City of Stone Part Two

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"City of Stone" Part Two is the twenty-third televised episode of the series Gargoyles, and the tenth episode of Season 2. It originally aired on September 19, 1995.

Summary

Main Plot

Demona's spell has struck Manhattan, turning it silent as most of its citizens have become stone. After the Manhattan Clan realizes what's happened, Goliath locates Xanatos at PackMedia Studios, and grudgingly agrees to work with him to break the spell. Meanwhile, Demona gleefully smashes humans at her leisure, while Macbeth, wearing the mask of the Hunter, pursues her with deadly intent. In 1032 Scotland, circumstances are quite different between the two characters. They once again come into contact at Castle Moray, where Macbeth is stalking Gillecomgain after he learns from Duncan that Gillecomgain killed his father, and Demona has been clued in to the Hunter's whereabouts by the Weird Sisters. A battle ensues and Macbeth saves Demona when she is nearly pulled down by Gillecomgain while hanging from the castle ramparts. Gillecomgain falls to his death, but the "Hunt" does not die with him, as Duncan takes up the Hunter's mask for himself.

Subplots

The episode opens with Xanatos plummeting towards Earth in his helicopter with a stone Fox in the cockpit. Xanatos is able to land, and makes his way to PackMedia Studios where he ends the broadcast, but learns he can't as easily end the spell.

Not yet clued in to the spell, the gargoyles are confused to wake up to a stone statue of Elisa. They go off to patrol and end up at Jeffrey Robbins' house. The author was unaffected by the spell due to his blindness, and he shows the gargoyles the television broadcast. Now knowing that Demona is behind the spell, the gargoyles split up into pairs to search for her. Goliath is prepared to kill Demona, but the Weird sisters, in the guises of stone children, warn him that he should not let vengeance overtake him.

In the eleventh century flashback, Bodhe tells Macbeth that he will marry Gruoch off to Gillecomgain, admitting the marriage was ordered by Duncan. Macbeth wants to run away with Gruoch, but is convinced by Bodhe to break it off with her, fearing what the consequences would be if they were caught. Gruoch is forced to marry Gillecomgain, but afterwards Duncan switches sides after Gillecomgain refuses to kill Macbeth. Duncan reveals to Macbeth that Gillecomgain killed Findlaech, while acting shocked by the revelation himself. After Gillecomgain is killed, Macbeth becomes the Steward of Moray, and is happily married to Gruoch.

During the wedding of Gruoch and Gillecomgain, Duncan introduces his infant son Canmore to his court.

The Hunter breaks into PackMedia Studios while Demona is there fighting Xanatos. Demona attacks him, but retreats after she realizes the man behind the mask is Macbeth due to their shared pain link.

The Story

Act One

With Fox now a stone statue, Xanatos's helicopter continues to fall out of the sky. But the billionaire is able to take control of the vehicle and bring it to a safe landing on the street. Once he's satisfied that she's not chipped or damaged, he steps out of the helicopter and is briefly shocked at the sight of hundreds of stone statues, car wrecks, and more damage. Quickly regaining his composure, Xanatos pulls a particle beam rifle from the helicopter and begins walking downtown with PackMedia Studios as his destination.

Inside the Clock Tower, the Manhattan Clan are confused as to why Elisa would leave a statue of herself. Lexington comments that it's a pretty good likeness; Brooklyn disagrees, opining that the nose is all wrong. Goliath's instincts kick in, sensing something is wrong even if he's not sure what. He declares that nothing must happen to the statue and orders Broadway and Bronx to remain behind and guard the statue while the rest of them patrol the city. When Lexington asks what they're looking for, Goliath can only respond with "I wish I knew."

