My name is Oliver Queen. For 5 years, I was stranded on an island with only one goal- survive. Now I will fulfill my father's dying wish, right his wrongs. To use the list of names he left me and bring down those who are poisoning my city. And I'm not alone in my mission, we all fight everyday to save our city!
[Starling City Trust.]
Gunmen burst through the main door shooting their guns in the air.
Gunman 1: As Kanye says, get 'em high!
All the civilians drop to the ground.
Gunman 1:You better not move!
Gunman 2:Nobody lifts their head, nobody gets hurt.
A woman notices another civilian trying to get up and reach for his leg.
Woman:Are you trying to get us killed?
Cop:Don't worry. I'm a cop.
Woman:Please don't do anything. I don't want to die. Please!
Gunman 1 notices the bop and shoots him in the back. All the civilians start screaming
Gunman 2:What the hell's going on?
Gunman 1:He was a freakin' cop.
Gunman 2:No more killing people!
Faint police sirens can be heard coming from outside the bank.
Gunman 1: You hear that? Someone triggered the alarm!
Gunman 2: That's it then. Let's go. We got plenty on us.
The gunmen leave with one of the civilians which no one else notices. SCPD enters just as they leave.
Lance:Starling City police department. Lay down your weapons and come out with your hands up. Lance sees no one but civilians in the bank.Hold your fire. These are hostages.
[Abandoned motel in the glades]
The 2 gunmen and the woman who stopped the cop enter the motel.
Gunman 2:Come here. You shot a cop. This is not how we do things.
Gunman 1:Me getting killed isn't how we do things, either, is it? Is it?
[Lair]
Jared and Oliver are currently in a training session facing Laurel, Thea and Diggle.
Oliver:Anchor the rear hand, Diggle.
Jared: Don't drop your shoulders Thea, you're opening yourself up.
Oliver:You too Laurel.
The spar continues until suddenly Oliver and Jared pick up their speed and drop their opponents on the ground.
Thea:Hey...
Laurel:Uhh!
Diggle:Uhh!
Diggle, Laurel and Thea struggle for a few seconds before getting up.
Oliver:Variable acceleration. Most fighters work at the same pace.
Jared:You switch it up, you throw your opponent off his game.
Diggle:That was nice.
Laurel:Where'd you learn that?
Oliver:His name was Yao Fei.
Diggle:Did he give you any of those scars?
Oliver:One of them.
Laurel:And the others?
Jared: I gave him one.
Everyone except Oliver looks at Jared shocked.
Oliver: Not completely his fault, there was a drug...and mind control...it's a long story.
Thea:You know, one of these days you two are gonna be straight with us about what really happened on that island.
Jared:Absolutely.
Oliver:But not today.
Laurel:Still some pretty sweet moves.
Oliver: Yep. And we can use them on him.
Jared: Scott Morgan runs water and power in the Glades. Jacks up the prices when people can't pay, shuts them down even in the dead of winter.
Thea:Which is at least a month away. Look at this.
Diggle:These guys started at Keystone 3 years ago, then began moving west, hitting banks along the way. This morning they hit Starling City Trust. Shot an off-duty cop. He's in a coma and the doctors are saying it's a coin toss whether he'll make it.
Oliver: If he's a cop, SCPD will be all over it.
Laurel:Overwhelmed? Underfunded? Listen, these guys don't hit one time. They hit 2 or 3 banks per city, which means right now they're planning their next job.
Jared: Looks like you three have been busy.
Thea: You two have the list to use so we thought we three should look for the other stuff happening that you two can help with.
Oliver:I think you have the wrong impression about what it is we do.
Diggle:You take out bad guys with a bow and arrow.
Jared: We don't fight street crime.
Oliver:That's a symptom of what's wrong with this city. We are trying to cure the disease.
Diggle:CEOs and crooked entrepreneurs. I get it.
Laurel: Listen guys, we are just saying, maybe you can make a difference if you think beyond the scope of those pages.
Thea:I'm sure dad wouldn't mind.
