Black Lightning (2018–…): Season 4, Episode 8 - The Book of Ruin: Chapter Three: Things Fall Apart - full transcript

The FBI pays Jefferson a visit. Meanwhile, Anissa surprises Grace.

Previously on
Black Lightning.

That small cluster
of energy particles.

It's gotta be her.
I'm going up there.

Even if that cloud is Jen,

your body would not be able
to absorb that kind of energy.

Because I'm so close
it's like I can hear her calling to me.

At least in concept,

the particle condenser will begin to
transmute the energy into matter.

Then Jen walks out.

How do we turn her back?

Turn her back?



It's a miracle she survived at all.

We're just gonna have to accept
the fact that this is the new Jen.

Would a traitor get you
the ballistics from the Mayor's killing?

Notice anything unusual?

They're still in the casing.

- What the hell?
- How do you fire a bullet without a gun?

So a meta did it?

Where are you with Val?

I just got
her blood results back.

So she's a meta
working for Tobias?

How do we find out
what her power is?

We'd have to
create a meta-booster

and inject it into someone.

Okay, great. Do it.



I don't think that's a good idea.

What is it?

It's called an
energy field emitter.

Wait a minute. Power.

Maybe that's the reason
we haven't been able

to extend the range
on the emitter.

It's too bad we can't
use promethium like you did in the DEGs.

It's just such an incredibly
rare mineral element.

Not as rare as you might think.

This is the Go board
from when I beat you.

Ooh, okay.

We agreed to tell them
after the trip, right?

They're gonna be pissed
we didn't tell them sooner. I know it.

All right, well,
there's only one way to find out, right?

Okay.

- Uh, you ready?
- Mmm-hmm.

Okay.

Surprise!

Welcome to the family, Grace.

So I might have
put a call in ahead.

Surprise, baby!

You are incredible.

I had to get you.

Come on now, make a speech.

Grace, my love, my heart.

Ooh! It has been one crazy year.

And truth is, we'll probably
have many not so great years.

If we are lucky, we'll have each other
to spend those crazy days together.

I love you so much, Grace.

Welcome to the family.

I love you, too.
Thank you guys so much for this.

- Welcome to the family, Grace.
- And I wish we told you sooner.

No, you did what you needed
for each other.

That's what marriage is.

Anyways, I'm still mad y'all didn't take
me with you to Akashic Valley.

I could have tested out
my new look.

The only test you need
to be worried about is the SAT.

Harsh.

That doesn't
sound good.

No, no, no, I got it.

Can I help you?

Special Agent Kevin Mason, FBI.

Mr. Pierce, we have
a warrant to search this house.

Is there anyone else inside?

My family.

Whoa, whoa.

No one comes inside
till you tell me what this is all about.

Mr. Pierce, step aside.
I'm not gonna ask again.

Okay, so it's like that, then.

I'm instructing you
to step aside.

Last night
I saw a superhero He was black

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

How could they think
I embezzled money from Garfield?

The first thing we have to do
is focus on clearing your name.

The government froze
my bank accounts.

My assets.

It has to be Tobias, Jeff.

Think about it.

He's trying to destroy your legacy.

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

Gambi and TC are at the Sanctum
right now, diggin' into this.

We'll find a way
to hit back at Tobias.

Well, I'm close
to uncovering Val's meta powers.

Yeah. Good.

If we can prove she was the meta
that killed Mayor Black,

her only way out will be

to name Tobias as the man
who ordered the hit.

This all goes away.

Yeah, I'm handling it.

Yes. Of course.

Look, I wanna apologize

about the way things went
down the other night.

I'm sorry.

- Are you?
- Yes.

I never meant
to jeopardize your sobriety.

I'm sorry
if you took it that way.

Apology accepted.

You and Jen
seem to be getting back

to your old selves.

Well, it's early.

Jeff, I've run every test
that I can.

I'm still waiting
on the results of one,

but it's only going to prove
what we already know.

That little girl upstairs
is our daughter,

and the sooner
you accept that, the better.

So hard not to light them up.

Having to stand there

and let them completely
destroy my room.

That's why
we work on restraint.

It doesn't come naturally.

Nothing comes natural anymore,

even dealing with the face
I have to walk around in.

What if I never
get used to it?

Come on.

Give it time, Jen, okay?

And can you at least try
to find a bright side in all of this?

I mean, it won't be
a new face for long.

What?

Think about it
like buying a great pair of heels.

Your stride,
it be a little bit different

the first few times
around in them, right?

