Episode:Turn and Face the Strange

Turn and Face the Strange
Season:	Three
Episode number:	322
First aired:	April 6, 2009
Written by:	Rob Fresco Mark Verheiden
Directed by:	Jeannot Szwarc
Previous episode:	Into Asylum
Next episode:	1961
Heroes Interactive transcript

Summary

• Matt goes after Danko and finds the one person he truly cares about.
• Hiro and Ando continue their trip to reunite Matt with his son.
• Sylar sets out to destroy Noah.
• Peter, Angela, Nathan, Claire and Noah unite to discover the truth about the past.

Story Development

Coyote Sands

Synopsis

At Building 26, Noah examines "Sylar's" dead body. Danko enters and assures him that Sylar is dead. Noah asks how he pulled it off, and Danko says it was a four inch pocket blade, which he replaced with a six inch metal spike at the base of the skull. Noah recalls the glass shard that worked until it melted in the Primatech fire. Danko says it's funny how quickly he was able to come in and do the job—maybe HRG didn't want to catch Sylar after all. HRG says maybe Danko is just better than him. An assistant comes in and tells Noah that his wife is here. Danko smiles and tells the assistant to "Send her up."

Hiro and Ando are driving a highway in Ohio, leaving messages for Matt to no avail. They want to unite the Matt Parkmans, and will then find the baby's mother. The baby starts to cry, and the car mysteriously slows to a stop and won't start. Hiro and Ando sit in confusion.

Mohinder tells Parkman he is going to India, and tells Matt to come with him. However, Matt wants to get revenge on Danko for Daphne. He can't get over her death, and while loading a gun, vows to hurt Danko, to make him feel what he's done. Mohinder tries to reason with Matt, but Matt tells Mohinder he's been a good friend, hugs him, and tells him goodbye.

Sandra paces back and forth in the hallway of Building 26, waiting for Noah. When he finally meets up with her, she tells him she won't sit home waiting for him to tell her where Claire is. He says Claire is safe, and the less Sandra knows, the better. Sandra doesn't believe anything he says anymore, and wants to see Claire. Noah changes the subject and tells her that there's a dead body, but he doesn't think it’s Sylar. Just then, Danko approaches. He introduces himself to Sandra, but she knows he's the guy who's been watching her house. "Nice meeting you", he says, and walks off. Noah begs her to go home, but Sandra says she’s staying in town until Noah finds Claire. She walks off.

Danko walks into the men's bathroom and locks the door, but it's not Danko, it's Sylar. The real Danko is inside, at a urinal. Sylar says he enjoys being Danko; he loves commanding respect. Danko warns him that this is not a game, and it's not about finding a clever way to kill Noah Bennet. Shapeshifting back to his true form, Sylar says he's not going to kill Noah-- He's going to destroy him.

Angela calls Noah from a street pay phone to tell him that she had a dream, and asks if he knew about what happened at a place called "Coyote Sands". Noah implies that whatever happened there was kept a secret for over 20 years, and that it should never be discussed. Angela says that she and Peter were heading there, with Nathan and Claire meeting up with them later, and that she needs him there; "it's time that everyone knew the truth". Noah mentions that they killed Sylar, but that he doesn't believe that it's really him. Angela advises him to leave it alone, but Noah insists on checking one more time. Upon going into the room the body was kept in, Noah sees that the body is missing. He asks a DHS agent where it went, and she tells him that it got sent to the crematorium. Angela begs Noah to "leave it alone", and after she realizes he hung up, screams his name.

Mohinder breaks into his late father's old apartment, only to find that the room is completely empty. The landlord walks in, and noticing the broken lock, tells Mohinder that he has to pay for it. When Mohinder asks about his papers and his father's work, the landlord tells him that Homeland Security came by and took everything, and that if he or the big guy showed up, he should call them. Mohinder advises against it and threatens to implicate him, saying that he could get away with it, as he checked the building already, and nobody was watching; he promises to leave the apartment by the next day. The landlord mentions that Chandra left some stuff downstairs in storage, and asks Mohinder to take it with him when he leaves; Mohinder tells him to show it to him.

