Alias/The Prophecy

The Prophecy
Season 1, Episode 16
Airdate	March 10, 2002
Production Number	E645
Written by	John Eisendrath
Directed by	Davis Guggenheim
← 1x15 Page 47	1x17 → Q & A
Alias — Season One

The Prophecy is the sixteenth episode of the first season of Alias. Sloane takes the Council's decision on "The Man" into his own hands as Sydney learns of her role in the Rambaldi prophecy.

Starring: Jennifer Garner (Sydney Bristow), Ron Rifkin (Arvin Sloane), Michael Vartan (Michael Vaughn), Bradley Cooper (Will Tippin), Merrin Dungey (Francie Calfo), Carl Lumbly (Marcus Dixon) (credit only), Kevin Weisman (Marshall Flinkman) (credit only)

and Victor Garber (Jack Bristow)

Special Guest Star: Roger Moore (Edward Poole)

Guest Starring: Lindsay Crouse (Dr. Carson Evans, DSR), James Handy (C.I.A. Director Devlin), Derrick O'Connor (Alexander Khasinau), Joey Slotnick (C.I.A. Agent Steven Haladki), Castulo Guerra (Jean Briault), Wolf Muser (Alliance Chairman Ramon Veloso)

and Amy Irving (Emily Sloane)

Co-Starring: Joe D'Angerio (Dr. Watterson), Robert Arce (Hobbes), Allen Williams (Senator Mark Townsend)

Featuring: Lilyan Chauvin (Signora Ventutti), Anya Matanovic (Opera Student), Joseph Vassallo (Vatican Station Chief)

Plot Overview

On return from an operation in Brazil to collect surveillance of the person suspected to be "The Man", Sydney produces photos to both CIA and SD-6 that show that "The Man" is Alexander Khasinau. Superficially having ties to the Russian Mafia, Khasinau is using their funding and power for his own uses. SD-6's hands are tied as the Alliance of Twelve is non-committal on acting against Khasinau. Knowing that there are several key swing votes, including Edward Poole and Sloane's mentor Jean Briault. Calling on Edward Poole first to confirm that he is intending to vote in favor of war, Poole warns him that Briault is in communication with Khasinau and has photographic and financial evidence of their involvement. Initially unwilling to accept that his recruiter and friend is in league with Khasinau, Sloane comes to terms with this and vows to take care of it himself. Arranging a covert meeting with Briault in Montréal, Sloane talks with him briefly before killing him.

At the scheduled meeting among the Alliance of Twelve, the final vote tally is 5 in favor of war and 6 against. Cornering Poole outside, Sloane deduces that Poole had lied and always intended to vote against war while doctoring photos of Poole's own involvement with Khasinau and manipulated Sloane into killing his mentor and creating a definitive vote. Poole casually gets into his car despite Sloane's accusations and Kasinau is in his back seat.

The revelation that Page 47 contains an illustration of Sydney brings the Department of Special Research into the investigation. A special branch of the government originally founded to look into Nazi paranormal interests during World War II, the DSR brings in Sydney for a litany of tests. Testing to see if Sydney matches characteristics of the person referred to by Rambaldi as the central role of "The Prophecy", Sydney walks out of the tests midway as it threatens her cover with the extended absence the testing requires. After talking to Emily Sloane, who relates her own feelings about the fear of her own failing struggle with cancer, Sydney returns to complete the testing to get a complete grasp of the situation.

Worried as the DSR decodes more of the Rambaldi text that they are misreading it, Sydney plans a personal operation to get the original Rambaldi codekey from the Vatican to compare to the reverse engineered codekey the DSR is using. Vaughn travels with her to Italy and the two break into the Vatican's vault and find the code key along the frame of a portrait of Rambaldi's personal architect.

The code key only verifies the DSR's interpretation and Sydney is covertly led out of club by DSR to be held in confinement. Sydney has been confirmed to meet the three characteristics specified by Rambaldi and the text suggests she poses a great threat unless stopped.

Notes

• Sydney avoids fire from two pursuing guards and outruns guard dogs while later beating up a Vatican security guard. Sloane shoots and kills his mentor Jean Briault.

• Sydney uses a shaped charge to break into the Vatican.

• The three characteristic anomalies that Rambaldi detailed about Sydney are: Specific DNA sequencing, platelet levels, and heart size.

Music

• The Hives - "Hate to Say I Told You So"

• The Afterbeat - "Billy Van" (Netflix version)

• Bill Bonk - "World Gone Mad"

• Hathaway - "Feels Like Home"

• Mint Royale - "From Rusholme With Love"

Arc Advancement

Characters

• Emily Sloane believes her illness will result in her death within the year.

• Haladki jockeys for authority by encouraging the DSR to confine Sydney despite the objections of Vaughn and Devlin's insistence against it.

Trivia

Behind the Scenes

• Edward Poole was intended to be a recurring character, but Roger Moore turned down returning because he wasn't offered enough money.

Quotes

• Sydney: So what does the prophecy say?

Dr. Evans: "This woman, here depicted, will possess unseen marks. Signs that she will be the one to brings forth my works, bind them with fury. A burning anger, unless prevented, at vulgar cost this woman will render the greatest power unto utter desolation."