Original subtitles

Previously Black Lightning...

Dr. Jace.

You're wanted in Markovia.

[Agent Odell] The Markovians are on the outskirts of Freeland

and they're marshalling their forces.

[speaking Russian]

The Markovians want to capture or kill as many metas as possible.

This occupation won't end until I stabilize the meta-gene itself.

It has to be extracted from a human host.

Only one patient survived taking the serum.

Now, you work for me, you miserable bastard.

I need you to bring Tavon back to Freeland.

Too dangerous.

He needs to be with his family.

Come on, Tavon.

Run!

[both grunting]

[Black Lightning] What happened?

We got ambushed.

No, no, Tavon!

-Remember his face! -[students chanting] Tavon! Tavon!

What the hell is going on?

Stand down!

ASA tanks and heavily armored checkpoints enforce the total isolation of Freeland.

Nevertheless, a resistance has begun to arise

Tavon Singley and Jefferson Pierce

are the spark we need.

But it's time to run the ASA out of here, take our freedom back.

They hit us with some kind of poison.

I guess if you're seeing this,

it means I didn't make it...

[clears throat]

and I'm okay with that.

Really, I am.

[groaning softly]

Because I know my sacrifice...

it meant something.

Jen...

Jen, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry for leaving you.

[crying]

Especially...

with what you're going through.

Mom.

Dad.

[clears throat]

Uncle Gambi.

I knew what I was doing,

and it was worth the risk.

[clears throat]

Now, none of you

are gonna take comfort

in hearing this,

but it's because of you

that I was strong enough

to do what had to be done.

[continues groaning]

You all taught me

to stand up for what's right

even if it's difficult

because evil triumphs

when good people do nothing,

and I damn sure

wasn't gonna do nothing.

♪ Last night I saw a superhero He was black ♪

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

[soft gospel music playing]

How are Tavon's parents?

Uh, better than I would be.

[Anissa] Is there anything that they need?

Anything that we can do?

[sighs] Wish there was, but...

No, what they need, we can't give them.

I'm proud of you, Jeff.

Proud? Of what?

For not suiting up to avenge Tavon's death.

I know this must be hard for you,

but it was the right thing to do.

How can you say that to me,

here of all places?

Innocent people are dying, Lynn.

-Kids are dying. -Shh...

-No. Tavon is dead. -Jeff.

Do you hear me?

Tavon is dead.

This is not just about us anymore.

[gospel music continues]

Mr. Pierce.

Mr. Pierce, I'm sorry to do this.

[Anissa] Jamillah, now isn't a good time.

-But the people deserve to know the truth. -[cell phone beeps]

Mr. Pierce, how are you feeling

after your altercation with the ASA?

Do you plan on pressing charges?

Mr. Pierce, do you think that your actions

will inspire the residents of Freeland to push back against the occupation?

Excuse me, young lady, I don't know who you are,

but show some respect. This is not the time or place.

Mr. Pierce, one last question.

If you could say anything to Tavon Singley right now,

what would that be?

Can you please let us grieve in peace?

[Jefferson] Anissa, it's okay.

I'll answer that question.

If I could say anything to Tavon, I'd tell him

how proud I am of him.

I'd tell him how much

he inspired the other students

and me...

to be the best version of ourselves.

I would tell him that his death...

His death will not be in vain.

[cell phone beeps]

[gospel music playing]

[Lynn] You look tired, Jeff...

Long night?

Okay, so you heard--

That Black Lightning nearly killed two ASA commandos

and Zorro'd a lightning bolt onto the side of a building?

Yeah, Jeff, I heard.

The whole damn town heard.

I was going to talk to you about it before I went out, but--

But you didn't.

Instead, you reacted the way you always do,

and now we have to pay the price.

[sighs]

Look, Odell is not going to do anything to us

or the girls. We are too valuable to him.

How can you be so certain?

I thought so.

You're unbelievable.

What do you expect me to do, Lynn? Huh?

Just sit around and do nothing?

I can't, not anymore.

I expect you to keep your word.

I expect you to treat me like a partner

and not make decisions that affect all of us without talking to me.

