Black Lightning (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - LaWanda: The Book of Burial - full transcript

[Lynn] You have to stop.

I can't keep letting you
put yourself, or me
through this.

I promise, no more.

[Jefferson] So it's been nine
years since I've even come
close to using my powers.

[Gambi] Do you remember
why you became Black Lightning?

You wanted to
give the people hope.

[Anissa] Look, somebody has
to do something,

because all of this policing
and marching and praying,
it hasn't changed anything.

[Jefferson] It is time
that people know
that Black Lightning...

is back.

[Lynn] Previously on
Black Lightning...



[Anissa] The sink
just crumbled in my hands
like it was nothing.

[Jefferson]
Lynn and I are making
room for a reconciliation.

I need to take
things slow, Jeff.

-The One Hundred
got my little girl.
-LaWanda White.

I want my daughter.

-[grunts]
-[yells]

It is time that people know
that Black Lightning is back.

[choking]

Sister LaWanda was one of us.

A friend...

a mother...

and she most certainly...
was a woman of God.

[man] That's right!

[Reverend Holt] Sister LaWanda
fought the good fight,



and now she's gone.

And all Sister LaWanda did
was try to save her child.

-[whispers] Where's Anissa?
-[shushes]

[grunts]

[panting]

[groaning]

[Reverend Holt]
And The One Hundred
tried to send a message

by killing her!

They wanted us to stay down,
to stay scared,

to have the little bit
of life they gave us.

Well, I'm standing here
tonight to tell you,

that we're gonna send
The One Hundred
back a message...

[congregation] That's right.
That's right.

...by following
Sister LaWanda's example.

So I need 100
God-fearing people
to march with me.

[people agreeing]

I said I need 100
God-fearing people
to march with me!

[people cheering]

So that we can take
back our community,

so that our kids can
live free of the drugs,
and the violence,

and all the damage
that goes from living
in a place

that nobody gives a damn about!

Stand up!

March with me.

Stand up if you
wanna march with me.

Stand up if you
wanna march with...

[grunting]

[panting]

Damn it!

[panting]

It's my breathing.

Okay.

Look, Reverend,
I don't support paying
The One Hundred for anything,

but I get that's where
we are right now.

And I know the police
have to do a lot

-to get the community...
-Amen. Amen. Amen.

Amen, brother.

You see,

we wouldn't have
to pay for protection

if half the police department
didn't have their hands
in The One Hundred's pockets.

Well, I'm not
in The One Hundred's pockets,

and good work
is being done.

Now we may not get there
in the moment,

but we will get there
in the end.

See, we gonna put our trust
in the power of the Almighty,

because we damn sure
can't put our trust in you.

You got that?

Come on, that...
that's not true, Jeremiah,
and you know it.

[Reverend Holt] What,
those crooked cops send you
down here like the overseer?

Put the slaves in check, huh?

While you up in the pulpit
with a $25,000 watch on,

wiping your forehead
with a silk handkerchief,

I'm scraping
young black men's bodies
off the concrete.

-The street is my pulpit.
-Billy. Okay.

I wear work shoes.

What kind of shoes
you wear, Reverend?

All right.

[gasps]

[rumbling]

[panting]

[gasps]

[grunts]

[panting heavily]

[screaming maniacally]

[Reverend Holt] Well, I'm not
gonna call off my protest.

And, quite frankly,
I'm surprised that you,
as a parent and an educator,

would... would try to stop me.

I want to save you
from yourself, Jeremiah.

Though I have
no reason to believe
you'll listen to me.

Freeland has always
listened to you.

When you raced,
now from your perch
at Garfield...

[chuckles]

...they used to call you
Black Jesus.

Yeah, well, maybe
they listened to me

because they believe
in what I'm saying.

No. We listened because
you were one of us.

You were out in those streets
fighting with us.

Now it seems like
the only ones you care about
are the ones in your school,

or the ones in your home.

That's not true, Jeremiah.

Never has been.

Freeland is my home too, man.

Really?

I fight the best way
I know how.

Look, man,

I know you and Henderson
think I'm marching for
my own glory, but I'm not.

I'm tired, man.

If it ain't the police
killing us, we killing us.

And it's time for me...

It's time for us
to take our lives back,

even if it means we have
to be willing to die.

You understand?

[Jefferson] LaWanda
didn't want to die.

Yeah. But she knew
it was possible.

Yet she persisted.

Because Black Lightning
gave her hope.

-Black Lightning?
-Yeah.

See, Black Lightning
made her believe she
could save her daughter.

Yeah, but she failed, Jeremiah.

