EPISODE THREE — SCRATCHES

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER   ALAN BALL   |   DIRECTED BY   SCOTT WINANT   |   WRITTEN BY   RAELLE TUCKER

Speeding through the night, Bill drives Sookie and Jessica away from her parents' house — where he "glamored them within an inch of their sanity" to conceal Jessica's vamp identity — and the couple fight (again) over Bill's newly-minted minion.  Arguing at the roadside, Sookie storms out of the car to distance herself from Bill, and Jessica implores her maker to follow his love and set things right.  Alas his stubbornness and pride leave Sookie to walk off into the foggy night, where she is pursued and attacked by a "bull-human" with enormous horns and sharp claws (as seen in the Season 3 preview clip posted here weeks ago).  A new supernatural threat has come to Bon Temps!

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The creature claws three gouges into her back before Bill arrives in a blur.  He attempts to heal her with his blood, which her body mysteriously rejects as a toxin now.  His confusion turns to horror as Sookie weakens in his arms.  Jessica drives them to Fangtasia for help.

The peaceful night doesn't last long at Merlotte's either as Daphne confesses to Sam she's short on her table collections again.  He barks (not literally this time) at his incompetent new waitress, who tearfully pays him off in her tips for the night.  Tara admonishes Sam for treating Daphne so harshly while she's learning, but Sam rejects her advice as the 'lesson' is spawned from Maryann's growing influence over Tara.  Another story reminder to keep the antagonism between Sam and Maryann sizzling this season as more of their history is revealed and Maryann's 'spell' over Bon Temps grows stronger.

The strange and forceful Dr. Ludwig treats Sookie's wounds at Fangtasia, per Eric's request, and the vamp-tolerating doctor races to save Sookie from the toxin even Ludwig hasn't seen before.  Eric is uncharacteristically caught off guard since in his 1000-year existence, he's never heard of such a bull-man creature either.  He commands Pam and Chow to search the neighboring woods to find clues to the creature's identity. 

As Sookie's screams echo in Fangtasia, Jason awakens screaming from a nightmare in the dormitory at the Fellowship leader conference. To his horror, Eddie the murdered vampire appears next to Jason and attempts to seduce him.  Jason awakens screaming again from this dream-within-a-nightmare, terrified and feeling lost as ever.  He prays to God for help and receives a thrown pillow from roommate Luke who urges Jason to shut up and go back to sleep.  Clearly Jason's troubles continue to haunt him despite his attempt to flee them by attending the leadership event, and it's unlikely divine intervention will spare him from his troubles.

Dr. Ludwig's treatment counteracts the poison enough for Bill to give Sookie his blood again, but Eric quickly intervenes, offering his much stronger blood to heal Sookie even faster.  Naturally Bill defies Eric once again, refusing to let one drop of Eric's blood or power infect Sookie. Eric laughs off the defiant gesture: is Eric merely toying with Bill as part of his (earned) power politics over his subordinates, or does Eric's smile only mask his true interest in driving a wedge between Bill and Sookie?   Five will get you ten the answer is both, and then some. 

Pam and Chow didn't find the creature, but they tracked its stench through the bogs and confirm it's tracks were human but its scent was animal and unknown to them.  Eric offers to let Sookie heal at Fangtasia during the day.  Bill reluctantly but dutifully thanks Eric for saving Sookie, which puts him further in Eric's debt, much to his dismay.  In return, Eric doesn't fail to insinuate himself deeper into Bill and Sookie's relationship, challenging Bill's loyalty and patience even further and assuring him he'll find some way Sookie can repay his kindness.

Tara awakens to find Maryann preparing for a party and Karl preparing some kind of 'brew' for the event — "more juniper" is hardly a common recipe suggestion, hinting further at the secret of Maryann's true identity.  Tara questions Maryann over the apparent feud between she and Sam, while Maryann diverts attention back to keeping Tara isolated from those around her.

Terry arrives at Merlotte's to find Sam packing up to leave, and Sam implores Terry to take over at the diner in his absence.  Terry is most displeased at Sam's cowardly instinct to flee whatever troubles are afoot, but agrees to watch the place, ever the dutiful comrade per his battlefield training.

Meanwhile, a vamp victim speaks to the gathering at the Fellowship conference, confessing her seduction by a vampire in 'fangbangers anonymous' style.  Sarah Newlin implores Jason to share his experiences with the group despite his reluctance to honor his honesty pledge.  Jason admits that he doesn't hate vampires and confesses that he actually befriended Eddie before Amy staked him.  Sarah deplores Jason's sympathy to vamps since they're inhuman and not worthy of sympathy, but Jason counters that his best friend murdered Gran and others due to his hatred of vampires, and he was human.  Frustrated with the apparent hypocritical teachings of the Fellowship, Jason walks out on the group.  Sarah follows, insisting that Jason was sent to the Fellowship to fulfill God's plan, and admits to Jason that her sister was a V addict and supposedly killed by vampires.  Yet as she warns Jason about vampires' deadly seduction, it's clear she's using similar tactics to influence Jason's reasoning and emotions too.

Sookie awakens in Fangtasia, clad in a new club-branded t-shirt and guarded by Ginger who offers Sookie food and explains Bill is sleeping in back until nightfall.  Sookie also hears Ginger's thoughts about keeping Lafayette locked in the basement.  Ginger no more than thinks of the pistol behind the bar before Sookie grabs it and forces Ginger to take her down to free Lafayette.  The apparent good news: Eric and his minions fed on Lafayette but did not turn him into vampire.

Tara and Eggs continue to grow closer at Maryann's mansion, revealing more they have in common about unrealized dreams and joys of life long sacrificed — simultaneously revealing how dependent they've both become on Maryann's generosity and manipulation.

