Ironheart (2025) s01e04 Episode Script
Bad Magic
1
[Natalie] You know nothin'
about this man!
And you don't care
'cause you only seein' money.
You're going to get caught.
[Riri] I wonder what Gary
would think of the suit.
You know, seeing me fly it.
This is where our day ends?
- [Gary] Girls, run!
- Dad!
These officers are here for you.
[officer 1] I'd like to ask you
about your relationship to Stuart Clarke.
[officer 2] He was found dead
this morning.
[Riri] They know everything about me.
About Ma.
Xa. I need to get ahead of thi
No! Are you crazy?
Do you know what you're up against?
This magical dude
can bend bullets to his will.
- [grunts]
- I need that hood.
[Joe] The truth is
I'm Ezekiel Stane.
[Parker] Let's look ahead
to the next hit.
[Riri] I know y'all killed Rampage.
[John] I knew you were trouble, Riri.
- [cries out]
- Open it.
Open the damn door, Riri!
No!
No. [sobs]
[screams]
Was this a part of the plan?
For John to die?
Why are you showing me this?
- [tense music playing]
- [heavy footsteps]
[music fades]
[John] Look, man. Uh, this is nothing.
Just like the last hit
and the one before. You go in,
stay undetected, get the money. Easy.
- Yeah.
- Just play this shit like we planned it.
And we'll be the ones sitting on our asses
like kings in some fancy-ass mansion.
Yeah
- His fancy mansion.
- Hey, come on.
Nothing personal, right?
Nothing personal.
Come on.
[suspenseful music playing]
[keypad beeping]
[lock chimes]
[suspenseful music continues]
[partition thuds]
[keypad beeping]
[dial turning]
[lock chimes, opens]
- [guard] Freeze!
- [gun cocks]
Come on, kid.
- [gunshot]
- [groaning]
- [John grunts]
- [groaning stops]
[John] We gotta go. Split up.
[Parker] John! How do I find you?
I'm never too far away.
- Okay?
- [thud]
I'm always with you.
[echoes] I'm always with you.
[train rumbling in distance]
Hey, Parker
You wanna say a few words, mate?
What am I supposed to say?
[Slug] Maybe we should
all go around and say what
we'll miss most about Cousin John?
Damn. Okay. Um
I guess I'll go first.
I'm gonna miss John's honesty.
Also
how much he loved opera.
[chuckles] He was
He was so sick for opera.
- [Slug chuckles] I know.
- [rumbling]
[muffled] Um I'm gonna miss
his stupid, bloody throwing stars.
[chuckles]
[conversation continues indistinctly
and muffled]
- [voices whispering indistinctly]
- [Gregorian chant music playing]
[Clown] Y'all know I've been pissed
at John, for good reason,
[clearly] but now,
I'm kinda mad he's not here.
- [whispering stops]
- And, um,
I don't know how to feel about that.
Know what I miss the most?
His loyalty.
It drove him, it defined him.
It killed him.
And he could be harsh at times.
He cared, about me. About us.
About our mission.
After the Heirlum disaster,
I wanna make sure we're perfect
on our next job.
We stick with the plan.
Continue your work.
All right.
Uh, Parker, you got anything for me?
Yeah
I got plans for you.
Okay.
You just let me know, then.
- [shop bell dings]
- [suspenseful music playing]
[rap music plays] I fell from the sky
without a parachute ♪
Baby, this is game
I'mma shoot at you ♪
Look up and look around
It's going down ♪
Say she call me King
I'mma wear the crown ♪
[Natalie] Riri?
Riri?
Riri
Riri! Hello!
Inside voices, please.
I've been trying to get your attention
for a whole minute.
What's up?
This creepy piece of fabric
that you jacked from Parker's cloak?
Find anything yet?
[Riri] It looks like internal combustion.
You know, like a heat engine?
Powers its host. Or in this case, Parker.
Okay, so we know where all the energy
goes, but where does it come from?
Huh, according to my analysis, nowhere.
I've cross-referenced this heat signature
with every known energy source.
Wakandan. Kree, Stark, Pym.
And I got nothing.
But that's impossible.
Energy doesn't just pop up outta nowhere.
It defies laws and physics.
And to be honest, I don't know how much
more Parker's body can take before
He was acting so weird this morning.
- You're being paranoid.
- Yeah, it's more than that, okay?
I know he's plotting something.
I need to understand his powers,
so I can fight back
when he inevitably comes for me.
[Ronnie] Riri?
Incoming. Lock the door.
You know, my mama don't believe
in locked doors unless you pay bills.
[door opens]
[Ronnie] What are you two up to?
- [both] Nothing.
- [Ronnie] Uh-huh.
I came to see if you need to come clean.
- "Come clean"?
- [uneasy music playing]
Come clean about what?
I said, if you need anything cleaned,
I'm on my way to the laundromat.
Oh. Right. Nah, I'm I'm good.
Riri
is there something
you need to talk about?
What do you mean?
Well, ever since you started this
new job, you've been coming home late,
buying expensive gifts.
And we haven't even talked
about your dead coworker.
[softly] You know about that?
The police told us, when they were here.
- Right.
- [softly] Right.
Right.
Okay. Well, call me if you need
anything while I'm out, okay?
Will do.
Okay. Bye.
[ominous music playing]
[Natalie] Where did it go?
Oh, no. He's here.
We gotta get Mom out of the house.
[Natalie] Oh, wait, wait!
Wait! It's back!
Okay. See? We're good.
How can you say that?
Why are you acting so calm?
Like I didn't just let John die.
You did what you had to do to survive.
John would've done the same. Okay?
- [scoffs]
- As he said. Listen! Ri!
You need to focus
on understanding Parker's hood.
Stressing over an act of self-defense
is going to get you killed.
I don't even know what to do.
- Call Shuri. Maybe she can help.
- Call her?
Okay.
"Uh, hello? Yeah! Shuri! What's
"Oh, what have I been up to?
Since causing an interspecies war
"on both land and sea?
"Um, well, I got kicked outta MIT.
"I joined a crew
of ragged-ass criminals, and
"Oh, now I'm about to get my ass popped
by a deranged man in a cape.
"Can you help?
"Hello?
"Hello, Sh Shuri?"
She hung up.
- When you say it like that
- Have you heard anything from Joe yet?
He's gotta have some ideas.
No. I keep getting his voicemail.
Do you want me to keep trying?
That's weird.
Nah, it's fine.
I'll just go see him in person.
Gotta go tell him
- about his bio-mesh, anyways.
- [door closes]
[suspenseful music playing]
- Excuse me.
- Mm-hmm?
You wouldn't happen to know
why Joe's house is surrounded
in police tape, would you?
[sighs] Joe.
You mean Ezekiel Stane?
Yeah. Cops came and got him this morning.
What? Why?
Well, for one thing, have you seen what
he's done to my Black-eyed Susans?
This is a beautiful neighborhood.
Although, if something were to happen,
I could've told you
it would've come from that house.
The evidence found
at the Heirlum crime scene
has been traced back
to Ezekiel Stane of Evanston, Illinois.
Again, this is a very active scene
that is very quickly evolving.
Ezekiel Stane,
who legally changed his name
to Joe McGillicuddy,
is the son of the late Obadiah Stane.
Obadiah was fondly remembered
as the former COO of Stark Industries,
who tragically died in a plane crash
more than 15 years ago.
So, this is devastating, and the community
in this area simply cannot believe it.
- You're up, Stane.
- [door buzzes]
[reporter 1] Stane faces
a multitude of charges,
including illegal possession
of bionic technology
and domestic terrorism.
[reporter 2] It's really unfortunate
what this scandal is doing
to the Stane family name.
I mean, Obadiah was a beloved man.
He was an inventor, philanthropist,
and mentor to the great Tony Stark.
May he also rest in peace.
I mean, poor Obadiah's gotta be
rolling in his grave over this.
[reporter 1] Looks like this bad apple
fell very far from the tree,
rolled down the hill,
and landed straight in the gutter.
