Numbers in brackets are keyed to footnote editorial comments.

Volume III: Villains
Chapter Five: Angels and Monsters

A montage with Nathan delivering a monologue over top. He doubts his path. He's not sure whether he's a good guy or not[1]: Nathan sleeping with Tracy. Peter tackling Sylar. Claire outside a pawn shop with a gun. Hiro digging up and then being strangled by Adam. Mohinder perched on a rock in a park, rubbing his shoulders while watching a man in a hoodie.

Strauss Apartment, Night: Nathan gets a bottle of milk from the fridge and drinks straight out of it[2]. Linderman appears, and declines a drink[3]. They argue over whether Linderman is real, and whether Nathan saving Tracy was arranged by a higher power. Linderman claims to be the voice of God coming from within Nathan. Nathan's not convinced, but he doesn't have another explanation yet. Tracy enters[4], wondering to whom he's talking. Nathan insists he's just talking to himself, and Tracy looks a little put out.

Park, Daylight: A police car cruises through the park and hoodie-man starts to wander away. Mohinder jumps out in front of him, demanding something to take the edge off. Hoodie is holding a variety of mood management facilitators, but Mohinder demands Hoodie himself. Hoodie pulls a knife, but Mohinder grabs the hand holding it.

Sylar's Cell, Company HQ: Peter goes ballistic when Sylar calls him "brother," insisting he'll never be like Sylar. Angela arrives just as Peter snaps Sylar's neck. Peter grabs his mother telekinetically and demands to know her secrets or he'll rip open her head and take them. Angela screams as Peter begins to do just that. Sylar stands up, his head lying on his shoulder, and straightens himself out before telekinetically throwing Peter against the cell window. Peter falls unconscious while Angela mops the blood from her forehead. Sylar (should I call him Gabriel when he's not in a head-slicing mood?) wants Peter to be alright, and Angela assures him she'll take care of Peter. Noah appears outside the cell and Gabe joins him. Noah's got a lead on another of the escapees but, in spite of Gabe's prompting, declines to actually ask for Gabe's help.

Bennet House, Costa Verde: Sandra mutters as she looks through a folder of Level 5 detainee files. Meredith enters. Sandra knows there was no cheerleader sleepover and Claire's not answer her phone. Claire's gone after one of the escapees, and even though she's indestructible, there's a Stephen Canfield in the files who creates vortexes which cause people to disappear forever. Meredith looks through the photos until she comes to Eric Doyle, a terrible man who lives nearby. Sandra wants to come, but she has no power so Meredith makes her stay home. Meredith promises to have Claire back in half an hour.

Empty House: Stephen Canfield wanders through barren rooms, shouting into a phone. He's looking for his family, but his wife's sister on the other end refuses to give him any help. He creates a miniature black hole which swallows up the phone and a bunch of papers. He then hears footsteps and turns to find Claire who tasers him. She got one.

Graveyard, Night: Hiro, choking in Adam's grip, pleads for Adam's help. When Adam insists on trying to kill him, Hiro stops time and tucks him back into the coffin. When he promises to behave, Hiro lets him out again. In return for Adam's help finding the formula, Hiro offers him a better cell, with a window. Adam declines. Hiro starts to concentrate, but Adam gives in. Angela Petrelli is the one after the formula. Hiro corrects him. Angela's the one that sent them to Adam. When Adam denies having any idea who else would be interested, Hiro puts him back in his coffin again. From inside, Adam insists he can figure it out. He has a plan. Hiro's pleased. Ando's doubtful.

Open Lounge, Pinehearst Offices: Linderman tries to convince Daphne to begin recruiting for a new organization that will make the world a better place. Daphne eventually agrees. Some people walk by and see her talking to an empty couch. Linderman gives her some folders that contain files for people like Knox and Mohinder. Daphne's put off by them. They're nasty people. Linderman insists they just need guidance, and Daphne accepts the assignment.

A Car: Gabe repeatedly changes radio stations telekinetically while eating an apple. Noah finally snaps at him. Noah's only taking Gabe along because Angela insisted. Gabe wonders about forgiveness and insists he's trying to be good. Noah understands that killing is just in Gabe's nature.

Empty House: Claire holds the taser on Canfield while he pleads for his freedom. The company took him from his family two years ago and they must think he's abandoned them. Claire insists on sending him back to level 5. Canfield gets to his knees and conjures a wormhole close enough to Claire to pull the gun from her hand. She has to listen. Unarmed, Claire has no choice.

Suresh Lab, Soho: Mohinder drags in the dealer, who leaves behind a trail of blood as Mohinder dumps him on a gurney. Mohinder lifts up his own shirt and examines the scales there. Maya enters, calling from the outer room. He greets Maya warmly, but then spies a flyer on a table. It was in his door. It's about his neighbor, who's missing. Mohinder distracts Maya by insisting he's getting closer. He's almost to the point where he can take away her ability. He embraces her from behind, and she tries to cover her shock and horror when she sees the trail of blood on the floor. She makes and excuse and leaves. Mohinder returns to his workroom where the missing neighbor is cocooned in slime[5].

