The Brain Teaser No. 8,650

9.

ACROSS

1. The cupboard is, indeed, blue (9)

8. After a gun goes off, shows his writhing in agony (7)

An insect and a cat dancing round to the music (7)

10. Saw the point and shot (7)

13. But possibly the activists about are not sure (8) 14. It's a wrench for him (4)

16. Bed-warmers? (10)

20. They mean services will be cancelled (4)

22. A very bad knock (4)

24. Meant to change the vessel entered for the competition (10)

28. The fish, otherwise, will get loose (4)

29. Go ahead, having left the document (8) 31. By rights, there must be an egg in the animal's food (7)

34. The female, the one I captured, is brave (7)

35. The wild pie-dog, by the way, has a very good palate (7)

36. Lavishes money about while the girl hangs on to it (9)

DOWN

1. Determines to have a month on the outside (7) 2. The bird enclosure wherein is the gun I wrapped up (7)

3. A performance that was just as it should be (5) 4. The bird made the pole fall out (7)

5. Puts on the fish (4)

6. Handle only half of it (4)

7. The animals had entered as follows (7)

11. Father with, on average, one child (6) 12. Necessitate and seize (4)

15. In river, lake and in sea you find it (4)

17. Exercise for the pronunciation of vowels (3)

18. For the record, it would be a crocodile (4)

19. From the beginning, ready to go on striking (6) 21. Time to catch up (3)

22. Thought to be among the favourites (7)

23. Look like a Don Juan (4)

25. Comes to again and feels pain (7)

26. Wearing away the first cross to be erected (7) 27. Getting into rows time after time, doesn't take it seriously (7)

30. Are not getting on a bit (5)

32. Charge a penny less for the pudding (4)

33. Check in, I must emphasise, early (4)

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE No. 8649:

ACROSS: 3 Chopsticks; 8 Banish; 9 Rota; 10 Adolescent; 11 Pin; 13 Good; 14 Siberia; 15 Next; 17 Sewer; 20 Taped; 22 Rime; 24 Italian; 25 Shed; 27 Saw; 28 Brown study; 29 Ella; 30 Talent; 31 Deliberate.

DOWN: 1 Handsome; 2 Billed; 3 Chasten; 4 Other; 5 Sort; 6 Claptrap; 7 Standard; 12 Abet; 14 Stem; 16 Earn; 17 Slipshod; 18 Wear well; 19 Rain; 21 Emending; 23 Emanate; 25 Settle; 26 Cobra; 28 Bade.