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in: Season 1

1.16 The Prophecy

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The Prophecy
116
Season
Episode

16

Production code
116
Airdate
March 10 2002
Written by
John Eisendrath
Story by
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Teleplay by
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Directed by
Davis Guggenheim


The Prophecy is the 16th episode of Season 1 of Alias. Sydney is tested by the DSR to discover her mysterious link to a chilling 500-year-old picture and prophecy foretold in a Rambaldi manuscript. Meanwhile, after uncovering the identity of the rogue group leader, "The Man," Sloane learns through fellow Alliance of Twelve member Edward Poole that a close friend may be in cahoots with the enemy.

Plot Overview[]

A hearing of the Department of Special Research is inquiring into Sydney's personal connection to the Rambaldi notebook at which moment she is in Brazil, running for her life -- pursued by armed men and snarling dogs. She comes to the edge of a cliff, and leaps, revealing a para-sail, and descending to safety.

Upon her return to the States, she is detained by the DSR. As the paranormal research division of the National Security Agency, they are searching for an explanation for the image of Sydney on page 47 from Rambaldi's notebook. According to Vaughn, the text around the drawing has been partially decoded and is now being referred to as "The Prophecy."

The CIA is reluctant to cooperate with the DSR, though Haladki does everything he can to assist the rival agency. After undergoing a battery of mental tests, Sydney is asked to submit to a physical exam.

She refuses and walks away defiantly from the team of DSR researchers. Meanwhile, SD-6 has identified "the Man" responsible behind Mr. Sark and McKenas Cole. Using the evidence gathered in Brazil, Sloane identifies Alexander Khasinau, a dangerous and well-connected ally of the Russian mob.

The 12 members of the Alliance, the force behind SD-6 and its eleven sister cells, have called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation. Will they go after Khasinau and his group, or shall they vote for détente -- Sloane desperately hopes that they will vote for war, but he doesn't know where the votes will fall.

Fishing for information, he calls Edward Poole, the leader of SD-9. Poole insists that Alliance member John Briault has been cooperating with Khasinau. Sloane is reluctant to believe that such a trusted, old friend could be cooperating with SD-6's latest enemy but he finally decides to resolve the situation himself.

In an act of kindness, Sydney meets with Sloane's dying wife Emily, who reveals that her cancer might have been treated had she not denied the truth for so long. With these words as a warning, Sydney submits to further testing by the DSR.

Later, Jack reveals that the DSR agents do not have the original code key to decipher Rambaldi's writings. The original key is held at the Vatican. In a daring gamble, Sydney persuades Vaughn to break into the Vatican with her.

During their adventure, Vaughn flirts and asks her to dinner at his favorite restaurant in Rome. Engraved into the frame of a Rambaldi painting - located in the Vatican's subterranean archive - is the code key. Sydney and Vaughn photograph the cryptic writing, narrowly escaping Vatican guards and never making it to dinner.

Meanwhile, Sloane has discovered that "page 47" of the Rambaldi manuscript is a counterfeit. He's furious and demands to talk to Sydney. Does he suspect her?

Before the Alliance's meeting, Sloane arranges a private rendezvous with Jean Briault - the traitor Poole accuses of aiding Khasinau. Quietly, and without emotion, Sloane assassinates his friend in a Montreal park at night.

When the Alliance meets, the decision to retaliate loses by a single vote. Sloane realizes that it was Poole - not Briault - who has been working for the enemy all along and Sloane promises to "return the favor."

At the CIA, Vaughn provides the code key to decipher Rambaldi's writings, which only confirms what the DSR has already discovered and he is not pleased. Sydney is taken into custody, plucked from a nightclub where she has met up with Francie and Will, and "the prophecy" is finally revealed to her.

According to Rambaldi, a woman bearing Sydney's characteristics will appear - she will fulfill the prophecy and "render the greatest power unto utter desolation". Sydney is driven away in chains and shackles by the DSR now a prisoner of a 15th century prophecy.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Special Guest Star[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Featuring[]

Uncredited[]

Trivia[]

  • According to Roger Moore's autobiography, J.J. Abrams originally intended for Edward Poole to be a recurring character. However, Moore turned down the offer to reprise the role because he wasn't offered enough money, and so Poole was written out of the series (it is explained in a later episode that the Alliance had him executed).
  • Carl Lumbly and Kevin Wiesman do not appear in this episode.
  • First episode of the series that Kevin Weisman (Marshall Flinkman) doesn't appear.

GOOFS

if Edward Poole is Arvin Sloane's counterpart at SD-9 in London, why wasnt Sloane voting in the war against Khasinau?

Aliases Used[]

Gadgets[]

Music[]

  • Hate to Say I Told You So - THE HIVES  / Billy Van - THE AFTERBEAT (Netflix version)
  • World Gone Mad - BILL BONK
  • Feels Like Home - HATHAWAY
  • From Rusholme With Love - MINT ROYALE

Filming Locations[]

  • Los Angeles Theatre - 615 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - 3431 Waverly Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Allusions and References[]

  • Sloane Mentions that he Meets Briault in Chile During Salvador Allende's Goverment called La Unidad Popular, It's the Second Time that Chile It's Mentioned in the Series.

Quotes[]

  • Sydney: Can I ask you guys something?
  • Will: Yeah.
  • Sydney: I had a dream last night about a fortune teller. He said he had a prophecy about me.
  • Francie: What was it?
  • Sydney: I don't know but that's the word he used - "prophecy". Does that sound good or bad?
  • Will: "Prophecy"?
  • Sydney: Yeah.
  • Will: Definitely bad.
  • Francie: Yeah, bad.



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