A Mad Tea-Party

"We all make choices, Bruce. I chose hope. And I chose to believe Beth was still alive. I chose to save my sister from the monster she's become, but by making that choice, I lost my entire family a second time, and now the only thing I'm left with is the awful truth that Alice was right. Beth is gone."

—Kate Kane on Catherine's death at Alice's hands.

"A Mad Tea-Party"
Information
Season 1 » Episode 8
Episode number	8 of 51
Original airdate	December 1, 2019
Written by	Nancy Kiu
Directed by	Holly Dale
Chronology
Preceded by	"Tell Me the Truth"
Followed by	"Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two"

"A Mad Tea-Party" is the eighth episode of the first season of Batwoman, and the eighth episode overall. It aired on December 1, 2019.

Synopsis

Kate and Alice continue their sister/nemesis dance, while Alice and Mouse construct their most evil plan yet. Mary invites Kate to a special event honoring Catherine and Jacob makes a decision that leaves Kate perplexed.

Cast

Starring

• Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman
• Rachel Skarsten as Beth Kane/Alice
• Meagan Tandy as Sophie Moore
• Nicole Kang as Mary Hamilton
• Camrus Johnson as Luke Fox
• Elizabeth Anweis as Catherine Hamilton-Kane
• Dougray Scott as Jacob Kane and Jonathan Cartwright/Mouse

Guest starring

• Greyston Holt as Tyler
• Sebastian Roché as Dr. Ethan Campbell

Co-starring

• Rachel Maddow as Vesper Fairchild (voice)
• Cameron McDonald as Commissioner Forbes
• Allison Riley as Dana Dewitt
• Kareem Malcolm as Crows Agent #1
• Adam Ballantyne as Rabbit
• Jay Clift as GCPD Officer

Uncredited

• Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Nash Wells
• LaMonica Garrett as Mobius/Anti-Monitor (voice)

Plot

Batwoman drops in on a member of Alice's Wonderland gang. She asks him to give her his jacket. The unnamed Wonderland Gang member says no because her jacket is vintage. But he eventually relents, and shortly after she takes his jacket, a cop car arrives, and he is presumably arrested.

Back at the Batcave, Kate gives the jacket to Luke and tells him to use the phone inside the pocket to track Alice via the GPS. Luke tracks the phone's GPS to the Bowery, and Kate heads there.

Alice is trying on clothes, whining about how she has nothing to wear, when Kate comes in and accuses her of hiring the Rifle to kill her using the Coil Accelerator. Her sister notes that she made sure someone didn't kill Kate and gives her the piece of tech that lets the coil accelerator penetrate the Batwoman suit. Kate advises Alice to turn herself in, and Alice tells her to leave as several of her henchmen arrive to back her up.

Meanwhile, Jacob is going to his car when Alice's henchmen grab him. He tries to fight them off, but eventually he gets overpowered since there's more of them and only one of him. He gets put in a getaway car, and the Wonderland Gang member drives away with their prisoner knocked out.

At the bar, Mary visits Kate and invites her to attend the Gotham Humanitarian Gala with her where Catherine will be. Kate notes that Catherine lied to Jacob about Beth being dead, and Mary reminds Kate that she's holding hope out to Alice. When Kate says that Alice is family Mary takes offense and tells Kate that Jacob is coming to the gala for her. She says that she thought Kate would do the same for her and leaves.

That night, Kate visits Jacob (who is really Mouse masquerading as him) and asks if he's getting back with Catherine. He says that he can't just walk away from their marriage, explaining that he had breakfast with Catherine when he returned to Gotham. Jacob defends Catherine and Kate leaves, disgusted at who she thinks is her father.

Alice wakes the imprisoned Jacob up and tells him that it's time for a father-daughter chat. Jacob asks her to release him from the chains and says that Kate will know that he's gone. Alice tells him that Kate doesn't know and Jacob says that he's sorry that he left her behind. His daughter asks why he never tested the skull fragments Catherine found, and Jacob explains that he didn't think Catherine was lying. Alice doesn't believe it, and Jacob says that believing Catherine's lie was easier than going to bed with a broken heart. He admits that he failed her, and Alice thanks him for saying it and for making her what she is today. Jacob asks what she's planning, and Alice says that it's the day of her mad tea party to which Jacob has been invited. She notes that Jacob is stuck there and says that he'll soon see what this means, and leaves.

