Before the race continued, Ed was seen behind bars.
"This is Peach Town," he said. "On its face, it may look like a century old frontier town, but this city was actually built in the 21st century. As a result, anachronism is rampant in the town. But like any frontier town, the courthouse is in the center of town. This hallowed hall of the law was the sixth Pit Stop in the Amazing Race.
"The six remaining teams checked in here at the end of the last leg for a mandatory rest period. The teams have no idea what's in store for them on the coming leg. Their only knowledge of the racecourse comes from a sequence of clues that they receive. Will Mike and Sulley maintain their lead? Can Orson and Roy make a rally and pull out of last place? And how long can Marty and Jennifer stay at the top of the pack?
"Mike and Sulley, who were first to arrive at 5:59 PM, will depart at 5:59 AM."
It was dark inside the jail, but the sun was just about to rise. The blue-furred monster and his green one-eyed friend were still in their jail cell, but they held the next clue in their hands. Sulley had shed his Western garb, but Mike liked the vest, and decided to keep it. The sheriff stood just outside the cell, waiting to open it.
(MIKE & SULLEY are first to depart.)
"Travel by train to Dreamland Omnitransport Terminal?"
Now, in order to maintain historical accuracy, Peach Town cannot house the type of transportation needed for the racers to reach their next destination. So, teams will have to travel by train 190 miles into the desert to this place. The Dreamland Omnitransport Terminal, also known as the DOT, has every from of transportation known to man, but most importantly, this space shuttle. It is on this shuttle that teams will blast off for the Martian colony of New Chicago. When they arrive, teams must locate this statue of New Chicago's founder, Stephen Green, to find the next clue.
"You will have 139 dollars for this leg of the race," Mike read. When the sheriff unlocked their cell door, he may as well have been releasing a pack of dogs to chase after a three-legged calf. (Local metaphor.)
The monsters tore through the streets much faster than on the previous leg; they didn't have the heat of the sun to slow them down. They arrived at the train station just as the sun peeked out over the horizon.
"When's the next train to the DOT?" asked Sulley.
"It leaves here at 7:30 AM," said the ticket vendor.
"Okay." Sulley took his and Mike's tickets and they moseyed over to the waiting area.
"You realize that all the other teams are going to catch up with us, right, Sul?"
"I'm not worried. This happens a lot on the race."
(MARTY & JENNIFER are second to depart.)
"Once you land, search for the founder's statue to receive your next clue," read Jennifer.
"Oh, wow," said Marty. "A city on another planet? Cool!"
The sheriff released them and they ran just a little bit slower than Mike and Sulley did. (Which, for people their age, is really saying something!) They were still running when the next team departed.
(VIOLET & MICHAEL are third to depart.)
"From the DOT, board a chartered space shuttle bound for New Chicago…" Michael read.
"You know, I've always wanted to go to Mars," said Violet.
"Okay, I guess you two aren't a threat to the town or anything else, so you're free to go," said the sheriff as he opened their cell door.
"YES! Sweet freedom! Oh, how I've missed you so much!"
"Mike, you've only been in the can for twelve hours!"
"I know, but this is my first jail scene, so I want it to count."
Violet rolled her eyes. "Whatever, let's just go." And they did.
Meanwhile, The McFlys had arrived at the train depot. They got tickets for the 7:30 train. Then they joined Mike & Sulley in the waiting area.
"Here's hoping that Michael and Violet get lost along the way," said Marty.
"Yeah, I don't think they will," said Sulley.
(VIOLET & KLAUS are fourth to depart.)
"Huh," Klaus said. "I wasn't aware there was a colony on Mars."
"Brother of mine, you forget that this is Dreamland. Anything is possible!"
"Oh, yeah. I'm not too good at just rolling with it."
"By the time the race is over, you will be!"
They were released and they sprinted for the train station. They ran so fast, that they got to the train station at about the same time as VIOLET & MICHAEL. After they got their tickets, they went to the waiting area. The Baudelaires were greeted warmly, whereas the supers mostly got the cold shoulder.
"So, who's still missing?" asked Jennifer.
"The U.S. Acres team, and the hitchhikers," Klaus said.
"Oh, I sure hope Anthony makes the 7:30 train!" Violet B. beamed.
(ANTHONY & MERCEDES are fifth to depart.)
"This Dreamland place just keeps getting stranger," Mercedes said. "First, there was the city of talking animals, then a place that's like a perpetual bad horror movie, now a city on that empty red boulder they call Mars? What's next? A city floating in the sky?"
"I wouldn't put it past them," Anthony said.
They were released from their cell, just as the last team was opening their clue.
(ORSON & ROY are last to depart.)
"You will have 139 dollars for this leg of the race," read Orson.
"50, 70, 90, 110, 120, 125, 130, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, it's all here," said Roy.
The sheriff released the barnyard critters, which ran after the hitchhikers and tried to pass them. They were not successful, unfortunately.
"When's the next train?" asked Anthony.
"It'll be here in about ten minutes," said the ticket vendor.
"Wow, that doesn't leave much time," Mercedes noted. "I sure hope Orson and Roy make it."
They walked into the waiting area to cheers from the other racers.
Outside, Orson and Roy kept running. Their hearts pounded in their chests.
At 7:28, the racers at the train station waiting anxiously, hoping against hope that the last team would make it. In the background, they heard a train whistle.
Orson and Roy heard it too, so they doubled their pace.
When they arrived at the ticket counter, Roy had just enough breath to ask one question…
"Is it too late to buy tickets for this train?"
"You mean the 7:30? No, not at all! Would that be two tickets, one for each of you?"
Orson nodded.
"Have a good one," said the vendor as the animals took their tickets.
Meanwhile, the other racers started to board the train. They sat wherever was most comfortable, figuring it would be better to jockey for good seats on the rocket. They also worried about Orson and Roy.
"They were such nice critters," Violet Parr mused.
"Orson told the best stories I had ever heard," added Mercedes.
"I sure hope they make it," said Jennifer.
"ALL ABOARD!" screamed the conductor.
The doors of the train were shut, and everyone was disappointed, thinking that those loveable critters had missed the train. But, man, were they ever surprised when they saw ORSON & ROY strolling down the aisle!
Klaus jumped out of his seat and gave Roy a tackle hug. Orson exchanged high-fives with the other racers.
"Orson is one of the nicest guys I've ever met," Michael Huey said in a voice-over. "When I saw him on that train with the rest of us, I was elated. If I couldn't win this race, I'd want him and Roy to win."
