Defiance (2013–2015): Season 1, Episode 12 - Past Is Prologue - full transcript

Previously, on
Defiance...

These visions of yours, if
they are somehow connected...

"If"? They are real.

I'm not like you.
I'm an alien.

You are the chosen one.

Chosen for what?

Can you accept that our
mission is a holy one?

Where have I ever belonged?

I am throwing my hat into the ring

as candidate for mayor of Defiance.

- It's over.
- Yes, I suppose it is.



There would be no Defiance
without Mayor Nicolette Riordan.

She believed a mining camp
could become a real town,

a real community.

We all have our stories.

I was working as a janitor,

scrubbing floors at
the Darby building.

Nicky saw me one
night, and she said,

"honey, you're scrubbing that floor

like it's the most
important job of your life."

Then she made me her new assistant.

I was a nobody.

Nicky treated me like an equal.

She had a way of making you feel

like you were the most
important person in the room.



I'll miss her.

- Amen to that.
- Hear, hear.

Hear, hear, indeed.

Nicolette was, as you humans say,

a tough act to follow.

Yet follow it we must.

Which is why I hope to restore

the tradition of wise leadership,

accept the help of our
friends at the Earth Republic,

and avoid the tragic missteps

of these past few months.

To Mayor Nicky.

To Mayor Nicky.

I just want to kick
him in the tungaz.

Assuming you could find them.

I mean, this is a wake.

There's no place for politics.

Kick his ass in the
debate tomorrow.

Couple of shots to the gut,

and they'll hear the hot air
rushing out all over town.

Politics is war by other means.

Or so they say.

Colonel Marsh.

Talk to me. What's up?

I gotta go take care of something.

Okay.

So what are you doing here?

I came to pay my respects
to another old soldier.

So this election of yours
is going to be a close one.

I like my chances.

You know, if you accepted
our endorsement,

it would cut Datak
Tarr off at the knees.

There's always a price
with you people.

I prefer to think of
it as a quid pro quo.

We would protect you
from any any all enemies.

Gin?

What enemies?

I would hate to see this town

torn apart by alien barbarians.

We're pretty good with
alien barbarians.

It's kind of our thing.

Ms. Rosewater,

Defiance could use a friend
like the Earth Republic.

Good luck with that.

♪ Summertime is here ♪

♪ and we will fall in love ♪

♪ nothing left on earth
can come between us now ♪

"I took her hand in mine,

and we went out of
the ruined place,

and as the morning
mists had risen long ago

when I first left the forge,

so the evening mists
were rising now.

And in all the broad
expanse of tranquil light

they showed to me,

I saw no shadow of
another parting from her."

Hey.

♪ Forget about the world we knew ♪

♪ it's all undone ♪

♪ unraveling forever ♪

♪ in this endless love ♪

♪ light the candles ♪

♪ just to blow them out ♪

♪ standing at the edge ♪

You don't want to hear
the rest of this?

Come on.

♪ Summertime is gone ♪

♪ I feel the autumn shake ♪

♪ waiting in the usual places ♪

♪ God and gate ♪

♪ our broken hearts of plastic ♪

♪ shattered into a million pieces ♪

♪ can't wait to pick them up ♪

Irisa?

- What's wrong?
- I can't feel my legs.

1x11
Past Is Prologue

I'm glad to see you're
up and walking around.

I don't need to be here.

I already told you, I'm fine.

You told Tommy you
couldn't feel your legs.

I said not to call him.

Yeah, and if I hadn't, he
would have blown my head off.

Got that right.

So what do you think's
going on with her?

If I had to guess, I'd say

it was a psychosomatic reaction.

But she seems fine now.

Right, so you're going
to run some more.

If she lets me.

She's not exactly the
easiest patient.

I'll talk to her.

Can I help you?

- That tickles.
- I thought that you liked that.

I do, normally, it's just...

maybe this isn't such
a good idea today.

- What's wrong?
- I, uh... I'm sorry.

I have to go.

Stahma.

I'm supposed to be helping
out at the campaign tent.

I need to get back
before I'm missed.

You just got here.

What's happened?

If this is about this...

Everything is not about
this or us or you.

And there is a limit
to what I can share

with a prostitute.

I'm sorry.

Oh, do you think it bothers me

that you look down on me?

It doesn't.

I should not have said that.

I... I'm upset.

My mind was elsewhere.

So why don't you get
your body to go join it?

Get out.

And I'm going to be a
very generous prostitute,

and I'm only going to
charge you for half the hour.

What is it, Stahma?

I... I can't tell you.

Yes, you can.

