And on Monday, Chase asks Brook if she thinks going after Linc is still worth it; Elizabeth wonders if Nikolas wants to protect her or himself; Curtis asks what Selina is doing at the club; and Cody has a proposition for someone.
🎸 Side Gig Within Main Gig…
Apparently, Cameron has a band IRL. It is really good of GH to let him perform his own material on the show. The ultimate in product placement.
Originally written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, this is actually one of my favorite Stephen King books. I’m shocked they’re making it into a movie, since I haven’t met one other person who’s read it.
There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain. – Plato
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. – Aristotle
Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. – Joshua J. Marine
We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing and inclusion. – Max de Pree
Popularity should be no scale for the election of politicians. If it would depend on popularity, Donald Duck and The Muppets would take seats in senate. – Orson Welles (Well…)
A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. – Charles Darwin
We don’t apologize for our mistakes; we erase them. – Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), Jurassic World: Dominion
We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here now, with the power to shape your day and your future. – Steve Maraboli
A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. – John Stuart Mill
Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. – Rumi
🎶 If That’s All There Is, Then Let’s Keep Dancing…
See you on Monday, when I assume the soap will be readjusted, and we’ll see what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay always moving forward, and stay being wise, prudent, and sensible. Most of the time.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Marshall tells Sonny, this here is a celebration. They don’t want no trouble. Sonny says he doesn’t want any trouble either. He’s there to celebrate Trina, just like everyone else. He just wants to have a minute with Curtis. Curtis says, now is not a good time, and Marshall says, Sonny heard his son. He thinks it’s best Sonny leave now. Taggert tells Portia, nothing’s going to happen, and she asks if he’s sure about that. He says, 95% sure, and she says, he likes those odds? He says, whatever happens, Sonny and Curtis can work it out, and she says she hopes he’s right. She just wanted Trina to have a lovely party to celebrate, and… it looks like she’s got some drama of her own.
Trina says, the envelope has her name on it. Did Spencer find it somewhere? He says, no. Can she give it back please? She says, why should she? It’s hers. He says, no. Actually, it’s his. He was going to give it to her… She says, now she has it, so why does he want it back?
Willow wakes, and reaches for Michael, but he’s not there. She hears Wiley giggle, and Nelle’s voice says, say bye-bye, grandma; bye-bye, daddy. She goes downstairs and sees Carly and Michael lying dead in the living room. Nelle is there, holding Wiley’s hand, and she tells Willow, it’s no use. She’s too late. Willow says, give her her son, but Nelle says, she doesn’t have Willow’s son. Oh, Willow means her son. Willow says, Nelle is nothing to Wiley, and Nelle says, guess again. Now that the obstacles have been removed, she and her son can be together. Willow asks what she did to Michael and Carly, and Nelle says, she didn’t do anything; Willow did. Willow looks down to see her hands covered in blood, and says, no. Nelle says she’s so glad karma is finally paying Willow back for taking her son from her. Now there’s no more Michael, no more Carly… Thanks for that by the way. Willow says, no, no, no, and Nelle says, and when she disappears with her son, Willow won’t have anybody anymore. Say bye-bye. Wiley says, bye-bye, mommy, and Willow moves toward them, but they disappear. Willow looks at Michael and Carly, and screams. She wakes up, and sees Michael isn’t there. She says, oh my God, and jumps out of bed.
Downstairs, Carly thanks Temp Michael for letting her help put Wiley to bed. She’s going to miss that little guy when she’s on her trip. He says, Wiley loves spending time with her, and he appreciates the reinforcement, because Willow has been going to bed really early lately. Carly says, of course (🍷). She’s working and pregnant. He says he knows. He’s starting to realize how big a deal that is. Willow comes in, and says, thank God, throwing her arms around Michael. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, Nelle.
Spencer says, it doesn’t matter why he didn’t give Trina the letter. They’re his words, and he no longer wishes Trina to read them. Give it back. She says, no, and he says, please. That letter is his property. She says, possession is nine tenths of the law, so if he wants it back he’s going to have to do more than say please. Follow her. She leads him outside.
Sonny says, he means no disrespect, but this doesn’t involve Marshall. Curtis says, regardless, he decides who he wants to have a conversation with in his own club, and Nina comes by. She asks if Sonny minds if she steals him away for a second, and Sonny goes with her. Marshall says, he’s gone. Now tell him what the hell is going on. Curtis says, thanks. He knows what Marshall is doing, but he and Sonny go back aways. Whatever issues they have, they can resolve them on their own. Marshall says, he’s been in the music business a long time, and he’s seen Sonny’s type and how they behave in establishments like Curtis’s. Once they get their hooks in, there’s no getting them out. Curtis says, Marshall has warned him about this before. Trust him. He gets it. Marshall says, he’s not meddling, but Curtis has great back-up with Police Commissioner Ashford. All Curtis has to do is call it in, but hey, he’s not meddling.
Jordan tells TJ that she’s working on a case involving one of those genealogy companies, and it reminded her of when Stella took her test. She’d almost forgotten that’s how Stella found her cousin in London. TJ says, it was, and it’s been a whirlwind adventure ever since. She says, at the time, they all thought her long-lost relative was here in Port Charles, and he says, and they said it was a closer match than a cousin. She guesses they were wrong, but he says he doesn’t know. When she found her cousin, they let it go, but honestly, the whole thing never set right with him. They chalked it up to a technical glitch, but it seems unlikely a reputable company would make that mistake. Stella arrives, and tells TJ to give her a hug.
Josslyn asks if Cameron has some place else to be, but he says he has another surprise. She says, another secret, and he says, a surprise, not a secret. She says, close enough, and he says, she’s the one keeping all the secrets. HE didn’t know his girlfriend was a pro dumpster diver. Is she still mad at him? She asks, what for? and he says, not telling her about Spencer’s plan to save Trina. She says, no. Of course (🍷) she wasn’t thrilled, but she gets it. Spencer put him in an impossible situation.
Spencer says, until he gives it to Trina, the letter is his property, and he’s not giving it to her. This is totally unfair. She says, he’s really going to complain to her about what is and isn’t fair? She’ll give him the letter back – he says, thank you – but first she has to tell him why he’s being so weird about it… Fine. She’ll open it. He says, it’s not for her, but she says, it has her name on it. He says, that’s because it’s addressed to Trina his friend, and according to her, they’re not friends anymore.
Cameron tells Josslyn, in the interest of not keeping secrets, Spencer wrote Trina a letter. In it, he explains everything; how he always believed Trina, and was only pretending to back Esme. She says, wow. She’s almost proud of him. Does Cameron think that’s what they’re talking about? He says he hopes so. All these secrets haven’t been doing anyone any good. It’s time for everything to be out in the open.
Trina says she set a boundary, and Spencer says, he’s just trying to respect it. She says she didn’t mean to hurt him when she said they couldn’t be friends anymore, but he says, we Cassadines have ice in our veins. She didn’t hurt him, but thank you. He appreciates it, and knows she wasn’t trying to hurt him. She says, he has to admit, their relationship got pretty toxic, and he says, toxic or not, their relationship meant a lot to him, and it always will. She says, it’s meant a lot to her too, but their friendship wasn’t good for her. She felt like she kept compromising herself over and over again. She hopes he understands, and he says he does. And since they’re sharing, there’s something he’d like to tell her too.
Jordan and Stella hug, and Stella asks, where’s that nephew of hers? Jordan gestures to Marshall and Curtis talking, and Stella says, those two look like they could use a minute. Now what’s going on with TJ? Starting with how thin he’s getting. Is Molly feeding him enough?… She says she’s sorry. They’re a modern couple and they feed themselves. TJ says, between Molly’s schedule and his, they manage to grab the occasional meal, and he promises he’s taking care of himself. She says, okay. What’s going on with Jordan? She’s kind of quiet. Is everything all right? Portia runs up, and says she’s sorry to interrupt, but it’s so good to see Stella. They hug, and Stella sees Portia’s ring. She says, wait a minute. What is this?
Curtis says he knows Marshall doesn’t like Sonny, but he’s got it covered. Marshall says, don’t get it twisted; this isn’t personal. He barely knows Sonny, but he knows Sonny’s type; the type that can cause trouble. Curtis sees Selina, and Marshall says, if Sonny is trying to rope Curtis or The Savoy into something shady, they got to deal with that. Curtis says he hears Marshall, but he and Sonny don’t have that kind of relationship.
Willow says, Nelle had Wiley by the hand. She tried to take him from Nelle, and they disappeared. She was standing there with Michael and Carly, and they were both dead. Then she woke up. Michael says, it was just a dream, and Carly says, she got intense dreams when she was pregnant; she gets it. Willow says she hopes she doesn’t have them until she delivers. She’s tired enough as it is. She’s cutting back her hours at GH. Carly says, that’s smart, and she’s sure GH is understanding. Michael says, and she has him to take care of her, and Carly says, and her entire family. Willow says she appreciates that, and Michael promises there will be no stress during this pregnancy.
Nina goes to Nelle’s grave with a bouquet of flowers, and says she’s sorry she wasn’t here earlier. It’s been a long, exhausting day, but Nelle is never far from her thoughts. She can’t believe it’s been two years since she lost Nelle. It’s been an interesting two years. She never even visited last year. Nelle says, no big deal, and Nina looks up to see her. Nelle says, she’s literally living rent free in Nina’s head. Hi mom.
Selina says, always a pleasure, and Sonny says he didn’t expect to see her here tonight. She says, Curtis is a valued partner of hers. She came to express her congratulations for Trina’s good fortune. He says, that’s very generous, and she says, sit with her and have a drink. Unless he’s waiting on Miss Reeves. He says, Miss Reeves isn’t with him tonight. She says, then they’re both unescorted, since Curtis is occupied with family matters. They should have a chat. Sonny says, about what? and she says, there’s always business to discuss.
Spencer tells Trina that he’s sorry he made their friendship confusing. That’s all on him. He should have been upfront about Esme, and he should have told Esme about his feelings for her. Maybe if he’d done that, he could have saved them from the path of destruction they were on. She says, that would have been preferable, and he says, maybe they could have… The point is, everyone deserved better, and that’s essentially what he wrote in the letter. He just wanted an opportunity to come clean, and let her know he would have done everything differently. She says she appreciates that, and he says he understands why they can’t be friends anymore. He messed up her life, and he’ll always regret that.
Stella says, that looks like an engagement ring, and Portia says, Curtis proposed. They’re engaged.
Willow says, Wiley is safe and sound, sleeping like the angel he is, and Carly says, it doesn’t hurt to make sure. Michael says, she got dressed. Is she going out? Willow says she’s just getting some air, and he says he’ll go with her, but she says, one of them needs to stay with Wiley. He says, his mom can do that, or that can take Wiley to the main house. Willow says, Michael wants to wake Wiley so he can babysit her? and Carly says she actually needs to go over some things with Michael before her trip. Willow says she’ll be fine, and leaves. Michael asks what Carly wants to talk about, and she says, nothing. She gets that his heart is in the right place, but she thinks Willow needs time alone. He says he doesn’t want to hover, but Willow’s been acting so off lately, he can’t shake the feeling there’s something she’s not telling him.
Nelle says, normally, she’s not a fan of being forgotten, and Nina says, she didn’t forget Nelle. Nelle says she knows. Nina was doing the Lord’s work in Nixon Falls. Thanks for that, by the way. She knows Nina didn’t do it for her, but Nina did it because of her, so that’s good enough. Nina says she was upset with Carly. She let Nelle slip, and even after she knew what she did, she didn’t tell Nina that Nelle was her daughter. She just left Nelle out there alone. Nina cries, and says she didn’t mean to let things go as far as they did, but Nelle says, didn’t she? It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it paid off beautifully. Nina broke up Sonny and Carly, and kept Sonny for herself. Nina says she’s not going to apologize for her relationship with Sonny, but she did hurt a lot of people, including Wiley. Nelle says, Wiley’s a baby. He’s not going to remember any of it anyway. Nina says, Wiley’s not a baby anymore. He’s old enough to have things affect him. Nelle says, if Michael and Carly, and that baby-stealing insufferable Willow, want to tell him things about her or Nina that might be hurtful, that’s on them. They’re in the clear. Nina says she doesn’t want anyone to hurt Wiley, but Nelle says, he’ll get over it. It’s not like anyone’s stealing his kidney for cash, like Frank Benson. Nina says, her greatest regret is that she couldn’t protect Nelle growing up from that horrible, neglectful person. Nelle says, Nina’s mom did put her in a coma, and shrugs. Nina says, she would have been a good mother. Nelle’s life would have been so different. Nelle says, it would. Nina would have given her so much love, everything she ever wanted or needed. They hug, and Nelle says, she could have followed in Nina’s footsteps. Maybe become Editor-in-Chief of Crimson magazine. Nina says she wishes she could have given Nelle that life, and Nelle says, it’s a shame they didn’t know who they were to each other. She could have learned from the best. Together, they really could have made Michael and Carly suffer. They could have made sure Carly stayed in the nuthouse for the rest of her life. They could have hidden her son away from Michael. Working together, they really could have done a lot of damage.
Carly tells Michel, being pregnant is like being on a roller coaster. One minute, you’re glowing and happy, and the next minute, you’re just miserable. He says he knows he’s being over-protective, but how random is it that Willow dreamed about Nelle? She says, Nelle died two years ago today, and he says he didn’t realize. She says she tries not to think about it, but sometimes it just hits her. Reaching out, trying to grab Nelle and help her, and she just falls. It was awful. Then she felt relief. Nelle’s gone. Her friends and family are safe. Then she was terrified she was going to be blamed for Nelle’s death – and she was, once Nina found out the truth. Michael says he’s going to just call and check on Willow, and Carly says, it’s been five minutes; come on. He calls, but gets voicemail, and says, Carly doesn’t think she’d go to Nelle’s grave, does she? Carly says, he knows Willow best. What does he think? He says he thinks it’s a possibility, and since it’s the anniversary of Nelle’s death, he thinks there’s a chance she’ll run into Nina. Carly flashes back to finding out Nina is Willow’s mother, and he says, what happens if Willow runs into Nina? She says she thinks it will be unpleasant, but she doesn’t think Nina would hurt Willow. He says he’s going to check on her, and asks if Carly would mind watching Wiley. She says, yes, of course (🍷), when Wiley runs in, and asks where Michael is going. Michael says he’s going to pick up mommy, but Wiley hugs him, and says, no. Michael asks, what’s wrong? He loves Grandma Carly. Wiley says he had a bad dream, and doesn’t want Michael to go. Carly says, she’ll check on Willow, and Michael can stay with his son. She won’t let anything happen to Willow. He thanks her, and she leaves.
Nelle says, if Nina’s mother hadn’t pawned her off on Frank Benson, and Carly hadn’t let her plummet to her death, and if she and Nina had known who they were to each other, she could have had the most beautiful life. They could have punished them all. Nina says, that’s not what she wanted for Nelle. Everything she did, all the mistakes she made, were because she was in pain. Nelle is her baby, and Nina misses her, but she’s going to have to spend the rest of her life making up for her mistakes. Nelle says, what’s the point in whining about that? If Madeline hadn’t done what she did to Nina, and if Frank hadn’t done what he did to her, it’s the best get-out-of-jail-free card ever. Nina says, just because they got hurt doesn’t absolve them, and Nelle says, they got hurt, and hurt the world around them. Face it. They’re exactly the same. They had a connection, but Nina couldn’t let herself recognize that Nelle was her own flesh and blood. Not while Nelle was working for her, not while Nelle was standing in front of her, not when Nina testified against her, when they were trying to take her baby away from her. Nina had every opportunity to be the mother she always wanted to be, and she pushed Nelle away. Nina says she didn’t know, and cries, her face in her hands. When she looks up, Willow is there instead of Nelle.
Trina tells Spencer, she doesn’t know what to say, and he tells her, she doesn’t have to say anything. He just wanted her to know he’s sorry. She says she wishes things were different, and he says, him too. Rory comes out, and says he’s sorry to interrupt, but she’s been gone a while. He just wanted to make sure she was okay. Spencer says, he’s kept her from her party long enough. They’re done here anyway, aren’t they? She hands him the letter, and he leaves. Rory asks if she’s okay, and she says, yeah… She doesn’t know what just happened. He asks if she wants to get out of here, but she says, no. This is her party, and she wants to enjoy it with her date.
Sonny says, it’s a little late for business, and Selina says, friendship then. Let her buy him a drink. He says he doesn’t want to intrude any longer, and she says, it’s hardly intrusion. He’s welcome here. Or has he been made to feel otherwise?
Taggert asks if that thing Trina had to take care of had anything to do with Spencer, and she says, they just cleared the air. She told him they couldn’t be friends anymore. He says, smart decision. He knows it wasn’t easy, but that kid, he’s no good.
Portia says, they were going to tell Stella tonight. This is not how they wanted her to find out. She’s so sorry. Curtis comes over, and says, sorry for what? Stella says, it seems that he’s been keeping some things from her, and Portia says, she saw the ring, so… He says, they were going to tell her together in person tonight, and Stella says, oh, independent corroboration. Jordan says, she and TJ will give them some privacy, and they move on. Portia says she’s so sorry, but Stella says, Portia doesn’t owe her an apology; Curtis does. But first, allow her to welcome Portia to the family. They hug, and Portia thanks her. Stella says, Curtis finally takes her suggestion, and proposes, and she’s the last to know. He says, it wasn’t on purpose, and she asks if they’ve started making plans yet. Curtis says, slow down just a bit; they just got engaged. Stella says, like that’s an excuse, and Portia says, there is one thing they did, that they definitely agree on. Curtis says, that’s part of the reason they were waiting for tonight to tell her, and Stella says she’s dying to know. Curtis says, they’d like to know if she would marry them, and she says she’s never officiated at a wedding before. He says, it’s easy. You just go online, fill out some paperwork, and register with the clerk. Portia says, and you can just drop it in the mail, and Stella flashes back to never mailing the divorce papers. Portia asks if she would do them the honor, and Curtis takes Stella’s hand, saying, because there’s really no one better to marry them. She says, marrying the two of them would be the honor of her life, and Marshall says, and he’ll handle the music. Portia thanks them, and says, that’s one thing down. Now all they have to do is pick a date, a venue, the guest list, and apply for a marriage license. Stella says, for that, they have to supply proof of their divorces, and Curtis says, come to think of it, he doesn’t remember getting that. Stella says, he’d better look into it.
Willow asks who Nina was talking to, and Nina says she was talking to herself. Willow says, sorry for intruding. She knows how hard this day must be for her. Nina says, it is hard. She didn’t know Nelle was her daughter when she was alive, but she carried her. Nelle was her baby. Willow is probably wondering why she’s grieving when Nelle did such horrible things. Willow says, Nelle was still Nina’s child, and a mother’s love is unconditional. Feeling sadness over what could have been, that’s just human. Nina thanks her, and says she’s guessing Willow is here for Jonah, but Willow says she’s here for Nelle.
Selina asks if Curtis is giving Sonny any trouble, but Sonny says, it’s just a misunderstanding. He ran into a singer, Harrison Chase. Does she know of him? She says, the detective on suspension, and he says, he’s a good singer, and a good guy. He thought Chase would be a good fit for The Savoy. She says she appreciates Sonny making the connection. She’s sure Curtis will too.
Curtis asks if Jordan’s got a minute, and she says, what’s up? He says, this is going to sound strange, but did she ever receive notification that their divorce was finalized? She says, now that he mentions it, she’s not sure. She remembers filing the papers, but… He says, maybe it’s because he moved, his got lost in the mail, but she’s sure she got hers? She says she doesn’t remember seeing it, but she did get a lot of mail while she was away at the clinic. She could double-check; maybe she misplaced it. He says he hates to ask, but he needs it to apply for a marriage license. She says, of course (🍷). In order to get married again, you need to be divorced.
Stella congratulates Trina, and hugs her, saying, she had faith that Trina would be exonerated. Trina thanks her and thanks her for coming. Stella says, absolutely, and Curtis asks if he can steal Stella away for a minute. They leave, and Taggert tells Trina that he’s going to bounce. Have fun, stay late with her friends, and enjoy being young while she can. She says she supposes she can, as long as he promises to get lattes with her at the Haven Bistro soon. He says, twist his arm, and hugs Trina, saying, he has such a good daughter. He tells Jordan, see ya, and leaves. Jordan asks where Rory is, and Trina says, he went to get drinks. Jordan says she wanted to tell him about a break in a case, but shop talk can wait. Trina says, he’d love to hear about it. He loves his work. Jordan says, it’s pretty interesting. One of those DNA genealogy sites gave them some important evidence. Trina says, that’s so cool, and Jordan says, it make her glad those tests have become mainstream. Has Trina ever done one?
Willow tells Nina, Nelle was Wiley’s birth mother. She felt she should pay her respects, for Wiley’s sake. Nina says, Willow came out of respect for Nelle; that’s nice. She must be conflicted, since she and Michael are trying to erase Nelle from Wiley’s life. Willow says, they’re not trying to erase Nelle; they’re protecting Wiley. Even Nina admitted Nelle did terrible things. Nina says, and that’s what they want to do, lie to Wiley. Tell him people don’t have flaws. Willow says, Nelle was beyond flawed. If she’d had her way, Michael would have never known Wiley was his son, and Nina would have never known Wiley was her grandson. Every time she thinks she’s making headway with Nina, there’s no reasoning with her. She only sees what she wants to see. Nina tells Willow to get off her damn high horse. She’s sorry Nelle did horrible things, but it’s made Willow so self-righteous, she can’t acknowledge anyone’s pain but her own. Carly walks into the cemetery, and says, enough. If anyone needs perspective, it’s Nina. No matter how hard she tries to rewrite history, no matter how much she wishes Nelle had been redeemed, it doesn’t change the facts. Nelle was a kidnapper and a murderer, and the only reason they’re safe is because she’s dead.
Sonny says he can handle his business with Curtis, and Selina says, she and Sonny go back many years and many favors. Sonny agrees they do, and she says, anything she can do to strengthen their ties, don’t hesitate to ask. He says he’ll keep that in mind. She and Curtis have been doing business; how’s that working out? She says, splendidly. She found Curtis to be quite accommodating. Sonny says he’s going to let Curtis get back to his family, and thinks Selina should do the same. You know what they say about a good man. He whispers, they have their limits, and she whispers back, thank you for the advice. But she knows exactly where she and Curtis stand.
