Post by caseyrook AKA Mechelle on May 7, 2018 19:47:36 GMT
5x18 “All Roads Lead…”
Written By: George Kitson
Directed By: Jennifer Lynch
Act 1 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack #ReadTheHashtagsJD
Talbot rides a lift. He quietly says to himself, “Complete the mission, soldier. Eyes on the prize” The lift door opens as he stands at attention and he walks off. Cut to the armory where he is able to go through two doors. He takes a specific handgun off a peg board and says, “Be prepared. Nobody has to get hurt.” He then gets on another lift and heads to the control center. He looks around and says, “Get in…get out.”
At the monitor station, he sees Coulson either waiting at a lift door or just staring at the wall after his talk with May. On another monitor, he sees May and Daisy walking down a corridor. On a third monitor, he sees Robin and Polly leave a door. He says to himself, “Complete the mission” and freezes that feed.
Mack’s voice startles him when Mack says, “Hey, Talbot.”
Talbot: Hey.
Mack: You looking for something?
T: Unh-unh. [chuckles] I’m just like a…*inhales deeply* ticking time bomb over here, huh? *gestures to Mack* Sorry. Just I’ve been…in a cell for six months. A little pent up. Can’t sit still. *nods*
M: I can imagine. I wish we got you out sooner.
T: *looking down* Me too, son. *looks up but doesn’t make eye contact* Me too. *does*
M: Hey, listen, if you ever want to talk about it *Talbot shakes his head* or anything else—
T: I can’t [chuckles]. No, I can’t do that. But, uh – But thanks. You know, just trying to focus on one…*inhales hard* task at a time.
M: Right.
T: Mm—hmm.
M: Yeah. Well…rest up. *puts hand on Talbot’s shoulder* Doctor’s orders.
T: *starts to turn away* Yeah. You got it. *walks away* *quietly* Happy to comply.
Cue Title Card
Fitz is trying to work on a piece to the diffuser (an arc reactor?) but is being distracted by a sound that makes him flinch. Camera focuses and we see behind him that Ruby is entertaining herself by throwing her chakram into the metal cabinet right behind Jemma’s head as Jemma is tied to a chair. Fitz tells Ruby to stop and Ruby explains that it’s entertaining her, she doesn’t get out much, and it does seem to keep Fitz motivated.
Ruby prepares to throw again. Jemma’s knuckles go white as she grips the chair harder. She moves her head enough to avoid the blade.
This was all that Fitz can take. He convinces Ruby that he needs Jemma’s help as he’s engineering and she’s biotech (I thought it’s biochem), and they are a team. Ruby releases Jemma then watches them curiously when they embrace in a hug and ask each other if they are alright and then head to the table hand in hand.
Ruby holsters her chakram as she tells them they are adorable. Ruby ships it. She really does.
Jemma turns around as asks Ruby if she has any idea of the consequences of what she is trying to do. They’ve seen where this leads. Ruby says, “Your little trip to the future? Coulson filled me in.” As Fitz works, Jemma says then Ruby will know that Ruby will destroy everything, the entire planet.
Ruby thought their pal Daisy did all of that. She thinks they really need to get their stories straight. Fitz turns around and says that everyone Ruby cares about will die. Ruby responds, “Not a long list.” As he enters, Alex adds, “And it’s getting shorter.” He tells Ruby that he found Anton, what’s left of him.
Alex put the fallen mechs to seek and destroy after activating their copter’s signal jammer. He knew how to do that because he took a mech a part once. The mechs will hunt down and kill anyone they find.
A guy comes in pushing a dolly with a crate. Ruby wants to see what’s inside, “Show me”. It’s Gravitonium.
Fitz and Simmons have been working as they listened to all this. They talk over their choices. If their hypothesis is being proven, they die, they break the loop. If they don’t fix this, they stop Ruby and Alex. Fitz says, “They’ll kill us.” Fitz can’t choose anything over Jemma. Jemma feels the same. They decide to work piece by piece. There’s a lot to do. It’s very complicated and will take a while.
Ruby tells them to pick up the pace or she will start taking body parts, like she did to their friend.
Speaking of that friend, somehow Elena has found the cloaked QJ. She’s still in excruciating pain and can barely move her arms. She goes to the laptop and sees that there’s no signal after typing. She manages to get her jacket off, screaming and grunting in pain. Shaking and jittery, she falls unconscious in a jump seat.
Cut back to the Lighthouse, Coulson is walking down a corridor when he finds May waiting for him with her arms crossed.
May: You’re late. *starts to walk away*
Coulson: Hold up. Please.
M: *stops, faces him*
C: We didn't have a chance to finish our conversation.
M: I said what I had to say.
C: *About to speak* *May starts to walk away after giving him a look* Melin…
M: We have a mission Phil.
C: *making a face* Good talk, Phil. Good talk.
In the control center, Daisy has agents gathered and is waiting tablet in hand when May enters. They give each other a look as May stands next to Daisy. Daisy starts speaking before Coulson enters.
Daisy tells them about the mechs going into a reset and sending a distress signal out. They’ve traced that signal a location in the Appalachian Mountains. They can confirm that the location on the monitor is Hale’s base and is a decommissioned military bunker (what branch? I hate when something is just a military this or that) which means it’s highly secure and way off the grid. They need to hit them hard and fast, knock out their defenses before Hydra even knows they’re there.
After May and Daisy together say all this, Deke puts a toothpick in his mouth and relates to them the “Lighthouse rules”; club someone from behind and don’t stop swinging until they stay down. Deke takes the toothpick out and Mack stares at him for a good five seconds before asking him, “You wearing body spray?”
Daisy completely ignores that and says that she and May will go in and get the Gravitonium, get the Queen off the board. Coulson says, “Checkmate. When do we leave?”
May: You’re not coming.
Coulson: I’m not?
May and Daisy give each other looks.
Daisy: We just got you back, and I need you to stay here and quarterback.
Coulson gives May a look but May doesn’t make eye contact as Daisy tells Mack to find Fitz’s schematics and start building the artificial-gravity system. Mack hears this and wants to be told they are not going back to space. Daisy says they aren’t until they have to.
Deke wants to know what he’s doing, is he going with Daisy? Deke is staying back and helping Mack. He shouldn’t even be out of bed. Deke says he has handled worse. Mack sighs and mumbles, “awesome” as he realizes he will have to stay with idiot lover boy.
Daisy says that Z1 is wheels up in five and Deke tells everyone, “You heard her! Let’s get to work.” Mack’s look is priceless.
Everyone leaves but Daisy and Coulson.
C: You’re getting good at this. You are.
D: I have a feeling Professor Coulson was easy on his students. I should at least lose points for the mutiny on day one.
C: For sure. But I’m throwing you some extra credit for a well-timed rescue. Give ‘em hell.
Daisy smiles. “Yes, sir.” Daisy leaves and Coulson stands in front of the monitors looking then over.
At Hydra. Lee releases Hale from Ruby’s room. Hale asks what took her so long.
Lee: It’s Ruby—she’s gone rogue.
Hale: I know. She’s headed for the chamber facility.
Hale: Get me Anton on the line
Lee: I can't, ma’am. He's dead. I called in reinforcements here because his mechs went down. We picked these up right before they went offline. *shows Hale a tablet with Fitz and Simmons*
H: We need to leave immediately. Ruby’s dead set on powering herself with Gravitonium. You saw what it did to Creel. He’s not better is he?
L: No, ma’am. He’s much worse.
Cut to Creel’s room. Creel has disasterfied his rom and is in a dimly lit corner.
Hale: Mr. Creel. How can we help you?
Creel: You can't. No one can. They won't stop shouting.
Lee: Voices, he says.
Creel: They hate each other. Quinn likes to feel smart, but Hall is smarter, but Quinn is louder.
Hale: Quinn? Ian Quinn?
Creel: It consumed him. Franklin wanted revenge, but now he's stuck with him. Forever.
Hale: They're inside the gravitonium.
Creel: Their might. Their rage.
Lee: Ma'am. He only touched them for a moment. If Ruby infuses herself with...
Creel: To the hell with her. *His shouts make Lee pull her gun and Hale steps behind her* What about me? They want out. They want out! Get them out! *Bangs his head against the wall, and turns into that material*
Act 2 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
Mack is welding a metal structure of some kind.
Coulson: *loudly, as he and Deke push a cart* You making some progress?
Mack: Yeah, it's coming along, but I gotta say, the idea of the Zephyr flying in space still feels a bit out there.
Deke: Yeah, well I'm not even going to be born for another 50 years, so maybe rethink "out there".
Coulson: Well, let's hope it never happens, but if we can't change things, then…
Mack: Always be prepared. Yeah, yeah.
