Black Lightning (2018) s03e05 Episode Script
The Book of Occupation: Chapter Five: Requiem For Tavon
[JEFFERSON.]
Previously on Black Lightning [AGENT ODELL.]
Your body has reverted to its natural age and is experiencing withdrawal from the serum that's kept you virile for the last 30 years.
I'm Brandon.
I'm new, and I was told to ask Jennifer Pierce for a tour.
Tavon Singley, I'm gonna need you to come with us.
There's been a report of meta-human powers being displayed.
What? No, that's not true.
Straight through these trees.
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.
[GAMBI.]
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, until they lead us to the Pit.
[LYNN.]
The results have been nothing short of remarkable.
Every person who was infected is on their way to making a full recovery.
[MAJOR GREY.]
She's hooked.
[AGENT ODELL.]
I only saw to it that she got a taste of the most addictive substance on Earth.
You have the ability to do things your father could never do, Ms.
Pierce.
[BEEPING.]
[TAVON.]
I can see the constellations from here, Dad.
They just like you said they'd be.
Hi, Ma.
Look, don't worry.
I'm okay.
But if it wasn't for Blackbird saving me when somebody at school lied about me being a meta, I'd probably still be rotting in that ASA concentration camp.
I don't know where I am, but here, humans and metas live and work together.
Mr.
Pierce said that Freeland was our community.
We help each other.
All boats rise.
But that ASA occupation, it changed us, turned us against each other.
They say that in every revolution, there's one man with a vision.
I thought that was Black Lightning.
But after being here, I think the only way to save Freeland is if humans and metas work together side by side to stop the ASA.
Maybe then I can come home.
Look, I love y'all both.
Interesting.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
Are we dancing or are we sparring, you meta freak? [ALL GRUNTING.]
- [HEART BEATING RAPIDLY.]
- [GROANING.]
That fun exploding heart technique.
[CONTINUES GROANING.]
Take five steps and boom.
Are you serious? No, no, I'm not serious.
Downloaded Black Belt Theater last night.
I mean, what's knowledge without a little culture.
Am I right? - [CHOKING.]
- Oh, that's right.
My venom coursing through your veins right now must make it difficult for you to think.
[GASPING.]
[MAN 1 CONTINUES CHOKING.]
Do you have kids, Sergeant? A religious man, perhaps? You see, I often ponder my victims' last thoughts before they die.
And the truth is it's fascinating to me.
[DOOR OPENS.]
That's enough! Have the infirmary administer the antivenom immediately.
[MAN 2.]
Yes, sir.
[MAN 1 GROANING.]
Painkiller.
The vigilante known as Blackbird has become a high-value target.
This is a problem that requires your attention.
[GRUNTING.]
Your vitals are spiking, Erica.
How do you feel? [GASPING.]
I'm okay, Dr.
Stewart.
I'm gonna ask you to push yourself now.
Let your power absorb the kinetic energy, but don't release it until I say, okay? [GRUNTING.]
[SHOUTS.]
Now.
[SCREAMING.]
[GASPING.]
[GASPING.]
[JEFFERSON.]
Lynn.
You okay? I didn't mean to wake you up.
You should You should go back to sleep.
I'm fine.
Wait.
Are you going somewhere? The curfew.
Curfew doesn't apply to the ASA.
I need to go to the lab.
You should get some sleep.
I know that look.
What look would that be? An afterglow, a midnight epiphany.
All right, so when can I expect to see you? Like two, three days a week? I cured the meta-virus, but this occupation won't end until I stabilize the meta-gene itself.
I'm close.
I have all the pieces.
I just If I can decipher them.
I just need to get to the lab and run some tests.
Okay, okay.
I love you.
I love you too.
[R&B MUSIC PLAYING.]
[TRUTHTELLER JOHNSON.]
Good evening, citizens of Freeland.
Truthteller Johnson with another Resistance Alert tailored especially for you.
There are rumors spread by the ASA claiming the recent assault on our very own Precinct 13 was made by those evil Markovians.
Don't believe the hype.
What the ASA doesn't want you to know is they were illegally holding citizens of Freeland.
It was the Blackbird herself who risked life and limb to save them.
And it's to her, we raise our glass tonight.
Stay safe out there.
That's the truth.
I had some help, but I'll take it.
Hope you can handle it.
This is Truthteller Johnson signing off.
The school bell is ringing, young lady.
[R&B MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING.]
There she is.
I thought I'd surprise you with your favorite.
[GASPS.]
That hurt.
How many times do I have to tell you to not drag your feet? You and our [VOICE DISTORTS.]
[NORMAL VOICE.]
tricity-like capacitors.
Jennifer.
[DISTORTED VOICE.]
Jennifer, are you okay? Mmm-mmm.
No, I feel funny.
Nothing is really normal.
Well, that's good because We're not normal? Yes, but, no Well Look, what I was gonna say is it should never feel normal living through an occupation.
The moment it does, you will find yourself on the wrong side of history.
The ASA Is protecting us from the Markovians, yeah, I know.
Maybe the ASA is protecting us.
There is a fine line between [DISTORTED.]
protecting [NORMAL VOICE.]
and repressing.
You know, history is full of examples of liberators who become oppressors.
Dad.
Look, I love you, but it's way too early for a history lesson, okay? And I don't feel good, so I'm just gonna take a sick day.
Wait, hold on.
[SIGHS.]
I Hmm You're going to school.
[TYPING.]
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN.]
You have an update, Dr.
Stewart? I believe I know how to stabilize the meta-gene.
I thought I was lucid dreaming.
Turns out my subconscious self is quite demanding when it wants to be heard.
Dreams of severed feet.
Dr.
Jace deliberately infected the metas of Freeland to send me her research sliced into the DNA of the virus.
From which she was successful in developing a vaccine.
Yes! On closer examination of the virus' RNA, it was revealed that Dr.
Jace used a gene-editing tool to send me a specific amino acid chain.
What do amino acids have to do with our meta-stabilization problem? [LAUGHS.]
Everything! Twenty amino acids like this make up a protein chain.
