Black Lightning (2018–…): Season 3, Episode 4 - The Book of Occupation: Chapter Four: Lynn's Ouroboros - full transcript
Previously on Black Lightning...
The Markovians are on
the outskirts of Freeland,
and they are marshalling their forces.
If you help me with this...
Whoa.
...you can go home.
_
How close are you to finding a cure?
I'm making progress.
These people are depending
upon you to save their lives.
- You need to fix this.
- I know.
What is your function?
I'm a biological weapon system.
I picked this up a few moments ago.
That's Grace.
So, if you're trying to find
somebody who doesn't want to be found,
how do you go about that?
Depends on the person.
Grace?
I missed you.
I missed you, too.
Damn.
I'm Jamillah Olsen, and
I'm here at the perimeter
where ASA commandos
have Blackbird cornered
in response to reports that she
freed several suspected metas
from the ASA.
The Markovians want to capture
or kill as many metas as possible.
What do you want me to do?
Your target is the data farm up ahead.
- I found it.
- Now take it out.
Lab log, day six.
Fatalities from the meta virus
with Ebola properties continue to grow.
As the foremost medical
expert on meta-humans,
people are counting
on me, and I'm failing.
I'm failing,
and I'm so tired.
All I know is, the chemical
structure of the meta virus
is similar to a chemical
compound found in both...
...Green Light and the meta vaccine.
Call it fatigue, but I
find myself staring at
the Green Light, wanting
to ask it questions.
Then something occurred to me.
Without exception, Green Light
patients have shown a notable boost
in brain activity.
So in theory, if I was able
to remove the drug's
psychoactive addictive properties,
rendering it safe for consumption,
I could literally make myself smarter.
I used a technique on Green Light
similar to what's used to
extract THC from marijuana.
I tested it on myself
in microdoses, but the
results left no doubt,
a significant increase in
focus, plus exponential gains
in my ability to process information.
It's working.
So I am working around the clock
because if I can't
contain this outbreak,
every single meta,
including my entire family,
could die.
What's all this?
Checkpoint.
Not a big deal.
Lots of changes while you were away.
Looks like a war zone.
Pretty much.
Here you go. And don't worry,
Odell has us registered as non-metas.
- Dad.
- Move. Find cover.
- Put the gun down.
- Get down!
Either of you move, and I will end you.
Hey, hey, hey. You're overreacting.
On the ground now.
You okay?
Yeah. You?
Welcome to the occupation.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
Ready?
On three, two, one...
Assuming Odell has a tracking
device embedded in the new suit,
that will duplicate the signal,
buy me some time to disable it.
This is a mobile Faraday cage.
It will block any signal
coming from the watch.
I gotta tell you, this cloaking thing
- is gonna take some getting used to.
- Yeah.
It's not easy being dead.
I gotta stay that way until
I know who tried to kill me.
How about you? How are you feeling?
Any residual effects
from the ASA testing?
No, actually, I'm good.
Wish I could say the
same for my marriage.
Butting heads over how
to deal with the ASA.
You know, I couldn't wait to leave
the Pit. Lynn is going voluntarily,
even though they're blindfolding
her and driving her in and out.
That's painful,
not being on the same
page with your wife.
Is that what happened
with you and your ex?
Job got in the way?
That's ancient history.
Let's not turn those pages.
I'll check out your suit,
set up a tracking
system to find the Pit.
You figure out how to get back
on the same page with Lynn.
Got your text.
Still checking in on me, huh?
In a manner of speaking, yes. Now
that your father has returned home,
especially under such
trying circumstances,
it's important that
we keep this line of communication open.
Can I ask you a question, like for real?
As the head honcho
in charge around here,
why don't you just put
an end to this occupation?
Because the Markovians killed my people.
That's not a reason to start snatching
people up and locking them in camps.
We put people with
the meta gene in camps
to keep them alive,
the Markovians put people in camps
to watch them die.
How do I even know that's true?
Every search engine gets blocked by
all your stupid Internet restrictions.
I could send you a link, Ms. Pierce,
encrypted, of course.
Then you can see exactly
what it is we're up against.
I still don't understand why
you have to lock the city down.
Ever heard of Rwanda?
The former Yugoslavia?
Liberia?
Things can go to chaos real
quick with the wrong push,
and chaos is deadly.
Good day, Ms. Pierce.
Let's open this bitch up and
see what y'all brought me now.
Damn!
Shut that and pick
this fool's dumb ass up.
Leave dude in there.
He'll bleed out when we roll.
This is Jamillah Olsen reporting
from inside occupied Freeland.
Today, I'm at Garfield High School,
where students are being tested
for ASA-mandated registration cards.
Only those who test negative for the
meta gene can move
freely about the city.
Those who test positive will be
taken to an ASA detainment facility
and forced to submit
to medical procedures.
Yo.
'Sup, man?
- You're getting in line, right?
- Nah.
I already got mine. I'll catch up
with you later though, all right?
Yeah, all right.
All right.
- What's good?
- Hey.
Another one of my
trucks has been hijacked.
Find the vermin who keep stealing
from me and exterminate them.
To think, once upon a time, I
was worried about metal detectors.
It's not about corner boys now.
If a war breaks out,
we're gonna be really happy
- the ASA is here.
- Wait, what? Jen.
Jen, you saw what happened
at that checkpoint.
- They pointed guns at us.
- Didn't you just let the ASA experiment on you?
'Cause I'm pretty sure you did.
