Original subtitles

[Khalil] Previously on Black Lightning...

I love you. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me.

[Agent Odell] Painkiller, this is your target.

Terminate with prejudice.

Yes, sir.

We're going to kill the Pierces. Each and every one.

We have the Painkiller operating system firewalled.

You're nothing without me.

[Gambi] It's always going to be inside you.

- Hey! - [Khalil] You're not even real.

We'll see after I finish my last mission and kill the Pierce family.

Starting with that pain in the ass you love so much.

Jennifer.

[Khalil] Promise me you won't tell her where I am.

Painkiller is still inside of me.

The kill order is still inside of him.

I want you to watch her die.

- [Jennifer gasps] - No!

[screaming]

[coughing]

Does Jen know you're leaving?

I'm not too good with goodbyes.

- Where are you gonna go? - I don't know.

But I got to get out of Freeland.

I had your name removed from the ASA register

so you'll have a chance at somewhat of a normal life.

["The Other Lover" playing]

[Khalil] "There's one.

The path has been corrected.

Go forth and conquer."

These words came to me in meditation

and led me here,

to Akashic Valley,

a place where I came to find peace of mind and body.

A place where I'll piece together a family and build a new life,

so that I can conquer my own duality.

Me, Khalil, who wants peace and vengeance.

And Painkiller...

who just wants a bloody war.

[singing] Understand That we're strumming

Why understand Where we're going

I understand life Be flowing

Dreaming as you be Talking to me

About where we'll be

I'm wearing your gold You whispering that it's over

To yourself It's creeping up my shoulder

[vocalizing]

I understand where We're coming from

Understand my devotion

Don't understand What you're doing

I understand that It's plain to see

See

But not clear to me

Where the river flow That's where I wanna go

With you, with you With you

I just know that we are...

Welcome, Anissa and Grace Pierce. My name is Imani.

I will be your concierge for your stay with us.

We are so pleased that you have chosen the Black Velvet

as the place to celebrate your honeymoon.

If there is anything that you need, just say my name

and I will be here to assist you. Enjoy.

[singing] Last night I saw a superhero He was black

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

[R&B music playing]

[singing] There's a treacherous man Living inside of me

He don't need your eyes Or your sympathy

He don't wanna be loved Unless it's for free

He cuts down his friends Like Amazon trees

In the jungle of love He's Dr. Freeze

He got a nasty habit Yes, he got a disease

That he gave to a lovely girl Named Tessa

She was his Therapist girlfriend

She said, "Let 'em in Ooh, let 'em in"

Whoa! Damn, bruh.

Give a warning before you shine the sun in our eyes. All right?

Apologies.

- You good, babe. - Yeah, I'm good.

Sheesh.

I'm going to the bathroom.

[grunts]

- Hey, man, can I have the bill? - Yeah, of course.

[groans]

Come on. Come on.

You gonna help me or are you just gonna stand there?

Come on. Come on. [grunting]

Have a good one.

[audience applauding]

[men groaning]

[groans]

[gasps]

Give her to me.

I'm not letting that Pierce bitch get away this time.

That's one. But you don't really want to kill Anissa.

That's Odell. He put that in your head.

I know that. But what you don't seem to understand

is that until I kill every damn Pierce,

I'm in a constant state of pain, a constant rage.

And I've told you the war is over.

For you, bruh! Not for me.

You know, as soon as I'm done with that bitch,

- I'm coming after you. - Two.

And why me? Odell's the one who created you this way.

[laughs]

Odell didn't create me.

There is no light without shadow...

no sun without moon.

I was already buried deep inside of you, Khalil.

Odell, he just weaponized all that ghetto pedigree anger,

Black boy horror movie rage that you tried to hide

by being the good running boy with the pretty smile.

I said give her to me.

Nah, that bitch is dead.

[sighs]

Well...

She's not a bitch.

["Parade" playing]

[exhales sharply]

[singing] Well, well, well, well

That's three.

Is it the way I move?

That's why you think I'm bulletproof

Or is it in my cool?

