The Last Temptation of Barry Allen, Part 1

Previously on "The Flash" We've been looking at that front page for four years.

I'm the one that writes that article, Barry.

- My boss' husband is the Flash?

- Mm-hmm.

Oh, God, nobody tells me anything.

This substance appears to heal any and all weaknesses in the human body.

I've learned to control it.

This is my final masterpiece: life eternal.

I've seen your version of life.

It's a nightmare.

- I want to show you this.

- I recognize that pin.

I have a follow-up question.

[SNARLING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[GROANS]

Whoo!

That was quite the tumble.

I guess you're wondering why I'm doing this to you.

You're evil.

I get it.

[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTS]

[GLASS SHATTERS]

I bet it's been a while since you felt your own mortality, but my powers, like yours, work on a cellular level.

Allow me to demonstrate.

[GROANS]

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[LAUGHING]

You know, Iron Heights is gonna send me a thank-you basket when I drop you off as a gift.

I've already given you a gift, and now I'm gonna need it back.

[COUGHING]

My destiny is to heal all of mankind.

You and your friends can't be allowed to prevent that.

Life demands your death.

[GRUNTING]

Ralph!

Ralph Ralph.

Ralph, come on.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

- Give us a hand.

- What happened?

Ramsey.

Come on, Coach, we we still gotta go on that road trip, right?

- [MACHINE BEEPING]

- He's gonna die.

- Frost, how do we save him?

- I don't know!

I can't fix this.

Uh, maybe Caitlin can.

Ralph's elastic cells aren't mending like they used to.

Ramsey must be getting stronger.

- So Ralph can't heal himself?

- No.

- But maybe you can.

- What?

Your speed healing is the only thing we've seen that can repair damage this severe.

Maybe if we gave him a blood transfusion, that would fix him.

What are you saying?

I I I could give Ralph my speed healing?

Theoretically, temporarily, yes.

I don't know, we're sort of in uncharted medical territory here.

But your blood type is O-negative, so you're a universal donor.

Guys, Ralph is elastic.

No needle can puncture through his skin.

I can phase him.

Will that work?

Do it.

- Got it?

- Yeah.

- Ready?

- Yeah.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[DEVICE BEEPING]

Hey.

How is he?

He's stable thanks to you.

We contacted A. R. G. U. S., and they're gonna move Ralph to a secure medical facility for recovery.

Cisco and Caitlin are prepping for transport right now.

Hey, don't worry, okay?

He's gonna pull through.

It's not that.

What if I hadn't been here?

Ralph's fight was nothing compared to what's coming.

Crisis is only two days away.

And we're all ready, I promise.

Iris, if I haven't prepared the team You have prepared us, Barry.

[SOLEMN MUSIC]

Hey, don't let what happened to Ralph fill you with doubt.

You've done the work.

We're ready For whatever comes next [SIGHS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[INTENSE MUSIC]

I'm gonna give you one chance to turn yourself in.

Honestly, I hope you don't take it.

Well, there's no need to involve the authorities.

I just want to talk Flash.

Of course.

You're the Flash.

But how did when?

You were struck by lightning.

[SCOFFS]

That is quite the origin story.

[GLASS SHATTERS]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

I don't know how you're doing this.

Real or not, I'm coming for you.

And yet I'm not your foremost concern, am I?

Not as much as your inevitable demise in a coming Crisis?

Goodness, you really are full of surprises, aren't you?

So tell me, when you saw all those permutations, billions of possible futures all ending in your death [CLAPS]

What role did I play?

You didn't.

You weren't there.

Really?

Not even in one?

Huh.

Then again, you never saw this coming did you?

Frankly, neither did I.

Makes one believe in the impossible, doesn't it?

You look scared.

You should be.

After all, it is the end of the world, isn't it?

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Oh, my oh.

What's that, Flash?

You think I should bust my boss for keeping yet another secret from me?

Yeah, me too.