Deke: You guys need to relax. Daisy is going to figure all this stuff out... *Coulson, Mack exchange glances.* What was that?
Mack: Dude's got it bad.
Deke: Whatever that means.
Mack: (sigh) You're in love with her.
Deke: Sorry? (laughing) No. No offense Mack, but I think your radar is way misfiring on this one.
Coulson: That was convincing. I believe him.
Deke: Thank you.
Mack: You confessed, you idiot. When you were hopped up on pain-killers. Piper and I couldn't get you to shut up about it.
Deke: No? That's... Okay guys, what, you never heard that drugs can make you say stuff a little crazy, maybe that's what (unintelligible) your bad.
Coulson: It's obvious. I figured it out a while ago.
Deke: Well, it doesn't matter. She hates me anyway.
Coulson: Most definitely.
Deke: Just for grins, say I were interested. In some way. Anyway, how would I... (to Mack) Like you got a good thing going.
Mack: Don't look at me. Last time I saw YoYo, she lied to me, locked me up and ran off.
Deke: *desperately* Coulson?
Coulson: Sorry bro. Apparently, I'm incapable of expressing my feelings or letting people take care of me.
Deke: You guys are useless. It's lemons then.
Coulson: Come again?
Deke: In my day, when you wanted to tell someone how you felt, you just save up your tokens, you buy a lemon and leave it on their bunk. That's a thing, here right?
Coulson: I don't understand...
Mack: *nterrupting* Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Coulson: When in doubt…
Mack: You should do that.
Coulson: Get a bunch of lemons. *Deke nods, looks happy.*
Talbot knocks on Robin and Polly’s door and doesn’t get an answer. He enters saying, “Let me in. Let me in. Anybody home? *closes door* Ring-a-ding-ding.”
He sees the table covered with pictures and goes to it, looking them all over, almost happy. He sits down. “I’m gonna need every weapon in this fight. We better hurry.” He specifically looks at a picture depicting the Zephyr.
That picture fades into the real Zephyr.
Daisy: It feels good, going on offense for a change, you and me. *Offers May a pistol.*
May: If I need one I'll take one. I've got some pent up aggression I need to let out.
Daisy: Want to talk about it?
May: No, I wanna hit. *Daisy smiles.*
Agent Thomas: Agent Johnson, system check is complete.
Daisy: Go hot, wait for our signal. Thomas, initiate launch countdown. And try not to hit us on the way down. *She and May ready their jump seats*
Thomas: Copy that. 10 seconds.
May: Safety first.
Daisy: Always. Game on...*the pod lowers*
A bomb drops past the pod and hits the base before the pod lands in an awesome fiery explosion. Hale and Lee are shaken as the ground reverberates under their feet. Lee asks, “What was that?”
Cut to Strike Team MayDaisy. They exit the landed pod and begin kicking ass immediately. Daisy uses her powers and May goes to punchey-kickey town. That fight ends with May excessively punching a poor guy who must have “Phil” painted on his forehead.
They run down a corridor and find a blockade of Hale and her real life minions (Didn’t know she had that many real underlings). Hale tells them to stop and stand down, putting her hand on Lee’s specifically, and then surrenders herself to SHIELD with her arms out like, cuff me. “I surrender.”
Daisy: And we totally believe you.
Hale: There’s no time for us to fight each other. I need your help. We all have to leave right now.
May: Help you? You can’t be serious.
Hale: My daughter took the Gravitonium and went to use Strucker’s machine.
Daisy: *hand still held out* The Destroyer of Worlds.
Hale: She’s at the same facility your scientist friends are. Last I knew, they were still alive. But if Ruby succeeds, you make no mistake, she will kill them.
Back with those scientists, they attach the infuser to the chamber, but Ruby comes and grabs Jemma and then puts her hand on her neck as Alex hold his gun on Fitz. Fitz keeps his hands up the whole time. Ruby says that they are taking awhile and asks if this is above Fitz and Simmons’ grade level.
Strucker says these two are SHIELD’s best and brightest, there’s nothing they can’t do if motivated. Ruby continues to hold her hand on Jemma’s throat. Jemma tells them that torturing her, and Fitz isn’t going to make them work any faster.
Alex remarks that they didn’t see to mind torture the last time they met, “Electrocuting me.” He then observes that they didn’t have wedding rings back then. Jemma says, “Please. We’re doing what you asked.”
Alex then order Fitz to move and pushes him aside and then looks at the infuser. He tells Ruby that its reversed. They will have to start over. Ruby tells Jemma that she only needs one of them and that two is starting to feel redundant. She chokes Jemma and Fitz steps forward saying that they are working with limited resources on a very old machine.
Ruby turns to Fitz, hits him so hard he falls on the ground, and then beats the sugar honey ice and tea out of Fitz. During this, Alex has Jemma in an arm lock and is holding his gun to her as she begs Ruby to stop.
Ruby finally stops after Jemma says they will fix it. Alex lets Jemma go and she runs to Fitz. At least Fitz wasn’t punched into unconsciousness like Coulson.
Ruby goes to them, pulling out her chakram, and makes Fitz look up at her. She threatens him, saying next time *raises chakram* it’ll be Jemma and Ruby won’t use her fists.
Act 3 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
On the QJ, Elena is woken by a RoboMinion walking onto it (shouldn’t it be cloaked, though?). She acts fast and uses her power to take its rifle and then shoot at it, decimating it. Of course, though, that’s painful and she’s barely able to move again.
At the Lighthouse, Talbot is looking over a specific picture, mostly in red, and says, “This kid really likes her crimson crayon *quieter* Redrum. Redrum.”
Polly and Robin walk in and Polly asks, “What’s this?” Talbot closes his eyes and reacts. “Busted.” He then smiles broadly without looking at them. He stands up and Robin gets closer to her mom. “My name is Glenn Talbot. You helped rescue me.”
Polly: What are you doing in our room?
Talbot: Uh. Right. Uh *points to table* Uh… [chuckles nervously] I shouldn’t—I shouldn’t be here. You’re right. I know better. Uh. I just—I—I couldn’t help myself. *takes a deep breath* I have a boy, George. He likes to draw, too. I just haven’t seen him in a long time. It’s just hard. I’m sorry. I just haven’t been myself. *gestures*
P: I think we’re all a bit out of sorts these days. It’s a strange time.
T: *to Robin* So, this is who all the fuss is about, huh? *to Polly* She can tell the future?
P: Sort of. She sees a lot but it’s all out of order. *walks to the table and gestures*
T: *looks directly at Robin* *gets down to her level* It’s a pretty…*Robin does not look at him* remarkable gift you have, young lady. You must have seen…some incredible things. Now, now. There's no need to be afraid of me. I'm Glenn.*holds hand out* *Robin doesn’t take it*
Robin: *finally looks at him* You're the General.
T: That's right. How did you know that?
R: I've drawn you.
Daisy’s voice says, “There’s something wrong with him* as Talbot looks at Robin. Cutting to Zephyr, she continues, “Creel touched the Gravitonium and felt people in there.”
Coulson: *on a video call from the Lighthouse with Mack and Deke* Franklin Hall.
May: Ian Quinn, too.
Daisy: We've seen it consume people, but apparently it also absorbs their consciousness.
Deke: Is that even possible?
Mack: Well, assume the answer to that question is always yes.
Coulson: How's Creel doing now?
May: He's barely hanging on, lost in his own head. We had to sedate him.
Coulson: We have to get him help. I owe him that much.
Daisy: And we will, but right now we have to stop Ruby.
May: According to Hale, Fitz and Simmons have been spotted on-site.
Mack: Dammit, Yo-Yo. If that crazy Hydra girl powers herself... *Coulson looks at him with a look*
Deke: Daisy, you can't go there. That's too dangerous.
Daisy: For the hundredth time, I'm not going to quake the world apart.
Deke: That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying you have to be careful…
Daisy: No matter what, I'm not going to use my powers around the Gravitonium.
Coulson: If you won't quake-in Ruby's power, she'll kill you.
Daisy: Sir! You brought me back to lead. This is what that looks like.
Coulson: You can't put yourself at risk like that.
May: We'll make those decisions, Phil. Not you. *Mack and Deke both look at Coulson like, let’s see how he reacts to that!*
Daisy: Look. We'll need every advantage we can get. So, go through Robin's drawings and see if there's anything we can use. *Zephyr signs off.*
Coulson works at the monitor and Mack is face palming.
Deke: Women, huh?
Mack: Shut up, Lemons.
Cut to Talbot holding up a picture, presumably of the Destroyer of worlds, asking, “Who is this? And when does this happen?’
Polly: That’s not really how it works.
R: Soon.
