The Cape: Scales (S1E4)

Oh my gosh, sorry for the spam earlier with episodes 2 and 3.  Blogger was doing something really funny so I was trying something out (deleting reposting etc) and I just remembered it would totally suck for anyone trying to read this on an RSS feed or something.

Well, let's get this up to date, shall we?

Scales

Episode 4 is in essence about the man named in the title: Scales.  He is being contracted by Chess for armaments and taxed legally by Fleming.  Vince, as the Cape, goes and informs him of this, pointing out an obvious fact: he was still getting order even after "Chess" was supposed to be dead.  So, in essence, Scales was paying the same man twice.

Now why go through all this trouble, especially if Scales is particularly unhappy with the Cape already from an earlier escapade (in episode 1 where he goes to save Max from him).  Vince's ingenious plan boils down to this: to get Scales to out Fleming as Chess, and thus clearing his own name.  He gives Scales the plan to corner Fleming aboard a train full of every "rich player in the city," called the Monte Carlo train.

The Carnival of Crime, getting ready to do some business.

Fleming points a gun at the Cape.

Unfortunately for Scales (and Vince), the Carnival of Crime has also decided to attend the party.  While Scales pushes his way onto the train with his inside information over Fleming's head, Vince and Orwell have to try and prevent a robbery by the people who took Vince in.  They are aided by Portman, who has dressed as the Cape (the party is a masquerade of heroes and villains).  Through a series of unfortunate events, Scales, who does indeed out Fleming but is laughed at instead of believed, decides to rob everyone instead.  He fleeces them and leaves them to die (their brakes are sabotaged courtesy of a malfunction when the trains are separated), and he is in turn fleeced by Max and the others.  And as unlikely as it is, the Cape must team up with Fleming to save the day.  When all is over and done with, Fleming smiles and tells Vince that he's glad he has such a good opponent this time around.

Vince has a confrontation with Max later where he throws down the circumstances: one day, in the future, they will be on different sides.  Max just replies glibly that they should just enjoy the time until that day.

Trip on his birthday the year before.

There is a side story to all this: It's Trip's birthday.  That fact has Vince acting edgy all night.  Trip is not doing too well at school because all his classmates think he's Chess's son (his book gets marked up "Return to Murderers son") and his mother is stuck in traffic so she'll be late to celebrate his birthday.  She sends Travis Hall ahead first, who is there to go over some depositions with her as well as celebrate Trip's birthday, but Trip refuses to open the door because his father had once warned against opening the door for any strangers.  Travis spends most of the episode camped outside the apartment, talking to Trip while sitting and waiting on Dana.  He tells Trip some good news: technically, and legally, Vince is actually considered innocent until proven guilty.  He is rewarded with a fruit snack, but still isn't given entrance into the apartment.  (Laughs)

Orwell breaks down the evening, telling Vince why it wasn't a failure.

There's a sad, poignant moment when Vince and Orwell break down the night, and Orwell notes that after all that's happened, Vince is still wrapping a birthday present for his son.  She asks:

Orwell: "Why do parents love their kids like that?"
Vince: "They just do."
Orwell: "Do you think that anything could ever make that love go away?"
Vince: "No."

Points to another piece of evidence suggesting Fleming is her father.

The last part is a delivery for Trip, a birthday present from the Cape.  Such a sweet end.

My thoughts

I have to say, I was rather excited when I found out Vinnie Jones (Scales) was going to be in a TV show.  I've always kinda liked his gruff guy act.  I'm glad for him that he has a bigger part than just that bit role in the first episode.

About Orwell, I think that when the rest of her story gets revealed, I'm probably going to be a little misty-eyed.  I bet she wishes Vince was her father instead of Fleming (unconfirmed of course).  I'm a little worried the creators are going to start a relationship with Vince and her, but it's probably unfounded.  It would ruin his image as the family man.

And Trip?  He's just so cute, I feel so bad for him being bullied by his classmates.  I hope Fleming doesn't find him and make his life even more of a hell than it already is.  He's had enough.