Everyday Heroes
We start off with the night skyline of Dallas and focus on a house in the suburbs. At the front door is Trent and a woman, where Trent is telling her that’s he’s checked the house and if she needs anything that she should call him. The woman thanks Trent, walks into the house and locks her door as Trent goes to his car and leaves the woman’s house.
As Trent pulls away, we see a large man in a car outside the house take a drink of some sort and look to the house. As the woman turns out her lights for bed, we see the man get out of his car and use a pass code that opens the front gate (I would say this bud lived at the house then). But as he tries to use his key to get in, it will not work, so he goes around back and knocks out the back door window to get in.
The man goes to the alarm keypad and punches in the codes before moving through the house. We see that the woman in the house is asleep in her bed as the man walks about, and as he moves into the bedroom and pulls back the covers, he finds body pillows but no wife. As he makes this discovery, the lights suddenly turn on and we hear Trent telling the man, Kevin Richards, that he's under arrest for trespassing and violating a restraining order.
Kevin steps up to Trent and takes a swing at him, but Trent dodges Richards hits and gives him a few of his own. After a bit of fighting (gee this bedroom must be huge for some of the wide movements going on here) Trent gets Richards on the floor and reiterates that he's under arrest.
From behind Trent we hear the voice of Donna as she tells Trent to get out of the way. He turns to see that Donna has a revolver in her hands aimed at her husband, and tries to talk her out of shooting Richards. She still holds firm and tells Trent that he may go to jail, but it'll only be for 18 months, tops and she continues by saying that she will no longer live in fear.
Trent, still persistent, tells Donna that if she shoots her husband her life is down the drain and all the work that she does to help other women will go down with her. Trent then asks Donna if Kevin Richards is really worth the price of killing him to end her fear (can someone get Trent a pair of scissors! I want to know how he can see through that hair in his eyes). {editor's note -- I agree! I was channeling my mom and her aversion to hair in the face... most disagreeable.}
Donna replies no and gives over the gun to Trent, but as Trent moves to Donna, Kevin Richards gets up and points a revolver at Trent and Donna (Now is this Donna's revolver she just dropped or did he have one hidden in his ankles?). Kevin then tells Donna that for a high-class lawyer she's not too bright and then challenges Trent on what he's going to do now.
Trent takes this challenge with a right inside kick, causing Richards to loose the gun, and three other right outside kicks to Richards. We watch as Richards just stands there in shock and tumbles to the floor. Donna, with tears in her eyes, hugs Trent and tells him thank you for what he's done.
Flashing a bit later, we see Trent, Walker and Trivette standing at the front door of Donna's house. Here Trent is explaining to the two Rangers that he just had a gut feeling that Kevin Richards was going to show up at the house. He then asks if Walker has ever had one of those gut feelings.
Trivette replies yes, that Walker gets those feelings all the time and that they called that feeling Cherokee. Upon hearing this, Trent is confused and asks Walker to explain what Trivette was talking about.
As Walker says never mind, Kevin Richards is hauled outside and bumps into Trent. Panning out we see the back of Carlos' head as he takes down info from the scene and a reporter comes by questioning Carlos on Trent taking out Kevin Richards (someone get Carlos a hairbrush please!).
Carlos looks up from his pad with a smile across his face, telling the reporter that yes Trent took out Richards and that Trent is one of Walker's best students. The reporter tells his cameraman to get a shot of Trent and Walker then comments to a proudly smiling Carlos, that it looks as though Trent will be the next Walker. Carlos his just folds his arms across his chest and smiles at his friend and Ranger Walker. As the cameraman snaps pictures of Walker and Trent, then just Trent we fade out.
*****Opening credits and commercials*****
Flashing to the outside where Trent's car is parked in front of Thunder Karate (in a no parking zone), we hear him call his students and they begin to go through the drills. As we move into Thunder Karate, we see the class that Trent is teaching and him watching over them, as a class in the back is beginning to stretch. Trent tells his class that they did good and to remember that as they repeat the sequence to give nice loud ki-yas. Watching over the class again, Trent tells his class they're doing good, as we also see the class in the back still stretching.
