01x16 - Strings

[bunniefuu]

[BEN GRUNTING]

What time is it?

What's that smell?

Is that bacon?

JOHNNY: It sure is, buddy.

You just go back to sleep now,
and I'll wake you up when it's ready.

Thanks, Torch. You're all right.

Hope you like it over easy.

Yeah, yeah. Sure.

Wait. Why are you cooking breakfast
in my room?

Torch!

[RATTLING]

Watch it, Sis! Hot stuff coming through!

Besides me, I mean.

Come back here, flame brain,
so I can give you a nice, big hug!

Did either of you see the news
this morning?

They called us a menace.

[GRUNTS]

- I was just making you breakfast in bed.
- Johnny!

You made it on me!

Hey!

Johnny, have you burned anything down
in the city recently?

Well, there was that...
No, no, I stopped that one.

Let's see. Nope.

A few close calls, but nothing major.

Man, I need to get out more.

I just invented a cosmic power amplifier.

- Nice work.
- That's some good inventing, Stretch.

Way to go!

It's the weirdest thing.
I don't know what I'm gonna do with it.

I just felt like inventing one.

Yeah, that happens to me sometimes,
but with melting things.

Reed, something weird is going on.

The news this morning was talking about
how dangerous the Fantastic Four are.

How odd.

I know! We haven't saved the world
in a couple of weeks,

but, well, it seemed harsh.

HERBIE:
Hi, I'm interrupting you.

The mayor is here, and the chief of police,
and a bunch of other police.

It's exciting!

- Whatever Johnny did, we'll fix it.
- JOHNNY: Hey!

No, it's all of you.

We're here to evict you.

And furthermore, if the Fantastic Four
are involved in any more "heroics"...

I'll have you kicked out of the city.

[EVIL LAUGHTER]

Surely there must be some sort of
misunderstanding here, Mr. Mayor.

What possible reason...

Oh, there's no misunderstanding,
Mr. Fantastic.

You and your team are a menace
and a danger to everyone around you.

Hey, we aren't dangerous!

Most of the time, we ain't.

This decision is final.

One more complaint,
and you'll be arrested.

It's happened! It's finally happened!

Now I can get some peace and quiet.

Good riddance, you horrible people!

[LAUGHING]

Courtney aside,
don't you think this is kind of strange?

The news report, getting kicked out?

I agree. Something is...

[SCREAMING]

They're taking my car!

No, watch it!

Oh, no! My baby!

Simmer down, Matchstick.

But my car!

I wouldn't let Dr. Doom take my car.

Johnny, calm down.

People are looking.

That's not our only problem.

All of our security access to the city
has been revoked.

All our accounts are frozen.
Our home and vehicles have been seized.

And even Ben's all-you-can-eat status in
the city's restaurants has been canceled.

What?

Now, just hold on a second.

SUZY: What? You were causing a scene.

Hey, Alicia, do you mind
if we crash here for a bit?

You don't even need to ask.

Mole Man.

No, too subtle.

He usually goes for big monsters.

How about Skrulls?

Too dumb.

I think it's Doom.

The Skrulls are not dumb, Johnny.

Doom is a possibility,
but something about this feels more like...

My father, the Puppet Master.

Controlling minds is his specialty.

But he's in prison and needs his
irradiated clay to make his puppets.

If only I could get to my lab.

[SIGHING] Or maybe it's us.

Maybe we're as bad as they're all saying...

Ben!

No, he's right.

Our presence in the city does sometimes
result in quite a bit of chaos.

But we generally do more good than harm.

And we always cleaned up afterwards.
Can't people understand that?

Guess not!
You saw what they did to my car!

Bunch of savages in this town.

All the same, I think we should pay a visit
to our old enemies.

Alicia, if you wouldn't mind
checking in on your father...

Supervillain or not, we can't fight the city
or public opinion.

As much as I hate to say it,
the Fantastic Four may be over.

We may have to get jobs.

