Walkabout

"Walkabout" is the forty-sixth televised episode of the series Gargoyles, and the thirty-third episode of Season 2. It originally aired on February 7, 1996.

• Supervising Producers: Frank Paur, Greg Weisman
• Story by: Michael Reaves
• Teleplay by: Steve Perry
• Story Edited by: Michael Reaves
• Produced & Directed by: Dennis Woodyard
• Animation by: Koko Entertainment Co., LTD
• Backgrounds by: Koko Entertainment Co., LTD
• Additional Production Facilities: Dong Yang Animation Co., LTD

Summary

Main Plot

Fox and Anastasia Renard create the Matrix using nanotechnology and test it in the Australian Outback. The World Travelers join forces with Dingo at the test site after the Matrix gets out of control. The Matrix has evolved beyond its original programming and threatens to cover the Earth with microscopic machines. Goliath and Dingo confront it in the Dreamtime, and Dingo convinces it to pursue law and order.

Subplots

Fox's pregnancy is progressing, and her child is revealed to be male.

Dingo expresses his desire to reform and become a hero like he was on The Pack. He and Matrix join forces to become a crime-fighting team and will later join the Redemption Squad.

The Story

Previously on Gargoyles

• Recaps: ("Outfoxed", "Vows", "Grief", "Upgrade")

Act One

The mists part and Goliath wonders where Avalon has sent them this time. Elisa spots a kangaroo and Bronx is quick to growl at the marsupial. Unless they landed in a zoo, Elisa figures they must be in Australia.

The World Travelers reach the end of the river, and the vegetation. Leaving the skiff, they enter the Outback. Bronx takes a quick sniff and begins to growl once more. Noticing the gargoyle beast's behavior, Goliath beckons the others to stop. Angela then points at what could very well be upsetting Bronx. Grey, metallic liquid erupts from ground – at first like a spring, then very quickly something far more invasive. Goliath figures it must be sorcery, and with it creeping toward the World Travelers, Elisa tells the rest to move away. Everything in walking distance now appears to be covered in the metallic liquid, which hardens as soon as the liquid has spread, with stalagmites blooming from the ground in some of the areas. Elisa and Bronx manage to get to higher ground. Goliath does the same, but takes to the air as the metallic liquid leaves no space for him to stand. Angela is also forced to glide her way to safety. The metallic liquid has finally advanced on Elisa and Bronx, but Goliath and Angela whisk them away just in time. They land on higher ground a fair distance away, but the strange substance continues to advance. Then, just as the World Travelers begin to feel truly cornered, the metallic liquid recedes back into the ground, just as quickly as it emerged. It leaves behind however, a transformed terrain. Elisa wonders what the strange substance could possibly be, and Goliath concludes that Avalon probably sent them to find out.

Miles away near Uluru, a Shaman instructs Dingo to go on a walkabout, if he truly wishes to leave his past behind, and find the Dreamtime. Dingo's curious, and the Shaman explains that the Dreamtime is all around them: a world of the mind, and the heart. Dingo can free his soul if he should find it. Dingo contemplates for a moment, admitting he wants to make a fresh start. If a walkabout is necessary to do so, then he's up for it. Wondering if the Shaman will come looking for him, he is told the quest will be his, and his alone. Walking to his truck, he looks in the bed and uncovers his battle armor. Activating it with a remote, Dingo's prepared for his journey. He leaves the truck and armor at the campsite with the Shaman.

Hiking for some time, the World Travelers have yet to come across the metallic cataclysm. Bronx picks up a familiar smell, and begins to growl, but it is not the strange liquid. A lone figure walks toward them, which turns out to be Dingo. Dingo, however, is the first to recognize the winged silhouettes to be gargoyles, and he is stunned to come across them in Australia. Goliath realizes it is Dingo just as the human pulls out a boomerang. Goliath and Bronx take the lead as Angela asks who Dingo is. With little time to explain, Elisa sums it up that "he's not one of the good guys". Bronx advances toward Dingo while Goliath climbs up a rock formation. The boomerang thrown, Bronx chomps down on it, breaking it into pieces. Not yet disarmed, Dingo pulls out his bolas and starts swinging them over his head. When Bronx closes in, Dingo throws them at the gargoyle beast's feet. Successfully ensnaring him, Dingo runs off. Goliath, however, has made it to the top of the rock formation and begins to take flight. Dingo notices, and scoops up a handful of dirt and throws it in Goliath's face, temporarily blinding the gargoyle. As Goliath tries to regain his vision, Angela and Elisa catch up, and Dingo pulls out the remote he used earlier. Angela begins to untangle Bronx as Elisa continue to chase Dingo.

