Gillian and Carter arrive at a Red Cross outpost in search of Debbie. They find her standing in a field, loading supplies into a dingy truck. "Debbie!" Gillian calls out, an expectant smile on her face. "Hey!" grins Debbie, hopping down and striding toward them in a big floppy hat. Mary McCormack, as Debbie, has blonde hair thrown into a messy ponytail, and a hard but pretty face that's an even cross between Julie Bowen, from Ed and Happy Gilmore, and Maria Bello, from Coyote Ugly. Coincidentally, or maybe not, both have played a love interest for Carter on this show. It would seem he really does have a type. Or a cloning machine. ["Speaking of which, ahem. I wrote that over three years ago." -- Wing Chun] And because subtlety has gone the way of Sandy Lopez on this show, we are actually treated to a shot of Carter slowly ripping off his idiot sunglasses, an impressed and appraising look on his face. He might as well have just taken off his pants. Debbie offers her condolences about Luka, and Carter explains that he thought Debbie and her team might be able to help get them to Kivu. He squats down closer to her level -- they're on a step or balcony of some kind -- and murmurs that Davidson told Carter money could buy him access, so he has a substantial wad to spread around. Debbie isn't impressed by his wad, and her eyes turn flinty. "I work for the Red Cross, Doctor," she spits. "Our safety is dependent on our neutrality. If [anyone] knew we were giving money to the enemy...we'd be dead, and I don't mean dead in the water -- I mean 'head mounted on a sharpened stick' dead." With a final reproachful glare, Debbie returns to her work. Gillian smirks. Carter stands up and shouts that he didn't mean to offend her with his assumption that money can cut red tape. But it's not his fault he didn't know how cutting works. See, when you're that loaded, you don't ever need to handle your own scissors -- the maid always does it. "You didn't," Debbie chirps. She mostly ignores Carter hereafter, and Gillian hastily thanks her and steers Carter away. "I told you she was your type," Gillian says. "What? Not at all," Carter protests too much. "Hey! Richie Rich!" Debbie suddenly shouts. Carter swivels. Debbie explains that they're negotiating to get into Kivu to rescue more wounded, and that she could use a doctor to help her out; if Carter comes, he might learn something about Luka. Carter thanks her. "Definitely not my type," he then mutters to Gillian. "Yeah, right," she snorts. I didn't know Gillian knew enough about Carter's life to make these generalizations, but I guess she's just been watching the show for nine seasons and has taken good notes.
Sixteen days ago, according to The Graphic Of Whee! We Can Count Backwards!, all the Matenda natives begin a walk toward whatever they think the safe town might be. "Are they coming?" Mom asks Patrique, worried. He nods. Horror washes over her face.
In his tent, Luka is sleeping, his skin pale and beaded with more sweat than usual. Patrique tries to wake him, but it's hard. "We have to go," he says frantically, shaking Luka, who rolls awake foggily. "You have a fever. Malaria?" Patrique gasps. "I'm fine," Luka repeats. "Why wake me?" Patrique blurts that the Mai Mai started burning Matenda, and that they need to flee.