I expect you to not put our family in jeopardy.

I expect you to not go out as Black Lightning

every time you want to ease your troubled conscience.

No, no, no, this is not about me, this is about--

Who? Who, Jeff?

Earl?

Alvin?

Tavon?

You keep telling yourself that.

Because no matter how heroic you think you are,

I know the truth.

This is not about Freeland.

It's not about Tavon, it's about you.

It's always about you.

If you'll excuse me, I have lives to save.

[Jefferson scoffs]

Hopefully, Odell won't throw me in a cell when I get there.

[Gambi] So, how're you doing?

I thought that's what you're supposed to be telling me.

Oh, I'm waiting on test results.

I was talking about Tavon.

His death must be weighing on you.

Do you want to talk about it?

No amount of talking

is going to bring Tavon back.

So what's the point?

The point is that you can't carry something like this around.

It'll eat at you. Trust me.

[computer beeps]

It's that good, huh?

This poison is...

breaking down your cells faster than anything I have ever seen.

If you hadn't had your meta-human healing ability...

you'd probably be dead already.

Had my healing ability?

Whatever is in you is suppressing your meta-gene.

Right now you're as vulnerable as I am.

You're getting weaker by the second.

So, what's next? What we are gonna do?

I've come in contact with a variation of this poison before.

But this one, this one is ten times as potent.

So I'm trying to supercharge the antivenom

that I've already created but... that takes time.

Look, how much time I got?

At the rate this toxin is spreading...

a week. Maybe two.

Anissa, you've got to tell parents what's going on.

No, I don't, and neither do you.

You can't ask me to keep this from them.

Uncle Gambi, listen to me.

I'll tell them if and when the time comes,

but until then, I need you to keep this between us.

They're going through enough as it is.

I'm sorry. I can't do that.

Then give me a day.

If you can't stop what's happening to me

in these next 24 hours,

I'll tell Mom and Dad then.

Please.

Okay.

Twenty-four hours. But that's it.

I'll take it.

You should get home.

Get some rest.

I'll call you as soon as I have something.

Promise.

Thank you.

[door closes]

[Kyrie] Hey.

This fake news ASA is putting out,

it's making us look bad.

It's like the resistance is causing more harm than good.

What about Truthteller Johnson?

I thought he was spreading our gospel to Freeland.

-Yeah. -He was.

Until Freeland PD fished him out of the river this morning.

Oh, my God.

So, maybe you should lead with that then, brother.

I mean, are you sure it's him?

It's him all right.

Shouldn't we be running or something?

I mean, if they got Truthteller, then...

If he said something, do you think I'd be standing here right now?

I'd be the first person they threw under the jail.

So what's the play?

[Inspector Henderson sighs]

What are we supposed to do now?

Well, like I said,

we need to get our truth to all of Freeland,

not just the five-mile radius

that Truthteller was reaching with that bootleg setup he had.

Gina, you said you had a nephew who is an engineering student at Bowman.

Yeah, why?

I want you to get him

and as many of those tech nerds as it takes

to build a radio system

strong enough to broadcast to all of Freeland.

-[mutters in agreement] -What if something goes wrong?

What if I get caught?

I strongly suggest you don't.

With no Truthteller,

who's going to be the voice of the resistance?

Leave that to me.

Dr. Stewart.

I was beginning to think you didn't love me anymore.

What, no witty comeback?

Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the light socket this morning?

I'm not here to talk to you, Tobias.

I'm just here to check your healing properly,

so I can harvest another round of marrow.

So you can cure the pod kids.

I didn't say anything about the pod kids.

You didn't have to.

Helping them would be the only reason

Odell pulled me out of the hole I was in.

You know you can't trust him, right?

So, whatever he promised--

But I suppose I can trust you?

I'm a true friend, Dr. Stewart.

I'd much rather stab you in the front,

whereas Odell...

Well, you get the metaphor.

We're not friends, Tobias.

You're a lab rat that I can use and discard as I please.

You want to be my friend, Dr. Stewart,

because friends keep their friends' secrets.

I'm tired of your empty threats.

You're on lockdown with no access to the outside world.

You're never going to see the light of day again.