You think I'll put A spell on you

Oh, let it rain

[vocalizing]

It won't rain on my parade

[singing] Black girl, Black girl Don't lie to me

Tell me where did you sleep Last night?

In the pines, in the pines

Where the sun don't shine

I shiver The whole night through

Black girl, Black girl Where will you go?

To the place Where the cold wind blows

Freeze-frame.

What happened?

I think you can see what happened.

What are you really asking me?

How did he get out?

He almost killed her.

The logic bomb I put in your head gives you control.

It works even better with your meditation practice.

But he's always looking for ways to override it.

I'm assuming she's one of the targets Odell implanted in Painkiller?

- Yeah, that's right. - Yeah.

Logic bomb wasn't built to override a kill order.

A kill order is like a GPS.

If the Pierces are anywhere near him, he can sense them.

That's why you being all the way out here was such a good thing,

so you'd never see the Pierces again.

How the hell did she end up here?

I guess the creator had other plans.

[scoffs] Yeah.

Hell of a coincidence.

There's no such thing as coincidences, Philk.

Synchronicity, energy and intent combined to create

a spontaneous manifestation of one's thoughts.

Hell, all Painkiller thinks about is the kill order.

And he's even more intent on killing Anissa because...

Because he failed his mission in that previous encounter.

He bought her here.

[sighs] Look, when the ASA was brought down, you were out on your ass.

No one wanted anything to do with anyone who worked for 'em.

I found you here, damn near homeless and an alcoholic.

And I appreciate that.

Back then, I asked you one simple question.

Can you fix what's in my brain? And what was your answer?

- Yes. - So I bought this building,

built this lab to your specification.

Look, all I'm saying is you got what you wanted out of the deal,

the lab, the bar, so you could look in the face of your demons

and overcome them everyday, you said.

Well, bruh, I still have a demon in my head

and he almost killed Jennifer's sister.

Look, I understand why you're upset

and I'm working on it. You know that.

Now that we have some data

and we've seen what this thing does when he sees a target,

it gives me something different to work with.

But Khalil, this is the first time

Painkiller has shown up in a year...

so give me some credit.

And yeah, you did buy all of this stuff.

But you wouldn't have known about

the ASA's hidden millions if it weren't for me.

[laughs]

I think I was pretty generous with your cut

considering I took all the risk.

Yeah, man. I'm not debating that, but I need you to hear this.

I'm not your damn Asian tech savior, man.

You need to also realize that as much as you saved me,

I've done the same for you.

So back up a bit, bro.

[coughs]

Khalil, she's waking up!

Hey.

Happy to see you awake.

I believe you're going to be all right.

I'm Donald. I'm here to make sure you keep breathing.

[groans]

Hey, that's not Painkiller, that's Khalil.

He's not going to hurt you, I promise.

[breathing heavily]

There were a few good candidates.

Uh, the bad ones we tranquilized and we left on the strip.

I mean, they won't remember anything happened.

They'll think they just had a few extra drinks and a good time.

You talk too much. Where's Nick?

Uh, Nick. Well, Nick is kinda dead.

[sighs]

- You can't be this dumb. - Uh...

How?

Well, we were dragging a subject into the van when a fight broke out.

And some big Black guy came out of nowhere

and he poisoned Nick with one blow to the chest.

He sent him flying backward.

Poisoned? Did you get a picture of him?

My camera doesn't take photos of faces, it scans brains.

That's how we find the smart subjects.

- Bring Nick's body to the lab. - [line disconnects]

Re-engage.

What do you want?

Uh, just one more thing. I took a pic of one subject

and her brain was abnormal but amazing.

I mean, I told Nick and he had me take another pic...

Please get to the point.

When I opened the van to sort the subjects,

one of them had shape-shifted into a large sleeping leopard.

- You captured a meta? - Yes.

That's rare. I want to see her now.

[line disconnects]

I thought I had him under control, but he found a way out.

I don't give a damn how it happened. But you're gonna fix this.

Especially after all the times my family saved your ass.

Anissa, I'm not like you and your family.

I don't go out there trying to be some kind of superhero.

Painkiller could end up killing a lot of innocent people.

And Grace is more than capable of taking care of herself.