Oliver: No, you don't get it. Dad died so that I could live. Live and make a difference by fixing the city that he and the people in this book ruined. Every name that we cross off this list honors that sacrifice.
Laurel:There's more than one way to save this city.
Oliver:Not for us. Crime happens in this city every day. What do you want me to do, stop all of it?
Diggle:It sounds like you two have a narrow definition of being heroes.
Oliver and Jared look at each other and then at Diggle while shaking their heads slightly.
Oliver and Jared: We're not heroes...
Thea and Laurel look at their respective lovers in concern as they leave the lair. The tone that they spoke in gave no room for debate, the two of them don't see any good in themselves or in their actions in saving the city. Diggle realizes in their mind all this is just about a mission, a mission to right the wrongs of Robert Queen.
Thea: Umm stopping corrupt CEOs and saving civilians... how does that not make them heroes?
Diggle: Because for them, this is just a mission, to stop everyone on that list.
Laurel: They are heroes we know that but they will need time to accept it. As for these robbers they just need a little nudge to go after them.
Diggle: And I think I know how to...
[CNRI]
Johanna: Please tell me that this is a nightmare and I'm about to wake up. How can Stagg Industries pull out completely? They're our largest donor.
Thea: It's like they say- "It's the economy, stupid."
Laurel: No, it's the stupid economy. Ok, without Stagg, how long can CNRI keep the doors open?
Johanna:It depends. What time you got?
Tommy:I have fiesta time. Or is it siesta time? Which one means a party and which one means a nap?
Tommy and Oliver enter the office as the women are working. Oliver walks up to Laurel and gives her a kiss, while Tommy gives Thea and Johanna a hug.
Laurel: Hey Guys, as much as I would love to relive intro to Spanish with you, today is not a good day.
Tommy:Of course not. Working in this tiny brick office is intolerable.
Laurel:Yeah well not all of us can afford big offices.
Thea: Not yet!
Oliver and Tommy give Thea a proud expression as they can hear the resolve in Thea's voice to keep fighting for CNRI. Only now does Oliver appreciate how my CNRI means to his little sister.
Oliver: Okay well we'll get out of your way, Thea just give mom a visit when you can, I just spent some time with her and...
Thea: Yeah...she's been acting a little down lately. Okay I'll go see her after work.
Oliver: Yeah it's been ever since our stepfather suddenly decided to take a business trip halfway across the world.
Thea: Yeah he usually tells us before he leaves, after what happened with the Gambit.
Oliver: I'm getting worried. She mostly dismisses it when I ask so maybe you can try.
Thea nods her head and then gives her brother a hug.
[Tommy's car]
Tommy and Oliver are talking as Oliver's phone rings
Oliver: Yeah.
Diggle: You know your friend Scott Morgan from your father's list? He tried to kill himself. Maybe he was afraid of getting a visit from you. How fast can you make it to Starling General?
Oliver:On my way. Tommy can you drop me off the corner, some work stuff came up?
Tommy:Okay...just remember what we talked about for CNRI.
Oliver responds with a nod as he gets out of the car.
[Starling City Hospital]
Oliver and Jared reach the hospital room as they Diggle standing outside, Jared got a text from Oliver about the suicide attempt.
Oliver:Scott Morgan doesn't seem like the type who would try to kill himself.
Diggle:True, but it's the best lie I could come up with on short notice.
Thea and Laurel exit the room with a woman right behind them.
Woman:Ms. Queen, I can't thank you enough for arranging to move my husband from County Ward to Starling General. Now I know he's getting the best care available.
Thea: You really should be thanking my brother, Oliver. Thea points to Oliver as she gives Jared a wink. He's paying the bill.
Oliver and Jared are confused as they realize they got tricked but quickly compose themselves.
Oliver: I was so sorry to hear about your husband. Is he gonna be okay?
Woman:The doctors say the next 24 hours are crucial. He should have just kept his head down, you know?
Oliver:I've known a few police officers in my day. Always willing to help others even if that means putting themselves at risk. Oliver looks at Laurel and she understands he is talking about her dad, which puts a smile on her face. Despite all the things her dad has said to him, Oliver hasn't lost his respect for him.
