(Scenes from Legends of Tomorrow Season 5, Episodes 6 and 7)
TW: brief mention to suicide
Captain Lance is brought up to speed about Charlie's real identity and its prevalent circumstances. She has taken it very well. The following day, a rehabilitated Mr. Constantine boards the Waverider with further research on the loom. He presents it to her and Captain Sharpe. "The Loom of Fate," he summarizes, "is an ancient artifact that has the power to change any person's life story without wrecking the timeline."
"Anyone's," Captain Lance knowingly muses, "like—"
"Astra's." The sorcerer proposes, "We give her a life where her mom never died and where she never goes to Hell."
Charlie intervenes once she has withstood this discussion. "Well, if you think I'm helping you, you're as daft as a bush. I destroyed that thing for a bloody good reason, John-O."
"Come on, Sara. You know this can solve all our problems. It can erase all the Encores."
"Yeah, and make all of our dreams come true," she critically expresses. "John, I'm sorry, but I'm with Charlie on this one. That kind of cosmic power doesn't belong in the hands of anyone." Mr. Constantine is dissatisfied unlike the brazen Fate. "Astra has made her choices, John. It is not up to you to undo them." She wields the Hell sword belonging to Genghis Khan. "Now, this will be the solution to our Encore problem."
I incidentally receive a notice on the Prognosticator. "Captain Lance, there is a new Encore detected in Salvation, 1874." The location incites a memory for me. The Legends went there two years ago. Charlie and the captains exit from the parlour to the bridge. Having two co-existing captains is unprecedented.
"I love my Prognosticator," Captain Sharpe declares. It was a team effort to devise it.
"All right, Legends, grab your cowboy hats and leather straps because we are going to—" Captain Lance sees the people in attendance. I switch off the Prognosticator. "Where is everyone?"
"Oh, yeah," Mr. Constantine remembers, "I might have got a bit sentimental on my deathbed and encouraged Raymond to carpe his diem." Carpe diem translates to "pluck or seize the day". Dr. Palmer intends to propose marriage to Miss Darhk at the sorcerer's manor. Dr. Heywood and Mr. Tarazi are helping him organize the 6-course meal. They portal back on the ship, misty-eyed over the fact that their "boy is all grown up". I was confounded to see the historian because I already saw him talking to Mr. Constantine in the library. It turns out to be Charlie, who gives the sorcerer a false lead in finding the loom. Thank you for not smoking, Mr. Constantine.
Captains Lance and Sharpe prepare for the mission since the other Legends are preoccupied now. "Hey, Mick," the former hollers. "Saddle up! We're going to the Wild West." She knocks on the doors to his quarters. He had been sequestered there prior to the previous mission. They are apprised of his frustrated grunts and the loud crashes.
"Is everything okay in there," Captain Sharpe calls to him. He doesn't reply. Miss Tarazi, who is amid her beauty regimen, has also counted the days of his seclusion.
"What are you still doing here," Captain Lance inquires her. She was invited to stay.
"Exfoliating."
"Mick, get out here right now!"
The harried arsonist pops his head through the cracked doors. He's wearing his reading glasses, so he must be typing something. He glances among the three women. "What," he snaps.
"What is going on?"
"Someone is trashing Rebecca Silver online." I've presumed he stopped caring after he bestowed the pseudonym to Miss Wu.
"Oh, cute," Miss Tarazi chirps. "You have a troll."
"What's wrong with your face?" After that, he closes the doors on them. Captain Lance assigns the magnate with the task of helping Mr. Rory with his "troll" problem. She and Captain Sharpe then leave for Salvation. Miss Tarazi finishes her routine before she returns. It takes him some convincing to let her in his quarters. The magnate reads one of the internet troll's comments. This person, who goes by "SilverSux04", wrote, "'Rebecca Silver knows as much about love as a teenage boy's drawer'." I can discern why this gripes Mr. Rory to an extent. Miss Tarazi assures him that negative feedback comes with being a celebrity. She can empathize after learning the severe damage her perfume does to users' nasal systems. The arsonist, on the other hand, wants to give his critic "more than a bloody nose". Miss Tarazi believes "SilverSux04" is hiding their craving for his attention behind an indifferent veneer. She posits sending the internet troll an autographed copy of Heatwaves and some merchandise.
