Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two

Chapter Eight:Infinity Inc. Part Two
Information
Season 3 » Episode 8
Episode number	34
Original airdate	October 26, 2022
Written by	Paula Sevenbergen & Robbie Hyne
Directed by	Glen Winter
Viewers	500,000
Episode Guide
Preceded by	"Chapter Seven: Infinity Inc. Part One"
Followed by	"Chapter Nine: The Monsters"

Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two also titled Frenemies - Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two is the eighth episode of the third season of Stargirl, and the thirty-fourth episode overall. This episode aired on October 26, 2022 on The CW.

Synopsis

DEMONS FROM THE PAST — Desperate to avert a major crisis on their hands, Courtney attempts to help a friend navigate their powers. Elsewhere, Pat and The Shade are forced to face their worst fears.

Plot

Pat and Shade walk down Main Street. Pat questions if they're in The Shadowlands. Shade states they are because Pat insisted on helping those irksome children. This is just more proof that no good deed goes unpunished. He thinks they got here because Alan Scott's daughter has the power of light, but his son, for reasons he doesn't understand, has the power of the shadows, like him. Them coming into direct contact with each other caused some kind of feedback, which seems to have banished them here. Pat's gotta find a way back, which is a brilliant strategy to Shade. He's truly watching a master at work. Pat snaps that he's doing the best can. Shade tells him to please don't apologize, as he can think enough for the two of them. Lucky for Pat, he's with the sole being in existence that knows how to escape this dreadful place. He approaches the Dallas Theater and is ready to get home. He pulls at the door but it doesn't budge. He shakes it off as he'll do it right here, and extends his hand. Black shadows swirl in front of them as a portal begins to manifest. A green light shines from the center, eventually knocking Shade off his feet. Pat drops to his aid, though the man is not okay. It seems that until Jennie's ring is free from its corruption, Shade is as useless as Pat.

Alarms blare in The Helix Institute For Youth Rehabilitation as security guards escort patients back to their rooms. The automatic doors swing shut. Tao Jones sits up in her bed and consoles her dog, Kritter. The lock on Penny Dreadful's door beeps shut and the young woman looks up from brushing her red locks. She questions what is going on now. From another cell, Carcharo gives a deep growl, while Todd Rice's door slams shut and locks.

In a procedure room, Swift's hat rocks on the ground next to his cane. Jennie and Courtney watch Todd turn into a creature made entirely of shadows. He groans that it hurts. Courtney calls out to Todd, telling him that he can control this. He just has to focus on his sister and his family. He repeats the word "family" and slowly transforms back into himself, his shining white eyes fading to normal. A man appears in front of Todd, asking what's wrong with him. The man taunts him for liking boys, as that's sick. It's no wonder his real father didn't want him. As for him, he runs his group home for normal kids. Todd is filth, tainted, and will be alone forever. But they're going to fix his sins - the man will beat them out of Todd for as long as it takes. Jennie calls out to her brother and grabs his arm, sending another blast of green and dark energy rippling across the room.

Courtney wakes up on a couch and sits up, scanning the room around her. She sees trophies on one stand and a desk with the plaque "Louise Love Head Nurse" engraved. She hurries to the door but it's locked, as are the windows. She tries to work the rotary dial but hears a dial tone. Nurse Love walks into the office and scolds Courtney for causing quite a lot of trouble tonight. Courtney demands to know what's going on and where her friends are. Love didn't hear a "ma'am" in there anywhere, scoffing over the disrespect. Courtney gapes at her - she wants to talk about disrespect, when Love lied to them by saying Todd wasn't here. Love concedes that she lied, but insists that Courtney doesn't understand how necessary it was. Courtney can't believe that - his sister's been looking for Todd everywhere and going out of her mind. She looks around and questions where Jennie is. Love assures her that Jennie-Lynn is safe for the moment, but her brother is a different story. Courtney's drop-in visit tonight interrupted a very important procedure, and now she's endangered everyone, including him. Jennie-Lynn may burn down buildings in her weaker moments, but Todd's powers are deadlier. The whole world could be swallowed up in shadow if they don't get him under control. They're going to help him, while Stargirl is going home. Courtney protests as she thinks Todd sent her dad, Pat, and The Shade into The Shadowlands. Love's interest piques at this mention. Courtney presses that what Pat could be going through could kill him. It's a horrible place, and Love incredulously questions if she's been there. Courtney has - it's where The Shade gets his power from, and Todd too, it looks like. Love shakes her head as Courtney shouldn't have come here. She breezes out the door and closes it firmly behind her. Courtney shouts for her to wait, but the door locks, trapping her inside.