If I tell you,

I'll only put your
life in danger, too.

Well, now, you're going
to have to tell me.

It's his damn pride.

To lose the election
would be a veonuvanawo,

a great shaming.

Promise me no one will
know that this came from me.

Promise.

He's planning on having her killed.

Having who killed?

Your sister.

He wouldn't dare.

Datak has too much
invested in this town

to risk getting caught.

Castithans aren't like us.

They'll kill in order
to avoid humiliation.

Who gave you this information?

A client.

I can't say who.

Don't be ridiculous. Come on.

I'm going to need to
talk to your source.

I'm sorry.

This person risked a
lot to tell me this,

so please respect that.

Okay. Is your source credible?

Yes.

All right, then we have
to take it seriously.

We move the debate. You
can broadcast from the arch.

- I can't hide.
- Market Square is too exposed.

And what am I supposed to do?

Have Datak tell
everyone I'm too afraid

to face my own people?

No, what you're not supposed to do

is stake yourself out like a goat

where he can get you.

I trust you with my life.

You will keep me safe,

and we will beat Datak Tarr.

Murder my opponent?

A novel approach to
victory, to be sure.

Just so we're clear,

anything happens to Amanda
between now and the election,

anything at all...

she slips in the shower,

chokes on a chicken bone,

doesn't matter...

I will come to your house
in the dead of night,

press a pillow over your face,

and then I'll empty my gun in it.

And they say humans
lack a sense of poetry.

Raiga.

Hey, little man.

You sent for me?

You disappointed me
at your wedding.

I was wondering what you
intended to do about this.

Look, dad, I'm really sorry.

It meant a lot to Christie,

and I was just trying to
act like a good husband.

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Now get up.

I've got an important job for you.

The shaming ritual?

Are we back on Casti or what?

Did he make you get
down on your knees?

__

Yeah, and it's not funny.

My dad's a...

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I'll say.

Still looking for a
way into his crew?

You serious?

I think I know a way.

It's a sweet life.

__

My dad needs me to do
something for him,

but it can't be traced back to him,

so I can't do it myself.

If you do this, my
dad'll be grateful.

What is it?

Something bad.

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You are...

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Welcome to the 2046 mayoral debate.

I am Councilwoman Bailey
Riggs, moderator.

I want to thank you
all for showing up

on this soggy day.

Challenger, Mr. Datak Tarr.

Incumbent mayor, Amanda Rosewater.

We look forward to hearing
everything you have to say.

- Cover for me.
- Where are you going?

I have to do something.

We're on high alert right now.

The debate's about to start.

Why do I even try?

Sure you can hit
her from up here?

Yeah.

All right, I gotta go
down to the audience.

Remember, right
between the eyes.

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My opponent does not recognize

that this town does
not have the wherewithal

to deal with a Volge attack,

nuclear reactor bombs,
hellbugs, razor rain.

If we'd have let the
Earth Republic assist us,

all of these disasters
might have been averted.

We are part of a larger community.

Mutual security is in
everyone's interest.

With the Earth
Republic at our side,

this town will only
prosper and grow.

I truly believe that this
is what's best for this town.

Well, I'm glad he got
that off his chest.

Mr. Tarr is such a big
fan of the Earth Republic.

Makes me wonder how
many of their towns

he's actually visited.

Like cedars,

where people stand in
line for a loaf of bread.

Or new Las Cruces,

where miners' wages
have been cut,

and Echelon enforcers are
sent in if they object.

The Earth Republic doesn't
give a damn about us.

- That is utterly false.
- Oh, let me finish.

The Earth Republic cares
about everyone in this...

Mr. Tarr, stop interrupting.

And why should they care?

They don't live here.
We do.

And we have miners that
make a decent wage,

and bread that doesn't
break the bank,

and we also have the
security of knowing

that if we screw up,

it's our own fault,

which means we also have
a chance of fixing it.

Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

Gun.

Gun!

Gun!

No.

It... it was a paintball gun.

You killed him.

It was just supposed to be a prank.

No, no, no, no, listen, listen.

I demand to know what actions

you're taking against
the lawkeeper.

The weapon was a toy.

Yeah, well, it looked like
one hell of a real weapon,

pointed at the mayor's head.

It could just as easily
have been a real gun.

Nolan had no choice.

The lawkeeper never asked him to
drop the weapon. He just fired.

Nolan received
reliable intelligence.

What sort of intelligence?

That there would be
juvenile mischief?

- It was an accident.
- Tell that to his parents.

One that would have never happened

if the kid wasn't stupid enough
to pull a weapon, real or not.

