Supergirl (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 18 - Ace Reporter - full transcript

When I was a child,
my planet Krypton was dying.

I was sent to Earth
to protect my cousin.

But my pod got knocked off-course

and by the time I got here,

my cousin had already grown up
and become Superman.

I hid who I really was
until one day

when an accident forced me
to reveal myself to the world.

To most people, I'm a reporter
at CatCo Worldwide Media.

But in secret, I work with my
adoptive sister for the DEO

to protect my city from alien life

and anyone else that
means to cause it harm.



I am Supergirl.

Previously on Supergirl...

What's going on?

Trying to decide whether I
should blog my article myself.

Will Snapper get mad or something?

Uh, big time.

It's blogged.

You're firing me?

Return with us to Daxam.

No.

You should leave this
planet and never return.

I'm not done with this world.

Whoo!

It is another beautiful
day in National City,



and the Girl of Steel is
ready to take on the world.

I am here to kick some
ass, take some names,

and do it all with an
endearing smile on my face.

So, bring it on. What do you got for me?

There is literally
nothing for you to do.

Nothing?

I challenge you to find an
eight-year-old stealing candy.

It's like somebody slipped law-abiding
serum into the reservoir.

Did somebody do that? Is that illegal?
I could stop 'em.

We'll let you know if
something comes up.

Until then, I'll be upstairs
checking the budgets.

I'm gonna go work on that
new Lebeckian code breaker.

Thursday morning knife practice.

Okay. Uh...

Well, what am I supposed to do?

Ooh.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!
Fifth time's a charm.

Why can't I do it?

Hey! What brings you to the
rent-controlled side of town?

Are you grief-baking?

- No.
- Liar.

Being unemployed is not fun anymore.

- Wait, is everything okay?
- Yeah. No. Absolutely. Uh...

So, today there is this press conference

for Spheerical Industries'
new unveiling.

Whatever they announce is gonna be the
next big thing that everyone wants.

- Are they your competition?
- No, um...

Their CEO, Jack Spheer and I, we...

We used to be close.

Until when?

Just before I moved to National City.

Oh, I see.

So this... This is a,
uh, recent closeness.

How long were you two together?

Romantically, two years.

But we had a start-up together for five.

Worked out of a garage trying
to find a cure for cancer.

It was a lot of small
explosions and good times.

He sent me a personal invite
to this press conference.

- Are you gonna go?
- Jack's my Kryptonite.

But it's just gonna bring
up a lot of painful things,

and I'm not sure I can relive it.

But if your good friend
Kara came with you...

And had my back...

- it won't be so hard to face him.
- Thank you.

Oh, this is so much
better than grief-baking.

And I always have your back.

You're my favorite.

So, what's your Kryptonite?

Um...

- You look great.
- Thank you.

Excuse me. Thanks.

Wow,

they'll let anyone
into these events now.

- I'm just here with my friend.
- Oh, good.

I was starting to worry that a
"dotcom" counted as a press pass.

And I was worried

that only people born before
1980 read your magazine.

That's because we value real news.

We're not clickbait millennials.

Go enjoy the free cheese, Ponytail,

while the real reporters
report the news.

- Impressive.
- Are we allowed to look him in the eye?

Vaccines. Anesthesia. Antibiotics.

These are the three medical miracles
that ushered us into the modern age.

And now, I will show you
how Spheerical Industries

will propel us into the future.

This is Beth Breen, our CFO
of Spheerical Industries.

Oh, my God. He did it.

This was the project you
were working on with Jack?

We were so close on our research,

but he finally cracked the code.

What you have just witnessed

is the fourth medical miracle, Biomax.

No longer will we need to inoculate
ourselves against disease,

risk complications by
going under anesthesia,

or combat increasingly resistant
bacteria with antibiotics.

We are proud to launch our
Biomax Medical Nanobot Program

across National City.

Be happy to answer your questions.

- Mr. Spheer! Mr. Spheer!
- Jack? Jack? Jack! Jack!

- Mr. Spheer?
- Yes. Thank you.

