Original subtitles

[woman] Previously on Black Lightning...

[Black Lightning] No, no, no. Henderson!

He died because I let him into my world.

I'm not putting on the suit.

Black Lightning's dead.

[Mayor Black] Now, I'd like to introduce you

to our new chief of police, Chief Lopez.

[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?

[Lynn] My goal is to isolate the meta gene

to the point where I can use it against any attack against Freeland.

It's going really well.

- What the hell? - [Lynn] I thought he was dead.

John, I love Freeland.

[John] What does that mean, exactly?

[Tobias] I've committed a substantial amount of money to help repair

and rebuild any public institutions that were damaged during the war.

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 gang

or the Kobra Cartel.

They don't belong to the freaking metahumans.

They belong to us.

From our best information,

the war 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 war with Markovia.

Her underboss is reportedly known as Destiny.

And for the metahumans who plague our city,

I have obtained next generation DEGs

so that my officers will never be outgunned by metahumans 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.

[gunshot]

Let's go. [grunts]

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 kill 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 kill Destiny's peeps. And I'm gonna kill metas.

I'm gonna kill... until that power is me.

[Black Lightning] Henderson, you got a hole in your chest.

[Inspector Henderson] I'm not ready, man.

[Black Lightning] 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...

[screams]

Jeff?

Jeff, are you okay? What are you doing out here?

What time is it?

I thought you were coming down to the couch. I...

Are you...

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.

[Lynn] 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.

[sighs]

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 war fighting the ASA, Markovians, Gravedigger.

[sighs] I'll get around to it. I lost my appetite.

[sighs] 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.

[chuckles] 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. [chuckles]

Funny. [chuckles]

[grunts]

[chuckles]

That new serum has a kick.

Okay, where were we?

[Katie] Hi. I'm Katie.

How may I assist thee, Tobias Whale?

[Tobias] Nice touch.

I have the paperwork we've been waiting for.

Perfect.

I need your signatures here, here and here.

What? Am I a threat?

Not while I'm watching you.

- [chuckles] - [Tobias chuckles]

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.

[Katie] Found. Defeating countermeasures.

Access granted.

Excellent.

[Lynn] Watching Jefferson struggle with losing his friend,

I had a revelation.

[sighs] I... I don't have any friends.

Why do you think that is?

I don't know.

[Dr. Bowlan] Well, asking the question would be the first start.

[chuckles] 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 murdered 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.

[laughs] 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. [chuckles]

- [both sigh] - Shift's over.

Mmm-hmm.

Any interest in grabbing a strictly platonic drink?

- [chuckles] - [laughs]

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.

[growls]

[growls]

[Anissa] Oh, I can't deal with this now.

[sighs]

Uh, hey, Darius, uh, wait up.

Change your mind?

[Anissa laughs]

[chuckles] 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. [clears throat]

- What? - I don't know.

It's just, that used to be me.

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

Mmm. [chuckles] Not anymore?

[sighs] 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. [chuckles]

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.

[sighs] It's hard. It's just, like, you don't want to give up

but, at some point, it's like... come on.

Yeah. [sighs]

Okay. So, uh,

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

[woman] You got it.

- [chuckles] I'm sorry. - [laughs] No, it's cool. It's cool.

[cell phone chiming] Wait, hold up.

There's, there's a, uh, a shootout 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.

[siren blaring in distance]

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?

[sighs]

Jen. You need a future,

something more than being Lightning.

Why?

[cell phone chimes]

A shootout at Third and Harper.

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

All right, I gotta go.

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

[sighs]

Gambi, do you have a fix on where the shootout is?

Gambi?

Gambi?

Screw it.

[gunshots]

[man] Nobody move. She'll kill us all.

[Lightning] Everyone, get out of here!

Run, now!

Your turn.

Drop the gats and go.

[man] Hey, yo, chill, chill.

Or you're all going down.

[man] Yo, it's her!

Go!

[shrieks in pain]

[exclaims]

[breathes heavily]

Jen! [breathes heavily]

Jen!

Gambi. Gambi, where is she going?

[breathes heavily]

Gambi!

I'm glad you picked the wine. This is fantastic.

[Gambi] 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 shot 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. [chuckles]

- 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.

[chuckles] 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 beat 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.

[sighs]

[Darius] Come on. Keep pressure on that wound.

- [Anissa] Come on. - Come on, kid.

- Come on, kid. - [Anissa] Come on.

- Come on. [breathes heavily] - Come on.

No. Move.

No. Come on! Come on!

Anissa, he's gone.

[somber music playing]

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.

[sighs] 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.

[sighs]

[sighs] Man, I am so sorry.

Look, look. Go home, take whatever time you need.

I was home.

We lost our house in the war.

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 killed.

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.

[sighs]

[therapist] That's awful.

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

If I watched one of my kids get killed 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.

[scoffs]

You know, you just used the word to describe me

that my wife never would.

"Natural."

And that hurts you?

[hesitates] You know, I'm, I'm not trying

to talk about her behind her back.

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

[chuckles softly]

[therapist] 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...

- [Jefferson chuckles] - ...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 murder 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.

[sighs]

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 guns.

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 600% increase in lethality.

[scoffs]

Great. Just great.

What next, frogs falling from the sky?

[chuckles] 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 shot 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 cripple 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.

[sighs] 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 died, 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 shooter 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 shooter.

No. [sighs]

[breathes heavily]

[beeping]

- All right, you ready? - She ain't gonna listen.

Yeah, well... she has to.

Jen.

[both] 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 died out there.

You really need to stand down.

[sighs] 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... 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... 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.

[Anissa sighs]

[keyboard clacking]

Hi.

Give us the room.

[door closes]

- 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... [sighs]

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. - [chuckles]

I'll pay. When can you start?

My schedule is open.

[chuckles]

[hip-hop music playing]

[exclaims]

[Thunder] 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 suicide.

[Thunder] 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.

[Thunder] 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.

[chuckles]

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.

[digital beeping]

The metagenes respond to different environmental influences,

including other genes, which could be a variable.

[cell phone chimes]

[sighs]

[Anissa] 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.

[Jennifer] Okay? You're, you're not a meta.

[exhales]

[breathes heavily]

[Jefferson] You didn't beat Glimmer.

You just traded one drug for another.

[soul music playing]

[dialing]

[clears throat]

- [Technocrat] Hello? - Hey, TC.

Hey. Everything okay?

Yeah. Look, Gambi's busy.

So I'm gonna need you to search the camera footage

for that shooting on Harper.

How can I help?

Get me the address for who shot that kid.

I'm getting East 23rd Street.

- Apartment two. - Yeah.

His name's Lydell Green.

[beeps]

I know when I was a kid...

- I said I was gonna be a preacher. - [thunder rumbling]

[lightning crackles]

- [glass breaks] - Maybe I am, but to me

I feel like I'ma teaching somewhat,

because I've been able to experience things that most poor...

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

- [electricity buzzing] - [heavy panting]

[breathing heavily]

[grunts]

[gun firing]

[grunts]

You killed 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.

[crackling]

[grunts]

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

[Lydell] No, no. No, no! [screams]

Ahhh!

[closing theme music playing]