Stargirl (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 12 - Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E. Part One - full transcript

With the ISA on their trail, Courtney, Pat and the team regroup to figure out their next steps. Meanwhile, Rick makes a breakthrough, and the team prepares for a showdown with the ISA.

[Barbara] What is that?

[Cosmic Staff hums]

[screams]

Please, just let me do
the explaining, okay?

Dad was a superhero,
and now I'm a superhero, too.

If this is remotely true...

then our whole marriage
is a lie.

Everything we are together
is real.

This family is real.

You need to go.

-Barbara--
-Get out of this house.



[Crusher] They were kids.

Except maybe that big robot.

Then we should bring
our children into this.

-They could help us find them.
-No!

We agreed to keep our sons
and daughters in the dark.

I remember who Stargirl is.

Her name's Courtney Whitmore.

Her stepfather is Pat Dugan.

You might remember him
as Stripesy.

[dramatic music playing]

Brainwave remembers who I am.

Okay, we gotta get outta here.

[Brainwave] We'll take
care of them.

Stargirl, her sidekick...



and her mother.

[Jordan] Henry.

The boy, too.

Mike.

We can't leave a legacy
running around.

Of course.

[dramatic music playing]

[beeping]

[beeping]

[Brainwave] Jordan.

The orders have been given.

Sportsmaster and Tigress
are on the hunt.

Courtney Whitmore
and her family
will soon be dead.

Dr. Ito is preparing
his machine.

-[door opens]
-[Cindy] Dad, what's going on?

Where does that go?

Dad! No, no, no, Dad!

Dad, what's in there?

[Brainwave] When
we begin our broadcast,

the Gambler will trigger
a communications blackout
across the United States,

blinding the Pentagon,

routing the attack
through Moscow.

By the time they realize
it's coming from within the US,

it'll be too late.

Amplified by Ito's machine,

my powers will extend
far beyond Blue Valley.

There will be a significant

cost to the process...

but after I finish
reprogramming their minds,

they'll share our values.

They'll think like us.

They'll fight for us,
if need be.

After all...

I doubt the rest of the country

will accept
our secession quietly.

Jordan.

After all this time,

your dreams of
a better society,
of a New America

is about to become reality.

Your wife would be very proud.

[inhales deeply]

Let me know when Stargirl
and her family are dead.

[beeping]

[Courtney]
What else do we need?

Uh, sleeping bags, I think.

Where are they?

Upstairs hall closet.
I'll get them.

Uh, I'll get my staff.

Okay?

Okay. Okay.

[Mike] So, who takes their kids
out of school in November
to go camping?

What, are we having
Thanksgiving up there?

Don't tell me
we gotta kill our own turkey.
I'm not doing that.

You didn't tell
any of your friends
about this, did you, Mike?

Tell them what?
I don't know anything!

I'm sure Courtney knows
why we're leaving.

[drill whirring]

[stammering] Okay, don't
touch that, okay, Mike?

I brought you down here
'cause I want to explain
something to you, okay?

And it's something that I...

I really have no idea
how to explain.

So, I thought...

-that if I just showed
it to you, that--
-[drill whirring]

Listen, I don't need to see
some other boring old car

that you'll turn into
some metaphor about life.

Just tell me, please.

Okay, Mike.

This isn't about
an old car, okay?

-This is about--
-[drill whirring]

Hey!

Put that down!

And listen to me!

-[drill thuds]
-I'm serious.

Stop treating me
like a little kid
'cause I'm not.

Please!

-Mike--
-I'm sick of it. Stop.

[Pat] I'm sorry, I...

Mike?

[metallic clanging]

Hello?

Oh, hey, Crusher.

[Crusher] Hey, there...

Pat.

[stammers] What are you
doing up so late?

And how'd you get in here?

Is, uh...

Is there something
I can help you with?

[Crusher sighs]

You know, I gotta
hand it to you, bud.

You really shocked the hell
right out of me.

I mean, really.

I never would have thought
you had it in you.

So, what are we
talking about here?

Come on, now!

No more secrets
between friends.

It really hurts my feelings.

You never telling me
about your big robot.

[clicking tongue]

Where is it?
Where you hiding it?

It's in there, isn't it?