[MYSTERIOUS MUSIC]

Drop what you're doing.

"The Citizen" has a new story.

Look at these.

Where did you get these photos?

I pulled them from a bow tie camera.

Long story.

Look, the point is, this is the same guy that kidnapped your cousin Esperanza and turned her into a meta-assassin against her will.

One of these photos, this one, shows our mystery man getting out of his car.

My dad traced his plates and tracked the car to a rented parking space at a nearby lot.

So now all we have to do is to wait for him to show up.

Cool.

Just checking, are there any other stories you wanna work on first?

[LAUGHS]

What could need our attention more than this?

Your cousin was a victim, Allegra, and now some secret organization is using her.

I mean, how many others are they using?

We need to help them.

Right, I mean, no one wants to find out what happened to Esperanza more than me, but is this really what matters the most to you right now?

Yeah.

Now come on, get your stuff.

Kamilla is going to see if she can recover any other photos.

You and I have a stakeout date.

You're the boss.

Brain activity looks good.

No sign that you're going nuts.

And my blood work?

CBC, metabolic rate, all normal for a speedster, just a small spike in cortisol.

Katie says that sleep monitor on your wrist will tell us if there's anything seriously wrong, but if you ask me, you just had a nightmare.

I don't know.

Ramsey seemed so real.

Something feels off.

I just can't put my finger on it.

Hi, there.

My name is Iris West-Allen.

I'm with "The Citizen.

" I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions.

Sorry, not interested.

Hi.

Same paper, same question.

What the hell's going on here?

I don't have time for this.

I'm late for work.

Which is where, exactly?

None of your business.

Okay, you know what?

You're right.

We will just run our photos without any comments.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

What photos?

You know what?

I'm sure your employer will love the free exposure.

All right, have it your way.

Easy, I've got a Taser.

And I have a business card.

Maelstrom Couriers, the premiere name in high-end transport.

Transporting what exactly?

Whatever the wealthy would prefer to keep under the radar, specialty items mostly.

That woman in a coma was a government job.

Meister's party, well, that was more like designated driving for billionaires falling off the wagon.

Today it's priceless family jewels.

You're an Uber for the uberrich.

What I am is late.

Sorry to bother you.

Thank you.

- That was a bust.

- Yep.

But the bright side is, we have time for other stories we might be putting off.

Got any in mind?

You know, I don't know, I think there's something that we missed.

I don't want to move off of this yet.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[WHOOSHING]

Mom?

Is this another nightmare?

No, Barry.

This is much, much worse.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC SWELLS]

You're the Speed Force.

Yes.

It's been a while since we've talked like this.

I've missed it.

You need to help.

I don't understand what's happening to me.

You used your blood to save your friend's life, but in the process, you've endangered your own.

A small amount of Ramsey's cells remain from the attack, hidden from the eye.

Ramsey's infected me.

And more than you realize.

Ramsey's sentience, his very being, resides in his cells.

That's how he knew I'm the Flash, about Crisis.

If this if this is all in my mind, then where's my real body?

After your friend, Frost, examined you, you came back home, dropped your keys in that bowl, poured a glass of water, then the infection took hold.

[EERIE MUSIC]

As we speak, Ramsey's infection is spreading through your body and your mind.

Your speed-healing is trying to hold off his disease, but, ultimately, it's up to you to resist him.

Is he trying to kill me?

Worse, I'm afraid.

He wants to take control of you and bend you to his will.

Then he's gonna lose.

There must be something that points to where Esperanza was taken.

I don't know.

Hospital records?

Or what about that auction photo?

That mystery man was a dead end, but Barry did say that there were a lot of shady people at that gala, so, I don't know, maybe one of them might be a new lead.

Or we could talk about how your husband is the Flash.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

How did you - Nash Wells told me.

- You're not gonna Is this the story that you've been trying to tell?

Allegra, Barry's identity cannot be exposed.