Hiro and Ando hitchhike along the highway in Ohio. Ando feels like no one is going to pick up two Japanese guys and a baby, but Hiro tells him not to be so negative. Just then, a truck slows down and honks; Hiro and Ando run up to get in. To their surprise, the driver looks Japanese, but he doesn't understand when they speak to him in Japanese. He has a thick Texan accent and asks the two to speak English. Hiro introduces himself, baby Matt and Ando, and the truck driver introduces himself as Sam Douglas. Hiro explains their situation, and Sam tells them that he has a friend who could help them out with their car trouble. As he starts to drive away, baby Matt begins to cry, closing his ears. Everything on Sam's truck mysteriously turns off; ignition, electrical, even his CB radio. Hiro and Ando finally realize that when baby Matt is happy, he makes things go, but when he's unhappy, he makes things stop.

In his car, Matt waits outside Building 26 for Danko. When he finally comes out of the building, Matt gets into his head, making him believe that something's not right, that he can't trust anyone, that the person he is closest to is in danger, and that he has to make sure that they're okay. Danko hails down a taxi, and Matt follows.

As agents wheel in a body, Noah drives up to the crematorium. He unzips the bag they just pulled in and finds a blonde woman with a bullet through her brain, and turns around to unzip the other bag, which appears to contain Sylar. Noah tells the agents to hold their guns up and prepare to shoot, since he's going to take out the metal spike from his brain, which would allow him to regenerate. As he pulls the spike out, the agents stand in fear and confusion. After the body doesn't regenerate for a few moments, Noah tells the agents to take the metal stake for DNA samples. One of the agents tells Noah that they have to cremate the body, but Noah tells them not to. The agent argues that they have a signed order to do so, while Noah bends down and stares at the hole in the back of Sylar's head asking "who are you?"

Danko meets a woman at her front door and Matt watches as the two embrace. Danko asks the woman if everything is okay, peers inside the house, and the two go inside. Matt opens the glove compartment and takes out his gun.

Sandra meets Noah at his apartment. He asks her if she wants to know about Claire, but she says that Claire called and she's fine and that she just needed Noah to sign some papers, which Noah later sees are divorce papers. He asks her what the papers claim; she tells him that he's perpetually lied to her, brought loaded guns into the house and endangered the lives of their children. She goes on to say that she even changed the locks on the doors. Noah begs her not to throw away their 22 years of marriage, and that they owe it to Lyle and to Claire to stay together. She tells in that it's too late and that she doesn't love him anymore. She tells him he's a lier and a betrayer, he doesn't care about his family, she doesn't love him, she doesn't trust him, and that she doesn't even respect him anymore. Noah watches in heartbroken confusion as Sandra storms out of the room.

On a sidewalk outside of Noah's apartment building, Sandra walks away confidently until stopping in an alleyway to shapeshifting back into Sylar. Sylar smiles, and walks away.

Sam asks Ando and Hiro to take the "magic baby" away from his truck so he can deliver his load. They take him back to the Cube and try making funny faces till Matt stops crying. When Ando makes the baby laugh with his funny face, Hiro jumps into the drivers seat and takes off. Ando's sure he won't be able to keep the face all the way to NYC, but Hiro insists he can.

Danko says goodbye to Alena while Matt listens from around the corner. Matt hears her call him Jakob and he hears Danko say he has to get back to Chicago. A car pulls up and Danko tells her to smile, he'll be back in DC before she knows it. Danko leaves and Matt enters Alena's house. He aims a gun at her, but drops it and is about to leave when she notices him. She thinks he's from the escort service and he learns that Danko is a former client of hers. Matt uses his ability to convince her he works with Danko. She's pleased and asks him to sit down; she has never met one of Danko's friends.

In building 26, Noah is about to sign the divorce papers when he notices something about Sandra's signature. He checks the bank records for a signed check and confirms that the signature is not Sandra's. He calls the DNA lab and Nigel tells him the DNA he tested matches James Martin of Arlington, VA. Noah realizes Sylar's a shapeshifter and leaves.

Matt and Alena sit and look at pictures and discuss Danko. Alena's image of Danko is far from the truth. She believes he's married with children and lives in Chicago. He's promised to divorce his wife and move to Washington to be with her once his children are grown. She says she realizes the situation isn't ideal, but he loves her. Matt says he probably does love her, but he doesn't deserve her. He's going to show her everything Danko's told her is a lie.