Good one, Samantha.
- Thank you, Judy.
- Now here's
You know there's a whole Reddit thread
on Obadiah Stane sightings?
- Obadiah Stane's dead, bruh.
- Yeah.
Um, allegedly. No body.
Yeah. Well, that's because
it was all engulfed in flames.
Is anyone else wondering
how Ezekiel Stane's tech ended up
in the middle of our heist?
- No. Nobody's wondering that.
- Leave it alone, Clown.
This is the best thing
that could happen to us.
Somebody else is gonna take the fall.
I just feel bad.
That guy's not gonna survive prison.
[scoffs] You don't feel bad.
You have a crush.
No, I don't.
You know, you do kinda
give pen-pal-prison-wife vibes.
Y'all, I'm serious.
Isn't it a little odd?
John's dead, some random bionic guy
is being framed for our work,
and now Hood's being weird.
[Jeri] Hood's not being weird,
he's grieving.
It's completely understandable.
Not everyone grieves
in the same way, Clown.
[Clown] It's not grief, okay?
We're here, and he's somewhere else.
[ominous music playing]
[breathes heavily]
[reporter] Thank you.
Yeah, reporting to you live.
This is a situation
nobody could have possibly imagined
as multiple bodies continue to be
identified at the Heirlum crime scene.
We have to ask the question,
"How did this tech prodigy become
a suspected murderer?"
Of course, we'll keep you updated
on this story as it develops.
Stay tuned for the local traffic report,
and much more, right after this.
[door buzzes, opens]
Hey.
Looks like they got your favorite color.
Khaki.
Look, I know you're mad at me.
And you have every right to be.
You're at a loss for words.
That makes two of us.
I'm gonna get you outta here.
Okay? I promise.
- Is that why you're here?
- Yes.
And how do you expect to do that?
[softly] I'm working on it.
Mm. [scoffs]
I should've known never to trust you.
You're just a selfish kid
who can't take
any responsibility for herself.
You lie, you cheat, you manipulate.
You'll do anything you can
to save yourself,
even if that means hurting
other people in the process.
- [breath shuddering]
- [somber music playing]
Guard, I'm ready to go now, please.
[guard] All right, let's go.
[door buzzes, opens]
[hip-hop music playing,
The Roots "Concerto of the Desperado"]
[Riri] What's going on?
Yo, Ri! Where you been?
Just up to my eyeballs.
Yo, it's a good thing Parker's getting
that new tech specialist to help out.
Another tech specialist?
Yeah, he didn't tell you? That's weird.
[Riri] Oh, right.
Yeah. Yes. Just slipped my mind.
[uneasy music playing]
[Parker] He's a friend of yours?
Why would you say that?
Nah, I just I just assumed
everybody in tech knew each other.
I mean, we might have crossed paths.
You hate to see it, right?
Poor guy's probably gonna
rot in jail for our crimes.
- But, what a happy accident.
- [chuckles dryly]
Your outsourcing
really helped us, big time.
Outsourcing?
I just wish that, if you needed help,
Zeke Stane's or anyone else's,
you would have come to me.
But it's all good.
So, we'll bring someone in
to help pick up the slack.
Yeah, Clown mentioned that.
Here you go, Hood. It's all there.
[Parker] Thanks.
Hope you have a great day, Riri.
[Riri chuckles lightly]
- [upbeat music playing on speakers]
- [camera whirring]
- [objects clattering]
- [dog barking in distance]
Ain't nobody there, girl.
Thought I heard something.
Okay. You're paranoid.
You just need to stop, for a second,
okay? Just stop and process and just be.
[scoffs] I'm sorry.
- "Just be"?
- Just be.
You know what?
If I didn't know any better,
I'd just say meditate,
but then you're gonna do
the whole rolling-the-eyes thing and
There it is.
I'm finna go lay down.
Please get some rest, baby.
Oh, wait! I got something for you.
[Ronnie] Thank you.
You can put it on now.
- Why do I need a watch to go to bed?
- Just
Don't take it off, for any reason.
Or at least not till I tell you to.
Riri, what is going on with you?
I promise I will
explain everything later.
For now, I I gotta get back to work.
So, can you
Okay. Good night.
Thank you. Good night.
- [music continues playing]
- What are you doing?
"What am I do"
I'm shaking off my anxiety.
Hey! Where are we
Where are we, um, headed?
I am gonna see Xavier.
What, just you?
You know I wanna see my brother.
- Come on.
- He's not your brother, okay?
You're just gonna freak him out.
And you remember how I reacted?
When you arrived?
Can't ambush him.
Okay. But just imagine
how pissed off he'll be once you tell him
- how long you've been hiding me from him.
- All right.
Just not now. Okay?
Can we just focus? Please?
On not getting got
by an invisible gunslinger
with magic bullets? Huh?
I'm gonna need you to put that suit back.
[hip-hop music playing]
Make a whole lot of juice with that ♪
Gettin' all these loop ♪
Buy a brand new suit with that ♪
[Riri] Wear it at all times.
Uh, thanks,
but I'm not much of a watch guy.
- It's not for fashion.
- Clearly.
Should I even bother asking why?
No.
Okay, weirdo.
Xa, do you think I'm a good person?
Never mind. Just forget I asked.
"Good." "Bad."
Them words don't really mean anything.
It's all depending on who's labeling you.
I guess, if you were asking me
to describe you as a person
I'd say you're a smart person.
And a
a hard-working person.
A protective person.
And a
You're a complex person.
You're like
[chuckles] Spock.
- "Spock"?
- Mm.
I always think of myself as Uhura but
Please. The only thing y'all got
in common is that little complexion.
[Riri chuckles]
Now, look, all that being said,
you don't always let people in.
But I think underneath all that armor
is a soft heart.
So, with all that you are,
is "good" really a label you need?
[gentle music playing]
Uh, gotta get back to work.
- Yeah.
- [clears throat] Thanks for the watch.
[Riri] Mm.
Finally!
You're back!
Come on, what happened? Did y'all kiss?
Oh, my God. This does not seem
like the time to be making out.
[sighs] So, you're just gonna die?
Without having your first kiss, Ri?
You know the goal is to not die.
So, I need to start thinking
outside the box,
if I'm gonna protect us
from The Hood's magic.
Ri, you need to get some sleep.
Ri! Seriously.
For real.
Okay. Maybe just like
- 30 minutes.
- That's a start.
[breathing deeply]
[grunts softly]
[suspenseful music building]
[clattering in distance]
[softly] Okay.
[suspenseful music continues]
- [man, muffled] Scully!
- [mulled gunshots]
- [Ronnie] Riri!
- [Riri] Mom.
[tense music playing]
What's wrong?
You tell me. One moment
I'm on the case with Scully,
and the next thing I know,
your watch decides to airbag me!
It must've heard the
gunshots from the TV.
[Ronnie] Get me out of this thing.
[breathing heavily]
Riri? Are you okay?
You ready to talk to me?
- About what's going on?
- Ma, I'm fine.
Girl, you just busted down
my door like the Kool-Aid Man.
Because you screamed.
I thought you were in trouble.
Look at me.
I'm fine, but I'm worried about you.
I could tell something's wrong.
Now, would you please let me help?
I know I can't help
with all the science-y stuff, but, shoot.
Maybe you can use
a different kind of genius.
I mean, I can do a lot
with some patchouli and smoke.
Abracadabra all that anxiety away.
You know, I think you're right.
I've been all wrapped up in work and
maybe I could use a aura bath
- [snickers]
- or, you know,
a sound-cleansing chakra reading.
Some of that magic that
you're always talking about.
Oh. You want magic? [chuckles]
Mama's got the plug.
- Don't say plug.
- [laughs]
That chamomile is hitting, ain't it?
- [Riri] Mm.
- [Ronnie laughs]
[hip-hop music playing,
Floetry "Floetic"]
Floetry ♪
Uh, it's floetic Uh, it's floetic ♪
Uh, it's floetic ♪
[Ronnie] Here we go.
