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| "Sparks Fly Out" | |
| Season 1, Episode 5 | |
 | |
| Air date | October 5, 2008 |
| Written by | Alexander Woo |
| Directed by | Daniel Minahan |
| Episode Guide | |
| previous "Escape from Dragon House" |
next "Cold Ground" |
"Sparks Fly Out" is the fifth episode of Season 1 of the HBO original series True Blood, and the series' fifth episode overall.
Summary
Spurned by an exasperated Sookie, Bill ends up winning over Adele's church audience with his vivid recollections from the Civil War, though Andy and Bud remain suspicious. Sam tries to make the most of his fading opportunity with Sookie, though she's clearly not ready to commit. Ignoring Tara's rebuff, Lafayette convinces Jason to give vampire blood, aka "V juice," another shot. Alone at home, Bill remembers the painful wartime incident that parted him from his beloved family and changed his fate forever.
Synopsis
"Excuse me...
Who ordered the hamburger ...with AIDS?"
― Lafayette Reynolds
Jason explains to Lafayette what his hospital experience was like
Bill’s car arrives outside Sookie’s house, and the two have an argument about their encounter with the police officer. Bill confesses that, had she not been there, he would have fed on the officer. Bill promises to never call on her again and leaves. Sookie asks her Gran about her problem. Adele suggests that she not be afraid or be suspicious of him just because he is different.
Tara is furious at Lafayette for selling V to Jason and tells him he should know what a sex addict Jason is and makes him promise to apologize. When Jason stops by however, Lafayette convinces him to give it another try and instructs him on how to take it properly.
Jason having V Hallucinations.
At Merlotte's, Sam seizes his opportunity with Sookie. He asks her to go with him to the Descendants of the Glorious Dead meeting and she agrees. Sookie's suspicions about Tara and her brother are raised when she learns that Tara lied to the police in order to give Jason an alibi for Dawn’s murder. That night at the D.O.G.D. meeting, a large crowd has gathered at the Bon Temps church to hear Bill’s speech. Among them are three rednecks named Chuck, Wayne and Royce who are stirring up some trouble.
Lafayette serving his "Aids Burger"
Adele introduces Bill and he recounts the story about the loss of his friend Tolliver Humphries during the Civil War. The mayor of Bon Temps presents Bill with a photograph of his long-lost wife and children which stirs emotions in Bill. After the meeting, Sookie and Sam go out for coffee. Everything is going well until the conversation turns to vampires and Sam insists that Bill is dangerous, no matter how Sookie feels about him. Sam starts trying to get Sookie to not have anything to do with Bill.
Sookie finds the dead body of Gran
At Merlotte’s, the trio of rednecks continue to stir up trouble when Royce sends back a burger saying it has AIDS. This causes Lafayette to fly into a rage and slam the burger into the Royce’s face.
Jason, René and Hoyt are dining not far away. Hoyt fails to pick up a girl named Randi Sue. A very-stoned Jason professes his deep love for Tara who is smart enough to wait until he is sober for this conversation.
Bill is paid a visit at his house by Sheriff Bud Dearborne and Andy who question him about the murders. Bill insists that no vampire could resist a body full of human blood. Since the victims were not drained, the murderer could not be a vampire. After they leave, Bill remembers how he was turned into a vampire by a woman named Lorena as he was making his way home to his family. She allows him to see them one last time from a distance, but assures him that his old life is over.
Tara catches Jason having sex with Randi Sue in the alley behind Merlotte's, which infuriates her. Sookie takes a cab home from her dismal date with Sam and finds her Gran lying on the kitchen floor, dead and in a pool of her own blood. Sookie just stands there speechless.
Trailer
Notes
Accolades
- Nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series.
Allusions
- This episode does not contain any allusions.
Bloopers and Continuity Errors
- There are no bloopers that occur in this episode.
Continuity
- There are no continuity notes for this episode.
Flashbacks
- Bill Compton flashes back to his Civil War battlefield.