Bill awakens to find Sookie walking and healthy again, but also demanding to know if Bill had any part if Lafayette's imprisonment under Fangtasia.  He didn't of course, but Eric explains to them both that Lafayette betrayed the vamps which comes at a high price, and others would have done far worse to Lafayette for his crimes.  Sookie fearlessly confronts Eric and his deeds, demanding Lafayette's freedom.  Eric tensely negotiates a mutually beneficial deal with Sookie.

Sam fails to track down either Sookie or Tara who have both failed to arrive for their service shifts at the diner, leaving him to contemplate his phone message to Tara about looking carefully at who she can and can't trust. No doubt he's wondering the same things himself, a question only underscored with Maryann's arrival.

Jessica arises from the basement in Bill's dilapidated mansion, left alone again in the dreary house by her distracted maker.  Dressed and made up, Jessica arrives at Merlotte's to live a little, quickly spotting Hoyt riding solo at a booth. After a welcoming glance, Hoyt joins Jessica at her table and both tentatively hit it off.  He offers to buy her a drink, and she reluctantly asks for a Tru Blood.  She expects Hoyt's disapproval but he expresses delight that she's an actual vampire.  What's Jessica up to in her seductive scene?

Sookie negotiates with Eric to go to Dallas and put her thought-reading skills toward locating the missing vampire sheriff, Godrick.  Despite Bill's protestation, Sookie drives a hard and insolent bargain with Eric, demanding he free Lafayette, fund the Dallas trip and pay her  $5000 for missed earnings in exchange for her expertise.  Before Eric can agree to terms, Bill takes advantage of his maker's position and insists he accompany Sookie for ten grand or it's no deal.  Eric agrees, unconcerned with the cost naturally because he knows any information Sookie delivers is beyond value . . . plus he knows the deal only keeps his influence active in Bill and Sookie's affairs.

Pam tosses Lafayette onto the floor at their feet, much worse for the wear he's suffered as Eric's prisoner but alive and still human nonetheless.  Eric lets Lafayette part with a sincere warning they will meet again.  Bill carries Lafayette away to safety as Sookie exchanges intent stare with Eric.

The party at Maryann's is filled with dancing, drinking revelers with a surprise guest, Deputy Andy Bellefleur, who spies the giant pig in a child's playhouse.  He questions Maryann about the pig, which magically disappears while Andy looks away as Maryann's spell of influence spreads wider.  In contrast, Reverend Newlin casts his own dogmatic spell over Jason at an opulent dinner, insisting that hating vampires is showing love for God and humanity in the holy war against these undead seducers and "baby killers."   Newlin admits his wife must have a special feeling for Jason over dessert, insisting she "doesn't whip out her pudding for just anybody!"   Oh, the writers are having lots of fun setting up this new train wreck for Jason!

Jessica brings Hoyt home to Bill's mansion, where her attraction to Hoyt causes her to pop her fangs in front of them.  She's mortified with embarrassment like any young, sheltered girl unsure of herself and her sexual nature, but Hoyt insists she never be afraid of who she is.  Her cold heart melts at his kindness — then she moves on Hoyt in a blur, fangs bared.

Bill and Sookie drive Lafayette home, where he refuses further care or help from them, only imploring Bill to tell his friends that he promises to cause them no more trouble.  Safely at home at last, Lafayette curls up under a blanket, crying tears of relief though perhaps realizing he may well now be a prisoner of his own home with Eric's threat hanging in the night.  Sookie and Bill reconcile the recent events and the larger issues of good and evil, and all the shades of ambiguous morality in between which are found in their lives.  Sookie insists Bill not hide his dark side nor the evils of the world from her, if she is ever to survive them in her mortal life, and acknowledging the good she finds in Bill too.

The revelry continues at Maryann's as sensual pleasures cast their spell on the crown, including Tara and Eggs.  Tara notices how uncharacteristically her friends and neighbors are acting as the booze and sex flow freely, much to Maryann's delight.  Tara storms away from Eggs, insisting they have no future if he plans on being a part of Maryann's "lifestyle".

Bill and Sookie return home to find Jessica on top of Hoyt in the living room.  Bill flings Jessica across the room, assuming she was feeding on her victim.  But Jessica protests her innocence, backed up buy Hoyt who is unharmed: Jessica is not a vampire enjoying for a quick feed, she's merely a girl caught making out on a first date.  Bill can buy his minion all the contemporary clothes he wants, but Sookie points out he's not understanding Jessica's needs as her maker at all.  

Sam in dog-form races his canine friend to the lake for a midnight swim, immediately turning human as he surfaces in the murky water.  The other dog refuses to follow and runs off, but Sam is quickly joined by Daphne.   The two settle their argument and sore feelings over her job performance and Sam apologizes.  He highly recommends a midnight swim to wash away one's troubles, and Daphne starts stripping to join him . . . revealing she has three ragged scars down her back, just like Sookie's after the bull-man attacked her.   Ruh-roh!   "Who's been making those scratches all over your back?" is not only this week's closing song, but the plot-twisting question of the episode.   Who or what?

SUMMARY: Clearly Jessica's evolution as a vampire continues as a highlight of SEASON TWO so far, as she represents the flipside of Sookie's experience bridging the world of human and vampire, but the from the dramatically polar opposite to what Sookie understands.  FilmEdge salutes actress Deborah Ann Woll for her terrific work and continual elevation of interest in the story line this season.  Previews of Episode Four show Lafayette in danger of Eric's continued retribution, especially with Bill and Sookie doing his bidding in Texas.  Tensions between vampire and human seem on the rise, as is Maryann's spell over Bon Temps.  And apparently Daphne whispers to Sam that she knows what he is, but exactly what does she know about him and how?   Find out on July 12th in the next new episode of TRUEBLOOD!

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