Don't Drink the Water

Don't Drink The Water is the 18th episode in the first series of Captain Planet and the Planeteers. It was written by Dan Di Stefano.

Eco-villains

 * Argos Bleak
 * Doctor Blight
 * Hoggish Greedly
 * Looten Plunder
 * Rigger
 * Verminous Skumm

Gallery

 * Don't Drink the Water (Gallery)

Plot Synopsis
The Eco-villains Looten Plunder, Argos Bleak, Doctor Blight, Hoggish Greedly, Rigger and Verminous Skumm all team up to pollute a European city's water supply. They pump clean water to their own location and sell it at a ridiculous price to the people who have been left without clean drinking water.

The Planeteers hurry to stop the plan, but are separated and forced to battle various hurdles, including saving Captain Planet after he is washed away in a toxic flood.

Episode Summary
In a clean, tidy-looking city, the eco-villains Looten Plunder, Doctor Blight, Hoggish Greedly and Verminous Skumm sit around a table in a high-rise building.

Plunder thanks his "fellow polluters" for coming, before unveiling a plan that will ensure they grow "filthy rich" - they will all pollute the Earth's water supplies, ensuring that nobody can drink from them. Then, the eco-villains will sell pure, uncontaminated drinking water at a ridiculous price to needy citizens.

Greedly starts the process by blowing up a garbage barge, polluting a river. Blight then contaminates another water supply with chemicals and sewage from a treatment plant. Skumm steals barrels of toxic waste and, using his 'Skumm-o-copter', dumps them into yet another clean drinking supply.

Back in the high-rise building, Blight is applying lipstick. She kisses her reflection before stating that they have polluted every drop of water within one hundred miles of the city. Plunder then says that as soon as people get thirsty enough, the eco-villains can start raking in the cash.

Meanwhile, on Hope Island, the Planeteers are working together to plant trees.

Gaia interrupts them with an eco-emergency. In The Crystal Chamber, she shows them images of the polluted water supplies. The images are appearing so rapidly, Linka believes there is something wrong with the Planet Vision. Gaia informs her that it is simply registering images of the worst water-pollution disaster in Earth's history.

Having only the vague location of "central Europe" to work with, the Planeteers hurry to discover the source of the problem, taking off in the geo-cruiser with Wheeler as the pilot.

The geo-cruiser's pollution-monitor alerts the Planeteers to high levels of pollution. Going in for a closer look, the Planeteers realise that the streets are abandoned - there is not a person to be seen.

Kwame suddenly spots them - everyone is lined up in a huge line, exchanging wads of cash for bottled water. Looten Plunder and Hoggish Greedly are seen on the Planet Vision screens working together. The Planeteers are surprised that the two eco-villains have teamed up.

The Planeteers split up - Wheeler and Gi decide to follow Plunder and Greedly, while Kwame, Linka and Ma-Ti go to discover exactly what sort of contamination they're all dealing with.

The Planeteers are riding solar-powered motorbikes called eco-cycles.

Wheeler and Gi discover that Plunder is selling clean water. They decide to follow him and Greedly to find out where it is. Gi takes a sample from a nearby gutter, describing the contamination as being as strong as acid. She places the glass vial in her jacket pocket.

She and Wheeler follow Plunder and Greedly to their base. They take the elevator, unaware that they are being watched on security cameras.

A net drops from the roof, trapping them. When Wheeler tries to burn through it, it crackles with blue electricity.

Bleak and Rigger are waiting for Wheeler and Gi as the elevator reaches its destination. The Planeteers are quickly over-powered and taken to the board room, where Plunder, Blight, Greedly and Skumm are all gathered.

Wheeler is surprised and angered to find them all gathered together. He furiously tells Plunder he won't get away with it, but Plunder reveals that the eco-villains have the only clean water supply in the city.

Plunder orders Bleak and Rigger to lock the Planeteers in the holding room.

Meanwhile, Kwame, Linka and Ma-Ti are taking readings elsewhere in the city. They have discovered that all the water they have tested is poisoned, with some puddles containing enough toxins to kill an elephant.

Deciding that they are not finding answers quickly enough, Linka suggests they call Captain Planet. Ma-Ti contacts Wheeler and Gi, who help the others summon Captain Planet before trying to break out of their cell themselves.

Greedly and Plunder are watching via a security camera. Greedly tells Plunder he'll go and stop them from calling Captain Planet, but Plunder suggests letting them do so.

Captain Planet is summoned. He turns to water momentarily to pass through a street grate into the underground waterway where Kwame, Linka and Ma-Ti are standing.