- Bill Compton flashes back to when he met Lorena Krasiki and she turned him into a vampire.
Miscredits
- There are no miscredits that occur in this episode.
Music
- "Kargyraa" - Huun-Huur-Tu
- "It's Alright" - Phil Phillips
- "Feel Alright" - Steve Earle
- "Sparks Fly Out" - Paul Burch
- "I Play Chicken with the Train" - Cowboy Troy
- "It's All Over but the Shoutin'" - Southern Culture on the Skids
- "Wiggle Stick" - Reverend Horton Heat
Production
- There are no production notes available for this episode.
Title
- The title and the song may allude to the tension that runs throughout the episode from Bill's dispute with Sookie to Lafayette's fight with the trio at Merlotte's.
- May also refer to the sparks Jason sees while high on V.
Trivia
- There is currently no trivia associated with this episode.
Memorable Quotes
Arlene Fowler:
- (to Coby) "No darlin' we're white. He's dead."
- (to Sookie, about Fangtasia) "Vampire bar wasn't all it was made out to be. I hear there are a lot of freaks and people from Arkansas."
Bill Compton:
- "A fresh corpse full of blood, Detective, that's something no vampire could resist."
- "Tell me, Sheriff, were any of these unfortunate women found exsanguinated? Were they completely drained of their blood? Because, a fresh corpse, full of blood, would be irresistible to any vampire. (licks his lips!) I dare say, not even I..."
- "If we reach out to one another, we can coexist and even thrive together."
Jason Stackhouse:
- "My life sucks so much ass"
- "First, I get hauled in by the cops. Then, I gotta let a dude drain my Johnson. That's a f*** of a day"
- "It's OK! She's a tranny"
Lafayette Reynolds:
- "Don't blame the Ferrari just 'cause your ass can't drive. You're gonna have to learn to ride the high, boyfriend."
- "'Scuse me. Who ordered the hamburger... with AIDS? In this restaurant, a hamburger deluxe comes with french fries, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and AIDS! Do anyone got a problem wit dat? Aw baby, it's too late for that. Faggots been breeding your cows, raisin' your chickens, even brewin' your beer long before I walked my sexy ass up in this mother f***er. Everything on your God damn table got aids."
- "Well all you gots to do is say hold the aids. Here. Eat it! Bitch, you come into my house, you gonna eat the food THE WAY I F***IN' MAKE IT! Do you understand me? Tip your waitress."
- "You's a stupid bitch, Jason Stackhouse."
Sookie Stackhouse:
- (to Andy, after talking to Tara) "If you're gonna accuse me of lying, be a man and say it out loud for Pete's sake. Either way I'm gonna hear you, whether you look me in the eye or not. Lets face it, there's not a whole lot of ideas in there. Like mice in a cage. I know you're grasping at straws, but don't drag my brother down with you."
Tara Thornton:
- "Giving vampire blood to Jason Stackhouse is like giving Ho-Hos to a diabetic. You know he can't control himself!"
- "Puto, pendejo, de mierda. It's in Spanish, and it sounds funny as hell."
Memorable Dialogue
Bill Compton: "Yes, you're Sookie's employer."
Sam Merlotte: "Not when we're off the clock."
Bill Compton: "No, legally you still are."
Cast
Gallery
Trading Cards
Episode B1
Episode Ratings
| Episode # | Episode Title | Viewers (in millions) |
| #1.05 (5) | "Sparks Fly Out" | 1.13 |
| True Blood Season 1 | |
| Season 2 >> • Season 3 >> • Season 4 >> | |
| #01 "Strange Love" | #07 "Burning House of Love" |
| #02 "The First Taste" | #08 "The Fourth Man in the Fire" |
| #03 "Mine" | #09 "Plaisir D'Amour" |
| #04 "Escape from Dragon House" | #10 "I Don't Wanna Know" |
| #05 "Sparks Fly Out" | #11 "To Love Is to Bury" |
| #06 "Cold Ground" | #12 "You'll Be the Death of Me" |