Black Lightning (2018–…): Season 2, Episode 15 - The Book of the Apocalypse: Chapter One: The Alpha - full transcript
Previously on
Black Lightning...
She's here to realize her full
potential for the benefit of all of us.
Wendy could prove to be
more revolutionary
than the tank or
the machine gun.
You let me in right now!
She's powering up too fast!
Can't you all see that?
Grace? Grace.
Are you in here?
You should not have come here.
I already know there's
meta-humans in the clinic.
But no one but me
knows where they are.
Those Leavenworth
subjects turned covert assets?
They're the exact same people
inside those pods we took
out of that clinic basement.
So, who do we wake up first?
Marcus Bishop.
He can control and emit vibrations.
Jeff, the facility is under attack.
How soon before all
my metas are at full strength?
Four days if I push it.
Since I'll be renting these super
freaks out to the highest bidder,
the more there are,
the merrier
my bank account will be.
You're about to be the most powerful
meta-human arms dealer in the world.
I'm gonna make him pay, Khalil.
I'm gonna put
Tobias Whale in the ground.
Revenge is not the right thing,
justice is.
Revenge is justice.
Why won't you let me die?
Because you still have work to do yet.
Freeze!
Wait right there!
Get on the ground, now!
Put
your hands up! Hands up!
Hey! Hey! Hey!
I'm on y'all's side!
Don't shoot me!
Get down on the ground!
You gonna shoot me?
I'm on y'all's side!
What you doin'?
Don't shoot me,
I'm on y'all's side!
I'm tryin' to help you!
Don't shoot!
Please, don't shoot!
Please don't...
I love these potatoes.
Jennifer made them.
And she has promised to help
me prepare dinner twice a week.
Huh?
Well, these are delicious.
Thanks.
Yeah, I bought them...
at that new shop on Williams Street.
I threw them in a pan
and heated them up.
- Sorry I'm late.
- Hey.
Everything okay, honey?
Yeah, I think so.
Look, it's not me, it's a friend, okay?
It'll be fine.
So, a family meeting?
Seems very official.
I just...
thought we needed to talk.
I mean, a lot has happened.
I mean, Khalil had...
A new meta showed up in Freeland
and helped kidnap
the vaccine kids.
Now, look, I know
that you are eager to
just jump into the fight.
And I know that
you are eager to take revenge.
And everything in my fatherly body
wants to tell both of you
to stay out of it,
but your mother
has helped me see
that I need to father
in a different way.
Go Mom.
Your father wants to protect you.
That's a good thing.
But I need to be
able to trust you.
Okay, I need to know that we are
all rowing in the same direction.
So, I've come up with a code,
three rules that we will follow.
Rule number one.
We don't tell anybody
who we are.
Hmm.
Well, that's for
you two blabbermouths.
Mom and I are good
on that front.
Rule number two.
You always have backup.
Gambi counts?
Gambi counts.
Your mother and her best
friend "Shotgun" count.
Hey, but no going it alone doing
anything power-related, okay?
Okay.
Mmm-hmm.
Rule number three,
we don't kill, ever.
Uh-uh, Dad,
Tobias killed Khalil.
And he tried to kill you.
I have not forgotten anything that
Tobias has done to me, believe me.
But killing him won't change
a damn thing.
Okay, no telling folks,
no going all Robin Hood...
I understand those.
This doesn't make sense.
Tobias needs to go.
- You know that. You know it.
- This is not open for discussion.
If either one of you
doesn't go along,
I will tell Gambi to lock up
your suit and throw away the key.
Okay, whoa.
I am a grown woman, so...
I can't... I can't keep you
from wearing a hoodie
and going out stealing money
from gangsters,
but I can keep you
from pretending
that the suit gives you
license to make bad choices.
Do you agree to these rules?
- You mean your rules?
- And?
Don't look at me.
You guys have to figure this out.
Fine.
Could you pass me the potatoes?
Yeah.
Damn it.
- Can I borrow something?
- Yeah.
Okay.
- I need to clean it up.
- I got it. I got it.
Synced & corrected by MaxPayne
== https://subscene.com ==
We're ready.
Then wake them up.
Three,
two,
one.
Calm down, ladies.
Let them up.
Darryl.
Joe.
Rebecca.
Kiss my ass.
Hmm.
I know this is disorienting.
You've been in those
pods for 30 years
and the world has changed.
Who the hell are you?
All you need to know
is that I am Tobias Whale.
Tobias...
Tobias who?
Your new boss.
Now, sit your ass down
while I educate you
on what's about to happen.
Let's get started.
The rest of this
is just too graphic to show.
Put your hands up!
Bystanders say
the young man, affectionately...
known as Cape Guy
in the neighborhood,
was caught in a magnetic storm.
Cape Guy wasn't
trying to hurt nobody.
He was one of those
Green Light babies,
I mean, high as a kite,
wanting to be a superhero.
But all that metal flying around...
I mean, he was more scared
than the police
about everything
that was happening.
A hero and veteran for
his country who suffered from PTSD.
News sources reveal
that his wife believed
that he may have been self-medicating
with the drug Green Light.
And, while we haven't
been able to confirm
that Cape Guy was
a Green Light meta,
it is increasingly clear
that Freeland police are now willing
to shoot first and find out later.
What a shame.
It proves that Freeland
is a dangerous place
for young people with powers.
Did you get any leads
on the kidnapped vaccine kids?
No, the trail has,
as they say, gone cold.
How long can they live
without treatment?
They were stable,
I'm not sure how the move
might have affected them.
I doubt
the kidnappers were careful.
