FlashForward Episode 1.07 The Gift

The episode opens with a voiceover from FBI agent Al Gough narrating a message to a woman named Celia. Al says he knows Celia didn't have a flash forward. During the voiceover, we see her playing with her sons. As she loads them in the car, Celia pulls a flyer from her windshield. It features a blue hand and a web address: www.ALREADYGHOSTS.com.

There's a message on the back that reads: "We know you are one of us."

Ian Rutherford was the center of a case Al was investigating with MI-6's Fioana Banks, who is in town from London. Rutherford is one of the three people with blue hands that Demetri and Al found at the abandoned house. They all died from self-inflicted wounds. All three were "ghosts," a nickname given to those who did not have a flash forward. The Blue Hand is a place where ghosts can gather to embrace the evitable. It's basically a death club. Next meeting is in downtown L.A. and we're thinking it's going to have some federal party crashers.

Mark, Demetri and Al infiltrate the Blue Hand meeting where entry involves a quick game of Russian Roulette. Without hesitation, Al takes the gun, places the barrel under his chin and pulls the trigger, CLICK! No bullet. Mark says, "You got a death wish. You could have been killed." Al tosses him the one bullet that was in that chamber and echoes the message written on its side when he says, "Not today."

The organizer of what we'll call "Club Torture" is a Dr. Maurice Raynaud and he's looking to commit suicide. Mark doesn't let that happen. The team discovers the Maurice Raynaud was a 19th Century French physician who discovered a disease that affects the extremities and can turn hands blue and the party planner guy ain't him. His name is Jeff and he's just one of many nihilists who choose to assume Raynaud's name.

Corporal Mike Willingham visits Aaron and presents him with the pocket knife Aaron gave to Tracy in his flash forward. This again gives Aaron hope that she may still be alive. But Mike later informs Aaron that he saw Tracy die. Aaron is understandably crushed, but also slightly at peace. Mike has been having trouble finding work since his tour ended, so Aaron gets him a job with his company.

Nicole does volunteer work at the hospital and quickly strikes up a friendship with Bryce, who asks for her help interpreting a symbol he saw behind the woman who was in his flash forward. It's a Japanese letter meaning "believe." Bryce doesn't know who the woman in his flash is, but he had strong feelings for her. Nicole urges him to put his story up on the Mosaic, as he has to find her.

Other subjects explored in this episode:

- Lloyd tells Olivia that he is moving back to the Bay area as soon as Dylan is cleared to transfer. That's a good thing, as Mark and Olivia are still having trust issues.

- Demetri finally tells Zoey that he didn't have a flash forward. But Zoey insists that she saw him at their wedding.

- Simon is seen clutching a bracelet that spells out the name "Annabelle."

Al received a phone call during his flash forward. It was from a doctor saying that Celia has been taken off life support. Al says, "I killed her." He leaves a note for Demetri. The message inside is the one addressed to Celia in the opening voiceover. Demetri reads Al's words and quickly realizes that it's a suicide note.

Demetri, Mark, Wedeck and Banks rush to the roof of the FBI building where Al stands on the ledge. Demetri pleads with him to step back. But Al thinks he's found a way to change the game. If he dies, the future cannot be set, and Celia, whoever she is, will live to raise her two young sons. Demetri and the others look on horrified as Al turns his back on them and plunges to his death. Do you think Al's actions will, indeed, change destiny?

Al's final words to Celia in the note are, "Live your life. Live every day. And know that the future is unwritten. Make the most of that." We hear this voiceover as Aaron enters his house after a long day at work. He sifts through the mail, plops down his lunch cooler and steps into the dining room. He is immediately shaken by what his sees. Tracy is seated at his dining room table.