As class has ended, Trent finishes a talk with a girl and they bow. She exits and Carlos comes jogging into the Karate Studio (ok give me the scissors we were going to use on Trent, it's Carlos' turn now). As Trent greets his eager friend, Carlos gives him 'two words' Cyndi Delvechio. And Trent tells Carlos one word 'no'. Carlos doesn't want to hear this and asks Trent why no. So Trent tells Carlos that every time Carlos has set him up on a date it hasn't turned out too well. Carlos still doesn't want to believe that, and Trent gives him the example of Denise DeLuise, so Carlos admits to that one not going over too well. But Trent continues on in his naming a few other girls before telling Carlos to give it up, he likes women while Carlos still goes after girls.
Carlos is hit by this and wants an explanation about Trent liking women and he girls (he's got that curl'em up twist point of his going again). Trent then asks Carlos how old Cyndi is and Carlos replies that she's 22. But Trent cocks his head to the side and looks at Carlos and Carlos gives in by saying that she's almost 22 (busted once again Carlos). Trent says case closed as Carlos rubs the back of his neck and we hear Trent's protection agency phone line buzz.
As Trent moves to answer the phone line, the woman on the other end hangs up her phone. Trent looks a bit perplexed, but Carlos tells him that if it's important they'll call back. We see the woman's hand next to the phone as she picks up a small, but fat notebook with the news clipping about Trent helping Donna escape the grasp of her estranged husband. As she sniffles, we hear a man's voice belt out "Maria!" and she says that she's coming, but before she leaves, she tucks the notebook under her bed mattress (ever heard the story the princess and the pea?).
We then move to another area of this woman's house and see a man without a shirt on talking in Spanish to someone about his shirt. He's telling another man in Spanish that he can't wear the shirt cause it's missing a button (well sew the thing on, you can pick up a needle and thread can't you?). As Maria comes on the scene the shirtless man (Rudy Mendoza) tells his wife that the shirt is his favourite and that it's ruined.
Well Maria smiles at this and says that it's an easy job, she'll fix it, but this earns her a heavy backhand from her husband (talk about an ass, this temper needs a cold shower). After he hits her, Rudy moves to grab her and asks if she thinks this whole scene is funny. Maria pleads for Rudy not to hurt her, but he hits her again. Maria then quickly gets up and leaves as her husband yells in Spanish for her to take the shirt with her, then throws it in the direction Maria went.
Showing the outside of Ranger HQ, we move inside (I'm guessing here) to see Trent and Walker do a little work out fighting. The two have smiles as they entangle, with Trent coming up the loser of the round a few times.
We flash over to see a black BMW pull into a garage, with Rudy Mendoza exiting the parked vehicle. Doing so, we hear a female voice talking of her concern about what 'they've' been doing. We see a briefcase with money and hear a boy (Mikey, not Mickey Mouse) explain that if Mendoza wants to sell his drugs to the college students, that he has to go through them. And he continues by saying it's Economics 101: Supply and Demand (why do I have a feeling that he never took Economics?).
This girl asks what if Rudy finds out that they've been skimming, but Mikey assures her that he doesn't count the money so he won't notice (yeah right who's this hair day disaster kiddin?). There is a knock at the apartment that Mikey this girl and another guy are in, and Mikey opens the door to find Rudy with his 'body guard'.
Mikey lets them in and Rudy asks if Mickey has their money. Mikey corrects Rudy on his name and tells the two men that he's got the money and do they want to count it. Rudy says no he doesn't and as Mikey closes the case, Rudy raises his gun and shoots Mikey, saying that he counted it last time (oops!).
The girl and other boy in the room get up from their seats as Rudy's body guard shoots the other boy, leaving the girl screaming no, that she had nothing to do with it. But the bodyguard silences her and then asks Rudy "Do you think they'd mind if I smoked?"
At the end of their work out, Walker and Trent sit on the edge of the fighting ring they were practicing in. As Trent dries off his face, Walker asks him how's life and Trent tells him that the Karate school is going well, the protection agency is good and the family is also well too (speaking of family, where'd they disappear to?). So then Walker asks Trent what's eatin' him, Trent stops wiping his face and looks at Walker with the 'how do you know something's bothering me' look, before he begins to tell Walker.
He tells Walker that he's just so perplexed at how many people need help and how does Walker manage to find the time to help them. As Walker begins to answer that question, Alex Cahil arrives in the room and tells Trent that he's asking the wrong man. Walker laughs a bit and Alex comments on the two men having gotten a real good work out.
