Episode 3: Peace MakerReview by Dale July 5, 2000 In the city of Warrens, a drunk former gun maker, Frank Marlon, stumbles into a bar and asks a man at the first table for a free drink. He is promptly beaten up and thrown out. The next morning, Meryl and Milly enter the city, discussing how they are going to find Vash. They decide to discard all rumors and just look for an expert gunfighter truly worth a $$60 billion bounty. Just then, Vash walks by and Milly calls him by his real name to see if he responds. Since he does respond to the name "Vash", she thinks it truly is him. Meryl dismisses the notion saying that they should look for an atrocious fiend, not a brainless idiot. Frank comes tumbling out of a bar door, right into Vash, knocking them both down. He offers to waive medical fees for his injuries if Vash will buy him a drink. When Vash tries to get away, Frank wraps his arms and legs around him and begs not to be forsaken. Vash finally gives in and they go back into the bar. We learn a bit more about Frank's background here. He crafted guns for the entire town and handed them out door to door. Vash agrees to let Frank fine tune his gun. Meanwhile, the agents find out that the town has no sheriff, and most are not worried about rumors of the Vash being spotted nearby. The next scene reveals that there is indeed an outlaw near town, known as "Big Bro" to his gang, impersonating Vash. He knows the town has no sheriff and plans to rob an armored car arriving at the bank the next day. After a long night of drinking, Frank and Vash are kicked out of the bar and head back to Frank's place. It is finally revealed why Frank became such a depressed alcoholic. His wife and kid were killed by outlaws in a robbery, with guns he had crafted. After a nights sleep, Frank is awakened by people screaming of Vash's arrival. Here we see Big Bro sitting under a tropical umbrella and polishing his gun while large bags of money are being loaded into his car by Meryl and Milly. Vash is hiding in a trash can, discussing his plans with Frank on how to deal with this fiend. Frank suggests just letting the money be taken. Vash disagrees and walks right up to Big Bro, trash can lid still on his head, and challenges him to a duel. To up the stakes, Vash flattens the tires on his convertible. Frank is stunned, since he is well aware Vash's gun is still in his shop. But Vash's courage alone was enough, and the townspeople all come out to drive away the bandits. Big Bro doesn't back off and pulls out dozens of guns at once! Frank walks right up behind him and threatens to shoot him in the back of the head. This time he does back off and the town is saved. Frank and Vash both reveal that they were just making guns with their hands. Vash celebrates by getting drunk in the bar with most of the town. On the way out, he encounters Frank, who gives him back a tuned up version of his gun. Frank says he's given up drinking for good and asks Vash for his name. Before he can answer, Vash becomes ill from all the drinking and collapses against the wall. Meryl and Milly follow Vash out of the city the next morning, but Meryl won't admit to being curious, claming only to be heading in the same direction. Now
this is more like it! This episode was very much in the spirit of
the first, complete with mistaken identity and a goofball villain.
The small red glasses the villain wore, along with his plethora
of guns and classic convertible made him laughable just to look
at. This also marks the first time a city hasn't been demolished
after Vash passed through it. The added layer of seriousness with
the sidestory of Frank Marlon made it all the better. Although it
contained a bit less action than the first episode, it didn't lag
like episode 2 did in places. The agents seem to be catching on
to Vash a bit more, and I don't think it will be long before they
find out his true identity.
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