This particular protein was a byproduct of a serum that was the predecessor to the metagenic vaccine in Green Light.
Once it's metabolized in a human host, it strengthens the mitochondrial membrane potential of meta cells significantly.
Don't you see? Dr.
Jace sent me the protein I needed to theoretically stabilize the meta-gene permanently.
The only problem is, it can't be synthesized in the lab, it has to be extracted from a human host.
Any human host will suffice? Well, that where it gets strange.
According to the ASA database, only one patient survived taking the serum.
Patient 49.
New information has come to light and the vigilante known as Blackbird is now wanted in connection with the recent assault on police headquarters as well as the abduction of several prisoners, including that of a minor.
As Freeland's acting Chief of Police, I implore anyone with information on this matter to contact local law enforcement, and a $50,000 reward is now being offered for any information leading to the arrest of this individual.
Remember, folks, if you see something, say something.
[CROWD BOOING.]
[INSPECTOR HENDERSON.]
All right, all right.
[CROWD LAUGHING.]
Oh, I saw that.
What do you want me to say about it? No, no, no, no.
That's all right, it's all right.
- [TWO-BITS LAUGHING.]
- [MAN.]
Fifty K.
More like 30 silver pieces to me.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself, son.
- It's all right, it's all right.
- [CROWD BOOING.]
The ASA murdered our boy.
And now they're covering it up.
They expect us to believe this Blackbird broke our baby out of a fully armed police station? Mr.
and Mrs.
Singley, Tavon is a very special student here at Garfield.
But the ASA didn't murder him.
Then then where is my son? Where is he? Tavon was identified as a meta.
Our son was no meta.
We took their test and registered a month ago.
Look! Here's the paperwork to prove it.
Tavon tested negative for the meta-gene.
[SIGHS.]
A students swatted on my boy, and now he's gone.
The ASA knew our son wasn't a meta.
They didn't care.
The law doesn't matter anymore in Freeland.
[MRS.
SINGLEY.]
It's the metas who brought this misery to Freeland in the first place.
If it wasn't for them, Tavon would be in school.
Look, all we want is our boy back.
If you could find out something, anything Please, Mr.
Pierce, we're we're going out of our minds.
Okay, you have my word.
[SIGHS.]
[ANISSA.]
All right, so the vaccine will make you immune to the virus that has been hitting metas.
You sure this is necessary? Anti-vaxxer much? I meant the babysitter you called for me.
I survived this occupation for a month without you.
And neither of us know how your shape-shifting cells will respond to this vaccine.
And since my father has already proven a trigger for you, I need someone else here I can trust to look after you while I'm out.
And Gambi's no stranger.
You didn't watch the video Shonda cued up for you? [SHONDA.]
Which films would you like to view? Ask her anything and she'll do it.
I don't feel comfortable with that.
Doesn't it feels like slavery? - Do not emancipate - [GRACE LAUGHS.]
my, my smart home.
Shonda is a robot.
Yeah, and robot comes from the Czech word robota.
It means "forced labor.
" So [SHONDA.]
You have a visitor, Anissa, fairest of them all.
Shall I permit entry? Yes, Shonda.
Thank you.
[SHONDA.]
It is my pleasure to serve you.
[DOOR OPENS.]
- [ANISSA.]
Hey.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
Hey.
I should have checked for food allergies.
I'm sorry, I just All right, well, I hope that there is no objection to fettuccine alfredo.
Grace, meet my Uncle Gambi.
I thought you'd be black.
I thought you'd have leopard spots.
Looks like we have a lot to talk about.
[GRACE CHUCKLES.]
All right, look.
I'll be out late.
Don't wait up.
We'll be fine.
If anything goes wrong, I'm here.
And, Anissa, remember.
Be careful out there.
Blackbird has a price on her head.
Stay I've got a bad feeling.
Hey, I am meta-fabulous.
I'll be fine.
Okay? Come here.
All right.
You two have fun.
We'll be fine.
Say do you want to see some of Anissa's baby pictures? Yeah.
So today, we'll be learning the basics of coding.
- All those apps you love to use - [ELECTRICAL CRACKLING.]
now you can create them yourselves.
[WHISPERING.]
Hey, Brandon.
Brandon.
Yes, Your Highness? Look, not today, pretty boy.
Prove chivalry isn't dead and give me your jacket, all right? I'm freezing.
Here.
Hey, you're welcome.
[ALL GASP.]
[POWERING DOWN.]
All right, everyone, just remain calm.
It's probably just a power surge.
I'll be right back.
[JENNIFER GROANS.]
You okay, Jen? Oh, yeah.
Just a bad comedown.
I was flying high on pure energy last night, and now I feel like gravity's crushing me, you know.
It must have been some party.
Best way to beat a hangover? Electrolytes.
Thank you.
I'll hit you back, okay? Patient 49, as requested.
- [TWO-BITS.]
Oh, you look lost, Chief.
- We need to talk.
Ah, afternoon rush about to hit, but, um - [BARTENDER.]
Here you go.
- This should hold you out until then.
Mmm.
All right, everybody, listen up.
In 60 seconds, the ASA rolls in here.
They will be verifying your registration cards.
If you do not possess one, you will be taking a ride downtown.
[TWO-BITS.]
Hey, hey.
Hey Have a nice day.
Bro, was all that necessary? They ain't never coming back now.
You stealing supplies from the ASA and selling them at markup? Occupation's been good to you, huh, Two-Bits? Make you feel like a big man profiting while everybody else around you suffers? Better than goose-stepping with the ASA.
Is that what you think I'm doing? I didn't say nothing, man.
Why are you hounding me anyway? Hey, I did miss.
You're under arrest for assaulting a police officer and for the possession of stolen goods.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.
Goose-step that.
Listen to me.
Inoculate everyone here before we take them outside the perimeter.
I'll deliver the rest of the vaccine to the Perdi tonight.
The good Lord works in mysterious ways.
Now, if I'm being honest, I can't handle much more mystery.
But we're very thankful for the guardian angel he did send.
Get them prepped and ready to go.
Make sure they're all wearing black.
