“Reentry” is episode two of season one of Manifest.
At the end of the previous episode, “Pilot”, Flight MA 828 exploded on the tarmac, as some of the passengers watched. Emergency services are putting out the fire as the news reports that some passengers were spotted nearby. Those passengers are now being interviewed. Daly asks Michaela and Ben if they’re seeing things and hearing things in their head.
Director Vance and another are interviewing one passenger, who says he had the urge to show up. When asked how he explains how 20 people at the same urge, the man says he sells sporting goods. Why are they asking him?
Saanvi introduces herself to Ben, and talks about her work and how it affects Cal. Michaela asks if they’re under arrest. No; merely detained. She says they are not; she’s NYPD and knows how this works. They’ve told everything they know; if they’re not under arrest, they have to be let go. Vance comes out and says they are free to go. But the matter affects national security so do no discuss this with anyone.
Ben tells Michaela they shouldn’t talk. Not because they were told, but because they’re obvious scapegoats and he doesn’t trust anyone. When he gets home, he startles Grace, and says they want back to get their luggage. And he’s brought her a blueberry scone. Her favourite.
Ben talks to Olive, wanting to catch up. She says she’s busy. He hears music; she doesn’t. Olive suggests Alexa is acting up. Ben asks who Alexa is. Cal doesn’t like his t-shirt and Ben goes off with him. Olive asks her mother if she’s told Ben yet. She hasn’t, but will. Olive thinks he deserves to know. That Grace, pretty naturally, has been seeing someone else.
Michaela arrives at the precinct and sees Lourdes and Jared. Which is awkward. She says she has to see the captain and explains to him she needs to get back to work. He is on her side, but she first needs to requalify for physical and firearms, and needs a psych eval. Because that’s needed after what she’s been through.
Grace and Ben are with Cal as he’s waiting for treatment. Grace is ignoring calls on her phone, claiming it’s a work thing. Saanvi arrives and takes Cal with her. Ben says he will start searching for jobs and meet her back home. Whilst out, Ben hears music again. He follows and finds Radd Campbell, a musician who was on the plane, playing the song. Radd, who was earlier talking about his son, needs help. He’s had pains and visions, and then music. He needs to see his son. Radd headed to Jamaica for one night to play, leaving his 13-year-old son with his neighbour, and returned to find his 18-year-old son in jail. As a resident alien with an expired visa, it will take Radd a month to see him, and his sone is on trial next week.
Michaela is at the psychiatrist’s, who says it seemed like her life turned upside down 5 months before the flight. Yes, with the accident and the death of her friend whilst Michaela was driving. She was put on desk duty because she couldn’t drive and really didn’t want to. The psychiatrist says she’s on Michaela’s side. Michaela doesn’t think so.
Ben calls after to find out if she knows anyone in Rikers. He and Radd head to see Radd’s son, Adio, who has clearly been beaten up. Adio was working at a jewellery store and one night he was jumped inside the store and when he came to, everything was gone.
Grace is out with Cal when a man accosts Cal and claims he is risen and he is not here.
Ben and Radd head to the jewellery store. The owner isn’t pleased and says Adio cleaned him out of 41 years of work. The man’s son says Adio had a fake ID and job references and when everything disappeared, what else could they think?
Grace tells Ben about the woman. He says at least they have a cop living under the same roof. Jared speaks to Michaela; she says she needs time. Jared tells her Lourdes lost her best friend and never replaced her. He couldn’t replace her.
Vance is attending a meeting; he says that there’s no evidence any passengers were involved in the explosion. Another thinks finding out where the plane was for the last five and a half years is more important. There are worries it’s a weapon, or possibly an attack, or that the passengers aren’t the same. One wants to incarcerate them. Vance says it’s still America and they still have rights. And he suspects if anyone wants answers, it’s one of those near the place when it exploded.
One passenger decides to go to the media, which may have been a mistake. Ben ends up in a strange coincidence regarding Adio. And there may be something else out there.