The Price
"The Price" is the thirty-third televised episode of the series Gargoyles, and the twentieth episode of Season 2. It originally aired on October 12, 1995.
- Produced by: Frank Paur, Greg Weisman, Dennis Woodyard
- Written by: Michael Reaves
- Story Edited by: Michael Reaves
- Directed by: Dennis Woodyard
- Based on Comic Book Material by: Lee Nordling
- Animation by: Walt Disney Animation Japan
- Backgrounds by: Tachiku Kimura, Jade Animation Productions
- Additional Production Facilities: Nakamura Production, Studio Robin, Light Foot, Studio Cats, Takahashi Production, Jade Animation Productions
Contents
Summary
The Story
Previously on Gargoyles
- Recap: ("Long Way To Morning")
Act One
Just prior to dawn, the Manhattan Clan (save for Bronx) soar across the snow-covered rooftops of lower Manhattan. Lexington joyfully muses how different the city is when it snows. Brooklyn, however, is less enthusiastic and points out that it's colder. Bemused by the younger gargoyle, Goliath announced that it's almost dawn and suggests they return to the Clock Tower for a good day's sleep.
As they turn a corner, Hudson happily expresses that it's not a bad life, "all things considered". But his thought is interrupted by a lightning blast. The Clan scatters and they spot their attacker: Macbeth flying on a sky-sled. Macbeth fires another blast and calls out that he's been looking for them. While Goliath is unsure how Macbeth escaped the Weird Sisters, Brooklyn is determined to make sure Macbeth wish he hadn't. Goliath demands to know why Macbeth is attacking them, but the immortal retorts with one word: "trophies". Macbeth successfully shoots Brooklyn, knocking the gargoyle out of the sky. Goliath dives and rescues his Second, leaving him on a roof. Broadway says they need to finish this fast, as sunrise is about to come up before he and Lex are dispatched by an electrified net landing on the same rooftop as Brooklyn. Hudson draws his sword and, with a mighty roar, lunges at Macbeth – but he misses and is momentarily distracted when the immortal king tosses an envelope full of a glittering powder at the old soldier.
Momentarily blinded, Hudson lands on the snowy roof nearby the Trio. Goliath lands on the sky-sled behind Macbeth and attempts to subdue him, but the ancient warrior retorts, "you'll have to do better than that!" He pokes his lightning-gun into Goliath's flank and fires. The gargoyle leader cries out in pain and lets go of his adversary, clutching his side as he glides down. He manages to gracefully land on a neighboring rooftop, clutching a needle-like-spire for support. The rest of the clan begins to come to as Macbeth takes aim and cries out "Farewell, my enemies!", but before he can pull the trigger, Goliath tears out the spire and, like a javelin, throws it at Macbeth's sky-sled into the controls. Unable to operate the aircraft, the sky-sled and its pilot spirals and crashes into the street below and explodes.
The gargoyles look over the rooftop at the remains. Lexington is in disbelief, but Hudson tells him to believe it: "Macbeth is dead". Goliath lands on the roof telling them all how he had no choice, but Hudson assures him that nobody would question his actions before advising they take their places as dawn breaks and they turn to stone.
The day passes and turns into night as the Sun sets and the clan again awakens . . . all except for Hudson. The other gargoyles are aghast, wondering why he doesn't wake up. But Goliath suddenly remembers that last night Macbeth threw some kind of powder on Hudson; he concludes that it must be a magical concoction to keep him asleep and it's up to the rest of them to find a cure. In despair, Lex reminds Goliath that Macbeth is dead and wonders who else would know about the powder. Goliath takes Lex and says they'll go to Macbeth's Mansion to see what they can find and orders Brooklyn and Broadway to stay and protect Hudson. A less-than-confident Brooklyn asks Goliath what if there is no cure, but Goliath won't hear it: "There is a cure. There must be." Lexington and Goliath arrive at Macbeth's Mansion and quickly dispatch with the automated cannons before entering to see what they can find. But back at the rooftop, Broadway is unsure of what their next steps even are: even if a cure is discovered none of them are sorcerers. Brooklyn, however, reminds him to just focus on protecting Hudson.
At that moment, in a mysterious location, behind the electrified bars of a cage, a furious Hudson shouts: "You can't keep me in here forever!" He cries out in pain as he grabs the bars before roaring, "I'll get out, do you hear me!? I'll get out!"