[EARPIECE BEEPS.]
[SHONDA.]
I hope this isn't a bad time.
You have a secure call waiting.
Put it through.
Hey, Gambi, what's up? No, it's me.
Dad? Wait.
Is everything okay? Mixed bag.
I need to talk to you.
Look, the train's about to leave.
Yeah, I know.
Look, I need you to bring Tavon back to Freeland.
What the hell? No! Look, his parents are worried sick, all right? They think he's dead.
He will be, if I do that.
The ASA is hunting metas down.
And Tavon Tavon was misidentified.
He is not a meta.
All right? Now, he needs to be with his family.
Besides, they're looking for you taking people out, not bringing them back in.
Too dangerous.
There is a price on my head.
And getting past ASA is not as easy as I make it look.
What if Grace was taken by the ASA? Wouldn't you do everything in your power to get her back? I'll see what I can do.
But for the record this is a bad idea.
[BEEPS.]
[ANAYA.]
More mouths to feed? You live on a farm.
Here.
We don't need any more of your money.
An epidemic has swept through Freeland.
The virus targets metas, specifically.
You heard of Ebola? This is more lethal and contagious.
We're isolated, we're safe.
You've already been exposed.
There is enough vaccine to inoculate every meta here.
Here.
Excuse me while I go save my people from the plague you brought.
Look, nice, really nice most of the time.
She's just a little scared.
Yeah, me too.
How you holding up, Tavon? I miss my parents.
Look, I made a couple of videos for them on my phone.
You think you could take it to 'em for me? You want to take it to 'em yourself? Really? What, you gonna take me home? Your parents have proof that you're not a meta.
Now, it's going to be dangerous, but if you're willing to take the risk [AGENT ODELL ON EARPIECE.]
I trust you're aware that Blackbird has been sighted leaving the perimeter? I cross-referenced her prior breaches against Freeland's power grid.
She's following the grid's fluctuations, slipping through the weak windows as they pass.
Can you predict her next window of re-entry? I'm sitting on it now.
[AGENT ODELL.]
Happy hunting.
I'm a fan of your work, Mrs.
Pierce.
It's Dr.
Stewart.
Aw, it's gonna be that way.
I figured given our history Fair enough.
Like I said, I love watching you work.
Tell me, how many of those pod kids did you kill? Ten or twelve? Fourteen children died in my care.
Broke me up inside watching.
I was rooting for you.
You do understand I have a thing for the underdog.
And the way you handled yourself with Dr.
Jace Whoo.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a queen bee.
" You've got fire, that's for damn sure Mrs Dr.
Stewart.
Woman after my own heart.
I'm nothing like you! That syringe tells a different story.
This is MB4.
That's right.
This is the MB4 serum that made you the monster that you are.
Augmented strength, eternal youth, all here in this syringe that I'm about to plunge into your body.
And why give it to me, then? Because now, you work for me, you miserable bastard.
[TOBIAS.]
Hmm.
[GRUNTING.]
Like I said, fire, Dr.
Stewart.
Fire! [TOBIAS LAUGHING MANIACALLY.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING ON COMPUTER.]
[GRACE SIGHS.]
Grace, how're you feeling? Everything seems normal for me.
[MAN THROUGH COMPUTER.]
Blackbird has been spotted at the perimeter.
Orders are to not engage.
I repeat, do not engage.
- [PINGING.]
- [GRACE.]
What does that mean? Trouble.
Come on, Tavon.
Stay with me.
Come on, quick.
What? You new? ASA? Markovian? Run! [BOTH GRUNTING.]
[BLACKBIRD GROANING.]
[YELLING.]
[GROANING.]
Help! It hurts! Don't talk.
Don't talk, okay? Shallow breaths.
Okay, I'm gonna get you home.
I promise.
Somebody! Come in! Blackbird, where are you? Meet me in the tunnel.
I'm coming in hot.
Dad, hurry! It's bad.
Hi! Thank you for seeing me at this, uh, late hour, Ms.
Pierce.
I found myself in the area so to speak.
I hope I'm not interrupting anything? I, uh, just catching up on some reading.
Tea? I must confess that I'm very relieved to find you safe at home.
Where else would I be after curfew? Where else, indeed.
Do you know the vigilante, Blackbird? Not, not personally.
I've seen the graffiti.
Uh nice suit.
Why? I follow data, Ms.
Pierce.
And, uh, data rarely lies.
The individual I seek shares your height, weight, and other metrics.
Yet you simply can't be in two places at once.
What do you mean? [STAMMERS.]
What do you mean? Blackbird breached the perimeter, the ASA is engaging as we speak, and her reign of terror has come to an end.
Apologies for entertaining such a ludicrous notion.
Let you go back to reading, and good night.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Grace.
I'm fine.
Go.
Anissa needs help.
Lord make me wait out of no pain.
Gonna get me some dinner, get on out of here, and pray.
[CHUCKLES.]
Reverend Holt.
It's good to see you on the mend.
There before the grace of God goes I.
- Hmm.
- [CHUCKLES.]
What're you doing down here at this time of night, Chief Henderson? Oh, you know, following leads.
Tracking down the Blackbird.
You haven't seen anything out of sorts lately, have you? If I saw something, I'd have said something.
- Mmm-hmm.
- [REVEREND HOLT CHUCKLING.]
The trouble is, all my leads end right here in this church.
You care to explain? I have no earthly idea.
I suppose those with the most sin cast the first stone.
Well, I'm not the one smuggling the metas outside of Freeland.
All aboard! Choo-choo! Yeah, I thought that might ring a bell.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
Now, now, come on, Chief.
Listen You don't think I'm human trafficking? Huh? I am down here saving these poor souls.
These people have rights.
Chief Henderson, they have rights! Reverend Holt, you have the right to remain silent.
A right that I know that you will waive.
Now, you hear me, Chief Henderson.
You cannot arrest me here.
We are in the house of the Lord.
And He sees all.
Yeah.
Between me and you, Reverend, He's seen worse.
Come on.
I owe you a debt of gratitude, Dr.
Stewart.
