03x05 - The Book of Occupation: Chapter Five: Requiem for Tavon

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Black Lightning". Aired: January 2018 to present.*
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Retired vigilante Jefferson Pierce gets pulled back into the fight as his alter ego.
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03x05 - The Book of Occupation: Chapter Five: Requiem for Tavon

Post by bunniefuu »

[Jefferson] Previously on Black Lightning...

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 metahuman powers being displayed.

What? No, that's not true.

Straight through these trees, at the Perdi, they'll have a truck waiting for you.

But I'm not even a meta.

Until we can prove otherwise, this is the safer way.

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 on recording] The results have been nothing short of remarkable.

Every person who was infected is on their way to making a full recovery.

[Grey] She's hooked.

[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.

[laughing]

[Tavon] I can see the constellations from here, Dad.

They're just like you'd said they'd be.

Hey, Mom. 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.

[chuckles] 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.

[chuckles] 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]

We dancing or we sparring, meta freak?

[hip hop music continues]

Five-point exploding heart technique.

Take five steps... and boom.

Are you serious?

[chuckling] No. No, I'm not serious.

Downloaded "Black Belt Theater" last night.

What's knowledge without a little culture, am I right?

Oh, that's right.

My venom coursing through your veins right now must make it difficult for you to think.

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.

That's enough!

Have the infirmary administer the anti-venom immediately.

[fighter 2] Yes, sir.

[fighter 1 gasping]

Painkiller.

The vigilante known as Blackbird has become a high-value target.

This is a problem that requires your attention.

♪ Last night, I saw a superhero He was black ♪

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

Your vitals are spiking, Erica. How do you feel?

[breathing heavily]

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?

[straining]

Now.

[yelling]

[Jefferson] Lynn.

You okay?

I didn't mean to wake you up.

[stammers] You should go back to sleep. I'm fine.

[Jefferson] 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?

The afterglow of 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. I love you.

I love you, too.

[Truthteller Johnson] Greetings, citizens of Freeland.

Truthteller Johnson with another resistance alert tailored especially for you.

There are rumors spread by the ASA claiming the recent as*ault 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 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!

There she is.

I thought I'd surprise you with your favorite.

-[electricity crackles] -[wincing]

That hurt.

How many times do I have to tell you to not drag your feet?

[voice distorting] You and I store static electricity like capacitors.

Jennifer.

[distorted] Jennifer, are you okay?

Mmm-mmm. No, I feel funny.

Nothing is really normal.

That's good, because--

We're not normal?

Yes, but... no.

Look, what I was gonna say is that... 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.

[grunts] Maybe the ASA is protecting us.

[voice distorting] But there's a fine line between protecting 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.

Hold on.

[Jennifer sighs]

Hmm. You're going to school.

-[Lynn typing] -[door opening]

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 you were 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?

[chuckling] 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 a lab, it has to be extracted from a human host.

Any human host will suffice?

Well, that's where it gets strange.

According to the ASA database, only one patient survived taking the serum.

Patient 49.

[Henderson] New information has come to light, and the vigilante known as Blackbird is now wanted in connection with the recent as*ault 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]

[Henderson] All right--

Oh, I saw that! What you want me to say about it?

-No, it's all right. -[crowd laughing]

50K? More like 30 silver pieces to me.

You oughta be ashamed of yourself, son.

-All right. It's all right. Stand down. -[crowd booing]

Stand down. It's all right.

The ASA m*rder*d 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 m*rder him.

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.

A student 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.

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... -[Mrs. Singley] Please.

We're going out of our minds.

Okay, you have my word.

[Mrs. Singley sighs heavily]

[Anissa] All right, so the vaccine will make you immune to the virus that's been hitting metas.

Are 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.

Neither of us know how your shapeshifting 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 queued 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 feel like sl*very?

-Do not emancipate my smart home. -[laughs]

Shonda is a robot.

And "robot" comes from the Czech word "robota."

It means forced labor, so...

[Shonda] You have a visitor, Anissa, fairest of them all.

-[Grace scoffs] -Shall I permit entry?

See?

Yes, Shonda, thank you.

It is my pleasure to serve you.

[Anissa] Hey.

Hey.

I should've 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.

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.

-[Grace scoffs] -I'll be fine.

Okay?

Come here.

All right. You two have fun.

