On the Run

"**On the Run**" is the sixth episode of the of the second season of *What We Do in the Shadows*. It aired on May 13, 2020.

## Synopsis

After a vengeful enemy from the past appears without warning, Laszlo flees his home and goes into hiding to avoid certain death.

## Plot Summary

While trying to detect sinkholes caused by numerous rotting corpses buried in the front yard, a vampire named Jim arrives to demand Laszlo pay his debt for staying at his beach house in San Diego 167 years ago without paying the final month’s rent and security deposit. Laszlo is asked to either pay back the money or fight Jim in a duel. Laszlo chooses the latter and runs away while their backs are turned; Jim tries to run after him but falls into a sinkhole.

Laszlo flees to Clairton, Pennsylvania and writes a farewell letter to Nadja, refusing to disclose his new identity and location. Nadja is devastated and Colin Robinson attempts to console her while feeding off her energy with an awkward kiss attempt.

Laszlo adopts a new name, Jackie Daytona, and a human disguise. He kills the head of Lucky Brew’s Bar and Grill and takes over as head barman, and becomes involved in supporting the local women’s volleyball team, the Bucks. Laszlo is immediately popular with the town’s people and helps boost the success of the team.

On the night of the regional volleyball finals, Lucky Brew’s holds a party to celebrate the team qualifying for the state tournament. However, the Bucks' coach, Swanson, announces that due to state budget cuts, the team cannot afford the tournament fees and therefore cannot compete. Laszlo is very upset, but after hearing the singing voice of his waitress Lucy, he decides he will hold a talent contest to raise funds for the team.

Shortly afterwards, Jim stumbles into the bar and does not recognise Laszlo, asking ‘Jackie’ to keep an eye out for him. Laszlo decides against running away again as he feels he owes the town too much.

The talent show tickets earn enough money for the volleyball team, and Jim attends the show as he feels sorry for the team, even though he is still very poor. While conversing with Laszlo, a cloth covering a mirror behind the bar falls off, revealing Laszlo’s lack of reflection. Jim finally realises who Jackie is and the two have a huge fight, scaring away the bar’s patrons. Laszlo attempts to fight back by fire-breathing, and in doing so accidentally sets all the talent show money on fire.

Jim and Laszlo stop fighting and reflect upon their feud. Laszlo agrees that he will pay the team their money back and gives Jim the bar’s Big Mouth Billy Bass toy, claiming that it is a Mechanical Turk machine in fish form. Jim is delighted with the gift and calls off the debt. Laszlo, now feeling more kind-hearted from his life as Jackie, earns the money back by burning down the bar and cashing in on the insurance, but after realising he accidentally killed one of the waiters who was still in the building at the time, he burns down another historic building to pay for the man’s funeral. He hypnotises the whole town into forgetting that vampires exist and encourages the Bucks to employ Jim as another coach, a role that he embraces. During one match however, his Billy Bass breaks and Coach Swanson casually offers to buy him a new one. Jim is furious to realise that Laszlo has ripped him off again.

Laszlo returns home and while Nandor is indifferent to his return, Nadja is overjoyed.

## Cast

### Starring

* Kayvan Novak as Nandor
* Matt Berry as Laszlo Cravensworth
* Natasia Demetriou as Nadja and Nadja Doll
* Harvey Guillén as Guillermo
* Mark Proksch as Colin Robinson

### Co-Starring

* Ashley Botting as Coach Swanson
* Steve Hobbs as Bar Regular

## Soundtrack

* ***You're Dead*** performed by Norma Tanega (opening credits)
* ***Spiral Waltz*** performed by Morrie Morrison Orchestra
* ***The Brook Through Debrencon Town*** performed by Georges Behar
* ***Benny's Bounce*** performed by the *What We Do in the Shadows* cast
* ***Simply Irresistible*** performed by Robert Palmer
* ***Czardas*** performed by Primas Stefan & His Royal Tziganes
* ***Sad Old Grit*** performed by Invasion from Mars
* ***Raise Your Solo Cup*** performed by Aaron Benward, Derek Wyatt, Travis Howard and Brian McComas
* ***Folli the Foal*** performed by Andrew Fenner
* ***Moonlight*** performed by Joseph Hollister
* ***Simply Irresistible*** performed by Madeleine Martin
* ***Fishin' Time*** performed by Big Mouth Billy Bass
* ***Travelling Man*** performed by Peter Reno (end credits)

## References

1. ↑ "Listings - WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS on FX" - The Futon Critic
2. ↑ "S2 · E6 · On the Run" - Tunefind