02x12 - The Hollow Men

[bunniefuu]

ECHO: Previously on Dollhouse...

So long as Clyde's partner is out there,
Rossum will go on.

We have to cut the head off the snake.

And Caroline's the only one
who's ever met that snake.

- Where's the wedge?
- Gone. Caroline's missing.

ECHO: Saunders did this.
PAUL: Rossum got to her.

ECHO: A sleeper?

Do you recall
your former neighbor, Mellie?

You insisted she come along.

I insist she be someone
who trusts you entirely.

ECHO: We're about to go to w*r.

Go. Be with each other.
Even if it's just for the night.

Any good battle plan must be fluid.

We'll be going into full lockdown mode.

Where the hell is security?

Why me?

Because you're very special.

You're going to help us
in ways you can't understand.

And I'm just gonna trust you?

With your life.

I know what you're doing here.

I know all about
Rossum's sick experiments.

So I gather. You're quite the super sleuth.

You can't do anything to me.
People will find out.

"People" will find out?
Caroline, don't be silly.

We both know you could vanish
off the face of the Earth

and not a soul would notice
you were gone.

Did you know that Rossum is the world
leader in producing MRI machines?

Congratulations. Who cares?

We're also on the cutting edge
of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's research.

Developing the newest
atomic-force microscopes.

We have clinical laboratories
in every major city in the world.

You know,
like if you've had your blood drawn

to see if you're a suitable bone marrow
donor for your cousin who has leukemia,

Rossum likely tested that blood.

What did you say?

We like to keep the medical records
of everyone who crosses our path,

especially the interesting ones,

and, Caroline,
you are definitely interesting,

at least on a microscopic level.

- What the hell do you want from me?
- Just a few years of your life.

No way. You're gonna have to k*ll me.

I won't need to.
You've committed t*rror1st acts.

At best, you're looking at a lifetime
in a federal prison.

That's if they don't stick a needle
into your arm.

Adelle DeWitt is downstairs.
She's going to make you an offer.

To what? Let you brainwash me?
Not a chance.

Believe me when I tell you, Caroline,
this is your only chance.

You are special.
You have amazing potential.

I want to see exactly how far you can go.

And I promise you, I will protect you.

- How do I know I can believe you?
- It's like I said.

You'll learn to trust me.

(SIERRA SIGHS)

I don't want to go back.

I just found you.
The idea of letting you go...

We can walk right out of this building,

find a doctor to rip out the crap
they put in our heads and never look back.

(SIGHING) I couldn't live with myself.
Neither could you.

Yeah. Actually, no.
I probably could definitely get over it.

(CHUCKLING)

Here we go.

Looks like the w*r started without us.

Phones are dead.
Rossum won't be able to find us that way.

Chopper should be here any second.
We can't wait for them much longer.

We can wait.

(SIGHING)

- How's the neck?
- Not as sore. I think the bleeding stopped.

Wasn't exactly a surgical procedure.

- Sorry about that.
- I'm not.

The thought of them being able
to track me wherever I go...

I'm just glad it's out.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

They said the way I feel about you
is just a program.

- I'm trying to remember that.
- It's okay.

I'm glad we're together,
no matter what happens.

(TIRES SQUEALING)

Look lively. Someone's coming.

MELLIE: Is that them?
PAUL: Or Rossum found us.

Let's be prepared for either eventuality.

- It's us!
- Where's Echo?

I need help!

Stop. Stop! It's on fire!

- It's burning me!
- PAUL: What's wrong with her?

- TOPHER: I don't know. I don't know.
- It's burning me!

- ADELLE: What happened?
- We got att*cked.

- They're coming. Stop! Stop!
- You're okay! You're not burning.

- Hold her.
- It hurts! I can't!

How did this happen? Why is she like this?

It doesn't make any sense.
I imprinted her as Caroline.

I ate the butt of a r*fle.
I wake up and she's mental.

- The wedge must've been too damaged.
- No! Bennett fixed the wedge!

She d*ed fixing it!

ADELLE: Then maybe Echo and Caroline
are not getting along.