Uh, yes. So...

Right.

Um, you initially began research
for this project in Metropolis...

Snapper Carr, CatCo Media.

Jack, with these nanobots,
do you really expect to...

If you started development
in Metropolis but...

But you're launching in National City,

are you following FDA regulations

for distributing drugs
across state lines?

Excellent question, Ms. Danvers.

I would never compromise the FDA's

rigorous standards for safety

with any of our medical products.

Lena. I'm so glad you came.

Yeah, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

- You grilled me.
- I did.

Oh, this is Kara Danvers.

She is one of the best
reporters in National City.

Stop.

- I should go.
- Mmm.

Actually, yeah, I...

I have to tell the readers about
the next medical breakthrough.

Mmm.

Kara Danvers, right?

Do I know you?

I know Jack Spheer.

I have some information for you.

Meet me in the parking lot
at 4th and Main tonight.

You're the only reporter I can trust.

So tell me,

the nano swarm. How'd
you finally crack it?

I'll tell you at dinner.

Come on. It's been so long.
I'd love to catch up.

Jack.

Excuse me. You should
really spend some time

with the shareholders for a while.

Oh, uh...

I should let you do that.

It has been great to see you.

Have a good one, guys.

Oh, my God. Are you serious?

- Whoa, whoa!
- What are you doing?

You're supposed to be
watching out for me!

Guardian!

Hey, man! Uh, you had those guys.

- I mean, you didn't need me.
- Yeah!

- Great job.
- Relax, James.

- You had him.
- How did...

- You told her?
- I did not tell her.

Well, then how do you know?

Humans all smell different.

Oh, hey, what do I smell like?

You smell like honey.

- Okay.
- Mmm...

- Winn? What is she doing here?
- Sorry.

She is here to help.

- Help with what?
- Help you. Fighting crime.

Yeah!

- Oh, uh, Lyra, hi.
- Yeah?

Sweetie, can you, um,

maybe give my partner and I
just a moment alone?

- Oh, yeah.
- Yeah.

- Take your time.
- Okay.

- But don't be too long.
- No, okay.

First of all I just want
to say I'm sorry. All right?

My love life should
definitely be kept...

I'm not working with her.

- Before you say no...
- No!

Because until very recently,
your girlfriend was a bad guy.

She was only a criminal
out of duress, right?

Her brother was in danger.
You know that!

And now, she wants to be a
contributing member of society.

We should be encouraging this!

Isn't this what Guardian is all about?

Right? Plus she's cool.

I mean, some would say it's your...

I mean, it is your
duty, so, just please?

- I already regret this.
- Ah! Hey!

Yeah, get in.

Why me?

You warned the aliens about Cadmus.

- You want to help people.
- I do.

Okay.

My name is Joe Watkins.

I was a lab technician at Spheerical.

I was fired last month.

Does this have something to
do with the Biomax nanobots?

I was archiving files on
the mainframe computer.

I noticed that

the results from the human
trials hadn't been entered.

I went to the public records, they
seemed fine, operative word "seemed".

But why isn't there anything
in our own archives?

I think the human test
trials were faked.

Jack shouldn't be launching
Biomax right now.

It's not ready.

These nanobots are dangerous...

Wait. Wait, did you hear that?

Hey!

Are you okay? I heard about last night.

Yeah. Uh, I'm fine. I just...
I need a favor from you.

- Yeah?
- The whistleblower I met with

said Spheerical faked their lab results.

So I need to file a FOIA with the FDA.

You don't need CatCo's help for that.

Anybody can submit a Freedom
of Information Act request.

Yes, but the government will respond
faster if CatCo is the one to file.

James, the whistleblower died.

Right in front of me.

I'm gonna get a FOIA for you.

James, time to crash another cover,

I got a lead on Spheerical and a...

What, you leave a scrunchie behind?

Actually, I'm here to file a FOIA...

Actually, you're not. Didn't I fire you?

CatCo is off-limits.

Actually it's not because I'm
here and she's my friend

and she can visit anytime she wants.