Trina tells Jordan that she took a DNA genealogy test for a project in high school. Why does she ask? Curtis gets on stage, and says, good evening. He thanks everyone for coming to The Savoy for Trina. Everyone yells, and he says, when he first met Trina, it’s safe to say she was profoundly unimpressed. But he on the other hand, immediately noticed what a strong, smart, resilient young lady she is. It’s impossible not to. So in honor of Trina, please help him welcome tonight’s entertainment, Cameron Webber. Cameron comes out with an electric guitar, and apparently has a band we never knew about. He asks how everyone is feeling tonight, and they whoop and holler. He says, his first song is dedicated to Trina. In fact, they’re all dedicated to Trina, since this is her party. This song is about a person they both know. She’ll get what it means. There’s a lot of da-da-da stuff, and something about someone being messed up in the head, but they don’t give a damn. I’m actually not positive, but I assume it’s about Esme? Cameron finishes the song to cheers and applause.
Spencer sets the letter on fire, and watches it burn.
Carly suggests Willow go home, and take care of herself and the baby. Michael and Wiley are waiting. Willow says, Carly’s right. It was a mistake to come here. She leaves, and Nina says, this is precious. She comes here to have a private moment with her daughter, the two of them show up, uninvited, and she’s the villain. Carly says, Nina and Nelle are alike. Nothing was ever Nelle’s fault, and nothing is ever Nina’s fault. Nina says, she’s taken responsibility for her actions, and she’s paid the consequences, and Carly says, but she doesn’t believe she deserves them. She and Nelle sing the same tune; that they’re a product of their circumstances, and that excuses their actions. Nina says, Carly of all people should sympathize. Not with her, but with Nelle. Because it was Carly’s adoptive father who neglected Nelle, abused her, and sold her for parts. Carly says she had compassion for Nelle, and in return, she was sent to Ferncliff for months, Michael was left to burn in a car, and Nelle switched Wiley for Willow’s dead baby. Does Nina get that? Nelle used someone’s dead infant as a prop. How proud Nina must be. Carly walks out, and Nina says, it didn’t have to be like this.
Tomorrow, Felicia tells Maxie, that would be a bad idea; Anna tells Robert, she doesn’t know whether to find that funny or disturbing; Victor tells Lucy, it will be their little secret; and Sonny wants to get something straight with Cody.
Speaking of evil, come by tomorrow for some soap and the Housewives who have the market on the devil’s work these days. Until then, stay safe, stay not shooting the messenger, and stay not crashing anyone’s private moments at the cemetery. No good can come of it.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Portia says she’s going to inject Oz Haggerty with the reversal agents, and Curtis says, what if something goes wrong? and She says she knows there’s a risk of him waking up too fast too soon, but it’s her only option. She has to go through with this. He says he’s not talking about the risk to Haggerty; he’s talking about the risk to the woman he loves.
Dante leads Cody into the station, and says, next time, maybe he’ll think before he sucker punches somebody. And don’t pick a lawyer like Scotty; he sues people. Cody says, the only thing he regrets is only landing one punch. They go into the interrogation room, and Cody asks if they can ditch these cuffs. How about doing his old buddy a favor and letting him go free? Dante says he is doing Cody a favor by talking to him like this, because next time, it could be through the bars of a cell.
At Charlie’s, Britt examines Scotty’s nose, and tells him, it’s not broken, and he’s lucky it’s not. He says he didn’t deserve to get sucker punched by her boyfriend, and she says, Cody is not her boyfriend, and from what she heard, he had a score to settle with Scotty. Scotty says, he’s never seen that guy before in his life, until Cody punched him. And this whole Dominique, this cockamamie story. If Dominique had another kid out there before Serena, she would have told him. Obrecht asks if he’s sure, and he says he is, because they shared everything. Obrecht says, perhaps he didn’t know her as well as he thought.
Rory tells Jordan, no need to stick around. He’s got it from here. She says she wants to believe that, but he hasn’t answered her question. Can he put his badge above his feelings for Trina Robinson? He says, it’s because he cares about Trina that she can trust him.
Trina asks TJ to please tell her that bartender is coming out of his coma. Her attorney thinks the jury is close to reaching a verdict. Oz Haggerty is the only one who can prove her innocence. He says, Oz Haggerty’s medical team is bringing him out of his medically induced coma, but unfortunately, it’s a painstakingly slow medical process. He still has a long way to go before he regains consciousness. She says, which means the jury is going to reach their verdict without knowing Esme is the one who bought the black market cellphone. He says he’s sorry to be the bearer of bad news, and she says, the closer they get to the verdict, the harder it is to stay optimistic.
Portia tells Curtis, the only thing that matters is that Haggerty wakes up in time to tell the truth before that jury comes back with a verdict. Curtis says, is it vitally important that Oz wakes up? Hell yeah, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Even if she talks her way into that room, she won’t make it out if her attempts to wake him up go sideways. She says she already told him, she’s willing to take that risk, but he says, give herself a cover. Be smart about it. Don’t go charging in there asking to incriminate herself. She says, if anyone goes to prison, it’s better her than her daughter, but he says he won’t trade Trina’s freedom for hers.
Dante says, he and Cody have always been honest with each other, right? and Cody says, more or less. Dante says, so why doesn’t Cody be honest with him right now? How long has he been hunting down Scott Baldwin? Is that why he stuck around town? Cody swears he didn’t come to Port Charles for anything other than a paycheck. The surprise bonus was running into Dante. Dante says, Cody had to know he’d run into Scotty sooner or later, right? and Cody says, if he came to town to find Scotty, doesn’t Dante think he would have made it happen sooner? He didn’t even know who Scotty was until a couple of months ago, and believe him, when he found out who Scotty was, and what Scotty did to him, he didn’t want anything to do with that piece of trash. Today, when Scotty was standing right in front of him with that smug grin on his face, he just kept thinking about everything he’d heard, and how Scotty had taken everything that was rightfully his, and he just got so mad… He’s sorry. He couldn’t stop himself. Dante asks how Cody got to this point in his life and not know Scotty stole something from him, and Cody says he didn’t know about Scotty, because he didn’t even know Dominique was his mom. Dante asks how he found that out, and Cody says, he heard it from a dead woman.
Scotty says, he and Dominique had no secrets. If she had a son out there, Scotty would have found him, and had him live with them. Scotty would never turn his back on him. Obrecht says she knows he wants to believe in Dominique, but if they shared everything, why would she go to her grave without telling him about Cody? What would have motivated her to stay silent? Britt says, people stay silent for lots of reasons. Sometimes it’s because they don’t trust people, sometimes it’s because they’re so afraid of what they’ve kept inside, they can’t face it. Obrecht says, and sometimes we’re brave and don’t even know it. Maybe it wasn’t so much that Dominique was keeping a secret from Scotty. What if she was trying to protect him? Scotty says, maybe she was trying to protect herself.
Jordan tells Rory that she cares about Trina too, but as they were taught at the Academy, the badge comes first. He says he knows he’s just a rookie, but does it have to be either or? Can’t a police officer be true to the badge and still have compassion? Yeah, he wants Trina to be found not guilty, and the best way for that to happen is for the man inside this room to wake up, and testify that Esme Prince bought that black market cellphone, and that Trina wasn’t involved. She says, the problem is, Miss Prince is no longer living at Windymere, and they’re having trouble finding her. He says he wants to help with that too, but first, she can trust him that no one, not Esme Prince or anyone else not on the list, will enter this room and interfere with the recovery of Oz Haggerty.
Trina tells TJ, she’s usually a glass half-full kind of person, but she’s not that sure the truth is going to come out in time to vindicate her. And if Diane’s right, time’s almost up. She sits, and TJ sits next to her. He says he wants her to keep reminding herself how many people are on her side. Her mom and Curtis are doing everything they can. Joss and Cam, the victims, both testified on her behalf. That’s got to mean something to the jury. She says, but Joss and Cam don’t have any hard proof that she’s innocent. The only one who can exonerate her is that bartender Oz. She knows he’s not in a natural coma; he’s medically induced. Can’t they get him out of it faster? TJ flashes back to telling Portia that he plans on administering drugs to wake Oz up, and Portia saying, Oz was put into a coma for a reason. To forcibly wake him up would be completely denying his medical needs, and that’s the very definition of unethical. He tells Trina, even if there were such a way… She says, wait. If it was impossible, he’d have said so, but he didn’t. He just talked around it, and made it a hypothetical. Does that mean he can force Oz to wake up?
Portia asks Curtis, where was all this concern when TJ was the one who was going to revive Oz?He was willing to risk his entire career, his freedom, to inject the reversal agents. Curtis says, they were desperate. Besides, TJ stood a better chance of getting in and out of Oz’s room without suspicion. He can’t say the same about her, considering she’s Trina’s mother. She asks if he’s telling her she should give up. She should trust twelve total strangers in that jury room? He says, hell no; he’s not saying that. He’s saying they’re a team, and should share the same risks and the same consequences, which means they should stick to the original plan. While he distracts Rory, she slips into Oz’s room, and gives him that injection. She says, and if it fails? All three of them end up in Pentenville? He says, at least they’ll be together. He takes her hand, and asks what she says. She says, let’s do it.
Cody tells Dante, life could have been different. He grew up in the shadows of Serenity. It was originally owned by the Stanton family. The Bells, who he thought were his real parents, lived in the caretaker’s cottage. That’s where he learned to ride horses. It’s also where he learned he’d never amount to more in life than being a cook’s son. The love of horses came naturally to him; no other lesson ever stuck. He grew up hearing these stories about the house on the hill, where the beautiful Dominique and her shady husband Leopold Taub used to live. Dante says, it’s an interesting story, but how does Scotty fit in?
Scotty says, Dominique’s marriage to Leopold Taub wasn’t a love match. He was a social climber. The Stantons represented everything he wasn’t. Britt says, Leopold Taub. Why does that name sound familiar? Obrecht says, Leopold Taub and Cesar had certain… dealings, and Britt says, her father and Cody’s father.
Cody says, he knew Leopold was a bad man because he was cruel to the horses. Apparently, he was also cruel to his wife. It was just a story, until… Dante says, until what? and Cody says, a few months ago, he got that call you never want to get. His mom – or the woman he thought was his mom – was dying. So he dropped everything and went home to say goodbye. Dante says he’s sorry, and Cody says, thanks. He was out of a job, so it was easy to drop everything. He came home to that sad little caretaker cottage, and he was right beside her when she took her last breath. Dante says, again, he’s sorry, but at least Cody got to say goodbye. Cody says, before he did, she took his hand and told him that she couldn’t die before she told him the truth. She didn’t give birth to him. His birth mother was the beautiful, very wealthy Dominique Stanton.
Jordan looks through the window at Oz, and says, there’s no sign of him waking, is there? Rory says, not since he’s been there, and she says, part of her wants to walk in there and grab him by the shoulders, and tell him to snap out of it. He says, Trina matters to her too, right? and she says, Trina matters to a whole lot of people in this town. They know who she is, and who she isn’t, but the evidence… Rory says, Esme Prince manufactured the evidence to point to Trina, and she says, unfortunately, they can’t prove that. He says, no, but Oz can. If anything happens, Jordan will be the first to know. She thanks him, and leaves. He looks at Oz.
Trina asks TJ, if they can speed up the process and bring Oz out of his coma, why haven’t they tried? He says, because it can backfire. It can make the coma permanent or worse. She says, he means it might kill Oz, and he says, there’s always a chance. Even if the reversal agents were to work, there’s no way to guarantee Oz would wake up with his faculties and memories intact. She says, okay, so no injection. The doctors stick to whatever protocol they’re using now. How long will it take for Oz to wake up? He says, it could be days, or weeks, and she says she doesn’t have that long. He says he knows. They’re just doctors. They took an oath to do no harm. He was so determined to help her that, for a moment, he almost forgot that. Curtis and Portia come down the hall, looking guilty, and Portia asks what Trina is doing here. Curtis says, let him guess. Diane got ahold of her. Trina says, Diane messaged her that jury is close to reaching a verdict. She guesses that means she might not be coming home for dinner tonight. Portia hugs her, and TJ says he’ll let them have some family time alone. He leaves, and Portia says, Trina shouldn’t be here. She should go home and spend some time with her friends. Trina say, it’s not their fault. They’re trying to cheer her up, but she doesn’t feel like pretending it’s all going to be okay. Portia says, Trina has to have faith. Believe it or not, miracles still do happen. Trina says, Portia doesn’t have to pretend with her either. TJ told her that she stopped him from taking extreme measures to wake up Oz. Portia looks at Curtis, and it’s not lost on Trina. Trina says, don’t get her wrong, she understands. Portia didn’t want TJ risking a patient’s life or his career doing something unethical. She’s glad Portia stepped up and told him to do the right thing. Portia says, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for Trina, absolutely nothing, and Curtis says, he hates to break up this moment, but didn’t Portia have a patient she’s worried about? Why doesn’t he stay with Trina, and she can go do what she’s got to do. She asks if he’s sure, and he says, go; they’ll be right here. She tells Trina to take care of herself, and leaves.
Cody tells Dante, that deathbed confession turned his world upside down. Even his last name wasn’t right; he wasn’t a Bell. He was a wealthy Stanton who was supposed to grow up in that house on that hill. Dante says he can kind of relate. What he got to Port Charles, he didn’t know Sonny was his father. He was undercover in Sonny’s operation, trying to take him down from the inside, and he found out Sonny was his dad after Sonny shot him. Cody says, Dante’s story beats his, and Dante says he’s not trying to one-up Cody. He’s just saying he can relate. To find out as an adult you’re not who you thought you were messes with your head. Cody says he never knew if Dominique thought about him or wanted to provide for him. After she died, Serenity was sold off, and the proceeds went to the love of her life, the father of her daughter Serena. Dante says, enter Scott Baldwin, and Cody says, does Dante want to ask him again why he punched that smug son of a gun? He stole everything Cody didn’t even know he had. Dante says, and Scotty swears he didn’t know about Cody? Cody says, yeah, but he also claims Dominique was the love of his life. If they were so close, why didn’t she ever tell him about her first born child? Dante asks if Cody is mad at Scotty, or mad at his mother for what she did to him?
Scotty ices his nose, and says, if Dominique was trying to keep her son away from Leopold, it makes sense she would give him to the Bells to raise. Obrecht says, kind of like Maxie trusting Brook with Bailey to keep her safe from Peter. Britt says, but the one big difference is, Maxie’s situation was temporary, where it sounds like Dominique’s situation was never-ending. Obrecht says, that would explain why Cody never knew who he was; Dominique kept silent to the end. Britt says, it all fits together, doesn’t it? Unless the pieces fit a little too well. Scotty asks what she’s driving at, and Britt says she hasn’t known Cody long, but from the first time she met him, he was always working some angle. So what if that’s what this is, and none of the story is true?
Curtis hands a bag from the vending machine to Trina, but she says she’s not hungry. He says, humor him. She’s got to keep up her strength because she doesn’t want to lose hope. Remember what her mom said about miracles. She takes the bag from him, and says she wants to have faith, but she doesn’t want to fool herself. Things aren’t going her way, and TJ said, even if Oz comes out of his coma, they don’t know if his memories will still be intact. He could have totally forgotten he was selling that black market phone to Esme, and even if he does, it could take weeks or months, and by then, the jury will already have decided, and she could be in Pentenville. He says he can’t promise how this is going to turn out, but he can promise that everyone who cares about her is doing everything they can to prove her innocence. She puts her head on his shoulder, and he puts his arm around her.
TJ looks at his tablet, and Jordan asks what he’s studying so intently. He says, Oz Haggerty’s chart. He’s looking for any glimmer of hope that his awakening is speeding up. She says she knows how badly he wants to help Trina; so does she, but they can’t force things. He says, that’s the thing. Just like he told Portia and Curtis, there’s a way to force Oz into consciousness.
Rory asks if Portia has heard from Trina; how is she? Portia says, she’s waiting, like the rest of us, for the patient in that room to wake up. Actually, that’s why she stopped by. She was just going to check on Oz, and see how he’s progressing herself. He says he’s sorry, but he can’t let her in, and she tells him that she’s a doctor. He says he knows it’s unusual to stop a doctor from seeing a patient, but unfortunately, her name isn’t on the approved list, and he can’t let her inside. She says, good for him, going by the book. She’s not on the list because she’s not the attending on the case and not a consultant on the case. Did he think she wanted to go in there to treat the patient? She just wanted to take a look at him with her own two eyes. Obviously, she has a vested interest in seeing everything is done to restore Mr. Haggerty to full consciousness. And he wants the same thing, doesn’t he? He says, of course (🍷). That’s why he’s grateful Commissioner Ashford assigned him this post. He promises her, nobody will interfere with the recovery of Haggerty. And when he comes out of this coma, he can ID Esme as being the one who bought the black market phone. Rory thinks that will be enough to convince the jury that Trina’s not guilty. She says, of course (🍷), but by then Trina could be in Pentenville for weeks, if not months. Can’t he… She goes to the window, and he says he doesn’t understand. Can’t he what? Is she sure he can’t help her? She says, yes, she’s sure, and walks away.
Cody tells Dante, maybe it’s easier to blame Scotty than his mother, but put himself in Cody’s shoes. Dante says, that’s what he’s trying to do. Telling Cody about Sonny, and discovering Sonny was his father. It’s not the same thing, but it still threw him for a loop. His whole career is crime fighting, and Sonny’s is the exact opposite. He’s sympathetic to Cody’s situation. Cody says, his whole life, no matter how far he’s traveled, no matter how hard he’s tried to fit in, he never felt like he belonged. And now, he finds out the home and life he was supposed to have has been sold off, and the proceeds go to Scotty and his daughter, who Cody’s mother obviously loved more than him.
Obrecht says, what if Cody made up the whole story just to get money out of Scotty? and Scotty says, there’s no money to get. Everything Dominique had, she left to Serena, and Serena spent all that money saving the whales. Britt says, if he wants her to arrange a DNA test to see if Cody is Dominique’s son, she can make that happen, but Scotty says, that’s not necessary, because he saw it in Cody’s eyes; the same thing he sees in Serena’s eyes, Dominque’s eyes. Obrecht says, that’s all the proof Scotty has? He says, it’s not just the eyes; it’s the hunger Cody has. Obrecht says, a hunger for his lost money, and Scotty says he’s not just talking about that. The hunger Cody has for the meaning in his life. He thinks Britt knows what he’s talking about, and Britt says she doesn’t think she would have described it quite like that, but now that Scotty has, she’s seen that too. Scotty says, then she knows he’s right, and Obrecht says, very well. If Cody is who he claims to be, what is Scotty supposed to do about it? He says, if she’s the Liesl he thinks she is, he thinks she already knows the answer. The question he has to ask himself is, what would Dominique want him to do? He gets up, kisses the top of Obrecht’s head, and says he’ll see them.
Jordan asks what exactly TJ told Portia and Curtis, and TJ says, that he was so laser focused on helping Trina, he considered using extreme measures to shock Oz’s system, basically to try and force him out of his coma. But don’t worry. Portia wasn’t having any of it, and reminded him that he needed to put the patient first. It’s just too risky of a procedure. She says she’s relieved to hear that, no matter how much it would help Trina. He says he knows the law is the law. He just wishes he was as confident as Jordan that justice will be done.
Trina says she knows what Curtis is thinking. He’s worried that his phone is going to ring, and it’s going to be Diane telling them the jury’s reached a verdict. She’s having the same feeling. Portia comes by, and Trina asks, what happened to her patient? She says, unfortunately, her patient’s condition remains unchanged. Trina is so lucky to have a friend like Rory. He won’t let anyone or anything compromise the witness who can clear her. He’s not letting anybody in that room who’s not on the approved list.
Rory calls Jordan, and she asks if everything is okay. He says he thought she’d like to know, something out of the ordinary happened. She says, what’s that? and he says, Oz Haggerty had a visit from a doctor not on the approved list. She says, which doctor? and he says, Trina’s mom, Dr. Robinson. She asks if Portia said why she was there, and he says, she just wanted to see if Haggerty was any closer to waking up. Being Trina’s mom, he can totally understand that, but she wasn’t on the approved list, so he didn’t let her in. When he arrested Spencer and Cameron, Jordan said he was a bit over-eager, and needed to use better discretion, so he just wanted to check in, and make sure he did the right thing. Jordan assures him, it was the right thing to do
Cody asks, what’s next? and Dante says, he’ll be taken to his cell. If he needs a lawyer, Dante can give him a couple of recommendations. If money’s an issue, he’ll be assigned a public defender. Cody says, really? He pours his heart out about how his world’s been turned upside down, and Dante can’t show his buddy a little bit of compassion? Dante asks what Cody expects him to do. He punched a guy in the face in a public setting in front of a bunch of witnesses, and now the guy’s pressing charges. There’s literally nothing he can do. Cody says, it pays to know people in high places, huh? and Dante says, it usually does. He starts to bring Cody to his cell, when Scotty comes in. Cody asks, how’s the nose? Did he break it? Dante says, it’s not a great idea to antagonize the guy who’s pressing charges against him, and Scotty says, his nose is fine. He can smell a phony baloney a mile away. Cody says, Scotty spends his inheritance, and has the nerve to call him a phony baloney? Take him away. Prison’s a step up from this guy. Scotty says he can also smell the real McCoy, and he thinks Cody is, so he’s dropping the charges.
TJ asks if Jordan is planning on being in the courtroom when the jury reads the verdict, and she says, her presence in the courtroom goes with the job, but this is one time she’d give anything not to be there. She walks away, and sees Trina talking with Portia and Curtis, and listens from around the corner. Trina says she guesses there’s no point in waiting around here. Even if Oz wakes up now, it’s probably too late to change anything. Portia says, it’s never too late, and Curtis tells Portia that he knows what they both want. What if it’s just not possible? She says, nothing’s impossible. Isn’t that what he always tells her? He’s so sweet. She hugs him, and whispers, she’s got to find a way in that room. Please just get Trina out of here. She says she keeps getting all these texts, but Trina says she didn’t hear Portia’s phone. Portia says she keeps her phone on silent at the hospital. Her patient still needs her, and she’ll catch up with the two of them later. She hugs Trina, saying she loves her, and jets. Trina asks if that seemed weird to Curtis. He says, her mom has a lot on her mind right now. She wants to help Trina, but she’s got to focus on her patients. He’s sure that’s all it is. She says, wait. She still thinks that goodbye was strange. Maybe she should talk to her mom before they go. He tells her, she heard what her mom said. She needs to focus on her patients, and tonight she can come home and worry about Trina. Trina says, if the worst happens and she goes to prison, Curtis has to promise he’ll take care of her mother, and he says, first of all, he doesn’t want her thinking that way. Whatever happens, of course (🍷) they’re going to take care of her mother. She just wants a happy and fair ending to Trina’s trial, just like all of them. Come on; let’s go. Trina says, what if Diane calls and she has to go to the courthouse, and she won’t be able to see her mom until she’s behind bars? Curtis says he promises as soon as he gets a phone call from Diane saying the verdict is in, he’ll get her mother to the courthouse, so she can be there to support Trina.
