The camera pans slowly up Max's legs, which are clad in fishnet stockings. She's also wearing a short leather skirt. What is with each episode starting out with Max all dressed up? I guess the network heads insisted that Max show more skin or something. I wonder how Jessica Alba feels about that. I wonder how Michael Weatherly feels about that. Anyway, Max applies lipstick as, offscreen, Logan tells her that she needs to get to the club soon, or else Fat Tony and his crew will have already "hooked up with their goumadas." I'm not sure how to spell that word, but I'm sure that Sars, with her Sopranos recapping skills, can fix it if I got it wrong. ["It's usually spelled 'goomar' or 'goomah,' I think but it's possible that they spell it differently in the dystopian future." -- Sars] Logan explains to Max that it means "girlfriend," which is a kind way of putting it. Logan tells Max that she's supposed to meet up with some guy named Doug, also known as Books, who is an accountant for the Sparacino crime family. Books was supposed to rat on the Sparacino family to Eyes Only, but he backed out. Max laughs at Logan's mobspeak and says that she understands that her mission is to "flip Dougie." I just noticed that really cheesy Italian music is playing in the background, like something from an Olive Garden commercial. Max walks out in her sexy outfit, complete with platinum wig, and asks Logan what he thinks. Logan replies, in a deep voice, "Fuhgeddaboudit." Oh, Lord. Although if this were one of Aaron's Sopranos recaps, the Start-to-Title time would be really short.
Max eats dinner with the Sparacino family members, who are some stereotypical wiseguys. They tell her about their waste management business, and Max pretends to be really ditzy. They all raise a toast to the Pulse. Max thinks they are kidding. The wiseguys explain that the Pulse made crime rates go up and police corruption more prevalent, which is only good for their business. Max asks one guy what his position is in the business, and he explains that he is the accountant. Another guy says that Doug "cooks the books…er, keeps the books." These are the most inept wiseguys ever. What self-respecting Mafia denizen would speak so openly about his business, and each person's role in that business, in a public place? Doug suddenly puts chin to chest and starts snoring. Max looks puzzled, and the guys explain that Doug has narcolepsy. The head guy, Tony, wakes Doug up because there are ladies present. A chick walks up and thanks Tony for calling her a lady. Tony tells the chick (Mia) that she needs to "scram" because the boss doesn't want her around Books. Mia thinks that Books should make that decision, and Books hesitates, and then tells her to scram as well. Mia asks who "the skirt" is. Why are all of these people talking like they're in a Raymond Chandler novel? One of the wiseguys tells Mia to "beat it." Mia walks away, and then pauses to talk to the waiter, who walks over and "accidentally" spills his tray of water glasses on Max. Tony stands up and threatens the waiter, who insists that it was an accident. Max announces that it's okay, and she'll just go to the ladies' room and dry off.
Max enters the ladies' room just as Mia walks out of a stall. Mia apologizes for the water-dumping incident, and Max accepts. Mia asks if Max is "Dougie's new girl," and Max says that she's not. Max meets Mia's eyes in the mirror and stares for a minute as sparkly music plays. Suddenly, Max starts speaking in her normal voice, and confesses to Mia that her name is Max, and that she's on an undercover mission for Eyes Only to get Dougie to turn on his bosses. Max even tells Mia that she is genetically engineered, from Manticore, and covered her bar code with make-up. Mia confesses that she is from Manticore too, and that she's "Psy-Ops." Mia asks Max to tell her who Eyes Only really is. Max shakes her head and says that she can't. Mia accepts this, and then asks Max to forget about Dougie for tonight. Max yawns and agrees to that plan. Suddenly, Max realizes that she's said too much. Mia tells her that she won't remember, and Max asks, "Remember what?" Mia says cheerfully, "Remember to powder your nose!" So Mia was doing some sort of mind control on Max. Interesting. Except, not really.
