Black Lightning (2018–…): Season 3, Episode 12 - The Book of Markovia: Chapter Three: Motherless ID - full transcript

[BLACK LIGHTNING] Previously on
Black Lightning...

The Markovians want to capture
or kill as many metas as possible.

This occupation won't end until
they stabilize the meta gene itself.

And once she does, we will
acquire that information

and use it to stabilize
our own army of metas.

They need Tobias for the cure.

I'll get him out.

I'm with you.

[LYNN] He should be here by now.

You're not that smart
after all. [GRUNTS]

Always so damn tricky.



Outstanding.

[SPEAKING OTHER LANGUAGE] _

I'm rescinding the immunity
for the Pierce family.

Kill the Pierces.

[JENNIFER] Khalil?

Jennifer Pierce, you
are a pain in the ass.

Khalil, stop.

Khalil, are you okay?

He's still alive.

- [TC] Who's Jen?
- That's me.

He loves you.

["CRAZY" BALLAD PLAYING]

Dr. Helga Jace.

Scientific Log.



Day 97 of Markovian captivity.

An old colleague of mine,

Dr. Lynn Stewart, will be arriving soon.

Colonel Mosin wants her to create

the meta stabilization cure for Markovia.

Unfortunately, if Dr.
Stewart is successful,

my usefulness to Mosin
will vanish and I'll be...

Dead.

But to keep things light and cheery,

and since Dr. Stewart will be reluctant

to share her formula,

I'll be forced to engage

in various bonding
rituals to gain her trust.

Human connection is
such a puzzling subject,

so I did my research

and I created this handy checklist.

I am very confident that Dr. St...

Oh, correction.

...Lynn and I

are destined to be besties.

- Bitch! I'm going to kill you this time!
- [GRUNTS]

You're the reason they brought me here.

- [SCREAMS]
- [GRUNTS]

I had nothing to do with it.

[SCREAMS]

[BOTH SCREAMING AND GRUNTING]

- You lying little bitch!
- Surely you can see I am also a prisoner here.

I'm not on the Markovian's side.

In fact, I've been trying to help you.

Didn't you get my message?

- Shut up.
- I knew it.

Because of the data I
embedded in Cyclotronic,

you were able to create the
meta stabilization formula.

Your message contained a virus
that killed several metas.

A minor oversight.

You just remember who you have to thank

for creating the greatest
medical breakthrough

in the history of mankind.

Me!

You are quite welcome, Dr. Stewar...

I mean Lynn.

- [BEEPING]
- [ELECTRIC BUZZING]

[GROANING IN PAIN]

Dr. Stewart, I am Colonel Yuri Mosin.

I know that you have developed

a meta stabilization serum in America.

Now that you are a guest of Markovia,

you will prepare it for us here.

I don't know what you're
talking about. There's...

- [BEEPS]
- [CRIES OUT IN PAIN]

We both know that you are lying,

but that is to be expected

from someone who is a drug addict.

What?

I know that you have heard
horrible things about Markovians.

But Odell is the devil on this Earth.

You think it was your
idea to try Green Light?

Odell conditioned you.

The ASA sprayed your wine
glass with Green Light

and they put subliminal
messages on your tablet

so that you would get hooked.

You're lying!

I had human intelligence inside the ASA.

Perhaps you know Nurse Allen.

I need your brain in optimum condition.

Who the hell are you?

And what do you mean he told you
he loves me? He's unconscious.

[STAMMERING] I... I... I ta...

Spit it out!

Easy, Jen. Easy.

This is TC.

He's a meta-human who can
communicate with machines.

Khalil is not a machine.

He kinda is.

He does have a quantum
chip in his brain.

- Super advanced...
- [SIGHS]

If you don't watch what
you say, I'm really gonna...

Jen.

Relax.

You all want to give up on Khalil,

but I'm telling you he's still in there.

We don't know that for sure.

Your mother thought the same thing.

She's been trying to save Khalil
ever since we found him in the Pit.

