“Beyond Our Control” is episode three of season two of Warehouse 13.
This episode opens in the past for once, in 1944 at some army proving grounds in Wichita. At something called Project Gemini. A Secret Service agent attached to Warehouse 13 arrives on site and tells the guard at the gate he has full authority to shut down the Farnsworth demonstration. At which point the building behind the guard explodes. Possibly the agent should have been sooner.
In the present, Mrs Frederic is at Leena’s – Leena having called Mrs Frederic in the previous episode, “Mild Mannered”, saying that something was wrong (probably connected to the pearl of wisdom that MacPherson stuck in her ear) – and Claudia has the blueprints of her Farnsworth out. Possibly not a coincidence. Mrs Frederic isn’t alone either – one of the Regents, Mr Valda, who was met in “Breakdown”, has accompanied her. Valda knows that Leena will be having headaches, as MacPherson’s consciousness may have left an ‘echo’ in Leena’s brain. Valda has an idea for how to help – which involves using the pearl of wisdom. Mrs Frederic is not happy, because this is dangerous, but Mr Valda says they need to also see if they can find out what MacPherson may have planned. Even though he is now dead.
In town Myka and Pete are still failing to make friends. Pete has gone to the post office to pick up his things, which have supposedly finally arrived. Only the branch has apparently just been shut – permanently – and everything shipped to the next nearest branch. A mere 90 miles away. Claudia is dismantling the Farnsworth that Artie gave her, because she wants to improve it. Artie is not happy with this. Especially when it makes a broken noise. Then Pete and Myka’s Farnsworth starts playing up. This also does not look like a coincidence. Then some World War II Marines pass by a shop they have just passed.
Artie and Claudia turn up in town, as the former got a warning that something was wrong there. Claudia does not appreciate Artie’s driving. According to Artie, an artefact has turned up in town. Possibly one planted by MacPherson. Or H.G. Wells. Artie says that they have a cover in these sort of events and finally Myka and Pete discover why the locals hate them – the cover is that they are IRS agents and the Warehouse is a storage for tax returns. Artie is going back to the Warehouse to scan for missing artefacts whilst Myka and Pete get to interview the residents. They do not prove popular. Claudia goes shopping for some electronic components – and nearly gets flattened by a cowboy, who also temporarily changes the surroundings to Western Town. Then Myka and Pete get to see a Western gunfight. The next thing they see is a gladiator – and Pete recognises what he says. And the man – he was just a cowboy. And, before that, a Marine.
These are all from B-movies, and ones connected to the same actor. It’s all presumably connected to 1944, Project Gemini and Farnsworth’s demonstration. Whatever the demonstration was.