink in. Then Zandra
stands up and goes for her. Tai-San is well able to defend herself,
and it takes Amber to come in and call for order.
Tai-San explains there was a simple misunderstanding - that
she and Zandra come from different places. Zandra agrees: Tai-San
"comes from the gutter." |
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| Amber is concerned that Zandra is off her food.
Zandra sounds off about the rat (Lex) and the witch (Tai-San)
and Amber soon has a complete picture. |
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| Amber confronts Tai-San re. the damage she has
done to Zandra's relationship with Lex. Tai-San claims the New
Morality equates to freedom to do anything, and if Zandra got
hurt, it's her problem. |
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Ryan tracks Lex down in the sewers (lying low
to avoid Zandra), and orders him to face Zandra.
After all the accusations and excuses, Zandra agrees to take
Lex back on one condition...
Zandra escorts Lex toward Tai-San's room. Rather reluctantly
he dumps her to her face, with Zandra as witness. Zandra is
quite proud of him, "You see, you could do it." |
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