Gunner (episode)

Gunner is the fifth episode of the first season of the television series The Punisher.
==Synopsis==
Frank and Micro go looking for answers from a reluctant witness. Madani and Sam learn of a looming investigation. Rawlins sees a ghost.
==Plot==
At the hideout, Micro expresses his anger because Frank Castle had blown his cover to rescue Dinah Madani, letting her know that he is alive. Micro is concerned that if Castle's name winds up in the Homeland Security system, Agent Orange will find them in no time. However, Castle turns at him for ramming into Madani's car, causing the whole situation in the first place. Fed up with Micro's complaints, Castle goes to the Lieberman Residence and fixes Sarah's car. Sarah and Leo invite Castle for the dinner and he accepts, although Zach clearly does not want to see Castle there.
Sam Stein and Rafael Hernandez review the files regarding the Greek Mob operation, before they are joined by Madani who was supposed to stay home and recover. While Madani keeps the fact that she was rescued by Castle to herself, Hernandez chastises her for risking the whole operation for virtually nothing. He also informs Madani that the will be investigating, since the truck full of weapons got stolen and suggests Madani to cooperate. Madani looks through Castle's files, ignoring Billy Russo's calls and comes across of a photo of Castle with Karen Page on his trial.
Micro reviews the Ahmad Zubair footage and points out that someone from the Cerberus Squad risked his life to record the execution and leak it to NSA. Looking at the camera position, Castle realizes that it was filmed by Gunner Henderson, saying that he knew that Operation Cerberus was wrong and could try to expose Agent Orange. Micro suggests that since Henderson was not in Orange's league, he could hold the important information they need but they need to find Henderson first.
Madani invites Page to Homeland Security Headquarters for a questioning, inquiring about Castle and his service in Afghanistan. As they briefly discuss Carson Wolf and his corruption, Page says that since Castle is dead, there is nothing more to tell than Madani already knows. Back at her office, Madani asks Stein to help her find some of the soldiers that could be present during Zubair's execution, such as Castle and Henderson. Stein refuses to help her since she keeps chasing the cold case no one cares about, but Madani reveals to him that Castle is alive and saved her. Madani says that she must find out what Castle is after and cannot tell anyone about it but Stein tells her that if OIG asks him, he is not going to lie.
Agent Orage, whose real name is William Rawlins, gives a speech to the CIA recruits at the agency headquarters in Langley, saying that CIA's mission is to protect their country, regardless of the cost. Afterwards, Rawlins listens to the audio from Madani's office at Homeland Security and hears Stein mentioning Henderson's name, which deeply concerns him.
Castle is informed by Micro that Page wants to see him, so the two meet near the bridge to talk. Page tells Castle that Madani is looking for him and Castle fills her in that the same people that tried to kill Lieberman are after him as well. Castle is determined to kill every single person that is responsible for the deaths of his family but Page argues that it would not bring him closure but turn those criminals into heroes in the public eye. She suggests Castle to tell Madani what he knows but Castle refuses to risk any people close to him getting caught in the crossfire, which includes Page as well.
As a part of the investigation, the OIG conducts individual questionings with Madani and Stein, regarding the Greek Mob operation. When the investigators questions Stein if he has any suspects in mind, he does not mention Castle, which Madani anticipated. Madani tells Stein that they must find the soldiers from Castle's unit, so they could give them Castle or any other lead they could use. Stein agrees to help her on the condition that if they fail to find anything within a week, he will tell everything to Hernandez himself.
For his service for the CIA, Rawlins is awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal by Marion James. Later, Rawlins meets with James at her office and they discuss James' plans to rise up to the Director position. James sees Rawlins as her future Deputy Director, since he led one of the most effective CIA operation, although Rawlins notes that the government would not appreciate a man from the Covert Operations on such a position. James agrees that bringing Rawlins as the Deputy Director would get political, so she asks Rawlins to tell her upfront if there are any secrets left that might hurt them but Rawlins assures her that there is nothing for her to worry about.
Looking for Henderson, Micro concludes that he has been staying off the grid for years but finds a place in Kentucky where he might be hiding, so the two drive there. While Micro stays behind, Castle scouts the area and finds a lone cabin, calling out to Henderson. He then gets shot in the arm with an arrow by Henderson but Castle assures him that he is not with Agent Orange and the people who Henderson is hiding from killed his family. Discussing the Zubair execution footage, Henderson tells Castle about the heroin traffic that was used to fund the operation and that Orange's men used dead bodies to smuggle the drugs from Afghanistan.