No, not that.

This.

You've been avoiding it all day.

It's not time for that yet.

Well, according to this, it will be in two days, and call it a hunch, but I don't think you're planning to write it then either.

I ever tell you why I wanted to be a reporter in the first place?

It was because of your article about the Streak.

[SIGHS]

You know, that was the first name that I ever gave to the Flash.

Back then, I didn't even know that he was Barry.

And back then, I was just a troubled kid in Iron Heights, but your article, it made me believe in the impossible, that maybe someday I could be like you, chasing stories, uncovering the truth.

You gave me hope when I had none Just like you have every day I've worked here.

I don't know how you're gonna bring yourself to write this article.

I just know you're never going to forgive yourself if you don't.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

What's how did I?

[LAUGHTER]

[SILVERWARE CLATTERING]

Allen.

Looks like we're both back on our feet.

Babe, I'm glad you're feeling better.

- Thanks.

- Look, I made you a plate.

Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, delicious.

I'm all about these mashed potatoes.

I'm gonna need a second helping of these beans.

That's both praise, and a warning.

[LAUGHTER]

Uh-oh.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[WHISPERS]

This is wrong.

Everyone.

I've got homemade lasagna.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[ALL EATING NOSILY]

Nom.

Barry.

It's rude not to eat.

You're not Iris.

This isn't real.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

I'm not gonna give in to you.

Barry, you misjudge me.

I'm just here to enjoy supper with good friends and perhaps offer you a gift.

What could you possibly offer me?

[SILVERWARE CLATTERS]

ALL: Everything.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[GRUNTS]

Ah!

[SCREAMS]

[GRUNTING]

Barry, you can't run away from your own mind, at least not without considerable pain.

Then again, you're always trying to run away from your problems, aren't you?

[SCREAMS]

You've literally had a newspaper warning of your demise.

You've done nothing to change your fate.

It's almost like you want to make Iris a widow.

Shut up!

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

This isn't real.

These deaths were real.

[GASPS]

None of them had to die.

Join me, and you'll never have to.

[EERIE MUSIC]

[MUSIC BOX PLAYING "HUSH, LITTLE BABY"]

[BABY CRIES]

Nora.

Hey.

[WHOOSHING]

Please, let me hold her.

I know it's not real, I just please, I just wanna pretend for please, just for a second I just please, I wanna hold my baby.

That's not my choice, Barry.

Why are you showing this to me?

[ECHOING]

I'm not showing you anything.

All of this is coming from you.

No, it's not.

No, it's not.

No No, it's not.

Look deep within, Barry Allen.

This is your mind, your visions, your doubt.

We all die without you.

You leave me alone forever.

Your city will burn.

She's even faster than ever.

[LAUGHS]

The negative Speed Forces were too much, even for me, and now, Barry, everyone is dead.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

It doesn't have to be like this, Barry.

Here, let me show you.

Accept my lifeblood, and you could use it to achieve so much more than I ever could.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Become a hero beyond your wildest dreams.

[INHALES SHARPLY]

The power to strike down death, life eternal, the grand miracle at your command.

Save the world and live.

Have all you want.

[BABY COOING]

[UPLIFTING MUSIC]

She's so beautiful.

Embrace it, Barry.

Just confess the truth.

Do you have doubts?

[WHISPERS]

I do.

It's a beautiful life, Barry.

All you have to do is choose it.

Choose life.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[WHOOSHING]

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

Barry You must gather your strength.

Focus.

Time is running out.

Thought you all would want to see this.

[CAMERA CLICKING AND BEEPING]

Witnesses heard the explosion but didn't see much else.

There's gotta be at least half a dozen cameras covering this lot.

I And not one of them caught anyone entering or exiting the scene when this all went down.

It's like a ghost did this.

So the guy you questioned was killed in the same lot you questioned him on the same day.

- Yeah.

- It gets worse.

This blew away from the scene.

