The Bandit and Friends Series

## Information

**The Bandit and Friends Series** is a lost stop motion LEGO series created by Phoenix Gaming and Laval40 for the Phoenix Gaming Stop Motion Video Series. It consisted of six chapters and was a tale about a Bandit named Oscar Williams (Phoenix Gaming) and his gang of friends, known as 'The Pizza Toppings Gang' travel the land trying to get money and have a good life, and get out of their bad situation with the law by whatever means possible, and the series follows their travels and their story to be free from the oppression of the law.

## The Bandit and Friends Series

### Episode

Six Episodes (Chapters)Chapter I: Bandit and Friends

Chapter II: Bandit and the Run-in with the Crime Lords

Chapter III: Bandit and the Bank Robbery

Chapter IV: Bandit Gets in Trouble with the IRS

Chapter V: Bandit Learns a Lesson

Chapter VI: Bandit Forgets His Lesson and Does it Again

### Air date

September 2019 (Before accidental deletion)

### Writer

Phoenix GamingLaval40

Maxzl0155

Jack

Deranged Bishop

Sebmceough

GhostZz\_Bandit

Diego

### Director

Phoenix Gaming (Head Director)Laval40 (Co-Director)

## Plot

### Pre-series History

Best friends Desmond Shaw and Marlow Cooper formed The Pizza Toppings band on December 18th 2017 and soon recruited Ian Alston, Mike Woods and Claude Jester. Molly Rodgers heard the band playing and became their manager, arranging them gigs around the place.

In February 2018 Desmond got angry when a night club manager refused to pay them, and punched him in the face. he reported them to the police, who started their search for them. The manger lied to Detective Tyrell Buckley, saying they robbed him too, as well as punching him. The band was on the run, occasionally robbing stores to survive, because the money they were earning from the occasional gig wasn't enough, and the police arrest warrant for them grew steadily larger with each robbery.

In May 2019, Desmond and Marlow decided to make a deal with notorious mafia boss Don 'Viper' Oliver for a loan of cash to get back on their feet until they could earn themselves money from gigs and get more popular, maybe even make a record. They agreed that in one year's time they would pay Oliver back for the cash he lent them. This deal would cause them major problems later on, and Desmond and Marlow were criticked for their decisions by the other gang members; Molly, Ian, Claude and Mike had all disagreed with the idea, and even Marlow was having second thoughts, but Desmond truly believed that this would help them and save their music careers, getting them away from the life of crime they had to live to survive.

In May of 2020 the gang could not afford to pay Don 'Viper' Oliver back his cash, and they had not made it big or gotten a deal with a record label like Desmond has hoped, and the mafia had agreed to attack and bring the gang member to Oliver if they found them. Then, at a bar in Sutton, Oscar found the Pizza Toppings Gang.

### Opening

The Bandit and Friends Series follows the life of Oscar Williams, who at the age of eighteen, had cut ties with his family and started a life of independence away from them, train hopping across the county and exploring the world.

Oscar then started running out of cash, and one night when at a bar in a small town called Sutton while mopping the floors a band started playing called The Pizza Toppings. The band had six people, their lead singer Claude Jester (Sebmceough) and his backup singer Ian Alston (Laval40), the guitarists Desmond Shaw (Jack) and Marlow Cooper (Derangedbishop), the keyboardist Mike Woods (GhostZz\_Bandit) and the band manager Molly Rodgers (Just C).

Oscar started talking to Molly at the bar, and told her about how he needed work and he wanted to do something in his life besides minimum wage jobs and train hopping. Molly suggests he could drive the band's van around the country from gig to gig, and be like an assistant manager to her. Oscar accepts this, and then police sirens are heard outside. The people in the bar get up and go outside to see a fistfight in the car park, and the police arriving to break it up. The Pizza Toppings stop playing and start hurriedly packing up. When Oscar asks why, Molly tells him that the band has had a bit of trouble with the law recently, and don't want to get caught up in anything. While the police break up the fight, the band gets in their van and drive off, Molly snatching the band's paycheck for the night before they leave. Oscar then gets introduced to the band, as they head out on the open roads.

### Setting

From that point the gang starts getting into situations with outlaws, crime lords, criminals, creatures and many other people/beings, all the while just trying to make it by in life. The series is set in modern day, although the The Pizza Toppings gang act in a similar way to a wild west kind of gang would, although in a more modern setting and way.

