Episode Report Card Erin: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The bitch is back.
By Erin | Season 4 | Episode 21 | Aired on 05.17.2005
Plane of Awkward Family Reunions. Syd tells Irina that Elena's begun her endgame and Sloane is with her. Irina's totally not surprised, seeing as they're both ridiculously driven. Irina comments that Elena's cruelty runs deeper than Sloane's, and Syd apologizes for not having found her sooner; they simply didn't know. Syd reaches out to touch Irina's wrist and Irina recoils like she's been touched with a hot poker. "What did she do to you?" asks Syd, suddenly alarmed. Jack, from his position far, far away at the end of the plane, looks up in concern. Irina tells her story. She found a Rambaldi manuscript -- one she knew Elena was looking for. "It's called 'Il Diluvio,'" says Irina. "The Flood," says Syd, translating for us. "Rambaldi imagined a moment when the world would be cleansed," says Irina. "When the world would begin anew." "An apocalypse," says Syd, obviously donning her hat as the Leading Director of What's Irina Saying Now Productions.
When Irina saw what was in the document, obviously, she had to destroy it. Syd understands. She also understands that that's why Elena needed her. Irina says that Elena kept her in darkness; she doesn't know where or how long. She had barely enough food or water and there came a time when she didn't know whether she was alive or dead. Both of the daughters look visibly disturbed by this announcement. Irina goes on to say that Elena only released her for questioning and that she, Elena, was always quick-tempered and volatile and Irina half thought Elena would get pissed off and just kill her already. "But she had learned patience," says Irina, tears springing to her eyes again. It's just…God, I don't mean to be a starfucker here, but Lena Olin brings more to one line of dialogue than some actors bring to whole damn paragraphs. With just a small gesture of tweaking the tears from the corners of her eyes, she basically tells everyone in the room, yeah, I'm crying. So what? Not gonna happen often or for long, so just count yourselves lucky you SAW IT AT ALL. My love cup runneth over.
Eventually, Irina continues, she was moved to a medical facility and injected with something; the pain was excruciating, she'd go into cardiac arrest and Elena would just stabilize her heartbeat and allow her to rest so that she could endure more. "And she did this…dozens and dozens of times," says Irina, her face finally showing pain. "I couldn't fight it." She looks away, embarrassed. "I told her everything." "Mom…" says Sydney, finally taking her mother's hands. They look at each other and Irina says that she wishes she could spare her what's about to come, but she needs her now. Syd's up for it. "We need to go to Sevogda," says Irina. Jack steps up and tells her that they've already activated the Mueller Device and that it's already too late for that city. Irina thinks that they have to stop Elena and Sloane now before they move on to another city and another and another. "We'll send in a team," he grits. "I HELPED Elena build the device," she snaps, "I can figure out how to destroy it." Jack looks cowed. "There are no alternatives," she says. "All right," he says, "I'll tell the pilot to change course. And is there anything else I can get you? Chocolate? Champagne? Foot massage? A gun with one bullet in it pointed at my head? Anything for you, sweetie, really. Promise. Sorry about that whole shooting-you thing." Heh. Hell hath no fury like a woman with a damn bullet in her clone's head.