After about four hours on the train, they arrived at the DOT. The place sure lived up to its name. In addition to the train station they were treading on, there was an airport, a bus depot, a car rental counter, and even a helicopter-landing pad. But most important at the moment was the rocket launching pad.
The racers didn't need any route markers to tell them where their next ride was. Somehow, a large orange rocket was information enough. Almost all of the racers were excited about blasting off in the rocket. Mercedes, however, had a few apprehensions.
"Are the producers even sure this back-ass-ward thing can reach escape velocity?" she asked. "It's huge! What's fueling it anyway? It's not going to run on liquid oxygen, is it? That stuff explodes, you know!"
"Yeah, I think that's what they're counting on!" said Orson.
"So, how can we be sure that it won't blow up on the launching pad and kill us all?"
"We can't!" said Klaus. "But, there's no other way for us to get to New Chicago, so we kind of have to take it or leave it!"
"And another thing," said Sulley, "Aren't you some kind of alien? Shouldn't a rocket ship be right up your alley?"
"Maybe, if it was a decent starship, with artificial gravity, some tile floors, an advanced navigation system, maybe a juice bar or something. But this, this, this, is basically a tin can with wings that goes wherever the laws of physics dictate!"
"And that's bad…how?" asked Violet Baudelaire.
Mercedes threw her hands up in disgust. "Humans, there's just no talking to you people!"
"I'm standing right here!" Anthony yelled.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't, I mean, uh, well, you know, I mean, I'm just so sorry."
"Apology accepted, I know you didn't mean anything by it."
Anyway, the racers ran to the rocket, figuring that the first team there would secure the best seats. Even Mercedes ran. As important as those amenities were to the red-haired alien, a fictional million was much more important.
Ironically, she was the first racer to the rocket. Her boyfriend Anthony wasn't far behind. They boarded the shuttle and started to look for the best seats. But they had a surprise waiting for them in the very best seat.
"Hey, guys,"
"Ed? Edward Nemo, is that you?" asked Anthony.
"No, it's Phil Kehogan! Of course it's me!"
Anthony laughed nervously. "Well, um, Ed, uh, what are you doing here?"
"Hey, I have to get to that Pit Stop somehow! Phil often takes the same flights as the teams, so why shouldn't I?"
"Oh…"
"And besides, there wasn't enough money in the budget for a second rocket, so if I don't get to New Chicago this way, I'm not going to get there at all."
As they took their seats, a thought occurred to Mercedes. "Hey, if there's not enough money for a second rocket, how in the hell are we going to get back from New Chicago?"
"You know, I asked that question myself, and the producers said they'd take care of it."
"How?"
"They said 'that's for us to know and you to find out'. Yeah, they keep secrets from the host too."
As soon as Ed said that, VIOLET & MICHAEL stepped on board. They were just as surprised to see the host there as the hitchhikers were. Ed was already in the best seat, with Ant and Mer next to him, so they took the next best seats.
After the supers came ORSON & ROY, who took the third best seats. Then came MARTY & JENNIFER, VIOLET & KLAUS, and lastly, MIKE & SULLEY.
Once all six teams were on board, the crew of the shuttle prepped the craft for take-off. At the time, they were go, no-go for launch. One by one, they checked off the things on their checklist. They were go for launch.
"This is Commander Slevin, requesting permission to launch, DOT."
"Granted, Slevin. You are confirmed at T minus 15 seconds and counting."
"Attention racers: We're about to launch. During takeoff, you will likely experience an increase in gravitational force. This is normal. Our estimated travel time to New Chicago is 37 hours, 18 minutes, 22 and a half seconds."
"My, they're precise, aren't they?" said Jennifer.
"T minus 5 seconds, 4, 3, 2, 1. Ignition." The roar of the rocket was deafening. "Liftoff." The racers were pinned to their seats by the increased gravitational force. "We have liftoff!"
"I can't feel my butt anymore!" Violet Parr shouted over the din.
This increased weight sensation lasted for a good long thirty minutes. Once the shuttle had escaped the pull of gravity, the commander came on the radio.
"This is Commander Slevin, racers, we are now travelling through the deep void of space. At this time, I have turned off the seat beat light, you are now free to move about the cabin."
Mercedes unbuckled her seat beat, and found her body unexpectedly floating up toward the ceiling.
"Huh. So this is what microgravity feels like, is it?"
One by one, the rest of the participants unbuckled themselves and just swam in the microgravitational sea that enveloped the shuttle. Their reactions were mixed.
"I feel two whole inches taller!" said Violet Baudelaire.
"It feels like the best mattress in the universe," said Sulley.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" said Marty.
Roy couldn't quite get the hang of it, and kept bumping into things. It was funny for the others, for him, not so much.
All teams are now flying to Mars on board the shuttle. They will land in New Chicago, a human colony founded by Stephen Green. When teams land, they will have to locate this statue of the man, in order to receive their next clue.
"Attention racers: this is Commander Slevin, we're about to land in New Chicago. Please return to your seats and fasten your safety belts as we begin our decent."
The shuttle landed rather bumpily, but that's expected, because the thing has no landing gear. When the racers (and Ed) disembarked from the shuttle, they were taken aback by the sight of New Chicago. It looked pretty much like every other city they had seen.
"Hmm. If it weren't for the reduced gravity," said Klaus, "I'd swear this was the earth."
While the others were still admiring the beauty of the city, VIOLET & MICHAEL quietly stole away from the rest of the pack. ANTHONY & MERCEDES noticed this and took after them.
MIKE & SULLEY stopped a person walking down the street. He took one look at the monsters and ran away screaming. Another person saw this.
"You'll have to excuse him," she said, "he gets a little jumpy sometimes. Can I help you?"
"Um, yes, we're looking for a statue of Stephen Green?"
"Ah, yes, that will be right in the center of town. You really can't miss it!"
"Okay, thanks!" And they took off in a taxicab. Unbeknownst to the monsters, VIOLET & KLAUS had heard the entire exchange, and were following them.
Somewhere in town, Violet Parr was already tired of running. She called out to Michael, and begged him to hire a taxi. He was pretty worn out too, so that's what he did. The hitchhikers hired a taxi too, and told him to "follow them, and pass them if you have to!"
It was around this time that ORSON & ROY realized that the other teams had departed. They watched dumbfounded as MARTY & JENNIFER got into a yellow cab.
"Oh, no! We're in last place now!" Orson said.
"Quick! If we get a cab now, we might be able to pass the McFlys and stay in this race!" Roy suggested.