Why would you do that if you
thought the ASA was no good, Dad?
To protect you.
That's always the reason, isn't it?
Morning, gentlemen.
- Mr. Pierce.
- Mind if I have a look?
Yeah, just looking at a video of...
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
I'm sorry. It's pretty cool, though.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Have a good class.
Mr. Pierce, a word?
Yeah, actually, I have to get to class.
Yes, about that.
During your ASA-approved medical leave,
Mrs. Wellen was permanently
assigned your classes.
- You can't do that.
- I didn't. The ASA did.
After 30 days of being poked and prodded
and taking every test under the sun,
- this is the thanks I get?
- Oh, I'm not finished.
You've been made our
new guidance counselor.
Congrats.
Now what I find most puzzling,
as part of this demotion,
the ASA also gave you
a raise, a nicer office,
and a lot less work.
Based on that, I'm gonna
assume you must have done...
really well on those tests.
That's all you can tell me?
At some point, death comes for us all.
And when that time comes,
though we yearn for love,
all we're left with is pain.
A person will do more to avoid pain
than to achieve anything
else in this world.
Knowing this, the greatest
gift that anyone could ever give
is to take that pain away.
Lucky for you,
they call me Painkiller.
I assume this is important.
You told me measures were being taken
to ensure Freeland's safety, okay.
You never said anything
about martial law.
Markovians attacked an ASA operation
and killed my personnel.
You'd rather I sent a
strongly worded email?
When I see military walking around
the hallways of my high school...
Things have to change.
I have done everything
you've asked of me.
Keep troops in Freeland, fine.
But this occupation is overkill.
In my experience, Mr.
Pierce, there's no such thing.
Now you continue to do as instructed,
or I'll put your daughters in the Pit.
Run tests on them,
just like all the others.
I spent my whole life trying
to make these damn streets safe,
and they got me out there
talking like I'm some...
Talking as the chief of police.
Yes.
I know you're frustrated,
but when all this ends,
you'll be the man who
got Freeland through this.
You'll have the clout
to fix the department,
be mayor someday.
- I don't know, Veretta.
- I do.
You be who you gotta be today,
so you can be who you
want to be tomorrow.
Mmm-hmm.
Hmm.
- Major.
- The ASA is commandeering this station.
Escort these prisoners to lockup.
Agent Odell assured me this station
will remain under my command.
Now I have orders that say otherwise.
Until further notice, this
location is a clean camp
to keep suspected metas as far away
from the meta virus as possible.
How the hell we supposed
to do our job, huh?
What...
What you expect us to do?
You can start by
clearing out your office.
I'll be using it for
the duration. And...
as always, Chief Henderson,
we appreciate your cooperation.
Mmm-hmm.
Hmm.
All right, stop that vehicle.
_
The Markovian government continues
their reign of terror with
their strategic assault...
on Sudan, stripping them of resources,
killing with extreme prejudice,
women, children, and
non-military personnel.
While the United Nations
condemned their actions,
currently no aid has been allowed entry.
This is a very violent
and incendiary situation.
Closest thing I ever had to
powers was driving the city bus.
The job I started one
month before I got married,
38 years ago.
38 years of marriage?
Now that is a superpower.
Well, hopefully this
will slow the virus down,
giving us enough time to
come up with a vaccine.
Get you home to your wife.
You have any kids?
Three of them.
Two boys and a girl.
Plus grandkids.
My youngest one, my daughter Olivia,
she's set to get
married in a few months.
I even like the fella, not
that I'll ever admit it.
Sorry.
None of this seems real.
I still can't believe I'm dying.
Hey, don't give up on me, okay?
'Cause I'm not giving up on you.
I'll pay the three stacks this time.
But when we're talking the
same weapons at twice the price,
- that mess ain't gonna fly.
- It's supply and demand,
and I got the supply.
If you don't drive off,
you won't have anything.
I ain't got no beef with you.
Then I suggest you leave.
You can't be using my name
and symbol, and then you go
off shooting up ASA checkpoints.
I don't take orders from you.
Your boss did not approve of that.
Now you lucky the result
was just getting locked up.
They could've been killed.
By any means necessary.
Don't go quoting Malcolm to me.
You don't like the way we
doing things, talk to the boss.
Oh, I plan to.
I'm sorry, uh...
I thought this was
Anissa Pierce's place.
It is, Mr. Pierce, I'm Grace.
I recognize you from her photos.
Nice to finally meet you.
Please come in.
Thank you.
I am not really sure
when she'll be back,
but shouldn't be too long.
Can I get you something to drink?
Uh, no.
I'm fine, thank you.
What, Dad?
Hey, what's up?
Wait, she knows?
About Blackbird?
A person I've never met?
Look, she only knows about me, I swear.
Thunder too?
Yeah.
You have put our
entire family in danger.
Dad, I trust Grace with my life.
Oh, until you throw her out of
your bed and find someone else.
Okay, I don't know where
any of this is coming from,
but I'm not gonna stand here
and be yelled at by you or anyone else.
Why, 'cause you're Blackbird now?
Running around, showing off?
Throwing tanks?
Helping people has never
been enough for you.
No. No, you, you gotta be famous,
live in a fancy loft.
Paid with drug money, I take it.
Running around spraying that
ridiculous logo all over town.
So, what, are you jealous?
And that logo? That's not even me.
That's the insurgents
using me to inspire hope.
You know, something Black
Lightning used to do.
Do you have any idea, any idea
what I've been through for the city?
