Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 9 - Closure - full transcript

Ward's vendetta and plan for revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D. brings the team to their knees, and Coulson proves he will be willing to do anything to settle the conflict.

Previously on
"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."...

- Buy you a drink?
- Please.

I hope I can trust Roz.
I want to.

I have my people
infiltrating your facility.

They're not trying to cure Inhumans,
they're turning them.

They're giving Terrigen
to as many people as they can.

Handing out the contaminan a cure...

- No, that's not what we...
- that's especially sinister.

No, I get weekly reports fr...
from Malick.

Thousands of years ago,

an Inhuman was born on the Earth.



It was sent through the portal
to a distant planet.

Hydra was founded with the sole
purpose of engineering its return.

I know you want revenge, to
cut the head off of S.H.I.E.L.D.

- I'll help you do that.
- And in return?

You'll help me learn how S.H.I.E.L.D.
brought someone back.

03x09 - "Closure"

Two all-Americans from D.J.'s
extra bacon, double cheese.

Is it me, or is every burger
that's named "the all-American"

just really awful for you?

Oh, don't be a hater, Phil.

Half Moon pub.

Isn't that where we had our first drink?

- I go there a lot.
- Of course you do.

Yeah, it's not like it's
a memento or anything.



Just matches. Got it.

You know, Banks thinks I'm crazy to...

keep seeing you like this.

- Oh.
- Huh. You told Banks about us?

- Yeah, I tell Banks everything.
- Hmm.

I didn't realize you two were so chummy.

Well, there's a lot
you don't know about me,

even after sneaking two of
your agents into my workplace.

Just to say it, technically,
I was right to do that.

You are working for Hydra.
And also...

...I'm sorry.

Any sensible girl would
swipe left in this moment.

- Honestly, don't know what that means.
- You're such a luddite.

You know I have a flying car, right?

Uh, yeah. It's from the '60s.

- I'm glad we're finally having burgers.
- Me, too.

So, your team find
anything new about Malick?

Nothing we didn't already know.

D.C. power player with his hand
in almost every government organization.

Yeah, including mine.

Where he somehow managed
to remove every Inhuman

you had in custody.
Thank you.

- Wait, you think Malick's mobilizing?
- Only question is why.

Not sure.
That's what I intend to find out.

You're going back into the ATCU?

I can't protect you on the inside.

Thanks, Lancelot, but I'll be just fine.

The ATCU... it's my turf.

And as far as Malick's concerned,

I'm just clocking in
another day at work.

- Still a dangerous play.
- Well, then that's a risk I have to take.

I mean, look... it's my people
that Malick's been using as lab rats,

and I'm the idiot who's
been working under Hydra

- this entire time.
- "Idiot" is a little harsh.

- So what's the plan once you're in?
- Just another day.

But I scheduled a meeting
with Malick, and that way...

Roz? Rosalind?

No, no!

Oh, God. Stay with my voice.

Stay with me, Roz.

Listen, stay with the sound of my voice!
Look at me, right here!

Roz! Roz!
I need you to breathe!

Please, Roz!
Look at me! Breathe!

Roz! Breathe.

Please breathe.
Please breathe.

Please, just stay with me.

Please stay with me.

Now you know how
it feels, Coulson...

to watch someone you care for
bleed out right in front of you.

- Ward?
- Got to admit,

it still sounds funny when
you don't say "agent" first.

What did you do?

It seems I just eliminated
a leak at the ATCU.

You murdered Rosalind to keep
her from digging into Malick?

Come on, Coulson.

You really think Rosalind
was gonna stop Malick

from opening another portal?
He's opened one before.

I'm sure he'll do it again.
No.

This is personal.

S.H.I.E.L.D. keeps sending
its best agents to kill me.

Thought I'd stop that
from happening again

by taking out the guy
who keeps sending them.

Want to take me out?

Come and get me.
We'll settle this right now.

I have people who take care of
that sort of thing for me now.

No, I just wanted to hear
the panic in your voice

before you died.

This isn't over.

Aah!

Get down!

Go, go, go!

What about Miss Price?

Just drive.

Let him go.

Coulson said anything once
you got him out of there?

He just told me to get the
interrogation room ready.

I'm so sorry, Phil.

