Hey guys! Thanks to all the new followers and those who favorited this story. For this story I made the reaction in quotation marks. Tell which you prefer: the way I did it before or with the quotation marks. Again I own nothing, but the reactions. Please review and enjoy!
-Patronus Totalus
Oliver (V.O): My name is Oliver Queen. For 5 years, I was stranded on an island with only one goal- survive.
Man on T.V: Oliver Queen is alive.
Oliver (V.O): Now I will fulfill my father's dying wish...
Robert: You can survive this.
Oliver (V.O): To use the list of names he left me and bring down those who are poisoning my city. To do this, I must become someone else. I must become something else. Previously on "Arrow"...
Oliver: (screams) Sara!
Laurel: How am I supposed to stay away from you if you won't stay away from me?
Moira: John Diggle. He'll be accompanying you from now on.
Diggle: I think I'm just beginning to understand the kind of man you are.
[ARROW CAVE]
Arrow: [makes concoction and gives it to Diggle. Diggle drinks it]
Oliver: (in Arrow suit without the hood) Hey.
Diggle: Oliver? You're that vigilante. (tries to punch Oliver, but misses)
Oliver: Easy, Dig. You were poisoned.
Diggle: Son of a bitch. (tries again, but falls. Oliver catches him)
"Seems like you're a little off your game, Diggle." Roy teases.
Oliver: Come on. Come on. (puts Diggle on a table) I could have taken you anywhere, could have taken you home. I brought you here.
Diggle: You really did lose your mind on that island.
Oliver: Found a couple things along the way.
Diggle: Like what, archery classes?
Oliver: Clarity. Starling City is dying. It is being poisoned by a criminal elite who don't care who they hurt, as long as they maintain their wealth and power.
Diggle: What are you gonna do, take 'em all down by your lonesome?
Oliver: No. No, I want you to join me.
"What?! I'm his best friend and he tells his secret to a bodyguard and asks said bodyguard to join him? What about me?" Tommy asks dejected.
Diggle: [Scoffs]
Oliver: Special Forces out of Kandahar. It's perfect. You're a fellow soldier.
Diggle: Oliver, you're not a soldier. You're a criminal. And a murderer. [Walks away]
"That might have been a little harsh." Felicity says putting a small space between her index finger and thumb.
[QUEEN MANSION]
[Door opens]
Laurel: Where were you?
Oliver: What? [Sighs] What are you doing here?
Laurel: I heard about the shooting, and I wanted to make sure you were ok.
Oliver: You did?
Laurel: Yeah. I knocked on the door, and I found a family terrified for you. They had no idea where you were.
Oliver: Oh.
Laurel: Oliver, are you so self-centered that you don't think that people who care about you are gonna wonder where you are after you all got shot at?
Oliver: You're right.
Laurel: I made peace with your selfishness a long time ago, but Moira, Thea, and Walter, they don't deserve that. They deserve better, someone who doesn't care only about himself. (starts to walk away)
"Harsh." Thea mumbles.
Oliver: Laurel... thank you for coming.
Laurel: I care about the lives of other people, Oliver. Maybe you should try it sometime. [Laurel leaves. Thea is behind Oliver and walks up to him.]
"Why do I have a feeling that, that statement is going to come bite me in the ass later?" Laurel asks mad at herself for making the situation worse.
Oliver: Oh, man. [Sighs]
Thea: That was harsh. You ok?
Laurel: Sure. Second time tonight that a friend of mine has taken me to the woodshed. Kind of tires you out.
Thea: Yeah.
Oliver: Good night.
Thea: Good night.
[Oliver is sleeping.]
[FLASHBACK]
[Bird chirping]
Man: Shengcún. (brings a cage with a bird inside)
"Wait why don't we get subtitles like the other times?" Roy asks.
"Maybe, because it is going to be explained later." Moira suggests.
Oliver: What am I supposed to do with that?
Man: Shengcún.
Oliver: Does that mean "bird"?
Man: Shengcún!
Oliver: I don't speak Chinese! (takes out a picture of Laurel and stares at it) I'm sorry, Laurel. I'm so sorry.
"WHAT?!" Lance and Laurel called out. Laurel was surprised he cared so much and Lance was mad that Queen did something honorable, like keep a picture of his daughter in his wallet.