We'll be fine.

Say...

Do you wanna see some of Anissa's baby pictures?

[gasps] Yeah!

So, today, we'll be learning the basics of coding.

-[electricity crackling] -All those apps you love to use?

Now, you can create them yourselves.

[Jennifer whispers] 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.

Hey, you're welcome.

[electricity surging]

All right, everyone, just remain calm.

It's probably just a power surge. I'll be right back.

[students coughing]

You okay, Jen?

Uh, yeah. Just a bad comedown. [scoffs]

I was flying high on pure energy last night, and now I feel like gravity is crushing me, you know?

That must've been some party.

Best way to b*at 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 'bout to hit, but, um...

-[woman] There you go. -...this should hold you out until then.

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.

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.

Why you hounding me anyway?

[chuckles] 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. -Yeah.

Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.

Goose-step that.

[Blackbird] 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.

[Blackbird] Get them prepped and ready to go.

Make sure they're all wearing black.

[Shonda on mic] I hope this isn't a bad time.

You have a secure call waiting.

[Blackbird] 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.

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.

[Blackbird] He will be if I do that.

The ASA is hunting metas down.

And Tavon--

Tavon was misidentified. He's 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.

[Jefferson] 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. -[call disconnects]

More mouths to feed?

[Blackbird] 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's enough vaccine to inoculate every meta here.

Here.

Excuse me while I go save my people from the plague you brought.

Hey, look. Anaya is really nice most of the time.

She's just a little scared.

[Blackbird] Yeah. Me, too.

How're you holding up, Tavon?

Miss my parents.

Look, I made a couple of videos for them on my phone.

You think you could take it to them for me?

You wanna take it to them yourself?

[chuckles] Really? You're gonna take me home?

Your parents have proof that you're not a meta.

It's gonna be dangerous, but if you're willing to take the risk...

[Odell on mic] 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.

Happy hunting.

I'm a fan of your work, Mrs. Pierce.

-It's Dr. Stewart. -Oh.

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 k*ll?

Ten or twelve?

Fourteen children d*ed in my care.

[Tobias] 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?

Phew. Float like a butterfly, sting like a queen bee.

You got fire, that's for damn sure, Mrs...

Dr. Stewart.

Woman after my own heart.

I am 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. -[Tobias sighs]

Why give it to me, then?

'Cause now you work for me, you miserable bastard.

[Tobias] Hmm.

[groaning]

Like I said... [inhales deeply]

...fire, Dr. Stewart.

Fire!

[Tobias wincing]

[Tobias laughing]

[Grace sighing]

Grace, how are you feeling?

Everything seems normal... for me.

[man on radio] Blackbird has been spotted at the perimeter.

Orders are to not engage.

I repeat, do not engage.

[monitor beeping]

-[Grace] What does that mean? -Trouble.

Come on, Tavon.

Stay with me.

Come on, quicker.

What, you new?

ASA? Markovian?

Run!

[grunts]

[Blackbird groaning]

[Tavon yelling]

Ahh!

Help! It hurts.

[Blackbird] 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?

[Blackbird] Meet me in the tunnel. I'm coming in hot.

[device beeping]

[Blackbird] Dad, hurry. It's bad.

Hi.

Thank you for seeing me at this, uh, late hour, Miss Pierce.

I found myself in the area, so to speak.

I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

No, 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 personally. I've seen the graffiti.

Uh... nice suit.

Why?


I follow data, Miss Pierce.

And, um... 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] Oh... 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.

I'll let you go back to reading. And, um, good night!

Grace...

[exhales] I'm fine.

[breathing heavily] Go. Anissa needs help.

Lord, lead the way.

Now there's no pain. Gonna get me some dinner.

Get on out of here, boy.

Reverend Holt.

It's good to see you're on the mend.

There but for the grace of God goes I.

What are you doing down here 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.

-[chuckling] -Mmm-hmm.

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 metas outside Freeland.

All aboard! Choo-choo!

-Yeah, I thought that might ring a bell. -[cuffs jingling]

Now, now, come on, Chief Henderson.

You don't think I'm human trafficking?

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.

[Lynn] Pay me in silence.

Your bedside manner needs work.

Tell me, what's on the ASA agenda today?

Waterboarding, thumb screws, 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 God-forsaken pit.