We need to reevaluate the game plan here.

- No! Nothing's changed.
- TOPHER: Boyd, you got sh*t!

BOYD: I've been sh*t before.
And I got meds.

We have to get to Tucson,
break into Rossum

- and destroy that mainframe.
- It's impossible now.

Caroline was the only one
who could get us in the building.

She's the only one
who could identify Rossum's founder.

- Without her, we're screwed.
- Lf we don't try,

everything Echo's done,
everything she's become,

will be for nothing.

- It's up to us to finish this!
- How do we even get inside, Boyd?

We walk in through the front door.
There's no need to sneak around.

We have something Rossum wants.

(SOFTLY) Come on.

They got the hard drives.
No security footage.

They knew exactly what they were doing,
exactly how to cover their tracks.

How do you feel about
getting the hell out of here?

(PRIYA BREATHING HEAVILY)

Anthony? Look at this.

ANTHONY: It must be
some kind of program.

No, not a program. A person.

This chair,
it changes you into someone else.

Well, maybe it's somebody
who could tell us what happened.

No. We said we wouldn't do this.
No more technology.

- But this could help us.
- Or k*ll us!

We don't know who left that note there.
I don't want to lose you again.

Oh, babe. Look, you said it yourself.
We have to help our friends.

And this chair right here
might be our only sh*t.

And you know, no matter who I am,
no matter what they put in my skull,

I always remember you.
That won't change.

- But if I turn evil, sh**t me.
- I'm not gonna k*ll you.

Well, seriously wound me, then.

Just, you know,
try to stay away from the junk.

(SIGHS)

Okay.

Do it.

(GRUNTING)

Oh, God.

(EX CLAIMING)

Take it... Take it easy! Oh!
Did it... Did it not work?

Where did everyone go?
Did they change their minds?

Who are you?

Oh, no. That is not good. That's very bad.

What am I wearing?

- Tell me who you are!
- It's me! Topher!

- Jeez, why are we arming the dolls?
- I'm not a doll. I'm Priya.

Oh. Oh.

Interesting. So you're... You're you.

So the question is, where am I?

- So, you don't know what happened here?
- Oh, God.

Am I dead?

You're gonna want to come down here.

- Good morning.
- Can we help you?

I very much doubt it.
I'm looking for the man in charge.

- And you are?
- WHISKEY: Adelle DeWitt.

We haven't met,
but I've heard all about you.

- She k*lled Bennett.
- She's not Claire.

- He's quick. Very quick.
- What did you do with her?

I guess I just sort of evicted her.

Tossed her out on the digital street,
as it were.

I'm not big on sentimentality.

And you, my dear.
So excited to see you again.

You never know how these types
of experiments are gonna work out.

I am a lucky boy.
Right here at my doorstep.

- All you're missing is a little bow.
- Who the hell are you?

- Clyde Randolph, co-founder of Rossum.
- I thought Clyde was stuck in the Attic.

Not anymore.
My original got himself caught in a loop.

- This world is for people who can evolve.
- And does that include us?

Isn't that what you're here to find out?

This is terrible.

I want my body back. It was a nice body.

I mean, I covered it up half the time
with plaid and cotton-poly blends,

but I took pride in my physique!
I had a physique! Do you understand?

I mean, this body's okay and everything,
but, I mean, still...

We don't know you're dead.

I mean,
we don't know whose blood that is.

- Well, then where am I, Sierra?
- Priya.

Is that really
the most important issue right now?

Well, who else would've left
the Topher wedge behind?

I mean, how could you have done that
if you were dead?

You have a point. You have a point. Right.

(LAUGHING UNCOMFORTABLY)

Right. Right.
Why would I leave a backup wedge?

You're still thinking.

It was something only Topher would know.

Yeah, frankly, 90% of the things in my head
no one else knows.

It would help to get caught up
on the state of things here.

I mean, for example,
who are the dead dudes?

Hit men from Rossum, I'm guessing.

We're at w*r with
the Rossum Corporation, by the way.

Oh.

Fine. So, who k*lled them?