You coward. You know I could have saved her myself,

but I can barely move because of you.

They drugged her. She's probably somewhere still drugged.

And the longer your punk ass stands here making excuses,

it's gonna be harder for us to find her.

Now, I almost lost her once, and I will not lose her again.

[groans]

No such thing as coincidences, huh?

No such things as coincidences.

If she wakes, tell her I went to go find Grace.

Freeze-frame.

Rewind.

Now stop.

See right there.

It's subtle, but he gave that guy right there a signal.

Watch. Continue.

Stop.

Those are the two guys we need to find.

[Philky] I'll use the facial recognition to track down their location.

Listen, I don't know anything.

They pay me to take the photos and I wirelessly upload them

to a different email account every time.

You setting these women up for sex trafficking?

No. No, I would never do anything as terrible as that.

Because you have morals.

Right.

Some of these people are weird. They're in some sort of mind cult.

[groaning] Jeez.

Dude, I can't believe you ran me over with your car. Who does that?

Whoa. Come on, dude.

I didn't run you over. If I did, you'd be dead.

Anyway, I don't think you're telling me everything I wanna know, so...

I'mma finish the job.

No. No, no. Come on, dude.

I don't even know the people that I work for.

The money just shows up in my account.

They're just interested in people's minds.

And how they work.

[sobbing] No, don't shut the door.

[tires screeching]

I put a tracker on him and his car.

He's an idiot, so it won't take long.

Don't need it. Hacked the car's GPS.

He made a face-to-face booth call on the strip

and then headed immediately to a warehouse

on the outskirts of the Valley.

- I'm sending you the address now. - Nice work.

Smart guy's not so smart.

I'll hit you when you're close to the warehouse.

I'll try and hack into the security cameras.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

What was that, anyway?

Just some herbs I put together.

It'll help with the healing process.

Hmm.

[groans]

You really know a lot about healing and medicine, huh?

I was a medic in the Marines.

Some years ago.

You don't seem like the kinda guy who would work for a murderer.

Khalil is not a murderer.

Yeah, well, that was the second time he almost killed me.

Khalil didn't try to kill you. Painkiller did.

[scoffs]

- He's at war with himself. - [sighs]

Khalil's been through a lot, but you already know that.

[sighs]

When I left the military, things weren't so good for me.

I suffered from PTSD. Got pretty bad.

When I was finally able to see the shrink at the VA, he just

gave me some meds to take and sent me on my way.

One night my mind was hurting so bad, I took more meds than I should have.

Did you try to kill yourself?

I don't know.

But I'm a pretty big guy, so they didn't take effect right away.

So I came here, thought I'd help the healing process

by adding quite a few whiskeys to the mix.

You're a budding doctor, so you can guess what happened next.

How did you know that?

Khalil told me. He told me all about the Pierces.

He really admires and loves you guys.

Hmm.

Anyway, when I woke up, I was laying right where you are.

Khalil found me in that alley pretty much dead.

Brought me here, put me back together somehow.

He saved my life.

It's a wonderful story,

but I'm not gonna be convinced unless he saves Grace's life.

I know what's it's like to be one person on the inside

and have to pretend to be someone else on the outside.

To lead a double life. Struggle with identity.

Khalil's struggle is different, but that's what he's dealing with.

Hmm.

You should understand that.

I never really had to hide who I was. I've always been out.

Well, then, you're one of the lucky ones, Anissa.

Or do you prefer Thunder?

Isolate the compound that killed him.

I want the results in an hour.

Keep her sedated until we find a proper,

more secure environment for her to wake in.

I have special plans for this one.

There's two guards, one at the top of the stairs

and one guarding the entrance to the room.

Got it.

[whistles]

[grunting]

Man, I don't know what the hell this is,

but it is way deeper than we thought.

These people... I can't even describe it.

A bunch of kids with computers connected to their brains.

But Grace is definitely not one of them.

[Philky] Wait, how many laptops?

About six. Looks like one for each person.

Okay. I'll put in a call to the police for the people,

you grab the laptops.

Maybe there's some information about why they're abducting these people.

