04x02 - The Book of Reconstruction: Chapter Two: Unacceptable Losses

[bunniefuu]

Previously, on Black Lightning...

No, no.

Henderson!

He d*ed because I let him into my world.

I'm not putting on the suit.

Black Lightning's dead.

Now, I'd like to introduce you to our new chief of police, Chief Lopez.

I will make sure that every meta in this city is documented and tagged, so that we know their whereabouts and power capacity at all times.

It just feels like you've abandoned us.

You ever think maybe you abandoned me?

You left me and the girls.

Lynn.

How is your sobriety?

My goal is to isolate the meta gene to the point where I can use it against any att*ck against Freeland.

It's going really well.

- What the hell?

- I thought he was dead.

John, I love Freeland.

What does that mean, exactly?

I've committed a substantial amount of money to help repair and rebuild any public institutions that were damaged during the w*r.

He's got a plan, and it's not gonna be good for any of us.

Dad, come on.

He knows who we are!

This is Chief Lopez.

And it's a new day in Freeland.

So listen up.

Many of you have been facing unprecedented challenges in your homes and families.

This department appreciates your professionalism and dedication.

We have a lot to do.

And we're gonna get it done.

There's too much blood on the streets of Freeland.

And those streets don't belong to The One Hundred g*ng or the Kobra Cartel.

They don't belong to the freaking meta-humans.

They belong to us.

From our best information, the w*r between The One Hundred and the Kobra Cartel is being carried out on orders from their leaders.

For The One Hundred, that individual is known as Lala.

The Kobra Cartel is reportedly known as Lady Eve, but she hasn't been seen since the w*r with Markovia.

Her underboss is reportedly known as Destiny.

And for the meta-humans who plague our city, I have obtained next generation DEGs so that my officers will never be outgunned by meta-humans again.

♪ Last night I saw a superhero He was black ♪ ♪ He said "This is for the street Black Lightning's back" ♪ Welcome to the Lady Eve VIP game.

We strive to deliver, so do not hesitate to tell us if there is anything that we can do to improve your experience.

Deal 'em.

Let's go.

Only the driver made it back.

You know Destiny's coming.

Let her.

If she looking for me, that means I ain't gotta look for her.

I'm worried about the metas.

Blackbird done turned the ex-Resistance into special ops.

And that Lightning, she got too much power.

So whatcha wanna do?

Chief Lopez is getting next generation DEGs to k*ll metas.

Make sure some fall off the truck.

Okay.

There won't be no peace until there's one power in Freeland.

I'm gonna k*ll Destiny's peeps.

And I'm gonna k*ll metas.

I'm gonna k*ll...

until that power is me.

Henderson, you got a hole in your chest.

I'm not ready, man.

Henderson, you were my best friend.

♪ Oh, you wanna strip away ♪ ♪ Veracity is great ♪ ♪ But you'll bleed ♪ ♪ And all ♪ ♪ For a lukewarm embrace ♪ ♪ You serrate your face ♪ ♪ With glee...

♪ Jeff?

J...

Jeff, are you okay?

What are you doing out here?

What time is it?

I thought you were coming down to the couch.

I...

Jeff, what...

I'm going to take a shower.

What were you doing out there?

Hey.

What are you doing out of bed?

You were just wounded.

Oh, I'm fine, Mom.

I heal fast.

Well, you need me to take a look at it?

No, no.

I'm fine.

Well, can I make you some eggs?

I'd rather have cereal.

Jen, you have unopened mail from the college board exam.

It's a month old.

Didn't you apply for your SAT or ACT?

No, not yet.

I think you're being irresponsible.

Seriously, Mom?

We just finished a w*r fighting the ASA, Markovians, Gravedigger.

I'll get around to it.

I lost my appetite.

Jen.

Um, looks like we still have to take blood from Mr.

Shaw and Mrs.

Plank.

Mmm.

Mrs. Plank needs to go get X-ray, too.

