All language subtitles for Black.Lightning.S01E01.720p.BluRay.x264-YELLOWBiRD

"Justice,
like lightning Should ever appear

To some men hope
And to other men fear."

My father taught me that poem
when I was just a little girl.

My son wasn't in no gang.

He had a job with the city
and a little boy.

Our children are dying in these
streets and no one cares.

No one is in control.
Not even the police.

This city has really lost its damn mind.

This incident marks 125 shootings
in Freeland in just one weekend,

proof The One Hundred keeps
growing even stronger in power.

Freeland activists
took to the streets

to protest the notorious gang,

but it turned violent

when One Hundred gang members
tried to break up the march.

They shootin'!

We understand the community is frustrated
with the violence in our city.

Freeland PD is frustrated, too.

But I want to be clear,

we will not tolerate any rioting,
looting, or violence. Excuse me.

But what about...
One more question for you, Inspector...

Many residents say they
have lost faith in the Freeland PD

and Inspector Henderson,
a 23-year veteran

who came up through the ranks
fighting Black Lightning,

who mysteriously disappeared
nine years ago.

One day, I wish these idiots
would give us credit

for all the lives
we've saved in Freeland.

I didn't
fully understand the poem

until I grew to know the truth
about my family and myself.

The signs were always there,
but this is how the journey began.

Dad?

That's my dress.

Oh, yeah.

So is this one.
Now, hurry up and put it on

before Dad gives birth
to a small farm animal.

Oh, so you looked
at your schedule for tonight...

and you had a choice.

Protest The One Hundred,
or attend Garfield High's fundraiser,

and you chose the path that
led you to getting arrested.

It wasn't a choice, Dad.

No, it was a choice, Anissa.
Everything is a choice.

It was a peaceful protest.

Oh. Oh, yeah, burning police cars?
Breaking windows?

You know, that's actually the
very definition of "peaceful."

Well, I guess it depends on what
your definition of "peace" is.

Because the people in Freeland,
they haven't had peace in generations.

"Returning violence for
violence multiplies violence,

adding deeper darkness to a
night already devoid of stars."

Dr. King.

"And I'm sick and tired
of being sick and tired."

- Fannie Lou Hamer.
- Yep.

But that is not the point I'm making.

This night just keeps getting
better and better.

To be advised,
the suspect is armed.

Dad, what's going on?

- Copy that, Dispatch...
- Just be calm.

- Ugh!
- Let me handle this.

Yeah, this doesn't
feel so good, does it?

Jennifer.

Step out of the car.

Look, Officer,
my name is Jefferson Pierce...

Get out, please.

Okay, okay, look,
this is getting out of hand.

Now, this is the third time
this month!

- Hey!
- What are you doing?

Get your hands off my dad!

- Hey!
- Leave him alone!

- Let me see your hands! Now!
- Stop!

Don't shoot, all right?
Everybody, just calm down!

Okay.

Ma'am, put 'em up
on the dashboard.

Anissa, put your hands
on the dashboard!

Dad, I have the right
to videotape if I want to!

Damn it, Anissa,
just do it now!

Is this the guy?

You're not gonna tell me
what this is all about?

You have a good night, sir.

I asked you a question.

Her liquor store
just got robbed.

And I'm sure
the description is what,

"a black man dressed
in a suit and tie.

Getaway car,
a mid-sized Volvo wagon"?

You have
a good night, sir.

This was the night,
in the rain,

with thunder and lightning
as a witness,

that Black Lightning
was born again.

We all know that this city
is in a crisis.

But under the leadership
of Principal Jefferson Pierce,

Garfield High
is an oasis of hope.

This Olympic gold medal-winner
came back

to his old neighborhood of
Freeland to turn it around.

And with graduation rates
now in the nineties,

Jefferson does it all
with the help

of an outstanding faculty
and his family.

His oldest daughter, Anissa,
is a medical school student,

and teaches three days a week at
the school as a health educator.

His younger daughter, Jennifer,

is a standout scholar-athlete
just like her father.