They might all be dead.
Hmm.
That would be a shame, too.
How are they?
Dr. Stewart did a
wonderful job of taking care of them.
They're actually better than
they've ever been before.
Good.
How long until they can be
awakened and join the prison metas?
A week or two.
What then?
My army of metas will make me richer
and more powerful than I ever dreamed.
And I plan to cram my victory
down the throats of everyone
who tried to stand in my way.
Spoken like a true gentleman.
Okay, look, it's a tragic fact,
black men die every day in Freeland.
So, why have you
focused on this one?
Todd Green was near the free clinic
the night it was broken into.
I think the radiation we
found near the break-in site
was from the power supply sustaining
a pod which held a meta-human.
The same meta that showed up
to steal the vaccine kids?
Yes.
You think Todd Green was
involved in the theft?
Unemployed academic?
Not exactly the resume
of a master criminal.
According to his cell phone,
the day he was fired, the kid was
in the neighborhood of Club 100.
You think he was working
for Tobias?
It was just a theory,
until he was found blown up.
And we both know
that's Tobias's MO.
So Tobias has the vaccine kids
and a meta from the free clinic?
Or metas. We don't know
how many there were.
Great. One or worse than one.
Your lead is dead.
How do we find him?
The radiation from
the power supply
sustaining for the pod,
or pods, is very low-level,
so it can't be tracked
by satellite.
But I've installed Geiger
counters around Freeland,
hoping to triangulate
a location.
The pods aren't moving.
Radiation flies with the wind.
Wind speed and direction
will be my measurable elements.
Do I have this on right?
That's for your arm.
Oh.
Okay, got it.
Floating radiation
leading to lethal metas...
Just when I thought being a parent
couldn't get any more stressful.
Jeff,
there isn't a parenting book
for what you and Lynn
are trying to do,
but you're doing
a hell of a job anyway.
Yes, yes, yes.
They gonna add it up
and they gonna eat it down.
Who's that?
No. Not "Who is that,"
"What's that."
Roadkill possum.
You know,
sometimes I try to bring something
back that's particularly pustulent.
Just a little
pungent.
Why?
I don't know.
To push myself,
you know, Latavious.
Just trying to get better
at what I do.
What's on your mind, son?
I thought I was supposed to kill
Jefferson Pierce because he killed Earl,
but, it turns out
that I killed Earl.
There's nothing but pain
for me in this life.
And who do you blame for that?
Tobias Whale.
Tobias Whale.
You know...
he killed Lady Eve, too.
She brought me here
to Blackbird,
taught me how to use my gifts,
and to love...
Love her...
and the work that I do.
But now
there is a hole in my heart...
and it cannot be filled.
Where Tobias goes,
heartache is sure to follow.
That's why I was thinking...
that maybe he's better off dead.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Okay, Jen. I'm going to direct
an electric charge toward the sleeve.
Now, if the material does
what it is supposed to,
it will absorb that charge,
then disperse it,
so that it doesn't add
to your energy load.
Okay.
Now, I can't control the amount
of power that you generate,
so you still need to work
on controlling your emotions,
but I'm hoping this will prevent
anyone else from overloading you.
Sounds like a plan.
Now, if you get
at all uncomfortable,
just signal me,
and I'll shut it down.
- Okay.
- Ready?
You sure she's going to be okay?
I've taken every precaution.
But, if you're worried,
I've got these gloves.
What are those?
They're viscoelastic,
so they absorb energy.
I developed them when you were a
kid, in case you overloaded.
When she was a baby,
I never imagined we'd end up here.
I hear you.
The material's working.
Okay, Jen, you can power down,
I'm gonna let you out.
So you didn't feel anything?
- Nope.
- Awesome.
Okay, when will
the full suit be ready?
Well, not until I finish
the insulation.
Until then, it's probably more
harmful than it is helpful.
But come on, I'll show you how
the whole thing fits together.
Okay.
Why are you bleeding so much?
Dad! You don't want
to see the suit?
No. I'll wait.
I recognize that look.
What?
The look on your face. You are
thinking sappy thoughts, aren't you.
No, I'm not.
What were you thinking about?
Lunch. You pick.
Okay, I'ma go get changed.
Starving.
Do you ever get
a static problem?
You mean with the electricity?
Mmm-hmm.
No.
Good, because I don't want
the powers to mess up my hair.
That's better.
You are getting way too serious.
So, this code...
Yes?
Look, I know you want us to
make good choices, all right.
Somebody throws me shade
at school, do not power up.
There's a cat caught in a tree,
call the fire department.
Freeland gets attacked
by a giant marshmallow...
Uh, s'mores for everyone?
But Tobias, he's a totally
different category, Dad.
Think about it,
all of our problems come from him.
It doesn't matter.
Freeland would be better off
if he were permanently gone.
You don't mean
"permanently gone,"
you mean "dead."
And, it's not about whether
he deserves it,
though the Good Book says it
is not our decision to make.
It also says
"an eye for an eye."
Which is an idea older than
the Bible, Jen.
Hammurabi's Code.
It was meant to limit
vengeance, not justify it.
Khalil died because you put him out front.
Doesn't that matter?
You know, I have had a long time
to think about my powers, Jennifer.
Some days I feel like
I have it all figured out,
but most of the time,
I have no idea...
No idea why God saw fit
to put this burden on me.
The only thing I know for sure
is that those
with the greatest power
should not be able to
decide who lives or dies.
No, that is a path
that can only lead to darkness.
You hear me?
Yeah, Dad, I do.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Oh, she's going to like that.