I thought about turning it in to the cops, but I only saw it because there's some major UV energy coming off this thing.

You can see that?

Boss, this really feels like a job for your husband's friend.

Oh, no, Kamilla knows that Barry's the Flash.

Seriously?

Since when?

Last summer.

Cisco used to be Vibe.

Okay, look, guys, I think this mystery goes a lot deeper than we thought.

And it's a lot more dangerous.

So if you guys wanna walk away Not a chance.

That makes two of us.

Well, Boss, looks like Citizen has a new mission.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

It's okay, Barry.

I'm here.

I'm sorry it took me so long to find you.

Ramsey's infection is stronger than anything we've ever faced, and it's only getting stronger.

[GRUNTS]

[WHISPERS]

I think I know why.

You feel doubt.

I do.

You've answered our call before.

It's always been difficult.

What's changed?

I've lived more.

I've gotten married, seen a future where I'll have a daughter who's the best of me and Iris combined.

Most of my life has been driven by my past, but but now, I It finally feels like I'm living for myself.

I don't wanna leave my family or my friends.

I don't want to die.

I know that's selfish.

[CRYING]

I'm sorry I let you down.

Barry.

No person is immune to fear and doubt No matter how brave That's what makes you human, Barry.

But the courage to move forward, even in the face of overwhelming odds, that's what makes you a hero.

That's what makes you the Flash.

Thank you.

I needed to hear that.

Don't blame yourself.

His lies They were so convincing.

That's because he never lied.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

What do you mean?

That's what makes Ramsey so dangerous.

He manipulates the truth to spread his disease.

What, so so the part about his cells allowing me to save the world from Crisis and Still survive is true?

Yes.

But that path's not for you.

Why not?

Barry, you must understand That you want me to leave behind everyone I love when there's a way to save me?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

What is it?

It's Barry's sleep monitor.

This can't be right.

His vitals are spiking.

Barry, your fever is rising.

You must calm down.

Stop telling me what to do!

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

His temperature is burning up.

Why isn't he speed-healing?

I've seen this fever before.

He's being taken over right now.

His temperature is rising.

We could really use some cold powers right about now.

No, Ramsey's infection doesn't respond to ice.

We need to treat him medicinally.

Inserting 10ccs of naproxen sodium.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

All my pain, all my suffering, it's been because of you because you would rather I be the Flash than have anything that I want!

Barry, please.

I am not denying the burden that you've carried, but the Speed Force has only ever tried to be a guide on this path that you've chosen.

The lightning bolt shot down from the sky and struck me!

I didn't choose this!

You decided to change my life, my family's life, my entire future.

This was done to me!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

We need help.

Frost.

Frost.

Frost!

Hey, hey!

Hey.

Just breathe.

Breathe.

[HYPERVENTILATING]

Just breathe.

Just breathe.

Please understand.

The role you play is vital - to the balance of all things.

- Oh, stop.

There are universal forces at stake.

They must be protected.

What about the rest of us?

She's right.

There are universal forces at stake.

It's just a pity she doesn't consider your life among them.

Don't listen to him.

He wants to possess your form no matter the cost.

Cost?

All those headstones?

Those people are dead because of my connection to you.

How many times do I have to suffer for you?

When is it your turn to suffer?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Do you even feel pain?

No, at least not as you know it.

How could it?

The Speed Force isn't human.

It doesn't know what it means to be alive, to have a family, to love.

It only pretends.

Ramsey's infection is twisting your heart.

You have to fight it.

Barry.

These aren't your true feelings.

What do you know about the truth?

This isn't what you look like.

This isn't my old bedroom.

It's a trick.

This is you manipulating me so I'll do what you want.

That's not true.

I care about you.

All it cares about is using you.

- Barry, you must listen to me.

- No, I don't!

You're not my mom.

You're the reason I buried her.

[YELLS]

[TENSE MUSIC]

[GROANS]

[DISTORTED]

Barry!