Hold up. Mom knew, too?

So everybody in my family

knew Khalil was alive but me.

[CHUCKLES]

Okay.

So there's a chip in him.
Why don't we just take it out?

You can't.

The chip is connected to Khalil's brain.

Removing it would kill him.

[SIGHS]

Come on, you look like
you're about to pass out.

Let's go get some air.

No, Anissa, leave me alone.

If we can't remove the
chip, what else can we do?

I'm not sure yet.

It's like TC said, the chip is
a complex piece of technology.

So TC is gonna need to use his powers

to go inside and see
what we're dealing with.

Look, I'm sorry I
snapped at you, all right.

My entire family covered this up,

so it's a lot to process.

My bad for almost lighting you up.

Go ahead, do your thing.

[SIGHS SOFTLY]

So now there are two
outsiders in the sanctum.

Are you sure about this?

I don't know much about
the kid with long hair,

but TC's solid.

You think TC's powers can help Khalil?

If Jen has to lose that
boy all over again...

I think if anyone can help him, he can.

[CELL PHONE BUZZES]

_

Your mother needs our help. We gotta go.

What's wrong?

I can't go into it
now, we just gotta go.

Lynn?

Lynn, I got your message.

Mom.

Mom.

[MAN] I sent the message.

My name is Sergeant Gardner Grayle.

Lynn's been kidnapped by the Markovians.

You did what?

Now why would you break
Tobias out of the Pit?

Lynn said it was the
only way to stop the ASA

from weaponizing those kids.

That's the craziest
thing I've ever heard.

Look, I don't quite understand
the science mumbo jumbo,

but there is a substance
that Tobias' body produces

that is key to making
the stabilization serum.

So you're saying, without
Tobias, there is...

ASA's plan is dead in the water.

Hmm.

And why should we trust you?

You seem to be playing both sides.

I know who you both are.

You're two powerful meta-humans

that could squash me like a
bug without breaking a sweat.

It's a huge risk for me to be here.

But that's how far I'm willing to go

to set things right for Lynn,

for all those kids,

and for Freeland.

Well, lucky for you, Sergeant Grayle,

I've always believed in second chances.

All right, look, how
do we get my mom back?

Does the ASA know where the
Markovians are keeping Lynn?

Major Grey has the best people on it.

Since Markovia has meta-humans,

I expect Major Grey will
want Black Lightning's help

in reacquiring Lynn.

She will need to make
that request in person

at a place of Black
Lightning's choosing.

Understood.

I'll see what I can do to arrange it.

I think it's a trap.

Yup.

Okay, look, Anissa...

[SIGHS]

Something else you need
to know about your mom.

I always say, you can't trust a
big lip, barrel chest, nappy headed,

bug eyed, slue-footed negro
as far as you can throw him.

You know...

I can't stand a self-hating black man.

But then again,

you ain't that black.

[GRUNTS IN PAIN]

[BREATHES SHAKILY]

You should just take the pill.

How long since your last fix?

It doesn't matter.

Nothing does.

You know what would be nice, my friend?

If before your withdrawal
symptoms begin to incapacitate you

and you begin drooling on the floor,

would you be so kind
as to share the formula?

You have something to take notes?

The formula is one cup flour...

One egg...

- Half cup of brown sugar.
- What is this?

[LAUGHING]

My aunt's peanut butter
cookie recipe. [LAUGHS]

Whether I help you
with the formula or not,

I'm dead either way.

And I would rather die

than help Mosin weaponize those metas.

[JENNIFER] Khalil, I
know you can hear me.

Just hang in there, okay? Please.

You good?

Before my mom died,

I used to say goodbye
to her every single day

because I didn't know if
that was gonna be her last.

I know that was hard.

This chip is bad, man.

It's a hybrid of carbon
nanotubes and biological material.

It's faster than anything
I've ever seen before.

I've got it.

Move aside.

I've found the root directory file

for the Painkiller operating system.

