Moira

I opened the door.

It was Malcolm.

"You look radiant." He complimented.

"Flatterer."

I let Malcolm in the house.

He kissed my cheek.

"I think you're the last to arrive." I pointed out.

"How's Tommy?"

I looped my arm with Malcolm's.

"Tommy is Tommy." He answered.

"How's Oliver?" Malcolm questioned.

"Still in bed. It's only noon."

We both chuckled.

Robert

"Well, look who I just found." Moira pointed out.

She had Malcolm with her.

"Get lost trying to find the house?"

"You say that as if your driveway is not longer than most roads."

"Can I get anyone anything else? Frank?" Moira questioned.

"We're fine, dear. Thank you." I told her.

The doorbell rang.

"Oh, excuse me."

Moira walked out.

Moira

I opened the door.

It was Queen Consolidated's CFO, Walter.

"Hello, Mrs. Queen. I'm sorry to bother you at home." He apologized.

"Oh, no, no. Don't be silly, Walter. Come in, please."

I let Walter in the house.

I shut the door.

"You're here to see Robert."

"Yes. There's just some papers he needs to sign for the stock offering."

"Well, he's in some private meeting right now. But you're welcome to wait for him in his study."

"Thank you."

I was leading Walter to Robert's study.

"Unless you'd like to help me get my children out of the house."

I was walking up the stairs.

"You don't have children, do you, Walter?"

I looked back at him.

"Not yet, I'm afraid."

"Well, save yourself the trouble and don't. They eventually all turn into teenagers."

I headed upstairs.

Walter headed to Robert's study.

Robert

"Adam Hunt was reluctant at first but was more cooperative upon being informed we knew about his embezzlement." Frank informed.

"The Police communication system could use an upgrade." I suggested.

"I think Mr. Hunt can be persuaded to make an anonymous donation." He gave his opinion.

"Well, that will certainly cure what ails this City." Malcolm commented.

He stood up.

"What's that, Malcolm?"

"We're emptying the Atlantic with a tablespoon. For years, we've been forcing the City's worst to do what is best, leverage them to help us save the City. But it's... Not working."

Malcolm threw the notebook on the Coffee table.

"Crime in The Glades is rising. The Cancer is spreading."

"We just need to... Take some more time." I tried to reason with him.

"Did Rebecca get more time?"

I looked up at Malcolm.

"Did the man who raped Frank's daughter give her any quarter?"

Frank was pissed.

"Everyone in this room has lost something. Or someone to The Glades. And we have committed ourselves to fixing it."

"But what have we truly accomplished?" He questioned.

"Nothing." Malcolm answered his own question.

"Maybe it's because The Glades can't be fixed." He pointed out.

"You're saying we should abandon the project?" Frank questioned Malcolm.

"Yes. In favor of a new Undertaking." He answered.

I looked down.

"Like Ben Tre in Vietnam. The village must be destroyed before it can be saved."

"Are you suggesting we somehow level The Glades?" I questioned.

"Down to the bedrock. Only then can we truly rebuild Starling City and make it safer for everyone."

Malcolm sat back down.

"That's 24 square blocks." I pointed out.

"And if we did, and I'm not saying we should... If we did, wouldn't suspicion fall on us?" Frank questioned.

"Not if the destruction appears to be caused by a natural disaster."

"You've always had something of a God complex, Malcolm. It's part of your charm. But even you can't create a natural disaster."

"Have you ever heard of Unidac Industries?"

I shook my head.

"It's a small company. They have an idea. An idea that will serve our purposes. My sources tell me they're five years away from prototype." He informed.

"And any Undertaking of value is worthy of patience." Malcolm gave his opinion.

"And restraint." I added.

"One man alone can't save this City, Robert. We both know that." He pointed out.

I had walked to my study once the meeting was over.

My CFO, Walter was waiting for me.

I signed the K-5s.

"I'm sorry I had to pull you away from whoever you were meeting." He apologized.

"Oh, it's nothing. Everyone's left already. Besides, it's my fault for forgetting to sign the K-5s this morning."

"I hope you don't mind me asking. But is everything alright?" Walter questioned.

"Just, uh... Taking care of some odds and ends."

"Well, if ever you need a friendly ear."

"You're a good man, Walter."

We shook hands.

He left.

I walked into the Living Room.

Malcolm was still here.

He was standing in front of one of the windows, looking out it.

"I thought you'd left."

"I'm still waiting for your answer."

"How can you even think of doing this?"

"That place took your soul, Robert."

"Doing this won't give it back. It won't bring back Rebecca either."