Whatever you need, just ask.

We start at the beginning.
How does Ward think?

Is there any weakness
we haven't exploited yet?

You really think there's
something we've missed?

There's only one way to find out.

I want each of the original team members

to tell me everything
they remember about Ward,

down to the smallest detail,
no matter how uncomfortable.

Okay.

When you two were sleeping together,

did he ever confess
any personal details?

We didn't do much talking.

How was your relationship with
Ward after he saved your life?

- I was grateful.
- Just grateful?

Once, I caught him alone in my
bunk, like some sort of creeper.

- Was he stealing?
- Uh, no. I don't think so.

But he was, um, just sitting there,

staring at a picture of me and my mum.

Ward appealed because he was damaged.

Did he ever open up
about what had hurt him?

Like I said, not much talking.

But whatever it was
seemed to drive him.

Made him desperate for others to
think of him as some kind of hero.

He and I, we were
like brothers...

at least, that's what it
felt like at the time,

- then I realized he was just using me.
- Using you for what?

It's hard to describe,
really, but it was like...

like he was trying to replace
something that had gone missing.

I was such a pathetic flirt,

always laughing at his jokes
and those ridiculous puns.

You were attracted to him.

Well, he did jump out
of a plane to save me.

Ever think the feeling
might've been mutual?

That's not what Ward needed from me.

Besides, it was obvious
he fancied someone else.

I don't know what to say.

- Then just answer the questions.
- Sure.

But I doubt there's anything
you don't already know.

I've heard all about
how Ward fell for you.

Now explain to me how you fell for him.

I realize this has
got to be hard on you.

I just want to get the
guy who took Roz out.

So do we. Which is why there are
a couple of people I need you to meet.

There was just something about him.

We both had these messed-up childhoods.

- Made it easy to relate.
- Have you considered that all of that

might've been an act to get close,

that maybe he found
a weakness and exploited it?

It wasn't an act.

For whatever reason,
Ward never lied to me.

He just hid parts of himself
that I wasn't ready to see yet.

- "Yet"?
- When you grew up like we did,

it... it impacts how you see the world.

Everything is filtered
through a very specific lens.

And Ward got that.

That's why he thought he
could make me understand him.

- Was he right?
- Probably.

After years of moving from
place to place, I totally get how

easy it was for him to be taken
in by a powerful father figure.

I even understand how Garrett
was able to draw him into Hydra.

It's not like I wasn't
fooled by my mom when she--

Sounds like there's a lot
you're willing to forgive.

I will never forgive him.

He murdered Rosalind
just to hurt you.

He killed Koenig...

He killed Koenig because of me.

He knew once Koenig outed
him as Hydra, he'd lose you.

And the sad part is,

that's when I finally understood
him for the first time.

The reason Ward kills isn't
because he feels nothing.

It's because he feels too much.

Ward mentioned that Malick's
trying to open a portal.

- Does this look familiar?
- Yeah, that's Distant Star Pathfinder.

It was the program NASA
was in the middle of

when Roz and I... joined.
We weren't privy to the details.

- You know where NASA was running it?
- They weren't.

An independent contractor
proposed the project,

ran things out of a lab complex.
Facility shut down years ago.

Maybe worth looking anyway.

Do we have to guess who it was

that funded this independent contractor?

No, you don't.
It was Gideon Malick.

All hail the conquering hero.

That was fast.

Seems I just gave the go-ahead.

Been a while since I took
a shot from that far out.

- Felt good.
- Yeah, I bet.

Guess in all that excitement,

you forgot about the part where
we need Phil Coulson alive.

- He made it out.
- By the skin of his teeth.

What the hell were you thinking about,

sending in your little bones brigade?

I wanted to put Coulson
through his paces.

Ah. This is not some game
you just leave to chance.

Well, maybe not for you.

- I was good either way.
- Right.

'Cause if Coulson doesn't make it out,

you get that closure
you've been searching for.

Closure's not something that
I ever put much stock in.

What I believe in...

is moving forward.
Never looking back.

These five stones were extracted
from the monolith centuries ago.

The idea was that they
should be divided up evenly

among Hydra's most powerful leaders.

Now you've got the
full set, thanks to me.

You're missing the point.