Henderson reveals to Castle that the heroin traffic was overseen by Colonel Morty Bennett who worked very close with Orange. Suddenly, they see a helicopter landing in the area, as Rawlins dispatched a tactical unit to kill Henderson, alerted by Madani's interest in him. With Micro's aerial assistance, Castle and Henderson take out the soldiers, and Rawlins finds out that Castle is alive through one of the soldier's body camera. With all soldiers taken down, Castle looks through the camera says that whoever Orange is, he is coming from him. 
The Lieberman family waits for Castle to attend their dinner, but they eventually realize he's not coming. Meanwhile, Madani decides to take Russo on his offer and goes to the bar with him, which ends up in them having sex.
After the shootout with the soldiers, both Castle and Henderson are heavily wounded, so Castle tries to get him some help. Henderson eventually succums to his wounds and makes Castle promise to bury him, before dying from the blood loss. Castle staggers, trying to reach the van but collapses in the woods, before being found by Micro. He carries uncouncsious Castle to the van and gives him some basic medical treatment and drives back to New York City. Castle briefly wakes up and noticing his situation, remarks that there might be hope for Micro yet.
==Cast==
Main Cast:
*Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/Punisher
*Ebon Moss-Bachrach as David Lieberman/Micro
*Ben Barnes as Billy Russo
*Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani
*Paul Schulze as William Rawlins
*Michael Nathanson as Sam Stein
*Jaime Ray Newman as Sarah Lieberman
*Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page
Guest Stars:
*Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Deputy Director Marion James
*Tony Plana as Director Rafael Hernandez
*Ripley Sobo as Leo Lieberman
*Kobi Frumer as Zach Lieberman
*Jeb Kreager as Gunner Henderson
*Shezi Sardar as Ahmad Zubair
*Timothy D. Stickney as OIG Agent
*Unknown Actor as Alpha
*Unknown Actor as Bravo
*Unknown Actor as Charlie
*Unknown Actor as Delta I
*Unknown Actor as Delta II
*Unknown Actor as Echo
*Unknown Actor as Foxtrot
*Unknown Actor as Golf
*Unknown Actor as Hotel
==Appearances==
===Locations===
*New York City, New York
**Madani Residence
**Micro's Hideout
**Lieberman Residence
**Homeland Security Headquarters
**Dinah Madani's Apartment
**Red Hook Pier (mentioned)
**Castle Residence (mentioned)
**Ryker's Island (mentioned)
*Langley, Virginia
**George Bush Center for Intelligence
*Kentucky
**Gunner Henderson's Homestead
*Kandahar, Afghanistan (footage)
**Cerberus Squad Compound (mentioned)
===Events===
*Cerberus Concealment Conspiracy
**Attack on Gunner Henderson
**Robbery of the Greek Mob's Arsenal (mentioned)
**Attack on Carson Wolf (mentioned)
**Massacre at Central Park (mentioned)
**Assassination of Ray Schoonover (mentioned)
*Operation Cerberus (mentioned)
**Assassination of Ahmad Zubair (footage)
*Murder of Daniel Fisher (mentioned)
*Arrest of Wilson Fisk (mentioned)
===Items===
*Micro's Drone
*Punisher's Arsenal
*
*
===Vehicles===
*Frank Castle's Van
* (picture)
===Creatures===
*Dogs (mentioned)
* (mentioned)
* (mentioned)
===Organizations===
*United States Department of Homeland Security
*Anvil
*CIA
*New York Bulletin
*The New York Examiner
*
*Cerberus Squad (footage)
*United States Marine Corps (mentioned)
*New York City Police Department (mentioned)
*United States Department of Defense (mentioned)
*United States Department of State (mentioned)
*Nelson and Murdock (indirectly mentioned)
===Mentioned===
*Maria Castle
*Lisa Castle
*Frank Castle, Jr.
*Farah Madani
*Hamid Madani
*Carson Wolf
*Edward Drogin
*Ray Schoonover
*Morty Bennett
*Wilson Fisk
*
*
*
*
*
==Music==
Song title 	Artist 	Location(s)
Judas 	Tyler Bates	William Rawlins watches the video feeds as remaining Anvil agents are taken out by the Punisher and Gunner Henderson.
Quiet Reflection	Tyler Bates	Micro checks Frank Castle's wounds. Castle awakens while Lieberman tries to assure him that everything will be fine.
==References==
==External Links==
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Category:The Punisher Episodes