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Morning
at Medenham There's a nice visual treat
that's difficult to describe. (But of course I'll try.)
First, Ella saunters down the hall to smirk at a very
tarted-up Roxanne. As Ella leans against the lockers,
two fishnetted legs drop down from above, and there's
really nothing more to say about that, except "Hello,
Thelma." Ella, now framed by fishnet, just smirks
at Roxanne, who's now chatting up Jez (again). And then
Ella mutters "I've been to schools where you'd be
caned for a thing like that" and you can feel
free to wonder whether she's talking about Roxanne, or
the fishnetted calves to either side of her ears.
Thelma
wants to know more about the seraph; she considers it
a "mutant Nephilim." But Ella says it's a totally
different thing. As they talk, the camera does a good
job of continuing to put Ella's head squarely between
Thelma's legs (keeping in mind that Thelma's sitting on
top of the lockers, so there's really no danger of anything
untoward happening, except for the increasing rampantness
of my imagination).
Thelma
wonders whether Azazeal has sent the seraph to kill Ella.
But Ella doubts that: seraphs like pure souls. Virgins.
"Maybe it'll eat Malachi," offers Thelma. Ella
explains that seraphs only become visible seconds before
they attack.
Ella:
"We need to set a trap."
Thelma: "With cheese?"
Ella: "With a virgin."
Thelma's
not sure a virgin will be readily available, but says
she's always had her doubts about Roxanne. Never mind:
Ella's looking right at a sex-obsessed wanker named Leon.
Judo
Leon needs a judo partner. Ella steps
forward. Leon sort of wins the first round (or whatever
a "round" is in judo), but then Ella flips him
over and puts the pinch on him see, Xena again.
Ella asks him if he fancies a drink later, and points
out that he's not really in a position to say no.
As
Jez helps Ella up (oh, of course Jez is the judo coach
after all, there are only about three teachers
at this school), he sees the scars on her wrist and forearm.
Right: will we know more about those by the end of the
series, do you suppose? Or will we still be wondering
about them, just as we'll be wondering at the tortured
pseudo-logic of Thelma's fickle corporeality?
Leon's
room As Leon dresses for his date, Roxanne
wonders why Ella wouldn't go for someone "older and
slightly more sophisticated." First off, I suspect
Ella's older than just about everyone on the planet, and
second, if Thelma's reckless charm is anything to go by,
I don't think Ella's looking for sophisticated.
Ella's
room Thelma wonders why Ella's not out
looking for Azazeal, rather than drinking with Leon. Ella
says there's no need, because Azazeal has left that amulet
thingie behind (the one Malachi was playing with), and
she's got a feeling he'll be back for it. Ella dangles
it in front of Thelma, and explains that the angels crafted
it during their war with heaven. Apparently it allows
one to bend space and time. It's called the stone of Beliel
or Belial or something, and Ella's father taught her how
to read it. Ella's father's name was John Dee. Wait. John
Dee? Azazeal? Am I the only one who's read the Sandman
comics? Clearly not.
As
Ella talks about her father, whom she calls an "amazing
man," she waves her hand to open a tricky fireplace
cubby a place to stash the stone.
The
date Leon has a new text message. We know
this because his cell phone is screaming yes, his
"ring" is a woman screaming. Very nice. And
of course he's not really that cool: when Ella shows up,
all he can do is stammer that she looks lovely. Ella says
she's booked them a table somewhere a bit posh, so he'll
have to be on his best behavior. Never mind his behavior:
what about that horrid pink and black striped shirt he's
wearing??
Cassie's
room Jo is packing up some of Cassie's
things. Headmaster David looks at a picture of Thelma
and Cassie and declares Cassie dead. Jo doesn't respond.
He rambles on a bit more, and Jo confesses that she's
been a nightmare the last few weeks. Oh, what a mess the
adults are.
A
bar Ella orders a vodka martini, straight
up with a twist. Well done. Leon orders a... um... a...
a pint. With extra ums.
They
sort of banter, but you can't really banter if you're
not making any sense, and Leon rarely makes any sense
to me. Ella pours on the charm, and Leon gets nervous.
Back
in Cassie's room Thelma is sitting on
the stripped-down bed and sobbing. Oh no! There's Azazeal.
He says he's "heard" Cassie, and that Cassie's
not at peace she wants to see Thelma. He'll arrange
it, of course, in exchange for the stone/jewel/magical
thingie. He tells Thelma to meet him tomorrow at the church,
and Thelma says no at first, but can only sob when he
wonders whether she wants Cassie to spend eternity thinking
that Thelma didn't care.
Fuck
off, Azazeal. That's Thelma's heart you're playing with,
and I won't have it. Oh, fine, I have no idea how to do
anything about it, but that doesn't stop me from spitting
at the screen whenever you show up.
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