Dr. Palmer has escorted Miss Pippa Moore, Miss Darhk's latest host, into the parlour. He deposits a basket of video cassettes on the table. The girl asks the astrophysicist about them. He answers that it's a television show from his childhood called "Mister Parker's Cul-De-Sac". Dr. Palmer credits it for having him "dig deep" and communicate his feelings better. He plays one of the cassettes into the VCR. I listen to the opening theme song. It's youthfully charming. Miss Moore is not impressed with the show, calling it "very dumb". He coaxes her to give it a chance after he gives her 20 dollars.
The astrophysicist excuses himself out. He is greeted by Dr. Heywood and Mr. Tarazi, who assume that he is now engaged. That isn't the case; according to Dr. Palmer, Damien Darhk "literally came back from the dead and ruined the evening". He must be the Encore the captains are looking for in Salvation. Oh dear. The former says that Miss Darhk is striving to overseeing the situation. However, they cannot let anyone interfere, especially Captain Lance. The totem bearer specifies another legitimate reason: by marrying Miss Darhk, Dr. Palmer will have the elusive megalomanic for a father-in-law. "You don't think we could talk Sara down," he queries. To answer his question, no.
As they speak, Captain Lance and Sharpe have reembarked from Salvation. They too are conscious of who the Encore is. It's indicative by the former's disclosure. "If I see Damien Darhk, I'm gonna kill him for good this time."
"What about Nora," the latter quizzes.
"Well, ideally, she never finds out. Gideon, any hits?"
"Yes, Captain. In fact, I'm detecting new Encore activity at Constantine's home in 2020." Both captains halt as I confirm this information.
"All right, let's do this discreetly. Just us. No boys. You know how sentimental they can get."
"Yep," Captain Sharpe affirms as they reverse their course.
"You also received a call from a wild dog while you were away," I notify Captain Lance. I believe I may have misread the caller's identification.
She doesn't state whether she wants to hear the voicemail message later. "Yep, got it. Thanks, Gideon." You're welcome.
Her partner questions, "What was that all about?"
"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing." Captain Lance promptly turns left following this.
Miss Tarazi is reading the novel for herself. She describes the content as "extremely pornographic". Mr. Rory accepts the compliment while he monitors the incoming critiques. They are notified of a new reader review from "SilverSux04". Inside is a video of the novel being burned and dumped in a garbage can. Both the arsonist and the magnate are outraged by this. The latter utilizes her new hacking skills to detect the critic's location. Uncovering a residential address in Central City, they take the jumpship to confront the nuisance in person.
I listened to the voicemail message Mr. "Wild Dog" left for Captain Lance. He wants to offer her a full-time job in Star City. She undoubtedly ignores his attempts to contact her because it will require her to consider what it'll mean regarding Captain , Mr. Constantine is geared up for his expedition to Antarctica. He is on his way out when Dr. Heywood passes him by and inquires where he's going. The sorcerer does look like the late Mr. Snart. Mr. Constantine reminds him of their earlier conversation. He sees the confusion on the historian's face and realizes that Charlie has tricked him. Ditching his gear in the corridors, the furious sorcerer decisively vows he will search for the loom by himself.
Dr. Palmer and Miss Moore are immensely enjoying the show. They are 9 episodes away from finishing the 8th season. She asked him why Mr. Parker consistently changes his shoes. The astrophysicist explains it's a "soothing ritual which takes him from one space to another". At that moment, the young girl requests her Fairy Godmother. Dr. Palmer replies that Miss Darhk is "busy with" her father. Miss Moore astutely questions why he isn't at the manor. The astrophysicist reiterates his girlfriend's wish for him "to give them space", so he is being respectful of her boundaries. However, the young girl suspects her Fairy Godmother is intentionally hiding her boyfriend from her father. She quotes Mr. Parker in episode 15, "You can love whoever you want to love and not be ashamed."
