“Daddy’s Little Girl” is episode nine of season four of The 4400.
Tom is looking at stitches where the mole that appeared in “The Marked” has been removed when the doorbell goes. Doyle’s there, despite it being late. She was out with friends and found a flyer on her windscreen, and every other car, essentially encouraging children to take promicin. She recently heard about two 12-year-olds taking it, and dying. They’re losing the war.
Burkhoff is in a diner and he puts a private party sign on the door. Inside, Tess is playing old music on the jukebox and she tells everyone else to dance. They do, despite looking exhausted. Burkhoff gets to the phone and rings Shawn. He says Tess’s schizophrenia is out of control and nothing works; he needs Shaun to heal her. He can’t get Tess to the Centre. She’s taken over a diner and they’re trapped. Before Burkhoff can say where the diner is, Tess tells him to put down the phone.
Doyle is still at Tom’s; both are drinking. Tom knows how stressful the job is and he thought he was possessed by an entity from the future. But it was a perfectly harmless mole. Doyle goes to check, Tom kisses her, then apologises. And she kisses him back.
Kyle and Isabelle are gathering tomatoes in Promise City early in the morning when one floats into the air, then speeds off. To be caught by Richard. Richard says Isabelle doesn’t seem glad to see him. Because the last time she saw him, he was trying to kill her. Richard isn’t there to hurt her and just wants a private word with his daughter.
Richard apologises for not being a great father. She was so powerful as a baby he was never comfortable, and then she grew up overnight. Part of him blamed Isabelle for her mother’s death. Part of Isabelle feels responsible. But other things she did she chose to do them. Richard says she was used by the future, and if he’d been stronger, he could have prevented it. He wants them to be father and daughter again.
Doyle is getting dressed and she’s going to go home to change. It will only be weird if they let it. Last night doesn’t have to be anything more than fun. A one-time thing. It’s not clear if Tom wants that. It’s not clear if Doyle does, either.
Joanna has got a list of diners with jukeboxes playing 50s music for Shaun. She asks if he’s sure he wants to go after Burkhoff; he’s a wanted man. Yes, because Shaun and the other 4400s owe their life to Burkhoff when the government tried to kill them. And if anyone can reduce the risk of taking promicin, it’s Burkhoff. He’s worth it.
Everyone at the diner is barely standing upright. Burkhoff is trying to convince Tess that, after two days, she and everyone else is exhausted and needs sleep. Tess wants to wait until Bobby shows up. Burkhoff is just jealous because Bobby is her boyfriend, not him. She makes everyone dance again.
Richard is talking to Jordan Collier, who says that Richard helped Promise City become a reality. He could use Richard’s help. Not for his ability, but as a leader. Richard is there to reconnect with his daughter, not join a movement. Collier hopes he will consider doing both.
Isabelle and Richard are talking, when she suddenly comes over dizzy. He tells her not to be scared, and catches her as she collapses. Kyle finds Collier at a party they were holding for Richard and tells Collier that Richard took Isabelle.
Garrity is showing Doyle, Tom and Diana video of Richard leaving Promise City with Isabelle. They wonder what Richard is up to. After the events of the previous episode, “No Exit”, Collier said he wanted to keep lines of communication open, so Tom suggests they ask him.
Isabelle comes around in a car. Richard tells her this is for the best, even though she wants to go back.
At the diner, people are struggling and one collapses. Burkhoff tries to convince Tess to stop, but she says she’s only 16 once. Burkhoff tells her that was back in 1953 and she never had a Sweet Sixteen, because she had her first schizophrenic attack the night before. If Bobby is alive, he’d be like 70. Tess forces Burkhoff to place his hand on a hot grill.
Tess is definitely out of control and in need of help currently. Jordan Collier does give some information to Tom and Diana. And Richard has a definite plan for Isabelle.