[Riri] Really?
- [Ronnie] What?
- [Riri] Miss Stanton? That's your plug?
Girl, come on.
[Riri] So, I asked for magic
and you heard Willy Wonka?
Is Willy Wonka not a magician?
Welcome to Stanton's. We got sweets.
We got reads. All your wishes guaranteed.
How can I help you?
[Ronnie] Zelma,
it hasn't been that long.
Where's your mama?
Is she around?
Yeah.
- Ma, this
- [shushes]
- [Zelma] There she is.
- A-ha!
- Ah, yes!
- [Ronnie] Maddie!
- Ay, Ronnie.
- Bring it in, my sister.
[Madeline] It's good to see you, too!
- Oh! You brought Riri.
- Mm-hmm.
It's nice to see you again.
You met my kid, Zelma.
The dutiful Oompa-Loompa.
[Madeline] So, what brings you in today?
Uh, Riri is looking for
some spiritual guidance.
- [Madeline] Oh?
- [Riri] Yeah, like crystals or
some sage.
Or what's in your pocket?
[Madeline] Uh-huh.
[chuckles slightly] Um, it's
You gonna answer her question?
Yo! No. Not here.
Okay. Uh
Mom? Please don't be mad.
- Why would I be
- [rumbling]
- [objects clinking]
- [Ronnie gasps]
Mad?
Holy shit!
Sorry. Was it too fast?
I'm still learning how to hit the brakes.
How did you even do that?
I barely blinked.
Transportation spell.
Is that a thing? 'Cause you're saying it
- like it's a thing, but
- Zelma, where are we right now?
The Western Cortex of Neverish.
- Huh?
- A parallel plane of
Now, you know you are not allowed to
visit other realms without my permission.
Y'all gonna casually throw around
the term "parallel plane"?
Okay. Right. I know,
but this one's not that far away
Or build secret rooms in other realms
without my permission.
You never actually said that, though.
Oh, we're gonna talk
about this shit later.
Give me the thing.
[Madeline] Let's hope your little act
of rebellion gives us something.
[Zelma] Oh, it will. I've been studying.
Well, is it enchanted?
Do you think it's witchcraft?
- It's possible, but unlikely.
- I don't know. Seems natural.
[energy whooshes]
- [both] It's natural.
- Uh, Riri? I thought
Is this about your Iron suit stuff?
It's not not about my Iron suit stuff.
What do you mean by "natural"?
It means it was created
in a different dimension.
[Riri] How do you know that?
I mean, the disappearing
and reappearing is a tell.
It's unstable.
[Madeline] Yeah, this thing
isn't from our realm.
- And it's very old.
- Uh, how does this work?
Oh. "Making the unknown known
is the greatest magic.
"Therefore, learning
and teaching, the truest spell."
Is that supposed to mean something to me?
Girl, it's a saying
she got from the Kamar-Taj.
What's Kamar-Taj?
Thank you. It's my reach school.
All the way in Nepal,
where all the greatest sorcerers
of our dimension trained
in magic arts and sciences.
Y'all ever heard of Doctor Strange?
- [high-pitched screeching]
- Hey, please don't touch those.
Once they get in your brain,
they're kinda hard to get out.
- Who gave you brain maggots?
- No one.
Hold up.
Madeline, you're an actual sorcerer?
Or whatever?
No, she's a dropout.
Excuse you.
I chose to leave because I
had a little witchling to raise.
And I still think you guys
could have raised me there.
I could have learned from actual masters
instead of these old books
and baby witches off of TikTok.
Now, I've told you,
Kamar-Taj is no place for a child.
Besides, bringing you back to Chicago
forced you to make
a whole new magic of your own.
And it's amazing.
It's reckless, but amazing.
What are you doing now?
I'm reading tea leaves.
Oh. I know how to do that.
[splats, squelching]
Never mind.
[low, ominous music playing]
[faint crackling]
Mom, why is it like that?
That's enough. We're done here.
Where did you get this?
I got it from this dude
with a magical red cloak,
and I think it's scarring his whole body.
- Oh, hell no.
- Oh, shit.
- [rumbling]
- Everybody out.
What's going on? What did you see?
- I saw
- Zelma! Hush!
Maddie, mother to mother,
if Riri is into some dark stuff,
you have got to tell me.
Riri, I need you to stay
far, far away from that thing
and whoever it came from.
- Why?
- This shit is dark.
Like, real dark.
This itty-bitty piece of fabric?
This piece of fabric comes
from one of the darkest dimensions
known and probably unknown.
And the cloak that it's coming from
is likely possessing whoever's in it.
No. This entity doesn't possess,
it influences.
So, it's like a
Does this entity have a name?
Wait! Just point me
to where I can learn more.
It's not that simple.
Magic is not like technology.
You know, we say, "There's no bad tech,
"just bad people who use tech."
Well, there is bad magic,
and it is dangerous for everyone.
Especially good people.
- Destroy it.
- Well, I could
[door closes]
Okay.
Okay, so, at least we know
it's from another dimension.
But she didn't say how to destroy it.
[breathing heavily]
Do you think burning it will work?
My laser cutter divided the particles,
but it didn't destroy it.
There must be another way.
Or I could try dissolving it.
Yeah, I could find some
antimony pentafluoride
and fluorosulfonic acid.
Yeah, I could
Whatchu think?
- Ma!
- Why didn't you just say you needed help?
- I did.
- No.
You manipulated me,
acting like you needed
some sage and crystals.
And you smuggled something dangerous
in my friend's shop, behind my back.
Are you the one messing with this hood
- or cloak or whatever it is?
- I promise, I'm not.
Then why do you even have that?
Ma, I can't do this with you right now.
- Please.
- I am worried about you.
Don't, okay? I am fine.
"Fine"? You're fine?
Leaving the house at night,
coming home in the early morning?
Lying about where you are?
Gifting me safety watches
that trapped me in protective bubbles?
Having panic attacks?
Sleeping in your suit?
One coworker dead, another arrested for
domestic terrorism? That's fine to you?
If you don't want me to lie to you,
then don't ask me these questions.
Don't you trust me?
What are you talking about?
You could always go to
Gary for help, never me.
It has been five years since he died
This is why I don't tell you shit,
because you push me to deal with things
the way that you want me to.
And then if I don't,
you make me talk about my dead stepdad.
Okay. I
I am not you
and you actually can't take that.
[rumbling]
I swear to God, Riri,
you better not get in that.
Or what?
Riri! I can't help you
if you end up dead or in jail.
- [suit whirring]
- Where are you going?
Riri!
[door buzzing]
[indistinct chatter]
[door closes]
Ezekiel Stane.
Awesome. Hallucinations.
Just what I need.
No. Ezekiel, this
is this is very real.
I'm sorry to barge in unannounced.
My name's Parker,
but you can call me Hood, if you like.
- It's a pleasure to meet you.
- How'd you get in here?
Are you like a lawyer or something?
Obviously not. Let me explain.
You and I have something in common.
Rather, someone in common.
Riri Williams.
I actually think,
based on what was left at Heirlum
That was me, by the way.
that you have the skill set
and drive to be something great.
Work for me,
and I'll get you your life back, Stane.
Is that a joke?
I can't go back to my job.
I can't go back to my house.
I can't even go back to my name.
My life is over.
How exciting.
- Excuse me?
- Joe's a pretty shitty name for you.
Probably shitty house. Shitty job, too.
Take my offer, and you get to create
a whole new life
with this passion of yours.
- A whole new life as, what? A fugitive?
- As Zeke Stane.
Or you can rot in jail
as Joe McGillicuddy.
Have a think on it, and get
back to me tonight, at lights-out.
That's when you decide who you wanna be.
[door beeps, thuds]
[suspenseful music playing]
[sighs]
[Natalie] Oh, Riri, I don't think
there's gonna be anything here
to help us fight
dark, interdimensional magic.
