GOTHAM: VIPER (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic fantasy series about the crooks and crimefighters of Gotham City in the years before Batman's reign. In this episode, Alfred finds Bruce hard at work, trying to determine Wayne Enterprises' true part in "how Gotham works." Cobblepot eavesdrops as Maroni discusses his plans to rob Falcone's casino, and on the street, a mysterious man with a mangled ear gives a street busker a strange substance labeled "breathe me." He does so, and storms into a nearby shop, exhibiting signs of godlike power. Gordon's lunch is interrupted when he spots Selina on the street, and he and Bullock soon find the destroyed shop and learn that the robber somehow removed the ATM with his bare hands. Elsewhere, Mooney instructs her "secret weapon" Liza to memorize "O Mio Babbino Caro," much to the girl's annoyance, and Essen is disturbed to learn that the robber was acting under the influence of some kind of drug.
Mooney meets with Falcone, who declares that he will not yet fight back against Maroni, and Mooney feigns support for Falcone as she insults a henchman, Nikolai. Bullock and Gordon track down the robber, Benny, who is desperate for "more" and mentions a man with a damaged ear. His super-strength vanishes as he attempts to lift the ATM again, while elsewhere the mysterious man continues passing out vials on the street. Alfred is surprised when Bruce agrees to attend a Wayne Enterprises luncheon, explaining that he has questions for the board. Pandemonium breaks out as more and more people experiment with the "Viper" drug and then promptly die from it, and Bullock wonders if they should simply allow it to wipe out the city's criminal population for them. Nygma explains that the complex chemical was likely made in the high-tech laboratories of WellZyn, a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises. Cobblepot tells Maroni that a "friend" of his can assist with the casino robbery and admits his true name, adding that he used to work for Mooney, but is surprised when Maroni does not react favorably.
A PR rep from WellZyn firmly tells the police that the drug is not their product, but admits that disgruntled ex-employee Stan Potolsky is likely the culprit. Frankie drags Gordon before Maroni, who threatens to kill both him and Cobblepot if he does not confirm Cobblepot's story, but Gordon tells the accurate version of the Mario Pepper conspiracy and Maroni decides to trust "Penguin" after all. Mooney continues schooling Liza in the art of seduction, and Bullock tracks down an old professor of Potolsky's, Steiner, who reveals that Potolsky was in fact making pharmaceutical weapons at WellZyn, including the failed Viper, and approached the Waynes to shut it down when he had an attack of conscience. Steiner declares that WellZyn are the "true villains" and inhales the drug himself, though quickly dies, but Gordon figures out Potolsky's whereabouts. At the luncheon, Bruce questions Mathis, a "middle management" worker, about the irregularities in the company's records, but Potolsky then attempts to poison the entire company as punishment for their amorality. Gordon stops him, and Potolsky receives a large dose himself and plummets off the roof, though the detectives are unable to find his lab and Mathis, watching them, decides to let the matter go. Cobblepot is relieved when Maroni successfully robs Falcone's casino, and Mooney is revealed to be in league with Nikolai after all. Falcone is enchanted when he spots Liza strolling through the park and humming his favorite aria, and he unwittingly begins to bond with the young woman. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: FOX
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:22
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 116879
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Drama, action/adventure; Comic books; African-American Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: FOX - TV series, 2014-2019
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- John Stephens … Executive Producer
- Danny Cannon … Executive Producer
- Bruno Heller … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Ben Edlund … Co-Executive Producer
- Ken Woodruff … Co-Executive Producer
- Rebecca Dameron … Supervising Producer
- Scott White … Producer
- Rebecca Perry Cutter … Co-Producer, Writer
- Annabelle K. Frost … Associate Producer
- Tim Hunter … Director
- Graeme Revell … Music by
- David E. Russo … Music by
- Ben McKenzie … Cast, James Gordon
- Donal Logue … Cast, Harvey Bullock
- David Mazouz … Cast, Bruce Wayne
- Zabryna Guevara … Cast, Sarah Essen
- Sean Pertwee … Cast, Alfred Pennyworth
- Robin Lord Taylor … Cast, Oswald Cobblepot
- Erin Richards … Cast, Barbara Kean
- Camren Bicondova … Cast, Selina Kyle
- Cory Michael Smith … Cast, Edward Nygma
- Victoria Cartagena … Cast, Renee Montoya
- Andrew Stewart-Jones … Cast, Crispus Allen
- John Doman … Cast, Carmine Falcone
- Jada Pinkett Smith … Cast, Fish Mooney
- David Zayas … Cast, Sal Maroni
- Makenzie Leigh … Cast, Liza
- Danny Mastrogiorgio … Cast, Frankie Carbone
- Daniel London … Cast, Stan Potolsky
- Kett Turton … Cast, Benny
- Genevieve Hudson-Price … Cast, Charmagne
- Peter Maloney … Cast, Isaac Steiner
- Sharon Washington … Cast, Molly Mathis
- Jeremy Davidson … Cast, Nikolai
- Margaret Colin … Cast, Taylor Reece
- Krista Braun … Cast, News Reporter
- Carmine Famiglietti … Cast, Cashier