Woman: Thank you.
Oliver:You're welcome.
The woman goes back into the room, as Jared and Oliver turn to look at the three people who played them so cleverly.
Jared:You tricked us.
Diggle:You asked me to work with you, not for you. And when you did, you said it was because you understand the kind of man I am. Well, I'm the kind of man who doesn't walk away when there's a chance to make a difference.
Laurel: And neither do I.
Thea: And neither does Stan Washington.
Oliver and Jared shake their heads giving out a small laugh as they turn around to walk away.
Laurel: Oliver,we are not finished talking. Where are you two going?
Laurel asks as they follow Oliver and Jared out of the hospital.
Oliver:To go make a difference.
Jared:Let's catch some bank robbers.
Laurel, Thea and Diggle each have a big smile as their plan worked.
Laurel: See, just a little nudge.
[Lair]
Jared is typing away at the computers with the rest of the team around him.
Jared: See that guy right there? Jared points to the paused recording in the room.
Diggle:He's got a temper. And he shot Officer Washington.
Oliver:That's right.
Jared zooms in on the gunman's hand.
Oliver:College ring.
Diggle:Or high school, more likely.
Oliver:That ring will get us an I.D.
Laurel:Yeah, but even with photo enhancement, you're gonna have a problem getting a clear shot of that ring.
Oliver:No, but it left an impression the police would have photographed. It'll be in evidence lockup.
Laurel:Please tell me you're not going where I think you're going.
Oliver:Babe, why do you even ask?
Oliver goes to grab the arrow suit but Jared stops him.
Jared: No! This one is all me, breaking and stealing some evidence from their lock up will make me feel better about the roughhousing last week.
Laurel shakes her head. Laurel: (motherly tone) But no hurting the officers!
Jared: Yes mom!
Jared turns to leave but before he can Thea gives him a kiss, surprising everyone else as the pair had kept being together a secret for the past week
Laurel: Umm when did that happen?
Thea: Last week, before we got attacked in Jared's room.
Oliver: In Jared's room…
Thea: Oh i just remembered something I have to do for work...See ya
Thea runs out the lair before Oliver can finish his sentence.
[CNRI - Next day]
Laurel walks into her workplace seeing Oliver and Tommy talking to Johanna.
Laurel: What are you two doing here?
Oliver: We were just telling Johanna here that my consulting agency Verdant Solutions along with Merlyn Global Group are interested in sponsoring a benefit for CNRI.
Laurel: Oliver, Tommy, that is… Thank you! Laurel kiss Oliver a deep kiss as a reward.
Tommy: It's no problem, with Oliver and Jared now starting their consulting job I thought it was time I put my degree to work as well.
[Lair]
Jared, Thea and Diggle are looking through all the evidence they gathered on the robbers
Jared:The ring is from Larchmont High. High school. I cross-referenced his height and relative age with a list of students and alumni.
Diggle:Still, that's a pretty long list.
Jared:It was. I dug a little deeper and found Kyle Reston. Right before Kyle's senior year, not only did he drop out, he dropped off the grid. Along with his family- father, mother, younger brother. The only other thing I have is the death certificate of his younger brother. Separately, I reviewed the footage and found one more robber we didn't know about.
Thea:Who?
Jared: A woman. Aside from Stan Washington, there were 22 customers and employees that came out of the bank. 9 men, 13 women. Inside the bank, 9 men, 14 women.
Diggle:They put a ringer in.
Thea:The mom.
Jared:The police are looking for a crew, we're gonna look for a family.
An alarm goes off on one off the computer close to Diggle
Diggle: First Bank of Starling was hit two minutes ago.
Thea:If the Restons' M.O. holds, they'll make their escape underground.
Jared:First Bank of Starling is located right above the water treatment tunnels. The entrance is located here. Jared has smiles slightly as he points to the entrance.