You know, you're probably right,
but I need a quiet place to think.
Mom's kitchen doesn't exactly seem
like the right place right now.
[sighs]
Blast the door, N.A.T.
[Natalie] Check the mat, Ri.
[Riri scoffs]
[scoffs] Of course, Joe has a spare key
for his hideout.
Let's get to work.
[soul music playing,
Erykah Badu "The Healer"]
Alhamdulillah Allah Jehovah ♪
Yahweh Dios Ma'at Jah ♪
Rastafari fyah dance ♪
Sex, music ♪
[muffled explosion]
[steam hissing]
Told you we ain't dead yet ♪
- Thank you.
- [music stops]
- Oh, my God.
- [music resumes]
"We ain't dead," said the children ♪
Don't believe it ♪
[Riri] What is this thing made of?
No.
Underwater, stovetop ♪
Blue flame scientists ♪
Come out with your scales up ♪
Get baptized in the ocean ♪
[Riri] This is so frustrating.
Why is nothing working?
[music stops]
[Natalie sighs]
Parker's hood must be like old, old.
Like, Stegosaurus old.
Could probably survive nuclear fallout.
Like, there's no way we're
the first people who tried to destroy it.
Maybe we could
We could throw it
into the Arctic Ocean or some shit?
Uh [snorts] No.
I just pictured a penguin wearing it.
You know, penguins don't even live
in the Arctic?
That's a little, little fun fact.
[muffled] Well, it's not that fun,
but it is a fact.
I don't know why the Arctic
just makes me think of penguins.
Damn, Ri,
what if the hood is indestructible?
That would be bad!
Wait, do you think
that it's indestructible?
- [muffling stops]
- I can't do this.
I can't figure this out.
I need to get outta here.
[sighs]
- [tense music playing]
- [heart beating rapidly]
Hey, Ri? Your heart rate is way too high.
I'm gonna bring some fresh air in,
but you gotta breathe, okay?
Remember to breathe. Just breathe.
Stop telling me to
breathe, N.A.T.A.L.I.E.
- I'm just trying to help.
- I can't breathe,
knowing everyone I love is going to die.
[breath shuddering]
Parker's gonna get us all
How can I breathe?
This is too much.
- Let me out of the suit.
- Ri
- Now! Let me out!
- [alarm beeps]
- I can't breathe.
- [heart beating faster]
[breathing heavily]
Okay.
Okay. I'll find us a spot to land.
- Riri? Should I get Ronnie? Probably not.
- [gasping]
Um Oh! I'll be right back. Hang on.
[screams]
- [muffled laughter]
- [inmate 1] Hey, man, when you out?
[inmate 2] Thursday, I think.
- [inmate 1] Did you say next week?
- [inmate 2] Yeah.
- [inmate 1] All right.
- [laughter]
- Tomorrow.
- [guard] Lights out.
- [door buzzes]
- [switches clanging]
[suspenseful music playing]
- [door beeps and buzzes, unlocks]
- [music stops]
[sneaky music playing]
[electrical buzzing]
[door shuts]
[lights buzzing]
[Slug] Incoming. He's headed your way.
[tense music playing]
My things.
[Jeri] Yeah.
Who the hell are you guys?
[music playing on headphones]
[knocking at window]
[rhythmic knocking]
Well, Miss Riri Williams at my window.
Uh, no thanks.
[screaming]
Holy shit! Oh, shit.
[whimpers] Oh, shit.
Don't you ever do that shit again!
I'll Boy.
Oh, shit.
[breathes heavily]
I'm alive. I'm alive.
Xavier? What are you doing here?
Your suit just kidnapped me.
Wh-What are you doing here?
You okay, Ri?
- [breath shuddering] I'm
- You don't have to say "fine."
I'm tired. [sniffles]
[melancholy music playing]
Hey, how'd you do that?
That remote control thing?
To summon me here? That was a trip.
What remote control thing?
[Natalie] I brought you here.
Natalie?
How are you doing that?
Pleasure to meet you, finally.
What do you think?
[energy humming]
That is
That is horrifying.
You had no right to use Natalie
as one of your little tech toys, Ri.
I thought if anybody would get me,
it'd be you.
If you think I like that,
then you don't know me at all.
Xa, wait. I swear it just happened.
But I don't know,
you get kinda used to it.
It's nice in a way. Like your mixtape.
Oh, my God, Ri. That's
not the same thing!
I'm honoring her!
You're freezing her in time,
faking like she's still alive!
Look at her. She is alive.
Sort of.
That is not my sister!
She's not sort of alive!
Wow. Okay. So, what would you do?
- If you were me, what would you do?
- Make her go away.
Delete
it.
[melancholy music playing]
Ri, really?
- N.A.T.A.L.I.E.
- [Natalie] I'm out.
[Riri] Wait.
[suit flies off]
Xa, I can't.
What you're asking is
I can't.
Well, maybe you should try.
'Cause it's not gonna end well, Ri.
And keep your watch.
- [melancholy music continues]
- [breath shudders]
[John] Put the phone down.
- Don't listen to him.
- [Parker] Listen.
- Listen while I show you my tricks.
- [John] I swear to God,
- if you do this shit, man
- I wanna show you what I can do!
[laughing]
- I love you, bro.
- He did.
[John] I love you with all my heart.
I guarantee you're wrong.
[cell phone vibrating]
Please tell me these are
the last components
- for this heavy-ass machine.
- [Ezekiel] Yep.
[machine buzzes]
Parker asked me to help upgrade you.
You don't mind?
Sure.
Well, let's get you cleaned up
for your alterations.
[trimmer whirring]
I can handle that.
[keyboard clacking]
- [Slug] You'll be awake, but sedated.
- It's not a bad look, right?
It's giving store-brand Jason Statham.
Wow. I haven't seen code this intricate
since Madripoor.
- Black market?
- Yeah. It was a pain to acquire,
but it helps me connect
the bionics to my brainwaves.
[Slug] Well, that's maybe oversimplifying
the science a little bit,
but I could do some real damage
with code like this. Wanna see?
[Ezekiel] Just stick to what I gave you,
the machine should run itself.
- Thanks for your help, though.
- Bite.
Good boy.
[tense music playing]
[keyboard clacking]
- [machine whirring]
- [grunts]
[intense music playing]
[machines whining]
[screaming]
[Ezekiel screams in distance]
[Parker] I got a side job for you.
Well, what kind of side job?
[Parker] A hit. Riri killed John.
[voices whispering indistinctly]
I want her head.
[menacing music playing]
[Anthony Ramos "Villano"]
Porque yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
No me importa que me odien
O me miren raro ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
El papel de heroe a mi me sale caro ♪
Que rumoren Que rumoren ♪
Al que le ofenda lo que hago
Si es por me que lloren, ayy ♪
And now I'm wanted Yeah, I'm wanted ♪
Soy un criminal, bebe ♪
I get it how I want it ♪
They caught me wildin' in the club
Yeah, I did that ♪
Shawty said she wanna
Yeah, I'm wit' that ♪
We were single, we were drunk
So I hit that ♪
Next day, the tabloids
with the spin back ♪
No te preocupes por mi, ohhh ♪
Culpame a mi, ohhh ♪
Dejemoslo asi ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
No me importa que me odien
O me miren raro ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
El papel de heroe a mi me sale caro ♪
Sorry Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Couldn't be a hero and it cost me ♪
It cost me, yeah Sorry ♪
Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Put me on the cover Run your story ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
No me importa que me odien
O me miren raro ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
El papel de heroe a mi me sale caro ♪
Sorry Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Couldn't be a hero and it cost me ♪
It cost me, yeah Sorry ♪
Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Put me on the cover Run your story ♪
Keep talking that shit ♪
'Cause I'mma keep winning
I'mma keep making this money ♪
Y'all gonna keep watching
from the stands ♪
[police siren wails]
[evil laughter]
[tense music playing]
[Natalie] You know nothin'
about this man!