- Girl, I was about to leave your ass.
- Okay.

No. Ain't nobody got time to be
waiting on the Queen Of Garfield High.

Kiesha, stop calling me that.

What? Girl, embrace it.
It's true.

Yeah, but when people say it,
they're just low-key hating on me

for something I can't control.
Like, my dad's the principal, I get it.

Girl, here you are.
Where do y'all think y'all going?

Okay, okay.
Damn, we're busted. Um...

Listen, Khalil and a few of his friends,
we're having a small house party,

and Kiesha and I were gonna go.

So why are your fast asses
in the bathroom, half naked?

Thank you.

Listen, I promise to be home
before Dad gets home.

Come on, Harriet,
help a sister get some freedom.

- Mmm-mmm.
- You know what it's like to live in that house.

Please?

Listen, Jennifer,
this fundraiser is over at ten o'clock.

You better have your behind in
the house no later than 10:15.

- I'm not playing.
- Yep.

No, seriously.

- 10:15.
- Don't play with me.

I'm not playing, I promise.
I'll be at home in the bed.

- Mmm-hmm.
- Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Love you!

And stop calling me
"Harriet Tubman."

Oh, sorry...

Harriet.

Okay, come on, come on,
hurry up.

Ladies and gentlemen, join me

and welcome to the stage,
Principal Jefferson Pierce.

Thank you, Senator Turner.

Where is the future?

Right here.

- And whose life is this?
- Mine!

And what are you
gonna do with it?

Live it
by any means necessary.

Yeah!

You wanna go over there?
Come on.

- What do you say?
- Are you serious?

Listen,
don't think just 'cause I'm a little stoned

that means you're
gonna get some.

Because I'm not having sex
in a club bathroom

with somebody I just met.
Or ever.

I was just playing.

No, you weren't. Because if I'd said yes,
you would have been all over this.

Okay, all right, I'll give you that.

- That's wonderful.
- That's great.

Excuse me.

You got a state senator
introducing you?

Don't let all this high-class
ass-kissing go to your head.

Henderson, uh, my students
would define your comments as "hatin'."

Thank you for your support.

And more importantly, for, uh,
pulling the strings to get Anissa released.

Of course. It's getting crazy
out there, Jefferson.

The rules of the streets
don't apply anymore.

You protest the police,
we'll tear gas you, arrest you,

maybe even put a knot
on your head.

But protest The One Hundred
and they will kill you.

You tell Anissa
she's needed more in emergency rooms

than in those streets.

Got to get back to work.

And I'll check on those guys
who pulled you over.

- I don't think they're mine.
- Thank you.

Thank you.

Nice monkey suit.

You should start a church, Jefferson.
At least you would make more money.

Uh-huh.

Enjoying yourself, Mr. Pierce?

I will if we hit
our goal tonight.

Well, turn on the charm.

I have someone you should meet.

Ms. Lady Eve
from Black Bird Funeral Parlor.

Deep, deep pockets.

- Yeah, I met her once or twice.
- Oh!

Okay, I will be over.
Uh, just give me a minute.

- Hi.
- Hey.

Heard your daughter got arrested tonight.
It's not a good look, Jeff.

My daughter? Oh, you're funny.

Yeah, we have joint custody,

which means half of her attitude
is your responsibility.

Jeff, Anissa has not been in
"our custody" for quite some time now.

Now, I know it's hard for you to swallow,
but she's not a child anymore.

She's a grown woman.

Yeah, legally true,
but emotionally and financially,

she is still in my care
and always in my wallet.

You know, I'm actually
kind of proud of her.

She's a lot like you, Jeff.

Always wanting to help,
always fighting for change.

You are beautiful.

Don't do that.

What?

You know what.

Besides, Ms. Fowdy's
waiting on you.

Oh. Mmm-hmm.

You know, you actually
look really good in this suit.

Hey, hey!

Hey, it's me.

No, I thought you said
Jennifer was home.

What?

Absolutely ridiculous!

No, you should know better.

