Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 16 - End of the Beginning - full transcript

Previously on Marvel's
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D...

Tell us about Cybertek
and the Deathlok Program.

- Mike Peterson's alive.
- They did something to him.

SIMMONS; GH-325.

Agent Coulson was injected with it
and literally minutes later,

his wounds showed signs
of cellular regeneration.

Fury went to dangerous lengths
to keep this under wraps.

We can't share this with anyone.

For their safety and ours.

Encrypted line secure.

Agent Melinda May.
Update log 93.



Coulson knows.

- Agent John Garrett, confirm.

Agent Antoine Triplett, confirmed.

Well, it's no Four Seasons.

As far as safe houses go, it's not bad.

Phuket didn't even have mattresses.

Yeah, but Cairo had
1,000-thread-count sheets.

With that sateen finish.

Hey, be careful what you get used to.

Dig out that sat phone,
get Coulson on the line.

I wanna run down through the list
of potential candidates with him.

You really think The Clairvoyant
was on the Index?

Rejected off the Index. Possibly.

Just hope it's not the Amazing Kreskin.



- I used to love that guy.
- Who?

Area three breach.

Ahh!

Hit him With the ICER!

You realize, Agent Coulson,
they have these things

called teleconferences now.

Nice to see you, too, Agent Hand.

Thank you all for coming
on such short notice.

Little unconventional meeting this way,
isn't it?

From the reports I've read,

"Unconventional" seems to be
Coulson's middle name these days.

Fight breaks out, let me take Blake.

He's coy, but scrappy.

I'll explain everything as soon as
we hit 50,000 feet. This way.

Cruising altitude reached,

bearing 90 degrees
just over the North Pole.

- Thank you.
- Apologies for the song and dance.

We brought you here as a precaution.

A precaution against what?

The Clairvoyant.

If there is someone out there
who can read minds,

at least up here
we're as far away from him as possible.

Think that maybe the northern lights
will knock a few bars

off his psychic Wi-Fi.

Coulson, you know S.H.I.E.L.D.'s
stance on psychics.

They don't exist.

Are you suddenly a believer?

Not definitively.

But I had a recent experience
with an Asgardian

who could bend people's will
with her voice.

Forced me to open my mind,
so to speak.

All we know for sure is The
Clairvoyant's been a step ahead of us,

stealing plays from our playbook.

And it's pissing me off.

I take it you've all read
Agent Garrett's latest report?

The hit on the safe house.
Mr. Peterson's alive and kicking.

- We call him Deathlok.
- That was the project's codename.

Agent Garrett and I have been
tracking him the last few weeks.

And we think The Clairvoyant's
super-soldier bodyguard

came after us for a reason.
We're getting close.

To what? His identity?

We've narrowed the list
to 13 candidates.

Narrowed it how? From what?

Agent Garrett has been taking
a second look

at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s gifted Index.

Specifically the rejects.

Individuals S.H.I.E.L.D. interviewed
who are believed

to have psychic abilities,
but were ultimately dismissed.

So you think we've encountered
The Clairvoyant before?

Think how many cases we've
encountered across the globe,

how many cases we've vetted,

it's more than possible, it's probable.

I need more coffee.

Let's assume what you're saying
is possible, what then?

If we're going up against
a natural clairvoyant,

how do you suggest we combat that?

By compartmentalizing the information.

A member of my team is an expert
at pattern recognition and analysis.

Finding needles in haystacks.

She'll prioritize the candidates
on Garrett's list,

locate them, then pair us off
into random teams.

That way only one person knows
the full scope of the mission.

You do understand that this person
you're referring to,

she'd need to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent
to be granted that level of access.

I'm glad you brought that up.

Guys, I swear, I am fine.

How much blood are you going to draw
before you believe me?

Your recovery,
it's honestly quite unbelievable.

Strange.

We know Coulson had
a very different recovery experience.

So we understand why he's hesitant

about us sharing
our findings with others.

Yeah, but something like this drug,
it needs to be studied.

It has the potential
to save so many lives.

We'd like to send a blood sample
of yours to some colleagues

to do a molecular breakdown.

