Falling Skies (2011–2015): Season 1, Episode 8 - What Hides Beneath - full transcript

[ Thud ]

Linda?

Captain?

You okay?

I'm good.

Colonel Porter's here.

Send him in.

[ Jump rope tapping ]

Hal:
Hey, Ben, you out here?!

You're gonna miss lunch!

Look at this.



I remember when your idea
of exercising

was reorganizing
dad's bookshelves.

[ Exhales sharply ]

2 hours and 40 minutes?

What, are you padding
your stats?

Uh...

M-must have hit the button
before I came out.

Everything's
all right, huh?

Yeah. Sure.

Um...Let's eat.

Porter: I've just done a perimeter
review of your preparations,

and you've both done
a hell of a job

keeping your troops motivated.

2nd Mass looks like
it's locked and loaded.



Well, the Skitters
know where we are.

The smart move now is
to stay one step ahead.

Weaver, where do we stand
right now?

So, we scouted the roads
west of Gardner.

As of last night,
they were all still clear.

Dan, when's the last time
you slept?

I'm fine.

That wasn't the question.

Well,
it's not like anybody's

getting any rack time
around here.

Tom's right.

School's compromised.
We need to pull up stakes.

Most times I'd agree,

but the situation
on the ground

has changed.

Spotters tell me the Skitters
are all pulling back.

They're converging
on that structure over Boston.

Regrouping.

Clearing
the field of battle?

Could be the first step
in launching a new offensive.

I've been in contact
with the resistance

in L.A. and Chicago.

It's the same story
all over,

and we're not waiting
for them to make the next move.

The timetable
for the coordinated attack

on that structure
has been moved up.

In four days,
we're taking this war to them.

All right.

? Falling Skies 1x08 ?
What Hides Beneath
Original Air Date on July 31, 2011

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

Four days --
that's very short notice.

Can't afford any delay.

Every time these bastards
change tactics on us,

we end up
getting hurt bad.

Listen, Tom, I want you to take
a scout into the city tomorrow.

Identify secure routes
for your vehicles,

give me one last good
eyeball recon on that structure.

Downtown's a long haul.

We've got to have units
closer in.

We did have units closer in.

7th Mass started to pull back,
the aliens hit 'em hard.

Terry Clayton may have been
a son of a bitch,

but he wasn't lying
about the 7th.

They're gone?

Yep, and we've lost contact
with the 4th and the 5th.

But the attack plan
remains the same --

four units, one assigned
to each leg of the structure.

We blow those demo charges
simultaneously,

the structure collapses.

Which brings me to the issue
of demo and high explosives.

How we doing on that?

The raw materials
aren't a problem,

but we've stalled
on the build.

Our people
don't have the most expertise

in the making
of, uh, bombs --

something that
I normally take comfort in.

Well, we might have
caught a break.

Tom:
How's the patient?

Recovering.

And reminding me every day
why I specialized in pediatrics.

Tom: Desperate times,
desperate measures.

Who the hell is this?

Name's Pope.

You must be Porter.

I'd stand and salute,
but, um...

Isn't he the ex-con
that fired on your unit?

That is so three weeks ago.

Save the bull.
Tell him what you told me.

I hear you're looking
to drive a truckload

of high-test into
that Skitter palace downtown.

That sounds like one
tricky piece of demolition work.

Porter: And you know something
about demolition?

A thing or two. You know,
around the water cooler.

That makes you
some kind of expert?

Around my water cooler?
Yes, it does.

Listen, chief,
you do this thing wrong,

odds are you're gonna blow up
your little scout troop

long before you ever
roll into downtown Boston.

You understand that?

Somebody give me one reason
why we need to trust this guy.

We shouldn't.

Other than he came back
for Hal and Matt,

he makes bread,

and we don't have a lot
of options.

All right, Pope.
Convince me.

Everything I know was shown
by an ex-marine,

used to live in Dorchester.

What made you draw this?

It's art therapy.

Therapy?

I asked Rick to sketch
what he was thinking.

Sometimes it can help kids who've
been in a traumatic experience

get their
feelings out.

What made you draw this?

I'm talking to you.

Sorry.

He knows a thing or two
about demolitions,

but he's design only.

I don't want him anywhere near
the raw materials.

- Right.
- And he's under guard at all times.

You two get those damn
demolition charges made.

Okay.

Take it.

Take it.

All right, all right.
All right!

What's with the Victrola?

It's a radio transmitter.

Scouts found it
at a community college.

These pre-transistor types
last forever.

Great. Maybe you can get NPR
on that thing,

and we can bore the aliens
to death.

Matt: It's not supposed
to kill them.

Well, I'm officially
not interested,

but somebody's
got a death wish,

'cause these bomb-making
formulas are a joke.

Hey, hey, hey!

Look at this crap.
These ratios are all wrong.

Listen, you may have sold
the Colonel, you know,

but I am not buying
this "Go, team!" act.

