Carnivale: Season 1 Episode 2 - After the Ball Is Over

Ben gets sent on a wild goose chase but it turns out that the goose isn't so wild. Justin learns a fun, new trick he can do. And we are all left with a sense of foreboding.

Produced by Kristen Riley and Daive Reed Edited by Daive Reed

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Content Warnings - pedophilia suggested, suicide

The Recap

Love me or leave me plays on the sound system in the diner. 

The lyrics are disagreeable from start to finish and absolutely distract me from what’s happening, which is…

Justin walks into a diner and sits on a stool at the counter. Ben walks in and sits next to Justin. The two men don't acknowledge each other's presence. 

After a few minutes, Scudder, dressed in a black tuxedo and top hat, walks in and sits at the booth behind Ben and Justin. Ben and Justin watch him intently in the mirror above the counter. 

Eventually, Belyakov, previously seen in both Ben and Justin's dreams chasing Scudder during World War 1, enters the diner and sits across from Scudder at the booth. 

The waitress moves over to Belyakov and Scudder and comments ominously, "Every prophet in his house." Scudder and Balyakov raise their wine glasses in a toast. As the glasses clink, the large window that Scudder and the soldier are seated next to explodes inward, showering the four men in shards of glass. The dream ends.

Ben and Justin wake suddenly from the shared dream.

Ben goes to wash and gets harassed by the Dryfuss ladies - Libby and Rita Sue. It’s pretty fun. Because, as I said while watching, it’s not dangerous. 

Sofie and Appolonia argue. 

Jonesy is assigning men to work for the morning and sends Ben to clean out the baggage trailer, a carnival joke since the baggage trailer doesn't exist. 

Ben, however, finds a run-down trailer filled with baggage which he proceeds to dig through on the pretense of cleaning it. I love luggage with all those stickers - the real thing, not the Home Goods version. I’d go through it too, you know, for organizing purposes. 

He finds a suitcase containing not only Scudder's top hat (which Ben pops), but also Scudder's trademark black tuxedo (which is spattered with blood). 

In an old cigar box, he finds an old photo of his mom standing in front of a truck with the label "Big Sky Farms." He exclaims and the wind closes the door, so he pulls out a zippo. A definite fire hazard.

Heading back through the carnival Samson asks where he’s been hiding. Samson shares the joke, but Ben was in the trailer. He shows Samson the photo to prove it since taking him to the non-existent trailer proved fruitless. 

Samson lies about not recognizing the picture, and so does Ben. Samson wants to hold onto it, but Ben pockets it. On the back of the picture is written "H.S. and Flo." He pockets it. 

Samson goes to the management trailer and finds the picture in the photo album. He asks management, who’s behind a curtain, “what the hell are you up to?” 

Cut to Justin, who’s getting ready for work and making me realize just how little I understand about men’s clothing. Why doesn’t that second shirt have a back? When he wears the overcoat, you can’t see it anyway. Why? 

Also, staring at your sister’s nipples is probably frowned upon by parts of the bible. 

At church, we have my favorite singer, Eleanor’s son. Eleanor has been “set right”. I love that he says he enjoyed parts of the service when Justin asks. He’s so honest!

The rich folks are unhappy with the migrants and make it known to Justin.

Lunch at the carnival.

The cooch family - “No one wants to see a lumberjack dance the cooch.” I do. 

Jonesy is pissed about Babe Ruth. But not really. 

Ben and Sofie sit together for lunch. 

Lodz and Lyla discuss Sofie and Ben. Lyla makes comments about teaching new puppy tricks. 

At the diner from the dreams, Justin and Norman, and Iris. 

Back at the carnival, Appolonia won’t read the cards for Sophie, so rather than lie or make something up, she turns everyone away. As she’s leaving the trailer she runs into Ben, Ben gets pulled over by Ruthie to fetch Gabriel’s wrist cuffs. In her trailer, he smells her perfume. He’s smitten. 

At Justin and Iris’s, the wealthy folks come by. Mainly they want to kick out the migrants. But Templeton isn’t ready for what’s about to happen. Justin gets ahead of him and requests Templeton give him The Chin’s. Te