I hope so.
But more importantly,
when it's finished,
- I hope it will keep her safe.
- Keep her safe?
I'm nothing if not predictable.
What do you need, sweetheart?
So, I've been looking for Grace,
but, Uncle Gambi,
what I'm finding
is raising more questions
than answers.
So, an elderly Asian man
with wicked martial arts skills
almost kicked my ass,
a half-eaten horse is just...
I could have guessed all day
and never gotten to those.
- His eyes. They...
- What about them?
They changed at some point.
It was like he morphed, I guess.
He might be a shapeshifter.
Metas come
in many different forms.
- Is that what it sounds like?
- Yes.
And it could also explain the horse,
if his true form is that of an animal.
Did his eyes look human?
Yeah. Well, I...
I don't know.
If he was a meta,
the real question is,
what did he want with Grace?
You didn't tell her about
your powers, did you?
Because if she told
someone else...
No, no. I definitely didn't.
Sweetheart, if she loves you
the way you say you love her,
she will find her way
back to you.
I've arranged for you to
meet a woman named Perenna.
She's a therapist and a healer.
She's gonna help you
understand your powers
and hopefully be
at peace with them.
Perenna, that's a pretty name.
You'll like her.
Do I have to go to her?
I think, to start off with,
we'll have her come to you.
Okay, good.
Are you nervous?
About going back into Freeland?
It's been 30 years.
Everything I knew is gone.
I'm not nervous,
I'm just sad, I guess.
It feels lonely.
It's hard to think
about going back into a world
that's moved on without you,
especially given
that you have rare gifts,
but you have a choice about
what to do with your powers.
Once you can control them,
you can use them or not.
You'll always be a meta, Wendy,
but that doesn't mean you
can't be a teacher or a doctor.
I can't remember
what I wanted to be.
I'll make sure
you have time to remember.
I'm here for you, okay?
Anything you need.
Look, I know you don't like
working with Agent Odell.
I appreciate that you stay.
Come.
It'll be okay.
Look, I know
it's only a semi-automatic.
I'm sorry, but I ain't never
had much use for guns.
It'll do.
I can understand why you'd
want to be armed, I mean...
Everybody's armed,
but know this,
no gun is more powerful
than you are.
You see, your real weapon,
Latavious,
is that while you can die, you can
always be brought back to life again.
And I know, it'll be painful.
The dying, the returning,
the returning, the dying...
But it'll be worth it.
It will allow you
to do great things.
I don't want to do great things.
I'm tired.
I know.
I just want to rest.
Lala, if you kill Tobias,
you'll feel much better.
Negro, you think this is funny?
I've taken out
an entire village by myself.
I'm not about to practice
fighting with this fool.
I'm no damn dog.
Black Lightning and this banana girl
represent the only metas in Freeland
that have ever gotten the better of me.
As much as I hate them,
right now it seems like
you aren't fit
to kiss the bottom of
their stupid-looking boots.
So, if you can't get yourself
together and show some discipline,
I'm gonna kill your black ass.
This idiot's worth
millions of dollars.
What the hell are you doing?
Saving you.
Suture his neck, please.
Don't worry,
the blade isn't poisoned.
And a little blood loss will teach
him a lesson.
You gonna shoot me?
Get down on the ground!
You gonna shoot me?
Now!
Don't shoot me!
I'm on your side.
I'm trying to help you!
Down!
Hey, Mom.
I just wanted
to make sure you're okay.
Yeah, I mean, the world
is about to blow up
because of Cape Guy.
But, just a normal day
in Freeland, right?
- I'm sure...
- Black Lightning and Thunder
will take care of it. I know.
It's what they do.
We help.
Is there something else,
'cause I really am fine.
I was also gonna ask if
you'd be willing to talk to Wendy.
You mean Wind Girl?
That's not what we call her,
but yes.
About what?
Her wardrobe is 30 years out of date
but Pinterest can help with that.
It's not about clothes.
It's about
how you feel about having...
What?
It's probably not
a conversation for the phone.
Oh. You want me to talk to her
about all the juice and the feelings
that come along
with having the juice.
Yes. She's having
a hard time adjusting.
From one weirdo to another.
You're not a weirdo.
You're the same wonderful, sensitive,
smart, loving person you've always been.
But if you had known
how all this was gonna go,
I bet you would've considered
a more vigorous birth control.
I wouldn't change a thing.
All right, yeah.
I don't have a problem talking to
Windy Wendy, but what about the code?
Rule number one is don't share.
I'm confident we can
figure something out.
Masks and voice synthesizers?
We will go full on
Mission Impossible.
Yeah, all right.
Oh, Mom...
Yeah?
Thank you for saying
that I'm not a weirdo.
I know that's what
you think, but
it's still really nice to hear.
I love you.
Love you.
So, who should we choose?
Marcus is too weak,
thanks to you.
He's an ass anyway.
I like Rebecca,
but I don't think sending a woman
would appeal to your target audience.
Hmm...
Men can be stupid that way.
I vote for Joe.
His powers will look good
on camera, that's for sure.
Joe it is.
What are they doing here?
- Training Wendy.
- No.
She has powers,
but she doesn't know how to use them.
You almost killed her
when you activated her.
- I'll be careful.
- I don't trust you to be anything.
Wendy's been stuck
in a pod for 30 years.
And she's lost everything, except
these powers that she didn't ask for.
And I'm not letting you
anywhere near her
until she can figure out
how to handle that.
Dr. Stewart,
whether she chose them or not,
she has skills
that could be of use...
No!
She is gonna have therapy, okay?