Girl, walk that walk while you can.

- You're crazy.
- Okay.

Kids at school are already talking

about Dad's embezzlement
charges online.

Made the evening news, huh?

As if my first day back
wasn't already gonna be hard.

Well, don't think about asking Dad
if you can miss school.

We already know the answer to that.

Come on, Jen. No.

One thing that has not changed
is that you're a Pierce.

And Pierces handle anything
that is thrown at them.

You gonna be good.

Okay?

Okay.

Wow.

I thoroughly enjoyed that, Val.

Glad I could provide it for you.

What else you got?

Monovista's behind schedule
on the delivery with no new ETA.

This can't happen.

Monovista has to deliver on time.

I could drop by Bates' office,
help motivate the process.

Okay, Red.

Your initiative is noted.

Be my guest.

One more thing, sir. Dr. Stewart?

Her role in your plan is
as crucial as any,

and we haven't
heard anything from her.

Are you sure she's on track?

What you don't know
about Dr. Stewart is,

her finest quality
when it comes to her work

is she leaves no stone unturned.

And we're using that
attribute against her.

The best part is...

she has no idea.

For the last time,
you are going to school.

Now let's go over
your backstory one more time.

Name is JJ Stewart,
Jen's cousin on her mom's side.

Big military family.

Tired of being an army brat,

Pierces offered to
let me stay with them in Freeland

so I could finish school
in the States.

How's that?

That'll have to do. You've gotta go.

Okay.

I wish I could be there with you.

Hey, guys, what's up?

Hey, TC.

What are you doing here?

I can't let you
go to school alone on your first day.

They like to pick on the new kid.
Believe me.

Boy, please.

I am still
the Queen of Garfield if I wanna be.

Okay, well,
the Queen of Garfield

is about to be late,
so, come on, come on.

- Is this a bad time?
- Not at all.

Sorry about that.

Finalizing plans to acquire
a stockpile of promethium.

For the family suits
to protect against the new DEGs.

I know what "acquire" means.

Just be careful.

You wanted to talk.

It's about my sobriety.

I've come a long way in the last year,

but not quite far enough.

You're being too hard on yourself.

No. It's true.

I can acknowledge that.

But it's why I need your help.

I'm listening.

This vial...

contains meta powers
belonging to Tobias's attorney, Val.

Jeff and I believe
it's possible she killed the mayor...

but we need to know
what her powers were to confirm that.

And you need a non-meta host?

And I don't wanna risk
being triggered.

Say no more.

Am I supposed to feel something?

Well, you might feel
a delicate sensation

just under the surface of the skin,

like waves of energy
pushing into your tissue,

and then it happens simultaneously...

and you become the feeling.

But it might be different
for everyone.

I don't feel anything.

Something's wrong.

It's not working.

Hey, man.

I'm sorry to ask you here
on such short notice.

I need to show you something.

I figured it's the kind of thing
you tell a man face-to-face,

with it being
your father's house and all.

This can't be happening.

Well, half the neighborhood
got one.

I'll look into this.

You and your kids
aren't goin' anywhere.

- No, no, no. You don't have to.
- It'll only be a couple of hours.

No, really, Jefferson, it's fine.

Look, I know you've got
a lot on your plate right now.

Besides, tonight
I pick up the keys for our new house.

What?

That's great.

Yeah, I had no doubt
you were gonna turn things around.

Yeah, and to think I owe it to a man
I had no intentions of voting for.

I'm not following you.

The albino dude.

Tobias Whale?

Yeah. He stopped by your dad's house
earlier with a developer.

Some business about a hospital
they plan on building on the land.

Well, part of the deal was
relocation funds for families like mine.

So...

We still have time
for a grand tour before lunch.

Don't be cute. I gave you
your first tour of this place.

And that's the point.
It's poetic. Look.

Hold on.

There's a video going viral of Lightning
opening a can on the Freeland PD.

The people love when I do my thing.

Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you.

Have you been having any abnormal
side effects since the transformation?

Or just been feeling weird at all?

Please let Uncle Gambi know,
for the last time, I feel fine.

I told him it wouldn't work.

Only weirdness I'm dealing
with today are all the Jen questions.

What have you been telling everyone?

That she joined an nunnery.

You can't be serious.

What? The sisters
are desperate for more sisters.

I'm just trying to get
the word out.

Yeah, no.

I said she took an opportunity
to study abroad.

They all bought it.

Well, that is a crying shame.

Principal Pierce out here
preaching about positivity.

