03x06 - The Book of Resistance: Chapter One: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

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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03x06 - The Book of Resistance: Chapter One: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Post by bunniefuu »

[Jefferson] Previously on Black Lightning...

Dr. Jace, you're wanted in Markovia.

[Odell] The Markovians are on the outskirts of Freeland and they are marshaling their forces.

The Markovians want to capture or k*ll 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.

[Jefferson] I need you to bring Tavon back to Freeland.

[Blackbird] Too dangerous.

He needs to be with his family.

[Blackbird] Come on, Tavon.

Run!

[grunts]

-[Jefferson] What happened? -[Blackbird] We got ambushed.

No! Tavon!

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

-What the hell is going on? -Stand down.

[grunting]

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.

[Blackbird] They hit us with some kind of poison.

[ethereal music playing]

I guess... if you're seeing this...

[sniffles] it means I didn't make it.

[clears throat]

And I'm okay with that. Really, I am.

[clears throat and sniffles]

Because I know my sacrifice, it meant something.

[inhales]

[voice breaking] Jen...

Jen, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry for leaving you.

[sniffles]

Especially...

with what you're going through.

Mom...

Dad...

[clears throat]

Uncle Gambi...

I knew what I was doin'... and it was worth the risk.

[clears throat]

Now, none of you are gonna take comfort in hearin' this, but it's because of you...

that I was strong enough...

to do what had to be done.

[grunts]

[breathes heavily]

You all taught me to stand up for what was 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 piano playing]

[Lynn sighs]

How are Tavon's parents?

Better than I would be.

[Anissa] Is there anything that they need?

-Anything that we can do? -[Jefferson sighs]

I wish there was, but... No. What they need, we can't give 'em.

I'm proud of you, Jeff.

[Anissa] Proud?

Of what?

[scoffs] For not suiting up to avenge Tavon's death.

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. No! -[shushes]

-Tavon is dead! -[whispers] Jeff!

Do you hear me?

Tavon is dead.

This is not just about us anymore.

[Anissa sighs]

[woman sobs]

[Jamillah] Mr. Pierce?

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

[Anissa] Jamillah, now is not a good time.

But the people deserve to know the truth.

[phone chimes]

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 it back against the occupation?

Excuse me. 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] No, Anissa, it's okay.

I'll answer that question.

If I could say anything to Tavon, I would tell him how proud I am of him.

I would 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.

[gospel music playing faintly]

[Lynn] You look tired, Jeff.

-Long night? -Okay, so you heard.

That Black Lightning nearly k*lled 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 gonna 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]

Odell is not gonna do anything to us or the girls. We're too valuable to him.

How can you be so certain?

I thought so.

You are unbelievable.

[sputters] 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 wanna ease your troubled conscience.

No. This is not about me. This is about--

Who? Who, Jeff? Earl? Alvin? Tavon?

You keep telling yourself that

'cause 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. -[sighs]

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 are you doing?

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

[Gambi sighs]

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.

[monitor beeps]

It's that good, huh?

This poison is breaking down your cells faster than anything I've ever seen.

If you hadn't had your metahuman healing ability, you'd probably be dead already.

"Had" my healing ability?

Whatever's in you is suppressing your metagene.

Right now, you're as vulnerable as I am.

You're getting weaker by the second.

So what's next? What are we 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 anti-venom 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 your parents--

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

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

[exhales]

Uncle Gambi, listen to me.

I will tell them if and when the time comes.

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

They are 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 happenin' to me in these next 24 hours...

I'll tell Mom and Dad then.

Please.

Okay.

24 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]

[man] Hey.

This fake news the ASA is puttin' out, it's makin' 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 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?

If they got Truthteller, then...

If he said something, 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? -[sighs]

What are we supposed to do now?

Well, like I said, we need to get our truth to all of Freeland, not just that five-mile radius the Truthteller was reaching with that bootleg setup he had.

Now, Gina, you said you had a nephew who was 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.

That's true.

What if something goes wrong? What if I get caught?

I strongly suggest you don't.

With no Truthteller, who's gonna be the voice of the resistance?

Leave that to me.

[door lock beeps]

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 you're 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 you-- -But I suppose I can trust you?

I'm a true friend, Dr. Stewart.

[scoffs]

I'd much rather s*ab 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 wanna be my friend, Dr. Stewart, because friends keep their friends' secrets.

I'm tired of your empty threats.

You are on lockdown with no access to the outside world.

You're never gonna see the light of day again.

I hear your man went all theatrical, burning lightning bolts in 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.

[low-key music playing]

[Shonda] Anissa, your father is at the door.

[rapping at door]

Shonda...

Yes, Anissa?

-Pause music. -[music stops]

[breathing heavily]

[rapping at door]

[groans]

[groaning]

[banging at door]

[breathing heavily]

[groans]

[banging at door]

[banging at door]

[grunts]

And open front door.

[door unlocks]

[door locks]

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

What are you doin' here, Dad?

I just came to check on you. I mean, you were b*at up pretty bad.

Look who's talkin'.

Yeah, I know. 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 nothin'.

I also... wanted to say I'm sorry.

I pressured you to bring Tavon back to Freeland, and...

I was wrong.

You were right.

And 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... I did it anyway.

[breathes heavily]

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.

So, it's like that?

It's like that.

Okay.

[sniffs and clears throat] Okay.

[door locks]

[exhales heavily]

Anissa. Anissa.

