Black Lightning – The Book of Secrets: Chapter One: Prodigal Son

By: Jessica Wolff

Reverend Jeremiah Holt (Clifton Powell) makes an impassioned speech to his congregation, telling them that Khalil Payne (Jordan Calloway) is fighting for his life and declaring that Freeland is under siege. Nichelle Payne (Yolanda T. Ross), Lynn Pierce (Christine Adams), Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain), and Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) visit Khalil in the hospital and are distraught by his condition.

When Jefferson and Khalil are alone, Khalil asks for Black Lightning to kill Tobias Whale (Marvin ‘Krondon’ Jones III) for him. Jefferson tells him that he can’t, and Khalil offers to provide all of the information he knows about Tobias’ operation. Despite Jefferson telling him that they have to let the system handle Tobias, Khalil points out that the system has let Tobias get away with everything so far.

Khalil asks Jefferson to make Tobias suffer, and Jefferson promises.  Jefferson apologizes for not being there for him, but Khalil replies that he was always there.

As Holt tells his congregation that the only person they can rely on is God, Tobias injects himself with a serum and Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams) looks at old press clippings of failed attempts to arrest Tobias.

Jennifer breaks down by a nearby car, and a woman (Chelsea Hayes) accuses her of trying to steal her car. Despite Jennifer’s insistence that she wasn’t, the woman calls the police and lies that Jennifer threatened her. Jennifer gets angry and strikes the car with lightning when nobody is looking. She tells the woman that her car was hit by lightning, asking if she’s going to call the police on God.

Jefferson observes the woman giving the police her statement and finds Jennifer on the side of the building visibly sparking. Holt continues preaching to his congregation to wild applause and dabs his face with his handkerchief, finding a pink blotch on it. He falls to the ground as Giselle Cutter (Kearran Giovanni) escapes the church in the ensuing chaos.

Jefferson helps sneak Jennifer into a closet in the hospital as her body is engulfed in light. He tries absorbing the energy, but it doesn’t work. Perenna (Erika Alexander) knocks on the door and identifies herself, explaining that she sensed Jennifer needed her help. Jennifer admits she’s not doing well and Perenna asks Jefferson to give them some privacy. He refuses but agrees to wait outside after Jennifer insists it’ll be fine.

Tobias watches news footage of Holt’s vigil while Todd Green (RJ Cyler) finds footage of Lynn slapping Dr. Helga Jace (Jennifer Riker) in the ASA briefcase. Tobias asks him to rewind the footage and identifies Jace, commenting he hasn’t seen her in thirty years. Todd tells him that she’s been in prison and Tobias points out her ankle monitor in the footage. Tobias determines that Jace might know the location of the four super metahumans, and Todd is eager to work.

Perenna helps Jennifer relax and absorb the energy back into her body. They leave the closet, and Jennifer assures Jefferson she’s okay. Jefferson asks Perenna what she told Jennifer, and Perenna replies that she told her what she needed to know. Lynn tries to talk to Khalil’s doctor, Dr. Conley (Catherine Dyer) about using her own research on the pod kids to help treat Khalil, but Conley refuses to allow her to test an experimental treatment. Lynn asks if she can replace Khalil’s spine implant, but Conley tells her that the materials in the implant are not available in the United States.

Bill Henderson (Damon Gupton) checks on Jefferson and informs him of Holt’s death. Jefferson doubts the claim that the cause was a heart attack, pointing out that Tobias had been trying to get a hold of the church. He suggests that they use Khalil’s information to build a case against Tobias, telling Henderson he knows where Tobias lives now. Henderson tells him he can’t arrest Tobias without a warrant, and Jefferson tells him that they need to work together with his resources.

Jefferson brings Henderson to the tailor shop, and Henderson questions why they’re there. Jefferson admits he should have told him the truth sooner and asks if they’re good. Once Henderson confirms they are, Jefferson opens the door to the sanctum and Henderson is surprised to see Peter Gambi (James Remar) below. Henderson asks if there are any more dead people down there, and Gambi explains that he had to fake his death. Henderson calls them out for giving him a cheap phone despite all the technology in there, and Gambi shows them evidence that Holt was poisoned. Gambi insists they need to find enough evidence to charge Tobias with multiple murders, and Henderson agrees to help out.