As the gargoyles soar uptown, Hudson points out the house of Jeffrey Robbins while Brooklyn comments on how quiet the city is. The gargoyles come for a landing and spot more statues "just like the one of Elisa". Hudson knocks on the door and Robbins answers, inviting his friend in. But Hudson replies that his friends would be more comfortable outside. The blind author steps outside, telling Hudson that he hasn't been able to reach anyone by phone and that it's so quiet outside. Brooklyn cuts in, asking how long it's been like this, to which both Hudson and Robbins comment on impatience being the curse of youth. Robbins explains that it got quiet around sunset and wonders if has anything to do with "that odd broadcast". When Goliath asks about it, the author invites them inside where it's still playing. Upon seeing the image of Demona and hearing the chanting, Goliath orders Lex to turn off the sound. Robbins explains that when he tuned in to listen to the news, that "this woman broke into the signal and began chanting in Latin" and that it's repeating non-stop on every channel. Goliath orders the clan to depart. When Robbins asks Hudson what's going on and accuses him of knowing more than he's letting on, Hudson advises Robbins and Gilly to stay inside.

The clan soars back downtown. Goliath is shocked at what he's seeing, that everybody in the city has been turned to stone, that he didn't know Demona had this kind of power. Lexington asks why Robbins wasn't affected, and Hudson tells him that you have to see and hear magic for it to touch you, meaning a blind man like Robbins is immune. Goliath then orders them to split up to find Demona. When Brooklyn volunteers to head north, the clan leader orders the young gargoyle to stay at his side (not trusting his judgement when Demona is involved), and also orders Hudson and Lexington to stop back at the Clock Tower and bring Broadway and Bronx into the search. Lexington is concerned that this would leave Elisa unprotected, but Goliath rationalizes that Demona doesn't know about the Clock Tower and that Elisa is as safe there as she could be anywhere. When Brooklyn asks how they're going to find Demona, Goliath sighs that he fears finding her will be all too easy.

Leaving a trail of destruction around her, Demona walks down a city street smashing each statue she comes across with a mace or shooting it with a particle beam, quipping to herself and laughing with each kill. She soon comes across a woman carrying packages and "offers" to help her, before blasting the statue's packages and arms off. As she walks past a shop with several clocks in the window, she realizes she's got an appointment with Xanatos and cannot allow him to turn off her broadcast... before shooting two more statues and continuing towards PackMedia Studios.

High above the city, on board a small aircraft, the onboard computer traces the origin of Demona's broadcast to PackMedia Studios. The pilot of the ship is revealed to be the Hunter.

Act Two

On board the aircraft, the Hunter vows "Soon, Demona. Soon."

Scotland, 1032: As the night is approaching its end, the Hunter and Angel duel, neither of them able to get the upper hand over the other. The gargoyle notices the sun beginning to rise and takes off, promising to finish this another night. But the Hunter calls out that he'll finish her should he find her during the day.

At Castle Moray, Macbeth protests Bodhe's decision to marry Gruoch to Gillecomgain. Bodhe brushes him off as he shoots arrows into targets, declaring that as her father it's his right to marry her to whomever he chooses. Macbeth warns Bodhe that should this marriage take place, he and Gruoch would flee the castle and the country. Bodhe loses control and pleads with Macbeth to be reasonable, admitting that Prince Duncan ordered the marriage and that it would be capital treason to defy him. He then pleads with Macbeth to think of Gruoch's well-being... a tactic which works.

Macbeth and Gruoch rendezvous at Lunfanan Hill where she is still expecting them to run away. But as she embraces him, she notices something is wrong. Macbeth, broken-hearted, advises her to marry Gillecomgain. Gruoch can't believe what she's hearing and protests, but Macbeth tells her that she's not worth the trouble. She resigns herself and walks away. Macbeth stifles a cry of rage before heading off in the opposite direction.

Back at Castle Moray, the wedding has taken place. Gillecomgain introduces Gruoch as "the Lady Gillecomgain", and Gruoch, eyes cast to the floor, acknowledges him as lord and husband. Prince Duncan is the first to applaud, and the rest of the attendees follow with lukewarm applause. Amongst the crowd, in the form of maidens, stand the Weird Sisters. Phoebe comments that it's "a happy beginning", but Seline retorts that not all would agree, and Luna points out Macbeth moping on a chair in the corner. The crowd then enthusiastically welcomes Duncan showing off his newborn son, the young Prince Canmore. In a depressed funk, Macbeth leaves the Great Hall, and Duncan watches with malicious satisfaction.