After joking about going back into the ring, we move to the evening and see a police car and ambulance in front of the garage where Rudy's BMW had been. We then hear Carlos' voice telling another detective that the scene contains three victims. And that the girl (Sheila) had rented the place, also that the victims were sophomores at Texas State.
At that moment a woman in a long dark coat comes on the scene and asks where's her daughter. Two uniformed officers try to stop the woman from entering, but she goes past them. Carlos then moves to the woman to also prevent her from getting any farther, but the woman then sees that her daughter is but a body on the floor. She cries out in pain and collapses into Carlos' arms. Carlos just supports the woman and pats her head as he signals the officers (what it meant is beyond me).
Over at Thunder Karate we see Trent working out on a punch bag (sans shirt) as a young woman (Maria) enters with a large bruise on her left cheek and calls out to him that she needs his help. Trent grabs hold of the large bag and catches his breath as he looks toward the woman who's called to him (Maria, I just met a girl named Maria). {editors note -- HEY!! I am the one who breaks into song at the drop of a hat here!!}
*****Commercials*****
Back at Thunder Karate, as we look at Trent (in a shirt now) over Maria's shoulder, we hear her explaining that Rudy really loved her at one time. And she continues by saying that her coming to Trent transpired cause her husband had hit her for smiling at how simple it was to fix his shirt.
Trent stops Maria's next words and asks if she's filed a police report. She's says no that she can't and Trent tells her that he's got connections to help her get an order of protection. Maria tells him no, and that Trent doesn't understand the situation.
Trent then asks Maria to tell him about Rudy, but she's says he wouldn't want to know and then falters saying that her coming to see Trent was a bad idea. As she gets ready to go, Trent rises from his seat and around to her, trying to get her to listen as he says that Rudy won't stop beating her unless she does something. Maria looks at Trent for a moment, says she's sorry and leaves the Karate studio.
That night at a restaurant, we see Trent and Carlos seated and looking at menu's (take a check to how the table is set, future reference). A waitress is setting their table and Carlos looks up with a smile, thanking her for filling his water and the waitress smiles back at him.
Carlos looks down at the menu and begins to grumble at the price of mushrooms. Trent tells Carlos to relax and to order anything he wants, for he's treating Carlos. Carlos raises his right brow and tells Trent no (someone's a bit suspicious). Trent looks at Carlos and questions the no. Carlos tells Trent that it's a no to whatever Trent wants him to do (aw come on, if Trent wants something it can't be that bad).
Trent close his menu and tells Carlos that he's hurt and all he wanted was to buy dinner for his friend, meanwhile Carlos is nodding his head. Carlos looks at Trent still not buying it and making sure that Trent is just buying him dinner and no favours to be asked (is it me or do Carlos' lips look a little on the extra red side tonight?). Trent, still looking hurt and sincere reassures Carlos that's all he's doing.
Carlos' face changes from the investigative look to one of appreciation as he apologizes to Trent. Trent accepts the apology and then hits Carlos with the old 'now that you mentioned it...' And Carlos knew this was coming (there doing that pointing thing again), but Trent continues asking Carlos to run Rudy Mendoza's name and that if something comes up then ok, if not it's also ok.
Carlos tells Trent the would if he could but... and Trent chimes in that Rudy beats his wife bad and that she's too afraid to go to the police. Carlos then says that getting the info is against department policy. And Trent, still leaning on the table with a small smile, asks if Carlos will do it. And Carlos says that he will, causing Trent's smile to widen (what troublemakers, these two can be a dangerous tag team).
As Carlos also lets a small smile pass his lips, he spots an unusual man walking in the restaurant and watches this man disappear in the back. Trent seeing the 'scanning' look his friend is displaying and asks what's the scoop. Carlos tells Trent that there's 'something going down' and he leaves the table to follow the mystery man in the back.
This large bald mystery man walks into the kitchen, pulls out a gun and walks into a back office. Just as the man takes a hostage, Carlos tells the man to stop and put the gun down (oh yeah how many criminals listen the first time?).
We then see two other armed men (not cops) behind Carlos and the bald man tells Carlos to put his dinky gun down. But we then see Trent come on the scene behind the two-armed men and knock them out the equation.