Yeah, I will talk to you later.

No, Afropunk over Coachella
any day of the week.

- No way.
- Are you serious?

SZA, Solange, Childish Gambino?

All right, all right,
I'll give you that one.

So, you one of them
alternative black girls?

All right, I'll take it.

- No, for real, how old are you?
- I'm serious, I'm 18.

What's good, bruh?

What up?

Uh, I'm gonna run to the restroom
while you talk to your friends.

- Excuse me.
- No.

...I'm sorry?
- Chill. Chill.

Will, Will, Will, Vill.

Why I gotta chase you down
to have a conversation?

You ain't got
to chase me down, Lala.

I'm just hustling, just trying to
make the money you say I owe you.

Oh, look, the money
I say you owe me?

Bruh, did the Freeland PD

not steal 100 grand worth of product
from you when you got popped?

S ee, none of this is my business.
I'm gonna go...

I'm talking, sweetheart.
Just stand there and be cute.

'Cause I want to make sure
that we clear on this point.

Did you not have
commissary money?

Did you not have
the best lawyer in Freeland?

The money I say you owe me?

I'm talking to you, man.

Why you got to do that
in front of my girl?

You know I'm good for it.
I'm gonna get you your money.

Don't say that. I'm not his girl.
I just met him tonight, I swear...

Hey, shut up.
As a matter of fact,

I think your girl should start
putting in some work

over at the Seahorse Motel
to pay down some of that debt.

We good?

Yeah. Yeah, we're good.

We're good.
Shut your proper ass, man.

No! No! The hell,
we're not good.

I'm not ho-ing for nobody!

- I don't even know this dude!
- Jen, Jen, I'm sorry. Wait.

You know what?
I thought you were kind of cute

until I found out
you were somebody's bitch.

Hey, man,
I like this girl, man.

Vhoa, whoa, whoa.
Where you think you going, Bojangles?

No, please, let's not do this.
I just need to get through that door.

You ain't getting up in here.

I tried to do it the right way.

Do you see him?

- Vhere'd he go?
- Move! Move!

Right there!

Where'd he go?

Where he at?

Come on! Come on! Hurry!

You, in the suit,

stay right where you are.

Put your hands
where we can see 'em!

Do not move.

Get on the ground!

He said, "Get on the ground!"

You get your black ass
on the ground.

You are lucky
you didn't get shot

or end up in some motel room right now,
all drugged up and being passed around!

All right, you're going
too far with it.

No, I'm not.
It's happening every day.

Plus, you lied to me.

You said you were going to a
small house party, not Club 100.

Vell, if I'd said Club 100,
would you have still let me go?

- Uh, no.
- Right.

Because your fast ass shouldn't
be going there anyway.

You know why they call it "Club 100,"
Jennifer?

Because that's all who hang there.
Gang members.

Well, all you guys want me to
do is go to school, run track,

and "set a good example
for the other girls."

When did that become
a bad thing?

I'm not Dad! I'm not you,
and I'm not the Queen of Garfield.

No, no, this is not
about Dad or me

or some silly name
they call you at school.

It's about the fact that you're trying
to act grown when clearly you're not.

Why are you being
such a bitch right now?

Call me a bitch one more time.

I just won't tell you next time.
How about that?

You didn't tell me this time.

You came up in this house shaking
because you were so scared.

That's what told me.
Now you want to act all cool

like it was just, what,
some great adventure?

All right,
I'm already stressed out.

- I can't with you right now.
- Okay.

- Give me my phone, please.
- Okay, you're not getting your phone.

Anissa.

Dark clothes.
If anyone has any information...

I'm not here
to talk about Club 100.

We are here because
two police officers

were viciously attacked tonight

while on the job protecting
and serving this community,

plain and simple.

Witnesses say it looked a lot
like Black Lightning was involved

at the incident at Club 100.

That's fake news...

This is not a game.
This is real, Jen.

We are looking for a regular,
human, black male,

who was probably
hyped up on drugs.