"Good idea! TAXI!" Another yellow car pulled up. "Take us to the statue of Stephen Green, and step on it!"
Time passed as the teams rode around the city. About fifteen minutes after the shuttle landed, VIOLET & MICHAEL arrived at the statue of New Chicago's founder.
"Thanks," Violet said as she paid for the taxi. Michael raced over to the clue box. Right beside it was another box, with six smaller boxes in it. The smaller boxes each had a five-digit combination lock on it. There was a sign nearby that said, "Each team must take one."
"Hmm. I wonder what it's for?" Michael asked nobody in particular.
Shortly after that, Ed was shown on screen explaining it.
"Each of these boxes contains a toy airplane. The first team to open the box and bring the plane to the Pit Stop will win a special prize. All six boxes require the same numerical sequence to open, but teams are not given the combination. They are told instead that they will find it somewhere on the leg."
"Okay, so we'll have to keep our eyes open for a five-digit number while we race," said Violet. She took a clue from the clue box and ripped it open.
(VIOLET & MICHAEL are currently in first place.)
"It's a Detour. Hot or Cold?"
The next shot was one of Ed standing on a volcano.
"A Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with it's own pros and cons. In this Detour, teams must choose between Hot and Cold.
"In Hot, teams must take these marked bicycles to the Martian volcano Elysium Mons. Once there, they must both repel into its heart, and retrieve their next clue from a perch surrounded by red-hot magma. This task is extremely frightening, but teams who can muster up the courage can finish it quickly.
"In Cold, teams will be shuttled by bus to the Martian North Pole, where they must search through the ice and snow to find the next clue. There's nothing very frightening or dangerous about this task, but searching the ice and snow can be frustrating, and may take a long time."
"We have to do the volcano thing," said Michael.
As the supers mounted their tandem bicycle, ANTHONY & MERCEDES retrieved their clue and locked box. Mercedes studied the box carefully.
"What do you think is inside it?" she asked nobody.
"We'll find out soon enough," said Anthony. "Right now, let's focus on the race." He ripped open the clue.
(ANTHONY & MERCEDES are currently in second place.)
"We should to Hot," said Anthony. "It's faster."
"Are you sure?" asked Mercedes.
"Sure that it's faster, or sure that I want to do it?"
"Sure that you want to do it."
"No, but I am sure it's faster. Who knows, maybe this will be one of those things that I'll be glad I did later."
Mercedes stuck the box and the clue in her bag. Then they mounted the tandem bicycle and pedaled toward Elysium Mons.
(BTW: Elysium Mons is a real volcano on Mars. Yeah, I do my research. It's just south of where I decided to put New Chicago.)
Long after they left, MIKE & SULLEY had arrived at the statue. Mike extracted a clue from the box, but didn't notice the locked boxes next to it. Fortunately, Sulley noticed them, and took one. While Mike read the clue, VIOLET & KLAUS got out of their cab and took their clue and box.
(MIKE & SULLEY are currently tied for third place with VIOLET & KLAUS.)
"Hot or Cold?" Mike said. "What do you think, furball?"
"The volcano one is faster," Sulley answered.
"What do you say, brother?" asked Violet.
"I say let's show that volcano who's boss!"
The monsters and the orphans pedaled away.
Some time later, MARTY & JENNIFER's taxi pulled up to the statue. ORSON & ROY weren't far behind. They got their boxes and clues in rapid succession.
(MARTY & JENNIFER are currently tied for last place with ORSON & ROY.)
"Volcano," said Marty. "We have to do that, it faster!"
"If their doing Hot, we have to do Hot too," said Roy. "We have to try to pass them if we can!"
They each hopped on a tandem bike and pedaled away.
Just about this time, VIOLET & MICHAEL arrived at the base of Elysium Mons. They got a good look at the volcano, but were not disheartened. Very much. Okay, so they were a little scared, but wouldn't you be? Yeah, I thought so! But, I digress.
Anyway, Violet got strapped into her safety harness and started to climb the cone of the volcano. Michael followed close behind. As they got closer to the lip of the fiery mount, they could feel the heat of the molten rock within.
"God, it's like a furnace in here!" Violet said.
While the supers were still climbing, ANTHONY & MERCEDES arrived. When they stopped, and Anthony parked the bike, Mercedes had a little trouble getting off. She tripped on the bicycle seat and fell.
Anthony ran to her. "Mer, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I think. My leg really hurts!"
"Here, let me help you up. Can you put weight on it?"
"I don't know, let's see." She stood on her sore leg. "OOH! It hurts, but I think I can walk on it. Let's continue!"
The hitchhikers got into their safety harnesses and started to climb. As they climbed, they too could feel the heat of the magma within.
"Ah! This heat feels good on my leg!" said Mercedes. "Oh yeah! That's the stuff!"
"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying this," Anthony said.
About this time, Violet Parr had reached the lip of Elysium Mons. She looked into the cavity, and saw a clue box, perched on a little rock in the middle of a sea of red-hot molten rock. There was a tiny rope bridge that stretched between the clue box and a little patch of solid rock near the cone.
"Mike! I think you need to come see this!" she shouted down to her partner.
He pulled himself up to where Violet was, and saw the sight for himself.
"Oh, my God! No way that bridge can support us both!"
"The clue said we both have to be standing next to the clue box before we can get the next clue."
"I guess we'll have to go one at a time," Michael said.
He gripped the safety rope tightly as he descended into the volcano. Violet soon followed. Inside the volcano, it was much hotter than outside.
"Whew! After today, I am never going to complain about global warming ever again!"
Once they had their feet on solid rock, they still had to decide which of them would go first.
"Y-Y-You can go first, if you want, Mike," said Violet.
"No, no, that's okay, you can go first."
"No, please, I insist, you go first!"
"Really, you're too kind, you really should go first!"
"Look, I grew up with two brothers, Valor. I can do this all day if I have to."
Michael sighed. "All right, I'll go first."
As he cautiously walked across the bridge, Anthony watched him from the lip of the mountain. Mercedes pulled herself up not long after that.
"How's your leg, love?"
"Still a little sore. I'll manage. What's going on?"
"See for yourself!"
Mercedes saw Michael next to the clue box, with Violet on the bridge.
"Planet of Hell, they don't expect us to cross that lava pit on that piece of string, do they?"
"I think so. It won't support our combined weight, so we'll have to cross one at a time."
The hitchhikers repelled into the volcano's heart. Meanwhile, MIKE & SULLEY pulled up to the base of the volcano, followed closely behind by VIOLET & KLAUS. They quickly got into their safety gear and started to climb.
