| Jericho Episode 6 – 9:02 |
The episode picks up with everyone standing outside Bailey’s watching the missiles fly outbound. Some residents speculate that the United States is launching a retaliation against the perpetrators of the nuclear attack on American cities. The mayor comments that the nearest missile silos are in Wyoming, 100 miles away, and that the missiles may not be American. Hawkins goes home, tells his family to enter the basement, and uses his computer to enter a chat presumably with another member of his confederates, who states that he cannot speak freely as he has been compromised. A large explosion is seen in the sky and at that time the lights go out. Hawkins hands his family chemical lights and confirms that there was an electromagnetic pulse. The possibility that officials were beginning to respond to the crisis with the restoration of electricity, the telephone message from Homeland Security, and the potential television address by a federal official appears to have been a false hope. Eric questions whether or not help is actually coming, but the mayor tells him probably not.
The episode then picks up two weeks later. The ability of Jericho’s residents to maintain some semblance of "normalcy" with functional modern technology in the first days after the attacks has been almost completely lost. The clocks are all locked on 9:02 and the kids are playing in the street using their now worthless cellphones as baseballs. One flies through the window of the grocery store and Dale confronts the kids who broke the window. He tells Jake the same teenagers have tried to steal from the store twice in the last week. A previously unseen teenager, "Sean", identifies himself as a friend of Dale, who looks uncomfortable but does not dispute him.
Hawkins works as a police officer more to help maintain order, as everyone now realizes they are living in a vastly different world. The small police force is overwhelmed with complaints such as trespassing and a broken water main on Ash Street flooding property. Mary is upset about Eric and discussing the situation with Jake when Mitch walks into Bailey’s. Mitch and Jake obviously have a bad history with each other, but before the situation can escalate to violence, Hawkins intervenes.
The mayor’s flu worsens and the antibiotics have little effect. April says she is going to get something stronger from the clinic, but she does not know if that will work. There is still obvious tension between April and Eric.
Stanley and his sister are working on their now inoperable tractor. Stanley states that perhaps with a new starter it will be operable. Mimi shows up and states that she will reduce his outstanding tax bill by the cost of room and board as she is now unable to stay in the hotel. After reacting to an insect, Stanley checks the corn and discovers an infestation.
Hawkins reads Mitch’s arrest record, which includes armed robbery and gun trafficking. He also learns that Mitch lives with other "survivalists" in a compound outside of town. Eric alludes to the history between Mitch and Jake.
Jake and his mother, Gail, are at the ranch tending to the horses when they stampede because of two unidentified rustlers. Gail’s arm is injured but not broken. Jake decides to go look for Mitch, but the mayor takes his pistol. We learn that Jake’s sudden and unexplained departure from town involved Mitch and a third male individual who was killed. Mitch had been arrested at about the time of Jake’s departure.
Stanley realizes that he needs pesticide for his corn, and goes to Gracie’s with Mimi. Gracie says that she is willing to give him the pesticides for half his harvest after Stanley offers 20 bushels. Stanley and Mimi then storm out of the store.
Eric and Jimmy learn from Mary about Gail’s horses having been sold to an individual out by the airport. They head out to the compound but Jake has beaten them there. He follows the hoofprints to an area that has several small planes and outbuildings.
Stanley goes to the mayor and tells him of the problem with corn worms in his crop. Stanley has to harvest the crops and the mayor tells him that he needs to share with the town. Stanley resists giving his entire crop to the town and leaves.
As Jake examines the horses, Dale sees him and tries to apologize before Mitch comes up and knocks him out. When Jake comes to, Mitch is pacing around him with a shotgun. He tells Jake he went to jail when Jake left him and "his best friend", who was shot in the head during an armed robbery. Jake threatens Mitchell, who then says "that’s the Jake I know". Jake attacks Mitchell. During the struggle, Mitchell loses his gun, but just as he recovers it, Eric and Jimmy arrive. Mitchell escapes on horseback, but Dale and Sean are taken into custody.
Jake and Hawkins discuss the situation. There is little they can do as there is no judicial system in place. Nobody knows where the nearest judge is. With the Sheriff and half the deputies dead, there is no one to protect the town from raiders like Mitchell. Hawkins tells Jake that to properly interrogate the suspects they need to be separated. Hawkins then volunteers to "extract" the information from Sean.
Gracie notices that the pesticide was stolen and reports it to the police. Bill then goes to Stanley and searches his property for the stolen pesticide. Mimi tries to calm Stanley, but he is still upset that an old friend like Bill doesn’t trust him. Dale and Jake discuss Mitchell being bad news when Skylar shows up to bail out Dale, even though she has no money. Dale is allowed to leave with Skylar. Dale then agrees to show Jake where Mitchell is.
Allison seeks out her father in his safe room. She uses a chemical light to examine the room and discovers a map with pins stuck in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle and San Diego. She also finds a pistol in a case and his still-functional laptop with Jake’s profile shown.