This assailant is responsible
for an attack

on two of Freeland's finest
officers, not some...

I thought you were done
being a hero.

I am.

Doesn't look like it.

Thanks for stitching me up.

Luckily, it's just
a flesh wound.

It doesn't feel
like a flesh wound.

Nine years...

It has been nine years since I've
even come close to using my powers.

And each of those nine years I've
told you this city needs you.

So what's next?

What? If you mean Black Lightning,
there is no "next."

No, my daughter is safe.

Do you remember
why you became Black Lightning?

You wanted to give
the people hope.

You wanted the evil that's out
there to have something to fear.

Right now
there's nothing to fear

and evil's running rampant like
a plague through this city,

hell, through this world.

Okay. You know what?

Let's cut through the poetry
and just talk real.

Now, the purpose of Black
Lightning was to kill Tobias

for literally shoving my father's
articles down his throat until he died.

Then it was because of crime bosses,
crooked politicians,

every small-time street thug

that had snatched a purse
or robbed a store.

You see, there's no end, Gambi.

There's no bottom
for Black Lightning.

And the only loser
in all of it is... me.

I feel like Lynn and I are making room
for a possibility of a reconciliation.

Do you hear me? I have a shot at
putting my family back together.

Black Lightning is not gonna
jeopardize that.

I love Lynn and those girls,

but we knew
this day would come.

Jefferson, I've known you
since you were 12 years old.

You're like my son,
so I have to tell you the truth.

The promise you made Lynn
was well-intentioned,

but it always had
an expiration date.

Jeff, baby...

I can't do this
anymore, Jeff.

I can't stay here with the girls
and just watch you kill yourself.

I promise, no more.

See, that's a curious question.
Why is he a vigilante

while other communities
have folks with superpowers,

and all of a sudden,
they're heroes?

This shows you how,
in this country of nearly 400 years...

Hey.

- Hey.
- ...there's a double standard w hen it comes to us.

You know, I was just thinking
about you on the drive over here.

What were you thinking?

Things you are not supposed
to say to your ex-wife.

Everything okay?

Yeah. I just came over
to calm Jennifer down.

She was pretty shaken up.

Why? Vhat happened?

She was at Club 100
when that mess went down.

- She was there?
- We tried calling you.

We even tried
calling the school.

I think we've
managed to calm ourselves down,

but it was scary
hearing it, though.

Damn. The board
had me hemmed up.

I mean, they're trying to...

It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter.

I tell you, these girls...

I mean, one of 'em gets arrested,
the other's sneaking into clubs.

As scary and dangerous as it was,
Jennifer was just being a teenager.

Don't take it personal and don't
start having catastrophic thoughts.

- Yeah, well, it's hard not to.
- I agree.

When I think about
what could have happened,

it makes me sick to my stomach.

Now she knows what can happen.

You're right. You're right.

Mmm, I better go.

Oh, and I played bad parent tonight.
You know, did the whole speech...

- Mmm-hmm.
- "You lied. You put yourself in danger.

This speaks to your character.
No social media for a month."

So you're good on that front.

Wow. A month?

You're not playing.

No. No, I'm not.
Not when it comes to keeping them alive.

Thank you.

So, I was watching
the news tonight.

And they were talking
about Black Lightning.

- What were they saying?
- That he's back.

Is he?

Lynn, of course not.
You know better than that.

I have saved more lives
as a principal

than I ever would have
as Black Lightning.

I'm not looking
to go backwards.

I pray that's true.

It is.

Good. 'Cause I don't ever wanna
see you like that again. Ever.

It was too painful.

You are talking like someone
who cares about me.

I do care about you, Jeff.

I do.

You're not gonna
find anything.

Just a man who wants
his woman back.

I should go.

Yeah.

Drive safe.

Daddy, why are you
bleeding so much?

You may as well
be some crackhead.

I want you out.
I want a divorce.

You broke your promise.

Look, you have this fervor,
this desire for a savior,

and that speaks to how this system has
utterly failed the black community.