Halfway up, the heat of the volcano started to get to Sulley.
"My eyes! This heat is stinging my eyes!" he said.
But when he saw the orphans climbing up past him, he redoubled his efforts. Suddenly, the heat wasn't as important.
While they were still climbing, Violet and Michael were extracting their clue from the box.
(VIOLET & MICHAEL are still in first place.)
"Take the marked car to the Martian Military Academy…"
Teams must now travel by marked car to the premier military institution of Dreamland, the Martian Military Academy. Only the best of the best survive the rigorous training program here, and our teams are about to get just a taste of it. When they arrive, they will find their next clue just outside the front door.
"All right, let's go!" said Michael as he ran to the rope bridge.
"Wait, stop!" Violet shouted. She saw something that her partner didn't. When Michael stopped and looked, he saw it too. It was Anthony, coming the other way. They all knew that the bridge could only support one person's weight at a time. Michael stepped back and motioned that Anthony should come on across, which he did.
Once he was on the other side, his partner stepped onto the bridge.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Michael spat. "We got here first, so I'm crossing next!" And that's what he did.
With Anthony and Violet on one side and Michael and Mercedes on the other, the redheaded woman tried to cross again.
"Uh-uh," said Violet. "It's my turn now!"
"No way! Anthony got to cross, then Michael, so now it's my turn!"
"Well, what are you going to do about it, space freak?"
Anthony shook his head violently. Michael covered his eyes.
"Space freak?" Mercedes parroted. "Oh, that's it, I am so kicking your ass!"
She ran down the bridge as fast as she could, which wasn't all that fast, between her still sore leg and narrow walkway she had to navigate. Still, she made it to the other side, and once there, she let her fists do the talking. Violet wanted to turn invisible, or throw up a shield to protect herself, but the inhibitor on her wrist wouldn't allow it.
Then it hit her. Instead of fighting the inhibitor, she decided to use it. She swung the heavy metal object right into Mercedes' gut. The alien doubled over in pain while the super rushed across the bridge to safety. Mercedes wanted to pursue her assailant, but Anthony held her back.
"Let it go, Mer! We'll get her back by winning the race!"
She grumbled as she took her clue from the box.
(ANTHONY & MERCEDES are still in second place.)
"Come on, maybe we can beat them to this army school thing."
As the hitchhikers crossed the rope bridge, MIKE & SULLEY pulled themselves up to the lip of the volcano and saw the task ahead of them. They flung themselves straight into the cavity of Elysium Mons. Sulley fell so fast that he put an incredible amount of strain on the safety rope. Needless to say, it snapped. Seconds later, VIOLET & KLAUS dropped a little more slowly into the volcano.
Mike waited until the hitchhikers were both on the other side of the bridge before stepping out himself. He could see that it could only support the weight of one racer at a time.
The stunt spotters pulled Anthony and Mercedes up and out of the volcano. Once they were back on the face of the mountain, they started to climb down. Ahead of them were Violet and Michael. Mercedes looked up and saw two other cabs pulling up to the base. She saw MARTY & JENNIFER start their climb with a slight lead over ORSON & ROY.
Meanwhile, inside the volcano, Mike was on the rock island waiting for Sulley to cross.
"I can't do it!" Sulley said.
"Come on, Sulley! I can't get the clue unless you're over here with me!"
"I can't!"
While Sulley was moaning, Violet Baudelaire quietly snuck onto the bridge and crossed to the other side. Once there, she called for her brother to come do the same.
"No!" said Klaus. "These guys got here before us, so they should get their clue before us! Go ahead, Sulley, cross the bridge."
"I can't. It won't hold my weight! And besides, I don't like the heat! I'm thermophobic!"
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Mike asked. "I can't take the next clue unless you're standing here!"
"Just take it!" suggested Klaus.
"What? We'll get in trouble if we do!"
"Yeah, you'll get a penalty, but it'll only be ten minutes, tops! It's not insurmountable!"
Mike examined the bridge again. No way that flimsy thing could support Sulley.
"James, you're my best friend, and I'm not going to make you do something you're uncomfortable with. We'll take whatever penalty they give us." With that, he grabbed the next clue and ripped in open.
(MIKE & SULLEY are currently in third place.)
"Take the marked car to the Martian Military Academy, and find your next clue outside the door." Mike sprinted back across the bridge. With Sulley's safety line snapped, the stunt spotters had to give him a new one. While that was happening, Klaus crossed the bridge, permitting his sister to take a clue.
(VIOLET & KLAUS are currently in fourth place.)
"Come, brother, if we hurry, we might be able to make up for lost time."
As they were pulled out of the volcano, Marty McFly was having a little trouble climbing the mountain.
"I can't go on!" he moaned. "The heat is just too much!"
"Come on, dear," Jennifer coaxed. "This is a million dollars we're talking about here!"
"These old muscles haven't got much left in them. I don't think I can make it."
"Please try, Marty," she begged. And then she looked over and saw ORSON & ROY climbing up past them. "Hurry! We are losing to a pig and a rooster!"
"It's no use!" Marty said.
Jennifer was at the end of her rope. But she knew one sure-fire way to get Marty to move. She hated herself for doing it, but drastic times call for drastic measures.
She looked him right in the eye and said, "What's wrong, Marty? Are you chicken?"
Marty looked up at Jennifer and flared his nose. "Nobody…calls me chicken!" And he started to move up the mountain
While the other four teams fought for supremacy on Elysium Mons, ANTHONY & MERCEDES fought VIOLET & MICHAEL for first place on the streets of New Chicago.
The supplied car for this leg of the race had automatic transmission, so Michael elected to drive it. After seeing his driving on the third leg, Mercedes insisted that Anthony drive on this leg too. Michael was ahead, but Anthony was closing in.
"Michael, do you think you can lose them?" Violet asked.
"I'll try!" He floored the accelerator and sped ahead, but Anthony stayed on his tail.
"Foolish boy! Thinks he can lose me that easily, does he?" Anthony picked up speed and kept chasing him. He tried to pass him in the left lane, but Michael changed lanes and cut him off. Anthony switched back to the right lane, and was cut off again.
"Oh, so that's how he wants to play, huh?"
Anthony sped up and rammed Michael's car from behind. The supers were more than a little jarred at his reckless behavior.
"Do something!" Violet shouted.
"Like what? I can't seem to shake him!" Michael told her.
Violet saw the light ahead was green, and had an idea. "Slow down, Mike."