You made me young again.
Pay me in silence.
Your bedside manner needs work.
Tell me, what's on the ASA agenda today? Waterboarding, thumbscrews, conjugal visit, perhaps? I'm gonna extract a sample of your bone marrow.
Hmm, sounds excruciating.
When a local anesthetic is administered, it's quite painless.
After I make a small incision, I'll insert this needle into your pelvic bone and extract the bone marrow.
Why me? When your body processes the MB4 serum, it creates a byproduct protein I believe I could use to stabilize the metas of Freeland.
I recently found myself with a lot of time to contemplate what got me in this godforsaken pit.
And all I can come up with is Black Lightning always showing up whenever your daughters are in trouble.
Once is chance.
Second time is coincidence, but a third? Now, that's a pattern.
Black Lightning saves a lot of lives in Freeland.
This is true.
But after that boy your daughter was dating got his spine ripped out, some new female firecracker-type superhero appeared and lit my ass up, with Black Lightning's help, of course.
Do you see the pattern? Only the musings of a lunatic.
Humor me.
Answer this lunatic's one question.
What's your super suit look like, Dr.
Stewart? And to think I lie here before superhero royalty.
[CHUCKLES.]
It all makes sense to me now.
One merry melanated meta-family solving crimes and protecting Freeland.
You're delusional.
No, I'm not delusional.
I'll make you this promise.
After I kill Black Lightning and that lying bastard Jefferson Pierce, you and your beautiful daughters will have nothing to fear from me.
I always pay my debts.
[WAILS IN PAIN.]
Did I neglect to administer the anesthetic? Ahhh! [GAMBI.]
There! [GRUNTING.]
[BLACK LIGHTNING.]
What happened? [GASPING.]
We got ambushed.
They hit us with some kind of poison.
I told you this was a bad idea.
Look what you've done.
Tavon.
Tavon, can you hear me? [WEAKLY.]
Black Lightning.
No.
No, no, no, Tavon.
Tavon! No! Come on, Tavon, come on.
Tavon.
Tavon.
Tavon! I'm so sorry for your loss.
[MR.
SINGLEY.]
Those ASA sons of bitches murdered our boy! [SOBBING.]
Wake up! [WAILING.]
I don't know whether to throw Dr.
Jace a party or a funeral.
I trust you've finally solved the riddle of meta stabilization? I'm preparing the formula now.
Testing won't be far behind.
There were no issues with patient 49, I trust? You could've warned me! Tobias Whale murdered Jefferson's father.
What happens to him when all this is said and done? I wouldn't concern yourself with that.
He knows my family's secrets.
Jefferson's, Anissa's, even Jennifer's were vulnerable.
Highly improbable.
He threatened to murder Jefferson and leave our girls alone, his twisted idea of a favor in exchange for giving him the MB4 serum.
What exactly are you asking me to do, Dr.
Stewart? What is the point of all this cloak and dagger if you cannot protect my family? When I am done with Tobias, you make him disappear, permanently.
Keep me apprised.
- [SCHOOL BELL RINGING.]
- [STUDENTS CHATTERING.]
Tavon's dead.
How? The ASA shot him trying to escape the perimeter.
- Are you serious? - Yeah.
There they are.
The ASA.
Hey, why you punks murder Tavon? Stand down.
Return to class.
There won't be another warning.
Oh, yeah? Like you warned Tavon? Before you ASA asshats killed him? [ALL MURMUR IN ASSENT.]
You know what? We are not afraid of you.
- [STUDENTS.]
No.
- This is Freeland.
You know, it's time the ASA got the hell out anyway.
- [STUDENTS.]
Yes.
- For Tavon! Tavon! Tavon! Tavon! Tavon! [CHANTING.]
Tavon! Tavon! Remember his face! [CHANTING CONTINUES.]
Murderers! [GROANS.]
Everybody disperse at once! Demonstration over! What the hell is going on? These are kids.
They're on school property.
Hey, Jen.
Chill out, Brandon.
You'll get your jacket back soon enough.
It's not that.
I wanted to ask [INDISTINCT ARGUING IN DISTANCE.]
- What's going on down there? - I don't know.
Stand down! I will have you arrested.
Tavon is dead.
Now I will not have another kid die on my watch.
[SOUL MUSIC PLAYING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[ASA SOLDIERS GRUNT.]
[STUDENTS SCREAMING.]
[JEFFERSON GROANS.]
Dad! - [ASA SOLDIER.]
Everybody, stay back! - [JEFFERSON GRUNTING.]
I told you, stay down! [GROANS.]
[YELPS.]
Brandon, get off of me.
I have to help him.
No, stop.
It will be a massacre.
How did you do that? - [GRUNTING.]
- [JEFFERSON GROANING.]
[STUDENTS SOBBING AND WHIMPERING.]
[CONTINUES GROANING.]
So beating my dad down like a dog is a part of saving Freeland from Markovia, huh? I marched alongside Martin Luther King, Jr.
, in the civil rights movement.
I never enjoy watching a black man being beaten on the street.
Your men, your responsibility.
Those men responsible did so of their own accord.
I am going to reprimand them.
Perhaps you'd care to take a ride with me? [ENGINE STARTING.]
[ASA SOLDIER.]
All right, I'll raise you ten.
Let's see your hand.
[GROANS.]
Who the hell are you supposed to be? [UPBEAT R&B MUSIC PLAYING.]
Did you have to leave us here the whole night? Damn! I demand to know the meaning behind this, Chief Henderson.
I want to know! Careful, Reverend.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING OPEN.]
- [ASA SOLDIERS GRUNTING ON VIDEO.]
- Get on the ground! Tavon Singley and Jefferson Pierce are the spark we needed.
"We"? What exactly are you saying? The people of Freeland are ready to fight now.
We've all been working independently, nickel-and-diming these bastards, but it's time to join forces, run the ASA out of here, take our freedom back.
So, you've been leading the insurgents this whole time? I'm just a man trying to do what's right.
Join us.
We'll be crucified if we try to take the ASA on by ourselves.