[QUEEN MANSION]
[Wind blowing]
[Oliver wakes up from a nightmare and goes downstairs to see Thea watching T.V]
Reporter: There were no signs of forced entry or any evidence of a struggle, but hours later, the police found that the bloodstained kitchen knife in the trunk...
"Peter Declan. He still isn't dealt with yet?" Thea asks.
Thea: Couldn't sleep, either?
Oliver: No.
Reporter: Forensic analysis verified...
Oliver: What are you watching?
Thea: Peter Declan.
Reporter: Blood on the blade...
Oliver: Hmm?
Reporter: Peter Declan's fingerprints...
Thea: A guy who killed his wife.
Reporter: Despite the growing list of evidence...
Oliver: Right.
Thea: This guy killed his wife in their baby's room. Psycho.
Peter: [on T.V] Camille was everything to me. I couldn't kill her any more than I could kill myself.
Thea: So why can't you sleep?
Oliver: Bad dreams.
Thea: About?
Oliver: Laurel.
Thea: So why don't you make a play? I mean, she did come over here just to make sure you didn't get shot.
Oliver: There are reasons.
Thea: Mm, what are they? Besides you sleeping with her sister and her sister dying and her father hating your guts and you basically being a jerk to everybody since you've been back?
"Way to put it gently, Thea." Tommy jokes. Thea sticks her tongue out at him and he does it back.
Oliver: Those are the top ones. I know that it might not seem like it sometimes, but... I'm not the same person I used to be.
Thea: So show her. Be yourself. I mean your new self.
[IN THE MORNING]
Moira:How did you sleep?
"Am I the only one noticing the guy in the back?" Diggle asks. Felicity shakes her head staring at the screen.
Oliver: Just fine. Thank you. We have a visitor.
Moira: Hmm. Mr. Diggle's replacement.
Oliver: Replacement?
Moira: Yes. He tendered his resignation this morning.
Oliver: Did he say why?
Moira: He said he didn't approve of the way you spend your evenings, particularly given that they always begin with you ditching him.
Oliver: Hi.
Rob: Mr. Queen, Rob Scott. I'll be your new bodyman.
Oliver: That's a firm grip you got there, Rob.
Rob: That's 5 years SWAT with Monument Point M.C.U.
Oliver: I feel safer already.
"I wonder how long he'll last." Thea says. Moira shakes her head.
Moira: Ah, thank God we don't have to hear about this awful man anymore. [Oliver turns up the T.V]
Reporter: Declan's execution is set for midnight 2 days from now. Camille Declan's former employer, Jason Brodeur, released a statement saying, quote, "I hope this gives Camille the peace she deserves."
Oliver: Jason Brodeur?
Moira: What?
Oliver: The dead wife worked for Jason Brodeur.
Moira: Apparently so. What- why?
Oliver: No reason.
"That's the second time he does that!" Laurel exclaimed.
"Does what?" Tommy asks.
"Literally says his plans in front of someone and no one questions it!" Laurel says.
Oliver: Say, Rob, I want to go into town. Could you please get the car for me?
Rob: No offense, Mr. Queen, but I have been filled in on your tendency to slip the leash. If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer keeping you in my sights at all times.
Oliver: We're 20 miles from the city. If you don't drive me, how else am I gonna get there? Right? [Rob leaves to get the car.] I like him.
"But doesn't Ollie have a motorcycle?" Thea questions.
Rob: [Oliver salutes him as he leaves on his motorcycle] Hey!
"Well, that answers that." Thea laughs.
[ARROW CAVE]
Oliver (V.O): They say Peter Declan murdered his wife in cold blood. He had no alibi, and all the evidence pointed toward him. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, an open-and-shut case, except for one thing. Declan's wife Camille worked for Jason Brodeur. And Jason Brodeur is on the list. (shows Jason Brodeur's name on the list.)
[WAREHOUSE]
Ankov: Mr. Brodeur.
Jason: Admiring your handiwork, Ankov?
Ankov: You should have just let me kill both of 'em.
Jason: Peter Declan is worth more alive. "Husband kills wife" is a much better headline than "whistle-blower uncovers toxic dumping," don't you think? Either way, 48 hours, all this'll be over.
