

Season 1, Episode 9
Written by Andrew Chambliss
Directed by David Solomon
Original Airdate: 10 April 2009
Laurence Dominic “Did Rossum tell you why they’re calling you in?”
Adelle “Considering our recent track record, I’m sure they want to pat me on the head and tell me I’ve been running a crackerjack operation. Maybe there’ll be cake.”
REGULAR CAST
- Eliza Dushku as Echo
- Harry Lennix as Boyd Langton
- Fran Kranz as Topher Brink
- Tahmon Penikett as Paul Ballard
- Enver Gjokaj as Victor
- Dichen Lachman as Sierra
- Olivia Williams as Adele DeWitt
GUEST CAST
- Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders
- Valerie Cruz as Selena Ramirez
- Reed Diamond as Laurence Dominic
- Liza Lapira as Ivy
- Miracle Laurie as November / ‘Mellie’
CO-STARRING
- Erin Cummings as Attendant
- Natalie Graziano as Attendant
- Paul Ganus as Handler
- Tim Chiou as Nikoden
- Vincent Giovanni as Guard #5
- Vincent Ward as Guard #1
- Micheal Gier as Guard #3
- Morgan Beck as Cel Phone Guy
- Kae Shimizu as Asian Woman
- Joan Benedict Steiger as Old Woman
- Daniel Kash as Guard #2
SYNOPSIS
The Dollhouse is thrown into turmoil when Topher discovers a spy embedded within their ranks. A hidden chip in the imprint chair has allowed unauthorized access to their primary protocols, meaning every imprint could have been compromised. With Adelle absent and unreachable, Dominic orders a full lockdown while Sierra is imprinted as a secret agent to infiltrate the NSA and uncover the truth. As tension rises, Echo watches the fractures in the Dollhouse’s carefully maintained order, sensing the shift beneath the surface.
Echo takes matters into her own hands, volunteering for an imprint that will allow her to uncover the spy. Topher turns her into a human lie detector, capable of analysing body language and exposing deception. Meanwhile, Sierra executes her NSA infiltration flawlessly, stealing a classified file and escaping under fire. The document implicates Ivy, but Echo isn’t convinced – it’s too clean. Too convenient.
Victor, imprinted as Roger, spends time with Adelle on a deeply personal engagement. Their relationship is intense but fragile – built on stolen moments and unspoken desires. Roger offers escape, but Adelle dismisses the fantasy, admitting that while he is what she needs, she will never be able to have him.
Echo continues her interrogation – Topher, Ivy, Boyd, Dr. Saunders – but the pieces don’t quite fit. Dominic seizes Ivy, preparing her for the Attic, but Echo sees what no one else does. Dominic is the true spy. He warned the NSA about Sierra, ensuring Ivy would take the fall. When confronted, he snaps, attacking Echo in a brutal fight. She holds her own, throwing him through furniture, dodging gunfire, and finally overpowering him. She is not broken.
Dominic is dragged before Adelle, who demands answers. He admits he was sent by the NSA to prevent the Dollhouse’s technology from spiraling out of control. Adelle, unfazed, orders him wiped and sent to the Attic. The process is violent – he resists, managing to fire a shot that wounds Adelle before he is ultimately erased.
As the dust settles, Adelle acknowledges that Echo saved the Dollhouse – but Topher reveals it was Echo’s idea to hunt the spy, not his. She is evolving. Adelle sees it clearly now – Echo didn’t just neutralize Dominic. She eliminated her biggest threat.
Echo sits in the chair, her new handler reassuring her that everything will be fine. But before responding, she looks at Boyd – her old handler – who watches, pained, knowing that Echo no longer needs his protection.
CONTINUITY
Topher is still fixing his equipment which has been running at degraded performance since Echo shot at it in Needs.
Topher discovers the NSA chip while repairing his equipment. The chip was previously used to alter Echo’s imprint in Man on the Street and is similarly used on November in this episode.
November is sent back to spy on Paul due to his discovery and disposal of their camera in Needs.
Paul mentions the Dollhouse is underground which he learned from Echo’s message in Needs.
Victor is sent for a repeat engagement to one Miss Lonely Hearts who, unbeknownst to the Dollhouse staff, is Adelle. This repeat engagement had been mentioned in True Believer and Adelle almost gave herself away as Miss Lonely Hearts in Echoes.
Echo remembers Dominic’s previous attempt to kill her in True Believer.
Despite shelving Roger’s imprint, Adelle will use it again in Stop-Loss.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?