I hear your man went all theatrical.

Burning lightning bolts on the side of buildings and whatnot.

Such a goon.

-How do you know about that? -I have my ways.

I always have my ways.

So, like I said, Dr. Stewart...

You wanna be my friend?

What do you want?

I want a list of every meta in this place, complete with

their particular set of powers.

I can't do that.

Oh...

I think you can.

And... I think you will.

[R&B music playing]

Anissa, your father is at the door.

[pounding on door]

Shonda...

Yes, Anissa?

Pause music.

[music stops]

[pounding continues]

[groaning]

[pounding continues]

[groans]

[breathing heavily]

[pounding insistently]

And open front door.

[lock clicks]

I'm never gonna get used to these smart houses.

What're you doing here, Dad?

I... just came to check on you.

You were beat up pretty bad.

Look who's talking.

Yeah. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay.

As you can see, I'm fine.

So, if that's all you wanted...

you came all this way for nothing.

I also...

wanted to say I'm sorry.

I pressured you to bring Tavon back to Freeland.

I was wrong.

You were right.

Tavon's death is on me.

And I'm gonna have to live with that for the rest of my life.

I knew it was a bad idea,

and I did it anyway.

So Tavon's death,

that's on me.

Not you...

not the ASA...

me.

And that is something

that I...

have to live with...

for the rest of my life.

-No, Anissa-- -You should go.

Shonda,

-open front door. -[lock clicks]

So, it's like that.

It's like that.

Okay.

Okay. [clears throat]

[door closes]

[thuds]

-Anissa, Anissa. -[soft music playing]

Thank God, I was so scared.

What happened?

I don't know. I walked in and found you unconscious on the floor.

I don't know. I must have gotten lightheaded or something.

Anissa, if we're really trying to do this,

if we're really trying to make this work,

you have to trust me enough to let me in.

I'm not a porcelain doll, I'm not going to break if you lean on me.

Hey, hey, babe, I know that.

And when I need to lean on you, I will.

I'm just...

I'm just still recovering from my run-in with Bruce Leroy.

That's all.

When I morph into the leopard,

I don't remember a lot, but the smells,

they always stay with me.

The smell of... fresh cut grass,

the smell of the air right before the rain...

the smell of death.

Death? Wait, mmm-mmm.

Nobody's dying here.

Yeah, okay. I'm a little beat up.

Okay.

I'm a little more than a little beat up,

but I'm good.

I want to believe you.

Then you should believe me.

Look, if it makes you feel any better,

I went to see Uncle Gambi.

And he's working on something to fix me up.

Said I'll be back on my feet in no time.

You promise?

Girl, we've been through too much to be together.

I'm not about to lose you now.

If you say so.

I do.

[both chuckle]

I like the sound of that.

Well, since you're okay...

I'm gonna go take a shower.

If you get lonely, you know where to find me.

I damn sure do.

-[soft music continues playing] -[sighs heavily]

[groans]

What is this?

[sighs]

Who the hell is this kid?

All right, Brandon.

Let's see what you're hiding.

Mom. [gasps]

[door opens]

What're you doing in my apartment?

Don't dash, you perv. Why do you have photos of my mom?

It's not even like that.

Would you just let me explain?

[both grunting]

[both groan]

What the hell was that?

[Agent Odell clears throat]

Agent Odell.

I can't say I'm surprised to see you.

Mr. Pierce, I came by to tell you that

the ASA has a team of neurologists

standing at the ready

to give you a thorough examination.

I don't need a neurologist, I'm fine.

[scoffs] I beg to differ.

You must have suffered brain damage

to think there'd be no consequences

from breaking our deal.

Ah... our deal

made me a guinea pig

and took me away from my family for over a month.

Our deal got me beat down in front of my own school,

in front of my own daughter.

Our deal kept me from saving Tavon.

Our deal is over.

Our deal

protected your family

from taking your place in the Pit.

If you even think

about laying a finger on my girls,

I will barbeque your black ass.

[chuckling]

Mr. Pierce,

you don't want to make an enemy out of me.

That's funny, Agent Odell.

I was about to tell you the same thing.

