rX is the second episode of the first season of The Gifted. It is the second episode of the series overall.[2]
Synopsis[]
CAITLIN AND ECLIPSE TEAM UP TO TRY AND HELP BLINK — After exerting her powers beyond their limits, Blink goes into a state of shock, forcing Caitlin and Eclipse to go on a mission to find a special serum that will help her to recover. Meanwhile, Reed faces some difficult choices when it comes to helping his family, and Polaris runs into some trouble.[3]
Plot[]
Strucker family outing at the bowling alley
One year ago, Reed took Caitlin, Lauren, Andy, and his mother Ellen out to the bowling alley for a family gathering. He recommended that Caitlin reconsider her professional bowling career after witnessing her poor attempt at a strike. Reed then looked to his mother, who shared no desire in partaking in the family's activity. She informed Reed that the love of bowling was one of many things that she and his father did not have in common. Their fun family outing quickly turned bad as they were interrupted by a dispute occurring one lane over between a father and his mutant daughter, and the obnoxious group of people that were teasing the daughter because of her mutation which resembled a vibrating motion. Reed attempted to ignore the dispute turning his head, but as the belittling and arguing continued between the two parties, the young girl briefly lost control of her abilities, and while no serious damage was done, Reed decided it was time to intervene in the conflict. He advised the father to leave the bowling alley with his child before the situation got any worse because damaging property with a mutant ability is a serious crime.
Andy and Lauren wanting to go back for their father
Back in present day, after jumping through the portal Clarice created, Andy, Caitlin, and Lauren are panicking about leaving Reed behind. As Marcos tends to Clarice, John explains that they are in the Mutant Underground's headquarters. As much as he wants to help the Struckers with going back to retrieve Reed, the chances of them being captured, or worse, killed, is greater. What is within their ability, however, is tending to Clarice, who has overexerted her power to save them from the Sentinel Services, and ended up collapsing, thus shutting the portal she created, forcing Reed to remain on the other side.
Meanwhile, Clarice falls in and out consciousness. So Marcos holds up her head up as he tries to get her to respond. She appears to be suffering from some kind of reaction to holding her portal open for such an extensive amount of time and traveling as far as they did. He puts her arm around him and leads her out of the room, but they don't make it far as Clarice is barely able to stand. Marcos then places her on a bench by the stairs. The Struckers panicking about going back for Reed doesn't seem to be helping, as Marcos tells Andy that his father plans to help him get his girlfriend, Lorna, out of jail, but as much as he wants Reed there, they can't think of that right now.
Agent Turner commanding his fellow agents as well as Atlanta PD officers
Back at the abandoned warehouse, after an unsuccessful attempt to apprehend the Struckers, Agent Turner announces to both Sentinel Services Agents and Atlanta PD that in addition to the Struckers, they are also searching for three mutant suspects, two unidentified males (Thunderbird and Eclipse), and one female prison escapee (Blink). All are to be considered extremely dangerous as they believe that the suspects are affiliated with the national network in the business of helping persecuted mutant fugitives escape government custody. They are to search every square inch of the surrounding area, behind, doors, walls, and even underwater. Just because something seemed impossible, doesn't mean it didn't happen. With mutants, anything is possible. He then introduces himself to Reed Strucker as he's carried away on a stretcher, informing Reed that the reason for his inability to move is due to the fact that he was hit with an immobilization round, and that once the effects wear off in a few hours, they will discuss his family.
Lorna in her cell
Meanwhile, at Lakewood County Jail, Lorna is transported to her cell. She attempts to bend the bars and free herself, but in doing so triggers her inhibitor collar which shocks her and sends her falling to the ground in pain while the inmates laugh hysterically. A fellow inmate then warns her that the guards are the least of her concerns though Lorna explains that she has no intentions on staying for long. When asked if she had a crew, Lorna replies that she was on her own though she did however have backup on the outside.