And she's a little bit more comfortable with a female, so I'll handle that.

Of course you will.

Even though you have to take her up two floors and all the way to the other end of the facility.

Mmm.

It's really not a problem.

You're always willing to do the dirty work around here, even though your mom's the boss.

It's impressive.

And you do it smooth.

Okay, so, hold on.

You're good-looking and you're charming, but, sweetie, I'm gay, so you can chill out.

No, I wasn't...

Oh, come on.

Game recognizes game.

And once upon a time, I was a little player myself, so I ain't mad at you.

Funny.

That new serum has a kick.

Okay, where were we?

Hi.

I'm Katie.

How may I assist thee, Tobias Whale?

Nice touch.

I have the paperwork we've been waiting for.

Perfect.

I need your signatures here, here and here.

What?

Am I a thr*at?

Not while I'm watching you.

You're now the owner of 18 blocks formerly known as the neighborhood of Browning.

Want me to start shopping construction loans?

No, thank you.

Looks like Iraq in Browning.

Not a single structure in one piece.

No electricity or plumbing or infrastructure of any kind.

If you don't develop it, Browning is useless.

Thank you, Val.

She thinks you're crazy, but you want it a mess.

That's exactly why I'm buying it.

Chaos has always been my friend.

Katie, find and access the mainframe at Dr. Stewart's Center for Gene Therapy and Genetic Research.

Found.

Defeating countermeasures.

Access granted.

Excellent.

Watching Jefferson struggle with losing his friend, I had a revelation.

I...

I don't have any friends.

Why do you think that is?

I don't know.

Well, asking the question would be the first start.

Don't patronize me.

I'm not and I wouldn't.

In order to have a whole couple, we must have whole persons.

So, I'm gonna be seeing you individually as well as together.

So, tell me more about you.

What do you like doing?

You mean, like, hobbies?

I don't have any.

I mean, I have my work, and I...

I have my family and that's it.

Is that enough?

Finally.

Ouch.

Are you finished?

I had my serum tweaked to insulate my skin, so that was like doo-doo off a duck's back.

If I was you, I'd calm down, Jefferson.

It's dark outside.

But anyone could see us right now.

Don't blow your cover, big dummy.

I just stopped by to say I haven't forgotten.

What?

I haven't forgotten all the stress and strife you've caused me over the years.

I also haven't forgotten that you cost me my sister's life.

No.

No, that was all you.

I haven't forgotten that you m*rder*d my father.

So, no matter what everybody else thinks, I know who you are.

Hmm.

I know who and what you are, too.

And I have to wonder why I haven't seen your blistering Black ass playing dress-up lately.

I don't need a suit to kick your ass, so let's go.

I'm a captain of industry now, Jefferson.

A philanthropist, for God's sake.

I can't be out here tussling in a parking lot with some thug.

But that's the spirit.

See, I'm gonna take away each and every thing you love.

But it's no fun if you don't fight back.

Shift's over.

Any interest in grabbing a strictly platonic drink?

I just moved here, so I'm trying to meet some people.

Mmm, I can't, but thanks anyway.

Oh, cool.

Another time, maybe.

Yeah.

I'm gonna make some notes in these files and, uh, see you tomorrow.

Okay, cool.

I'll see you.

Hmm.

Oh, I can't deal with this now.

Uh, hey, Darius, uh, wait up.

Change your mind?

All right.

Okay.

I'm just saying that even though there's a lot going down that's not cool, Freeland has, like, crazy good energy.

I mean, the last month, I've had the best Jamaican food of my life, went to a cool-ass listening party, and gone to alumni happy hour from both my alma maters.

Damn.

Okay.

- What?

- I don't know.

It's just, that used to be me.

I used to be out all the time, having fun.

Mmm.

Not anymore?

Not really.

You know...

Responsibilities.

Yeah, I hear you.

I mean, to be honest, I've been forcing myself to go out.

I had to put my dog down recently, so it's been weird being home.