Just as Carlos moves to put his revolver down, he knocks the guy's gun out his hand and takes a nice swing to the bald man. Meanwhile Trent has one guy by the neck and high kicks the other to the neck, before punching and slamming the one he was holding by the neck.
The bald man down, Carlos has the guy's gun pointed at him and moves to pick up his own as he nods in appreciation to Trent for his help. Trent picks up a loose shotgun and smiles at Carlos, as Carlos does the same and turns back to the bald guy (what a day, and what cute curls Carlos has poking in the back, but please manage that hair).
Over at the Mendoza house we hear and see Maria talking to Trent over the phone and telling him that she'll be 'there' at 1pm. As she hangs up the phone, Maria grabs her purse and moves to leave the house, but as she gets near the door Rudy asks where she's going. Maria tells him that she's going to get her hair done and that he already knew that. As Maria continues to the door, Rudy asks her if he can get a kiss.
And as she moves to give him a peck, he pulls her in for a rough kiss. She pulls back and Rudy tells her to get herself done up nice that she's 'been looking like hell lately'. Maria quickly moves out the door and Rudy calls his bodyguard (Leon) to follow his wife.
Over at Thunder Karate, we see Trent's car and Maria's parked out in front (again the no parking zone). Inside Trent is telling Maria that he's glad she called, and she tells him that she had to do something, she can't keep living in this fear.
Trent then hands her Alex Cahill's business card and Maria looks at it. Trent tells her that he's spoken with Alex and she's done a lot of work in this area of cases. Trent also says that 'they' all want to help, just before he puts his hand to his mouth and tosses his head telling Maria that Alex put her home number on the back of the card. Maria just looks at Trent and he looks ready to give a wide smile, but refrains from doing so.
He then walks Maria out to her car, thanks him for everything and him a peck on the cheek. While all this is going on outside Thunder Karate, Leon is atop a nearby building taking pictures of Maria and Trent.
Back at the Mendoza house, Rudy is looking at Leon's pictures and Rudy tells him to kill him (in reference to Trent). Leon and two others leave Rudy's office room as we move to see Trent exiting Thunder Karate to empty the trash. As he does this, Carlos pulls up in his unmarked (grey this time) with the info on Rudy.
The two leather jacket boys exchange hellos and Carlos proceeds to tell Trent about Rudy's extensive wrap sheet. Trent asks for the run down and Carlos tells Trent that Rudy used to run with the Del Vega drug cartel. Trent thought that Walker had shut down this group. Carlos confirms that, but says that Rudy seems to take over where the Del Vega's had been removed.
We then see Rudy's black BMW come screeching down the road and Leon leaning out with a machine gun, firing at Trent and Carlos. Trent grabs hold of Carlos and says get down. As the two roll to the ground, Carlos tries to get up and pulls out his revolver, but it's too late, the car was moving too fast.
Back at the Mendoza house, Maria walks past the open office and sees something on Rudy's desk. After picking up the pictures, she sees that they are pictures of her and Trent. Becoming visibly upset, Maria runs off.
Over at a warehouse, Rudy is giving a tour to potential buyers on his ability to set up these types of warehouses and get product out, fast and it being of high quality.
That night at the Mendoza house, Maria attempts to leave the house, but Rudy's men will not let her leave. So she goes back to her room and calls Alex, telling her what the situation is and how she needs to leave the house before Rudy kills her. Alex tells Maria to hold on and she'll be right there to get her, but Maria tells Alex that Rudy won't let her leave. Alex assures Maria that Rudy won't stop her and that she'll bring some help. Hearing this Maria agrees to give Alex her address.
Maria then packs up a bag and moves to leave the house when she thinks Alex would be out waiting for her. As Maria makes her escape the men holding her inside don't see her slip out, but the house alarm gives her away. As she tries to outrun the men, she jumps a décor wall and they catch her. One of the men gets a hold of her and hits her, as the men move to take hold of Maria again, Walker and Trent come on the scene and take down the two men.
Alex calls out from her car and Maria runs in. The two 'guard's of the house slowly get up and one asks 'who were those guys?'
*****Commercials*****
Over at Alex's place, we see Maria, Walker, Alex, Trent and Carlos listening to Maria tell them that she needs to go back to her husband. Trent tells her, she'll be fine. But Maria says that she should never have gone to Trent cause Rudy has pictures of them from earlier that day and he has no idea what Rudy's capable of.