[First Bank of Starling]
Arrow jumps off the scaffolding he was waiting on when he sees the Reston family. He draws an arrow and shoots it at the bag of money. The arrow hits the bag and causes it to get stuck to the wall behind the Restons. As the Restons react to the first arrow, Arrow already has another drawn.
Arrow: Don't move!
Kyle starts firing at Arrow who jumps out the way and shoots at him to disarm the gun from him. Kyle quickly pulls out a grenade and tosses it toward Arrow who jumps back and uses a grappling arrow to get out of the explosion range.
Derek:Let's get out of here!
Mom: Forget the cash! Let's go!
[Abandoned motel]
Mom: Who the hell was that guy?
Derek:The local vigilante.
Klye:Usually goes after rich guys but clearly he's branching out.
Mom:Things have gone sideways for us lately. That hood guy showing up, Kyle shooting a cop.
Klye:You were the one who warned me he was a cop.
Mom:So you would take his gun, not shoot him.
Derek::Your mother has a point. Maybe this is a sign we need to hang it up.
Klye:We don't have enough. We always said that we wouldn't quit until we had enough to set ourselves up.
Derek:The kid's right. We need to hit another. We'll be okay.
Mom:We can make do with what we've got.
Klye:I didn't spend 5 years risking my life and my freedom to just be okay.
[Queen Consolidated]
Jared, Thea and Diggle are walking towards the IT Department
Thea: So is she better than you?
Jared: Yes, when it comes to hacking, I don't think I have heard of someone better than Felicity.
Diggle: And you and Oliver want to bring her in?
Jared:Eventually...
The trio reach Felicity's office.
Jared: Hi Felicity!
Felicity:I should add "personal Internet researcher for Oliver Queen and his friends" to my job title. Felicity then notices Thea in her office as well. Happily, I mean.
Thea gives out a small laugh at Felicity stumbling when seeing her.
Jared: Oliver and I need help finding someone. His name is Derek Reston. We need information for one of our consulting projects.
Felicity nods her head and starts typing away...A few mins later.
Felicity:Well, there's not much here that's recent. No credit activity. No utility bills.
Well, I guess you guys must have questions about the factory.
Jared: Wait. What-what factory?
Felicity:The Queen Steel Factory. Derek Reston worked there for 15 years until it shut down in '07.
Thea: Derek Reston worked for my father?
Felicity:It looks like Derek was the factory foreman until your dad outsourced production to China. About 1,500 employees got laid off. Looks like the finance guys even found a loophole in the union contract, so, they didn't have to pay severance packages and pensions to their employees. They all pretty much lost their homes.
Thea: Thank you Felicity!
The trio walk out as Thea ponders over what she heard from Felicity. Understanding more about why Oliver feels he needs to right their father's wrongs.
Thea: I need to find Derek Reston.
Jared and Diggle give a confused look to Thea.
Thea:I'm gonna give him the chance to do the right thing. The Restons aren't the victims. My family stole from this city. They hurt the people in it. Oliver and you are fighting to my right my father's mistake. Derek deserves the chance to make it right as well.
Jared walks up to Thea and gives her a kiss, he can't help but feel proud of his girlfriend. Diggle nods his head as his opinion of Thea just got higher. He thinks about how this family is so different from the typical rich families he worked for before.
Diggle: Well usually factory guys hang out at the closest bar after work. Hopefully Derek Reston wants to take a stroll down memory lane.
Thea: Let's go.
[CNRI]
Laurel and Oliver are planning out the fundraiser.
Oliver:Hey, don't fade on me now. We have about 10 more things to do before Tommy and Johanna come back with the full list of guests.
Oliver feeds Laurel a piece of cake which she tries to eat while trying not to fall asleep.
Oliver:Now, cake- chocolate or mocha?
Laurel:Mm...Carrot.
Oliver: Are you sure about that? Because Bugs Bunny hasn't RSVP'd yet.
Oliver laughs as Laurel huffs. She then takes a piece of the cake and smears it on his face. After a moment of shock, Oliver picks her up off the chair and smears it back on her face using his face. After a few seconds of they start to kiss, lightly in the beginning but quickly becomes more passionate. They stop kissing after a few mins and both of them have smiles on their faces as their lips are still pressed together. They pull apart eventually.
