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

• Alexis Denisof as Senator Daniel Perrin
• Miracle Laurie as Madeline Costley
• Kristoffer Polaha as Nate Jordan
• Iris Bahr as Detective Donavan
• Stacey Scowley as Cindy Perrin

CO-STARRING

• Sergio Enrique as Sanchez
• John Kelly as Captain
• James S.W. Lee as Uniformed Officer
• Geoff Burns as Medical Tech

SYNOPSIS

Ballard studies the imprinting chair, curious about its mechanics. Topher notices his interest and jokes about it before revealing his latest breakthrough—modifying an Active’s physiology to induce glandular changes. Echo, engaged as Emily, sleeps beside her client, Nate. In the middle of the night, she wakes and moves to the nursery, nursing their baby, Jack. The imprint is seamless – Emily completely believes she is Jack’s mother and Nate’s wife.

But Nate is distant, avoiding interaction with both Echo and Jack. He locks his office, clearly hiding something. Echo notices the black van outside and watches with suspicion – an unusual behaviour for an Active. She confides in Kelly – an imprinted Sierra – about Nate’s strange behaviour, worrying he is hiding an affair or something worse. Kelly reassures her, but Echo’s paranoia grows. She breaks into Nate’s office and discovers evidence of his late wife – the woman she was imprinted to replace. When she confronts Nate, he admits that renting an Active was a mistake. He calls the Dollhouse to terminate the engagement and mentions giving up Jack. To Emily, it sounds like he is ordering her death. Terrified, she prepares to flee with the baby.

Meanwhile, Senator Perrin continues his investigation into Rossum, frustrated by the lack of concrete evidence. Then, someone anonymously delivers classified documents proving the existence of the Dollhouse.

At the same time, Adelle visits Madeline, who is wary, unsure whether this conversation is social or interrogation. She fears saying the wrong thing might force her back into the Dollhouse. Adelle assures her that’s not a risk but insists she undergo a follow-up examination.

Emily attempts to escape with Jack, but Nate stops her. She locks herself upstairs, calling Kelly for help. Sierra arrives but is intercepted by her handler. Seeing this unfold, Emily recognizes a larger conspiracy and knows she must run. Ballard approaches, trying to collect her, but she leaps out of a window, steals Kelly’s car, and races toward the police.

At the Dollhouse, Nate furiously confronts Adelle. She remains calm, promising resolution. She reminds him that Echo genuinely believes she is Jack’s mother and is caring for him flawlessly. When Nate protests, Adelle reminds him that he was going to give Jack up for adoption anyway.

At the police station, Emily recounts her ordeal to an officer trained in handling domestic abuse victims. Though she insists Nate isn’t abusive, the officer reassures her that she did the right thing – she sensed danger and acted before anything escalated. Then Nate and Ballard arrive, presenting official records proving Echo isn’t his wife. Nate takes Jack, while Emily is forced back into Dollhouse custody. But something unexpected happens – the command phrase meant to subdue her fails. Echo’s maternal instinct has overridden her programming, making her resistant.

Topher examines Madeline, confirming she is physically and mentally stable. He offers enhancements – ventriloquism, for example – but she declines. Watching Echo struggle, Madeline asks Ballard if she ever experienced such emotional distress while imprinted. He recalls her Mellie persona breaking down when their relationship ended but avoids answering directly. Madeline leaves, disturbed.

Later, Emily regains consciousness, pleading with Topher for help. He promises assistance – then wipes her. Echo appears stable – until she suddenly punches Topher out and escapes. Clinging to her imprint, she searches for her baby and revenge.

Adelle demands answers. Ballard blames Topher’s reckless modifications, while Topher marvels at his own success – his manipulations have given Echo instincts stronger than imprinting, making her impossible to erase.

Echo reaches Nate’s home, cutting the power and stalking him with a knife. Nate, confused but resolute, stands his ground, refusing to surrender Jack. He affirms his role as Jack’s father – claiming his son fully. His words break through Echo’s fractured psyche. She hesitates, realizing Emily isn’t truly who she is.

She stumbles away, dazed. Ballard finds her. She explains that she can move in and out of different imprints, but the experience is overwhelming. He offers to tell Topher so she can be wiped, but she refuses – despite the difficulty, she prefers self-awareness.

Ballard promises to take down the Dollhouse and save the Actives.

TRIVIA

CONTINUITY