Chomp

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of domestic abuse and the mistreatment of animals.

As the senior production assistant, Raven Stark must convince Badger to use Mickey’s artificially created swamp for the show’s big alligator scene, but Badger grouses about working with “that ignorant redneck” (37). Raven recalls an incident in Cambodia when Badger killed a snake that he was meant to work with, and she privately hopes that the same thing doesn’t happen to Alice.

They begin filming. The first scene involves a snapping turtle, and Derek, eager to get a shot of the inside of its mouth, prods it with a stick. The next scene involves Beulah, the Burmese python. After creeping up behind it, Badger pounces, “wrestling” with it, but Beulah shows little interest. Mickey, enraged by Badger’s treatment of his pet python, attacks the TV star, pulling him free of the snake. Mickey and Wahoo return Beulah to her tank. Badger wants to shoot the alligator scene next, but Mickey initially refuses, only relenting when Badger offers him $4,000.