TJ sees Jordan, and says he wishes there was something more they could do for Trina and her family. If only Haggerty would wake up and tell them what he knows.
Britt asks how Obrecht let Scotty leave without her. Isn’t she afraid he’ll do something foolish? Obrecht says she was tempted to stop Scotty, but the truth is, she’s proud of him. Britt says, even if it means doing right by the former love of his life, Dominique? and Obrecht says, maybe if Dominique was still alive, she’d be concerned, but she died years ago. She’s not afraid of Scotty’s past. On the contrary. The fact that he was able to love someone so strongly, so deeply, means he’s capable of loving her even more. Britt says, either that’s a terrific spin on the situation, or Obrecht really does believe in true love. If that’s the case, she envies Obrecht. Obrecht says she never had that faith in the past, but she found it for the first time with Scotty. It may take some time, but it’s out there waiting for Britt; she’s sure of it. Britt says, true love’s not for everyone. She had a shot with Jason, briefly, but he’s gone. And let’s face it, she’s damaged goods. Obrecht laughs and takes Britt’s hands, saying, they’re all damaged in one way or another. She is, and so is Scotty. When you find the right person, you help each other heal.
Scotty asks Dante what the DA’s office said, and Dante tells him, if Scotty’s not pressing charges, there is no case, and they can let Cody go. Cody says, so he’s a free man? and Dante says, as soon as he gets the cuffs off. Scotty says he doesn’t expect Cody to thank him, and Cody says, good, because he’s not getting a thanks. Dante unlocks the cuffs, and Scotty says, Cody can choose to believe him or not, but he didn’t know that Dominique had a son. When they found out she had an inoperable brain tumor, they spent a lot of time together, and she would have told him about Cody, but she didn’t, so she must have had her reasons. Cody says, Scotty can tell himself that at night if it helps him sleep. For him, it’s a whole load of BS. Scotty leaves, and Cody says, does Dante believe that guy? Dante tells him, he hates to say it, but he thinks Scotty is telling the truth.
TJ tells Jordan that he has to get back to his rounds, but he’ll see her later. They hug, and Jordan waits for the elevator. She sees Curtis with Trina, and gets in. She flashes back to what TJ told her about using extreme measures to wake Oz up, and Portia telling him it was too risky. She remembers asking Rory about why Portia wanted to see Oz, and Rory asking if a police officer can’t be true to the badge, but still have compassion. She pulls the emergency alarm in the elevator. Aw. I want to cry. That’s so good of her.
An officer tells Rory, someone must be trapped inside the elevator, and Rory says he’s coming too. No one is around Oz’s room, and Portia – I’m sure not believing her luck – goes inside and closes the door. She closes the blinds and goes over to Oz. She says she knows he can save her daughter. He’s the only one who can. She takes a syringe out of her pocket.
On Monday, Victor says, Nikolas is hiding something, and they both know it; Josslyn tells Cameron, there’s another reason Dex is interested in Trina’s trial; Trina says, the jury has reached a verdict; and Portia asks if Oz can hear her.
☝🏽 BTW, for the past two days, the ABC affiliate here has forgotten their news is on at 4, and broken into GH to tell us nothing that couldn’t wait. Yesterday, I bounced around, piecing it together, since no one source had it in its entirety. Today, I was quick enough to catch it before ABC had a chance to pull for unlicensed content or whatever. My point is, WTF, ABC? If we’re at war, let me know, but it’s unnecessary to have everyone chiming in, including the subject’s kindergarten teacher, about a document. It can wait a half hour.
🤔 Who’s That Woman…?
All about Dominique. I have a vague recollection of the actress, but not much about the storyline.
Finally, Taylor got a clue and moved on. This dude is going to be perpetually 14, but he never made a secret of being a Peter Pan. Kudos to him for that.
Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty. – Thomas S. Monson
We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer
Courage – a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it. – William Tecumseh Sherman
The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. – Henri-Frédéric Amiel
We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world. – Helen Keller
Being good is easy, what is difficult is being just. – Victor Hugo
My past has not defined me, destroyed me, deterred me, or defeated me; it has only strengthened me. – Steve Maraboli
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. – Steve Jobs
Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive. – Haruki Murakami
The only real limitation on your abilities is the level of your desires. If you want it badly enough, there are no limits on what you can achieve. – Brian Tracy
I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. – John Burroughs
If you just go with the flow, no matter what weird things happen along the way, you always end up exactly where you belong. – Tom Upton
🔌 Unplugging…
It’s time to call it a week, and it’s certainly been one. Fighting technical dragons is exhausting. Plug back in with me on Monday for soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not being wishy-washy, and stay knowing, sometimes we’re brave and don’t even know it.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
Someone breaths heavily, wheezes, then coughs. Over an intercom, a voice says, you made it, but you don’t sound like you’re doing so hot. We can help, but first you have to decide if you want to be a part of this; if you’re willing to do what needs be done to get what you want. There’s a bright red light.
Morgan wakes up, and we hear a zombie. We see he’s in a tent, suspended between two trees, a good twenty feet up. A zombie beneath reaches up, looking like my dogs do when they hope something will fall while I make dinner. Morgan gets on the radio, and asks if anybody can hear him, but just gets static. He asks, is anybody out there? Anybody? Mo cries, and he picks her up. He says, she’s hungry and they’re going shopping. They’ll take mama with them. He puts on the tape of Grace singing, and puts headphones on Mo, who I have to say, is very cute. Mo sleeps, as Morgan carries her in a duffel bag on the beach. He looks down to see a hood moving in the sand. He removes the hood, and sees a zombie head stuck in the sand, a crab sticking to it.
Morgan goes to a town, and looks in a car, finding a can of formula, but it’s empty. He looks through the lockers in a pediatrician’s office, and them walks to some wrought iron gates that say Sanderson across the top. He opens them, and walks to a house. He goes inside the very creaky front door, and looks around. Mo talks to herself, and Morgan hears a woman saying, I’m here. Where are you? Morgan brandishes his weapon, and pushes open a door, seeing a woman holding a knife. She asks what he’s doing here, and he raises his hands, saying, he’s just looking for food. She says she doesn’t have any, and Morgan sees a bunch of pregnancy tests lined up on the vanity. He says, okay, and puts down his weapon. He ask how far along she is. This is his daughter Mo. He’s Morgan. She lowers the knife, and says her name is Ava. He says he thinks they can help each other, but she says she can help him with this advice. Take that girl as far away as he can. He says, not until he finds her mother and the rest of his family. It looks like she’s looking for hers too. Ava suggests he reconsider, saying, this is no place for kids.
Back in his tent, Morgan tries to radio Grace, asking if she’s out there. He says he can’t keep doing this without her. He did what she asked, and got Mo someplace safe, but Mo needs her. He needs her. He’s scared, so he needs his family. A man asks if somebody is up there. He could use some help down here. Morgan unzips the tent, and a man wearing a hood says, good evening. Everything goes black.
Morgan wakes up on the beach, and sees a bunch of guys in hoods digging a hole. He starts to get up, and head hood says, don’t be a hero. Morgan says he doesn’t know what they want, but whatever it is, they can work it out. Just give him his little girl back. Head hood says, she doesn’t belong to Morgan, like all the other kids he took. Morgan says he didn’t take any kids, and the guy says, where are they? Morgan says, give him back his daughter, and they’ll never see them again. The guy tells Morgan, get in that hole, and tells the others, bury him. Morgan asks why they’re doing this, and he says, so every other sh*thead sees what happens when they steal our kids. Cover him. He’s getting what he deserves. He puts a hood over Morgan’s head, and Morgan hears gunfire. He gets the hood off, and sees they’re all dead, and someone is holding Mo. He says, whoever you are, thank you for saving my life. A woman says she’s not here to save him, and he says, they thought he was her. His baby is everything to him. He can’t let them take her. We see it’s Madison, and she says, the baby is better off with her. He’ll get over it; she did. He starts to jump out of the hole, and she shoots near him. She takes a hit of oxygen from a tank, and he says, please, stop, but she says, she’ll kill him if he follows her. He starts to get out, and she shoots near him again, then trots off with Mo.
Madison runs past hooded heads on the beach. She gets on the radio, telling Oriole that she’s approaching the drop. She goes to a dock and inside the boathouse. There’s no boat, and she radios Oriole, saying, you’re late. A man says, they’re getting them processed, and she asks how long it’s going to take. He says, as long as it takes, and she puts Mo down, giving her something to eat. On the radio, she hears Ava saying, Jim, can you hear me? We need you. This baby needs you. Madison tells Oriole that she has the lead on a new egg. She’s going to leave this one in the birdhouse, and check it out. She tells Mo that she knows Mo misses her daddy, but she’s better off without him, and she leaves.
She passes the heads again, and hears, Jim, I need… She gets on, and says, hello? Ava says, who is this? and Madison says, someone who wants to help. She heard Ava’s message; where is she? Ava asks how she knows Madison’s not the one stealing kids, and Madison says she’s a mother herself, and knows how hard it is. Ava says she just wants this baby to be okay, and Madison says, Ava just has to tell Madison where she is. While she’s talking, zombies surround Madison. She takes out her battleax, and kills them all. She takes some oxygen, and sees the tank is low. As she walks, she asks if Ava is still there. Tell Madison where she is. Ava says, if Madison really wants to help… and Madison says she knows it’s hard to know who to trust. Morgan comes up behind her, and turns off the radio. He tells her, hand over the gun, and she gives it to him. She says, he’s making a mistake, and he says, not as big as the one she made taking his daughter. Drop her weapon, and turn around. She does, and he asks, where is she? Madison says, somewhere he’ll never find her. He says, wrong answer, and she asks where her oxygen tanks are. He says, someplace she’ll never find them, and she says, she’s the least of his problems. The people she’s with can kill him in ways he can’t imagine. He says, they should probably get moving if she wants to breathe, and she says, if they find out he’s interfered with the egg, he’ll be sorry. Parents think they give kids what they need, but if he saw where she’s from, he’d see why she’s taking kids. She can’t breathe, and he gives her some oxygen.
In what looks like an interrogation room, a voice over the intercom asks if Madison has considered their offer. She says she’ll do what they ask, but they have to hold up their end of the deal. They voice says, we will, and she asks how she knows. The voice says, the only reason she’s still breathing is because of them. What’s her name? She says, Madison, and the voice says, not anymore. They’ll tell her who she’s going to be from now on.
At the dock, Madison says, they’re too late, and Morgan asks what she means. She says, they’ve already rescued Mo. Her people came sooner than she expected. He looks at the log, and sees a notebook that says, PADRE on it. He asks if she’s with PADRE, and she asks what he knows about it. He says, let’s move, and they leave the dock. He asks which way they went, and she says, his baby is better off without him, but he says, she doesn’t get to decide what’s best for his family. She says she already did. A zombie straggles up, and she takes out her weapon. She says she used to be like him, and Morgan stabs the zombie with his own pokey tool. Madison whacks at Morgan, and they struggle. He sees Alicia and Nick tattooed on her wrists, and backs off, saying, oh, dear God. She’s Madison Clark. She asks how he knows her name.
Morgan says, Madison? and she asks how he knows her name. He says her kids told him, but she says he’s full of sh*t. She says, her kids are alive, and he says, he’ll tell her what he knows in exchange for his daughter. She says, there’s only one way to rescue his daughter; bring someone else’s kid to take her place. He says, there’s no other way without taking a child away from their family? and she says, no. She coughs, and he says, what if the kid isn’t born yet? The woman Madison was talking to on the radio is pregnant, and not doing so good. He knows where she is. She asks if he’s sure he’s ready to go down that road, and he says, he will if it gets his daughter back. She says she’ll take him to PADRE to look for Mo, and get her back. He asks if PADRE will look after the baby and mother; he’s not taking a child from their mother otherwise. She says, yeah, and he hands her back her weapon. She breathes into the oxygen mask.
They walk, and Morgan asks if Madison got smoke in her lungs when she escaped the stadium. Is that why she needs the oxygen? She says, something like that, and he says, the way he heard it, there’s no way anyone got out of the stadium alive. She says she’s full of surprise. What else did her kids tell him? He says, quite a bit, but she’s not what he imagined, stealing kids. She says, rescuing kids, and he asks if that’s her or PADRE talking. She asks what he knows about PADRE, and he says, he knows they’ve been putting out a radio message, nobody can find them, and Alicia had been looking for them, but he’s not going to tell her any more until he gets his kid back. She asks if Morgan thinks he’s doing the right thing when she’s in the right place. PADRE can give her the life people like him can’t. He asks what she means by people like him, and she says, parents. He couldn’t even feed her. It looks like he’s barely scraping by. He says, Mo is his daughter, and her mother is coming back. They survived the bombs in Galveston. She asks if Nick and Alicia were there, but he says he’s not telling her anything more. Their family have gotten through worse. She says, family isn’t the answer; it’s the problem. It’s what PADRE has figured out. What they’re building is different. He says, Madison put her life on the line for family; what the hell happened to her? They come to the gates, and she asks if this is the place. He says, what now? and she says, they go in, and tell her the truth; they’ll go a place where the baby will be taken care of. He asks, what happens to the mother after the baby is born? but she says, he doesn’t need to know. He says he does, but she insists, he doesn’t. He asks how she can do this to people, and she says, you get used to it, breathing in more oxygen.
In the interrogation room, Madison says she did what they asked. Now it’s their turn. The voice over the intercom tells her, More. One time isn’t enough. They’re going to need her to keep doing it. She looks at the tattoos on her wrists.
Morgan and Madison walk into Ava’s house, and Morgan asks if Ava is there. Ava comes out on the upstairs balcony, and asks what he’s doing here. He says he found somebody he thinks can help her, Madison says, they spoke on the walkie, and Morgan told her where Ava was. Ava says, she wants Jim, and Madison asks if Jim is the baby’s father. Ava says, this house belonged to her family. She was born here, and thought it was safe. Madison says she can help Ava and her baby, and Ava asks, how? Madison says, she can take them to a safe place with good people. It’s the kind of place a kid dreams about growing up in. Ava says, it sounds too good to be true, but Madison says, it’s for real, and it’s their best shot at their kids’ future. Morgan’s kid is in there. Morgan says he didn’t think it was possible for a place like this to exist, but it does. Ava asks, what’s it called? and he says, PADRE. She says she’ll get her things, and when she’s gone, Morgan asks Madison what’s going to happen to happen to the mother? Madison asks if he doesn’t think it’s a little late to be asking, but he says she didn’t answer him before. She says, he knows or he would have pressed. They split them up; that’s how PADRE works. They gave it their best shot, but they were looking at it the wrong way. The way they see each other, and what they do for each other. PADRE has rewritten the book on all of it, what it looks like; no attachments or connections. He says he’s not doing this. He’s seen a mother lose her baby before, and doesn’t want to see it again. She says, then he’ll never see his daughter again. Ava comes back, and asks if everything is all right. Madison says, it is for her, and Morgan says, him too. They should get her to PADRE. Madison looks outside, and sees a bunch of hooded figures headed their way. She says, they found her, and asks if there’s a back way. Ava asks why they’re after her, and Madison says, they’re pissed off about her saving some kids. Ava says, follow her, and they head out the back way.
They run across a field, and Madison asks Morgan for some oxygen. Ava says, the beach is this way, and trips over a zombie that’s stuck under a bush. Madison smashes it’s had in, and Morgan asks if Ava is okay; did she get bit? She says she just got cut from the vines, and Madison says they have to keep moving. If that group catches up with them, they’ll be killed. Morgan says, if something happens to Ava’s baby, it’s on her, and Madison wonders where they should go. Morgan suggests a conveniently located crypt nearby, although it wouldn’t be my first choice, given that there are zombies everywhere. They go inside, and close the door, pulling a cement bench in front of it. Morgan says, it’ll be okay, and Madison takes out a heart rate monitor to check on the baby. Ava says, the baby is fine, and asks, who’s after Madison? Madison uses the monitor, and Morgan says, what is it? Madison says, she can’t get a heartbeat, and Morgan asks if PADRE doesn’t have doctors, handing her the radio. She says, she can’t hear it, but he tells her, keep looking. She says, Ava isn’t pregnant; she never was. Morgan says he doesn’t understand, and Madison says, Ava was tricking them to get Madison to take her to PADRE. Morgan asks if it’s true. Is Ava not pregnant? Madison says, it doesn’t matter. Tie her up, and leave her food and water; she’ll just slow them down. Ava says, Madison doesn’t remember? Madison took her daughter a year ago. She told Ava that it was for the best. Madison really doesn’t remember. She was five. Her name was Odessa, and she cried when they pulled her from Ava on the beach. What Madison told her wasn’t true. Madison says, Morgan knew what was going on, and they still have to get out. Ava tells Madison to take her there, but Madison says, Ava’s plan could never work. The doctors at PADRE would have checked her as soon as she got in the door, and kept checking the entire time she was there. Ava says she needs to see her daughter, and Morgan says, since Ava isn’t pregnant, how is he getting Mo back? Madison says, even with a trade, there was no guarantee. Ava is stunned that she was to be used as a trade, and Morgan shoves Madison up against the wall. He tells Madison to find a way for him to get to his kid or she’ll never know where children are. His eyes look crazy, and he says he wants his kid. If she wants to know about hers… Madison says, she doesn’t want to find them. If she never sees them again, that’s okay. She got over it before. She wasn’t lying when she said that before. Morgan tells her, she was just saying that; they had a deal. She says, so she could get what she wanted, and Morgan says, why else would she be doing all of this? Madison takes a breath of oxygen
In the interrogation room, the intercom voice tells Madison that she needs to rescue more children.
Ava says, Madison has kids? and Madison says, they’re all doing what they’re doing for their own reasons. Ava picks up Madison’s weapon, and hits the oxygen canister, so that the oxygen sprays everywhere, and busts open one of the graves. Another dicey move in a zombie apocalypse. She pulls out a shotgun, and says, her granddaddy wanted to be buried with his favorite hunting gun, so he could be prepared in care he didn’t end up at the Pearly Gates. She doesn’t think they will either. (Was he going to shoot Satan?) Zombies start to bang at the door, and Morgan says he knows Ava is angry, but they’ve got to go if they’re going to get out alive. Ava says, she has another way. Madison might not want to see her kids, but she doesn’t want them to die. Ava gets on the radio, and asks if they’re the ones looking for the collector. A man’s voice asks who she is, and she says, someone like them; a woman who got her child stolen, like them. She found a way to motivate the collector. Madison says she can’t help Ava, but Ava says she thinks Madison will find a way. She points the gun at Morgan, and says, tell Madison where she can find her kids, or she’ll shoot him, and his daughter will never see him again. Tell her where they are. Morgan says, it’s not going to work, and Ava says, why? He says, because they’re already dead. He’s sorry, but Madison’s kids are gone. Madison shoves him against the wall, saying, he told her they were alive, but he says he wouldn’t lie. She says he never did know about her kids, and he says, Nick was shot; Victor, Alicia, and Luci were all there. They buried him themselves. She says, and Alicia, and he says, she got bit not long ago. She took her own arm off, but not before infection set in. She fought it off for months; longer than anybody ever has. Madison leans on him, and says, no. He says, the last time he and Alicia talked, she was close to the end, and Madison cries, saying, no. Morgan says he’s sorry.
Zombies are starting to get the door open, and Morgan says, there’s 30 of them out there, and more on the way. The man on the radio asks if Ava is there, and Morgan tells Madison, he’s still waiting on their deal. She says she can’t give what she promised, and he tells Ava that those people tried to kill him already, and they’re going to kill all of them. Ava says they can get out, and the man on the radio asks why she isn’t answering. Morgan turns the radio off, and asks how long before they’re found. Ava says, it’s a big property; it could be hours. Morgan says, they’ll have to fight their way through the zombies, and get out before the posse finds them. Ava doesn’t want to bring Madison, and Morgan says, he’s sorry about what they did, but they’re going to need Madison. He tells Madison that they’re going to need her. He’s sorry he didn’t tell her the truth from the beginning. He did what he thought he had to. She asks what they were doing when they died, and Morgan says, Nick was going through a bad patch when they met; Alicia too. They thought Madison was gone, but they’d been making steps to build something better when it happened. Madison asks how Alicia got bit, and Morgan says, the bombs they were talking about; she was trying to stop them from going off. She survived the explosion, and escaped the fallout. She fought the infection for as long as she could. Madison says, he didn’t see her die? and he says, he had to leave with Mo. Alicia could still be out there. She says, no one survives a bite, but he says, Alicia is different. Maybe she found a way. Madison says, even if she did, she doesn’t want to find her, and he asks, why?
The voice over the intercom says, we think it’s time. She’s rescued more children than any other collector, so now they’ll help her find hers. She pulls her sleeves over her tattoos, and folds her hands on the table. She says, no; she doesn’t want to find them. She tells Morgan, she was willing to die in the stadium so her kids could see what she was building was worth fighting for. PADRE played her from the start. They made her do things she didn’t want to, so when she could finally get her kids back, she’d say no. Morgan asks why she’s still taking kids, and she says, because she knew what they’d do if she walked away. They’d find Nick and Alicia, and make them do what she wouldn’t. Now she doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. She wishes she knew that before she took Morgan’s daughter. They hear gunfire outside, and Morgan says, the posse is going to kill them both. He tells Ava that Madison saved him once before, but Ava wants to give her up. Morgan says, they need to get their kids back, but Ava says she doesn’t think this group will see it that way. From outside the door, the head hood says, if they’re hiding Madison, they’ll have a problem, and Madison says, let them in. Don’t do this for her. Morgan says he has to get his daughter back, and Madison says, she can’t undo things. Morgan says, they just need to find a way, but Madison says, there’s only one way to show them that he’s not with her. Morgan calls to them to wait. He’s going to open the door and hand her over to them. Morgan tells Madison, sorry, but she says, it’s the only way he’ll live to see his daughter one day. He and Ava move the bench away, and open the door. The head guy says, hands where he can see them. He removes his hood, and asks if Madison remembers him. She took his boy last winter. He puts a hood on Madison’s head, and tells the others, start digging. High tide is in less than two hours.