They killed her.

Yeah. It's no accident
that he came back
after all these years.

That's God's work.

You see,
that gives me hope.

That with
Black Lightning's help,
and with God's help,

we can save this community.

Okay, what if you're wrong,
Reverend?

Hmm?

What if you're wrong
about Black Lightning?

I'm not.

And what I believe
is that he is the answer
to our prayers.

[man rapping]
* Last night I saw a superhero
He was black *

♪ He said
This is for the streets ♪

♪ Black Lightning's back

Heroes inspire people.

The reverend is no exception.

Yeah, I don't wanna
inspire people to
get themselves killed.

Watching hundreds of people
over multiple city blocks.

Uh, what if I'm not ready?

You'll be ready.

I've been able to decrease
the resistance within
the suit's circuitry,

which will allow for a smoother
transfer of power to you.

Also, with this arm,

you should be able
to create a thinner
stream of electricity.

Why would I do that?

You'll be dealing
with a large crowd.

You'll want a targeted strike
with less collateral damage.

Also,
lower voltage requirement,
reduced power drain--

Yeah. Okay, okay.
Let's just test it.

Okay. Here we go.

[jazz music playing]

-[buzzer sounds]
-[Gambi] A thinner stream.

[sighs]

Again.

[Gambi] Come on, Jefferson.

Focus. Again.

[suit arm powering up]

Again. [chuckles]

My grandmother
always told me that

if you don't write
a thank you note,

it's as if the good thing
never happened.

[sighs] This is mine,

for all you lost
over Lala's stupidity.

Unless you want me
to throw that bag
at Black Lightning,

doesn't really solve
your real problem.

Black Lightning is dead.

I killed him my damn self.

Tobias, are you
a church-going man?

No disrespect, Lady Eve,

but my life hasn't exactly
led me down a spiritual path.

Well, I'm going to tell you

that the Good Book
helps folks stay in line.

And then here comes
Black Lightning,

and they think
they don't have to.

Take Reverend Holt,
for instance.

He's planning a march.

A march.

He's gonna lead everybody
to the promised land

and take away
our protection money
when he gets there.

[chuckles]

He can't be that stupid.

[chuckles]

Well,

another pastor realized
the risk in that proposal

and was smart enough
to let me know.

I thank you
for passing that on.

[Lady Eve] Mmm.

What I expect

is for you and that girl
with death in her eyes,

to take care of it.

I don't mind people
believing in God.

They just can't believe
that they can take back
these streets.

Amen, Lady Eve.

[exhales]

And then we can check
into the hotel at 2:00.

[chuckles]

Yo, did you tell your parents
where you were going?

Oh, I haven't yet.
But I will.

You have condoms, right?

[chuckles] Yeah.

-You sure?
-[chuckles]

Right.

-You good?
-Yeah.

I'm good. Uh, it's just...

Just what?

I know you haven't
changed your mind?

What? No. No.
No, no, no, no. I, uh...

J, I lied.

What you mean you lied?

I'm a...

I haven't done it before.

[sighs] Look, I...

I was afraid to tell you.
I mean...

I wanted you to think that
I knew what I was doing, but...

Damn it, I was just trying
to have swag.

Next thing I know,
lies were coming out
of my mouth, and...

[sighs]

I'm sorry.

Really, I am.
I'm... I'm really sorry.

So...

A fine-ass virgin
tells the truth

and risks remaining a virgin?

Khalil, my virgin self
couldn't find you sexier
right now.

[Khalil chuckles]

-[Jennifer chuckles]
-Stop.

[music playing]

Hey.

I'm sorry.
Do you need me
to get out of your way?

It's kind of like
I've moved in.

No. Not at all.

Can I help you
find anything?

No, I'm, uh...

I'm just doing some research
on genetic mutation.

You doing it for school?

No.

Somebody sick?

I hope not.

Well, I hope not too.

Anissa.

Grace.

[chuckles]

What are you reading?

[both laugh]

The Outsiders.

It's not my thing.

You know,
if you're reading about
genetic mutations for fun,

maybe it should be.

I mean, this is nerd bait.

Young folks
with outsized powers
traveling the world,

knocking bad guys
on their asses.

And then there
are the costumes.

Ooh, I do love a costume.

[both chuckle]

Well, I tend bar
at the Ruby-Red Lipstick bar,

and we do cosplay party
on Friday nights.

You dress up as
any superhero you want.

Supergirl.
Looker, if vampires
are more your thing.

I don't really have a thing.

Not yet.

You should come to the party.

I would really like you to.

Okay.

-[school bell ringing]
-Only one squad car
can work the march.