Maybe if you spoke to Agent Coulson...

I don't think that's a good idea.

If Coulson thinks it's important
that this stay between us,

then we should trust him, right?

He's the boss.

So you're saying
we should obey the rules?

Who are you
and what have you done with Skye?

Skye. Upstairs.
Top brass wants to see you.

Pairing off makes total sense.

Just one thought though.
What if we make it a double-blind?

How so?

Well, I'll give one person
from each team

the potential Clairvoyant's coordinates,

and I'll give the other one the identity.

That way no one person knows

the full specs of the op
until you get there.

I like how you think.
I like how she thinks.

One question. How am I supposed
to access all the classified files

without someone in the room?

I don't have clearance.

Now you do.

Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D., Skye.

I told them to come up.

I...

I don't know what to say.

- Thank you.
- Don't thank me.

You've passed every required
S.H.I.E.L.D. exam with flying colors.

For a Level 1 agent.

You've assisted us
on multiple field missions,

put your life on the line.

You earned this.

Hell, you took two in the gut.

More than Sitwell here's ever done.

Okay, everyone, back to work.

Congratulations.

- Congratulations, Skye!
- Thank you!

Congratulations.

Couldn't have done it without
a great and very patient S.O.

Yeah, you could've.

I'm no clairvoyant,

but I do believe some things
are meant to be.

Can't say I'm a fan
of this double-blind situation.

How will the field teams
meet us at the destinations?

They won't.

They'll be on standby.

We can't risk The Clairvoyant
knowing we're coming.

What you're saying is
one of these teams

could be heading straight
into an ambush,

without backup.

Agent Sitwell, we've just received word
from the Triskelion.

You have orders to report
to the Lemurian Star immediately.

So I assume you'll take his place?

In your hunt for Santa Claus? No.

I'm taking a transport jet
back to the Hub

where I can quarterback
the field teams via satellite.

Someone's gonna have to pull
your asses out of the fire

when things go south.

I'll be in touch.

I guess I got a boat to catch.

- Good luck, Agent Coulson.
- You, too, Agent Sitwell.

Okay.

On this phone, you will find
a set of coordinates

that'll lead you to one of the three
potential Clairvoyants I've chosen.

When you're within a mile,

your partner will be granted access
to the candidate's name

and profile on their own phone.

Makes sense?

You know, we haven't officially met.
John Garrett.

I guess lying unconscious on a gurney
really should not count.

How're you feeling?

A lot better, actually.

I've been shot a couple times myself.
Back, shoulder.

Had my throat cut once.

But you know the toughest one?

Thing about a third-degree burn,

the burn itself doesn't hurt at all.
Crazy, right?

The nerve endings get all fried.

But the area around the burn?
That smarts.

Still, gut shot's the worst.

Sir, I know what you did for me.

How you risked your life
to save me. So, thank you.

You got a good team around you.
I just jumped on the bandwagon.

Well, you trained one of them, sir.

Guess it all comes full circle.

Ward's your S.O. I was his.
Turn, turn, turn.

But this S.O. thing goes both ways.

You've had a big impact on him.

He's different than I remember him.

Different how?

Well, the tough thing
about being a specialist is being alone.

A team gives you
a whole new perspective.

Guess it's the difference between
fighting against something

and fighting for something.
Or someone.

Ward's got that now.

Thanks for this.

And, Skye, lose the "sir."

I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, just like you.

What's this?

Say you need to tag
a fleeing vehicle, or a wild monkey,

if it was to get away from you.

These rounds are built
with a micro-receiver,

which enables you to track
your target via satellite.

I've condensed all the blood sample
results into an encrypted file.

- Now, if we just had access...
- Jemma, we have a visitor.

Oh!

May. Hello.

I assume you're talking
about Skye's blood.

There's just so much we don't know.

- The GH-325.
-325.

I mean, we don't know what drug it is,
where it came from.

Yeah, not to mention any potential
side effects, short or long-term.

We're just worried about Skye,
and Agent Coulson, of course.

Have either of them exhibited

any side effects or strange behavior?

- "Strange" is such a subjective term.
- No more than usual.