Well, we don't know.
The security footage was taken.

Oh.

Shut up!

(EX CLAIMING)

I had a camera installed.
No one else knew about it.

See? I was trying to catch a thief.

I'm pretty sure Ivy's been stealing
my turkey jerkys.

Here's the last thing it recorded.

- What was that?
- PRIYA: What's wrong with her?

Back it up. Back it up.

- He threw something away.
- Yeah.

What's this?

It looks like a syringe.

(STUTTERING) I don't understand.
He drugged Echo. Why would he drug Echo?

Not Echo. Caroline.

She was gonna tell us
who the founder of Rossum is.

Boyd's working for Rossum.

You know, Adelle, I have to thank you.

None of this could've happened
without you.

It's an exciting time,

and you have been
a good little worker bee.

I'm happy to be of service, Mr. Randolph.

Though, honestly, I'm not sure
I'm deserving of such high praise.

What? Above anything,
Caroline is your success.

You nurtured her, fostered her growth,
guided her to become what she is now.

- And what is that?
- Our savior.

- Caroline's going to save the world?
- No, no, not the world.

Just the deserving few.

You'll be happy to know
you'll be counted among them.

Unfortunately, in her present state,
Caroline isn't fit to save anyone.

I'm afraid we scrambled her head
one time too many.

The mind doesn't matter.
It's the body we want.

He always knew you'd be the one
to deliver her to us.

Our mysterious founder?

I'd like to thank him for his faith in me.

I know he's looking forward
to that moment.

Do you think they're going
to let us out of here?

You'll be okay. We'll find a way.

No, no. You don't want to do that.
That's just gonna loop back on you.

- Topher.
- What?

Stop breathing on me.

Why did they take Echo?

I don't know.

- Got it.
- You did that? You did that!

They must have a weapons cache
in this building. Find it.

- I'll take Topher with me.
- No. I need him.

- I'll take Topher with me.
- No. I need him.

We're gonna go after Caroline.

Be careful.
They'll k*ll us all if they get the chance.

Good luck.

(SCOFFING) We've been betrayed!
By my best man-friend,

soft-spoken,
mild-mannered Benedict Boyd.

Although, I got to admit,
I'm kind of impressed.

- Why can't I find Mellie?
- Chip's deactivated.

I mean, that dude can act.

I don't know whether I want to k*ll him
or get his autograph.

We have to go! We have to help them!

Hold on, cowgirl.
How do you plan on doing that?

If you haven't noticed,
Rossum sort of has ways of doing,

well, this, a lot!

I don't care. I can't just sit here.
We have to fight!

That is so Ripley of you,
and it's super sexy,

but can I make a suggestion?

Anthony. He's a soldier, right?

I will sacrifice my personality
and give you back your boyfriend

- and then some.
- And then some what?

Enhancements, mad skills, ninja hacking,
combat training. Cooking!

Doesn't seem that important now,

but if you two end up getting married,
you'll thank me.

Lf, if.

I could do you, too.

No. No more imprints. Not for Anthony.
Not for me.

Look, I get it. I get it.
The tech is responsible for all of this.

But in this particular instance,

why not give the good guys
a fighting chance?

(MAN MURMURING)

WOMAN: Yes, it has.

BOYD: It looks like
they cleared the place out.

TOPHER: (SOFTLY) I want to
tell you something.

Something important.

Echo, Caroline,

whatever happened to her,
it wasn't a bad wedge.

Bennett fixed it. I saw it.
And anyway, if the wedge wasn't fixed,

it wouldn't make Echo
lose her marbles like that.

This is something else.

- (WHISPERING) What do you think it is?
- (WHISPERING) I don't have proof,

but I'll tell you what it feels like.

It's eerily similar to Sierra,
when Nolan drugged her.

You think someone drugged Echo?

- Who? How?
- It had to be someone in the Dollhouse.

I don't know who yet,
but I'm working on it.

I left a little helpful something-something
back at the ranch.

- What does that mean?
- My backup wedge, Topher 2.0.

I left it in the chair.