Guys like you don't stick
their necks out for nothing.

Well, that's where you're wrong,
Scotty boy.

See, this is all about me.

There's nothing on this Earth
I like more than wasting Skitters,

except not blowing my head off
while doin' it.

I never claimed to be
a demolition expert.

Not much
on housekeeping, either.

This is one hell of
a Mech collection you got here.

Well, they've been cutting
a hell of a swath.

Our bullets
just bounce off,

and theirs, I don't know,

they can just rip
right through an engine block.

So I thought I would just
crack this one open and...

[ Explosion ]

Whoa!

All right...

Talk to Deadwood
over there.

It's okay.

Hey, Matt, Matt.

It's okay.
I-I gotta go.

We're off
to a hell of a start.

Why don't you roll
"Radio free Europe" there

into the hallway

and let me play around
with the hard stuff, huh?

Matt, what are you doing
out here?

I was working with Uncle Scott
when that guy Pope showed up.

[ Sighs ]

Look...

I know
that you want to help,

but I want you to stay away
from Pope.

He knows how to kill
the Skitters, Dad.

I want to fight, too!

I know you do,
but not with him and not today.

I gotta go.

I'll back as soon
as I can.

[ Sighs ]

I know that
"Weight of the world" look, Dad.

What's up?

What's not?

Hey, the last couple days,

have either one of you guys

noticed anything different
about Weaver?

Yeah, he's been different
since I met him.

Why?

Well, yesterday he kind of
laid into Rick

for no reason at all.

I don't think
he's slept in a couple days,

and sometimes
when you're tired...

You what?

Go ahead.
I want to hear this.

You don't always make
the best decisions.

And I'm not the only one
who's noticed.

But you're the one who's
questioning my ability to lead.

- I never said that.
- Good. Dai, you're relieved!

I'm taking your spot
on the scout.

Sure that's a good idea?

You want to stay here
and mind the fort, be my guest.

The attack's
in three days.

Something happens to me,
the 2nd Mass would go on.

We can't exactly
afford to lose you.

Mm.

You know anything
about load-bearing dynamics,

gauging
structural integrity?

No.

I had a construction business
after the service.

Knowing where to hit this thing
is just as important as how.

So he's a contractor.

Must have been a lot of fun
on a remodel.

Did you want to see me,
Dr. Glass?

Oh. Ben, come in.

[ Pills rattle ]

It's gonna sound like
I'm joking,

but take two
and see me in the morning.

Okay. Thanks.

Everything okay?

Strictly a follow-up.

It's part of
the comprehensive package.

Have you been having any pain,
notice any changes?

Uh, no.
I'm fine. I'm okay.

Are they going away?

I saw one of the other kids
from my group,

and his have
almost disappeared.

I know.

So how come
I'm so different?

Well, it's hard to say.

You and Rick were harnessed
months longer than the others.

Maybe it just takes
a little longer with you.

Wait. Hold still a second.
I want to check something.

Tell me if you feel this.

Anything?

Now?

No.

Is something wrong?

It's okay.
Go ahead and get dressed.

I thought he was
getting better, too.

He is, physically.

The truth is,
with his father gone,

there really isn't a place
for him in the gym anymore.

Because he was harnessed,
like me.

You don't have to lie.
I know they're afraid of us.

A few maybe,
but not everyone.

What worries me most
is Rick's attitude.

He never talks
about his father.

It's like his death
barely registered.

My dad said
soldiers get this thing --

a thousand-yard stare.

Maybe I could
to talk to him.

I think
that would be great.

What Rick needs more than
anything now is a friend.

Hal: What do you think
it's for?

Tom:
It's hard to say.

That flat space on top

kind of reminds me
of an aircraft carrier.

Whatever it is,
it's not impenetrable.

They're using basic
construction techniques.

Earth materials.

Steel rebar, concrete...

copper wire.

It's like what the harnessed
kids were going after,

that scrap metal.

Bastards might be
from outer space,

but their engineering is
strictly architecture 101.

Get close enough,

we can kill 'em.

I like the sound of that.

Hey, Dad.

Look at that south base
right there.

See where the Skitters
are working?

Mm-hmm.

I think I see
somebody with them.

Something's
got their attention.

To the right.

What is that?

Whoa.
What the...

What the hell, man?

Who do you think
they are?

I don't know.

[ Aircraft whooshing ]

That was close.
Let's get back to the bikes.

I used to drive
this neighborhood every day.

We had a place in Allston,
just off Royal,

right across the river.

Hal:
First these Skitters and Mechs,

and now these
humanoid things.

Do you think
they're anything like us?

Tom: No, not like us.

Within any military
hierarchy,

you've got troops
in the field,

and then
you've got command.

And up until this point,

we've assumed that the Skitters
were command.

Maybe we were wrong.

Even if we were,
it doesn't change anything.