Trent tells her not to worry and that he does know what Rudy is capable of. This makes Maria visibly upset and Trent tries to tell her things will pan out as Walker asks for Maria's help in taking out Rudy. She says that she can help and that all the information the Rangers would need to stop Rudy are in her notebook.
Back at the Mendoza house, Jose is explaining to Rudy why Maria is missing, and in his explanation he comments that him and his partner were jumped. The other man says that there were like six guys who jumped them (uhoh, someone's doing gov't math again).
Rudy, not very happy, tells the two men that he takes care of them and their families and that they are to go and find her now.
Over at one of Rudy's drug warehouses, we see a man measuring out the goods when the Texas Rangers bust in. As Walker, Trivette and Carlos enter, the workers and guards inside all grab their weapons and begin firing at the Rangers and task force.
After the bad guys begin to lose a nice explosion of chemicals, task force repelling from the ceiling and Carlos' gun seeming to never run out of bullets; Walker goes after one particular man escaping the scene. This man challenges Walker, saying that he would pound him if he didn't have the gun. So Walker puts down the gun and tells this man to bring it on.
Walker hits the guy and he goes down, then Walker grabs his gun and takes this man over to the task force for the clean up job. Walker then comes up to Carlos and Trivette and Carlos asks him if Rudy will have figured out how they got the info to bust this warehouse. Walker says yes and tells the guys to move on.
Back to the Mendoza house, a livid Rudy is telling Leon that the Rangers could only have known about his warehouse cause of Maria. He then tells Leon to do what ever is necessary to get Maria back to him alive. Leon says yes and goes off to take care of his new task.
Over at Alex's place (or Trent's place, there's still debate as to who's place this is), we see Trent and Maria talking. Maria's telling Trent that when she first met Rudy he was perfect, but after she married him and found out about his business he turned evil and told her, he'd kill her if she ever tried to leave.
As Maria berates herself, Trent tries to put things in perspective by telling her that everyone makes mistakes and that she's correcting hers. He then tells Maria to come with him so as not to keep Alex.
And once again at the Mendoza house, we see the ever so angry Rudy in a room as Leon enters with news of how to find Maria. Leon says that the night she left, Maria made a call to the unlisted number of Assistant DA Alex Cahill. So then Rudy gets the picture and tells Leon that he needs to get a hold of Maria, and fast before she tells the police everything.
That day/afternoon at Ranger HQ, we see Walker, Alex, Maria, Trent, Trivette and Carlos standing/sitting discussing the information the Maria gave them (hey Maria don't lean too hard, your chest might fall out the shirt dear). Walker asks Alex when she can get a warrant and she tells him that she'll get it the moment court opens in the morning.
Trivette says that he'll start making the calls and assemble a task force as Carlos nods. Alex then tells Maria that they'll call it a night. Walker is concerned about letting them go home, but Alex assures him that she'll call when she gets home and that she and Maria are very tired after all their work.
As we watch the exchange of Alex and Walker, the camera flips back to an unshaven/grinning Carlos (why? It's beyond me). And as the women go to leave, Trent says he'll escort them.
The Rangers and Carlos then move to their task and lean on the table as they begin to devise their plan of action.
Down stairs in the parking garage, Alex turns off her alarm and Trent walks over to Maria's side of the car holding the door for her. He tells Alex to drive safe and as he's about to continue, Alex cuts him off saying that she won't forget to call as soon as she arrives back home. Maria says good night to Trent and he to her.
As Alex pulls out, Trent returns to the Rangers and Carlos upstairs. But before Alex can leave the garage, a dark car pulls out of a spot and another pulls behind Alex's car to block them in. Alex reaches for her cellphone and speed dials, but Leon comes up and snatches it from her hands.
*****Commercials*****
In Ranger HQ, Carlos is saying that Maria's info gives them the link of Rudy to the dealing of Texas State kids, which means he's probably the murderer of the three from earlier. Trent comments on how this is good to get Rudy off the streets.
Walker hears this news, but his mind is elsewhere as it is over the time Alex should have called. So Walker picks up the phone and calls her place, but there's no answer just the machine. He then tries her cellphone and we see it sitting the in parking garage of Ranger HQ. Walker comments that he doesn't like this and Carlos says he'll put an APB out on her car, but Trivette jumps to and asks Walker if Alex had a lojack device in her car. Walker says that he made her put it in and instead Trivette calls up to have the locator activated.