[grunting]

Who are you working for...

and where can I find them?

I want a name.

[grunting]

[groans]

- Name? - Maya.

And where?

Damn it.

Coincidentally, the nanotech in their brains

resembles the tech in your brain.

Philky, there's no such thing as coincidences.

Well, the victims' brains have been partitioned,

effectively cordoning off a large section of their brain like a computer.

They're being crypto-jacked to harness the computing power of the brain

for criminal enterprises like unravelling Bitcoins.

Okay, but what's the other part of the brain doing?

Well, it ain't dead. Sort of in a non-thinking state.

So the brain is meditating.

Don't you need to know that you're meditating in order to meditate?

Okay, well, can this technology help with Painkiller?

- It might. - Good.

All the more reason for us to find this Maya woman.

Kill two birds with one stone. Save Grace and fix my brain.

I think I know someone who can help us find out who Maya is.

[Philky] This is the closest we've been

to finding a way to get rid of Painkiller.

[Khalil] You really think she can help?

[Philky] She seems to know everyone in the Valley.

Everything that went down or is about to go down.

People say she can tap into the Akashic records,

a place where the past, present and the future exist.

- And you believe that? - I do.

And a lot more.

[R&B music playing]

Philky.

What up, Wo?

What up?

Khalil, this is Wo Man, Wo, this is Khalil.

- Pleasure. - Mine, too.

You said it was an emergency. What's up?

We were wondering if you've heard of a woman named Maya?

Apparently she's into some real high-tech mind-bending stuff.

Tech that usually only the government can get their hands on.

Yeah, I know who she is.

But there ain't no kind of future in even saying her name.

I know that sounds dramatic,

but you could say it to the wrong person and end up dead, Philk.

Come on, Wo.

This is personal. It's family stuff.

And plus, we've got some debts between us.

- That we do, but... - [Khalil] It's real personal.

And we're short on time.

Okay.

I'll secure email you the schematics and location of her retreat

thirty minutes after you leave.

I'm going to say this and then leave it alone.

If you insist on going there, you'd better bring an army, okay?

'Cause that bitch don't play.

I just need guns. Lots of guns.

You got lots of money?

Impressive.

Right?

[grunting]

[panting]

[roaring]

[grunting]

[groans]

Hey, man, what kind of game are you playing?

I have a message for Ms. Maya

You walk in here strapped to the nines, with a long-ass butcher knife

saying you have a message for someone?

[Painkiller] I know you don't trust me.

Maybe for good reason.

But like you said, I didn't make me like this. Odell did.

If you die...

I die.

Come on, Khalil.

Deep down inside, your survival instinct...

in all of us.

You need me on this.

That's why you're here.

This technology is too important.

It could set us both free.

I can't take the risk of you killing the wrong person.

What does that even mean, bruh?

"Set us free"?

But what you're really saying is to set you free from me.

I'm not stupid.

I think it means we can stop warring with each other

and finally live in peace.

No more kill orders causing you pain.

No more fear or worry of Odell, or anyone else controlling you.

You'll always be a part of me.

It's just a matter of how.

Then trust me.

I don't want Grace dead as a result of collateral damage.

We'll go in, save Grace, and then get the technology.

And if things get real bad, then you'll finish.

Understood?

I'll be on my best behavior.

[guard] Wake up, boy. We got a message for you.

[grunting]

[rock music playing]

[screaming]

PK, you're up.

'Bout damn time.

[grunting]

[grunting]

Everyone back down.

Delay him, but I don't want him killed.

Katie, activate self-destruct.

- [Katie] Password, please. - Rosebud.

Self-destruct activated.

Put this safe house on a ten-minute fuse, then blow it.

[Katie] Understood.

[alarm blaring]

[grunting]

[Donald clears throat]

Whoa, whoa, woman. Where in the hell do you think you're going?

Where the hell do you think?

Let Khalil and Philky handle this. Okay?

They will bring Grace back.

Listen to me.

I've known many women in my life, but I have only loved one.

Now you done good, cousin Donald.

You got me up, back on my feet.

Now I'm going to use that strength that you gave me to go save Grace.