These stones are the key to everything

that Hydra's been marching
toward since it was formed.

And now you're jeopardizing all of that

- for something as petty as closure.
- Don't worry.

Everything will play out
exactly like we planned.

How can you be so sure?

'Cause I know Coulson
better than he knows himself.

- Sir, I just wanted to say...
- Sir!

You were supposed to take Ward out.
I sent you to do a job.

You failed!
Now people are dead.

You need to calm down!

No, he's right.

Ward should never have had
the chance to do what he did.

No. She's right.

I'm the one who picked
Ward for this team.

Everything that happened
since, it's on me.

Sir, I'd do anything to have
another shot at the bastard.

Well, you better not miss this time.

- This time?
- I figured out a way to track down Ward,

- but we got to go off book.
- My specialty.

I'm not sure taking Hunter
is really such a good idea.

You're going, too, Agent Morse.
We need a pilot.

- What are you thinking?
- It's simple, Agent Mackenzie.

To take Ward out, I
need to cross some lines

the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
shouldn't cross.

Well, maybe those lines
aren't meant to be crossed.

Maybe not, but this is happening.

- What, you want me to fill in?
- As acting director until it's finished.

Why not put May in charge?

After everything that's
happened with Andrew,

she's not ready to lead.
You're the only one I trust

who doesn't have an
axe to grind with Ward.

I was gonna check out
the Distant Star facility

- with Fitz and Simmons.
- They've already gone.

I sent them and a team with
Agent Banks 20 minutes ago.

Well, maybe I should go.

This isn't a request.
It's an order.

I need you to step up
and do the damn job.

Does this mean you're
gonna tell me your plan?

Absolutely not.

Seems unlikely anything
portal-related is still here.

Don't go jumping to
conclusions just yet.

We may still find something
to help us bring back Will.

We can't bring him back.

Jemma... we've already built the program

to determine where the
portal will open on Maveth.

The only thing that's left
is getting to the other side.

That's not what I meant.

It's irresponsible of us
to open another portal.

Hydra's been searching for the
thing on that planet for centuries.

It's an old wives tale Hydra
moms tell their goblin babies.

- But I've seen it. It's real.
- Yes, and so is Will,

and he's stuck there,
and he needs our help.

You don't think I want to save him?

That it's not tearing me up inside?
He saved my life, and...

you know how I feel about him.

But to put so many other lives
in jeopardy would be selfish.

It's not selfish...

Don't do this.

It's not me!

Let's go.
Mr. Malick is waiting.

Our target's in a public place.

Plenty of looky-loos, then, I imagine.

You're serious about all
options being on the table?

- You got something particular in mind?
- Ever robbed a bank before?

- Can't say that I have. Have you?
- Piece of advice...

never trust a crooked
jockey on a doped-up horse.

My point is, I have an
idea I think should work.

Good, 'cause time's
a luxury we don't have.

Ward and Malick are
already 10 steps ahead.

Don't blame me.
This was his idea.

Get them up.

You know, my father used to say,

"never send a boy to do a man's job,"

but it honestly never occurred to me

that I should try sending a young woman.

Tell me, Miss Simmons, when you
went through, did you see it?

Whoa-oh!

- You didn't tell me she was so feral.
- It's a new development.

The secrets you must have hiding

in that pretty little head of
yours, just waiting to be shared...

Well, never gonna help you put
another bloody portal...

Nobody's asking you to.

See, Hydra's been opening one
portal or another for centuries.

And all it takes is a few
stones and a building

with just the right
vibrational frequency.

- What's all this about, then?
- The other thing.

- They don't know how to get back.
- You really are a sharp cookie.

Maybe now you're ready
to reveal the secret.

Come a little closer and find out.

- What about you?
- Piss off.

- Any suggestions?
- Split them up.

Hydra's taken Fitz and Simmons.

How is that possible?

There was an ambush at
the Distant Star facility.

- What about Banks and the others?
- They didn't make it.

We got to get on Zephyr One
and get there.

I don't think that's the right move.

They took Fitz and Simmons.

I know that, but
Hydra's long gone by now,

and we can't waste
every resource we have

chasing our own damn tail.

It's better than doing nothing.

I need to call Coulson.

- Director?
- Sir, we have a situation.