Uncle Gambi, can you translate, please?

Think of Khalil's brain like a computer

and the Painkiller program
like the operating system

that enables the computer to function.

Why don't we just press the "off" button

on the Painkiller program.

That program is the only thing
running Khalil's cerebrum.

It controls his memories,
language, emotion, reasoning.

If we were to shut it down now...

Khalil would be brain dead.

TC's trying to find another option.

[TC] I'm VRing into
the chip inside Khalil.

It's a long, dark hallway.

[TC] Doors on each side.

Like in an apartment.

[TC SCREAMS]

Damn.

[GAMBI] The Painkiller system

treated TC like a virus
and forced him out.

I know where TC was when he went in.

It sounded like Khalil's
old apartment building.

He must've gotten close
to the Khalil we know,

otherwise the Painkiller
system wouldn't have been

so bothered by the intrusion.

Oh, God. How do we get rid of him?

Firewall.

That's a good idea, kid.

A firewall would create a barrier

between the Painkiller operating
system and Khalil's brain.

But we'd still need a
way to push Painkiller

behind the firewall and trap him.

Electric current.

Man, I can't believe Mom's
been taking Green Light.

She claims she removed
the addictive properties.

Not based on what I saw, though.

When did you find all this out?

I caught her taking it right before

we moved the kids from the
detainment center to Garfield.

Wait, hold up.

You discovered Mom was taking drugs

and you still came with the Resistance?

Dad, the Resistance would've
managed just fine without you.

I just don't... Your
priority was to make sure

that she was taken care of.

Why did you not stay
behind and look after her?

Henderson called me, told
me the kids were in trouble.

Your mom stormed out.

Look, Anissa, this... this
thing going on with your mom

is not going to solve
itself in a moment, or a day.

It's gonna take time to heal.

I thought I had that time
to help her work through it

and now this.

It's not a thing, Dad.

This is an illness.

I know.

I know.

Why do you think this is your
problem to solve on your own?

We'll deal with mom's
addiction together, okay?

As a family.

You know, in hindsight,
there were so many signs.

I should have known...

No, no, it's not your fault.

But look...

We gotta focus on how to bring Mom back.

Okay.

Wait for my signal.

Yeah, all right.

[KHALIL] Hey.

[TC CRYING]

[KHALIL] Now, what the
hell are you doing here?

[TC COUGHS]

Don't bother.

I'll just beat it out of you.

Now!

Keep firing!

Yeah.

We got him behind the firewall!

[KHALIL GRUNTING AND
BANGING ON THE DOOR]

No!

- [KHALIL ROARS]
- [CHUCKLES] Brains over brawn, bitch.

[GRUNTING]

We found looped security
footage of Tobias' cell

and believe the Markovians
had someone inside the Pit.

A male nurse has conveniently gone MIA.

Do you know where Lynn's being held?

Not yet.

When you do, let me
know, I'll handle it.

Meeting over.

Hold on.

There's no way you're going on
a mission to Markovia all alone.

You might crush it with the
thugs on the streets of Freeland,

but a foreign invasion
is way over your head.

Well, yeah.

Kind of especially against
a country full of metas.

Listen to your daughter.

We need to build a team on this one.

Whoa. Whoa. We?

Oh, let me guess,

you want some of your
people on this team.

Of course.

If we combine our resources,

we stand the best chance of
bringing your wife back home

and preventing the Markovians from...

Yeah, creating a meta army. Yeah, yeah.

After everything the
ASA has put me through,

you have the nerve
to walk in this house,

and suggest that we work together?

You must be crazy.

Whoa, Dad. Let's think about this.

I can't hop on my motorcycle
and ride over to Markovia.

It's way too far for you to fly.

We're gonna need intel
and communication.

Let's think about this.

Fine.

One condition.

Everyone I bring on this mission
is off-limits to the ASA forever.

Their information wiped from your files.

Agreed.

Shouldn't dude be
waking up or something?