T: Soon. *nods* And these? These all come true? *gestures to the table* We need to act on this. *Polly gives Talbot a look* There are people who want to meet you. There are people who want to meet you.
P: Robin’s getting tired. *stands in front of Robin* Maybe we could chat about this tomorrow.
T: *speaking fast, frantic* No, tomorrow—tomorrow’s too late. The mission’s—The mission’s today. The mission is now. *Deep breath* I’m sorry about this.
Talbot attacks Polly and puts her in a choke hold saying, “Just go to sleep. Shh. Just go to sleep.”. Polly tells Robin to run, to get help. But Robin stays where she is and watches. When he’s done, he addresses Robin.
Talbot: You're coming with me.
Robin: I know.
Act 4 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
Zephyr lands in England (in the only field that is barely big enough or not at all and they destroyed trees).
Daisy is working in the cargo hold when agents come in with May and Hale. Daisy tells the gathered agents that their scans show a number of mechs outside of the facility. “Take them out, secure the perimeter.” She, May, and Hale alone will go into the facility. If things go sideways the agents are to be ready to evac.
Daisy dismisses them and May takes off Hale’s handcuffs (which let’s be real, nothing was stopping her from pulling a Ward) May gives Hale a mean look to make it clear she is not the General’s biggest fan. May walks away without a word.
Hale approaches Daisy who went back to working at a laptop.
Hale: Coulson taught you well. (By the way, did you know I starved him for a few days and deprived him of sleep. No, I’m not over that yet)
Daisy: Just never gave up on me. *closes laptop* *faces Hale*
H: Promise me you won’t hurt Ruby.
D: Not unless I have to. It isn’t her fault she is the way she is. (Daisy, insert Fitz into that sentence!) She’s driven. She’s a great fighter. And with the right guidance, she could make a really good agent.
H: SHIELD agent. You’re not serious.
D: We’re about to need all the help we can get.
H: Tell me what I can do.
D: If we are too late, you will need to talk her down. We can’t let things get out of hand.
H: Of course. I just want Ruby to be okay.
May: *from the side, out of shot* You ladies about finished? *opens the gangway/cargo ramp*
May, Daisy, Hale, and agents get ready to walk off.
In the facility, Fitz works with a ratchet wrench as he and Simmons have their backs on Ruby, who watches over them while menacingly messing with her chakram. Fitz bends down to install the infuser and groans in pain from the punch party. Simmons helps steady him.
Alex comes in and informs Ruby that a plane just landed. It’s SHIELD, not Ruby’s mother. Alex gets his gun from the back of his jeans as he says he set the mechs to engage to buy them some time.
They both look at the working scientists and Ruby asks where she should start. An arm? Maybe a leg?
Ruby and Alex start to approach but Fitz turns around while crouched and tries to get up saying, “No, don’t, don’t. We’re finished, okay?”
Fitz stands up finally and Simmons helps him stand while under his arm. FitzSimmons walk away and off to the side. Alex goes to the machine and powers it on. “It’s ready.”
The machine hums, lights up all the way, and the chamber opens. Alex goes about putting on the finishing touches of the preparation. Fitz and Simmons react, and Ruby picks up on their reactions. “What?”
Fitz raises his hands. “Hey, we did as you asked. We fixed the chamber.”
Ruby: But?
Simmons tries to warn her about the Gravitonium, citing their experience and how it is not easy to manipulate. They can’t move it into the machine.
Ruby starts to approach them and they both back up. Fitz says that that out of their control.
Simmons says that Gravitonium is unpredictable and there’s still so much that they don’t know. Ruby raises a chakram as Simmons takes a step back, her arms out and down to her side.
Fitz steps in front of Simmons with an arm out. “Hey, please. Please. You can’t do this.”
Ruby continues towards them. She is done having people tell her what she can do. Fitz and Simmons continue walking backwards. Simmons has her arms wrapped around Fitz, behind him.
Alex opens a valve on the machine and the Gravitonium slithers out of the box and into a pipe in the machine. Fitz and Simmons watch confused. Ruby smiles and turns back to the scientists. “You were saying?”
Fitz: Jemma, did you see that?
Simmons: That’s…different.
At the Lighthouse, Mack an Coulson are bickering again as they have the tornado-esque picture on the big screen.
Coulson: It’s not a bird, it’s a plane.
Mack: Oh, give me a break. It looks nothing like the Zephyr.
Deke enters, holding a lemon.
Deke: You guys arguing over drawings? Welcome to my entire childhood.
Mack: *sees Deke smell the lemon* *closes his eyes and shakes his head* Look, we’re wasting our time. Why don’t we just ask her what these crayon doodles mean?
C: *frowns* You can go down there, but ask Deke. Robin’s a seer, not really a teller. *happen to glance at a monitor* Hey. What’s with Robin’s floor? Is that paused? *touches a key on keyboard* All three go wide eyed.
Cut to Coulson rushing in Polly and Robin’s room with the other two behind him. They see the overturned table and find Polly on the ground. Coulson feels for a pulse and finds one.
Deke: Where's Robin?
Coulson: We've been breached. Someone must have been able to infiltrate the lighthouse
Mack: He took her. Talbot took Robin.
Coulson: No. He wouldn't. *stands up*
Mack: Earlier I saw him, he... He's messing with the feeds and mumbled something. Said he's happy to comply.
Coulson: Hydra had him for six months. How could I have missed it? We have to find them.
Deke: *about Polly* I'll stay with her.
Coulson and Mack head out. The camera zooms down, and we see the drawing of the person with 8 people inside.
Back in England, Ruby chuckles as she enters the chamber. Alex tells her, “You did it.” Ruby leans forward and puts her hand on his face gently. “We did it.” They make out and Fitz and Simmons look on disgusted.
Ruby hands Alex her chakram and leans back, ready to go. Ruby breathes shakily as the infusion process starts.
Ruby and Alex are happy for a good 10 seconds before sugar honey ice and tea has gone wrong and Ruby wants out once the Gravitonium starts to be pumped in. We then see the horror movie effect where Ruby moves three different positions in three seconds, while screaming.
The screaming catches the attention of Hale who speeds up passed Daisy and May who also run.
Helpless to help Ruby, Alex takes his gun from the back of jeans again and pulls it on FitzSimmons. He screams, “What did you do?! You’re killing her!”
Fitz and Simmons hold their hands up. Fitz again stands in front of Simmons. Simmons yells back, “No, this isn’t us! We tried to warn her!” Alex doesn’t like that answer and rushes them, “You sabotaged the chamber!”
They’re saved by Hale, May, and Daisy who come running in. Hale yells, “No, it’s not the machine.” Ruby continues to scream. Hale goes to it and yells at Fitz and Simmons to shut it down. They head toward it holding hands. Fitz stops it after Ruby has taken in 8% of the Gravitonium. Hale had asked if they were too late.
The chamber opens. Ruby is stiff with her eyes closed. She starts to float in the air after opening her eyes. She drops (in a superhero pose) and groans. Hale tries to approach her but Alex pushes her away and crouches by her, telling her it’s okay.
Ruby holds her head saying, “They’re screaming. They’re fighting.” Daisy and May look at each other. Ruby looks up at Alex who says, “I’ve got you.”
Ruby: Help me.
Alex: I’m not going anywhere.
Ruby puts her hand on/or in front of Alex’s face.
Alex dies. I’m not saying any more than than that because I refuse to watch this part with open eyes, not even for you fine people. I refuse to experience another We Were Soldier level traumatic death. See Discord chat for details.
Ruby looks horrified, as do everyone else in the room. Ruby cries.
Act 5 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
Ruby looks at the blood on her hands and then up at her mom, crying. She stands up and then yells that she didn’t mean to. She cries more and puts her hand on her head. She sees a ‘flash’ of the Gravitonium and says, “No! No! Get out of me! Please make them stop!”
Fitz: Make-Make- Make who stop?
Ruby: All of them! Please put me back in the machine. Get it out of me!
Simmons: We can’t it only works one way.
Ruby: *looks at them both directly* You lie! You always do this!
Fitz and Simmons are sent flying back, way up high on the walls alongside the door. They call for each other as they breathe heavily.
Hale: *moves behind Ruby* Ruby, put them down.
Ruby: Experimentation without consequence.
Fitz and Simmons manage to look at each other, everyone in the room looks up at them. Hale looks at Daisy who eyes Ruby and then back at Ruby.
Hale: It’s Mom. *Ruby ignores her* Look at me!
Fitz and Simmons fall to the ground. Hard.
Ruby: Mom…*points to her own head* there’s something really wrong. *moves toward Hale, Hale moves back*
Hale: I know. We’re trying to figure it out. Just…stay calm. Stay calm. *Fitz gets up off the floor and heads to Simmons*
May quietly motions them towards her as her eyes move from them to Ruby. They listen and cautiously and quickly go passed her and Daisy.
