Terrible Swift Sword (The 4400 episode)

The 4400 episode
Title = 31 - "Terrible Swift Sword"
Season = 3
Airdate = August 20, 2006
Writer = Bruce Miller
Ira Steven Behr
Director = Scott Peters
Prev = The Gospel According to Collier
Next = Fifty-Fifty"Terrible Swift Sword" is an episode of the science fiction television series "The 4400".

Synopsis

Jordan Collier goes public about his "resurrection," and summons a 4400 with a tracking ability to find Kevin Burkhoff and Tess Doerner, who are still at large. Together, they steal Dennis Ryland's stores of promicin.

Plot

Jordan Collier is giving a television interview explaining to the world what he’s seen of the future. The human race is dying out. And a privileged elite have locked themselves away in the world’s last city where they hoard the planet’s remaining resources, leaving the rest of what’s left of civilization to fight for survival in the wasteland the earth has become. Jordan stresses that 4400s and non-4400s must work together in order to prevent this bleak future.

Meanwhile, an unknown 4400 breaks into NTAC and uses their ability to put everyone temporarily to sleep, allowing members of the Nova group being held there to escape. At the 4400 Center, Shawn Farrell learns that Jordan coordinated the jailbreak and plans to use Nova to help him destroy the military base where Ryland’s super soldiers are being trained. Shawn talks to Richard Tyler in private and tries to convince him that Jordan’s plan is going to provoke a war with the government. But as far as Richard is concerned, the 4400 have been in an undeclared war with the government since they returned. And with the revelation that Isabelle Tyler is working for Ryland, Richard is convinced that it is only a matter of time before his daughter leads a strike against the 4400.

Shawn goes to NTAC and reveals Jordan’s plan to Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris in the hope that they will be able to stop him. When they confront Jordan, he reveals he has no intention of attacking a military base. He only told Shawn that story in order to test his loyalty. But Shawn points out that still doesn’t explain why Jordan broke the Nova members out of NTAC. Jordan denies the accusation. Shawn looks to Richard to back him up, but Richard sides with Jordan. Shawn later confronts Jordan in private and asks why he was lied to. Jordan explains that he had to know how committed Shawn was to the cause, but if he wants, it’s not too late to join. Shawn pledges his loyalty, and Jordan in turn reveals that he indeed does have a plan. Tom and Diana soon discover that Jordan’s story about attacking the military base was just a diversion so that he could steal Haspelcorp’s entire stockpile of promicin. Later on, Shawn, Richard, Kevin Burkhoff, and Tess Doerner gather at a warehouse where the stolen promicin is being stored. They ask Jordan what he wants to do with the promicin. Destroy it? No, Jordan wants to give it away. To everybody.

Meanwhile, Kyle is finding it difficult adjusting to life outside of prison. Tom encourages his son to register for classes at the local college, but Kyle explains that he will always be known as the man who shot Jordan Collier. And in Kyle’s mind, that means he has no chance at an ordinary life. Kyle goes to see Collier. Jordan explains that his death had to happen and that Kyle is a part of a much larger plan. Later on, Tom comes home to find Kyle packing. Kyle explains that after talking to Jordan, he has decided to tour the country and talk about his life. Tom tries to talk Kyle out of it, but his son explains that this is something he has to do. Meanwhile, April discovers that Diana has been seeing Ben behind her back.

Significance

* Jordan does not intend to destroy the stolen Promicin, but instead intends to give it away, to "everyone."
* The episode title "Terrible Swift Sword" is a reference to the military and religious song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. A line in the song, describing the wrath of God, says, "He has loosed the fateful lightening of his terrible swift sword."

Cast

* Tom Baldwin — Joel Gretsch
* Diana Skouris — Jacqueline McKenzie
* Richard Tyler — Mahershalalhashbaz Ali
* Shawn Farrell — Patrick Flueger
* Kyle Baldwin — Chad Faust
* Nina Jarvis — Samantha Ferris
* Isabelle Tyler — Megalyn Echikunwoke

;Guest cast

* Jordan Collier — Billy Campbell
* Kevin Burkhoff — Jeffrey Combs
* Tess Doerner — Summer Glau

Featured music

References

http://www.usanetwork.com/series/the4400/theshow/episodeguide/episodes/s3_terribleswiftsword/index.html

External links

* [http://www.usanetwork.com/series/the4400/theshow/episodeguide/episodes/s3_terribleswiftsword/index.html USA Network: Offical page]