Look, Crusher...

I think maybe you need
to relax a little, 'cause...

well, I think
you got it all wrong.

[chuckling]

You know, Pat, I gotta say,

as famous last words go...

I'm underwhelmed.

-Yeah.
-[clangs]

Okay.

[grunting]

[dramatic music playing]

[Barbara gasps]

[shatters]

[crossbow thuds]

[both grunting]

-[Barbara grunts]
-[glass shattering]

Ah! [grunting]

Lovely home you have.

[whimpering]

[clangs]

[groaning]

[laughs] Look at you go.

All that cardio's paying off.

I'll tell you what, Pat.

[clangs]

Let's do this old-school.

You and me. What do you say?

Yeah. I'd like that.

You'd like that?
I'd like it too.

Come on.

What do you got?

What do you got, Dugan?

Punching power comes
from the hips, Pat!
Come on, the hips!

Let's see it.
You wanna try again?

Yeah. Yeah, I'd actually
like to do that.

Better.

I like you, Pat.

[groaning]

I'm, uh, glad
it's gonna be me that does it.

You all right there, big guy?

-No, I'm hurt pretty bad.
-Oh, no.

I think you might have
fractured my jaw!

-[Pat grunting]
-Cheap shot, huh?

[intense music playing]

[Pat grunting]

Did you really think
you were gonna
come up from Blue Valley...

[Pat groaning]

...and stop us?

Huh?

-[grunts]
-[groans]

[Tigress grunting]

[clangs]

[grunting]

[groans]

Wow!

Look at that.

[laughs]

He's a beaut, bud.

[groans]

By 8:00 tomorrow morning,

it'll all be over for everyone.

[grunts]

I'm sorry you won't
be around to see it, pal.

-[drill whirs]
-[groans loudly]

[Pat] Crusher.

Stay away from my kid.

[intense music playing]

[both grunting]

[blows landing]

[both grunting]

[Barbara] Aah!

[Tigress screams]

[Barbara panting]

Sorry about the door.

Court, that was...

I know, it was dangerous.

-...amazing.
-[Cosmic Staff hums]

We should go.

Mike, you okay?

[thuds]

What the hell is that?

Who's that?

That's a robot I built.

And, uh, that's
an old friend of mine.

So...

You built that?

-[Pat] Yep.
-[cell phone beeps]

[STRIPE powers on]

[chuckles softly] That...

That's so badass.

Yeah, I'll explain it all
on the way to the cabin.

Bring the drill.

[drill whirs]

You sure you're okay, Dad?

[Pat] Yeah, thanks.

[STRIPE whirring]

[crickets chirping]

[Lily speaking Norwegian:
She wouldn't have been a suitable wife.]

[Sofus speaking Norwegian:
It won't be long now.]

[cell phone vibrating]

[in English] Steven, yes.
Are they...

[Sharpe speaks
indistinctly on phone]

I understand.

[in English]
Small complication.

[line ringing]

[door opens]

[Principal Bowin] Isaac?

What are you
doing here so late?

Isaac, sweetie?

What is it?

[Isaac sniffles]

This guy...

He keeps calling me
a "tuba turd," and...

[sniffles] Today he tripped me
down the stairs
and tore my new jacket.

You know, when your father
was a child,

he was picked on for playing
his favorite instrument, too.

But he never
stopped pursuing his passion.

He never let
anyone else define him.

And eventually
they stopped bothering him.

Why?

Because he took
the bow of his violin...

and put it through
one of their eardrums.

They never bullied him again.

[dramatic music playing]

[dramatic music playing]

[dog barking]

-Are you okay?
-Yeah. Are you?

[Joey] Hey, Court.

Let's get inside.

-[vehicle approaching]
-Hey, hold on.

Who's that?

[suspenseful music playing]

[Justin] Hello, friends.

-I bring forth a feast...
-[car door shuts]

...fit for kings and queens.

[dog barking]

Oh, and loyal steeds.

Oh!

[rumbling]

[Beth gasping] Oh, my God!

[rumbling]

[STRIPE engine revving]

-Remote control.
-[car alarm beeps]

[Mike] Yeah?

When are you going to teach me
how to drive that thing?

Never.

Let's get in there.