May: They can’t be here. I’ll get them past any mechs.
Daisy: Come back. I need you.
May: Okay. *leaves, rushing to catch up with the other two*
Daisy looks back at Hale and Ruby.
Hale: *hands out trying to calm Ruby* Okay.
Ruby: *crying* *hands on head* NOOOOO! *screams*
Back at the Lighthouse, Talbot is trying to access the hangar by hot-wiring a panel. Robin calmly watches him, staying where she is. Mack and Coulson round the corner. Mack has a gun drawn.
Coulson: Talbot, stop.
Talbot: *startled* *picks up gun* *grabs Robin*
Mack: Drop it!
T: You drop it! Stand down!
C: *hands free* *puts his hand on Mack’s arm to lower it* Everybody calm down. *softer* Glenn, look at me. Why are you trying to get into the hangar? *steps forward* What are you doing?
T: *holding gun with one hand and Robin with another* A soldier never questions his orders. Soldier always completes his mission.
C: *steps forward more* This isn’t a mission. This is Hale. She got into your head. She brainwashed you.
M: *leans down somewhat* Robin, it’s going to be okay, sweetheart.
T: *yells* Don’t you talk to her.
C: *comes even closer, hands up high* The Hydra compliance program goes all the way back to Whitehall.
T: You’re trying to get into my head. You’re trying to confuse me with that Hydra jibber-jabber. *shakes head* *Robin stays perfectly still*
C: You saw what they did to Creel, how hard you had to work to break his programming.
T: What the hell do you know?
C: Uh, it’s a Magical Place? I know you’re my friend. And you’d never kidnap a little girl.
T: Kidn—Kidnap? That—[Laughs] That’s a hell of an accusation, Phil. [Chuckles] I got a job to do. *Robin looks at Mack*
M: She’s not much younger than your kid. Think about your son, Talbot.
T: *looks down while he still holds the gun up*
C: Think about it. What if that was George? You know this is wrong.
T: *Shouts* Shut up! Shut your damn face!
C: *calm voice* It’s not too late to turn back.
T: No. *walking backward with Robin* *to himself* My compliance is my reward, and I must be—I must be rewarded.
C: Ignore that. That’s the programming talk, not you. Fight it. You can beat it.
T: I can’t! *takes arm off of Robin* *Robin stays there* I can’t. *crying* I can’t complete the mission. I gotta…[sighs] I got to stop myself.
C: *quietly* That’s right. *shakes head*
T: [sighs] There’s only one course of action. *Coulson goes wide eyed* *holds gun under his chin*
With that scene done hurting me as I typed it, we head back to England. Ruby is pacing and crying as she tries to deal with the voices in her head.
Hale: Honey, just listen to my voice.
Ruby: Listen to you, listen to them! Listen, listen, listen! [screams]
Ruby sees a flash of the Gravitonium-people. A metal table is flung against the wall. Daisy watches quietly.
H: Remember you training. We’ll get through this,
R: I can’t control it. It’s like I’m being ripped apart.
Daisy: Ruby, I have been right where you are, and I know that it seems impossible right now, but you will overcome this. Believe me.
R: No. They’re too loud. They’re trying to take over!
D; Just focus. Breathe. Stay calm.
R: It’s too late. *still holding head*
H: No. Daisy’s right. She’s been through this.
R: *points at Hale* Daisy. It’s always Daisy!
D: Try not to lose control, okay? Your powers will only get more dangerous.
Daisy is lifted off the floor and floats towards Ruby.
R: *with echoing voices* Everything powerful is dangerous.
Cut to FitzSimmons and May. They leave a doorway, round a corner, and find Elena. Elena is holding her arms when she says, “Melinda.”
Jemma asks about her arm and Elena says it’s fine. Elena asks, “What happened? Did someone go in?” May tells her that it’s being handled and they need to get to the Zephyr.
Elena: Handled by whom?
They all look at her and she answers her own question, “Daisy”. She walks towards the way they just came from.
Back at the Lighthouse, Talbot still has his gun under his chin and typing hurts me again.
Coulson: Talbot, stop. Don’t do this.
Talbot: It doesn’t matter, anyway. [voice breaking] I’m not the same, Phil. I can’t trust my thoughts. [weakly] There’s no other way.
Mack bends down to Robin’s level and calls her to him. She comes and he takes her out of the corridor.
T: Phil…tell George I’m sorry. *grips gun harder*
C: Put the gun down.
T: I can’t!
C: Your compliance will be rewarded.
T: You’re just trying to trick me. That’s the program.
C: What’s best is you comply. Put the gun down.
T: *through gritted teeth* I can’t!
Mechelle sighs, mumbling “Save it for a Field Report. Save it for Field Report…”
C: Then turn the gun on me. *Talbot doesn’t do it* You will comply. Turn the gun on me. *Talbot obeys*
There’s a few seconds where Talbot holds the gun on Coulson, but Mack comes from nowhere and ICES him. Coulson visibly exhales like he wasn’t 100% confident that Mack would appear. They both give each other a look before the camera cuts to back to England as Ruby addresses Daisy.
R: You know, for a long time…[voice breaking] you were everything that I wanted. You were my hero. And now look at us.
H: Ruby, let her go.
There’s a sound and Daisy drops to the floor.
R: I am more than you will ever be.
Daisy gets on her knees with her hands up.
D: Ruby, I am not here to fight you. You need help.
R: I don’t want your help! I want to crush you. *Ruby force chokes Daisy*
H: Ruby, that’s enough! *Ruby chokes her harder* That’s enough! *Ruby releases her*
Ruby and Daisy lock eyes as Daisy gets off the floor holding her throat. Hale inches toward Daisy with an arm out towards Daisy. Daisy moves away, and Hale stands in front of Ruby.
H: You listen to her. She is on your side.
R: Then why aren’t you?! Mom, face it—I was never good enough for you.
H: No, all I ever wanted was for you to reach your true potential. I’m sorry. I pushed you too hard.
R: Mom…this was a mistake.
H: *shakes head* No. My daughter is not a mistake. *Ruby sobs*
Elena enters. Daisy tells YoYo to get out of here as Hale tells Ruby to listen to her and stay with her.
Y: That’s who took my arms.
R: *screams* *stuff shakes and rattles* Y: It’s her, isn’t it? She’s the Destroyer.
D: YoYo, she’s a kid. She is terrified.
YoYo watches Ruby with a look of pure hatred.
R: *screams*
H: No, you look at me, listen to me, Ruby. *bending down to Ruby’s level* Stay with me and we’ll get through this!
R: *hands on head still* No, Mom, they’re getting louder! *YoYo watches a table shake* Oh, I’m losing—[changes personalities?] *flash of Gravitonium* We want out. Let us out. I won’t be able to resist. [changes again] *screams*
We see a flash of Quinn and he’s? saying “Do it”.
H: I can make this better, I promise!
There’s a lot of rumbling as Ruby looks straight ahead. In an instant, her throat is cut. She falls into Hale’s arms and even Daisy is shocked and surprised and says, “No.” Daisy turns to YoYo and sees her holding Ruby’s bloody chakram as she shakes in pain from her arms.
D: YoYo, what did you do?!
Y: *drops to the floor, dropping the chakram*
Ruby dies in Hale’s arms.
H: Ruby. [crying] Ruby. *looks at YoYo with a look that could kill…*
Ruby’s body starts to float in the air. Everyone looks on in shock. Ruby’s body explodes, sending a burst of white energy.
Some time has passed when Daisy wakes up, She sees YoYo sitting on the floor, holding one of her arms as she sits awake and against a wall. Daisy gets off the floor when May, Fitz, and Simmons enter. May immediately points to YoYo and says, “Simmons”.
Fitz: Where's Hale?
May: *sees a bloody handprint on the wall by the firewall* How did she get away?
Simmons: *sees Ruby on the floor* And what happened to Ruby?
Daisy: I had it under control, she was coming around, and then Yo-Yo killed her.
YoYo: No. I just saved the world.
May for sure doesn’t believe that, judging by the look she gives Elena.
Tag Scene
Hale: *soft voice* Qovas? *yelling* QOVAS?!
Quovas: Coming here without permission. You're aware of the punishment.
H: I found what you're looking for.
Q: My Gravitonium?
H: SHIELD has it.
Q: Then you failed. Perhaps our deal has reached its end.
H: I can tell you where they're hiding. But they won't give it willingly. *tears in her eyes she looks at her blood-stained hands* *Quvas appears behind her*
Q: You'd have me kill them?
H: I have no reason to stop you.
