Previously on Dark Angel: Max and Logan discovered that White was involved with an ancient breeding cult that is trying to breed…superhumans of some sort? It hasn't really been made clear. Max was immune to the special snake blood, the same as the members of White's breeding cult. White decided to test a captive transgenic to see if all of the former Manticoreans were immune.
Joshua scratches and scratches his head, and then figures out how to set off the flea bomb in front of him. He runs into the other room, where Max is itching her leg. They simultaneously set off two more flea bombs and run out of The Dreaming. I don't really get why Joshua gets fleas. I mean, I know he has canine DNA and all, but he's not furry over a hundred percent of his body like dogs are. I thought that dogs (and cats) got fleas because of the fur on their bodies. Joshua's face and hands are hairless, at least. And if Joshua gets fleas, why doesn't Max? She has feline DNA. And you'd think Joshua would be less likely to get fleas since he doesn't leave the house much -- I know my indoor cats never get fleas, but when I was younger and our cats were allowed outdoors, they got fleas all the time. I don't know. Maybe Joshua is dirty or something. Anyway, Max tells Joshua to stay out of the house for a couple of hours. Joshua says that he'll just hang out with Max, but Max has plans to meet Logan at Crash. She wishes that Joshua could come with her, and promises to get time off from work to hang out with him. Max gives Joshua some flea powder. All of this talk of fleas is making me itch. Max takes off, and Joshua pours flea powder all over himself.
Logan sits at a table in Crash and sketches on a napkin. Max shows up and asks what he's doing. Logan says that he's trying to figure out the connection between White and Manticore by drawing a little chart. Max is surprised to see him drawing it in the bar. Logan asks to see the scar on her hand. Max looks around and makes sure that no one can see before showing it to him. Logan comments that it is fading fast, and asks if she's sure that all of White's cohorts had the same scar. Max points out the spot on her forearm where the scar was on the others. Logan notes that the symbol looks like a caduceus, which represents medicine. Hey, I said that last week! Because, duh. Max says, "All work and no play makes Logan a dull, dull boy." No, he was dull long before this.
Alec walks in and sits down at the bar. He spots Asha sitting nearby, and walks over to say hello. He asks if she's avoiding him. Asha isn't, but she's glad that nothing happened between her and Alec the night that she went home with him. Alec says that he's glad too. Asha wonders if Alec's little "time is short" speech usually works on other women. Alec says that Asha doesn't want to get involved with him. He was made in a lab, trained to conduct assassinations, and there are guys out there who want to kill him. Some women do like that sort of thing. He's like the ultimate bad boy. Asha tells Alec that he's really just scared to actually care about someone. Alec says that the last time he cared, someone died. Asha apologizes. Alec tells Asha to do herself a favor and leave him alone. Asha seems taken aback, so Alec clarifies, "Beat it." He turns to the bar. She stares at him for a minute and then walks off.
Max watches Asha leave, then walks up to the bar and orders another pitcher. She asks Alec what he did now. Alec wonders why he's always the bad guy in Max's eyes. Max tells Alec he's welcome to blow his shot with Asha. Alec says that he could easily score himself a girlfriend, but unlike Max, he's trying to do the right thing. Max asks what that's supposed to mean. Alec asks if her only problem with Logan is the virus. Max thinks that it is. Alec says, "Max, we don't belong with them. We're a danger to them. When are you going to finally see that?" Not to defend Max and Logan (please!), but Logan was already involved in the cause before he met Max, and thus put himself in danger first. So I don't think that argument flies. Even if Max leaves Logan, he will still be involved and in danger. Max counters that it's none of Alec's business. Alec starts to argue back, but Logan shows up, stopping all conversation. Alec takes off. Logan asks Max what they were talking about. Max looks thoughtful and then says that she's tired and wants to go home. Logan tries to get more out of her, but Max turns to leave. Logan grabs her elbow to keep her there, but he accidentally touches her skin, like, if you were Max and you were going to hang out with Logan, wouldn't you wear a long-sleeved shirt that buttoned at the cuff? Then again, I don't think Max owns any shirt that covers her up that much.
So now Logan has been exposed. A montage of shots shows Logan lying on the floor at Crash (Ew! Stale beer!) while Max, Alec, and assorted customers look on. Some EMTs show up. Logan is taken to the hospital and worked on by doctors. He's unconscious. Finally, the female doctor that treated Max when she was hospitalized earlier this season comes out and talks to Max, who pleads with the doctor to let Logan live. The doctor says that the virus that Logan has is "a mutated strain of a bio-warfare agent called Zycinor," and there's no cure. Max says that Manticore made the transgenics immune to many bio-warfare agents, including Zycinor. The doctor says that Max is a carrier, but doesn't get infected, because she has antibodies. Max asks if they could do a transfusion. The doctor thinks that Max would just reinfect Logan. Max asks if they could use another transgenic as a donor, and the doctor is willing to try.
