Lt. Bosslady walks into her apartment and greets her turtle, Arlo. She asks him if he wants to share her Lucky Charms for dinner, and then offers to tell him about her day as she pours herself a glass of wine. She picks up the turtle and her cereal and heads out of the kitchen. In the bathroom, she takes off her jewelry. Just when I'm thinking, "So is the point of this to show us that she's kind of a loser?" she opens the shower curtain, only to find a man standing there. It's Pesco! That is like my biggest fear. I always karate kick the shower curtain when I'm home alone and I go in the bathroom. Pesco sprays something in her face, and she falls to the floor. He makes a comment about most home accidents occurring in the bathroom. He steps out of the shower, and we see that he's wearing booties. He drags her body away, and the camera focuses in on the note card he left -- the same as the ones he was leaving before, the pink envelopes with the symbol on the front.
At the police station, Stella (Stella!) asks Frank about the crime scene in Lt. Bosslady's apartment. Frank (who is oddly wearing a bright purple turtleneck sweater) says that they didn't find any evidence, but Stu (Stu!) is going over the scene. Frank slams his papers down on the copier. Goddamn copier! Stella assures Frank that they'll find something. The elevator doors open, and a short guy stomps out. Frank thanks Short Guy, who we discover is Captain Ruiz, for coming in on his vacation. Ruiz is all business and pretty much ignores Frank's small talk. Frank runs down the status of the investigation and recaps what happened last week, in case you missed that episode. Frank, thankfully, is much less wordy than I am when it comes to recapping. Frank says that Pesco leaves cards with clues inside at every crime scene, so they brought in a consultant to help with the investigation. Ruiz has heard of John Doe, but doesn't seem too impressed. Stu shows up with the news that the only evidence they found in Lt. Bosslady's apartment was a single footprint. Frank finds that odd, since Pesco usually doesn't leave any evidence. Stu says the print fits Pesco's profile, so they're going to try to find manufacturers and distributors. Ruiz asks why they need John Doe. Frank says that John has "enhanced deductive powers." Ruiz points out that Pesco posed as a victim and "played [them] the whole time," and that John might be doing the same thing. Frank is sure that's not the case.
John walks in and announces that Pesco is playing "a chess move so unpredictable you know the game's almost over." John is way too chipper, considering that one of his friends has been kidnapped by a psycho. Ruiz introduces himself and says he has some questions for John, who agrees to help in any way he can. Ruiz excuses himself and says he'll be back shortly. Once Ruiz is gone, Frank pulls John aside into an office. John asks if Pesco has made contact. Frank warns John that Ruiz isn't John's biggest fan. John thinks they should be looking for Lt. Bosslady. Frank agrees, and shows John the crime scene photos. John notices the photo of Lt. Bosslady's dinner and asks if there was a card left at the scene. Frank shows John a card with a picture of a shadow on the front. John calculates that the picture was taken at 9:00 AM. Frank thinks that it might be a time limit, and announces that they have twelve hours. John is upset that he didn't figure it out in time. Frank tells John, "Just because you know everything doesn't mean you know everything." A cheesy line, but Frank makes it work. John says that Pesco is really after him, because they are connected. Flashback to Pesco revealing that he has the same brand as John, but John doesn't reveal this information to Frank. John says he doesn't know why he's involved. Frank tells a story about how he and Lt. Bosslady took down a crack dealer, and Frank saved Lt. Bosslady's life. Afterwards, Lt. Bosslady yelled at Frank, and it took Frank a long time to realize that that was her way of saying thanks. John looks at picture on Lt. Bosslady's desk. It's Capt. Bossdaddy. Frank calls him the "toughest cop to ever walk the street," and adds that Lt. Bosslady became a cop because she is her father. Frank assures John that if anyone can survive this, it's Lt. Bosslady.
Pesco sits in a warehouse, watching a bunch of monitors. Lt. Bosslady sits in a chair with her hands taped together behind her back. She makes a crack about all of the photos of John that Pesco has on the wall. Pesco says that it's a contest. Lt. Bosslady notices a gun sitting nearby and starts successfully working her hands out of the tape. She tries to get a rise out of Pesco, but he calls her on it and says that his problem is that the cops can't beat him, which is why he had to find Doe, whom he calls "a remotely competent foe." Lt. Bosslady makes a break for the gun and grabs it, but it's not loaded. Pesco pulls out a knife and forces Lt. Bosslady back into the chair. He tells her that she's predictable, and binds her hands again while holding the knife to her neck. He mumbles some psycho talk and sticks the point of the knife into her shoulder. He cuts down her arm as he tells her that she's just bait, and the bait can be living or dead, but it's her choice. Is it really her choice? I don't think it is.