Dr. Palmer clearly doesn't believe Miss Moore, so she summons Miss Darhk to the ship. She arrives without further ado, unhappy that he let her ward beckoning her. The astrophysicist queries if she is hiding him with Miss Moore's support. Miss Darhk verifies this, explaining that she's telling 1,000 lies to make sure no one dies. Dr. Palmer innocently suggests Miss Darhk should be honest with her father. She reminds him Damien Darhk is a megalomaniac with high expectations. So, he will be disgruntled to know his daughter is a slave to children's whims and—she says while covering her host's ears— "schtupping an Eagle Scout". Dr. Palmer insists that lying will make things more difficult in the end. An incessant lesson on this ship it seems to be. Miss Darhk persuades him to go along with the charade. She vanishes to Mr. Constantine's manor with a wave of her wand. Miss Moore asks Dr. Palmer if he needs to "change his shoes"; he answers he does.
Afterwards, the astrophysicist resigns himself to the galley. Dr. Heywood and Mr. Tarazi join him for a glass of rosé as he recounts what has happened. The historian can't believe that Dr. Palmer stood up for himself, only for Miss Darhk to shut him down. The latter conversely points out she's just worried her father will disapprove of him. The technician quizzes whether the astrophysicist can conceal his relationship for a lifetime. Dr. Palmer wonders if he's being hasty in proposing. Much to his shock and Mr. Tarazi's disbelief, Dr. Heywood blurts out a yes. He doesn't want to lose his best friend. Nonetheless, they agree that their friend should reconsider his decision since his girlfriend is ashamed of him. Dr. Palmer quickly remembers that he had hidden the engagement ring in the chocolate mousse. He dashes out of the galley and portals back to the manor.
Dr. Heywood and Mr. Tarazi are amid watching another episode of Mister Parker's Cul-De-Sac with Miss Moore. The latter notes that the child-friendly character is having a can of beer. The latter argues that, after doing 4,000 hours of children's television, he has earned it. Charlie enters the parlour and informs them about the ongoing Encore alert. Finally, someone notices I have the Prognosticator on. They readily jump up to their feet. Miss Moore voices her interest in going with them, but they unanimously exclaim, "No!" She reinforces it as her wish. They are all transported to Mr. Constantine's house.
Miss Tarazi and the distressed Mr. Rory are mystified by the vacancy on the Waverider. I relay on what has transpired, so they portal to the manor. I don't have additional details since none of the Legends have their earpieces on. Around 10:40 Temporal Zone Standard, Mr. Constantine's house is cleared of Encore activity.
To say I missed a lot would be an understatement. For starters, the Legends were transported in an episode of Mister Parker's Cul-de-Sac. Miss Moore might've gotten a good deal since she has released her Fairy Godmother. Speaking of whom, Ms. Darhk and her father have arbitrated. The couple got married within an hour of an engagement. There could've been dire consequences, but all Damien Darhk wanted was to see his daughter. He obliterated himself with the Hell sword afterwards. Captain Lance was the sole witness to this. She has called back Mr. "Wild Dog" and gracefully declined his job offer. Captain Sharpe assures her that, while she does want to settle down, she revels in her time on board. I can guarantee they are next.
The next morning, the astrophysicist contemplates over his Atom suit as well as the mementos he collected over the years. One of which is a framed photograph of himself and Dr. Heywood. Ms. Darhk stirs in her slumber before waking up. She quizzes the cause of his pensive state. He discloses that her father spoke to him, convincing him that they should start their marital life outside the Waverider. His new bride assures him she will follow him anywhere and agrees that she won't do her job well if they stay. On the other hand, she questions if he's ready to leave the Legends. Her husband acknowledges them becoming his family; however, he can't move forward if he is stuck in the past. Dr. Palmer attests he will go on one last mission. The newlyweds realize the gravity of this development. They kiss but regret it due to morning breath.
They may need to wait in line. Captain Lance bangs her fist loudly on the door. Captain Sharpe left to fetch her loofah sponge. When she returns minutes later, she is exasperated that nothing has happened. "Oh, come on! Is she still in there?" She repeats what her significant other did with more aggression.
"Zari! There's a line!"
"I'm doing my hair," Miss Tarazi calls. "You can't stop the glam routine mid-process."