Don't hurt us.
- Hey. Hey, Grace.
- Please don't.
It's okay. He's not
gonna hurt you or me.
I promise.
What the hell was that?
You need to leave.
Now.
- Anissa...
- Dad, no, listen to me.
This is my house.
And right now, you're not welcome in it.
Leave.
Can I sit down?
I need you to know that
my dad would never hurt me.
He's overbearing, and he has had
a hard time seeing me as an adult.
But he's no threat
to me or to you.
Okay?
I never wanted you to see this.
Not ever.
Not this piece of me.
There's still so much you don't know.
Maybe less than you think.
Shay Li Wylde.
How do you know that name?
My Uncle Gambi.
He has access to things
that most people don't.
I know about you losing your parents...
and you living on the streets.
How you were kidnapped...
And sold for sex against my will.
I told you I was broken.
I can't believe you'd want to
be with me knowing all that.
Well...
Believe it.
Anissa, this would be a lot for anybody.
Grace, I told you, we're in this.
Me, you, the leopard,
that old guy, all of us.
It's one big party up in here.
It is not your beautiful face
or this fine-ass body
that I'm in love with.
Now, don't get me wrong,
if we taking votes,
this form is by far my favorite.
But it's not even about that.
It's you, Grace.
Your heart.
Your soul.
Your essence.
That's what I'm in love with.
Just you.
It's okay.
Hey.
Hey.
Wow, I haven't seen you look
this bad since med school.
That's exactly the warm
welcome I was hoping for.
Ah, no, sweetheart, that's
not what I meant, you just...
You look really, really tired.
You want me to run you a bath?
No, no, I'm just here for a
few minutes to grab some things.
I have to get back. I'm
synthesizing a vaccine.
What?
Wait, what? You're gonna
stay there again tonight?
But, babe, we need to talk.
I have to get back.
Okay, look, I...
I just think that... we
need to get on the same page.
Look, our girls need us.
Anissa is trippin' big time,
and Jennifer seems to think
that the ASA occupation
is actually a good thing.
Lynn?
Jeff, are the girls safe?
Wait, what?
Yeah, for now, I guess.
Anything that comes up,
you can take care of it.
I need to get back.
Again with the tuna breath.
Like your salami's any better.
Of the six ASA trucks that were taken,
four of them link
back to the two of you.
No...
When I want you to speak,
I'll ask you a question.
That pain that you're
feeling? It's neurotoxins
that I can administer at
varying levels of intensity.
This was a small dose.
Now, the longer that this process takes,
the higher that dosage will become.
Until you fall into paralysis
and ultimately death.
So, shall we begin?
It's this drug dealer, Sinzell.
He pays us for the supply routes.
He's got a warehouse
somewhere north of here,
- we're not sure where.
- That's all we know.
I swear.
Listen, if any of this
information isn't good,
I'll find you two weak-minded cowards,
and I will torture you
every day for a year before I kill you.
It's good, I promise.
Did I ask you a question?
People always talk about Nazi Germany...
And for good reason.
Obviously, but look at us.
In World War II,
we put anyone who even looked
Japanese in a prison camp.
Not to mention occupying
the Philippines, Haiti...
Dominican Republic, Iraq.
There's more to the world than the US.
What about the Russian
occupation of Ukraine?
Or Turkey being in Syria?
These are all happening right now.
- Today.
- Yes, but unless it's on TMZ,
or a Kardashian tattoos it on they ass,
nobody seems to care.
What none of you are
talking about is genocide.
The government coming in as
peacekeepers trying to help.
I mean, Rwanda, Darfur.
Peacekeeping in Rwanda failed.
Like seriously, it failed...
- Look...
- Done.
My point is, maybe this
occupation isn't all bad.
Maybe the ASA's here trying to
protect the people of Freeland.
All right, all right.
Hold up, excuse me. You
have no right to do this,
do you hear me? You have no right.
Tavon Singley, I'm gonna
need you to come with us.
What'd I do?
- I ain't do nothing.
- No, Tavon, you stay right there,
- you are not going anywhere.
- Whoa, whoa.
Sir, you need to step aside.
There's been a report of
meta-human powers being displayed.
What? No, that's not true.
- That's not true!
- Listen, you get your hands...
Let's go.
Wait, Tavon.
Wait...
What do you think of
your peacekeepers now?
So they're just gonna lock him up
and wait till the results come in?
There's no way in hell Tavon's a meta.
I heard someone dropped a "see
something, say something" dime on him.
Got some beef over a girl.
You really believe
that peacekeeping stuff
- about the ASA helping?
- Look, I don't know.
Okay?
But what I do know is,
Markovia's dangerous.
I've been hearing some
crazy stuff about them,
like war-crime stuff.
That's dumb as hell.
How could you judge an entire
country based off of rumors?
Y'all don't even know what the
hell y'all talking about, man.
- Oh, and you do?
- I'm just saying.
History is written by whoever wins.
So unless we experience
things firsthand,
how do we know it's true?
Well, if it was up to my mom, I
would never experience anything.
I really hate how they say that
they want us to be better than them.
'Cause in reality, they never do.
That's real.
It's okay, Doc.
You did what you could.
Richard, stay with me, okay?
Richard...
It looks like you're gonna be
able to walk your daughter
down the aisle after all.
Hey, hey, where's the watch?
Come here for a sec,
I wanna show you this.
I was able to put a radioactive resin
on the tires of several ASA vehicles.
