Baccano! Episode 02

Previous Episode → 01

Next Episode → 03

Synopsis
The Flying Pussyfoot is a transcontinental train that travels from Chicago to New York. An old woman, who is supposed to board the train, decides against it, saying that bad things are going to happen, a premonition to the tragic incident which Gustav of Daily Days mentioned in the first episode.

A few months before that fateful day, Isaac and Miria are in California attempting to mine gold but are unsuccessful. It has been a year since they left New York and during their stay there, the two have become close with Ennis. Isaac and Miria decide to go back to New York but since they have no money, they plan on committing train robbery. The two, however, manage to rob some establishment prior to their departure.

A group of musicians, of whom Chane is one, is also boarding the Flying Pussyfoot. They requested that some of them will stay in the luggage room to keep watch over the instruments. Jacuzzi, who’s with Nice and two other men, upon overhearing this becomes worried that the luggage room will be guarded. Nice explains to him that what they are aiming for is in another luggage room.

Somewhere nearby, Ladd is wondering who else is riding the train. He is boarding along with Lua and several men in white. Ladd says that the first class passengers must be enjoying the night but they’ll take care of them. One of his men arrives, saying that he managed to get a conductor’s uniform.

A senator’s wife and daughter are also traveling to New York. There also seems to be something important transported in the Flying Pussyfoot. The senator’s assistant tells the senator that the object is places as far away from the first class car (where the senator’s wife and daughter will be riding) as possible. If anything happens, they could have the train make an emergency stop and just let the two off. The senator, however, comments that he doesn’t care and that the object is more important and that if anything happens to his wife and daughter, it would be their fate.

Back to the train, Jacuzzi is taking with someone about the thing they are aiming for, which seems to be a new type of bomb. Jacuzzi worries if they will be able to steak it but Nice assures him that it will be alright since he is with her. Nice sees Isaac and Miria nearby and notices how lively they are. Nice thinks that they must be actors or something. She tells Jacuzzi to try talking to them (she wants Jacuzzi to become more sociable). Jacuzzi hesitantly approaches Isaac and Miria and attempts to have a conversation with them. He eventually warms up and enjoys.

Czeslaw, who seems to be playing with the senator’s daughter, bumps into Jacuzzi. Czeslaw apologizes but Jacuzzi tells him it’s alright. The senator’s wife arrives and apologizes. She, then, sits together with them and they introduce themselves. Isaac tells Jacuzzi that if he does anything bad, he will be eaten by the Rail Tracer.

Meanwhile, the conductors are also talking about the Rail Tracer, a monster that chases trains. If it catches up, the passengers will disappear. He explains that if one tells the story aboard the train, the Rail Tracer is sure to come.

Jacuzzi worries after hearing the story from Isaac. Isaac tells him that there is one way to prevent the Rail Tracer from coming but he forgot. The conductor who was telling the story to his companion was about to explain it but was interrupted by him, saying that it’s time. The other conductor switched a light on to signal someone. The conductor, who told the Rail Tracer story, tries to continue but his companion says he knows about it. He says it’s a story of ghosts, about those who are called Lemures.

The group of musicians prepare for their agenda. Their leader explains to them that they who are called Lemures should not fear death as they are already ghosts.

As for Jacuzzi, he becomes more worried since Isaac didn’t know the solution. The bartender tells him that a conductor told him the story before. Jacuzzi rushes off to go to the conductor and hear the solution. Despite the commotion caused by Jacuzzi, Czeslaw wonders why there was no reaction when he introduced himself (he must be known for something). He wonders if there is an immortal among them.

Back to the conductors, the older one explains that the Lemures had a great leader but he was arrested by the American government. He further explains that what they are going to do is a ritual for their leader and as the musicians’ leaders also explained, the passengers are sacrificial lambs. The conductor says that by taking the passengers of the train, including the senator’s wife and daughter, as hostage, they could demand the release of their leader who will undergo an interrogation in New York the following day.

Jacuzzi, meanwhile, races off to seek the conductor. He bumps into Ladd and apologizes, saying that the train is in danger and that he must find the conductor. The older conductor, however, points a gun at his companion telling him that there is no way to prevent the Train Racer from coming.

Anyway, although the previous episode was somehow incoherent, this episode begins to explain the circumstances that led to the accident that befell the Flying Pussyfoot. It is interesting how several of the characters’ agenda converge in the train: Isaac, Miria and Czeslaw are on their way to New York, Jacuzzi and Nice plan to steal a bomb transported in the train (this could be the object that the senator was referring to), Chane, along the Lemures, plan on taking the passengers hostage, Ladd seems to have some sinister plan involving the passenger as well. As Gustav stated in the previous episode, there is one accident, but many stories that could explain it and many people involved in it.

Adapted From
Adapted from? which chapter of manga and/or novel

New Characters
Claire Stanfield

Natalie

Mary