In The Shadowlands, Shade brushes off his cloak. Whatever's happening on the other side, Jennie's ring is still connected to The Shadowlands. A crack of thunder shakes the street and green lightning creases the sky. He remarks that isn't normal. Pat finds it hard to believe that anything is normal in this town. Believe it or not, The Shadowlands has rules, and Pat had better learn them. For one thing, this place preys on the subconscious; his fears and regrets. Shade, of course, doesn't harbor such worthless emotions, but he's quite sure Pat does. If Pat gives into them, it could jeopardize both of them. He pauses to ensure Pat's keeping up with all this, and the man's got it, he understands. They stop outside Richie Rock's Diner as Shade warns him that doorways here usually take people where they most desire to go, taking their cues from the subconscious. It rarely turns out for the best. If he can't get them home the way he did before, their only hope is to keep moving, avoiding the hungry wraiths Pat's insecurities will no doubt conjure up until Shade can get them out.

They walk through the door to Richie's and enter the diner, stopping Shade abruptly. The doorway should have taken them somewhere else, as the diner is insignificant to Shade. A table manifests in the center of the room as a man's deep southern accent drawls that the sentiments are not entirely true. He lays down some cards and turns to face the men, revealing himself as The Gambler. This is where Shade refused to forgive him. Pat's surprised to see Gambler, but Shade assures him it's not him, it's a construct. Gambler continues his mocking as it's awfully hypocritical of Shade not to forgive him. Pat tells Shade to ignore him, but Gambler isn't finished. He knows Shade caused his sister so much pain, yet she forgave him. Shade snaps that's enough, but the construct presses on about sweet, dear Emily. He asks if Shade remembers what he said to Emily on the day she died. Shade hurries them out of the diner, and they rush through the doorway, a white light enveloping them.

They run into The Pit Stop, which Shade likens is going from one grease pit to another. An army vehicle is parked in the center of the garage, a wrench clanking as a man works under the hood. He curses and Shade questions who the man is, causing Pat to shake his head. The man peeks around the hood and demands to know what Pat's standing around for, instructing him to grab a wrench. Pat's face contorts in confusion as he questions the man's identity - his dad.

A young Todd and Jennie call out for one another in an orphanage, crying as they reach out their hands to one another. They interlock finger as two nuns try to pull them apart. Their hands separate as they scream for each other. In the present day, Jennie lurches up in a concrete room. She looks through a space between the walls and sees a black material filling the space. She touches it and rubs the paste-like material between her fingers. She hurries to the door of the room and bangs on it, screaming to be let out of here. Her cries are useless so she backs up several feet, her eyes glowing bright green. She holds out her ring and energy whirs before blasting the door. The energy bounces off the door and fills the room, dissipating. A voice over the PA system, belonging to Mister Bones, informs her that her powers won't work here. This room is designed for her protection and theirs. The walls are coated with an energy-defusing polymer to assist in power control and suppression. Jennie is angry as she yells for whoever the hell he is, to open the door. The man insists he's a friend, an ally to both her and her brother. He only wants what's best for both of them. She wants to be let out of here. He's sorry, but she and Todd can never be together again. The speaker crackles as he turns off the PA system.

Meanwhile, guards roll Todd into another procedure room as they set up the bright white lights. He screams as his body violently convulses on the table. From behind the glass, Mister Bones holds Shade's tattered hat.