Written By: George Kitson
Directed By: Jennifer Lynch
Act 1 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack #ReadTheHashtagsJD
Talbot rides a lift. He quietly says to himself, “Complete the mission, soldier. Eyes on the prize” The lift door opens as he stands at attention and he walks off. Cut to the armory where he is able to go through two doors. He takes a specific handgun off a peg board and says, “Be prepared. Nobody has to get hurt.” He then gets on another lift and heads to the control center. He looks around and says, “Get in…get out.”
At the monitor station, he sees Coulson either waiting at a lift door or just staring at the wall after his talk with May. On another monitor, he sees May and Daisy walking down a corridor. On a third monitor, he sees Robin and Polly leave a door. He says to himself, “Complete the mission” and freezes that feed.
Mack’s voice startles him when Mack says, “Hey, Talbot.”
Talbot: Hey.
Mack: You looking for something?
T: Unh-unh. [chuckles] I’m just like a…*inhales deeply* ticking time bomb over here, huh? *gestures to Mack* Sorry. Just I’ve been…in a cell for six months. A little pent up. Can’t sit still. *nods*
M: I can imagine. I wish we got you out sooner.
T: *looking down* Me too, son. *looks up but doesn’t make eye contact* Me too. *does*
M: Hey, listen, if you ever want to talk about it *Talbot shakes his head* or anything else—
T: I can’t [chuckles]. No, I can’t do that. But, uh – But thanks. You know, just trying to focus on one…*inhales hard* task at a time.
M: Right.
T: Mm—hmm.
M: Yeah. Well…rest up. *puts hand on Talbot’s shoulder* Doctor’s orders.
T: *starts to turn away* Yeah. You got it. *walks away* *quietly* Happy to comply.
Cue Title Card
Fitz is trying to work on a piece to the diffuser (an arc reactor?) but is being distracted by a sound that makes him flinch. Camera focuses and we see behind him that Ruby is entertaining herself by throwing her chakram into the metal cabinet right behind Jemma’s head as Jemma is tied to a chair. Fitz tells Ruby to stop and Ruby explains that it’s entertaining her, she doesn’t get out much, and it does seem to keep Fitz motivated.
Ruby prepares to throw again. Jemma’s knuckles go white as she grips the chair harder. She moves her head enough to avoid the blade.
This was all that Fitz can take. He convinces Ruby that he needs Jemma’s help as he’s engineering and she’s biotech (I thought it’s biochem), and they are a team. Ruby releases Jemma then watches them curiously when they embrace in a hug and ask each other if they are alright and then head to the table hand in hand.
Ruby holsters her chakram as she tells them they are adorable. Ruby ships it. She really does.
Jemma turns around as asks Ruby if she has any idea of the consequences of what she is trying to do. They’ve seen where this leads. Ruby says, “Your little trip to the future? Coulson filled me in.” As Fitz works, Jemma says then Ruby will know that Ruby will destroy everything, the entire planet.
Ruby thought their pal Daisy did all of that. She thinks they really need to get their stories straight. Fitz turns around and says that everyone Ruby cares about will die. Ruby responds, “Not a long list.” As he enters, Alex adds, “And it’s getting shorter.” He tells Ruby that he found Anton, what’s left of him.
Alex put the fallen mechs to seek and destroy after activating their copter’s signal jammer. He knew how to do that because he took a mech a part once. The mechs will hunt down and kill anyone they find.
A guy comes in pushing a dolly with a crate. Ruby wants to see what’s inside, “Show me”. It’s Gravitonium.
Fitz and Simmons have been working as they listened to all this. They talk over their choices. If their hypothesis is being proven, they die, they break the loop. If they don’t fix this, they stop Ruby and Alex. Fitz says, “They’ll kill us.” Fitz can’t choose anything over Jemma. Jemma feels the same. They decide to work piece by piece. There’s a lot to do. It’s very complicated and will take a while.
Ruby tells them to pick up the pace or she will start taking body parts, like she did to their friend.
Speaking of that friend, somehow Elena has found the cloaked QJ. She’s still in excruciating pain and can barely move her arms. She goes to the laptop and sees that there’s no signal after typing. She manages to get her jacket off, screaming and grunting in pain. Shaking and jittery, she falls unconscious in a jump seat.
Cut back to the Lighthouse, Coulson is walking down a corridor when he finds May waiting for him with her arms crossed.
May: You’re late. *starts to walk away*
Coulson: Hold up. Please.
M: *stops, faces him*
C: We didn't have a chance to finish our conversation.
M: I said what I had to say.
C: *About to speak* *May starts to walk away after giving him a look* Melin…
M: We have a mission Phil.
C: *making a face* Good talk, Phil. Good talk.
In the control center, Daisy has agents gathered and is waiting tablet in hand when May enters. They give each other a look as May stands next to Daisy. Daisy starts speaking before Coulson enters.
Daisy tells them about the mechs going into a reset and sending a distress signal out. They’ve traced that signal a location in the Appalachian Mountains. They can confirm that the location on the monitor is Hale’s base and is a decommissioned military bunker (what branch? I hate when something is just a military this or that) which means it’s highly secure and way off the grid. They need to hit them hard and fast, knock out their defenses before Hydra even knows they’re there.
After May and Daisy together say all this, Deke puts a toothpick in his mouth and relates to them the “Lighthouse rules”; club someone from behind and don’t stop swinging until they stay down. Deke takes the toothpick out and Mack stares at him for a good five seconds before asking him, “You wearing body spray?”
Daisy completely ignores that and says that she and May will go in and get the Gravitonium, get the Queen off the board. Coulson says, “Checkmate. When do we leave?”
May: You’re not coming.
Coulson: I’m not?
May and Daisy give each other looks.
Daisy: We just got you back, and I need you to stay here and quarterback.
Coulson gives May a look but May doesn’t make eye contact as Daisy tells Mack to find Fitz’s schematics and start building the artificial-gravity system. Mack hears this and wants to be told they are not going back to space. Daisy says they aren’t until they have to.
Deke wants to know what he’s doing, is he going with Daisy? Deke is staying back and helping Mack. He shouldn’t even be out of bed. Deke says he has handled worse. Mack sighs and mumbles, “awesome” as he realizes he will have to stay with idiot lover boy.
Daisy says that Z1 is wheels up in five and Deke tells everyone, “You heard her! Let’s get to work.” Mack’s look is priceless.
Everyone leaves but Daisy and Coulson.
C: You’re getting good at this. You are.
D: I have a feeling Professor Coulson was easy on his students. I should at least lose points for the mutiny on day one.
C: For sure. But I’m throwing you some extra credit for a well-timed rescue. Give ‘em hell.
Daisy smiles. “Yes, sir.” Daisy leaves and Coulson stands in front of the monitors looking then over.
At Hydra. Lee releases Hale from Ruby’s room. Hale asks what took her so long.
Lee: It’s Ruby—she’s gone rogue.
Hale: I know. She’s headed for the chamber facility.
Hale: Get me Anton on the line
Lee: I can't, ma’am. He's dead. I called in reinforcements here because his mechs went down. We picked these up right before they went offline. *shows Hale a tablet with Fitz and Simmons*
H: We need to leave immediately. Ruby’s dead set on powering herself with Gravitonium. You saw what it did to Creel. He’s not better is he?
L: No, ma’am. He’s much worse.
Cut to Creel’s room. Creel has disasterfied his rom and is in a dimly lit corner.
Hale: Mr. Creel. How can we help you?
Creel: You can't. No one can. They won't stop shouting.
Lee: Voices, he says.
Creel: They hate each other. Quinn likes to feel smart, but Hall is smarter, but Quinn is louder.
Hale: Quinn? Ian Quinn?
Creel: It consumed him. Franklin wanted revenge, but now he's stuck with him. Forever.
Hale: They're inside the gravitonium.
Creel: Their might. Their rage.
Lee: Ma'am. He only touched them for a moment. If Ruby infuses herself with...
Creel: To the hell with her. *His shouts make Lee pull her gun and Hale steps behind her* What about me? They want out. They want out! Get them out! *Bangs his head against the wall, and turns into that material*
Act 2 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
Mack is welding a metal structure of some kind.
Coulson: *loudly, as he and Deke push a cart* You making some progress?
Mack: Yeah, it's coming along, but I gotta say, the idea of the Zephyr flying in space still feels a bit out there.
Deke: Yeah, well I'm not even going to be born for another 50 years, so maybe rethink "out there".
Coulson: Well, let's hope it never happens, but if we can't change things, then…
Mack: Always be prepared. Yeah, yeah.
Deke: You guys need to relax. Daisy is going to figure all this stuff out... *Coulson, Mack exchange glances.* What was that?
Mack: Dude's got it bad.