Fitz and Simmons have
been kidnapped.

- What? By who?
- By Hydra, by the looks of it.

Seems they knew we were coming.

That's why Ward mentioned the portal.
He wanted us to go there.

Does this mean we need
to make a change of plans?

No. It means this better work.

Anyone need explaining what to do next?!

We got no heroes here today, mate.

Oh, God. How'd you find me?

- I'm not afraid of you.
- Got to say, I am impressed

with this whole furiosa
vibe you got going on.

Please just shut up.

And sure, being trapped on another world

might've had a lot to do with it,

but I would like to think
dropping you and Fitz

20,000 leagues under the sea
really got the ball rolling.

You really are the king idiot.

This can go a couple of different ways.

- Do your worst.
- You see, that's the problem right there.

If you'd really gotten to know me,

you'd know that I would never
do anything to hurt you, Jemma.

But I can't say the
same is true for him.

Let me know if you change your mind.

You want to see a trick?

What have you... What...
What have you done with Simmons?

Trust me, you really don't want to know.

I'll kill you, you... psychopath!

Seems you're still scared of me, Fitz.

Don't worry.
I'm not gonna hurt you.

There's a much simpler
way to make you talk.

Leave Simmons alone.

The first thought I had when we met was,

"Wow, this guy's really
carrying a torch."

It was sweet, really.

Not, uh, adult sweet.
More like a cartoon puppy dog

with its heart beating
outside its chest.

Don't do this.

I even told you to make
a move before it was too late.

Guess what... too late.

Please...

Just tell me how she came
back, and this all ends.

Simple as that.

No!

No! Nooo!

Or we can just... sit here and listen.

You really think he can lead us to Ward?

What I realized about Ward is
that every twisted thing he does

is just a misguided
attempt to justify his past.

But there's one thing in his
past he can never make right.

What is this?

- Did my brother send you?
- Grant Ward?

Doesn't even know you're here, mate.

But he's about to.

I'm curious which is worse for you...

those moments when Simmons screams...

or is it the long
pauses when she doesn't?

Wasn't expecting a call
from a dead woman's phone.

I spent every second
since you murdered Rosalind

trying to understand just
how your sick mind works.

Shouldn't be that hard.
We're not that different, you and me.

It's not like we operate in
different worlds, Coulson.

We both got blood on our hands.

Big difference is, I've never
hurt anyone for selfish reasons.

That is, until now.

What's that supposed to mean?

There's someone here
who'd like to say hello.

Take a look.

I got two of yours, so
you take one of mine?

Like I said, two sides, same coin.

Only I doubt you're
willing to take it all away.

I thought you might say that,
so I brought a friend along.

If you lay a finger on Thomas...

Hanging up?
You sure that was the right play, boss?

I need Ward to know that
we've got the upper hand.

Plus... it'll really piss him off.

- Here.
- Please don't kill me.

Nobody wants that.

That's not very reassuring when
he's got a gun to your head.

Hate to break it to you, but your
brother isn't a very nice guy.

You're the one who just kidnapped me.

- What's wrong with you people?
- Ward hurt someone I care about.

And as far as we can tell,

you're the only thing left in
this world that he cares about,

which means you're the
only way I can draw him out.

Okay.

But you better finish
him off when you do.

Honestly wasn't expecting that.

It's what Grant's always done...

hurt people and lie to himself about it.

So all that talk about
a traumatic childhood

is just rubbish, then?

I'm sure whatever he told
you about our parents is true.

See, my dad, he had
some real anger issues,

and my mom... well, she had dad issues,

so they spent most of their time
taking those issues out on us.

What about your brothers?
Were you close?

Christian was a lot older,

so we never really hung
out much, but Grant...

...he was my best friend.

Protected me from mom
and dad, from Christian...

- And one day, he didn't.
- The day he pushed you down the well.

Grant totally changed after that.
It was like he felt guilty

but couldn't admit what
had really happened.

Instead, he kept promising never
to let anyone hurt me again.

Slightly unnerving
coming from the guy who

- just chucked you down a well.
- You two keep in touch?

Family reunions, holidays,
that sort of thing?

Grant was 17 when he burned
my parents' house down,

with Christian inside.

Ever since, I've made sure to
give him a pretty wide berth.

