...so why not pop back to Topher in the present. He informs Mellie, who's sitting in the chair with some electronic monitors, I think, attached to her temples, that he's going to give her a shot, and then she just needs to sit still for a while. As he tells Adelle, he's taking advantage of her supposed immunity to use her as a testing ground for possible antidotes, but cautions her that it might take a while, which leaves her open to pace nervously and bitch about how that "glorified dogsbody" Ambrose can't keep his affairs in order. Topher points out that she could have refused the assignment, but Adelle replies that the Dollhouse wouldn't exist without Rossum, and "I believe in the work we're funding," but she also thinks the only reason she doesn't have Ambrose's job is that he couldn't handle hers. Topher notices that Adelle is "sharing" now, but assures her that he'll save the day, "as long as we keep the place locked down and don't have any more X-factors." Given how much trouble he just begged for there, it probably doesn't do any additional harm when he asks Adelle to get him a juice box.

Echo arrives at Fremont on the motorcycle Bondage Guy got for her, and I wonder if he actually taught her to ride it that day or if she remembered how from the last engagement. Whichever it is, she hops off and takes in her surroundings, but she doesn't have time to stare at the Rossum building for more than a few seconds before Victor and a couple other agents accost her. Without an appropriate imprint to guide her, she's confused, saying she doesn't know if she goes to Fremont, although there are parts that seem familiar, and Victor of course concludes that she's been affected by the drug and takes her into custody. If he thinks that was incoherent, I'd hate to run into him in the morning before I've had coffee.

Elsewhere, Boyd is telling Adelle that he doesn't know what's up with Echo suddenly going to Fremont. "Maybe that's the client's new fantasy. Send a Doll to college." I doubt she'd forget any more of what she learned in college than I did. Of course, when Adelle hears that Fremont is the college to which Echo showed up, her chagrin knows no bounds, and as Topher gives a bemused Mellie a high-five (remember that physical contact for later) while telling her that her brain "rocks," Adelle informs Boyd that under no circumstances can Echo interfere with the Dollhouse's mission currently going on at Fremont, so he needs to get her out of there, with Laurence's assistance if necessary. She asks if he understands, but just then, though, a girl who is approximately nine feet shorter than Boyd wanders up and tells him, "There are mansions in your eyes. Did you know that?" Much like I did when a stranger recently asked me if I'd accepted Jesus Christ as my personal friend, Boyd, I'd counsel you simply to reply, "Yes." Works every time. She reaches a henna-tattooed arm out to him, and when he brushes it aside, the closeup and slightly slowing of the action suggests that Something Important Just Happened. Hurt by Boyd's rejection, the girl turns away, and Boyd returns to Adelle: "No, I definitely don't understand." Heh.