Black Lightning (2018–…): Season 3, Episode 14 - The Book of War: Chapter One: Homecoming - full transcript

As the battle continues, old alliances are revisited and new alliances forged.

Previously, on
"Black Lightning"...

I unraveled that
Bitcoin chain.

This is who had you killed.

I like this little hustle that
you got goin' on here.

As of right now,
you work for me.

The case belongs
to Tobias Whale.

I can't turn it on.

He'll find me if I got his.

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

The chip is connected
to Khalil's brain.

Removing it would kill him.



Firewall.

He's still in my head, Jen.

- I can't be trusted.
- I trust you.

We're going on to
foreign soil to engage

a ruthless enemy
who knows we're coming.

We're gonna be
outnumbered and outgunned.

I'm looking for Dr. Jace.
Jace killed my mother.

Stop!

Nobody touches my wife!

- I love you.
- I love you.

Let's go home.

*BLACK LIGHTNING*
Season 03 Episode 14

Episode Title: "The Book of War:
Chapter One: Homecoming"

You know me...



by another name
from another life.

I go by Peter Gambi now,

but no matter how hard
I try to escape,

my past is determined
to haunt me.

This war between the ASA
and Markovia should've...

could've been prevented,

if I had only
disobeyed one order.

I should've killed you
40 years ago, Dr. Jace.

But you didn't, did you?

I was forced to
work for both sides,

and let me tell you,

if Markovia wins
this meta arms race,

we and everything we
know will cease to exist.

So, whether you understand
that or not,

we're fighting
on the same side now.

You were their prisoner
for months.

Tell me about their leader.

I believe you've met him.

He answers to
the name Gravedigger.

And what does Gravedigger
want here in Freeland?

Your stable metas.

All of them.

The mission was a success.

My team managed to retrieve
Dr. Stewart and Dr. Jace from Markovia.

Hmm.

Dr. Jace, how fortunate.

I do look forward
to debriefing her.

No, not a chance.

I'm holding you to our deal.

All members of my team are to
be erased from the ASA records,

including Dr. Jace.

Under whose authority?

I noticed you failed to mention
you let Tobias Whale escape.

There was an audible
in play.

This was supposed to
be a covert mission.

Your team botched it
so completely,

the Markovians now have
Freeland surrounded.

Sounds like
an ASA problem to me.

Major Grey...
you are dismissed.

Erica Moran's been
returned to her family.

Her identity, as well as those
of every member of your team

will be excised,
including that of Dr. Jace.

There's more.

We came across
an American meta in Markovia.

Now, my intel says
he's heading to Freeland,

leading the Markovian invasion.

Calls himself...
Gravedigger?

I'm not familiar
with that name...

but rest assured,
I will perform the due diligence.

Am I to assume I can count
on you in the coming war?

No.

Freeland can.

Okay, here I come.

Okay, okay,
that's enough, Anissa.

Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I know.

Dad said it'll help
after the fight in Markovia.

I really wish I had
your abilities right now.

God, who thought ice
would hurt more than a punch?

Maybe you can ask Painkiller
to take your pain away.

Please don't call him that.

His name's Khalil.

Plus, we're not
talkin' about him.

You lost those privileges when you
conveniently forgot to tell me he's alive.

Yeah, well, he has
an assassin trapped

in that chip in his head.
He's a ticking time bomb.

He still needs my help.

No one should have to face what
he went through by themselves.

You know that.

Jen, what happens
if Painkiller gets loose?

He is a killer.

He helped protect
all of us in Markovia.

He seems like
he's in control to me.

Look...

I know you love him, Jen,

but the two of you are not the same
people you were when you fell in love.

You have never met Painkiller.

I'm telling you,
he is a wild animal.

- He's a wild animal?
- Yes.

Whose girlfriend spends most of their
time roaming Freeland as a leopard?

Oh. That was a low blow.

It's true.

The difference?

Grace knows who I am in all of
her forms and she never hurt me.

Can you say
the same about Khalil?

That looks light.

You're not holdin' out
on Lala, are you, Lady Eve?

Now, you know you gotta kick out
30% to keep operating in Freeland.

That's exactly what
Lala and I agreed upon.

Count it.

Devonte, isn't it?

We're gonna be seeing
a lot of each other.