But who said we by ourselves? And the scales fell from his eyes, turning Saul to Paul.
My man.
Previously on Black Lightning [AGENT ODELL.]
Your body has reverted to its natural age and is experiencing withdrawal from the serum that's kept you virile for the last 30 years.
I'm Brandon.
I'm new, and I was told to ask Jennifer Pierce for a tour.
Tavon Singley, I'm gonna need you to come with us.
There's been a report of meta-human powers being displayed.
What? No, that's not true.
Straight through these trees.
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.
[GAMBI.]
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, until they lead us to the Pit.
[LYNN.]
The results have been nothing short of remarkable.
Every person who was infected is on their way to making a full recovery.
[MAJOR GREY.]
She's hooked.
[AGENT ODELL.]
I only saw to it that she got a taste of the most addictive substance on Earth.
You have the ability to do things your father could never do, Ms.
Pierce.
[BEEPING.]
[TAVON.]
I can see the constellations from here, Dad.
They just like you said they'd be.
Hi, Ma.
Look, don't worry.
I'm okay.
But if it wasn't for Blackbird saving me when somebody at school lied about me being a meta, I'd probably still be rotting in that ASA concentration camp.
I don't know where I am, but here, humans and metas live and work together.
Mr.
Pierce said that Freeland was our community.
We help each other.
All boats rise.
But that ASA occupation, it changed us, turned us against each other.
They say that in every revolution, there's one man with a vision.
I thought that was Black Lightning.
But after being here, I think the only way to save Freeland is if humans and metas work together side by side to stop the ASA.
Maybe then I can come home.
Look, I love y'all both.
Interesting.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
Are we dancing or are we sparring, you meta freak? [ALL GRUNTING.]
- [HEART BEATING RAPIDLY.]
- [GROANING.]
That fun exploding heart technique.
[CONTINUES GROANING.]
Take five steps and boom.
Are you serious? No, no, I'm not serious.
Downloaded Black Belt Theater last night.
I mean, what's knowledge without a little culture.
Am I right? - [CHOKING.]
- Oh, that's right.
My venom coursing through your veins right now must make it difficult for you to think.
[GASPING.]
[MAN 1 CONTINUES CHOKING.]
Do you have kids, Sergeant? A religious man, perhaps? You see, I often ponder my victims' last thoughts before they die.
And the truth is it's fascinating to me.
[DOOR OPENS.]
That's enough! Have the infirmary administer the antivenom immediately.
[MAN 2.]
Yes, sir.
[MAN 1 GROANING.]
Painkiller.
The vigilante known as Blackbird has become a high-value target.
This is a problem that requires your attention.
[GRUNTING.]
Your vitals are spiking, Erica.
How do you feel? [GASPING.]
I'm okay, Dr.
Stewart.
I'm gonna ask you to push yourself now.
Let your power absorb the kinetic energy, but don't release it until I say, okay? [GRUNTING.]
[SHOUTS.]
Now.
[SCREAMING.]
[GASPING.]
[GASPING.]
[JEFFERSON.]
Lynn.
You okay? I didn't mean to wake you up.
You should You should go back to sleep.
I'm fine.
Wait.
Are you going somewhere? The curfew.
Curfew doesn't apply to the ASA.
I need to go to the lab.
You should get some sleep.
I know that look.
What look would that be? An afterglow, a midnight epiphany.
All right, so when can I expect to see you? Like two, three days a week? I cured the meta-virus, but this occupation won't end until I stabilize the meta-gene itself.
I'm close.
I have all the pieces.
I just If I can decipher them.
I just need to get to the lab and run some tests.
Okay, okay.
I love you.
I love you too.
[R&B MUSIC PLAYING.]
[TRUTHTELLER JOHNSON.]
Good evening, citizens of Freeland.
Truthteller Johnson with another Resistance Alert tailored especially for you.
There are rumors spread by the ASA claiming the recent assault on our very own Precinct 13 was made by those evil Markovians.
Don't believe the hype.
What the ASA doesn't want you to know is they were illegally holding citizens of Freeland.
It was the Blackbird herself who risked life and limb to save them.
And it's to her, we raise our glass tonight.
Stay safe out there.
That's the truth.
I had some help, but I'll take it.
Hope you can handle it.
This is Truthteller Johnson signing off.
The school bell is ringing, young lady.
[R&B MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING.]
There she is.
I thought I'd surprise you with your favorite.
[GASPS.]
That hurt.
How many times do I have to tell you to not drag your feet? You and our [VOICE DISTORTS.]
[NORMAL VOICE.]
tricity-like capacitors.
Jennifer.
[DISTORTED VOICE.]
Jennifer, are you okay? Mmm-mmm.
No, I feel funny.
Nothing is really normal.
Well, that's good because We're not normal? Yes, but, no Well Look, what I was gonna say is it should never feel normal living through an occupation.
The moment it does, you will find yourself on the wrong side of history.
The ASA Is protecting us from the Markovians, yeah, I know.
Maybe the ASA is protecting us.
There is a fine line between [DISTORTED.]
protecting [NORMAL VOICE.]
and repressing.
You know, history is full of examples of liberators who become oppressors.
Dad.
Look, I love you, but it's way too early for a history lesson, okay? And I don't feel good, so I'm just gonna take a sick day.
Wait, hold on.
[SIGHS.]
I Hmm You're going to school.
[TYPING.]
[DOOR SLIDES OPEN.]
You have an update, Dr.
Stewart? I believe I know how to stabilize the meta-gene.
I thought I was lucid dreaming.
Turns out my subconscious self is quite demanding when it wants to be heard.
Dreams of severed feet.
Dr.
Jace deliberately infected the metas of Freeland to send me her research sliced into the DNA of the virus.
From which she was successful in developing a vaccine.
Yes! On closer examination of the virus' RNA, it was revealed that Dr.
Jace used a gene-editing tool to send me a specific amino acid chain.
What do amino acids have to do with our meta-stabilization problem? [LAUGHS.]
Everything! Twenty amino acids like this make up a protein chain.
This particular protein was a byproduct of a serum that was the predecessor to the metagenic vaccine in Green Light.
