‘They call themselves The Soulless.
Apparently, everlasting life has robbed
mankind of their souls.’
Oswald Danes is in yet
another interview, and this time he’s not talking about his past crimes but
sees himself as a voice of the people. Since the Miracle Day has given him a
new lease of life, he’s saying exactly what the citizens of the US of A want to
hear.
As the interviewer asks
him why people accept him as an expert on the Miracle. He revels in the fact
that, scientists are saying nothing. They have no answers for what is happening
to the world at present. But knows that, nobody is looking at the profits made
by drug companies at the moment. He insists that as more people are living,
that they’re going to need more drugs, and potions and it should be given to
the people for FREE. There should be free access, free health care, free drugs
for all.
Friedkin, come down the
stairs in his dressing gown after hearing his television come on. He’s certain
he switched it off along with locking all his exterior doors, so nobody should
be downstairs, raging about being set up and pressing the cold hard barrel of a
pistol against his skull.
Matheson is pissed.
Someone has set him up, and Friedkin would be the only one with access to the
files. He demands to know who he’s working for, and presses the gun against several
parts of Friedkin’s skull that contain memories, personality and the part of
the brain that controls bodily functions such as the bladder. Crying like the baby
he is, Friedkin begs for his life, swearing to Matheson that he has no idea of
the people he works for. He’s never met them. They contact him on one telephone
number.
Sitting in the Getaway
vehicle, Captain Jack Harkness insists Rex gets the number and insists he
hurries the hell up, as the alarm button that signifies Police or emergency
services has most definitely been pressed. Esther confirms that a unit on Fifth
is heading for Riverdale. Gwen is ready and waiting with the spike.
Rex swipes the phone from
the desk. Friedkin informs him that he’ll never find them. He never did.
‘They’re everywhere. They know everything.’
Hoping that Friedkin
doesn’t go deaf, Rex fires the gun close to his ear and heads out to Jack,
waiting impatiently. As the police car screams towards them, Gwen casts the
spike and jumps into the back of the car.
In Washington DC, as Gwen
heads back with supplies, a procession of mask wearing individuals carrying
candles, walk silently through the streets. When Gwen returns she dishes out
the bags. Esther informs her that her family have been moved to a safe house,
location unknown, under the custody of Sergeant Andy Davidson. Gwen asks Jack
if he’s called Andy. When she doesn’t receive the answer she’d been hoping for,
she undermines his authority and demands he finds it pretty quickly, given that
it’s her family, so it’s more important than looking up whatever Jack is
looking up on the internet. For now, Jack lets it slide, but you can’t wait for
that blow out. You know it’s going to come.
Courtesy of Jack’s
cashpoint card, gathering interest since 1906, Gwen dishes out some new clothes
for the team, and food, which Esther corrects her on the American terms over
the British. Gwen insists Esther remain by her side. She gives each of them a
new mobile phone, and informs them of a new cult on the street. The Soulless.
Esther informs them that
Friedkin was telling the truth about his handset. There was only ever one
number on it. But when she traced it, it hit a vine. Rex explains to Gwen that
a vine is when you trace a number back but the trail branches out again and
again, so instead of chasing one number you’re chasing five hundred thousand.
On the small tv screen,
Oswald Danes is talking about the drugs issue. It piques Jack’s interest as the
man is on every network. He discovers through Rex who the man is.
Rex, snaps at Esther as he
watches her put numbers into her new phone. He embarrasses her in front of the
team. Esther defends herself but as a timid little mouse, it’s going to be some
time before she gains the confidence to ‘roar’.
Gwen and Jack stand up for
her against Rex. Rex naturally questions Jack’s authority, and is quickly put
in his place by Harkness who informs him that he’s now a member of Torchwood
whether he likes it or not. As the team settle down again, Jack questions the
theory of the morphic fields, because with his knowledge of all things
Torchwood, this is the only thing that would make any sense.
‘It's like there's some sort of energy
behind this. A will, a drive, a consciousness, because this miracle, it's more
than people just surviving. They are so alive. You saw Lyn, that woman at the
airport. She should have been paralysed but she just kept on going. And I've
seen bodies at the morgue, burnt and broken, still alive, staring right at me.