She's gonna finish high school.
She's gonna learn
how to balance a checkbook
or do pottery or whatever
she wants to do.
And then, only then,
can she become one of your soldiers.
Okay.
I hear you.
I'll wait.
A half-eaten horse?
I assumed.
I suppose
it could have been half-rotten.
I know you're upset because you
can't find Grace, and I get it.
It's totally understandable,
but were you stoned
when you went over there?
Tell the truth,
'cause a fighting Asian man and
a half-eaten horse sound crazy.
No, I wasn't stoned.
That's you.
- Yeah...
- That's what I saw. And I...
Hey, your eyes?
They change color?
Uh...
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Oh, no, they're the same.
Thought they were lighter for a second.
Where's Grace Choi?
I got to go.
Where are you going?
Uh-uh, you can't just go.
I tell you everything.
Look, Gambi said something
about a shapeshifter,
someone who could be
a danger to Grace.
Jen, I think
the shapeshifter was Grace.
Grace is a meta.
And she ran because
she thought I would reject her.
If I'd just told her
who I was, then...
Find her. Screw the rules.
Anissa, find her and
tell her who you are.
The world is unfair.
Governments control
the police, the armies,
and those with great dreams
are left on the outside,
lacking the tools to bend
the world to their own will.
So imagine a single soldier
strong as an entire army.
Imagine soldiers trained by
the best military in the world.
I'm sending you a video
from the dark web.
Tobias just unleashed a different
kind of meta on Freeland
for some kind of demonstration.
I think he's
created a mercenary army.
But with weapons no money can buy.
Meta-human soldiers, now available
to those who can afford them.
Where's Fire Boy headed?
He's headed down Wilson Street,
but there's not much over there.
Well, there has to be something.
Tobias wants more chaos,
not less.
Councilman Parker is showing
off a new mall project.
He's giving a speech.
Dignitaries and press.
What did Parker
ever do to Tobias?
I have no idea.
Five hundred jobs is just
for the construction.
Once this project is finished and
these offices are filled with people,
there will be more jobs.
Jobs in the dining industry...
Don't just stand there,
stop him!
Everyone, get out!
Get out!
Woo!
The meta's moving
inside the mall.
You got to give me something.
He's heating up some pipes.
- For what?
- I don't know.
They're gas pipes.
He's super heating them.
Houses in west Freeland
are catching on fire.
West Freeland?
Jen is home alone.
I'm on it.
- You should tell him to retreat.
- No.
You said yourself, Black Lightning
and Thunder are formidable.
One meta might not be enough
to beat them.
- Let him try.
- And if he fails?
Tobias, you can't sell
a dead meta.
Fine.
Joe, get out of there.
Let him go.
Figure out how to cool
these gas lines
and keep Freeland
from burning down.
How long do I have to stay here?
I don't know.
There's a fridge
under the stairs
and you have Internet access.
Yeah, I just have
a ton of math to do,
and this isn't my usual
studying vibe.
Well, your dad and sister are
working to put out those fires
and I don't think
it'll be long until...
Where's Jennifer?
Here. Safe.
Thanks. Any news?
The radiation algorithm
has generated an address.
You know where Tobias is.
I know where the pods are.
We haven't finished
cooling the pipes yet.
All right. Well, I'll go
watch over that location
until you can get there.
- I'm sending you the address.
- Okay.
Jen, stay here
and make yourself comfortable.
- I'll be back as soon as I can.
- Okay.
I wouldn't have said retreat if
I didn't think it was necessary.
I did what you suggested.
No good can come
from rubbing it in my face.
I'm not.
And I appreciate you
meeting with me in private.
I think that Cutter
is a little too possessive.
A long time ago,
I was too proud to retreat,
and I ended up indentured
to a rogue nation
and then the worst people
in the US government.
I've lost everything because I
didn't have the good sense to stop.
That sucks for you.
I'm smarter than you are.
It's not an insult.
It's a fact.
I'm smarter than virtually
everyone I meet.
It's annoying,
but I've learned to live with it.
What I lack is your genius
for survival.
I think we'd make a good team.
I can't kill people
with a whisk,
but my big brain can solve
a whole lot of problems.
So far, I'm not impressed.
And I actually appreciate
Cutter's possessiveness.
We had to open a hole in the gas
line to release the pressure,
the gas company
is on the way to fix it.
Shouldn't have any more fires
downstream.
Have you seen anything?
Nothing.
Okay, I'm on my way.
Where is Tobias?
Who are you?
It doesn't matter.
How did you get in here?
Where's Tobias?
He's, uh...
Death is knocking,
but ain't nobody home.
I can't really die, sweetheart.
How about you?
All the time I put into this,
and that Black Lightning
and banana girl
somehow show up and ruin...
For a guy so focused
on getting rich,
you are very cavalier
with your assets.
Only thing worse than a loud-mouthed
Negro is a loud-mouthed white woman.
Todd would still be with us
if he'd kept his mouth shut.
I suggest you keep yours shut.
- Someone's here looking for you.
- Whoever it is, kill him.
Tried. Didn't work. Let's go.
Rebecca, get everyone
to the rendezvous spot.
I checked.
Your neighborhood is now safe.
Thank you.
Freeland's lucky to have them.
- Who?
- Black Lightning and Thunder.
Don't you agree?
Yes, they're...
They're quite something.
Hmm...
Have a good night.
Tobias just exited the building.
Can you hold them?
- Oh, no.
- What is it?
It's Jen. She's here...
She's wearing her suit.
It's not ready.
Damn!
- What the hell is that?
- Don't know, don't care.