Meanwhile, he lines his own pockets

with the money that we,
the students, earned.

Man, we outperformed
every other public school in Freeland

and we gained
the community support.

That money belongs to us
and we demand justice.

- Is Montel serious right now?
- Yes.

Yo, you need to
kill that noise, dawg.

So you support Principal Pierce?

We don't even know if he did it.

But I see all you care about
is bein' an online activist.

I'm sorry, Mr. Refresh-My-Memory,
who are you again?

I'm nobody.

Just know you're trying to ruin
a man's name to get clout.

It's not cool.

Yeah, nice talk, man.

- Loser!
- Dork.

Hey, I can introduce you.

Nah, I got it.

"Nah, I got it."

Hi.

Hey.

I just wanted
to say thanks for what you did.

Don't even mention it.

I just can't stand this goofy
cancel culture thing we live in.

- You're new here, right?
- That obvious?

In your case, it is.
I don't remember seeing you.

I'm JJ.

Uriah.

The Pierces are actually my fam.

- Hence the gratitude.
- So you know Jen?

We're cousins on her mom's side.

Word, that's dope.

Well, how you likin'
ol' Garfield so far?

Getting better by the minute.

Yo, I could show you around
if you want.

Really?

That would be so great.
I've literally been lost all day.

All right.
Let me see your schedule...

Thirsty.

Ah! Boom! Looks like
we got band class together.

Cool. Well, lead the way.

When exactly do they plan on
building this hospital?

I am fully aware
of how eminent domain works.

I don't want to challenge the appraisal.

It's my father's house.
I don't wanna sell it at all.

Yeah, sure, I will hold.

Again.

You know, forget this.

Who was on the phone?

Nobody.

Dad, I know I'm going
through a lot with the change,

but don't hide things to protect me.

City plans on
tearing down your grandfather's house

and putting a hospital in its place.

Can they do that?

Well, legally, yeah.

But they have to pay you for it, right?

That's sort of
what the phone call was all about.

Get that bank.

Not like we use the house anyways.

Your grandfather worked hard
to purchase that house,

and he handed it down to me,

and I wanted to hand it down
to my kids. You know...

Generational wealth and all that.

Anissa don't want it.

You see how she's living.

And if being popular worked
for the Kardashians,

then I am set.

It's the principle
of the thing.

Your grandfather, a Black man,

managed to own something
that he wanted to hand down.

I'm sorry this is happening, Daddy.

You haven't called me
"Daddy" in years.

Gotta change up every once in a while.

Yeah, speaking of change.

How did the first day of school go?

Not too rough, I hope?

It wasn't rough at all.

Kids were protesting for you.

It was cool.

Well, that's good to hear.

Kiki, hey, girl, it's been a minute.

Okay, I see you, Dr. Pierce.

White coat and everything.

It is so good to see you.

What brings you in?

Marvin's gon' be a daddy.

I'll be 17 weeks tomorrow.

That is so beautiful.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

One of the tests
they're offering came back abnormal.

Abnormal how?

Doctor said that the test
show markers for cystic fibrosis.

Which will be taken care of
this evening

with a simple outpatient procedure.

Can I talk to you in private?

Yeah, sure.

Okay, look, I won't keep him long,

but you make sure
you tell Marvin I said hi, okay?

Will do.

It's so good to see you, Kiki. Bye.

Why did you just lie to her?

We can't just fix cystic fibrosis.

We can now.

The facility partnered with Monovista.

Their medical division
has discovered a way

to isolate chromosome seven.

You're kidding. You're saying a full
removal of the CFTR gene mutation?

- Yes.
- What?

That's cool, right?

I mean,
cutting edge gene editing.

How the hell am I
just findin' out about this?

Well, to be honest,

I don't think anyone has.

Pregnant patients
with the diagnosis get flagged

and then referred
to Monovista for treatment.

Speaking of which,
I should get back to your friend.

- Yeah. Go ahead. I'm on my...
- I'll see you later.

I think that should do it.

We extended the emitter's
energy radius to 55 miles

for final simulation.

Before long,
you'll have one of these

in every major city
across the country.

Providing sustainable energy
for millions of Americans.

Only one thing left to do.

It's not working.

Should I run a quick diagnostic?

Would Nikola run a diagnostic?

It worked!

Congratulations.

Wait until Mr. Bates sees this.

Mass production, here we come.

You're gonna need
a lot of promethium for that.

What you have here
won't even begin to cut it.

- Already covered.
- Really?