Max calls Alec at Crash and tells him to get his ass to the hospital. Alec leaves immediately. A guy at the end of the bar radios to an unseen partner that Alec is leaving. As soon as Alec steps outside, a bunch of cops surround him; one of them says that Alec is under arrest. Meanwhile, Logan is not looking good at the hospital and Max is looking worried.
White visits his captive transgenic, Mule, who is busy shining boots for the goons. White notices that Mule is feeling well, despite being injected with the snake blood. Mule confirms that he didn't tell anyone about the snake blood injection. White is trying to be gentle, and explains that it was just a test that Mule passed. White reminds Mule that they have to keep it between the two of them. Mule nods uncertainly, and White exits the room.
Max paces in the hospital hallway. The doctor comes out and tells her that her transgenic friend needs to get there soon. Max begins to reassure the doctor that Alec will be there soon, but then realizes that he is "a completely unreliable jerk." The doctor asks if there is anyone else that Max can get, because this is the only shot that Logan has. Max thinks and then promises to be back soon.
Joshua lies on his porch, being licked on the face by a dog. A girl calls out and asks if someone is there, and if Joshua is hurt. Joshua tries to hide behind his hair. The girl says that her guide dog just pulled her off the sidewalk and up the steps. See, the girl is blind. Joshua waves his hand in front of the girl's face and realizes that she can't see him. She introduces herself as Annie and sticks her hand out. Joshua shakes it and says that he doesn't live in The Dreaming, trying to keep his identity secret. Joshua says he's visiting from "Mantia Coro." Annie compliments him on his English, and then starts to take off. Joshua watches her walk down the steps. She pauses on the street and calls back that it was nice to meet him. Should a blind girl really be traipsing about the streets after dark by herself? It's a guide dog, not an attack dog. Max pulls up on her motorcycle and yells out to Joshua that she needs him.
In the hospital, Max pulls Joshua along on a gurney, under a sheet. OC shows up and says that she came as soon as she heard. The doctor asks if Max found anyone, and Max removes the sheet to reveal Joshua's face, saying that he has "a little canine DNA." The doctor is momentarily taken aback, but then says that as long as Joshua has the correct antibodies, it should work. I'm not even going to get into the science of a blood transfusion being able to cure a virus, because I don't know much about it, but it does seem a bit fishy. The doctor hooks Joshua up to Logan, and the blood begins flowing. Logan is still unconscious, and intubated. Joshua reaches out and pats Logan's face, saying, "Logan, get better now."
At the police station, the cop who arrested Alec asks a woman named Mrs. Ryan if she is ready. The cop orders someone to "bring them in." A bunch of guys, including Alec, file in for a line-up; apparently, Mrs. Ryan is trying to identify one of them as the perpetrator of a crime. Mrs. Ryan picks out Alec, of course. The cop walks into the room and tells Alec that he's under arrest for the murder of Timothy Ryan.
In the hospital waiting room, OC assures Max that Logan is strong and that he will pull through. Of course he will! He's a regular! He has a contract. The doctor enters and tells Max that Logan is going to make it. Max looks relieved, but not as much as you'd think. OC gives her a hug. The doctor says that Logan asked to see Max, and walks away. Max turns and tells OC that she can't see Logan now, or ever again. OC thinks that Max is just upset, and Logan will be fine. Max wonders what will happen time, and says that this has to stop. She tells OC to pass on the message that she's glad Logan is doing better. What I don't get is why Joshua or Alec can't just go in, like once a month or so, and give blood to be held in case Logan gets infected. If it worked once, why won't it work again? I guess that's not as dramatic. Max walks out of the hospital.
At Jam Pony HQ, Normal calls out for Alec and, when he doesn't get an answer, asks the others if they've seen him. No one has. He asks Sketchy if he has seen Alec; Sketchy has not. OC tells Max that Logan kept asking for her, and she didn't know what to say. Max's beeper goes off, and OC figures out that it's Logan. OC tells Max that she owes Logan an explanation. Max just stares at her, blank-faced.