Hopefully Victor and Sierra came back,
fired it up

and are on their way here
with reinforcements. Go, team.

- Thank you for confiding in me, Topher.
- Of course.

Bros before others who aren't bros.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

- D level is clear.
- MAN ON RADIO: Roger that. Proceed to E.

I need you to stay here.
That guard has a firearm.

- We could use one right now.
- I've done my part. Go do yours.

(GRUNTING)

Hey. How do you feel?

(EX CLAIMS)

(LAUGHING)

I don't know.

I don't feel any different.
Maybe it didn't take.

(ELEVATOR DINGING)

Wow.

- Well, that's different.
- Yeah. I'm suddenly okay with this.

Looks like somebody from Tucson
knows we're here.

What do you say
we take the fight to them?

BOYD: You'll learn to trust me.

LEO: They're not just experimenting
with animals.

- Did I fall asleep?
- CLYDE: This isn't a nightmare.

LEO: What do they need babies for?

- I need you! Leo, please!
- BENNETT: Don't leave me!

Caroline!

CLYDE: This is the shape of things to come.

- I'm your girl. Leo...
- BOYD: You'll learn to trust me.

(PANTING)

Boyd.

(WHISPERING)
Maybe I should have a g*n, too.

(WHISPERING) No.

What about a Taser?

Look at this. They cleared the place out.

Oh.

To be a kid in this sandbox.

I can only imagine the toys
they have in here.

Seriously? You gotta show me
how you do that.

- Let's check it out.
- What about Echo and everything?

BOYD: What do you make of this?

That's my tech.

The one DeWitt handed over to Harding.

(SIGHS)

I thought it would take Rossum years
to realize my schematics.

Now that they have?

We're even more screwed
than we thought.

With this,
you can wipe and imprint anyone.

No need for an Active's
cranial architecture in your coconut.

One zap with the laser, you're a doll.

What? Whoa! What is wrong with you!

- It doesn't work.
- Well, good!

(EXHALING)

Maybe they don't have the cojones
to finish the job.

(GASPS)

They're set up for mass production.

This is catastrophic.

(EX CLAIMS)

- What are you doing?
- Boyd, look around!

They're gonna weaponize the tech!
My tech!

Why? For weapons!

- Topher, think.
- That's what got us here in the first place.

- I'm going for mindless destruction now.
- We can use this, Topher.

If the tech stays in our hands,
we control it.

We can stop Rossum and get out of this
building without taking another life.

All you have to do is fix one of them.
Can you do it?

- In my sleep.
- Get to it, then.

- I don't think so. I'm afraid.
- So am I. That's why we have g*ns.

Take it.
You have to learn to protect yourself.

Yeah. I guess I can't rely on you
to protect me all the time.

- That's not what I meant.
- I know, but it's true.

Why am I here, Paul?

I guess...

I couldn't let you go.

That's very sweet. I don't believe you.

- I'm not real, Paul. I know this.
- Yes, you are.

I'm a program.

So am I.
And I decided it doesn't matter anymore.

We feel what we feel.

And I didn't want to reach the end
without you, okay?

Okay.

- What's next?
- We find the mainframe.

Oh.

- This is simple.
- What's that?

It can transmit an imprint
via directional laser to the brain,

but it doesn't know
how to get the brain to answer.

It's not synching, like when
your Bluetooth can't find your cell.

- What's the fix?
- The diode is reverse biased.

Dope the semiconductors
at the bipolar junction. Voil?.

A team of engineers couldn't cr*ck that,
but you, Topher Brink,

you did it in 10 minutes.

You truly are amazing.
I'm glad I chose you.

Chose me for what?

What are you doing? Echo! Echo!

Stop! Stop! It's Boyd! Echo!

I have enhanced weapons skills.
Anyone care to see a demonstration?

The Brit goes first.

- What the hell is going on?
- Boyd's the founder. He was gonna k*ll you.

What are you talking about?
There is no way!

- Not a chance on this Earth!
- It's the truth, Mr. Brink.

Boyd? You?

You really think I was going to k*ll Topher?