In The Shadowlands, Mr. Dugan mutters at the damn engine which keeps overheating. Sarge is gonna have his ass unless he can get her up and running. He asks if his son wants to help him. Pat admits he always tried to, and Mr. Dugan nods that he did try. He recalls the garage on the base and how Pat was always at his side. Shade tries to pull Pat away but he doesn't budge. Mr. Dugan's expression turns dark as he likens Pat to a tick on a dog. Every time he tried to fix something, he made it worse, like their family. He should have brought him and his mom closer together, but instead, she pushed Mr. Dugan away. He mocks how he was too hard on Pat, and how his wife worried about Pat's feelings. It made him weak. He scolds Pat to stand straight, and he instinctively does. He was never proud to call Pat his son. Shade tries to help his friend by reminding him this is the Shadowlands, a nightmare version of the people in their lives. It twists their words. Pat shakes his head no, not this time, as his real father spoke every word of this. On cue, Mr. Dugan continues his barrage of abusive language. He tells his son that he's always been worthless, playing second fiddle to everyone in his life. He's never been a standout, a leader. Shade ushers Pat along as they need to go. Pat grimaces at Mr. Dugan, remarking that he still misses his Pop. He turns away and the men run out of The Pit Stop, as Mr. Dugan shouts that he should have been harder on Pat.

Pat and Shade appear in an early-century room where nurses and doctors surround a bed. A woman coughs from the bed. Shade's face falls as he remarks no. Pat asks what it is, but it's nothing Shade wishes to see. He grabs the doorknob and green energy sizzles his hand, burning him. He cries out in pain and moments later, the woman calls out, asking if that's Dickie. The nurses move to reveal a young Emily Swift, ill, asking if he's come to say goodbye. She doesn't want him to let her die alone, not like their father. Shade tries the doorknob again but it continues to burn him. He turns to Emily, who asks him not to ignore her, to please say something. Shade tries the door again but it won't budge. Pat knows it's difficult to lose people that they love. Shade asks him to please, spare him the bleeding-heart sentiments. Pat ignores him, bringing up how Courtney survived The Shadowlands. Shade remarks it's because of him, but Pat corrects that she got out because of him but survived because of herself. She had to face her own darkness to get past it. Shade can't believe Pat is telling him about darkness. Pat's just saying that maybe the key here is to face things and not run away. Shade pauses for a moment before painfully, yet blankly, admitting that he's incapable of feeling anything. Pat moves Shade back and then kicks open the doors, letting green energy flow into the room.

Courtney sees a camera in the corner of the room watching her. She stands and asks if he's been watching them. In their town, their school, and their homes. She defiantly paces the room, telling him he's picked the wrong people to do this too. They're going to find him if they haven't already. Starman, the Justice Society of America, all of their friends. They'll be coming for them, for her. She pauses and shakily admits that she's not helpless without her staff. The PA system clicks on and the man's voice admits he doesn't believe she's helpless without the staff, which is the point. She can set the staff aside, just as Yolanda can put her Wildcat suit away, Rick the hourglass, and Beth her goggles. She's not like Jennie and her brother, or him. Courtney doesn't even know who he is. The door opens and Mister Bones walks through the door, revealing himself to her. She assumes he's trying to scare her, which he'll have to try harder to do. He assures her that his appearance is not a choice he can make. His mother was subjected to experiments while pregnant with him. Beyond his flesh being transparent, he was born with what these doctors called a cyanide touch. He removes his gloves to show his translucent skin. He touches a plant and it hisses as it wilts, dying. Anything he comes into contact with dies, which included his mother. Nurse Love rescued him from the people who did this. But there was nothing to be done. Courtney's sorry, she really is, but he cuts her off before she can continue. He's just as cursed as Jennie and Todd, as unlike Courtney and her friends, they were born this way. Here at Helix, they help those like them learn to live a life of isolation. Courtney is perturbed that he teaches kids how to hide from the world. He admits they help their patients survive the only way they can - alone. When Jennie's ring was infected by the shadows, it connected her to Todd, and his power became unstable. If they cannot suppress Todd's power, he will destroy all of them.

