Black Lightning (2018) s03e08 Episode Script

[JEFFERSON.]
Previously on Black Lightning [AGENT ODELL.]
The Markovians are on the outskirts of Freeland, and they're marshalling their forces.
[SPEAKING RUSSIAN.]
[AGENT ODELL.]
The Markovians want to capture or kill as many metas as possible.
[COMMANDER WILLIAMS.]
Markovians breached the compound.
- [AGENT ODELL.]
Put Freeland on lockdown.
- Copy.
[JENNIFER.]
I need to know what happens when our powers merge, okay? [BRANDON.]
Now, tell me what you know about Jace.
[JENNIFER.]
Just do it one more time and I'ma tell you.
And I ain't got time for your games right now.
So here, get out.
Wake up, Freeland.
The insurgents are not your enemy.
They're fighting to protect us against the tyranny of our so-called protectors, the ASA.
Khalil.
How is that possible? We buried him.
[YELLS.]
Look, Lynn.
What I see is you spending more time at the Pit than with your own family.
Why is that? - [DISTORTED.]
Talk to me.
- [IN NORMAL VOICE.]
Why talk, Jeff? I talk, you don't listen, history repeats itself.
I'm done.
Come on.
Lynn! [THE VOICE.]
Name? Tobias Whale.
[THE VOICE.]
Date of birth? April 20th, 1946.
[THE VOICE.]
Confirmed.
[TOBIAS.]
You're doing this with the others.
You are, aren't you? Have they figured it out yet? What you're doing to them? What you're making them? [CHUCKLING.]
Truth in silence, my dear.
I know all about your plan for Freeland.
But you aren't going to turn me into one of Odell's slaves.
No.
I'm not a meta.
I'm something different.
[BREATHES DEEPLY.]
I ride the pale horse and hell follows with me.
[LAUGHING EVILLY.]
[ALARM BEEPING.]
[ALARM STOPS.]
[LYNN.]
I don't need your permission to talk to anyone.
[JEFFERSON.]
No, you don't talk about me.
[LYNN.]
Why talk, Jeff? I talk, you don't listen, history repeats itself.
[JEFFERSON.]
You think everything about me, including my powers, is strange.
[LYNN.]
This is not about Freeland.
It's not about Tavon, it's about you.
It's always about you.
[JEFFERSON.]
Tell them exactly how my powers work.
[LYNN.]
I would never give you up.
[PHONE LINE RINGING.]
[ON VOICEMAIL.]
Hi, you've reached Dr.
Lynn Stewart.
I'm unavailable at the moment, so please leave your name and phone number, and I'll Okay.
Now, take a deep breath in and hold it.
[ANISSA INHALES DEEPLY.]
Let me know if you feel anything other than pressure.
Ready? Anything? [GAMBI GRUNTS.]
[CHUCKLING.]
Well, it looks like your powers are back to normal.
Thank God.
Are you feeling any residual effects from the poison at all? No, just this.
[GAMBI.]
Oh, it looks much better.
Just keep using the antivenom until it clears up.
And in the meantime, you should continue to rest.
You need to give yourself time to heal.
Please.
We both know that's not gonna happen.
Look, I gotta get back to work, Uncle Gambi.
Freeland needs me.
I figured you might say that.
Well, in that case, there's something I want to show you.
I found this when I was going through the system that I mirrored in the Pit.
This aired in Jacksonville a few days ago.
[TV ANCHOR.]
Freeland continues to be on lockdown.
Officials say they're still no closer to eradicating the SARS epidemic which forced the government to quarantine the city more than a month ago.
[ANISSA.]
What the hell? SARS? What about the metas? Markovia? No mention of any of that.
Apparently, the ASA doesn't want the world to know what's really going on here.
So, that's why no one's come near us, because they think it's an outbreak? [GAMBI SIGHS.]
Uncle Gambi, look.
We got to get the message out there.
We have to tell the people the truth.
I tried uploading the video of your father getting beaten by the ASA.
I figured that a community/Olympic hero being assaulted would get the world's attention, but my equipment is too limited.
I can get a signal out, but only as far as South Freeland.
Okay, so what else can we use? [SIGHS.]