Oliver: Remind me to thank Jared for taking list duties today.
Laurel laughs as Tommy and Johanna enter to look at the two in confusion as they have cake smeared on their faces.
[Bar in the Glades]
Thea pulls up to Derek Reston as Jared and Diggle stand behind them.
Thea: Ahem. Mind if I sit in?
Derek:Thea Queen. The princess of Starling, I didn't figure you for someone who would hang out in the Glades.
Thea: Looks like you haven't heard but my brother and I have been working to help restore the Glades to what it was before.
Derek:(Derek Scoffs)The last time I saw a Queen was your dad, making a speech, telling my crew not to believe all the gossip, that there was no way Queen Consolidated was moving production to China. A week later, they closed the doors. I didn't even get the two weeks vacation pay due to me.
Thea:My father made mistakes. He hurt people. When people are hurt, people are in trouble, they tend to make the wrong choices. Right, Derek?...Derek looks down with a guilty expression... But those choices don't have to define you, they don't have to define who your family will be, because there's always one moment when you can turn it all around. If my father had another chance... But... time ran out for him.
Derek:How poetic. That doesn't help me get my house back, now, does it?
Thea: No, it doesn't. No, all I can offer you is an apology and a job. Queen Consolidated has subsidiaries all over the country. I know I can convince my stepfather to make one phone call, and you can start next week. So what do you say?
Derek:How about I still have some pride left? I don't need charity from the daughter of the man who screwed me over.
Thea:Ok. If you change your mind...Thea slides him her card... My brother and I, along with yourself have one thing in common. We're all dealing with the consequences of our fathers' actions. What he did then, that's on him. What we do now, that's on us.
Thea gets up and places her hand on his shoulder giving Jared the chance to slip a bug on him.
[Lair]
Oliver and Laurel walk in as they hear voices playing on one of the computers.
Woman's voice playing:I want to quit, too, but I am not leaving without Kyle.
Oliver: What's this?
Jared: I dropped a bug in Derek Reston's jacket.
Woman's voice playing: We can't abandon our son. After all this time, he wants to end up a winner. Set for life with us. Otherwise what was the point?
Derek's voice: All right. One more.
Jared presses a button and the voices stop but keeps recording for evidence to leave for the SCPD.
Diggle:Now what?
Jared:We take them down.
Oliver: I can take this…
Jared: (firm tone)No!. I need to do this for Thea.
Oliver and Laurel look at Thea with a confused look, Thea immediately looks to the ground as she doesn't know how Oliver will react to confronting Derek.
Oliver:Thea!
Thea started explaining but still kept her gaze at the ground.
Thea: We tracked down Derek Reston at a bar, after we found out he used to work at the old factory before it was shut down. None of the workers got compensation because the lawyers found a loophole. So I told him I could get him a job to give himself a chance.
Thea looks up at Oliver after a few seconds of silence. And she sees Oliver and Laurel
With smiles on their faces and watery eyes.
Oliver: Speedy, I'm so proud of you and I know dad would be too.
Oliver and Laurel then walk up to Thea and give her a tight hug. Thea begins to cry into their shoulders.
[CNRI Fundraiser]
Many powerful figures of Starling city are roaming the fundraiser, all expected guests arrived.
Laurel: This is wonderful.
Johanna: Can't believe everyone actually came.
Tommy: Yeah the pull of the Queen and Merlin name can have its uses.
Johanna: It means the world to us. Walks up to Tommy and gives him a kiss on the cheek then walks away to mingle with the other guests.
Oliver: So what were you two doing when you were out "working"
Tommy: Ummm...
Laurel: Oh, God.
Thea and Jared are quietly laughing to themselves at Tommy's reaction as Diggle walks up to Jared.
Diggle: (Whispers) Redwood United Bank. Gonna try a nighttime hit.
Jared looks at Thea. Jared: I have to go. I'm sorry.
