“Gone: Part 1” is episode four of season three of The 4400.
In the previous episode, “Being Tom Baldwin”, Isabelle and Shawn had got together. They are in bed when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Richard, and Shawn makes sure he can’t see Isabelle. Richard wants to take over Lily’s job with the foundation and has found some cash payments in the financial reports that Shawn signed for. Shawn says he doesn’t remember. In fact, they were to the Nova Group.
Tom and Alana are going to The 4400 Centre for a barbecue. One of the 4400s says that if Tom really loved Alana, he’d quit his job. Tom’s answer is not entirely polite. Probably because this is the fourth conversation like that in an hour. He suggests they call it a day when they’re greeted by Heather Tobey from “Suffer the Children” who calls Tom her hero. She’s teaching at the school now and mentions that she and Alana might be working together. Alana has been offered a teaching job, though she hasn’t decided yet.
Diana and Maia are packing to head out for the day when Maia suddenly says Diana is going to forget her. It’s okay; it’s not her fault. Maia heads to her room for a jumper but doesn’t return. Diana goes to find her and finds her talking to a woman. Sarah Rutledge. Maia’s sister.
Sarah is reminiscing to Maia and showing her photos. Diana wants a quiet word. Sarah was going to leave a note. Diana did try and contact Sarah, bit could never find her. She didn’t know if Sarah was alive or dead. She didn’t tell Maia that she had an older sister who didn’t seem terribly interested in meeting her. If Sarah wants to know Maia, she needs to prove who she is. Sarah says she understands and is willing to take a DNA test.
At a hospital, Richard is introducing Shawn who is going to do a group healing. As Shawn starts speaking, a nurse throws red paint over him and calls him a traitor.
At NTAC, Diana is telling Tom about Sarah. Tom asks what her gut says. Not to let Sarah see Maia again until the DNA test comes back. Jarvis briefs them on a Lindsey Hammond, a teenage 4400 who was living with her stepfather until yesterday. He thinks she ran off; Jarvis wants them to drive by the house to see if they need to be worried.
At The 4400 Centre, Ross has a postcard from the Nova Group about the attack on Shawn. He asks Shawn if he has any idea why he was targeted. Shawn explains how he funded the Nova Group, with the missing money from Lily’s foundation. He didn’t know he was funding a terror group.
Maia is playing badminton with another 4400, Amy. Sarah is watching. At NTAC, Tom asks Diana where Maia is. The DNA match on Sarah was negative; she’s not Maia’s sister. They head to Amy’s where Amy tells them Maia left with her sister.
At NTAC, an Amber Alert has been issued and Maroc says they’re monitory CCTV. Tom says there was no match for Sarah’s fingerprints or DNA in any database. Diana is worried about what Maia said about forgetting.
Maia is talking to Sarah who asks about her ability since she came off the inhibitor. Maia says it doesn’t sneak up on her as much. Sarah says she’s smart, learning to focus. Can she predict something right now? Maia tells Sarah to wait, then a skateboarder and cyclists cross in front of them. Sarah takes her to a house that she says she’s just bought. Inside, her room is like hers as a child.
Ross finds Richard; he wants a word. Ross was brought in by Jordan Collier, who had experience and vision. His new boss is 19 and is being overwhelmed by decisions he’s not qualified to make. Richard was an officer; he led men into battle. Richard isn’t interested in getting rid of Shawn, but Ross says he wants them to power share and make decisions together. Let Shawn benefit from Richard’s experience. Could Richard under any circumstances see himself inadvertently funding a terrorist attack?
Maia and Lindsey are not the only 4400 children that are missing. There’s more going on there than it looks. Ross wants Isabelle to manipulate Shawn into doing what Ross wants, because Shawn doesn’t want to be replaced. Tom isn’t that happy about Alana wanting to work at the Centre. The story continues in the next episode, “Gone: Part 2”.