At Wayne Tower, Kate drinks and asks Luke how her father is choosing to be with Catherine after all the pain she has caused them. She figures that the Jacob she met isn't him. She calls "Jacob" and tells him that it's not her business if he wants to get back with Catherine. Kate mentions a snowstorm at the wedding, and "Jacob" agrees. Once Kate hangs up, she says that Jacob and Catherine were married during the hottest day of the summer, and deduces that the "Jacob" she just finished talking to is in fact Mouse.

Meanwhile, back at theCrows Headquarters, Sophie suggests that she and Tyler go on a road trip and throws out Dollywood as a possible destination, but he's not interested. She says that they should talk about what she told him regarding her and Kate. Tyler doesn't want to talk about it, and "Jacob" comes in and briefs Sophie and Tyler about the security for the gala. Kate texts Sophie and warns her that "Jacob" is Mouse, just as "Jacob" tranqs both of them unconscious.

Later that night, Mary takes a limo to the gala with Catherine and "Jacob" and vlogs about the trip. "Jacob" proposes a toast to Catherine.

Kate visits Alice and asks her what she has planned. She points out a photo that Alice kept of the two of them from their Bat Mitzvahs, and figures that there's still some good in Alice. Kate asks where Jacob is, and Alice says that she left him in the same place he left her. As Kate goes, Alice tells her that Jacob isn't doing well and she should get there quick. Kate goes to the Cartwright house and discovers that Jacob has escaped his handcuffs and left.

Mary, Catherine, and "Jacob" arrive at the theater where the gala is going on. Luke checks the surveillance cameras and confirms via facial recognition that the Crow with "Jacob" is in fact not a Crow, but one of Alice's henchmen. Meanwhile, both Catherine and Mary drink champagne and "Jacob" merely pretends to.

In the theater, Dr. Ethan Campbell presents Catherine with the Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Sophie wakes up in Jacob's office and wakes up Tyler. They're both tied to chairs and the office is soundproofed. Sophie figures Alice didn't want to hurt them and has something planned for the gala, and if Alice killed Sophie then Kate would never forgive her. Tyler asks Sophie how she feels, and Sophie doesn't respond.

Catherine's teleprompter flashes a message to her that the Wonderland Gang is there and will open fire if she stops her speech. Alice is standing in the back, and Catherine recites Alice's speech saying that her company makes millions by putting weapons of war in the hands of criminals. Jacob makes money from protecting the citizens from the villains, and the true villains are not The Joker, the Riddler or even Alice, but they are right in front of the audience. Blood then begins to drip from Catherine's nose and she collapses.

Mary calls for the medics, and "Jacob" goes to get medical help leaving his guard to watch over them. Catherine wakes up and tells Mary that Alice made her give that speech.

Campbell tells the audience to stay in their seats, just as the lights go out and everyone panics. Batwoman arrives and attacks the Wonderland Gang member are there disguised as Crows.

Sophie uses her engagement ring to work at the bonds holding her and Tyler. He asks what was between them, and Sophie gets herself out, frees Tyler, and says that her relationship with Kate was the first time she broke the rules and it almost cost her everything. The two of them head for the gala.

"Jacob" calls the commissioner to tell him that Alice has infiltrated the Crows and the police have to stand down.

Alice goes to where Mary is watching over Catherine and says that Jacob won't be joining them. She admits to her stepmother and stepsister that she poisoned Catherine with one of Hamilton Dynamics own projects: a neurotoxin designed to kill without mercy. Alice says that Hamilton Dynamics didn't even bother to develop an antidote, and tells Mary that Catherine made a choice. She tells Mary that she found a solution though; a rare universal cure-all antidote. Alice pours it out and asks for a simple apology for all the pain Catherine caused her. Catherine apologizes, but Alice says that she doesn't believe her.

Batwoman continues fighting the fake Crows as she searches for Catherine and Mary.

Alice tells Mary that she was inches from her own mother's severed head, and Mary tells Catherine that she can't lose her. Catherine tells Alice that she's a mother, and when she saw Kate grieving she tried to take away her pain and gave Alice a lifetime's worth of pain. She admits that it's all her fault, and Alice thanks her and gives her the antidote. Mary starts bleeding from the nose and Alice realizes that they both drank the same poisoned champagne... and reveals that there's only enough antidote for one.

Mary figures that they need to find "Jacob", and Alice explains that he didn't poison himself. Realizing what Alice was doing, Mary tells Catherine that Mouse was posing as Jacob. Alice tells Mary to choose wisely and leaves. Mary figures that if they split the antidote they'll buy enough time to get to the ER. Mary drinks the tea that has the cure at her mother's orders.