"What are you crazy?"
"Just trust me, I saw this on TV once."
Michael slowed down. This forced Anthony to slow down as well, which irritated him.
"What the hell are those two doing? The light is green, why don't they go?"
Just then, the light turned yellow.
"Floor it!" Violet shouted.
Michael did. He sped straight through the intersection and was on the other side when the light turned red. He looked back and saw Anthony's car stopped at the red.
"Violet, that was genius!"
"Thanks, I try."
Anthony & Mercedes, meanwhile, were not happy at all.
Some time passed, with nothing of value happening. And then, ORSON & ROY made it to the top of the volcano, ahead of Marty and Jen. They descended into its cavity, and the heat just now began to get to them.
"Whew!" Roy said. "It's so hot in here, I'm sweating like a pig. Oh, no offense, Orson."
"None taken, I'm sweating like a pig myself!"
"But you are a pig!"
"And you're a rooster. Are we done playing Guess Your Partner's Species now? Because we have a race to run!"
"I see I'm starting to rub off on you, Piggo!"
"Never mind that, let's go!"
Orson set out onto the bridge first. But when Roy stepped onto the rope while Orson was still on the bridge, they heard the ropes creak.
"Um, Roy, I think you better get back on the other side," said Orson.
Roy stepped back onto the "shore", and the creaking stopped.
"I think we need to cross one at a time."
Once Orson was across, Roy then stepped out. Once they were both on the "island", Orson reached for the next clue.
(ORSON & ROY are currently in fifth place.)
"…Once there, you will find your next clue outside the door." He read.
It wasn't until both the barnyard animals were across the bridge that MARTY & JENNIFER finally made it to the top. The McFlys descended slowly while the animals were pulled up. They quickly made their way across the bridge, fully aware of how much weight it could hold.
"Only one clue left, that means we're in last place!" said Jennifer.
(MARTY & JENNIFER are currently in last place.)
"I just said that, superimposed text!"
(Did you? Sorry, I wasn't listening.)
"No matter, let's just go!" said Marty.
About this same time, Violet and Michael located the Martian Military Academy. It looked like every other military school they had seen. It was one story high, with very few windows, and a decorative style that made it resemble a prison. Michael parked the car while Violet sprinted to the front door and retrieved the clue.
(VIOLET & MICHAEL are still in first place.)
"It's a Roadblock," she read.
The next scene is one of a tall man wearing camouflage. He walks over to where Ed is doing push-ups.
"Now, keep doing push-ups! Tell me, what is a Roadblock?"
"A Roadblock is a task that only one racer can perform, sir!"
"And how many Roadblocks can one racer perform on the race?"
"Six, sir!"
"Now, what will that person have to do in this Roadblock?"
"In this Roadblock, that person will stand under your instruction and must do whatever you say, sir!"
"For how long, private?"
"Until you get tired and dismiss them, sir!"
"Good answers, soldier! Now get off the floor!"
"I'll do this one," said Michael.
The supers walked inside the building and found the same man we saw earlier.
"All right, which one of you is doing the Roadblock?" he asked.
Michael raised his hand and stepped forward.
"What's your name, son?"
"Michael Huey, sir!"
"Are you slouching on me, boy? Where do you get the audacity to slouch in front of a military officer? Stand up straight!"
He stood up as straight as he could. The captain corrected him in various places.
"Bring your shoulders back, look straight ahead, keep your heels together, feet at a 45 degree angle! And wipe that stupid smile off your face!"
Michael said nothing.
"I said wipe that stupid smile off your face, maggot!"
"Sir, I don't think I can."
"Why not? You think I'm funny looking, don't you?"
"No, sir!"
"Then what the hell is so damn funny?"
No answer.
"Okay, Huey! Drop and give me twenty! A little exercise and you'll be too tired to smile!"
He did as he was told.
At about the time he did his second push-up, ANTHONY & MERCEDES pulled into the parking lot. They got their clue quickly.
(ANTHONY & MERCEDES are still in second place.)
"How's your leg, Mer? Do you think you can do this?"
"Still a little sore, I'm afraid. You'd better take care of this."
"All right."
They walked inside and found Violet leaning against the wall, Michael doing push-ups, and a tall man in camo barking at him. The man in camo looked up and saw the hitchhikers.
"Well, a new recruit, eh? Come over here, and stand next to Huey." Anthony stepped forward and started to sweat.
"What's your name, son?"
The human swallowed hard. "Anthony Dent," he said, with his voice cracking.
"I'm sorry, I have this funny problem with my ears. I can't hear what you're saying unless you address me as 'sir'. Now let's try this again. What's your name?"
"Anthony Dent," he said, a little louder this time.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"Anthony Dent, sir!"
"Much better!"
The officer started to look over his new charge. "What are you sweating for, boy?"
"Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"Granted, if you answer my question!"
"Sir, I'm sweating because I'm nervous."
"Good! You should be nervous. That's the point of this exercise." Out of the corner of his eye, the lieutenant saw Michael rise. "Don't move, I'll be right back."
He strode over to the super. "What are you doing standing up?"
"I finished the push-ups, sir."
"You are not finished until I say you are finished, understand?"
"Sir, yes, sir."
"Where you from, boy?"
"California, sir."
"Only two kinds of people come from California, hippies and slackers! Which are you?"
No answer.
"I said which are you, maggot?"
"I don't know!"
"I don't know, what?"
"I don't know, sir!"
"Sounds like a slacker to me! Well, there will be no slacking off in my platoon. There will only be work, or you will suffer the consequences. Is that clear?"
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"Dent, come here!" Anthony ran to where they were. "Now, I want you to hold Huey's feet while he does ten sit-ups. Then, when he's done, you'll switch. Do you understand what I have asked you to do?"
"Yes, sir!" they said.
"Then why are you still standing? Get to it!"
They crouched down and did as they were told.
About this time, MIKE & SULLEY pulled into the parking lot of the school.
(MIKE & SULLEY are still in third place.)
"Roadblock," read Mike. "Who's always wanted to be in the military?"
"I think I should do this one," said Sulley.
They went inside and found Michael doing sit-ups while Anthony held his legs in place. Violet and Mercedes were waiting on the bench nearby. Mike sat along side them, while Sulley got the standard dressing down.
"Waiting long?" he asked.
"No, not really," said Mercedes.
Violet scanned the room. She saw typical recruitment ads, banners from championships the school has won, a 1986 calendar, a track trophy, the Martian flag…wait a minute, 1986 calendar? She stood up and examined it more closely.