I prefer our interactions
be pleasant.

Did any of my girls
happen to catch your eye?

You know you can
take your pick.

This is about business.

I ain't here for pleasure.

Lala and I
are business partners,

and he should know
the quality of our product.

And since he feels
it beneath him,

that duty falls squarely
upon his lieutenant.

Right here.

Excellent choice.

Shalon will fulfill
your every desire.

Your firewall's
holding up, Khalil.

Is there anything else
I can do for you?

No, thanks, TC.

I don't need anything.

Yes, you do.

Okay, what am I
supposed to do with that?

Idle hands are
the devil's playground.

Jen told me that
you are an accomplished artist.

The world needs more artists.

No, the world doesn't need me.

Listen, Khalil, I've had
my own struggles with PTSD.

What helped me was finding
a safe emotional structure.

I found that in tailoring.

I'd lose myself for hours
in the stitching and fabrics.

And seeing that I could
create something of value

helped me get out of the dark places
that my mind would get trapped in.

Thanks, but I'll be okay.

I can take care of myself.

You're one tough cookie, kid,
no doubt about that,

but PTSD is not an enemy anyone
should handle by themselves.

Would you be willing to
talk with someone about it?

Right, and what therapist
is gonna take a patient

who murdered his own mother?

Once this occupation's over,

I'm gonna get you
the help you need.

I have a friend, Perenna.

She's used to tough cases.

She helped Jennifer
through a rough patch.

But until then...

express yourself.

♪ Last night I saw a
superhero He was black ♪

♪ He said "This is for the
street Black Lightning's back" ♪

Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I got you.

I got you. Come on.

Baby... baby, you're sweating,
but you're cold as ice.

It's the withdrawals.

I'm surprised it's taken
this long to manifest.

Is there anything else
I can do for you?

Jeff...

I'm an addict.

I never truly knew,
all those years,

what it was like for you...

being Black Lightning.

The weight of the world
on your shoulders.

Knowing you could fix it.

I understand that lure...

and why you couldn't stop.

I should've seen that
I was forcing you

to be something
that you weren't,

and I am sorry.

No, no, no. I'm sorry.

If I'd gone after you
instead of helping Henderson,

then the Markovians
wouldn't have gotten you.

Withdrawals. I'm sorry.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Brandon, please,
just sit down and chill for one second.

Not until you take me
to Dr. Jace.

Have you ever taken a life?

It changes you forever.

Look at Khalil.

Look, I know you wanna even the
score with Jace for killing your mom,

I get that, but we're
in Freeland now.

It seems more like
an execution than justice.

Is that really what you want?

Just let me talk to her.

Please.

I've heard the rumors
about your boss, Lala.

Is it true
he's a meta?

No.

I think it got something
to do with this briefcase.

What briefcase?

He said it belonged
to Tobias Whale.

As soon as he
comes to collect...

It's over with.

Set up a sit-down with Lala.

Mom, how you feelin'?

This too shall pass.

I wanna thank you
for coming for family dinner.

I appreciate it.

I'm looking forward
to getting to know Grace.

Next time.

Yeah.

After Markovia,
she really needed some rest.

Turns out that
shapeshifting is quite taxing.

- Here...
- Hey, I got it!

Okay.

I can do it myself.
I'm an adult. Thank you.

Okay.

Forgive me.

It's the withdrawals.

I'm so ashamed.

I know. Come here.

You have nothing
to be ashamed of.

Addiction is a disease and
it can happen to anybody.

We're here to support you

and we will get through
this. You'll see.

Thank you, sweetheart.

Never have to thank me, Mom.

All right, well,
I'll let you freshen up.

- Dinner's ready.
- Okay.

♪ It's hard to take
All of this hate ♪

♪ It's hard to take
All of this hate ♪

That's exactly
why I told Odell

that I would lead the defense of
Freeland if the Markovians attack.

Someone has to keep
an eye on that, yeah?

Well, Dad, I don't understand
why it has to be you.

Well, actually, I was hoping
it would be all of us.

Okay, look, I understand
your hesitation,

but if anyone has
a better idea, I'm listening.

Mmm, well, yeah,
Odell needs to go. Like, for real.

Yeah. I'm with Jen
on this one.

Well, sometimes it's easier to
work with the devil you know.