And you don't care
'cause you only seein' money.
You're going to get caught.
[Riri] I wonder what Gary
would think of the suit.
You know, seeing me fly it.
This is where our day ends?
- [Gary] Girls, run!
- Dad!
These officers are here for you.
[officer 1] I'd like to ask you
about your relationship to Stuart Clarke.
[officer 2] He was found dead
this morning.
[Riri] They know everything about me.
About Ma.
Xa. I need to get ahead of thi
No! Are you crazy?
Do you know what you're up against?
This magical dude
can bend bullets to his will.
- [grunts]
- I need that hood.
[Joe] The truth is
I'm Ezekiel Stane.
[Parker] Let's look ahead
to the next hit.
[Riri] I know y'all killed Rampage.
[John] I knew you were trouble, Riri.
- [cries out]
- Open it.
Open the damn door, Riri!
No!
No. [sobs]
[screams]
Was this a part of the plan?
For John to die?
Why are you showing me this?
- [tense music playing]
- [heavy footsteps]
[music fades]
[John] Look, man. Uh, this is nothing.
Just like the last hit
and the one before. You go in,
stay undetected, get the money. Easy.
- Yeah.
- Just play this shit like we planned it.
And we'll be the ones sitting on our asses
like kings in some fancy-ass mansion.
Yeah
- His fancy mansion.
- Hey, come on.
Nothing personal, right?
Nothing personal.
Come on.
[suspenseful music playing]
[keypad beeping]
[lock chimes]
[suspenseful music continues]
[partition thuds]
[keypad beeping]
[dial turning]
[lock chimes, opens]
- [guard] Freeze!
- [gun cocks]
Come on, kid.
- [gunshot]
- [groaning]
- [John grunts]
- [groaning stops]
[John] We gotta go. Split up.
[Parker] John! How do I find you?
I'm never too far away.
- Okay?
- [thud]
I'm always with you.
[echoes] I'm always with you.
[train rumbling in distance]
Hey, Parker
You wanna say a few words, mate?
What am I supposed to say?
[Slug] Maybe we should
all go around and say what
we'll miss most about Cousin John?
Damn. Okay. Um
I guess I'll go first.
I'm gonna miss John's honesty.
Also
how much he loved opera.
[chuckles] He was
He was so sick for opera.
- [Slug chuckles] I know.
- [rumbling]
[muffled] Um I'm gonna miss
his stupid, bloody throwing stars.
[chuckles]
[conversation continues indistinctly
and muffled]
- [voices whispering indistinctly]
- [Gregorian chant music playing]
[Clown] Y'all know I've been pissed
at John, for good reason,
[clearly] but now,
I'm kinda mad he's not here.
- [whispering stops]
- And, um,
I don't know how to feel about that.
Know what I miss the most?
His loyalty.
It drove him, it defined him.
It killed him.
And he could be harsh at times.
He cared, about me. About us.
About our mission.
After the Heirlum disaster,
I wanna make sure we're perfect
on our next job.
We stick with the plan.
Continue your work.
All right.
Uh, Parker, you got anything for me?
Yeah
I got plans for you.
Okay.
You just let me know, then.
- [shop bell dings]
- [suspenseful music playing]
[rap music plays] I fell from the sky
without a parachute ♪
Baby, this is game
I'mma shoot at you ♪
Look up and look around
It's going down ♪
Say she call me King
I'mma wear the crown ♪
[Natalie] Riri?
Riri?
Riri
Riri! Hello!
Inside voices, please.
I've been trying to get your attention
for a whole minute.
What's up?
This creepy piece of fabric
that you jacked from Parker's cloak?
Find anything yet?
[Riri] It looks like internal combustion.
You know, like a heat engine?
Powers its host. Or in this case, Parker.
Okay, so we know where all the energy
goes, but where does it come from?
Huh, according to my analysis, nowhere.
I've cross-referenced this heat signature
with every known energy source.
Wakandan. Kree, Stark, Pym.
And I got nothing.
But that's impossible.
Energy doesn't just pop up outta nowhere.
It defies laws and physics.
And to be honest, I don't know how much
more Parker's body can take before
He was acting so weird this morning.
- You're being paranoid.
- Yeah, it's more than that, okay?
I know he's plotting something.
I need to understand his powers,
so I can fight back
when he inevitably comes for me.
[Ronnie] Riri?
Incoming. Lock the door.
You know, my mama don't believe
in locked doors unless you pay bills.
[door opens]
[Ronnie] What are you two up to?
- [both] Nothing.
- [Ronnie] Uh-huh.
I came to see if you need to come clean.
- "Come clean"?
- [uneasy music playing]
Come clean about what?
I said, if you need anything cleaned,
I'm on my way to the laundromat.
Oh. Right. Nah, I'm I'm good.
Riri
is there something
you need to talk about?
What do you mean?
Well, ever since you started this
new job, you've been coming home late,
buying expensive gifts.
And we haven't even talked
about your dead coworker.
[softly] You know about that?
The police told us, when they were here.
- Right.
- [softly] Right.
Right.
Okay. Well, call me if you need
anything while I'm out, okay?
Will do.
Okay. Bye.
[ominous music playing]
[Natalie] Where did it go?
Oh, no. He's here.
We gotta get Mom out of the house.
[Natalie] Oh, wait, wait!
Wait! It's back!
Okay. See? We're good.
How can you say that?
Why are you acting so calm?
Like I didn't just let John die.
You did what you had to do to survive.
John would've done the same. Okay?
- [scoffs]
- As he said. Listen! Ri!
You need to focus
on understanding Parker's hood.
Stressing over an act of self-defense
is going to get you killed.
I don't even know what to do.
- Call Shuri. Maybe she can help.
- Call her?
Okay.
"Uh, hello? Yeah! Shuri! What's
"Oh, what have I been up to?
Since causing an interspecies war
"on both land and sea?
"Um, well, I got kicked outta MIT.
"I joined a crew
of ragged-ass criminals, and
"Oh, now I'm about to get my ass popped
by a deranged man in a cape.
"Can you help?
"Hello?
"Hello, Sh Shuri?"
She hung up.
- When you say it like that
- Have you heard anything from Joe yet?
He's gotta have some ideas.
No. I keep getting his voicemail.
Do you want me to keep trying?
That's weird.
Nah, it's fine.
I'll just go see him in person.
Gotta go tell him
- about his bio-mesh, anyways.
- [door closes]
[suspenseful music playing]
- Excuse me.
- Mm-hmm?
You wouldn't happen to know
why Joe's house is surrounded
in police tape, would you?
[sighs] Joe.
You mean Ezekiel Stane?
Yeah. Cops came and got him this morning.
What? Why?
Well, for one thing, have you seen what
he's done to my Black-eyed Susans?
This is a beautiful neighborhood.
Although, if something were to happen,
I could've told you
it would've come from that house.
The evidence found
at the Heirlum crime scene
has been traced back
to Ezekiel Stane of Evanston, Illinois.
Again, this is a very active scene
that is very quickly evolving.
Ezekiel Stane,
who legally changed his name
to Joe McGillicuddy,
is the son of the late Obadiah Stane.
Obadiah was fondly remembered
as the former COO of Stark Industries,
who tragically died in a plane crash
more than 15 years ago.
So, this is devastating, and the community
in this area simply cannot believe it.
- You're up, Stane.
- [door buzzes]
[reporter 1] Stane faces
a multitude of charges,
including illegal possession
of bionic technology
and domestic terrorism.
[reporter 2] It's really unfortunate
what this scandal is doing
to the Stane family name.
I mean, Obadiah was a beloved man.
He was an inventor, philanthropist,
and mentor to the great Tony Stark.
May he also rest in peace.
I mean, poor Obadiah's gotta be
rolling in his grave over this.
[reporter 1] Looks like this bad apple
fell very far from the tree,
rolled down the hill,
and landed straight in the gutter.
Good one, Samantha.
- Thank you, Judy.