What?

That's almost guaranteeing
that somebody is gonna
get killed.

-Where'd these orders
come from?
-No one will say.

I asked my commander,
and then the chief,

and eventually I tapped out
at the deputy mayor's office

when she wouldn't
return my phone call.

Somebody's setting him up.

Jeff, you got to talk to him.
Try to convince him to cancel,
reschedule, take a vacation...

No, I tried after
you walked out.

He won't do it.
He's... he's been inspired.

About what?

Black Lightning.

[chuckles] Black Lightning.

Like I don't have
enough damn problems.

He's gonna get us all killed.

[school bell rings]

I hope not.

Here's your parade route.

Okay, now, if Henderson
can't change the parade route,
maybe we can.

You know, pick something
that minimizes the chaos,

makes it easier
for Black Lightning
to protect the marchers.

Hasn't the paperwork
already been sent

to the good reverend
and the people that set up
the parade route?

Yes.

So, even if I break
into the PD's computers
and alter it,

there's no guarantee
everyone gets the message.

No, I know. I was thinking
of something a bit more
old-school than that.

What? Shriners on lawn mowers
to lead people the other way?

Close.

I was thinking more like
a handsome Italian gentleman
in coveralls.

Whenever you call me handsome,
I almost always end up dirty.

Well, then you won't
be disappointed by my plan.

Hmm. Anissa's not just late,
she's not coming.

I'm not surprised.

I haven't seen
much of her lately.

Well, we raised her
to be a strong,
independent woman,

and it looks like
we succeeded.

Family dinners will be
an intermittent priority.

Mmm-hmm. Jennifer's
only two years away
from going to college.

-She'll stop coming, too.
-That she will.

I'm wondering...

when she doesn't want
to eat with us either...

will you still show up
to dinner with me?

You know what I want?

I wanna stop
worrying about you.

Too many nights
of seeing you broken
and bleeding, Jeff.

Are we gonna
do that right now?

[footsteps approaching]

Mmm.
Anissa's not coming.

Family dinner is optional?

Uh, not for you.

You're still our little girl.

Well, Anissa
not coming sucks.

Language.

Sorry. This turn of events
is dispiriting,

as I wished for her support
during this repast.

[chuckles]

What do you need
support for?

I've decided
I'm ready to have sex.

[chokes]

What did she say?

We are happy
that you came to us

like we've always
encouraged you to.

So happy.

And glad that
you felt comfortable.

You are so young.

How old were you guys?

Never mind. [laughs]

Your mother and I
loved each other very much.

Mmm-hmm.

Wait.

Are you saying
the first time you both had sex
was with each other?

No...

We think it's very
important that you

have sex with
the right person.

Okay. Noted.

So, um, Saturday's the day.

I'll be out
in the afternoon,

but I'll be home
by curfew.

I don't think either one
of them said more than,
"Pass the salt"

-for the rest of the meal.
-[both chuckle]

It was a little cruel
to spring it during
family dinner.

Well, my plan was
for you to be there,

to help 'em through it. But...

-My bad. I'm sorry.
-[clicks tongue] Mmm-hmm.

Church, family dinner...
Suddenly you're a ghost.

You're okay though, right?

-Nothing bad is happening?
-I am fine.

Good.

Then that means you can
go to the march with me.

Because I've never been to one,
and you're the pro, Harriet.

Mmm... I don't think I wanna
go to the reverend's march.

The girl with
the marching shoes
and the frequent-marchers card

doesn't wanna go
to the march?

[both laughing]

What's going on with you?

I'm just tired of walking
around with a sign, trying to
change people's hearts.

I wanna do more.

Fine, well, don't think
of it as marching.

Think of it as being
with your sister.

Something you've
forgotten how to do.

[Anissa sighs]

Okay.

I'll go with you.

Good.

Now, let's talk
about birth control.

[sighs] This has been
a long night.

Oh, no. No, no, no, no.

[thunder rumbling]

[school bell ringing]

[Lynn] Hey.

Hey.

I thought we should discuss
our epic fail last night.

[laughs]

-My mind went blank.
-I know.

And then it was
downhill from there.

[stammers] I'm glad that
we flamed out together.

[both chuckle]

I always tell people
you're the unflappable parent.

Well, I made an appointment
with Dr. Bass.

I think it's easier if
one of us follows up with her.

Yeah.

Are you sure we're not
being too liberal here?

I mean, my father would say
this is some white-folks mess.

The girl told us
that she is having sex
on Saturday.

Like it was nothing.
If I had done that--

And that is why I will
follow up with Dr. Bass,

because you are flapping.

