Black Lightning (2018–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - The Book of Occupation: Chapter Three: Agent Odell's Pipe-Dream - full transcript

Previously on Black Lightning...

The Markovian War is coming.

Every meta-human in
Freeland is in danger.

Markovians breached the compound.

Put Freeland on lockdown.

There is a clear and
present Markovian threat,

and until that is eliminated,

we cannot allow you to leave.

Or you, Dr. Stewart.

I picked this up a few moments ago.

That's Grace.



I'm a reporter for Clap Back News.

You always come to bars
lookin' for stories?

I don't usually do this kind of thing.

I'm not judging.

The case belongs to Tobias Whale.

He'll find me if I got his.

Ask him again.

What's in the briefcase?

Odell was sent to Freeland
to follow three orders.

Obtain all meta subjects.

Turn the metas into weapons.

And clean the Freeland
project of anything and anyone

who could link POTUS to the program.

- I thought you came to kill me?
- I did.



Sergeant King.

Your officer is a Green Light user

and a possible meta-human.

King?

The brain chip is in
place and it's working.

It hasn't been tested.

This is the test.

Look at you, son.

Nichelle Payne?

How come you don't know your own moth...

How many martial arts do you know?

Wing Chun.

Aikido.

Kali.

Wrestling.

Western boxing.

Judo.

Tae kwon do.

Jujitsu.

Muay Thai.

Silat.

I've mastered 23 different martial arts.

Did you know that...

if you apply enough
force at the right angle,

you can snap both the fibula
and tibia with one strike?

Or a twist?

Mastering 23 different
marital arts seems extreme.

Uh, there's no extreme in war.

And, "To kill the grass
you must kill the root."

Pol Pot.

You're quoting someone who killed 10%

of the population of Cambodia?

25%.

Pol Pot killed 25% of the
population of Cambodia.

Uh-uh, you ain't gonna creep up in here

like you haven't been out all night.

You're awake.

Of course I'm awake.

You're gallivanting all over
Freeland having fun, not checking in.

You don't even have
your phone on, Anissa.

How was I supposed to
make sure you were okay?

Why are you smiling?

- No, it's just...
- Is this funny to you?

No, no, it's just...

You sound just like Dad.

Well, the next time you think
you're gonna be out all night,

why don't you just pick
up a phone and send a text?

Let me know you're all right.

- I got it.
- Do you?

I do.

Okay, look,

I spent the night with
my friend Jamillah.

I promise that the next time I
think I'm gonna be out all night,

I'll check in with you and
let you know that I'm okay.

- Okay?
- Thank you.

That's all I wanted.

Sheesh, come here, give me a hug.

Mmm-mmm. I ain't hugging you.

I said, come here.

God, you get on my nerves.

I know, but I'm tired,

please, don't bother me.

Good night.

Good morning.

You see the sun out? And who's Jamillah?

Good night.

Oh.

Quiet down.

What is all this about?

Precautions.

Precautions for what?

There's some type of virus going around.

People are getting sick.

- How are you holding up?
- I'm a cop in jail.

How you think I'm holding up?

I'm sorry.

It's just...

Whatever is going around, I got it, too.

You want me to get a doctor?

I already seen two.

They have no idea what's wrong with us.

Well, I'm sure they'll figure it out.

I don't know about that.

You know, you could've
told me you were a meta.

It wouldn't have changed anything.

No, I couldn't.

Because then you had to
choose between helping me

and turning me in.

I would never put you in that position.

Look, I need you to do something for me.

Anything.

In my service locker,

there's a false bottom.

In it, there's a key
to a safe deposit box.

I'm sorry.

I saw an opportunity.

They were criminals.

So are you.

I know.

I'm sorry, but I took that money
for a moment just like this.

I need you to give that
money in that safe deposit box

to my husband.

If you don't, my family
will have nothing.

Thank you.

- Oh, man.
- Hey.

Oh, I'm having another one.

Hey, hey!