The day, Max walks into Logan's apartment. Logan says that he thought she would come by the night before, which is why he kept paging her. Max explains that she got really tired, so she went home and slept for four hours. I thought she didn’t need to sleep? Maybe it's different when she's sick. Does she get sick from non-genetically engineered viruses? I don't know. Logan explains that he wanted to find out what happened with Dougie. Max doesn't remember at first, and then says nonchalantly that it didn't work out. Logan thinks that Max wasn't trying very hard. Max doesn't like being scolded by Logan. Max promises to take another shot at Dougie.
At Jam Pony HQ, Normal encourages Alec to return to the boxing ring. Mia walks in and tells Normal that she's looking for a job. Normal says that they are fully staffed. They are? They must have done a lot of hiring since the last two episodes, when everyone was working overtime to cover for the girls who quit after getting in a fight over Alec. Alec tells Normal to let the lady at least fill out an application (i.e. give me a minute to chat her up), and Normal agrees.
Alec introduces himself to Mia, and then realizes that he knows her from the time he spent in Psy-Ops at Manticore. Alec asks Mia what her specialty was, and Mia admits that it was "telecoercion." She stares into Alec's eyes for a minute and then says, "Hi! I'm Mia." Alec introduces himself, apparently having been convinced that he doesn't know her. He walks off, and Sketchy asks him about the new chick. Normal returns with the application. Mia asks to be a dispatcher, and gives Normal the twinkly eyes. He agrees. It's all very "these aren't the droids you're looking for." Max walks in and sees Mia. Max asks if she knows Mia, and Mia says that isn't possible since she just started working there. Max looks confused, but accepts it.
At Crash that night, Max tells OC how she had a weird argument with Logan earlier; Max complains that Logan asked for her help, but nothing she does is good enough. OC spots Logan walking in, and suggests that he might be coming over to apologize. Logan walks over, and OC makes herself scarce. Logan says that he got a tip that Dougie will be at the club tomorrow night. Max is disappointed that she didn't get an apology. She passive-aggressives a couple of "whatevers," instead of just telling Logan what her problem is. Logan doesn't get it, and leaves to get a drink.
Alec talks to Mia at the bar. Alec is sure that he knows her from somewhere. Mia insists that couldn't be true, and asks whom Max is talking to. Alec says it's her boyfriend, Logan, although they both insist that they aren't in a relationship. Alec adds, "It's psychotic." Mia gives him the twinkly eyes. "But sweet," Alec concludes. Mia asks if Alec likes Logan. Alec says that Logan is all about saving the world and doing good, and it's boring. Mia twinkles, and Alec adds, "But admirable." Logan walks up to the bar and exchanges greetings with Alec. Mia introduces herself and then says that Alec has something to say. Mia twinkles, and Alec tells Logan that he understands why Max admires him, and sometimes Alec wishes he had more purpose in life. Mia asks Logan if he has something to say, and then twinkles. Logan admits that sometimes he wishes that he were more of a free spirit, "and it must be nice to be a happy-go-lucky sociopath." Mia calls for a group hug, and Alec and Logan embrace. Across the bar, Max and OC wonder what the hell is going on. Alec and Logan snap out of their trance and wonder why they were hugging, and quickly part.
After Alec takes off, Logan does a shot. Mia asks Logan if he is Max's boyfriend. Logan demurs, Mia twinkles, and Logan admits that he's crazy about her. So is she able to convince people of things, or is her power more like a truth serum? Because it seems to be doing both. Mia asks why they aren't together. Logan says that it's a long story. Mia twinkles at him, and Logan confesses about Manticore and the virus. Mia asks why they wanted to kill Logan, and Logan confesses that he's Eyes Only. Dun dun. I think that every show should have a Law & Order-like musical flourish to let us know when something important happens.
At Jam Pony HQ, Mia looks at herself in a mirror until Alec walks up. She tells him that it's great that he's planning on getting back into the boxing ring just in time for the big elimination fight. She twinkles, and Alec confirms that he is. Normal rolls up and celebrates Alec's return to the ring. Normal is a little too excited about Alec's rippling muscles and beads of sweat. Has Normal been posting on the forums? Alec announces that he has to take off on a hot run.