Why bring him here? Not just me.
Why the party charades?

You really don't know?

You're here 'cause you're my family.

I love you guys.

What is that?

The cooling system.
The mainframe generates a lot of heat.

It takes just as much energy
to cool it down.

This means we're getting close. Come on.

- What are you doing?
- What if it doesn't?

- Doesn't what?
- Cool down. It might be all fun for you

to sh**t your way
into a highly-fortified mainframe,

but couldn't we just pull the plug
on the AC?

And overheat the servers.

Thank God you're here.

TOPHER: So you're working with Saunders.

That means when she k*lled Bennett,
you k*lled Bennett.

Everyone has had to sacrifice.

That's what's made you all so incredible.
Your commitment, your skills.

Everything I've thrown at you,
you've taken and asked for more.

Look at you, Topher,

risking your life for the cause,
choosing morality over self-preservation.

And you, Adelle.

You found a strength and conviction
I'll bet you didn't even know you had.

I pushed you, and you pushed right back.

Wow. Wow, Boyd. You're right!

I'm the Tin Man, she's the Lion,

and you're the head of the Lollipop Guild,
who's a traitor!

You've proven yourselves
in so many ways. I wanted you all with me.

Except for Paul.

There's always one relative
you can live without,

and frankly,
I never understood what you saw in him.

So you want us to keep you company,
fiddling while Rome burns?

- Thank you very much, I'd rather be dead.
- Death will be a blessing.

When it happens,
you'll likely be imprinted and enslaved.

We have to face the facts.
The technology exists.

It can't be un-invented.
Once it gets out there, it will be abused.

None of us can prevent that
from happening,

but we can choose where we want to be
and on what side

when the end finally does arrive.

Do you want to be the destroyed
or the destroyers?

- You are spectacularly insane.
- ECHO: I believed you.

You pretended to care for me
and I believed you.

- How could you do that?
- I know you're angry.

Don't touch me.

I did... I do care for you.

More than you'll ever know.

Who do you think allowed you
to grow as an individual? As Echo?

While they were sending you out
to bed half of Los Angeles,

I was here making sure you had the space
to become your own person.

- Why?
- You're the key,

the key to everything.
You're going to save us all.

I won't save you, Boyd.
Given the first chance, I will k*ll you.

I have no doubt you'll try.

But the fact still remains that inside
that body of yours is everlasting life.

Every time your nervous system
blocks an imprint,

it leaves neural chemical tracers
in your cerebral spinal column.

We've tried to replicate it, but we can't.

It's unique to your physiology,
so we're going to harvest it from you.

What are you talking about?

We're going to use your spinal fluid
to make a vaccine against imprinting.

Is such a thing even possible?

The mad scientist in me says yes.

You come any closer, I will snap your neck.

I'm sorry, Echo. I really am.

(ELECTRONIC HISSING)

(GRUNTING)

Tell me they taught you how to sabotage
supercomputers at Quantico.

Right after the course
on toppling evil corporations

bent on world domination.

- Where do we start?
- How about here?

I don't think there's an elegant way
to do this.

- Good. I hate elegant.
- Me, too.

(ALARM SOUNDING)

Bring the secondary cooling system online.
I'll handle the rest.

There's a phrase I want you to say.

How does it go?
Something about flowers in a vase.

Activate Mellie's sleeper protocol?
I won't do it.

Go ahead and sh**t.

I'm sure I'll be far more talkative
with my brains splattered all over Topher.

(ALARM BLARING)

- What now?
- We're going to have company. Come on.

Aim, breathe, fire. It's set for single sh*ts.

- You don't need to go crazy, okay?
- Okay.

We just have to hold on
until Echo finishes the job. You got this.

ADELLE ON PA:
There are three flowers in a vase.

Mellie! Cover your ears!

ADELLE ON PA:
The third flower is green.

Mellie! It's me, Paul!
I'm not gonna sh**t you!

Listen to me. You're not a k*ller.

Mellie, remember us.
Remember what we had!

Paul? I... I can't.

You can. You can fight this.
You know who you are.