Because if they have,
or if they do in the future,

feel free to contact me first.
I can help. Okay?

Okay. You're all set.

Hope you paired me with someone
good. Or interesting, at least.

Stop worrying-

You wear your heart
on your sleeve, and your face.

I trust your judgment.

The way you see the world,
it's different than the rest of us.

That's why I want you
to dig deeper into these.

The candidates' psych evaluations?

The Clairvoyant thinks
he can read our minds.

See if you can read his.

We need some insight
into who this person really is.

A weakness.

So, do what you do. Find the exploit.

And stop worrying.

So Garrett says your family's
like the cable version of the Kennedys.

Huh! I doubt he said that.

Fine.
I did my own research.

Had to,
following in golden boy's footsteps.

- There a point to this?
- Just trying to keep things light.

- 'Cause that's what we all need?
- You know, maybe it is.

You wanna keep it light?

- The Clairvoyant almost killed Skye.
- Yeah?

Well, he did kill my partner.
Dan Monroe.

Great guy, had a son.

You know what it's like telling
a 6-year-old

that his dad isn't coming home?

So we find The Clairvoyant,
you might want to stay out of my way.

We all got axes to grind.

We're here to take him in. Not out.

Ask yourself something, Agent Ward.

If Skye hadn't made it,
what would you be thinking right now?

Elijah Fordham, 32,
military background. Here.

Serving 18 life sentences
for a killing spree in the '90s.

Sounds more psycho than psychic.

Are you a Scorpio?

It's just, wondering why our newest
agent paired the two of us together.

Must have thought we were compatible
in some way.

It was random, Blake.

You seem like a Scorpio.

You don't believe in The Clairvoyant,
but you believe in astrology.

I have some theories of my own.

Please tell me we're here
for one of the doctors.

So I dropped down through the skylight,
used up my whole mag,

and hit the final guy right in the chest
with a flare gun.

Boy, you should've seen
the look on his face

when that thing went off.

What? I already told you that one?

- I was there.
- For which part?

- The whole thing.
- Really?

Damn, I must be getting old.

Either that, or I drank a lot more
in my 30s than I remember.

Or both.
You didn't go through the skylight.

I know, but it makes for a better story.

File came in.
Noriko Sato, 19, junior at Ball State.

The co-ed, I remember.
She's got an IQ over 200.

Ran circles around every agent
we sent in to interrogate her.

Gave no indication she was gifted.

- Family's got ties to the Yakuza, though.
- Heads up.

Detour.

Imagine that.

"Thomas Nash.
Injured in a head-on collision."

He's been catatonic
for the past four years.

Great. We're here for a vegetable.

I'll find the director's office,
you get a room number on Nash.

Yes, ma'am.

Nobody home. Odd.

Oh!

Convenient timing.

Think this will make
a good story some day?

Ah! One behind us. You better hope so.

Mr. Peterson. Stop.

You have a son. Ace.

He needs you.

We can still help you, Mike.

Mike Peterson's dead.

May to Hub. Deathlok's here.
Blake's down.

All backup teams, move in.
We have an agent down. Repeat,

Agent Blake is down.

Lucky the med team got to him
when they did.

I wouldn't call anyone
in critical condition "lucky."

Deathlok's more dangerous
than we thought.

Blake fired six shots,
didn't seem to faze him.

Any word on Thomas Nash?

No. He's a ghost.

The facility has him listed as a resident,
but it's all a cover-up.

Nash is probably off fishing
in Bora Bora right now, laughing at us.

And yet Mr. Peterson was waiting
for you and Blake at the facility. Why?

Probably same reason
he came after Garrett.

We're getting too close.
He's trying to take us out.

This shouldn't have happened.

Backup should've been there
alongside Agents Blake and May.

The Clairvoyant would've seen
us coming.

It appears he did anyway.
The plan was flawed from the start.

Come on, Vic, the plan was solid.

We have an agent down
because we weren't prepared...

Blake knew the risks.

Then don't call me Vic.
It's condescending.

Any one of us could've been ambushed.

The point is, Blake's alive.