I'm looking.
But I need more evidence.
Photos, videos, something that will prove what happened to your dad wasn't just another black man getting beaten down.
Something that will show the world what's really going on here.
I think I know somebody who can help us.
[COMPUTER BEEPS.]
Where did you go, Khalil? Excuse me, Dr.
Stewart.
Patient 49 is here for his blood test.
Thank you, Nurse Allen.
Put him over there.
Okay.
Right over here, guys.
Ah, Dr.
Stewart.
How is that super family of yours? I need to test your blood to see if your antibodies are regenerating for the stabilization cure.
You know, Dr.
Stewart, I'm jealous of you.
Yes.
Jealous because you're going to be famous.
Come, come now.
Don't be modest.
I can see you on the cover of Ebony and Essence now.
"Dr.
Lynn Stewart, the strong, sexy, intelligent black woman who saved Freeland and the world by enslaving black youth.
" Hmm.
What're you rambling about? Fame, my dear.
Fame for the cure.
I asked you a question.
Don't be naive, Dr.
Stewart.
You know exactly what the ASA is gonna do with those metas once you stabilize them.
Just look at the roster you gave me.
Super strength, accelerated healing, and my favorite camouflage.
Seem like weapons to me.
I've heard it all before.
Oh, really? From who? Wait.
You don't mean Black Lightning? How interesting.
I guess he's smarter than I thought.
Then again, that suit.
Tell me.
I've always been curious.
Is he a big fan of Earth, Wind & Fire? Or is it Parliament? Perhaps Bootsy Collins.
I'm not being naive.
I know the ASA wants to use the metas as weapons and once they're stabilized, they might decide they want that too, but at least this way I'm giving them a choice.
Hmm, is that what they're calling slavery these politically correct days? I've worked with the ASA for decades, with you about a month and some change.
Does it look like these kids have a "choice" to make of their own? No, Dr.
Stewart, the choice has already been made for them.
Those kids will be weapons whether they like it or not.
And not just them.
But everyone in Freeland with the meta-gene.
Now that the ASA knows what Green Light can do, they'll flood the city until they get as many metas as they can.
- It's not possible.
- Hmm.
How would they even get that much Green Light? I don't know.
But what I do know is, it'll be all because of you.
The great, smart, talented, and beautiful Dr.
Lynn Stewart.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Okay.
[KNOCKING CONTINUES.]
All right, all right.
Okay, I'm coming.
Sheesh.
What the hell was that for? Oh, that was for kicking me out the last time.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Look, I invited you over to apologize.
All right? I was wrong.
You were right.
I'm sorry.
[SIGHS.]
You should be.
If you try something like that again, I'm gonna barbeque your Pantene-commercial-looking ass.
All right, all right.
It won't happen again.
- I promise.
- Good.
Okay, I'm sorry, too.
I wasn't trying to stress you.
It's just, I really wanna know what's happening when our powers merge.
Me, I've felt like a freak for a long time, but this just takes things to a whole new level, you know.
Maybe.
Maybe it has something to do with your powers being electrical and mine being earth-based.
[SCOFFS.]
You lost me.
All right, look, um you know when there's a lightning strike, the earth grounds the energy? Yeah.
So? Okay, well, maybe that's what's happening here.
You know, you being able to control lightning, and I can control the earth.
Maybe I, uh, maybe I ground you.
So, if you ground me, that means I can use my powers on you and not hurt you? Like I don't have to hold back? Ah, well, theoretically, I mean, yeah.
Whoa! Okay, chill out! It's just a theory.
- It's just a theory.
- [JENNIFER LAUGHING.]
- Damn.
- [CONTINUES LAUGHING.]
That's the truth, people.
And we won't stop telling it until Freeland is free.
[TURNS OFF MIC.]
[PERSON CLAPPING.]
That was a nice speech.
I wish I had known you were here, I would have had you say a few words.
Mmm-mmm.
Actually, I came to talk about a different audience.
Jamillah, what if I told you I can get a message outside the perimeter? Really? We just figured out how to broadcast to the rest of Freeland.
Now you're saying that you can get a transmission out beyond that? - Mmm-hmm.