You can't get away.
I will find you, and I'll...
I'll kill...
Black Lightning...
She's here to realize her full
potential for the benefit of all of us.
Wendy could prove to be
more revolutionary
than the tank or
the machine gun.
You let me in right now!
She's powering up too fast!
Can't you all see that?
Grace? Grace.
Are you in here?
You should not have come here.
I already know there's
meta-humans in the clinic.
But no one but me
knows where they are.
Those Leavenworth
subjects turned covert assets?
They're the exact same people
inside those pods we took
out of that clinic basement.
So, who do we wake up first?
Marcus Bishop.
He can control and emit vibrations.
Jeff, the facility is under attack.
How soon before all
my metas are at full strength?
Four days if I push it.
Since I'll be renting these super
freaks out to the highest bidder,
the more there are,
the merrier
my bank account will be.
You're about to be the most powerful
meta-human arms dealer in the world.
I'm gonna make him pay, Khalil.
I'm gonna put
Tobias Whale in the ground.
Revenge is not the right thing,
justice is.
Revenge is justice.
Why won't you let me die?
Because you still have work to do yet.
Freeze!
Wait right there!
Get on the ground, now!
Put
your hands up! Hands up!
Hey! Hey! Hey!
I'm on y'all's side!
Don't shoot me!
Get down on the ground!
You gonna shoot me?
I'm on y'all's side!
What you doin'?
Don't shoot me,
I'm on y'all's side!
I'm tryin' to help you!
Don't shoot!
Please, don't shoot!
Please don't...
I love these potatoes.
Jennifer made them.
And she has promised to help
me prepare dinner twice a week.
Huh?
Well, these are delicious.
Thanks.
Yeah, I bought them...
at that new shop on Williams Street.
I threw them in a pan
and heated them up.
- Sorry I'm late.
- Hey.
Everything okay, honey?
Yeah, I think so.
Look, it's not me, it's a friend, okay?
It'll be fine.
So, a family meeting?
Seems very official.
I just...
thought we needed to talk.
I mean, a lot has happened.
I mean, Khalil had...
A new meta showed up in Freeland
and helped kidnap
the vaccine kids.
Now, look, I know
that you are eager to
just jump into the fight.
And I know that
you are eager to take revenge.
And everything in my fatherly body
wants to tell both of you
to stay out of it,
but your mother
has helped me see
that I need to father
in a different way.
Go Mom.
Your father wants to protect you.
That's a good thing.
But I need to be
able to trust you.
Okay, I need to know that we are
all rowing in the same direction.
So, I've come up with a code,
three rules that we will follow.
Rule number one.
We don't tell anybody
who we are.
Hmm.
Well, that's for
you two blabbermouths.
Mom and I are good
on that front.
Rule number two.
You always have backup.
Gambi counts?
Gambi counts.
Your mother and her best
friend "Shotgun" count.
Hey, but no going it alone doing
anything power-related, okay?
Okay.
Mmm-hmm.
Rule number three,
we don't kill, ever.
Uh-uh, Dad,
Tobias killed Khalil.
And he tried to kill you.
I have not forgotten anything that
Tobias has done to me, believe me.
But killing him won't change
a damn thing.
Okay, no telling folks,
no going all Robin Hood...
I understand those.
This doesn't make sense.
Tobias needs to go.
- You know that. You know it.
- This is not open for discussion.
If either one of you
doesn't go along,
I will tell Gambi to lock up
your suit and throw away the key.
Okay, whoa.
I am a grown woman, so...
I can't... I can't keep you
from wearing a hoodie
and going out stealing money
from gangsters,
but I can keep you
from pretending
that the suit gives you
license to make bad choices.
Do you agree to these rules?
- You mean your rules?
- And?
Don't look at me.
You guys have to figure this out.
Fine.
Could you pass me the potatoes?
Yeah.
Damn it.
- Can I borrow something?
- Yeah.
Okay.
- I need to clean it up.
- I got it. I got it.
Synced & corrected by MaxPayne
== https://subscene.com ==
We're ready.
Then wake them up.
Three,
two,
one.
Calm down, ladies.
Let them up.
Darryl.
Joe.
Rebecca.
Kiss my ass.
Hmm.
I know this is disorienting.
You've been in those
pods for 30 years
and the world has changed.
Who the hell are you?
All you need to know
is that I am Tobias Whale.
Tobias...
Tobias who?
Your new boss.
Now, sit your ass down
while I educate you
on what's about to happen.
Let's get started.
The rest of this
is just too graphic to show.
Put your hands up!
Bystanders say
the young man, affectionately...
known as Cape Guy
in the neighborhood,
was caught in a magnetic storm.
Cape Guy wasn't
trying to hurt nobody.
He was one of those
Green Light babies,
I mean, high as a kite,
wanting to be a superhero.
But all that metal flying around...
I mean, he was more scared
than the police
about everything
that was happening.
A hero and veteran for
his country who suffered from PTSD.
News sources reveal
that his wife believed
that he may have been self-medicating
with the drug Green Light.
And, while we haven't
been able to confirm
that Cape Guy was
a Green Light meta,
it is increasingly clear
that Freeland police are now willing
to shoot first and find out later.
What a shame.
It proves that Freeland
is a dangerous place
for young people with powers.
Did you get any leads
on the kidnapped vaccine kids?
No, the trail has,
as they say, gone cold.
How long can they live
without treatment?
They were stable,
I'm not sure how the move
might have affected them.
I doubt
the kidnappers were careful.
They might all be dead.
Hmm.
That would be a shame, too.