Alice radios her men and confirms that they've captured Jacob. Batwoman confronts Alice and asks where her father is, and Alice says that he's their father and Batwoman will find out soon enough. She tells Batwoman that she was locked in a cell for eleven years and dreamed of revenge. Alice finally says that Catherine had it coming and poisoned herself by slithering into their family and seducing Jacob. She insists that Catherine brought it on herself, and Batwoman grabs her by the throat. Alice laughs seeing how Kate can't get herself to kill her own sister. Batwoman releases her. Mouse as Jacob arrives and knocks Batwoman over a nearby balcony, and tells Alice that they have to go. Alice calls down to Batwoman, saying that she'll eventually see things her way, and goes.

Catherine tells Mary that she knows about her clinic, and she never said because she knows if she said she approved, Mary would stop. She says that Mary is the one thing that she did right, and nothing makes her prouder than raising her. Catherine starts to say that she loves Mary and dies, and Mary administers CPR while begging her to stay with her.

Jacob wakes up in an SUV wearing a tux and calls Kate. Kate confirms he is who he says, and says that Alice and Mouse were at the gala. Police cars pull up and the commissioner and his officers place Jacob under arrest. They find the chip on him and take him away.

Later, Dana Dewitt reports that Jacob killed Catherine after she admitted in public what her company had done.

Kate approaches Mary at her clinic, and Mary talks about how many horrible people she's saved. She says that she couldn't save Catherine, and tells Kate that her mother died the way that Alice planned it: slowly and in pain. The only way for Catherine to save herself was to let Mary die, and Catherine didn't because she's not the horrible person Kate and Alice believe she is. Mary asks Kate if Alice is worth it. Kate says that she isn't, and Mary tells her that it's too late before leaving.

Sophie calls the Commissioner but he won't take her call. Tyler tells Sophie that he wants family traditions, and doesn't want to waste his life fighting for something he can't have. He asks Sophie if she's in love with him, and Sophie admits that she doesn't know. After a moment, Tyler tells Sophie that she needs to figure herself out, and if she sees the same future that he does, maybe he'll be there and maybe he won't.

Kate looks at the photo of herself and Beth. Sophie breaks into tears. Kate smashes the photo, figuring that the Beth she knew is gone. Mary destroys her clinic in a fury. Luke finds the broken photo.

Kate visits Jacob in his cell and says that she hates Alice. Jacob promises to put Alice down once and for all when he gets out, and Kate says that she won't stop him.

In the sewers of Central City, Harrison Nash Wells says that he's traveled across the Multiverse to kill the Monitor. Now the Monitor has saved his life, and the Monitor tells him to submit and begins his life anew. The runes glow and Nash touches them in sequence. The panel opens and a burst of light shoots out, bathing Nash in its radiance. He disappears, screaming.

Trivia

• This is the last episode to feature Elizabeth Anweis (Catherine Hamilton-Kane) as a series regular.
• This episode marks the final appearance of Beth Kane, Sophie Moore, Mary Hamilton, Luke Fox and Jacob Kane as they are replaced by their Earth-Prime counterparts after the crisis.
• Despite being mentioned in the synopsis, Mouse is masquerading as Jacob Kane throughout the whole episode. Thus, Sam Littlefield is not credited.
• Catherine Hamilton-Kane's death is similar to Moira Queen's death, as both died by choosing to save their loved ones after making a mistake that causes a chain of events to unfold.
• Kate's discussion with her dad at the end of this episode about how much she hates Alice/Beth, with her father vowing to kill Alice, and Kate saying she won't stop him is similar to the Arrow season 4 episode "Blood Debts", where in a flash-forward at the end of that episode, Felicity and Oliver are talking after a funeral (revealed to be Laurel's, as seen in "Canary Cry" later in that season), with Felicity telling Oliver, "You know what you have to do, right? You have to kill that son of a bitch". (Referring to Damien Darhk murdering Laurel, and how they've reached the point in their fight against Darhk where they need to kill him.)
• Harrison Nash Wells makes an uncredited appearance at the end of the episode, initiating the beginning of the crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths.
  • The scene is later reused in the Supergirl episode "The Wrath of Rama Khan", which aired directly after this episode.
  • This scene was also reused in The Flash episode "The Last Temptation of Barry Allen, Pt. 2" and the Arrow episode "Purgatory"; both of which aired two days after this episode.
  • This is the first time that a character that has originated from another show appears in this series.

Gallery

Promos

Batwoman Season 1 Episode 8 The Mad Tea-Party Promo The CW

Batwoman 1x08 Sneak Peek "A Mad Tea-Party" (HD) Season 1 Episode 8 Sneak Peek