- What about the firewall? The media blackout? Leave that to me.
What we need now is footage.
What tapes do you have on the ASA? Um, beatings, riots - camps.
- Good.
- I've got it all.
- Good, good.
Round up your best material.
I'll notify you when the plan's in place.
Okay? What should I do in the meantime? Keep the cameras rolling.
[DOOR OPENS, SHUTS.]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
- [KNOCKING CONTINUES.]
- Yeah, yeah.
[JEFFERSON GROANS.]
Okay, what did I do now? Diffuse another one of your bombs? Hey, look, Jeff.
I'm sorry for barging in on you like that the other day.
But you were right.
We do need to get on the same page.
Whoa, whoa, what happened to, "You handle the ASA your way, I'll handle 'em my way"? Well, I assumed all that had changed when Black Lightning helped those meta refugees escape.
Face it, man, you're on our side now, whether you like it or not.
No.
No.
Not if you're putting innocent people in danger.
Look, I already told you, man, I don't get down with your methods.
Whatever, bruh.
That's not why I'm here.
This is about Mrs.
Shepard.
She needs our help.
Wait, Mrs.
Shepard? - Our third-grade teacher? - Mmm-hmm.
What's going on? Well, apparently, when you were getting those metas out, you injured the acting ASA Director, Major Grey.
And now that bastard, Williams, is taking over and stepping up the occupation.
Now, he's taken over your old apartment building and using it as a barracks for new troops.
Franklin Terrace? Man, they don't know what they're messing with.
No, they don't know and they don't care.
They've evicted all the tenants, and Mrs.
Shepard is refusing to leave.
Now, I sent some officers over there to lock the place down until we could talk to her.
But we don't have a lot of time.
Williams has given us until nightfall to get her out.
Otherwise, they're gonna throw her out on the street.
Let's go.
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
Drink you some agua.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Thank you.
Here.
- Mmm-hmm.
Oof, some good stuff.
Yeah, it's really what helps keep my powers in check.
Medicinal, as the old folks like to say.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Okay.
So, how did you get your powers? Um, I went to a party, and some guy slipped Green Light in my drink.
Damn.
That's messed up.
It is what it is.
How about you? You remember when I told you Dr.
Jace killed my mom? Well, what I didn't tell you was that Dr.
Jace was experimenting on her while she was pregnant with me.
One of Jace's assistants felt bad and helped her escape, but the damage had already been done.
I watched my mother slowly break down and die.
She passed two days before my tenth birthday.
I'm really sorry, Brandon.
Ah, it's cool.
You didn't know.
After that, they threw me in foster care.
But it was something Jace did in those experiments that, like, helped me with my powers.
So, as soon as I found out that I could make diamonds, [SCOFFS.]
I ran away.
I've been looking for Dr.
Jace ever since.
And now you've come to Freeland to kill her? Probably sound like a terrible person, huh? No.
No, actually I get it.
You do? Yeah.
Look, when Khalil was murdered, all I could think about was revenge.
I wanted to kill the person who did that to him.
Make them suffer the way he suffered, and to be honest, I still do.
Wow.
You know, I haven't forgotten about helping you find Jace.
Don't worry about it.
[SCOFFS.]
I don't think there is anything you can do, anyway.
[CHUCKLES.]
Yeah, you're probably right.
I guess I shouldn't tell you her last known whereabouts then.
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING.]
- [OFFICER.]
Nothing's changed.
- [COMMANDER WILLIAMS.]
Unlock the door.
- Let's go.
- I can't let you do that, sir.
Fine.
You don't want to unlock the door, we'll break it down.
- [INSPECTOR HENDERSON.]
Wait, wait, wait.
- Battering ram.
- Stat.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
Stop! Why is this building locked? I told you to have that woman out of there by sundown.
Just give us ten minutes to talk to her.
That's all, ten minutes.
- You have five.
- You can't do this.
You can't just evict people out of their houses.
Sacrifices must be made during war.
These people are serving their country, and it is about time.
This isn't a war! It's an occupation.
And the people are getting sick and tired, and they're gonna rise up.
I'd like to see them try meta.
