summary of a critical scene in "The Savage Bees" (1976)

On Ash Wednesday in New Orleans,

a silver knight rides the hood of a slowly-moving

red Volkswagen, retaining his poise with a firm handle

on a windshield wiper, a box containing the New Queen Bee

nestled in his other arm, driving towards a hot dog stand

where the Savage Bees are swarming.

the knight tells the driver to shut the windows,

close the vents, and keep in constant walkie-talkie chatter

with the assistant medical examiner. he slowly

approaches the hot dog stand, and he becomes

ketchup.

two intoxicated Mardi Gras pirates cannot curb their

hunger, racing through the sheriff’s roadblock in their

yellow convertible, driving into the swarm, becoming

mustard.

the driver’s anguish attracts the bees, and the Bug

becomes a hive. she drives to the Superdome,

and the swarm acquiesces to the air conditioning.

fun fact:

the silver knight was one of the Magnificent Seven.