Max walks in, looking glum. -Er than usual. Mia asks if Max is having problems with Logan, and then assures Max that everything will turn out okay. She invites Max to come to Crash later and talk. Max says she has to do a favor for Logan. Mia tells Max that she doesn't have to worry about it. Mia twinkles, and Max agrees to meet her at Crash later. Mia takes off, and Max looks discombobulated.
At Crash, Max and OC discuss Mia. OC agrees that there is "something about her all right," but I think OC has different plans for Mia than Max does. Max feels like she has met Mia before. An Eyes Only transmission begins on the television. Logan announces that the Sparacino family is in trouble, and their identities are about to be exposed. OC asks Max if this is the case she was helping Logan with, and Max says she was supposed to be working on it tonight, but then looks confused. Logan continues talking about how the Sparacino family lieutenants cannot be trusted. Cut to the wiseguys eating dinner and looking peeved. Tony gets a phone call, and they all get up to go talk to their boss. Logan concludes his broadcast and then asks Mia how that was. She walks up and smiles, saying that it was perfect. Logan looks confused and says that he was supposed to do something with Max tonight. Mia says that it must be nice to have a transgenic to help with his mission. Logan wonders how she knew that Max is a transgenic. Mia tells him to forget it, and forget she was even here. She twinkles at him, and then says that she'll meet him at Crash later. Logan agrees, and then looks confused.
At Crash, Sketchy tells Mia that he doesn't plan on being a bike messenger for the rest of his life. Mia thinks it's good to have goals. Sketchy confesses that he dropped off a resume at the Weekly World News, and shows Mia an article about the genetic freaks running loose in their city, telling her that some of them can mess with your mind. Mia thinks it sounds far-fetched, and twinkles, and Sketchy agrees with her. Mia supports him on his job hunt.
Alec orders a drink. Mia walks up and tells him that he probably shouldn't drink on the night before his fight. She twinkles, and Alec agrees. Mia says that she's going to stake him five grand, and then tells him that he should probably go home and rest up for his big fight. Alec agrees and leaves. On the way out, he passes Logan coming down the stairs and they look at each other uncomfortably, probably semi-remembering their hug, but not really.
Max and OC are playing pool when Logan walks up. OC excuses herself. Max says that she saw the Eyes Only transmission, and Logan says that he didn't come to talk shop. He wanted to see her. Max asks how Logan was able to flip Dougie. Logan didn't. Max wonders how he knew who the Sparacino boss was. Logan doesn't. Max asks why he said that he did in his transmission, since he just tipped off the person he is trying to catch. Logan says that he thought Max wasn't interested in this case. Max isn't. Logan wonders why she's asking so many questions, then. Mia walks up and twinkles at them, reminding them that they love each other and they shouldn't fight, then walks away. Logan says that Mia is nice, although there's something about her. Max agrees, but feels that she knows Mia from somewhere, although she can't remember where she met her. OC walks up and sighs, asking if she should go powder her nose again or something. Max flashes back to Mia telling her to remember to powder her nose. Max tells Logan that she met Mia when she was dining with the Sparacino family. The memory isn't entirely clear. Max says that it isn't a coincidence that Mia was looking for a job at Jam Pony. OC, Max, and Logan all turn to see Mia walking out the door.
Mia gets out of a cab and walks into a warehouse. Max pulls up on her motorcycle, following her. Inside the building, Mia gets into a car with Dougie. He's asleep. She wakes him up. Dougie is freaking out about Eyes Only's transmission, worried that he's been caught. Mia hands him a paper bag to prevent him from hyperventilating. Mia says that "the life" isn't for him. Dougie says that he needs to do something, and he's having bad thoughts. Mia assures him that everything will be okay. Dougie says the only way that everything will be okay is if Eyes Only "shuts his trap." Max spies on them and hears Mia saying that she's got Eyes Only under control, and asking Dougie for the money. Dougie hands over the cash and says that he can't believe that a girl like Mia could love him. Mia tells him to believe it, and reminds him to bring his boss to the fight hall. Dougie pulls away. Max looks around for Mia, only to have Mia jump down from a ledge above her and knock her to the floor. Max's beeper falls to the side.