Outside, Morgan looks pretty bummed, and Ava says, Morgan made the right call. Morgan asks what they did with Madison, and the head hood says, left her to watch the tide; it’s worse when they see it coming. Morgan asks what Madison told them, and he says, not much, but she didn’t need to. He shows Morgan the PADRE notebook, and says, now they know when Madison was being picked up. He gives Morgan a hood, and says, they’re going to surprise her friends at the beach and bury them all. Someone will talk. He asks if Morgan has a problem with that, and Morgan says, it won’t get their kids back, and it will get everybody killed. Ava tells them to let Morgan go, and the head hood says, that’s not how any of this works. She says, the PADRE people took their kids; why are they fighting each other? Let him go. The head hood says, Morgan knows what happens if he gets in their way, and Morgan says, he knows and he won’t. He tells Ava, don’t go with them; she doesn’t have to. She says she has to get to her kid. She has to do something. She shows him a stuffed toy, and says, Odessa lost it the day before Madison took her. Ava promised to find it and give it back to her. She’s not breaking her promise. He says he knows, and she goes with them.
Madison’s head pokes out of the sand, and she coughs. Zombies begin coming out of the water, and she flashes back to the intercom. We see a toy dropped into a bin, and hear a baby crying. Madison drops toys and other baby stuff into a bin, and holds a stuffed tiger, hesitating before finally dropping it in with the others. She closes her eyes as the zombies come closer. One falls, and crawls toward her. She remembers the bin again, and the zombie’s face is chopped off by Morgan. He slices and dices the other two, and says, Madison doesn’t deserve to go out like this. She says she can’t help him, and he says, when he met her kids, he was in a place not too different from her; wanting to get away from everything and everybody. Meeting Alicia and Nick, and seeing what she gave them was a big part in turning him around. In a way, he owes her. The people who did this are wrong, and they have to fight for what they believe. No one is gone until they’re gone. Alicia told him Madison used to say that. Madison says, everything she’s done, she is gone, but Morgan says, hang on; he’s got her tanks. He runs off, and more zombies come out water. She says, they’re all… She realizes they’re wearing hoods, and says, she told them not to go to the dock. She calls to Morgan, who begins to stab them until he sees the one with the stuffed toy hanging from its belt. He takes the hood off, and it’s Ava. He says, no, no, no, and Madison calls his name. He says he never should have done this, and because he’s so distracted, he falls backward, Ava on top of him. Madison gets an arm out of the sand, and manages to grab her battleax, chopping off the surrounding zombies at the knees. Morgan tells Ava that he’s sorry, and Madison bashes her head in. She grabs the oxygen mask, and inhales. She asks Morgan, what the hell was that? and he says, Ava is dead because of something he did. She won’t see her daughter because of him. Madison says, she’s dead because of PADRE, and Morgan says, Madison was just ready to give up; what changed? She says, she’s gone, but he’s not. She’ll help him get to his daughter, and they’ll show PADRE that they’re wrong. He says, then what? and she says she doesn’t know. She wasn’t lying when she said the only way to get to PADRE is to take another child. He says, there’s got to be another way there, but she says, there isn’t. He looks at the tape player, and says, there is. It just means they can’t fail.
They go to the dock, and the guard asks who Morgan is. Madison says, he’s a collector with something to offer. The guard says he doesn’t see anything, and Morgan says he has information. There are rafts with people on them. The guard asks, what kind of people? and Madison says, the ones they might want. Morgan says, there’s a pregnant woman on one of them. He can tell them more, but the guard’s got to let him go with them. The guard says, get in.
On the boat, Morgan asks Madison, where the hell are they going? Where’s PADRE? She says she’s been meaning to tell him – she doesn’t know. They’re blindfolded, and we see the boat speeding away toward an ocean liner.
Come on by tomorrow for some soap and peek at what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay looking for the good in the challenge, and stay knowing, no one is gone until they’re gone.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
Alicia is being carried on a stretcher. She’s in and out, and alternately sees zombies and the people carrying her. Alicia is parked on the beach, as everyone gets the rafts ready. Alicia says hi to a bird, and Jacob says, she’s waking up. He calls for June, and June tells him to get saline and epinephrine, and tells Alicia that she’s low on fluids. Alicia asks why the rafts are being prepped, and June says, she doesn’t remember? The tower is burning. When the walkers from the canyon burn, it’s going to be released into the air. Alicia asks where they’re going, but June says, they don’t know. Alicia wonders where Morgan ended up, but June says, he hasn’t landed yet. Alicia struggles to get up, but June tells her she can’t; the fever will kill her. Alicia asks, where the hell is Victor? but June says, he didn’t want to come. Alicia asks if they know where is he, but June says, as far as they know, he’s still in the tower. Alicia looks at the column smoke rising in the distance, and gets up, telling them to put everyone in the rafts, but June says, Alicia needs rest. Alicia looks around, and notices a girl in a mask. She says, someone heard the message, and calls, over here. The girl goes in the other direction, and Alicia says, come back, and follows. She tells the girl not to run away, and the girl says, she’s not running. She has to find her friend. Alicia says she wants to help, and the girl says, then help her find her friend in there, and gestures toward the tower. He knows how to get to Padre. She runs into the smoke, and the smoke gets heavier. Alicia walks into it after her.
A zombie struggles, caught under a shopping cart, and Alicia stabs it in the head. Luci radios, asking where Alicia is, and Alicia walks up to an armored truck. She tells Luci that she found the girl she told Luci about; she might know where Padre is, and they need a place to go. Luci asks why Alicia left on her own, and Alicia says she can’t put them in danger. Don’t come looking for her. She walks on, and has a flash of seeing zombies. The girl says, over here, and walks into the smoke. Alicia asks what she knows about Padre; is it real? The girl turns out to be a zombie, and Alicia slashes its head into a pile of mess. She looks at her artificial arm, and it morphs into a melting skeletal arm. She looks at her reflection in something, and sees a zombie. She opens her eyes, and she’s inside the truck. She sits up, and the girl says, it’s okay. Alicia passed out on a body; the girl heard her scream. Alicia asks how the girl got her in here, and the girl says she dragged Alicia. They almost didn’t make it. Alicia asks her name, and says, she’s Alicia. The girl says she knows; she heard Alicia’s message. That’s why she was at the beach. Alicia says the girl can take her mask off, but the girl says she doesn’t take it off. Alicia says, the girl helped her in the woods; why didn’t she stay? The girl says she was looking for her friend. She asks why Alicia is sick; is it her arm? Did one of them bite her? Alicia can tell her. She’s not scared of bites. Alicia says, it doesn’t matter; there’s nothing she can do about it. Alicia looks through the stuff in the truck, and asks if the girl’s friend can really help them find Padre. The girl says, yes, but they have to find him first. He’s all she’s got left; he’s like family. She asks what Alicia is looking for, and Alicia says, anything to bring down her fever. The girl asks if fevers don’t come from infections, and Alicia asks how she knows that. The girl says, her mother says she’s too smart for her own good, and Alicia says, her mom said the same thing about her. A huge lightbulb comes on over my head, and I know who the girl is. Alicia says, this infection is different. She’s been fighting it a long time. The girl asks if Alicia found Madison, and Alicia looks at a tape labeled Amina. She asks how far away the girl’s friend is, and how she’s going to contact them, and the girl says, the same way Alicia contacted her when she heard the message. Alicia says, that’s not going to work. The tower is on fire, and the irradiated dead are headed there. Alicia barely made it here. They’ve got to get to the rafts before the dead get to the flames. The girl says she’s not getting in a raft, and aims a gun at Alicia. Alicia takes it out of her hand, and says, it’s not loaded. Has she looked for bullets lately? There’s none. The girl asks why Alicia followed her, and Alicia says, to help save her friend, but also to do something that will outlast her. The girl asks if Alicia thinks she’s going to die, and Alicia says, look at her; she might not make it to the beach. This thing is going to beat her, and she won’t be able to help her friends. The girl says, Alicia is wrong. She can beat it and help her friends. Alicia insists that’s not true, but the girl says she was bit too, and she’s still here. She shows Alicia scars on her arm, and says she needs to get to the tower and make contact with her friend. He saved her, and he’ll save Alicia too, then get them to Padre.
Speculative Spoiler: I could be very wrong, but I wonder if Alicia is talking to herself. They’ve already been borrowing heavily from Z Nation. Why not again?
They walk, and Alicia asks when the girl got bit, and how. It must have been a while ago. The girl can trust her. She’s here, isn’t she? A zombie comes toward them, and the girl says she’ll deal with it, but Alicia says, she won’t even reach its head. The girl hands Alicia a bullet on a cord, and Alicia asks where she got it. The girl says she found it near the truck. Shoot him. Alicia has a zombie flash, and stabs it in the neck. She falls to the ground with it, and it grabs ahold of her. The girl whacks it with a hammer, and asks if Alicia is okay. She almost got herself killed. Alicia says, the walker is mulch, and the girl isn’t hurt. There’s nothing to be upset about. They start walking again, and the girl asks why Alicia didn’t use the bullet. Alicia says, it would have drawn more dead, and the girl asks why Alicia has a bullet if she’s not going to use it. Alicia says, so she doesn’t turn, and the girl asks if Alicia has dreams about turning; she had them too. Alicia asks if she still has them, but the girl says, no. It was only when the fever was really bad. Her friend will help Alicia. She’s not going to end up like one of them. Use the bullet next time.
They walk closer, as the tower burns. Alicia says, they need to go to the rafts, but the girl says, maybe other people got Alicia’s message. Alicia can go if she wants, but she’s staying. Alicia says, this is impossible, and the girl says, what about the other people who heard Alicia’s message? Is she going to let them walk into that? Alicia says, when they see it, they’ll turn around, but the girl says, they won’t know to go to the beach. They could end up someplace worse. They need to go. Alicia says she can’t push much further, but the girl says she’s not leaving. She walks toward the tower, but Alicia stops her. Alicia says, if they go in there, they’ll both die, but the girl says, they’ll die if they stay out here. Alicia asks what she means, and the girl says, Alicia knows what she means. Alicia faints, and the girl fights off some straggling zombies. She tells Alicia to stay with her, and gets on the radio, asking if there’s anyone there.
Alicia is on a rolling cart, and Sarah says, she’s waking up. They stop, and Luci says, they weren’t going to leave without her. Dwight takes off the straps holding her to the cart, and Alicia asks how they found her. He says, they heard her SOS. A new guy says, hello, and Sarah tells Alicia, his name is Josiah; he’s friendly. Alicia asks, where is she? and Dwight says, who? Alicia says, the girl who helped her. She can help them get to Padre. Luci says, they don’t even know if that place is real, and Alicia says, the girl helped her kill the walkers. Dwight says, it sure looks like Alicia killed them, and Alicia sees her arm weapon (weapon arem?) has blood all over it.
Alicia says, the girl saved her twice; it’s blood from before. She wipes it off, and June says, Alicia is still burning up. Alicia wonders where the girl is; she was there. Josiah says, Alicia was alone when she went back to the tower, and Luci asks why she did that. Alicia says, to send a message; the girl wanted to find her friend, and she promised to help. She has to go back there. Sarah says, Alicia is going on the raft, by force if she wants to play it that way. Alicia says she’d be doing the same thing if she were in their position, but she’s not leaving. Luci asks why it’s so important, and Alicia says, the friend is going to tell her how to save them. June says, the raft is their best shot, and Alicia says, the girl was bit, but she’s alive, and her friend helped. She’s been dreaming of turning into one of them for months. She doesn’t want to die, and she doesn’t want to turn. The girl’s friend can help her live. June asks if Alicia is sure she’s not just saying that because she wants it, and Alicia says, she knows how it sounds, but she’s real. Daniel says, when people doubted him, it didn’t feel good, and Sarah says, but he didn’t have all his faculties. He says, maybe he still doesn’t, but Alicia helped him think more clearly. He can’t let he go on her own; he’s coming. Luci says she owes Daniel one, so she’s in, and June says, she’ll clear the tunnel faster with help. Dwight says, Sherry will kill him if he lets Alicia go by herself, and Sarah says, she doesn’t want be the only a-hole who says no. She tells Dwight, let’s get us some crispy critters.
Alicia keeps trying to radio the girl, when she finally answers. Alicia asks where she is, and the girl asks if Alicia thinks she can get to the roof, but Alicia says, it’s too dangerous to do on her own. She’s coming, and her friends are clearing the tunnel. The girl says she’s on the stairs, but the radio goes dead. Alicia takes out the bullet, and Luci tells her, if she talks to the girl, ask if they can get in there. Alicia says, she talked to her, and she’s going in. June says, not alone, and Sarah says, they’re not leaving. Josiah says, they opened it pretty good, but he can’t be sure it will stay stable. Alicia says, they need to get to the raft. If she learns where Padre is, she’ll radio them. Sherry needs Dwight, Sarah just found her brother, and Daniel’s got to be there for Charlie. She tells Luci that they’ll need someone to show them the way, but Luci says, they have Alicia. Alicia says she has to do this on her own, and Luci nods, saying, she’ll see Alicia and the girl at the shore. Alicia goes inside, and the door closes behind her.
Zombies toddle around the tower as it burns. Alicia goes upstairs wearing a mask, but then takes it off. She thinks about being a zombie, and radios the girl, asking, where are you? Are you in the stairwell? The girl says she’s on the roof and needs Alicia’s help, but Alicia says she’s not sure she can make it. The girl says, she has to; it’s the only way. Alicia stops, pants, and says to herself. you can do it. She sees a bird flying up through the stairwell.
She opens the roof door, and the girl says, over here. Alicia says, you’re alive, and the girl says, so are you. Alicia says she doesn’t want to die; she’s not ready. She suggests they find the girl’s friend, and gets the radio, but she sees it’s been burned by the fire. She yells, no! and the girl says, what? She tells the girl, it’s broken, but the girl says, it’s okay. Alicia says, they need to get in touch with her friend, and the girl says, they still can. Her friend isn’t out there; he’s in the tower. That’s why she wanted to come. Alicia says, her friend (and I say in my head, Victor), what’s his name? The girl says, Victor Strand, and I pat myself on the back for figuring everything out so early on. The girl says she’s sorry she didn’t tell Alicia sooner, and Alicia flashes back to Victor saying, those people were never part of his vision… She’s never going to forgive him, even if he saves everyone, because the damage has been done… He’s trying to save her life… Alicia says, no; it doesn’t make sense. She remembers Victor saying he knows she thinks he’s a monster, but he’s the same man he’s always been. She can’t stop what’s coming. Alicia says, right. She shouldn’t have come. The girl says, Victor needs her to help him, and Alicia asks why she should. The girl says, Victor is her family. He can save them; save us. Alicia knocks the girl down, and holds the pointy end of her arm to the girl’s throat. She asks if anything the girl told her is true, and the girl says, Victor can help her if she helps him. Alicia says, no, and the girl asks if she’d rather die than save him. Alicia says she would, and the girl asks, why? Alicia says, Victor took everything from her, and the girl says, don’t let him take her life too. If Alicia leaves him, she’ll die. Alicia keels over, and asks the girl why she cares what happens to Victor, but the girl says, it’s not about Victor. It’s about Alicia.
Alicia hears the door clank, and tells the girl, wait. Where is she going? No one’s there. She goes back inside, and sees the bird. She wonders why the girl would come in here, and keeps walking. She comes to Victor’s quarters, where the lights are flickering. Victor says, who’s there? Is there a visitor? Alicia says, Victor? and we see Victor, lying in bed with an empty booze bottle next to him. He asks if his mind is playing tricks on him, but Alicia says, it’s not a trick, and flops into a chair. She says she’s here, and he says, she’s got to get out. She says she can’t, not now. She’s not going to make it. He says he’s sorry. he wanted to give her everything. She says, he didn’t give her anything. He took everything. He asks if it’s because of what he did to Will, but she says, Will is just another person she outlived. So many people had to die so she could live. He says, this is about her mother? but she says, it’s about so much more. It’s about making what her mother gave them, mean something. What she didn’t get was to make a place that would last beyond herself. He says he’s so sorry for everything, and she puts the bullet in the gun. He tells her, don’t do that. If she turns, he deserves anything she does to him. She says, it’s not for you – she flashes on the zombie side – it’s for me. She puts the gun to her head, and says she’s sorry. She remembers Will and Charlie, and says again, she’s sorry. She remembers Luci, Daniel, Morgan, and Madison. She sees the bird on the windowsill, and tells it to go. Please leave, goddammit. She thinks about Madison telling the story of Amina, and how Alicia had decided that bird was going to live. Alicia walks over to the bird, and we hear Madison say, the bird lived because her kids didn’t give up on her. Alicia holds out her funky glove-covered hand, and the bird hops on. She says, maybe this is the last thing she was meant to do. She tries, unsuccessfully, to smash the glass, and the girl helps, smashing through the window. Alicia holds her hand out the opening, and the bird flies away. She thanks the girl, and asks why she came back. The girl takes her mask off, and says, because she can’t leave Alicia. Alicia says, no… I… I don’t understand. The girl says, she does, and Alicia says, you’re… me. (Another pat for me.) Alicia hears Madison say that Alicia gave them a chance when there aren’t a lot left in the world, and asks why the girl brought her hear. The girl aka Little Alicia, says, Alicia knows why. It’s on that tape. Alicia looks at the Amina tape, and the girl says she was wrong. Her mom didn’t die to build something like this. She died so that part of Alicia didn’t give up on the people who would live. She shows Alicia the scars on her arm, and says she wasn’t lying when she told Alicia hat she survived the bite. So will she. She’s the only one who can make sure this isn’t the end for her. Alicia says, she can’t; she’s going to die. The girl says, not if she makes sure people remember this part of her, and Alicia asks, how? The girl says, Alicia knows how. She has to save Victor.
On the beach, June tells everyone, don’t leave anything behind. They don’t know how long they’ll be out there. They get the rafts ready, and June says, they can’t miss the tide. Alicia will catch up. They can’t be there when the walkers catch fire. Try to stay clustered in case they get separated. Luci says, they’re shoving off, when Alicia radios that she needs help. Luci asks where she is, and Alicia says, the MRAP. She can’t make it much father. Luci asks if she found the girl, and Alicia says she did; she found someone else too. Victor says, they’ll never take him, but Alicia says, they will if she asks. He coughs and groans a little, and asks, why save him after everything he done. He laughs, and says he asked her mother the same question. She asks what her mother said, and he tells her, she said she did it because she knew who he was. Alicia asks if he thinks she really did, but he says, not like Alicia. So he’s asking again, why save him? She says, it’s not about him; it’s about her. So he can do what she doesn’t when she’s gone; find a place where everyone is safe. He asks if she thinks he can, and she says, she’s not sure, but she think he’ll try. He tells her, stay with me, but she fades out.
June feels Alicia’s forehead, and says, she’s waking up. She tells Alicia, don’t move. She’s got to get fluids. They’ll make the raft as comfortable as they can. Grace says, the readings have spiked. They’ve got to go. Alicia asks Grace to tell Morgan something for her, but Grace says, Alicia can tell him herself, and hands her the radio, saying, Morgan wanted to talk with her too. Morgan asks, is that her? and Alicia says she’s sorry she didn’t do what she said she would. He says he got Mo in the raft, and that’s all that matters. He wanted to tell her that she might be right. He’s heard chatter on the radio. There might be a Padre. He thinks Padre is real, and thinks they might actually have someplace to go to. How about that? How is she feeling? She says she needs to tell him something. No matter what happens to her, he won’t be doing it alone. He says, no, because she’ll be all right, right? He hears only static, and asks if she’s there. Mo cries.
Grace tells Alicia, if he didn’t hear, she’ll make sure he knows. Charlie comes over to Alicia, and Alicia says she’s sorry she couldn’t stop it from happening to her. Charlie says she’s sorry she wasn’t there for Alicia, and Alicia tells Daniel, look after her. Charlie says she knows it’s going to be okay. She got to do something she never thought she would. They finally got to see the beach. Alicia says, they did, and Daniel says, it’s time. Alicia tells Daniel, it’s going to be oaky, and Daniel says, he wasn’t there for Ofelia at the end, but he can be there for Charlie. He will see Alicia again. Sherry says, they’ve got to go, and she thanks Alicia for taking them in. Luci says she’ll be in the raft with Alicia, but Alicia says she has to do this alone. Victor says, no she won’t. He gets in, and says, they’ll rough it out together. Alicia says, stop, and gets out of the raft. She doesn’t know how fast she’ll turn. He says he’s willing to take that risk, but she says she’s not. It’s up to him – she chokes up a little – to make sure everything they’ve been through means something. People may have heard her message, and are headed to the tower. He cries, and says, she did make it mean something. She saved all of them. She saved him. She did what he asked back in Lawson. She pushes his raft into the water, and says, she didn’t just save him so he could live to do what she couldn’t. She did it because she loves him too. He smiles, and she laughs.
The rafts go down the river. Victor waves, and Alicia waves back. Alicia falls to her knees, then all the way down.
Alicia opens her eyes and sees the bird. She looks good, like fully made up good. She sits up, and sees everyone is gone. She drinks some water, and feels her forehead. She takes a reading, and the girl appears. Alicia asks what she’s doing here, and the girl shows Alicia her arm. The scars are gone, and Alicia asks what it means. The girl says she thinks it means Alicia saved her. How does Alicia feel? Alicia says, she feels… like she hasn’t felt in a while. Like herself. They smile at each other, and Alicia picks up her mask and the gun. The girl asks where she’s going, and Alicia says, to find people who heard her message. She’s going to spend whatever time she has left making sure they have someplace safe to go. They smile again, and a zombie comes down the beach. Alicia walks toward it, shoots it, and continues to walk in the direction of the tower, as she puts her mask on.
Next time – the finale – weird people who wear hoods grab Morgan, accuse him of stealing their children, and try to bury him alive. Madison returns.