This will allow us to track
their frequently traveled routes,
narrowing down the list of locations
until they lead us to the Pit.
That's great.
That's great.
The watch.
What's the urgency?
The ASA snatched a student, Tavon,
right out of Jennifer's classroom,
then beat down the principal
when he tried to stop them.
I heard from Henderson the ASA is
holding Tavon at the police station.
Ah.
Did you try the tracking device?
I did, disabled it.
Oh, great.
I wish I could say otherwise,
but that suit's far better
than anything I've ever built.
I could've done the
same with $30 billion
and ten guys working
around the clock, but...
It's got next-gen nanotech,
and with its increased
conductivity threshold,
you can generate 20 to 30% more
electricity without any risk
of damaging your nervous system.
The thing's amazing.
Good.
Jeff.
What about your family?
Odell was very clear,
you go out on the street,
they go in the Pit.
Wait...
Maybe there's a better way.
But I'm gonna need a little help.
Dad, not right now.
I need to get to work.
Whatever you have to say
to me can wait until later.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Look, just hear me out.
Now, I know I'm not your
favorite person at the moment,
and I'm not saying I agree
with all your choices.
- I'm not asking you to.
- Oh, look, look.
Just, look...
You and I, we disagree, okay?
On a lot of things.
But I know that you care
about the people of Freeland.
You don't even know the half of it.
Okay, look...
me, Reverend Holt, and a
handful of other people,
we started up our own
underground railroad.
We've been sneaking
metas and suspected metas
outside the perimeter.
How did you get them...
With an assist from Uncle Gambi.
All these years calling
you Harriet Tubman
were prophetic.
Okay, Dad, stop, please.
No, uh...
I'm proud of you.
Thank you.
Okay, now I need your help.
The ASA snatched Tavon,
accused him of being a meta.
Now they have him locked
up at the police station.
All right.
What do you need me to do?
Hey, you hangin' in there?
Huh?
All right.
Yo, Chief.
Any chance we can get
some food up in here?
- Oh, what, you hungry?
- Why do you think I'm askin'?
Well, you should've thought about
that before you shot up a checkpoint.
How it feels to be a Uncle Tom.
How's it feels to be in jail?
Hey, uh...
It's been a while since
cell two ate anything,
it's about time for a meal.
Anything dealing with that rebel scum,
including their dietary
needs, is an ASA matter
and well beyond your current mandates.
Mmm.
_
All right, Joe, let's play some cards.
Okay, I'm in.
Been waiting on you.
Can you see what we're up against?
Okay, we got about a
dozen ASA commandos,
maybe ten cops, including Henderson.
The holding cell's on your left.
The Major's in the back.
Mind getting the lights?
My pleasure.
There, follow that around to your left.
Three o'clock.
The cells are on your right.
...the locks...
Now.
Come on, follow me.
On your six.
Hey, them too, get them out of there.
Got it. Y'all heard the man, let's go.
- Go on.
- Come on, let's go.
Let's go, let's go.
Say good night.
Sinzell.
Some dude's heading this
way, coming up to the gate.
Tell him we appointment only.
Yo, get those trucks gone. Go!
Hi.
You must be Sinzell.
What you gonna do?
Arrest me, huh?
They don't call me when
they want someone arrested.
They call me when
they want someone gone.
All right, straight through
these trees about a quarter-mile.
The Perdi, they'll have a
truck there waiting for you.
But I'm not even a meta.
Until we can prove otherwise,
this is the safer way.
Could you at least tell
my parents that I love 'em?
I got you.
Come on, y'all, let's go.
Come on.
Listen...
Now that they know who you
are, it's safe you leave too.
Yeah, it would. But we gotta
fight the good fight, you know?
No.
No, I was here all night.
I mean, you are tracking me, right?
Isn't that what it says?
Let's not play games, Mr. Pierce,
we both know that you
helped attack that station.
I'll say this...
Everybody gets one. This was yours.
Be certain it never happens again.
Well...
looks like we've arrived.
The results have been
nothing short of remarkable.
Every person who was infected is on
their way to making a full recovery.
A job well done, Dr. Stewart.
You certainly earned
a good night's sleep
and apologies it can't be
longer, but you're needed here.
What, did something happen?
While your focus has
been on the meta virus,
several Green Light and vaccine
kids have grown unstable.
Why wasn't I informed?
Get some rest, Dr. Stewart.
No, not while people's
lives are at risk.
Send a car, bring me in.
Very well, Dr. Stewart.
I applaud and appreciate your
commitment to the greater good.
Goodbye.
She's hooked.
She doesn't realize yet, but... yes.
Better yet, she thinks it's her idea.
You're a genius.
Not really. I only saw
to it that she got a taste
of the most addictive
substance on Earth.
Every time she looks at her tablet,
Odell wants the phrase
"Take Green Light"
flashing too fast for
her to be conscious of it,
but powerful enough to plant the idea.
This is good.
Sir, it's Jennifer Pierce.
If I couldn't light your ass up,
this place might creep me out.
You saw the encrypted link, I presume?
Yeah, and I kind of wish I hadn't.
Can all that stuff really happen here?
Not if I can help, and I can.
Ideally with your assistance.
You have the ability to do things
your father could never do, Ms. Pierce.
Things like what?
I asked you to meet me here
because I thought it'd
be easier to show you.
In that bag, you'll find a
perfect copy of your suit,
and I want you to put this in your ear.
And then what?
Fly straight up until it beeps.