Oliver (V.O): (making arrowheads)The odds are good that Brodeur is involved in this woman's murder, which means an innocent man is facing execution. He'll need a good attorney. (looks at the same photo of Laurel)
"He still has the picture." Laurel whispers breathlessly.
[CNRI]
Joanna: So I take it there's absolutely no point in asking if you'd like to grab a drink?
Laurel: I can't. I have to go over transcripts for the Fernands case.
Joanna: You know, if you go somewhere that's not work or your home, your odds of meeting someone increase by, like, a gazillion percent.
Laurel: Oh, that's not true. I could still get mugged on the way home.
Joanna: In that case, I hope he's cute and single.
Laurel: Good night, Joanna.
"Don't worry, Laurel. My friends are the same." Felicity says.
[LAUREL'S APARTMENT]
[Laurel walks in her house. She tries to open the lights, but they stay off. She notices the living room window is open. She grabs a gun, and points it at Arrow.]
Arrow: (turns on his voice enhancer) Hello, Laurel.
Laurel: Don't move!
Arrow: I'm not gonna hurt you. (takes in bow in his bad hand to show he's not going to hurt her.)
Laurel: Stay back. My father's a cop. You are making a huge mistake.
Arrow: I'm not the person you think I am, and I need your help. Peter Declan is gonna be executed in 48 hours. I think he's innocent. Declan's wife was gonna blow the whistle on Jason Brodeur. Brodeur had her murdered.
Laurel: There are a thousand lawyers in Starling City. Why me?
Arrow: (puts down Laurel's gun) We're both trying to help.
Laurel: What makes you sure I'm gonna help you?
Arrow: Because I know you'd do anything to save the life of an innocent man.
"You're working with a murderer now?" Lance asks his daughter angrily.
[IRON HEIGHTS PENITENTIARY]
[Cell door clangs]
Laurel: A jury has charged you as guilty, Mr. Declan.
Peter: The evidence was stacked against me, but I didn't kill my wife. I didn't take my daughter's mother from her.
Laurel: The murder weapon was a knife from your kitchen with your prints on it. It was found, along with Camille's blood, in the trunk of your car. Your neighbors said they heard an argument that night.
Peter: We had a knockdown fight over Jason Brodeur. Camille worked for him, and his company had been dumping toxic waste into the Glades. Now, Camille told me that she'd gone and told a supervisor about it. I was afraid for my family's safety. And we argued very loudly, yes. Izzy started crying, so Camille went and stayed in her room. In the morning, I went to apologize, and that's when I found her. So I just grabbed Izzy, and I ran outside, and I called 911. I'm innocent, Ms. Lance.
[QUEEN CONSOLIDATED]
Moira: Well, it looks like someone forgot a lunch date with his wife.
Walter: What do you mean? Lunch isn't for another- 45 minutes ago. I'm so sorry.
Moira: It's all right. The restaurant is holding our table. Is something wrong?
"Your table is still being held? 45 minutes after the reservation?" Roy asks. Moira and Thea nod as if this was very normal for everyone.
Walter: Compliance department has tagged something, $2.6 million withdrawal from one of our Vancouver subsidiaries.
Moira and Thea share a look that is only noticed by Felicity.
Moira: What-you mean- are you saying that someone embezzled $2.6 million from the company?
Walter: Well, it's probably a bookkeeping error, but compliance is understandably worried about an IRS audit.
Moira: Hmm.
Walter: But don't worry. I'm sure it's nothing. Come on. We're gonna be late. I mean later.
[SCPD]
[Radio] On our way.
Lance: Well, I wasn't the lead on this, but from what I recall, we had fingerprints. We had blood. We got motive, everything.
Laurel: Brodeur seems like the type of guy with resources needed to frame someone.
Lance: Laurel, in 24 hours, Peter Declan is lying down with a needle in his arm, and he's not getting up. If I thought for a second we didn't have the right guy, do you think there's anything else I'd be doing right now except trying to get at what really happened?
Laurel: Declan said his wife went to her supervisor with allegations that Brodeur was dumping toxic waste.
Lance: Yeah, but that supervisor, he said that never happened. Let me see. What was his name? Here you go. Istook, Matt Istook. He said he didn't even see Camille that day. Happy now?
Laurel: Yes.
Lance: You know, I thought it'd be a cold day in hell before you started defending criminals.