## Episodes

In total the series had six episodes, or chapters. The episodes are often confused for separate movies or series, however this is not the case. The six chapters and their storylines are:

### Chapter I: Bandit and Friends

Chapter One opens with a man holding a small suitcase running after a railway freight train at sunset. He swung open the train carriage door, which was empty spare for some wooden crates and boxes, and climbed inside. The man sits down and opens his suitcase, and takes out a book and a pen. The cover of the book reads: "The Diary of Oscar Williams". As he writes, the words are read to the audience aloud in his voice. He tells the audience about his life and how his parents didn't treat him the way he wanted, always being hard on his and holding him to incredibly high expectations, and how they always treated his siblings better than him. He is eighteen now, and has gone off in the world to lead his own life, traveling and finding work, because he didn't like or do well in a school setting, and didn't want to go to college. The world seemed to move so fast around him, he never got to decide what he wanted to be and do in life, so, to match the speed of life, he sped up too, and how impulsive of a person this makes him.

One week later Oscar Williams was working the evening shift at a bar in a town called Sutton, which feels like its a hundred miles from anywhere. He was mopping the floors for money to stay in the local hostel until he could figure out what to do next, and where the next trains could take him. Then, a band started playing, and Oscar stopped to listen. He decided to take a break and put his mop away, and went up to the bar to get some lemonade. While there, he met a girl looking at the band, and asked her what she thought of them. She said that she was their manager, and introduced herself as Molly Rodgers, and the band as The Pizza Toppings, with their members, their lead singer Claude Jester and his backup singer Ian Alston, the guitarists Desmond Shaw and Marlow Cooper and the keyboardist Mike Woods.

Oscar talks to Molly Rodgers about his financial troubles and how he needs a proper job. She suggests that he helps drive the band around, and that he can be her assistant manager. Oscar eagerly agrees, excited for a new experience and to make new friends. He never really had to many people who understood him properly, and most of his friends from High School thought his name was Andrew. He makes his deal with Molly, and at that moment they hear sirens outside the bar, and everyone goes outside to see what is going on. Two men who were watching football in the bar had started a fight in the car park over whose team was better, and the police arrived to break it up. Oscar looked back inside to see the band hurriedly packing up their gear. Molly explains that they've been having a bit of trouble with the law recently, and it's best to get out of there. Oscar, concerned yet excited, follows the band out the back, and once Molly grabbed the band's paycheck for the night, they started out on the open roads, and Oscar got to know The Pizza Toppings.

The band stopped for the night and set up two tents up on a snow capped mountain above Sutton. Oscar went in a tent with Marlow Cooper, Desmond Shaw and Ian Alston, while Molly Rodgers, Claude Jester and Mike Woods went in the other. The four make plans to go hunting the next day. Desmond and Marlow get two rifles and go up into the forested hills while Ian and Oscar go down to a short wooden pier on a lake and start to fish. Ian and Oscar start talking about the gang's history, because Oscar was curious why they all packed up and left when the police arrived. Ian explains about how the gang has preformed robberies in desperation for money, and how they are now in trouble with Don 'Viper' Oliver and the mafia. At that moment, Marlow came running out of the trees towards them.

Marlow is panicking and has a scratch on his right arm, and starts hastily telling them that a bear came at them and Desmond Shaw tried to fight it off when it tried to attack them, and yelled to Marlow to get help. The three head up into the woods to search for Desmond, but Marlow can't remember where he lost him, so they split up to search for him. Oscar found him, wounded due to his attack. Desmond wanted him to go and get Mike Woods, who is medically trained, but, acting impulsively, Oscar helps Desmond, and manages to bring him down to the camp safely, where Mike can treat him further. Oscar asks Marlow if this means he and Desmond have become closer, and Desmond will be more friendly. Marlow says, "I don't know.. Desmond kind of hates everyone, but he hates his friends less, and I think saving his life, means he hates you a bit less than he hates some other folks".

Back at camp later, the gang start packing up to get back on the road, with Desmond Shaw feeling better. At this point, Claude Jester comes running to them and says he saw the police team who has been searching for them, and that Detective Tyrell Buckley and Chief Andrew Charlton (as well as Officer Kennedy and Officer Cruz) were entering the camp, and asking around about if anyone knew of a bar fight a few days ago, and if their band had been playing. Oscar tries to start the van so they can get away, but their gas cannister has been leaking, and their tank was empty. Oscar suddenly runs to the Camp Store and snatches a new cannister full of gas, and the band get away, back onto the open roads, without the police seeing their car. The gang admire Oscar's impulsive stealth skills, calling him "Bandit".

This ends 'Chapter I : Bandit and Friends'.

