...and then Ballard bolts awake in bed as Mellie's accusing-yet-inspiring question plays in his head again...

...and then elsewhere, the Dolls are likewise starting their day, and we watch from an overhead view as five pods slide open and Echo, Sierra, Victor, November and some tall, blond dude we haven't seen before smile at each other and then file out of the room. However, when we pan up, we see a window through which Adelle is watching...

...and then she's in her office telling the entire Dollhouse staff that there have been recent problems, and while they live in a complicated world, that of their Actives must be one of "constant certainty." Topher then comes rushing in on a wave of unnecessary words, as usual, but is saved from a British scolding when the lights flicker for a moment, which Adelle says is due to an upgrade currently being performed on their electrical and security systems. With gravity, she says they've had an Active go off-mission, another develop "urges," and still others show signs of cognizance and recognition. She goes on that all the Actives that have been exposed to a particular drug they apparently use have had some kind of glitch, so she needs the handlers to identify and report any behavioral problems in their Dolls. Laurence pipes up that it's easy, even necessary, for handlers to become attached to their charges, but they shouldn't regard them as children. "Think of them as pets." Claire disbelievingly asks if that's supposed to be funny, so Laurence smugly clarifies that if you have a child start talking, you feel proud, but if your dog does it, "you freak the hell out." And then make millions on the talk-show circuit, I'd imagine, but I doubt Laurence wants to examine the parallel any further. His point is that any developmental progress an Active makes is dangerous to the Dollhouse, and "a possible first step toward another Alpha." Boyd's like, "Yeah, about that..." but, as the lights flash again, Laurence replies, "Whereabouts unknown," like, his honesty is commendable but not exactly reassuring. ince they mention Alpha, it'll be interesting if they try to figure out what his unfulfilled need that made him go composite is. Seems like it's about time he became a big focus of the story here.