"I agree with myself. Why are you protecting criminals? Because "The Hood" told you to?" Lance says his voice dripping with sarcasm as he says "The Hood".
Laurel: I'm not so sure Declan's a criminal. Like you said, he's on a clock. Can't leave any stone unturned.
Lance: Oh, yeah.
[BIG BELLY BURGER]
Carly: So when are you gonna tell me? Hmm? About what happened to your arm.
Diggle: Oh, it's my shoulder, and it's-it's fine.
Carly: I knew that Queen guy was trouble.
Diggle: Hey, I never said this happened protecting Queen.
Carly: Oh, yeah? Then what's he doing here? [Diggle looks back and sees Oliver and Rob walk in]
Rob: Area is secure, sir.
Oliver: Thank you very much, Rob. Hello, Diggle's sister-in-law Carly. I'm Oliver Queen.
Carly: I know who you are.
Diggle: No, you really don't. [Carly walks away.] Hello. I couldn't help but notice a distinct lack of police cars when I got home. I knew you wouldn't drop a dime on me. So have you considered my offer?
Diggle: Offer. [Scoffs] That's one hell of a way to put it.
Oliver: It is an offer. It's a chance to do the kind of good that compelled you to join the military.
Diggle: Please. You were born with a platinum spoon in your mouth, Queen. What, you spent 5 years on an island with no room service, and suddenly you found religion? [Scoffs]
Oliver: (shows Diggle the list) This was my father's. I found it when I buried him.
Diggle: I thought you said your father died when the boat went down.
Oliver: We both made it to a life raft, but there wasn't enough food and water for both of us, so he shot himself in the head. And as much as he was doing it to give me a chance to survive, I believe that he was also atoning for his sins. I need to right the wrongs done by my family, and I'm offering you the chance to right the wrongs done to yours.
"Again! It's like he doesn't trust me anymore! A bodyguard over his best friend!" Tommy says.
"A bodyguard that is sitting right here." Diggle answers smirking when Tommy goes pale.
Diggle: Oliver, what are you talking about?
Oliver: The police never caught your brother's shooter.
Diggle: Hey, you leave Andy out of this.
Oliver: The bullets were laced with curare. That's Floyd Lawton's M.O. He is the sniper that I stopped.
Diggle: Are you trying to tell me that you took down Andy's killer?
Oliver: I'm-I'm giving you the chance, a chance to help other people's families. Do you remember when the people in this city helped each other? They can't do that anymore, because a group of people, people like my father, they see nothing wrong with raising themselves up by stepping on other people's throats. It does need to stop, and if it's not gonna be the courts and it's not gonna be the cops... Then it's gonna be me. And, I hope, you. [Oliver gets up] I'm gonna go to the washroom, Rob. [Oliver leaves. There is an awkward silence between Diggle and Rob.]
Diggle: Oh, that boy's long gone, man.
"Bets on how long he is going to last?" Thea says.
"20$, he's gone by the end of the week." Tommy says. Malcolm looks at his son disapprovingly.
[QUEEN MANSION]
Moira: You still following the money trail?
Walter: Mm-hmm.
Moira: Don't we have accountants for that sort of thing?
Walter: They're being singularly ineffective in this instance.
Moira: Well, then... it's fortunate that I've solved the mystery. I think I'm the culprit. 2.6 million is a rather specific figure. That's the exact amount the company invested in a friend's start-up venture 3 years ago. [Chuckles] I will call accounting. They'll clean it all up. Then there's nothing to worry about. Ok. Heh.
"I'm not so sure Walter believes you, Mom. As a matter of fact, I don't quite believe you either." Thea comments.
[CNRI]
Joanna: You really are putting a lot of hours into this Declan thing. You actually think he's innocent.
Laurel: Someone does.
Joanna: So you said, but you didn't say who.
Laurel: (whispers) The guardian angel.
Joanna: The guy in the hood? Look, you're- you're kidding.
Laurel: He tracked me down and asked me to look into the Declan case.
Joanna: But you've met him?
Laurel: But he goes against everything that I was ever taught to believe in. He breaks the law and God knows what else.
Joanna: How are you not afraid that he is gonna do God knows what to you?
Laurel: He won't. I don't know. I can feel it.