They weren't even allowed to be unconscious. It's as if something is willing them
to go on, each and every individual forced into life.’
It forces Rex realise that
this was him. He should ideally have been killed but here he is, going through
the pain of living with the fact he should be dead, and dealing with the damage
of the spike through his heart. Sobering thought.
When Esther asks Jack
about his findings, he admits that he wasn’t the only person thinking the same
thing. Each morphic field search got 10 million results. As a Watch Analyst
with the CIA, this to Esther is a routine job for her.
Rex also informs them that
Friedkin had cockblocked the ATF, when Gwen asks for that in English, Esther
informs her that the ATF is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives. The ATF had asked about information regarding a warehouse in
Washington but the request had been forwarded onto ancillary three times. Still
vague, Rex explains to her that it’s a paper chase, a guaranteed way of losing
something in the system.
Esther begins to realise
that the warehouse could be holding something of interest that Friedkin has
paid someone to protect, which prompts Rex to take the lead and rally the team
into stealing a new car. Jack informs him that Torchwood are in charge and
relays Matheson’s instructions, with a grin.
It’s still night time when
they venture out into the street, and while the rest of the team try car door
handles, Gwen uses her initiative, finds a handy rock at the side of the road because
there’s always a handy rock available and breaks a window.
A bit of friendly banter
while Rex changes into the dry cleaned clothes in the back of the car, Gwen
drives them as close to the warehouse as possible, often on the wrong side of
the road. With the security profile at their disposal, Esther relays that the
guards clock in every fifteen minutes starting on the hour. With a plan in
place, Esther drives the car up to the guard, while Gwen sits in the back with
a map and a face of pure innocence.
With the gullible guard
knocked out, Esther remains on look out in the car, while Gwen disables the
alarm enough to trick it into booting up for the day. It does however mean that
when they enter the warehouse, all the lights and computer systems will be on.
Inside the building, they
discover rows upon rows of drug filled cardboard boxes that have been
stockpiled for at least a year. Rex opens up double doors to discover a room
that’s ‘bigger on the inside’ (where have we heard that saying?)
He’s astounded by the
level of stockpiling.
‘They were ready for the Miracle. Phicorp
knew it was coming.’
Vera Juarez is frustrated
that the husband of the woman lying in the bed with a bruised neck can’t be
tried for murder. But as the police officer explains to her, they can’t even
call it murder any more. Before Vera can say much else, a nurse informs her
that she’s late for a panel.
In City Hall, clever men
are arguing over issues that affect the world, but bicker like children in a
playground, and more so, bicker about contraceptives in the water supply that
force you to think ‘did Torchwood have anything to do with this?’
Vera wants more facilities
to deal with the problems arising from the walking dead. It makes me realise
while I’m reviewing this episode that, it was her idea for the camps.
Outside City Hall, Vera
takes a well-earned break and draws on her cigarette. A few minutes behind her,
Jilly Kitzinger drops by for a chat, and encourages her to join Phicorp,
promising her that she won’t regret it.
Back in the hideout, Jack,
Esther and Gwen plan a deep search on Phicorp and uncover their secrets.
Unhappy with this plan, especially if they find something and don’t intend to
act upon it, Rex decides to see his senior instructor at Langley, who he’s
pretty sure will give him a chance. Despite Jack’s reservations, Rex sets up
the meet.
Across the road from the
Freeville Hotel, Rex watches as police cars screech to a halt outside the
building and several armed officers storm inside. Annoyed at being let down by
the very people he thought he could trust, he doubts very much that Torchwood
can do much better pointing out that Torchwood are dead and buried, and hitting
Jack where it hurts, points out that Jack got all his staff killed.
Walking back to the
hideout after Rex bails on them, Esther, Gwen and Jack observe the world around
them. Jack, having not been mortal for a very long time, experiences things
only another mortal man would understand. An itchy arm, a worry that it could
be infected, and an urge to get drunk and perhaps enjoy the trappings of a one-night
stand, Gwen can do little to stop him.
Jack crosses the road to
the Golden Gopher bar, expressing his opinion that he’s a mortal man who has
mortal needs.