"Come on, we've talked about this!" The newly wedded couple observes them leaning against the door. Ms. Darhk figures out who has occupied the bathroom. Dr. Palmer questions about the sign-up sheet he created.
Captain Sharpe explains, "Oh, Mick burned it in frustration after Zari's last Korean sheet mask day."
"Well, I guess now's a good time as any to tell you two. Nora and I have big news—" He is interrupted by Charlie's arrival. The Fate has a "whopper" to tell them as well. She has resolved to help Mr. Constantine search for the Loom of Fate.
"Ah, you know the rules," Captain Lance states. "No look up and talk until after I finished my coffee." She continues drinking from her mug.
"Yeah, besides, you guys were about to make a big announcement," Captain Sharpe addresses the newlyweds. Dr. Palmer is about to reiterate when Mr. Tarazi appears at the other end of the corridor. He's doing the "potty dance" as he moves towards the door. The captains react unpleasantly to him yelling his frustration over his sister hogging the bathroom.
"Bro, don't act like you don't take this long with your hair." The expressions on the captains' faces show a driblet of validity in the magnate's retort.
Captain Sharpe points to where Charlie is. "Get in line," she tells the technician.
"Bathrooms are also for other things," Ms. Darhk shouts to Miss Tarazi. Mr. Rory appears next in line. It's through him that the other Legends hear the long-awaited announcement. Everyone looks at him with particular interest. The benefactor queries, "How'd you know that?"
"Well, you got married. Next logical step in a relationship," the arsonist replies. "And, by the way, I heard you two going at it like jackrabbits last night." All verbalized is factual. The newlyweds are not happy to hear this. Their friends are chortling in good nature.
"At least, someone's getting it," Captain Lance utters.
"Look, after one final mission," the astrophysicist declares, "Nora and I will be leaving." They will be understandably missed.
"Congrats," the captain proclaims. "I knew this day would come, but I'd never thought it would be so soon."
"How are you gonna tell Nate," Captain Sharpe asks Dr. Palmer. Between those few seconds, he did not notice his best friend was missing in the protracted line.
"Tell Nate what?" The Legends watch as the historian strolls in the same direction Mr. Tarazi did. He notes them looking agog at him. "Hmm?"
His best friend thinks the first thing possible. He cheers, "The wait for the bathroom is upwards of 30 minutes. Can you believe it?" The others murmur in agreement with him.
"Take it easy. At least I get to wait in line with the happy new couple. Nora, welcome to your new morning routine. Up town." He raises his hand high and slaps Ms. Darhk's palm with it. As the historian joins the line, Dr. Palmer wears a feeble smile.
Miss Tarazi exits the bathroom at last. Ready to start the day, she shuffles through the captains with her cart of cosmetics. Charlie mutters that the magnate "sure looks good". Dr. Heywood shares a quietly similar conviction. Miss Tarazi is pleased to have completed her regiment. She leaves after commenting on the rest of the Legends' hygiene.
"It's 7:15," Captain Sharpe shouts after her prior to using the lavatory. This marks the beginning of a long day.
Mr. Rory is roaming the refrigerator in the galley when he's interrupted by a jauntily familiar voice. The arsonist turns to see his literary successor standing by. Miss Wu is attending a special Book Club meeting after she has received word about Ms. Darhk's nuptials. Additionally, she implores how she should manage the issue with the internet critic. Mr. Rory persists on making zero contact with "her". Meanwhile, Dr. Palmer is packing away his belongings. He moves onto the lab, where he notices Marie Antoinette no longer in the brig. He assumes she has escaped until he goes to the galley. Upon opening the refrigerator, he uncovers the jars holding Rasputin's organs now unfilled. The astrophysicist grabs one of them and tracks Captain Lance down. He presents the case to her in the corridors.
"Astra must have recalled their souls to Hell," she evaluates. "Damien mentioned something about 'eternal torture'. So… packing, huh? You talk to Nate yet?" The captain pats him on the back.
"Ha; when I saw his face back there, I couldn't do it. He was so excited about us living together. I just have to wait for the perfect moment, y'know."