Later that night, after the festivities have died down, Duncan brings up one last bit of business and tells Gillecomgain that he wants an accident arranged for Macbeth. But Gillecomgain refuses, stating that Macbeth is an heir to the crown and much beloved by the people. Gillecomgain then decides that Macbeth is his own insurance, and subtly threatens to make public the knowledge that Duncan ordered Findlaech's assassination. Duncan threatens Gillecomgain to not defy him, but the Hunter merely threatens him back to not risk his defiance.

At Edinburgh Castle, Macbeth enters Duncan's chambers, having been summoned by the prince. Duncan tells Macbeth that he's "learned the true identity of the mysterious Hunter," telling Macbeth that it's Gillecomgain; that he'd been fooled completely. Duncan continues his manipulation game, stating that were it not for Gillecomgain, Macbeth would be High Steward of Moray, that Gruoch would be his bride; and that he dare not attack him openly as it would cause a civil war in Scotland. "What can be done?" And Macbeth vows to personally deal with Gillecomgain.

The Weird Sisters, in the guise of three elderly gargoyles, appear at Angel's cave and tell her that the Hunter will resurface tonight at Castle Moray, and that she has another opportunity to ally herself with Macbeth and Clan Moray. Angel refuses, wishing only to destroy her enemy and never again ally with a human. The Sisters plead that the Hunter is the enemy to them both and they can only defeat him together, but Angel makes no promises.

Gruoch sits on the parapets of Castle Moray, rose in hand. Gillecomgain steps outside and orders her to go inside and stir the fire. Colder than the night itself, the Lady Gillecomgain offers a curt bow before stepping away. Gillecomgain smells the rose before stomping it under foot as Macbeth approaches, sword in hand. The son of Findlaech calls out Gillecomgain to draw his sword so that he may strike him down. Gillecomgain laughs and admits to being Findlaech's murderer before engaging Macbeth in battle. The Hunter outmatches the young warrior, but Macbeth turns the tables and disarms Gillecomgain. The tide turns again when Gruoch returns and Gillecomgain takes her hostage, telling Macbeth that if he wishes to kill him, he'll need to go through her. Macbeth surrenders and offers his sword, which Gillecomgain takes before donning the mask of the Hunter.

Throughout the confrontation, Angel was perched atop a tower trying to figure out which man was the Hunter. When Gillecomgain reveals himself, she swoops down, blocking Gillecomgain's sword-strike with her mace. The Hunter tosses Gruoch at Angel, but the gargoyle tosses her aside, and Gruoch nearly goes over the battlements. Macbeth grabs her hand for dear life.

Act Three

Macbeth pulls Gruoch to safety as Gillecomgain manages to successfully outmuscle Angel. But the gargoyle turns the tables by grabbing a flaming brazier and using it as a weapon, disarming the Hunter. She quickly unmasks him, and Gillecomgain tells her that his scars are her handiwork, done when he was but a boy and asks if she remembers. When Angel replies with "no", Gillecomgain loses his temper and pulls Angel over the side. Macbeth comes to her aid, grabbing Angel's hand while the Hunter tries to force both to fall to their deaths. The gargoyle smacks Gillecomgain with her tail and he falls into the darkness below. Macbeth pulls Angel back up as Gruoch runs to embrace him. Placing a hand on the young man's shoulder, Angel thanks him. Macbeth tells her that he owed her, and Angel is satisfied then that they're even before departing.

A much more festive wedding with many more attendees takes place. Bodhe emerges from the chapel and introduces Macbeth as High Steward of Moray and Gruoch as his bride: Lord and Lady Macbeth. Nearby, watching from a tower, Prince Duncan promises as he passes young Canmore to one of his handmaidens (the Weird Sisters in disguise, but Seline specifically) that there will always be a Hunter, and as he dons the mask of the Hunter, he also promises that there will always be the hunted. The Weird Sisters nod as one, and Seline herself smiles down upon Canmore.