Shade and Pat land in the Whitmore-Dugan House with a thud. Shade groans in agony, as he can't travel through the fire like that again. While in pain, he tells Pat that Emily asked if he'd come to say goodbye. But the truth is, he didn't say anything to his sister the day she died because he wasn't there. He couldn't bear it, as he had to separate himself from her. Losing people is just too hard. Mr. Dugan suddenly snaps for Pat to forget that limey, as they're not done. Thunder rumbles in The Shadowlands and crosses into the real world.

Bones hears the thunder and the building shakes as if from an earthquake. He thinks Jennie's still too close to Todd. He needs to take her far from here. Courtney squares her shoulder - maybe she wasn't born like Jennie or Todd or him, but she knows what it's like to lose family, to feel so flawed she must have pushed them away. She's carried that curse too. But Jennie and Todd are meant to be together. She saw Jennie's powers react to his hurting. She's the light he needs, not those lamps. She moves around the desk to stand in front of Bones, who listens to her. She explains that her power, and Jennie's, it reacts to how they feel. That's why she thinks Todd's connection with Jennie is the only thing that can save him. Bones turns away as he thinks over her plea. This might also be the one thing that brings Pat home. She knows what he's doing here and she understands why, but life isn't about living in isolation. It can't be. Because if they're alone, what's the point of anything. Bones turns back to her and warns that if she's wrong, they all die. Courtney looks at him with a serious yet accepting expression.

Jennie sits in her cell when the door opens and Courtney runs in. She crouches next to Jennie, asking if she's alright. She only asks about Todd, and Courtney remarks that he's waiting for her. She needs to be with him. Jennie is afraid because of what happened the last time she touched him. Courtney knows they were both frightened, and what fear does to her and the fire. For Todd, well, she thinks he became a living doorway to The Shadowlands. Jennie has to do what the JSA did for her - stand with him, don't go away, and have faith. Courtney stands up and extends her hand. Jennie takes it and stands up, hugging her friend tightly. The girls hurry out of the room together.

Pat and Shade sit across from Mr. Dugan and Barbara, who stand over the men. Mr. Dugan mocks Pat for thinking he's a good father when Mike, who materializes in a doorway looking solemn, does everything he can to get Pat's attention. Just like Pat did with his father. But he doesn't see Mike at all, so like Pat, he feels worthless. Shade warns Pat not to listen to them. Barbara warns Mr. Swift that he's going to die alone, just like his sister. No one's going to say goodbye because he hasn't earned it. Mr. Dugan dismisses her as she shouldn't be here, making her fade out of the room. He looks to Pat, warning that she'll never really be Mike's mom. Mike's mom abandoned him when he was three or four years old. Pat winces for the first time, feeling the weight of that accusation. Pat got Mike and left and never spoke about mommy again. He wanted Mike to forget Maggie and move on as he did. But Mike, who looks down morosely, thinks about his mom every day. He doesn't say it, but he feels as unwanted as Courtney does. Mike glares at Pat warning that one day, he's gonna hate Pat as much he hates his dad. Pat's face scrunches in confusion as he shakes his head. He doesn't hate his father, he never did. The Shade praises him for not giving in, as they'll get out if he doesn't.

Helix rumbles as Courtney, Love, and Jennie rush into the gallery room and watch Todd groaning. His eyes spill black shadows and he floats several feet above the ground as he hemorrhages shadows. Courtney urgently tells Jennie to go to him, but she's worried she'll hurt him. Courtney reminds her that she'll only hurt him if she wants to. Jennie leaves the gallery as Todd continues screaming. She looks up at Todd who gives a distorted roar. He bursts off the table into a shadow form, his eyes glowing bright white. He turns to Jennie, telling her to please leave. She's not going anywhere and reaches out to him, grabbing him as her eyes glow green. Courtney and Love watch from the gallery as green energy swirls with shadows. Love remarks they shouldn't have trusted her.

Todd and Jennie are back in the orphanage that separated them as children. She reaches out to him but he steps away from her. He doesn't understand any of this. She doesn't either. All she knows is they finally found each other.

Shade and Pat struggle to stand as the green fire consumes the house. They need to go, but Shade is too weak to move. He tells him to please go.