"Hey, guys, come take a look at this," she said. Mike and Mercedes followed her.
There was a red circle around the date January 31, with the words "Opening" in the square. What was the opening? Why was it on the school's calendar? More importantly, why would the school have an out-of-date calendar? It wouldn't, they all realized.
"If it's not the school's, then why is it here?" Mike asked.
"Maybe it was put here by the producers. Oh, holy Zarquon, that's it!"
"What's it?"
"The boxes we got at the top of the leg! That's what the opening is! The combo must be this date!"
"January 31, 1986?" Violet asked.
"It's worth a shot," said Mike.
The three of them got their boxes out of their bags and dialed in the numbers: 13186. They each pulled the lock, and it clicked open. Excited, they reached into their boxes and pulled out the toy planes. They had cracked the puzzle!
Meanwhile, Sulley was too busy working to celebrate. The lieutenant had him do twenty push-ups. He was used to it. Mike did much worse to him every morning. Elsewhere, Anthony and Michael had switched duties, and the former had finished his ten sit-ups. They now stood at attention, waiting for the next command.
The lieutenant stood before Michael. "So, you're running in some fancy race, for some million dollars, huh?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Are you going to win it?"
"I don't know, sir!"
"If you don't know, you might as well just sit still, because you will never win with that attitude! Now, let's try this again. Are you going to win the Amazing Race?"
"Yes, sir."
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"YES, SIR!"
"You'll need this, then." He handed him an envelope. "It's your next clue. The smart thing to do would be to go get your partner and open it."
Michael turned and ran.
"FREEZE!" shouted the lieutenant. "You get your ass back over here!" He did. "My memory must be going, because I don't remember saying you were dismissed! Dent, Sullivan, did either of you hear me say that Huey was dismissed?"
"No, sir!" they said.
"I thought so. Clearly, Cadet Huey needs a lesson in doing as he is told! You are going to stick that envelope in your teeth, then drop and give me five more! This time, you're going to count them!"
Michael did as he was told.
"One, two…"
"I don't know if you were listening to the conversation I had with Cadet Dent, but you should know I can't hear what you're saying unless you say 'sir'. Now, start over, and this time, count them so I can hear them!"
"Yes, sir! One, sir; tow, sir; three, sir; four, sir; five, sir!" He stood up.
"Now take that clue out of your mouth, soldier! You don't know where it's been!" Michael did. "Well done, cadet. You're a quick learner. You'd fit in just fine in the Martian Armed Forces. Dismissed!"
He had never been happier to hear anything in his life. He ran to Violet and hugged her tightly.
"You know, that really wasn't that bad," she said.
"Easy for you to say, you weren't publicly humiliated."
(VIOLET & MICHAEL are still in first place.)
"Bring your bags over to be inspected by the colonel…"
Teams must now submit their bags to the inspection of this colonel. Once they clear the inspection, they will make their way down the halls of the school (a strict no-running zone) to the dormitories. They will spend the night here, because this is the Pit Stop for this leg of the race. The last team to check in here may be eliminated.
"Let's go!" said Michael. They took three giant steps to get to the inspection point. (It was in the same room.) The colonel opened their bags and shook his head in disappointment.
"You do realize you could fit a whole lot more stuff in here if you would only fold your clothes properly!" He took one of Violet's shirts out and shook it violently. Then he laid it on the table and showed them the "proper" way to fold it.
"Now," he added, dumping the remains of their clothes out, "you're going to repack all these clothes exactly the way I showed you, and you're going to do it right here, right now!"
While they were repacking their bags, VIOLET & KLAUS, after a long trip, finally arrived at the school.
"I told you we should have taken the inside loop!" Violet shouted, pointing to the map. "It would have been shorter!"
"Maybe, but I'm pretty sure everyone in New Chicago thinks so, causing a major traffic tie-up there!" Klaus shot back. "But that's not important right now, let's just get our clue."
(VIOLET & KLAUS are still in fourth place.)
"Think you can handle this one, brother?"
"Sure, I'll do it."
Seconds later, ORSON & ROY pulled into the drive.
"Man, I'll bet this place has seen better days!" said Roy.
(ORSON & ROY are still in fifth place.)
"Uh, you can do this one if you want, Roy," Orson offered.
"No thanks, it's all yours, Piggo."
"Fine, I'll do it."
After he had dismissed Michael from the Roadblock, the lieutenant turned to Anthony.
"Cadet Dent?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Have you been paying attention to what Cadet Huey has been doing?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Do you know how many push-ups I have made him do?"
"Twenty-seven, sir!"
"Good answer! Now, how many push-ups have you done?"
"Uh, zero, sir."
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Zero, sir!"
"You're a smart guy. Can you guess what I'm going to ask you to do next?"
"Drop and give you twenty-seven, sir?"
"Do it!"
He did. And as he did, the next two teams walked in.
"Ah, fresh meat!" said the lieutenant. "Okay, whichever of you are doing the Roadblock, fall in!" Klaus stepped up next to Sulley, and Orson stood next to him. "Sound off! State your names, each of you!"
"Klaus Baudelaire, sir!"
"Orson Pig, sir!"
He walked over to Orson. "Hmm. Looks like you've been putting on a little belly, eh, Cadet Pig? You know the best way to lose weight? Exercise! Drop and give me fifteen!"
Orson dropped and started to do what he thought were push-ups. The lieutenant, however, disagreed.
"You call that a push-up? You're not working your arms! That's the whole point of a push-up! It's like this!"
And the lieutenant dropped and showed him exactly how to do it.
"Now, you do it!"
Orson started to do real push-ups, and he found it to be much harder than the kind he had been doing.
The lieutenant came to Klaus. "You know how to do push-ups, Cadet Budi…uh…Bowlr…um…"
"Baudelaire, sir!"
"Yeah, I'm not going to remember that, so I'll just call you Cadet Bravo. Anyway, you know how to do push-ups?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Then drop and give me ten!"
In the midst of all this, VIOLET & MICHAEL had finished packing their bags. It turns out the colonel was right. You really could fit a lot more stuff in there, if you fold your clothes the right way.
"I am pleased," he told them. "Go and check into the Pit Stop. But don't run in the halls!"
"Yes, sir!" said Violet.
The supers strode briskly through the hallways, looking for the dorms.
Meanwhile, the lieutenant came up to Anthony.
"You just did twenty-seven push-ups, Cadet. How do you feel?"
"I feel tired, sir!"