Logan answers the phone, "Hi, stranger." Logan says that he missed her, and wandered all over the hospital looking for her with the back of his gown open. Max is trying to get right to the point, but Logan keeps babbling on and on about how good he feels and how he transferred his napkin doodles to a whiteboard. Max keeps trying to bring up their relationship, and finally Logan tells her not to do it. Max says that they got lucky, and wonders how many miracles they'll get. I would say as many as it takes, since the writers aren't going to kill Logan off any time soon. Max asks if he's going to end up dead, and she'll have to spend the rest of her life knowing that it was her fault. Because it's all about her. Logan says that he's been there, thinking that their relationship is too hard, but he realized that being without her was worse. Max says she has to hang up, and she does, then leans her head against the pay phone and pouts.
White meets up with the priestess from the breeding cult under a bridge somewhere. White informs her that he tested the transgenic, and it pulled through, so Max wasn't just a fluke. However, Max never got sick at all, so she does have something going on. The priestess is dismayed at the news. White guesses that Sandeman made the transgenics immune, and says dramatically, "This. Changes Everything!" Immune to what, and what it changes, we do not yet know. But I bet that we will find out. White tells the priestess that it's time to make a move.
Annie the Little Blind Girl shows up at Joshua's front door and says that her dog brought her to Joshua's door again. Wow, it's so original to have a blind girl fall in love with a guy with a messed-up face! I definitely have never seen that before, and I especially haven't seen it where the blind girl was played by Laura Dern and the messed-up-face guy was played by Eric Stoltz and it was called Mask. Anyway, Annie invites Joshua to dinner. A woman walks by on the street outside, and Joshua quickly ducks behind the doorway. Annie over-explains her dinner invitation and when Joshua doesn't respond, she says that he's probably busy. Joshua says that he would love to have dinner. Annie starts to explain where she lives. Joshua insists on having dinner at his house, and asks if she likes macaroni and cheese. Who doesn't? Annie smells turpentine. Joshua explains that he's a painter. Annie can't believe that "a painter from Mantia Coro" lives on her street. Do Annie's parents know that she's going around inviting strange men to dinner?
OC and Max hang out at Crash. Max confirms that her relationship with Logan is over. Sketchy comes up and tells the ladies that Alec is in jail. Max doesn't care. OC can't believe that Max isn't going to help. Max says that she has her own problems. And Alec is supposed to be the selfish one? OC points out that the cops might find Alec's bar code, and that would be bad for everyone, Max included. Now that something is in it for her, Max says that saving Alec's butt is already her full-time job, and takes off.
Alec is led in shackles to a visitation room. Max stands up and introduces herself as Alec's lawyer. The guard shoves Alec into a chair and says he'll be outside, and that they have five minutes. Alec starts to apologize. Max shuts him up and says that she heard Alec killed someone. Alec immediately denies doing it. Max points out that Alec was identified and there was a "perfect genetic match." Okay, right there at that point, don't you think that one of them, probably Max, would have remembered that Alec had a serial-killing twin brother? Max says that she's sorry she released Alec from Manticore and inflicted him on the world, and she's going to leave him in jail for White to find. Alec keeps protesting that he didn't do it, and asks Max if she really believes that he could murder someone in cold blood. Max does. Alec says that the victim's teeth were pulled from his head. Finally, the light bulb goes off in Max's brain and she says, "Ben." This sets off a black-and-white flashback to Ben, and some teeth. Alec finally gets around to telling Max that at the time of the murder, he was still at Manticore. Shouldn't that have been the first thing he said? Just then, the guard walks in, and Max takes him out.
Max and Alec creep down the hallway. Alec keeps asking what convinced her, and if it was the sincerity in his eyes. Max shushes him, pulls him into a room, and pulls herself up to look out the window. She sees some cops standing below, and her bike parked nearby. Alec asks if it was the teeth thing that convinced her. Max tells him to shut up. Alec asks why she's taking it so personally. Because she's trying to plot your escape? Max reveals that Ben was the killer. Alec expositions, "Ben? My Manticore twin, Ben?" No, Ben Franklin. Max and Alec inch along a ledge outside the building. Max tells Alec about the people Ben killed. Max holds onto a pole attached to the building. Alec grabs it as well. Max pushes the pipe away from the building, and it slowly falls down. It gets caught on a fence, leaving Max and Alec hanging far above the ground. Max tells Alec to jump. They do, and the cops start shooting at them. They take refuge behind a car. Just then, some power lines from the downed pole explode, and Max takes advantage of the distraction to make a run for her bike. She and Alec take off on the bike.
