Episode 7: Prelude
11/09/2003
Syd wakes from a nightmare in which she sees an angel-like
figure, then pulls strange tubes from her mysterious scar.
Shaken, she asks a CIA psychiatrist about the memory-retrieval
procedure. The doctor shows her Kenneth Blake, a man whose
memory was retrieved at the cost of his sanity.
The Mexican police capture Simon's lackey Javier, who offers
up info about a CIA agent used by terrorists to kill a Russian
diplomat.
At the CIA, Sloane says The Covenant wants him to attend
a Chinese governmental function in order to steal data. China
intends to mount a microwave laser on a satellite as an assassination
weapon. It would make the victim appear as if he died of natural
causes. He wants Syd to accompany him and corrupt the data.
Syd will access the motherboard, connect to Marshall, who
will corrupt the system.
Vaughn and Lauren travel Mexico to interview Javier. Jack
advises Vaughn to impede the investigation. Vaughn disagrees,
saying Lauren is their best chance to keep Syd's secret from
NSC.
Syd and Sloane attend the Beijing ball posing as lovers.
Syd secretly assembles a toy car controlled by Marshall, which
he uses to follow a guard to the security system. Sloane persuades
Syd to dance for the sake of their cover. Marshall shuts down
the system. Syd gladly slaps Sloane in order to give the impression
they're having a lover's spat.
Meanwhile, Jack has bribed the Mexican police to detain Vaughn
and Lauren. When they're released, they find Javier dead in
his cell, an apparent suicide victim. Vaughn tells Jack if
he ever puts his wife in danger again, he'll kill him. Jack
tells Vaughn that maybe now he understands the compromises
one makes when a loved one is in danger.
Syd finds the vault, retrieves the case and connects to it,
allowing Marshall to corrupt the code. The guards repair the
security system and spot Syd. She fights off the guards as Marshall
finishes his job. Afterward, Sloane says the day she was found
in Hong Kong, he received a letter in Syd's handwriting, address
to Sydney Bristow. He gives it to her. A key and paper fall
out. It's a series of numbers, a code.
Sark pays a visit to Lauren. He says that he had planned
for Javier to be extradited and forced to confess the identity
of Lazarey's murderer. He gives her a dossier, which includes
a picture of Lazarey and Julia Thorne. Sark identifies Thorne
as Sydney.
Jack looks at the note Sloane gave Syd. He says the cipher
text was devised by Irina. It's the address of a penthouse
in Rome.
Vaughn and Lauren argue about keeping Sydney's secret. He
says Dixon ordered him not to divulge anything, but she'll
have none of it. Vaughn says Lindsey will ship Syd off to
Russia if he finds out. Lauren admits that she's already reported
Syd. Vaughn then tells Syd everything and arranges for her
to fly to Rome and pick up a new passport.
Syd asks him why he's helping her. He says some things don't
change. "I'm not going to lose you twice," he says,
and they hug. Later, Vaughn tells Jack he'll do anything to
help Syd.
Under Lindsey's authorization, Lauren takes control of the
task force from Dixon, relieving him for "obstruction
of justice."
Syd enters her apartment in Rome. Through the window, she
sees the figure she dreamt of. She searches the medicine cabinet
and finds a bottle is prescribed to Julia Thorne. The Italian
police barge in.
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