[SIGHS] I don't know.

TC said we should just wait,
see if his system reboots.

Jennifer? [CLEARS THROAT]

I need to speak with you.

Excuse me.

Your mother...

The Markovians...

Kidnapped your mother
just outside the Pit.

Where did they take her?

We're narrowing in on
some possible locations.

Anissa and I are putting
together an extraction team,

so I'll keep you posted.

Uh-uh. You don't need to do that.

You know I'm coming with you.

Jen, we have no idea what
we could be walking into...

Which is why you need me.

So I'm coming with you. And so is he.

- What?
- Coming where?

Markovia.

They kidnapped my mom
and that's where Jace is.

- Jen, I might be okay with you coming, but...
- I...

Trust me, Dad, Brandon
can take care of himself.

And he's got my back.

Look, Mr. Pierce, no disrespect,

but I'm either going
with you or by myself.

Dr. Jace killed my mom.

So, if that's where she is,
then that's where I need to be.

After everything that's happened,

how could you possibly work with them?

Because it's Lynn, Gambi.

Because getting her back is
the only thing that matters.

So, when do we leave?

Well, actually, I thought you could just

monitor things from here.

You're joking, right?

You don't know Markovia.

I've had business there.

Believe me, you're
going to want me there.

What... Business?

[SPEAKING IN MARKOVIAN]

I have many stories, my friend.

Most of which I'd rather forget.

Pack a bag.

[ANISSA] This is about my family.

This is about my family.

We have to handle this on our own.

Anissa, I'm not a child.

Grace, sometimes you are.

- Oh, low blow.
- I'm just saying.

I've managed to survive most
people's worst nightmares.

Besides, I'm pretty sure the
one and only time we fought,

you got your ass kicked.

Oh, woman, please.

Please, do not get too far
ahead of yourself, okay?

The last time we fought, I
didn't wanna beat down an old man.

I didn't even use my powers.

This conversation is over and done.

You're not going.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

Oh, what the hell is wrong with you?

No blood, no powers?

Okay. You just make sure you
leave the leopard out of this.

What, is Thunder afraid
of a little pussycat?

[GRACE GRUNTS]

[BOTH GRUNTING]

- Huh?
- Yeah.

Come on.

[BOTH PANTING]

Look, all I'm trying
to say is I love you

and I would be devastated
if something were to

happen to you because of me.

This is my fight.

Your fight is my fight, babe.

That's very nice of you to
say, but this is very dangerous.

People might die and I don't...
I don't want that to be you.

It won't be me.

I'm going.

Okay.

- And I thought you said, "No powers."
- [LAUGHS]

- Oh. [CHUCKLES]
- Yeah, okay.

[TOBIAS] Dr. Jace.
Why am I not surprised?

I assure you, I'm every bit
the prisoner that you are.

I'm merely doing Dr. Stewart a favor

and extracting your bone marrow.

Bitch, you've never done
anyone a favor in your life.

You're merely a cockroach,

doing whatever it takes to survive.

Well, I'd suggest you do the same.

What are they gonna do?

If they want stable metas around here,

the Markovians aren't going to touch

a hair on my chinny, chin, chin.

- This isn't Agent Odell and the ASA.
- [CHUCKLES]

No, but they do know my value.

But you, on the other hand,

now that Dr. Stewart is here,

you're beginning to
look awfully expendable.

[LAUGHS TAUNTINGLY]

Your arrogance is off the
charts as usual, Tobias.

How safe you think you are.

But because we're old friends,

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.

Colonel Mosin is making plans

to lobotomize you.

[GRUNTING AND SHOUTING]

Vitals still good?

Yes.

The chip's working perfectly.

Even her response time has improved.

Have you programmed the kill order?

I don't appreciate having to
give an order more than once.

If we can't reacquire this asset,

we have to deny it from the Markovians.

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

Here, have a seat

before you fall flat on your ass.

Careful, or someone might mistake you

for having compassion.

No, I don't foresee
that being a problem.