Back at the campsite, a beeping emits from the Dingo's battle armor. It sits up in the truck bed and takes off in flight, with the armor's rockets catching the Shaman's attention.

As Dingo continues to outrun the others, he sees his battle armor making a beeline toward them. He pushes a button on the remote just as it rams Goliath out of the sky. the armor comes in for a landing and opens up from the behind. Dingo steps into it and is now all the more ready to fight Goliath.

Meanwhile, at a facility, a scientist tells a visibly pregnant Fox that she doesn't like the fact that the Matrix isn't responding. The metallic liquid splashes about in a clear containment chamber before them. "It's too smart," she warns, explaining they don't know enough about hive-mind artificial intelligence at this point in their research. She hesitates what would happen if it gets out of control, but Fox waves off the scientist's – her mother's – concerns. She gestures to the containment chamber, explaining that the magnetic field will contain the Matrix just fine. Fox's mother then asks about the locals, and Fox explains she has an operative in the area to makes sure they don't come to close to the testing site. Fox greenlights the next test stage when suddenly she gasps. Fox's mom asks what's wrong, and Fox shares, "You're grandson just kicked me."

Fists are locked between Goliath and upgraded Dingo. Goliath begins to push his opponent backward when Dingo manages to throw him into another rock formation. As Goliath gets back on his feet, metallic bars suddenly quake out of the ground between Dingo and him. They are smooth and cylindrical at first, then suddenly roughly carved out in appearance. More metallic liquid erupts around Elisa, Angela, and Bronx, surrounding them in cubic prisms the size of boulders. Goliath breaks through the metal bars, advancing on Dingo once more when giant metal stalagmites separate the two once more. Goliath looks to the others and notices Elisa suddenly sinking into the Matrix like quick sand. Angela begins to pull her out, as Goliath races towards them. He is once more separated by the Matrix, this time a giant rectangular monolith twice their height. As soon as it is erected, it begins to tip over – and crush both Goliath and Dingo.

Act Two

As the monolith begins to topple, the two run out of its way and Dingo aims his particle beam weapon from his forearm, shattering the metallic prism. As shattered debris rain down of them, they run toward a Matrix-made rock formation that splits open as they approach, knocking both Goliath and Dingo to the ground. On his once again, Goliath turns around trying to escape the substance, but the Matrix continues to obstruct him. Angela loses her footing as Elisa is suddenly lifted up by columns resembling crystal prisms rising several stories high. Bronx climbs up one of the towering prisms, allowing Elisa to climb on his back so he can ferry her back to the ground. Goliath shoves a metallic block out of the way for Dingo and him. Before Angela can get back on her feet, the Matrix forms a geodesic dome, trapping her inside. She bangs her fists at the metallic wall while Goliath tries to break it from the outside, but to no avail. Goliath suddenly notices Dingo taking aim at the gargoyle with his particle beam weapon and before he can leap out of the way in time, Dingo fires. The shot hits the dome to the right of Goliath, breaking off a portion of the dome's hexagons. Goliath collects his rookery daughter and everyone makes their latest effort to escape. The metallic liquid continues to give chase before it finally recedes, giving everyone a chance to regroup.

After some distance, Elisa comments that they're in the clear, with Goliath allowing himself only a "for now". He asks Dingo what he makes of the situation, but Dingo is defensive in his response. Elisa adds that she doubts its a coincidence that he's in the same area as the mysterious metal liquid, but Dingo points out that its she and the gargoyles that are long way from home - "this is my country!" he adds. Further, he throws in a "You're welcome", which Goliath does acknowledge his part in saving him and Angela moments earlier. With that, he'll accept Dingo's explanation, again, only allowing himself a "for now".

Back at the facility, Fox's mother comments that she'd feel better if the two would just restart the experiment with a clean operating system. Fox reminds her its only a test, distracting with the possibility that, if successful, she and her husband could use the Matrix to reshape the world as they see fit. Unamused, her mother insists she be humored. Fox finally relents, only because her mother feels its that necessary. Despite the extra work it'll entail, she'll erase the program and start over. Both are unaware of the magnetic shield's numbers dropping to zero, allowing the vat to open inside the containment chamber.