I'm sorry.

It's fine.

Fourteen years old.

Been with me since he was eight weeks.

Rusty was sick the whole last year of his life.

I know he suffered, just wonder if I did the right thing waiting so long.

It's hard.

It's just, like, you don't want to give up but, at some point, it's like...

come on.

Yeah.

Okay.

So, uh, we're gonna need another round over here, please.

You got it.

- I'm sorry.

- No, it's cool.

It's cool.

Wait, hold up.

There's, there's a, uh, a sh**t around the corner.

What?

Whoa, wait, hold...

Where you going?

Uh, I gotta go.

People might be hurt.

Right, uh, we are doctors.

I guess I should go with you.

Okay, I guess.

Mmm.

Hey, sweetie, I thought we agreed if you weren't coming straight home from school, you'd call first.

Oh, I forgot.

Sorry.

Did you sign up for the SAT and ACTs?

I don't know if I'm going to.

What?

What's that supposed to mean?

Jen.

You need a future, something more than being Lightning.

Why?

A sh**t at Third and Harper.

All the restaurants and bars over there, it'll be a bloodbath.

All right, I gotta go.

Well, at least let me look at your wound first, okay?

Gambi, do you have a fix on where the sh**t is?

Gambi?

Gambi?

Screw it.

Nobody move.

She'll k*ll us all.

Everyone, get out of here!

Run, now!

Your turn.

Drop the gats and go.

Hey, yo, chill, chill.

Or you're all going down.

Yo, it's her!

Go!

Jen!

Jen!

Gambi.

Gambi, where is she going?

Gambi!

I'm glad you picked the wine.

This is fantastic.

Thank you, Monovista.

Can I tell you a secret?

It's happened before.

In Morocco, I had a giant crush on you.

Must be why you sh*t at me.

Yeah, after that.

After that, you went with the CIA's recruitment pitch instead of ours.

That was a rejection of the ASA, not the dashing Peter Esposito.

- Do you miss it?

- The CIA?

Not at all.

You know, when you left the ASA, you could have gone to the CIA.

They would have jumped at the chance.

- Probably still would.

- Nah.

That place is not for me.

Well, maybe this is the place for you.

I'm authorized to let you know that I could be very flexible on salary if you come to Monovista.

I'm not interested.

Are you playing hard to get?

Because if you're so not interested, why are you here?

I'm not interested in a job.

I'm interested in you.

Whatever happened here, it's over.

Help!

Please, help!

Whoa, whoa.

That's Marcel Payton.

He works at my dad's school.

What happened to you?

Nothing, I just, I hit my head.

Judging from the outfit, I'd say there's more to that story.

- Is Jen home?

- No.

Don't change the subject.

Okay.

I injected myself with Wendy's powers and went out there.

Somebody needed to watch Jennifer!

Oh, okay, so it's my fault that you're dropping meta-boosters now?

All these years, you told me I was addicted to my powers.

Look at you.

You didn't b*at Glimmer, you just traded one drug for another.

No, it's...

this is not me, it's you.

You always think the worst of everything.

Well, this time, I'm not going to let you bring me down.

Come on.

Keep pressure on that wound.

Come on, kid.

- Come on, kid.

- Come on.

- Come on, kid.

- Come on.

No.

Move.

No.

Come on!

Anissa, he's gone.

Hey.

You okay?

No.

May not be the manly thing for me to say, but...

no.

Hell no.

I saw a child die last night.

Yeah.

Definitely messed up.

I keep asking myself how could I have changed the situation.

Hey, I became a doctor to save lives.

And last night I was useless.

Trust me, I feel you.

There's limits to what we can do as doctors, and that's real.

But you are not useless, Darius, unless you stop.

And that's real, too.

Okay?

Yeah, you're right.

And I'm not gonna let this make me stop.

Thanks.

No problem.

Man, I am so sorry.

Look, look.

Go home, take whatever time you need.

I was home.

We lost our house in the w*r.