But she can't use CatCo resources.

Well, I'm not the one using CatCo's
resources. James is going to file it.

Oh, go ahead.

Commit a serious conflict of interest.

Destroy the integrity
of this media empire.

You know what? Don't worry about it.
It's fine, James.

This is not over.

Go be a blogger.

Let the grown-ups do
the actual reporting.

- Well...
- Hold on.

Have Graphics come up
with a new headline.

I've got a lead on one of
the guys who was supposedly

a test subject for the
Spheerical human trials.

I'm seeing him tonight.

Hector, can you cancel dinner?

This is gonna take me till
at least eight o'clock,

and I fully intend on
crashing afterwards.

That's disappointing.

- You don't have an appointment.
- No.

But I was hoping to get one.

How did you get past Hector?

No one's above a snack break.

So, I know

you're free for dinner, good news,

but you have no interest
in dinner, bad news.

It's been an emotional roller
coaster since I walked in here.

- Oh, yeah, you seem wrecked.
- Oh, completely.

But I'm hoping I don't have enough data.

For instance, would you be willing
to go to dinner if I was a factor?

No.

Are you mad at me?

Is it because I cracked
the nano code alone?

Seems petty for you.

Just stop, Jacky. You know
I wish you all the success.

But?

I'm still not going for dinner with you.

Do you have fun here?

I feel good about the work we do.

You had fun with me.

I mean, ruining your eyesight
staring into a microscope.

Throwing said microscope at my head

when I was insufferable.

I don't like how things ended with us.

You could have made it easier on me.

It's not like I wanted to go.

I'm not here to make it harder.

I just miss you.

May I please have dinner with you?

Simple as that.

- Just dinner?
- It's entirely your prerogative.

Armed robbery in
progress at 4th and 6th.

Hey, you know what to do,
buddy, you've got this.

You're just a kid.

No! No, please, don't...

Don't!

- What are you doing?
- He's a criminal!

He deserves to be punished!

Go! Get in the van.

Go!

Snapper Carr. CatCo Media.

We've got a date.

Derrick Simmons?

All right. Let's talk.

How much do you know about Biomax?

Not much.

They paid you to participate
in the human trials.

Did you actually participate?

Technically.

I came in and signed a form.

But that was it. No tests.

If there were, I wasn't a part of 'em.

Okay.

- They try to...
- What the hell is that?

No, get 'em off! Get 'em off me!

Come on. Let's get out of here!

Oh, so it went well?

Jack Spheer's nano swarm ate my source.

Oh, no. Are you okay?

Two people have died,
and I didn't save them!

- Okay. Hey, hey, hey. Breathe. Breathe.
- And I have no idea

how to stop the nano swarm
from killing someone else.

No source, no leads...

- What about Lena?
- What?

- She's having dinner with Jack.
- How did you know that?

She called. And she was hoping that

you would talk her out of it.

We're going.

I just don't think
she meant "in person".

- Is the only...
- No, come on!

This just feels like stalking.

- No, it's journalism.
- Okay.

It's very creepy journalism.

Thanks for coming.

I know L-Corp's very demanding.

I do enjoy it, you know.

- For what it's worth.
- You always loved a challenge.

You look stunning, by the way.

Oh, my God!

Are you guys eating here?

- We're eating here!
- We're eating here!

What a complete and utter coincidence.

Ms. Danvers.

Yeah, this is my boyfriend, Mike.

- Mike.
- Hi.

Mike.

I explicitly asked

that I be the handsomest guy
in the restaurant tonight.

He's charming.

Do you mind if we join?

- Oh, uh...
- Yeah, let's sit here.

Kara, I appreciate the rescue,

- but it's not necessary.
- That's what friends are for.

So, Jack, how's the
Biomax rollout going?

Are you trying to get me in
your crosshairs, Ms. Danvers?

A reporter's job is never done.

I can respect it.

Uh, Biomax is going wonderfully. So far.

So, how did you know it was ready?

Did you, uh, do any trials?
Human trials?

It's all public record
if you're curious.