Odell fractured us and nearly
destroyed our family, so...

Your mother and I discussed
that we need a reset.

A do-over. But in order
for that to happen...

We need a clean slate.

No more secrets.

I, um...

I found my last
hidden stash of glimmer.

I tried to flush it, but...

I couldn't.

Look,

no one survives addiction
without support, okay?

We're here for you.

Yeah.

I got you, Mom.

Okay, I guess it's my turn.

All right, guys, I think...

I think Grace might
be the one.

Mmm. We see that in your eyes
every time you look at her.

- You still owe us a secret.
- What you mean?

I ain't got nothin' to say!
I'm open book!

What about you?

Like I said,
clean slate, honey.

No judgement.

All right. Um...

Dad already knows, but
I've been working with Odell.

He groomed me as an ASA asset

and he tricked me into
killin' a bunch of Markovians.

He didn't tell me that
they were Markovian soldiers

in the data farm
he had me nuke.

I'm so sorry.

Odell tricked me into using glimmer
without my knowledge as well.

Look at me.

You did what
you thought was right.

But it wasn't, though.

Well, I witnessed the erasing
of multiple universes.

And I helped save the universe
that we all live in now,

so, you know,
I just had that... little tidbit.

Oh, come on,
Dad. Why do you always gotta one-up us?

I mean...

Yeah.

Okay, on that note,
do you wanna bless this mess?

This food we're about
to receive,

we are truly,
truly thankful for.

Amen.

Amen.

All right, let's eat.

Please.

Fall back.

I'm not changin' our terms of agreement,
if this is what this is about, Lady Eve.

Our agreement
is quite satisfactory.

I've asked you here
for a personal matter.

Well, look at you
gettin' all familiar.

Maybe I raise the fee
for you wastin' my time.

Say another 5%?

I understand you have a certain
briefcase in your possession.

One you can't open.

I don't know nothin'
about no briefcase.

Oh, Lala...

you know these streets.
They talk.

And you know what
a good listener I am.

If I had such a thing...

why would I hand it
over to you?

Because I can give you
what you truly want.

That briefcase is the only thing
that will bring Tobias Whale to me.

And when he comes to collect,

I'll have my revenge
come hell or high water.

Oh.

Oh, Lala...

what will you do when
you catch the white whale?

Oh, right.

You can't harm him.

Tobias programmed you.

How you know that?

E pluribus unum.

Sit your ass down!

You never worked
for Tobias Whale.

You worked for me.

I ran the Shadow Board.

Technology
leash.

I can undo that for you, baby.

Imperium in Imperio.

Now, does that
sound like something

the Godfather of Freeland
would be interested in?

Babe, Jen is so stubborn

and infuriating sometimes that
it makes me wanna...

Can't imagine
what that's like.

You joke.

But she refuses to believe
that Painkiller is dangerous.

It's like, he'll never be Khalil,
right? Why can't she see that?

Isn't it obvious?

It's her first love. She'll
fight tooth and nail for him.

It's like the more I push,
the more she just rushes to him.

With everything that's going on,
your sister has a lot to process.

I mean, cut her some slack.

So, that's what you would do?

I would help my girlfriend
paint her nails, you know?

Share a romantic
moment together.

Come on, sit down already.

Fine.

But if he hurts her,
I'mma put his ass in the ground

and I'mma make sure
it sticks this time.

From what I can see,
Jen can take care of herself.

Anissa, you have an urgent
call from the Perdi farm.

Shonda, put it through.

Blackbird, are you there?
It's Anaya. Please, come in.

Oh, my God.

Anaya, it's Blackbird.
What's goin' on?

Markovians found us.
It's a massacre.

I'm leading what's left of the Perdi to
make a run for the safety of Freeland.

Meet us at
the ASA checkpoint, but hurry.

Shonda, call Black Lightning.

Have him meet me
at the ASA Checkpoint Charlie.

Suit up.

Dr. Jace!

Hey!
We're here to talk.

She wants to talk?
Then let's talk.

Start by sayin'
why you experimented

on my mom while
she was pregnant with me.

The child with
the earth-based powers.

Your mother...
Helen, wasn't it?

Oh, yes, she was lovely.
I was very fond of her.

Say her name again.

Brandon! Brandon! Hey,
Brandon, stop. You promised.

