IVIV2: But why, Bigfoot?

[Paul Nightingale]

Bigfoot 'appears' on 9, when an "extrasensory impulse" persuades Doc to
switch on the TV; and then again on 10-12, although we only find out on
12-13 when Flaco tells Doc what had happened in his--and our--absence,
indeed, the first time Doc has been absent from the narrative, if only in
the telling (as with Slim's reference to Shasta's car, bottom of 10, Flaco
locates Doc within a community that can tell his story).

The lengthy paragraph introducing Bigfoot describes him "closely studying
old W.C. Fields and Bette Davis movies whenever they came on ..." etc
(9-10). Is this the first indication of a narrative adopting Bigfoot's
perspective and slipping away from Doc, or a reference to their
relationship, one in which cop might confide in doper enemy? Well, there are
references to Doc not knowing an awful lot about Bigfoot, despite their
shared past--eg the "Jolly Rancher" passage, 24-25; the reference to
Bigfoot's family life, bottom of 32, followed by Doc's "isn't it strange"
speech, top of 33--all suggesting that cop is, or has been, highly unlikely
to confide in doper enemy.

Either way, a "sudden hammering on the front door" (10) disturbs the reverie
and signals Denis' appearance, 'real' doper replacing TV caricature,
although Doc "flashe[s] that it had to be Bigfoot in person, about to kick
his way in once again as in days of old", perhaps a reference to the
"reckless era" that had Doc "beginning to feel deeply nervous again" (3).

In the event Bigfoot only appears in person after Doc "lose[s] an unknown
amount of his day" (22). He goes looking for Mickey and finds Bigfoot
instead; it is Bigfoot who subsequently announces that Mickey "has vanished"
(29), confirmation following on TV (30). When they finally part at the end
of 2.3 (top of 34) we still haven't found out what Bigfoot wanted with Doc
on 10-12.