The only places available now have rents too high for a teacher's salary.

We have to live in the car.

Oh.

Marcel, you, you've been here with me at Garfield for five years.

- Why didn't you come to me?

- Man, what could you do?

Look, we just got caught up.

I'm...

I thought I was handling it, but...

I was wrong.

And I got my son k*lled.

What?

No, no, no.

That is not on you.

Marcel, don't do that to yourself.

You got three kids who need you to have your head on straight.

No.

Not anymore.

Child Services took my other kids.

It's done.

I'm done.

That's awful.

Man, I can't help but see myself in the man.

If I watched one of my kids get k*lled in front of me...

No one should see that.

Everywhere I look lately, it seems like I see things I shouldn't.

People dead who shouldn't be.

Bad people just getting away with whatever they want.

I can't do anything about it.

Are you familiar with the principle of entanglement?

Physics.

Uh, particles that are separated are somehow still linked.

Exactly.

Psychologists have known for some time that feelings are linked.

When we empathize with another, it brings up feelings in us.

You spoke of great loss and it's only natural that this teacher's loss has magnified your sufferings.

You know, you just used the word to describe me that my wife never would.

"Natural." And that hurts you?

You know, I'm, I'm not trying to talk about her behind her back.

Jefferson, you're entitled to all of your feelings.

Okay?

Okay?

Yeah, okay.

Okay.

The entanglement aspect of feelings, it can bring up old wounds to bear and, at times, be overwhelming.

Do you feel like that?

Uh...

I don't think I've...

I don't think I'm overwhelmed.

Well, you're a very competent individual, but you still have your moments.

I've done my homework, Mr. Pierce.

And your old wounds are public knowledge and significant.

You're referring to the m*rder of my father.

Yeats once said, "We must have a place for what we lose." Here we can develop tools to do that work.

If you're willing.

- Okay.

- When you're willing.

What's going on with you?

I'd like to ask you the same question.

What?

Jennifer said she tried to reach out to you last night when she was tactical.

You didn't answer.

I'm sorry about that.

Okay, is there something I need to know about?

As a matter of fact, there is.

We have a major problem.

The new police chief plans to acquire dangerous new directed energy g*ns.

So what?

You've been dealing with those since ASA was here.

Not like these.

They're next generation.

In its promotional materials, Monovista International is promising a six-hundred-percent increase in lethality.

Great.

Just great.

What next, frogs falling from the sky?

It's not hopeless, Jeff.

I've already started working on a defense against these new DEGs.

Okay.

So that's something.

Did you hear a One Hundred member sh*t a kid last night?

Unfortunately.

I want to know who he is.

Oh, for God's sakes, Jefferson.

Then what?

Don't worry about it.

I am worried about it.

And so is Lynn.

She told me she found you passed out on the porch last night.

You were out there using your powers without wearing your suit, weren't you?

I picked up your energy signature.

You screwed up, Jeff.

You don't want to be Black Lightning but you're willing to light up a couple of cops and intentionally cr*pple a man's arms.

- I don't want to hear it.

- Well, you're gonna hear it!

Because you're not just some thug running around getting payback.

You have to hold yourself to a higher standard.

Man, you are a symbol of justice for a city that badly needs it.

No, you're singing the same song!

Where did that get me?

Or Freeland?

Freeland would be lost without Black Lightning.

Freeland is lost!

When Henderson d*ed, all that Black Lightning could do was just watch!

Tobias is walking around, shockproof now!

No, this whole Black Lightning thing is a waste of time.

But that sh**t is not walking away from this.

You're wrong, Jeff.

You're, you're wrong.

Between your grief for Henderson and using your powers without the suit, you're not thinking clearly.

No, no, I am thinking clear as day.

Find the sh**t.

No.

- All right, you ready?

- She ain't gonna listen.

Yeah, well...

she has to.

Jen.

- We need to talk.

- We need to talk.

What?

Are you in pain?