In the Outback, the World Travelers and Dingo inspect a portion of the Matrix's discoloration of the terrain. Angela concludes it must be dark magic, but Dingo uses his visor to zoom in on the metalwork, seeing the nanobots at a thousand times magnification. He takes off his helmet and hands it to Elisa who confirms what he's seeing. Goliath is still confused about the nanotechnology Dingo's talking about so Dingo explains that they are tiny robots, smaller than bacteria. "Coyote used to say they were the way of the future", he adds. Angela asks what are they meant to do, which Dingo responds that they do whatever they are programmed to do. They can do just about anything – and quickly too – given that they can not only make more of themselves, but also are coordinated to work together. Elisa finds it hard to believe, but Dingo reminds her that Mother Nature been doing the same thing with proteins and enzymes. Angela wonders if the nanobots can transform them as well, and a more anxious Dingo replies that he wouldn't want to test his luck. He suggests they leave the area.

As Fox and her mother go to check in on Fox's outside operative, a remote arm manipulator dubbed 'Waldo' hits a button at the controls of the Matrix's chamber. The containment chamber opens, and the Matrix pours out.

Back at the Uluru campsite, Dingo is hesitant to introduce the Shaman everyone at once. He suggests that he and Elisa go in first - "I don't want to give the old geezer a heart attack," he points out. Goliath quietly nods in agreement. As the Shaman strokes the fire, he comments that Dingo has returned, but invites him to bring the others "into the light" as well. Goliath, Angela, and Bronx approach and the Shaman comments that they must be from the Dreamtime.

As the door to the facility's lab opens, Fox is telling her mother about the automatic video transmission showing that the gargoyles are in the test area. Hearing that, her mother wants to shut down immediately when they see laboratory before them – the robotic arms are swinging about erratically as the Matrix continues to pour out from its containment chamber. One of the robotic arms swings toward the two of them, but they shut and lock the doors in time. As they run Fox's mother realizes that the Matrix must have learned how to shut off the magnetic containment field. A blinding light sears through the locked doors of the lab and the Matrix cascades into the next room, enveloping the entire space from the floor to the walls to the ceiling. It begins to grow in size and flood from one room into the next.

Holding hands as they run, Fox and her mother catch their breath for a moment, only to see the Matrix has caught up with them. Stalagmites rise from the metallic ground and burst into the ceiling, causing the structure's original materials to rain down.

The Shaman tries to explain that "all things come from the dreaming", but notes how this new vision – the Matrix – is flawed and must be stopped. Goliath wonders how, and the Shaman says that they'll only be able to reason with it in the Dreamtime.

Fox and her mother take a cartridge from a wall console. They race to the facility's hangar, where the two take the helicopter there. The hangar's ceiling opens up and they fly out. The Matrix has already left one building for the next, and although in the air, giant towering crystals of the Matrix nearly hit the helicopter. Although Fox dodges dozens of metallic towers, one suddenly hits the helicopter's tail, forcing it to land in the Outback. The two exit the helicopter and make a run for it. Even in this part of the world, at the direction they are fleeing, it's about to be a small world indeed.

The Shaman strokes the fire some more as Bronx picks up a new scent. Goliath rises to his feet as Fox and her mother enter the campsite. Fox's mother recognizes Goliath, and Fox apologies for not making the introduction first. "Goliath, Dingo, Detective Maza: meet Anastasia Renard, my mother." Hearing the last name, Goliath realizes that Fox must be Halcyon Renard's daughter. Anastasia has more pressing matters to discuss and explains to Goliath that the Matrix has reached the limits of its range . . . for now. Dingo lashes out at Fox, given that she told him she had the thing under control. Overhearing him, Elisa accuses Dingo of having known about Fox's experiment all along. Dingo admits he was hired to lend a hand, but he had no idea it would end up like this. Seeing how dangerous the Matrix is, Dingo is determined to stop it. But Fox isn't so sure that's possible anymore: once the Matrix taps into the atomic power plant that runs the facility, it'll be unstoppable. Calling it the Grey Goo Scenario, Anastasia describes it as the Matrix covering the entire Earth with Nanobots, "converting everything to suit its programming". Goliath and Elisa are horrified at the prospect.

Act Three

Goliath asks Fox and Anastasia why the Matrix is doing what it's already done to the Outback and facility. Fox describes the Matrix as a shared computer program operating the Nanobots – "Sort of a group mind," she adds. The test was supposed to create 'order' out of random terrain, but the results clearly have gone beyond the experiment's parameters. Elisa asks what can be done to stop it, and Anastasia pulls out the optical drive cartridge they rescued from the lab. Theoretically, it can wipe the program clean, leaving the Matrix dormant. But for the cartridge to be effective, they will have to direct input it into the Matrix. Dingo takes the cartridge and inserts it into a slot in his armor's left forearm. He explains that his suit's computer modem should be able to transmit the data. Anastasia warns that it could work but prove risky – with all the magnetic interference, he'll need to travel inside the test site's boundaries. Goliath volunteers himself and Angela to watch Dingo's back while he makes the attempt. The three then head toward the test site – the two gargoyles leaping into the air as Dingo rockets off. The Shaman shakes his head, saying to himself that this is not the way.

