Retreat

[[Image:|258px]] "Retreat" Information Season Episode 214 Original air date March 30, 2002 Running time (minutes) Written by Michael Merton Directed by Frank Paur Guest stars Episode guide Previous "Shadow Dance" Next "The Hex Factor"

Retreat is the fourteenth episode of the second season of X-Men: Evolution and the twenty-seventh episode of the overall series. It originally aired on March 30, 2002.

Synopsis

Beast is noticed by a cat as he runs through the streets of Bayville and soon takes notice of a patrolling police car. He hides atop the ledge of a building and when he gets back down to the streets after the officers pass him, one of the officers turns the mirror in the police car and spots him, changing course to following him. Beast returns to his old laboratory at Bayville High School and looks at it through a window and looks around the classroom before letting out a growl and smashing a tree in two, part of which hits the window and smashes into the class. The officers catch up to Beast, who runs from them as they give chase and he reaches a dead end as the officers close in on him.

He gets away, much to the officers's confusion as he slams down on their hood and the back of the car while running away. At the Xavier Mansion, Beast apologizes and Charles tells him it was "bound to happen eventually". Beast questions him on what he means and Charles asks him what it was last time, recalling Beast attending a drive-in movie hidden in the bed of a pickup truck. Beast tells him that he was a fool to think he could ever "leave these walls" and Charles tells him not to be hard on himself, saying his need to be "out in the world" is natural but Beast retorts that he doe not "belong there anymore."

Charles says he can still create an Holo-watch for him similar to Kurt's, but Beast says its "all the same" as he will still be hiding and knowing that his rage can get the better of him, says he cannot be trusted out there. Kitty and Bobby walk past Amara, Jubilee and Berzerker as they are talking, Wolfsbane and Sunspot while they are having their own conversation and Evan as he walks past the two. Kitty tells Bobby she was up half the night working on a "stinking earth science report" and asks him what he knows about redwoods, Bobby saying "Only that they make good hot tubs" as he walks off and Kitty overhears Beast saying that he never asked to be a mutant and questions why him.

Charles explains that to find the answer to that question, they all must undergo a unique journey of discovery. Beast, making mention of his journey statement, questions where you can go when you cannot be seen by the public. Kitty comes up to Charles and asks him if he has asked Beast yet. Charles is confused over what she is talking about and confronts her about her intentions telepathically. Kitty brings up the possibility of Beast taking some of the students to the Redwood Forest "just to get away." Charles goes along with her and explains to Beast that they were thinking about whether or not he would like to lead a field trip to the California Redwoods. Beast declines after Charles asked him if he is up for it, but Charles furthers that it really is a "marvelous idea" and grants him permission to chose which students he believes can benefit from it.

Beast tells him that someone else should do it, but Charles asks him to imagine what he can teach the students in a natural environment untouched by man and miles away from another human being, which appeals to Beast as he envisions it. During breakfast, Beast explains the field trip as being for those students who are falling behind in their earth science studies and Bobby laughs, Beast looking at him and Bobby realizing the latter wants him to go on the trip. Bobby brings up his improving grades while questioning why he would have to go on the trip and Beast makes a retort as well as stopping Evan from leaving. Evan questions if he can bring his grade up some other way, such as going to the park, since "there's green stuff there." Beast comes up to him and realizing he cannot talk his way out of going on the trip, Evan asks if the forest has any sidewalks.

After the group lands at the Redwood Forest, Roberto covers up the Blackbird with bushes and Wolfsbane tells him it is fine the way it is. Evan remarks that he is missing all the fun and walks headfirst into a bush. Wolfsbane tells Sunspot there was plenty of camouflage on the jet and Roberto says a few more branches "couldn't hurt" while Wolfsbane says she smells "overachiever issues". Evan tells Roberto that their gear weighs a ton but the latter denies this and tells him that the sun makes him feel good and notes that Evan does not look so good. Evan says he's going through "pavement withdraw" and tells Beast that the trip and walk are "cruel and unusual". Beast tells him to send him an email.

While Kitty is trying to set up a tent, Evan helps her by using his spikes to pin it down and nonverbally gloats about his powers. He later pokes through a bunch of leaves and starts itching while holding one. He confronts Beast over this and the latter realizes he has been in poison ivy. Kitty rubs a cream over the affected areas of his body while Beast speaks to Bobby, Wolfsbane and Roberto. During one of the group's observing of nature, Kitty tries recording only to have Bobby splash water in front of her camera and on her. She lunges at him and the fall in the water. The group then goes for a swim and they relax while Beast comes down from trees and jumps into the water.

He splashes the water on them by habit while Roberto and Wolfsbane are staring at each other intensely. The group notices Beast's change in mood and Kitty confronts him over whether or not anything is wrong. Beast claims to be alright, saying that "Out here, in this place, I'm enjoying the animal I've become" but that he does not want to since its not who he is. Kitty tell him that maybe it is who he was meant to be and Beast takes her by the hand as he says they should head back to camp and asks her to round up the others. She promises to do this as he walks away.

Some individuals watch footage of him and while they question if Beast is Bigfoot, two members of the group chose to "bag" him. Beast tells the five their first assignment is locate five minerals on their own and the group expresses how much they dislike his assignment. However, Beast tells them they have plenty of time for fun and it should not take them more than an hour.

Production notes

Trivia

• Only episode to feature Wolfsbane in a speaking appearance.