Actually, I prefer you on the Glimmer.

That obsessive need for answers.

It's not unlike how I see the world.

I am nothing like you.

Honestly, you may be the
only person I've ever met

as smart as me.

I know I'm not...

easy to work with,

but I really am trying to help you.

All right.

I need medication to help
me deal with withdrawal.

My hands aren't steady
enough to finish it.

Lynn, this is the formula for methadone.

It won't do anything for
a Green Light derivative.

You're not thinking straight.

No, you... you're wrong!

You know I'm right.

It's the Glimmer or you'll probably die.

I... I can't die in here.

Any progress?

I've successfully earned her trust.

Trust does not strengthen
my numbers, does it?

Besides Gravedigger, how many
metas are stable enough to fight?

None, I'm afraid.

If they exceed 50 or 60 percent output,

they'll experience sudden death.

[BANGS TABLE] I need
that stabilization serum.

And you'll have it.

Soon.

I better,

or else you'll end up being
the subject of the experiments,

and not the doctor.

[DOOR OPENS]

Peter Esposito,

aka Peter Gambi,

aka The Tailor.

You look pretty good for a dead man.

Thank you, Major.

As agreed, all members of my team

will be removed from the ASA system,

and will receive full
pardons and/or immunity,

including Gambi.

All right, everyone, I
need your full attention.

Gather around.

As you know, I've assembled
you here for a reason.

I didn't come here for you.

Yeah, me neither.

Nobody's here for you, actually.

- [TC] I don't like working with the ASA.
- Guys, guys.

All right, that's enough.

Listen up. We're going
on to foreign soil

to engage a ruthless enemy
who knows we're coming.

We're gonna be
outnumbered and outgunned,

so the ASA support is our best
chance of getting in and out alive.

Look, we got a lot to do, all right?

In a short time.

So let's get to work.

I thought you said

once we locked Painkiller
behind the firewall,

Khalil would gain back
control of his brain.

In theory, he should have.

It doesn't make sense.

Even a machine this sophisticated...

- TC, he's not a machine.
- I know.

But tech this advanced still
needs an operating system.

What if Painkiller got out
from behind the firewall?

Maybe it wasn't strong enough.

That would explain why Khalil
hasn't regained consciousness.

Why don't you go back
in there and find out?

Whether it's Painkiller or not,

we still need to
identify the problem, TC.

[SIGHS] All right, fine.

You.

You did this to me.

[BANGS DOOR]

[PANTING]

Hello?

Is anybody here?

Oh. Hi.

Hey.

I know this looks weird,

but I kind of, sort of
need you to come with me.

How did you...

It doesn't matter.

I... I can't. I've tried.

You... you actually can. Um...

If you want. Leave, that is.

Look, man, I don't know who you are,

or how you got into my
bedroom, but if he finds us...

This actually isn't your...

I mean, it's sort of, kind of is...

But it's sort of, kind
of not your bedroom.

Then what is it?

Tell me.

It's a figurative construct
of your imagination,

some type of projected
memory from your subconscious.

Or more likely, I'm just dead.

You should go.

The Painkiller OS isn't the problem.

It's Khalil.

He created this safe harbor

inside of what he thinks is his bedroom.

Now he won't come out.

But if he's in there,

it'll at least keep him alive, right?

Unfortunately, no.

Unless Khalil reclaims
control of his brain,

his most basic body functions,

including breathing,
will soon stop working.

Okay, you know what?

TC, you need to go back in there, okay?

Do whatever you have to.

Tell him I'm here. Tell him I love him.

I don't care what you tell
him, just get him out here.

Hey, hey, I've tried.

But talking to people isn't
exactly my strong suit.

Why can't Jen do it?

She's already zapped the dude's
brain with electricity, right?

It's not that simple.

For her to do this, she would have
to channel herself into pure energy.

All I know is,

I've seen her make bullets
go through her body.

It sounded like pure energy to me.

Is that true, Jen?