How are they?
Dr. Stewart did a
wonderful job of taking care of them.
They're actually better than
they've ever been before.
Good.
How long until they can be
awakened and join the prison metas?
A week or two.
What then?
My army of metas will make me richer
and more powerful than I ever dreamed.
And I plan to cram my victory
down the throats of everyone
who tried to stand in my way.
Spoken like a true gentleman.
Okay, look, it's a tragic fact,
black men die every day in Freeland.
So, why have you
focused on this one?
Todd Green was near the free clinic
the night it was broken into.
I think the radiation we
found near the break-in site
was from the power supply sustaining
a pod which held a meta-human.
The same meta that showed up
to steal the vaccine kids?
Yes.
You think Todd Green was
involved in the theft?
Unemployed academic?
Not exactly the resume
of a master criminal.
According to his cell phone,
the day he was fired, the kid was
in the neighborhood of Club 100.
You think he was working
for Tobias?
It was just a theory,
until he was found blown up.
And we both know
that's Tobias's MO.
So Tobias has the vaccine kids
and a meta from the free clinic?
Or metas. We don't know
how many there were.
Great. One or worse than one.
Your lead is dead.
How do we find him?
The radiation from
the power supply
sustaining for the pod,
or pods, is very low-level,
so it can't be tracked
by satellite.
But I've installed Geiger
counters around Freeland,
hoping to triangulate
a location.
The pods aren't moving.
Radiation flies with the wind.
Wind speed and direction
will be my measurable elements.
Do I have this on right?
That's for your arm.
Oh.
Okay, got it.
Floating radiation
leading to lethal metas...
Just when I thought being a parent
couldn't get any more stressful.
Jeff,
there isn't a parenting book
for what you and Lynn
are trying to do,
but you're doing
a hell of a job anyway.
Yes, yes, yes.
They gonna add it up
and they gonna eat it down.
Who's that?
No. Not "Who is that,"
"What's that."
Roadkill possum.
You know,
sometimes I try to bring something
back that's particularly pustulent.
Just a little
pungent.
Why?
I don't know.
To push myself,
you know, Latavious.
Just trying to get better
at what I do.
What's on your mind, son?
I thought I was supposed to kill
Jefferson Pierce because he killed Earl,
but, it turns out
that I killed Earl.
There's nothing but pain
for me in this life.
And who do you blame for that?
Tobias Whale.
Tobias Whale.
You know...
he killed Lady Eve, too.
She brought me here
to Blackbird,
taught me how to use my gifts,
and to love...
Love her...
and the work that I do.
But now
there is a hole in my heart...
and it cannot be filled.
Where Tobias goes,
heartache is sure to follow.
That's why I was thinking...
that maybe he's better off dead.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Okay, Jen. I'm going to direct
an electric charge toward the sleeve.
Now, if the material does
what it is supposed to,
it will absorb that charge,
then disperse it,
so that it doesn't add
to your energy load.
Okay.
Now, I can't control the amount
of power that you generate,
so you still need to work
on controlling your emotions,
but I'm hoping this will prevent
anyone else from overloading you.
Sounds like a plan.
Now, if you get
at all uncomfortable,
just signal me,
and I'll shut it down.
- Okay.
- Ready?
You sure she's going to be okay?
I've taken every precaution.
But, if you're worried,
I've got these gloves.
What are those?
They're viscoelastic,
so they absorb energy.
I developed them when you were a
kid, in case you overloaded.
When she was a baby,
I never imagined we'd end up here.
I hear you.
The material's working.
Okay, Jen, you can power down,
I'm gonna let you out.
So you didn't feel anything?
- Nope.
- Awesome.
Okay, when will
the full suit be ready?
Well, not until I finish
the insulation.
Until then, it's probably more
harmful than it is helpful.
But come on, I'll show you how
the whole thing fits together.
Okay.
Why are you bleeding so much?
Dad! You don't want
to see the suit?
No. I'll wait.
I recognize that look.
What?
The look on your face. You are
thinking sappy thoughts, aren't you.
No, I'm not.
What were you thinking about?
Lunch. You pick.
Okay, I'ma go get changed.
Starving.
Do you ever get
a static problem?
You mean with the electricity?
Mmm-hmm.
No.
Good, because I don't want
the powers to mess up my hair.
That's better.
You are getting way too serious.
So, this code...
Yes?
Look, I know you want us to
make good choices, all right.
Somebody throws me shade
at school, do not power up.
There's a cat caught in a tree,
call the fire department.
Freeland gets attacked
by a giant marshmallow...
Uh, s'mores for everyone?
But Tobias, he's a totally
different category, Dad.
Think about it,
all of our problems come from him.
It doesn't matter.
Freeland would be better off
if he were permanently gone.
You don't mean
"permanently gone,"
you mean "dead."
And, it's not about whether
he deserves it,
though the Good Book says it
is not our decision to make.
It also says
"an eye for an eye."
Which is an idea older than
the Bible, Jen.
Hammurabi's Code.
It was meant to limit
vengeance, not justify it.
Khalil died because you put him out front.
Doesn't that matter?
You know, I have had a long time
to think about my powers, Jennifer.
Some days I feel like
I have it all figured out,
but most of the time,
I have no idea...
No idea why God saw fit
to put this burden on me.
The only thing I know for sure
is that those
with the greatest power
should not be able to
decide who lives or dies.
No, that is a path
that can only lead to darkness.
You hear me?
Yeah, Dad, I do.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Oh, she's going to like that.
I hope so.
But more importantly,
when it's finished,
- I hope it will keep her safe.