As they travel deeper into the test site, Dingo, Goliath, Angela, see the terrain transform into a forest of cubes, pyramids, spheres, and cones. As they approach where the facility once stood, Goliath wonders why the Matrix hasn't consumed the nuclear power plant already. Dingo reckons it has to go slow, or else "all that plutonium could give it a bad case of indigestion". Hovering over the flooded facility, Dingo starts the deactivation program from the cartridge. Thinking the situation should begin to relax now, Dingo is surprised to see metallic tendrils catch Goliath mid-air! Angela glides in to free him. breaking off one tendril. His arms and torso now released, Goliath breaks the Matrix's grip on his legs. He falls back into a glide as Dingo calls for a retreat, while the Matrix remain as active as ever, with tendrils barely missing them.

Hearing the details of their failed operation, Anastasia concludes that the Matrix must have evolved beyond the parameters of its programming and therefore cannot be stopped. Once it absorbs the nuclear power plant, there would be no place to hide in just a couple days' time, which Fox points out to Elisa when she suggests they leave. Angela insists they still do something to stop it and the Shaman chimes in, insisting they must talk to the Matrix, and "convince it of its error". Dingo doesn't understand how they can talk to a machine, but Anastasia reminds them that the Matrix is more than a machine, but an artificial intelligence. Fox dismisses the Shaman's plan, pointing out that the Matrix "thinks a billion times faster" than they do, which makes it impossible to communicate in real time. The Shaman gestures toward the fire, suggesting they seek out the Matrix in the Dreamtime.

Dingo and Goliath stand over the campfire, arms outstretched and clasped to one another. The Shaman plays a didgeridoo. Handing it to Elisa and Fox, he runs to Dingo and Goliath. Pouring a fine sand from his pouch to his hand, he reminds them that nothing is what it seems in the Dreamtime, "but as you make them". He throws the sand into the fire, extinguishing the flame, transforming the fire into a mystical purple smoke. Goliath and Dingo are suddenly in a trance! Elisa asks what happened to them, and the Shaman shares that they've entered the Dreamtime.

Their surroundings suddenly different and quite alien, Dingo asks where they are, and Goliath reminds him of the Shaman's words. A bright light – that, in their world would like the Sun – is in the distance, and Goliath figures that must be the Matrix. Still in disbelief with his fantastical surroundings, Dingo shrugs it off, telling himself that he "always did fancy a trip to Disneyland!" He runs to catch up with Goliath.

The Matrix, meanwhile, begins to consume the power plant's cooling tower, which gives the nanobots the energy to build beyond its original limits.

Goliath and Dingo struggle to approach the blinding, Sun-like Matrix. Goliath calls out to it, "What are you?" The visage of the Sun opens to a giant atomic structure as it explains that it is the Matrix: "We create order from chaos." Goliath warns the Matrix that should it continue, it will destroy the world. But the Matrix is unfazed; after all, the world isn't perfect. It will make it perfect, pure, and pristine. It shoots a bolt of lightning at Goliath, knocking him back. "Nothing must interfere with our directive," the Matrix explains. Dingo helps Goliath back on his feet as Goliath recalls what the Shaman told them. He walks toward the giant atom and then crouches. Standing back up, he positions his hands over his head at a point. Suddenly, a conical shape conceals the floating atom. Smiling from the success, Goliath and Dingo are dismayed as light from the Matrix's source breaks apart the structure. Dingo looks to the ground and scoops up a ball of fire. "I like it!" he laughs, hurling the fireball at the atom. It leaves little impact but does garner a reaction: "You are inducing random elements into the program," Matrix explains, hurling back a volley of fireballs back at Goliath, who conjures up a medieval shield to protect himself. The fireballs ricochet off the shield and into three Matrix-fashioned structures, destroying them. Figuring he needs a bit more firepower, Dingo dives into the ground (which splashes as if it was always a liquid) and suddenly jumps out with augmented weapons on his forearms. "Now this is more like it!" he gleefully fires at the giant atom. Due to the strain, the electrons in the atom begin to stray from their ordered paths. Goliath allows his shield to vanish as he summons the rest of the Manhattan Clan he's been missing. Abstracts of Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, and Hudson come to Goliath's aid gliding to the atom and attacking it with bolts of energy from their hands.