And we have a suspect. Thomas Nash.

I'm headed inside
to prep the field teams.

Agent Coulson, when can I expect
Agent Simmons for debrief?

- She's getting ready as we speak.
- Good.

If I'm gonna put any more agents
in danger,

I want them to know exactly
what Deathlok is,

and what he's capable of.

Honestly, I don't know how much more
you can tell them.

Who knows what else
they've done to the man?

Or how much man is left at all.

Regardless, S.H.I.E.L.D. sees us
as the resident experts

on the Deathlok Program.

If they want me to stay here
at the Hub, then that's that.

Well, don't you seem awfully chipper

to pick up and leave me
by my lonesome.

- Do I?
- Yes.

And I wonder, could it be because
the Hub's lab facilities

are much more comprehensive
than ours?

In case I'd like to run a molecular
breakdown of Skye's blood?

Yes, brilliant deduction, Dr. Watson.

I've always pictured you as Watson.

Either way, if you're gonna do this,

you're gonna need my help,

at some point,
one way or another, eventually.

I wouldn't go that far.

I'll jerry up an encrypted hardline
so we can stay in touch.

Don't want the rest of the bosses
overhearing what we're saying.

You ready to go?

Agent Triplett.
Are you staying at the Hub as well?

Yeah. Garrett's keeping me here.

Help brief the teams on our most recent
run-in with the cyber-soldier.

- Don't mind the company, do you?
- No. Not at all.

According to Index archives,

Nash has been on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar
for about six years.

Originally a bond trader in Canada,
doing very well for himself.

Then the Canadian government
recruited him

to a secret Department H-type program.

They were looking for people
with psychic abilities.

Specifically, people who could
control human behavior.

- Nash claimed he had a gift.
- Claimed?

According to records,
he couldn't affect a person's behavior,

but he could, on occasion, predict it.

But S.H.I.E.L.D. crossed him off
the Index after his accident

because of his supposed
catatonic state.

Which he recovered from quite nicely.

It was all a lie.

Just to throw S.H.I.E.L.D. off his scent.

You said Blake fired how many rounds?

I heard six. Why?

Because there are only five
missing from this magazine.

And one from here.

These are Fitz's tag rounds.

We can track him.

Skye, check all the sat feeds.
Find that signal.

- On it.
- I'll get us in the air.

Nicely done, Blake.

I want this perimeter sealed.

Two men teams
on every exit.

- Yes, sir.
- Fitz, you got a signal?

94%, sir.
Deathlok must be inside somewhere.

- Possible civilians inside?
- Highly doubtful.

This racetrack's been shut down
for months.

Move out!

Skye, run a back end
from the tactical van.

You, I want you 6 feet
from Skye at all times, weapons hot.

- Ward, it's okay. I'm ready.
- Ward's right.

I feel bad enough you're already back
in the field.

We're not taking any chances
with your safety.

This isn't a surprise party, people.
So you can toss stealth out the window.

Our target's wearing body armor
and has enhanced cybernetics.

Make your shots count. Let's move.

Ringing the bell or knocking?

Knocking, of course.

Clear.

Fitz, you're up.

It's time to hunt, boys.
Let's find us a Deathlok.

Impressive toy.

I prefer the term high-tech hardware.

Skye, you online?

Hang on.

Northwest corridor is getting something.

I'm pulling up a live feed.

I can't confirm it's him.

Initiating multi-spectrum overlay.

What the hell did they do 110 him?

What are you seeing?

It's not just his leg or his eye.
They did stuff to him.

It's all under his skin.

Uh, signal's dead. Retriever's down.

- He knows we're here.
- Fitz, get back to the van. Now!

Contact! Incoming!

Ward, are you okay?

Uh, I got two men down!

- We need a med team!
- Requesting one now.

May, he's coming your way.

Got him!

He just ducked into
the southwest stairwell.

In pursuit.

All teams, he's headed
into the sub-basement.

I do not have a visual.

Fitz, you have a Retriever down here?

On their way.

Easy.

I come in peace.

How about a signal next time?

Fitz, you getting this?

Uh, barely, sir.
It leads down into the sewer system.

