In a flashback to events prior to Quinn’s kidnapping and supposed death, we see Papa Pope has a difficult time following through on the threats he’s made. Meanwhile, Quinn does whatever it takes to save her baby’s life. Full recap of Scandal, “Good People” (first aired Thursday, January 25 at 9pm ET|PT on ABC).
“Good People” flashes back to the events prior to Quinn’s kidnapping and supposed death. Papa Pope is at a department store looking to buy… something. As he’s perusing the available selection, Rowan is approached by one of the store clerks. They chat a little, and the clerk makes a recommendation, to which Papa Pope agrees. It turns out he’s buying a suitcase for a “big adventure.” Next, we flash to Quinn on the morning of her wedding, in her gown, going up the elevator at QPA. Before she reaches her floor, the elevator shudders to a stop. We see that Papa Pope has made his way into the elevator shaft and is hiding on top of the elevator. The lights go out and the next thing we see is Papa Pope in the parking garage, pushing his suitcase, and a strand of brunette hair is snagged in the zipper. Yes, y’all, Rowan has knocked out a pregnant woman and is transporting her in a piece of luggage.
When Quinn comes to, she’s in a basement on a bed and chained to a wall. She calls out for help… and Rowan comes walking down the stairs. Quinn in incensed and threatens Papa Pope. He has to know that Charlie, Huck, and QPA will come for her. However, Rowan has already laid down the trail to make it seem that Quinn has run away. Quinn becomes increasingly upset. Has Liv sent Papa Pope to kill her because she knows about B613 killing Rashad and Yasmin? Rowan is kind of disgusted with Quinn’s carrying on and yells at her to calm down. He matter-of-factly admits his plan is to trade Quinn to Liv for his freedom. This will be over by that evening. Papa Pope leaves the basement and pets his plastic, pink dinosaur figurine on the living room table before heading out.
Papa Pope is going to the dinner with Liv where he admits to kidnapping Quinn. The reckoning he has promised is here. Papa Pope wants his freedom and his bones back, and if not, he’ll kill her. Checkmate! However, Liv calls Papa Pope pathetic. She is in charge here. Liv tells Papa Pope never to waste her time again, to sit and wait until she hears from him.
Papa Pope goes home and is ANGRY. He grabs a gun, a small-ish pistol, and opens the door to the basement. But then… Papa Pope hesitates. He closes the basement door and shouts out. Rowan returns to the living room and his plastic, pink dinosaur friend: “Three days! If I don’t get my bones back, if I don’t get my freedom, I will kill that girl!” So, we’re at the point where Papa Pope is sharing his plans with a plastic figurine.
Rowan returns to that same department store for another purchase and meets the same clerk. They bond over “snooty DC types” and their love of expensive, useless items. Papa Pope laughs and admits to being over his head. He needs the clerk’s advice. The camera zooms out and we see that Rowan is looking at baby cribs, supposedly for his daughter. YIKES.
When Rowan gets home, Quinn is ready to go. She needs food and her things. However, Papa Pope notifies her of the change of plans, that Liv has asked for time. But this doesn’t make Quinn feel any better. Liv is doing what she always does, she’s handling Papa Pope. Liv is never going to trade now: “I’m already dead. And you’ll never be free. You’ll die as much a prisoner as me.” Quinn is certain that it’s all over. Rowan tosses cereal and change of clothes and leaves the basement. He returns to the plastic dinosaur: “Before I’ll be a slave, she’ll be buried in her grave.” Rowan is only giving Liv 57 hours.
That night, Papa Pope AKA Montell Damascus heads to a bar and, by chance (not really) meets the store clerk, Marv Heward. They smile, introduce themselves, and commiserate over drinks, dinner, and the demise of America. They also bond over serving in the military–Marv spent some time in Vietnam as a village medic. Marv is so happy to have a new friend that he offers Montell his 40% employee discount at the store. Montell seems a little uncomfortable with the charity, but agrees, for the sake of his coming grandbaby.
Montell: “You’re a good person.”
Marv: “We’re all good people when someone gives us a chance to be.”
The next day, Jake comes to see Papa Pope to warn him that he doesn’t know the extent of Liv’s determination–Rowan, Quinn, and her baby will all die. Hmmm… things take a turn when Rowan realizes that, somehow, Liv has seized all of his weapons out of the house. He yells his frustrations to the pink dinosaur. It isn’t fair that he and Quinn are now defenseless. Liv has gone too far! Rowan goes back to the department store and asks his friend Marv to help him buy a gun with his discount. This would mean that the gun is in MARV’s name. As expected, Marv is highly uncomfortable. But Papa Pope pushes–doesn’t he have a right to protect his family, like any other American, like Marv? Or… is this a race thing? Because Montell is Black he doesn’t have the same right? Marv calls upon Oprah to denounce that he feels any racism towards Montell. They are the very same, they’re brothers. Marv agrees to buy Rowan the gun.
Meanwhile, Quinn is in serious distress, so much so, that she has started hallucinating Charlie. But when her baby starts kicking, Quinn is somewhat comforted. She sings lullabies, but then “Huck” shows up. He’s angry that Quinn isn’t trying to escape. She has a child to think about! Quinn should have told the team her suspicions about Liv. When Quinn criticizes “Huck” about his own lack of parental skills, he disappears. Then Quinn admits to herself that she didn’t tell anyone about Liv because she didn’t want to admit that their friend was now a monster. “Huck” returns and warns Quinn that time is of the essence. Yes, Rowan bought a crib… for the baby, NOT for her.