Pretty sound logic, actually.

Well, you don't really
seem like your brother.

Just 'cause you grow up in
a family of abusive monsters

doesn't mean
you have to become one.

I didn't.
Please, don't hand me over to Grant.

Sorry, mate. Giving you up is
the only way to draw him out.

Maybe not.

During the call, I put
a trace on Ward's phone.

Now we just have to keep him on
long enough to get an exact location.

Ward'll never let that happen.

He will if I'm on the other end.
Let me talk to him.

- Not a good idea, even if he does...
- ...call back.

Still not a good idea.

I swear I'll cut Fitz
from head to toe if...

Grant?

Thomas...
You okay?

Is everything they're saying true?

Don't listen to them.
They're the bad guys.

They killed someone I love very much.

Then why is this happening?

They know how much I care
about you. They want to hurt me.

- It's been almost 15 years.
- I tried to see you.

Mom and dad made that impossible.
They kept you hidden.

That wasn't mom and dad.
That was me.

I changed my name and moved
so you'd never find me.

Why would you do that?

'Cause I didn't want to
let you hurt me again.

- That was one time.
- Really? One time?

Then explain what the hell
you did to mom and dad.

- Thomas...
- No, you killed them. And Christian, too.

You know what type of people they were.

They hurt us both.
I couldn't let that happen again.

Dad needed a walker to get around.
Who was he gonna hurt?

I know this is tough to hear,

but sometimes, you got to do a
bad thing for the right reasons.

Stop trying to justify what you did.

Just stop.
They were my parents, too.

And yeah, they were horrible people,
but you are so much worse.

You set them on fire.

Thomas, calm down.
Listen to me for a second.

- Time's up.
- Put Thomas back on the phone.

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

- You traced the call.
- And now I'm coming to put you down.

You will tell me everything
I need to know right now.

You understand me?!
Do you?!

No. No!

Trace puts Ward in
the Southwest of England.

They're at the castle where
we brought Simmons back.

Which would explain why
he kidnapped her and Fitz.

'Cause Malick's trying
to open another portal.

Best get there before
that happens, then.

I spent my life staying
off Grant's radar.

How am I supposed to stay safe now?

A security detail has been
assigned to keep an eye on you.

Is that all an act?
Or was he really gonna hurt me?

We'll be in touch.

- Daisy said you needed a word.
- More like your opinion.

I've been reading Andrew's
file on Lincoln...

"a dangerous temperament

that's only been
inflamed by recent events.

It's my professional opinion
he should not be allowed

in the proposed initiative."

What do you think?

I'm not even sure if
that's Andrew's evaluation.

Maybe it's Lash.

How are we supposed
to know the difference?

That's a live sat feed from the castle

where Ward and Malick
are holding Fitz-Simmons.

Looks like Hydra has
a couple of dozen troops.

The bigger problem is the heavy
artillery, the surface-to-air missiles.

And that's not even the worst of it.

Coulson told him he was coming.

Cloaking won't help
if Hydra knows what to look for.

I asked him if he needed backup,

but Coulson refused to make the call.

You're the man in charge.
Make it for him.

We're outmanned, outgunned,
with no time to mount an assault

with even a snowball's chance
against a fortified Hydra.

What the hell am I supposed to do?

I think you already know.

Well, there's
our little space traveler.

We were just about
to open up the portal.

I thought you might want to
come and see for yourself.

Anyone who goes to that planet will die.

That thing on the other
side drives people mad.

Well, that's certainly
an interesting theory.

Here's another.
It wants to come back.

And finally, after all these years,

we finally found someone
to help us do that.

I'll never help you
bring that thing back,

no matter how much you hurt me.

Which is why we've agreed
to stop hurting you...

so that he would go instead.

- Oh, Fitz...
- Sorry, Jemma.

I always thought Fitz
would give up the world for you.

Looks like now he
finally has his chance.

Are you sure about this?

They haven't even been
cleared for field duty.

I cleared them just now.

Seems I might just
get my team after all.

Listen up!

Hydra has Fitz and Simmons,

and they're planning
to open another portal!

Which is why we're going to stop them.

- Yeah, but why us?
- I'm guessing we're all they've got.

You two have powers.
My other agents don't.