While sitting with Khalil, Jennifer is able to see Khalil’s internal body functions with her abilities. She tells Lynn what she saw. After explaining that she can see Khalil die due to slow electrical impulses, Jennifer suggests using her electricity to jump start his synapses. Lynn doesn’t think it’s a good idea, as Khalil isn’t a car. Jennifer then suggests putting Khalil into a pod until they can figure out how to save him, but Lynn tells him that Khalil probably won’t survive in a pod since he’s not a metahuman. Jennifer insists they have to try, and Lynn agrees.

Anissa is surprised to see Grace Choi (Chantal Thuy) arrive at the hospital with food and drinks, and Grace tells her she knows what it’s like to wait in a hospital for a long time. Anissa is appreciative for the burgers, and Grace tells her that she cares before offering her condolences for what her family is going through. Anissa thanks her and Grace kisses her forehead.

Tobias drowns a man with a burlap sack over his head while talking to a painting of his sister. After throwing the man to the ground, Tobias asks Cutter to dispose of the body. She tells him that’s not her job, and Tobias tells her that her job has expanded before complimenting her work on Holt’s assassination. Cutter thanks him for paying her on time, and Tobias tells her he was wrong to end things the way he did. She tells him it’s in the past, and he tells her to dispose of the body.

Lynn brings her team of ASA researchers to the hospital and asks Conley to let them through. Conley refuses, but Lynn shows her a document indicating Khalil is ASA business now. Conley continues to refuse, and Lynn threatens that Nichelle will sue the hospital and her if they don’t take every effort to save Khalil. Conley doesn’t respond but lets them through.

Henderson visits Tobias’ loft, and Tobias greets him. Tobias asks why he’s there without a warrant, and Henderson tells him about what happened to Khalil. Tobias calls it a shame, but comments that Khalil should have been more careful who he pissed off. Henderson points out that he’s heard that Tobias was the one Khalil pissed off, and Tobias tells him he was simply disappointed in Khalil. Henderson asks when the last time he saw Khalil was, and Tobias lies in his response.

Henderson walks around the loft as a camera on his tie captures pictures for Gambi and Jefferson. Gambi gives Henderson instructions through an earpiece, and Tobias taunts him that he won’t be able to arrest him, reminding him of what happened the last time he attempted to. Gambi determines there’s a safe inside one of the walls, and Tobias tells Henderson to get out. Once Gambi tells him they have what they need, Henderson promises Tobias he’ll see him again before leaving.

Todd visits Jace’s cell and pays off the guard. He enters Jace’s cell and introduces himself. Jace asks who he is, and Todd tells him he’s going to break her out. She tells him about the ankle device, and he is able to pull it out with a device of his own. Todd scans Jace while she is reading and sets up a lifelike hologram of her. She asks what he wants from her, and Todd tells him that it’s about what Tobias wants.

Todd brings Jace to Tobias, who comments that it’s been a while. She mentions that he never thanked her for the anti-aging serum they both use, and he reminds her that she didn’t know if the serum would work or kill him when she gave it to him. Tobias asks her what she’s been up to, and she tells him she was the architect of Freeland’s vaccination program.

Jace then tells him she went to Markovia to head a metahuman program, but she returned when she heard of Freeland’s greenlight epidemic. He reminds her she was arrested before that and threatens to hurt her if she lies again. She tells him the ASA helped her defect to disable Markovia’s metahuman program, but she got caught. Jace tells him she got out recently, but that she was put back into custody when she killed several kids. She tells him she’s the only person who knows where the super metahumans are, and that having them will give him even more power.

As Anissa and Grace sit in the waiting room together, Khalil speaks to Jennifer and tells her he could feel her earlier. Gambi analyzes the contents of the safe, and reports that the briefcase isn’t inside. Jefferson declares it makes sense, as Tobias isn’t stupid and knows he’s under investigation. Lynn calls Jefferson and tells him to come to the hospital.

Jennifer urges Lynn to get Khalil into a pod, but Lynn tells her that the toxins in Khalil’s body has prevented them from putting him under anesthesia for transport. Lynn tells her they can’t save him, and Jefferson urges her to tell Khalil what she needs to tell him while she still has the chance.

Jennifer and Khalil walk into prom, but Khalil asks where they are. She admits that he’s almost dead and that they’re inside her mind. He asks how that’s possible, and she tells him there’s no time to explain. Jennifer tells him she wanted more time with him, and Khalil tells her he loves her. She tells him she loves him too and they kiss before Khalil disappears inside her embrace. In the real world, Nichelle, Jennifer, Anissa, Lynn, and Jefferson watch as Khalil flatlines. Tobias breaks down a wall as Jace, Todd, and Cutter observe. Jace opens a top-secret door and Tobias grins as he sees what’s inside