- No!

- [CRYING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[MUFFLED CRIES]

The Monitor, Thawne, the Speed Force, for too long, others have used you.

Take command of your life!

[WHISPERS]

Forever.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[ELECTRICITY CRACKLING]

[GROANS]

No, no, no, no, no.

I'm sorry, I have to.

- It's the only way to survive.

- [POUNDING ON DOOR]

We don't have much time until he returns.

Barry, look at me.

Accepting Ramsey's blood would save your body from the coming Crisis but not your soul.

You would lose the best of you: your joy, your passion, your light, the part of you that Iris loves.

[POUNDING ON DOOR]

[GROWLING]

Don't listen to it.

It lies.

Come on!

Barry!

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[ELECTRICITY CRACKLING]

[GROANS]

Only you can defeat this, Barry.

The choice is yours.

[SCREAMS]

[EKG BEEPING]

You beat it.

Took me a while, but, yeah, I beat it.

[CHUCKLES]

[TRANQUIL MUSIC]

[SOMBER MUSIC]

[SIGHS]

My name is Iris West-Allen and I once met a young man, a superhero who I called the Streak.

The world has come to know him as the Fastest Man Alive, the Scarlet Speedster, the Flash.

But no matter what title you choose for him, he'll always be remembered as the protector of our amazing city and its citizens, as a beacon of hope for us all, and as the man who sacrificed himself again and again so we could live.

Today we say good-bye to him, not because he was taken but because he gave himself willingly.

And in the end, that's what makes him deserving of the greatest title of all [WHISPERS]

Hero.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

[PHONE CHIRPS]

[SPIRITED MUSIC]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[SIGHS]

[ELECTRICAL WHIRRING]

[DISTORTED ZAPPING]

[EXHALES]

Mar Novu.

You ran and ran across infinite Earths, and now you've nowhere left to run.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

It was like being back in prison only locked up in my own mind.

All the terror I felt, the horrible things I saw, they were all there buried deep inside me just waiting to come out the whole time.

Took a lot to win.

Everything that makes life worth living.

Thank you.

You deserve some of the credit.

It takes something special to beat a sentient infection that not even speed-healing can cure.

Well, it's not over yet, so let's get back to work.

Whoa, whoa, what do you mean?

What are you doing?

Just get some rest.

Iris is gonna be here any minute.

Crisis will be here in less than 36 hours.

We have to find Ramsey, stop him, make sure there's still a world left to save.

[SIGHS]

And away he goes.

You wanna talk about what happened?

I already talked about it with Caity.

Okay.

What'd she say?

With Crisis approaching, we decided it would be best if she handles the medical emergencies.

I'll take a back seat.

Are you okay with that?

It's what's best for the team.

[PENSIVE MUSIC]

Hey, I got here as fast as I could.

- How are you?

- Oh, I'm fine.

Really, I'm okay.

Your husband had an infection It messed with his brain quite a bit, but we handled it.

[SIGHS]

Okay, well, just to be safe, I am not leaving you again for the rest of the night.

[COMPUTER BEEPING]

What you working on?

Just running some diagnostics, little maintenance.

Why don't you ask Cisco?

We could go home, spend some time together.

Why are you asking so many questions?

[CHUCKLES]

I don't know.

You know, sometimes the reporter brain in me has a mind of its own.

[CLEARS THROAT]

I will let you get back to work.

[COMPUTER BEEPING]

Hey, guys.

That's not Barry.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[WHISPERS]

Careful.

Hey!

Barry.

Hey.

Barry.

[SNARLS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[WHOOSHES]

[ELECTRICITY ZAPPING]

[WHOOSHES]

[DISTORTED]

Welcome, my blood brother.

I am the world's salvation come to save it from all that ails it.

Soon, the entire world will embrace Bloodwork!

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[INHALES AND EXHALES SHARPLY]

[FRENETIC MUSIC]