Jennie holds up her hand, which has the ring their father left for her. He knew they would find each other with it. Somehow, he knew. They've always been connected, and they always will be, because they have to be. The light and the darkness. She extends her arm and he nods. The ring glows green and shoots out a stream of shadows that pulses into Todd. They flashback to being ripped apart as children, screaming out for one another. This time, they yank free of the adults and embrace in the center of the room. In the present day, Todd and Jennie hug tightly, finally together.

Pat urges Shade to come, but he already told Pat that he could die going back into that fire. Pat snaps that he can either die in here, or he can die trying, but he has to pick one. Shade scowls that's fair enough, Pat Dugan. They hurry to the front door and Pat yanks it open. The men run through the white light.

A burst of green energy shines in Helix. Love and Courtney shield their eyes and when they do look, they see Todd and Jennie embracing. The siblings part and smile at the duo. Moments later, the wind gushes with the return of Pat and Shade. The shade looks incredulously at Courtney, then gives her a proud nod when he sees Todd and Jennie together.

Courtney, Pat, Shade, Jennie, and Todd gather in the hallway of Helix, facing Nurse Love. Courtney gives her a satisfied smile and Love admits she was right. Courtney asks where the skeleton guy is. He's calming their other patients, as they don't usually have nights with this much excitement. She hopes this won't become a regular occurrence. Jennie thinks they have it under control now. Love reminds them they both still have a home at Helix. Courtney thinks what they're doing here is wrong. Love pensively states that all of their patients are free to go any time they wish. No one is being held against their will. Todd confirms that's actually true, though Courtney still isn't pleased with them spying on her or her friends. Love doesn't know what she's talking about. She's talking about the camera they put up all over Blue Valley, inside their homes. Love is disturbed by the accusation, as they did no such thing. They know so much about Courtney and her friends because they did their research. But spying on her with hidden cameras is ridiculous. Shade hopes they're all done here, as he knows he is. He leaves the hall and Todd tells Love he's going to go with his sister. She doesn't think that's wise but wishes him the best of luck. She gestures to the door and the teens leave. She stops Pat as she trusts they'll all keep each other's secrets. He shifts his footing, wondering if she happened to teach fifth-grade math back in the early 1980s in Omaha, Nebraska. She doesn't much care for Mr. Dugan's attitude, making him smirk - he knew that was her. She watches him leave the institute.

Mister Bones watches his visitors leave from his window, leaning against it while deep in thought. Love emerges and he muses that Courtney Whitmore might have been right. Isolation might not be the answer these kids need. He wonders if maybe Helix should form a team of their own.

On the lawn of Helix, Shade expresses to Pat his disbelief that there's someone else out there with the same powers as his, potentially even greater. Pat confuses this with envy, but Shade is sympathetic. When he first experienced the powers, they were frightening. Pat suggests he help Todd, and think about how different his life might have been had somebody helped him. He's lived like this for over 100 years, if there's anything on the planet that can help Todd figure this out, it's not Helix, it's him. Shade is no teacher, which Pat gets, but if he's looking for redemption for the past it's not just about not doing bad things. It's about doing good. He helped to destroy the JSA, which angers Shade as he did not kill, but Pat interrupts him. He was an accessory, whether Shade wants to face that or not. Those kids over there are the orphans that were left behind. Shade's heard enough from Stripesy. He groans as it's his heart's dream to be saddled with reprobates.

Todd, Jennie, and Courtney walk over and Shade awkwardly greets them. Rather than make his exit, he'd liked to extend a hand - that is, if they're amenable to his help with the shadows. Todd would appreciate that, though Jennie's not sure. Shade tells her to please, turn him down, then. Jennie needs to get to New York, which is news to Courtney. Jennie elaborates that's where Sandy Hawkins lives who is Wesley Dodd's nephew. Pat is surprised at her mention of Wesley Dodds, the Sandman. Shade wrinkles his face in disgust, as he agreed to help two children, not three. Jennie ignores him. Sandy has nightmares of people in trouble like his uncle used to. That's how she knew Todd was here. Sandy dreamt about her and Todd and reached out to her. She promised she'd help him with his nightmares once she found Todd. Shade groans over New York, begrudgingly agreeing to go. But things are going to be different from now on, as he'll have none of her outlandish theatrics. He flicks his cane and a portal appears. He instructs them to follow him as she walks through the portal. Todd and Jennie follow him, and she calls back a goodbye to Courtney. The portal closes and Courtney looks to Pat, wondering how they're going to get home now.