Sonya and John discuss Clarice and the Struckers
Back at Headquarters, John and Sonya discuss Clarice's condition and housing for the Struckers. While Sonya had attempted to reach a doctor in Gainsville, chances are they would have to wait given the late hours though John insists that she keep trying, as well as find a place for Caitlin, Lauren and Andy. However, Sonya isn't so sure that welcoming the Strucker into the Underground is worth the risk as John almost got killed because of them. Furthermore, they didn't discuss bringing more people in. Which leads John to his next point of interest, Marcos' freelance job to meet with Reed without consulting anyone. Marcos explains that they help mutants in danger, and by his account, the Struckers are mutants and they all saw the dangers they faced. However, John sees through Marcos' explanation, claiming that his interest is only in Lorna. Lauren then calls them down as Clarice's condition worsens.
A portal opens at Headquarters
The Long-distance leap and holding her portal open for such an extensive amount of time took a lot of energy out of her. Caitlin, being a nurse, diagnoses Clarice as being in respiratory distress and with her temperature spiking, which means she needs medical attention that only a hospital can provide. Marcos offers first-aid and painkillers in hopes that Caitlin can make do. When she starts to question whether or not she's capable of saving Clarice, Lauren steps in to offer a few words of encouragement. Clarice then begins convulsing causing her powers to become unstable. Without the right medication, she could die, Caitlin explains. As Clarice goes into shock, her powers start to uncontrollably manifest, causing her to involuntarily open a portal to stretch of road where a truck is headed straight for them. As the truck tries to avoid them, it skids out of control, resulting in the truck being sliced in half. The back half unfortunately makes it through the portal, prompting everyone to take cover.
Clarice losing control of her powers
While Caitlin recovers from hitting her head, John moves Clarice to a table in the back of the room by the vault. Marcos asks Caitlin that if she said that Clarice is over-exceeding her powers, how is she able to create portals. Caitlin admits that she isn't an expert in the field. As Clarice starts convulsing again, a new portal emerges to the same road as before. Civilians with loaded rifles stand on the other side of the portal looking in. Seeing this, Marcos prepares for a fight. However, John grabs his wrist and urges him to show restraint as they aren't to hurt innocent bystanders. Lauren walks in front of them and manages to close the portal using her shields, thus preventing any possible altercation. This shuts down Clarice's powers as she falls unconscious. Marcos and Caitlin then set forth a plan to raid the hospital for the medication to treat Clarice while Lauren agrees to stay behind and close any potential portals.
Agent Turner interrogating Reed
At the Sentinel Services building, Agent Turner begins his interrogation of Reed, who explains that he's been a prosecutor for 20 years, thus he knows his families rights. It isn't illegal to be a mutant, he notes. Agent Turner agrees, though he does focus on crimes committed by them. Agent Turner only asks that Reed cooperate, but how could he after Sentinel Services sent Sentinels after his children? Agent Turner reminds Reed that before they released the Sentinels that the Struckers were given the opportunity to surrender peacefully, which they declined. Reed then asks for his lawyer, which Agent Turner insists is ill-advised. He claims that he is doing Reed a favor by even talking to him as there are no deals or offers on the table as of yet.
Caitlin and Marcos drive out to the hospital
That night, Caitlin and Marcos head out for the hospital. Worried about her kids, Caitlin asks how long the mission will take. Marcos explains that Andy and Lauren aren't alone. They have John. He may be a tracker, but he is also bulletproof so Caitlin has nothing to worry about. Caitlin makes it clear that she expects Marcos to honor his deal with Reed to get their family out of the country. Marcos informs Caitlin that Reed was trying to send his girlfriend, Lorna, to prison up until recently. Caitlin defends Reed's actions, stating that he was only following the law as a prosecutor, but they have nothing against mutants. Marcos wonders if Caitlin or Reed would be standing up for mutants if it hadn't been Lauren and Andy in that gym at their school. Caitlin does not reply as she ponders on Marcos' question.