I promised you
wouldn't kill her.

My mother will.

Justice is balance.

A life for a life.

You used your powers to
crystallize your mother's ashes

and wore her your entire
life waiting for this moment?

Hey, stop talkin'.

Those powers you're flaunting,
I gave you those.

You cursed me.

You took away my life.

And gave you this one!

A "thank you" would suffice.

Brandon... No!

Back up.

When I helped your
mother escape Markovia,

your father tried to kill me
with very similar powers.

Guess the apple
doesn't fall far.

Maybe you and he should talk.

All right, it's time to go.

She knew my pops.
I thought he was dead.

Kill me and you'll
never find out the truth.

Brandon, stop!

Let's go!

You're lucky!

Markovian forces are advancing.

Form a line and
protect the refugees.

Looks like you could
use the assist.

Let's go! Get behind me.

How about we give
'em a little Lightning and Thunder?

With a touch of Grace.

All right,
I'll take care of the Perdi.

That's all I can remember.

They say the Markovians
swarmed the Perdi farm.

Took Anaya and Thierry.

Look, I forced the Perdi
to help, so this is on me.

Anaya and Thierry took me in
when I needed help.

We can't leave them
in Markovian hands.

What's gonna happen
to these refugees?

ASA doesn't have
enough supplies to help...

but I think I can.

I know a guy.

All right.

We'll go get Anaya
and Thierry.

Now that I have
your full attention,

I trust you'll take this message
to your boss, Lady Eve.

You tell her the Tailor
sends his regards.

And next time you plan
to assassinate someone...

Don't miss.

Get out of here!

If anyone can find out the
truth about your father, it's TC.

So, go ask him or I will.

Didn't you want me
to think things through?

Let me think, then. Damn.

You know, you're just
as stubborn as my father.

You and your pops
got the same powers, right?

I mean, I guess.

I'm kind of
an upgrade, though.

Black Lightning 2.0.

What if Jace is right?

What if I take after my pops
like you do yours?

Earth-based powers?

Well, if that's true,
it makes sense.

But if you kill Jace,
you'll never find out.

She's not gonna tell you the truth anyway,
just her own twisted version of it.

So, go talk to TC
and stop being stubborn.

TC, got a sec?

Yeah.

What you doin'?

You know, keepin' busy.

It helps with, well...

you know.

Yeah, I do know.

If you need anyone
to talk to, I'm here.

Everybody keeps saying you're dangerous,
but I don't believe any of that.

I know you'd never hurt me.

Thanks.

But can you turn
to the right?

I wanna grab that profile.

I need a favor, man.

To help you find your pops
because Dr. Jace is a liar, right?

Hey, sound travels
pretty well here, man.

Yeah, you might want to be
a little bit quiet.

Appreciate you, man.

Khalil?

Khalil?

- Oh, no. Hey, Khalil!
- TC, I think he's glitchin' again.

Khalil?

Yeah, he's
definitely glitching.

What are you waiting for,
an invitation?

- Go in there and save him.
- Yeah, come on!

Didn't I tell you,
you can't keep me here forever?

I still have my mission.

Kill the Pierce family.

And when I get out of here...

I'm gonna make you
watch and listen...

as they scream,

as they beg.

I want you
to watch her die.

Khalil, you're hurting me.

Khalil, you're hurting me.

Khalil, please.

No.

Khalil, please.

Khalil,
you're hurting me.

Don't take another step.

Yo, it's me, Jen.

Khalil.

For how long?

You know, my sister
was right about you.

I don't know
how I was so blind.

I came to apologize.

Look, I...

I'm not myself anymore.

I don't know who I am.

But I do know that Painkiller is a
part of me and he's not goin' away.

And I have to learn
to live with him.

I don't.

I know you can't see him...

but when I look into Painkiller's eyes,
there's nothin' there but death.

Odell made me a weapon,
but I know...

I know deep down that I still have a soul,
Jen.

And I need you more
than anyone to believe that.

What Odell did to you
was evil...

but I can't love a weapon
that's pointed at my family,

even if it does have a soul.

See you around, Khalil.

No.

You won't.

I received your message.

You know, Gambi,
an e-mail would've sufficed.

An old friend like you
deserves a personal touch.

"An eye for an eye."