How did you figure it out?

I want to know.

Is that the only reason you came?

No.

Uh, okay, so, a few
months after you left,

I stayed up all night.

And the sun came up,

and there was a flock
of starlings going by.

And they were all
moving in perfect sync.

Like when one turned,
all the others turned.

And I thought,

"I've made a terrible mistake."

"I should have gone with her.

"I'm no good without her."

And then I realized I had been modeling the
nano swarm on the wrong kind of animal.

See, bees need a base, a
queen, to revolve around.

We'd been trying to make
a nanobot into a queen

by programming a protective
algorithm, but...

Oh, my God. Murmuration.

- Yeah.
- The nano swarm, it migrates.

- Yes.
- It's linked AI sentience.

And it's all controlled

through the Spheerical lab mainframe.

And I would never have gotten there

if I hadn't been thinking about you.

Anyway, I... I was also wondering...

- Maybe another time.
- Oh. Lena, are... Are you, um...

Yeah, I think Jack and I need to talk.

- Go ahead.
- We... We are out.

Because nothing gets
in the way of romance.

Jack! No, no, no. No, no, no.

Hey, listen, I feel a connection to you.

Like a man-nection?

We should hang. You should call me.

Yeah, sure, I'll do that.

- Okay.
- All right.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- What are you doing?
- I stole Jack's security badge.

You know, for journalism.

What did you do?

Use me for good.

Please.

- This is an exception.
- Yes! Shenanigans!

- Shut up.
- Mmm!

That's a nice view, Lena.

It's pretty decent.

Oh, pretty dec.

Oh, no. You did not just say that.

- I'm ridiculous. I know.
- Yeah.

- I'm so sorry.
- For what?

I made you choose.

L-Corp or me. I was greedy.

You were hurt.

You know, I sometimes wonder what
would've happened if I'd stayed.

Maybe we would have figured
the nano swarm out together.

Maybe I'd have a legacy of
my own apart from my family.

Now I wonder what would have happened

if I'd have said there was room

for both me and your family.

I mean, if I had made room...

If I could still do that.

- Okay.
- Okay.

- Quiet.
- Be very quiet.

- Put that away.
- What? I'm helping.

I'm a woman with X-ray vision.

- That's a fair point.
- Oh, okay.

That was easy.

This is a nice office.

- Shh!
- Okay.

Um...

How did you do that?

Password was "starling".

That romantic bastard.

Okay. Here we go.

Human trials.

It's empty. The whistleblower was right.

No, what about this one?

Biomax version 38.

Human trial one.

Begin.

Oh, my God.

The human trials aren't missing.

There weren't any human trials.

Jack knew the nano swarm was
dangerous from the beginning.

That's why Derrick and Joe had to die.

Jack's the killer.

- Thumb drive.
- Oh, yes.

Good idea.

Got it.

- Jack?
- I, uh... I have to go.

Yeah. Of course. I... I totally get it.

I, um, forgot about
something at the office.

- Come on, come on, come on.
- What is that noise?

Run!

Okay.

Sorry. Sorry. I didn't hear you.

You're distracted.

Busted.

So, uh...

Sorry about last night.

Yeah. Yeah, that was...

- It was interesting...
- Weird.

Mike seems nice, though.

Maybe we can do a proper
double date sometime soon.

Yeah, uh...

I actually came here to
talk to you about Jack.

Um...

I've been investigating him...

Yeah, I can tell.

Lena, Biomax is dangerous
and he's covering it up.

- That's not true.
- I'm not lying.

Well, then you're mistaken.

Jack would never hurt anyone.

Biomax version 38.

Human trial one.

He's using the nano
swarm to kill people.

Who else knows?

Just us.

I won't ask you to bury it,

but please let me go talk
to him before it gets out.

Lena, he's killed two people.

I know how you feel about him,

but you will be the third
if you confront him.

Please just promise me you'll
stay away from him for now.

It's for your own safety.

Thank you for telling me.

I won't go see him, I promise.

Are you okay?

I actually... I've got some work to do.

