“Time Off for Good Behavior” is episode ten of season two of Batwoman.
Breaking news as Batwoman takes down a distribution centre for Snake Bite live on television. She asks one of the False Face Society who Black Mask is. He doesn’t know. That’s why they wear masks. Batwoman tells Black Mask live that she’s coming for him. Kane is in his car listening, when a False Face chloroforms him from behind. He has a vision of arriving at the Cartwright place, but this time finding and rescuing Beth. Then comes to with a Snake Bite injector in his arm.
Ryan returns to the Batcave. Luke doesn’t know who Black Mask is, even though he claimed Batwoman killed his daughter. There’s no such death. Luke points out he’s also blaming the Crows. Maybe Aquaman, next week. Ryan then goes to see Angelique in prison. Ryan talks about the community centre they’re opening. Angelique would love to see it. She could walk out, but she still won’t say who really killed Commissioner Forbes in the previous episode, “Rule #1”. Ryan knows Angelique did this to protect Ryan from False Face but she can protect herself. Angelique asks if she’s sure it won’t be Batwoman doing the protecting. Well… kind of both.
Jordan is making a speech at the opening of the community centre, name dropping Mary and Ryan for helping. A reporter from the Gotham Gazette, Horten Spence, asks what about security. This is a rough neighbourhood. A woman speaks up; community centres like this cause a drop in crime and a rise in graduation rates. She’s only worried about this place being a target for budget cuts. Why doesn’t the Gazette write about that? Afterwards, Jordan introduces the woman, Imani, to Ryan; it seems Jordan put Ryan’s name forward to teach martial arts. Then the lights go out and someone enters with a lightning gun and trashes the place.
The press call the attacker Kilovolt. Luke objects to the name; the gun used far more power. The point is, the gun cost more than the building it trashed. Ryan asks about the reporter. Because he mentioned the centre becoming a target right before it became a target. Turns out Spence was fired from his job six months ago.
Sophie and Julia are looking at the latter’s expenses. Whilst looking for Kate, Julia racked up a bunch of expenses that she has no memory of. Yes, she was drinking, but not that much. Sophie asks if she’s sure, if she can’t remember. Then an agent comes with a message for Julia about a break-in at the Cartwright place. He thinks it’s for her. It’s for Agent Penny Dreadful.
Julia knows who it’s from and finds Alice there. After some snarkiness on Julia’s part, Alice says she needs a partner. She wants something and when it’s found, she will leave Gotham for good. Because she will have no reason to stay. Alice wants to find someone called Enigma, who can erase memories. She explains how it was done before. This strikes a chord and Julia asks how that’s possible. Alice suggests she asks when they meet. Julia replies she thinks she already has.
Kane is currently meeting with Enigma – or Dr Evelyn Rhyme – who is helping with the Snake Bite taskforce. He wants to know what makes it so addictive. Because it allows you to alter your worst memories. And how long has Kane been using? He explains what happened.
Batwoman drops in on Spence. He’s glad it’s her; he was afraid it would be Kilovolt. Spence explains this has happened before. Not the same precise way, but community centres helping the vulnerable are being targeted. Ryan asks what the motive is. That’s what he was asked before being fired. Spence has proof. But they are attacked by Kilovolt and his computer gets fried.
Someone is clearly destroying community centres, despite the fact they only seem to help. So, it’s someone who doesn’t gain by the good they do. Black Mask is annoyed that he has no product and is seeking to fix the situation. And just what is Enigma up to? She’s involved in different ways with different things.