In Alex's car at some warehouse, we see one of Rudy's men get out of the passenger side and pull Maria out. Leon pulls out Alex and Maria tells Leon to let Alex go cause she has nothing to do with the situation. Leon caresses the side of Alex's face and tells Maria that she's now a part of everything.
They then take the women and move into the back where there are two chairs waiting. As the women are plopped into the chairs, Leon leans to Maria and says that Mendoza has special plans for her. He then leans to Alex and says that he has special plans for her, but Alex knees his family jewels and Leon is about to hit her for that when Rudy comes in.
Rudy calls out Leon's name and asks him if that's how you treat a lady. Rudy tells his boys that he has business with Alex and Maria, but that when he's done Leon can have Alex if he so pleases. At this time Rudy is taking off his jacket and Leon thanks his boss for the gesture to have Alex.
In the streets, we see Walker's truck and Trent's
'vette coming around the corner.
Back at the warehouse, Rudy raises up Maria and asks her for what info she's told the police. Maria's response is "go to hell". Rudy tells her that he plans to, but he needs her information. Maria then quips that there isn't a thing Rudy can do that he hasn't already done, but Rudy turns the tables to her by saying, while that may be true he can do things to Alex.
Maria looks to Alex and then begins to caress her husband, in hopes of distracting him for a bit. But then Maria sees he isn't buying it and spits in Rudy's face (oh yeah, tick the man off, good idea).
As the Rangers and boys come to the warehouse, the guards watching don't notice them entering from two sides (are these guards dumb or what?). We see Trent and Walker begin hand to hand with some of the guys as Carlos shoots one, in the back room though, Rudy is about to hit Maria when they hear the gun fire and run out to handle the situation.
Leaving the women alone, Alex and Maria cautiously move out of the back room where they see the guys. As it becomes a little less hectic, Alex calls to Walker and he goes after Leon while Trent goes after Rudy.
The two martial artists engage in an elaborate fight, which seems to be move for move the same as we flash between the two fights. Walker finishes with Leon first and then goes over to Alex and Maria to check that they're ok.
Meanwhile as Trent finally finishes up with Rudy, Carlos comes up to Trent to check on him and to take the gun (Rudy's gun) that Trent is holding. As the two now have their backs to Rudy, we see Rudy is still conscious and pulls out a small revolver from his ankle. Carlos catches this and as Rudy raises his gun, Carlos shoots Rudy straight in the heart with Rudy's gun. Trent looks on and thanks his friend for the quick action (Carlos looks as white as a ghost right now).
On a bright day, we see the city and a lake, then hear Trent saying that Los Angeles is nice. We then fade to see Maria and Trent walking to her car in front of the Mendoza house. She tells Trent that LA seems to be a good place for a fresh start. She then asks if Trent could come out for a visit some time and he smiles saying that he'd like that. Maria also smiles and reaches up to give Trent a hug.
As the two part she looks at Trent for a moment and then gets into her car. He closes her door and they share another moment to look at each other. She then plays with her stick to shift the car in gear and pulls off, with Trent looking on.
Over at Thunder Karate, we hear Trent telling Walker that he and Carlos are taking a few days off to go fishing in Louisiana. Trent invites Walker and Carlos tells Walker that the cabin is right off the lake, has four rooms and they can fish off the back porch to the lake.
Walker says that it's a tempting offer and looks about to say yes, when Trivette comes on the scene and tells him that they're needed to help the FBI on a case in Flower Mound. Walker seems a bit unhappy and says that he'll have to take a rain check, but for the guys to have a good time.
Just as Walker and Trivette leave, Trent's protection lines buzzes and Carlos glares at it as if that will stop the phone from ringing. Trent looks up at his friend who shakes his head, but still answers the phone.
As Trent begins to talk to the person on the other side, Carlos shows his off moment and points to the fishing brochure and then makes motions of casting out a line. Trent continues on the phone saying that he can help the man and that he has a friend who's good at getting information. Seeing that he's lost this one, Carlos throws back the brochure in frustration as Trent just smiles at his friend. {editor's note -- no "just" about this smile. This smile could melt the polar ice caps. See screen caps -- last picture. Be prepared to melt.}
*****The End*****
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