Hell, I would have shot him, too.

I wonder if the lawkeeper
would have pulled the trigger

if... if Kupack Kurr's skin
was a few shades darker.

- Mr. Tarr, that is inflammatory.
- Is it?

- How dare you pull the racist card?
- You hired an ark hunter,

a scavenger who'd never
worn a badge in his life.

He has saved this town
on numerous occasions.

Now I move that he's stripped
of his badge and arrested.

Agreed.

As long as I am mayor,

I stand by lawkeeper Nolan 100%.

- We stand by the mayor.
- Thank you.

Agreed.

Let the record show
that the lawkeeper has

the unwavering support
of Mayor Rosewater.

I messed up.

I so messed up.

I should never have left my post.

Kiddo, if you had been there,

you would've taken exactly
the same shot I did.

If one of us has to
take the heat for this,

it's better it's me.

Have to ask, though...

Where did you go?

You think Datak set you up?

Probably.

Didn't make me shoot
to kill, though.

I did that.

- Don't.
- Could've winged him.

You draw a gun,
you aim to kill.

Yeah, I taught you that.

Really gotta stop
listening to me.

I'm an idiot.

Did you know?

Did I know what?

When you asked me to
get one of my friends

to paintball Amanda,

you... you knew that the
lawkeeper was gonna be there.

Did you know he
was gonna shoot?

What a brave boy.

The courage it took
to look your father

squarely in the eye and
question his motives.

Some sons would fear
their fathers' wrath.

But not a son of
the Shanje Liro.

Not a son of the House of Tarr.

Your mother is correct.

I'm proud of you, my son.

Come.

Let's finish this
unfortunate business.

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Sir, I know nothing I say
can bring back your boy.

I just wanted to tell
you how sorry I am.

...welcoming to our homes.

As a town council
member who cares deeply

about the safety and
well-being of our citizens,

I felt compelled to
share information

I've just discovered

about our lawkeeper Joshua Nolan.

The reckless killing of Kupack Kurr

was not the first time
he's taken an innocent life.

There is a trail of wrongful
death in this man's wake,

beginning in the Pale Wars.

Datak chupping Tarr.

Our lawkeeper participated in
a series of wartime atrocities,

including the Yosemite Massacre,

where 98 human and
112 Votan civilians

were slaughtered.

Nolan and the 11
others in his platoon

were brought up in front
of court martial.

I think that this is my fault.

In transcripts, his
superior officer

described Lieutenant Nolan
as a "killing machine."

But let's not take his word for it.

Let's hear it from Nolan himself.

Here is the recording
from his trials.

This is how he defended himself.

We're out there every day,
putting our asses on the line.

Why? To protect all
you armchair generals...

Did you or did you not
ignore a direct order

from your superior?

Protect you from the Haints
of the Irath death squads,

from every greasy
alien piece of trash

that came down in the arks

and tried to wipe us off
the face of our own planet.

So, yeah, if some
12-year-old furball

with a cold fire blaster comes
at me or one of my buddies,

I'm not gonna waste time worrying

- if he's just some poor kid...
- Sir, you are out of order!

Who just lost his daddy.

I'm gonna put two in his chest.

And another in his head,
just to make sure.

Following his tainted
military career,

he admittedly spent years
as a roaming scavenger.

Whatever crimes he committed then,

there's no record of.

But there is a record of the town
council meeting this afternoon...

where Mayor Rosewater
declared, and I quote,

"I stand behind
lawkeeper Nolan 100%."

A lawkeeper whom she never vetted,

yet happily gave a
gun and badge to,

a decision that ended up in
the killing of an innocent boy.

I thank you for your time.

It's been a good ride.

I'm not letting you resign.

I'm not resigning.

You're firing me.

Then you're gonna
publicly disavow me.

You're gonna say that
I'm a loose cannon,

that I'm fit for fighting
off Volge marauders

but not fit to uphold the law.

I'm not gonna say
anything like that.

You heard my words on the radio.

Everyone did.

That was who you were,
it's not who you are.

It doesn't matter.

This town was built
on new beginnings.

I'm going on the
radio to defend you.

That is exactly what Datak wants.

My military file is sealed.

The only way Datak could've
got his hands on that

is if he's in bed with
the Earth Republic

and your good buddy Colonel Marsh.

I know how this game works.

You go public, you'll be
seen as doubling down on me.

And I am a bad bet.

I'm not debating this.

They're counting on
you to get emotional.

If you do, you're gonna
lose the election.

- Chup the election.
- Really?

Yes.