Blight is painting her nails when an alarm goes off, indicating to her that Captain Planet is nearby. She runs to tell Plunder, who then organises that toxic water be washed through that particular tunnel.

Captain Planet is flying through the tunnel with Linka, Kwame and Ma-Ti on his back.

Suddenly, they hear a noise. They stop, only to realise that a flood of polluted water is racing towards them. Linka is frightened, exclaiming "We will drown!"

Captain Planet quickly seals the Planeteers inside a giant pipe.

However, once taking care of the Planeteers, Captain Planet has no time to get himself to safety. He is swept away by the toxic water. The pipe is also swept away, with Linka, Kwame and Ma-Ti rolling and tumbling around inside.

Greedly and Plunder briefly celebrate the fact that Captain Planet is "belly-up in the harbour" after the toxic waste has washed him away.

The sealed pipe drops into the habour and is washed ashore. It appears they have been shut inside for some time - Linka looks angry and bored.

They push the seal open and discover that they have washed onto a beach littered with clumps of toxic waste.

Linka spots Captain Planet - he is washed up on the beach and is unconscious. They hurry to drag him up on the sand, but he is unresponsive. Realising that they need clean water to clean him off, Kwame and Ma-Ti go in search of a fresh water supply while Linka stays with Captain Planet. She holds his hand and begs him to hold on.

Kwame and Ma-Ti are beginning to despair they will find no clean water, when Kwame spots an old tanker ship. They run towards it, hopeful that there is a water tank inside.

They begin search the barrels inside the old tanker, but can find no clean water. Frustrated, Ma-Ti begins to kick the empty barrels over.

Kwame, however, has heard a drop. He and Ma-Ti stop to listen before they track the sound to an old over-head water pipe. They test the water with the water-tester Linka gave them, and are ecstatic to realise it is clean.

Kwame and Ma-Ti take a bucket of clean water to Captain Planet. Ma-Ti washes him off and they all stand back, waiting with bated breath to see if the sun will recharge him.

Captain Planet recharges, much to the Planeteers' relief. He quickly flies off in order to stop the eco-villains.

Meanwhile, Wheeler and Gi are still sitting in the holding room in Plunder's penthouse. Gi realises that the others must have run into trouble, as they are taking so long to come and rescue them.

Wheeler suggests they try to escape themselves, but Gi worries they can't do so without their powers.

However, she then remembers the toxic sample in the vial in her pocket. She takes the vial and uses the toxic liquid to melt the lock on the door. Wheeler then throws his weight against the door, forcing it open.

They hurry to stop the eco-villains, returning to their eco-cycles. However, an alarm begins to sound.

They hurry into the elevator, knowing that the eco-villains have been alerted to their escape.

They hurry to ride their eco-cycles out of the garage of the building, but Bleak and Rigger discover them. Rigger throws the switch to the door, which begins to lower.

Wheeler tells Gi to keep going, no matter what happens, before he speeds up and rides directly at Bleak and Rigger. They scatter, and Wheeler manages to throw the switch to the door. It allows enough time for Gi to get away, but Wheeler is captured and subdued by Bleak.

Plunder enters and demands to know where Gi is. He is not pleased to hear she got away.

Blight and Skumm start expressing concern that Plunder's plan appears to be falling apart.

He tells them not to be foolish - Captain Planet and his "three other do-gooders" are believed to be dead.

Wheeler cries out a denial and starts to fight Bleak and Rigger, claiming he will get revenge on Plunder. He is restrained, however, and Plunder orders him to be thrown into the back of the truck.

Kwame, Linka, Ma-Ti and Gi are all in the geo-cruiser. They are communicating with Captain Planet via Planet Vision. He is just above the water treatment plant. He tells Gi not to worry about the fact Plunder has captured Wheeler - he tells the Planeteers to meet him at the treatment plant as soon as they can.

Cap confronts the eco-villains, telling them that he's going to stop their plan. However, Wheeler is still their prisoner, and the eco-villains threaten to hurt him if Captain Planet doesn't go away.

Captain Planet spots the geo-cruiser nearby, and plays along, telling Wheeler there is nothing he can do.

Bleak immediately starts to celebrate, jumping up and down shouting "We won! We won!" His actions cause him to accidently knock Wheeler over the edge of the treatement plant.

Wheeler falls towards the toxic water with a loud cry. However, Kwame is hanging from the geo-cruiser by a rope, and swoops in, catching Wheeler behind the knees.

With Wheeler safe, Captain Planet immediately sets to stopping the eco-villains. He uses his powers to turn a truck into a water-sanitising machine which sucks up all the toxic waste and cleans the water, allowing it to be drinkable again.

