- Shadow and Cordelia con Hutchinson and get Demeter released. Laura meets with Salim and Ibis, and Technical Boy is reunited with his past.
- Shadow explores notions of purpose, destiny, and identity with a newly enlightened Bilquis. Elsewhere, Technical Boy struggles with an identity crisis of his own. In his efforts to free Demeter, Wednesday asks a reluctant Shadow to assist in a new con.
- 1893
At the Columbian Exposition, technological innovations are put on display. Maximillian the Magician puts on a show, and one boy heckles Maximillian. The boy's mother leaves with her son, and the rest of the audience follows suit.
Maximillian hears a crowd cheering, and goes a still-human Technical Boy is demonstrating his automaton writing. Technical Boy admits that his automaton can only write one message. He collects coins from a boy, and the audience laves except for Maximillian. Maximillian tells Technical Boy that he put on a good show, and offers to buy him a drink. Technical Boy declines, saying that he's a Son of Temperance, and Maximillian calls him an "entertainer".
Technical Boy insists that he's not an entertainer, and Maximillian tells him that the automaton is a "one-trick pony". The magician tells Technical Boy that people have to buy what he's selling, and the automaton lacks "dazzle". Technical Boy says that he invested all of his savings in it, and has to redesign it to do other tasks. Maximillian points out that Everest promoted the light bulb before he developed it, and tells Technical Boy that most innovators understand that you got to fake it till you make it.
Soon, an audience gathers to watch eh automaton play chess against one audience member... and win. The audience applauds, and Maximillian comes to the stage and breaks open the front of the case to reveal Technical Boy inside. The audience boos, and Maximillian tells them to come see his show if they want honest performance. As the audience leaves, Maximillian welcomes Technical Boy to Chicago and leaves him.
The Present
A guard looks into Bilquis' cell, and sees her glaring at him. Meanwhile, Bilquis is in a mental chamber surrounded by water, and Oshun is there. She says that Bilquis did what she had to do to survive, but the last follow Bilquis took didn't give her what Bilquis needed. Bilquis admits that Sanders didn't.
The guards come in and say that is' time for "truth or dare".
Technical Boy and Shadow drive to the building where Bilquis is being held, and they know she's there. Shadow tells Technical Boy to do his thing, and Technical points out that he's not operating at 100% because of what Bilquis did to him.
Bilquis stares off into space, and the guards figure that she's catatonic. Meanwhile Bilquis says that she's still trapped, and Oshun offers her hand.
Technical Boy gets guns out of the trunk of the car, but Shadow tells him that they won't use it.
The guards ask Bilquis where Sanders is.
Oshun tells Bilquis that Bilquis is a giver of life. She and her fellow goddess Aye tells Bilquis that they have the power she's given them. They dance, and in the real world Bilquis stamps her foot and the building shakes. She tells the guards that the water will return them to the beginning, and water pours out of cracks in the floor and smashes into them, knocking them down. Bilquis screams as the water level rises, drowning the guards as it covers them over.
Shadow and Technical Boy hear the building shake, and Bilquis comes into the parking garage where they are through a portal of water. Technical Boy's glitching continues, and he backs away in horror. Shadow steps forward to Bilquis, who asks if Shadow is there to rescue her. He discovers that Technical Boy is driving off, and the water portal collapses.
Later, Shadow and Bilquis walk down a Chicago straight. She says that it took her two days in prison to realize that she was trapped in image of her that her worshipers see her as. Now Bilquis sees herself as she really is. Shadow says that he has been reassessing himself, and Bilquis tells him to tear down the veil around himself. He tells her that there's no going back, and Bilquis agrees as they walk on.
In the retreat, Blythe stands at the bed of the restrained Wednesday. She walks away after a moment.
Bilquis and Shadow go to a restaurant, and Shadow says that he came to find her because she was in trouble. She senses a deeper motivation, and Shadow suggests that he has unfinished business with saving Laura from herself. He then suggests his mother, and knows there is nothing he could do but watch her waste away in pain. Bilquis tells Shadow that now it's time for him to heal his own pain, and admits she doesn't know his destiny.
Shadow goes outside and calls Marguerite, and says that he was just checking in. He asks about Alison, and Marguerite says that she had breakfast with Alison's mother, and it was heartbreaking. Shadow says that he'll be away longer than he expected, and he's going to see his father. Marguerite understands and says that she'll keep an eye on Shadows place, says that she's glad he called, and Shadow hangs up.
At the retreat, Wednesday and Demeter play backgammon. Wednesday says that he's exhausted, and he's at the retreat to "recharge his bodies". Demeter doesn't believe it, figuring Wednesday won't last a week. He suggests that they wager, and if he last a week then Demeter gives him one night to find what's in his heart. Demeter takes the best.
Ibis tries to teach Salim on how to prepare a body for burial. Salim isn't interested, and tries to convince Ibis on the potential of selling relics for the dead. Laura comes in and the two males stare at her in shock. She asks where Wednesday is.