"Consider yourself, lucky, you pansy ass! My soldiers have to endure seven times worse than what you went through! Are you prepared to handle that sort of intensity? Are you?"
"No, sir!"
"You're damn right, you're not! I can't even stand to look at you anymore!" He handed Anthony the next clue. "You're dismissed. Now get out of my sight!"
Anthony ran to Mercedes and hugged her tightly. He was crying.
"Shh, Shh," she said. "It's okay, it's over now. You don't have to deal with any more military men."
(ANTHONY & MERCEDES are still in second place.)
"Looks like you spoke too soon, Mer. Another army man is going to check our bags before we check into the Pit Stop."
The hitchhikers turned their bags over to the colonel for inspection.
About that time, at long last, last place team MARTY & JENNIFER arrived at the military academy.
"Come on, honey, we need to hurry," said Jennifer.
"I'm sorry, these old bones can't take much more!"
(MARTY & JENNIFER are still in last place.)
"Oh, wow," said Marty when he saw the Roadblock. "I don't think either of us can do this one!"
"Well, I've done three, and you've only done two, so it's your turn!"
"Okay, fine."
As they walked into the door, VIOLET & MICHAEL had located Ed and the mat. Standing next to him was a metallic android, with green lights for eyes. They didn't run to the mat, but they did walk as fast as they could.
"Welcome to New Chicago," said the robot, in a computerized voice reminiscent of WOPR from the movie WarGames.
"Thank you," Violet said, imitating his voice.
"Violet and Michael…you are team number one!"
(VIOLET & MICHAEL 1ST PLACE.)
"Sweet!" Michael said excitedly.
"Now, did you guys open that box that you were given at the start of the leg?"
Violet nodded.
"And what was in it?"
She handed Ed the toy airplane.
"Well, as the first team to check in with the contents of the box removed, you guys have won a vacation to Kyoto, Japan! Paid air fare, hotel accommodations, and we've thrown in a rental car. You can enjoy all that after the race."
They smiled.
Meanwhile, Marty joined the ranks of the other contestants performing the Roadblock. The lieutenant was too busy to notice. He was just finishing up with Sulley.
"Well, Cadet Sullivan, after twenty-five push-ups, fifteen sit-ups, twenty jumping jacks, and two laps around the room, I'll bet you feel ready to quit. Are you ready to quit, Sullivan?"
"No, sir! I could do this all day if you wanted me to, sir!"
"That's what I like to hear, cadet! If our troops possessed an ounce of your grit, we would win every war! Here, take your clue, and be proud! You have earned it! Dismissed!"
Sulley broke away from the ranks and met back up with Mike.
(MIKE & SULLEY are still in third place.)
"Our bags?" Mike asked.
"Well, the contract said the producers could search our bags at any time. We'd better do it, we've already got one penalty to suffer, let's not make it two!"
As they crossed the room to the checkpoint, the hitchhikers were just about finished with their inspection.
"You two are fast learners," commented the colonel. "Hurry to the Pit Stop, but don't run in the halls!"
"You got it, sir!" said Mercedes.
As they departed, the monsters came to the table. They dropped their bags open for the colonel to see.
"Hmm, you don't have very many clothes in here, do you?"
"Well, we don't normally wear clothes," said Mike.
"Right. Well, in that case, go along to the Pit Stop. Don't run in the halls!"
In the midst of all this, the lieutenant just now noticed Marty standing next to Klaus.
"Well, I don't recall seeing you come in. What's your name, son?"
"Marty McFly, sir."
"Well, Cadet McFly, you know what I'm going to give you? I'm going to give you thirty seconds to get onto that pull-up bar! Thirty, twenty-nine…"
It wasn't until he said 29 that it sunk in. Marty sprinted across the room to the pull-up bar, as the lieutenant counted, "25, 15, 5, 4, 3, 2…" and he was there.
"Nice hustle! Now let's see you do pull-ups until your arms fall off!"
Marty strained and groaned and grunted. But he couldn't pull himself up.
"Oh, don't tell me you can't even do one pull-up! That would just break my damn heart!"
"Sir, in my defense, I'm older than dirt, sir!"
"How old are you?"
"47, sir!"
"Is that all? Hell, that ain't old! I'm 55, and I can do this!" He gripped the bar and pulled himself up several times.
"One for the commandant, one for the corps, one for the President…" On he went, doing pull-ups for everybody he could think of. Needless to say, Marty was very embarrassed.
While "Cadet McFly" was getting his ass handed to him, ANTHONY & MERCEDES had located the Pit Stop mat and checked in.
"Anthony and Mercedes, you're team number two!"
(ANTHONY & MERCEDES 2ND PLACE.)
"All right!" cheered the redhead. "We're moving back up!"
"Okay," Ed added, "please step off the mat, another team is checking in." They did. Mike and Sulley stepped on the mat with a downcast look.
"Mike and Sulley…you are the third team to arrive. However, my sources tell me that Sulley didn't cross the rope bridge at Elysium Mons, even though the clue specifically states that both team members must cross."
"Yeah, that's correct."
"Well, the producers have assessed you a penalty of ten minutes, starting from the moment you stepped on the mat. So, if you two could please wait over there, and when your time is up, I can officially check you in."
The monsters sat in a corner quietly, waiting out their penalty.
Back in the other room, the lieutenant was questioning Klaus before his dismissal.
"So, Cadet Bravo. Do you think you've done enough to deserve this next clue?"
"Uh, yes, sir?"
"Are you sure?"
Klaus started to sweat a little. "Yes, sir!"
"Bad answer! You haven't even had to endure a fraction of what I put my troops through! You haven't seen the horrors they've seen! You haven't done the terrible tasks they've done! You have no idea what is in store for you, if you sign up for the Martian Military! Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Are you prepared to become one of us?"
"No, sir!"
"Good answer, cadet! Here, take your next clue and beat it. Dismissed!"
"Awesome!" And he rushed over to his sister.
(VIOLET & KLAUS are still in fourth place.)
"…Once you have cleared the inspection, walk down the halls to the Pit Stop," Violet read.
They crossed the room to the inspection table.
"No, no, no!" shouted the colonel. "This is the most disgraceful packing I've ever seen! It'll have to be redone, all of it! Hop to it!"
"What, us?" asked Klaus.
"No, I expect the tooth fairy to come here and pack your bags for you! Shut up and do it already!" They got to work.
Elsewhere, the lieutenant was giving Orson the third degree.
"So, you're a farmer, are you, Cadet Pig?"
"No, sir, not technically, but I do perform traditional farming duties, sir!"
