I Wake Up Screaming

### IMDb

**"I Wake Up Screaming"** is the fifth episode of Season Two of Netflix's *Altered Carbon*. It aired on February 27, 2020, along with the remainder of the second season.

## Promotional Synopsis

Carrera sends his secret weapon on a deadly mission. Kovacs and Trepp smuggle Quell out of the city. Poe takes a risky trip into virtual reality.

## Recap

Our story continues from where we left off in Shadow of a Doubt. Takeshi Kovacs and Trepp arrive back at The Nevermore Hotel. Trepp rebukes Takeshi about the recent attack on the casting facility. Takeshi tells Trepp it is none of her business and she does not need to know. Takeshi ask Dig to get him something from behind the bar and she gives it to him. Poe tells Takeshi he is surprised he did not cast out yet. When Trepp hears the word off-world she calls Takeshi a liar and accuses him of abandoning her and her quest to find Anil and tells him he was biding her time so he could cast out and take Quell with him. He tells Dig to upload him into the renouncer construct so they can find Konrad Harlan. Trepp continues her argument and Trepp raises his bounty with Takeshi reminds her that CTAC is not forgiving to people who partner with terrorist and they will just shoot them anyways. Takeshi tells Trepp that Quell will be targeting Konrad in VR and they need to stop her before she does anymore damage. Poe tried to interrupt them and when that does not work he drops a bottle and finally gets their attention. Poe tells Takeshi and Trepp that Quell is not going anywhere she is upstairs recovering from the attack. He also tells Takeshi to give her time to clean herself up because when she got back she was injured. Takeshi goes up to their room and finds Quell in the shower bleeding and shaking all over. She tells Takeshi it happened again and he tells her he knows and comforts her.

In VR Takeshi Prime is talking to Jaeger who reveals the truth. Jaeger double sleeved Takeshi and Rei and cloned their DHF and sleeves. Takeshi tells Jaeger what he did was illegal because double sleeving means real death if either of them are caught. Jaeger tells Takeshi to do his job, eliminate Quell and the clone, and take care of Danica Harlan. In the present Jaeger introduces Takeshi to his team and Takeshi test his new powers. Jaeger informs Takeshi there will be no backup Quell destroyed the casting facility in the previous episode making this impossible. Batu informs Takeshi that Tanaseda Hideki is dead and that Quell real deathed him. Jaeger also informs Takeshi that they have not found the weapon yet but CTAC wants it. Jaeger leaves to talk to Danica and leaves Takeshi in charge of Wedge.

Back at the Nevermore Poe, Dig, and Trepp go over their plan. Poe tells Trepp if Takeshi lied it was to protect Quell and to keep her safe. Dig says they don't know what happened to Quell and Trepp calls Quell insane and her DHF is fragmented with Poe confirming this. Dig tries to help and says she can cure it but Trepp says it won't work there is no cure for P-Frag and even if they tried to help Quell it will just make it worse. Dig tells Poe she can cure him but he tells her he needs to be of service and weather she likes it or not he is going to cast into VR and get answers even it it means it destroys his core. Upstairs Quell and Takeshi think of a plant to cast off and Takeshi tells her it won't work all private bays go through the central hub and Quell just destroyed it. Takeshi tells Quell that there is one founder left Konrad Harlan and what ever is in Quell wants him dead. Quell tells Takeshi they are nobodies and Takeshi tells her what ever they did it had to be enough to tip her off. Takeshi wants answers and so does Quell and she tells him she does not want to wake up covered in blood ever again. Takeshi tells Quell what she did to Hideki does not matter he told Takeshi to forgive Quell because he knew what was going to happen. Quell tells Takeshi if he finds out to let her know.

At the Yakuza hideout Wedge investigates Hideki's murder. When they can't find the stack Takeshi Prime takes them towards the VR pedestal. Yukito interrupts them. Takeshi Prime ask Yukito where the clone is and Yukito goes on a rant. Takeshi tells him he will do nothing and he is just stalling for time. Yukito storms off and tells Takeshi Prime he will get his revenge. Batu tells Takeshi Prime that Yukito was lying and that Takeshi let him go and Takeshi tells him he did not and they need to find Takeshi Prime before the Yakuza does.