Lorna washes out the black dye in her hair
The next day at Lakewood County Jail, Lorna almost gets into a fight when an inmate named Scar spits on her as she is being escorted to the showers, but with guards nearby, she proceeds forward. She then makes brief eye contact with another inmate sitting in their cell, known only as Porcelain Mutant. In the showers, the prisoners stare at Lorna as she washes the black dye out her hair, revealing a full head of dark green hair. She walks out while ignoring all the glares.
John listens in on the call to S.W.A.T
Back at Headquarters, John tells Andy and Lauren that Clarice is a refugee who escaped from jail. Regarding her arrest, she used a portal to steal food from the back of a supermarket. It happens a lot with mutants who can't pass for human. They can't get jobs and one thing leads to another. John is cut off as Clarice's powers being to manifest yet again to the same road. This time around, the road is filled with police officers. Fortunately, Lauren manages to close the portal, but not before John uses his super senses to overhear the officers call in the SWAT. While John heads off, Andy tells Lauren that her closing of the portals is insane.
Marcos' bioluminescent blood gushing from bullet wound
Marcos and Caitlin arrive at South Region Hospital later that day. They look inside to the sight of the over-crowded urgent care facility. It's not much like the hospitals Caitlin is used to. And the state is even considering closing down the hospital to mutant patients. He jokes that one of their best powers is bankrupting hospitals as they are born with the ultimate pre-existing condition. Caitlin notes that the ER is secured and the drugs are inside, meaning they need an emergency in order to enter the treatment area. Luckily for them, Marcos has a bullet wound from their previous escape, so Caitlin reopens the wound. Much to her surprise, his blood is like no others she had seen before. He seems to bleed some form of solar light; he's bioluminescent. They enter the hospital, with Marcos holding onto his bullet wound that is dripping. They use this to his advantage as he convinces the front desk receptionist that he desperately needs help.
Marcos' stitches
As Dr. Watkin stitches Marcos' wound, he asks what caused this, to which Marcos replies that he was injured while climbing a latter. Skeptical about the story, Dr. Watkin calls Caitlin into the hallway. She had claimed that she was Marcos' girlfriend. Noticing the bruises on her face, that, unbeknownst to him, was the result of Clarice's portal bringing half a truck careening into the headquarters, Dr. Watkin's immediate assumption is that because she's dating a mutant there's a domestic violence situation at hand. Perhaps for the first time in her life, Caitlin begins to realize the degree to which people's casual prejudices adversely affect mutants. Although still baffled by his assumption, Caitlin reassures him that this isn't the case. She then grabs a pair of hospital scrubs.
Sonya and John discuss Clarice's worsening condition
At Headquarters, John and Sonya become increasingly more concerned with Clarice and the portals that she continues to open. While Lauren has managed to keep them closed for the time being, John isn't sure how much longer she can continue to. He informs Sonya that the cops are gearing up and that the S.W.A.T team is in route. If they come through, John believes that they will have to evacuate, but Sonya argues that they should remove Clarice as evacuating the building would take far too long. However, John fears that moving her will only make matters worse. Leaving them with only one option, to hope that Marcos and Caitlin return in time with the medicine.
Sentinel Services building
Agent Turner's interrogation of Reed continues. He has charged him with terrorism. He points to Lorna Dane on the monitor, more commonly known as Polaris. From what they have been able to put together, Reed used her police file to get in contact with the Mutant Underground. They had spoken with Carla, Reed's co-worker, and she told them everything. There had been talk for quite some time about classifying the Underground as a mutant terrorist group, like the Brotherhood or Mutant Liberation Front. Their lawyers wanted to make Reed and Lorna their test case though Reed objects that the Underground is nothing like the former groups mentioned. However, Agent Turner reminds Reed that he was just prosecuting Lorna a few days ago. He goes on to explain how he lost his daughter Grace during the 7/15 incident. She was only 7. People constantly talk about the X-Men and the Brotherhood, but Agent Turner is never going to know if the blast of energy that killed his daughter came from a good mutant or a bad mutant. Nonetheless, Reed is positive that the charges he face will never stick but Turner disagrees.