Captain Planet turns more trucks into "pollution-vacuums" and orders the eco-villains to clear up their own mess.

Planeteer Alerts
Captain Planet: Every year, tonnes of toxic waste are dumped into rivers, lakes and streams.

Gi: Much of it comes from people's homes.

Wheeler: So to clean up Earth's water, clean up your act!

Ma-Ti: Do not pour chlorine, bleach, solvents and other toxic materials down your drain.

Linka: And keep things like motor oil and batteries out of your trash!

Kwame: To find an appropriate site to dump these toxic materials, contact your local sanitation department.

Captain Planet: The power is yours!

Significant Moments and Facts

 * Blight appears throughout this entire episode, but MAL is never seen or heard. Blight does mentioned him briefly, however.
 * Plunder uses a world map to demonstrate his plan, indicating that they are located in Europe.
 * Skumm has a black rat sitting on his shoulder.
 * Greedly eats an entire pizza in one bite.
 * Blight applies make-up, brushes her hair, sprays perfume and paints her nails in this episode.
 * The geo-cruiser is fitted with something called a "pollution monitor", which can read pollution levels in the area.
 * The Planeteers ride eco-cycles in this episode - solar-powered motorbikes.
 * Linka, Kwame and Ma-Ti all disappear without putting on their helmets. In fact, Wheeler and Gi do not have helmets until they try to make their escape from the eco-villains later in the episode.
 * Gi describes the waste levels in the water as being "as strong as acid", yet she handles the sample with no gloves or protective gear.
 * Wheeler and Gi take the elevator to floor 10.
 * According to Rigger, Greedly is the one who thought of the "fire-proof net" that traps Wheeler and Gi in the elevator. According to Bleak, the idea was Plunder's.
 * Plunder's penthouse has a jail cell in it.
 * Captain Planet adds a "Yeah!" to his catchphrase, "By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!"
 * Linka holds Captain Planet's hand as he lies unconscious on the beach.
 * Ma-Ti uses a crowbar to open barrels in the old tanker.
 * Ma-Ti grows so frustrated in the search for clean water, he kicks several barrels over until Kwame tells him to stop.
 * Kwame has to use the crowbar to turn the tap on the water pipe.
 * Linka crosses her fingers after Ma-Ti washes the sludge from Captain Planet with a bucket of clean water.
 * Despite what happened to them the first time, Wheeler and Gi take the elevator again after they escape from the holding room.
 * Plunder taps Wheeler gently on the head with the ivory elephant's head on the end of his cane.
 * Despite earlier bragging of Captain Planet being eliminated, Plunder doesn't seem shocked or surprised when Cap shows up to stop him.
 * Captain Planet doesn't allow the eco-villains to escape at the end of this episode - instead, they are forced to clean up their own mess.
 * The other eco-villains all blame Plunder for things going pear-shaped. Blight even swears to never listen to him again.

Quotes
Plunder: My fellow polluters, I thank you for coming.

Skumm: If we all stick together, we can stick it to planet Earth like it's never been stuck before!

Greedly: Just tell us the good part Plunder! How we're gonna get rich...

Plunder: The word is filthy rich, Mr. Greedly.

Blight: Hey Plunder, what are you trying to pull?

Plunder: The plug, Dr. Blight! Of the world's water supply.

Greedly: Since these people are already polluting their water supplies...

Plunder: We're just speeding up the process a bit... All in favour, say 'pollute'!

Blight: What better place than a sewer plant to help a water supply commit sewer-cide? When Doctor Blight ruins a reservoir, it stays ruined.

Blight: We've polluted every drop of water within a hundred miles of this city.

The Planeteers are planting trees.

Wheeler: Here you go, tree baby!

Linka: Ohoho, so now you flirt with trees, eh Wheeler?

Gaia: The last signal came from central Europe.

Linka: That is not much to go on!

Gaia: I know, but it'll have to do. You must find out what's behind this terrible problem, and quickly.

Linka: Do you notice anything funny about this city?

Wheeler: Yeah - no people!

Kwame: Keep in touch through Ma-Ti!

Ma-Ti: Yes, if you need us, drop me a thought!

Wheeler and Gi are watching Plunder and Greedly sell bottled water:

Wheeler: I bet they polluted the city's water so they could sell their water! Cute.

Gi: That means Plunder's got clean water! We need to find it!

Wheeler: Yeah, when he finishes here, let's follow him.

''He turns around only to find Gi has disappeared. She is behind him.''

Wheeler: What are you doing?

Gi: Taking a sample of this toxic waste. It's as strong as acid. This must be where they dumped it in.

Wheeler: No time for that - Plunder and Greedly are leaving! Let's tail 'em.