Max flips Mia onto her back and says that Mia is from Manticore. Mia admits that she is Psy-Ops. Max asks what Mia's connection is to Dougie. Mia doesn't think that's Max's business. Max shoves Mia up against a wall. Mia says that she's got to help Dougie prove his loyalty or he'll die. She plans to give Dougie a hot tip on the fight, so that they can win a lot of money and run away together. Max can't believe that Mia is in love with Dougie. Mia says that she is. Max says that Dougie is going to finger the boss for Eyes Only. Mia tells Max that she won't even remember the conversation.
The morning, Max walks into Jam Pony HQ and greets Mia cheerfully. Mia asks what happened to Max's eye, and says that it "must have hurt like the dickens." Max says that she has no idea how it happened. Mia suggests that she slipped in the shower and banged her head on the shampoo caddy. Max agrees that it happened exactly that way; she promises to be more careful, and rushes off.
Mia walks up and hands Alec a wad of cash. He asks where she got the cash, and Mia tells him not to ask. He agrees quickly. She reminds him that the fight starts at 8 PM, and runs off.
Dougie and the other wiseguys talk to their boss, who is in shadows. Dougie tells the boss to bet on Alec and then "let it ride the rest of the night," and he will make a couple of million dollars. The boss likes the idea of a sure thing, and then asks them about Eyes Only, claiming that his employees are disrespecting him. The wiseguys claim to know nothing about that. Dougie reassures the boss that this is a sure thing. The boss threatens Dougie, and they all leave.
Logan walks up to Max at Jam Pony HQ. Logan says that he was worried about Max and he's been paging her since last night. Max says that the batteries in her pager must be dead. She goes to grab her pager, and it's not there, so she concludes that she must have lost it. Logan asks her how things went last night. Max doesn't know what he's talking about. Logan reminds her that she followed Mia. Max doesn't remember. Logan asks what happened to her eye. Max repeats the story about slipping in the shower, and then has a flashback to her fight with Mia. Max realizes that Mia caused her black eye. Logan asks Max what she's talking about. Max says that Mia is from Manticore, in the Psy-Ops division. Max reveals that Mia met with Dougie, and is up to something.
In the background, Normal hands a pair of embroidered shorts to Alec that say "Monty Cora." Max overhears and asks Alec why he's fighting again, since the last time he fought, White caught him and threw him in a cage. Alec says he's wondering why he's doing it too. Max and Logan look at each other and realize that Mia is behind it.
Cut to a boxing ring surrounded by a cage. It's more like Ultimate Fighting than boxing. Logan and Max walk in and see the Sparacino family seated at one of the tables. The current fight ends, and the announcer introduces Alec as Monty Cora. Alec's shorts seem like they are pulled up way too high, but Normal assures him that the shorts look great. Max wonders what Alec is thinking.
The bell rings and the fight begins. Alec knocks his opponent out with one punch. The Sparacino folks are happy. Normal places a bet on Monty Cora. Dougie tells Mia that Alec is fantastic. Mia smiles and tells Dougie to get back over to the Sparacino family table. Max walks up and asks Mia to give her one good reason why Max shouldn't kick her ass. Mia twinkles at Max.
In the ring, Alec knocks out his opponent. Normal places another bet. Alec knocks out another opponent. Normal picks up his money. A montage of Alec knocking out various opponents follows. Normal and the Sparacino family members look happy.
Max walks up to the bar where Logan is seated and asks for a drink. Logan asks if she is okay. Max says that she thinks Mia "put the whammy" on her again, because she has no idea what they just talked about. Logan takes out an earpiece and announces that he does. Max forgot that she was wired. Logan announces Mia's plan to get Dougie back in the boss's good graces by helping him win money on Alec's fights. Once Dougie has his boss's trust and a lot of money, he'll split town. Max realizes that the only chance they have of finding the boss is if Alec loses. At the same time, Max and Logan both announce that they are going to call Matt Sung and tell him to get his men over there to arrest the boss.
