Falling (issue)

For the Supergirl episode of the same name, see "Falling".

"Falling"
Information
Series	Arrow
Chapter number	9 of 36
Released	December 5, 2012
Written by	Story: Marc Guggenheim Andrew Kreisberg Script: Beth Schwartz Katherine Walczak
Art by	Mico Suayan
Colors by	Ikari Studio (David Lopez & Santi Casas)
Cover by	Phil Hester Eric Gapstur Randy Mayor
Chronology
Previous chapter	"[REC.]"
Next chapter	"Caged"

"Falling" is the ninth chapter of the comic book series Arrow. It was released digitally on December 5, 2012.

Synopsis

This must-read chapter provides a glimpse into Helena Bertinelli's fateful relationship with Michael Staton.[src]

Plot

Helena wakes up in her apartment after her and Oliver's night together. She gets out of bed and picks up a copy of the book Wuthering Heights, beginning to reflect on her fiancé, Michael Staton.

In 2009, Michael is giving a lecture on Wuthering Heights when Helena visits him in class. Michael then has some of his students open their books, spelling out the message "WILL YOU MARRY ME" to Helena, which she happily accepts. That afternoon as they leave together, Helena informs Michael that she told her father, Frank, the good news and he wanted to throw an engagement party for them. Suddenly, an ambulance arrives at the school and a woman rushes outside, carrying an unconscious student. As the student is taken away, Michael finds out he overdosed on ecstasy pills.

That night over dinner at the Bertinelli Mansion, Helena recounts the incident to her father and requests that he cease his work with the ecstasy pills' dealer, Tony D'urso. Frank expresses his condolences but justifies the work as "business". A furious Helena points out a kid nearly died due to his so-called "business" and they get into a heated argument. Frank states that everything he does is to provide for their family before storming off.

At Helena and Michael's engagement party, Frank gives a toast and congratulates the couple. He expresses his hope that Michael will join the "family business", claiming he will need a larger salary to support his daughter. However, Michael politely declines, wanting to continue teaching. As he and Helena dance, Frank orders his right-hand man, Nick Salvati, to check out Michael.

Later one night, Nick searches through Michael's apartment and finds a laptop. Upon seeing the information it contains, Nick calls Frank, revealing that Michael has (supposedly) gathered enough evidence to send them to jail and was just about to hand it over to the F.B.I.. Shortly after, Michael returns home, expecting Helena, and Nick shoots him. Helena later arrives at the apartment and finds Michael dead, much to her horror and devastation.

Sometime after Michael's death, Helena moves back into the Bertinelli Mansion. Whilst mourning her fiancé, Helena wakes up late one night and walks downstairs. She overhears Frank speaking on the phone, confirming that Michael's murder can't be traced back to him and believes Helena will one day understand his reasons. Shocked, Helena realizes that her father was behind Michael's murder.

At Michael's funeral, an unsuspecting Frank tries to provide emotional support for Helena. Tony appears and apologizes for her loss, offering Helena some of his product should she need it to cope with the pain. After everyone leaves, Helena tosses a rose into Michael's grave.

Over a year later, Helena has begun a crusade against her father and his associates. She tracks down Tony in the midst of a drug deal with another teenager and shoots him dead, declaring that "it's a start" to avenging Michael.

Helena flashes back to the present as Oliver wakes up. He asks if Helena is all right, wondering if she had a bad dream. Helena responds, "Yeah, but I'm awake now".

Trivia

• Frank refers to Michael as "Donnie Brasco" when wondering if the latter can pay for his and Helena's wedding. This is a reference to the 1997 film of the same name in which an F.B.I. agent goes undercover in the Bonanno crime family using the titular alias.
  • It could also be a subtle reference to Frank's erroneous belief that Michael was a mole for the F.B.I. (when it was really Helena).

Gallery

Digital cover