[INSPECTOR HENDERSON.]
Open the door.
You have five minutes.
[R&B MUSIC PLAYING.]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
[JEFFERSON.]
Knock, knock.
Who's there? Mrs.
Shepard, it's Jefferson Pierce.
Jefferson Pierce.
Give me some sugar, baby.
- Oh! - [BOTH LAUGHING.]
- Come on in.
- Okay.
It's good to see you, Mrs.
Shepard.
- Wow, this place hasn't changed a bit.
- Mmm.
Okay, I see you're still selling this here.
What? On a teacher's salary? Gotta earn a living somehow.
[JEFFERSON.]
Right.
Hey, you remember when I hit my ball through your window and broke one of your plants? Hmm, lucky.
I should've kicked your little ass.
Yeah, okay.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Look, Mrs.
Shepard - Ah-ah-ah.
I've lived here for 45 years.
This is my home.
I'm not going anywhere.
I understand that, but it's just an apartment.
It's not worth it.
You disappoint me, Jefferson.
You know better than anyone what this means, what this place means.
Look.
Come.
- [PEOPLE CLAMORING.]
- [HELICOPTER HOVERING.]
You see that street down there? That's where we had the sit-in to get the right for colored folks to live here.
You see that old hickory tree, the one you used to love to play under? That's where I met Obama when he came to Freeland.
[LAUGHS.]
He was so tall.
This is more than just an apartment.
This is part of me.
Part of our people.
Have you forgotten that? No no.
They're gonna throw you out.
[SIGHS.]
They'll hurt you.
Mrs.
Shepard, please.
This is not a wise decision.
I know that they hurt you.
I saw the video.
You chose not to fight back.
This is my decision.
- I'm staying.
- I hear you, I do.
But I just Things don't always happen the way you want them to.
Sometimes, you just have to do what you know is right.
And trust that you're in God's hands.
Good-bye, Mrs.
Shepard.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[CELL PHONE VIBRATING.]
- Yeah.
Any luck? - [JEFFERSON.]
No.
You need to rally your troops.
We're making our stand.
What do you mean, making our stand? What're you talking about? What Hello? Hello? [COMMANDER WILLIAMS.]
Time's up.
We're going in.
Hey, wait.
Hold on.
Get that damn battering ram up there now.
Get back! What's going on? There's somebody else in there.
[SOLDIER.]
On the count of three! One two thr [SCREAMS.]
[ANISSA.]
Good news.
I may have footage.
Any luck with the signal? Maybe, but it's gonna be a long shot.
You see, the only thing capable of generating a signal that strong is a radio tower.
The ASA controls all the towers currently in operation.
But I found an old abandoned facility - in Baker Hills.
- All right, cool.
I'll go with you.
[DISPATCHER ON RADIO.]
All units, be advised 10-33 in progress at the corner of 8th and Lewis, Franklin Terrace Apartments.
The fugitive known as Black Lightning is preventing ASA forces from entering the building.
Subject is considered armed and dangerous You go.
I'll handle the tower.
Wait, Anissa.
Aren't you forgetting something? I think Thunder would go better with Black Lightning.
Don't you? [COMMANDER WILLIAMS ON WALKIE-TALKIE.]
Alpha Four.
Do you copy? Copy.
Got the flank? Affirmative.
Alpha Four in position.
On my signal Sir, we really doing this? I mean, the old lady just wants to stay in her apartment.
Orders are orders.
[COMMANDER WILLIAMS.]
Engage target! [PEOPLE SCREAMING.]
[THUNDER GRUNTS.]
- [GROANING.]
- Get back! Fall back! Fall back! Fall back! Took you long enough.
Sorry for the delay.
I had to pick up some friends.
[COMMANDER WILLIAMS.]
You out of your mind? Stand down! That's an order.
I'm done taking orders from you.
All right.
Let's secure the building, no one goes in or out.
Henderson, check on Mrs.
Shepard, make sure she's all right.
This meta just kicked your ass bruh.
[SWITCHES CLICKING.]
[DOOR LOCKS.]
Hello? Anyone there? [LOUDLY.]
Hello? [GUN COCKING.]