"That's interesting, . It's almost as if you knew who was under the mask without actually knowing it." Malcolm comments.
Joanna: You know, when I told you to meet someone, this is far, far away from what I meant.
[ROOFTOP]
Laurel: I got your message. Is there a reason we can't do this face to face?
Arrow: You've met with Peter Declan.
Laurel: You were right. He might be innocent. Declan said his wife blew the whistle on Brodeur the day she was murdered.
Arrow: Then we need to get whoever she told about Brodeur to testify.
Laurel: He already has. Matt Istook, Camille's supervisor. Only, he says that she didn't say a word to him.
Arrow: He could be lying.
Laurel:Well, if he is, then he's very convincing. He had the jury and police believing him.
Arrow: He hasn't been questioned by me.
Laurel: I didn't become a lawyer to break the law or hurt anybody.
Arrow: I do what's necessary, what people like Peter Declan need.
Laurel: If what you're doing isn't wrong... Then why are you hiding your face with a hood?
"Good question." Diggle praises. Laurel nods his way.
Arrow: To protect the ones I care about.
Laurel: That sounds lonely.
Arrow: It can be. But not today.
[QUEEN CONSOLIDATED]
[Elevator dings]
"Why do you look so angry?" Laurel asks.
Felicity: I've got one question. Why am I being fired?
"I'm being, what?!" Felicity says.
Walter: Ms. Smoak, isn't it?
Felicity: Yes. And I am without a doubt the single most valuable member of your technical division. That's including my so-called "supervisor." Letting me go would be a major error for this company.
Walter: I agree, which is why you're not being fired.
"Oh thank God!" Felicity says.
Felicity: Uh, I assumed when you brought me up here, it was because… (pretends to slit her throat)
Walter: It's because I wanted you to look into something for me. A variance of $2.6 million on a failed investment from 3 years ago. It was authorized by my wife. I was hoping you could find out some of the details of the transaction for me.
Felicity: Find out...
Walter: Dig up discreetly.
Felicity: I'm your girl. (starts to walk away) I mean, I'm not your girl. I wasn't making a pass at you. Thank you for not firing me.
Felicity facepalms.
"How can you make a normal situation completely awkward?" Roy says to Felicity.
"It's one of my traits." Felicity retorts.
[PARKING LOT]
[Alarm beeps off] [Tranquilizer hits Matt in the neck]
Matt: Ahh. What the...
[TRAIN TRACK]
[Train whistle blows]
Arrow: Matt Istook.
Matt: You're him, that hood guy. You're the guy that's been terrorizing the city.
Arrow: Peter Declan, your lies helped put him on death row. Now, either it's time to tell me the truth, or it's time for the 10:15 to Blüdhaven.
"He wouldn't really, would he?" Moira asks horrified by her son's actions.
"The fact that you have to ask shows you how much that son of a bitch is willing to do." Lance snarks.
Matt: [Stammers] O-ok. Ok, I- Brodeur paid me to- to say that Camille never spoke to me, but I didn't have anything to do with her death. Oh, God, please. I'll do anything. Y-you could have the file.
Arrow: What file?
Matt: Camille gave me a file of evidence against Jason Brodeur.
Arrow: Where is it?!
Matt: Let me go, and I'll tell you. [Arrow walks away] [Whistle blowing] Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Don't go! It's in my desk! The file, it's in my desk at the office! You can have it! Get me out of here! [Arrow lets Matt go just as the train passes.]
"Oh my God! He's alive!" Thea says happy that her brother didn't let the guy die.
[FLASHBACK]
Oliver: [Man is cooking something] What is that? I'm so hungry. It smells really good. [Oliver tries to grab it, but the man twists his arm.] Aah! Hey, fine. Don't share. [Grunts] [Bird chirping]
Man: Shengcún.[Makes a neck snapping motion with his hands.]
"He wants Oliver to kill the bird or starve?" Moira asks. Malcolm is thoughtful of the teaching methods.
Oliver: I'm not gonna kill the bird.
Man: Shengcún.
[END FLASHBACK]
Arrow: Compliments of Matt Istook.
Laurel: What's in here?
Arrow: Leverage on Jason Brodeur, enough to help save Peter Declan's life.
Laurel: As an attorney, I never would have gotten a file like this. I always thought the law was sacred, i-it fixed everything.