They take a bus out of Civic City. Courtney can't believe the Shade actually agreed to help them, but that proves it's possible that people can reform. She's proud she helped Jennie and Todd just like she helped Yolanda, Rick, and Beth without the staff. She knows what she needs to do when she gets back. She needs to not give up on the villains, on her friends, or herself. Pat remains silent as she asks what he thinks. It sounds good to him, all of it. He apologizes as he just can't shake it. She understands - when she went to The Shadowlands, she saw and heard stuff that was really hard to see too. If she wants to talk about them she's here for him, whenever, but he doesn't yet. He thanks her and she nods to him. This has left them with one question, though. If Helix hasn't been the one spying on them, then who has.

In Blue Valley, beneath the sewer grate and inside the tunnels, the voyeur stares at the TV screen. It's frozen on Hourman about to punch the camera out. The figure, donning a black cloak, angrily punches the television screen with their gloved hand.

Cast

Starring

• Brec Bassinger as Courtney Whitmore
• Trae Romano as Mike Dugan (Construct)
• Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore (Construct)
• Luke Wilson as Pat Dugan

Special Guest Star

• Jonathan Cake as Richard Swift/The Shade

Guest Starring

• Ysa Penarejo as Jennie-Lynn Hayden/Green Lantern
• Tim Gabriel as Todd Rice/Obsidian
• Keith David as Mister Bones
• Lynne Ashe as Nurse Louise Love
• Eric Goins as Steve Sharpe (Construct)
• G.W. Bailey as Mr. Dugan (Construct)
• Andie Ju as Tao Jones
• Megan Ashley Brown as Penny Dreadful

Co-Starring

• Katie Swift as Young Jennie-Lynn Hayden
• Nate Swift as Young Todd Rice/Obsidian
• Bolton Marsh as James Rice (Illusion)
• Arianne Martin as Emily Swift (Construct)

Notes and Trivia

• This is the first episode that the Cosmic Staff doesn't appear in any capacity.
• This is the first episode not to feature any JSA members aside from Courtney.
• Chapter Eight introduces Pat Dugan's biological father after mentioning him throughout the seasons.
• Maggie is mentioned. She is the biological mother of Mike Dugan who abandoned him and Pat. She was last seen in the Season 2 finale, "Summer School: Chapter Thirteen", when Sylvester finds her while searching for Pat.
• Chapter Eight: Infinity Inc. Part Two introduces major DC Comics characters through the The Helix Institute For Youth Rehabilitation. In the comics, these characters were all born with superpowers after being experimented on in the womb by the deranged Dr. Love. They were each members of the super team Helix, who frequently clashed with Infinity Inc.
  • Tao Jones, who came to have force field powers in the comics, is seen with Kritter, a mutated human in the form of a dog. Also seen in Helix were Penny Dreadful, who has energy absorption powers in the comics, and Carcharo a mutant man-shark and the cousin of Yolanda Montez.
• Wesley Dodds is revealed to have a nephew named Sandy Hawkins in New York, who is haunted by nightmares similar to that of his uncle.
  • In the DC Comics, "Sandy Hawkins" is the ward of Wesley Dodds and biological son of Wesley's lifetime partner Dian Belmont. He started as a sidekick to Sandman called "The Golden Boy", joined the All-Star Squadron, and eventually, takes up the mantle of Sandman.
• Opal City is seen on a street sign as being 94 miles from where Courtney and Pat are on their bus, which is 5 miles out of Civic City.
  • In the DC Comics, Opal City is located in Maryland and, in later retcons of the comics courtesy of James Dale Robinson, is home to many generations of Starman. Opal City is also home to Richard Swift/The Shade and Jack Night, among others.
• This episode and "Chapter Seven: Infinity Inc. Part One" were designed to be a backdoor pilot of sorts, with the hope being the series would be picked up as a spin-off.

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