- Would you mind, Kara?
- Right, yeah. Of course.

I'm really sorry.

You were just doing your job.

It's all any of us can do.

Winn!

Hey, how's the most amazing
girlfriend in the entire universe?

Um, first round's on me, by the way.

Actually, all the rounds are on me.

- Forever. Always.
- Wow!

Um, and I got you your very
favorite Earth dessert.

Mmm!

Hey, you know you don't have
to try so hard around me...

- Mmm.
- Why are you trying so hard around me?

You're good. You're good.

Um...

Listen. Uh, look, I, um...

You kind of went a little overboard

with the kid from the liquor store.

Okay.

You're right.

I will temper my ways
in our next outing.

Yeah, um, just about that kid...

Um...

So James and I, we...

We...

We so appreciate your enthusiasm

and your participation,

and...

We can't have you with us.

For how long?

Oh, um, well, forever.

You think I'm crazy?

I, no... Uh...

Actually, you... Uh, you... Passionate!

Passionate, which is great
in certain situations.

This is all James, isn't it?

I knew that guy hates me.

No! No, he...

He likes you, actually.

I have been so nice to him!

And only because he's your best friend.

Trust me, if he was anyone else,
I would have ripped his jaw off.

Okay, babe, you're not really
helping with the crazy argument.

So you agree with this.

I'm going to powder my nose.

Do not be here when I get back!

All right!

You okay?

Isn't there a Pinterest
Anonymous support group meeting

you're missing right now?

How did you know it was me?

I can smell desperation a mile away.

I heard Supergirl saved you.

- Yeah. She was there.
- Did you say thank you?

Once. To a divorce lawyer.

It was uncomfortable
for everyone involved.

What's this, more alternative facts?

It's all my research on Spheerical.

I thought I'd help your story.

What's in it for you, Ponytail?

I know we've had our differences...

But I've learned a lot from you.

And the biggest thing
I have learned is that

it's not the reporter that matters,

it's the truth that matters.

And CatCo will get the
truth to more people.

Also, I wanted the truth to get out
so badly that I disobeyed you.

I broke the rules.

You were right.

I got lucky when I posted my first blog
on Cadmus without your permission.

I let you down, and I apologize.

Finally.

So, anyway, this is all the information

I found on Spheerical,

including an interview with a
whistleblower named Joe Watkins.

The Biomax human trials were faked.

Not bad, Danvers.

I got the same confirmation from
a source named Derrick Simmons.

Before he was killed.

I'm glad our information lines up.

Except Jack Spheer may not have been
the only one involved in the cover-up.

Beth Breen signed the checks.

She's Spheerical's chief
financial officer.

And she has a lot of money riding
on the success of these nanobots.

Biomax fails, she stands
to lose everything.

I, um...

I have to go. Thank you, Snapper.

Jack?

Hey.

Uh, what's wrong?

You lied to me.

Everything I said last
night was the truth.

I'm not talking about us, Jack.

Biomax.

What about it?

I saw the video, Jack.

You shot those things into yourself.

Faked the human trials. You...

killed people.

Killed people?

I don't know what you're talking about.

You knew... We knew three years ago

that the nano swarms had a side effect.

The rats' brain chemistry
was forever altered.

They had no control. We could
make them do whatever we wanted.

You did this to yourself!

Lena, I don't know what
you're talking about.

Oh, my God.

You're telling the truth.

Ms. Luthor.

He can't hear you.

No one can.

So who killed all those people?

Jack did.

I mean, he didn't choose to, and
he doesn't remember, but he did.

You've been controlling
him this whole time.

The poor, sweet boy actually
wanted to scrap the whole thing

just because of a pesky little side
effect that removes free will.

Not financially responsible.

Luckily, I was there to step in.

You know, it's true what they say.

Behind every great man
is a strong woman.

Oh, I wouldn't know.

I've never stood behind a man.

You just clean up after your brother.

Idiot.

You walked away from the
breakthrough of the century.

It doesn't work.

See, I think it works beautifully.

I have a brilliant figurehead
that will do everything I say.