If you have tomorrow off, enjoy, or if tomorrow is just another day off, enjoy that too. There’s no soap tomorrow (GH is a rerun), but I’ll be on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay striving for honesty in all relationships, and stay knowing, if the walker is mulch and no one was hurt, there’s nothing to be upset about.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
Victor listens to perfume commercial music as he shaves. I don’t know the name of it, but you’d know it if you heard it. He’s told Alicia is here for him, and he says, divine providence. He walks out past people farming, out onto the roof, and Wes asks, what happened? Victor says, today is the day they’re going to wipe the slate clean, and Wes says, she didn’t come alone, handing Victor the binoculars. Victor looks, and says, the gang’s all here. He picks up the phone, and asks Alicia to what he owes the pleasure. She says she thinks he knows, and he says she brought company. He asks, where’s Morgan? Is he going to make a grand entrance? She says, he’s somewhere safe with the baby where Victor won’t find him. Victor calls Morgan a coward, and says it’s auspicious of her showing up. He was going to call her. She asks, what for? and he says, to talk. She says, so talk, and he tells her, not like this. Come inside and have a drink. She asks if he’s waving the white flag, and he says, they’ll talk inside; just them. She looks at her group, and says, one drink. She hangs up, and Wes asks what Victor is doing. Victor says, he’s got it covered, and hands back the binoculars. He asks if there’s something Wes wants to say, and Wes says, Victor drove Alicia away for a reason. If he lets her in, he could lose everything he’s built. Victor assures Wes that he won’t, and asks Wes to be a gem, and get a bottle of the Luna Fonteluza he has in cold storage. And when the sun goes down, be ready.
Daniel tells a guard to get off him, and Victor tells Daniel to excuse them; they take security seriously. One of the guards says, Daniel pushed through, and almost broke a ranger’s neck. Victor tells Alicia, Daniel wasn’t invited. His agreement was only with her. Daniel says he wants to see Ofelia, and Victor looks puzzled. Alicia says, he’s not well, and Victor tells his men to take Daniel to the basement. Alicia tells Daniel that it will be okay. If Victor hurts him… Victor says, that’s what the roof is for. He’s just putting Daniel in time out. Alicia says, Luci lied and told Daniel that Ofelia was here, and Wes says, Alicia can pretend to be outraged, but at the end of the day, they’re all just like Victor. Alicia says, Wes wouldn’t be alive weren’t for Daniel, and Victor says, he saved Wes as well. Wes wonders which one he owes his life to. He pours two drinks, and Victor says, here we are. Wes says, Alicia shouldn’t be here. She and her friends left him to die in the bunker. He leaves, and Victor suggests he give Alicia the grand tour, but she says she’s good right here. He hands her a drink, and says, to new beginnings, but she says she thinks they have different ideas of what that means. He says, they’ll see about that, and notices she’s wearing the St. Christopher medal. He says he sees she still has it, and she says, she took it off Will’s body when she buried after Victor killed him. Victor says, it still means something to her, and she asks if he remembers what he said, that they needed to forget who they were, for her, for all of them. Was it worth it? Victor says, absolutely. He didn’t forget who he was; he embraced it. He knows what she thinks of him, but their story isn’t over, and she tells him, one way or another, he won’t be running this place after today. He says, it’s not about today; it’s about tomorrow. Everything he’s done was to lead them here. She says, so she and her army gets pissed off, sh*t on, and left to die? They’re ready to kick his ass. Victor picks up the phone, and says, do it, and she says, do what? He says she has her army; he has his. He tells the guard to cut the phone on the platform. He doesn’t want them giving anyone a warning. He tells Alicia that there’s a crater of walkers soaking up some nasty stuff. He’s told his rangers to lead them here. A generator starts up, and he tells her it’s to power the beacon to draw the dead, and kill her army. She starts to walk out, but Victor’s men stop her. She asks if he thinks this is the way to win her over, and he says, she’ll come around. He originally used the light to keep her out. Now it’s to keep her in.
On the roof, a ranger flips a switch, and the beacon comes on.
Alicia yells for her people to get out of here, but Victor says, they can’t hear her. She tells him, turn off the light, and he says he’s sorry it came to this. She says, he’s going to kill them, and he says, they’re not part of his vision. Once they build this place into what it can be, she’ll understand. He tells his rangers to take her downstairs, and take Daniel to the roof; an example has to be made. Wes says he’s sorry he doubted Victor, and Alicia removes her glove, revealing her crazy arm. She kicks the rangers’ asses, and grabs Victor’s gun, holding it on him. She tells him, turn off the light, and Victor says, if she does this, she’ll wipe out everything he’s built. Victor asks if she thinks Wes is going to listen to her, and she says, if he won’t turn off the light, she will, and he says, he has 50 rangers who will do as he says to protect the tower. Alicia presses the elevator button, and forces Victor into the car. As they go up, Victor says she’s making a mistake; delaying the inevitable. She says, he’s not calling shots, when the power goes out. He says, emergency protocol, and she threatens to kill him, but he says, she can’t stop what’s coming. She asks if he’d rather die than give the place up, but he says, she won’t kill him. He’s doing this for her. She says, he’s doing what Teddy did; locking her up while he destroys the things she cares about. She’ll tell him what she told Teddy – she’s not making the world the way he wants it to be. Wes calls from outside, and Alicia tries jumping up to open the trap door. Victor kicks the gun out of her hand, and draws his sword. He says he knows how she feels, but they have a long future ahead. Wes yells for them to open the door, and Alicia asks if she looks like she has a lot of time left. He says, they have antibiotics, and have a fully stocked infirmary, but she says, it’s not going to work. She’s tried everything, and it’s getting worse. He says, they’ll find a way to stop it; June will figure it out. Alicia says, no she won’t. No one survives what she’s going through. She’s not afraid to die, but it can’t end like this. Not for them. Wes bangs on the door, and Alicia says, please turn off the light, and she’ll call off the army. He has her word. He looks at the medal and says, that’s not good enough. Stay here in the tower with him. She says she’s running out of time, and he says, give him what she has left. He wants to show her that she’s wrong about him. Do they have a deal? Wes continues to bang on the door, and Alicia holds out her hand. He helps her up, and opens the door, telling his men, stand down. It’s okay. They made an agreement. He agreed to turn off the light in exchange for a cease fire. Wes says, she’s playing him, but Victor disagrees. Wes says, they’re surrounded. If the light is turned off, they’re done. Victor insists they’re not. Alicia’s agreed to live in the tower with him. Wes asks if he’s lost his mind. Does he think she’s going to accept that after what he’s done? Based on what? Victor says, his instincts. They’re what made this place, and he’s not going to stop listening to them now. Wes draws his gun, and says, Alicia is Victor’s blind spot. If Victor isn’t going to protect this place, he will. Victor says, Wes is outnumbered, and Wes tells the two rangers with him, Victor’s instincts are the same ones that lost them the baby and the safety of the moat; that told him to bring Alicia in here. They can’t trust Victor’s instincts anymore. The rangers aim their guns at Victor, and Victor says, wow. He never should have let Wes in. The lights go off, and Victor and Alicia jet. Wes yells, get him, and Victor shoots at him. He and Alicia run into a stairwell, and Alicia says, she needs to warn them. He says, they won’t make it to the roof on their own, but they might have one ally left.
Wes radios the head ranger and tells him that Victor isn’t in charge anymore. The ranger asks, what the hell is going on? and Wes says, they can’t take any chances. Take Victor out. A handcuffed Daniel comes up behind the ranger, throws his arms around the ranger’s head, and pulls the handcuffs against his throat. He asks if the ranger knows why this is happening to him. It’s never too late to learn new things. When you handcuff someone, you put their hands in the back not the front. The ranger slumps to the ground, and Daniel takes off the handcuffs. He hears someone coming, and Alicia and Victor come in. Daniel raises his gun, but Alicia tells him, stop. Victor is here to help. She knows how it sounds, but if he doesn’t turn off the beacon, their people will die. Daniel suggests Victor call off his dogs, but Alicia says, they need his help. Daniel says, not until he sees Ofelia. Where is she? Alicia asks if he remembers Mexico, and Victor says he searched for her so he could reunite. She got sick, and they didn’t get there in time. Daniel has brief flashes of what happened, and says, Ofelia was sick, yes, but Victor never reunited them. He never found her. He kept lying. Ofelia is alive and in the tower, and Victor knows where she is. Where is she? Does he want to end up like his friend? Victor says, she’s on the top floor, and Daniel says, the penthouse; smart choice. Is Victor lying to him? Victor says, she’s there. They just need his help to get to her. Daniel looks at Alicia, lowers his gun, and says, okay.
Daniel shoots a ranger in the stairwell, and tells Victor and Alicia, they probably heard that upstairs. He’s going to the next level. Victor says, they’ll hang back, and Daniel walks up. Alicia asks what Victor is playing, and he says, June, Grace, and Wen. After the Great Baby Handoff what happened with the baby, he locked them top floor. She asks what he thinks is going to happen when Daniel realizes Ofelia’s not there, but he says, it won’t matter. They need to free them, and get them on their side; he’ll have to relent. He’s finishing what Luci started, if that’s what he needs to do to keep the place standing, He knows she thinks he’s a monster, but he’s the same man he’s always been. He just stopped apologizing for it. Alicia asks if really he believes that, and he says, he does. She says, then so will she. He says, that’s why he’s willing to turn off the beacon. She’ll see everything he’s done is worth it. They hear a shot, and a ranger’s body falls past them. Daniel tells them, come on, but all of a sudden, Alicia feels dizzy, and says, she can’t… Victor catches her as she passes out, and he says, they need to get her to the infirmary. Daniel says, they have a deal, but Victor says, they need to help Alicia first.
Victor rifles through the medications in the infirmary, and Daniel says, the rangers have found them; they have no time for this. They need to move. Victor picks something out, and says, epinephrine. June had it on hand when he was poisoned. Daniel says, they need to get out fast, and picks up a clipboard. He asks what it is, and Victor says, it’s a record of everyone in tower. Daniel looks through it, and says, Ofelia’s name isn’t on here; why? Victor says, she’s not on the top floor. He only told Daniel that because it was the only way Daniel would help him. Now he can help Daniel. If he wants his daughter, there she is. He takes Daniel to the next room, where Charlie is in bed asleep. Daniel says, that’s not his daughter. Where is she? Victor says, Ofelia died in Mexico. Luci lied for the same reason he did; so Daniel had something to fight for. Daniel says, Victor is trying to fool him, but Victor says, he’s trying to save Daniel. He’s trying to save Alicia, who’s the closest thing to a daughter he has. Charlie is the closest thing to daughter Daniel has. Ofelia is gone, but it’s not as if he has nothing left. Charlie means something to him. She’s sick, and doesn’t have much time left. Daniel says, she’s not his daughter, and cracks Victor in the head with his gun, knocking him down. He says, he’s finished with Victor, and Alicia says, no. Victor says, maybe Daniel can do for Charlie what he couldn’t do for Ofelia; he can be there for her. Charlies wakes up, and says, Daniel? Daniel tells her, don’t look. He doesn’t want this to be what she remembers of him. Victor says, don’t do it, and Alicia says, he’s right. Be the man he wanted Ofelia to see. He flashes back to Ofelia, and a tear runs down his cheek. He lowers the gun.
Alicia wakes up, and Victor tells her, easy now; she got adrenaline. How’s she feeling? She thanks him, and he says he should be thanking her. Daniel would have killed him if she hadn’t appealed to his better angels. She asks, what happened to Charlie? and he says, radiation exposure. She says, that doesn’t mean… and he says, it was worse than what’s happened to the others. She was exposed to alpha particles, the same as the walkers headed here. Grace said she has a couple weeks left. Alicia asks if nothing can be done, and he says he’s afraid not. All the more reason to preserve what they have. All the more reason for her to spend what time she has left in here, not there out. He tells her, come on, and helps her up. She tells Daniel that he has to go, but Daniel says, he can’t leave Charlie. Not now; not like this. She needs him still. Charlie says, it’s okay. He can go. Daniel says, can they still get to the roof? This is where he wants to be, with her, and she says she’s so sorry she’s not Ofelia, but he says, don’t be. She helped him remember why he wanted to find her before she died. Being with her is helping him think more clearly.
Victor explains they’ve stashed weapons everywhere. After Arno’s attack, he wanted to be prepared just in case anyone was planning an encore. She asks if he meant it, and he says, what? She tells him, what he said to Daniel, about her being the closest thing to a daughter he has. He says, they want the same things, and he needed Daniel to believe that. She says, he did. He made Daniel see it. It wasn’t just her who talked Daniel down. He says, they used to save people all the time, and she asks if he means Wes. He says, it’s been a while, but despite everything, they still make a pretty good team. She says she guesses they’ll find out. They’re outnumbered. They’re going see them coming. Victor says, not necessarily, and takes out cans of tear gas. He throws them in the stairwell, and he and Alicia put on masks. She says, they’re flying blind, and he not as blind as them. Stay here. She asks if he thinks it’s going to work, and he says, it’s not the first time he’s walking into the unknown. He leaves, and we hear shouting and gunfire. Alicia waits, then calls to him. He says, it’s clear, and tells her to head to the sixth floor.
Wes says, tear gas? It reminds him of the day he and Victor first met. So much has changed since then, with him, Victor, and Alicia. He knows Victor wants to believe the best in her; he did too, but we are who we are. Victor’s come so far. To finish what he started, he has to protect what he built. It’s honest; it’s real. It doesn’t try to be something that’s not possible. Don’t throw away all of it for her. Victor says, he’s not, and jets. He calls to Alicia on the stairs, and she says she thinks the adrenaline is starting to wear off. He says he’s got her. She says she didn’t think he’d come back, and he says, of course he would. The last time they were in a wall of fog, she didn’t leave him. She knew he was trying to find her. Wes shows up, and says he can’t let Victor do this, and shoots at them.
Alicia and Victor barricade themselves in a room, and Victor asks how much ammo she has. She says, not enough, and Wes and the rangers start shooting through the door. Wes says, come out or they’re coming in, and Victor tells Alicia that he’s sorry. He wanted them to have a clean slate. He wanted them to rebuild together. He thought they had more time to know each other and to heal. Wes says, it’s their last chance. The door starts to open, and Victor says, he should have told her a long time ago that he loves her. She’s the closest thing to family he has left. That’s what this was; that’s always what this was about. He just wanted prove something to her. He hoped this place would show her the man he is. Everything he’s done; everything it’s cost him. That it was worth it, because if didn’t, it was for nothing. Wes and some rangers come in, and Wes says, hands up. Alicia tells him, don’t do this. Those people out there don’t deserve to die. Wes says, neither do the ones in here. He was thinking of the day he and Victor met. He’d told Victor, people are people. He’d said he thought Victor was the exception to the rule, but no one is. He thought Victor understood, and that’s why he kept Alicia far away. Victor says, if they help these people, the place won’t be weaker; it will be stronger. Wes says, it won’t. He found this in Alicia’s bag. He shows Victor a transmitter, and Victor says, out of all the things she could have brought, why that? Alicia says, she brought it from the bunker to broadcast a message. There are people out there who need help. They thought they’d find it with Padre, but there is no Padre. At least not out there. She thought she could use the transmitter… Victor says, so she could build Padre here. She says, she told him that she’s not afraid to die, but this place will live long after she’s gone. Wes says, she’s lying, like Luci lied to Daniel. She wants to get on the roof, and she’s just telling him what he needs to hear to get what she wants. If she sends a message, it will draw more people, and they won’t stand a chance. If Victor doesn’t protect this place, he will. He tells Alicia, sorry, and aims his gun at her. She says, it’s fine, and closes her eyes. Shots are fired, but it’s Daniel shooting the rangers with Wes. Wes shoots Daniel, and Alicia picks up a gun, and aims it at Wes. She asks if Daniel is okay, and Daniel says he’s fine. He needs to warn the others. Victor tells him where to find Grace, June, and Wen, and says, free them. Wes says, do it, and he’ll kill Alicia. He can’t let her do it. She says, she saved life. He believed in them once before, and she’s asking for the same thing again. Before Wes can make a decision, Victor runs through Wes with his sword. Buh-bye, Wes. Alicia asks why he did that, and he says, for the same reason he built the tower; so she wouldn’t have to. Wes wasn’t going to stand down, and they’re running out of time. Let’s go and turn that light off.
A zombie toddles around outside, and Dwight stabs it in the head. He says, Alicia should have been out by now, and Luci says, they can’t wait. Sarah says, as long as that beacon is spinning, the skinbags will be on them like flies on a turd. They see people coming, and it’s June, pushing Wen in his wheelchair, with Grace alongside her. Sarah asks if Wen is all right, and he says he’s better now. Dwight asks, what the hell is going on? but Daniel says, he doesn’t have time to explain. They all need to get inside. Grace asks where Morgan is, but Dwight says, they don’t know yet. Daniel says, they need to hurry. Alicia and Victor are turning the light off. Luci is surprised they’re on the same side, and Daniel says, there are dead in a crater, and the light is drawing them. Dwight asks, how far? but Daniel says he’s not sure. He urges them inside, and June says she has to patch Daniel’s gunshot wound, but he says he has to see Charlie first. Victor tried to convince him that Charlie was Ofelia, continuing what Luci started. He asks why Luci did that, and Luci says, she thought it was the only way. Some rangers start shooting at them, and they run inside. We see zombies coming toward the tower, and Wen says, they’re trying box us out. They shoot back at the ranger.
Victor shoots the snipers on the roof, and Alicia asks why they’re still shooting. He says, the rangers guarding the tunnel must have circled round, and she says, they’re sitting ducks. She tells Victor to turn the beacon off; she’ll give as much cover as she can. He goes over to the light, and she asks what he’s doing. Why is he waiting? He says, she’s never going to forgive him, and she asks what he’s talking about. He says, even if turns the beacon off, even if he helps her save everyone, the damage has already been done. She says, they don’t have time for this, and walks toward the light, but he pushes her down, and a wire snaps, hitting the tower where the beacon is. He says, it’s never going to be enough. He’ll never make her love him. She says, he ruined it by what he did to Wes, and he says he had no choice. She says, he’s always had a choice, and he always makes the wrong one. He says, he was saving her life, but she says, he was trying to save his own life. And he didn’t care who he killed to do it. He says, that’s not true, and she says, the person he used to be person, the person he said he wanted to forget, was never him. She goes after him, but gets the pokey thing on the end of her arm stuck in something, and another cable snaps, hitting the beacon. Sparks fly, and the light goes out. Alicia says, they’re here.
Alicia and Victor look down. A zombie grabs some random person, and the others run inside. Alicia climbs up, and fiddles with the fuse box. Victor asks what she’s doing, and she sets up the transmitter. Victor says, it’s too late; there’s no way out of here, but Alicia says, there’s one. Speaking into the mic, she says, this is Alicia Clark. If you’re listening to this, you’re not alone. The place you’ve been looking for, the place you heard about, Padre, it’s here; it’s at the tower. She gives the coordinates, and says, We’re going to build the new home you’ve been looking for. We can help, but first we’re going to need help from you. A fire starts, and Victor says, it’s going to spread through the whole building. Alicia faints and falls, the roof ablaze.
Next time, a road trip, still looking for Padre, and the tower burns.
⚰️ Dead Stuff…
My regular computer is wonky, so no bells and whistles, just news.
Short but sweet, join me for soap and what’s on Deck tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll be back at my normal device. Until then, stay safe, stay being the person your dog thinks you are, and stay remembering, it’s never too late to learn new things.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
When we last left, Victor told Morgan that he may have won the battle, but the war was just beginning.
Sherry pulls a container through the radioactive wasteland. She checks it with her meter, and opens it. An inflatable raft unfolds, and she takes out some supplies. Dwight radios, and asks where she is. and she says, he needed to sleep, so she went on a supply run to a warehouse they’d seen. He asks if she found anything, but she says, nada. He says he got an SOS on their Dark Horse channel. Some lady got turned around in the inlet, and it can’t wait. She tells him that he shouldn’t go alone; it might be a trap set by Victor. He says, what if it breaks the way Victor says it will? They’ll need every soldier they can get. She asks if the woman can fight, but he says he didn’t ask for her resumé. Sherry tells him to wait for her, but he says he can’t. Neither can she.
A woman runs through woods, with some zombies after her. She falls, and gets up, leaving her bag behind. She continues to run, but the zombies surround her. Dwight rides up, and shoots them until he runs out of bullets. There’s just one left, and the woman picks up a rock. He tells her, it’s radiated; don’t let it touch her. She’s about to whack it, but Sherry rides up, and shoots it. She says, she’s sorry she’s late, but Dwight says, she’s just in time. Dwight asks he woman if she’s okay, and he and Sherry introduce themselves. The woman says, she’s Maya, and Sherry says, they need to get her checked out. Dwight says, she doesn’t understand. The air quality and the… She’s not from around here, is she? Maya says, not exactly. She came on a boat, looking for her kid. Sherry asks what it’s like out there, and how far the fallout is, but Maya has no idea. She says she’s been on the boat for days, and Sherry asks when she last saw her kid. Maya says, a few months ago. Marco was in the tent, asleep, and in the morning, he was gone. Sherry wonders if it could have been the dead, but Maya says, she wasn’t touched. She heard the message from the tower, inviting people, and thought maybe Marco was taken there. Sherry says, she doesn’t want to go there, and Dwight says, there’s bad blood between them and the man in charge, but that shouldn’t keep her from going if her kid is there. He tells her to get her stuff, and he’ll point her in the right direction. Maya goes back to get her bag, and Sherry says, wow. Dwight says, Maya is better off there, but Sherry says, they’re about to go to war; he thinks they’re going to lose. He says, they’re outmanned, outgunned (♫ outnumbered, outplanned ♫), and Maya has a kid. They can take that risk, but she can’t. He asks, what’s the look? and she says she wishes it wasn’t like this. On the radio, Morgan says he’s coming in hot, and needs help with a hand-off. Sherry says, they’re on it. Where is he. He says, he’s a couple miles north of the Pennsylvania. He needs them to take Mo. The walkers from the tower followed him, and he needs to dump them. Sherry says, depending on how many, they might not have enough ammo, and Morgan says, there’s a lot all of them. He looks down the hill at the tons of zombies following him.
Dwight radios Luci, and asks where the crater is. She tells him, and asks if he needs help. He says, no, but he’ll let her know if anything changes. He and Sherry ride, and Sherry asks, what’s going on? Dwight says, did he mess up? Victor could have picked up the code he sent. He wonders if she thinks he’s lost, and she says she doesn’t, but everything they talked about at the gym, everything he said he wanted… He says, she wanted it to; they wanted a family. She says, if they don’t take the tower, can they have any of that? He says, okay, they’ll take the tower, and she says, but they can’t do anything until they get the zombies off Morgan’s ass.