Hiro gets ahold of Mohinder on his cell phone. Mohinder tells Hiro that Matt is in DC, but that he's bent on revenge. Hiro writes down the address Mohinder gives him, Ando makes the face, and they drive off to Washington to save Matt.

Feet away, Claire and Nathan pour over a map looking for Coyote Sands. They find it and fly away.

Mohinder, still going through his father's files at his old apartment, finds information on Operation Icarus, a governmental operation in Coyote Sands.

Sandra walks into her apartment where Noah is hiding with his gun drawn. He threatens to kill her if she says another word. She asks him what he's doing. Noah believes Sandra is Sylar. No matter what information she tells him, he believes that it's just more of Sylar's tricks. He shoves her against the table and continues to interrogate her. Sandra start's to cry, pleading for Noah to stop. Sandra's phone rings and Noah answers. It's Lyle calling to ask where Mr. Muggles's pills are. Sandra tells Noah who tells Lyle everything she says except that there are two bottles of pills on the shelf. When Lyle asks if it's the green or the brown bottle, Noah knows that he has made a huge mistake. He hangs up, puts his gun away, lays the cell phone on the table, and squeezes Sandra's shoulder before taking a couple of steps back and showing his hands. Sandra gets up and tells him to get out. Noah tries to explain that Sylar pretended to be her and file for divorce. Sandra replies that Sylar's idea to file for divorce was probably a good one. Noah insists that she's just doing exactly what Sylar wants. Sandra screams for him to get out and shoves him. Noah wants her to believe him and she says she does believe him, but it's too late; she wants him to leave. Noah steps out into the hallway, dejected. When he hears Sandra lock the door behind him, his face changes and he walks away, determined.

Danko is at his apartment when Alena knocks on his door. He asks how she found him while she tries to understand what he's doing living in DC. Matt steps up behind her with his gun drawn, revealing that he brought her to Danko. He orders them into the apartment and forces Danko to tell Alena the truth about who he is by using his power. He makes Danko tell Alena what he did to Daphne too. Alena asks Danko why he lied and Danko tells her he knew she could never love someone who does what he does. Matt realizes that Danko really does love Alena. So, for revenge, Matt decides to shoot Alena to make Danko suffer the way he has. Danko tells Matt to go ahead because nothing could ever matter to him more than to kill Matt and all of his friends. Matt apologizes to Alena, but tells her he sees no other way to make Danko pay for what he's done. However, he can't shoot her and drops the gun, crying. Danko picks up a gun and aims it at Matt. Alena begs him not to shoot Matt, but he does. Hiro stops time before the bullet strikes Matt and pushes him out of the room on Danko's desk chair. Alena sees Danko as a monster and tells him to stay away from her.

Noah walks through the control room in building 26 and heads toward Danko's office. He's not wearing his glasses. As he walks into the office, he shuts the blinds and turns toward Danko. Danko asks him what he wants and Noah suggests that he is really Sylar. He tells Danko that Noah has been keeping Primatec files hidden from him. Danko takes the files saying he's not surprised. Noah pulls out his gun and asked if he's surprised now. Noah disarms Danko and chastises him for being so stupid as to partner up with Sylar. Danko asks what Noah wants and he says he wants Sylar on a platter. Danko tells Noah that Sylar is currently on a mission as agent Donner on team 6 and that they'll be back in an hour. Noah says he'll wait and so will Danko.

Matt and Hiro are walking outside. Matt tells Hiro thanks, but he didn't want to be saved. Hiro launches into Matt about how heroes don't seek retribution and he had to save him because Matt is a hero, not a villain. Ando interrupts when he sees Matt and Hiro. He's sitting on the grass with baby Matt Parkman and some toys. Hiro introduces Matt to his son and says he can't give up, a boy needs his father. Matt falls in love instantly and his son, happy, makes the toy cars drive in circles.

Team 6 arrives at building 26 and Noah and Danko are there to meet them. Noah congratulates Donner on his achievements, but pulls a gun on him as Donner turns away. Noah tells the agents to aim their guns at the back of Donner's head because it's really Sylar with a shape-shifitng ability. Donner tries to convince the agents that it really is him and Danko refuses to back up Noah's accusation. Noah tells the agents that Danko and Sylar are working together. Danko says that Noah's just under a lot of stress and Donner blames the stress on Noah's pending divorce. Only Noah, Sandra, and Sylar know about Noah's divorce papers, so Noah asks him how he would know that. Noah takes aim at the back of Donner's head, but one of the agents hits his hand as the gun goes off. The bullet goes into Donner's back. Noah insists that everyone stay back and watch Sylar heal, but Sylar doesn't heal. Donner never gets up and Danko goes up to him and checks his pulse declaring him dead. Noah grabs Danko and backs out of the room holding the gun to Danko's head. When he gets to the door, he runs away.

