Rats
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| Batman Beyond episode | |
|---|---|
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| "Rats" | |
| Airdate: | November 20, 1999 (USA) |
| Production Number: | 22 |
| Airdate Order: | 22 |
| Animation Services by: | Koko / Dong Yang |
| Written by: | Rich Fogel |
| Directed by: | Curt Geda |
| Episode images (3) | |
"Rats" is the twenty-second episode of Batman Beyond. It depicts a break-up between Dana and Terry that leaves Dana in a rather dangerous situation. Fed up with his constant absences, Dana leaves Terry, only to be intrigued by a message pledging devotion to her. She soon finds herself kidnapped by a disfigured boy whose short temper could easily be the death of her.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
An ominous newscast speaks of Gotham's "secret shame:" giant man-eating rats. These rats are blamed for several disappearances, which Chelsea seems to believe in, "Remember that girl Sally, who disappeared last month? Maybe giant rats got her!" Dana however is more concerned with the fact that Terry has stood her up again. Terry arrives and tries to patch things up but she refuses to listen and leaves. When she reaches her car, she finds a white rose and a note saying, "I'll be there for you."
Later that night, Dana calls up Terry and makes a date with him to meet at Rhino's Chili, promising to wear the white dress he likes. She tells her father about the date but he expresses concern, as he knows of Terry's past. Outside, a shadowy figure looks inside but runs off when it's noticed.
Meanwhile, Terry heads out to meet Dana but he receives a call from Bruce alerting him to Mad Stan being on a rampage. Knowing his responsibility must come first, Batman confronts Mad Stan, who believes that Gotham is dying due to an information overload, in the library and the two start to fight.
While Batman and Mad Stan fight, Dana waits in front of Rhino's and eventually decides that she's been blown off again. Angrily leaving the scene, she come across another rose with the “I'll be there for you” message. As she reads the note, she is approached by two giant rats that slowly advance on her.
Dana wakes up surrounded by white roses. Looking around, she finds herself in an underground room filled with shelves of junk items. A rat-like boy greets her and tells her that his name is Patrick and that this is his collection of things that people don't want. Dana soon comes across the giant rats again but Patrick shows that he can control them and that they are his friends.
Back at Terry's house, Terry calls Dana and apologizes. Soon afterwards, there is an insistent knock at the door. Terry answers and is soon assaulted by Dana's father who demands to know her whereabouts. Terry is taken aback but now learns that Dana is missing.
In the sewers, Dana learns that Patrick ran away because people called him "ratboy" and he sought to quit being teased. Attempting to escape, Dana offers to take Patrick to Rhino's for some chili but he refuses to let her go and heads off for himself. While Patrick is gone, Dana searches through his collection and finds a flashlight. With the light in hand, she searches for a way out, passing up several barrels of toxic waste which were presumably the source of the giant rats.
Finally making it into the sewers, Dana soon finds herself trapped in a pit and discovers a huge colony of regular sized rats. Despite their small size, the rats are aggressive and attack Dana. Fortunately, Patrick arrives and scares the rats off.
After being returned to Patrick's dwelling Dana snaps at him for his kidnapping. Angered by her words, Patrick explains that he's done this sort of thing before. He pulls out a whistle and blows it. "They don't make fun of me anymore." The rats, both giant and regular, advance on Dana but Batman, who had followed Patrick from Rhino's, arrives and fights them off. In order to aid Batman Dana takes a hockey stick and sets it ablaze. The two manage to ward off the rats long enough to escape. During the escape, Dana drops the lit hockey stick into the toxic waste causing an explosion.
Later, Terry finds Dana sitting in an ambulance. He tries to apologize to her but she doesn't want to listen to words. She just hugs him and Terry takes Dana home.
[edit] Continuity
- Dana's father alludes to Terry's criminal record, the details of which will be revealed in "Big Time." The first time it was mentioned was in "A Touch of Curaré."
- Mad Stan appears for the first time in this episode, but deducing from Bruce and Terry's exchange, Batman has had previous off-screen dealings with him.
- An action figure of Magma from the Terrific Trio is part of Patrick's collection, as he states that it is something no one wants, this episode occurs after the episode "Heroes" as the Trio has been discredited.
- Patrick (Ratboy) is never seen again; presumably he died in the explosion.
[edit] Background Information
[edit] Production Inconsistencies
- Why does Mad Stan need a detonator if all the bombs he planted have timers?
[edit] Trivia
- Introduction of Mad Stan.
- First and only time Dana's father is seen.
- The man sitting next to Terry on the train seems to be the same one Batman saved in "Hidden Agenda." He also makes a cameo in "Speak No Evil" and "Countdown."
- In one scene a toy monkey identical to the dolls seen in "Monkey Fun" can be seen in Patrick's collection.
- This episode together with "Once Burned" and "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot" was released on VHS as Batman Beyond: Crush.
- Mad Stan's rant about "information overload" is similar to that of Spider in Johnny Mnemonic. Both characters are portrayed by Henry Rollins. Mad Stan's appearance seems to have been modeled off Rollins.
[edit] Cast
[edit] Quotes
Mad Stan: BLOW IT ALL UP! |
Mad Stan: Look around, Batman. Society's crumbling, and do you know why? |
| Previously produced episode: "Hooked Up" | Episodes of Batman Beyond | Next produced episode: "Mind Games" |
| Previously aired episode: "Hooked Up" | Next aired episode: "Mind Games" |