- Now here's
You know there's a whole Reddit thread
on Obadiah Stane sightings?
- Obadiah Stane's dead, bruh.
- Yeah.
Um, allegedly. No body.
Yeah. Well, that's because
it was all engulfed in flames.
Is anyone else wondering
how Ezekiel Stane's tech ended up
in the middle of our heist?
- No. Nobody's wondering that.
- Leave it alone, Clown.
This is the best thing
that could happen to us.
Somebody else is gonna take the fall.
I just feel bad.
That guy's not gonna survive prison.
[scoffs] You don't feel bad.
You have a crush.
No, I don't.
You know, you do kinda
give pen-pal-prison-wife vibes.
Y'all, I'm serious.
Isn't it a little odd?
John's dead, some random bionic guy
is being framed for our work,
and now Hood's being weird.
[Jeri] Hood's not being weird,
he's grieving.
It's completely understandable.
Not everyone grieves
in the same way, Clown.
[Clown] It's not grief, okay?
We're here, and he's somewhere else.
[ominous music playing]
[breathes heavily]
[reporter] Thank you.
Yeah, reporting to you live.
This is a situation
nobody could have possibly imagined
as multiple bodies continue to be
identified at the Heirlum crime scene.
We have to ask the question,
"How did this tech prodigy become
a suspected murderer?"
Of course, we'll keep you updated
on this story as it develops.
Stay tuned for the local traffic report,
and much more, right after this.
[door buzzes, opens]
Hey.
Looks like they got your favorite color.
Khaki.
Look, I know you're mad at me.
And you have every right to be.
You're at a loss for words.
That makes two of us.
I'm gonna get you outta here.
Okay? I promise.
- Is that why you're here?
- Yes.
And how do you expect to do that?
[softly] I'm working on it.
Mm. [scoffs]
I should've known never to trust you.
You're just a selfish kid
who can't take
any responsibility for herself.
You lie, you cheat, you manipulate.
You'll do anything you can
to save yourself,
even if that means hurting
other people in the process.
- [breath shuddering]
- [somber music playing]
Guard, I'm ready to go now, please.
[guard] All right, let's go.
[door buzzes, opens]
[hip-hop music playing,
The Roots "Concerto of the Desperado"]
[Riri] What's going on?
Yo, Ri! Where you been?
Just up to my eyeballs.
Yo, it's a good thing Parker's getting
that new tech specialist to help out.
Another tech specialist?
Yeah, he didn't tell you? That's weird.
[Riri] Oh, right.
Yeah. Yes. Just slipped my mind.
[uneasy music playing]
[Parker] He's a friend of yours?
Why would you say that?
Nah, I just I just assumed
everybody in tech knew each other.
I mean, we might have crossed paths.
You hate to see it, right?
Poor guy's probably gonna
rot in jail for our crimes.
- But, what a happy accident.
- [chuckles dryly]
Your outsourcing
really helped us, big time.
Outsourcing?
I just wish that, if you needed help,
Zeke Stane's or anyone else's,
you would have come to me.
But it's all good.
So, we'll bring someone in
to help pick up the slack.
Yeah, Clown mentioned that.
Here you go, Hood. It's all there.
[Parker] Thanks.
Hope you have a great day, Riri.
[Riri chuckles lightly]
- [upbeat music playing on speakers]
- [camera whirring]
- [objects clattering]
- [dog barking in distance]
Ain't nobody there, girl.
Thought I heard something.
Okay. You're paranoid.
You just need to stop, for a second,
okay? Just stop and process and just be.
[scoffs] I'm sorry.
- "Just be"?
- Just be.
You know what?
If I didn't know any better,
I'd just say meditate,
but then you're gonna do
the whole rolling-the-eyes thing and
There it is.
I'm finna go lay down.
Please get some rest, baby.
Oh, wait! I got something for you.
[Ronnie] Thank you.
You can put it on now.
- Why do I need a watch to go to bed?
- Just
Don't take it off, for any reason.
Or at least not till I tell you to.
Riri, what is going on with you?
I promise I will
explain everything later.
For now, I I gotta get back to work.
So, can you
Okay. Good night.
Thank you. Good night.
- [music continues playing]
- What are you doing?
"What am I do"
I'm shaking off my anxiety.
Hey! Where are we
Where are we, um, headed?
I am gonna see Xavier.
What, just you?
You know I wanna see my brother.
- Come on.
- He's not your brother, okay?
You're just gonna freak him out.
And you remember how I reacted?
When you arrived?
Can't ambush him.
Okay. But just imagine
how pissed off he'll be once you tell him
- how long you've been hiding me from him.
- All right.
Just not now. Okay?
Can we just focus? Please?
On not getting got
by an invisible gunslinger
with magic bullets? Huh?
I'm gonna need you to put that suit back.
[hip-hop music playing]
Make a whole lot of juice with that ♪
Gettin' all these loop ♪
Buy a brand new suit with that ♪
[Riri] Wear it at all times.
Uh, thanks,
but I'm not much of a watch guy.
- It's not for fashion.
- Clearly.
Should I even bother asking why?
No.
Okay, weirdo.
Xa, do you think I'm a good person?
Never mind. Just forget I asked.
"Good." "Bad."
Them words don't really mean anything.
It's all depending on who's labeling you.
I guess, if you were asking me
to describe you as a person
I'd say you're a smart person.
And a
a hard-working person.
A protective person.
And a
You're a complex person.
You're like
[chuckles] Spock.
- "Spock"?
- Mm.
I always think of myself as Uhura but
Please. The only thing y'all got
in common is that little complexion.
[Riri chuckles]
Now, look, all that being said,
you don't always let people in.
But I think underneath all that armor
is a soft heart.
So, with all that you are,
is "good" really a label you need?
[gentle music playing]
Uh, gotta get back to work.
- Yeah.
- [clears throat] Thanks for the watch.
[Riri] Mm.
Finally!
You're back!
Come on, what happened? Did y'all kiss?
Oh, my God. This does not seem
like the time to be making out.
[sighs] So, you're just gonna die?
Without having your first kiss, Ri?
You know the goal is to not die.
So, I need to start thinking
outside the box,
if I'm gonna protect us
from The Hood's magic.
Ri, you need to get some sleep.
Ri! Seriously.
For real.
Okay. Maybe just like
- 30 minutes.
- That's a start.
[breathing deeply]
[grunts softly]
[suspenseful music building]
[clattering in distance]
[softly] Okay.
[suspenseful music continues]
- [man, muffled] Scully!
- [mulled gunshots]
- [Ronnie] Riri!
- [Riri] Mom.
[tense music playing]
What's wrong?
You tell me. One moment
I'm on the case with Scully,
and the next thing I know,
your watch decides to airbag me!
It must've heard the
gunshots from the TV.
[Ronnie] Get me out of this thing.
[breathing heavily]
Riri? Are you okay?
You ready to talk to me?
- About what's going on?
- Ma, I'm fine.
Girl, you just busted down
my door like the Kool-Aid Man.
Because you screamed.
I thought you were in trouble.
Look at me.
I'm fine, but I'm worried about you.
I could tell something's wrong.
Now, would you please let me help?
I know I can't help
with all the science-y stuff, but, shoot.
Maybe you can use
a different kind of genius.
I mean, I can do a lot
with some patchouli and smoke.
Abracadabra all that anxiety away.
You know, I think you're right.
I've been all wrapped up in work and
maybe I could use a aura bath
- [snickers]
- or, you know,
a sound-cleansing chakra reading.
Some of that magic that
you're always talking about.
Oh. You want magic? [chuckles]
Mama's got the plug.
- Don't say plug.
- [laughs]
That chamomile is hitting, ain't it?
- [Riri] Mm.
- [Ronnie laughs]
[hip-hop music playing,
Floetry "Floetic"]
Floetry ♪
Uh, it's floetic Uh, it's floetic ♪
Uh, it's floetic ♪
[Ronnie] Here we go.
[Riri] Really?
- [Ronnie] What?
