- A problematic former patient of Rosen's escapes as Rosen is getting acquainted with his Department of Defense liaison, and the rest of the team tries to balance their normal lives with their work as Alphas.
- We open "20 miles south of Binghamton". A handcuffed man is being transported in an ambulance. He's clearly an alpha of some kind, analyzing what's around to a large extent. Flipping a quarter, he causes a massive car accident that allows him to escape.
The Alphas team is moving into a new office space. It's clear their individual quirks are going to make it tough to coexist. Cameron (Warren Christie) shows up and is shown his office. Nina (Laura Mennell) tells him one of their primary jobs is to look for other alphas. Sometimes, alphas get sent to the Binghamton Special Research Facility, a kind of lockup for alphas who misuse their abilities.
Rosen (David Strathairn) is called to the accident from our opening. He meets Dr. Singh (Raoul Bhaneja) from the Binghamton facility. Based on what happened, he correctly guesses it was Marcus Ayers. Singh was hoping Rosen had spoken to Marcus. He says they rarely speak. Agent Nathan Clay (Mahershala Ali) shows up. Rosen assures him the agents will need help to find Marcus.
Flashback. Rosen plays chess with Marcus. He explains everything in life isn't for a reason. Rosen tells Marcus a brain scan showed he had unique neuro anatomy. He asks if there is anything unusual he can do. Marcus holds up Rosen's hand. A moment later a leaf hits the palm and lands perfectly into his coffee cup.
Rosen returns to the scene of that conversation over chess. He finds a quarter sitting under a leaf on the table.
Rachel (Azita Ghanizada) is having trouble with her overprotective parents. Nina mentions she has no relationship with her family. Cameron had a tough first day.
With Wilson on assignment, Agent Sullivan (Valerie Cruz) will be handling the Alphas. She takes Rosen aside. Cruz tells him Marcus blames him for his incarceration at Binghamton. Rosen says he doesn't like the direction his team is being taken.
Rosen tells the Alphas that Marcus has the ability to control cause and effect. He is unpredictable. After the meeting Nina, references the fact Rosen gets to make the final call as whether someone goes to Binghamton.
Cameron watches video of Marcus. He thinks Marcus has a mean streak. Rosen responds he has no patience for those who can't do what he can. Rosen tells Cameron there are some similarities in the way his mind works.
Rachel examines the quarter Marcus left for Rosen. It has ash in one of the grooves. Rosen correctly guesses it is ash.
Rosen goes to a building based on a partial flashback was a crime scene at some point. Marcus is there. He tells Rosen "things have changed." He thinks there are big plans taking place at Binghamton. Rosen thinks he is being paranoid. Marcus realizes Rosen was followed.Agents are now closing in. He does his analysis thingy. By tripping a skateboarder with his soda, he manages to kills an agent and escape.
Nathan is furious about his agent being killed.He blames Rosen for not telling them he had an idea where Marcus might be. Rosen tells Sullivan they need to speak with Dr. Singh.
Singh says Marcus was being moved off site because traditional therapy was not working. The plan was to attempt to surgically remove Marcus' Alpha ability. Rosen thinks that was a terrible idea.
On the street outside the restaurant, Singh looks down and picks up a chess piece. A moment later, he is somehow lifted up in the air and impaled on the building's awning. Rosen walks out. He picks up the chess piece.
After the police have arrived, Rosen tells Sullivan everything is a game to Marcus. Cameron starts to piece together exactly how Singh was killed, though everybody at the scene saw something different. Rosen shows the team the rook. The question is who is the king in this game.
Rachel notices pollen on the chess piece. It's from Stargazer lilies. Bill (Malik Yoba) has Gary (Ryan Cartwright) search for them.
Rosen flashes back to Marcus telling him the fire was an accident. Two of his roommates were burned badly. Marcus says nobody was going to die "unless I wanted them to." Rosen then tells him he's being taken to a facility providing more help.
Bill thinks Rosen is giving Marcus the benefit of the doubt. He may have just been "broken" from the beginning. Gary walks in having found Stargazers in the lobby of an office building.
Nathan goes to the site. He calls Rosen to tell him there is another chess pieces sitting in the flowers. It is the king. Nathan seems to enjoy being Marcus' primary target.
Nathan is waiting in the middle of an open area for Marcus. Snipers are watching his position from nearby rooftops. Rosen and the Alphas don't think this plan will work.
Marcus has turned on the gas underneath the street. When agents begin firing, at him they ignite the gas. This sets off a series of explosions. The distraction allows Marcus to sneak up behind Rosen with a knife: "check make." In the ca,r he tells Rosen he needs to show him something.
Marcus takes him to the edge of bridge overlooking water. He says at that height a body should hit the bottom traveling 70mph. Marcus says Singh was a casualty of war. He sees several moves ahead what is being done to the alphas at Binghamton. Marcus thinks Singh was afraid of the alphas. Rosen is his only move left, the only variable. Rosen needs to "kick over the chessboard." At this point, Nathan and the team arrive. Marcus drops the knife and holds out his arms. Nathan shoots him in the chest.
The next day we learn Marcus' body has not been found. Rosen tells Sullivan they may never find it. He tells her that it would be a mistake to treat the alphas with an us versus them attitude.
The episode ends as the camera pans to a quarter sitting in the water. It looks as if a bullet hit it.
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