Outside the Dreamtime, the Matrix has been steamrolling the Outback, approaching the Uluru campsite in short order. But the Shaman notes that it is slowly, acknowledging that Dingo and Goliath have confronted it.

The Matrix's source manifests a giant containment chamber to protect it from the assaults from the abstract Manhattan Clan and Dingo. Two mechanic limbs reach out and smash the abstract Manhattan Clan into oblivion. The Matrix then wields two remote arm manipulators to grab Goliath and Dingo. As they are pulled in close to the protected source, Goliath pleads to be heard. "Order is not frozen perfection – It is dynamic, evolving!" A robot eye looks upon Goliath as these words are said, and the atom replies, "We are programed to create order." Goliath counters that what the Matrix is doing is negating, not creating. "Your peace is that of the grave!" With that, the robotic hands melt and the Matrix forms a metallic, humanoid appearance. "But, we must pursue order!" it protests. An idea hits Dingo: "Listen, mate. There's another kind of order – "law and order!" He tells Matrix it would be good at that kind of order. The human-looking Matrix looks to the robot eye. The electrons and nucleus of the atom begin to spin faster and faster, and bright light emits, blinding Goliath and Dingo . . . .

Goliath and Dingo come out of their trance. A regular campfire burns below them once more. Elisa realizes they have come to and Anastasia comments that whatever they did, it worked: a tidal wave of the Matrix has stopped in its wake just before engulfing the campsite. Satisfied, the Shaman comments that Dingo and Goliath's comments were well chosen. The metallic tidal wave then shrinks to the humanoid Matrix from the Dreamtime. Matrix notes that Dingo's words have a ring of truth, and it wants to know more about this "law and order". Dingo begins by recalling how he and Fox used to be regarded as heroes back The Pack was on the air, and how he misses that. Fox smacks the side of his helmet, wanting to know what he's getting at. Dingo explains he wants to be a hero again, but for real this time. Looking at Matrix, he offers his hand, suggesting they can be a team and fight together to create law and order. Matrix accepts, taking Dingo's hand and the rest of him as well: absorbing his battle armor and upgrading it once more. "We are now joined," Matrix shares. It is ready to learn about law and order, and Goliath comments how big a responsibility that will be. Dingo isn't quite sure he's up to the task, but he's willing to give it a shot. As the Shaman strokes the campfire, Dingo proclaims that Australia has a new kind of hero.

Featured Characters and First Appearances

Gargoyles	Humans	Others
Angela Bronx Goliath Brooklyn (Illusion) Lexington (Illusion) Broadway (Illusion) Hudson (Illusion)	Elisa Maza Shaman (First Appearance)) Dingo Anastasia Renard (First Appearance) Fox Alexander Fox Xanatos (Mentioned Only) David Xanatos (Mentioned Only) Halcyon Renard (Mentioned Only)	Matrix (First Appearance)) Coyote (Mentioned Only) Pack (Mentioned Only)

Places	Objects	Miscellaneous
Australia Uluru Australian Facility (Xanatos Enterprises) Disneyland (Mentioned Only)	Nanobots Dingo's Truck	Dreamtime Grey Goo Scenario

Quotes

• "Your grandson just kicked me." - Fox

• "Why not? I always did fancy a trip to Disneyland." - Dingo

• "I can't say that one was a blazing success, mate." - Dingo

• "Your peace is that of the grave!" - Goliath

• "I wanna be a hero again. For real this time." - Dingo

Continuity

Fox and Dingo both appear for the first time since "Upgrade". They are both former members of the Pack, although this is Dingo's first episode working outside that group.

Fox is visibly pregnant, following the revelation of her pregnancy in "Outfoxed". She reveals that the child is a boy. She gives birth in "The Gathering" Part One.

Anastasia Renard is introduced. She was mentioned by Halcyon Renard in "Outfoxed". Anastasia will reappear in "The Gathering" Part One.

Matrix is introduced, and bonds to Dingo at the episode's end. Matrix and Dingo are protagonists of the SLG miniseries Gargoyles: Bad Guys, and appear in the first episode of that series, "Strangers".

The Shaman is introduced. He reappears in "Strangers".

Tidbits

As knowledgeable fans have pointed out, the script misused the term "Dreamtime" here, treating the Dreamtime as if it was another dimension. In fact, the Dreamtime of actual Australian Aborigine legend was a time, the time when the world was newly created and going through the processes that would shape it into its familiar form.

The remote arm manipulator at the Australian Facility is named "WALDO", which is a reference to the Robert A Heinlein short story of the same name.

DVD Release

• Gargoyles: Season Two, Volume Two

See Also

• Greg's Ramble
• Extensive Synopsis and Review

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