[GASPS WEAKLY]

Did Johnny just faint?

Yep.

There's gotta be a job
that stinks less than this.

[GROANS]

Great.

Just fess up, Mole Man.
It was you, wasn't it?

For the last time, no! It wasn't me!

Now, get out!

And carry the one.

So, any questions?

[BEN GROANING]

Okay, I get it! It wasn't you!

Don't take it so personal, Doom.

[CHILDREN PLAYING]

To think that she's sunk so low.

From superhero to entertaining
at children's birthday parties!

What's next? Reality TV?

Where are you?

Where am I?

Did you have anything to do with this?

I'll know if you're lying.

[MOOING]

Fine.

But if I find out you're involved,
I'll be back.

"Cows? They'll never suspect cows."

Idiot!

No, no, no, you're doing it all wrong.

This is how you start a campfire.

[SCOUTS EXCLAIMING]

Well, that could have gone better.

Hey, I found most of the kids.

Alicia, how did your visit
with your father go?

Same as always. He wouldn't talk to me.

But it was just like you said.
He's in jail with no clay.

Good. No offense, Alicia,
but your dad is nuts.

I'm sorry,
but you can't stay here anymore.

It's just too dangerous.

Alicia, come on, it's us. We'll protect you.

Very good, my daughter.

Soon, the entire world
will be under my control.

All thanks to the Fantastic Four.

MAN ON TV:
The Fantastic Four should be considered...

- ...armed and dangerous.
- ...armed and dangerous.

If you see them,
call the police immediately.

If you see them,
call the police immediately.

- And then throw things at them!
- And then throw things at them!

Ah! Thank you, Frederick.
You always were my favorite.

After all, you were the first puppet here.

It has taken me painstaking hours
to move all the pieces in place.

But at last, I am ready to finish this.

And now, on to the endgame!

Geez, got enough stuff here, Stretch?

Oh, just a few odds and ends, really.
Projects I'm not actively working on.

Why wasn't this place locked down
by the city, like everything else we own?

Whoa!

Oh, this isn't mine. It's my father's.

We should be able to keep
a low profile here

until I can figure out what to do next,

provided we don't blow up anything.

I hope everyone's okay with sandwiches,
because that's what you're getting.

And yes, they're toasted.

[GRUMBLING]

Hey, did you know this place is
totally surrounded by police?

[SIRENS BLARING DISTANTLY]

Might have been a SWAT team.

ALL: What?

I'm not sure.

Geez, I wonder how they found us.

Torch?

Beats me. Sandwich?

The area is secure. Send in Code Blue.

That's some impressive gear
they've got there, don't you think?

Kind of looks like something
you might come up with.

Well, actually, it is.

I outfitted the NYPD's Code Blue unit
with all of their weapons and armor.

I'm particularly proud of...

Whoa, you gave them weapons
to fight us?

Well, not us specifically.

Just so the city could defend itself,
you know, in case we weren't here.

That's some good thinking there, Stretch.

Okay, I'm ready.

Sue, look out!

Whoa!

That all you got?

Ben?

[GROANS]

Are we really gonna fight?

I mean, they're the good guys.
Won't we get in trouble?

Already in trouble.

I can't believe you made this stuff.

Everyone stand down!

[BEN GROANING]

Giving up ain't really my style.

I won't let you become outlaws.

Give the police your full cooperation.

Our cooperation? What about you?

Oh, I'm not surrendering.

I'm going to clear our names.

Okay, I give up. For real, this time.

Oh, sure, Reed gets to escape.

How's that fair?

You're joking, right?
You want us to escape?

This place isn't gonna hold us.

Yeah, you have to put us in the Raft
or the big house,

one of those super-powered prisons.

I hear the Vault has power-nullifying
ankle bracelets.

Ow!

Fine. Just a suggestion.

Rock man walking!

Zip it, flame brain.

Welcome to my kingdom, heroes.

Dude, Reed called it!

It's Alicia's crazy dad.