Show yourself! Baron? How do you know my name? I used to work with Dr.
Lynn Stewart.
You're one of the pod kids.
Oh, so you're ASA.
Then get comfortable.
You're gonna rot in there.
[GAMBI.]
Wait! Hold on.
Baron, I'm not ASA.
In fact, I'm trying to get a message out, so people will know what the ASA is doing here and send help.
Hey, here.
Look, look.
I'm trying to connect to the old antennae.
If I was ASA, I'd just use their system, right? Baron, please.
We're on the same side.
I promise.
You really think people will help? I don't know.
But if we don't do something, there's no telling how many more kids the ASA will stick into pods.
[BEEPS.]
[EXHALES SHAKILY.]
[TOBIAS.]
Dr.
Stewart thought you'd be back.
Finally come to your senses about the ASA? Yes, and you're gonna help me find a workaround, so they can't force the metas to be weapons.
- Am I? - Yes! You said so yourself.
You've been working with the ASA for decades, no one knows them better than you.
There must be a way to stop them.
There is one way, but you're not gonna like it.
What is it? You can break me out.
Why in the world would I do that? You need my antibodies to stabilize the metas, don't you? If the metas aren't stabilized, then the ASA can't weaponize them.
So, you see, Dr.
Stewart, I'm your golden goose.
- I don't have access.
- You don't need access.
The security, you wouldn't be able to get through.
Everything you need is on that roster you gave me.
I can't get out of here with just my strength, but with camouflage, now that's a different story.
You're talking about Maryam.
Mmm.
She can only camouflage herself.
Exactly.
That's why you're gonna give me her powers.
I know you've been doing gene editing.
There has to be a way to isolate her genes and splice them into my DNA.
Jace isn't in Freeland? She got snatched by the Markovians.
[BRANDON BREATHING HEAVILY.]
I came all this way, and she's not even here.
[RUMBLING.]
Brandon.
[BRANDON.]
I'm stuck inside the perimeter with no way out.
[BRANDON BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Brandon.
Calm down.
Brandon.
Brandon.
Brandon! Brandon! Oh, my God! Brandon, stop! Brandon! - No way out! - Oh, God.
Brandon.
You're scaring me.
Stop.
Brandon, calm down.
Brandon! Brandon! Brandon! Brandon.
Brandon, get up.
What happened? Oh, God.
You had a power flare.
A power what? A power flare, Brandon.
It's our powers are connected to our emotions.
So, when you get upset, it gets really hard to control them.
Oh, my God.
You okay? I'm fine.
I'm just happy you are all right.
Honestly, this kind of thing happens to me all the time.
So to watch it happen to you makes me feel like a little less of a freak.
Oh, you're still a freak.
Now we're just two freaks together.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
[GAMBI.]
So, Baron, tell me what's a young man like you doing up here all by himself? It's my powers.
I don't know how to describe them.
I can I can talk to computers, machines.
I can feel them [POWER SURGING.]
hear their voices.
So, you're a technopath.
It started after I took that vaccine.
That was 30 years ago.
But when I came out of the pod, things had changed.
All of these smart devices, they never, ever, ever stop talking.
The noise was deafening.
So, I came up here away from it all.
So much had happened.
I couldn't relate to anyone, so I stayed in this tower with my machines.
They're the only ones that understand me.
ASA called me a technocrat.
Only thing I don't mind about them.
I go by TC.
Okay, TC it is then.
What're you doing? They don't like it when you do that.
You're hurting it.
Here.
[POWER SURGING.]
[GAMBI GASPS.]
[GAMBI TYPING.]
All right.
Now, you take this floor.
Remember, watch the windows.
Come on, come on.
Go, go.
Hmm.
You remember me? You killed my friend, you son of a bitch.
You again.
Cute suit.
- [GRUNTS.]
- [HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
[BOTH GRUNTING.]
[KHALIL GROANS.]
[KHALIL GRUNTING.]
[CHOKING.]
Come on.
Khalil? [YELLING.]
[SOLDIER.]
Sir, the asset is down.
What? How? Not sure.
We're scanning his vitals.
- It will take some time - [HANGS UP.]
To hell with this.
[PHONE CLATTERS.]