Thea: Don't apologize. Just be careful.
Thea leans up to kiss him before he leaves with Diggle behind him.
[Red United Bank]
Restons are busy cracking a safe.
Derek:You hear that?
Kyle: I'll check it out.
Kyle starts searching around as Arrow manages to land a flying kick on Klye's back sending him to the ground.
Arrow: Kyle Reston, you have failed this city!
Kyle gets up sluggish and turns around as an arrow is flying at him. He manages to raise the riot shield he was holding just in time to deflect the arrow away.
Kyle: I came prepared. Arrow lets out a small laugh as he backs away.
Kyle then rushes at Arrow riot shield raised, as he sees Kyle getting closer Arrow throws an arrow at the ground in front of Kyle that explodes as soon as it hits the ground forcing Kyle to drop the shield as he thrown back by the force. Before Klye can get back Arrow manages to shoot an arrow at him that hits Kyle in the shoulder.
Kyle: Uhh!
Arrow hears Derek running into the room and manages to draw an arrow and aim it in Derek's direction. Derek comes in to see Kyle on the ground with an arrow in his shoulders.
Arrow:Drop your weapon! Now!
Derek drops his weapon and runs to check Kyle.
Derek:No, Kyle! Kyle!
Arrow:He's okay. He's just knocked out.
Derek:It wasn't his fault. I turned my son into this.
Diggle on Comms:SCPD on the way.
Arrow: Do I need to worry about running…
Derek: No! I'm turning myself in!
[CNRI Fundraiser]
Tommy is sitting at the bar as Johanna walks up to him.
Johanna: How about a dance, handsome?
Tommy:What are you doing?
Tommy gives her a confused look as he never thought Johanna would be interested in him.
Johanna: I don't know, I might be crazy but I've seen a new side of you Tommy Merlyn. A side that I want to get to know.
Tommy gives her a smile and takes her hand as they walk to the dance floor. Oliver and Laurel see their two friends leave for the dance floor.
Oliver: Never thought Johanna would give him the chance .
Laurel: Not the old Tommy, but with Jared and you around now he's trying to change. He sees all you two have been doing for the Glades and realizes that he needs to smarten up as well. You aren't the same anymore and he knows he shouldn't be either.
Thea walks up to Oliver and Laurel as she ends her call with Diggle.
Thea: Derek and Klye just taken in by the SCPD. They are also on the way to arrest Mrs. Reston
Thea has a guilty look on her face.
Oliver:You gave Reston a chance.
Thea: Yeah, but maybe if I pushed a bit more
Laurel: You can't think like that Thea. People shouldn't be coddled to making the right choices. You gave him a choice to get out, that is more than anyone would have done. If your dad could have seen you this week, the way you cared about the people he had hurt, the way you stepped up to try to help them, I'd say he'd be pretty damn honored. Of both of you!
Laurel gives them a big smile as Thea and Oliver walk up to Laurel to bring her in for a hug.
[Lair]
Laurel and the siblings enter to see Jared removing the Arrow outfit as Diggle powers down the computers. Thea walks up and gives Jared a kiss as Diggle answers his phone. Laurel and Oliver drop the documents they were caring on a table.
Diggle: Stan Washington woke up. He's going to be fine.
Oliver: Good.
Diggle:So maybe there is more than one way to save this city?
Jared: Yeah, yeah...
Oliver: And thanks to Thea we have another way. Oliver points to the documents they brought. On the way here we stopped over at Queen consolidated and picked up records of all employees that were unemployed because of the shut down. We are going to work them and figure out ways to give them help.
Jared: And if they refuse our help
Laurel: Then we move on to the next person but let them know the offer is always open.
Thea: Let's get cracking this will be a long night.
Oliver: Dig you can go home, this isn't really bodyguard or Arrow work.
Diggle: C'mon Oliver, don't sell me short. Can't walk away from this kind of work. Besides this doesn't involve hurting people, it's a nice change of pace.
Oliver just responds with a smile and then all of them pick out their own pile of documents and find a place to sit and work...