At the governors office Jaeger shows Danica the tape from the attack on the casting facility. Danica says she wants the tape locked down and Jaeger says he already did and the tape is encrypted only Danica and Jaeger can see it. Jaeger tells Danica the gig is up Quell is alive and this is not something she can sweep under a rug. The Meths fear the Quellist and if word of this gets out the Meths will question her leadership because the charter of Harlan's World calls for a no confidence vote and they can use it to throw Danica out of office.

Back at The Nevermore Dig pulls a sticky note and Takeshi comes down the elevator and orders booze. Just then the TV comes on Kemp declares war on Danica and shows the tape from the attack. The tape ends with the usual Quellist propaganda. Takeshi tells them Kemp just lit the fuse and the powder keg is going to blow and the only way they will be safe is to find Kemp and side with him. Dig tells them it is too dangerous CTACs are in the streets so Quell takes this mission and she knows exactly where Kemp is. Outside Yukito is leading the Yakuza into an ambush while Takeshi Prime tries to stop him. Qill says she can turn on Takeshi with Takeshi countering that she won't and Trepp says she will. Quell says she can find Kemp and knows where he is. Takeshi says no and Dig says this is like what happened when the Archaeologues abandoned her. Just then The Yakuza blow the door and Yukito comes in and calls Takeshi out. Dig tells Yukito to get out and Wedge shows up behind him and slags him. Takeshi Prime demands to know where his clone is and takes the glass Takeshi left behind. Unknown to them Takeshi used the balcony to get out when Yakuza blew the front entrance and slipped right past them. Takeshi tells Quell and Trepp they need to find Kemp soon because CTAC will be after them. Trepp tells Takeshi she knows where they are and she and Quell know where Kemp has his hideout. Takeshi says he knows the underground he can get them out of the city. Trepp says if they are going off grid she knows a black market fencer who can get them weapons, chems, and cloths.

In VR Poe tries to locate Konrad Harlan. The AI leads Poe into a maze and Poe has to find his way so he can locate Jack Soul Brasil.

At the gun shop Poe, Trepp, and Quell load up on weapons and gear and take some chems for the road. Takeshi says they will need a beacon to signal Kemp and Trepp calls her contact to tell Kemp they are coming. Suddenly Lucas comes out and points his gun at them telling them to not touch his stuff. Turns out this is Trepp's father.

Back at the Nevermore Takeshi Prime questions Dig and Dig wipes the data so CTAC can't find them. Takeshi Prime sends in commands and finally gets what he is looking for the address of Lucas Imani's shop.

Lucas rebukes them for robbing his shop starting an argument with Trepp. Trepp tells Lucas they are trying to get Quell out of the city and Lucas drops a bombshell and tells them Anil worked for the Quellist. Lucas tells Trepp what happened Anil was sent to get mining equipment for a mission Kemp sent him on and he did not return. Lucas tells Trepp not to make the same mistakes he did and Trepp tells Lucas she never gives up on family and leaves.

Inside VR Poe meets Jack and ask where he can find Konrad Harlan. Jack stalls for time and shows and shows Poe Lizzie. Lizzie takes Poe on a tour of the construct.

In the wilds of Harlan's World Takeshi stops at what was is former village and tries to open the maintenance hatch but it stuck. Quell tries to comfort Trepp for her loss. Quell tells Trepp she is not a fallower and gives her a mission. If Quell loses her mind she wants Trepp to euthanize her so her blood rage does not strike again. Trepp agrees because Takeshi won't do it because he loves Quell. Takeshi uses a crowbar and finally gets the hatch open and they head down into the sewers.

Back at Lucas' shop CTAC comes in and demands Takeshi's location. Batu roughs up Lucas but he won't talk. Takeshi Prime comes behind him and destroys his stack. Batu demands an explanation. Takeshi says he knows where his clone is going because he use to live in the mining tunnel and leads them to the entrance to the sewers.

Down in the tunnels Quell ask about where they are and Takeshi reminds her she made the stacks. Suddenly Quell loses her mind and Trepp gets ready to put a bullet in her head but it subsides. Takeshi and Trepp calm her down and Takeshi tells Quell to think of the lake outside of Stronghold where they made love for the first time and this settles her. Trepp reminds Takeshi if she has P-Frag Quell can become unstable and lose her mind.