'Sup? Y'all got room for one more?

[all grunting]

Where did he go?

Where the hell did he go?

[rap music playing]

[yelling]

You could've said no.

[neck snaps]

Halt!

[guard] Let him through.

Now we go to work.

[Inspector Henderson] Come in.

Hmm.

Thank you. I can take it from here.

Jamillah Olsen.

Please, take a seat.

Chief Henderson.

I have to admit, I'm...

surprised you finally agreed to see me.

This isn't an interview.

This is an interrogation.

Excuse me?

I can draw a direct correlation

from some of those "girl on the street" interviews of yours

and the escalating insurgent violence

in the streets of Freeland.

That's ridiculous.

Uh, unfortunately for you, it isn't.

I've lived in Freeland my entire life,

but you, you just came here looking for a story.

Try to make a name for yourself.

Hell, I should have arrested you on GP

for ambushing Jefferson Pierce at Tavon Singley's wake.

Now you stop what you're doing.

Right now.

Or the next interview you do

will be from the wrong side of iron bars.

I can't.

What you mean, you can't?

What's happening here is wrong

and the people need to know.

If I have to go to jail to make that happen,

then I will.

That's what I hoped you would say.

What? Okay, I'm so confused.

Let's just say

I have a job opening for your particular set of skills.

Working with you?

That's a hard pass.

You want to be the voice of the people?

The voice of a movement?

Here's your chance.

[typing]

[computer beeps]

[printer whirring]

[shredding]

[Jennifer] All right, I think I'm calm now.

Why're you cyber-stalking my mom?

I'm not stalking your mother.

I'm looking for Dr. Jace.

Your mom is the last link I have on her.

Wait, why're you looking for that psycho?

Jace killed my mother.

I came to Freeland to make sure

that I put Dr. Jace in a grave right alongside her.

But you need to keep my family out of your business.

Done.

I'm sorry for breaking into your spot.

I'm not.

I'm actually glad to have someone to talk to about all this.

Question, what's with all the coal?

You have a mad grilling habit or something?

[Brandon chuckles]

I think it's easier if I just show you.

Hold on.

All right.

So...

my powers,

they give me the ability to manipulate the earth.

Watch this.

And everything that comes from it.

It's a diamond.

It is.

And I just paid for your college education.

-Put that in your treasure chest. -[both chuckle]

This is tight.

That's tight.

I've come in contact with a variation of this poison before.

But this one, this one is ten times as potent.

It can't be.

Dr. Stewart,

back so soon?

What is this?

I temporarily disabled the recording devices in this room.

I'll give you five minutes to memorize everything on those sheets

before I destroy them.

Doctor, I always knew you'd do the right thing,

and they say black women are difficult.

I think, much like most Negroes,

they just need the proper motivation.

You're a monster, do you know that?

You may think I'm a monster,

but I'm nothing compared to Odell.

You have no clue who he is, do you?

You're just trying to get inside my head.

Maybe.

If only you had a way to make me tell the truth

and get the answers you seek.

Oh, wait. You do.

I mean, you did.

Poor, poor Issa.

What do you know about Issa?

The question isn't what do I know about Issa,

the question is, what does Odell know?

Five minutes.

Have you been reading Michelle Obama's book lately?

You sure are becoming very assertive.

Hmm.

Don't forget to say hello to Jefferson for me.

You haven't told him about us.

-Have you? -There is no "us," Tobias.

Hmm.

I wonder if the neon Negro will see it the same way.

-[Anissa gasping] -Anissa?

Anissa?

Anissa, baby. Anissa.

-[gasping continues] -My God.

Anissa, stay with me.

[Anissa gasping]

How long has she been like this?

I don't know, 15, maybe 20 minutes.

She was sweating so bad,

I took off her jacket and found...

What is happening to her?

Is she dying?

Grace, I can't answer those questions.

But I need you to back off a little.

Please.

Anissa, I'm here.

You hold on.

Is this gonna work?

We'll have to wait and see.

-It has to work. -Come on, Anissa.

Come on.

It has to work. It has to work. It has to work.

Come on, Anissa, you got this.