Morgan tells Mo that he hopes she doesn’t remember any of this when she gets older, then says, who is he kidding? He’ll be happy if she just gets to be older. He sees Dwight and Sherry, and Dwight says, he got Mo back. Morgan tells them, Mr. Dorie gave his life so she could escape. Everybody else is still there. Dwight asks how Morgan picked up so many, and Morgan says, some followed him after John handed off Mo, and he didn’t discourage the others. Victor felt safe because of the zombies surrounding the tower. Tonight, Victor will try to draw more in with the light, and he’s got to dump these. Dwight says, taking them to the crater will work, and suddenly, there’s gunfire. The three of them jet, and Morgan says, it’s Victor’s rangers. Sherry says, are they crazy? and Morgan says, Victor knows the only reason they haven’t made a move is because of Mo. Dwight says, they’re going to get themselves killed, and Morgan says, they’ve got to keep the zombies together, or Victor will easily draw the them back to the tower. Dwight can get them further away, faster, and get Mo to the sub. Mo should be with whoever will keep her safe. Dwight and Sherry run, Victor’s rangers disperse, and Morgan yells to the zombies to stay on him, shooting in the air to get their attention.
As they ride, Sherry asks how Mo is, and Dwight says, he thinks she likes it. They stop, seeing a masked man on a horse. Dwight asks him to get out of the way, and the man says, or what? They’ll shoot him? They’ve got a code. They won’t kill him. Sherry asks what he knows about their code, and Wes takes off his mask, saying, a lot. Sherry says, they will shoot, and Wes says he doesn’t think so, but if they do, the rest of the rangers will be on them. Dwight asks if Wes really cares about protecting Victor, and Wes says, he cares about surviving, and the tower is his best chance of that. Dwight says, if he helps them take down Victor, they’ll pretend that Wes didn’t leave. Wes says, give him the kid, and Dwight laughs. Wes repeats, give him the kid, and Dwight says, Wes is trying to be Victor’s right hand man; doing what he needs to protect his own. He gets it. Wes asks if Dwight thinks this is a power trip? He’s doing this because they made him believe in something better. He killed his brother because of it, but It turns out they’re not practicing the bullsh*t they preach. He should have thrown in with Derek. At least he was honest. Sherry says, this is Wes’s last warning, and Wes asks what she means. Dwight shoots close to Wes’s horse, and the horse throws Wes to the ground, then runs off. Sherry says, if Wes really thought building something better was bullsh*t, he would have shot them, and Dwight says, while Wes is on his lonesome, and waiting for his cavalry to come, think about what he said.
Morgan is crossing the wasteland, and a nearby car explodes. He runs and ducks behind another car, as the mini horde walks in the distance. He sees Alicia, and grabs her. He tells her they have to get out of here; Victor’s rangers are close by. She says, the car was her, and he asks, why? She says, to keep the zombies from tearing Morgan apart, and he says he needs them to follow him. He shoots in the air to draw them, and says he’s got to ditch them so Victor can’t use them. He hollers at the zombies, and asks, where Alicia is coming from? When did she get back? Sorry. How is she feeling? She says, she’s still standing, and he asks if she found what she was looking for. She says, she got the transmitter, and she heard Victor’s message. He asks if she’s seen anyone, and she says, not yet. She asks if he found that girl, and he says, the one who helped her on the sub? No, but he got Mo out, and got the dead to follow him. That’s why they’re making their move tonight. Alicia tells, she’d said to wait, but he says, they didn’t know where she was. They have to get back to the sub. The tower won’t be guarded until dawn. She says, they have one shot, and they’re not ready, but he says, Luci got Arno’s people. They have Alicia’s people, and the rest; it’s enough. She says, not even close. They can get more. He says, they can’t keep waiting. She’s welcome to join them, but he understands if she doesn’t. She says, he followed them for her; the least she can do is get them to follow him. He yells for the zombies to keep coming, and he and Alicia walk,
Dwight asks if Sherry has heard anything from Luci, but she says, nothing. If Victor’s rangers were tracking them, they would have passed them already. She’s not moving until they make contact. Dwight has made a mobile out of car air fresheners, and spins it for Mo. Sherry asks, what the hell is that? and he says he calls it his auto-mobile. Mo likes it. She says she’s trying to keep Mo alive, and he says he’s showing Mo a reason to stay alive. He asks, what’s going on? and she says, nothing; it’s not important. He says, he’s learned that when she says, it’s not important, it’s very important. She says, it’s hard to see him with Mo, laughing and smiling, and making dad jokes. He asks, why? and she says, because they’re not going to have that. He says, she doesn’t know that, but she says, he was right. She knows what up against. He asks if she wants to give up, and she says, no, but it’s not easy. Luci radios, and Sherry tells her to open the hatch, and prepare to lock down. They’re coming, but they might not be alone. Luci tells them not to come, and Dwight grabs the radio, asking, why? Luci says, there’s a radiation leak, and they’re in the middle of an evacuation. Sherry tells Dwight, they’ll wait it out, and he says, Victor was probably listening; he’ll find them unless they keep moving. Shery says, all right; let’s move. Dwight tries to take her bag from her, but she doesn’t want him to have it. They struggle over the bag, and he insists on seeing what’s in it. He finds navigation charts, and asks, where was she this morning? and she says, getting… an emergency raft ready at the launch. He says, she was just going leave? but she says, it’s not for her; it’s for him. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says, they know what’s coming. She heard the offer Victor made. She doesn’t want him to turn into the person he doesn’t want to be. He says, they’ve been over this, and it’s not going to happen. She tries to give him the charts, but he throws them down. He asks if she actually thinks he’d throw in with Victor, and she says, it’s happened before. She doesn’t don’t want it to happen again. He says, that’s bullsh*t and she knows it. Wes is suddenly there, and says, bullsh*t is thinking they could stay ahead of them. If they’re thinking of running, there are a half dozen rangers on their way; hand Mo over. Dwight asks what they get in return, and Sherry asks what he’s doing. He says, if she thinks this is how they’re going to end up, they might as well get something. He asks if they can still take Victor up on his offer, and Wes says, it’s not his call, but it will help their case. Sherry asks again what he’s doing, and he says, he’s not going to be the better person if she doesn’t think he can be. He tells her to get Mo, and walks forward with his hands up. Sherry tells Mo, it’s okay, and Wes nods to one of the rangers, who moves toward Dwight. Dwight suddenly grabs him, and the other ranger shoots, but hits his co-worker. Sherry shoots the other ranger, and Wes jumps Dwight. Dwight yells for Sherry to go, and she runs with Mo.
Morgan and Alicia walk, and Alicia catches him looking at her. He says, she never answered him. How is she feeling? She says, the fever has come back at night like before, and the dreams are getting worse. He asks what that means, and she says, they’re more and more real. It’s like she can’t run from them anymore. He asks if she remembers the last time; they were following the zombies. She says, the senator is probably in there somewhere, and he says, if she wants to find him, be his guest. She asks where he’s taking them, and he tells her, to a crater where a bunch of them are trapped. Alicia says, if he goes after the tower, Victor is going to come after him hard. Morgan says, he already is. That’s why they have to move now. She says, they’re not ready, but he says, they don’t have a choice. Grace recorded some songs for Mo, but she also said this to him. He pushes play on the recorder, and Grace says, they don’t have much time. If this works, take Mo as far away from Victor and his tower as humanly possible, even if it means leaving without her. He tells Alicia, she’s right; it’s the only way that’s safe. She says, he’s going to take Mo away? and he says, if he finds a way out. He doesn’t want to when they’re barely hanging on. He left folks he cared about before, and it didn’t sit right with him, but he has to take care of Mo. She says, if they take the tower he won’t have to go, and he says, Victor is more vulnerable than he’s ever been. She says, they’re still not ready. They’re outnumbered, ill-prepared, tired, hungry, and sick. He says, that’s never stopped them before, and asks why she’s stalling. She keeps saying how little time she has left.
Sherry fusses over Mo, and Dwight catches up to her. He asks why she stopped, and she says, Mo needed changing. She asks, where’s Wes? and he says, Wes is out there, but he slowed him down. She says, the meter says good here, but they can’t go any further, and he asks how Mo is doing. Sherry says, she has no idea, and puts Mo’s helmet on her. They walk, and she says she’s sorry about what she said earlier. She didn’t think he’d take Victor’s offer for himself, and he asks if she won’t just tell him what’s going on. They see a sign that says Franklin on it, and Dwight gets on the radio. He asks if anyone knows where the bunker is that Teddy locked Alicia in, and Alicia says she thinks she can answer that. It’s under the Franklin Hotel. He says he thinks they found it, and Sherry says, they can hide in there. He asks Alicia if there’s another way out, and she says, the drainage works in the north end, but it’s not stable. Dwight says, the rangers might have heard them on the radio; they should go through the crater. Sherry says, the readings are too high, but he says, they have their masks, and Mo’s suit is lined with lead. Getting her out safe is all that matters. Sherry says, that’s not what she’s talking about, and he says, first, she thinks he’ll bail; now she doesn’t want to do what they need to, to keep Mo safe. Give her to him. Sherry says, she thinks she might be pregnant, and he says, that’s a good thing. They hear horses, and he tells her, go. They go inside, and he closes door.
Dwight says, the whole system is shorted, and they grab a bench, using it to bar the door. Mo cries, and Sherry says she’s sorry. She should have told him. He asks, how far along she thinks she is, and she says, a couple weeks. He says, they’ll find her a test, but she says, she already took one. He says, and? and she says she hasn’t looked at it yet. That’s why she didn’t want going through her bag. She knows him. If it’s positive he’ll want to do what’s best, even if it means going to the tower. If they do that, it will destroy all the parts of him she loves; that make him a great father. She can’t let that happen to him. She wants their child to know him, not the person Victor will turn him into. He says, he loves her for trying to protect him, but he should be able to protect her too, which means, she doesn’t get to do it alone, especially when they’re in this together. She’s about to take the test out of the wrapper, when they hear banging. He says, let’s move.
The crater is empty, and Alicia says, she thought Morgan said it was filled with zombies. He tells her, that’s what Dwight and Sherry said. They see a ladder/ramp, and Morgan says, somebody let them out. Alicia says, if they dump the zombies there, they’ll just climb right out. Morgan radios Dwight and says, the crater is a no go. They have to find another place for the dump.
Sherry picks up Alicia’s pokey device, and tells Dwight, keep moving. They get to the drainage tunnel, and Sherry asks if he can he clear it. She wonders how loud the fire alarm is. Does he think it can be heard above ground? He says, maybe, and she says, Morgan and Alicia will be heading back. He says, and they’ll be walking over them. She says, get digging, and lights a match.
Upstairs, Wes and some rangers are searching the place, when the alarm goes off. Wes just about wets his pants, and yells for someone to find it and turn it off.
Morgan asks if Alicia can hear that, and Alicia says, they’re on top of the bunker. Dwight and Sherry must have tripped the alarms. They need to get the zombies in there. He says, with Dwight, Sherry, and Mo? but she says, they’ll get her out. Trust her.
They crawl through the pipe, and some sand falls. Dwight says, the walkers are above them. Outside, Morgan says, keep coming, and tries to radio Dwight. He asks if they made it to the tunnel, but Alicia says, the signal wont reach down there. They’ll get the zombies in, then go to where the pipe comes out. Alicia loudly instructs the zombies like they’re students on a field trip, and they file in. Inside, one of the rangers yells to another to get the power on. The zombies come in, surprising them, and they’re out. Dwight and keep going through the tunnel, when pieces start to fall, and it becomes blocked.
Wes stabs a zombie, as one of the rangers is ripped apart. Wes baby cries in a hallway.
Dwight says he thinks they’re stuck. He’s sorry. She says, it’s not his fault, and Mo cries. He takes Mo, and tells Mo that he’s sorry. They tried everything. He promises they did. Mo quiets, and he says, maybe he’s just not… Maybe it’s not meant to be. She takes out the test, and he asks if she really wants to do that right now. She says she needs to. He was right. It isn’t something she should have done on her own; she should have done it with him. Does he want to help her? She holds the stick while he pulls the wrapper off, and we see it’s a plus sign. He laughs, and says, come on. She smiles, and they hug. She says, it’s not going to end like this. They’re going to get out. He asks, how? and she says, the same way as before, and starts chipping away with Alicia’s pokey thing.
Above, Morgan asks if they shouldn’t be out already, but Alicia says, give them some time. Morgan wonders if she shouldn’t go to the sub, and get everybody ready. They have a few more hours daylight. Alicia says, he was right, and he says, about what? She says she could have come back sooner, and he asks, why didn’t she? She says she knows what she has to do to Victor, but she’s not sure she can. He says, she’ll do the right thing when the time comes. She’s already done the impossible. She’s still here, and it’s not over for her, not by a long shot. They hear Mo crying, and Morgan yells, hey, Mo. Sherry comes out, and out pops Mo, followed by Dwight. Morgan opens Mo’s suit, and Alicia asks how Dwight cleared the tunnel. He says, he didn’t, Sherry did, and Sherry thanks Alicia for the assist, handing Alicia her pokey device. Alicia tells her to keep it. If they can get on the sub, she can use the transmitter, and make a real push for taking over the tower. Dwight says, the sub is leaking radiation; it’s a no-go. Sherry says, Maya heard Victor’s message, and Dwight says, she was 20 miles out. Alicia says she could use the antenna at the tower, and Morgan says, Victor has the power, and he’s at the highest point. Alicia says, one more reason to take it, and Morgan says she’s going to take it. He’s got to do what Grace asked, and get Mo as far away as possible. Alicia says, there’s no way out, but Sherry says, she knows a way.
Everyone gathers at the shore to say goodbye to Morgan and Mo. Morgan says, the fallout could hug the coast for miles, but Sherry says, Maya came from a clean place. He says he can’t walk away as Alicia is about to face Victor, but Alicia says, he has to; for Mo, for Grace, and for himself. They’re both doing something they don’t want to. He’s right. She’s going to be okay; she can do this. He nods, and she says, he’s going to see her again. They smile at each other, and Alicia says, now go. He hugs her, and she says, she’s got this. Morgan takes Mo, and thanks them. Dwight tells Sherry that she can get on too, but she says, Victor doesn’t know. He can’t use it against them, but they can use it against him. Now they have something to fight for. He says, okay, and Morgan puts Mo in the raft. Dwight gives Morgan the mobile, and tells him, it smells good, and Mo finds it entertaining. Morgan hugs them, and says, he appreciates it. So good luck, okay? He gets in the raft, and they push the raft off into the water. Morgan rows, and Mo sleeps like an angel.
Alicia looks into the distance and says, we gotta move. The sun sets in a few hours. Follow me. She walks, and they follow.
Morgan rows away.
Next time, Alicia calls Victor from the call box, Victor makes a toast, there’s a fight for the tower, and Wes says, it’s over.
👨🏾🦯 Debating Morgan…
Apparently, he might move to TWD, or die. It’s been so long, I’d forgotten he was from TWD originally.
Have a looksee tomorrow for Monday’s soap and whatever’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay always willing to grow, and stay believing in something better.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
We see the zombies beneath the tower. Inside, John says he needs to talk to Victor. He’s going to be straight with Victor; he has some concerns about how Victor is running this place. We see Howard rifling through drawers, and John says, from his days as a cop, he knows you’re only as good as your partner. Howard finds a walkie in a drawer, and John says he thinks Victor deserves a partner who knows which way is up. On the roof, a young woman is screaming as she’s dragged toward the edge of the roof. She says she didn’t do anything, but Howard says he found the walkie under her mattress. Victor nods, and she’s pushed off the edge of the roof. John says, Victor built this place using his instincts – we see more people being pushed of the roof – but he’s got a few of own that he’s willing to share if Victor is willing to listen. June says, it will never work. The only voice Victor listens to is his own. John says, and he has yes-man Howard who won’t question him, and she asks why he thinks Victor likes Howard. John says, what Victor likes and needs are two different things, and she asks what he means. He says, things are going sideways, and Victor is paranoid. Ever since Morgan poisoned him, he’s convinced there’s a resistance in the tower. That’s why he’s cracking down on walkies. Charlie calls to June, who says she’ll be right in. John asks about Charlie’s skin, and June says, it’s the radiation. He asks how she’s doing, but June doesn’t say anything. He says, there’s nothing that can be done? and June says, not at Charlie’s level of exposure. All they can do is keep her comfortable for whatever time she has left. He says, what happened to Charlie doesn’t have to happen to anyone else. He can get through to Victor. He just needs the right opportunity. He thinks he can change Victor. She asks what makes him think Victor won’t change him, and John says, he won’t, but she says, look what happened to his son. He tried to beat Ginny at her own game, and it killed him; nobody got saved. A ranger comes in, and tells John that they found another walkie – in Howard’s room. He leaves, and John says, he told June that he just needed the right opportunity, and he thinks he just found it.
John knocks at Victor’s door, and Victor asks what he can do for him. John says, he’s going to be straight with Victor. He’s got concerns about how Victor is running this place.
On the roof in a thunderstorm, Howard swears it’s not his. Victor says, it was found in Howard’s room, but Howard says, Victor knows him. Victor says, does he? and Howard says he’s been by Victor’s side since the beginning, but Victor says, perhaps Howard has joined the dissenters. Howard says, this place means everything to him, and Victor says, Howard knows the rules. Howard says he didn’t do this, and Victor says he needs people he can trust. Howard no longer fits that description. Howard says, someone planted it, as he’s pushed toward the edge of the roof. Victor’s guys are about to pitch him over, but Victor gives them the sign to stop. He tells Howard, regardless of how it got there, he doesn’t believe a word Howard says until he has proof, and John will get it for him. The house (tower? roof?) phone rings, and Victor tells John to answer it. John says, when?… Are you sure? He tells Victor, they’ve got a problem.
Mo’s crib is empty, and Victor says, infants don’t vanish in to thin air. Howard says he’ll find her; let him do this. Victor says he doesn’t trust Howard, but Howard says, let him show Victor that he can. Victor can put rangers on him to make sure. Victor tells him to retrieve the child by sunrise, or he’ll finish what was started on the roof. Howard says he’ll find her, and Victor asks John for a word. He says he’d like John to find the baby, and John says, he just told Howard to find her. Victor says, Howard could be stalling, and he wants to hedge his bets. He’s seen the Dorie spirit in action. He once saw John’s son build a raft out of a broken down truck just to get back to June. He understands John has a desire to recalibrate things here. John says, people are getting hurt who don’t need to be, and Victor says, the tower is bigger than either one of them. It’s the way he’ll be remembered; his legacy. John says, maybe it will be Victor’s legacy, or maybe his downfall, and Victor asks, how so? and John says, he knows what it’s like to do the right thing for the wrong reason. It doesn’t end well. Victor says he’s willing to listen, but he wants to see if John can deliver where Howard didn’t.
John grills Mo’s nanny, June, Grace, Wen, and Wes separately, and they all say they don’t know where Mo is. Wen asks if John really thinks he could keep a baby secret. John says, Mo was taken shortly after Wes came, but Wes says he doesn’t know anything. Grace asks why she’d take Mo, and John says, she doesn’t want Mo to grow up there. June asks what this is really about, and he says, making sure the baby is safe, but she says, that’s something that will never happen here. He asks if she knows something. Does she know where Mo is? June says, they both want the same things, but the only way to get them is to take out Victor. He asks what she did with Mo, and she says, Morgan won’t make a move as long as the baby is here. Victor knows that. If he loses her, he loses his leverage. John asks if she’s sneaking the baby out. Victor is right; the resistance is real, and she’s part of it. She says, the less he knows, the better, and John says, talk to him; maybe he can help. She says, if he really wants to help, keep Howard distracted; she’ll do the rest. John says, Howard’s not part of this? and June says, she didn’t plant the walkie. He asks if she’d tell him if she had, and she says she has to go. As she leaves, he sees her wet boot prints.
John reaches toward an artifact on Howard’s desk, but Howard says, don’t touch. John says, Howard has quite a collection, and Howard says he has no time for this; he has to find the baby. John says, so does he. Victor asked him to look too. Howard says, Victor didn’t mention it, and John says he doesn’t blame Victor after the walkie was found in Howard’s room. Howard says, it’s not his. Whoever put it there is getting what they want. John says he believes Howard, but has to question him like everyone else. Howard asks if John would like a drink, but John says he doesn’t touch the stuff anymore. Howard says, suit himself. What does he want to know? John says, from what he heard on the roof, there’s a great deal he doesn’t know about Howard. Howard says, like what? and John says, for starters, Howard never struck him as a family man. Howard asks, why not? and John says, let’s call it a general lack of compassion and restraint. Howard says, this is coming from a man who abandoned his own son, but John says, they’re not talking about him. Victor mentioned that Howard had a wife and son; where are they? Did they get split up after the bomb? Howard says, his wife left him before the world did what it did the first time, and took his son with her. John asks, why? and Howard says, the Travis letter. William Barrett Travis, on second day of the siege of the Alamo, wrote a letter asking for reinforcements, signed, victory or death. John asks what that has to do with it, and Howard says, it’s one of the most famous documents in the history of Texas. He discovered an addendum that made him the toast of the historical community. He gave lectures all over the world, spending months away. John says, sounds like quite an achievement, but Howard says, he’d forged it. Now the same papers that praised him were smearing his name. He came home one day, and his wife was at the door, and her bags were packed. John says, all over the letter, and Howard tells him, she said he was more concerned with making history than with making a life for her and their son. He has made history in this place. His wife and boy are out there, and if they find the tower, that history will be their life. What John calls lack compassion and restraint, he calls building a legacy. There’s a knock at the door, and a ranger says, they’ve covered a five-mile radius, and combed the place. Howard says, comb it again, and asks John if they’re done. John says, those people Howard has thrown off roof, how do they fit in his legacy? Howard says he’s not proud of everything he’s done, but if it all leads to his family finding this place, it will be worth it. John says, and if they don’t? but Howard says he doesn’t like to think about that. That will mean everything he’s done has been for nothing.
In the basement, June stabs zombies standing between her and an exit through a tunnel (it looks like a pipeline). John comes down, and she asks how he knew she was there. He says, her boots were muddy, and he knows it’s muddy there when it rains. He hears Mo crying, and looks in a bin, finding her. He asks why June is hiding her, and she asks if it matters. He sees some pseudo armor, and asks what it is. She tells him, protection, and he asks if she thinks it will protect her out there. She says, it’s worked before, and he asks if she thinks she can do the same thing as the wrestler lady. She says she hopes she doesn’t have to, but if that’s what it takes… He says, it’s not safe, but she says, about a half mile out, Morgan is ready to take Mo as soon as she’s out. Water suddenly gushes in, pushing June and John back, along with the railing holding the zombies back. The zombies pour in with it. June gets trapped by the guardrail, and John shoves them back. He takes out his gun, but it’s knocked out of his hand. He frees her, and they hold the rail between them and the zombies. He takes Mo out, and says, they need to get to the elevator. She asks what he’s talking about, and he says, he can’t let her leave. She has to help him.