Bleak and Rigger are in the process of taking Wheeler and Gi prisoner:

Rigger: That's a fire-proof net! My boss thinks of everything, yep, yep!

Bleak: Your boss? It was my boss' idea!

Wheeler: Hey! Watch the threads!

Wheeler: All the eco-rats in one nest!

Plunder: We prefer to refer to ourselves as a Water Pollution Syndicate.

Blight: Soon the whole world will be thirsty and filthy and sick!

Greedly: I'll drink to that!

Linka: The level of toxics in this puddle would kill an elephant!

Wheeler: Wouldn't you know? Plunder's penthouse comes complete with a prison.

Blight: My computer, MAL, traced down Captain Planet. He's in the city's water system with the rest of the Planeteers.

Plunder: Well, let's not keep them waiting!

Greedly: The water system is flooded with pollution, just like you ordered!

Plunder: What about Captain Planet?

Greedly: He's belly-up in the harbour with the other sick fish!

Plunder: Wonderful. With him out of the way, the world is our toxic oyster.

Linka: Oh, no! Captain Planet - he is hurt!

Kwame: Pull him up on the sand!

Ma-Ti: All that pollution in the water weakened him.

Linka: Get this garbage off him!

Kwame: That is not going to help. We need clean water.

Ma-Ti: If we do not help him, soon he will -

Linka: Do not even think it! We must find pure water. Here, you take the water tester. I will stay with Captain Planet!

Kwame: Come, Ma-Ti. Let us search.

Linka: Hang on, Captain Planet. Please hold on...

Captain Planet: Thanks, Planeteers!

Linka: We are just happy you are okay!

Captain Planet: But there's somebody who won't be happy. Excuse me, but I have some unfinished business to clean up...

Gi: Boy, those guys must have run into trouble...

Wheeler: Then we'll just break ourselves out!

Gi: Without our powers? Impossible! Then again... Maybe not. Maybe for once a little toxic waste might come in handy!

Wheeler: Huh?

Gi uses the toxic waste from the vial in her pocket to destroy the lock on the door.

Wheeler: Is that the sample you took near that polluted stream?

Gi: Yes! No wonder people aren't drinking the water...

Wheeler: Allow me...

He throws his shoulder against the door and it gives.

Gi: You did it!

Wheeler polishes his nails on his shirt.

Wheeler: Are we Planeteers or what? Let's get to our eco-cycles and blow this pop-stand! We've got polluters to punish!

Gi: We'll never make it!

Wheeler: You keep going, no matter what!

Gi has managed to escape, thanks to Wheeler.

Plunder: Where's the other planet pest?  Bleak: She got away.

Rigger: It wasn't our fault, Mr. Plunder, nope, nope!

Plunder: Got away? You fools! I told you to watch them!

Wheeler: They did. They watched her escape.

Blight: Plunder, this is not going well.

Skumm: Yeah, your great idea is starting to come apart!

Plunder: Don't be a fool. Captain Planet and his three other do-gooders have already been eliminated.

Wheeler: No! I'll get you for this Plunder!

Plunder: The only thing you're going to get is trouble. Throw him in the truck!

Skumm: What about the girl?

Plunder: Hahaha! Hey, I'm the guy who knocked Captain Planet out of his orbit! You think one girl is going to stop me?

Gi: Captain Planet, where are you?

Captain Planet: I'm just above the water treatement plant, Gi.

Gi: Looten Plunder has captured Wheeler!

Captain Planet: Don't worry, Planeteers! Just get here as soon as you can. We're gonna put those villains out to dry!

Captain Planet: Your plot is all washed up, Plunder!

Plunder: Cool your jets, Captain Planet - if you value the safety of your little errand boy...

Bleak wrestles a bound Wheeler into place near the edge of the treatment plant.

Captain Planet: I wouldn't hurt him if I were you!

Skumm: He's in good hands, Captain Planet - so long as you go away and let us pollute in peace!

Blight: Yeah - while we've got him, you've got trouble.

Captain Planet spots the geo-cruiser behind the eco-villains and Wheeler.

Captain Planet: Sorry, Wheeler. There's nothing I can do.

Bleak: We won! We won!

''Kwame has just swung on a rope attached to the geo-cruiser, saving Wheeler before he hits the toxic water. Ma-Ti watches from above:''

Ma-Ti: Hi, Wheeler!

Kwame: Just thought we would drop by.

Captain Planet: I turned your pollution pump into pollution vacuums! Clean up your act!

Skumm: The pollution scheme of the century. Bah, skummbug!

Greedly: You were gonna make us rich!

Blight: I'll never listen to you again, Plunder! Never!