Ruiz questions John in the interrogation room. Ruiz asks why John went into the sewers after Pesco without backup. John says he was trying to save Stella. Ruiz wonders how John knew Pesco's exact location, and how Pesco got away. John doesn't really answer. Ruiz reveals that Lt. Bosslady was writing a file on John, and that she knew about John's brand, and its similarity to Pesco's envelope symbol. John says that Pesco thinks they are connected. Ruiz adds that Stella's report says that Lenny has the same brand. John knows this. Ruiz asks if John was planning on telling anyone about it. John says he was. Ruiz asks to see the brand. John hesitates, and then pulls his collar aside to show it off. Ruiz asks how John got it. John says he doesn't know. Ruiz says that John also doesn't know why Pesco has one too. John angrily asks if Ruiz is insinuating something. Ruiz says he's just trying to find Lt. Bosslady. John reminds him that they are on a time limit, and says that Frank will vouch for him. Ruiz thinks Frank's judgment is cloudy. Ruiz tells John to stay there, and stomps out. John stares at the pencil in his hand. I don't know.
Pesco bandages the wound he creates on Lt. Bosslady's arm. Lt. Bosslady tells Pesco he's made a mistake, because she and John aren't close, and he won't come for her. Pesco says that's not true. He pulls out a remote and plays a tape from a surveillance camera of John and Lt. Bosslady's conversation in the church from the last episode. Pesco recites some of the dialogue along with the tape and then pauses it. Pesco says that in the end, they are all alone, and John is alone too, so he'll come to rescue her. Pesco squats down and starts a timer on Lt. Bosslady's chair. A large number of explosives are strapped to the bottom of the chair. Pesco leaves as Lt. Bosslady stares dully at the monitors.
Frank walks into the interrogation room. John says he assumes they have an audience. Frank doesn’t answer, but the camera pulls out to reveal that Ruiz is watching through the one-way mirror. Frank says that Ruiz wants John to be held, and John thinks that's ridiculous because he can find Pesco. Meanwhile, Ruiz hangs up a cell phone and slips it into his coat pocket. The coat is hanging over a chair nearby. This is important in a minute. Frank asks John why he wasn't told about the brand. John says they might be part of some genetic anomaly or a group, or it could be a hoax. Frank considers his words and then says, "For future reference, John, we're friends. It's okay to open up once in a while." Frank adds that he doesn't know if he would have understood, but he would have tried to. John understands. Ruiz walks in and tells Frank that they're making headway on the footprint analysis. Frank suggests they bring John along, but Ruiz isn't having it. Frank gives John a look like, "Sorry, dude," and walks out. John surveys the room. He picks up a pen from the desk and bends the metal part off the cap. He walks over to a light switch and removes the plate. He sticks the metal thing inside, sparks fly, and the lights go out. Two cops standing outside rush into the room. John is gone. They shine flashlights up to the ceiling, where a tile has been moved, and conclude that he's up there. They run out of the room. The camera pans down to reveal that John was actually wedged under the table. He drops to the floor. My biggest problem with this scene was that Frank had barely left the room when John pulled his stunt. Surely, he would have run back in.
One of the cops runs up and informs Ruiz that John has escaped. Ruiz is pissed. Frank and Stu exchange amused looks. Love that Stu. The cop adds that they think John took Ruiz's jacket and cell phone. I told you that would be important in a minute. Cut to John walking into the elevator wearing Ruiz's police jacket. He bumps into a lady standing nearby who tells him, "Hey, watch it, Officer." John steps into the elevator and says, "Sorry about that. And it's 'Captain.'" I totally thought that was a throwaway scene, but it also comes up again later.
John meets up with Digger on the upper level of the bar. Digger says that running from the law is one of his favorite pastimes. John says he has to find Lt. Bosslady, because her kidnapping is all his fault. Digger tells him to slow down and stop feeling guilty. John can't help it. Digger says they need to act, not feel. John doesn't want Digger to get involved, but he insists. John relents and says they have to retrace Pesco's steps from the beginning by going back to the sewer. Digger says he'll grab his keys and meet John out back. He also advises John to stay in the shadows.