Back in VR Lizzie continues her tour of the construct but Poe starts glitching again. Lizzie reminds Poe that he cured her after Rei and the Wei Clinic corrupted her stack with those parasites and Poe helped her get her sanity back. Suddenly some renouncers walk by and snaps Poe back to reality. Poe changes his attire and they continue their search for Konrad Harlan.

Back in the tunnels CTAC is cut off. Takeshi was smart and blew up the entrance so they would not fallow them. Takeshi Prime remembers his past and knows exactly where to look.

Takeshi shows them the map and tells them exactly where they are going they are going to Stronghold the former headquarters of the Envoys. Quell realizes Takeshi is not leading them to Kemp he is leading to where Quell lost her memory. Quell realizes this and says that Takeshi might not fix this.

At the governors office the Meths are in panic. Quell is back, Kemp has declared war, and the Meths want protection. Jaeger tells them the Wedge are not bodyguards they are bounty hunters and their mission is to find Takeshi. Danica takes matters into her own hands and declares martial law which gets a rebuke from the Meths. Jaeger tells Danica she is playing with fire and she will become a tyrant and use the weapon for evil means. The Meths vote and Jaeger is silenced and with that Danica exerts control over Harlan's World, places the Meths under arrest, and orders mass genocides. Danica then orders Jaeger to find Takeshi and hill him and bring her Quell so she can seize control of the weapon.

Back in VR Lizzie and Poe try to sneak into a renouncer temple with Lizzie objecting that they will get caught. Poe tries to contact Konrad and Lizzie warns him if they get caught it will set off the alarm. Poe enters the hut and finds out it is all a lie. The fake Lizzie tries to get Poe to stay but he tells he is not and leaves.

Back in the tunnels Takeshi tries to reason with Quell and tells her that Quell would never give up and to trust him. Quell has another attack and runs off Trepp shoots her but misses. Quell finds the Songspire Tree and at its roots her pod. Takeshi finds her and she collapses. Trepp leads them out and they come out in Stronghold. Takeshi pulls the gun out of Trepp's holster and dumps the mag. Takeshi heads to the surface to send up a beacon.

Back in VR Poe is trying to escape the construct. On the way out he gets trapped in the maze by the fake Lizzie and Jack. They tell him that the construct is fake and Danica paid them to lie about Konrad to keep the construct going. Poe rebukes them and says what they did is pointless. The fake Lizzie tells Poe he is trapped and they have control. Poe counters this and tells them that his core is corrupted and he destroys the construct and escapes.

Back in Stronghold Takeshi is trying to get into range of the signal but the ground is littered with the remains of the Battle of Stronghold making getting a signal impossible. Inside Trepp cares after Quell and touches the Songspire Tree causing Quell to react.

Back at the Nevermore Poe returns and sees Dig locked in a loop. Poe helps Dig snap out of and Dig tells Poe they need to warn Takeshi because he is walking into a trap.

Back at Stronghold Takeshi runs into Takeshi Prime and tries to disarm him. A fight breaks out and Takeshi is thrown over the cliff.

## Cast

### Starring

* Anthony Mackie as Takeshi Kovacs
* Lela Loren as Danica Harlan
* Simone Missick as Trepp
* Chris Conner as Poe
* Dina Shihabi as Dig 301
* Torben Liebrecht as Jaeger
* Renee Elise Goldsberry as Quellcrist Falconer

### Guest starring

* Will Yun Lee as Takeshi Kovacs (2130)
* Neal McDonough as Konrad Harlan
* James Saito as Tanaseda Hideki
* Daniel Bernhardt as Jaeger (2130)
* Carl Lumbly as Lucas Imani
* Hayley Law as Lizzie Elliot
* Sen Mitsuji as Tanaseda Yukito
* Matt Ellis as Joshua Kemp
* Dalias Blake as Batu / Wedge
* Orphée Ladouceur-Nguyen as Wedge / Morgaine
* Skyler Mowatt as Wedge / Finch
* Mitra Suri as Wedge / Simone
* Alessandro Juliani as Jack Soul Brasil
* Xander Hall as Cartel Meth #1
* Cecilia Grace Deacon as Cartel Meth #2
* Kira Clavell as Cartel Meth #3
* Karen Khunkhun as Newscaster
* Andrew Chin as Yakuza Heavy