That's under
at least 40 feet of concrete.

We'll be blind down there.

Where's that little guy going?

Sir, there's someone else down there.

Copy that.

What the hell?

NASH". Agent Coulson. Agent Garrett.

I surrender.

Forgive me if we don't shake hands.

I don't like to be touched.

Sir, we've got
a lot of wires back here.

Don't touch anything.

We need this room swept
for explosives.

There are no traps here,
Agent Coulson.

You're here because
we are destined to meet.

You're The Clairvoyant?

I'm Thomas Nash.

Mr. Po gave me that other name.

A bit dramatic for my taste.

Eyes open, everybody.
We don't know where Deathlok is,

or who else is down here.

Mr. Peterson is gone.

I cut his feed so you won't find him.

But you had him lead us here. Why?

So I could see you
with my own eyes instead of his.

Now I understand why I couldn't
see you after you died.

Because you yourself could not see.

You were simply a broken man,

who did not know he was broken.

You're one to talk.

Let's pack this freak off to
the Fridge where he belongs.

Agent Garrett. Look at me.

Do you believe you can confine
me any more than this chair?

Can somebody please tell me
how we turn that stupid voice thing off?

I will join Raina in your prison,
Agent Coulson.

But I will see you wherever you go.

Just as I saw you holding

Skye in your arms.

Bleeding.

Dying-.

Knowing it was all your fault.

You're going away.

We're gonna stick you in a little box
where no one will ever hear you again.

I see you're angry.

Head clouded with lies.

You've been betrayed.

And now you fear
what's about to happen.

Nothing's about to happen.

Just more empty threats from you.

No. It is the inevitable.

A force beyond your
comprehension is coming for you.

You and Skye.

She has something we want,

and she will die giving it to us.

I have seen it.

Go to hell.

No matter where I go,
or what you do to me,

I will always...
%GUNSHOT)

What did you do?

Wait, what just happened?

Did Ward just...

Oh, my Lord. I can't believe it.

Bet The Clairvoyant
didn't see that coming.

He's dead.

It's over.

He's a specialist.
Cold blood's a basic requirement.

I know.

Still I didn't think Ward
would just do something like that.

The whole reason I sent him to you
was to knock off the rough edges.

Maybe you did your job too well.

He let his emotions get the best of him.

You want me to escort him
to the Hub for debrief?

No. I wanna talk to him before
he goes in front of the review board.

Understood. I got my orders, then.

Gotta stay on the hunt for Deathlok.

Copy that. Keep me in the loop?

Will do. Take care.

And, Phil, go easy on the kid.

Just got a message from H.Q.

Director Fury's back.
He's waiting for you at the Triskelion.

About damn time.

You can talk to him about
what's been bothering you.

A lot's bothering me.

Thought you were Coulson.

Thanks.

Why'd you do it?

I lost it. I got angry.

He pushed all the right buttons.

Coulson said the mission
was to capture, not to kill.

Think about what The Clairvoyant said.
What he's done.

Think about the Centipede program.

How he experimented on innocent
people, like Mike Peterson.

How he kidnapped
and tortured Coulson.

How he ordered Quinn to shoot you.

And he wasn't gonna stop, Skye,
not until you were...

I wasn't gonna let that happen.

So what happens now?

I face a S.H.I.E.L.D. review board.

Whatever the punishment, I'll take it.
I deserve it.

But I don't regret what I've done.

- You don't?
- No.

Not if it means you're safe.

You and the rest of the team.

Yes!

- Fitz?
- Don't use my name, Jemma!

Why not? I thought you said... Use...
Encrypted line?

You're cutting in and out. Hold on.

What happened... Ward?

Yeah, you said, "Ward."
Took us all by surprise.

Keep talking. Okay?
I'm gonna see if I can clear it up.

No idea...

There's been a great deal of
commotion on this end.

Hang on, now.
I think I found the problem.

Looks like someone else
is tapping the hardline.

Wait, Fitz,
I think something's happening.

There's agents rushing
to the Situation Room.

What?

Jemma?

Jemma, can you hear me?
Oh, bloody hell.