After Digger leaves, John sighs and looks at all the people around. A voice comes from behind him. It's Pesco! He recites the 23rd Psalm, and that's the second show I've recapped this week that's used that reference. What's up with that? Pesco compliments John's piano act, and John growls and slams Pesco up against the wall. Pesco tells John that he can set up the bomb under Lt. Bosslady's chair with his cell phone. John asks if she's alive. If she were dead, why would the bomb be a threat? So she could be more dead? John says that Pesco murdered people to flush John out, and now he's there. John asks if the brand means they are connected. Pesco says it would be a big coincidence. John asks what Pesco wants. Pesco says he wants to finish the game. John yells, "This is not a game! You're playing with people's lives!" Could there be a more stereotypical piece of dialogue when dealing with a serial killer? Pesco says that he's killed in many cities and finally found a challenge. John asks why he kidnapped Lt. Bosslady. Pesco says, "Either you stop me, or I stop her. Heart. Tick-tock." Shut up, Pesco. You're annoying. John hears a cop radio and looks down to the first level, where some cops are entering the bar. When he turns back, Pesco is gone. I hate when they do that on television and in movies. No one can get away that quickly. John makes the crazy eyes. Although it's a bit of a variant on the crazy eyes; it's more like crazy eyes plus slight acid reflux.
Ruiz rampages through the cop station complaining about how now he's got two fugitives and they need to put double surveillance on John's loft. He orders Stella and Stu (who should totally start dating) to give him more evidence. Stella and Stu go over the shoe print evidence, and explain that they think it's a custom shoe because it doesn't match anything in the database. Ruiz asks how they know the print belongs to Pesco and not a pizza guy. Stu asks, "A pizza guy with custom shoes?" Go, Stu! Frank points out that Pesco didn't leave any hair or fibers, but did leave a perfect shoe print, so Frank thinks it's planted. Ruiz pulls Frank aside and asks him to stop second-guessing for the sake of morale. Frank says he respects Ruiz's experience, but he's more familiar with the case. Ruiz asks if Frank thinks he's being too harsh. Before Frank can answer, Ruiz reveals that he was Lt. Bosslady's Tragically Dead Fiancé's partner and friend. Ruiz doesn't want to lose Lt. Bosslady too. A cop runs up and says that they triangulated Ruiz's cell phone signal, and it's headed west on I-90. Ruiz orders them to get the chopper ready. Should they really be wasting this many resources on John (who might possibly be involved) when Pesco (who most definitely is involved) has Lt. Bosslady? They need to prioritize better.
A helicopter flies through the night sky. In a car, Digger and John discuss the case. Digger thinks Pesco is "cold-filtered," and John wonders how many people Pesco has killed. The helicopter closes in on a vehicle. John asks Digger if it's possible to block out memories entirely, and Digger says it is if you drink enough, which is why he owns a bar. Well, that's healthy. Some cop cars pull over a van. Ruiz gets out of one of the cop cars and orders John to show his hands. Ruiz walks up to the driver's side and finds -- the lady that John bumped into during his escape earlier. He orders her out of the car. Ruiz throws her up against the hood and pats her down, and finds his cell phone. Oh, that John!
John and Digger enter the sewers (a.k.a. the set of Dark Angel). John spins some theories about why he and Pesco have the same brand. John says that there are a few things Digger doesn't know about him, starting with the fact that just before he came to the bar for the first time, he woke up naked on an island. Digger reveals that Karen already told him the whole story. That Karen has a big fat mouth. Although she hasn't been around much lately, so thank God for small favors. Or large ones. John wonders why Digger didn't mention that he knew, and Digger says it wasn't any of his business.
They continue in the sewers until they come to the place where John originally found Pesco hanging upside down with his head underwater. Digger says that when he conveniently used to work in the sewers, he knew not to open the drainage gates, because you can't close them once they're open. Digger wonders what Pesco would have done if John hadn't arrived in time, or figured out the clue at all. John says Pesco would have drowned, and Digger suggests that Pesco had a backup plan. Digger thinks that the cops searched the place "upside down," which makes John realize that they probably didn't look underwater. John recalls where Pesco was hanging and plunges his arm into the water. Or sewage. Ew. John pulls out a grate, and then a "closed-system rebreather." Which Digger immediately identifies. From his days when he conveniently worked as a scuba instructor, I'm guessing. John says that the oxygen tank could have kept Pesco alive for eight hours. John pulls a pink envelope out of the tank, opens it, and shows Digger the front, which is a picture of a ghost.