- Keep her safe?
I'm nothing if not predictable.
What do you need, sweetheart?
So, I've been looking for Grace,
but, Uncle Gambi,
what I'm finding
is raising more questions
than answers.
So, an elderly Asian man
with wicked martial arts skills
almost kicked my ass,
a half-eaten horse is just...
I could have guessed all day
and never gotten to those.
- His eyes. They...
- What about them?
They changed at some point.
It was like he morphed, I guess.
He might be a shapeshifter.
Metas come
in many different forms.
- Is that what it sounds like?
- Yes.
And it could also explain the horse,
if his true form is that of an animal.
Did his eyes look human?
Yeah. Well, I...
I don't know.
If he was a meta,
the real question is,
what did he want with Grace?
You didn't tell her about
your powers, did you?
Because if she told
someone else...
No, no. I definitely didn't.
Sweetheart, if she loves you
the way you say you love her,
she will find her way
back to you.
I've arranged for you to
meet a woman named Perenna.
She's a therapist and a healer.
She's gonna help you
understand your powers
and hopefully be
at peace with them.
Perenna, that's a pretty name.
You'll like her.
Do I have to go to her?
I think, to start off with,
we'll have her come to you.
Okay, good.
Are you nervous?
About going back into Freeland?
It's been 30 years.
Everything I knew is gone.
I'm not nervous,
I'm just sad, I guess.
It feels lonely.
It's hard to think
about going back into a world
that's moved on without you,
especially given
that you have rare gifts,
but you have a choice about
what to do with your powers.
Once you can control them,
you can use them or not.
You'll always be a meta, Wendy,
but that doesn't mean you
can't be a teacher or a doctor.
I can't remember
what I wanted to be.
I'll make sure
you have time to remember.
I'm here for you, okay?
Anything you need.
Look, I know you don't like
working with Agent Odell.
I appreciate that you stay.
Come.
It'll be okay.
Look, I know
it's only a semi-automatic.
I'm sorry, but I ain't never
had much use for guns.
It'll do.
I can understand why you'd
want to be armed, I mean...
Everybody's armed,
but know this,
no gun is more powerful
than you are.
You see, your real weapon,
Latavious,
is that while you can die, you can
always be brought back to life again.
And I know, it'll be painful.
The dying, the returning,
the returning, the dying...
But it'll be worth it.
It will allow you
to do great things.
I don't want to do great things.
I'm tired.
I know.
I just want to rest.
Lala, if you kill Tobias,
you'll feel much better.
Negro, you think this is funny?
I've taken out
an entire village by myself.
I'm not about to practice
fighting with this fool.
I'm no damn dog.
Black Lightning and this banana girl
represent the only metas in Freeland
that have ever gotten the better of me.
As much as I hate them,
right now it seems like
you aren't fit
to kiss the bottom of
their stupid-looking boots.
So, if you can't get yourself
together and show some discipline,
I'm gonna kill your black ass.
This idiot's worth
millions of dollars.
What the hell are you doing?
Saving you.
Suture his neck, please.
Don't worry,
the blade isn't poisoned.
And a little blood loss will teach
him a lesson.
You gonna shoot me?
Get down on the ground!
You gonna shoot me?
Now!
Don't shoot me!
I'm on your side.
I'm trying to help you!
Down!
Hey, Mom.
I just wanted
to make sure you're okay.
Yeah, I mean, the world
is about to blow up
because of Cape Guy.
But, just a normal day
in Freeland, right?
- I'm sure...
- Black Lightning and Thunder
will take care of it. I know.
It's what they do.
We help.
Is there something else,
'cause I really am fine.
I was also gonna ask if
you'd be willing to talk to Wendy.
You mean Wind Girl?
That's not what we call her,
but yes.
About what?
Her wardrobe is 30 years out of date
but Pinterest can help with that.
It's not about clothes.
It's about
how you feel about having...
What?
It's probably not
a conversation for the phone.
Oh. You want me to talk to her
about all the juice and the feelings
that come along
with having the juice.
Yes. She's having
a hard time adjusting.
From one weirdo to another.
You're not a weirdo.
You're the same wonderful, sensitive,
smart, loving person you've always been.
But if you had known
how all this was gonna go,
I bet you would've considered
a more vigorous birth control.
I wouldn't change a thing.
All right, yeah.
I don't have a problem talking to
Windy Wendy, but what about the code?
Rule number one is don't share.
I'm confident we can
figure something out.
Masks and voice synthesizers?
We will go full on
Mission Impossible.
Yeah, all right.
Oh, Mom...
Yeah?
Thank you for saying
that I'm not a weirdo.
I know that's what
you think, but
it's still really nice to hear.
I love you.
Love you.
So, who should we choose?
Marcus is too weak,
thanks to you.
He's an ass anyway.
I like Rebecca,
but I don't think sending a woman
would appeal to your target audience.
Hmm...
Men can be stupid that way.
I vote for Joe.
His powers will look good
on camera, that's for sure.
Joe it is.
What are they doing here?
- Training Wendy.
- No.
She has powers,
but she doesn't know how to use them.
You almost killed her
when you activated her.
- I'll be careful.
- I don't trust you to be anything.
Wendy's been stuck
in a pod for 30 years.
And she's lost everything, except
these powers that she didn't ask for.
And I'm not letting you
anywhere near her
until she can figure out
how to handle that.
Dr. Stewart,
whether she chose them or not,
she has skills
that could be of use...
No!
She is gonna have therapy, okay?
She's gonna finish high school.
She's gonna learn
how to balance a checkbook
or do pottery or whatever
she wants to do.
