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<title>Carnivale: Black Blizzard</title>
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<h1 align="center">Episode 104: Black Blizzard</h1><p>
<center><img src="ep04pic.JPG"></center>
<font size="5">Guest starring:</font>
<li>Amanda Aday as Dora Mae Dreifuss
<li>Debra Christofferson as Lila
<li>Judith Hoag as Miss Jolene
<li>Gabriel Mann as Harlan Staub
<li>Carson Elrod as Grover
<li>Blake Shields as Osgood
<li>Bill Moseley as Possum
<li>Brian Turk as Gabriel
<li>Billy Beck as Asa
<li>Jesse Burch as Mackery
<li>Ron Michaelson as Newt
<li>Aria Wallace as Polly Ann<p>
<p>WRITTEN BY: William Schmidt
<br>DIRECTED BY: Peter Medak
<br>FIRST AIRED: October 5, 2003<p>
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With rousties setting up in what appears to be the middle of nowhere, Samson gets himself slicked up to pay a visit to town, Sophie argues with her mother about her own plans for a diversion and Lodz summons ben to show him something about Scudder. 
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Members of the Carnivale are jittery being so close to the notorious town of Babylon: "I hear they strung up three rousties back in '32, just to see "em dangle" says Libby breathlessly. But Stumpy is dismissive: "Babylon don't even exist. That's just a tale carnies tell around a bottle." Realizing that the crew is becoming increasingly edgy, Jonesy tells Samson that he fears a revolt, and even suggests talking to Management himself about the decision to veer off the circuit. Samson's response is icy: "That's not gonna happen." 
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In Mintern, Brother Justin gets an unexpected visit from his mentor and former guardian Reverend Balthus, who has serious news. Justin's congregation has written to the Bishop complaining about his work with the migrants. He must hand over his new mission to someone else, or face disciplinary action. Justin is stunned, but also resolute: "God spoke to me," he says, shaking his head. "...as he spoke to Abraham and Isiah and Moses."
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As Samson dallies with a prostitute named Jolene, Sophie plays the role of a stranded widow to attract the attention of a young man in town, and whiles away the afternoon enjoying his attention. But their amusements quickly turn to concern, as they suddenly become aware of a terrible force moving over the horizon-a Black Blizzard. 
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On Lodz and Ben's mysterious journey the ferocious sandstorm has also caught with them as howling winds surround and rock their truck, Ben decides to try to sleep it out, but has barely closed his eyes when he hears Lodz walk out into the violent blast of dust. Chasing after him, he is choked, and has nearly drowned in dust when he blunders into an abandoned cabin. Inside, while the "Black Blizzard" rages on, Lodz find an opportunity to probe into Ben's abilities and his past.
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Lashing out, Ben screams for him to stop. And immediately the violent storm ceases. "You did that," Lodz tells him, and when Ben says "No..." the winds immediately start again. Lodz replies "you did that too", "Only God can make the weather stop" yells Ben. Further testing Ben, Lodz sears a hot poker from the fire into Ben's face, and within moments, the boy has healed. "You have the gift..." utters a now convinced Lodz. "Let me help you..." 
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In town, Sophie's playacting has gone farther than ever before, as she and the young man Harlan become lovers on the floor of his closed cafe. As the storm finally passes, she leaves to attend to Apollonia, who is furious with her.
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Jonesy, exhausted and frustrated from taking care of the huddled and mutinous Carnivale crew, decides to take matters up with Management. Hat in hand, he enters the trailer, calling out to see if Managaement is okay. When he finally steps inside and gingerly pulls back the curtain at one end, he can hardly believe what he sees. The trailer is empty.
<p>
In the quiet of the rectory, in Mintern, Iris wakes her brother in the middle of the night. "There's been a fire," she says. "In the ministry." 
<p>
As Brother Justin tours the smoldering remains of his mission, he turns to his sister to ask about the children, and sees the row of bodies under a tarp. Turning his face to the heavens with a roar of silent devastation, he falls to his knees at their feet. 
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