Look, we asked her
to come to us, and she did.

At least she's not sneaking off
and getting pregnant.

Mmm. Mmm.

Don't worry.

I got you.

What is on your mind,
Lynn Stewart?

You know, I was thinking
since you're going back
to being Black Lightning,

maybe I should take a bigger
role in the girls' lives.

Yeah. Yeah.

I mean,
if Jennifer leaves Freeland
and goes to college,

you won't regret
the extra time.

I wonder if she should
move in with me?

Move?

No.

What if you get hurt, Jeff?

What if she
sees you beaten up?

What is that gonna do
to our little girl?

I don't wanna
talk about this.

Jeff, I'm her mother.
I have a right.

No.

I'll let you know
when we see Dr. Bass.

[footsteps approaching]

[chuckling]

Khalil.

Hey, Mr. Pierce.

Oh, I shaved a tenth
off my split today.

I think it was that new
weight routine you suggested.

Oh, great to hear it.

You know that my, uh,
concern for you extends
beyond the track, right?

Uh, yeah.
Yes, sir, of course.

Good. Good.

How do you shower?

Uh, um...

Uh... Mr. P, I--

You know, you got
your bar of soap...

Well... well, I wash,

use shampoo...

rinse...

Okay.

Then when you get
out of the shower...

Okay.

Well, I don't have a mat
so I step on to my towel
to dry my feet.

[sighs deeply]

So,

feet,

legs,

etcetera.

Yeah. Yeah, that...
that sounds about right.

Hmm.

So the young man

who wants to have sex
with my daughter,

who spends much of his time
in locker rooms,

dries his fungus-covered feet
before he dries
his important parts?

Sir, I--

No, no. I'm asking you,
do you wanna give
my daughter athlete's foot

in places where athlete's feet
should not be?

[stutters] I don't think so.

"I don't think so"?

Son, the answer is "no."

And if you don't know that,
then maybe you and Jennifer
need to slow down.

[sighs]

[upbeat music playing]

[both laughing]

[Anissa] Ooh, okay.

[both laughing]

So, Miss Black Lives Matter
is cheating on me
with an Asian?

-Hey! Watch it!
-[Anissa] Come on. Come on.

I'm not cheating.

Unless dancing in spandex
means anything.

-You look like
an Instagram ho.
-You did not--

-No, I think you two should
talk about this outside.
-Okay.

[exhales sharply]

You gonna be okay?

Yeah, I'm good.

The serial number's
been removed

so you can toss it
at the scene.

Though I suggest
do not leave it covered
with your fingerprints.

Okay.

Is there a problem?

You seem reluctant
to pick it up.

I'm not wearing gloves.

[chuckles]

[man grunts]

You agreed to do this.

Said you wanted to move up
in the organization.

Maybe take Lala's place, right?

Yes. [breathing heavily]

Then I need you
to send a message.

[man shuddering]

These are my streets.
And nobody messes
with my streets.

Stop bleeding on my desk.

[groans]

Thank you.

Another day
and another young man

has been shot and killed
on the streets of Freeland.

His name, Jamal Allen Brown.

And so far, police have not
made any arrests. Residents...

-[Anissa sighs]
-How'd it go?

She took her key back.

I'm sorry.

No. She was right.
We were done.

I just...

So much has been
changing in my life

that I was just
holding on to something
that wasn't working,

just so I had something
to hold on to.

Today, I felt invincible,
you know? And now, I just...

Back to reality.

We're all just playing
at being superheroes.

[protesters shout indistinctly]

It'd be nice, though.

Superpowers.

A way to make the world
a better place, you know,
really change things,

fight the bad guys,

save the good guys.

Saving the world
would be lonely, I think.

You have to keep
your identity secret,

even from the people you love.

Right. Because they'd worry.

[softly] Yeah.

[sighs]

Oh, damn, look at the time.
Okay, I, uh...

I've gotta go get out
of this spandex because
I promised my sister

I would go
to this march with her.

All right, good night,
Miss Black Lives Matter.

Goodnight, Grace.

Our detour sent
the march down here,

and this is the highest point
on our new route.

You'll be able to see
almost the entire march.

Now, if they
just wanna kill Holt,

it'll likely be
a single gunman,

waiting to take him out
at his most public moment.

But that's not
what I'd do.

[chuckles]

I hate it when you play
the most-not-likely-scenario
game.

The One Hundred
doesn't wanna be
in the martyr-making business.

They wanna be
in the fear business.

So, kill marchers.

Exactly.

If you put poison in aspirin,
people stop buying aspirin.