Act Two
Pacing in a small circle inside his cage, Hudson hears the sound of a door opening and his captors entering: David Xanatos and Owen Burnett. Hudson demands to know what Xanatos wants from him, but the billionaire retorts, "nothing much, just your skin." Hudson's eyes burn white as he promises Xanatos will have the Devil's own task getting it. Amused, Xanatos pulls a small remote control from his jacket pocket and a tray beneath the cage slides out. Xanatos kneels down, picks up a shard of stone skin, and replies "that wasn't as hard as you made it sound." Exasperated, Hudson asks if Xanatos is through with him. More bad news, Xanatos explains that he needs Hudson's help to conduct a small experiment. The old soldier asks what kind of experiment as a Steel Clan robot brings in an enormous crate and opens it. Inside is a large, iron cauldron. Hudson asks what is it, and Xanatos tells him it's the Cauldron of Life, which, according to legend proclaims that "whoever bathes in it will live as long as the mountain's stone." Bemused, Hudson realizes that Xanatos wishes to be immortal. "What good are all the riches on Earth," Xanatos ponders, "if Fox and I can't enjoy them forever?" When Hudson asks how he himself fits into all of this, Xanatos replies that one of the key ingredients in the Cauldron's brew is the stone skin of a gargoyle. Hudson is quick to remind the industrialist that these ancient talismans are often dangerous, citing his recent experience with the Eye of Odin. Xanatos agrees and says it might be a good idea to test the brew first. He smirks at Hudson before rhetorically asking, "any volunteers?"
The robot pours a bucket of water into the cauldron and Xanatos drops the piece of skin. The legend says the skin must boil for a night and a day first. If the procedure is successful, he promises to release Hudson. When Hudson asks what if it isn't, Xanatos smirks that Hudson will have had the privilege of giving his life for science. Angered, Hudson reminds Xanatos that his clan will never rest until they know where he is. But Xanatos has already arranged for this – the clan very much knows where he is. Owen then reveals a sculptor's model of Hudson in stone sleep and assures him that the real statue is life-sized, and very life-like. As it turned out, the hardest part was finding a replacement for his sword. But despite all this, there's no sense being complacent and he orders Owen to keep the gargoyles distracted. Hudson demands to know what's in this for Owen, but the majordomo merely replies that, "Service is it's own reward", and he thought Hudson would know that.
Brooklyn and Broadway continue to stand vigil over "Hudson" when suddenly they are nearly struck by a lightning blast: Macbeth has returned. Broadway is shocked – there's no way he could have survived the crash. The two gargoyles take to the air with a new strategy: lead him away from "Hudson". And Macbeth calls out, "I've been looking for you!"
At the Elisa's Loft, the detective asks Goliath if he had any luck finding a cure for the "curse". Goliath assures her that he and Lexington searched attic to cellar and found nothing. Goliath turns and stares out of the skylight at the full Moon. In a moment of desperation, he says that there is only one other hope: "we need a sorceress. We need Demona." Both Lexington and Elisa raise a brow at this as Goliath tells Elisa that as a detective, she must help him find her. Elisa says she'd do anything to help, but she doesn't even know where they'd start looking. Goliath won't just give up and Elisa promises him they won't. Lexington observes it's not long until sunrise and suggests they head back. Elisa joins them.
Back at the Eyrie Building, Xanatos observes that the soup is cooking nicely. Hudson then makes his own observation: Xanatos obviously went to a lot of trouble and had to carve his statue weeks in advance. "Why me?" he asks the billionaire. Xanatos replies, "Because you're old and getting older – I thought you might even appreciate the opportunity." Hudson then makes his second observation: "Growing old terrifies you, doesn't it?" Xanatos's response is quick and indignant: "Nothing terrifies me because nothing is beyond my ability to change!" The nerve having been touched, Xanatos makes a remark pettier than he normally would: "What about you, still wasting your evenings in front of a television set? You're of little use to your clan, you might as well be of some use to me." Hudson rises to his feet and challenges Xanatos to open the cage and see how useful he is. Still angry, Xanatos glares back at the old warrior before walking away. Once the industrialist is out of sight, Hudson reaches through the bars beneath his feet and picks up a shard of his stone skin.
Back in lower Manhattan, Macbeth continues to chase Broadway and Brooklyn across the rooftops calling out, "Farewell, my enemies!" Broadway is satisfied that they've led the one-time king away from "Hudson" before observing they'll be sitting ducks when the Sun rises and that they need to nail him as he's the only one who can cure "Hudson". He does a vertical loop in the air, in an attempt to grab Macbeth from behind but he misses. Macbeth taunts once more, "You'll have to do better than that!" Brooklyn then tackles Macbeth, but is quickly dispatched before alighting on the fire escape of a nearby building: Royal Persian Carpets.