When we were together,
you made me feel like a real person.

- No!
- (g*n FIRES)

(PANTING)

BOYD: There's no reason to be scared.

The entire process was designed

to extract your spinal fluid
without k*lling you.

Everything's going to be all right.

Go to hell!

Begin the extraction.

(SCREAMING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Get her out of that thing,
or you're gonna end up

- with a dozen holes in your back.
- DOCTOR: Okay, okay!

Move!

(GROANING)

I thought you two
would be on a beach in Canc?n by now.

Never left a man behind before,
not gonna start today.

Besides, we're family.

Do me a favor.
Call us whatever you want, just not family.

- You know about Boyd?
- Yeah. Didn't see that one coming.

He's holding Adelle and Topher
in a research lab.

Same level, other side of facility.
Free them, then find Paul and Mellie.

- Get everybody out of here.
- What are you going to do?

Something Caroline tried to do
two years ago.

Shut this place down for good.

I did all this.

I'm the one who brings about
the thought-pocalypse.

- Thought-pocalypse?
- Is brain-pocalypse better?

I figure if I'm responsible
for the end of the world, I get to name it.

I gave the plans to Harding.
I'm just as culpable.

Thanks, Adelle.

You handed someone a piece of paper.

I invented it.

- Which means I have to destroy it.
- Stop. They'll k*ll you.

(DOOR OPENING)

- Are you all right?
- PRIYA: (SOFTLY) Take cover.

- TOPHER: Excuse me?
- Now!

Wow. Army of one.

Are you still me? Because I could use
someone to shoulder some of the guilt.

It's Anthony. With some enhancements.

- Really?
- What next?

Mr. Brink?

We destroy the prototypes,
the plans for the prototypes,

and every piece of equipment
used to make the prototypes.

We wipe this tech off the face of the Earth.

Who let the lab rat out of its cage?

Claire? Whiskey?
Whoever can hear me, this isn't you.

And deep down, you know it's true.
You can overpower him.

Claire?

Still Clyde.

You know, this is the first time
I can hit a girl without feeling bad about it.

You think Topher loaded me up
with nice personalities?

I will scrub the floor with you.

Fifteen years of switching bodies,
I've made some improvements to the OS.

Besides, I don't care what happens
to this body. You do.

What do you mean she escaped?
No, I'll deal with it.

(PAUL GASPING)

Mellie. She k*lled Mellie.

What?

Adelle, she triggered Mellie,

and she k*lled herself.

I'm sorry, Paul.

She's evil, Boyd. We have to stop her.

I know.
Whoever's running things got to her.

She turned on all of us.

(g*n COCKING)

Let's take that bitch down for good.

I know just where she is.

At this rate, we're gonna k*ll each other.

I have 20 houses filled with bodies
waiting for me.

Even if you're on life support,
we can still tap your spine.

BOYD: Echo!

- Paul, what are you doing?
- Take it easy. It's...

What did I miss?

It's him. He's the founder.
He's been lying to us this whole time.

Question is, who are you? Caroline? Echo?

I'm everything you made me.

Good. Then that means
you still trust me with your life.

You said you'd protect me. I believed you.
You son of a bitch!

I did protect you.
Now it's your turn to protect all of us.

- You're going to be the savior of the world.
- I trusted you.

- sh**t. Don't think. sh**t.
- She can't.

Caroline doesn't know you,
but Echo loves you. She'd never...

I wanted to keep you around
because I like you,

but I don't really need you alive.

I loved you.

I know.

(ELECTRONIC HISSING)

(PANTING)

Did I fall asleep?

For a little while.

I want you to take this.

After I leave, walk into there

and pull the pin out.

- Do you understand?
- Yes.

I try to be my best.

Good.

(ALARM SOUNDING)

- Everybody out!
- Go!

- I got Saunders out.
- Move, move, move!

- Where's Echo?
- She said she's coming.

Go, go, go, go! Let's go, people!

(PANTING)

So, did we save the world?

I guess we did.

(PEOPLE SHOUTING)

(g*n f*ring)

Let him go. We gotta keep moving.