She stops him, advising, "I say just get it over with. That way, you guys can enjoy your last hoorah together."
"Yeah," Dr. Palmer despondently speaks, "saying goodbye to Nate is my biggest mission yet." As well as his toughest. He smiles a bit. "I mean, I did go to the moon, so second biggest." They enter the bridge, where today's briefing is started. Charlie exposits, "The Loom of Fate. Eons ago, I tossed it through space and time because it was too dangerous, but now, for all my sins, we're gonna piece it back together again."
Captain Lance adds, "And finally putting an end to our Encore problem."
"By rewriting Astra's life," Mr. Constantine expounds, "and sending her on the right path."
"Yeah, speaking of life changes…" The captain eyes at Dr. Palmer, hinting at a clear opportunity for him to inform Dr. Heywood about his imminent retirement.
The dazed astrophysicist looks between her and the historian. He alternatively declares, "Must be a life-changing experience for you, Charlie, to know that the Loom is back on our Earth. Right?"
"Yeah, it is." The Fate is deferred by him redirecting the conversation. "There is one piece whose spot I know for sure. I gave it to a close mate of mine for safekeeping."
"All right," Dr. Heywood asserts with a snap of his fingers, "so we go back to right after you dropped it off. That's our move."
Captain Lance tries again, "And, uh, speaking of 'moves'…"
"Let's get a move on," Dr. Palmer quibbles. At that point, she deduces he is insistent on his evasiveness. "What are we heading, Charlie?"
"Well, the last place I left it is in London 1594."
"Gideon, set a course."
"Affirmative, Captain," I say, "and, speaking of setting a new course…" The astrophysicist and the captain are aware of my implication. He wavers it off by requesting her to deliver one of her period-appropriate send-offs. For pity's sake, Dr. Palmer.
"Fine," she uneasily relents. "Enjoy the jolly old London, ya blokes!" Captain Lance sounds like a buccaneer with a fake British accent. Dr. Heywood and Charlie are unimpressed with that parting. Mr. Constantine glares at her, finding it frankly offensive. The quartet leaves to get Mr. Tarazi and Mr. Rory for the mission. Dr. Palmer instead asks Charlie who her mate is. As they disembark in 1594 London, she discloses that they're searching for the "Bard of Avon".
His most eminent play Romeo and Juliet is the subject in the Book Club meeting. Miss Wu has updated Captains Lance and Sharpe as well as Ms. Darhk on her life. She has written four books under the "Rebecca Silver" alias. One of which is based on her star-crossed romance with Konane. The half-Kaupe author is drafting a book series, and she has gone on several dates. The conversation shifts to Ms. Darhk; unlike her husband, she discloses her thoughts on moving out of the ship. She jokes she'll miss being in line for the bathroom. In all seriousness, she wants to continue illuminating for others the way Dr. Palmer has for her. Lastly, they quiz the captains whether they're reaching a turning point. Captain Sharpe maintains feeling fulfilled in her role for now. On the other hand, Captain Lance is ruminant about the question itself.
Captain Sharpe orders me to call Miss Tarazi into the parlour, which I do. The phone-obsessed magnate arrives a few minutes later. "Ava, you needed me?" Her eyes move from the small screen to the women sitting in a semi-circle. "Sorry; is this an intervention?"
"No, no, no, no, no," Captain Sharpe answers. "Since you're a member of the team, we wanted to invite you to Book Club!"
"Oh, that's very sweet. I have a lot on my plate right now, so I don't really have time to talk about books."
Captain Lance drinks on her scotch. "The thing about Book Club is, uh, we don't really talk about books." Ms. Darhk upholds this with a shake of her head.
"Because Book Club is magic," Miss Wu whimsically entreats.
"What she means is," Ms. Darhk states, "Book Club is a place where you can hang out with your friends and talk about your problems."
"And eat tiny crackers."
"And drink," Captain Lance adds. While Miss Tarazi won't drink due to her faith, she is interested in socializing and the cheese board I created. Well, more likely the latter. The magnate ultimately seats herself next to Miss Wu.
"You know, the other thing about Book Club," Captain Sharpe declares, "it can help you figure out where your true path is supposed to be."