Once it's metabolized in a human host, it strengthens the mitochondrial membrane potential of meta cells significantly.
Don't you see? Dr.
Jace sent me the protein I needed to theoretically stabilize the meta-gene permanently.
The only problem is, it can't be synthesized in the lab, it has to be extracted from a human host.
Any human host will suffice? Well, that where it gets strange.
According to the ASA database, only one patient survived taking the serum.
Patient 49.
New information has come to light and the vigilante known as Blackbird is now wanted in connection with the recent assault on police headquarters as well as the abduction of several prisoners, including that of a minor.
As Freeland's acting Chief of Police, I implore anyone with information on this matter to contact local law enforcement, and a $50,000 reward is now being offered for any information leading to the arrest of this individual.
Remember, folks, if you see something, say something.
[CROWD BOOING.]
[INSPECTOR HENDERSON.]
All right, all right.
[CROWD LAUGHING.]
Oh, I saw that.
What do you want me to say about it? No, no, no, no.
That's all right, it's all right.
- [TWO-BITS LAUGHING.]
- [MAN.]
Fifty K.
More like 30 silver pieces to me.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself, son.
- It's all right, it's all right.
- [CROWD BOOING.]
The ASA murdered our boy.
And now they're covering it up.
They expect us to believe this Blackbird broke our baby out of a fully armed police station? Mr.
and Mrs.
Singley, Tavon is a very special student here at Garfield.
But the ASA didn't murder him.
Then then where is my son? Where is he? Tavon was identified as a meta.
Our son was no meta.
We took their test and registered a month ago.
Look! Here's the paperwork to prove it.
Tavon tested negative for the meta-gene.
[SIGHS.]
A students swatted on my boy, and now he's gone.
The ASA knew our son wasn't a meta.
They didn't care.
The law doesn't matter anymore in Freeland.
[MRS.
SINGLEY.]
It's the metas who brought this misery to Freeland in the first place.
If it wasn't for them, Tavon would be in school.
Look, all we want is our boy back.
If you could find out something, anything Please, Mr.
Pierce, we're we're going out of our minds.
Okay, you have my word.
[SIGHS.]
[ANISSA.]
All right, so the vaccine will make you immune to the virus that has been hitting metas.
You sure this is necessary? Anti-vaxxer much? I meant the babysitter you called for me.
I survived this occupation for a month without you.
And neither of us know how your shape-shifting cells will respond to this vaccine.
And since my father has already proven a trigger for you, I need someone else here I can trust to look after you while I'm out.
And Gambi's no stranger.
You didn't watch the video Shonda cued up for you? [SHONDA.]
Which films would you like to view? Ask her anything and she'll do it.
I don't feel comfortable with that.
Doesn't it feels like slavery? - Do not emancipate - [GRACE LAUGHS.]
my, my smart home.
Shonda is a robot.
Yeah, and robot comes from the Czech word robota.
It means "forced labor.
" So [SHONDA.]
You have a visitor, Anissa, fairest of them all.
Shall I permit entry? Yes, Shonda.
Thank you.
[SHONDA.]
It is my pleasure to serve you.
[DOOR OPENS.]
- [ANISSA.]
Hey.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
Hey.
I should have checked for food allergies.
I'm sorry, I just All right, well, I hope that there is no objection to fettuccine alfredo.
Grace, meet my Uncle Gambi.
I thought you'd be black.
I thought you'd have leopard spots.
Looks like we have a lot to talk about.
[GRACE CHUCKLES.]
All right, look.
I'll be out late.
Don't wait up.
We'll be fine.
If anything goes wrong, I'm here.
And, Anissa, remember.
Be careful out there.
Blackbird has a price on her head.
Stay I've got a bad feeling.
Hey, I am meta-fabulous.
I'll be fine.
Okay? Come here.
All right.
You two have fun.
We'll be fine.
Say do you want to see some of Anissa's baby pictures? Yeah.
So today, we'll be learning the basics of coding.
- All those apps you love to use - [ELECTRICAL CRACKLING.]
now you can create them yourselves.
[WHISPERING.]
Hey, Brandon.
Brandon.
Yes, Your Highness? Look, not today, pretty boy.
Prove chivalry isn't dead and give me your jacket, all right? I'm freezing.
Here.
Hey, you're welcome.
[ALL GASP.]
[POWERING DOWN.]
All right, everyone, just remain calm.
It's probably just a power surge.
I'll be right back.
[JENNIFER GROANS.]
You okay, Jen? Oh, yeah.
Just a bad comedown.
I was flying high on pure energy last night, and now I feel like gravity's crushing me, you know.
It must have been some party.
Best way to beat a hangover? Electrolytes.
Thank you.
I'll hit you back, okay? Patient 49, as requested.
- [TWO-BITS.]
Oh, you look lost, Chief.
- We need to talk.
Ah, afternoon rush about to hit, but, um - [BARTENDER.]
Here you go.
- This should hold you out until then.
Mmm.
All right, everybody, listen up.
In 60 seconds, the ASA rolls in here.
They will be verifying your registration cards.
If you do not possess one, you will be taking a ride downtown.
[TWO-BITS.]
Hey, hey.
Hey Have a nice day.
Bro, was all that necessary? They ain't never coming back now.
You stealing supplies from the ASA and selling them at markup? Occupation's been good to you, huh, Two-Bits? Make you feel like a big man profiting while everybody else around you suffers? Better than goose-stepping with the ASA.
Is that what you think I'm doing? I didn't say nothing, man.
Why are you hounding me anyway? Hey, I did miss.
You're under arrest for assaulting a police officer and for the possession of stolen goods.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.
Goose-step that.
Listen to me.
Inoculate everyone here before we take them outside the perimeter.
I'll deliver the rest of the vaccine to the Perdi tonight.
The good Lord works in mysterious ways.
Now, if I'm being honest, I can't handle much more mystery.
But we're very thankful for the guardian angel he did send.
Get them prepped and ready to go.
Make sure they're all wearing black.
[EARPIECE BEEPS.]
[SHONDA.]