John tells her, they have to get moving before more wash in. He thinks he can get to his gun, but June says she thought he came to help her. He says he came to help Mo, and he starts to sing to the baby. June asks, what’s that? and he says, a song he used to sing to John. He puts Mo back in the bin, and says he needs to do something he couldn’t do for his son, and she says, she gets it. She’s lost a child. She needs to give Mo the best chance she can get. He says, she has that with Victor, and they need to get her upstairs before Howard finds them. She asks if he’s been drinking, and he wonders why she’d say something like that. She says, he’s not making sense. Victor won’t listen to him. He says he has to do this. He’s the one who set everything in motion. He planted the walkie. He knew it was the only way he could get Victor to listen to him over Howard. She says, he’s doing the same thing again. It’s like how he planted the purse to make sure Teddy went to jail. It destroyed him. Don’t make the same mistake again. He says, the last time he did the wrong thing for the right reasons, he abandoned his son. He won’t do that to Mo. What happened to Charlie won’t happen to her. He’ll make the place for her that he should have made for his boy. Things can change. She says, not while Victor’s in charge. He knows she’s right. He says he’s going for his gun, and she tells him to guard Mo with his life. He asks what she’s going to do, and she says, get through them the way Mickey did. She yells, go! and John says, they’re not going make it, but June tells him to go before more come. If he wants to help Mo, this is how. He runs in, and fishes for his gun in the water. He finds it, and shoots several zombies, but only has one bullet left. He and June block themselves back in, and June says she had a way out. He says, she still does. Whoever was going to help her escape, call them. She says, why? and he says, they don’t want to leave. Mo will die outside. She says, not if they’re careful, but he says, it didn’t matter to Charlie or him. He shows her radiation burns on this stomach and chest, and says he doesn’t have much time. She gets on a wall phone, and tells Grace that she needs some help.
June asks why John didn’t tell her sooner, and he says, it wouldn’t have made any difference. She asks how it happened, and he says, when he was bringing Charlie back. He got exposed to the same thing she did. He was careful and quick, and it still got to him. Like it or not, this is the only place Mo is safe. He doesn’t have much time… She says, he doesn’t know that, and he says he thought John Jr. was his legacy; he can’t lose another child. He can’t have that be the last thing he does. June and Grace can keep her safe and control Victor. There’s gunfire, and the zombies drop. Victor is there with Howard and a couple of rangers, and Howard says he caught Grace in the elevator. He asked why she was on her way down, but she wouldn’t say. They’ve identified the resistance, and it’s exactly who they thought it was. John says, it’s not what it looks like, and Howard says, he’s sure. Howard hears Mo, and laughs. He takes away the railing, and moves June out of the way, taking Mo out of the bin. He says he told Victor that he’d find her, but Victor says, he didn’t find her; John did. This is what I like to call a Haman backfire, which can be found in the Book of Esther. Victor takes Mo, and Howard follows him out.
On the roof, Victor says, what they’re building is a civilization. No civilization can stand without a unified people. Howard says he’s been with Howard since the beginning, and John says he believes in this place. He believes it’s the best way for the child to survive. Howard says, John is lying; he was trying to help June escape. Victor tells John to show him that he believes in the tower; push Howard over the edge. Howard says, they had a deal, and Victor tells Howard, he said he’d spare him if he found the baby, and he didn’t. Any faith he’s had in Howard eroded since finding the walkie. Howard insists it’s not his, and John says, Howard is right. He doesn’t deserve this. John admits to planting the walkie, and Howard tells Victor you see? Victor says, wait. John framed Howard in order to gain audience with him? He laughs his Victor laugh, and says, wow. He underestimated John. You don’t do something like that unless you’re invested. He still needs John to do that other thing he asked him to do. John says he won’t, but Victor says, he will, or Victor will bring June or Grace up here. John tells Howard, he’s sorry, but Howard did the same to others for less.
Bye Howard.
Victor tells John that he woudn’t worry too much about Howard’s family. They’ll never find this place; they’re dead. His scouts found out months ago. John says, and Victor said nothing? Why? Victor says, that’s what drove Howard to help build this place. Everyone needs something to drive them. Howard’s apartment is all John’s now; consider it a signing bonus. What John said, you’re only as good as your partner… Here’s to a great partnership.
In Howard’s apartment, John throws up, then washes his face. He looks at the framed letter, and a framed photo of Howard and his family. He looks at bottle of bourbon, and pours a glass. He drinks it, sighs, and pours another. He sees his reflection in the photo, and puts the photo face down. He drinks some more, when Victor comes in with Mo. Victor says he thought John was off the sauce, and John says he was. Victor says, far be it from him to judge. Pour one for him. He puts Mo in a crib, and John pours him a drink. Victor says, to our future, and they drink. Victor tells him, feel free to junk this stuff. Howard certainly has no use for it anymore. He puts on the turntable, and classical music plays. He turns the volume up, and John asks, why so loud? Victor says, so they’re not overheard. He doesn’t want what happened today to ever happen again. Things need to change. John asks if Victor is ready to listen to his ideas, and Victor says he has ideas of his own. He knows Grace was in on what happened, as was June. He’s remanding Mo to his sole custody permanently. John asks how that’s going to work, and Victor says, she’ll be raised in the penthouse by him with no outside interference. John says he can’t keep Mo away from her mother, but Victor says, her mother is dead. Grace is a stand-in. John asks how he fits in, and Victor tells him, do whatever he needs to in order to ensure no one takes the baby. John says, that baby is never going give Victor what he wants, and Victor says, what is that? John says, to love him, to look up to him. And the the more he wants it, the more he fights for it, the more he’ll end up driving her away. Victor reminds John of what happened with his own son, and John asks why Victor thinks he’s trying to get through to him. If Victor wants Mo to love him, let John help him change how he does things here. Victor says, when he wants John’s counsel, he’ll ask for it, and John says, Victor was never going to listen, was he? Victor says, like he told John before, everyone needs something to drive them. What John did today will echo into the future. It will outlive him, and be his legacy. Victor turns, and John cracks him across the back of the head with the butt of his gun. He says, no it won’t. This place isn’t his legacy; she is. He radios Morgan, and asks if Morgan is still close by. Morgan says he’s just beyond the wall; why? John tells him to stay where he is, and picks up Mo. He says he’s bringing her to Morgan.
John is dressed in various armor Howard had on display, and June says she can take Mo, but he says he wants to do this. Wen asks if they should gut John up, but John says, they don’t have time, and it’s not safe for Mo. Wen says, John has brass cojones, but John says, it’s not about him. Grace tells Mo, be brave, and John puts her under his breastplate. Grace says, don’t stop until he gets to Morgan, and John says, there are a lot of things he got wrong in life; this won’t be one. He tells June, it’s never too late, and thanks her for helping him remember that. She kisses his cheek, and Grace tells him, wait. She shows him a recorder, and says, Mo likes when she sings to her; it sooths her. John says, his son was the same way.
Wes rouses Victor, who sits up, and says, where is he? Where is the baby? Wes hands him a drink to take the edge off, and Victor takes a sip. Wes says, the rangers are combing the tower; they’ll find her. Victor says, the tunnel is flooded; there’s no other way out. Wes notices that the armor is gone, and says, there is one.
John barrels through the zombies, as a tape of him and Grace singing a duet of Sonny Boy plays. We see zombie Howard struggling along the ground. Poor Howard. Still groveling, even in zombieland. John just keeps walking.
Wes looks through binoculars, and spies John. He calls Victor over and asks what Victor wants to do. Victor says he thought he found a new partner. He wanted to make this place better, and John disappointed him. That’s what people do. Wes asks if he’s still looking for a new partner, and Victor says, there’s an old antenna in storage. Bring it to him,
John walks as Sonny Boy plays. Morgan waits.
Rangers run through the tower. Grace cries, and the rangers round up her, June, and Wen.
John gets through to Morgan, who says, Mr. Dorie. He takes Mo, and says, they need to move, but John says, not yet. Morgan asks, why not? and John shows Morgan that he’s been bitten. He says he can buy Morgan some time, and Morgan says he’s sorry. John says, take care of her, and walks into the crowd of zombies, who pull at him. Mercifully, we don’t have to watch his end.
Victor asks, is it ready? and Wes says, it’s done. Victor asks for a walkie, and radios Morgan, saying, You may have won the battle today, but the war is just beginning. He has people Morgan cares about – June and Grace – and if Morgan takes a step into this place, Victor will kill them. Morgan looks back for a millisecond, then keeps walking. Victor says, as for the rest of you, you know who you are. The offer to join him still stands. He needs good people to help secure the future of this place. If you’re listening, you know where to find me.
The song continues.
Next time, Morgan knows the tower is unguarded until dawn; Dwight says, they’re outgunned; Alicia has a plan, and asks Morgan to trust her; and the tunnel caves in.
❗️ I’m so not thrilled about the depressing turn this show has taken. Where is the fun villain with the twinkle in his eye? When did he get replaced by this lunatic throwing people off the roof? And a villain like that is fine, but Victor did a 180. Why? <stamps foot> I want to know.
Dead being done for now, see you tomorrow for soap and the returned Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay being prompt unless you have a damn good excuse, and stay remembering, it’s never too late.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear the Walking Dead
Daniel plays a matching game with Luci. He says she’s letting him win, but she says she wouldn’t do that. He picks up a card, and says he’s seen this before. Luci says, they’ve played a bunch of times before, but he says, that’s not it. Wes comes in, and says he’s going to leave without them. Luci tells Daniel to keep at it; it’s helping him. Daniel says he should be the one helping her, and calls her Ofelia. She says she’s Luciana. Ofelia is no longer here, and Daniel says, she left. He tells Luci, you be careful out there too.
On the USS Pennsylvania, Sarah says, hoofing it, they could make it in two days, maybe one. Morgan asks what they’re up against, and she says, there are a hundred dead outside; maybe more. Luci comes in, and Morgan asks how Daniel is doing. She Luci says, he’s making progress, but it’s slow. Morgan thinks it’s best she stay there, and work some on the memory exercises with Daniel. They need him to get into the tower. He knows how Victor thinks, and why he’s doing this. He’s gone up against Victor in ways none of them have. They have to make sure they get in. Wes tells Luci that Daniel’s not on the sub. The front hatch is open, and a suit is gone. Luci says she’ll look; she’s got this. Wes says, not alone, and Morgan says, they’ll both go. If they have any trouble, send up a mayday.
Out in the nuclear semi-wasteland, a masked Daniel speaks in Spanish. He asks if she can hear him. A merry-go-round in a nearby playground squeaks, and Daniel sees a zombie stuck in it. Another grabs him, and his mask falls off. It gets him down, but he stabs it in the head. He gets back up, and asks, is that you? He knows he’s close. Tell him where she is. He hears footsteps, and gets all excited. He sees two people emerge, and asks if that’s Luci. He tells them to take their masks off, and fires a warning shot. The pair take off their masks, and it’s Luci and Wes. Daniel says, he knows who they are, and Luci asks what he’s doing out here? He shows her the card with the boat, and says, she needs me. Luci says, who? and he says, Ofelia The last time he saw her, she was on a boat. She’s trying to send him a message. She says, he’s out here because of the card? and he says, because of what she told him in the submarine. She said, Ofelia’s not here, which means she’s out there. Luci says, that’s not what it means. His daughter is dead. She died in Mexico years ago. He says, no, she’s alive, but Luci says, that’s impossible. They all know what they saw. Wes says, Daniel is confused, and Daniel says, Luci told him that he was doing better. She says, he is, but he’s wrong about Ofelia. He says, Ofelia is alive; Luci is the one who’s wrong. In Spanish, he says he cares about Luci, but Ofelia is his daughter, and he cares more about her than anything. Is Luci trying to help him, or trying to take Ofelia’s place in his life? He’s sorry she’s alone, but she’ll never replace his daughter. Luci says, he doesn’t mean that, but he says, he does. Wes asks what he’s saying, and Luci tells them, let’s go back. Wes says, zombies are coming, and Luci says, the gunshot must have alerted them. Wes says, that’s not the dead, and tells them to run, but a masked Arno steps out and says, boo. They’re surrounded. Time to take a little trip. He puts a mask over Luci’s face.
In a boat graveyard, boats are linked together by walkways, and the nuclear dead hope for someone to fall underneath. Luci wonders where they are, and Daniel says, they wouldn’t be here if she’d just let him look. Wes says, they wouldn’t be here if Daniel had stayed in the damn sub. Daniel says he was a soldier trained by the CIA. He’s not scared of these people. What’s scary is what he’s going to have to do to them. Eli says, we’re screwed, when Arno comes in. He tells them to remove their gear and hang it up. Luci asks how they know it’s safe, and Arno tells them to test for themselves. Wes confirms that it’s safe, and Arno says, they’re lucky the wind hasn’t brought anything nasty their way. They want to keep it as such. Luci tells Wes that she recognizes Arno, and Wes says, they’re the ones who were following Teddy. Luci says, that’s not going to help them make friends.
Outside, Arno says, home sweet home, and tells his people go inside. Their guests aren’t as interesting as they think. Luci asks if they all live here, and he says, thanks to Alicia. They don’t have to remind him who they are. Daniel asks why they don’t use the walls, and Arno says, they tried, but they didn’t hold. At least where they are keeps the living away. Victor got one thing right with the tower. Arno tells Sage he wants to talk to them one at a time, and Daniel tells Luci that he should be looking out there for Ofelia. Luci tells Arno to let them go. Maybe they can help him. Arno says, not likely, and Daniel grabs Arno’s gun and says, he’s going to look for his daughter. Let them out. Sage steps forward, but Arno says, he’s got this. Daniel says he’ll kill Arno, and Arno says, go ahead. Daniel shoots, but the gun just clicks. The men rush Daniel, and Daniel laughs. Wes says, they’re out of bullets? and Arno says, they’re hard to come by. The empty clip works on people; the dead don’t scare. He tells Daniel that he heard their radio chatter from the sub. They might want to stop broadcasting their plans. He knows they found the weapons cache, but doesn’t know the coordinates. Luci says they’re not going to tell him, and he says, then they’ll end up down there. Daniel looks at a boat across the way, and says, The Abigail… Ofelia. Arno tells him, quit daydreaming, and tells Sage, save him for last. He pats Wes’s shoulder, and says, this one first. Lucy says, they’re not telling Arno anything, and Arno says, if they don’t, they’ll up down there.
Daniel and Luci are shoved into a room, and Daniel looks outside, his eyes lighting on Victor’s old yacht. Luci says she knows he thinks he can get them out, and Daniel says, they don’t have to escape; this is perfect. He takes out the card, and says, Ofelia is on the boat. Luci says, it’s not the boat he’s thinking of, but he insists it is, and calls for the guard. Daniel says, all he has to do is tell them where the weapons are, and they’ll return Ofelia. She says, he doesn’t have the coordinates, but he says he knows where Dwight is. The guard tells him, this better be good, and Daniel says, he has information for Arno. The guard says, if he’s playing tricks, they’ll be thrown in with the zombies, but Daniel says, he doesn’t play tricks with his daughters life. Luci says she has to come too. Daniel’s English isn’t as good as it used to be, and she needs to translate. In Spanish, Daniel tells her, don’t try to stop him, and she says, don’t make things difficult. The guard leaves, and Luci says, Daniel is right about her not having anyone. If she’s being honest, she hasn’t been right since she lost Nick. Meeting Daniel made her feel less alone, and she doesn’t want to lose him. When he discovers Ofelia is dead, she worries about what will happen to him. He says, don’t worry. He’ll find her, and none of them will be alone again. The guard comes back, says, let’s move, and they leave.
Arno has put Wes in a cage that hangs over the zombies. He asks where the weapons are. Wes isn’t talking, and Arno says he’ll see if Wes changes his mind down there. It’s his last chance. Wes says he’s not betraying his people, and Arno says, he betrayed Derek. Derek was Arno’s friend and Wes killed him. Wes says, Derek was his brother, and he loved him, but Derek killed some of his friends, and was going to kill more. Arno says, Wes has another choice right now. Answer the question or die ugly. Where are the weapons? Wes says he’s not telling Arno sh*t, and Arno says, he would have done this anyway, when the guard arrives with Daniel. Daniel tells Arno to let Wes out, and they’ll talk. Arno says he’s the one with the leverage, but Daniel says he knows how to make people talk; that won’t do it. Arno says, it’s worked so far, and Daniel says, he probably kills everybody who comes in here. He kills them, he has nothing. Arno asks if he really knows where the guns are, and Luci says, don’t do this, in Spanish. Arno asks what Daniel wants in return, and Daniel says, his daughter. Arno asks where she is, and Daniel says, in that yacht, The Abigail. Arno says he doesn’t know what Daniel is talking about, but Daniel says he thinks Arno does, and grabs him, holding a knife to his throat. He wants his daughter back. Arno tells Daniel to let him go. He’s right. Maybe he does have Daniel’s daughter. Daniel says, now start talking, but Luci says, don’t. Daniel doesn’t even know if what he’s remembering is real. In Spanish, Daniel says, they can’t trust him, but Arno says, not true. Do they think they can get over on him by speaking Spanish? They’re not fooling him. Daniel is right, He has Daniel’s daughter; she’s on the boat. Daniel says, he knew it, like he told Luci. Arno better not have hurt her. He wants to see her. Arno says, tell him where the weapons are first. It’s the least they can do after consigning them to this life. That’s not okay. Wes says, there are worse places, and Arno says, Alicia and Morgan will get them killed. Luci asks him, what’s coming? and Arno asks, where are the weapons? He’s protecting his people, the ones Alicia couldn’t. Daniel asks how he knows Arno has Ofelia, and Arno says, give him the coordinates, and if they’re correct, he’ll get his daughter. Luci says, Arno can’t give her back, but Daniel asks, what choice does he have? He writes the information down, and Arno tells Sage to send a patrol. In Spanish, he tells Daniel, old man, if you lie to me, all of you will end up down there. Daniel tells him to let Wes out, they release Wes, and Arno tells Wes, it’s his lucky day.
Back in the room, Wes says he’d die before he’d give them information, and Daniel says, if he’d died by the hands if that man, he would have been a fool. Wes says, Daniel can’t use whatever is going on in his head as an excuse to hurt people, but Daniel says, he’s done what he needed to do; no one got hurt. Luci says, their people can get killed if Arno’s people get there first, and Daniel says, he just sent half of Arno’s people 20 miles in the wrong direction. Wes says, Arno is going to kill them when they get back, but Daniel says, they won’t be here. It will take them 24 hours to get there and back. Wes says, half as many guards, and Daniel says, without weapons. They can’t stop them. He shows Wes and Luci a knife, and says, he got it from the idiot who shot him. They’re badly trained, these people. Luci says she knows Daniel thinks this will work, and Daniel says he knows it will. He knows his memory’s not improving, but when he thinks of rescuing Ofelia, everything becomes clear. The problem with his memory is because he didn’t tell Ofelia the truth about his past. When she found out, he didn’t give her an explanation or an apology for his lies. His mind has to be clear when he does. Luci says, that’s not going to happen, but he says, it is. He and Ofelia will thank Luci, and she’ll be welcomed into their family. Now let’s get the hell off this boat.
Daniel pretends to be out cold, and Luci yells for the guard. She says she told him that Daniel wasn’t well. He’s not breathing. If he turns. its on him. The guard asks if she checked his pulse, and when he leans over, Daniel grabs him, and holds the knife to his throat. He says, that’s what he gets for calling him old man. He tells the guard to get up and take them to the yacht, and the guard says, his daughter’s not here. Daniel says, then where is she? and the guard says he doesn’t know, but she’s not here. Daniel says, he’s lying, and Wes says, they need to leave. Daniel says he’s not going without Ofelia, and Luci says the guard heard him. Take them to the yacht. She tells Wes that Daniel won’t leave. It’s the only way to get him to understand, so they can get out. On their way to Arno, Luci asks what Arno was talking about. What’s coming? The guard says, the dead. They’re gathering in a crater. After the warhead detonated, they’re more dangerous. Daniel asks why Arno is scared, and the guard says, Arno doesn’t tell any of them very much. Daniel pushes him onto the yacht, and Luci and Wes follow. Daniel asks where she is, and the guard says he told Daniel; she’s not here. Daniel starts pushing him over the side of the deck, and the guard says, don’t do this. She was never here. Arno wanted to know where the weapons were. Daniel says, the card was a message, but Luci says, Daniel needs to accept the truth. Ofelia died in Mexico. Daniel told her that he buried Ofelia himself. She’s sorry, but Ofelia is gone. Daniel says, he has to tell Ofelia who he is, and apologize for his lies. Luci says she knows it’s what he wanted and still wants, and his mind is telling him that he can, but he can’t. Daniel looks at the zombies, and says, that’s why he’s confused. The guard says, this wasn’t his idea. Arno lied. Daniel says, and he went along with it. A mind is a fragile thing. It’s easy to break, but hard to put back together. The guard tells Wes that he knew Derek, and Daniel slits his throat. Wes says that wasn’t Daniel’s call, but Daniel says, Wes is better off not knowing. The truth about people is always disappointing. Daniel walks out on the bridge, but takes out a piece, so they can’t follow. Luci asks where he’s going, and he says, Arno has to pay for what he did. He doesn’t want them to stop him. He knows Luci doesn’t want anything bad to happen to him, and he feels the same about her. He’ll be back. He walks away, and there’s nothing they can do.
Luci asks if Wes is okay, and he asks if she found anything. She says, nothing that will hold, and tells him that she’s sorry. Wes says, he was hoping the guard would tell him that Derek knew he was in Tank Town, but launched the attack anyway. She asks, why? and he says he killed Derek. It’s the only way he can live with that, and not wake up every day feeling like a POS. He knows he deserves to die. Luci says she doesn’t think that will make him feel better, and he says, there’s got to be another way off this thing.
