Subject 13
In 1985, following the events of
"Peter", Elizabeth Bishop finds abducted Peter nearly drowning himself in Reiden Lake in an attempt to return home. Alarmed, she takes him to Jacksonville, where Walter is conducting Cortexiphan trials on children. Walter has discovered young Olivia's ability to cross to the alternate universe, triggered by fear of her abusive stepfather, and hopes it will be a method to return Peter. After one of Walter's tests causes Olivia to set the room ablaze by pyrokinesis, she runs away, where she meets young Peter for the first time. Olivia tearfully returns to Walter's office, giving him her sketchbook containing drawing of the alternate universe, her stepfather, and she and Peter together, but she has actually crossed to the alternate universe again and encountered Walternate. Walter attempts to warns off Olivia's stepfather, while Peter returns with Elizabeth to Reiden Lake and starts calling her "Mom". In the alternate universe, Walternate, having sunk into despair, gains new resolve, knowing through Olivia's sketchbook that Peter is alive in the prime universe.
Tropes
- Abusive Parents: Olivia's stepfather who gives her a black eye for not going to bed when he told her and then trying to run away from him. Poor Olivia looks terrified when Walter sends the children home early as it means more time with her stepfather.
- Alternate History: A news report from Over There refers to Walternate as the architect of the Star Wars
defence system which was never completed in our world but is apparently functional in the other world. - Call-Back: The field of white tulips.
- Cut Himself Shaving: When Walter asks Olivia about her black eye she claims it happened because she was running in the house. Walter rather obviously doesn't believe her.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Walternate has turned to drink in his grief over Peter's abduction.
- Forgotten First Meeting: Olivia and Peter meet as children in this episode, something they both appear to have forgotten as neither recognised the other back in the Pilot.
- For Want Of A Nail: It's possible that the entire show may never have occurred if Olivia hadn't accidentally told Walternate about the existence of multiple universes while she was unknowingly shifted into the alternate universe. Walternate was well on his way to drinking himself to death following Peter's disappearance - only when given this hint did he begin his war against the prime universe.
- Papa Wolf: Towards the end of the episode Walter approaches Olivia's stepfather and makes it clear that if he continues to abuse her Walter will contact Social Services and ask his highly-placed government friends to make sure he gets what's coming to him.
- Special Edition Title: The '80s version of the credits from "Peter" makes another appearance.