Empty House: Claire sits in a chair while Canfield paces. Her cellphone rings, but Canfield grabs it before she can answer. It might be her partner, but from her expression he realizes that she's alone. She's not with the company. She's not with Pinehearst either, because she doesn't recognize the business card Canfield shows her. He explains that he once got into a fight with his neighbor, lost control and sent him to the twilight zone. Then the Company locked him up. All he wants is to see his family and feel normal again. Claire sympathizes and can't believe he's letting her go. He wants a head start before she calls the company. She offers to help.

Strauss Apartment: Tracy combs her hair while Nathan finishes dressing. He wonders why she was on the bridge. She's hesitant, but he convinces her to confess that she killed Ralph Hinkley. She's going to turn herself in. Nathan thinks it's a bad idea for her to tell them about her powers. The last time he tried, he got shot and saw God. He insists that God gave them their powers for a higher purpose. Tracy knows that it wasn't God. It was a doctor in California. Nathan is confused.

Empty House: Claire pulls a recent number for Canfield's family from his file. Canfield uses her cell to make the call and convinces his wife to meet him at a carousel. He thanks her, but then the cell phone cuts out. A moment later, Noah busts through the door with gun drawn. Canfield figures he's been betrayed, but Claire's as shocked to see her dad as Canfield is. Canfield grabs Claire as a shield. Sylar enters, demanding Canfield let her go. Claire can't believe her Dad's hanging with the man who looted her brain. Shouting ensues. In the confusion, Canfield tells Claire to hold onto something, then unleashes a large hole in the middle of the room. It sucks in Noah's gun, then some furniture, then begins pulling on all the people in the room. Claire's got hold of a railing of some kind, but it breaks under the pressure and Noah can only watch helplessly, barely able to keep his own grip, as Claire begins to slide into the hole. Just as she's about to slip away, Sylar grabs her and holds on[. None of them can believe it, and hate wars with relief in Claire's face. A moment later, the hole collapses and everyone drops to the floor, safe. Sylar runs out after Canfield. Noah picks himself up and embraces Claire. Claire can't believe Noah's hanging with Sylar, who comes back into the room. Sylar tries to apologize, but Noah cuts him off. Gabe never gets to talk to Claire again. Noah tries to get Canfield's location out of Claire. Claire won't give it. Canfield's just as scared and confused by his ability as she was. Noah promises to talk to Canfield when they find him, to make other arrangements. Claire trusts her father and gives up the location of the carousel.

A Bar: Hiro, Ando and Adam enter. This bar is the go-to place for hiring specials. Adam's plan is to find out who hired the speedster. He goes up to the barkeep, who recognizes him. Adam had slept with the barkeep's wife. When the barkeep tries to hit him, Adam ducks and Hiro gets knocked cold instead. In the confusion, as Ando tries to revive Hiro, Adam escapes.

Company Cell: Peter lies on a gurney with Angela standing over him. Nathan and Tracy enter. She's put Peter in a medically induced coma because he can't control Sylar's power. Nathan makes introductions. Angela knows all about Tracy and her trip to Dr. Zimmerman, who used to work for the Company. Tracy has questions, but Angela's not giving answers. Nathan demands to know what she's hiding. Angela spills: the Company gave abilities to infants. Among them, Tracy, Niki and Barbara. And Nathan.

Suresh Lab, Soho: Maya sneaks in and into the back room, where she finds the cocooned neighbor. His eyes snap open, but he doesn't say anything. She grabs a chair and starts pulling at the slime. Mohinder enters the outer room and sits at his computer. He hears noise from the back room and goes to investigate. He sees the chair and the disturbed cocoon. Maya is hiding under a table, terrified. Her fear triggers her power, and Mohinder begins to suffer as his eyes turn black. So does the cocooned neighbor. He knows she's there and upsets the table. He convinces her she doesn't want to be a murderer again and she reins in her power. She calls him a monster. When he's able to stand, Mohinder attacks her.

Alleyway, Night: Ando and Hiro emerge from the bar's back door, Hiro rubbing his jaw. They haven't found Adam anywhere, and head up the alley to the street to search further. Adam climbs out of a garbage barrel behind them and quietly starts his getaway. Knox jumps out of the shadows and takes Adam down, then loads him into the back of a van without alerting either Hiro or Ando, both of whom are getting further away. Knox pulls out a phone and announces he's done, then wonders what to do about the two Japanese guys.