We need some help over here. Right now!

Get over here, we
need your help in here.

Take her vitals!

Enter.

Hello.

- Sorry to disturb you.
- What do you want?

There is a problem at the meta camp.

And, um, I... We need Dr. Pierce's help.

What about what we need?

A virus has broken out.

That's what happens when you pack people

into a high-density environment
with inadequate infrastructure.

I haven't stabilized the
pod kids yet, and my husband

asked you a question.

This disease is only
affecting the metas,

and it appears to be fatal,

so it takes precedence
over the pod kids.

If you help me solve this problem,

I will do everything in my
power to address your needs.

Mmm-mmm, I don't believe you.

The only reason you're here is because

you can't afford to lose more metas.

Yes, that is correct.

And although we disagree,
we both want the same thing.

To save these people.

This disease...

is so virulent...

that if we do not find a cure soon,

every meta in Freeland could die,

including your daughters.

So you gonna help me or not?

What are the symptoms?

Authorities are chasing Blackbird

in response to reports that she
freed several suspected metas

from the ASA.

Again, I'm Jamillah Olsen,
and I'm here at the perimeter

where ASA commandos
have Blackbird cornered.

I'm gonna see if I can get closer.

_

Dibs.

Do you know who Jennifer Pierce is?

"Dibs"?

- Really?
- Yeah.

You're still mourning
your dead boyfriend, so...

- Yeah.
- Uh-uh, that was unnecessary.

Sorry, but it's true.

- Hey.
- Hey, are you Jennifer Pierce?

No, I'm not.

- Who's asking?
- I'm Brandon.

I'm new.

I'm getting bussed here
because of the occupation,

and I was told to ask
Jennifer Pierce for a tour.

Told by who?

Are you Jennifer?

Maybe.

Well, the people at the front desk,

they said no one knows
Garfield better than you.

- Is that right?
- Yeah.

Follow me.

Hey, what's going on with all the guns?

They're here to keep us safe.

From what?

Enter.

We have reason to
believe that Dr. Jace is

just outside the perimeter

with Markovian troops.

We've sent several ASA commandos

to do recon, but they were captured.

- Oh, that's too bad.
- Luckily...

one of the majors dropped a tracking
device before they were abducted.

The Markovians are on
the outskirts of Freeland,

and they are marshalling their forces.

This threat

is imminent.

- What's that?
- Why don't you open it and see?

It's a watch.

Try it on.

Like I have a choice.

- Doesn't work.
- Run some current through it.

Oh, hey, it tells the time.

Great, thank you.

It does a lot more than just that.

That watch has more technology in it

than the space shuttle,
but it can only be activated

with your unique skills.

But all I see is a watch.

Hmm.

Why don't you try to hit
it with around ten volts

and see if your perception changes?

- But that'll fry it.
- Will it?

Okay. I'll humor you, okay?

Ten volts.

Wha...

This is the reason why we have you here,

why we're testing you,

why we're putting you through
so much pain and struggle.

- Oh.
- It's so we can create tech

that will help all metas to live better.

The Markovians are planning on killing

or capturing all of
the metas in Freeland.

I cannot stop them without your help.

If you help me with this,

you can go home and
be with your daughters.

Well, damn.

This is bad.

Yeah, it is.

Some of these officers have been
serving Freeland for decades.

They shouldn't be treated like this.

Well, they've been registering
and testing regular folks

for the meta gene for the past month.

Why should y'all be any different?

Excuse me. William Henderson?

Yes?

I have orders to put you
through the registration process.

I'm the chief of police.

We are aware of that.

We still need to get you
registered and tested.

If you could get in
line, we'd appreciate it.

Thank you.

Okay.

You should feel hydrated in a few hours.

And these...

are for your arthritis,

high blood pressure, heart
disease, and bladder function.

What's happened to aging gracefully?

Privacy, please.

I guess it's true what they say,

youth is wasted on the young.

I know how you feel.