Inside the Golden Gopher,
Jack meets barman Brad, who takes an exceptional interest in the coat he wears,
so much so that he tells Jack not to damage the coat, or he’s jumping over the
bar to protect it.
In Danes’ Motel room, a
talk show discusses yet again the Miracle and news that The Supreme Court has
agreed to hear a case asking for adjustments to the life sentences of convicted
criminals. It worries Danes, who switches off the tv and goes out for some ice.
Although it’s a ruse to put a distance between himself and the motel.
In Mabel’s Diner he sits
and eats a meal in silence until he’s recognised across the aisle by two young
diners. On the television, a preacher gets up on his podium spouting religious
clap trap.
Vera comes home to a dark
house and begins to undress. Removing her shoes, she jumps out of her skin when
she hears a voice close by. Switching on the light she sees a sick Rex Matheson
who insists she redresses his wound, before collapsing. A short while later,
he’s fixed up and resting on her bed. He asks her for help with medicine and
care, until he’s able to clear his name. He wins her around with a little
blackmail. It’s enough for her to comply with his wishes, but despite
protesting that she’s too exhausted, they kiss, long and slow.
In Brad’s apartment, Jack
insists that Brad uses protection. It’s a lifetime of regrets if he doesn’t.
‘Fine. You’re calling the shots.’ Jack nods
and pushes Brad to his knees.
There are many scenes in
this episode but this is one of my favourite, and a little bit racier than
we’re used to in Torchwood.
After an initial yelp of
pain from his wound, distracting him, Rex passionately draws Vera back into the
game.
The television evangelist
recites the fifteenth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to a less
than interested audience in the diner. Danes finishes up his meal and leaves.
The young couple who recognised him, follow him out and berate him over his
killing of Susie Cabina. When he runs, they give chase. Unfortunately, two officers on a break are to
be his saviours for a short time, suggesting the young couple go home. Agreeing
to run Danes home, they take the long route back, via a quiet back road, where
nobody will hear his muffled cries, as they beat him up.
Lying beside him, Vera is
shocked to learn that Phicorp knew about the Miracle. She feels guilty about
her mother, wishing she’d done more to keep her alive a little longer. When she
mentions to Rex about Kitzinger, he insists she has to go and find out more,
when she refuses, he insists a little more forcefully, pointing out that she’d
let her mother die. A sure fire way of ruining a perfect relationship.
Meanwhile on the other
side of town, Brad is worn out and Jack is a little drunk. He’s on the phone to
Gwen, back at the hideout. The goalposts have changed. With Gwen now immortal,
and Jack mortal, it’s given him clarity. He misses her. He misses the whole
Torchwood feel that they had. A good team is hard to find and he knows that if
Ianto had been with them, if things had been different….
As he continues down the
inebriated road, Gwen is interrupted by Esther. She’s found an uplink, bouncing
a signal off Paraguay, she’s able to hook up to the safe house and a chance to
talk with her husband and daughter. Suddenly, Jack is old news, and while he
laments about the good times, and how much they don’t need Rex or anyone else,
Gwen’s eyes are only on Rhys and their daughter.
Rhys informs her that with
police supervision they can move back to Swansea.
Jilly Kitzinger watches as
the patrol car drops off its passenger before driving off. Danes looks up from
the pavement. Kitzinger has a very important meeting for them to go to. He can
get cleaned up on the plane to Dulles. Danes’ curiosity is piqued.
‘These are the times that make men.’ Jilly
tells him. ‘So it’s your choice. Stay where you are, or stand up tall and
stride across the skin of the world. Which is it?’
Sitting on a bench outside
the Garfield Building, Rex receives the news he’s been hoping for. Vera accepts
the task.
Suffering from a hangover
from hell, Jack returns to the hideout to find Rex learning about the Torchwood
contact lenses, currently being modelled by Gwen. Jack tells them they came
from a ‘distant moon of a distant star’. Restating it when Rex doesn’t believe
him. Enjoying his new lease of mortality, Jack is enjoying the hangover.
Reaching for the pills to cure the headache, Rex dislikes Jack taking his
pills, explaining that they’re for legitimate pain.