"Oh, so, this is a cult," Miss Tarazi wonders. Ms. Darhk chokes on her glass of wine as a result.
"No, no. We don't use certain C-words: cult, clone..."
"I would know," Ms. Darhk remarks, "because Book Club helped me move forward after my time in a real cult."
"I get your reservations," Captain Lance says to the magnate. "The last 'club' I joined programmed me to be an assassin, but Book Club is helping me be a real person."
Miss Wu admits, "And I killed a federal agent." Miss Tarazi is alarmed by the overt comment. "I meant to lead with 'I'm a Kaupe; it's like a Hawaiian werewolf'. Book Club helped me cope with it."
"Okay, that's also a lot."
"So, what do you think, Zari," Captain Sharpe queries. "Can Book Club help you?" They wait for her response. After what the magnate has learned, she's in no rush to divulge anything about herself.
"You know what? This is Nora's last Book Club. Shouldn't we be throwing her a belated bachelorette bash?" The others love this idea.
As they begin planning, I notify Captain Lance about an incoming transmission from the other Legends. I transfer the call into her earpiece. Dr. Heywood explains the Queen's dog has stolen the ring, so it'll take them longer to come back. The captain readily accedes the historian's alibi. Charlie and the fellas are undoubtedly turning the mission into a belated bachelor party for Dr. Palmer.
With that said, a bottle of champagne is popped, starting the bachelorette party. Ms. Darhk emerges as the victor against Captain Lance in a scooter race. Afterwards, the women go on another ride on animal scooters throughout the Waverider. Miss Tarazi takes plenty of pictures during this, and the captains also share a kiss. The women then surprise Ms. Darhk with a white pony. She likes it best than granting children's wishes for one. They raucously dance in the bridge with a stripteaser posing as a half-dressed fireman. Uh-oh, there is a change to the timeline.
Ms. Darhk shouts for the music to be turned off. She draws her friends' attention to the book. On the cover, a man resembling Mr. Rory dons a 16th century outfit, and a figure (ostensibly Dr. Palmer in his Atom suit) is soaring in the background. The title now reads Romeo v. Juliet: Dawn of Justness.
Captain Sharpe ponders aloud, "What is 'Romeo v. Juliet'?"
"Shakespeare is writing superhero plays," Miss Wu inquires.
"Oh, that's gonna be a problem," the stripteaser freely opines.
The women remove any connection to the bachelorette party. Charlie and the fellas enter the bridge and are expected to give an explanation. Apart from the bachelor party, they unwittingly exposed their powers in view of the other patrons. William Shakespeare was among those who witnessed the brawl at the tavern. Captain Lance is striding back and forth as the alcohol flowing in her system aggrandizes her irritability. "I can't believe you guys! I put you in charge of the mission, and you lied to me." The captain pokes at Dr. Heywood, hissing, "You lied to me." His alibi was implausible to begin with. "Why, so you could just go party?"
"That's what we should've done. We should've waited for Ray and Nora to come back from their honeymoon and throw one big party." She turns to Dr. Palmer. His grin swiftly vanishes when he regards her gaze.
"Yeah, and guess what," the Fate affirms. "We're well on our way to assembling the Loom."
"Uh, but you're right, Sara," the astrophysicist verbalizes. "I really should've insisted that we come back to the ship sooner."
"You think?" Dr. Heywood reads the scene where Mercutio uses his powers of steel against Tybalt's sword. The historian is enthused; however, Captain Lance reprimands, "Well, thanks to you guys and your stupid party, this mission's not over." He continues reading the scene and is downcast with Mercutio's obtuseness. She promptly closes the book, redirecting Dr. Heywood's sights to her. "This is the least of our worries. We need to get out there and fix his-sory."
"What's that," he asks, noticing the captain's slur.
"His-story. History," she corrects. "Time!"
Charlie smirks, "Une question, Le Capitaine. Are you sloshed?" Yes.
The historian probes, "And why is there glitter on your face?" Before Captain Lance can provide an excuse, the stripteaser informs them the tachyon scrubber needs a replacement. His presence inadvertently exposes the indirect reality. The captain asks Charlie and Dr. Heywood to escort the gentleman out. As they leave, she stops Dr. Palmer from exiting the bridge.
