The Attic (Dollhouse)
| "The Attic" | |
|---|---|
| Dollhouse episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | John Cassaday |
| Written by |
Maurissa Tancharoen Jed Whedon |
| Production code | 2APK10 |
| Original air date | December 18, 2009 |
"The Attic" is the tenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Dollhouse and the show's 23rd episode overall. The episode was written by Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon and directed by John Cassaday. It aired in the United States on Fox on December 18, 2009.
As the title suggests, this episode focuses on the Dollhouse's frequently referenced Attic, after Echo, Priya and Anthony were all placed there at the end of "Stop-Loss". This episode was aired back-to-back with "Stop-Loss".
The episode starts with a woman hooking up Echo onto machines to monitor her vitals. Shortly thereafter Echo flatlines, and a woman and man return to dispose of the body. However, Echo comes back to life and kills both of them. Echo finds Priya and Anthony and frees them, but as they try to escape, Echo is separated from Anthony and Priya by a bullet-proof wall. Priya and Anthony are cornered, shot and killed in front of Echo's eyes. It then turns out that Echo is living this moment as her nightmare.
Back in the Dollhouse, Topher informs DeWitt of Ballard's condition. Topher notes that parts of Paul's brain are dead, so the only option left to him is to install the Active architecture, and even that is not guaranteed to work. If it does work, Topher may be able to piece together the brain map Alpha did of Ballard and imprint him. Adelle tells Topher to do it, and if they fail to revive Ballard's personality, he will make a good Victor. Boyd asks Topher about the Attic. Topher tells him people who are there, are kept in a fear induced state, and either they live like that forever or die. In the Attic, Echo relives her nightmare, but eventually learns that it isn't real and walks away as Anthony and Priya are killed. Echo finds a hatch which leads her back inside the Dollhouse, but there is a tree and snow inside.
Topher continues to study Ballard's brain, and notes that there are still functional parts of the brain, but not enough to make the Active architecture take. Ivy seems to give Topher an idea, but is shortly called away to see DeWitt. Inside Echo's head, she begins to see memories of her imprints. She believes that the world she is in isn't real. Echo starts to relive moments she has had inside the Dollhouse, and as a result realizes DeWitt has put her in the Attic. A dark figure then appears before Echo and she states that it isn't real, but the figure punches Echo and she is forced to flee. Dominic appears and startles Echo, and they engage in an altercation. Echo believes Dominic is trying to kill her, but Dominic denies this and together they are able to defeat the figure. Echo and Dominic argue about who is in whose mind. Echo says this is her mind, as what they are seeing are her memories. Echo believes Dominic is real and believes the minds in the Attic are connected. Dominic says he has been chasing the figure, named Arcane, who has been killing people. Echo asks Dominic how to travel from mind to mind, but out of haste Echo leaves Dominic behind. Echo arrives in what appears to be a Japanese restaurant.
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