"Yeah, save your lawyer talk for someone who cares. What I can't understand is how a farmer like you got to have just a round belly?"
"Um, it might have something to do with my species, sir!"
"Right. So no matter how much exercise you get, you're always going to be this big around?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Okay, fatty fat tub o' lard, you've done enough. Here's your next clue. Dismissed!"
(ORSON & ROY are still in fifth place.)
"…Warning: the last team to check in may be eliminated," read Roy.
But when they tried to turn their bags in for inspection, the colonel turned them away.
"Not now, I'm dealing with another team. You two will just have to wait your turn!"
"I guess that's fair," said Orson.
"Fair nothing!" Roy complained. "I'm tired of all this waiting in line bull!" He charged the table, but Orson held him back.
"Roy, you're going to get us in trouble!"
"Let me go!"
"Only if you promise to wait in line like a good rooster."
"Fine."
Orson let him go, but Roy charged the table again. Orson grabbed him by the tail feathers.
"Roy! You promised!"
"Come on, Ors. You know me better than that."
Meanwhile, back at the Pit Stop, Mike and Sulley were still waiting out their penalty.
"How much longer?" asked Mike.
"60 seconds," said Ed.
Elsewhere, the lieutenant was dealing with Marty.
"Well, it looks like your team has slipped to last place, eh, Cadet McFly?"
"Yes, it would appear that way, sir!"
"Do you know why you're in last place?"
"Because the other teams are faster than us, sir?"
"Because you didn't try hard enough! Because you don't have the guts to do what it takes to win! You don't deserve any fictional million dollars! In fact, you're not going to win! I'm going to keep you here until the other teams are so far ahead of you, that you'll never be able to catch up! Do you know why I'm doing this?"
"No, sir! Why, sir?"
"Because I don't like you! You are a complainer, a goof-off, and a useless bump on a pickle! You, Cadet McFly, are a slacker!"
"Yes, sir, I am a slacker!"
"Oh, so you admit it, do you?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Think that will change my mind, do you?"
"Uh, no, sir!"
"You thought right! Now, you can just stand there until I get tired."
About then, the Baudelaire orphans finally finished packing their bags according to the colonel's standards. He excused them to go find the Pit Stop, but warned them not to run in the halls. Then Orson and Roy walked up to the table.
"About freaking time!" said Roy.
"Watch your tongue, rooster! If I want, I could make you drop and give me ten before we continue!"
Roy kept quiet.
"Hmm. I take it you guys don't wear much clothes either?"
Orson nodded.
"Okay, then. Good luck on the race, and don't run in the hallways!"
The barnyard critters walked as fast as they could while still walking.
At the Pit Stop, Ed had good news for Mike and Sulley.
"Okay, your ten minutes are up. Come over here and let me check you in!"
Excitedly, they stepped onto the mat.
"Mike and Sulley, you're team number three!"
(MIKE & SULLEY 3RD PLACE.)
"Cool! The penalty didn't effect our placement!"
Mike broke into his usual victory dance.
"Stop that, seriously."
In the halls, Klaus was a little bit lost.
"How are we supposed to know where the stupid dorm rooms are?"
"I don't know! Let's just comb every hall until we find it!" Violet shouted from somewhere else.
Elsewhere still, Roy and Orson were just as lost.
"Where on Mars could that stupid Pit Stop be?" Orson wondered aloud.
"The clue said it was in one of the dorm rooms," Roy pointed out.
"Well, where are the dorms?"
"Do you think this school map can tell us?"
"Huh?"
Roy pulled Orson over to a mounted map of the school. They located the dorms easily.
Once they knew where they were going, they walked as briskly as they could. As they were walking, they encountered the orphans.
"Do you know where the Pit Stop is?" Violet asked Orson.
"Yes, I do! Follow us!" They did.
Back in the main room, Marty was still standing, per the lieutenant's instructions.
"Aw, hell," said the lieutenant. "The other teams have probably already checked in by now. If I kept you any longer, that'd just be sadistic. I think I'm just about tired of watching you stand there. Here's your next clue. Good luck, cadet, you're going to need it! Dismissed."
(MARTY & JENNIFER are still in last place.)
"…Warning: the last team to check in may be eliminated," read Jennifer.
They skipped to the inspection table. The colonel was disgusted by the state of affairs of their luggage, but he heard what the lieutenant said.
"You know what, you two are probably going to be eliminated anyway. It really doesn't matter. Just go." And as they departed, he added, "Don't run in the…ah, screw it!"
While they were walking, ORSON & ROY, unfortunately, had found the Pit Stop. They stepped into the dorm room with VIOLET & KLAUS right behind. All four of them stood on the mat.
"Orson and Roy, Violet and Klaus, you are teams number four and five!"
(ORSON & ROY 4TH PLACE, VIOLET & KLAUS 5TH PLACE.)
"Cool! We moved up!" said Roy.
"At least we're still in the Amazing Race!" said Violet.
"You guys need some rest," said Ed. "Go ahead and relax."
Another depressing interlude played as Marty and Jennifer walked into the dorm room.
"Welcome to New Chicago," said the robot.
"Thank you," answered Jennifer.
"Marty and Jennifer, you're the last team to arrive."
(MARTY & JENNIFER LAST PLACE.)
"And I'm sorry to tell you that you have been eliminated from the race."
"No!" Jen wailed, and she burst into tears. "We were on top! We were so close!"
"It's that stupid lieutenant's fault!" Marty fumed. "If it weren't for him, we might still be in this thing!"
"Don't dwell on what might have been," the robot said, unexpectedly. "You may not have won the fictional million dollars, but you have memories of your time on the race. To some, that is much more valuable."
"Hmm, you may be right," said Marty.
"I'm a little glad I don't have to race anymore," Jennifer confessed to the camera. "Marty was very competitive, he sucked almost all the fun right out of the race. But I did enjoy our time on the Eastern Sea. It was nice, and the sea was very calming. I'd like to go back some day."
"So, we didn't win the million," Marty said. "But I showed the entire world on national television that I am not a coward! Now, nobody can look me in the eye and call me chicken! I liked the Peach Town leg a lot. It's nice to be back in the Old West."
ON THE NEXT AMAZING RACE: DREAMLAND…
Teams will experience a size shock, as the Race takes them to Macroatia (MACK-row-A-shuh), the land of giants and giantesses. Will teams be able to climb gargantuan furniture? Can they perform simple household chores in a house eight times bigger and their own? Stay tuned and find out!