That's everyone and everything
coming tonight, right?

[Barbara] I hope so.

[Justin sighs]
The battle is nigh.

[intense music playing]

[Cindy] Dr. King.

Is Stargirl dead?

[Dr. King] You had
a job, Cynthia.

Watching my son
for any signs of his
latent abilities developing.

-But I did--
-If I had known his telepathic
powers were emerging,

I may have been able
to help him...

I would have done
anything to help him.

Instead, I had to end him.

Because of you.

[Cindy] Okay, listen, Doc.

You know what
would have really helped Henry?

Is if you weren't lying
in a hospital bed

wearing adult diapers
while the rest of us
were picking up your slack!

Do you know what your father
truly thinks of you, Cynthia?

He sees you
as a failed experiment.
Nothing more.

My father loves me...

you liar.

Why would I lie?

Why are we arguing?

Just let me out of here
so I can help you.

I could be a valuable member
of the Injustice Society.

Oh, we feel the same way
your father does.

We don't want you.

[Cindy] Help!

[keypad beeping]

[Cindy screaming]

[Dr. Ito] Dr. King.

Are you ready for the test?

Oh, yes.

-[Cindy screaming]
-[banging on door]

[beeping]

[dramatic music playing]

Unbelievable.

[Dr. Ito] Isn't it?

[air hissing]

[beeping]

[Dr. Ito] Before we begin
the test, Dr. King...

There is a risk.

What kind of risk?

[Dr. Ito] This is either
going to work, or...

every cell...

in your pre-frontal cortex...

is going to melt.

And your spinal cord...

[sizzles]

...will turn into slush.

[sizzles]

Understood.

Continue.

[Dr. Ito] Mmm.

[beeping]

[machine whirring]

[groans]

[crackling]

[beeping rapidly]

[overlapping voices]

[groaning]

[beeping rapidly]

[grunts]

[screaming]

[intense music playing]

[Dr. Ito] Dr. King?

[panting]

I heard their voices.

Millions of them.

Their wretched thoughts...

and their ugly truths.

[breathing heavily]

It's going to work.

[Dr. Ito] Hmm.

Wonderful.

[dramatic music playing]

Was Pat right?

[Dr. McNider] I'm still
searching, Beth,
but Pat's hunch was correct.

There has been a massive
increase in electrical activity
within Blue Valley.

I'm narrowing
it down to where.

My concern is
that it's connected
to Brainwave somehow.

I believe his powers increased
after the death of Henry.

[Beth] What do you mean?

[Dr. McNider] There was
an energy release
when Henry died.

That energy was absorbed
by Brainwave.

I am sorry, Beth.
I know this tragedy
has affected you all.

Yolanda.

Are you okay?

Are you thinking about Henry?

No.

Because there's nothing
I can do about it.

[beeping]

Are you reading, m'lad?

It's my dad's journal.

[Justin] Oh.

[Joey sniffles]

He was investigating
the Injustice Society...

long before you were.

They killed him.

And my mom.

They sent Solomon Grundy
after them.

And I think...

that that's because
my dad found out exactly

what they were doing
in Blue Valley.

[stammers] And I'm betting
that that secret is in here.

But... it's all written
in some kind of code.

[stammers] I do love
a good puzzle.

[Joey chuckles] Yeah. Uh...

The... The equation...

on the last page is the key.

But... But I'm missing
a number, you see that?

That's all I need.

I... I've tried
my mom's birthday,
my dad's, mine.

I... I don't know
what else it could be.

Well...

All good things
come in due time.

According to Pat...

I've got tonight
to figure it out.

Less than eight hours,
to be exact.

Do you have any ideas, Justin?

I'm going to go
clean the bathroom.

[Joey] Uh...

Yeah. [clears throat]

Have a blast.

[Mike] Hey.

[Courtney] Hey.

So you're, uh, patrolling?

Keeping watch, yeah.

Don't worry. I think
we're pretty safe
out here, Mike.

Yeah, you're safe.

You've got a magic staff.

I need a staff.

Or a robot.

[Courtney chuckles]

You know, you're so lucky
the staff picked you.

I wonder, if I would have
found it first...

maybe it would've picked me.

Um...

Maybe.