But I'm not gonna lie to you...
this is a dangerous mission,

and the odds are not in our favor.

- Not really a selling point.
- Here's the deal.

What Hydra's planning is gonna
hurt a lot of innocent people,

maybe people you care about.

I wouldn't be asking you for your help
if I didn't think we had a chance.

So either you step
up and do the damn job

or you let the bad guys win.
The choice is yours.

Nice speech, director.

How long till
we reach Hydra airspace?

We're about 10 minutes out.
Sir?

- About what happened back there...
- We got what we needed.

- End of story.
- I understand.

But that look on your face...
I've seen it before.

It's the same look Hunter
had when he went after Ward.

Not sure I'm getting your point.

It's dangerous going into
a mission that emotional.

You need to be able to separate
the job from your own feelings.

You're wrong.

I've been keeping my feelings in
check, and look what it got us.

Rosalind's dead,
Ward has Fitz and Simmons.

My only regret is that I
didn't kill that son of a bitch

- when I had the chance.
- Coulson...

Let me know when we're close.

- It's time.
- Start without me.

Need to get ready for
when S.H.I.E.L.D. arrives.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s not getting near here.

- Don't underestimate Coulson.
- Phil Coulson is of no consequence.

You, on the other hand, still
have an important role to play.

What are you talking about?

I want you to lead our
men on the other side.

You can't be serious.

I've been working for
this moment ever since

S.H.I.E.L.D. murdered Kara.
Why would I give that up?

Because you've already won.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s finished.

Do you really need
to take a victory lap?

This isn't over...

...till I'm standing over
Coulson's dead body.

I thought you were more than this,

more than bloodthirsty and vindictive.

I thought you had vision.

Vision enough to know
when I'm being manipulated

into risking my life for
someone else's pipe dream.

Your dream? Revenge?

That's just vanity, Mr. Ward.
That's weakness.

Don't talk to me about
weakness, old man.

Weakness is following others blindly.
Learned that the hard way.

I'm not asking you to follow.
I'm asking you to lead!

I've been waiting for this
moment for a long time, yes,

but I'd hoped that I'd find
someone to seize it with me.

I thought it might be Pierce,
but he was bloodthirsty.

Thought it might be John Garrett,

but his vanity led him to
think of nothing but himself.

John Garrett is the only reason
I put my faith in Hydra.

And that is the greatest thing
he ever achieved for our cause.

I'm no soldier.
You're the finest we ever made.

You're the only one that can do this.

And if you cross over
to that other side,

you will finally see

that your faith in Hydra
was never misplaced.

It's real.
You will look it in the eye.

- And then?
- And then...

we'll be able to do
whatever the hell we want.

Hey!
You touch her, and the deal's off.

- Fitz, you can't do this.
- My mind's made up, Jemma.

No, we can't let them bring
that thing back to this planet!

Fitz...
please just let them kill me.

I can't do that. I won't.

I lost you once.

I can't lose you again.
I'm just...

I'm not strong enough

to live in a world that
doesn't have you in it.

Oh, come back to me.

Just don't bring that thing with you.

Only thing I'm gonna
bring back is Will. Okay?

Let's get this show on the road.

What are you doing?

Leading.

Looks like
they're getting ready.

They're gonna take Fitz or Simmons.

It's the smart play.
Whatever they want over there,

they'll take one to guide the team back,

keep the other one here for insurance.
That's Ward.

You can't seriously know that
from a bloody heat signature.

It's him.

Wait for me.

Once you get down there, you
establish a perimeter.

Wait for me. I'm right
behind you. Get on in.

Find it, get to the exit coordinates,

we'll turn the portal
back on in exactly...

- 12 hours.
- Got it.

Bring it back, my friend.

Be the one that finishes
what Hydra started.

Making history today.

Cheer up.
New beginning for both of us.

He's going through.

If that really is Ward,
then we're too late.

Can you please go talk
some sense into him?

You can't do this.

Only a complete lunatic would
go down there without a plan.

- I'm ending this.
- Oh, bloody hell.

Wait, wait.
What the hell are you doing?

We both know common sense was
never really my strong suit.

Hydra's got us locked in!
We need to move!

Coulson, wait!

Shut it down.

It's nothing!

Fine! Get moving!