Well, before we get
too far ahead of ourselves,

we should celebrate.

Yes, absolutely.

In the mood for Italian?

More than you know, Peter.

I'll make us a reservation.

Wait... Do you want me
to go check that out?

It's my special cooling system.

I'm the only one with access.

Well, if this thing overheats,
it'll go up like an A-bomb.

It's probably nothing.
Give me a few minutes.

Sorry about that.

False alarm. Shall we go?

I'll take that as a yes.

All units,
please be advised.

We have a 10-57 in progress.

Officers in pursuit

heading north on MLK Boulevard
on 9th Street, northwest.

You know,
it didn't have to be like this.

Tell me where Blackbird is,

and I won't kill
every last member of her resistance.

Startin' right here.

Ready when you are.

You know, for what it's worth...

you'll die an honorable man.

Yeah.

Come out, come out,
wherever you are.

Thanks again
for stopping by to check on me.

And for the extra calories.

No problem.

If anybody threw me a surprise party,
I'd be hella mad.

Why?

I need to be party fly.

There's always pictures.

You're hilarious.

But let me check on you.

How'd it feel
to be back at Garfield?

Good.

I love my schedule.

Finally got a music class.

You know, the thing about
shape-shifting,

you learn to read
body language quite well.

And yours is telling
a much different story.

So out with it.

Students were protesting

my dad's embezzlement
charges in the halls.

That's horrible, Jen.

He devoted his life to Garfield
and they turned on him.

Well, not everybody.

This guy spoke up for him.

Your body language
is now screaming "crush."

What's that like?

Believe it or not, perfect.

I guess JJ's more his type.

Who cares what his type is?

You focus on feeling
comfortable in your own skin.

I think I'm getting there.

- His approval shouldn't be why.
- Definitely not.

But I do like him.

All right, just take it slow.

I wouldn't be too quick
to trust this boy.

Yep. I'm sorry, hold up.

Yeah! Tobias! Whoo!

Yeah. Leave it to Freeland
to turn this into a party.

Maybe it's because
we're up so big in the polls, yeah?

As many of you may know,

Freeland is suffering
from one of the worst

economic hardships
in recent history.

The homeless epidemic
is at an all-time high.

Local businesses
are closing down all over the city.

That's right.

And what's this I hear
about Garfield High?

Have you guys been
following the news lately?

I think Principal Pierce

has been arrested
on embezzlement charges.

Don't quote me on that,
because I haven't been briefed.

But it sounds terrible.

It's no secret that
Freeland has fallen from grace.

But I tell you, the best part
about gettin' knocked down...

is you have the chance
to come back stronger

and better than ever before.

That starts with leadership,

the kinda leadership
my campaign is built on.

Tonight I plan to share
something with you

that I think is gonna
be a big win for Freeland.

But first, there's someone
I'd like you to meet.

Who do you think it is?

Who do you think it is?

This is Marcel Payton.

Marcel happens to be
a teacher at Garfield High,

and before today,

Marcel and his lovely children
were homeless,

but I was blessed
and fortunate enough to change that.

Be sure to check offshore
accounts for identity theft.

- Swiss, Cayman Islands.
- Yes, sir.

Are you okay, Jeff?

Tobias said some
pretty nasty things back there.

- Did you expect different.
- I got something.

A dozen transfers
from the education fund

into both of
your daughters' trusts.

No middleman.

How is Tobias doing this?

It's beyond devious.

It's like you, actually, kinda...

I mean, I know that you didn't,

but according to this,
you kinda did.

Hey, I picked up some food
on my way back.

Why don't we take a break?

No, Not now.
Keep going, TC.

Take it easy.

Something's wrong.
I can't hear anything.

Your powers aren't working?

Are you okay?

Do you feel light-headed?

I'm fine. I'm fine, I just...

I can't talk to the system.

Okay, well, do it manually.
We're close.

I don't know how to do that.

- Perfect.
- Jeff.

Let me see if I can
do it from this other terminal.

Has anything like this
happened before?

Never.

Wait, they're back. They're back.

And they're gone again.

I'm sorry, guys.
I don't know what's wrong.

Oh, my God.

TC's powers are dormant,

because I injected Gambi
with Val's meta-booster.

Jeff, light it up.

Nothing.

I think Val is a nullifier.

A what?

That explains why
I didn't feel anything.

A nullifier's power
stops other metas from having powers.

If what you're saying is true,
we need to find the Mayor's killer fast.

Tobias is in possession

of the single greatest threat
to our family in Val.