If you make it deadly
to protest--

People will live with
their misery rather than
dying trying to change it.

It's not easy to kill
someone in cold blood.

Your gunman is gonna
look nervous.

A little bit like
you look now.

No, I'm not nervous.

I'm just hoping that God
was listening as hard as I was
when the reverend was talking.

I guess we'll see.

Yeah.

I'll get the suit ready.

[chanting] Freedom!
Freedom! Freedom!

Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!

[Black Lightning] Damn it.
Lynn and the girls
are down there.

[Gambi] There's nothing
you can do about it now.
Stay focused.

[chanting continues]

[car alarm blaring]

[protesters screaming]

[all singing]
* Amazing grace...

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

He's supposed to be dead.

He's supposed to be dead.
Are they singing?

They are singing.

That's why I hate
these church-going Negroes.

Always praying and singing,
singing and praying.

They all wanna go to heaven,
but don't none of them
wanna die.

Kill that electrified freak.

♪ That saved a wretch

♪ Like... ♪

[groans]

[protesters screaming]

Oh, my God!

[protesters exclaiming]

[men] Someone call 911!

Reverend Holt.

It's Dr. Lynn Stewart.

I need to look
at your wound, okay?

It may hurt a bit.

[siren wailing]

[whispers] You need to go.

You're gonna be okay.
It's okay.

[coughs]

Hey, hey, hang in there.
I'm right here.

Please, you have
to sit in the rooms.

It's gonna be okay,
it's gonna be okay. Just...
It's gonna be okay.

[sighs]

Jen, come on,
let's sit down.

Did you hear anything?

Well, I just asked them
for some tissues, I'm sorry.

He's gonna be okay, right?

I, um... I don't know.

Well, they said... that
Rev. Holt was gonna be okay.

Yeah, they did.

Well, maybe...
Maybe Khalil will be okay too.

It could be.
I certainly hope so.

Come here. Come here.

[exhales]

It's okay, okay?
You'll be good.

[newscaster] At least two are
injured but witnesses say
Black Lightning

prevented an even
larger tragedy from occurring.

Man, my partner was like,
"Man, you must be high."

I'm like, "No, my dude,
I seen it with my own eyes."

It was like, he had
his hands up like this.

It was crazy.
He saved us all.

Well, despite public support,
uh, the police department are
not happy with his efforts.

Earlier I spoke to
Inspector Henderson from
the Freeland Police Department.

He's a vigilante.
And violence and murders
are up since he came back.

Whether he is the cause,
or the target,

Black Lightning is not
making things better for
the citizens of Freeland...

When I heard those bullets,
[inhales deeply]

I thought that was it.

I'm glad that you
and the girls are okay.

If I had known you
were thinking about coming,
I would have warned you.

It was a last-minute thing.

Jennifer told me
she was meeting Anissa,

and I thought it would be
some quality family time.

[sighs]

I'm sorry.

No, it's not your fault.
I... I should have
said something.

No, I... I mean
for suggesting Jennifer
come live with me.

I lashed out.

It sounds crazy but
the bullets gave me
some perspective.

Danger is everywhere.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

Hey, I guess, deep down,
I always knew

that Black Lightning
would eventually win.

It doesn't mean I have to
accept my defeat gracefully.

You know, even if we don't
live under the same roof,

you three are my priority,
suit or no suit.

You're a good man,
Jefferson Pierce.

[Gambi] Sorry, Jefferson.

So what's going on with you?

Huh?

Dad says you're never home.

You don't call.
You skipped family dinner.

Do you remember
when you told us
you were a lesbian?

Silent for about a minute,

and then hugs.

[both chuckle]

You know, a mother's love is
a very powerful thing, Anissa.

Mmm-hmm.

I sense something's
weighing heavy on you.

Nothing you could do,
or say would ever make me
stop loving you, ever.

Your silence worries me
more than anything
you could probably say.

[breathes deeply]

Chenoa and I broke up.

I'm sorry to hear that, baby.

[sighs]

But you were not
into that girl the way
she was into you.

So when you're ready
to tell me what's
really going on,

I'm here for you.

Okay?

Yeah, Mom.

Um, the bullet hit his spine.

Khalil might not walk again.

Oh, sweetheart. I'm sorry.

[Anissa] Mmm.

-[reporter] Ma'am, what do
you think of Black Lightning?
- I'm so sorry.

I don't give a damn
what the police say.

Black Lightning is out here
in these street
with these young folks,

trying to stop them
from killing each other.

Black Lightning's like
an angel,

a costumed answer
to all our prayers.