Have you learned to control
your powers to that extent?

Yeah. If I concentrate.

Then Brandon's right.

As pure energy,

you could become a current
directly into the chip.

And I can guide that current to Khalil.

All right, cool, let's do it.

Whoa, not so fast. Not so fast, Jen.

There's a... There's a danger here.

You see, TC's not actually
in there, he's just virtual.

But if you become energy and go inside,

you're actually inside Khalil's mind.

And if he shuts down
with you in there...

Then you're dead, too.

It's too risky, Jen.

I won't allow you to put
yourself into that kind of danger.

- Look, Uncle Gambi...
- Listen to me, Jen.

The realization of the things he's done

would depress anybody.

He killed his own mother.

What?

Odell put that chip in his head

and programmed him to
take out his own mom.

So you're saying he's suicidal?

He very well could be.

Uncle Gambi, I know
you're worried about me

and I appreciate it, but I can

and I will take care of myself.

If I see any sign there's
no hope, I'll get out.

Khalil would do the same thing for me.

[DOOR OPENS]

So, you're dead, too, huh?

I'm not dead, Khalil.

And neither are you.

Not yet.

But Tobias, he ripped my spine out.

[EXHALES] Yeah, I thought
that killed you, too,

but apparently, the ASA saved you.

Like they did with my legs, huh?

That's right.

Except this time they
put a chip in your brain

with some sort of operating system.

So...

None of this is real.

Look, Khalil.

Khalil, look at me.

All of this is real.

Thing is...

It may not seem like it,
but this place is a prison.

If you don't come with me
right now, you will die.

Maybe I'm supposed to.

Did you ever think of that?

I thought you had.

Now that I know you're still alive,

I'm not sure my heart
could take losing you again.

So, please.

Take my hand.

It's okay.

Let's go.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

Come on.

Come on. Come on, come on, come on.

It's okay. It's okay.

[SOFTLY] Come on, go.

It's okay. It's okay. Come on.

Where the hell do you
think you're going?

Get your ass back over here.

- Hey, if we stay here...
- [SHUSHES]

Khalil, just come with me, okay?

Don't listen to him.

Please!

Without me, you're nothing but a victim.

What, you want to get shot?

Have your spine ripped out again?

You're soft.

- You're nothing without me.
- Uh-oh.

Jen...

Tell me that I didn't kill my...

No, you didn't, Khalil.

You didn't do any of those things, okay?

He did.

[SHAKILY] He's me.

Hey, it's now or never.

Khalil, listen, you gotta come with me.

Khalil, just come with me, please.

Don't do it.

You won't survive without me.

[JENNIFER] Khalil, listen to me!

You know it.

Khalil, please don't make me go through

losing you all over again!

Khalil! Khalil, you can't die in here.

But it's time for you to make a choice.

Gotta make a choice.

[BANGS DOOR] Hey!

You always listen to her!

Hey, come back!

One step, then another.

You got it. Come on. Come on.

[PAINKILLER CONTINUES SHOUTING]

You should've just left
me there to die alone.

Just relax.

Remember not to touch
his bare skin, Jen.

Especially his hands.

The ASA elevated the toxin
levels in your bloodstream,

essentially creating a poison touch.

This poison can be delivered
at varying increments,

ranging from stun, to
paralysis, to death.

How did I know this?

It's because the ASA...

They programmed you with a database

of knowledge, skills and abilities.

Not only fighting and weapons,

but a bunch of random things like
anatomy, philosophy, biomechanics...

Wait, wait, wait. They... programmed me?

What? Like a computer?

They programmed a
chip, inside your brain.

Can you get it out?

Not without killing you.

We have the Painkiller
operating system firewalled.

- For now...
- But it's always gonna be inside you.

But it's okay, Khalil,

- because together we...
- Stop it!

Just stop. Please.

Jen, we...

We can't be together.

I mean, there's a monster
inside of me. I'm...

Khalil.

I'm literally poison.