She's responding. It's working! Come on!

[gasps]

Hey!

Hey, welcome back.

-[Grace] Hey. -Uncle Gambi.

[Gambi] Don't, don't try to talk, dear.

Let me help you. There we go.

You just rest.

And let this pretty lady take care of you. Okay?

Wait. You're leaving?

There's just something I have to take care of.

What if she has a relapse or something?

She should be fine.

But if anything happens, I'm not far.

-You got this, Grace. -Yeah.

Hey.

Agent Odell, sir, sorry to interrupt,

but I thought you'd want to have this information ASAP.

We detected a neutrino anomaly in Freeland.

The same anomaly that appeared when Dr. Jace was abducted

at the Freeland Police Department.

So, the teleporter. Are we tracking?

As of two minutes ago, the anomaly has already shown up

at the perimeter outside the armory

and the detainment facility.

Which leaves only three high-level targets left.

Command center,

perimeter generator, and the Pit.

And since the Pit is a black site...

We should concentrate on the generator and the command center.

Sir, I agree.

I've already put the protocols in place.

Good.

Let's see who's looking through our refrigerator.

[beeping]

[blows]

[beeps]

So?

You get what you need?

No.

[Agent Odell] Colonel Mosin!

It's been too long.

Don't strain yourself, son.

I had neutrino disruptors

placed around all of our critical assets.

After your great escape with Dr. Jace,

you're trapped... in here,

with us.

[Instant chuckles]

We'll see about that.

[gunfire]

Gambi, you hearin' this?

Sounds like a war is breaking out at Club 100.

[soldier coughing]

Now... we'll finish...

what we started in Moscow.

[automated voice] Neutrino disruptors disabled.

Catch you later.

[weakly] You should've taken out Colonel Mosin.

I don't kill people.

[chuckling]

Pathetic.

...glad that you're doing this.

[Jamillah] Me, too.

Gina, Reverend Holt, Kyrie,

let me introduce you to Jamillah Olsen,

the new voice of a new Freeland.

Good to see you again, Ms. Olsen.

Glad to have you with us.

I'm happy to be here, Reverend.

Once Jamal plugs this in, you have about two minutes

to say all you need to say.

[exhales] No pressure.

Remember, once you do this,

there's no turning back.

Let's make herstory.

Good.

Wake up, Freeland.

The insurgents are not your enemy.

They're fighting to protect us,

all of us,

against the tyranny of our so-called protectors...

the ASA.

Are you such a coward

that you could not wait one more second

before you run away?

We could have finished them both.

First, I don't run.

I make people run.

Second,

you hired me to get you in and out of Freeland,

not fight Black Lightning.

Now, I held up my end of the bargain,

I suggest you do the same.

[computer beeps]

[cell phone chimes]

Nice doing business with you.

It looks like you both had a typical visit to Freeland.

I thought you should know that the metas at the detainment facility

are showing no sign of illness.

Which means Dr. Stewart has either discovered a way to stabilize the metas,

or she's only days away.

And once she does, we will acquire that information

and use it to stabilize our own army of metas.

[upbeat music playing]

[electronic beeping]

[Jefferson sighs]

Lynn, what're you doing?

What does it look like I'm doing? I'm leaving.

[distorted] Because I didn't tell you I was going out as Black Lightning?

You say it like it's nothing.

That just proves my point.

[in normal voice] You claim you value me, and yet, you don't consider me.

Did you consider me

before taking the job with the ASA?

I had to!

I'm the only one that can help those kids.

Without me, they'd all die.

Welcome to my life.

[Lynn sighs]

Look, Lynn, what I see is you spending more time at the Pit

than with your own family.

Why is that? Hmm?

[distorted] Is there something you want to tell me?

-Talk to me. -[in normal voice] Why talk, Jeff?

I talk, you don't listen,

-history repeats itself. -[sighs]

The very definition of crazy

is doing the same thing over and over again

and expecting a different result.

Well, I'm not crazy, I'm done.

Come on, you don't... you don't mean that.

I'll send someone over to get the rest of my stuff.

Lynn.

Come on. Lynn!

[door closes]

[closing theme music playing]