[Mike] Tell you one thing.

It would've made my paper route
so much easier.

[both chuckle]

True.

Could...

Could I try it?

Go for it.

[Mike sniffles]

Sorry.

-It's all good.
-Hmm.

You know, my dad doesn't have
any special powers either.

But he still
built STRIPE, you know.

Maybe one day
I can do something like that.

For JSA.

Yeah. That'd be super cool.

[Crusher] I am going to rip
that little asshat's arms
right out of his sockets.

-[Tigress] The boy?
-[Crusher] Yeah, the boy.

Stripesy, I had him.

It's that damn kid
that surprised me.

My back is killing me.
How about you?

[door opens]

[dramatic music playing]

[Crusher] Bowin?

What are you doing here?

Jordan sent me to make sure
you don't fail a second time.

We don't need your help.

Yeah.

What are you gonna do?

Smash them over the head
with your violin?
[chuckles]

I'm going to immobilize them.

They'll be standing still,

making them impossible to miss.

Even for you two.

[Crusher] Targets that
don't move...

Now, what fun is that?

This isn't about fun,
you sadists.

You get too much pleasure
from this sort of thing.

You both relish in violence.

I feel sick imagining
how your daughter
is going to turn out.

She's a wild animal.

Just like her mother.

You sayin'
we don't love our child?

No.

I'm saying you're unfit
to be parents.

[crossbow cocks]

[grunts]

[chuckles]

I love you, baby.

You found the tools?

Yeah, thanks.

I just needed
to check a few things

on STRIPE while the kids
did their recon.

-Pat?
-Yeah?

Why didn't you tell me
about any of this
before we got married?

Well...

I mean, everyone
that ever knew,
they ended up dead.

Sylvester's parents.

Our contact in the FBI.

I was hoping that
this life was behind me.

And when I met you...
[breathes deeply]

Well...

Our family was all that
mattered to me.

If I'd have known the truth
about Blue Valley...

[scoffs]

...things would be
a whole lot different.

Are we gonna be okay?

I mean, you and me?

I want us to be.

[breathing deeply]

[journal thuds]

[Pat grunts softly]

Having trouble?

What do you think?

I know there's a number
that will unlock that code.

Tried birthdays.

Then I figured,
my dad was Hourman,
so I tried "60 seconds,

12 hours, 24." Nothing.

[Pat] Okay.

A number...

What else did he care about
that had a number?

Who the hell knows, Pat?

I never got to know my dad

because of the ISA.

So what about his car?

Is there anything there?

-The car...
-The Mustang.

[stammers] I mean,
I don't know, I'm just--

Wait.

The 1966 Mustang.

That's it.

Right there.

Rick.

[chuckles softly]

Scan this.

The formulas were
the coordinates of a map
for the tunnels.

My dad must've gotten
down there and scoped it out.

I'm scanning the journal now.

[beeping]

[Mike] Whoa.

[Yolanda gasps] Whoa.

[Joey] This map my dad made,

those are
the tunnel entrances. Here.

This is their meeting room...

in there.

Which is where
they're building
some sort of...

Uh, some sort of machine.

What machine?

The equipment they stole,
the satellite codes...

They must have used those
to build something.

[Beth] Something big.

Chuck thinks they built
something he calls
a "synaptic amplifier."

It's meant to transmit...

Brainwaves.

So Henry's dad can reach
somebody else's mind?

Millions of somebodies.

But why?

Maybe those creepy guys
in the tunnel were
just a test run.

Right. And now
they're getting ready
for the big rollout.

Are they gonna try to make
everyone else zombies or--

No. I don't think
that's their American Dream.

Like Blue Valley, they wanna

have people follow their vision
and join them and...

I guess
follow without question.

Right, but not if we destroy
their machine.

Rick, is there a tunnel
that STRIPE could get through?

Yeah.

The river. But don't think
I'm not coming with you.

No. You, Yolanda and Justin
should enter from
the opposite side of town.

You want us to split up?

Only to try to avoid detection.

But we'll meet back up
at the machine.

[Beth] While you guys
go destroy the amplifier,

Chuck and I can take down
the computers running the show.

We've traced the town's
electrical surges
to The American Dream.