If Datak wins this election,

he's gonna kick open the doors

to Colonel Marsh and
his E-Rep goons

and a year from now,

you won't even
recognize this place.

And it certainly will not
be one you wanna live in.

I care about this town.

I'm not gonna be the
thing that kills it.

You're leaving.

Do the right thing.

Enough!

Bring him over here.

Paintball gun, huh?

I didn't know Nolan
was gonna shoot.

It was supposed to be a joke.

Well, I guess the joke's
on your dead friend,

and my daughter for marrying
a little peckerhead like you...

and me for allowing it.

Look, I'm so sorry.

If I could go back and
do it over again...

You can't. Look forward.

Because if you disappoint
me for a second time,

if you again act in a manner
unworthy of my baby girl,

your marriage will end.

And I do not believe in divorce.

Capisce?

Good boy.

Stahma!

Stahma!

You're a liar.

Did anyone else see you come in?

You and your husband set
Nolan up to kill that kid

so that my sister
would take the fall.

What happened was a tragedy.

- I'm gonna tell everybody.
- The election is over tomorrow.

Nothing you say can
change the result.

I'm not looking to change
the results of the election.

I'm looking to hurt you.

I am going to tell your husband

everything about you and me.

Kenya...

He already knows. He doesn't care.

No. You wouldn't do that.

You wouldn't tell him everything.

He has no idea

that you've been chupping
his favorite whore.

It's gonna destroy your marriage.

It's gonna ruin your
social standing.

And what was that phrase?

It would be a great...

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This will end very badly for you.

Why, Stahma? Why are you like this?

Your husband is so cruel.

You're capable of a lot of things.

Now you just let him dominate you.

I love him.

And not in the way a
human female clings

to an abusive lover.

I love Datak because
of his cruelty.

It's proof of his strength,

his willingness to
do whatever it takes

to achieve his goals.

We are a team.

I treasure that.

You're pathetic.

And you're alone.

Hello, lawkeeper.

Or should I simply call you Joshua,

seeing as you're no
longer wearing a badge?

"Killing machine."

"Butcher of Yosemite"
is a good one.

Take your pick. They both work.

Is this a reenactment of
your frontier mythology?

As you can see, I've no firearm.

Ah.

A fair fight.

Well, it's hardly my default,

but seeing as you're leaving...

Ah, ah.

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Ah!

I'm done with this town.

To finish the job!

Just like old times.

Are you sure about this?

This town's played out for us.

Ah!

Hey! Hey! What's wrong?

I can't...

Okay.

Doc! Doc!

Doc! Get her on the table.

She just collapsed and
started screaming.

Flip her over!

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

What are you doing?

Anesthesia. I need to operate.

- No way!
- Back off.

What the hell is that?

Votan parasite.
Attacks the spinal nerves.

I need to get it out now or
she'll be permanently paralyzed.

All right. What do
you need me to do?

- Wait outside.
- No!

I'm not leaving her.

You have done your job.
Let me do mine.

Wait outside!

You're gonna be fine, kiddo.
Everything's gonna be fine.

No!

No!

No.

Become.

Doc!

Where is she?

Where's my daughter?

Irisa!

Irisa!

"Portions of McCawley's
mining claims

were deeded to the
Irathients in perpetuity.

It has since been
determined by Mayor Datak Tarr

that such claim is invalid,

the Irathients not being
the aboriginal inhabitants."

A bold interpretation.

This document strips Rafe McCawley

of his Gulanite mines and
returns them to the city

who, by right of possession,

deeds the land to
the Earth Republic.

I haven't won the election yet.

I imagine you have stuffed
ballot boxes stored somewhere.

Right there.
That's your percentage.

Generous.

Tip of the iceberg.

To a profitable future, Mr. Mayor.

[ ♪ Time After Time ♪
playing ]

♪ Lying in my bed ♪

♪ I hear the clock tick ♪

♪ and I think of you ♪

♪ caught up in circles ♪

♪ confusion is nothing new ♪

♪ flashback, warm nights ♪

♪ almost left behind ♪

♪ suitcases of memories ♪

♪ time after ♪

♪ sometimes you picture me ♪

♪ I'm walking too far ahead ♪

♪ you're calling to me ♪

♪ I can't hear what you've said ♪

♪ then you say ♪

♪ "go slow" ♪

♪ I fall behind ♪

♪ the second hand unwinds ♪

♪ If you're lost, you can look ♪

♪ and you will find me ♪

♪ time after time ♪

♪ if you fall, I will catch you ♪

♪ I'll be waiting ♪

♪ time after time ♪

Rynn.

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♪ Time after time ♪

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♪ time after time ♪