Flashing forward to Manhattan, 1995, Goliath and Brooklyn come upon Demona's trail of destruction. Hundreds of smashed statues litter the ground. Brooklyn, horrified by what he's seeing, compares it to the massacre at Castle Wyvern. Goliath almost cannot believe that Demona could have learned nothing, that every life is precious... before finding the statues of the Weird Sisters, in the form of three children, intact. As Brooklyn digs through the gravel, he observes that this could be Elisa's fate. Enraged and murderous, Goliath vows that they will put an end to Demona's evil... once and for all. But then the statues start speaking, agreeing that Demona must be stopped, yet warning Goliath to remember his own words that every life is precious, to not become what he fights against, and that vengeance begets nothing but a vicious cycle of further vengeance. Brooklyn taps one of the statues and gasps as they disintegrate in front of them. Goliath and Brooklyn then move on, following the trail of corpses.

Demona enters PackMedia Studios. She approaches the statue of Owen Burnett, clutching her mace, prepared to bring it down upon him, when Xanatos warns her to step away from him. He smashes the control panels with the butt of his gun, ending the broadcast. Demona launches herself at him, bringing her mace down but he blocks it with his gun while falling to the floor. He quickly recovers and fires at Demona, missing. As she leaps out of the way, she bumps against Owen's statue causing it to fall. Xanatos gasps, drops his weapon, and leaps to catch it. Successfully standing the statue back up, Demona captures the billionaire lifting him over her head, prepared to kill him - when suddenly they're interrupted.

The Hunter smashes through a door calling the gargoyle's name. Demona, surprised, drops Xanatos to the floor, wondering aloud how many times she must destroy the Hunter, then attacks him. The two briefly tussle when the Hunter pulls his gun and successfully fires upon her. She cries out in pain, and the Hunter does the same. Regaining herself, Demona realizes exactly who's behind the mask but, instead of continuing the fight, she runs. As she tries to take to the air, the Hunter snares her, "flying her like a kite". But Demona manages to free herself, again taking to the air. The Hunter leaps from the roof onto her back.

Inside the studio, Xanatos turns off the power to the studio, expecting Owen to become flesh again. But the executive assistant remains a statue.

Gliding across the city, Demona purposely crashes into building walls, attempting to force the Hunter off of her... feeling the pain he feels with each attempt. Finally she succeeds and soars off into the night with a banshee-like cry. The Hunter promises that she will not lose him that easily before summoning his aircraft.

Goliath and Brooklyn soon arrive at PackMedia Studios where Xanatos is glad to see that the cavalry has arrived. Goliath, however, isn't surprised to see Xanatos. The industrialist tells the gargoyles that Demona took off after someone called the Hunter, but Goliath ignores the mention of the Hunter, angry that Xanatos was Demona's partner in this sorcery. Xanatos takes responsibility and admits that he wanted to believe what she promised so he gave her access to the studio. Goliath is tempted to make Xanatos pay for all of the lives she's destroyed. But Xanatos asks if Goliath wants vengeance or a solution, and that they'll need to work together to stop her.

Goliath agrees to Xanatos's truce and the two shake hands.