The entire world will
welcome the nano swarm

into every hospital, army
base, and eventually, home.

- God, you are repulsive.
- I'm a realist.

- What's funny?
- Now you're going to kill me.

That's the only reason you're
telling me all of this.

Again, not very financially responsible.

I already control Jack.

Why would I kill you
when I can control you,

and, by extension, L-Corp?

Think of that merger.

Okay, Jacky, put it down, all right?

Jack, listen, I know you're
in there somewhere, okay?

You listen to me, all right?

- Are you okay?
- Yeah.

You've gotta get out of here.

No, I've got a better idea.

You keep them occupied.

Did I mention that I'm a black belt?

Did I mention I was a Luthor?

Jack, make it stop!

Lena.

No!

No!

- No!
- Lena!

- Jack!
- Lena, help! The mainframe.

I think I can override it!

Lena, hurry!

- I'm almost there, okay?
- You'll kill him.

The override destroys the nanobots.

They've merged with him.
You kill them, you kill him.

I'm sorry, Jacky.

Do it. Please.

System override.

Jack.

Those are beautiful.

I wish there was more
I could do to help.

Oh, you came to see me.
That's more than enough.

- Beth is in jail.
- Good.

How are you holding up?

When Lex was arrested,
my mother was there.

My mother saw her son

dragged, bleeding and
raving from her house.

And when I got there, Lillian
was tidying his room

like he'd been away on a business trip.

That's how I feel.

Cold and calm.

Until I think about Beth dying in jail,

and then I feel warm for a minute.

- You're in shock, Lena.
- I don't know.

Loss does strange things to my family,

and I've lost a lot of people.

Well, you're not gonna lose me.

I think when I feel things again,

I'm gonna be very, very afraid...

Of the person I might be.

You don't have to be afraid.

I'm right here.

I'm not going anywhere.

Promise?

I will always be your friend.

And I will always protect you.

I promise.

What up?

Yeah? All right.

So, uh...

We have got a black and white cat

stuck up a tree, 4th and Main. Boom!

Winn...

Uh, I'm sorry about what
happened with Lyra.

Yeah, well, three's a crowd, right?

You know, I could have
handled it differently.

I should have laid down some
ground rules for her first.

Okay.

It's been a while since
I had a best friend.

You're my brother.

And I haven't felt
like that since Clark.

And working with you, it makes me happy.

Me, too.

But you know, um...

Dude, so does Lyra.

With that said...

Hey! Hey, what are you doing here?

James invited me.

Are you sure?

Do you really want to help people?

Most days.

Okay, then you're going to
listen to everything that I say.

Sounds good to me.

Now,

what's this I hear about a
cat stuck up in a tree?

I'm starving.

She's kidding, right?

You know, I am not sure.

Ms. Tessmacher! Where's my Danish?

My first successful baking venture.

Danish, fresh from the oven.

The trick is, uh, sea salt,
actually, because, uh...

Sea salt can incorporate
better with the dough.

I didn't know you like to bake.

There's a lot about me
you don't know, Danvers.

I got you something, too.

Thank you for not dragging
Jack through the mud.

Look at the byline.

You put my name in the byline?

Your interview with that whistleblower

was instrumental in our scoop of every
other major news organization out there.

You, uh...

You did good, Danvers.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Um, I'm gonna get a jump start
on tomorrow's cover.

Right, uh, yeah, I'll get out of here.

Oh, so now that you
share a byline with me,

you're too good to work late?

- But I thought...
- I just said you did a good job, Danvers.

You didn't give up,

even when that whistleblower got killed.

You weren't afraid to pursue
the truth, no matter what the risk.

And we need more reporters like that.

More reporters like you,
who care about the truth.

So I have my job back?

Unless you're thinking of
starting a food truck.

Don't start a food truck.

I'll go get us coffee.

Lena Luthor.

I'm not seeing anyone right now.

I heard about your
colleague, Mr. Spheer.

I'm so sorry.

Who are you?

My name is Rhea.

I have a business proposition for you.