Arrow: And now, Laurel?
Laurel: Now what do you think? I think there's too many people in this city who only care about themselves... people who are selfish. I think they need someone who cares about the lives of other people... someone like you.
"And there it is! It came back and bit me in the ass!" Laurel says with a slight smile.
[QUEEN MANSION]
[Door opens, closes]
Thea: Oh, my God. What is wrong with your face?
Oliver: What do you mean?
Thea: There's something really weird on it, like this thing with your mouth. It-it looks like it's in the shape of a smile.
Oliver: That's cute.
Thea: So why are you grinning?
Oliver: I took your advice with Laurel to be myself. And... It's helping.
Thea: Got mad relationship skills, bro. Let me know if you need trendy places to propose.
"First of all if you have mad relationship skills, how are you still single? Secondly, proposing?" Laurel says samugly.
"Firstly ouch! How could you Laurel! Secondly, yes proposing." Thea says.
Oliver: I think you're getting a little bit ahead of yourself.
Thea: Mm. Little bit. (walks away)
Oliver: Rob. You gotta keep up.
"How can he say that without bursting out laughing?" Tommy laughs.
[SCPD]
Lance: Hey, you look busy.
Laurel: Is that the Declan case?
Lance: You know, it was a funny development on Matt Istook. He, uh, filed a police report. He said the hood harassed him last night. And that's funny, because I gave my daughter Istook's name. Dad- He's a vigilante. He's a damn criminal, and you working with him, that makes you an accessory.
Laurel: I am trying to save an innocent man's life.
Lance: No. You're breaking the law.
Laurel: Well, I wouldn't have to if the police would have done their job right in the first place.
Lance: I asked you how you got this case. You lied to me straight to my face, eh? I thought you and I didn't do that. Guess I was wrong.
The tension in the room could be cut with a butter knife.
[COURTHOUSE]
Laurel: The mere existence of the file proves that Mr. Istook perjured himself for Jason Brodeur's benefit.
Jared: That's slander. Jared Swanstrom, Your Honor. I represent Jason Brodeur and Brodeur Chemical.
Laurel: The interest of justice requires you to stay the defendant's execution pending exploration of the newly discovered evidence.
Judge: Ours isn't a court of justice, Ms. Lance. It's a court of law, and under the law, I don't think your evidence is sufficient to warrant a stay of execution. Your motion for habeas corpus is denied.
Laurel: This isn't over. I've got the loose end now, and no matter what happens, I am going to pull on it until your whole world unravels. (bumps into him)
"Remind me not to get on your bad side." Tommy tells Laurel.
[BRODEUR CHEMICALS]
Jason: Declan's lawyer's pulling me into this. I'm gonna go to prison, if not for murder, then this- this dumping thing.
"You scared him! That's my girl!" Lance praises although still tension in the room.
Ankov: That won't happen. There are steps we can take.
Jason: You saw her. She's going after me.
Ankov: [Sighs] She's gonna want to meet with her client after what happened in court today. We have friends up in Iron Heights. Prison can be a dangerous place.
[ROOFTOP]
Arrow: We're not done yet.
Laurel: I'm an attorney. Trust me. We're done.
Arrow: What do you need to free Peter Declan?
Laurel: At this point, nothing short of a signed confession from Brodeur. Where are you going?
Arrow: To get a confession.
[QUEEN CONSOLIDATED]
Felicity: The company Mrs. Queen- or Steele. Mrs. Queen-Steele. She hyphenate? She seems like a woman who would hyphenate.
"Mrs. Queen, Felicity." Moira answers Felicity's question. Felicity facepalms again at herself.
[Walter clears throat] Right. The company she invested in doesn't exist.
Walter: I don't understand.
Felicity: There was no investment. The money was used to set up an offshore LLC called Tempest.
Water: I don't recall that name being under the Queen Consolidated banner.
Felicity: 'Cause it's not. There's nothing registered with the Secretary of State, no federal tax records, no patent applications filed. But in 2009, Tempest purchased a warehouse in Starling City.
[BIG BELLY BURGER]
Carly: Enough moping.
Diggle: Mm.
Carly: You quit. It's done. My advice would be to move on.
Diggle: Well, if it were only that easy.