Look, if Black Lightning is back,
this is a game changer for Freeland.

Tobias! Please!
Don't do this! Tobias!

Hey, boss,
you're gonna wanna come take a look at this.

Mr. Martin,
is Black Lightning back?

Come on, what have you got?

You've got people praying for
someone others call a vigilante

to be back in this city,

even though we haven't confirmed
if this rumor is true.

What are you doing?

Stan, I have not heard
from your parents.

- Have them call me.
- Will do, sir.

So, that's what this is
really all about, right?

- The board thinks...
- No.

The board wanting to put
metal detectors in the school.

It's not about the metal...

Oh, Kay,
I have the yearbook proofs in my office.

- Come find me.
- Okay.

Jefferson, it's not about
the metal detectors,

it's about the safety
of the students.

- "The safety of the students"?
- Yes.

Is that what they told you?

No, look...

Now,
I will not treat my students like criminals.

Do you realize almost all of these
kids know someone in prison?

Yeah, their mothers, or fathers,
or their aunties, uncles.

Now I will not turn my school
into another jail, Kara.

I'll relay the message.

Thank you.

You really
don't quit, do you, old man?

When you're staring down
the barrel of a gun,

you don't care if the person saving
you is a Christian, Muslim, Jew,

black or white,

or some guy in a weird
Parliament-Funkadelic getup.

- "Parliament"?
- You just wanna be saved.

- Hurry up, man!
- Here it is.

I've watched this every year
on my birthday since then.

I wouldn't have seen
my kids graduate college,

the first black President,

or my grandkids if it
wasn't for Black Lightning.

- What are you even doing here?
- Jennifer, damn, girl, come on!

I told you,
I just wanna make sure we were cool.

Look, I saw your Instagram and
I zoomed in on your initials

and you know, I found you.

Okay, one, that's called "stalking."
And second, it's creepy.

- Now get out of here, I'm serious.
- No, it's not! Yo, Jen...

Stop! What the hell is wrong with you?
Get your hands off me!

Damn! Why do black girls
gotta have so much attitude?

Vhat the hell is wrong with you,
grabbing on her like that?

You need to get up out my face.

You are not a student here

and I'm asking you to leave
before I call the police.

Bitch, I told you
to get out of my face.

That's it.
I'm calling the police.

The hell you not.

- Let's go now. Let's go.
- Vhoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Now what happens
after you pull this gun?

You going to shoot her?
In front of the entire school?

You're on parole, right?

Yeah, yeah.
There are cameras all over this place.

Do you really wanna go back to
jail for a school shooting?

'Cause that is life with no
possibility of getting out.

You don't know
who you're messing with.

You're right, I don't.

But the police are already on their
way and they don't care who you are.

They will shoot
your black ass for fun.

This ain't over. Bet that.

What the hell
were you thinking?

I mean, you not only
put yourselves in danger,

but also the entire school.

What was I supposed to do?

You were supposed
to follow school protocol,

call security, and walk away.

It's been seven years
since I took over as principal.

Seven years,
and we haven't had one incident of violence.

Not one. And now this.

If you haven't noticed, Dad,
violence is everywhere in Freeland.

Did you really think it wasn't
gonna touch Garfield at some point?

Either we help the community as a whole
or we will all go down in pieces.

No. No, this is not about one of
your political diatribes right now.

It's not about the community.

A community,
I might remind you,

I've been fighting for
since before you were born.

This is about me trying to keep
my daughters alive. Period.

What happened, Dad?

When did you abandon
your people?

Love you. Anissa.

Mr. Jefferson.

Latavious.

Wow. "Latavious."

Nobody's called me that since
I graduated from Garfield.

I'm kinda busy,
so let's jump right in.

I heard what happened with Will.
Not cool, especially at the school.

Yes, exactly.

Now I've had an unwritten agreement
for years with all the gangs.

Garfield is a safe zone, right?
He broke that.

Now I'm trying not to
drag the police into this

because I do not want
things to escalate.

But I need you to keep
Will away from my girls,

and away from Garfield.