‘I need them too.’
‘You weren’t impaled.’
‘Ha. You should have seen the other guy. Oh
that face. Rex doesn’t like his jokes too gay.’
‘No. Rex doesn’t like men in their forties
acting like they’re twenty.’
Rex is impressed with the
software, more so when he learns that the camera inside the lens can also
communicate with the user. Impressed even further, he can’t wait to try them
out when he goes to the meeting with Vera. Disappointed however when he
discovers that the contact lenses are isomorphic and only work for Gwen. Of
course, we know otherwise, as do the rest of the team. Rex on the other hand
doesn’t need to know…. just yet.
When Vera opens the door
to the meeting at Phicorp, she’s surprised to find Gwen waiting to enter and
not Rex. Unperturbed, Gwen instructs her to return to the meeting hall and keep
Kitzinger there for as long as possible.
As Gwen, dressed
professionally walks up the stairs towards Kitzinger’s office, Oswald Danes
walks down the stairs with his new PA, Kitzinger. Viewing the images from back
at the hideout, Jack insists Gwen follows Oswald while Rex insists she continue
with the mission.
Esther adds to Jack’s
interest of Oswald Danes that the man chose the right day to be executed but
that he has nothing to do with what they’re looking for. Jack on the other
hand, feels that he does. Danes tells
the interviewer that he has been forgiven by the public. He can feel it in his
heart and guts. He feels blessed and thinks of the forgiveness as a cure.
In the Meeting Hall,
Morganthall opens the meeting by introducing himself then goes into the speech
about the drugs that Phicorp are cashing in on. Gwen locates Jilly’s office and
enters after picking the lock. She then hacks into the desktop computer. Vera
phones Rex as Jilly leaves to return to her office. With seconds to spare, Gwen
is given a heads up through the Eye5 software and presses herself against the
side of the bookcase as Kitzinger enters her office. A phone call from Vera
soon brings her back downstairs. Gwen removes the flash drive that had been
downloading the info they need and quickly leaves.
Commending Gwen over the
data retrieved, Rex and Esther are surprised when the phone rings. However, the
call hasn’t come from any of their phones, but the one stolen from Friedkin. A
few hesitant moments, and Rex picks up the phone as Esther begins the trace.
But as they suspected, it hits a vine and spans out. Rex is smiling after the
call though. It’s time to leave, before the place is swarming with CIA agents
and police. Rex begins packing up the gear, while wondering where Jack got to.
Climbing in through the
window of the hotel room, Jack is surprised by Oswald’s sudden appearance.
Danes none the wiser assumes Jack is connected to the interview he will be
giving shortly. But when Jack pulls his gun on the convicted child killer,
Danes had a feeling a man like Jack wouldn’t be too far away.
Jack doesn’t care about
Danes, only about Phicorp and whether they’d mentioned his name. But as Danes
speaks, Jack realises that the man is more involved than they gave him credit
for. All the things that he did to the young girl. He was robbed of an
execution.
Having recorded Oswald
Danes’ response to the killing of Susie Cabina, Jack intends on broadcasting
it. But Danes is one step ahead and calls in the goons looking after him,
courtesy of Phicorp. Poor Jack is dealt a few hefty blows in the guts, but ‘not
the face.’
As Danes goes into the
interview, Jack is beaten up before being tossed out onto the streets. People
watching outside the studio stare at him on the ground, one woman comes up to
him asking if he touched Oswald. Jack stares at the television screens where a
crowd gather. Danes’ words become a kind of sermon, and he’s the preacher
delivering the good word.
‘I’m asking you to join with me in this
great enterprise. As we walk across the fragile
skin of this wide world together. The future is now endless and it’s
terrifying. I’m offering you my hand to walk on this long journey together.
Walk with me. That’s all I ask. Walk with me.’
Unlike the previous
episode, this one brought more of the characters together. Esther never
considered Oswald Danes to be a key figure in the whole story but as we’re
seeing, Danes is as important as Phicorp, as important as Torchwood seeing this
through and as important as Rex and Esther, and the story unfolding.
I’m looking forward to the
next episode, if only because the story begins to hot up.
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