I take 18 different pills a day.

Your body has reverted

to its natural age and is
experiencing withdrawal from the serum

that's kept you virile
for the last 30 years.

They tell me that
coming off of that serum

is ten times worse

than kicking heroin.

Where's your truth, boy?

We had to let Issa go.

So you killed him?

Makes sense.

I'd have done the same thing.

Can't have some kid running around

knowing about all your dirt.

Tell me, Agent Odell.

Did you smoke him yourself?

You did, didn't you?

I knew you did.

We both know it's your fault

that Issa is dead.

You didn't want that boy dead,

you shouldn't have put
him in there with me.

Point taken.

Well played.

But from now on,

you will be dealing

with me.

And I promise you,

you will tell me where
I can get the information

from that briefcase.

Oh.

You know...

I just realized...

you...

You haven't been out of
your cell in over a month.

I owe you some...

time in the sun.

Open.

My understanding is that one minute

in this concentrated UV light

is like an hour

on the beach.

If only you were more...

melanated.

Let me know when you're ready.

You know, I'm really
digging that jacket.

Yeah, whatever.

I don't usually see black
kids wearing $1,000 shoes.

I don't see what being black
has to do with it, but...

Really? Race influences
everything in America.

Say it doesn't, then
you're either lying,

or you're too naive to be alive.

Well, then I guess I'm naive.

I really believe the
content of your character

determines how far you go in life.

I know you didn't just quote
Martin Luther King to me.

Yeah.

- I think he was right.
- Okay, first of all,

that's not how the quote goes.

It's, "I have a dream that
my four little children

will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged..."

"...by the color of their skin,

but by the content of their character."

Yes, I was paraphrasing.

And second, that was a dream, okay?

It wasn't reality.

Well, you have to admit
things have gotten better.

What Pollyanna-ass
school did you come from?

- Springbrook.
- Springbrook.

Okay, well, things at Garfield are done

a little differently than Springbrook.

To the right is where my
ex-boyfriend attacked the school

and sent over a dozen kids
and teachers to the hospital.

- You're making that up.
- I wish I was.

This is the classroom
where my sister and I

got abducted by a drug
dealer at gunpoint.

Do you give this tour
to all the new students?

Yeah, pretty much.

And that's the gym where they
had the prom I couldn't go to

because a gangster named Tobias
Whale ripped my boyfriend's spine

out of his back before he could ask me.

I don't even know what
to say to that one.

You could say thank you for the tour.

- Thank you for the tour.
- You're welcome.

I need you geared up
and ready to head out

at 0900.

May I ask the nature of this mission?

We're hunting Markovians.

Should I bring the full kit?

You should bring as many
weapons as you can carry.

Did you know that you can
cause a lethal disruption

of the heart's rhythm

with one fatal blow?

It's like hitting a person
with a defibrillator.

Can you do that?

Yes.

It's called commotio cordis.

Oh.

You should add that to your repertoire.

I already have.

You know you didn't have to come.

I wanted to.

It's a good look for the
current chief of police

and next mayor.

It shows that you care for your family.

That you care for the
citizens of Freeland.

Well, I don't know, Veretta,
I'm supposed to protect Freeland.

But I feel like I'm failing.

You only fail if you quit.

I'm not gonna quit, but look around you.

This is not good.

Excuse me, Chief Henderson.

- Yes, ma'am?
- I need to speak to you.

- How can I help you?
- When is all of this gonna stop?

Well, unfortunately,
ma'am, I don't know.

All we can do right now is try to
make this as painless as possible.

Does this look painless to you?

Now, hold on, this isn't his fault.

It's okay, Veretta.

I asked you the question.

Does this look painless to you?

No, ma'am, it does not.

You told us that you were going
to give us a police department

that we deserved.

You said that you were
going to look out for us.

We finally got a black
man in charge of police,

and this is what we get?

Things are worse now than they
were when white folk ran it.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

- Ma'am.
- Who do you think you are?

