The episode starts two years ago. Caroline is in the Rossum office, as Boyd explains to her, that he knows she is special because they have tested her blood. He coerces her to join the Dollhouse, under the pretense that if she doesn’t comply she will go to prison or be given the death sentence. Boyd assures her he will keep her safe.

In the present, Anthony and Priya arrive back at the Dollhouse. Neither of them can live with themselves for not helping fight this war. However as they enter the Dollhouse, they see that the war has already begun and move on to investigate.

At an unknown location Ballard destroys his phone and tells DeWitt they should be safe, at least for now and that they have to move and cannot wait any longer. However DeWitt disagrees and they continue to wait for the others to arrive. Ballard checks to see how Mellie is doing after he cut out her tracking device. Mellie attempts to kiss Ballard, but he pulls back as Mellie tries to remember she is just a doll. A vehicle arrives and it turns out it is Boyd, Topher and Echo. However Echo is bewildered and incoherent. Boyd manages to sedate her as the group try to figure out what has happened. Ballard suggests re-evaluating the plan, but Boyd disagrees as they need to take down the mainframe. Ballard says Echo was the only one who could recognise the head of Rossum and in her current state she cannot help. Ballard wonders how they will get inside but DeWitt says they will simply walk in through the front door as they have something Rossum wants.

Inside the Dollhouse, Anthony and Priya make their way to the security office to try and get the surveillance footage. However all the hard drives have been taken, so they decide to leave. However as they pass the imprinting chair, Priya notices a note on top of a wedge saying “Press Enter”. Anthony and Priya debate on what to do, but Anthony eventually gets into the chair and is imprinted with Topher 2.0 (The Left Hand). Priya asks Topher 2.0 what has transpired but he is as confused as Priya.

The group arrives at Rossum Headquarters and walk straight through the front door as planned. Clyde 2.0 is there to greet them, but he is now in the body of Claire/Whiskey. Clyde 2.0 says that this world is for people who can evolve. DeWitt wonders if it includes her and the group.

Back inside the Dollhouse, Topher 2.0 begins to rant about how he would like his body back. Priya is able to calm Topher 2.0 by saying that his original is most likely alive as there wouldn’t be another person to leave the wedge and the note behind. Topher 2.0 wonders why his original left the wedge for him. Priya mentions the security footage was taken, and Topher 2.0 realises his purpose. He reveals he installed his own camera in the office and plays back the footage, revealing Boyd had injected Echo with something as she was being imprinted. They realise that Boyd is working for Rossum.

In Clyde 2.0′s office, Clyde 2.0 praises DeWitt on her raising Echo to be what she is today. Clyde 2.0 says that Echo is a saviour for a select few and that DeWitt is considered one of them. DeWitt explains that Echo is no use to Rossum given her current circumstance, but Clyde 2.0 rebuffs by explaining they only want the body.

Locked in a room, Ballard, Mellie, Topher and Boyd try to figure out what is going on. Boyd feigns trying to break the lock, but simply uses key card when Topher looks away. Boyd takes Topher with him explaining that they are going after Echo and that Ballard and Mellie would be responsible for taking down the mainframe.

Inside the Dollhouse, Topher 2.0 rants about Boyd’s betrayal. Priya attempts to track down Mellie through her tracking device, but it was been de-activated. Priya says they need to go and help but Topher 2.0 isn’t sure what they can do. Topher 2.0 says he will sacrifice himself and give Anthony back his body and then give him and Priya a better skill set such as combat as well computer skills.

As Boyd and Topher make their way around Rossum Headquarters, Topher explains that somebody inside the Dollhouse has betrayed them. He recognises Echo’s symptoms were similar to when Priya was drugged by Nolan. Boyd seems concerned, but moves on to take out a guard. Inside the Dollhouse, Anthony’s persona has been restored and with upgrades takes out Rossum agents before he and Priya decide to leave for Tucson.