Sir This ends now.
Okay, we're almost ready.
[THUNDER.]
Hey, I'm here.
It's okay, she's a friend.
Did you get it? Everything is on here.
Great.
Thunder, this is TC.
He's been helping me get the signal up and running.
I'll fill you in later.
Right now, we have to get this message out.
[TC.]
All right, we're all set.
Okay.
Now, as soon as we start broadcasting, the ASA is going to be able to lock on to our signal.
So, even though I'm bouncing it off of the other towers, we don't have much time.
- Ready? - [BOTH.]
Ready.
All right.
This is Jamillah Olsen.
Here's what you need to know.
There's no SARS outbreak in Freeland.
Government experiments have turned residents into meta-humans.
And the ASA has rounded up any suspected metas and put them in a detainment facility.
Please share these images, call your representatives.
[ALARM BEEPING.]
[THUNDER.]
What? Wait, no, no, no.
No, no, no What happened? Why'd it stop? The signal's jammed, there's a second firewall.
Move, move, move, move.
[GAMBI.]
You better hurry.
They're about to get a lock on us.
[TC.]
Almost there.
There's no time, We're gonna have to abort.
Wait, got it.
- This is Jamillah - [THUNDER.]
Oh, my God.
Sorry.
We were so close.
[THUNDER SIGHS.]
[COMPUTER BEEPING.]
Wait, wait, wait.
Look.
Wait, look.
Look, look, look.
Look, Look.
- It went through.
- Look, it went through.
It went through.
It went through.
- [ALL LAUGHING.]
- Yes, it went through.
[GAMBI.]
All right.
All right.
It went through.
Good job.
Good job, Thunder.
- Oh, my God.
- Wow.
[THUNDER SIGHS IN RELIEF.]
[COMPUTER BEEPS.]
[ALARM BLARING.]
[CELL PHONE RINGING.]
- Gambi.
- Lynn.
They're trying to lock you in.
You have to get out of there, now.
The Pit! Step on it! Wait, I'll just talk to Commander Williams.
You can't.
Black Lightning just joined the Resistance.
The deal with the Pierce family is officially off.
If they can't throw Jefferson in the Pit, the ASA will just keep you there.
Use you as a bargaining chip.
Damn it, Jeff! You have to go.
I'll guide you.
Okay, wait, wait.
I need to get the cure.
[ALARM CONTINUES BLARING.]
Ready.
All right, there's a room across the hall.
Go! Good.
Now, go down the hallway and stay low.
Someone's coming.
Quick, take cover.
All right, it's all clear.
Keep going.
Almost there.
Take the next hallway, and then there's an elevator on your right.
Wait! Go left, into the office.
Hold your position, and get ready to make a run for the elevator.
Wait, Lynn, I said hold your position.
Wait! Stop her! She has access.
It was rescinded.
Go! [KEYPAD BEEPING.]
[GUARD.]
Hey, stop that elevator immediately.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[GAMBI.]
Come on, quickly.
Get in.
- No! My bag! - Leave it, leave it.
- Gambi, I need my bag! To get my bag! - There's no time.
No! - My bag! - Drive! Oh, damn it.
I need my bag.
You'll be all right.
This is nice.
[COMMANDER WILLIAMS.]
This is your final warning.
Step down, meta-freak.
This building belongs to the people of Freeland.
We ain't leaving.
Fine.
Then just die.
You don't wanna dance with me.
I have your powers and the finest tactical training on Earth.
Yeah, right.
The thing is, you've got a lot of electricity coursing through your nervous system right now.
I've got this suit to protect me.
You don't, meta.
I see your point.
- [PEOPLE CHEERING.]
- [MUSIC PLAYING.]
Thank you, Black Lightning, for saving our home.
My pleasure, ma'am.
Now, if you'd excuse me, I think I'm gonna go check on my plants.
There's been so much going on that, um I hope they're okay.
Thank you.
Same old Mrs.
Shepard.
Hey, thanks for your help back there.
Now, those are methods I can get behind.
Welcome to the Resistance, Black Lightning.
We took back the building.
Now, let's take back our city.
[PEOPLE CHEERING.]