Mind if I talk some stuff
through with you?

Are you busy?

I'm worried.

About Ward?

I know. I can't believe he'd
just kill someone like that.

I'm worried he killed the wrong man.

How do we know it was him?

He never spoke.
The computer spoke for him.

How do we know
he was the one controlling it?

Are you saying Nash could have been
pretending to be The Clairvoyant?

I'm saying Nash could've been a prop.

And now he's dead.

After the attacks led us right to him.

The investigation all wrapped up
in a neat little bow.

I feel like he could still be
out there, right now,

in our heads.

Or in our files.

When you told me
to check into the psych evals,

you said something, you said,
"Read his mind." And it got me thinking.

And Ward said that The Clairvoyant
knew how to push all the right buttons.

Raina did that to me, too.

Did she mention your father's death?

Your psych evaluation
called it a "defining moment."

These aren't just personality tests.

They're surveillance on every agent.
Pictures. Stats.

Where you've been stationed,
who you visit,

where you'd like to eat.

"Dinners at The Richmond."

He's been monitoring us.

Think about it.

The Clairvoyant only knew
you'd be at Quinn's villa...

After I dropped the tracker.

And the only thing
he's had trouble seeing

is what happened to you after you died.

Because Director Fury
wouldn't release that file to anyone.

No.

The Clairvoyant doesn't have abilities.

He has security clearance.

He's an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

- Sir. First off, I wanna say...
- Save it.

I don't want your apologies,
I don't want your excuses.

- I'm not making excuses.
- The only thing I wanna know

is whether you made the call yourself,
or did someone order you to do it?

What?

Don't play dumb, Agent Ward.
Just answer the question.

Did someone order you
to kill The Clairvoyant?

May?

Another encrypted line.

What are you up to, Agent May?

What are you doing here?

Um...

I was just wondering, since we're...

'Cause we're going to the Triskelion,

I thought you would like to...

There's gonna be an aviation team
on the ground.

They could probably recalibrate it.

But I think it should be all right.

- Fitz!
- What?

- I was just looking for you.
- Why? I didn't do anything!

- What?
- What?

I didn't say you did. What did you do?

Well,

I'm not quite sure, actually.

Because,

I was down doing maintenance
in the avionics bay before...

Okay, why would May,

why would May have an unauthorized
encrypted hardline in the cockpit,

complete with a thumb scanner?
That isn't in any of the plane's specs.

- Slow down, an encrypted hardline?
- Yeah.

Dedicated to one receiver.

She's not supposed to have that.
Who is she talking to?

- Cut the line.
- What?

You need to cut the line, right now, Fitz.

Do not let her call out!

Agent Melinda May. Update log 95.

I wasn't put on your plane

so you could make me
a better person, Coulson!

You put me here to make the hard call,
and I made it.

That's not what I asked you,
Agent Ward.

I answered your question.
I wasn't working with anybody.

I take full responsibility
for my own actions.

Then what...

- What?
- We have a problem.

Put it down. Put it down, May!

It's not what you think, Coulson.
It's just an ICER.

This one's not.
It's real, with real bullets.

So you better put yours down
and tell me what the hell's going on.

Right now.

- L...
- Now!

I can't.

You better listen to the man, Agent May.

You have no idea what you're doing.

Maybe not, but I know you're
not fast enough to take us both.

Look,

I can explain everything, but not here.

Why not here?
You have to check with someone first?

Using that encrypted phone
in the cockpit?

Who's on the other end
of that line, May?

I can't say.

That's okay. I think I know.

It makes sense now why Deathlok
put Blake in critical condition,

and left you alive and well.

Why he led us to the track,

only to disappear,
instead of defending his boss.

Why would he do that?

Because that wasn't his boss, was it?
Was it?

- What are you talking about?
- Stop lying to me!

Who do you answer to?
Who's the real Clairvoyant?

What did you do? Where are we going?

I don't know. I didn't do it, Phil!

I don't know what's happening here!
I swear!

If you're not doing this, who is?

When that plane touches down,
take out everyone on board.

Except Agent Coulson.

He's mine.