I hope this isn't a bad time.
You have a secure call waiting.
Put it through.
Hey, Gambi, what's up? No, it's me.
Dad? Wait.
Is everything okay? Mixed bag.
I need to talk to you.
Look, the train's about to leave.
Yeah, I know.
Look, I need you to bring Tavon back to Freeland.
What the hell? No! Look, his parents are worried sick, all right? They think he's dead.
He will be, if I do that.
The ASA is hunting metas down.
And Tavon Tavon was misidentified.
He is not a meta.
All right? Now, he needs to be with his family.
Besides, they're looking for you taking people out, not bringing them back in.
Too dangerous.
There is a price on my head.
And getting past ASA is not as easy as I make it look.
What if Grace was taken by the ASA? Wouldn't you do everything in your power to get her back? I'll see what I can do.
But for the record this is a bad idea.
[BEEPS.]
[ANAYA.]
More mouths to feed? You live on a farm.
Here.
We don't need any more of your money.
An epidemic has swept through Freeland.
The virus targets metas, specifically.
You heard of Ebola? This is more lethal and contagious.
We're isolated, we're safe.
You've already been exposed.
There is enough vaccine to inoculate every meta here.
Here.
Excuse me while I go save my people from the plague you brought.
Look, nice, really nice most of the time.
She's just a little scared.
Yeah, me too.
How you holding up, Tavon? I miss my parents.
Look, I made a couple of videos for them on my phone.
You think you could take it to 'em for me? You want to take it to 'em yourself? Really? What, you gonna take me home? Your parents have proof that you're not a meta.
Now, it's going to be dangerous, but if you're willing to take the risk [AGENT ODELL ON EARPIECE.]
I trust you're aware that Blackbird has been sighted leaving the perimeter? I cross-referenced her prior breaches against Freeland's power grid.
She's following the grid's fluctuations, slipping through the weak windows as they pass.
Can you predict her next window of re-entry? I'm sitting on it now.
[AGENT ODELL.]
Happy hunting.
I'm a fan of your work, Mrs.
Pierce.
It's Dr.
Stewart.
Aw, it's gonna be that way.
I figured given our history Fair enough.
Like I said, I love watching you work.
Tell me, how many of those pod kids did you kill? Ten or twelve? Fourteen children died in my care.
Broke me up inside watching.
I was rooting for you.
You do understand I have a thing for the underdog.
And the way you handled yourself with Dr.
Jace Whoo.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a queen bee.
" You've got fire, that's for damn sure Mrs Dr.
Stewart.
Woman after my own heart.
I'm nothing like you! That syringe tells a different story.
This is MB4.
That's right.
This is the MB4 serum that made you the monster that you are.
Augmented strength, eternal youth, all here in this syringe that I'm about to plunge into your body.
And why give it to me, then? Because now, you work for me, you miserable bastard.
[TOBIAS.]
Hmm.
[GRUNTING.]
Like I said, fire, Dr.
Stewart.
Fire! [TOBIAS LAUGHING MANIACALLY.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING ON COMPUTER.]
[GRACE SIGHS.]
Grace, how're you feeling? Everything seems normal for me.
[MAN THROUGH COMPUTER.]
Blackbird has been spotted at the perimeter.
Orders are to not engage.
I repeat, do not engage.
- [PINGING.]
- [GRACE.]
What does that mean? Trouble.
Come on, Tavon.
Stay with me.
Come on, quick.
What? You new? ASA? Markovian? Run! [BOTH GRUNTING.]
[BLACKBIRD GROANING.]
[YELLING.]
[GROANING.]
Help! It hurts! Don't talk.
Don't talk, okay? Shallow breaths.
Okay, I'm gonna get you home.
I promise.
Somebody! Come in! Blackbird, where are you? Meet me in the tunnel.
I'm coming in hot.
Dad, hurry! It's bad.
Hi! Thank you for seeing me at this, uh, late hour, Ms.
Pierce.
I found myself in the area so to speak.
I hope I'm not interrupting anything? I, uh, just catching up on some reading.
Tea? I must confess that I'm very relieved to find you safe at home.
Where else would I be after curfew? Where else, indeed.
Do you know the vigilante, Blackbird? Not, not personally.
I've seen the graffiti.
Uh nice suit.
Why? I follow data, Ms.
Pierce.
And, uh, data rarely lies.
The individual I seek shares your height, weight, and other metrics.
Yet you simply can't be in two places at once.
What do you mean? [STAMMERS.]
What do you mean? Blackbird breached the perimeter, the ASA is engaging as we speak, and her reign of terror has come to an end.
Apologies for entertaining such a ludicrous notion.
Let you go back to reading, and good night.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Grace.
I'm fine.
Go.
Anissa needs help.
Lord make me wait out of no pain.
Gonna get me some dinner, get on out of here, and pray.
[CHUCKLES.]
Reverend Holt.
It's good to see you on the mend.
There before the grace of God goes I.
- Hmm.
- [CHUCKLES.]
What're you doing down here at this time of night, Chief Henderson? Oh, you know, following leads.
Tracking down the Blackbird.
You haven't seen anything out of sorts lately, have you? If I saw something, I'd have said something.
- Mmm-hmm.
- [REVEREND HOLT CHUCKLING.]
The trouble is, all my leads end right here in this church.
You care to explain? I have no earthly idea.
I suppose those with the most sin cast the first stone.
Well, I'm not the one smuggling the metas outside of Freeland.
All aboard! Choo-choo! Yeah, I thought that might ring a bell.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
Now, now, come on, Chief.
Listen You don't think I'm human trafficking? Huh? I am down here saving these poor souls.
These people have rights.
Chief Henderson, they have rights! Reverend Holt, you have the right to remain silent.
A right that I know that you will waive.
Now, you hear me, Chief Henderson.
You cannot arrest me here.
We are in the house of the Lord.
And He sees all.
Yeah.
Between me and you, Reverend, He's seen worse.
Come on.
I owe you a debt of gratitude, Dr.
Stewart.
You made me young again.
Pay me in silence.
Your bedside manner needs work.