Who do you think you are?

- Let her go.
- Sir, she just assaulted...

Let her go.

Yeah, go on, get.

Get off me!

Are you okay?

Yeah.

I owe you

an apology.

I lost my temper.

I took it out on you. I
shouldn't have done that.

It was unprofessional, and for that,

I am sorry.

Mmm-hmm.

I know that I cannot
get what I need from you

without proposing something
of value in return,

so I'm prepared to make you an offer.

- This ought to be good.
- I'll let you out

and help you reclaim your old territory

in exchange for the briefcase.

So you gonna free me, massa?

- It's a good deal.
- It's a long way from that.

If you wanna do business with me,

you're gonna have to
come up with a number

with a whole lot of zeroes
and commas behind it.

On top of that, I want
my freedom, territory,

and a host of other considerations
I've yet to think of.

If I were you...

I'd reflect on my current condition

before I started turning down offers.

I'll take that under advisement.

I've thought about it.

And the answer's still no.

Open.

Dr. Stewart.

I have identified the DNA of the virus
making the metas in the camp sick.

It's manmade.

Has mutations in it that I created,

the only other person that knew
about these mutations is Dr. Jace.

So Dr. Jace created the virus?

We know the Markovians
had her, but it seems

that they've coerced her
into working for them.

How'd she get the virus into the camp?

I believe the delivery
system was Cyclotronic,

the meta who attacked
the camp a few days ago.

I ran a computer model, and the
outbreak coincides with his demise.

He must've infected the
other metas during the battle.

So you're saying Dr. Jace purposely

sent an infected meta
to contaminate the camp?

Yes, I think it was a biological attack.

For now, the virus is
contained inside the camp.

How close are you to finding a cure?

I'm making progress.

But over half of the metas
in the camp are infected.

These people are depending
upon you to save their lives.

It's only a matter of time before
it spreads to Freeland proper.

You need to fix this.

I know.

Look, I don't work for you, okay?

I'm not your employee.

I'm helping you.

So I'm going to need you

to change the way you talk to me.

My apologies.

Thank you for all your work.

Call me if you need anything.

- Hey.
- Chief Henderson?

Herbert.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

You have my deepest condolences.

Your wife wanted you to have this.

Chief!

So you're just showing up in

my living room in the middle of the day?

Really? That's what we doing now?

I forgot how impertinent
teenagers can be.

The Markovians

killed Khalil's mother, Nichelle.

I wanted you to hear it from me first.

I'm sorry for your loss.

How do you know it was them?

We have surveillance footage
of a known Markovian agent

who entered Mrs. Payne's
home shortly before her body

was found.

- Why would they kill her?
- We don't know, but we're looking into it.

The Markovians want to capture

or kill as many metas as possible,

so they can be the greatest
superpower in the world.

The Markovians are the reason

there are tanks on the street.

Soldiers in Garfield.

And your parents are away.

As soon as the Markovians are gone,

everything will go back
to the way it was before.

Why are you telling me this?

There's a Markovian data farm

that they're using for a command
center on the outskirts of Freeland.

We need to take it out.

But we can't find it. With your ability,

you may be able to detect where it is.

I'm telling you this because

we need your help.

What do you want me to do?

_

_

_

_

Hey!

- Where's Dr. Jace?
- What?

Do you have Dr. Jace?

No, Dr. Jace wasn't my mission.

The mission was to rescue
you and the commandos.

I didn't need rescuing.

This was the plan, I get taken,

put eyes on the target,
and call in fire support.

- That's you.
- That's not what I was told.

Follow me.

Okay, where are we going?

To smoke out Dr. Jace.

I'll cover you.

Where's Dr. Jace?

I don't know who that is.

Where is she?

Hmm?

She's in the back office.

Damn it.

Grace?

Where the hell have you been?

Okay, what are you doing here?

Waiting for you.

I knew you'd walk this
way to get to your car,

so I thought I'd stop by and say hello.