## Cast and Characters

The Series was created by Phoenix Gaming originally for the Phoenix Gaming Stop Motion Series, but the series was accidentally deleted by Laval40, who sat on the computer keyboard, which the two later found hilarious. The series was written by Phoenix Gaming and Laval40 as a 'silly comedic drama'. The cast of characters included:

* Oscar Williams - Phoenix Gaming
* Molly Rodgers/Kathrine Swindler - Just C
* Claude Jester/Detective Tyrell Buckley - Sebmceough
* Ian Alston/Chief Andrew Charlton - Laval40
* Desmond Shaw - Jack
* Marlow Cooper - Derangedbishop
* Mike Woods - GhostZz\_Bandit
* Don 'Viper' Oliver - Maxzl1055
* Jimmy Shaw/Officer Cruz - Eljel
* Officer Charlton - Luca
* Thomas Whittaker/Ben Whittaker/Sam Whittaker - Diego
* Jade - Ben
* Smokes - High Voltage
* Nigel - Blue Alligator 200

## Character Descriptions

### The Pizza Toppings Gang Members:

* Oscar Williams - The main character of the series, and the newest edition to the Pizza Toppings (spare for Jimmy), becoming their regular driver, and known to them as the nickname, 'Bandit'. Oscar is a kind and adventurous man, who is very impulsive and convincing. He is often able to talk the other out of (or into) situations, but his skills handling those situations can be problematic. Due to his impulsiveness, Oscar can find himself in bad situations easily. He can become easily bored and downtrodden in repetitive situations, and always finds himself on the move. He sometimes feels insecure and unsatisfied in himself, but can overcome this with the help of his friends. He is very intelligent, and when he gets to know people he can really talk and connect with them easily. he can appear shy at first, but grows to people over time. He joined the Pizza Toppings to find something new in life, and had still not thought everything through about his future. The world moves fast around him, so he speeds up to match that speed, which can drive his impulses. Despite the insecurities and occasional recklessness, Oscar is very skillful and intelligent, and people enjoy being around him. He is funny and able to make people laugh, and is very emotionally intelligent with those around him, always doing his best for his friends, protecting and standing up for them, and he is skilled in combat. He was portrayed by Phoenix Gaming.
* Molly Rodgers - The manager of the Pizza Toppings band, Molly is an intelligent and kind individual. Which being very smart and responsible, she can sometimes fall victim to trust issues, especially paranoia in certain situations and instances. She can also be judgmental, and is good at calling people out when they are being insensitive or arrogant. She is moderately skilled in combat, but rarely gets a chance to show this off, because someone like Desmond, Marlow or Mike, but she is very capable of self defense. She is very morally virtuous, and despite the paranoid and untrusting attitude which appears on occasion, she is a very responsible, smart and kind person, and is probably the smartest of the group. She was portrayed by Just C.
* Ian Alston - The backup singer of the Pizza Toppings band, Ian is a friendly and kind man, often described as the most 'innocence and pure' of the gang. Ian makes a special effort to be kind and helpful to everyone he meets, until the point which it can be annoying (constantly asking others if they are alright and feeling ok, and saying "Language!" when one of the gang swears, in case they inadvertently upset anyone around them. Similar to Marlow, he is every ethical and often thinks about moral issues in a plan, and is very optimistic. He becomes Oscar's best friend throughout the series. He was portrayed by laval40.
* Claude Jester - Claude Jester is the lead singer of the Pizza Toppings band. Aside from Molly and Marlow, Claude is probably one of, if not, the smartest member(s) of the gang. He always has a plan, and has the 'gift of the gab' according to Desmond. Due to Claude's extroverted and outgoing nature, he is well liked, and due to his charisma and overall charm he can often talk himself (and others) out of and away from bad situations and or outcomes. He is kind and friendly, but can definitely fall victim to narcissism on very rare occasion, and could potentially be easily flattered. He was portrayed by Sebmceough.
* Desmond Shaw - Desmond Shaw is the band's main guitarist, and is the most antisocial and hot-headed of the gang. Desmond is the most skilled hunter and fighter of the gang (Mike comes second only to him), having been in trouble with the police many times, and was a recruit in the United States military for three years before he was discharged for punching a commanding officer in the face who mocked his skills. Desmond is often grouchy and surly, and always has a quip to get back at anyone (Spare only Ian). He is best friends with Marlow, who he had known since childhood and formed the band with, becoming the first two members before hiring Mike and Claude, then getting hired in turn by Molly. Desmond is impulsive, like Oscar is, but unlike Oscar, who has some idea of boundary lines and common sense, Desmond often misses these lines and can cross them, landing him in a lot of trouble, and, while being aggressive, he really does care for his friends deep down. as said by his best friend Marlow, "Desmond hates everyone, but he hates us less than everyone else". He was portrayed by Jack.
* Marlow Cooper - Marlow Cooper is the base guitarist of The Pizza Toppings, and is one of the most ethically and morally 'in tune' of the group. He is best friends with Desmond, and often acts in the role of his conscience and voice of reason. He, along with Desmond, founded the band.He is one of the smarter members, with Molly and Claude. Marlow can be aggressive like Desmond, but only when provoked or angered, and he is very skilled in combat. Despite the occasional violence, he is a very ethical and moral person, similar to Ian, and the two will often ask questions related to philosophy in battle. He was portrayed by Derangedbishop.
* Mike Woods - Mike Woods is the oldest member of the band, and is the keyboardist for the Pizza Toppings. After failing to get a successful job in music, despite collage qualifications in the field of music, and he eventually joined the band. Mike is the practical joker of the group, and is often lightening the mood with funny jokes and quips. Mike is also bilingual, being a Mexican immigrant to America. He is good with tools and weaponry, and is often found repairing broken objects. Mike is outgoing and friendly, but, like Desmond, is hot-headed and quick to anger and violence when backed into a corner or when he feels threatened. He was portrayed by GhostZz\_Bandit.
* Jimmy Shaw - The younger brother of Desmond and the newest member of the gang, even newer than Oscar, Jimmy is the most childish, and is really not ready for the life of danger, crime and hopelessness that Desmond lives in the gang. Jimmy isn't tough like his brother, and no matter how much he wants to be, and his childish ways always shine through, although he respects and wants to be like his brother. Jimmy is a kind and good person, but puts himself under a lot of pressure to be like his brother. Even Desmond discourages him of this, wanting him to stay good and true to himself. Desmond takes the gang into his home for a while when The Mafia is searching for them, and later helps them plan the bank robbery. He wants to be part of the gang, and goes with them to the robbery, and ultimately sacrifices his freedom for the plan, and saves the rest of the gang, realizing he doesn't have to be like his older brother all the time, and does something Desmond would never do, selflessly sacrificing himself to the police and telling them he was the only one robbing the bank, and is arrested by Detective Tyrell Buckley.