Lorna joins Porcelain Mutant for lunch. She introduces herself but Porcelain doesn't seem interested in becoming acquainted. Nevertheless, Lorna is hoping that they can help each other. She asked about the collars, but Porcelain insists that she doesn't stand a chance of getting it off. She then grabs her tray and leaves because being in prison as a mutant is hard enough without people like Lorna making it worse.
Marcos welds the door shut
Dressed in her stolen hospital scrubs, Caitlin sneaks into the medicine cabinet to take what she needs in order to treat Clarice, but on her way out, she spots Dr. Watkin talking to two police officers. So she regroups with Marcos and tells him that they need to leave immediately. Just when Marcos asks if Caitlin is sure that the doctor was talking to the police about them, the two officers come barging through the door. With their guns drawn, they demand that Marcos and Caitlin get down. Instead, they make a run for it. Marcos and Caitlin run through the laundry room and out the backdoor. As they make their escape, Marcos welds the door shut.
Lorna uses her abilities to defend herself
Lorna makes her way out onto the courtyard where Scar taunts her, referring to her as "mutie". Scar tells Lorna that mutants in the prison work for her and do what they are told, but Lorna begs to differ. Scar admits that while mutants may have powers on the outside, inside prison, she is the one with all the power. Looking at the scars all along Scar's face, Lorna concludes that she got them from a mutant. As Lorna attempts to leave, she is attacked by Scar's associates. Getting punched in the face several times, causing her nose to bleed. Scar had learned of Lorna's pregnancy and so she decided to kick Lorna in her stomach to test how powerful the baby is. Lorna grows so angry that despite the high voltage collar around her neck, she manages to gain enough power to yank a steel table out the ground and throw it at Scar. The guards break the fight up soon thereafter. But because of her actions, Lorna is placed in solitary confinement.
Lauren's failed attempt to close the poral
John, Sonya, Lauren and Andy gather around Clarice as her condition worsens. John wants to begin evacuation as Clarice continues to open portals, but Sonya again objects to the notion of abandoning the Underground. John calls out to Clarice as another portal opens but on a larger scale. Lauren attempts to close it but fails. With S.W.A.T closing in, the Underground is left with no other choice but to fend them off. As one of the officers enter the portal with his weapon drawn, John disarms him of his firearm, lifts him to the ceiling, and then tosses him back onto the other side of the portal. Just as the rest of the S.W.A.T team prepares to open fire, Andy runs out in front and in a great display of power, sends the officers flying backward into the air, as well as Clarice, who is knocked to the floor, and falls unconscious, causing the portal to close. However, after the closing of that single portal, many opened in its place within the Underground. And so John instructs Sonya, Lauren, and Andy to evacuate the building.
Agent Weeks interrogates Ellen
Elsewhere, Agent Turner makes a move that he hopes will help Reed understand everything that's at stake. Reed is making the mistake of thinking that only his wife and kids are in jeopardy when in reality, it expands far further. Agent Turner allows Reed to watch as his own mother Ellen Strucker is interviewed by Sentinel Services, more specially, Agent Weeks. They are bringing in every potential co-conspirator. Agent Weeks asks Ellen about her being in contact with Reed. He then asks about Reed's father who lives alone in Chattanooga. Reed insists that his mother has nothing to do with it, but the only way Agent Turner can be sure of this is if Reed tells him everyone that is involved. Back in the interrogation room, Ellen explains that she marched against apartheid in 1984. They were oppressing all kinds of people, not just the mutants. Agent Turner tells Reed that all he has to do to stop this is give up the whereabouts of his family.
