State of Fear

Morton’s body has supposedly been discovered, washed ashore near Pismo beach. This will later prove to be false. Lowenstein orders Evans to go with Ted to identify the body. Jennifer decides to come along. Lowenstein’s assistant, Lisa, tells Evans that Drake suspects Kenner is an industry spy.

Evans and Jennifer pick up Ted, who is at Sequoia National Park, talking to children about protecting the giant trees from global warming. Jennifer rejects Ted’s smooth talk and criticizes his speech to the children as being vapid. While he spoke of the trees as anthropomorphic guardians of a primeval world, she lectures him on how the sequoias are only the latest development in a constantly changing forest that had been managed by Native Americans in the past. Reflecting on Jennifer’s point, Evans realizes “how silly” his own views about wilderness had been up to that point (407). Jennifer and Ted continue to argue about the veracity of climate change, and the conflict escalates when he kisses Jennifer against her will. She responds by attacking him.

Kenner takes a turn breaking down Ted’s staunch belief in climate change. As they argue, Kenner cites scientific studies seeming to disprove everything that the actor believes about global warming. Kenner asserts that even “if global warming really does occur, it will probably benefit most nations of the world” (426).

They arrive at the morgue, where the mutilated, shark-ravaged body overwhelms them. The morgue technician tells them police had identified him based on his clothing. Evans cannot positively confirm it as Morton. The police summon Evans for questioning. The Ferrari that Morton wrecked had been tampered with beforehand, causing it to crash. The police want to know why Evans’ name is on the lease agreement, but he has no explanation. Kenner and Sarah arrive, halting the questioning.

At home in his apartment, Evans is attacked and pinned down by several men. One of them holds up a blue-ringed octopus in a plastic bag, and presses it against Evans’ body until he is bitten. They leave him on the floor as the octopus’ poison begins to take effect, and he believes he is going to die. At the beginning of Part 6, however, Janis comes over to Evans’ apartment and finds him paralyzed. Sarah arrives as well, and they call an ambulance.