I'm bad luck. I always knew it.

You're not bad luck, JJ.

I've been in band class for two days

and the school decides to cut
the entire music program?

It's me. I'm sure of it.

Hey. Nah, we gotta
do something about this.

I mean, we gotta fight it.

We can't just let them
kick us to the curb like this.

What if we tried raising the money?

How?

This is gonna sound crazy,
but I might know a way.

I'm all ears.

You can never be too certain.

Oh, my God.

Jeff.

Hey, I saw your call.

So, the test prove
we were right about Val?

Yeah.

Um, so far. That's...

That's not why I called.

Everything okay?

Fine. I just wanted to let you know
that I'll probably work late tonight.

Oh, okay.

Well, I'm headed back
to the Sanctum now.

Have you slept?

Has Tobias?

Fair enough.

- I'll see you tonight.
- Okay.

All right, TC, I'm in. Copy?

I'm here.

The drive is in.

Go ahead. Do what you gotta do
so we can get out of here.

What exactly
are we looking for?

A chart on Kiki's
cystic fibrosis procedure.

I think we've got company.

Are you sure
you heard something?

Positive.

And this company
is not the friendly kind.

We all have to
breathe sometime.

Hey!

Who is this maniac?

Beats the hell outta me.

Who I am
is of no concern to you when you're hit.

Yeah, we'll see about that.

Shapeshifter. Noted.

Are you out of your mind?

You can't walk in here
and hit me.

I need your attention.

Then you say, "Excuse me,"
you animal.

We need an update on delivery,
and you're not takin' our calls.

Tell Tobias I don't work for him.

Now get out before I have
security throw you out!

Throw me out?

So, you like golf?

Let's play.

Come on.

What do we have here?

You saw the club.
We gotta keep an eye on Red.

He's lookin' like the Mayor's killer.

I'm on it.

The bullet from Shakur could not have
retained any magnetic residue.

I'm only able to get a reading

because he's using an abundance
of power right now.

Whoa! What happened?
Where'd the signature go?

He must have
stopped using his powers.

We can't lose him.
I'm going after him.

Hold on, hold on.

I think you misunderstand
the purpose of my visit.

It's ready. I swear to God,
the emitter's ready.

We just need a few more days
to run some final tests.

Tobias will understand.

Please don't kill me.

You have 48 hours
to deliver the emitter,

or that bullet
will have your name on it.

The bullet trick
is Red's calling card.

Yeah, he's definitely
the Mayor's killer.

Oh.

How is it lookin'?

Kill order is still active,

but the test isn't finished,
so, fingers crossed.

What are you
gonna do with that?

Well, it's just in case.

In case what?

Khalil will be helpless
during this procedure,

and even though our connection
is secure, it ain't invisible.

Someone's gotta stand watch.

- Heads-up.
- Heads-up.

So, you think
this is gonna work this time?

I sure hope so.

You have no idea what it's like

to walk through a digital door
in your head

and the first thing you see
is Painkiller.

I just ran.

Yeah, we know.

And I remember
when my biggest fear

was making sure I didn't lose
a track meet in front of Jen.

How is she?

Not good.

Her dad is being investigated
by the FBI.

You're kidding.

Embezzlement.

He thinks Tobias Whale
is behind it all.

Of course it's Tobias.

He won't stop
until Mr. Pierce is in prison.

And I haven't found
anything that will clear his name.

It's like the evidence doesn't exist.

If this is about money,

I used to collect for Tobias.
I can help.

Yeah, right.

Bro, you are not even
good at video games.

You're no hacker.
Just leave it to me.

Don't worry about that.
I have my ways.

All right,
let's get on with this.

Ooh, that's it. That's it.

Ooh.

I got something for him
the minute Uncle Gambi finds his ass.

Don't you mean "we"?

No, babe, I'm sorry.

This is personal. He tried to kill me.

But we stopped him.

Thank God you shifted
when you did.

Like you said,
"On our toughest days,

we count on each other."

How's the leg?

It's fine.

Listen, what do you have on him?

Not much.
He's known as Ishmael.

Could be an assassin,
maybe a contract killer.

What's the difference?

One belongs to a secret order.

The other either works independently,

or for a criminal organization.

If we're lucky, it's the latter.

Tell me about it.

Look, he had counters
for every move we made.

If he's some kinda fanatic or some...

Regardless, he clearly
reconned you and tracked you.

- The question is how.
- I don't know.

Who knows?

But if he's huntin' us,

he could be huntin' the entire family.