Deke: Whatever that means.
Mack: (sigh) You're in love with her.
Deke: Sorry? (laughing) No. No offense Mack, but I think your radar is way misfiring on this one.
Coulson: That was convincing. I believe him.
Deke: Thank you.
Mack: You confessed, you idiot. When you were hopped up on pain-killers. Piper and I couldn't get you to shut up about it.
Deke: No? That's... Okay guys, what, you never heard that drugs can make you say stuff a little crazy, maybe that's what (unintelligible) your bad.
Coulson: It's obvious. I figured it out a while ago.
Deke: Well, it doesn't matter. She hates me anyway.
Coulson: Most definitely.
Deke: Just for grins, say I were interested. In some way. Anyway, how would I... (to Mack) Like you got a good thing going.
Mack: Don't look at me. Last time I saw YoYo, she lied to me, locked me up and ran off.
Deke: *desperately* Coulson?
Coulson: Sorry bro. Apparently, I'm incapable of expressing my feelings or letting people take care of me.
Deke: You guys are useless. It's lemons then.
Coulson: Come again?
Deke: In my day, when you wanted to tell someone how you felt, you just save up your tokens, you buy a lemon and leave it on their bunk. That's a thing, here right?
Coulson: I don't understand...
Mack: *nterrupting* Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Coulson: When in doubt…
Mack: You should do that.
Coulson: Get a bunch of lemons. *Deke nods, looks happy.*
Talbot knocks on Robin and Polly’s door and doesn’t get an answer. He enters saying, “Let me in. Let me in. Anybody home? *closes door* Ring-a-ding-ding.”
He sees the table covered with pictures and goes to it, looking them all over, almost happy. He sits down. “I’m gonna need every weapon in this fight. We better hurry.” He specifically looks at a picture depicting the Zephyr.
That picture fades into the real Zephyr.
Daisy: It feels good, going on offense for a change, you and me. *Offers May a pistol.*
May: If I need one I'll take one. I've got some pent up aggression I need to let out.
Daisy: Want to talk about it?
May: No, I wanna hit. *Daisy smiles.*
Agent Thomas: Agent Johnson, system check is complete.
Daisy: Go hot, wait for our signal. Thomas, initiate launch countdown. And try not to hit us on the way down. *She and May ready their jump seats*
Thomas: Copy that. 10 seconds.
May: Safety first.
Daisy: Always. Game on...*the pod lowers*
A bomb drops past the pod and hits the base before the pod lands in an awesome fiery explosion. Hale and Lee are shaken as the ground reverberates under their feet. Lee asks, “What was that?”
Cut to Strike Team MayDaisy. They exit the landed pod and begin kicking ass immediately. Daisy uses her powers and May goes to punchey-kickey town. That fight ends with May excessively punching a poor guy who must have “Phil” painted on his forehead.
They run down a corridor and find a blockade of Hale and her real life minions (Didn’t know she had that many real underlings). Hale tells them to stop and stand down, putting her hand on Lee’s specifically, and then surrenders herself to SHIELD with her arms out like, cuff me. “I surrender.”
Daisy: And we totally believe you.
Hale: There’s no time for us to fight each other. I need your help. We all have to leave right now.
May: Help you? You can’t be serious.
Hale: My daughter took the Gravitonium and went to use Strucker’s machine.
Daisy: *hand still held out* The Destroyer of Worlds.
Hale: She’s at the same facility your scientist friends are. Last I knew, they were still alive. But if Ruby succeeds, you make no mistake, she will kill them.
Back with those scientists, they attach the infuser to the chamber, but Ruby comes and grabs Jemma and then puts her hand on her neck as Alex hold his gun on Fitz. Fitz keeps his hands up the whole time. Ruby says that they are taking awhile and asks if this is above Fitz and Simmons’ grade level.
Strucker says these two are SHIELD’s best and brightest, there’s nothing they can’t do if motivated. Ruby continues to hold her hand on Jemma’s throat. Jemma tells them that torturing her, and Fitz isn’t going to make them work any faster.
Alex remarks that they didn’t see to mind torture the last time they met, “Electrocuting me.” He then observes that they didn’t have wedding rings back then. Jemma says, “Please. We’re doing what you asked.”
Alex then order Fitz to move and pushes him aside and then looks at the infuser. He tells Ruby that its reversed. They will have to start over. Ruby tells Jemma that she only needs one of them and that two is starting to feel redundant. She chokes Jemma and Fitz steps forward saying that they are working with limited resources on a very old machine.
Ruby turns to Fitz, hits him so hard he falls on the ground, and then beats the sugar honey ice and tea out of Fitz. During this, Alex has Jemma in an arm lock and is holding his gun to her as she begs Ruby to stop.
Ruby finally stops after Jemma says they will fix it. Alex lets Jemma go and she runs to Fitz. At least Fitz wasn’t punched into unconsciousness like Coulson.
Ruby goes to them, pulling out her chakram, and makes Fitz look up at her. She threatens him, saying next time *raises chakram* it’ll be Jemma and Ruby won’t use her fists.
Act 3 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
On the QJ, Elena is woken by a RoboMinion walking onto it (shouldn’t it be cloaked, though?). She acts fast and uses her power to take its rifle and then shoot at it, decimating it. Of course, though, that’s painful and she’s barely able to move again.
At the Lighthouse, Talbot is looking over a specific picture, mostly in red, and says, “This kid really likes her crimson crayon *quieter* Redrum. Redrum.”
Polly and Robin walk in and Polly asks, “What’s this?” Talbot closes his eyes and reacts. “Busted.” He then smiles broadly without looking at them. He stands up and Robin gets closer to her mom. “My name is Glenn Talbot. You helped rescue me.”
Polly: What are you doing in our room?
Talbot: Uh. Right. Uh *points to table* Uh… [chuckles nervously] I shouldn’t—I shouldn’t be here. You’re right. I know better. Uh. I just—I—I couldn’t help myself. *takes a deep breath* I have a boy, George. He likes to draw, too. I just haven’t seen him in a long time. It’s just hard. I’m sorry. I just haven’t been myself. *gestures*
P: I think we’re all a bit out of sorts these days. It’s a strange time.
T: *to Robin* So, this is who all the fuss is about, huh? *to Polly* She can tell the future?
P: Sort of. She sees a lot but it’s all out of order. *walks to the table and gestures*
T: *looks directly at Robin* *gets down to her level* It’s a pretty…*Robin does not look at him* remarkable gift you have, young lady. You must have seen…some incredible things. Now, now. There's no need to be afraid of me. I'm Glenn.*holds hand out* *Robin doesn’t take it*
Robin: *finally looks at him* You're the General.
T: That's right. How did you know that?
R: I've drawn you.
Daisy’s voice says, “There’s something wrong with him* as Talbot looks at Robin. Cutting to Zephyr, she continues, “Creel touched the Gravitonium and felt people in there.”
Coulson: *on a video call from the Lighthouse with Mack and Deke* Franklin Hall.
May: Ian Quinn, too.
Daisy: We've seen it consume people, but apparently it also absorbs their consciousness.
Deke: Is that even possible?
Mack: Well, assume the answer to that question is always yes.
Coulson: How's Creel doing now?
May: He's barely hanging on, lost in his own head. We had to sedate him.
Coulson: We have to get him help. I owe him that much.
Daisy: And we will, but right now we have to stop Ruby.
May: According to Hale, Fitz and Simmons have been spotted on-site.
Mack: Dammit, Yo-Yo. If that crazy Hydra girl powers herself... *Coulson looks at him with a look*
Deke: Daisy, you can't go there. That's too dangerous.
Daisy: For the hundredth time, I'm not going to quake the world apart.
Deke: That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying you have to be careful…
Daisy: No matter what, I'm not going to use my powers around the Gravitonium.
Coulson: If you won't quake-in Ruby's power, she'll kill you.
Daisy: Sir! You brought me back to lead. This is what that looks like.
Coulson: You can't put yourself at risk like that.
May: We'll make those decisions, Phil. Not you. *Mack and Deke both look at Coulson like, let’s see how he reacts to that!*
Daisy: Look. We'll need every advantage we can get. So, go through Robin's drawings and see if there's anything we can use. *Zephyr signs off.*
Coulson works at the monitor and Mack is face palming.
Deke: Women, huh?
Mack: Shut up, Lemons.
Cut to Talbot holding up a picture, presumably of the Destroyer of worlds, asking, “Who is this? And when does this happen?’
Polly: That’s not really how it works.
R: Soon.
T: Soon. *nods* And these? These all come true? *gestures to the table* We need to act on this. *Polly gives Talbot a look* There are people who want to meet you. There are people who want to meet you.
