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"Provision 22" is the eighth episode of RoboCop: The Series.

Plot[]

Nancy Murphy helps lead a protest at the headquarters of Web Care, who, through OCP, have privatized welfare in Delta City and Old Detroit. They have also influenced the passing of Provision 22, a controversial piece of legislation that makes it illegal for one to work and receive welfare at the same time. Janet Lewis and Martin observe the protestors, believing they only want a free ride. Lewis laments the fact that if Provision 22 is repealed, they will lose much of their profit. Martin wishes to place them in his "rehab" program designed to brainwash them. The pair target Nancy and Father Gregory Marks and have arsonist Harry Flitch detonate an explosion as the Mod Squad attack the protestors with stub batons. They subdue Jimmy and arrest Nancy and Marks. RoboCop arrives, accusing the Mod Squad of using excessive force. Sergeant Parks follows and demands their release, but Martin insists that Provision 22 allows their arrest and tells Parks to receive a court order. RoboCop is dismayed to learn that Nancy and Jimmy are on welfare.

Nancy Murphy talks to Detective Lisa Madigan, explaining that she is on welfare because Alex's pension has been held up due to technicalities and has struggled to find employment.

Jimmy watches Gadget bother Bea while she dispatches calls. Gadget soon gives up and introduces herself to Jimmy. She shows him to RoboCop while Charlie Lippencott performs maintenance on him. Madigan and Nancy enter, with the latter dragging Jimmy out to take him to Father Marks' mission while she works. RoboCop storms out, set on figuring out why Murphy's family are on welfare.

At the Web Care headquarters, Father Marks is taken to be "rehabilitated." Martin joins Lewis, who tells him that the District Attorney has demanded Marks' release within the hour, which Martin assures will be enough time. They set their sights on Nancy Murphy, planning to catch her working an illegal job, arrest her, and brainwash her.

Nancy brings Jimmy to the mission just before Father Marks arrives, completely brainwashed into supporting Web Care. Nancy is unconvinced by Marks' apparent praise for Web Care and leaves. Jimmy quickly sneaks out of the mission and follows his mother to an illegal sweatshop run by Izzy Provo. Martin watches as she enters and calls for the Mod Squad to be sent in. Meanwhile, Jimmy watches as his mother is arrested.

At the precinct, Gadget receives a phone call from Jimmy, who asks her to send RoboCop. Jimmy protests his mother's arrest just as RoboCop arrives. Required to uphold the law, RoboCop morosely allows Nancy to be taken away by Web Care, prompting Jimmy to angrily run away.

As RoboCop sits in his cruiser, Diana Powers appears to him, pointing out the inhumanity of Provision 22. Because RoboCop is not allowed to violate the law, Diana says she will learn more about Provision 22's rehab program to help him find a way to save Nancy.

Jimmy manages to sneak inside of the Web Care facility, but is quickly caught.

Madigan learns about the bomb that was detonated, determining that it was unlikely to be from the protestors. She examines footage from the protest, spotting Flitch and determining him to be a suspect. Parks prints off Flitch's criminal record, finding an extensive history of arson. RoboCop calls Parks, asking if Web Care had filed an ITA (Intent to Arrest) form with the District Attorney's office before arresting her. Parks checks on his computer for such a record.

Jimmy is taken to Nancy, who begs them to not harm her son. Lewis tells them she will see that they are freed of their supposed "delusions" and sends them to be "rehabilitated."

Parks finds no ITA file for Nancy and Diana tells RoboCop she will do more research. RoboCop storms into the Web Care facility as Nancy and Jimmy are taken to the rehab room. He subdues two guard by reversing their stun batons on them and shoots the rehab machine just in time to save Murphy's family. He enters the room and frees them.

At the mission, Marks wakes with a fright as Madigan investigates connections between the bombing and the mission. She learns from Beth that Flitch commonly volunteers for the mission. Nancy calls Beth and orders a press conference to be held immediately.

The exasperated OCP Chairman learns of the press conference and asks Lewis about the various accusations against Web Care. She insists that it is all merely baseless slander against the company. She promises him that the situation will be handled. Diana appears to him, telling him that Lewis is deceiving him and that Web Care is denying people work and benefits and makes a sizable profit off of those who are trapped in the system. She tells him to look into Web Care's financial data.

Flitch informs Martin that he has retrieved a bomb to be detonated at the press conference. Meanwhile, RoboCop brings Nancy and Jimmy back to the mission to prepare for the conference. When RoboCop leaves, Madigan follows him and fails to convince him to stay, as he believes his job is done. Madigan notices Flitch's van and discovers his equipment. However, he sneaks up on her and knocks her unconscious.

The Chairman goes to the Web Care headquarters to confront Martin and Lewis, knowing that Web Care has cheated citizens out of pensions and have funneled money to Lewis' personal account. He informs them that their employment has been terminated and their bank accounts seized, then leaves for the press conference. Lewis is unconcerned about any further repercussions, expecting their attack on the press conference to be successful and for the Chairman to be a victim of it.

Flitch ties up Madigan and gleefully explains Web Care's plot and shows her his equipment, including a magnetic resonance projector, modified to project a sonic pulse which will resonate inside the human cranial cavity and cause permanent brain damage. He hops out of the van and sets the bomb's timer for twenty minutes before locking Madigan in the van.

RoboCop arrives at the scene, learning from the Chairman that he is shutting down Web Care. The Chairman enters the press conference and insists that OCP was unaware of Web Care's true activities. He informs them of Web Care's closure and promises to help get Provision 22 repealed. Parks calls RoboCop to tell him that Madigan has fallen out of contact. RoboCop surveys the area, discovering Madigan with the bomb and magnetic resonance projector. He frees her and she goes to evacuate the mission. RoboCop shoves the van into an abandoned building across the street and adjusts the projector to a safe frequency. The bomb goes off, destroying the building.

Flitch gloats about what he has done and Madigan places him under arrest. As RoboCop emerges from the fiery rubble, Flitch attempts to make a deal and the Chairman orders the arrest of Lewis and Martin and promises Marks the best treatment that can be afforded for him. Nancy approaches RoboCop and thanks him for always being there when she and Jimmy need him.

Cast[]

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