When Papa Pope gets home, he shows the pink dinosaur the guns he’s bought–he’s ready. Liv better recognize and respect him as her father! This is when we realize that the dinosaur is a transmitter connected Jake at the B613 Command Center. That’s who Papa Pope has been talking to this whole time! Jake calls Liv and tells her that she needs to get to her father’s house immediately. Liv arrives and she and Rowan have their showdown…
"Father is who I am." #Scandal pic.twitter.com/kBLKVVrPgp
— Scandal (@ScandalABC) January 26, 2018
Papa Pope demands her choice (Quinn’s life or his freedom) and even pulls a gun on Liv. But Papa Pope’s hand is shaking. He can’t kill his girl. Liv says that is he isn’t willing to kill her then he has no other cards left to play. Papa Pope has lost this one. He insists that she still has a soul left. Liv won’t let Quinn die…WHO IS BLUFFING?!
Downstairs, Quinn is with “Charlie”, “Huck”, “Abby”, and “Marcus”. She overhears Liv and Rowan talking through the ventilation system and realize this is her chance to escape. Quinn takes the bedsheets and ties them together to create a lasso. She’s able to pull a set of boxes to her, but there’s nothing inside she cause use to free herself.
Liv gives her father 60 seconds… then, Papa Pope grabs his gun and leaves the room. At the door to the basement, Rowan hesitates again. But when he goes downstairs, he sees that Quinn isn’t on the bed. When he goes further to the room, Quinn attacks him with a piece of the chain from behind. He pushes her to the ground, but Quinn keeps fighting. In the process, Rowan’s hand is deeply cut. Quinn begs for her baby’s life, if only Papa Pope can wait until her baby is born. Rowan apologizes… and fires the gun.
When Papa Pope comes back upstairs, he asks Liv if she wants to see the body. As far as he’s concerned he’s earned his freedom and his bones. Liv leaves, but tells Rowan to wait a few days and then find a way to return Quinn’s body so they can bury her.
But… Quinn is still alive! We see that she used the hairpin Liv gifted her to free herself from the chain. And when she attacked Papa Pope earlier and begged for her child’s life, he did fire the gun, but shot the concrete wall, not Quinn! But what happens now that Liv thinks she’s dead? Papa Pope asks Quinn to join him upstairs for a glass of water. She can’t believe Liv would sacrifice her life like this. Liv is a bitch, even if Papa Pope won’t admit it. And then Quinn goes into labor… YIKES! She begs to be taken to a hospital, but Rowan refuses. He does assure her that everything will be OK… then he injects her with something to knock her out.
Quinn is in and out of it, but hears Rowan arguing with someone (Marv) who he brought in to deliver the baby. Marv has experience delivering babies in Vietnam, right? The whole situation is MESSY. But Quinn has “Charlie”, “Huck”, “Abby”, and “Marcus” guiding her through the labor. Everyone is all smiles when Quinn’s baby girl is delivered. Before Quinn passes out again, she hears a single gunshot.
When next Quinn awakens, she’s in another room and Papa Pope is holding the baby. He assures her that the baby is perfect and Quinn is so happy. She says she remembers another man being there. Papa Pope says it was a doctor friend of his who made a discreet housecall and has confirmed the baby is OK. Quinn is further surprised that Papa Pope dressed and diapered the baby, then moved them into Liv’s room, fully stocked with everything the baby could need. Rowan assures Quinn that she and her baby will be safe there, but can’t go home yet. Quinn tells Rowan that she thinks he’s a good person. “We’re all good people when someone gives us a chance to be.” Then Rowan leaves so Quinn can feed the baby.
As Quinn is looking around the room, she is distressed to find thar Rowan has bought months and months of supplies for the baby. How long is he planning to keep them there? When Quinn goes downstairs to confront Papa Pope, she sees that he’s cleaning up blood… from where he’s killed Marv. Rowan apologizes, but Quinn takes back calling him good. He tells her to shut up. Marv was a good person, his only friend, but Rowan killed him for Quinn and the baby. Quinn grabs a sponge and helps Rowan to clean…
"Mothers and children first. That's the rule." #Scandal pic.twitter.com/qA1ZIaxyul
— Scandal (@ScandalABC) January 26, 2018
So, what happens between now and when Charlie arrives and hears baby Robin crying??? Is Quinn still alive? Will Charlie really kill Papa Pope?
Well next week, the focus shifts back to Liv because the Gladiators + Fitz are taking her to Vermont to stage an intervention! HAVE. MERCY. In “The People v. Olivia Pope” (written by Ameni Rozsa, directed by our own Kerry Washington!!!):
When Olivia agrees to join Fitz in Vermont for what she thinks will be a relaxing getaway, she is shocked to find that her closest friends have orchestrated a relentless intervention. Back in Washington, Cyrus finally reveals his suspicions to Mellie about Olivia and Jake’s extracurricular activities. (via ABC)
Scandal airs Thursdays at 9p/8c on ABC.