Goliath, Elisa, and Lexington approach and land on the roof and are shocked to see Broadway fighting a still-alive Macbeth. Goliath moves to assist the younger warrior, but is restrained by Elisa and Lexington due to the imminent sunrise. The gargoyles turn to stone in horror as Broadway – who is still in midair – falls out of the sky.
Act Three
Broadway continues to fall out of the sky as Elisa gasps in horror. She quickly spots a crane in front of the carpet warehouse and draws her service pistol firing at the cable. Emptying her clip, three of the bullets successfully hit the cable dropping the crate which explodes on the ground and Broadway safely lands on the Persian carpets. She leans against Goliath's stone form and sighs in relief, but Macbeth calls out "Trophies!" before flying off.
Back at the Eyrie Building, Xanatos stares at the sleeping Hudson as Owen comes in with a field report from Macbeth that he kept the gargoyles busy throughout the night. Xanatos takes this moment to needle Owen a little bit. "Better watch out, Owen. This Macbeth fellow may be gunning for your job: he's already died for me once on this project, it's hard to top that."
As the day rolls on, a crane raises Broadway to the roof and leaves him next to the other gargoyles. The Sun sets and Hudson hides the stone shard he picked up earlier in his loincloth while elsewhere in the city, the gargoyles are ecstatic to see Broadway.
"Jalapeña, you're still alive! It's a miracle!" Brooklyn cries out, and Goliath agrees. "Yes, a miracle named Elisa." Elisa smiles before Lexington interrupts and asks why Macbeth cut and run. Brooklyn observes that Macbeth keeps saying he wants them as trophies and then wonders why he didn't come back while they were stone. Goliath realizes that "Hudson" is a likely target and they all take to the skies to return to where they left the statue.
Deep inside the Castle, satisfied that the night and the day has passed, Xanatos tells Hudson his bath is ready and activates his Steel Clan robot to take hold of Hudson when the bars vanish. Hudson decides to reason with the human: "Listen to me, Xanatos. What you seek demands a heavy price. I've been alive for over eleven-hundred years, most of my clan is dead and dust, and I am a stranger in a strange land. Demona and Macbeth are immortal – has it brought them happiness?" Holding onto Hudson's sword, Xanatos tells Hudson to save his breath: "Death and old age have their price as well, and it's too expensive for me."
Back in lower Manhattan, the gargoyles land next to "Hudson". There is no sign of Macbeth. Brooklyn still wants to know how Macbeth lived through the crash and why he keeps attacking them. Goliath begins to realize that it's almost as if Macbeth is trying to keep them off-guard while something else is going on. But his train of thought is interrupted by a lightning blast fired by Macbeth. The gargoyles scatter and Elisa draws her gun. Goliath, again, orders them to keep him away from "Hudson". Macbeth fires at Brooklyn and Broadway, again dispatching them and then at Lexington and Goliath. Finally he takes aim at "Hudson". Elisa warns him no to do it and fires at him, but she's out of ammunition. Lexington gasps and Goliath cries out as Macbeth takes aim at "Hudson" and pulls the trigger. The blast strikes the statue which then explodes.
Goliath stares in horror and lands in anguish, gazing at what he believes to be the remains of his mentor and clan father. He clenches his fist, his eyes burn, and he roars in a horrific rage and takes to the air with murderous intent. He grabs onto the back of the sky-sled and Macbeth blasts the gargoyle in the chest. But Goliath cannot be deterred and rises up behind Macbeth. Macbeth grabs him and attempts to electrocute Goliath with his gloves, but to no avail. Goliath growls "Murderer!" at Macbeth and throws a punch straight through his enemy's torso . . . revealing robotic innards. Goliath gasps in shock as the robot begins to come apart and utters one last "You'll... have to do... betterrrrr than... thaaaaaaaat.... " before falling from the sled onto a rooftop and exploding.
Inside the Eyrie Building, the Steel Clan robot dangles the struggling Hudson over the boiling cauldron. "Relax Hudson," Xanatos says taunting the gargoyle with his own sword. "Without your sword, you're helpless." Hudson pulls the stone shard from his loincloth. "Swordless maybe. Helpless, never!" He shoves the shard through the robot's metallic skull, freeing himself before lunging at Xanatos. He knocks the human to the floor and reclaims his sword. Before Owen can intervene, Hudson points his sword at the bespectacled assistant and tells him to behave himself. Xanatos rises to his feet, dusting himself off. Xanatos admits he underestimated the old gargoyle and compliments him on his resourcefulness before assuming he'll destroy the Cauldron on his way out. But Hudson has no intention of doing such a thing. What Xanatos choosing to do with his life is his own affair "as long as its got nothing to do with me." As he takes his leave, Hudson leaves Xanatos with some friendly advice: "True immortality isn't about living forever, it's about what you do with the time you have." He gravely adds, "When all your scheming's done, what will be your legacy, Xanatos?" before exiting. Owen pulls a phone to call security but Xanatos orders him to stop. In his eye, Hudson has earned his freedom.