Max sneaks up to the ring and tells Alec that he has to take a dive in the fight. Alec won't. Max explains that Mia is fixing the fights so that "a bunch of mobsters will make a killing on [Alec]." Alec doesn't see why that's a bad thing. Max explains that Eyes Only has been tracking this family for months, and if Alec doesn't throw the fight, the Sparacino family boss will get off scot-free. Alec says that it's not his problem and turns to face his opponent, whom he beats handily.
Normal tells Alec that he's up $122,000. The announcer starts to say that Alec is the new undefeated champion. Max calls out, "Not so fast," and hops into the ring, declaring that she will take Alec on. Dun dun!
The announcer says that they have a new challenger. Alec asks Max what she's doing. Max says that if Alec won't take a dive, Max will have to beat him herself. The announcer calls Max "The Curvaceous Killer." The Sparacino family members check out the odds and decide to place all of the boss's money on Alec. Normal also places his bet. Mia convinces a bunch of people to let her to the front of the line.
Back in the ring, the announcer rattles off the rules while Alec says that Max doesn't want to fight him. Max says that she's been waiting for this chance for months. Before the bell rings, Max decks Alec. The announcer scampers out of the ring and yells for someone to ring the bell. Max punches Alec and announces what each blow is for (the virus, getting paint on her papers, making Joshua deliver packages) while Alec claims that he wasn't responsible for each of those things. Normal yells for Alec to kick her ass. Alec makes a comeback, and Max falls to the mat. Alec calls Max a bitch. Max tells Alec that the ring girl just lost her top, and he should check it out. Alec doesn't buy it…except that then he tries to sneak a glance over his shoulder. While he's off guard, Max winds up and kicks him in the nuts. Man, that's a low blow. Both literally and figuratively. Everyone in the crowd winces. Max shoves Alec over, and he falls to the mat in the fetal position. The bell rings, and Max is crowned the winner. Logan walks by the ring with Matt Sung and his goons close behind.
Mia looks around and starts to run over to Dougie. Max stops her and tells her that she's not going to "work a little mojo on Dougie." Tony tells Dougie that it's time to "take a little ride." Logan arrives and points out the Sparacino family to Matt Sung, who flashes his badge. Tony insists that Dougie has nothing to say. Logan tells Dougie that he's in big trouble and is going to end up "wearing cement shoes." One of the wiseguys laughs and asks who talks like that. Tony urges Dougie to leave with them. Matt Sung says that they are ready to take Dougie into protective custody, and Logan reminds him that he won't get an offer like that from the boss, so he should give up the boss's name. Logan urges Dougie to point a finger. Dougie points out a guy dressed as a woman at another table. The guy tries to run away, but is quickly surrounded by cops. Mia tells Max that she never liked the boss much anyway. Matt Sung reads the boss his rights and cuffs him.
Later, Logan and Max talk to Mia and Dougie. Logan realizes that Mia wanted Dougie to flip the whole time. Mia claims that she knew that Dougie needed to be pushed into doing the right thing, and that Max and Logan would show up with the cops. The announcer walks over and hands Mia a bagful of money. Max asks if Mia bet on her. Mia did, because "girls kick ass." Logan asks Mia why she didn't use her powers to get Dougie to do what she wanted. Dougie is dead asleep to her. Mia says that her powers don't work on Dougie, and she thinks it's because of his narcolepsy. Logan realizes that she likes the fact that Dougie isn't wrapped around her finger. Mia replies, "What fun is being in love if everything is easy?" Normal shows up with Alec, who is in great pain. Normal asks Max what she is. Mia twinkles at Normal to forget everything he saw tonight and go home to bed. Mia hands Alec a stack of money. Normal drags Alec off. Mia tells Dougie that it's time to leave for Maui. She walks up and kisses Logan's cheek, and tells him that he's a "beautiful, talented man." She also feels that Max is "a rocking, awesome chick." Mia knows that things aren't great right now, but that they are perfect for each other and will have a beautiful life together. Mia walks off with Dougie. Max comments that she can't be mad at Mia, because Logan got his collar. And Mia got her man too. They walk off together.