105: The Sting of Justice

[Introduction: Benjamin "Knox" Washington and Jesse Murphy are two of the dangerous villains who escaped during the prison break from Level 5 at the Primatech Facility in New York. Both men carry a deep-seated desire to get revenge on H.R.G. for locking them up. This is the story of how these monsters first met. And where their hatred took root...]

[Caption: Some time ago...]

(Outside the Best Dogs Diner, Los Angeles, CA)

Knox Narrating: Here's something you've got to understand. How the seed of vengeance is born inside a man. My name is Knox. Till recently I wasn't much to talk about. But I've developed a new skill...I get strong off other people's fear. I don't know why it happens. All I know is everyone gets scared, and that fear helped me rise to the top. But this story here is about how I was kicked back to the bottom, b a man wearing horn-rimmed glasses. It was the night I met Jesse...and it all started over a bottle of ketchup.

Knox: Hey, Flo. Can I get that ketchup?

Jesse: Hey! The man asked for some ketchup.

Knox: Thanks.

Jesse: No problem.

Gang Leader: Jesse! What are you doing back in town, Jesse?

Knox: (to Jesse) These old friends of yours?

Jesse: Old enemies. I don't have any friends. You might want to leave.

Knox: Nah. I came here looking for a fight.

Jesse: Funny, so did I. You got a crew?

Knox: Not around here. But I don't need one to stake my claim.

Jesse: These guys already have a claim on this barrio.

Knox: Not worried about that. They may look mean on the outside, but they're scared on the inside.

Jesse: How do you know?

Knox: I just do. (Grabbing the Gang leader by the throat and punching him out the window.)

Jesse: That's gonna make them mad. Get out of my way and cover your ears.

Knox: What for?

Jesse: I gotta do my thing. (Yelling with his ability) ALL OF YOU..BACK OFF!!

(the gang goes tumbling through the diner, the windowpanes blown out.)

Knox Narrating: When opportunity wlaks in the door, you know I'm gonna take it...

Knox: I'd ask how you just did that. But I'm guessing your story is similar to mine. We're gonna make a good team.

Knox Narrating: Cause I'm just like anyone who went to college. Finished school. Got a job.

(They go outside, and the gang has grown to over a dozen.)

Knox: Here's the plan-- You knock 'em off their feet with that scream of yours. Put fear in their hearts. Then I show 'em who's in charge.

Jesse: You got the strength for all of them?

Knox: Absolutely.

Knox Narrating: I aim for success. To be the best. On top.

Knox: You're all angry! I can see that. But you're scared too. VROOOM (A car guns it toward Knox)

Knox Narrating: Just gotta want it bad enough. Gotta fight for it. Gotta take it. Beat down the competition. Step on the other guy.

(Knox punches through the hood of the car totallying it, and causing the driver to come flying through the windshield. Next Jesse screams at a guy point-blank, ripping the flesh off his skull, Knox punches through a guys stomach, Jesse screams again sending the group tumbling, and Knox throws the wrecked car.)

Knox Narrating: You want the wife and kids? The house and car? I'll take all that too. Hell, why not? See...You and I, we ain't that different. But people like us gotta be careful. Cause when opportunity walks in and you try to take it...it might take you.

Knox: Now the message is out. The neighborhood is ours.

Noah: Not so fast. (speaking from behind them)

Knox: Got something to say, stranger?

Noah: You people make finding you so easy.

Knox: How's that?

Noah: When you light fires...the fireman's going to show up.

Knox: You're in the wrong part of town. We're laying a wasteland tonight. Hit him with your scream, Jesse.

Jesse: I'm trying. Nothing's working.

(The Haitian is standing behind them.)

Knox: What -- ?

Noah: Out of bullets? That's too bad...cause I'm not. (tasering Jesse to the ground)

Knox Narrating: Maybe some of you are reading this right now, thinking this is what I deserve. But have you ever tasted success and had it taken away?

Noah: Scary isn't it, Knox? With my friend here you're back to what you used to be...nothing.

Knox Narrating: Have you ever felt the sting of injustice?

Knox: Who the hell are you people? You're not the police.

Noah: No. We enforce a different kind of justice.

(Later Knox in a straightjacket, along with Jesse, are seen in adjacent Level 5 cells at the Primatech Facility in NY.)

Knox Narrating: Imagine what that would do to you. Cause I was on top of the world. Now I'm top of nothing. But I will stop at nothing...to have my vengeance...to serve some payback...to destoy the man with the glasses...





Some people