P: Robin’s getting tired. *stands in front of Robin* Maybe we could chat about this tomorrow.
T: *speaking fast, frantic* No, tomorrow—tomorrow’s too late. The mission’s—The mission’s today. The mission is now. *Deep breath* I’m sorry about this.
Talbot attacks Polly and puts her in a choke hold saying, “Just go to sleep. Shh. Just go to sleep.”. Polly tells Robin to run, to get help. But Robin stays where she is and watches. When he’s done, he addresses Robin.
Talbot: You're coming with me.
Robin: I know.
Act 4 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
Zephyr lands in England (in the only field that is barely big enough or not at all and they destroyed trees).
Daisy is working in the cargo hold when agents come in with May and Hale. Daisy tells the gathered agents that their scans show a number of mechs outside of the facility. “Take them out, secure the perimeter.” She, May, and Hale alone will go into the facility. If things go sideways the agents are to be ready to evac.
Daisy dismisses them and May takes off Hale’s handcuffs (which let’s be real, nothing was stopping her from pulling a Ward) May gives Hale a mean look to make it clear she is not the General’s biggest fan. May walks away without a word.
Hale approaches Daisy who went back to working at a laptop.
Hale: Coulson taught you well. (By the way, did you know I starved him for a few days and deprived him of sleep. No, I’m not over that yet)
Daisy: Just never gave up on me. *closes laptop* *faces Hale*
H: Promise me you won’t hurt Ruby.
D: Not unless I have to. It isn’t her fault she is the way she is. (Daisy, insert Fitz into that sentence!) She’s driven. She’s a great fighter. And with the right guidance, she could make a really good agent.
H: SHIELD agent. You’re not serious.
D: We’re about to need all the help we can get.
H: Tell me what I can do.
D: If we are too late, you will need to talk her down. We can’t let things get out of hand.
H: Of course. I just want Ruby to be okay.
May: *from the side, out of shot* You ladies about finished? *opens the gangway/cargo ramp*
May, Daisy, Hale, and agents get ready to walk off.
In the facility, Fitz works with a ratchet wrench as he and Simmons have their backs on Ruby, who watches over them while menacingly messing with her chakram. Fitz bends down to install the infuser and groans in pain from the punch party. Simmons helps steady him.
Alex comes in and informs Ruby that a plane just landed. It’s SHIELD, not Ruby’s mother. Alex gets his gun from the back of his jeans as he says he set the mechs to engage to buy them some time.
They both look at the working scientists and Ruby asks where she should start. An arm? Maybe a leg?
Ruby and Alex start to approach but Fitz turns around while crouched and tries to get up saying, “No, don’t, don’t. We’re finished, okay?”
Fitz stands up finally and Simmons helps him stand while under his arm. FitzSimmons walk away and off to the side. Alex goes to the machine and powers it on. “It’s ready.”
The machine hums, lights up all the way, and the chamber opens. Alex goes about putting on the finishing touches of the preparation. Fitz and Simmons react, and Ruby picks up on their reactions. “What?”
Fitz raises his hands. “Hey, we did as you asked. We fixed the chamber.”
Ruby: But?
Simmons tries to warn her about the Gravitonium, citing their experience and how it is not easy to manipulate. They can’t move it into the machine.
Ruby starts to approach them and they both back up. Fitz says that that out of their control.
Simmons says that Gravitonium is unpredictable and there’s still so much that they don’t know. Ruby raises a chakram as Simmons takes a step back, her arms out and down to her side.
Fitz steps in front of Simmons with an arm out. “Hey, please. Please. You can’t do this.”
Ruby continues towards them. She is done having people tell her what she can do. Fitz and Simmons continue walking backwards. Simmons has her arms wrapped around Fitz, behind him.
Alex opens a valve on the machine and the Gravitonium slithers out of the box and into a pipe in the machine. Fitz and Simmons watch confused. Ruby smiles and turns back to the scientists. “You were saying?”
Fitz: Jemma, did you see that?
Simmons: That’s…different.
At the Lighthouse, Mack an Coulson are bickering again as they have the tornado-esque picture on the big screen.
Coulson: It’s not a bird, it’s a plane.
Mack: Oh, give me a break. It looks nothing like the Zephyr.
Deke enters, holding a lemon.
Deke: You guys arguing over drawings? Welcome to my entire childhood.
Mack: *sees Deke smell the lemon* *closes his eyes and shakes his head* Look, we’re wasting our time. Why don’t we just ask her what these crayon doodles mean?
C: *frowns* You can go down there, but ask Deke. Robin’s a seer, not really a teller. *happen to glance at a monitor* Hey. What’s with Robin’s floor? Is that paused? *touches a key on keyboard* All three go wide eyed.
Cut to Coulson rushing in Polly and Robin’s room with the other two behind him. They see the overturned table and find Polly on the ground. Coulson feels for a pulse and finds one.
Deke: Where's Robin?
Coulson: We've been breached. Someone must have been able to infiltrate the lighthouse
Mack: He took her. Talbot took Robin.
Coulson: No. He wouldn't. *stands up*
Mack: Earlier I saw him, he... He's messing with the feeds and mumbled something. Said he's happy to comply.
Coulson: Hydra had him for six months. How could I have missed it? We have to find them.
Deke: *about Polly* I'll stay with her.
Coulson and Mack head out. The camera zooms down, and we see the drawing of the person with 8 people inside.
Back in England, Ruby chuckles as she enters the chamber. Alex tells her, “You did it.” Ruby leans forward and puts her hand on his face gently. “We did it.” They make out and Fitz and Simmons look on disgusted.
Ruby hands Alex her chakram and leans back, ready to go. Ruby breathes shakily as the infusion process starts.
Ruby and Alex are happy for a good 10 seconds before sugar honey ice and tea has gone wrong and Ruby wants out once the Gravitonium starts to be pumped in. We then see the horror movie effect where Ruby moves three different positions in three seconds, while screaming.
The screaming catches the attention of Hale who speeds up passed Daisy and May who also run.
Helpless to help Ruby, Alex takes his gun from the back of jeans again and pulls it on FitzSimmons. He screams, “What did you do?! You’re killing her!”
Fitz and Simmons hold their hands up. Fitz again stands in front of Simmons. Simmons yells back, “No, this isn’t us! We tried to warn her!” Alex doesn’t like that answer and rushes them, “You sabotaged the chamber!”
They’re saved by Hale, May, and Daisy who come running in. Hale yells, “No, it’s not the machine.” Ruby continues to scream. Hale goes to it and yells at Fitz and Simmons to shut it down. They head toward it holding hands. Fitz stops it after Ruby has taken in 8% of the Gravitonium. Hale had asked if they were too late.
The chamber opens. Ruby is stiff with her eyes closed. She starts to float in the air after opening her eyes. She drops (in a superhero pose) and groans. Hale tries to approach her but Alex pushes her away and crouches by her, telling her it’s okay.
Ruby holds her head saying, “They’re screaming. They’re fighting.” Daisy and May look at each other. Ruby looks up at Alex who says, “I’ve got you.”
Ruby: Help me.
Alex: I’m not going anywhere.
Ruby puts her hand on/or in front of Alex’s face.
Alex dies. I’m not saying any more than than that because I refuse to watch this part with open eyes, not even for you fine people. I refuse to experience another We Were Soldier level traumatic death. See Discord chat for details.
Ruby looks horrified, as do everyone else in the room. Ruby cries.
Act 5 #CoulsonLives #InvincibleThree #ProtectMack
Ruby looks at the blood on her hands and then up at her mom, crying. She stands up and then yells that she didn’t mean to. She cries more and puts her hand on her head. She sees a ‘flash’ of the Gravitonium and says, “No! No! Get out of me! Please make them stop!”
Fitz: Make-Make- Make who stop?
Ruby: All of them! Please put me back in the machine. Get it out of me!
Simmons: We can’t it only works one way.
Ruby: *looks at them both directly* You lie! You always do this!
Fitz and Simmons are sent flying back, way up high on the walls alongside the door. They call for each other as they breathe heavily.
Hale: *moves behind Ruby* Ruby, put them down.
Ruby: Experimentation without consequence.
Fitz and Simmons manage to look at each other, everyone in the room looks up at them. Hale looks at Daisy who eyes Ruby and then back at Ruby.
Hale: It’s Mom. *Ruby ignores her* Look at me!
Fitz and Simmons fall to the ground. Hard.
Ruby: Mom…*points to her own head* there’s something really wrong. *moves toward Hale, Hale moves back*
Hale: I know. We’re trying to figure it out. Just…stay calm. Stay calm. *Fitz gets up off the floor and heads to Simmons*
May quietly motions them towards her as her eyes move from them to Ruby. They listen and cautiously and quickly go passed her and Daisy.