- [Riri] Miss Stanton? That's your plug?
Girl, come on.
[Riri] So, I asked for magic
and you heard Willy Wonka?
Is Willy Wonka not a magician?
Welcome to Stanton's. We got sweets.
We got reads. All your wishes guaranteed.
How can I help you?
[Ronnie] Zelma,
it hasn't been that long.
Where's your mama?
Is she around?
Yeah.
- Ma, this
- [shushes]
- [Zelma] There she is.
- A-ha!
- Ah, yes!
- [Ronnie] Maddie!
- Ay, Ronnie.
- Bring it in, my sister.
[Madeline] It's good to see you, too!
- Oh! You brought Riri.
- Mm-hmm.
It's nice to see you again.
You met my kid, Zelma.
The dutiful Oompa-Loompa.
[Madeline] So, what brings you in today?
Uh, Riri is looking for
some spiritual guidance.
- [Madeline] Oh?
- [Riri] Yeah, like crystals or
some sage.
Or what's in your pocket?
[Madeline] Uh-huh.
[chuckles slightly] Um, it's
You gonna answer her question?
Yo! No. Not here.
Okay. Uh
Mom? Please don't be mad.
- Why would I be
- [rumbling]
- [objects clinking]
- [Ronnie gasps]
Mad?
Holy shit!
Sorry. Was it too fast?
I'm still learning how to hit the brakes.
How did you even do that?
I barely blinked.
Transportation spell.
Is that a thing? 'Cause you're saying it
- like it's a thing, but
- Zelma, where are we right now?
The Western Cortex of Neverish.
- Huh?
- A parallel plane of
Now, you know you are not allowed to
visit other realms without my permission.
Y'all gonna casually throw around
the term "parallel plane"?
Okay. Right. I know,
but this one's not that far away
Or build secret rooms in other realms
without my permission.
You never actually said that, though.
Oh, we're gonna talk
about this shit later.
Give me the thing.
[Madeline] Let's hope your little act
of rebellion gives us something.
[Zelma] Oh, it will. I've been studying.
Well, is it enchanted?
Do you think it's witchcraft?
- It's possible, but unlikely.
- I don't know. Seems natural.
[energy whooshes]
- [both] It's natural.
- Uh, Riri? I thought
Is this about your Iron suit stuff?
It's not not about my Iron suit stuff.
What do you mean by "natural"?
It means it was created
in a different dimension.
[Riri] How do you know that?
I mean, the disappearing
and reappearing is a tell.
It's unstable.
[Madeline] Yeah, this thing
isn't from our realm.
- And it's very old.
- Uh, how does this work?
Oh. "Making the unknown known
is the greatest magic.
"Therefore, learning
and teaching, the truest spell."
Is that supposed to mean something to me?
Girl, it's a saying
she got from the Kamar-Taj.
What's Kamar-Taj?
Thank you. It's my reach school.
All the way in Nepal,
where all the greatest sorcerers
of our dimension trained
in magic arts and sciences.
Y'all ever heard of Doctor Strange?
- [high-pitched screeching]
- Hey, please don't touch those.
Once they get in your brain,
they're kinda hard to get out.
- Who gave you brain maggots?
- No one.
Hold up.
Madeline, you're an actual sorcerer?
Or whatever?
No, she's a dropout.
Excuse you.
I chose to leave because I
had a little witchling to raise.
And I still think you guys
could have raised me there.
I could have learned from actual masters
instead of these old books
and baby witches off of TikTok.
Now, I've told you,
Kamar-Taj is no place for a child.
Besides, bringing you back to Chicago
forced you to make
a whole new magic of your own.
And it's amazing.
It's reckless, but amazing.
What are you doing now?
I'm reading tea leaves.
Oh. I know how to do that.
[splats, squelching]
Never mind.
[low, ominous music playing]
[faint crackling]
Mom, why is it like that?
That's enough. We're done here.
Where did you get this?
I got it from this dude
with a magical red cloak,
and I think it's scarring his whole body.
- Oh, hell no.
- Oh, shit.
- [rumbling]
- Everybody out.
What's going on? What did you see?
- I saw
- Zelma! Hush!
Maddie, mother to mother,
if Riri is into some dark stuff,
you have got to tell me.
Riri, I need you to stay
far, far away from that thing
and whoever it came from.
- Why?
- This shit is dark.
Like, real dark.
This itty-bitty piece of fabric?
This piece of fabric comes
from one of the darkest dimensions
known and probably unknown.
And the cloak that it's coming from
is likely possessing whoever's in it.
No. This entity doesn't possess,
it influences.
So, it's like a
Does this entity have a name?
Wait! Just point me
to where I can learn more.
It's not that simple.
Magic is not like technology.
You know, we say, "There's no bad tech,
"just bad people who use tech."
Well, there is bad magic,
and it is dangerous for everyone.
Especially good people.
- Destroy it.
- Well, I could
[door closes]
Okay.
Okay, so, at least we know
it's from another dimension.
But she didn't say how to destroy it.
[breathing heavily]
Do you think burning it will work?
My laser cutter divided the particles,
but it didn't destroy it.
There must be another way.
Or I could try dissolving it.
Yeah, I could find some
antimony pentafluoride
and fluorosulfonic acid.
Yeah, I could
Whatchu think?
- Ma!
- Why didn't you just say you needed help?
- I did.
- No.
You manipulated me,
acting like you needed
some sage and crystals.
And you smuggled something dangerous
in my friend's shop, behind my back.
Are you the one messing with this hood
- or cloak or whatever it is?
- I promise, I'm not.
Then why do you even have that?
Ma, I can't do this with you right now.
- Please.
- I am worried about you.
Don't, okay? I am fine.
"Fine"? You're fine?
Leaving the house at night,
coming home in the early morning?
Lying about where you are?
Gifting me safety watches
that trapped me in protective bubbles?
Having panic attacks?
Sleeping in your suit?
One coworker dead, another arrested for
domestic terrorism? That's fine to you?
If you don't want me to lie to you,
then don't ask me these questions.
Don't you trust me?
What are you talking about?
You could always go to
Gary for help, never me.
It has been five years since he died
This is why I don't tell you shit,
because you push me to deal with things
the way that you want me to.
And then if I don't,
you make me talk about my dead stepdad.
Okay. I
I am not you
and you actually can't take that.
[rumbling]
I swear to God, Riri,
you better not get in that.
Or what?
Riri! I can't help you
if you end up dead or in jail.
- [suit whirring]
- Where are you going?
Riri!
[door buzzing]
[indistinct chatter]
[door closes]
Ezekiel Stane.
Awesome. Hallucinations.
Just what I need.
No. Ezekiel, this
is this is very real.
I'm sorry to barge in unannounced.
My name's Parker,
but you can call me Hood, if you like.
- It's a pleasure to meet you.
- How'd you get in here?
Are you like a lawyer or something?
Obviously not. Let me explain.
You and I have something in common.
Rather, someone in common.
Riri Williams.
I actually think,
based on what was left at Heirlum
That was me, by the way.
that you have the skill set
and drive to be something great.
Work for me,
and I'll get you your life back, Stane.
Is that a joke?
I can't go back to my job.
I can't go back to my house.
I can't even go back to my name.
My life is over.
How exciting.
- Excuse me?
- Joe's a pretty shitty name for you.
Probably shitty house. Shitty job, too.
Take my offer, and you get to create
a whole new life
with this passion of yours.
- A whole new life as, what? A fugitive?
- As Zeke Stane.
Or you can rot in jail
as Joe McGillicuddy.
Have a think on it, and get
back to me tonight, at lights-out.
That's when you decide who you wanna be.
[door beeps, thuds]
[suspenseful music playing]
[sighs]
[Natalie] Oh, Riri, I don't think
there's gonna be anything here
to help us fight
dark, interdimensional magic.
You know, you're probably right,
but I need a quiet place to think.
Mom's kitchen doesn't exactly seem
like the right place right now.