In Rossum Headquarters, Echo finally comes to her senses and realises it is Boyd who has betrayed them. Topher and Boyd continue to walk around before finally stumbling upon a lab. Topher recognises that it is his tech that DeWitt had given up to Mr. Harding. Boyd tries to use one of them, but it is non-functioning. Topher sees that they are going to weaponize the tech and attempts to destroy it. However Boyd convinces Topher that if he fixes the tech they can use it and not have to kill anyone else. Topher agrees and gets to work. Meanwhile Ballard and Mellie have made their way to a weapon’s cache. Mellie tries to understand why Ballard cares about her, citing she is a program. However Ballard says he is too and it doesn’t matter to him. As Topher works on the tech, he realises, it was simple fix. After explaining it to Boyd, Boyd reveals his duplicity, but Echo jumps in and beats Boyd to the floor. However, she is stopped by Clyde 2.0 after he threatens to kill DeWitt. Topher cannot believe what is going on and Boyd explains that he cares about group and it is why he brought them here. It is not revealed whether or not he was going to actually kill Topher or not. Mellie and Ballard arrive at the cooling unit for the mainframe. They plan to destroying the cooling unit, overheating the servers and thus destroying them.

Boyd notes the conviction that Topher and DeWitt have. He had wanted them all with him, except Ballard, whom he somewhat dislikes. DeWitt says she would rather be dead, than keep Boyd company. However Boyd notes that death would be a blessing, as once Rossum executes their plan it will be likely they will be imprinted and enslaved. He notes that the technology is out there and it cannot be un-invented. The only thing they can choose is whether they are the destroyed, or the destroyers. Echo is angry with Boyd’s betrayal, but Boyd says he cares about her more than she will ever know. Boyd says Echo is their saviour, but Echo says he will not save him but kill him. Boyd explains that when Echo blocks an imprint, it leaves chemical markers in her spinal fluid. They are going to farm it and use it on themselves so they are immune to imprinting. Boyd then knocks Echo out with a disruptor.

Mellie and Boyd are able to destroy the cooling system, but sounds the alarms. Boyd bluffs, by threatening to kill DeWitt if she doesn’t activate Mellie’s sleeper protocol. DeWitt calls the bluff, so Boyd uses a recording and Mellie almost kills Ballard. However Mellie regains control for a short before killing herself instead. Echo has been strapped down and is being prepared to have her spinal fluid tapped. Boyd attempts to use the neural lock and key but Echo tells him to go to hell. Anthony and Priya arrive and are able to free Echo. Echo orders Anthony and Priya to free DeWitt and Topher, while she finishes Caroline’s job. Shut down the Rossum labs.

Priya surrenders herself as a distraction, as Anthony is able to take out the guards and free Topher and DeWitt. Topher says he needs to destroy the tech, the plans, as well as the manufacturing equipment. As Echo tries to look for a way to destroy the labs, she runs into Clyde 2.0. Echo tries to get through to Whiskey or Claire, but it fails and they engage in a fist fight. Ballard runs into Boyd, and having been separated from the group, does not know what is going on. Boyd tells Ballard that DeWitt turned on them. Echo is able to knock out Clyde 2.0, as Boyd and Ballard arrive. Boyd turns his weapon on Ballard and holds him hostage. Echo is unable to shoot for fear of hitting Ballard. However, she shoots Ballard in the leg giving herself a free shot at Boyd. However Boyd rushes down onto Echo and they engage in a fist fight. Boyd gets the better of Echo and is about to kill her. Echo declares that she loved Boyd to which Boyd says he knows. Topher arrives and uses the remote wipe/imprinting tech on Boyd and he becomes a doll.

Echo straps Boyd with explosives and hands him a grenade. She orders him to pull the pin after she has left the room. Topher is able to get Claire/Clyde 2.0 out, as Ballard evacuates the building before leaving himself. Adelle, Topher, Ballard, Anthony and Priya wait outside, as an explosion destroys the labs. Echo manages to make it out just in time.

Ten years later, Echo and Ballard are fighting through the streets of an apocalyptic Los Angeles – despite their best efforts to stop Rossum, the corporation was ultimately successful.

“The Hollow Men” is the 12th episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Dollhouse and the show’s 25th episode overall. The episode was both written by Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters and Tracy Bellomo and and directed by Terrence O’Hara. It aired in the United States on Fox on January 15, 2010.

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