Back at Max's apartment, Alec explains why he couldn't use Manticore as an alibi. You know, because it was secret and all. Alec wonders if maybe Logan could help, and then realizes that Logan was in the hospital. He asks Max if Logan is okay. Max says that Joshua came through, and Alec points out that Logan could use "a little canine plasma to loosen him up." And how. Alec says he's kidding, and that he loves Logan, but not the way that Max does. Max is silent. Alec asks what the problem is. Max says that she's not going to see Logan anymore. Alec asks, "Anymore this week?" Max replies, "Ever. I can't risk it." They are silent for a moment, and then Max offers Alec some coffee, which he accepts. Alec says that since they are already knee-deep in painful subjects, he wants to hear about Ben. Max flashes back to Baby Ben and tells Alec that when they were kids at Manticore, Ben always had questions about why they were there and what was outside, so he made up "fantastic stories" about it, and it made the other kids feel loved. Alec says Ben seemed like a nice kid, and wonders what went wrong. Max says that after they escaped, it seemed like there were too many things that Ben didn't have answers for. Max flashes back to Ben saying that they never should have left Manticore, because it was safe there. Max tells Alec that Ben just lost it. Alec absorbs this information and then asks Max if she's okay. Max flashes back to just after she killed Ben, and says that she's fine. Alec realizes that she's lying and asks what's going on. Max details how Ben was hurt and Manticore was closing in, so she killed him rather than send him back to Manticore, because he asked her to, and then she ran and saved herself, and left his body there. Max saved herself? No way. Alec hugs Max and says that he's sorry. Max cries one perfect tear.
Joshua and Annie eat dinner. Annie explains that she contracted measles after the Pulse, but her parents couldn't afford the medicine, and she lost her sight. Annie says she remembers what some things look like. She tells Joshua that he's not like other people, because he doesn't feel sorry for her. Joshua points out that she can go out places. Annie thinks that he could come with her. Annie is curious about Joshua's paintings. Cut to Joshua letting Annie touch his paintings, and explaining the various colors. He practically puts an ice cube in her hand and tells her that it's blue.
White tells Mule that he's being released.
Logan paces back and forth in his apartment, staring at the phone. He walks over to his desk, and for once you can hear his leg braces whirring. He grabs his keys.
Max sees Alec out the morning. He thanks her for letting him crash at her place. Max advises him to lay low, because the cops are looking for him. Alec thinks he'll crash at Joshua's house. Max thinks Joshua would love that. Alec realizes that it must be hard for Max to see him, since he looks just like Ben, and he reminds her of things she'd like to forget. Max says that's probably why she's so bitchy to him. Alec walks over and puts his arm around her awkwardly, and suggests that it might be because he's a pain in the ass. Logan gets out of the Asstek just in time to see Alec with his arm around Max, who pushes him away playfully and tells him to be careful. Logan has apparently seen enough, as he gets back in the Asstek and takes off.
Alec arrives at The Dreaming. Joshua hides the painting he was doing of Annie. Alec says that he needs to hang out there because his "dead twin brother was a psycho killer." Alec asks where the TV is; Joshua says he doesn't have a TV, and hands Alec a book. Alec laughs and asks if they are living in the Dark Ages. Joshua doesn't get it. Alec says he knows where he can score one. Joshua tries to hide his painting from Alec, who is making a phone call. Alec spots the painting, and Joshua reluctantly lets him see it, telling him that it's Annie. Alec asks who Annie is, and Joshua says it's the girl who lives down the street. Alec looks uncomfortable and starts to say something, but Joshua tells Alec that Annie is blind, so it's okay. Alec sighs and says that they need to have a talk. Joshua doesn't want to, and says he's tired of keeping a low profile.
Some random woman gets her two seconds of fame as she walks in front of the camera. Seriously, the camera focused on her for so long that I was sure she was going to play an important role in this scene. And then we never saw her again. White pulls up in a car and tells Mule that if he can get over a nearby fence, he will be free. White says that if the soldiers see Mule, they will try to kill him. White explains what the soldiers look like and wishes Mule good luck. Mule thanks White. Oh, poor Mule. He totally fell for White's set-up.
Mule gets out of the car, wearing a hood. He walks towards the fence as White watches. He reaches the fence and pulls it open. A siren goes off. White watches. A computerized voice says that Mule has violated checkpoint security. A bunch of sector guards pull up and tell Mule to freeze, and then they start beating the crap out of him. Mule throws the guards several feet away, and the one remaining guard shoots Mule in the chest. It takes multiple shots before Mule finally falls to the ground and dies. White watches the whole thing in his rearview mirror.