Malcolm looked down.

"It still feels like yesterday, that day. When she called my cell phone for the first time, I remember being annoyed. She knew I was busy, so I just let it ring. When she called back a minute later, I shut my phone off."

I looked down.

"A little after Midnight, two SCPD Officers showed up in my office. All I remember them saying was... She'd been shot. Murdered in The Glades. After the Cops left, I sat in my office the rest of the night, listening to Rebecca's messages."

He turned around.

"She kept calling my name. Asking for help... Until she was just struggling to breathe, gasping for air. I listened to my Wife die over and over and over again."

"I can't imagine, Malcolm."

"Try. Imagine it was Moira lying on that pavement, bleeding, calling your name... And then tell me you wouldn't be prepared to do what I am."

Later

Moira and me were in our room.

"Are you feeling alright?" She questioned. "I know tonight was just another Ted Kord fund raiser but you were surprisingly quiet."

"Moira, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"Robert, if this is what I think it is, I don't want to know her name. I don't-"

"No. It's about Malcolm."

I turned around.

"He wants to level The Glades."

"And how does Malcolm propose to evacuate an entire section of the City?"

"He doesn't."

"Robert, this doesn't sound like you."

"Because I'm not the man you think I am."

I pulled away from her.

I sat in the chair in our room.

"About a month before the opening of the steel factory, the one in The Glades, I was approached by a local Councilman. He wanted money. Told me that's the way everything was done in The Glades. I told him I'd never pay a bribe in my life. We got into an argument. I didn't want to hurt him. I swear, Moira. But he fell."

"Oh, dear God. Oh, dear God."

"The work I'm doing with Malcolm... With the list... It's my penance, Moira."

"What? So, you'll atone for one murder by committing hundreds, thousands?"

I looked away.

"Oh... Robert. You listen to me."

Moira squatted down in front of me.

"Whatever wrongs you've committed... Whatever mistakes you've made... Preventing this horror... Is your chance to make it right. Please. Please, Robert, promise me you won't let this happen."

I nodded my head.

I invited Frank over.

We were in the Living Room.

"I suspect I know what this is about."

"You and I got in bed with Malcolm to cure what ails this City. But I think you agree, killing thousands of people is not the answer."

"Indeed. If we were to wage a war with Malcolm Merlyn, we will lose. My family has already suffered enough."

"And I have no desire to endanger mine." I informed him.

"Fortunately, there's another option."

I handed Frank a file.

"Six months ago, Malcolm started buying up buildings in The Glades through an offshore company called Sagittarius."

"And he made it sound as if this Undertaking of his was a recent inspiration. If you're right, he has been thinking about this for months."

"If he can't rebuild it, he'll abandon the project."

"How much of The Glades does he already have?"

"About a third. Now, if we can quietly buy up the rest before he can, he won't be able to gain the control he needs."

"We will need Capital."

"Do you still have your contacts in China?"

"I already have a flight planned for Shanghai in a week. Come with me."

"We shouldn't travel together. Malcolm might get worried. He already knows I have my doubts. Besides, I'm getting the urge to take out the Queen's Gambit for another voyage."

"Dad!" Oliver called, walking in the room.

"Do you have any cash?" He questioned.

"Jerk Pizza guy can't break a 100." Oliver pointed out.

"Oliver, you remember Mr. Chen?" I introduced him to Frank.

"Hi."

"Hey."

"Waiting."

I handed him $20.

"Thank you."

Oliver grabbed a bottle of Wine.

He walked out of the Living Room.

Oliver

Laurel was studying for the LSATs.

"Pizza." I announced, walking in my room.

"My Hero. I'm starved."

She sat up.

Laurel got off my bed.

She was looking for something.

I put the Pizza on the bed.

"Hey, Ollie."

"Yeah!"

"Where do you keep the bottle opener in this thing?"

"Bottom drawer."

I opened the Pizza box.

"Did you talk to Ray today?"

"About the ski trip?"

"No. He asked Jean to move in with him last night."

"Oh. Guess they've been together forever."

"We've been together longer."

I nodded my head.

"Guess we have."

"I only bring this up because your Mom busted me yesterday. And obviously we can't hang out at my house."

"Why? Because your father threatened to tase me the last time that I closed the door to your bedroom?"

"So, wouldn't it be nice to have a little place of our own?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

She smiled.

"This is a little fast, Laurel."

"I know that you like to think of yourself as a bad boy, Oliver Queen. But... I feel like we're ready to take the next step."

"Yeah."

Laurel smiled.

"Let's do it."

She chuckled.

We kissed.