Chuck thinks we can access
their system from there.

You know, hack the hackers.

Okay, I'm gonna go with Beth.

[stammers] Barb,
I don't want you going
anywhere near this place.

Well, you'll let
a 15-year-old go?

I'll be 16 in May.

If there's a problem,

I know that building
better than anyone else.

[dramatic music playing]

All right. I mean,
I don't like it,

but what choice do we have?

So, we've got a plan.

[Mike] So, uh...

What's my job?

You, Mike Dugan,
have the most
important job of all.

You're gonna
look after the dog.

-[Buddy barks]
-Okay?

Is that really all
I'm good for, the dog?

[Pat] It's an
important job, buddy.

Do it with pride.

[Mike] Actually, you know what?
I'm excited for this.

Let's do it.

[claps hands]

[upbeat music playing]

[Barbara] Do you think
you can access
his system from here?

We're going to try.

-Okay, the password is--
-"New Kids On The Block"?

What's that mean?

Uh, it's just random words.

[Dr. McNider] New Kids
On The Block
is an American boy band

who enjoyed success
in the late 1980s
and early 1990s

and have sold more than
80 million records worldwide.

[Beth] Okay, let's stay
on mission, Chuck.

We're in! Hey, guys,
can you hear me?

[Courtney] We read you.

[Yolanda] Us too.

Okay...

What?

Last time I was in the tunnels,
I couldn't communicate
with anyone.

So, it's good, right?

I guess so.

It's just kind of weird.
Like, why?

[beeping]

Guys, I found
some kind of countdown.

[Dr. McNider] Beth,
this appears to be the ISA's
manifesto for the broadcast.

[Beth] I think
we have 35 minutes
before they turn it on.

Whatever they're going
to make people believe in,

they call it
the "New Constitution."

They wanna combat...

global warming?

Oh, wait!

They wanna force people to...

They're going to
force people to what?

Force them to embrace
solar and wind power.

They're going to eliminate
discrimination over race,

religion, sexual orientation...

You're kidding me.

[beeping]

Oh, and universal health care.

That sounds good.

[stammers] Is that not good?

Hey, Pat, are you sure
we're on the right side?

There's got to be
something else.

[Beth] I don't know, Mr. Dugan.

The only other thing
it says is that
once the machine broadcasts,

the process
will take 30 minutes.

If we don't stop them
before then, it's permanent.

-Oh, here's more.
-[Barbara] Hmm.

It only affects
fully-developed minds.

[Yolanda] What does that mean?

Adults.

[Dr. McNider]
Barbara is correct.

But there is
what you would call "a catch"

to reprogramming
developed minds like this.

[Beth] A catch?

[dramatic music playing]

-Oh, no.
-[Barbara] What?

Beth, what is it?

[Beth] There are people
who will fight too hard against
the reprogramming process.

And what happens to them?

Their brains will shut down.

They will die.

How many?

[Beth] Twenty-five percent
of their target audience...

of 100 million people.

They're going to kill
25 million people?

[Sharpe] Give or take
a few million, yes.

[static screeching]

[Sharpe] Good morning,
everyone.

You may be wondering
what's just happened,

so allow me to elucidate.

Well, I've just hacked
into your hack
of our hack, young lady.

And with whom do I
have the pleasure of speaking?

I'm... I...

[Dr. McNider]
She's Dr. Mid-Nite.

Is that right?

Guys. I don't know what to do.

-Child...
-[beeping]

There's nothing to do.

We've only got 30 minutes
before they broadcast.

You think you have 30 minutes
to stop us from broadcasting?

[laughing]

[rumbling]

[Sharpe] The broadcast
begins at the 30-minute mark.

It's 30 minutes
until Brainwave is finished.

[electricity crackling]

Mrs. Whitmore?

-Mrs. Dugan?
-[electricity zaps]

-Barbara?
-[electricity zaps]

[dramatic music playing]

-Justin.
-[electricity zaps]

-Justin!
-[electricity zaps]

[woman laughing]

[electricity zapping]

[overlapping voices]

I have control
over all of them.

Like puppets.

Like Pat Dugan.

Pat? What do we do?

[electricity zapping]

[dramatic music playing]

Pat?

[intense music playing]