Carly: Except it is. Personal security is dangerous. Your nephew already lost his father. He can't lose his uncle, too.
Diggle: Does it ever bother you they never caught the guy who killed Andy? You know, when I was in Afghanistan, I had a job, and I did it. And when I could, I would help out the people there so that, in some small way, when I left, I could believe I left it a better place. But ever since I've been home, all I do is protect punks and spoiled one percenters. Yeah. I miss feeling like I'm making a difference in the world.
Carly: Then get out of personal security and go do something you believe in.
Diggle: Yeah, what if it's wrong?
Diggle: John, if you believe in something, how can it be wrong?
[BRODEUR CHEMICALS]
Jason: What do you want?
Arrow: You're gonna confess that you arranged to have Peter Declan's wife murdered.
Jason: What, so I can take his place in prison? So you can avoid the death penalty. Except if I'm dead, well, then, you've got no one to pin Camille's murder on. You need me to exonerate Peter Declan. Maybe you could try to force me to sign a confession or something. [Arrow shots him in the hand.]Yaah!
"Well there goes the written confession! Are you sure he's helping?" Lance says.
Arrow: That might be difficult. [Cellphone ringing]
Jason: My hand!
Arrow: Just answer it.
Jason: What?
Ankov: It's Ankov. It's going down, one hour.
Arrow: What's going down in an hour? What?!
Jason: Let's just say... Peter Declan's execution, it's getting moved up.
[IRON HEIGHTS PENITENTIARY]
[Oliver knocks out a prison guard and steals his uniform.]
Laurel: We still have a shot. Do you remember the friend that I mentioned, the one who believes in you? He is working on something.
Peter: I told you, Jason Brodeur is powerful.
Ankov: Time to unlock the cages.
Peter: I've been here before. These lawyers holding out these little nuggets of hope.
"I wonder how many lawyers did that to him." Diggle wonders.
[Alarm blaring]
Man: Secure all corners in cell block "C".
Guard: The warden's setting up a secure perimeter in "C" block. Stay here, Ms. Lance.
Laurel: Wait! (starts running)
Man 2: There's Lance.
Arrow: [Arrow arrives] Let's go. Stop. [Guards yelling orders]
Arrow: Get down! Get down! Get out there! Stay down! Stay down! Don't move!
[Laurel gets thrown into a gate and tries to fight Ankov. Arrow intervenes and punches him repeatedly. Laurel stops him from killing Ankov. The police arrives Arrow slips away.] [Vehicle sirens wailing] [Sighs]
Lance: Laurel. Sweetie. What are you-
Laurel: (crying) I'm all right. You sure? I'm sorry about what I said to you.
Lance: Yeah, well, you were right. Ankov just confessed to Camille Declan's murder. We got the wrong guy. Now, listen to me, Laurel. I'm right, too, about him. He's dangerous. He's outside the law.
Laurel: I know. He's a killer. [Arrow is watching from a rooftop] He would have killed that man. I looked in his eyes, it's like he had no remorse. [Arrow looks down and removes mask]
"Oh my God! How could I say those things! I am such an awful person!" Laurel cries. Thea and Felicity comfort her.
[WAREHOUSE]
[Walter walks to a door locked with a keypad. He types in 'TEMPEST' and it doesn't work. Then he tries 'OLIVER', same reaction. Then 'THEA', same reaction. He types in 'ROBERT' and the door opens. He turns on the light and sees the "Queen's Gambit".]
"WHAT?! You had the Gambit salvaged and stored? Each time I think maybe you're doing something right, you throw me a curveball!" Thea screams. Moira puts down her head in shame. Malcolm was making plans to get rid of Felicity. She proving an ally to the wrong side.
[FLASHBACK]
[Bird chirping]
Oliver: Hey, please. I'm starving. I never killed anything before. [Oliver grabs the bird.] [Squawks] I'm sorry. [Bone cracks]
"I can't believe that man would force Oliver to kill that bird." Thea says breathing angrily from the last scene.
[END FLASHBACK]
[Sirens wailing]
Lance: Let's get you home, sweetie. How'd he get into that prison, anyway, huh? A grown man in an outfit and a hood, that kind of stands out a little, doesn't it?
Laurel: He actually wasn't wearing the outfit this time. He was in a prison guard uniform and a ski mask. What?