Pesco watches the whole thing happening on his monitors, and comments that it was nice of the city to run the fiber optics so close to the sewer lines. Pesco tells Lt. Bosslady that John has a lot of potential, even though he was "a bit slow out of the gate." Lt Bosslady tells Pesco to kill her if that's what he wants. Pesco launches into a big speech about all of the things you could do if you knew when you were going to die. He opens Lt. Bosslady's wallet and pulls out pictures of her Tragically Dead Grandfather, Tragically Dead Father, and Tragically Dead Fiancé, all of who were cops. God, Pesco's dialogue and delivery are both so, so terrible. It's like he wants to be all Kevin Spacey in Se7en, but it's more like a parody than an homage. Pesco tells Lt. Bosslady that she always knew she'd end up alone. Lt. Bosslady insists that he knows nothing about her. Pesco goes on about how Lt. Bosslady is all alone with no husband or kids. Because, you know, a woman can't possibly be fulfilled without a husband and kids. Pesco thinks that Lt. Bosslady's epitaph will read, "Here lies [Lt. Bosslady]. She was kind to her turtle." That would actually be a pretty cool epitaph. Lt. Bosslady insists that the only epitaph that will be written is Pesco's. Pesco tosses the Tragically Dead Photos onto Lt. Bosslady's lap and again says, "Tick-tock." Shut up, Pesco.
John removes a grate and drops down into a room below his apartment. Frank is already there. John is surprised. Didn't they recently double surveillance on John's place? I guess he's so sneaky that he got in anyway. Frank comments on all of the information John has taped to the walls. John starts telling Frank his whole story, but Frank says that they don't have time. Frank says he figured out John was there by contacting the power company and finding out there were spikes in usage. Couldn't he have just broke in and found John sitting there? It seems a little too complicated. John asks if Frank is going to take him in. Frank says that they need to find Lt. Bosslady.
Stella tells Ruiz that Pesco is an alias, and they've found over a dozen aliases that he's used in several states. However, Stella got a match on the shoe print. It wasn't in the database because it's a prototype that was sold over the web, to a name that is an anagram of Lenny Pesco. Stella gives Ruiz the address, and he immediately orders a SWAT team to assemble there in thirty minutes. He glances at the clock, sees that it's 7:37 PM., and says that they can make the deadline.
Frank hangs up his phone and tells John about the shoe print results. John thinks the shoe print clue is too easy, and Frank agrees that Pesco is toying with them. John shows Frank the rebreather they found in the sewer. John explains that the mouthpiece has a one-way valve, so he's going to try to isolate Pesco's saliva residue. Frank realizes that would give them a DNA sample, which would give them Pesco's real identity. Assuming he's in the database. And then what does that get them? Are they assuming that he used his real name to rent or lease his warehouse? It's best not to think about these things too hard. John pulls a sample from the valve and spreads it on a slide. When he looks under the microscope, there's no genetic material. Frank asks if the sewer water washed it away. John says that's not possible. Frank says he might have dry mouth. Of course, they don't know for sure that Pesco actually used it, right? John realizes that Pesco doesn't have any saliva, which is a rare condition. John races to the computer and looks up medications used to treat that rare condition, and then finds out who in the area has a prescription for that medication. John realizes that one of the names is Theresa Avila, which stands for St. Theresa of Avila, the patron saint of chess. John grabs the address, but thinks it's still too easy.
The cop cars and SWAT teams roar up to the address Stella got. Frank calls Ruiz and warns him that he's walking into a trap. Ruiz wants more evidence. The SWAT team breaks down the warehouse door and starts to enter. Frank urges them to pull back, just as the SWAT team enters and a bomb goes off. Cut to Pesco, watching the whole thing on his monitors. Frank hangs up and tells John they are on their own, and they have fifteen minutes at the most.