We're totally gonna find you and stop you.

It's a recording, Johnny.

By now, you've deduced that it was I
who turned the city against you.

It was I who had you
thrown out of your home

and hunted like common criminals.

Alicia! He possessed his own daughter.

But as much as I've enjoyed
watching your humiliation,

it was merely a diversion.

You see, for weeks now,

I've been whispering into the ear
of my most important pawn,

the greatest mind on the planet.

Wait. It's not me, is it?

SUZY: No. Reed.

By the time you find me,
it will be far too late.

Oh, and do not try to hurt anyone
on your way out.

They're not acting of their own free will.

[LA UGHING CYNICALLY]

HERBIE:
Dr. Richards, why did you leave me?

And why did you bring the Puppet Master
with you?

HERBIE, what...

I'm already under your control, aren't I?

Oh, yes!

JOHNNY: Whoa, hey, careful, guys!

Fire burns!

No touching!

Hey!

A little help here!

Ow!

That hurt, sort of.

Any ideas how to do this
without smushing anybody?

Very gently.

Oh, it's like a low-speed chase.

Wow, Sis, just when I thought
you couldn't get any lamer...

Never mind.

Your friends are on their way.
How much longer?

It's ready.

Give it to me! Hurry up!

The greatest mind on the planet,
under my control.

All this time, you were creating a device
that would make my mind control powers

a billion times stronger!

Well, technically, it will increase
your powers by a factor of...

I don't care! Just turn it on!

I can feel them.

I'm inside their minds.

Everyone!

I control everyone!

It's glorious!

Huh, that's weird. The city is quiet.

Hello! Anybody home?

ALL: Oh, somebody is home, punk!

The Puppet Master!

I am everywhere. I am everyone.

Finally, I will get the respect I deserve.

You've already lost, fantastic fools.

Let me show you.

Hey, watch it!

[GROANS]

An old woman? People throwing fruit?

Is this the best you can do,
Puppet Master?

Not even close!

[HORN BLARING]

[GROANING]

Well, then, that's a little better.

[HORN BLARING]

There's too many of them.

Johnny, try to get above them.

[GROANING]

[SCREAMS]

Hey, Suzy!

If you don't mind, I've had about enough
of garbage for today.

HERBIE, are you there?

Hi, Susan!

SUZY: HERBIE, I need you to activate
the building's defensive grid.

I don't think that will be necessary, Susan.

Dr. Richards said
there's nothing to worry about.

And look!
Alicia's dad is our best friend now.

[SNICKERING]

Oh, it's definitely clobbering time.

Puppet, stop them!

This will be amusing.

I can take control of any one of you
at any time.

I can make you fight each other
until I get bored.

And I can't imagine
that would ever get boring.

[SCOLDING] Ah, ah, ah!

We will have none of that, now.

[SUZY GROANING]

Reed?

Oh, boy!

This is really, really bad.

Now you're beginning to understand.

Who to take over next?

I think I'll start with the monster.

[GROANING]

My nose itches.

What, was that supposed to
do something?

What?

[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTING]

Knock that off!

You two, then.

Hey, that's just plain evil, man.

You can't just go and make
a guy's nose itch!

Make it work! Make it work on them!

Do it, puppet! Destroy them!

Never!

No one's will is that strong!

No!

Why?

Why didn't it work on them?

My plan was perfect.

It didn't work, Phillip, because
the machine amplifies cosmic powers,

ours as well as yours.

The two effectively cancelled
each other out,

leaving only a minor side effect.

Nice work and all, Reed, but nose itching?

Why?

I think I'd rather be controlled.

I think we're gonna need a better prison
for you this time.

WOMAN ON TV:...owes the Fantastic Four
a debt of gratitude

for saving the city from
the Puppet Master.

Welcome to the Vault.

[MUFFLED] I'd like to see you
break out of this prison, buddy.

[SNICKERING]

All in good time.

Huh?

Nice try.