BURNING MAN Air Date 9/30/05
Chapter 701

Hal and Lois catch Malcolm and Reese hitchhiking to the Burning Man festival. They are so intrigued by Malcolm's description of the festival that they decide to take the whole family in their borrowed RV. Malcolm injures himself on a cactus while taking in the sights, and he is taken to Anita, a pretty, 40-something Shaman. He quickly develops an intense on-again, off-again relationship with her. He balks at her rebirthing ceremonies and retreats to the RV, telling Hal it was a stupid idea to come to Burning Man. When Hal excitedly bonds with Malcolm over their mutual inflexible beliefs, Malcolm runs back to Anita and participates in his own rebirth.

Reese searches for naked women, but finds himself appreciating art and the whole Burning Man concept. As a new convert, he participates in several activities and is elected to torchbearer for the final ceremony. Hal becomes the subject of a huge crowd nesting in and around his RV space. They mistake him for a "suburban Dad" performance artist. Lois learns the joys of hemp and sets to beading and tattooing Jamie. Reese cannot bring himself to light the Burning Man, and he is nearly rescued by Hal in the RV. A slimy Malcolm and a topless Lois arrive to see the RV go up in flames.