And all I can come up with is Black Lightning always showing up whenever your daughters are in trouble.

[sighs] Once is chance, second time's coincidence, but a third?

Now, that's a pattern.

Black Lightning saves a lot of lives in Freeland.

[Tobias] 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.

[laughing] It all makes sense to me now.

One merry, melanated meta-family, solving crimes and protecting Freeland.

You're delusional.

[Tobias] No.

I'm not delusional.

I'll make you this promise.

After I k*ll 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.

[groaning loudly]

Did I neglect to administer the anesthetic?

There!

[Black Lightning] What happened?

[Blackbird panting] 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?

[grunts] Black Lightning.

No, no, no. Tavon. [breathing heavily]

Tavon!

No. Come on, Tavon. Come on. Tavon.

Tavon. Tavon!

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Mr. Singley sobbing] Those ASA sons of b*tches m*rder*d our boy.

Come on.

[screaming and sobbing] Wake up!

I don't know whether to throw Dr. Jace a party or a funeral.

I trust you have finally solved the riddle of meta-stabilization?

I'm preparing the formula now.

Testing won't be far behind.

There were no issues with, uh, patient 49, I trust?

You could've warned me.

Tobias Whale m*rder*d 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. We're vulnerable.

Highly improbable.

He threatened to m*rder 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]

Tavon's dead? How?

The ASA sh*t him trying to escape the perimeter.

-Are you serious? -Yeah.

There they are. The ASA.

Hey, why'd you punks m*rder Tavon?

Stand down. Return to class.

-There won't be another warning. -[student] Oh, yeah?

Like you warned Tavon, before you ASA asshats k*lled him?

[all] Yeah.

You know what?

We are not afraid of you.

-[student 2] No. -[student 1] This is Freeland.

You know, it's time the ASA got the hell out anyway!

-[all] Yeah! -For Tavon!

[all chanting] Tavon! Tavon! Tavon!

Remember his face.

Murderers.

Everybody, disperse at once!

Demonstration over!

What the hell is going on?

These are kids! They're on school property!

Hey, Jen.

[sighs] Chill out, Brandon, you'll get your jacket back soon enough.

It's not that.

-I wanted to ask... -[soldier] Calm down, sir. I repeat...

-What's going on down there? -I don't know.

If you do not stand down, I will have you arrested.

Tavon is dead.

And I will not have another kid die on my watch.

♪ We people who are darker than blue ♪

[g*n f*ring]

♪ Are they gonna stand around this town ♪

♪ And let what others say come true? ♪

♪ When the time comes And we are really free ♪

♪ There'll be no brothers left You'll see ♪

[softly] Dad.

♪ We people who are darker than blue ♪

-[soldier] Everybody stay back! -[Jefferson grunts]

♪ Don't let us hang around this town ♪ I told you, stay down.

♪ We're just good for nothing They all figure ♪

[Jennifer grunts] Brandon, get off of me!

-I have to help him! -No, stop. It'll be a m*ssacre.

[Jennifer exclaims]

[both breathing heavily]

How did you do that?

♪ I know you won't mind ♪

♪ If I tell the whole story ♪

♪ Pardon me, brother ♪

♪ I know we've come a long, long way ♪

♪ But let us not be so satisfied ♪

♪ For tomorrow can be An even brighter day ♪

So, b*ating 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]

[soldier] All right. I'll raise you ten. Let's see your hand.

[energy crackling]

Who the hell are you supposed to be?

♪ Stand! In the end you'll still be you ♪

♪ One that's done all the things You set out to do ♪

♪ Stand! ♪

[Henderson] Come on. Come on.

[grunts] Did you have to leave us here the whole night? Damn!

I demand to know the meaning behind this, Chief Henderson.

I wanna know.

Careful, Reverend.

♪ It's the truth that the truth Makes them so uptight ♪

♪ Stand! ♪

♪ All the things you want are real ♪

♪ You have you to complete And there is no deal ♪

[soldier] Get on the ground.

Tavon Singley and Jefferson Pierce are the spark we need.

"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, and run the ASA out of here. Take our freedom back.

[chuckles] 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're by ourselves?

♪ Stand! Stand! ♪

And the scales fell from his eyes, turning Saul to Paul.

♪ Stand! Stand! ♪

My man!

[closing theme playing]
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