Alec watches a music video and eats snacks at Joshua's house. I should probably know the name of the song, but I don't. Sorry. Alec grooves along to it. Joshua complains about the volume. Alec tells him to come over and watch. Suddenly, the video is interrupted by a news bulletin. The reporter says that a hoverdrone recorded some shocking footage. They show Mule tossing the sector guards over and over again. Alec says that this is "so very, very bad." The reporter says that Mule was described as a mutant and is assumed to have escaped from a covert government project called Manticore. OC, Max, Normal, and Sketchy watch the news report at Jam Pony HQ. Sketchy realizes that he saw Mule in the sewers. The reporter says that it took many shots to bring Mule down. Logan watches the news report and just says, "Max." He picks up his phone and starts dialing.
Over at The Dreaming, Alec puts on his coat. Joshua advises him to lay low. There is a knock at the door, and Annie calls out to Joshua. Alec whispers to Joshua that he needs to send Annie away; he can't see her now because of what's going on. Joshua protests. Alec repeats that he needs to send Annie away -- before she wants him to meet her family, before he gets himself killed, or before he gets her killed. Joshua opens the door. Annie says that she was going to the store and thought he might want to come. Joshua says that he can't, and then mumbles that he's had news from home and he has to go back there today. Annie is upset and blinks back tears. She's a really bad actress. She says that she'll miss him. Joshua agrees and says goodbye, and starts to close the door. Annie pauses and asks Joshua if he can do something for her. Alec is standing behind Joshua in the background. Annie says that she wants to remember Joshua, and holds out her hand to touch his face. Joshua looks at Alec sadly. Alec steps forward and lets Annie touch his face. As dumb as this subplot is, this moment was a little bit touching, mostly because of Jensen Ackles. Annie dreamily runs her hand over Alec's face while Joshua watches forlornly.
At Jam Pony HQ, Max, Normal, OC, and Sketchy are still watching the news. The reporter sounds just like Will Ferrell as he shows Mule's bar code tattoo. Max's beeper goes off, and she calls Alec back. She asks if he's seen the news, but he says that's not why he's calling, and asks her to come over there. He glances at Joshua, who is staring at his painting of Annie.
Max tries to console Joshua by reiterating that they are different from other people. Joshua insists that Annie is different too. Max says, "When you care about someone, you have to do what's best for them, even if it hurts." Who is she talking to here -- Joshua or herself? Joshua says that it sucks, and pulls on his necklace. Max notices the caduceus symbol on the necklace and asks where he got it. Joshua says that Father gave it to him.
Max sneaks into Logan's apartment and hangs Joshua's necklace on his whiteboard. She takes a marker and makes arrows pointing from the necklace to the words Sandeman and White. Logan surprises her by turning on some lights and yelling out, "Hi there!" Logan appears to have already worked his way through the better part of a bottle of liquor. Max says she didn't think he was home, and Logan says that if she knew he was there, she wouldn't have come. Max sadly explains about the necklace. Logan pours himself another drink and says that Sandeman is "one of White's cult loonies, huh? Woo hoo!" Max angrily points out that there is a connection between the breeding cult and Manticore. Logan drunkenly says that maybe he should do an Eyes Only hack since it's such a big news day. Then Logan says he tried paging her, but she never responded. Max says she's going, and starts walking out. Logan stops her. Max can't touch him, so she can't get by him. Max says that she's said everything she needed to say. Wow, that was a lot of uses of the word "said" in there. Logan thinks there is something else…or someone else. I can't believe he really thinks Max and Alec are hooking up from that one scene he witnessed. Logan says that he came to her apartment to talk to her and saw Alec leaving. Max is confused. Logan tells Max to say if he's got it wrong, and then concludes, "Tell me it's not true." Max weighs her options and then says that she can't, and it's over between her and Logan and he needs to get used to it. Max ducks him and walks out in slow motion. Logan can only watch her leave. If I cared at all about their relationship, maybe this would be sad.
Max sits atop the Space Needle, brooding. Alec shows up. Max says she comes there to be alone. Alec figured that they could both use a friend, so Max tells him to sit down. The blue-screen effect in this scene is so bad. Alec asks if she has any deep thoughts or profound realizations to share. Max responds, "Yeah. Love sucks."
week: White and the priestess discuss how paranoid people will get when they discover that there are transgenics out there who look human. Max is lured into a trap of some sort that involves many cops with guns. I bet she dies! Except not.