Lupin III/Recap/S2 E2

"A Bouquet of Bills Blossom in Rio's Sunset" ; the English title is "Guns, Bun, and Fun in the Sun". Released in 2003 by Geneon on Volume 1: The World's Most Wanted.

The episode opens in Rio de Janeiro. Special mention is made of the Christ the Redeemer statue, and Lupin mentions that they will need to ask for all of his forgiveness. Then the gang visits a soccer stadium, talking about how much money has been collected. This is their target.

A crane crashes into the base of the statue of Jesus, and an ambulance takes away the injured drivers. A plane comes in, bringing Inspector Zenigata (who tumbles down the steps in true Butt Monkey fashion). He also gets abandoned in a taxi, and has to hike the rest of the way to the Police Headquarters, where he demands the location of Lupin. The chief reveals a number of different open alcohol bottles and the drunkenness of all three people. Zenigata goes in to visit, cheering for catching Lupin on a drunk driving charge. Both Zenigata and Lupin are in apparently good moods.

Later, when the Chief of Police in Rio takes Zenigata to dinner, he expresses his concerns. The chief is not worried at all, and details the measures they have in place to prevent escape. Still unsatisfied, Zenigata accepts the chief's invitation to sight-see the next day. Back in the cell, the gang communicates in Morse Code, revealing that everything is still going according to plan.

The next day, Zenigata's concerns have only worsened. He's even too distracted to notice the beautiful women on the beach. The scene switches to the stadium, and the large pile of money they've collected already. The scene again switches to the jail, where Fujiko has arrived as the cleaning nurse.

When she goes into the cell, Lupin is distracted by her ass, and starts groping her. This is a trick, they use this as cover to discuss where something was hidden. The guards are somewhat concerned, but stop worrying when Fujiko forces Lupin to knock it off. A sheet is tossed over the camera, and when the guards complain, Lupin hints at romantic interest, and ignores them. The guards have no further complaints.

When the camera is set up, the trio hide in the cart. Fujiko brings them to the van, and the scene goes back to the stadium. In the bathroom, they ambush another trio of men, and then take their places on the money truck. When the chief gets a phone call that the stadium box office has been cleaned out, Zenigata immediately suspects Lupin. He won't rest until he checks the cell personally. It looks like a race between Lupin and Zenigata, who will reach the cell first?

Zenigata, of course. It's time for a back-up plan. Zenigata figures out that the crooks have stuffed the money into the chapel while the monument is under repairs. No time to wait for official authorization now, Zenigata has almost arrived. Jigen takes the statue while Zenigata stands shouting on the ground. Then two helicopters with weapons show up, endangering the lives of our protagonists. Fujiko asks if Lupin has a back-up back-up plan.

Luckily, the swinging statue knocks one helicopter into the other. The gang heads off into the sunset. Unfortunately, crack in the statue means the money all falls out. He's accomplished a Monumental Theft, but didn't steal the money he was after. Not that the failure bothers Lupin much, "At least it's all going back to the good people of Rio."

This episode features examples of:

 * Abridged Series: This episode makes an appearance in Lupin III Abridged.
 * Accidental Pervert: Zenigata, by mistake.
 * Big Lipped Alligator Moment: Jesus talks to Lupin! And smiles! And everyone is very confused.
 * Conveniently Cellmates: Justified; all three are in the infirmary for their injuries from their drunken crash.
 * Drunk Driver: What lands Lupin's gang in jail, combined with Monumental Damage.
 * Fake-Out Make-Out: Used to distract the guards in jail.
 * Institutional Apparel: The striped version appears here.
 * Latex Perfection: Of the three officials taking the money.
 * Might as Well Not Be in Prison At All: Lupin uses prison to provide a distraction/alibi while he and his gang make off with the loot.
 * Monumental Theft: Goodbye, Jesus...
 * No Celebrities Were Harmed: The star soccer player Pierre is rather obviously based on Pele -- and the team he plays for is, er, similar to the New York Cosmos.
 * Not Distracted by the Sexy: Zenigata is too worried about Lupin to notice all those beautiful, scantly-clad brazilian girls.
 * Xanatos Roulette: Zenigata is catching up, and Lupin had better think of something fast.