Tell me, what's on the ASA agenda today? Waterboarding, thumbscrews, conjugal visit, perhaps? I'm gonna extract a sample of your bone marrow.
Hmm, sounds excruciating.
When a local anesthetic is administered, it's quite painless.
After I make a small incision, I'll insert this needle into your pelvic bone and extract the bone marrow.
Why me? When your body processes the MB4 serum, it creates a byproduct protein I believe I could use to stabilize the metas of Freeland.
I recently found myself with a lot of time to contemplate what got me in this godforsaken pit.
And all I can come up with is Black Lightning always showing up whenever your daughters are in trouble.
Once is chance.
Second time is coincidence, but a third? Now, that's a pattern.
Black Lightning saves a lot of lives in Freeland.
This is true.
But after that boy your daughter was dating got his spine ripped out, some new female firecracker-type superhero appeared and lit my ass up, with Black Lightning's help, of course.
Do you see the pattern? Only the musings of a lunatic.
Humor me.
Answer this lunatic's one question.
What's your super suit look like, Dr.
Stewart? And to think I lie here before superhero royalty.
[CHUCKLES.]
It all makes sense to me now.
One merry melanated meta-family solving crimes and protecting Freeland.
You're delusional.
No, I'm not delusional.
I'll make you this promise.
After I kill Black Lightning and that lying bastard Jefferson Pierce, you and your beautiful daughters will have nothing to fear from me.
I always pay my debts.
[WAILS IN PAIN.]
Did I neglect to administer the anesthetic? Ahhh! [GAMBI.]
There! [GRUNTING.]
[BLACK LIGHTNING.]
What happened? [GASPING.]
We got ambushed.
They hit us with some kind of poison.
I told you this was a bad idea.
Look what you've done.
Tavon.
Tavon, can you hear me? [WEAKLY.]
Black Lightning.
No.
No, no, no, Tavon.
Tavon! No! Come on, Tavon, come on.
Tavon.
Tavon.
Tavon! I'm so sorry for your loss.
[MR.
SINGLEY.]
Those ASA sons of bitches murdered our boy! [SOBBING.]
Wake up! [WAILING.]
I don't know whether to throw Dr.
Jace a party or a funeral.
I trust you've finally solved the riddle of meta stabilization? I'm preparing the formula now.
Testing won't be far behind.
There were no issues with patient 49, I trust? You could've warned me! Tobias Whale murdered Jefferson's father.
What happens to him when all this is said and done? I wouldn't concern yourself with that.
He knows my family's secrets.
Jefferson's, Anissa's, even Jennifer's were vulnerable.
Highly improbable.
He threatened to murder Jefferson and leave our girls alone, his twisted idea of a favor in exchange for giving him the MB4 serum.
What exactly are you asking me to do, Dr.
Stewart? What is the point of all this cloak and dagger if you cannot protect my family? When I am done with Tobias, you make him disappear, permanently.
Keep me apprised.
- [SCHOOL BELL RINGING.]
- [STUDENTS CHATTERING.]
Tavon's dead.
How? The ASA shot him trying to escape the perimeter.
- Are you serious? - Yeah.
There they are.
The ASA.
Hey, why you punks murder Tavon? Stand down.
Return to class.
There won't be another warning.
Oh, yeah? Like you warned Tavon? Before you ASA asshats killed him? [ALL MURMUR IN ASSENT.]
You know what? We are not afraid of you.
- [STUDENTS.]
No.
- This is Freeland.
You know, it's time the ASA got the hell out anyway.
- [STUDENTS.]
Yes.
- For Tavon! Tavon! Tavon! Tavon! Tavon! [CHANTING.]
Tavon! Tavon! Remember his face! [CHANTING CONTINUES.]
Murderers! [GROANS.]
Everybody disperse at once! Demonstration over! What the hell is going on? These are kids.
They're on school property.
Hey, Jen.
Chill out, Brandon.
You'll get your jacket back soon enough.
It's not that.
I wanted to ask [INDISTINCT ARGUING IN DISTANCE.]
- What's going on down there? - I don't know.
Stand down! I will have you arrested.
Tavon is dead.
Now I will not have another kid die on my watch.
[SOUL MUSIC PLAYING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[ASA SOLDIERS GRUNT.]
[STUDENTS SCREAMING.]
[JEFFERSON GROANS.]
Dad! - [ASA SOLDIER.]
Everybody, stay back! - [JEFFERSON GRUNTING.]
I told you, stay down! [GROANS.]
[YELPS.]
Brandon, get off of me.
I have to help him.
No, stop.
It will be a massacre.
How did you do that? - [GRUNTING.]
- [JEFFERSON GROANING.]
[STUDENTS SOBBING AND WHIMPERING.]
[CONTINUES GROANING.]
So beating my dad down like a dog is a part of saving Freeland from Markovia, huh? I marched alongside Martin Luther King, Jr.
, in the civil rights movement.
I never enjoy watching a black man being beaten on the street.
Your men, your responsibility.
Those men responsible did so of their own accord.
I am going to reprimand them.
Perhaps you'd care to take a ride with me? [ENGINE STARTING.]
[ASA SOLDIER.]
All right, I'll raise you ten.
Let's see your hand.
[GROANS.]
Who the hell are you supposed to be? [UPBEAT R&B MUSIC PLAYING.]
Did you have to leave us here the whole night? Damn! I demand to know the meaning behind this, Chief Henderson.
I want to know! Careful, Reverend.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING OPEN.]
- [ASA SOLDIERS GRUNTING ON VIDEO.]
- Get on the ground! Tavon Singley and Jefferson Pierce are the spark we needed.
"We"? What exactly are you saying? The people of Freeland are ready to fight now.
We've all been working independently, nickel-and-diming these bastards, but it's time to join forces, run the ASA out of here, take our freedom back.
So, you've been leading the insurgents this whole time? I'm just a man trying to do what's right.
Join us.
We'll be crucified if we try to take the ASA on by ourselves.
But who said we by ourselves? And the scales fell from his eyes, turning Saul to Paul.
My man.