Will's my cousin.

He's been kinda lost
since he got out of jail.

But you ain't trying
to hear all that. I get it.

Hey, come here.

You late.
The van's gone already.

This is Mr. Jefferson.
I went to his school.

Hey.

Come on, man.
You know that's not how we do.

Look at Mr. Jefferson
in the eyes.

Shake his hand
and introduce yourself.

Hey, Mr. Jefferson. My name's Malik.
It's a pleasure to meet you.

It's a pleasure
to meet you, too.

Whoo! That's what
I'm talking about. Yeah.

Everything okay?

- Yeah, everything's cool.
- Excellent.

Latavious.

'Cause I was told that you
spent most of yesterday

playing video games
in your phone.

What pisses me off is when you
don't give it your best, Malik.

- When you don't put in the effort to succeed.
- Ow.

There's a time to play games and
there's a time to focus on reality.

- And the reality of the situation is...
- Latavious...

Vhile you got your mind
buried in them video games,

them white boys up in them
neighborhoods that you selling in

are being prepared to run the
world and your black ass!

Okay, Latavious,
that is enough!

You know my damn name!

Now say it.

Say it.

Lala.

Never put your hands
on me again.

You teach them your way
and I teach them mine.

Give me your phone.

Go get that broom.
I want these floors swept.

And don't even ask me
about your damn phone.

I'm gonna do you this favor.

But that means you owe me.

We good?

Ve good.

That's a nice suit, man.

Real nice suit.

All right, ladies.
Homework. Let me...

Excuse me?
I'm talking to you.

- Remember me?
- I'm not afraid of The One Hundred.

- Bitch, you should be!
- Get your hands off of her!

Let's go. Come on!

- Jen!
- Anissa.

Don't! Vait, don't take them!

This could literally turn into a
mess if we're not careful, Lynn.

Now, let me at least confirm

that they're at the Seahorse
Motel before we go in.

How long does "confirm" take,
Henderson?

We're talking about our daughters here.
Our daughters.

I should just go over there and
talk to someone my damn self.

Talk to who?

Who, Jeff?

We're at this point right now 'cause you
didn't talk to me in the first place.

I'm sorry.

It's not your fault.

Now, come on, man, let me take care of it.
Let me do my job.

Okay.

Okay.

Jeff, where are you going?

To get our girls.

Bring them home.

The One Hundred
have Jennifer and Anissa.

Head downstairs.

I've been working
on something new.

Something better.

So your dumb ass thought

that bringing them here
was actually a good idea?

Yes!

These ain't
no ordinary girls, man!

Their father's like
Black Jesus to Freeland!

You know damn well

that you don't make a move
like this without permission.

No, I was just trying to...

See what I mean?
It's been, like, what, huh,

at least five years
since I took over this place,

and we ain't had no violence here?
Now look.

Handle that.

Murk these girls and make them disappear.

And you do the same.

Nice suit.

Now you should at least
give a brother a moment

to say something
heroically clever.

Now you've just pissed me off.

Let's go, Jen!

- Vhere is Lala?
- I don't know!

Boy!

Now, I'm only gonna ask you
one more time.

Where's Lala?

I don't know, man!

Is that your car?

Yeah.

It was nice.

Get over here!
Move! Move!

They were holding us in that room up there.
Right there!

Hey, boss, you know, I...

Damn!

Do you believe
in the Resurrection, Latavious?

I asked you a question.

Do you believe
in the Resurrection?

The concept itself is beautiful,
but it's a complete fantasy.

I killed Black Lightning.

But it seems you and whoever this is

have developed an adversarial
relationship that's bad for my business.

My question is,
can you take care of this problem,

or should I just kill you now
and solve it myself?

It's okay.
It's okay, you're okay.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

But it's not over yet.

I'm not afraid of The One Hundred!

Bitch, you should be!

Mark these girls
and make them disappear.

What if it's that
Black Lightning dude?

Now you've just pissed me off!

These ain't
no ordinary girls, man!