Wait, what about the perimeter?
Already accounted for.
Now...
Let's get you changed.
The Markovians are on
the outskirts of Freeland,
and they are marshalling their forces.
If you help me with this...
Whoa.
...you can go home.
_
How close are you to finding a cure?
I'm making progress.
These people are depending
upon you to save their lives.
- You need to fix this.
- I know.
What is your function?
I'm a biological weapon system.
I picked this up a few moments ago.
That's Grace.
So, if you're trying to find
somebody who doesn't want to be found,
how do you go about that?
Depends on the person.
Grace?
I missed you.
I missed you, too.
Damn.
I'm Jamillah Olsen, and
I'm here at the perimeter
where ASA commandos
have Blackbird cornered
in response to reports that she
freed several suspected metas
from the ASA.
The Markovians want to capture
or kill as many metas as possible.
What do you want me to do?
Your target is the data farm up ahead.
- I found it.
- Now take it out.
Lab log, day six.
Fatalities from the meta virus
with Ebola properties continue to grow.
As the foremost medical
expert on meta-humans,
people are counting
on me, and I'm failing.
I'm failing,
and I'm so tired.
All I know is, the chemical
structure of the meta virus
is similar to a chemical
compound found in both...
...Green Light and the meta vaccine.
Call it fatigue, but I
find myself staring at
the Green Light, wanting
to ask it questions.
Then something occurred to me.
Without exception, Green Light
patients have shown a notable boost
in brain activity.
So in theory, if I was able
to remove the drug's
psychoactive addictive properties,
rendering it safe for consumption,
I could literally make myself smarter.
I used a technique on Green Light
similar to what's used to
extract THC from marijuana.
I tested it on myself
in microdoses, but the
results left no doubt,
a significant increase in
focus, plus exponential gains
in my ability to process information.
It's working.
So I am working around the clock
because if I can't
contain this outbreak,
every single meta,
including my entire family,
could die.
What's all this?
Checkpoint.
Not a big deal.
Lots of changes while you were away.
Looks like a war zone.
Pretty much.
Here you go. And don't worry,
Odell has us registered as non-metas.
- Dad.
- Move. Find cover.
- Put the gun down.
- Get down!
Either of you move, and I will end you.
Hey, hey, hey. You're overreacting.
On the ground now.
You okay?
Yeah. You?
Welcome to the occupation.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
Ready?
On three, two, one...
Assuming Odell has a tracking
device embedded in the new suit,
that will duplicate the signal,
buy me some time to disable it.
This is a mobile Faraday cage.
It will block any signal
coming from the watch.
I gotta tell you, this cloaking thing
- is gonna take some getting used to.
- Yeah.
It's not easy being dead.
I gotta stay that way until
I know who tried to kill me.
How about you? How are you feeling?
Any residual effects
from the ASA testing?
No, actually, I'm good.
Wish I could say the
same for my marriage.
Butting heads over how
to deal with the ASA.
You know, I couldn't wait to leave
the Pit. Lynn is going voluntarily,
even though they're blindfolding
her and driving her in and out.
That's painful,
not being on the same
page with your wife.
Is that what happened
with you and your ex?
Job got in the way?
That's ancient history.
Let's not turn those pages.
I'll check out your suit,
set up a tracking
system to find the Pit.
You figure out how to get back
on the same page with Lynn.
Got your text.
Still checking in on me, huh?
In a manner of speaking, yes. Now
that your father has returned home,
especially under such
trying circumstances,
it's important that
we keep this line of communication open.
Can I ask you a question, like for real?
As the head honcho
in charge around here,
why don't you just put
an end to this occupation?
Because the Markovians killed my people.
That's not a reason to start snatching
people up and locking them in camps.
We put people with
the meta gene in camps
to keep them alive,
the Markovians put people in camps
to watch them die.
How do I even know that's true?
Every search engine gets blocked by
all your stupid Internet restrictions.
I could send you a link, Ms. Pierce,
encrypted, of course.
Then you can see exactly
what it is we're up against.
I still don't understand why
you have to lock the city down.
Ever heard of Rwanda?
The former Yugoslavia?
Liberia?
Things can go to chaos real
quick with the wrong push,
and chaos is deadly.
Good day, Ms. Pierce.
Let's open this bitch up and
see what y'all brought me now.
Damn!
Shut that and pick
this fool's dumb ass up.
Leave dude in there.
He'll bleed out when we roll.
This is Jamillah Olsen reporting
from inside occupied Freeland.
Today, I'm at Garfield High School,
where students are being tested
for ASA-mandated registration cards.
Only those who test negative for the
meta gene can move
freely about the city.
Those who test positive will be
taken to an ASA detainment facility
and forced to submit
to medical procedures.
Yo.
'Sup, man?
- You're getting in line, right?
- Nah.
I already got mine. I'll catch up
with you later though, all right?
Yeah, all right.
All right.
- What's good?
- Hey.
Another one of my
trucks has been hijacked.
Find the vermin who keep stealing
from me and exterminate them.
To think, once upon a time, I
was worried about metal detectors.
It's not about corner boys now.
If a war breaks out,
we're gonna be really happy
- the ASA is here.
- Wait, what? Jen.
Jen, you saw what happened
at that checkpoint.
- They pointed guns at us.
- Didn't you just let the ASA experiment on you?
'Cause I'm pretty sure you did.
Why would you do that if you
thought the ASA was no good, Dad?
To protect you.
That's always the reason, isn't it?