First Appearances

Quotes

  • "Any landing you can walk away from, hm Fox? At least she's not chipped." - Xanatos
  • "I don't understand. Why would someone give us a statue of Elisa?"
"It's a pretty good likeness."
"I don't think so, the nose is all wrong!" - Hudson, Lexington, and Brooklyn
  • "How are we going to find Demona? She could be anywhere!"
"I fear that finding her will be all too easy." - Brooklyn and Goliath
  • "A happy beginning."
"Not all would agree."
"Certainly not our hero." - Phoebe, Selene, and Luna
  • "Think well before you defy me, Gillecomgain."
"Think well before you risk my defiance, Prince Duncan." - Duncan and Gillecomgain
  • "Look closely creature, 'tis your handiwork, done when I was but a boy. Remember?"
"No." - Gillecomgain and Demona
  • "Thank you."
"I owed you."
"Then we're even. Good." - Demona and Macbeth
  • "There will always be a Hunter, my son. And there will always be the hunted." - Duncan
  • "One of these could be Elisa."
"Never! We will put an end to Demona's evil, once and for all." - Brooklyn and Goliath
  • "Take care not to become what you fight against. Vengeance begets nothing but a vicious cycle of further vengeance."- unidentifiable Weird Sister
  • "You fool! I should make you pay for all the lives she's destroyed!"
"Do you want vengeance, or a solution? This is bigger than anything either of us has ever faced. We'll have to work together to stop her. Truce?"
"Hrrmm, Agreed." - Goliath and Xanatos

Continuity

Jeffrey Robbins reappears (as someone whom the gargoyles can get information from, thanks to his blindness), as does his dog Gilly. He next appears in "Masque".

Brooklyn still displays some of his vengeful attitude towards Demona from "Temptation".

In the flashback scenes, Duncan is shown taking the mask of the Hunter after Gillecomgain's death. Duncan would also become the ancestor of all subsequent Hunters.

This episode marks the end of Demona's alliance with David Xanatos, which had been formed even before Xanatos' first appearance in "Awakening: Part Two". Xanatos and Goliath then form their own alliance in order to foil Demona (they had previously worked together in "Eye of the Beholder", just as briefly).

Tidbits

In one of the most notorious errors of the series, Demona includes among her victims during her "smashing spree" two stone humans who bear an uncanny resemblance to Brendan and Margot - even though the yuppie couple will appear in many more episodes after "City of Stone". This might count as the one occasion where the reuse of familiar characters for incidental scenes turned out to be a bad idea; Greg Weisman has been grilled over this incident several times by fans since then. (His "defense" is that Demona had most likely shattered two humans who looked similar to Brendan and Margot.)

Gruoch is briefly referred to by Bodhe during her wedding to Macbeth as "Lady Macbeth", the only time that she bears that name during Gargoyles. Certainly she is a far cry from the Lady Macbeth of William Shakespeare (a role which Demona would be better-suited for - and does indeed fill, in a sense, in "Sanctuary").

Canmore, Duncan's son (introduced here as a baby), was named Malcolm in actual history (and in Shakespeare's play); "Canmore" was only a nickname, being Gaelic for "big-head". The script deliberately called him Canmore throughout in order to distinguish him from Prince Malcolm.

In actual history, Bodhe and Gruoch were descended from Kenneth III (997-1005), whom Duncan's grandfather, Malcolm II (1005-1034), the "Maol Chalvim" of "Avalon" Part One betrayed and overthrew. (This is confirmed in the Gargoyles Universe in "The Gate".) Since they would thereby have had a better technical claim to the Scottish throne than Duncan (or Macbeth) did, this offers a possible reason as to why Duncan opposed Macbeth and Gruoch's marriage - and an additional reason for his eagerness to get rid of Gillecomgain after his marriage to Gruoch, once Gillecomgain developed too defiant an attitude towards Duncan.

Hudson reveals that in order for you to be affected by magic, you must both see and hear the spellcaster - which is why Jeffrey Robbins was not impacted by Demona's spell. (Presumably, any deaf people in Manhattan as well as blind people were thereby spared, although no examples of the former were shown in the episode.) Since both Puck and Oberon were able to enchant the entire population of Manhattan without being seen and heard by them (in "The Mirror" and "The Gathering" Part One respectively), evidently this rule only applies to mortal magic.

In 1997, Greg Weisman wrote a short story on Ask Greg taking place during the events of this episode, on the night Demona broadcast the Stone By Night Spell.

Toon Disney/Disney XD Edits

A one second scene in the Gillecomgain/Demona battle where Gillecomgain manages to land a punch on Demona is cut out.

DVD Release

Links

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