May: They can’t be here. I’ll get them past any mechs.
Daisy: Come back. I need you.
May: Okay. *leaves, rushing to catch up with the other two*
Daisy looks back at Hale and Ruby.
Hale: *hands out trying to calm Ruby* Okay.
Ruby: *crying* *hands on head* NOOOOO! *screams*
Back at the Lighthouse, Talbot is trying to access the hangar by hot-wiring a panel. Robin calmly watches him, staying where she is. Mack and Coulson round the corner. Mack has a gun drawn.
Coulson: Talbot, stop.
Talbot: *startled* *picks up gun* *grabs Robin*
Mack: Drop it!
T: You drop it! Stand down!
C: *hands free* *puts his hand on Mack’s arm to lower it* Everybody calm down. *softer* Glenn, look at me. Why are you trying to get into the hangar? *steps forward* What are you doing?
T: *holding gun with one hand and Robin with another* A soldier never questions his orders. Soldier always completes his mission.
C: *steps forward more* This isn’t a mission. This is Hale. She got into your head. She brainwashed you.
M: *leans down somewhat* Robin, it’s going to be okay, sweetheart.
T: *yells* Don’t you talk to her.
C: *comes even closer, hands up high* The Hydra compliance program goes all the way back to Whitehall.
T: You’re trying to get into my head. You’re trying to confuse me with that Hydra jibber-jabber. *shakes head* *Robin stays perfectly still*
C: You saw what they did to Creel, how hard you had to work to break his programming.
T: What the hell do you know?
C: Uh, it’s a Magical Place? I know you’re my friend. And you’d never kidnap a little girl.
T: Kidn—Kidnap? That—[Laughs] That’s a hell of an accusation, Phil. [Chuckles] I got a job to do. *Robin looks at Mack*
M: She’s not much younger than your kid. Think about your son, Talbot.
T: *looks down while he still holds the gun up*
C: Think about it. What if that was George? You know this is wrong.
T: *Shouts* Shut up! Shut your damn face!
C: *calm voice* It’s not too late to turn back.
T: No. *walking backward with Robin* *to himself* My compliance is my reward, and I must be—I must be rewarded.
C: Ignore that. That’s the programming talk, not you. Fight it. You can beat it.
T: I can’t! *takes arm off of Robin* *Robin stays there* I can’t. *crying* I can’t complete the mission. I gotta…[sighs] I got to stop myself.
C: *quietly* That’s right. *shakes head*
T: [sighs] There’s only one course of action. *Coulson goes wide eyed* *holds gun under his chin*
With that scene done hurting me as I typed it, we head back to England. Ruby is pacing and crying as she tries to deal with the voices in her head.
Hale: Honey, just listen to my voice.
Ruby: Listen to you, listen to them! Listen, listen, listen! [screams]
Ruby sees a flash of the Gravitonium-people. A metal table is flung against the wall. Daisy watches quietly.
H: Remember you training. We’ll get through this,
R: I can’t control it. It’s like I’m being ripped apart.
Daisy: Ruby, I have been right where you are, and I know that it seems impossible right now, but you will overcome this. Believe me.
R: No. They’re too loud. They’re trying to take over!
D; Just focus. Breathe. Stay calm.
R: It’s too late. *still holding head*
H: No. Daisy’s right. She’s been through this.
R: *points at Hale* Daisy. It’s always Daisy!
D: Try not to lose control, okay? Your powers will only get more dangerous.
Daisy is lifted off the floor and floats towards Ruby.
R: *with echoing voices* Everything powerful is dangerous.
Cut to FitzSimmons and May. They leave a doorway, round a corner, and find Elena. Elena is holding her arms when she says, “Melinda.”
Jemma asks about her arm and Elena says it’s fine. Elena asks, “What happened? Did someone go in?” May tells her that it’s being handled and they need to get to the Zephyr.
Elena: Handled by whom?
They all look at her and she answers her own question, “Daisy”. She walks towards the way they just came from.
Back at the Lighthouse, Talbot still has his gun under his chin and typing hurts me again.
Coulson: Talbot, stop. Don’t do this.
Talbot: It doesn’t matter, anyway. [voice breaking] I’m not the same, Phil. I can’t trust my thoughts. [weakly] There’s no other way.
Mack bends down to Robin’s level and calls her to him. She comes and he takes her out of the corridor.
T: Phil…tell George I’m sorry. *grips gun harder*
C: Put the gun down.
T: I can’t!
C: Your compliance will be rewarded.
T: You’re just trying to trick me. That’s the program.
C: What’s best is you comply. Put the gun down.
T: *through gritted teeth* I can’t!
Mechelle sighs, mumbling “Save it for a Field Report. Save it for Field Report…”
C: Then turn the gun on me. *Talbot doesn’t do it* You will comply. Turn the gun on me. *Talbot obeys*
There’s a few seconds where Talbot holds the gun on Coulson, but Mack comes from nowhere and ICES him. Coulson visibly exhales like he wasn’t 100% confident that Mack would appear. They both give each other a look before the camera cuts to back to England as Ruby addresses Daisy.
R: You know, for a long time…[voice breaking] you were everything that I wanted. You were my hero. And now look at us.
H: Ruby, let her go.
There’s a sound and Daisy drops to the floor.
R: I am more than you will ever be.
Daisy gets on her knees with her hands up.
D: Ruby, I am not here to fight you. You need help.
R: I don’t want your help! I want to crush you. *Ruby force chokes Daisy*
H: Ruby, that’s enough! *Ruby chokes her harder* That’s enough! *Ruby releases her*
Ruby and Daisy lock eyes as Daisy gets off the floor holding her throat. Hale inches toward Daisy with an arm out towards Daisy. Daisy moves away, and Hale stands in front of Ruby.
H: You listen to her. She is on your side.
R: Then why aren’t you?! Mom, face it—I was never good enough for you.
H: No, all I ever wanted was for you to reach your true potential. I’m sorry. I pushed you too hard.
R: Mom…this was a mistake.
H: *shakes head* No. My daughter is not a mistake. *Ruby sobs*
Elena enters. Daisy tells YoYo to get out of here as Hale tells Ruby to listen to her and stay with her.
Y: That’s who took my arms.
R: *screams* *stuff shakes and rattles* Y: It’s her, isn’t it? She’s the Destroyer.
D: YoYo, she’s a kid. She is terrified.
YoYo watches Ruby with a look of pure hatred.
R: *screams*
H: No, you look at me, listen to me, Ruby. *bending down to Ruby’s level* Stay with me and we’ll get through this!
R: *hands on head still* No, Mom, they’re getting louder! *YoYo watches a table shake* Oh, I’m losing—[changes personalities?] *flash of Gravitonium* We want out. Let us out. I won’t be able to resist. [changes again] *screams*
We see a flash of Quinn and he’s? saying “Do it”.
H: I can make this better, I promise!
There’s a lot of rumbling as Ruby looks straight ahead. In an instant, her throat is cut. She falls into Hale’s arms and even Daisy is shocked and surprised and says, “No.” Daisy turns to YoYo and sees her holding Ruby’s bloody chakram as she shakes in pain from her arms.
D: YoYo, what did you do?!
Y: *drops to the floor, dropping the chakram*
Ruby dies in Hale’s arms.
H: Ruby. [crying] Ruby. *looks at YoYo with a look that could kill…*
Ruby’s body starts to float in the air. Everyone looks on in shock. Ruby’s body explodes, sending a burst of white energy.
Some time has passed when Daisy wakes up, She sees YoYo sitting on the floor, holding one of her arms as she sits awake and against a wall. Daisy gets off the floor when May, Fitz, and Simmons enter. May immediately points to YoYo and says, “Simmons”.
Fitz: Where's Hale?
May: *sees a bloody handprint on the wall by the firewall* How did she get away?
Simmons: *sees Ruby on the floor* And what happened to Ruby?
Daisy: I had it under control, she was coming around, and then Yo-Yo killed her.
YoYo: No. I just saved the world.
May for sure doesn’t believe that, judging by the look she gives Elena.
Tag Scene
Hale: *soft voice* Qovas? *yelling* QOVAS?!
Quovas: Coming here without permission. You're aware of the punishment.
H: I found what you're looking for.
Q: My Gravitonium?
H: SHIELD has it.
Q: Then you failed. Perhaps our deal has reached its end.
H: I can tell you where they're hiding. But they won't give it willingly. *tears in her eyes she looks at her blood-stained hands* *Quvas appears behind her*
Q: You'd have me kill them?
H: I have no reason to stop you.
I'll be spending next weekend with some family I like and trying to avoid any remotely controversial conversations with others that I spend the rest of the year avoiding 