Morning, gentlemen.
- Mr. Pierce.
- Mind if I have a look?
Yeah, just looking at a video of...
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
I'm sorry. It's pretty cool, though.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Have a good class.
Mr. Pierce, a word?
Yeah, actually, I have to get to class.
Yes, about that.
During your ASA-approved medical leave,
Mrs. Wellen was permanently
assigned your classes.
- You can't do that.
- I didn't. The ASA did.
After 30 days of being poked and prodded
and taking every test under the sun,
- this is the thanks I get?
- Oh, I'm not finished.
You've been made our
new guidance counselor.
Congrats.
Now what I find most puzzling,
as part of this demotion,
the ASA also gave you
a raise, a nicer office,
and a lot less work.
Based on that, I'm gonna
assume you must have done...
really well on those tests.
That's all you can tell me?
At some point, death comes for us all.
And when that time comes,
though we yearn for love,
all we're left with is pain.
A person will do more to avoid pain
than to achieve anything
else in this world.
Knowing this, the greatest
gift that anyone could ever give
is to take that pain away.
Lucky for you,
they call me Painkiller.
I assume this is important.
You told me measures were being taken
to ensure Freeland's safety, okay.
You never said anything
about martial law.
Markovians attacked an ASA operation
and killed my personnel.
You'd rather I sent a
strongly worded email?
When I see military walking around
the hallways of my high school...
Things have to change.
I have done everything
you've asked of me.
Keep troops in Freeland, fine.
But this occupation is overkill.
In my experience, Mr.
Pierce, there's no such thing.
Now you continue to do as instructed,
or I'll put your daughters in the Pit.
Run tests on them,
just like all the others.
I spent my whole life trying
to make these damn streets safe,
and they got me out there
talking like I'm some...
Talking as the chief of police.
Yes.
I know you're frustrated,
but when all this ends,
you'll be the man who
got Freeland through this.
You'll have the clout
to fix the department,
be mayor someday.
- I don't know, Veretta.
- I do.
You be who you gotta be today,
so you can be who you
want to be tomorrow.
Mmm-hmm.
Hmm.
- Major.
- The ASA is commandeering this station.
Escort these prisoners to lockup.
Agent Odell assured me this station
will remain under my command.
Now I have orders that say otherwise.
Until further notice, this
location is a clean camp
to keep suspected metas as far away
from the meta virus as possible.
How the hell we supposed
to do our job, huh?
What...
What you expect us to do?
You can start by
clearing out your office.
I'll be using it for
the duration. And...
as always, Chief Henderson,
we appreciate your cooperation.
Mmm-hmm.
Hmm.
All right, stop that vehicle.
_
The Markovian government continues
their reign of terror with
their strategic assault...
on Sudan, stripping them of resources,
killing with extreme prejudice,
women, children, and
non-military personnel.
While the United Nations
condemned their actions,
currently no aid has been allowed entry.
This is a very violent
and incendiary situation.
Closest thing I ever had to
powers was driving the city bus.
The job I started one
month before I got married,
38 years ago.
38 years of marriage?
Now that is a superpower.
Well, hopefully this
will slow the virus down,
giving us enough time to
come up with a vaccine.
Get you home to your wife.
You have any kids?
Three of them.
Two boys and a girl.
Plus grandkids.
My youngest one, my daughter Olivia,
she's set to get
married in a few months.
I even like the fella, not
that I'll ever admit it.
Sorry.
None of this seems real.
I still can't believe I'm dying.
Hey, don't give up on me, okay?
'Cause I'm not giving up on you.
I'll pay the three stacks this time.
But when we're talking the
same weapons at twice the price,
- that mess ain't gonna fly.
- It's supply and demand,
and I got the supply.
If you don't drive off,
you won't have anything.
I ain't got no beef with you.
Then I suggest you leave.
You can't be using my name
and symbol, and then you go
off shooting up ASA checkpoints.
I don't take orders from you.
Your boss did not approve of that.
Now you lucky the result
was just getting locked up.
They could've been killed.
By any means necessary.
Don't go quoting Malcolm to me.
You don't like the way we
doing things, talk to the boss.
Oh, I plan to.
I'm sorry, uh...
I thought this was
Anissa Pierce's place.
It is, Mr. Pierce, I'm Grace.
I recognize you from her photos.
Nice to finally meet you.
Please come in.
Thank you.
I am not really sure
when she'll be back,
but shouldn't be too long.
Can I get you something to drink?
Uh, no.
I'm fine, thank you.
What, Dad?
Hey, what's up?
Wait, she knows?
About Blackbird?
A person I've never met?
Look, she only knows about me, I swear.
Thunder too?
Yeah.
You have put our
entire family in danger.
Dad, I trust Grace with my life.
Oh, until you throw her out of
your bed and find someone else.
Okay, I don't know where
any of this is coming from,
but I'm not gonna stand here
and be yelled at by you or anyone else.
Why, 'cause you're Blackbird now?
Running around, showing off?
Throwing tanks?
Helping people has never
been enough for you.
No. No, you, you gotta be famous,
live in a fancy loft.
Paid with drug money, I take it.
Running around spraying that
ridiculous logo all over town.
So, what, are you jealous?
And that logo? That's not even me.
That's the insurgents
using me to inspire hope.
You know, something Black
Lightning used to do.
Do you have any idea, any idea
what I've been through for the city?
Don't hurt us.
- Hey. Hey, Grace.
- Please don't.