Lance: Nothing. I just had an idea. Get in the car.
[SCPD]
I.T Guy: Ok, here's the security footage from the Exchange building shooting, but I've already scrubbed through all of it.
Lance: Yeah? Well, we're gonna do it again. So, listen, when you went through the camera security tapes, you were looking for a guy in a green outfit and a green hood, right?
I.T Guy: What do you want me to look for, a man in a wig and a tutu?
Lance: I want you to look for anything that's out of the ordinary, ok? Just look. [Tape fast-forwards] Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. Wait. Go back 10 seconds. What is that? [Shows Oliver taking the hood out of his duffel bag.] I'll be damned. Play that again.
"YES! I finally got him! I'd like to see him get out of that one." Lance says smugly.
[PARK]
Peter: Thank you, Laurel.
Laurel: Don't thank me. Thank Brodeur's bodyguard Ankov for flipping him. I think there's someone that wants to see you.
Peter: Izzy. [Peter hugs Izzy, crying]
Reporter: At least 5 federal, state, and local agencies are seeking millions of dollars in fines and environmental cleanup costs from Brodeur Chemical, new facts have come to light that Brodeur Chemical employee Camille Declan had discovered Brodeur was illegally disposing waste and had collected a file of evidence against her employer before her murder in 2007. Peter Declan, who was convicted of killing his wife, has been released, and the case has been reopened.
[FLASHBACK]
Man: Shengcún.
Oliver: (eating the bird) Yeah. Bird. I know.
Man: Shengcún not mean "bird." Shengcún mean "survive."
"He speaks English!" Everyone exclaims.
Oliver: You speak English.
Man: You want survive this place, bird not last thing you kill. And forget her. (points to photo of Laurel) You look at that all day, you not survive this place.
Everyone was imagining what Oliver had to kill to stay alive over there and become the man he is now or was going to be.
[END FLASHBACK]
[IN A LIMO]
Moira: You wanted to see me?
Malcolm: You look nervous, Moira.
"DAD?!" Tommy turns to his father.
Moira: Hmm. Do I have a reason to be?
Malcolm: We all do. (hands a picture of the Hood)
Moira: A modern-day Robin Hood. What, are you worried that your net worth makes you a target?
Malcolm: Jason Brodeur, Adam Hunt, Warren Patel. Tell me you see a connection, Moira. He's not targeting the rich.
Moira: No, he's not.
Malcolm: He's targeting the list.
"How do you know about the list, Dad?" Tommy questions his father. Malcolm doesn't respond and continues to look at the screen expressionless.
[QUEEN MANSION]
Oliver: [Clears throat] You here for the bodyguard position? 'Cause the new guy just quit.
Diggle: No, I'm not. I'm here about the other position.[Oliver holds his hand out for Diggle to shake.] Just to be clear, I'm not signing on to be a sidekick. But you're right. Fighting for this city needs to be done, and you're gonna do this with or without me.
Oliver: Yeah.
Diggle: But with me, there'll be fewer casualties, including you.
Oliver: Diggle, I'm not looking for anybody to save me.
Diggle: Maybe not, but you need someone just the same. You are fighting a war, Queen, except you have no idea what war does to you, how it scrapes off little pieces of your soul. And you need someone to remind you of who you are, not this thing you're becoming.
"Thank you, Diggle." Thea says appreciatively.
"Yes, thank you, Mr. Diggle." Moira says to the ex- military.
[Siren blares] [Tires skid] [Door opens]
Officer: Oliver Queen.
Walter: What is this? You can't just barge in here.
Lance: Yeah? Well, I got a badge and a gun that say different.
Thea: Hey, what the hell's going on?!
Moira: Detective Lance-
Lance: Oliver Queen, you're under arrest on suspicion of obstruction of justice, aggravated assault...
Thea: What is going on? Walter, stop them!
Lance: Trespassing, acting as a vigilante...
Oliver: Are you out of your mind?!
Lance: And murder.
Detective: You have the right to remain silent. Give up that right… [Walter is calling his lawyers.]
"Shit!" Thea exclaims.
"Thea! Watch your language!" Moira admonishes Thea.
"What are you going to do, Mother?" Thea sneers.
"How about we continue?" Roy suggests.