Shadow arrives at the retreat and takes Wednesday out in a wheelchair. Wednesday insists that he only ended up there because of a minor dispute, but Shadow knows from Cordelia that Wednesday wants to get Demeter out. Wednesday says that Hutchinson is holding half the people at the retreat are hostage, and says that Demeter was his wife and she needs to be free and Shadow will do all the "heavy lifting" in conning Hutchinson and Cordelia will only assist.
Irritated, Shadow tells Wednesday to do it himself. Wednesday tells Shadow that Demeter was his wife, and if he gets Chernobog then things will get messy. Shadow takes him into a conservatory where Demeter is painting, and Wednesday introduces Shadow to her. Demeter is shocked that Wednesday has a son, and shakes Shadow's hand. Hank comes in to take Wednesday to his massage session, and he tells Wednesday that it's time for "37" as he goes.
Ibis confirms that Laura is alive, and Laura explains what happened. The Egyptian god says that Laura took Sweeney's blood, then tried to use the coin. Ibis suggests that the coin was infused with Laura's love for Sweeney, but Laura doesn't believe it and goes to get something to eat.
Shadow goes out and finds Cordelia waiting for him at the car. She asks how Wednesday is, and Shadow tells her that Wednesday is perfectly fine and he's conning Demeter out of her money. Cordelia says that Wednesday's feeling for Demeter might be real, and he was "prom-night nervous" when he came to see Demeter the first time. The two of them get in the car and drive off.
Salim joins Laura and figures that Sweeney's blood brought her back. He asks if Sweeney is alive, and Laura gives him the box with the coin and Sweeney's ashes. Salim looks at and then says that he doesn't know where the Djinn in, but one's beating heart is proof of love. He says that Laura is fortunate, and she tells Salim that it doesn't matter. Laura tells Salim that he's got to quit moping around and do something, but what doesn't matter. She says that nothing happens when someone dies, and Salim admits that he didn't think that's who things would be.
Salim figures that Ibis is right and he's hiding there. Laura suggests that Wednesday that Salim come with her and help find Wednesday. She admits that she's going to kill Wednesday, and when Salim says that he's not a killer, tells him that she might need a car and he should come along anyway. Ibis comes in and tells Laura to take his car, and tosses the keys to Salim. Laura thanks Ibis, and asks him if he knows where Wednesday is. Ibis says that he knows someone who might have an idea.
Shadow and Cordelia check into a motel, and Cordelia gives Shadow a device that will download everything on Hutchinson's laptop in his briefcase. She figures Hutchinson will release Demeter if they threaten to leak his information.
Later, Hutchinson is at a hotel, and a disguised Cordelia approaches him and distract him by flirting. Shadow, posing as a businessman, says that some guy took off with it. He advises Hutchinson to call the police himself rather than let the hotel staff do it, gives Hutchinson his phone, and tells him to use it.
Cordelia goes to a hallway , removes her disguise, and takes the police call Hutchinson is making because Shadow's phone is set up to route Hutchinson's call to her. She says that they're sending a detective there, and meets Shadow. They exchange briefcases, and then Shadow calls Hutchinson and tells him to release Demeter and her money or everyone on his laptop goes public. Meanwhile, Cordelia duplicates the data on Hutchinson's laptop. He tells Hutchinson where he can finds his laptop, if he frees Caroline and his money.
Cordelia finishes her job, and Hutchinson agrees but warns that it will take two days. Meanwhile, Cordelia finds Shadow, tells him that she's done, and gives Shadow an account so Hutchinson should send the $100,000 to that account. Hutchinson has no choice but to agree.
That night, Salim asks Laura where she went when she died. She says that she went to Purgatory, and points out that Salim isn't praying. Salim points out that if he was truly devout, he couldn't go on the trip with Laura because being alone with a woman is forbidden. Laura repeats her question, and Salim tells her that he doesn't know who to pray to or for what.
Shadow returns to Wednesday and tells him that Demeter will be out in two days. He admits that he had fun, and Wednesday says that he needs two day to convince Demeter to leave. He tells Shadow that Demeter just needs to be reminds of how much she has to offer the world. Shadow figures that Wednesday loves Demeter, his former wife, but Shadow isn't convince. Shadow tells Wednesday that whatever he's after, he hopes that it's worth it.
Demeter comes over and looks at Shadow, and then says that being with Wednesday was like intoxication but time takes its toll. However, she and Wednesday endured a lot together, and smiles affectionately at Wednesday. Demeter says that the pain of loss can make even a god's heart grows cold, tells Shadow that it was good to see him again, and leaves. Wednesday stares after her for a moment, then locks at Shadow. Shadow goes as well.
Technical Boy, still glitching, goes to a warehouse, finds his old automaton, and crawls into its cabinet, laughing.
Shadow returns to Lakeside and goes to the diner. Anne-Marie is talking to the people, saying that they should listen to each other as Marguerite complains that they're not doing enough to find Alison. Mabel comes over and tells Shadow that the pot pie is the special of the day, and there's more snow on the way. She says that there have been three more break-ins, and people figure it's the same person who abducted Alison.
Mabel then brings a pastie over to the newcomer in town: Laura. She's sitting next to Shadow, and greets him as he stares at her in shock.
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