It's okay. He's not
gonna hurt you or me.
I promise.
What the hell was that?
You need to leave.
Now.
- Anissa...
- Dad, no, listen to me.
This is my house.
And right now, you're not welcome in it.
Leave.
Can I sit down?
I need you to know that
my dad would never hurt me.
He's overbearing, and he has had
a hard time seeing me as an adult.
But he's no threat
to me or to you.
Okay?
I never wanted you to see this.
Not ever.
Not this piece of me.
There's still so much you don't know.
Maybe less than you think.
Shay Li Wylde.
How do you know that name?
My Uncle Gambi.
He has access to things
that most people don't.
I know about you losing your parents...
and you living on the streets.
How you were kidnapped...
And sold for sex against my will.
I told you I was broken.
I can't believe you'd want to
be with me knowing all that.
Well...
Believe it.
Anissa, this would be a lot for anybody.
Grace, I told you, we're in this.
Me, you, the leopard,
that old guy, all of us.
It's one big party up in here.
It is not your beautiful face
or this fine-ass body
that I'm in love with.
Now, don't get me wrong,
if we taking votes,
this form is by far my favorite.
But it's not even about that.
It's you, Grace.
Your heart.
Your soul.
Your essence.
That's what I'm in love with.
Just you.
It's okay.
Hey.
Hey.
Wow, I haven't seen you look
this bad since med school.
That's exactly the warm
welcome I was hoping for.
Ah, no, sweetheart, that's
not what I meant, you just...
You look really, really tired.
You want me to run you a bath?
No, no, I'm just here for a
few minutes to grab some things.
I have to get back. I'm
synthesizing a vaccine.
What?
Wait, what? You're gonna
stay there again tonight?
But, babe, we need to talk.
I have to get back.
Okay, look, I...
I just think that... we
need to get on the same page.
Look, our girls need us.
Anissa is trippin' big time,
and Jennifer seems to think
that the ASA occupation
is actually a good thing.
Lynn?
Jeff, are the girls safe?
Wait, what?
Yeah, for now, I guess.
Anything that comes up,
you can take care of it.
I need to get back.
Again with the tuna breath.
Like your salami's any better.
Of the six ASA trucks that were taken,
four of them link
back to the two of you.
No...
When I want you to speak,
I'll ask you a question.
That pain that you're
feeling? It's neurotoxins
that I can administer at
varying levels of intensity.
This was a small dose.
Now, the longer that this process takes,
the higher that dosage will become.
Until you fall into paralysis
and ultimately death.
So, shall we begin?
It's this drug dealer, Sinzell.
He pays us for the supply routes.
He's got a warehouse
somewhere north of here,
- we're not sure where.
- That's all we know.
I swear.
Listen, if any of this
information isn't good,
I'll find you two weak-minded cowards,
and I will torture you
every day for a year before I kill you.
It's good, I promise.
Did I ask you a question?
People always talk about Nazi Germany...
And for good reason.
Obviously, but look at us.
In World War II,
we put anyone who even looked
Japanese in a prison camp.
Not to mention occupying
the Philippines, Haiti...
Dominican Republic, Iraq.
There's more to the world than the US.
What about the Russian
occupation of Ukraine?
Or Turkey being in Syria?
These are all happening right now.
- Today.
- Yes, but unless it's on TMZ,
or a Kardashian tattoos it on they ass,
nobody seems to care.
What none of you are
talking about is genocide.
The government coming in as
peacekeepers trying to help.
I mean, Rwanda, Darfur.
Peacekeeping in Rwanda failed.
Like seriously, it failed...
- Look...
- Done.
My point is, maybe this
occupation isn't all bad.
Maybe the ASA's here trying to
protect the people of Freeland.
All right, all right.
Hold up, excuse me. You
have no right to do this,
do you hear me? You have no right.
Tavon Singley, I'm gonna
need you to come with us.
What'd I do?
- I ain't do nothing.
- No, Tavon, you stay right there,
- you are not going anywhere.
- Whoa, whoa.
Sir, you need to step aside.
There's been a report of
meta-human powers being displayed.
What? No, that's not true.
- That's not true!
- Listen, you get your hands...
Let's go.
Wait, Tavon.
Wait...
What do you think of
your peacekeepers now?
So they're just gonna lock him up
and wait till the results come in?
There's no way in hell Tavon's a meta.
I heard someone dropped a "see
something, say something" dime on him.
Got some beef over a girl.
You really believe
that peacekeeping stuff
- about the ASA helping?
- Look, I don't know.
Okay?
But what I do know is,
Markovia's dangerous.
I've been hearing some
crazy stuff about them,
like war-crime stuff.
That's dumb as hell.
How could you judge an entire
country based off of rumors?
Y'all don't even know what the
hell y'all talking about, man.
- Oh, and you do?
- I'm just saying.
History is written by whoever wins.
So unless we experience
things firsthand,
how do we know it's true?
Well, if it was up to my mom, I
would never experience anything.
I really hate how they say that
they want us to be better than them.
'Cause in reality, they never do.
That's real.
It's okay, Doc.
You did what you could.
Richard, stay with me, okay?
Richard...
It looks like you're gonna be
able to walk your daughter
down the aisle after all.
Hey, hey, where's the watch?
Come here for a sec,
I wanna show you this.
I was able to put a radioactive resin
on the tires of several ASA vehicles.
This will allow us to track
their frequently traveled routes,
narrowing down the list of locations
until they lead us to the Pit.