Company Office: Tracy and Nathan look through files while Angela watches. Neither of them can believe or accept what was done to them. Angela knows it's terrible, and that's why they divided and hid the formula. They stopped their program and tried to prevent it from every being activated again. Now someone has the formula, though, and is planning to create an army of specials. She needs their help. Nathan tells her to go to hell, then leaves. Neither of them respond when Angela tries to call them back. Out in the corridor, Nathan tells Tracy about Mohinder, who understands all this stuff. Tracy wonders if he can be trusted, but Nathan figures Mohinder's harmless[7].

Suresh Lab: Mohinder finishes Alien-slime pasting Maya into the wall.

Carousel, Night: Claire finds Canfield sitting dejectedly in a car of the carousel. His family never showed. They were afraid of him. He steps out of the enclosure, and Noah sneaks up behind him. Noah points his gun at Canfield's head and offers him a choice: level 5, or he uses his power to make Sylar, who's lounging over by the car, disappear. Canfield declines. He's not a killer. Claire can't believe her father is forcing that choice on Canfield. Sylar begins to suspect something's up, although he can't hear their conversation from his distance[8]. He walks forward as Noah continues to press Canfield to use his power. Canfield refuses to be a monster and conjures a hole that swallows him up. Claire stares at the empty space in horror.

Bar: Ando drinks and mopes that they're terrible heroes, having made a mess of their mission. Hiro still holds some hope. Daphne enters with Knox. They've heard that Hiro and Ando are looking for work. Ando denies it, but Hiro wants to join them. Daphne doesn't believe it. They have to prove themselves. Knox hears that Hiro has the powers. He takes a sword from the wall and orders Hiro to kill Ando. Hiro and Daphne are aghast. Ando's freaked. Hiro apologizes to Ando. He must make some sacrifices to save the world. He then stabs Ando quickly in the heart. Ando dies without believing it.

Car, Night: Noah brings it to a stop outside the Bennet house. He hopes that Claire understands he did what he did for them, to keep the family safe. Sylar pipes up from the back. It's all lies. Noah's just a user. He used Claire to get to Canfield and tried to use Canfield to kill Sylar. They're nothing to him. Claire gets out of the car and Noah follows. He hugs her and tries to convince her his intentions are good, that Sylar's a psycho and not to be trusted. Claire hugs him back listlessly. She's not convinced.

Bennet House: When Claire enters, Sandra rushes up, overjoyed that Meredith found her. Claire backs out of their hug. Meredith didn't find her.

Doyle House: Meredith and Eric eat spaghetti and meatballs, Meredith moving woodenly. Eric's power is the ability to control others movements with his own. Meredith tries to protest, but Eric shuts her mouth with a gesture and insists she kiss him. She has no choice.

Company Office: Angela's nodding off in her chair when she hears a scream. She gets up and wanders into the hall where she finds Tracy on the floor with her throat slashed. Nathan's leaning against the wall with a Sylar-slice across his head. Peter's standing over them, bloody to the elbows. Angela asks if he's responsible, but Peter collapses, showing a length of pipe embedded in the back of his skull. Horrified, Angela turns to see a man behind her. She can see the future, so he has to get rid of her. She vows to stop him, but he grabs her shoulder and tells her she won't even be able to move. The words echo as Angela suddenly finds herself back in her chair, unable to move anything but her eyes.

Pinehearst Corporation Offices, Exterior, Night: Daphne speeds up and stops. Linderman tells her she's late. She says everyone's on board, but she didn't sign up to be a killer. Linderman figures you've got to make sacrifices to make the world a better place. He's got one more for Daphne to recruit: Matt Parkman. Daphne's figured out what bothers her about Linderman: she's fast enough to sneak up on anyone, but she's never been able to do it. She swipes Matt's file right through him. He's not real. He disappears as she speeds off in search of Matt. Once she's gone, Maury Parkman steps out of the shadows. He enters the building and goes to a laboratory where a man lies in bed, kept alive by doctors and machines. Maury reports that everything is going well: Nathan believes Linderman is a visitor from God. Daphne is spreading the word, and they're building an army. Adam will be in their possession by tomorrow. The figure on the bed is the same as that in Angela's dream. Maury calls him Mr. Petrelli.

[
1. Really, this is no improvement over Mohinder's pretentious musings.

2. My wife would kill me.

3. I don't blame him.

4. They save a fortune on wardrobe for Ms. Larter. She never seems to wear much. This time it's just a man's shirt. How very economical.

5. It looks like the slime from Aliens.

6. How'd he get from beside Noah to across the room beside Claire on the opposite side of the hole when Noah couldn't even let go of his support? He can teleport! No, he used his telekinesis! No! He... he... Aw, heck, he just walked out of camera range on one side of the set and back onto the other. He used his screen actor powers!

7. Not harmless, actually. Just uninteresting. Although he is assembling an unusual art gallery.

8. PIS. Back in season 1, he picked up superhearing from a lady mechanic who could hear a fly buzzing a mile away. He should be using that.
]