Back in lower Manhattan, the gargoyles stand around the shattered remains of the faux-Hudson and exchange words about him. Broadway wishes it hadn't turned out this way, but the real Hudson lands and says that, all things considered, he's just as glad it did. Everyone is shocked to see him and before he can explain, he tells them all it's a long story and one best told over a hot cup of tea. He reaches into the rubble and picks up the face of the statue: "I think I'll keep this as a souvenir. Not everyone can reclaim their head after losing it," before they all head back to the Clock Tower.
Xanatos gazes down at the boiling cauldron frustrated. He was so close to finding out if the legend was true, but now there's no one to test if on. Owen enters the room without his jacket, rolls up his left sleeve and makes a fist. With a curt "Allow me, sir", he dips his left fist and most of his forearm into the Cauldron. After a moment he pulls it out revealing stone where once was flesh. "It would appear that the Cauldron's spell of immortality has a price." Xanatos smiles, amused. "Yes, what was the legend? Whoever bathes in it will live as long as the mountain's stone? How literal minded." As Owen stares at his new stone fist, Xanatos takes his leave and dismisses his ever-loyal assistant. "Thank you, Owen. That will be all."
Featured Characters and First Appearances
| Gargoyles | Humans | Oberon's Children | Others |
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Continuity
The Cauldron of Life is introduced in this episode. In "Cloud Fathers", we learn that David Xanatos has melted the Cauldron down to rebuild Coyote.
Xanatos reveals his desire to become immortal in this episode, although there were hints of that ambition in "City of Stone" Part One.
Owen Burnett's fist is turned to stone in this episode, and remains stone for the rest of the series.
Hudson keeps the piece of his fake statue self until the Clock Tower blows up in "Hunter's Moon". It is unknown if Elisa was able to recover the memento from the wreckage or if it had shattered to pieces in the explosion. [1]
Tidbits
"The Price" was initially aired out of order, on October 12, 1995, between "Outfoxed" (which initially aired on September 28) and "Revelations" (which initially aired on October 26). A side effect of that was the jarring effect of seeing Owen with a normal hand in "Double Jeopardy" and "The Cage", which appear in this schedule to be taking place afterwards. Initially, Disney's official YouTube playlist for Season 2 maintained the incorrect order for the episode. This incorrect order has continued on Disney+.
This story was inspired by the Lee Nordling's Gargoyles story "Stone Cold" from Disney Adventures, which used the core concept of a gargoyle in stone sleep being kidnapped and replaced by a lookalike statue (though the gargoyle in Nordling's story was Goliath).
In the original screenplay, Goliath and Lexington, during their visit to Macbeth's mansion, had a run-in with Banquo and Fleance (both feeling perturbed by their employer's mysterious absence). This scene was changed in the televised version to Goliath and Lexington facing Macbeth's automated defenses instead.
Hudson makes the only reference in the entire series to bathroom functions when he calls the Cauldron of Life an "oversized chamber-pot".
It is fitting that a vital ingredient in the Cauldron of Life's spell is a piece of gargoyle stone skin. Gargoyles do not age during their stone sleep. Bathing in the Cauldron would thus allow the person to "live as long as the mountain stones", effectively locking them into a permanent gargoyle stone sleep, where they do not age, but are solidified. So Owen's fist is not stone, but more accurately the same organic substance resembling stone that gargoyles become every dawn.
While trying to convince Xanatos of the folly of wanting to be immortal, Hudson refers to himself as a "stranger in a strange land", a quote from Exodus 2:22, "And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land" and the title of the 1961 science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein.
In December 2006, in an effort to catch up on the unanswered questions on Ask Greg, Greg Weisman once emulated the Macbeth robot by repeating the robot's four lines as he read through the 2006 Gathering conjournals. [2] Despite the automated responses, Weisman did clarify that he did enjoy reading each of them. [3]
Toon Disney/Disney XD Edits
When Goliath attacks the Macbeth robot after it has destroyed the Hudson statue, in the original version he puts his whole arm through "Macbeth". Here it has been edited so that it appears that Goliath only punched him (Actually it looks like he only tapped him) instead of putting his arm through him.
DVD Release
Links
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