Is there something you need me to look at?

No, Mom, I'm perfectly fine.

I'm not here for treatment.

Okay, so, what do we need to talk about?

Okay, look.

Bottom line is, you need to get back in your lane.

Excuse me?

Here we go.

I don't expect anybody to tell me to stay in my lane, least of all the people I brought into this world.

Okay, we're not trying to disrespect you here, but we have to be honest.

Dad told us you followed me the other night.

You got hurt.

Mom, you could have d*ed out there.

You really need to stand down.

I can't.

Not without your father to help you.

I have to watch your back.

Mom, you don't.

You're a liability.

Okay?

You're not a meta.

Well, I saved your ass last night, young lady.

And I saw you get cut.

And I saw you fly straight up.

You went to the upper atmosphere, didn't you?

To pull the energy?

Mom, please don't turn this around on me, okay?

I didn't go anywhere.

I didn't.

And the fact that I can heal like that means that I don't need you to watch my back.

So...

Okay.

Hey, hey, hey, look, Mom.

Listen, we love you and...

and we get that you're just trying to help us, but you do not have the training.

Right.

Dad taught us how to fight.

Yeah.

I get it.

You're both metas.

I'm not a meta.

I'm in the way.

Okay, no, Mom.

Come on.

We need you just like we always have, just not out there in the streets.

No.

It's fine.

I get it.

I'm a liability.

Hi.

Give us the room.

- Said you wanted to talk?

- Yeah.

I'm just going to start.

When we worked together, I did think about you.

A lot.

I thought a lot about you since then.

And all the good things in my life that I let pass me by.

I made a choice back then.

The kind of choice that determines the life you're going to live.

I want to make a different choice now.

With you.

I am flattered that you thought well enough of me to offer me a job.

But being a troubleshooter for corporate security's just more of the same.

Living in dark places, doing dark things.

I...

I can be so much more than that.

I couldn't agree more.

Your ability to do high-level tech and high-level field work made you invaluable to the ASA.

I can use you here in R and D for the same reasons.

It'll cost you.

I'll pay.

When can you start?

My schedule is open.

I appreciate y'all for coming.

Bitch, you crazy.

I don't know how you snatched me up, but best to believe y'all messed up.

It's called skills and training, baby.

No, it's called su1c1de.

Listen.

You're here tonight and not dead because Freeland is a mother to all of this and she's sick of all this.

Now, y'all got beef with each other, that's fine.

Do what y'all got to do.

But this here parking lot is off-limits every night.

Pretty young thing.

Come on.

You ain't Lady Eve.

You can't tell me nothing.

Well, I'm telling you.

Now, the homeless of Freeland get to stay here at night.

They get to live here, have a chance to get back on their feet.

That's the deal.

Take it or die.

Here and now.

That don't bother me.

But you right.

Territory don't mean a damn thing if your customers can't buy product.

We in.

People on their feet means more gamblers and johns.

Damn.

You ain't a bad bitch.

The Kobra Cartel will honor the Blackbird zone.

The metagenes respond to different environmental influences, including other genes, which could be a variable.

We love you and we realize that you're just trying to help us, but you do not have the training.

You're a liability.

Okay?

You're, you're not a meta.

You didn't b*at Glimmer.

You just traded one drug for another.

I'm in such a love of people...

- Hello?

- Hey, TC.

Hey.

Everything okay?

Yeah.

Look, Gambi's busy.

So I'm gonna need you to search the camera footage for that sh**ting on Harper.

How can I help?

Get me the address for who sh*t that kid.

I'm getting East 23rd Street.

- Apartment two.

- Yeah.

His name's Lydell Green.

Hey, I don't know who that is, but you better stop playing.

You k*lled a kid.

You're going to turn yourself in.

If not, I'm gonna be back here, and we're gonna do this all over again.

Please, don't.

When you go to the cops, you're going to be on crutches.

- No, no.

- No, no!

Ahhh!

Closing theme music playing...