### Villain's:

#### The Police Force

* Detective Tyrell Buckley - Tyrell is the head detective and is the leader of the police team hunting down the Pizza Toppings gang. He is ne of the most well respected and popular police force members in the country, being painted by others as an honest, honorable and kind man. These ideas about his personality are fabrications, and in truth he is a cruel, unfair and unkind man, who is extremely corrupt and arrogant. He is intent on hunting down criminals who are dangerous to society, which is admittedly helpful to society, but his motivations are completely corrupt, doing so only for personal power and admiration from others. He also is not fair to the criminals he captures (some of which were framed and innocent people) and he does not grant anyone fair trials or rights if he can do anything about it. He is good to people who can help him, but he is rude and extremely unkind to anyone else, including his own officers (the exception is Chief Andrew Charlton, who would probably be just as bad as him if given the power to be). He was portrayed by Sebmceough.
* Chief Andrew Charlton - Chief Andrew Charlton is the personal assistant, and probably only real friend to Tyrell, and is Chief of the police force members, and is a superior rank to Cruz and Kennedy. He takes advantage of his power, being corrupt and stupid. He is a delusional and foolish man, believing that everyone else in the police team respects and admires him (the opposite is only true). He is utterly blinded by his own 'brilliance' and has the control of police masses at his fingertips, and he uses them extremely poorly. He is not as dangerous at Tyrell, partially because he doesn't have as much respect and power from others as Tyrel, but Andrew is still a powerful and corrupt man, who abuses his power and treats his men poorly, particularly Officer Cruz and Officer Kennedy, who are unfortunate enough to have to work with him most frequently. He was portrayed by Laval40.
* Officer Kennedy - Officer Kennedy is the most morally upstanding and fair of the police force. If he was given the chance to, Kennedy would make the unfair trials that Tyrell and Andrew force upon people fair, and is not corrupt or arrogant in the slightest. He holds a major in philosophy, and is very intelligent and kind, although he has tendencies to be sarcastic at times (mostly mocking Charlton or Buckley). He is the best person in the police force, and is good friends with Officer Cruz. Kennedy does not act as a villain himself, but is unfortunately allied with villains, making him appear as one. He was portrayed by Luca.
* Officer Cruz - Officer Cruz is a slightly dim witted police force officer, but he is a kind, friendly and optimistic person who does his best for the police force. He is always happy-go-lucky and friendly to everyone, and has a good moral compass, disagreeing with Charlton and Buckley's immoral ideas and unfair trials. Cruz is not a villain himself, but does work for and ally with villains, and does appear as a villain to The Pizza Toppings. He was portrayed by Eljel.