Sabrina spears a zombie climbing up the wall, and Arno says, that’s the third one. She says, they’re building up the gate, and he suggests they think of something to draw them away in the meantime. He thanks her, and she leaves. He watches the zombies, when Daniel says, boo, and holds the knife to Arno’s throat. He makes Arno go into the cage, and Arno says, he’s making a mistake, but Daniel says, Arno’s mistake was lying to him, and Arno says, Daniel will anything to protect his daughter. He as doing same his people. Daniel says, they’re not Arno’s family, and lowers the cage, telling Arno that his Spanish is very good. The zombies reach in, and pull at Arno, and his whines turn into screams as they begin to feed on him. Lucy and Wes run over, and Luci asks what Daniel is doing. Daniel tells her, what Arno said made him do this. Wes brings the cage up (why bother), and Arno tells Luci, there’s no new beginning. They’re going to die because of them. Luci asks, who? and he says, the people Alicia was supposed to take care of… the ones he promised… the ones he…. She says, listen to her. She’ll make sure they’re okay, she promises, but he has to tell her what’s coming so she can help them. He says, the dead in the pit… they’re escaping. Someone’s letting them out. You can’t touch them… you can’t go near them even. She has to get everybody to the tower. There’s nowhere else… nowhere else… He dies, and Wes takes a spear to his head. Daniel says, he’d be alive, but he lied. Things are simple in Daniel’s world. Wes tells Daniel not to lose any sleep over this a-hole. Arno tried the same thing to him. Daniel says, this is the second time he almost got Luci killed. She should leave him. Luci says she understands why he did it, but Arno manipulated him. That’s why he still needs her help. He says, no one knows his background. Ofelia never understood, but Luci does. She’s seen it, but she’s still here. Why? Luci says, they all make mistakes, and in Spanish, he says, even though she’s not of his blood, as of today, they’re family. She thanks him, and Wes asks what they’re going to do about everybody who lives there. Luci says she doesn’t know, but what about the zombies? Wes says, she heard Arno. You can’t touch them or get near them. She says, they need to leave now – all of them.
Luci tells Arno’s people, she knows they’ve been enemies. She knows some of them hurt people they care about, and they did the same to them. They all need to escape the dead and this land, and need each other now more than ever. They need to fight Victor, and take the tower. Only then can they have a new life, a new beginning, together. Who’s with them? Sabrina says, it’s what Teddy would have wanted, and everyone is like, yeah, and put on their masks. Wes asks if Luci thinks they can trust them; they killed their leader. Luci says, Alicia would want it, but he says, she couldn’t convince them and they couldn’t convince Arno. Daniel says, none of it will matter when they find out Luci can’t deliver on what she promised. Luci says, they can take the tower, but Daniel says, the last time, there was a nuclear war. She says, they didn’t have what they do. Someone who knows what Victor is thinking before he does. Daniel can get them there. He says he can’t get simple things straight. He lost his cat before this mess, and almost got them killed leaving the sub. Luci says, he freed them from prison and made it to the yacht. How did he do it? He says, when he wanted to get Ofelia, his mind was clear because his daughter gave him focus. Wes calls Luci over, and says, she’s not thinking what he thinks she is. She says, all of these people and everyone on the sub are depending on them. This is the only way. Victor’s outsmarted everyone else, and Daniel will get himself killed if he goes by himself. Wes says he can’t, and leaves. Daniel asks, what’s wrong with him? and Luci sits next to Daniel. She says, Arno told her something before he died. Ofelia is alive, and he told her where she is. Daniel says, Luci told him that she was dead, and she says, that’s what she thought, but Arno knew where she was. Victor has her in the tower. He asks why she didn’t tell him before, and she says she was afraid he’d go alone and get himself killed. He asks why she’s telling him now, and she says, because of what he did here. If knowing Ofelia is alive gives him clarity, he can lead all these people and take the tower from Victor. Daniel says he wants to believe this, but his mind isn’t clear. Luci must be certain, because if she’s wrong, if this is not true, if this is another lie, it could break him for good. Is she sure? Luci says, it is true, and he says, then we’ll get in the tower. Her, him, and Ofelia. They’ll always be together right? She says, yeah.
They come out, and Wes tells Luci, they’re ready. Luci suggests they head out, and walks with Wes. Wes says, he and Derek had this thing used to say, people are people. She asks what that means, and he says, it means people suck. Victor and Alicia tried to make him see things differently, and they did for a while after they found him, but then they were at each other’s throats. Morgan hasn’t done much better. What she was doing for Daniel made him want believe he might be wrong and there’s hope, but what she just did is proof she’s no better. She says she’s sorry, but that’s not what this is, and he gives her his radio, telling her to take it in case needs to call the sub. He’s not going with them. She says, don’t do this, and he tells her, good luck. She asks where he’s going, and he says he doesn’t know. What does know is, he can’t be around somebody pretending be someone they’re not. Daniel is confused. He’s not right, but he can’t help it. She knows exactly what she’s doing. He leaves, and Daniel asks, what happened? Where is he going? Should they go after him? Luci says, no. She doesn’t think they can change his mind. Wes walks down the road.
On the sub, Sarah looks at the weapons, and says, that’s a lot of heat. Dwight says he’s glad it worked out, and Morgan says, it more than worked out. It might make all the difference. They should take inventory. Dwight says, now they just need the soldiers to carry them. Luci walks in, and Morgan asks if she found Daniel. She says, not just Daniel; Arno’s people. They want to help. He says, no Wes? And she says, he’s not coming. Morgan says, but he’s okay? She says she hopes so. She thinks he needs some time. Daniel says, they found the weapons, and Morgan says, yes, they did. Daniel says, all they need to do now is plan how to overthrow Victor.
Wes goes to the tower callbox, and I say, no… no. He says he needs to talk to Victor. Tell him it’s Wes. Tell Victor that he wants to make a deal. The man who answered asks why Victor would want to deal with him, and Wes says, because he can help save Victor’s tower.
So I guess Wes sucks too?
Next time, John thinks he found the right opportunity, Victor wants to be shown they believe in this place, and someone else is thrown off the roof as Victor laughs, and twirls his metaphorical moustache.
Looks like the spin-off of Carol and Daryl is going to be just Daryl. I wonder why they couldn’t be more accommodating here. Or why she agreed in the first place.
Join me tomorrow in saluting a brand new month with some soap and Deck shenanigans. Until then, stay safe, stay straightforward, and stay not being a person who sucks.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Fear The Walking Dead
New guy Dev Ali is looking at Victor’s butterfly collection. John tells him, Victor is particular about those, and asks why he’s here. Ali says, Howard sent for him, and John says he’ll see if he can find Howard, but Howard comes in, saying, it’s not necessary. Ali asks what Victor is looking for, and Howard says, that’s between Victor and his rangers. Ali asks when he can join the rangers, and Howard says, when he’s ready. Ali asks when that will be; he thought he was closer. Howard asks how old Ali is, and Ali says, 15. Howard says he admires Ali’s ambition, and he knows Victor does, but everyone has to start somewhere. He points at a picture of a butterfly in a book, and tells Ali, it’s the Mourning Cloak. It’s rare, and only lives for a year. He knows the perfect spot; Ali just has to find one. Ali says he doesn’t know how that proves he’s ranger material, and John says, Ali should have seen what he had to go through. It was no picnic. Howard says he asked John to assist him, not spook the kid. It’s not hazing; it’s showing him how they see the world. Caterpillars started as one thing and became something better. That’s what Victor did, and it’s how they’ve survived. Ali needs to show Victor what he’s capable of, and then he’ll be ready. He can be something greater.
Ali rides into the woods, and immediately spots one of these extremely rare butterflies. A zombie is heading for him, and he puts a jar over the butterfly with one hand, and stabs the zombie in the head with the other. He goes back to where he’s tied his horse, and sees a masked woman there. He takes out his gun, and says, hands up. Turn around. Who the hell are you? While he takes a second to shoot an approaching zombie, she grabs him, but he kicks her away. He says, mask off, and we see it’s Charlie. He says, she’s just a kid, and she asks what that makes him. He asks what she was stealing, and she says she got separated from her group, while they were looking for food and water. He picks up the jar with the butterfly in it, and says she’s lucky the jar didn’t break. John and Howard ride up with a few rangers, and Howard says, they got concerned when Ali wasn’t back when he said he was going to be. John says, howdy, to Charlie, and Howard asks if they know each other. John says, she did a spell with them when they were trying to stop Teddy, and Howard says, she’s one of Morgan’s. A ranger leads Charlie away, and John tells her, it will be okay; stay calm. Ali asks Howard, what’s going on? and Howard says, Charlie is coming with them. Ali needs to show Victor what he’s capable of, and he might get his shot.
Howard asks why Charlie was stealing, and she says she wants to talk to Victor. Howard says, Victor is out assuring the safety of the tower. He needs her to tell him the truth. It’s not a coincidence she ran into Ali, was it? She says, no, and Howard says, Morgan put her up to it, but she says, Morgan doesn’t know she’s here. He asks why she is here, and she says, she’s been looking for a way to sneak in here. John wonders why she didn’t just use the callbox, and Howard says, she knew Victor would say no. He knows everything about his previous allies, and she has a checkered past. Charlie says she wants to have a chance at a normal life, like June. On the sub, they can see what day it is, and she’s turning 13 this week. She was so young when everything changed. Every day has been one fight after another, and she doesn’t want to fight anymore. She just wants a normal life. She can have that here if they give her a chance. Whatever Victor wants her to do, she’ll do it. The house phone rings, and John answers. It’s June, who says, they have a problem. She’s in the infirmary.
Garcia lies on a table, looking pretty sick, and Howard asks, where’s Victor? Garcia says, Victor split off before they got there, and the others didn’t make it. Ali says, Garcia has radiation burns; they see them a lot out there. Garcia says, too many. He wanted to protect the tower. He’d do anything for this place.
Ali tells Charlie to keep moving. Howard wants her in the conference room as soon as possible. Charlie asks how Ali got in here, but he says he’s not sharing information with her. He wonders if she wanted to be here, why she didn’t run away before. She wonders why he’d want to go out there instead of staying in the tower, but he says she wouldn’t understand. They hear a scream, and go to find out what it is.
On the roof, Ali says, Garcia jumped? and John says, he did a triple axel right off the edge. Howard says, it’s what Victor would have wanted. Garcia said he would do anything to protect this place, and couldn’t when he was alive. June says, he probably didn’t want to suffer; he had radiation poisoning. Charlie says she thought this place was safe, and Howard says, they were scouting for elevator parts. Charlie says, what if she gets them? Will they let her live there? June says, it’s too dangerous, and John says, look what happened to the other scouts. Howard tells Charlie, okay, and June says, he can’t be serious. He says, she volunteered, and Charlie says she thinks she can do it. Will she get to live here? Howard says, it’s Victor’s call, but Victor listens to him, and if she does this, she’s in. She says she’ll do it, and he says she’ll leave tomorrow. Howard takes Ali aside, and tells him to go with her. Ali can fill him in on what Charlie is really looking for, and he’ll get the chance to prove himself. Ali says, by getting elevator parts? but Howard says, it’s not about that. It’s about finding out why Charlie is here. They need to consider the possibility she’s lying. Ali says, she could die, and Howard says, if she wants to live there as much as she says she does, she’ll be careful. Ali says, it feels wrong, and Howard says, it’s never easy, but it’s what separates the caterpillars from the butterflies. It’s what rangers do, and Ali said he wanted to be one.
Charlie sits behind Ali, as they ride into the woods on a horse. She wonders why Victor collects butterflies. She thinks it’s a sh*tty thing to do for no reason. He says, they only live for about a year, and she asks if he thinks that makes it okay. Doesn’t he think they should get a chance to live no matter how short? He says, it doesn’t matter what he thinks. As long as he can prove what he can do for Victor. He stops, and sees there are Stalkers ahead. He says, they’ll use the two of them against Victor. He knows a place to hole up.
Ali brings Charlie to a bowling alley, which he unlocks with a key from under the mat. She asks why being a ranger is important to him, and he looks around, telling her, it looks clear. She says she always wanted to play a game, and he says, she never bowled? The Stalkers come to the door, and Ali tells her, don’t move, and gets a gun from behind the desk. He waits near the door, out of the Stalkers’ sight, and a Stalker calls out, is anybody in here? Another says, there’s really nothing, and they leave. Ali tells Charlie, they’re gone. He guesses they were just passing through. Charlie asks how he knew the gun was here, and the key, and he says he used to live nearby. He would come to play a game once in a while. She asks if he’s any good, and says, it can’t be that hard. She bowls a gutter ball, and he says she has to put a spin on it. She says, show her, and he says he will when they get back. She says, what if she doesn’t make it back? What if he doesn’t make it back? He says, one ball, and shows her how to place her hand. He tells her to aim for the center pin, and follow through with a twist in her wrist. He puts his hand over hers to guide her, she gets a strike, and says, that was good, right? He says, they should get going, and looks at a bulletin board where there are pictures of bowlers, including one of him with an older man. Charlie asks, what is it? and he says, let’s get going. They go outside, and he replaces the key. She says she saw his name under one of the photos, and asks if the man was his teammate. He says, it was his dad, and she says, Mohammed and Ali? and laughs. He says, his dad loved boxing, and she asks if he was in the military. He says his dad was an Imam in the Israeli army, and she asks, what happened? He says, the bomb and all the bad sh*t that went with it. It was in his blood; he didn’t make it. She asks if Ali was with him to the end, and he says, yeah.
They arrive at what used to be a town, and Ali says, this is the building. Garcia said there were dead inside. Charlie says, they’re probably at ground level, so she’ll start higher. He asks, how? and she says, she’s done this before. He says he’s coming with her, but she says, it’s better if she goes alone. She asks, what’s wrong? and he asks why she’s really doing this. She says, to live in the tower, and she wants to help him be a ranger. He gives her a walkie and tells her, if anything happens, he’ll be on channel 4. Be fast. She doesn’t want be exposed to what Garcia was. She puts on a mask, climbs onto a dumpster, and gets on the fire escape. As she goes inside, a woman tells Ali, hands up.
Ali says, if the woman tries anything, Victor will kill her, and she asks why they’re sending people to the pit. He says he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. He’s not even a ranger. She says, what about his friend? but he says, she doesn’t know anything. She asks why Charlie went in, but he says nothing, so she says, they’ll go in and find out. Move. He tries punching her, but she knocks him down, and another Stalker holds a gun to his head. They go to the door, and he asks if he can please put his mask on; it’s not safe. She says, open the door, and he opens it, stepping aside as zombies scramble out. The Stalkers try to shoot them, but there are too many, and the zombies overtake them. Ali sees a gun on the ground, and grabs it while the zombies are feeding. He puts on his mask, and goes inside.
He calls Charlie, and shoots a couple of zombies who are wandering around. He runs out of bullets before he can kill the last one, and it gets him on the ground. He’s able to keep its mouth at a distance, but he’s getting tired. In the nick (no pun intended) of time, Charlie stabs the zombie in the head from behind. She asks if he’s okay, and he says she was going to ask her the same thing. Where’s her mask? She says she lost it in a fight. They walk to elevator, and there are a bunch of zombies lying all over the floor. He says, she killed all these? and she says, one grabbed her mask as she was closing the door, but she’s not going back to get it. Besides, these are reading clean. Zombies scrabble at the door and window, and she pries open the elevator doors. He tells her, be quick, and she says she saw what he did outside. He says, it was the only way, and she says she feels terrible, but he says, it’s fine; he handled it. She says she doesn’t mean that. She didn’t tell the truth about why she came to the tower. Morgan sent her. She’s supposed to turn off the beacon to clear the way for Morgan to get Grace and the baby out. He says she made them believe she was going to help. Victor is going to be mad when he finds out. Charlie says, he won’t; she’s not going through with it. She wants what she said she wanted, but she still wouldn’t have done it if it puts him in danger. He says, they don’t have much time, and she gets to work. Howard radios, asking what’s taking so long, and Ali says, they were just leaving. He steps away from Charlie, and Howard asks if Ali found out what he asked. Ali says he did, as zombies start to bust through a door that looks like it’s made of balsa wood, and Ali tells Charlie that he’s sorry. He pushes her into the elevator, and pulls the doors shut. She begs him not to do this. If he does, she’ll die, but he says she’ll be safe.
Ali tells Howard that he’s got the board, and he’s coming back, and Howard says, just him? From the elevator, Charlie says, Ali asked why she didn’t run sooner. She didn’t want do this alone. Ali tells Howard, just him, and Howard says he made the right decision for the good of the town. Charlie says, they can do it together, and Howard tells Ali, it’s what Victor would want. Charlie says, they can get away from everyone; away from Morgan and Victor. They don’t have to be stuck in the middle. Zombie hands and arms are starting to come through the small opening between the elevator doors, and there’s suddenly shooting, the zombies dropping to the floor. Ali pries open the doors, and shoots the remaining straggler zombies. He says, he told her that he was with his dad to the end, but that’s not true. When his dad got sick, he left him. Charlie asks, why? and he says he couldn’t handle it; he couldn’t see his dad like that. He was a coward. She asks why he’s telling her this, and he says, he thought becoming a ranger would make everything okay, but he’s just being a coward again. He’s not making the same mistake twice. She said she didn’t want to run away alone. She doesn’t have to. She says, what about Victor and Howard? and he says he’s not afraid of them. Is she? He holds out his hand, and she takes it. He says, all those things she never got to do, she can still do; some of them anyway. There are still a lot things he hasn’t done either. She says, like what? and he kisses her. She says, well, that was a first. He says, and? and she says, it’s so much better than bowling. He says he found some places when he was on patrols where they can hole up until they find something better. She suddenly faints, and he radios John, telling her to stay with him.
Back at the tower, John says, it’s a good thing Ali called. This is where Charlie needs to be. June and Grace come out, and Ali asks how Charlie is. June says, she’s stable, and he asks, what’s wrong? June says, she was exposed to radiation, but he says, no, that’s not possible. She says she should check him too, and he tells her, Charlie said she was careful. Grace says, sometimes that’s not enough. There are things they can’t see. He says, but June can treat her, right? How bad is it? June says, given the amount of exposure, Charlie should make the most of every day. She’s sorry.
Looking at some Polaroids in his office, Howard tells Ali, it’s been a hell of a day. Ali says, the scouts who never came back sort of looked like the ones in the building, and Howard says, he’ll mention it to Victor. Ali asks where Victor is, and Howard says, he’s waiting until tomorrow to journey back given the state of the state. He asks why Charlie is here. What did Morgan send her to do? Ali says, Morgan didn’t send her. She was telling the truth. Howard says, she’ll be escorted out in the morning, but Ali says, she’s sick because of what Howard made her do. Howard says, she’s sick because it’s what the world has to offer. He’ll do everything to protect what they’ve built. They can’t let personal feelings cloud their judgement. Why did Ali bring her back after what they discussed? Can he trust Ali? Ali says, yes, and Howard says, nice work, all things considered. He has to wait for Victor to officially sign off on it, but tomorrow will be Ali’s first official day as a ranger. Congratulations.
Ali goes to Charlie’s room, and asks how she’s feeling, but she says she doesn’t really know. He sits on the bed and holds her, and she says she’s scared; really scared. He asks her to come with him, but she says she’s supposed to rest. He says he knows, but there’s something he wants her to see.
They go to Victor’s butterflyarium, and he tells her to keep her eyes closed, leading her in and closing the door. He says, open them. Happy birthday. The butterflies are all flying around, and she says, they’re beautiful, but when Victor finds out… He says he doesn’t care. She’s right. Something this beautiful deserves to live, no matter how short it’s life is. He wasn’t there for someone who needed him before; this time he will. Music plays, and they lie on the floor and watch the butterflies. They dance, and he says he’ll be right there next to her every second of the way, then kisses her. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, Morgan. She was supposed to turn off the light. She needs to tell him what’s going on. He says he’ll do it. He’ll take care of everything. He kisses her again, and leaves.
Ali goes to the roof, and is about to flip the switch, when Howard comes out. He says, so this is why Morgan sent her, and a guy comes out with a gun. Ali runs, but there’s nowhere to go, and Howard says, disarm the light, then what? Ali says he doesn’t know. They want this place to change, and that can’t happen with Victor. Howard says, it’s the only way, and Ali rushes him, but the other guy aims his gun at Ali. Howard tells him, no, and he and Ali trade punches, Ali coming out the loser. Ali is backed toward the edge of the roof, and says, please don’t do it, but Howard says, sorry. It’s what Victor would do. Charlie is still enjoying the butterflies, when she hears a scream and sees Ali fall past the window. She screams, no! and runs to June. June asks, what’s wrong? and she says, Ali. He… June says, what is it? when the elevator door opens, and Howard comes out. Charlie says, Howard killed him, and Howard suggests she back off unless she wants to join him. June says, he’s a monster, but Howard says, Ali attacked him, and left him no choice. He’s trying to protect those who would undermine them, and suggests June do the same. John walks in, and says, he’s right, and June asks who’s side John is on. John says, he lost everything to that hospitable world out there, including his son, and she says, his son would be ashamed, and John says, John Jr. saw the need to protect them, and look what happened. Howard says, Ali paid the price; now it’s Charlie’s turn. June says, if Howard lays a hand on Charlie, she’ll kill him herself, and he says, if anything happens to him, she’ll have to face Victor, but she says, no. Victor knows what she knows, that he needs her more than he needs Howard. If anyone gets sick or injured, he’ll have no one to help them, and this place will fall. Charlie stays with her, under her care. That’s the deal. Howard says, fine, but he suggests she tread carefully, and leaves.
June asks John, what the hell was that about? and he tells her that he had to say it. She asks if he believes it, and he says, he needed Howard to believe it. There’s only one way he can change things, and that’s to get in Victor’s ear. Anyone will listen to reason if the right person gets in their ear. June says she thought she had Virginia’s ear, and John says, it’s the only way it works, and it has to work. He leaves, and June says, this is her fault. She never should have let Charlie go. Charlie asks why she did, and June says, ever since she got here, she’s been hiding. Charlie asks, why? and she says, she’s been scared. Until today, it hasn’t hurt anyone but her. She doesn’t expect Charlie to forgive her – she doesn’t deserve it – but she promises Charlie that no matter how much time she has left, she’ll live to see Victor go down. A butterfly lands on the windowsill, and June says she’ll make sure that happens. Charlie thanks her, looks at the butterfly, and smiles.
Next time, the Stalkers neb Luci, who ends up in a cage surrounded by zombies.
🦋 About That Butterfly…
Interesting list. I’ve had almost all of these things happen to me.
Come join me tomorrow for the usual soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay assertive without being aggressive, and stay making the most of every day.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 