"Ray, can I talk to you please?"
"Yeah, I'm… mm-hmm."
Captain Lance leads him into the parlour. The two Legends encircle the small table. I can guess what she wants to talk to him about. "All right, Ray; why haven't you told Nate that you're leaving?"
The astrophysicist replies with ado, "Because… he's my best friend, and the moment I tell him, then this all becomes real. I know it's my decision, but I don't—I don't know if I'm really ready for it." Listening to this makes the captain understand his reluctance.
"You remember when we first moved on the ship?" It was 49 months and 26 days ago. "We left our entire lives behind us. We had no idea to expect but, because we embraced the change…"
Dr. Palmer gives a lopsided smile. "We made history."
"Sure did," Captain Lance verifies with a snap. She sits at the edge of the table. "Who would've thought we would still be there? And that we'll be saying goodbye already."
"I'll miss you, Captain Lance."
The captain wipes something away prior to standing up. "Don't make me cry. I'm gonna miss you too, Ray. A lot." After the two share a hug, the Legends reconvene to create a new plan. Drs. Palmer and Heywood, Miss Tarazi, and Charlie are sent back to the tavern to dissuade William Shakespeare to finish his new stage play. Soon, the brooding historian storms onto the Waverider. Discarding copies of the playscript in his quarters, he grabs a bottle of beer from the galley. The astrophysicist finds Dr. Heywood drinking in the parlour. As it turns out, the former has uncovered the truth in overhearing the latter's conversation with the bard. He is angry that he was the last of the Legends to know. He could make this mission more memorable, but he cannot.
"Attention, Legends," I announce via the intercom, "there is no record of Romeo and Juliet in the timeline, which means…"
"Shakespeare didn't put on the play yet." Exactly. "We can go back and fix the mission together!" Dr. Heywood doesn't share his best friend's joy. He tells the astrophysicist that the Legends will complete the mission without him. The historian ignores his name being uttered as he exits the parlour. As Dr. Palmer packs the last of his belongings, Ms. Darhk checks in on him. She suggests waiting until the other Legends return to say their goodbyes. Her husband declines, considering his argument with Dr. Heywood.
I inform Captain Lance about the confrontation. Not long after she leaves, she summons me to "tell the team it's all hands on deck here at the tavern and fabricate some codpieces". I withdraw my uncertainty when she elucidates her idea. The Legends are going to perform Romeo and Juliet. Since the original playscript hasn't been fully written yet, I will be delivering the lines in the Legends' earpieces. Mr. Rory doubly plays the chorus and the citizens of Verona. Captain Sharpe plays Lord Capulet, while Captain Lance is Lady Capulet. Mr. Tarazi and Miss Wu are Lord and Lady Montague. The two titular characters are respectively portrayed by Mr. Constantine and Dr. Heywood. As he is reciting his lines, the historian unexpectedly flees the stage.
"What's wrong," Captain Lance inquires. "I mean, other than the fact that this role should've gone to a woman?" Historically, all female roles were performed by men until the 1600s.
Miss Tarazi vocalizes that change, while hard to accept, can also be beautiful. She convinces him to properly say goodbye to Dr. Palmer. In turn, she will play Juliet in his absence. Among her list of abilities, the magnate is a classically trained actress. Thus, she won't need my help with the lines.
I activate my holograph as Dr. Palmer walks into the bridge to have a final look around. "All right, Gideon, it's time for me to go."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"I hope so," he murmurs. "Thank you for everything, and, uh, take care of the Legends for me." He turns and exits the bridge.
"Safe travels, Dr. Palmer." A digital tear runs down my visage. I disactivate it afterwards and survey the cameras. The astrophysicist and Ms. Darhk are strolling in the eastern corridor, where he opens a portal to a suburbia.