Okay, I feel you, let's go. I'm driving, though.

[roars]

You're not Khalil.

You're the one who almost killed my wife.

You're right. I'm not Khalil.

I'm Painkiller. But he sent me to get you, not kill you.

- Then let's go. - You go ahead.

I have unfinished business.

- Oh, my God. I love you. - I love you more.

- Where's Khalil? - Painkiller. He's inside.

Yo, the building's gonna blow in, like, five minutes.

Whoa, whoa. They're never gonna make it.

We have to try.

[Philky] Painkiller, Grace made it out

and the building is gonna blow up in five minutes.

You don't have time to find the tech. You've got to get out.

[hip-hop music playing]

Get the hell out of here right now, PK!

You're going to get Khalil killed, I mean it!

Get the hell out of here.

We gotta go.

I'm tired, man.

I know.

Me, too.

No, you don't understand. My mind doesn't like me.

It's constantly attacking,

pressing me with negative thoughts.

Always wanting to hurt someone.

She was my mother, too.

We are one.

It's just that they split us up with all of their stuff.

But I will find a way to put it all back together.

But we have to go now.

If I die, you die.

We could be done with all of this.

I don't want to die.

I want to live.

The part of you that is me will live if I live.

I'm not your enemy. And I will save us...

by any means necessary.

But you got to trust me.

[footsteps approaching]

[R&B music playing]

- Hey. - Hey.

Okay, yeah. I'm gonna go downstairs and check on cousin Donald.

Yeah.

So, how are you, Khalil?

Well...

I'm about the same as I was when I left Freeland.

Yeah, well, look, you made some good friends here.

Yeah.

They're about the only family I have.

- Hey, if you don't mind me asking... - She's great, Khalil.

- [chuckles] - Yeah.

You know Jen's being herself. She's changed...

quite a bit in other ways, but we talk about you often.

- Yeah? - Mmm-hmm.

I mean, that's besides...

[laughing]

Promise me you won't tell her where I am.

Painkiller is still inside of me.

The kill order is still inside of him.

Most times I have control, but that's just most times.

It seems like anything that brings me joy

just brings the dark side out of me.

It's something I gotta work on before I see her again, you know?

Yeah, I know. Yeah, I promise.

Listen, I really just wanted to thank you, for real. For everything.

No. Thank you.

For trusting me with what you love the most.

And for encouraging me to do something good, Harriet.

[chuckles]

- You tried it. - [both chuckle]

You just keep doing it.

You're good at it, kid.

Hey. Maybe.

Maybe.

["The Healing Song" playing]

Anything worth knowing?

There's a lot there,

but nothing that's going to help you with Painkiller just yet.

You got plenty to get us on the right path.

Man, if we got the tech from the building,

it might have been different.

That's in the past. Thanks.

So what do we got?

It's all in these laptops, man.

Each individual brain scan tells a different story,

but, you know, at the end of the day,

these crypto-jack victims, they'll all live,

but most will have some serious brain defects.

- It's a damn shame. - But it's bigger, man.

They're ramping up abductions of tourists on the strip.

This Maya, she's got her hands all over it, but she's also like a ghost.

You have to go through the seven layers of hell just to find a last name.

[scoffs] She got everyone in her pockets.

Politicians, police even the damn meter-maids.

It's like party pic dude said,

it's like a mind cult thing.

- Cults usually have a means to an end. - [Khalil] Mmm.

And a charismatic leader, like Maya.

I'm telling you, man, it's bigger than just Bitcoin hacking, bruh.

Something much bigger.

They're really out here ruining people's lives

and everyone just looks the other way.

Everyone except us.

[singing] Everything will be okay

Everything, everything Will be fine

Breath with me

Fine

- Breath with me - Fine

- Breath with me - Fine

- Katie, call him. - [Katie] Calling him.

Hi, Dad.

- How are you? - I'm fine, beautiful.

How are you?

I'm excellent.

- Happy to hear. - Dad, guess who's here.

Hmm.

Well, what a coincidence.

No such thing as coincidences, Dad.

[singing] Everything will be fine

Everything will be fine

[closing theme music playing]