You're getting literal
in your old age.

Well, at least I can tell
my twins apart now.

Speak your piece, Evelyn.

One way or another,
our feud ends now.

Okay.

I did set a contract
for your life, true.

But after you took out Joey Toledo,
Tobias had me killed.

I got better, so...

bygones?

What do you want?

Same old Gambi.

Don't fret.

I come bearing gifts.

We both worked
for the ASA, so...

I don't need to tell you
what this is, do I?

Where did you get it?

Let's say it fell off a truck.

I can't open it.

You always were more capable
when it came to things like this.

I taught you better
than that, Evelyn.

"Never give something
for nothing."

I was gonna get to that part.

In my absence,
the ASA shattered Freeland.

Take this peace offering.

Use it to burn down the ASA
for what they did to my city.

Or not.

Either way, my quarrel
with the Tailor is over.

Good. You're here.

I have to tell you
about Khalil.

He left, didn't he?

Yes, but that's not all.

It'll have to wait.

This is our top priority
as of right now.

Wow.

Would you look at that?

I appreciate you both coming.

This simply couldn't wait.

Looks like
the nuclear football.

Might be worse.

This briefcase
contains the genome

of every meta the ASA has
ever come in contact with.

It self-updates every time the ASA
inputs new data into their systems.

But this goes far deeper
than just the ASA.

What are you saying, Gambi?

The United States
is responsible

for starting and funding

the Markovian meta
research program

decades before they brought
that research to the States.

And it all began with an American
soldier named Tyson Sykes,

or as we all know him...

Gravedigger.

And like many soldiers of the period,
he suffered daily abuse

at the hands of those that felt that
people with his skin color didn't belong.

Look at that,
somebody threw away a perfectly good coon.

Hey, get off of him.

The government
gave Sykes a choice.

Court martial or volunteer for
their enhanced soldier program.

Sykes chose lab rat.

The program killed
hundreds of soldiers...

but not Sykes.
He was different.

Their experiments activated
his dormant meta gene...

..giving him superhuman strength,
slowing the aging process,

and the power to push his will
on to others...

that we've all experienced.

Ah!

The US military sent Sykes
on countless secret missions,

earning him the moniker that he
answers to today, Gravedigger.

Tyson Sykes is the first
metahuman in recorded history.

Meta-prime.

If the US government
had the serum

to unlock meta powers
this entire time,

where is their meta army?

The only part of the program that
survived was Gravedigger himself.

And for the past 70-plus years,
the US has spent billions

trying to recreate
the original serum.

First in Markovia,
then here in Freeland.

What is so special
about Markovia?

During the Cold War,
it was the perfect strategic location.

Close to Russia, and lacking laws
against human experimentation.

That is, until the Markovian
government was overthrown

and the US was kicked out.

You were stationed
in Markovia.

No.

I was sent there
after the coup.

My covert mission...

was to extract the lead
scientist of their meta program.

Dr. Jace.

Which led to the start
of the ASA,

and the beginning of the
vaccine program here in Freeland.

Every US president since FDR
has known about

and funded
this program.

And now we're holding
the only proof.

This is insane.

The US government has operated
this program around the world

with no one's knowledge
for nearly a century.

The world needs to know.

I don't understand how
Gravedigger landed in Markovia.

Odell claims
he's never heard of him.

I don't think he has.

You have to have direct access to this
briefcase in order to know those secrets.

Even in my ASA days,
I never learned about him.

It seems that after the war,

Gravedigger refused to live in a country
that never wanted him in the first place.

He was a key factor
in the Markovian coup.

And he's been there ever since,
living like a king.

And now he's in charge
of the Markovian military.

And he has a serious grudge
against the ASA, the United States,

and probably us.

Beat him once,
we'll do it again.

No,
you don't understand.

I left the formula

for the meta-boost serum
in Markovia.

What happens if Gravedigger
can have any meta power he wants?

He'd be unstoppable.

Transport to Freeland
has been secured.

However, we were unable
to track down the albino.

He is lost to us.

Have me do?

Colonel Mosin...

Markovia thanks you
for your service.

But, unfortunately,
your services are no longer needed.

Speaks Russian...

Speaks English...

And vengeance, doctor.

Ultimate vengeance...

in one man.

Me.