And then, only then,
can she become one of your soldiers.
Okay.
I hear you.
I'll wait.
A half-eaten horse?
I assumed.
I suppose
it could have been half-rotten.
I know you're upset because you
can't find Grace, and I get it.
It's totally understandable,
but were you stoned
when you went over there?
Tell the truth,
'cause a fighting Asian man and
a half-eaten horse sound crazy.
No, I wasn't stoned.
That's you.
- Yeah...
- That's what I saw. And I...
Hey, your eyes?
They change color?
Uh...
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Oh, no, they're the same.
Thought they were lighter for a second.
Where's Grace Choi?
I got to go.
Where are you going?
Uh-uh, you can't just go.
I tell you everything.
Look, Gambi said something
about a shapeshifter,
someone who could be
a danger to Grace.
Jen, I think
the shapeshifter was Grace.
Grace is a meta.
And she ran because
she thought I would reject her.
If I'd just told her
who I was, then...
Find her. Screw the rules.
Anissa, find her and
tell her who you are.
The world is unfair.
Governments control
the police, the armies,
and those with great dreams
are left on the outside,
lacking the tools to bend
the world to their own will.
So imagine a single soldier
strong as an entire army.
Imagine soldiers trained by
the best military in the world.
I'm sending you a video
from the dark web.
Tobias just unleashed a different
kind of meta on Freeland
for some kind of demonstration.
I think he's
created a mercenary army.
But with weapons no money can buy.
Meta-human soldiers, now available
to those who can afford them.
Where's Fire Boy headed?
He's headed down Wilson Street,
but there's not much over there.
Well, there has to be something.
Tobias wants more chaos,
not less.
Councilman Parker is showing
off a new mall project.
He's giving a speech.
Dignitaries and press.
What did Parker
ever do to Tobias?
I have no idea.
Five hundred jobs is just
for the construction.
Once this project is finished and
these offices are filled with people,
there will be more jobs.
Jobs in the dining industry...
Don't just stand there,
stop him!
Everyone, get out!
Get out!
Woo!
The meta's moving
inside the mall.
You got to give me something.
He's heating up some pipes.
- For what?
- I don't know.
They're gas pipes.
He's super heating them.
Houses in west Freeland
are catching on fire.
West Freeland?
Jen is home alone.
I'm on it.
- You should tell him to retreat.
- No.
You said yourself, Black Lightning
and Thunder are formidable.
One meta might not be enough
to beat them.
- Let him try.
- And if he fails?
Tobias, you can't sell
a dead meta.
Fine.
Joe, get out of there.
Let him go.
Figure out how to cool
these gas lines
and keep Freeland
from burning down.
How long do I have to stay here?
I don't know.
There's a fridge
under the stairs
and you have Internet access.
Yeah, I just have
a ton of math to do,
and this isn't my usual
studying vibe.
Well, your dad and sister are
working to put out those fires
and I don't think
it'll be long until...
Where's Jennifer?
Here. Safe.
Thanks. Any news?
The radiation algorithm
has generated an address.
You know where Tobias is.
I know where the pods are.
We haven't finished
cooling the pipes yet.
All right. Well, I'll go
watch over that location
until you can get there.
- I'm sending you the address.
- Okay.
Jen, stay here
and make yourself comfortable.
- I'll be back as soon as I can.
- Okay.
I wouldn't have said retreat if
I didn't think it was necessary.
I did what you suggested.
No good can come
from rubbing it in my face.
I'm not.
And I appreciate you
meeting with me in private.
I think that Cutter
is a little too possessive.
A long time ago,
I was too proud to retreat,
and I ended up indentured
to a rogue nation
and then the worst people
in the US government.
I've lost everything because I
didn't have the good sense to stop.
That sucks for you.
I'm smarter than you are.
It's not an insult.
It's a fact.
I'm smarter than virtually
everyone I meet.
It's annoying,
but I've learned to live with it.
What I lack is your genius
for survival.
I think we'd make a good team.
I can't kill people
with a whisk,
but my big brain can solve
a whole lot of problems.
So far, I'm not impressed.
And I actually appreciate
Cutter's possessiveness.
We had to open a hole in the gas
line to release the pressure,
the gas company
is on the way to fix it.
Shouldn't have any more fires
downstream.
Have you seen anything?
Nothing.
Okay, I'm on my way.
Where is Tobias?
Who are you?
It doesn't matter.
How did you get in here?
Where's Tobias?
He's, uh...
Death is knocking,
but ain't nobody home.
I can't really die, sweetheart.
How about you?
All the time I put into this,
and that Black Lightning
and banana girl
somehow show up and ruin...
For a guy so focused
on getting rich,
you are very cavalier
with your assets.
Only thing worse than a loud-mouthed
Negro is a loud-mouthed white woman.
Todd would still be with us
if he'd kept his mouth shut.
I suggest you keep yours shut.
- Someone's here looking for you.
- Whoever it is, kill him.
Tried. Didn't work. Let's go.
Rebecca, get everyone
to the rendezvous spot.
I checked.
Your neighborhood is now safe.
Thank you.
Freeland's lucky to have them.
- Who?
- Black Lightning and Thunder.
Don't you agree?
Yes, they're...
They're quite something.
Hmm...
Have a good night.
Tobias just exited the building.
Can you hold them?
- Oh, no.
- What is it?
It's Jen. She's here...
She's wearing her suit.
It's not ready.
Damn!
- What the hell is that?
- Don't know, don't care.
You can't get away.
I will find you, and I'll...
I'll kill...