[sighs]
Blast the door, N.A.T.
[Natalie] Check the mat, Ri.
[Riri scoffs]
[scoffs] Of course, Joe has a spare key
for his hideout.
Let's get to work.
[soul music playing,
Erykah Badu "The Healer"]
Alhamdulillah Allah Jehovah ♪
Yahweh Dios Ma'at Jah ♪
Rastafari fyah dance ♪
Sex, music ♪
[muffled explosion]
[steam hissing]
Told you we ain't dead yet ♪
- Thank you.
- [music stops]
- Oh, my God.
- [music resumes]
"We ain't dead," said the children ♪
Don't believe it ♪
[Riri] What is this thing made of?
No.
Underwater, stovetop ♪
Blue flame scientists ♪
Come out with your scales up ♪
Get baptized in the ocean ♪
[Riri] This is so frustrating.
Why is nothing working?
[music stops]
[Natalie sighs]
Parker's hood must be like old, old.
Like, Stegosaurus old.
Could probably survive nuclear fallout.
Like, there's no way we're
the first people who tried to destroy it.
Maybe we could
We could throw it
into the Arctic Ocean or some shit?
Uh [snorts] No.
I just pictured a penguin wearing it.
You know, penguins don't even live
in the Arctic?
That's a little, little fun fact.
[muffled] Well, it's not that fun,
but it is a fact.
I don't know why the Arctic
just makes me think of penguins.
Damn, Ri,
what if the hood is indestructible?
That would be bad!
Wait, do you think
that it's indestructible?
- [muffling stops]
- I can't do this.
I can't figure this out.
I need to get outta here.
[sighs]
- [tense music playing]
- [heart beating rapidly]
Hey, Ri? Your heart rate is way too high.
I'm gonna bring some fresh air in,
but you gotta breathe, okay?
Remember to breathe. Just breathe.
Stop telling me to
breathe, N.A.T.A.L.I.E.
- I'm just trying to help.
- I can't breathe,
knowing everyone I love is going to die.
[breath shuddering]
Parker's gonna get us all
How can I breathe?
This is too much.
- Let me out of the suit.
- Ri
- Now! Let me out!
- [alarm beeps]
- I can't breathe.
- [heart beating faster]
[breathing heavily]
Okay.
Okay. I'll find us a spot to land.
- Riri? Should I get Ronnie? Probably not.
- [gasping]
Um Oh! I'll be right back. Hang on.
[screams]
- [muffled laughter]
- [inmate 1] Hey, man, when you out?
[inmate 2] Thursday, I think.
- [inmate 1] Did you say next week?
- [inmate 2] Yeah.
- [inmate 1] All right.
- [laughter]
- Tomorrow.
- [guard] Lights out.
- [door buzzes]
- [switches clanging]
[suspenseful music playing]
- [door beeps and buzzes, unlocks]
- [music stops]
[sneaky music playing]
[electrical buzzing]
[door shuts]
[lights buzzing]
[Slug] Incoming. He's headed your way.
[tense music playing]
My things.
[Jeri] Yeah.
Who the hell are you guys?
[music playing on headphones]
[knocking at window]
[rhythmic knocking]
Well, Miss Riri Williams at my window.
Uh, no thanks.
[screaming]
Holy shit! Oh, shit.
[whimpers] Oh, shit.
Don't you ever do that shit again!
I'll Boy.
Oh, shit.
[breathes heavily]
I'm alive. I'm alive.
Xavier? What are you doing here?
Your suit just kidnapped me.
Wh-What are you doing here?
You okay, Ri?
- [breath shuddering] I'm
- You don't have to say "fine."
I'm tired. [sniffles]
[melancholy music playing]
Hey, how'd you do that?
That remote control thing?
To summon me here? That was a trip.
What remote control thing?
[Natalie] I brought you here.
Natalie?
How are you doing that?
Pleasure to meet you, finally.
What do you think?
[energy humming]
That is
That is horrifying.
You had no right to use Natalie
as one of your little tech toys, Ri.
I thought if anybody would get me,
it'd be you.
If you think I like that,
then you don't know me at all.
Xa, wait. I swear it just happened.
But I don't know,
you get kinda used to it.
It's nice in a way. Like your mixtape.
Oh, my God, Ri. That's
not the same thing!
I'm honoring her!
You're freezing her in time,
faking like she's still alive!
Look at her. She is alive.
Sort of.
That is not my sister!
She's not sort of alive!
Wow. Okay. So, what would you do?
- If you were me, what would you do?
- Make her go away.
Delete
it.
[melancholy music playing]
Ri, really?
- N.A.T.A.L.I.E.
- [Natalie] I'm out.
[Riri] Wait.
[suit flies off]
Xa, I can't.
What you're asking is
I can't.
Well, maybe you should try.
'Cause it's not gonna end well, Ri.
And keep your watch.
- [melancholy music continues]
- [breath shudders]
[John] Put the phone down.
- Don't listen to him.
- [Parker] Listen.
- Listen while I show you my tricks.
- [John] I swear to God,
- if you do this shit, man
- I wanna show you what I can do!
[laughing]
- I love you, bro.
- He did.
[John] I love you with all my heart.
I guarantee you're wrong.
[cell phone vibrating]
Please tell me these are
the last components
- for this heavy-ass machine.
- [Ezekiel] Yep.
[machine buzzes]
Parker asked me to help upgrade you.
You don't mind?
Sure.
Well, let's get you cleaned up
for your alterations.
[trimmer whirring]
I can handle that.
[keyboard clacking]
- [Slug] You'll be awake, but sedated.
- It's not a bad look, right?
It's giving store-brand Jason Statham.
Wow. I haven't seen code this intricate
since Madripoor.
- Black market?
- Yeah. It was a pain to acquire,
but it helps me connect
the bionics to my brainwaves.
[Slug] Well, that's maybe oversimplifying
the science a little bit,
but I could do some real damage
with code like this. Wanna see?
[Ezekiel] Just stick to what I gave you,
the machine should run itself.
- Thanks for your help, though.
- Bite.
Good boy.
[tense music playing]
[keyboard clacking]
- [machine whirring]
- [grunts]
[intense music playing]
[machines whining]
[screaming]
[Ezekiel screams in distance]
[Parker] I got a side job for you.
Well, what kind of side job?
[Parker] A hit. Riri killed John.
[voices whispering indistinctly]
I want her head.
[menacing music playing]
[Anthony Ramos "Villano"]
Porque yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
No me importa que me odien
O me miren raro ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
El papel de heroe a mi me sale caro ♪
Que rumoren Que rumoren ♪
Al que le ofenda lo que hago
Si es por me que lloren, ayy ♪
And now I'm wanted Yeah, I'm wanted ♪
Soy un criminal, bebe ♪
I get it how I want it ♪
They caught me wildin' in the club
Yeah, I did that ♪
Shawty said she wanna
Yeah, I'm wit' that ♪
We were single, we were drunk
So I hit that ♪
Next day, the tabloids
with the spin back ♪
No te preocupes por mi, ohhh ♪
Culpame a mi, ohhh ♪
Dejemoslo asi ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
No me importa que me odien
O me miren raro ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
El papel de heroe a mi me sale caro ♪
Sorry Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Couldn't be a hero and it cost me ♪
It cost me, yeah Sorry ♪
Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Put me on the cover Run your story ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
No me importa que me odien
O me miren raro ♪
Yo soy el villano ♪
Sigue con el cuento
Que yo soy el malo ♪
Ya yo no le paro ♪
El papel de heroe a mi me sale caro ♪
Sorry Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Couldn't be a hero and it cost me ♪
It cost me, yeah Sorry ♪
Porque ya me puse pa' mi ♪
Tried to pretend 'til I lost me ♪
Put me on the cover Run your story ♪
Keep talking that shit ♪
'Cause I'mma keep winning
I'mma keep making this money ♪
Y'all gonna keep watching
from the stands ♪
[police siren wails]
[evil laughter]
[tense music playing]