Danko orders everyone in the room to chase Noah then walks up to Donner. He tells him he had no choice, leading Noah to him was the safest choice. Sylar heals, shape-shifts back into his own body, and spits out the bullet. He's angry; Danko could've gotten him killed. He thinks Danko should've pointed Noah towards agent Foster. Danko points out that Foster would have actually died and changes the subject. He tells Sylar he had no idea he could bleed so much. Sylar says he squeezed out extra for show.

Noah calls Sandra and leaves her a message telling her he loved her and missed her and his whole family. He promises to call her again later, but he doesn't have any numbers he can give her.

Mohinder makes a new map with Coyote Sands in the middle, and packs up his father's files.

Hiro and Ando bring groceries to the car while Matt plays with his son.

Danko calls Alena to apologize for saying he cares about killing people like Matt more than her. He says that Jakob isn't a lie, it's who he wants to be. However, Alena ignores his call and gets into a cab.

Angela and Peter drive up to Coyote Sands. He still doesn't know why Angela wanted to go there. Angela tells him that this is where their story begins. Nathan and Claire land and walk up to Angela and Peter. Peter walks away angry that Nathan has shown up. Claire goes after him and Nathan asks Angela why she's brought them here. Angela never wanted them to know about Coyote Sands, but now she realizes that was a mistake. She opens up the car and pulls out a shovel. She tells them to prepare for the future they must dig up the past.

It is our nature to protect our children. For each generation to pass on their cautionary tales to the next. So it is with the myth of Icarus, the legend of a boy who fashioned wings from feathers and wax, daring to fly into the heavens. His father was fearful and warned Icarus to be careful. Begging him not to tempt fate by flying too close to the sun. But in the end, the boy couldn't resist. His waxen wings melted from the sun's rays.

Later that night, Peter, Nathan, and Claire have dug several holes and Nathan discovers a shallow grave. Angela collapses at the sight and Peter asks her if she knew the person they found. She says she knew all of them. Nathan asks how many people are buried there and Angela tells him to keep digging. Claire comforts Angela and notices a car pulling up. It's Noah.

Memorable Quotes

"Matt, I know how you feel about Daphne, and what they did to her was inhuman, but this is..."

"What they did to Daphne was protocol."

- Mohinder, Matt

"Where'd they take the bodies?"

"Crematorium. Barbeque Day."

- Noah, DHS agent

"If I was Sylar, I wouldn't need this, now would I?"

- Noah, holding a gun to Danko

"Matto Parkman, meet Matto Parkman, he is your son."

- Hiro (to Matt)

"And to prepare for the future, you have to understand the past. You want the answers? Then you'll have to dig."

- Angela (to Peter, Nathan and Claire)

Character Appearances

James Noah Sylar DHS agent Matt, Jr. Ando

Hiro Matt Mohinder Sandra Danko Angela

Chandra's super Sam Douglas Kent Harper DHS agent Alena Nathan

Claire Wade Winslow Peter

Trivia

• The truth of Sylar's survival is revealed: the fire at Primatech melted the glass allowing him to regenerate.
• The title of this episode, Turn and Face the Strange, is a line from the David Bowie song "Changes". This is at least the second time a David Bowie song has been referenced. Previously, Noah said, "Rebel, Rebel" (Cold Snap), also a title of a David Bowie song. It should be noted that David Bowie sings his song "Heroes" on the Heroes Original Soundtrack.
• This episode was previously known as Face the Stranger and Turn and Face the Stranger.
• This episode mentioned Project Icarus for the first time. In real life, Project Icarus was the name of a plan devised by students of Professor Paul Sandorff of MIT to destroy a meteor on a collision course with earth.
• The Outro relates the greek myth of Icarus.

See Also

• For images from Turn and Face the Strange, see images from Turn and Face the Strange.
• Watch the episode on Hulu.

previous: Into Asylum

Turn and Face the Strange

next: 1961