Episode 11 · Lily, Mark, Vance
Mark tries to rush inside to pull Lily out, but Vance and Dr. Eric restrain him. Inside the pen, Lily inspects mathematical markings in the dirt. The Black Bear complains about humans who cannot count, so Lily writes an addition problem in the sand. The bear writes the correct answer with his paw. Lily proposes a math contest wager, the bear agrees, and she tells the dumbfounded men to wait.
Mark panics and tries to pull Lily out of the bear enclosure. Vance and Dr. Eric physically hold him back. They point out that the bear has not attacked anyone and claim the animal is mentally broken and nonfunctional.
Lily studies the equations scratched onto the dirt floor. The Black Bear mutters that humans cannot count. Lily writes out a basic addition problem in the sand. Using a massive paw, the bear traces the number two right beside it.
The bear scoffs at the easy problem and complains about deep boredom among fools. Lily challenges him to a math competition instead. She wagers that the loser must follow the winner's commands, and the bear promptly agrees to the terms.
Lily turns toward the fence and asks Mark for a minute of patience. She announces that she and the bear are holding a math competition. Mark, Vance, and Dr. Eric stand outside the bars completely speechless at her declaration.
“Lily get out of there!”
“Vance is right, his behavior is severely regressed. At this point, he's practically nonfunctional.”
“Oh great, another human who can't count.”
“Want to make a bet? I'll give you a math problem, and if you get it wrong, you have to do what I say, deal?”
The episode closes with Lily cheerfully calling out to the adults that she and the bear are starting a math competition. Mark, Vance, and Dr. Eric stare back in total shock. Can an eight-year-old girl actually outsmart a genius bear, or will she lose the wager and find herself at the predator's mercy?