Watts arranges for Frank to meet with District Attorney Gordon Roberts, who is investigating Miss Penny Plott--the longtime owner of a daycare center in Probity, Arkansas--on charges of child abuse. Before Frank embarks on his journey, he goes shopping with Jordan at a department store. As children often do, Jordan grows fidgety and demands attention.
Jordan: Who does Princess Leia root for?
Frank: The Seahawks.
Jordan: Who does Darth Vader root for?
Frank: The Raiders.
The salesman is also uncooperative, bringing Frank the wrong size shoe and trying to make him try it anyway. Frank finally loses his cool and chastises his daughter for her behavior. The salesman looks on, not knowing what to think.
Police deputy Bill Sherman, who sends his son Bill Jr. to Plott's daycare center, discovers a bite mark on his son's back. Bill asks Bill Jr. to reveal the source of the injury, but he won't.
Bill Jr.: If I tell you, she'll kill me!
It only adds credence to rumors surrounding Penny Plott.
Pretending to be a parent, Frank pays a visit to the daycare center. His investigation is cut short when he is interrupted by Lara Means, who was hired to represent Plott's interests. The pair put aside their differences when one of the children, Jason Wells, stops breathing. Despite Frank and Lara's best efforts, the boy succumbs. Meanwhile, Catherine takes Jordan to see a dentist after her daughter spits out blood while brushing her teeth. The dentist suggests Jordan may have received a cut lip from being aggressively disciplined.
Doctor: There can be other explanations, but this type of injury usually results from assault with a blunt object.
Catherine dismisses the notion that Frank may be responsible, but later, Jordan reveals that Frank lost his temper at the department store.
A coroner attributes Jason's death to an acute asthma attack. Despite a lack of evidence, District Attorney Roberts remains convinced that Plott must somehow be at fault. The investigation seemingly hits a dead end until Frank, Lara and Roberts interview Danielle Barbakow, one of the children under Plott's supervision. Danielle describes overhearing an incident in which Plott physically abused Jason. Shortly thereafter, Plott is placed under arrest. Inside an interrogation room, an outraged Plott reminds Bill Sherman that he was under her supervision as a child--and that in thirty-six years of running the center she has never been accused of any wrongdoing. When Plott wins release on bail, a guilt-ridden Bill Sherman announces that, even though his own son has a mark on his body, he refuses to believe Plott is capable of child abuse.
Frank and Lara both conclude that Danielle is responsible for Jason's death. They later discover that were both sent by the Millennium Group to investigate the case.
Frank: Did you know about me?
Lara: No. Did you know about me?
Frank: No.
Lara: Why would they do that? Why send us here on opposite sides?
Frank: Maybe it's some kind of test.
Lara: To find the evil.
Frank: And we passed.
The pair travel to the Barbakow residence, where they meet Danielle's mother, Virginia. As Lara and Virginia talk, Frank talks to Danielle inside her bedroom. Frank attempts to chat amiably, but Danielle sees through him.
(They enter Danielle's room. Frank sits on the bed, but Danielle goes straight over to the window and stares out.)
Frank: Wow, this is a great room, Danielle. My daughter would love this room. Do you ever let any of the kids from school ever come over and see your room?
Danielle: Some--only the ones I like.
Frank: Did you like Jason Welch?
(Danielle turns away from the window and looks directly into Frank's eyes, with a look of hatred, of evil. Frank gets a flash of a demon. He doesn't move.)
Danielle: No! No! Get away from me! Get away from me! Don't touch me!
(Frank looks confused. He gets up and leaves the room, as Lara and Virginia come running up the stairs.)
Frank: I think she's a little upset right now. We'll talk again later.
Frank and Lara leave. Virginia goes into Danielle's room and finds her laying in a tumbled stank of boxes, bleeding. She has a broken jaw. As they leave, Frank asks Lara if she has visions like he does.
A short time later, Frank is arrested for assaulting a minor. The Barbakows have accused him of assaulting Danielle, who said he hit her with his hand. Roberts also reveals that Frank is under investigation for possibly assaulting his own daughter. Frank demands that Roberts examine an alternate light imaging photograph of Danielle's injuries, confident it will prove his innocence. It would show that he had not hit her with his hand, as she had said, and evidence already showed he had not handled anything else in the room. Lara returns to the Barbakow residence and compares the special photograph with the wings of an angel on Danielle's dresser. Lara realizes the patterns are identical, and later, Virginia Barbakow admits she heard her daughter inflict the injuries upon herself. Catherine and Jordan meet Frank at the police station upon his release. Catherine apologizes for the investigation into Jordan's injuries and says that she did not file, but the dentist did.
Danielle is taken away from her family and put into what first appears to be a normal foster care home. They sit down to dinner and fold their hands to pray -- which Danielle does also, after being given looks by the rest of the family. We see a computer screen behind her, which flashes an ouroborous.
Credits
Title meaning: The girl is basically a human monster. That's it... I guess.
Original airdate: 10/17/97
Cast:
Lance Henriksen as Frank Black
Megan Gallagher as Catherine Black
Brittany Tiplady as Jordan Black
Guest Cast:
Terry O'Quinn as Peter Watts
Kristen Cloke as Lara Means
Mary Gillis as Penny Plott
Lauren Diewold as Danielle Barbakow
Chris Owens as Deputy Bill Sherman
Thomas Miller as Billy Sherman Jr.
Robert Wisden as Gordon Roberts
Ken Roberts as Police Chief Jenkins
Elizabeth McLaughlin as Mrs. Sherman
Brendan Bitoiu as Jason Wells
Samantha Smith as Lisa Blair
Adam Pospisil as Ethan
Gillian Barber as Mrs. Barbakow
Judy Norton as Coroner
J. Douglas Stewart as Dentist
Kevin Blatch as Shoe Salesman
Fred Keating as Mr. Barbakow
Music By Mark Snow
Written By the illustrious Glen Morgan and the magnaimous James Wong
Directed By Perry Lang
Song Credits
"Goodbye Charlie" - Bobby Darin