They are about to cross over the threshold when they hear Dr. Heywood's voice throughout the ship. Encouraged by his wife, Dr. Palmer speeds back to the bridge. The historian apologizes for his unpleasant words. As sad as he is about losing his best friend, he's happy that he and Ms. Darhk are starting the rest of their lives together. The astrophysicist likewise apologizes for withholding from him. The two men tearfully approach each other and place a hand on the other's shoulder. Saying goodbye hurts, but they treasure their friendship very much. They hug for the last time before the newlyweds portal off the Waverider.
Dr. Heywood sits alone in the bridge. He has assured me beforehand that he'll be fine. Captain Lance walks in and perceives the historian. "Zari was good as Juliet," she says. "I mean, not as good as you, but…" She sits across him on the steps. "You okay?"
"It's a weird thing about friendships. It starts because you need each other. And then, if you do it right and help each other grow, you need each other less. I guess change is the whole point." Well said, Dr. Heywood.
"Well, if you, um, you ever need a bro hug," the captain declares, gesturing with her thumbs, "I'm your gal." Her offer cheers him up, though the execution is lackluster. Dr. Heywood recalls Dr. Palmer "was terrible at bro hugs at first too", but she is really terrible. This earns a hard slap to the chest from Captain Lance. I believe it nonetheless raised his spirits.
Miss Wu locates Mr. Rory reading King Lear in his quarters. He favors the eponymous tragic figure over Romeo and Juliet. She reveals Miss Tarazi told her that "SilverSux04" is Mr. Rory's daughter with Ms. Dunn. Another time aberration. Miss Wu urges the arsonist should converse with her. Mr. Rory believes his daughter is better off not knowing him since "nurturing fathers don't run in [his] family". His successor disagrees; she herself is better because she knew him. The arsonist confesses that it's good to see her again. He even (nonverbally) consents to a hug.
In the parlour, Charlie shows what she attained from William Shakespeare. The captain isn't quite impressed with the golden ring. "This is part of the Loom of Fate?"
"Well, I had to disguise the bit, so mere mortals like you wouldn't burst into flames when you looked at it."
Mr. Constantine asserts, "Well, that is certainly very thoughtful of you, Charlie." He tosses the ring in the air. Captain Lance catches it before it lands in his hand.
"Not so fast. This is too powerful, John, and honestly, you're too close to it."
"This is my mission, Sara."
"And this is my ship." She queries Charlie, "So, what's the plan?"
"This is just the beginning, but with that, we can find the other pieces."
I, as an artificial consciousness, do not need to sleep like the Legends. The ship will depart from 1594 London by sunrise. However, everyone is insomniac tonight. Captain Lance goes to the galley, where she catches Dr. Heywood aimlessly searching the pantry. "Can't sleep either, huh?"
"Yeah. You know, we all spend time off the ship, but people usually don't feel…"
"Gone?"
"Yeah." They are startled when they hear a distinct groan. I turn on the lights over the dining table. Mr. Rory is having a glass of Dr. Palmer's favorite green juice. "Feeling sentimental too, Mick?"
"The juice was taking up all the room in the fridge. Now, shut up, Pretty." The captain and the historian join him, pouring themselves a glass. Next to arrive is Mr. Tarazi, who expresses missing someone after they left "almost makes them more present".
"Heard you get up, babe," Captain Sharpe conveys. "I was awake anyway."
"Hi, babe." She hands her a full glass of juice. Dr. Heywood pours another for the technician.
"I had a feeling other people would be up," Miss Tarazi states.
Charlie discerns, "Oh, gross. Is that Ray's green juice?"
"Yeah," Captain Lance responds.
"Give me some." Once they all possess a cup, they sit in silence. The last time Dr. Palmer wasn't here for an extended period was 10 months and 12 days ago. He is and will be a ray of sunshine on this timeship. How do they wish to regard him?
"To Ray," the historian starts, "who taught me how to be a better friend by being a better friend than I deserved."
The Fate continues, "He told me that, if you're dumb enough to expect good from the world, the world might just live up to your expectations."
The captain ends, "And who showed us that there's never a problem so big it can't be solved with a smile."
"To the big guy. To Ray." The Legends clink glasses and drink. They are immediately disgusted. Miss Tarazi finds the beverage delicious. In fact, she is the only one who isn't in line for the bathroom. Déjà vu.