#### The Mafia

* Don 'Viper' Oliver - Don 'Viper' Oliver is the self centered, intelligent and literally cultured mafia boss, who is married to Katherine Swindler, and is constantly guarded by Silent Wilson. He is a very intelligent man, being well educated and aware of moral stances and literature. Despite his educated stance on morality, he behaves very immorally, and when his "business relationships" as he calls them, borrow money from him and refuse or cannot pay him back, he will send goons after them, and repair to it as a breach of their contract. He is not very skilled in fighting, leaving most of that up to his wife Kathrine or his bodyguards, and he is slightly overweight, suffering from diabetes. He treats all people he meets with respect, but is not nessacarily a good person, and is not against committing crimes. He is very rich and powerful, and was portrayed by Maxz1055.
* Katherine Swindler - Is the wife of Don 'Viper' Oliver and second in command of his mafia. Kathrine is an immoral but well educated criminal, just like her husband, but is much better at fighting her way out of situations and overall combat, which her husband is not so good at, seen as he is unfit. Katharine can be aggressive and violent, but is also very civilised when in such a setting which requires her to be, and is good at convincing and lying to others, making her an untrustworthy person to those she is against, and an invaluable ally to those she is with. She is very ambitious, but seems contented, being in a head position of the mafia and having all she needs. She was portrayed by Just C.
* Silent Wilson - Silent Wilson is the personal guard and assistant to Don 'Viper' Oliver and is constantly by his side, and having protected and served him for many, many years. As his nickname suggests, Wilson is always silent, and never speaks, although he can be heard mumbling quietly, and when in battle, screeching loudly. He is very sophisticated and refined, enjoying fine wines, much like Oliver. When in battle he is incredibly skilled and graceful in his movements. He was portrayed by Jack.
* Jade - Jade is the leader of the goons, and always dresses well, with a large jade necklace around his neck, which is where his nickname originates from. He is also a pickpocket, and not as good in fights compared to Smokes or Nigel. He speaks in a high pitched voice and is always classy and sly, often playing (and cheating) in card games like poker. He was portrayed by Ben.
* Smokes - Smokes is a watchtower guard for the mafia, and she got her nickname from being a chain-smoker. On breaks, she chain-smokes with Jade and Nigel, and is generally shown to be very aloof and relaxed, while still watching out and protecting her boss and team. She is also skilled in firearms, and operates a sniper on the watchtowers of Don Oliver's properties. She seems to be quite lazy, not getting to involved with anything in her job that is not her responsibility or that is a complete concern. She was portrayed by High Voltage.
* Nigel - Nigel is the strongest and most brutish gang member, and is shown to have a drinking problem, always having a bottle in his hand (which he can use as a weapon sometimes) and often surly and hungover. He always carries a shotgun, and is assigned to the mafia's 'dirty work' jobs, being the bottom of their hierarchy. He was played by Bluealigator200.

#### Bounty Hunters (The Whitmore Trio)

* Thomas Whitmore - The leader of the trio, Thomas is the oldest and smartest of the group, and is the one who takes the lead in most situations. Thomas is very charismatic and greedy, and convincing, as he convinces Don 'Viper' Oliver that his trio is the team for the job to kill The Pizza Toppings. Thomas is a greedy man, but is weaker in battle, letting his brothers do most of the dirty work, while he directs them and their missions. Like his other brothers, he was played by Diego.
* Ben Whitmore - The middle brother of the trio, Ben is the most plan and bland of the group. While Thomas is the smartest and Sam the strongest, Ben is usually overshadowed by them, and he usually drives them around in their sunroof-van, and seems to be very responsible and capable, especially compared to Sam. he was portrayed by Diego.
* Sam Whitmore - The youngest of the trio, Sam is the most violent and dangerous. While Tomas is the smartest, and ben is responsible and stable, sam is unhinged and dangerous, being the strongest and most malevolent brother, and he is usually the one shooting and killing their enemies. He shows no remorse in any of his actions, and is the least sophisticated of the group (Thomas being the most 'classy' and Ben being reasonably well maintained) and when in battle, becomes borderline insane. He was played by Diego.

## Trivia

* The series was performed in a stop motion style, and was part of Phoenix Gaming's Stop Motion Series
* The series was created using LEGO figures and stop motion LEGO techniques.
* The name of the band in the series, The Pizza Toppings, is the name of the real life clique in which Phoenix Gaming, Laval40, Sebmceough, Derangedbishop, Diego, Jack and GhostZz\_Bandit are all in.