Thank God, I was so scared.

[grunts]

What happened?

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

[winces]

I must've gotten lightheaded or somethin'.

Anissa, if we're really trying to do this, 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 gonna break if you lean on me.

Hey, babe, I know that.

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

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...

[chuckles] ...fresh-cut grass, the smell of the air right before the rain... the smell of death.

Death? Wait.

Mmm-mmm.

[inhales]

Nobody's dyin' here.

Yeah, okay, I'm a little b*at up.

[scoffs]

Okay...

I'm a little more than a little b*at 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 workin' on somethin' to fix me up.

-Said I'll be back on my feet in no time. -You promise?

Girl, we have been through too much to be together.

I'm not about to lose you now.

If you say so.

I do.

[chuckles]

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.

[chuckles]

[breathes heavily]

[winces]

[shudders]

What is this?

[sighs]

Who the hell is this kid?

All right, Brandon...

Let's see what you're hiding.

-Mom. -[typing]

[door opens]

-What are you doin' in my apartment? -Don't ask, you perv.

-Why do you have photos of my mom? -It's not even like that.

[grunts]

Would you just let me explain?

[grunting]

[grunting]

[panting]

What the hell was that?

[breathing heavily]

[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've 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 b*at 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 layin' a finger on my girls...

-I will barbeque your black ass. -[electricity crackling]

[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?

[grunting]

[upbeat hip hop music playing]

[fires]

Where'd he go? Where the hell did he go?

[grunting and groaning]

[yelling]

[panting]

You could've said no.

[neck cracks]

[upbeat hip hop continues]

[soldier exclaims indistinctly]

[tires screech]

[upbeat hip hop continues]

[guard] Let him through.

Now, we go to work.

[indistinct chatter]

[knocking at door]

[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-streets interviews of yours and the escalating insurgent v*olence in the streets of Freeland.

That's ridiculous.

Unfortunately for you, it isn't.

I've lived in Freeland my entire life.

But you, you just came here looking for a story, trying 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 openin' for your particular set of skills.

Working with you? That's a hard pass.

You wanna be the voice of the people?

The voice of the movement? Here's your chance.

[typing]

[exhales]

[dramatic music playing]

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

-Why are you cyberstalking my mom? -[scoffs]

I'm not stalking your mother.

I'm looking for Dr. Jace.

Your mom is the last link I have on her.

Wait, why are you looking for that psycho?

Jace k*lled my mother.

I came to Freeland to put Dr. Jace in the grave right alongside her.

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

Done.

[exhaling] 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?

[chuckling] Do you have a mad grillin' habit or somethin'?

[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.

[chuckling] It is. And I just paid for your college education.

-Put that in your treasure chest. -[chuckles]

This is tight.

That's tight.

[Gambi] 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.

[door opening]

Dr. Stewart.

Back so soon.

[door opening]

[Tobias] What is this?

[Lynn] 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.

[door closing]

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?

[sighs]

You sure are becoming very assertive.

[Tobias] 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 n*gro would see it the same way.

-[Anissa gasping and groaning] -Nissa?

Anissa!

Anissa, baby... Anissa.

-[gasps] -Oh, my God.

[Anissa gasping]

[line ringing]

Anissa, stay with me.

[Anissa gasping]

[Grace] Hey.

-How long has she been like this? -I don't know.

Fifteen, maybe twenty 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.

[Gambi] Anissa, I'm here.

You hold on.

-Is this going to work? -We'll have to wait and see.

[Grace sighs]

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

[sobbing] It has to work. It has to work.

Come on, Anissa. You got this.

She's responding. It's working.

-Come on! -[gasps]

[exhales]

Hey.

[Gambi chuckles]

Hey. Welcome back.

[Grace] Hey.

-[weakly] Uncle Gambi. -Don't try to talk, dear.

-Hey. -[Gambi] 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.

-[Grace] Hey. -[Anissa exhales]

Agent Odell, sir, sorry to interrupt.

But I thought you'd wanna have this information ASAP.

We detected a neutrino anomaly in Freeland.

Same anomaly that appeared when Dr. Jace was abducted at the Freeland Police Department.

So we have a 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.

[indistinct chatter]

[beeping]

[beeping]

[blows]

[beeping]

So... you get what you need?

No.

[Odell] Colonel Mosin!

[g*ns cocking]

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.

[scoffs]

We'll see about that.

[g*nf*re continues]

Gambi, you hearin' this?

Sounds like a w*r is breaking out at Club 100.

[man coughing]

[grunts]

[coughs]

[Mosin] Now... we will finish what we started in Moscow.

[electricity surging]

[automated voice] Neutrino disruptors disabled.

[f*ring]

Catch you later.

[weakly] You should have taken out Colonel Mosin.

I don't k*ll people.

[chuckles]

Pathetic.

I'm glad that you're doing this.

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.

And once we plug 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 our story.

[electricity crackles]

[exhales]

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 ran away?

[scoffs]

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.

[cell phone chimes]

Nice doin' business with you.

Oh, 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.

[jazz music playing]

[jazz music continues]

[Jefferson sighs]

Lynn... What are you doing?

What does it look like? I'm leaving.

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

You say it like it's nothing, and that just proves my point.

You claim you value me and yet you don't consider me.

Wait, 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.

[Jefferson] 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 wanna tell me?

-Talk to me! -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 mean that.

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

Lynn...

Come on... Lynn!

[door closes]

[dramatic music playing]
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