That's great.
That's great.
The watch.
What's the urgency?
The ASA snatched a student, Tavon,
right out of Jennifer's classroom,
then beat down the principal
when he tried to stop them.
I heard from Henderson the ASA is
holding Tavon at the police station.
Ah.
Did you try the tracking device?
I did, disabled it.
Oh, great.
I wish I could say otherwise,
but that suit's far better
than anything I've ever built.
I could've done the
same with $30 billion
and ten guys working
around the clock, but...
It's got next-gen nanotech,
and with its increased
conductivity threshold,
you can generate 20 to 30% more
electricity without any risk
of damaging your nervous system.
The thing's amazing.
Good.
Jeff.
What about your family?
Odell was very clear,
you go out on the street,
they go in the Pit.
Wait...
Maybe there's a better way.
But I'm gonna need a little help.
Dad, not right now.
I need to get to work.
Whatever you have to say
to me can wait until later.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Look, just hear me out.
Now, I know I'm not your
favorite person at the moment,
and I'm not saying I agree
with all your choices.
- I'm not asking you to.
- Oh, look, look.
Just, look...
You and I, we disagree, okay?
On a lot of things.
But I know that you care
about the people of Freeland.
You don't even know the half of it.
Okay, look...
me, Reverend Holt, and a
handful of other people,
we started up our own
underground railroad.
We've been sneaking
metas and suspected metas
outside the perimeter.
How did you get them...
With an assist from Uncle Gambi.
All these years calling
you Harriet Tubman
were prophetic.
Okay, Dad, stop, please.
No, uh...
I'm proud of you.
Thank you.
Okay, now I need your help.
The ASA snatched Tavon,
accused him of being a meta.
Now they have him locked
up at the police station.
All right.
What do you need me to do?
Hey, you hangin' in there?
Huh?
All right.
Yo, Chief.
Any chance we can get
some food up in here?
- Oh, what, you hungry?
- Why do you think I'm askin'?
Well, you should've thought about
that before you shot up a checkpoint.
How it feels to be a Uncle Tom.
How's it feels to be in jail?
Hey, uh...
It's been a while since
cell two ate anything,
it's about time for a meal.
Anything dealing with that rebel scum,
including their dietary
needs, is an ASA matter
and well beyond your current mandates.
Mmm.
_
All right, Joe, let's play some cards.
Okay, I'm in.
Been waiting on you.
Can you see what we're up against?
Okay, we got about a
dozen ASA commandos,
maybe ten cops, including Henderson.
The holding cell's on your left.
The Major's in the back.
Mind getting the lights?
My pleasure.
There, follow that around to your left.
Three o'clock.
The cells are on your right.
...the locks...
Now.
Come on, follow me.
On your six.
Hey, them too, get them out of there.
Got it. Y'all heard the man, let's go.
- Go on.
- Come on, let's go.
Let's go, let's go.
Say good night.
Sinzell.
Some dude's heading this
way, coming up to the gate.
Tell him we appointment only.
Yo, get those trucks gone. Go!
Hi.
You must be Sinzell.
What you gonna do?
Arrest me, huh?
They don't call me when
they want someone arrested.
They call me when
they want someone gone.
All right, straight through
these trees about a quarter-mile.
The Perdi, they'll have a
truck there waiting for you.
But I'm not even a meta.
Until we can prove otherwise,
this is the safer way.
Could you at least tell
my parents that I love 'em?
I got you.
Come on, y'all, let's go.
Come on.
Listen...
Now that they know who you
are, it's safe you leave too.
Yeah, it would. But we gotta
fight the good fight, you know?
No.
No, I was here all night.
I mean, you are tracking me, right?
Isn't that what it says?
Let's not play games, Mr. Pierce,
we both know that you
helped attack that station.
I'll say this...
Everybody gets one. This was yours.
Be certain it never happens again.
Well...
looks like we've arrived.
The results have been
nothing short of remarkable.
Every person who was infected is on
their way to making a full recovery.
A job well done, Dr. Stewart.
You certainly earned
a good night's sleep
and apologies it can't be
longer, but you're needed here.
What, did something happen?
While your focus has
been on the meta virus,
several Green Light and vaccine
kids have grown unstable.
Why wasn't I informed?
Get some rest, Dr. Stewart.
No, not while people's
lives are at risk.
Send a car, bring me in.
Very well, Dr. Stewart.
I applaud and appreciate your
commitment to the greater good.
Goodbye.
She's hooked.
She doesn't realize yet, but... yes.
Better yet, she thinks it's her idea.
You're a genius.
Not really. I only saw
to it that she got a taste
of the most addictive
substance on Earth.
Every time she looks at her tablet,
Odell wants the phrase
"Take Green Light"
flashing too fast for
her to be conscious of it,
but powerful enough to plant the idea.
This is good.
Sir, it's Jennifer Pierce.
If I couldn't light your ass up,
this place might creep me out.
You saw the encrypted link, I presume?
Yeah, and I kind of wish I hadn't.
Can all that stuff really happen here?
Not if I can help, and I can.
Ideally with your assistance.
You have the ability to do things
your father could never do, Ms. Pierce.
Things like what?
I asked you to meet me here
because I thought it'd
be easier to show you.
In that bag, you'll find a
perfect copy of your suit,
and I want you to put this in your ear.
And then what?
Fly straight up until it beeps.
Wait, what about the perimeter?
Already accounted for.
Now...
Let's get you changed.