Mighty Max - Episode 1 - All Bellwether In One's Cap

A BELLWETHER IN ONE'S CAP

The very first episode of Mighty Max.

Opening Scene: At the start of every Mighty Max episode we see what the story line particular to that episode. In this one we see huge digging machines carving their way through solid rock. Rivers of lava flow everywhere, and in one cavern we see what appears to be a large crystal balanced on a staff. Within this crystal we see our world going about its daily business. Over all this we hear the voice of Skullmaster, Max's adversary; he encourages his machines to dig him a way out, to the surface, where he may be free to torment those that live in the light of the sun.

Episode Captures (Click to enlarge)

Here we meet Max for the first time as he enters his house, which is almost of mansion like proportions. The only people who live in this house are Max and his mother; as mentioned before there is never any sign or mention of his father, or of any siblings. Nobody is at home when Max arrives, and he makes he way straight to the kitchen, turns on a recorded message from his mother, and helps himself to a cookie as she informs him that she will be late, and that dinner is yesterday's buffalo stew. Max examines the stew, and wisely gives it a miss, and makes his way upstairs to his room.

Max opens the door to his bedroom which hits a button on the wall. This has the effect of switching on the lights and 6 television sets situated in the corner of his room (who needs 6 TV's??!!??) He places his home work on a bust of Socrates, asking him to "Bless this homework, oh wise one!" He lays back on his bed where he is greeted by Thor, his pet iguana. His relaxation is disturbed when the postman rings his door-bell, which sets off an alarm in his room. Max goes to the window and grabs a gutter pipe, and speaks into it, his voice traveling down to a surprised looking postie, holding onto a parcel.

Max zooms downstairs and takes the parcel from the postman, assuming it to be for his mother, but is surprised to find out that it is for him. Is it from his mother? Upon opening it he discovers what appears to be a statue of a chicken sitting on some kind of chair. Beneath the chair is carved ancient carved ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Fortunately Max's mom is an archaeologist and just so happens to have an "English-Egyptian" dictionary. A quick search reveals the writing to state: "You have been chosen to be the Cap-bearer. Mighty Max!" Instructions follow for him to go to the Mini-mart. Max is so surprised to read the translation that he drops the statue which smashes as it hits the floor - and reveals a red baseball cap which has a gold "M" embossed on it. Max reaches down and picks up the cap, placing it on his head. Instantly the whole room bursts into brilliant blue-white light that emanates from the cap. Unknown to Max this also triggers a similar reaction with the Crystal of Souls, owned by Skullmaster deep within the centre of the earth. Fearing that the Mighty One has come to destroy him, Skullmaster dispatches a huge Lava Beast to find and bring Max to him; in order that I may eat his beating heart!

Max makes his way to the Mini-mart where he witnesses the proprietor attempt to fight off a Lava Beast. He turns to Max and tells him to run, and Max does so without any further ado. He leaps onto his cycle but the Lava Beast (runs?) after him. Max manages to stay just ahead of the monster but panics when he sees a dead end ahead of him in the form of the side of a house. Realising that he was not going to stop in time, Max closes his eyes and screws up his face as he prepares for impact. It doesn't come. Instead Max finds himself flying through a tunnel of coloured lights. Suddenly he finds himself face down in the plains of Mongolia. Before him stands a huge man, and - a chicken? The man reaches down and picks Max up as if he were nothing more than a toy. Once on his feet there follows an amusing scene in which Max takes up a kung fu type stance and tells them both that he knows the ancient art of "Voodoo", and goes on to tell them that he could rip out their eyes and show them to the two of them before they died. Unimpressed the man and the chicken walk off, beckoning for Max to follow. Max is satisfied that he had "told them both."

Trips to Egypt, India and Paris follow as Virgil explains to Max about his being the Chosen One, and what the job description is. Finally Max finds himself back home fully conversant with his new role in life. As he, Norman, and Virgil enter Max's house, we see a lava beast approach from outside. Meanwhile in the house Max tells Virgil that there is no secret door hidden in the hallway, after all Max should know as he has spent his whole life there. However, Norman finds a secret door behind a wall, and the team enter to find themselves in a secret corridor, at the end of which is a portal. Virgil tells Max that the portal leads to Skull Mountain, in the centre of the earth, prompting Max to state that no matter what, he is not going in there. As he turns to walk off he comes face to face with the Lava Beast, which lunges toward him. Virgil pushes Max out of the way and falls backward into the portal, the Lava Beast close behind. Looking at Norman, Max realises that he has no alternative but to rescue Virgil, after all, as Max says; A Chosen One has to do what a Chosen One has to do!

Max and Norman leap into the portal to find themselves in Skull Mountain, where Max almost ends his life as he falls toward a pool of bubbling lava, fortunately Norman's quick reactions save Max from an untimely demise. Immediately the two are set upon by Rock Monsters, and before he knows it Max is alone in the fiery furnace of Skull Mountain. A movement and a voice, and Max meets Skullmaster for the first time, and does not like what he sees. Skullmaster walks toward Max who attempts to back off away from him, when he suddenly hits a staff with a crystal balancing upon it. Skullmaster goes into a panic, and Max sees a way out; the crystal is obviously important to him, and Max threatens Skullmaster by telling him he will smash the crystal. As the crystal falls Skullmaster lunges for it, buying Max time to make good his escape.

Max runs up a stairway and stumbles across Virgil who is hanging over a cliff by his chained wings. Once rescued he and Max find Norman and the three of them attempt to find a way out, only to be confronted by several Lava Beasts, and Warmonger; Skullmaster's apprentice. As the three run off they see several large digging machines, and promptly steal one. Skullmaster appears and is angered by the destruction of his tunnels. He shouts curses at Max but is run over by the machine which then trundles off toward a cliff overhanging a fast flowing lake of lava. Knowing that the portal is above the lava lake, Max kicks the machine's throttle lever causing it to tumble over the cliff edge. Max and his two new friends climb onto the roof of the machine, and at the right moment leap off into the air, apparently falling toward the lava, but at the last moment a portal opens below them, and they fall into it, and into safety. We next see Skullmaster still clinging onto the machine as it falls over the cliff edge. You will die Chosen One! You will die!!! he shouts as he falls into the abyss.

A portal opens in the Australian outback and out tumbles Max, Norman and Virgil. Max dances for joy as he realises he has survived, but when he discovers that the nearest portal is a 50 mile walk, he sits down on the ground and defiantly announces that he is not walking that distance. He suddenly finds out he is alone and runs off toward Norman and Virgil, begging Norman to carrying him. The first episode comes to an end.