Pedro informs Marcos and Caitlin of the portals
On their way back from the hospital, Caitlin asks if it is always that bad for mutants. Marcos reveals that what Caitlin saw was actual top quality mutant health care as the doctor at least bothered to stitch him up before calling the police. While there are civil rights acts, Marcos explains that there's always an exception for public safety. All they have to do is call a mutant dangerous and instantly, their rights vanish. When Caitlin asks how Marcos' family dealt with him being a mutant, he reveals that they kicked him out at 13 the first time he lit up. To survive, he had to do a lot of things he isn't proud of, and it was Lorna who saved him from that. She is more so his family than his own parents. Upon returning to HQ, Caitlin begins to panic, but he assures her that it's a security measure by a mutant Underground member to keep unauthorized people away. However, he notes that something is wrong with it being stronger than usual. Speaking to Pedro (the mutant responsible for the fear induction), Marcos learns that the building was being evacuated as Clarice's portals continue to violently open and close everywhere in and around HQ.
Caitlin treating Clarice
Marcos and Caitlin arrive to find Andy and Lauren assisting with evacuation. After a brief family reunion, Marcos stays back with the kids as Caitlin heads inside to tend to Clarice and hopefully stop the destruction of Headquarters. Caitlin enters to find the building in complete chaos. She jumps through one of the portals, transporting her to John and Clarice's exact location. Caitlin then injects Clarice with the medication they had stolen from the hospital to stabilize her potassium levels. Fortunately, it seems all of their efforts have paid off as the portals desist and the Underground is left intact.
Clarice wakes up
Clarice wakes up later that night to find the Underground in disarray. She asks if everyone is okay. John informs her that she destroyed some of the furniture, but everyone was safe. And so she jokes about HQ needing a remodeling anyways. John then asks about the road that Clarice kept portaling to. He questions if it holds any significance to her, but Clarice claims that she doesn't remember.
Meanwhile, Caitlin expresses how proud she is of Andy and Lauren. As for Reed, Caitlin is determined to find him at all costs, however, Andy isn't so sure they will. Caitlin looks around before telling them that it is their turn to fight the same fight that many have been fighting for a long time.
Agent Turner returna to the interrogation
Back at the Sentinel Services building, Agent Turner asks if Reed is ready to talk, but it seems that he isn't, even in spite of putting his mother through an interrogation. Reed had been thinking about it and he has come to the conclusion that he isn't the one in for a world of hurt. He had sat on Agent Turner's side of the table. So, if Turner truly was going to throw him in jail, he would've done it already. Between coming in with charges and dragging his mother in, Reed has come to the conclusion that Agent Turner overplayed his hand. He had a bad day, lost millions of dollars worth of equipment and allowed 6 mutants to slip through his fingers. Reed's been in his shoes enough to know that he's desperate. So Reed turns the tables on Turner. He agrees to make a deal, but only on his terms, meaning that his mother, wife, children and anyone else they had brought in gets to go free. Agent Turner reluctantly agrees so long as he gets the Mutant Underground.
MUTANT TERROR IN RIO DE JANEIRO
At an unknown location, in an unmarked lab, Dr. Roderick Campbell orders one of his associates to look up everything they had on mutant siblings. There was a incident in Rio during the 1960s. They pull up an article from May 21, 1962 that captures the terror and destruction caused by a brother-sister mutant team. Dr. Campbell then asks if Andy and Lauren has been found yet. When Joshua informs him that Sentinel Services is still looking, he asks for the head agent on the case i.e. Agent Turner.
Cast[]
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Trivia[]
- In the scene at the hospital when Caitlin and Marcos are stealing the drugs to treat Clarice, the Public Address system announces that "Dr. Wiseman" is needed in the waiting room. Len Wiseman is one of the executive producers of the series and director of this episode.
- Elena Satine, who portrays Dreamer, appeared on another Marvel TV show: Agents of Shield.
- Coby Bell, Garret Dillahunt and Sharon Gless have appeared in Burn Notice, another show created by Matt Nix.
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