01x28 - The Ringmaster

[bunniefuu]

At his home in an army post
in the southwest,

a frustrated General Thunderbolt Ross
is angrily pacing the floor.

Betty, I must find the Hulk
before he does any more damage.

Perhaps if you find young Rick Jones,
he might lead you to him.

There's something in what you say.
I'll try it.

Attention, all personnel.
General Ross speaking.

Find Rick Jones, top priority.
Over and out.

- Hold on, son. You're Rick Jones?
- What's it to you?

This area's been under surveillance.
We knew you'd show up.

- What do you want?
- The general wants you.

He knows you're the only one
with some connection to the Hulk.

- You can't push me around this way.
- I'll get right to the point.

You've got to bring the Hulk to us.
There's no time to lose.

Sorry. I can't tell you anything.

Look, son,
this is bigger than you or me.

We can't have that creature
menacing mankind.

Cool it, mister. Nothing could
make me rat on the Hulk.

As the sullen teenager
remains adamant, refusing to talk,

the general has no choice
but to release him.

He's bound to return to the Hulk.
I'll have him followed.

Stay with him.
Don't let him out of your sight.

He won't escape us this time.

Be careful. General Ross has been
questioning me again.

Always, someone's always after me.

Troops. They've found me.
But they mustn't find the Hulk.

Break down the door.

Hulk, you've gotta
get out of here, fast.

Jump. Break out. Get to
our secret cave. I'll meet you there.

The mightiest living thing on earth
makes a leap so powerful

that he seems to be flying.

He got away again.
The general will be furious.

This is the town of Plainville,


Now nothing moves,
save for two FBI men

who cautiously drive
through the silent streets.

Our tip was right, Mike. This town
is the same as the other two.

All motionless, as though everyone's
been turned into a living statue.

If it weren't for the heartbeats,
you'd think they were dead.

Look. Not a flicker of movement.

It's always the same,
not even an eye blink.

And as usual
the entire town's been ransacked.

Even the bank vault's
been picked clean as a whistle.

It's impossible. It defies all logic.
An entire town spellbound.

If only we could find a clue,

any little thing to go on,
but there's nothing.

Meanwhile, the Hulk,
zooming through the air,

chances on a desperate situation,

a stalled school bus
and an approaching train.

A dim flicker
of Bruce Banner's intelligence

causes him to quickly plummet
to the stalled bus.

Later, in a nearby town...

Listen to this.
The Hulk averts school bus tragedy.

The Hulk has disappeared,
but it's believed that Rick Jones,

age 16, knows of his whereabouts,
although he refuses to talk.

I don't get it.
What's that gotta do with us?

If we capture the Hulk, we have the
greatest drawing card in the world.

- But how could we ever capture him?
- Nothing to it.

There's a picture of the boy.
The ticket taker will watch for him.

We'll grab Rick Jones, capture
the Hulk when he comes to rescue him,

and then we'll have the biggest
box office attraction of the century.

But how do you know
the kid will come to the circus?

Stupid.
No boy can resist a circus.

Meanwhile, Rick returns to the cave
to find the Hulk already there.

Good work, Hulk.
You're quite a hero.

Doesn't matter.

Nobody will ever think I'm any good,

no matter what I do.

I'm gonna leave you for a while.
You get some shuteye. You need it.

A little later...

Hey, what's this?
Nothing I like better than a circus.

Buying his ticket,
Rick is recognised by the seller,

who quickly points him out
to the Ringmaster.

Now we'll get him, after the act.
You know what to do.

Welcome to the most exciting show
on earth.

Tonight before your very eyes,
I, the Ringmaster,

will perform unbelievable feats.

But, remember, you must not take
your eyes off me for a second.

And now behold,
watch the stars on my jacket

and the circles on my hat.

See them spin round and round.

Spinning and spinning.

Round and round.

It is over.
I have them all hypnotised.

My brain is getting clouded.

I must reach the Hulk
before I black out.

Hulk, come to me.

Hypnotised, Rick is tied
and carried to a circus wagon.

The caravan leaves for the next town

with the Ringmaster exclaiming
that he has the key to a fortune.

Will the Hulk hear Rick's last cry

and, if so, what fate awaits them?