Hi.

I missed you.

And I just wanted to see you.

I missed you, too.

And I've been...

Grace, listen to me.

I wanna be with you, okay?

I don't care that you're a leopard

or an old man or a shapeshifter.

I love you.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Damn.

I don't even know who I am.

- So how can you?
- I-I just do.

Why are you looking at me like that?

- You said you knew.
- I did, I just...

I've never seen anything
like that before.

Can you change back?

Yo, how long you been able to do that?

As long as I can remember.

So it's weird to you?

No, yes, well...

A little.

But I really don't care
that you can do that.

I think it's cool that you can do that.

It's a gift.

- No, it's not a gift.
- Look...

you're not gonna run me off.

You wanna be with me,
I wanna be with you,

let's just be together.

What are you talking about?

I just stole drugs from
the clinic where he works

so I can keep my gift under control.

I have some serious problems.

You're self-medicating, I get it.

- We can get you help.
- Help?

Look, there's no help for this.

Yes, there is.

Look, I'm tired of running.

Okay, well, then just
stop running, Grace.

I'm here for you.

Okay?

Okay.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Look, thanks for meeting me.

No problem.

So...

I found who I was looking for.

Uh-huh.

My ex, Grace.

The woman who I'm in love with.

Okay.

Look, this doesn't have to be
anything other than a friendship.

We had a good night, and
maybe we'll have another one.

Again, but it's all good.

Listen, I...

I have a habit of making
really bad decisions

when it comes to relationships.

I'm trying to be a better person.

I don't wanna leave a
trail of hurt people behind.

So you thought we were gonna have sex,

and I was just gonna lose my mind?

- No.
- Yes, you did.

- No, I didn't.
- Yes, you totally did.

You need to get over yourself.

I mean, everything you're
saying is really sweet,

but I'm not hurt.

I'm good.

We're good, and if
you wanna be with her,

you go be with her.

Thanks.

I will.

Cool.

- Let me buy you a drink.
- Okay, sounds good.

- Yeah?
- Mmm-hmm.

Your target is the data farm up ahead.

It'll have a much higher electrical
output than the surrounding areas.

You know, my parents
can't know about this.

They won't.

- I found it.
- Good.

Now take it out.

Really?

It's like that?

- You okay?
- Yeah, I'm good.

I have to go offline
for a second though.

Nichelle, this is for you.

The data farm is down.

We have the address, 324 Oglethorpe.

Thank you for your service.

Well, thank you for the watch.

- I'll see you tomorrow.
- I'll send a car.

Are you, uh...

waiting for something?

Waiting to see what
else you're gonna pull.

See, I don't trust you.

Hmm.

In spite of what you may think about me,

I'm a man of my word.

I said I would do my
best to meet your needs.

You need to be with your family,

so go see your family.

Safe travels.

Hey.

Hey.

- Oh.
- Oh.

- I missed y'all.
- I missed y'all so much.

Thank God that's over. I'm going to bed.

What?

- Hold on, we can catch up.
- Good night.

What's up with you?

Can we catch up later?
I kind of got to go.

- Seriously?
- Yeah, we'll catch up tomorrow.

I love you guys, bye.

- Bye.
- Love you.

Have a good night. Thank you, bye.

Well, hey, hey, since, uh...

the girls don't seem to
want to hang out with us,

we can celebrate coming home.

Oh, no, not tonight, honey, I'm beat.

- Take a rain check?
- Okay.

Good night.

Good night.

Great.

This is exactly where you belong.

In a deep, dark hole.

And the best part is, I put you here.

You'll never beat me.

'Cause you are weak

and stupid.

I'm gonna get out of here,

and I'm gonna reclaim what's mine,

then I'm gonna kill you and
everything you care about.

I'm gonna have fun doing it.

You will never, ever beat me.

And here's a little secret.

You will never, ever get out of here.

You ghetto glowworm.

I'm gonna kill your black monkey ass.