Frank and John arrive at their address. Frank hands John a gun. John points out that he's not licensed to carry a weapon. Frank says that John is a fugitive, so an unlicensed weapon is the least of his worries. Frank adds that they should take Pesco if they can. John says that if Pesco decides to take Lt. Bosslady out with him, they go to Plan B. As they prepare to enter, John asks Frank to give him thirty seconds. Frank says that he's taking the shot if he gets it. Frank open the door, makes sure it's clear, and then nods John in. Pesco watches John enter on his monitor. He hears John yelling to him, saying that Pesco wants someone to stop him, and that's why John is there. John bursts into the room, brandishing his gun. He tells Pesco that the game is over. Pesco takes refuge behind Lt. Bosslady, holding his knife to her throat. John urges Pesco to let her go. Pesco points out that then John will kill him, and he urges John to outsmart him. John lowers his gun and tosses it aside. Pesco notices Frank approaching the room on his monitors. Pesco says it's not a multiplayer game. Frank bursts in. Lt. Bosslady orders Frank to take the shot. John tells Frank they can take Pesco alive. The two of them exchange a barely perceptible nod, which is clearly the signal to go to Plan B. Frank insists they have to end it here. Pesco talks about how he's going to San Francisco . Lt. Bosslady elbows Pesco, and Frank takes the shot just as John dives in front of the bullet and falls to the ground. Pesco is stunned, screaming, "Nooooooo!" Frank and Lt. Bosslady are freaked out. Frank runs to John's side as Pesco totally gets away. John is out. Wow, I bet he's dead. Maybe they'll have to change the name of the show.
Frank, Stella, Stu, Lt. Bosslady, and Karen are standing around a coffin in a cemetery. Digger gives John's eulogy. Wow, I can't believe they killed him off. Not. I haven't been fooled by a fake death since I totally thought Cordelia was killed by being impaled by rebar on Buffy. Now I know better. Anyway, Digger gives a whole sad eulogy, and Karen is totally sobbing, which makes me wonder if they let her in on the plan or not. Digger finishes and tosses a handful of dirt on the coffin, and then they all walk away. Lt. Bosslady turns back and, totally dry-eyed, says, "Goodbye, John."
That night, Pesco digs up John's coffin while telling himself that John isn't in there, and it was a brilliant plan. Pesco opens the coffin to find…John lying there! Still not fooled. Pesco is, though. He totally freaks out, yelling that he will kill again and again now that John isn't around to stop him. Frank's voice sounds from above ground: "The best laid plans of mice and men, Lenny." Pesco climbs out of the grave and asks how Frank knew he'd be there. Because he's watched television before? Pesco asks why Frank shot John, because John was his best opponent yet. Other cops surround Frank. Pesco asks what he'll do now, and John answers, "Go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200." Pesco is all shocked to find John alive and standing there. Um, how about taking him into custody now, fellas? No, John has to give a big speech about how he had to change the game, and their backup plan was a Kevlar vest and the rebreather. No way! I'm so shocked. Pesco points out that John is claustrophobic, and John says it was a fear worth facing. Frank orders one of the cops to take Pesco in. The cop slowly approaches as Pesco puts his hands up. Would someone tackle this dude already, because I don't think I can take another episode of his serial killer shtick. Pesco sprays the cop in the eyes and takes his gun. Using the cop as a shield, Pesco walks backwards into a sewer entrance. In the cemetery? Do you really want sewer lines under the cemetery? Pesco drags his hostage down the stairs, and when he reaches the bottom, Lt. Bosslady stops him with a gun to the head. She Dirty Harrys, "You want to write your epitaph, Lenny?"
John, Stella, Frank, and Stu celebrate at Sea. John and Stella bond over using physics to play darts. Lt. Bosslady walks in, and Digger tries to make small talk, but she just wants to talk to John. She marches up and starts yelling at John for his stupid stunt. Is this really the first chance she's had to yell at him? Couldn't she have done this after they took Pesco down to the station? She yells some more and, because of Frank's story, John realizes that she's trying to say thank you. He tells her she's welcome. Lt. Bosslady pulls out a brand they found in Pesco's warehouse, and says that John and Pesco weren't connected, except in Pesco's mind. John asks Lt. Bosslady to play darts, but she begs off. John asks if she's going back to "Lucky Charms and Chardonnay," which stops her. John points out that she owes them because they saved her life. Lt. Bosslady is like, "Oh, it's on." She takes off her jacket and proceeds to throw two bull's-eyes in a row. Digger tells John, "I think you finally met your match." Oh, he is so getting in her pants by the end of the season. I'm also heartened to see Stu and Stella doing a shot together in the corner of the screen. I really want them to hook up.
week: Gabrielle Anwar returns. John continues to look for his past, and he finds a song that can kill people. Is it something by Celine Dion? Because her songs make me want to kill myself.