Not tactically,
but what worries me

is that this is the first time
we've seen them.

Why is that a problem?

Could mean
they were hanging back,

waiting until it was safe
before showing themselves.

They think
that they've already won.

[ Clatter ]
Hey, Dad.

I see it.

If they're following us,

we're gonna take them right back
to the 2nd Mass.

On me.

[ Gunshot ]

Woman:
Go on, get out of here,

before I blow
your damn heads off!

Tom:
We're not gonna hurt you!

Yeah, well,
that's what they all say.

How do I know you're not
with them?

Do we look like Skitters?!

You know, it's not spacemen
that bother me.

It's the human trash
that are tearing up this city,

stealing everything
that's not nailed down!

Tom:
We're with the resistance!

We could help you!

Help, I don't need.

You want to talk?
Let's talk.

I'm Tom Mason.

That's my son Hal

and our commanding officer,
Captain Weaver.

Sonja. Sonja Renken.

This would go
a whole lot smoother

if you'd lower your weapon.

Well, I have to admit,

you don't seem
like those others.

Others? How long
you been out here?

You can come in
if you'd like.

We don't have time
for this.

Well, if it's spacemen
you want,

I've been keeping my eye
on them, too.

Just around the corner.
2740.

First floor, apartment 1B.

Thank you.

Doesn't seem right,
just leaving her here.

Our mission
has to take priority,

and this could be a trap.

Or an opportunity.

Porter sends us after
information on the structure.

This woman's been living
next to it for months.

Or she might just be some crazy woman,
living by herself.

She survived the invasion,

got the drop
on three fighters.

We should all be so crazy.

All right.

You and Hal go in,
but watch yourselves.

If the building's clear,

find out
what she knows.

What about you?

I'll stand watch.

I see any incoming,
I'll fire a warning shot.

Unbelievable.

Where's the sense of style,
stagecraft?

What do you want?

Mm, I-I left my backpack.

How do you know so much
about bombs anyway?

Did you go to school?

Yeah. I did
the four-year program

at Cochran Correctional.

You know, your old man finds out
you're hanging with me,

you're liable to discover
the true meaning

of the word
"Corporal punishment,"

after he shoots me.

I know.
He told me to stay away.

Don't worry, kid.

Old Sparky here
is as dead as dead gets.

It still scares me.

Yeah? Why?

Because they kill people.

Kid, a lot of things
kill people.

Not like this.

I still have nightmares
about them --

taking away Ben
or hurting mom.

I want to be brave --

like dad and Hal...
Like you.

But I'm scared
all the time.

It ain't
the Boogeyman, kid.

It's just a pile of
rock-'em, sock-'em junk.

Look.

It's got gears,
bearings, servos --

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a
"Made in Japan" sticker in there.

[ Objects thudding ]

This...

This is interesting.

What is it?

It's a Mech bullet.

It looks like ours.

It is.
.44 caliber.

I'm betting
these scaly maggots,

they go around, they raid all
the military ammo dumps worldwide

for the shells,

then they convert 'em
for their robocops.

Turns out
our alien friends

are big on recycling.

The slug -- now,
that's the interesting part.

It's made out
of Mech-metal.

It's kind of like the depleted
uranium the army uses

for tank busters,
only way nastier.

I wish we could use these
against them.

Out of the mouths
of babes.

We got lucky.

They found some Fruit Loops
still in the plastic.

I love that sugar rush.

It bothers you,
doesn't it?

The way
they're looking at us.

I try not to
think about it.

They don't
understand yet...

But they will.

Um...

I know you must be hurting
after what happened to your dad,

and if you ever want
to talk about it or...

It doesn't matter now.

He was a part of the way
I was before.

Before?
Like with the Skitters?

Because that's over.
You know that.

The doctors may have
removed the harness,

but that doesn't mean
that they've abandoned us.

We're the lucky ones.

No. No.

I hate the Skitters!

I hate what they did
to me!

If I had the chance,
I'd kill every last one of them!

It'll get clearer,
I promise.

They love us, Ben,

and they will
come back for us.

[ Breathing heavily ]

I am sorry
that I don't have any milk.

Tom: That's okay.

It's actually a lot better
than we're used to.

Thank you.

So you found all
these supplies yourself?

Uh, yes.

Over time. Why?

Mmm.

Oh, it's just that a lot of
the food stores that we passed

on the way in
looked a little picked over.

Well, some.
Uh, not all.

We used to have
so much fun here.

Joel and Amy,
my children,

used to play
in that courtyard.

The Gibsons on the fourth floor
were expert bridge players.

John Hernandez,
on eight,

loved his football.

Uh, they took me away,
you know,

uh, just for a bit.

The aliens.

Uh, to a camp very far
from here.

There were so many
of us there at first,

and then only a few.

How did you get away?

Oh, I didn't.
They let me go.

They don't care
about someone like me.

But you talked to them?

Just a little.

Uh, through the children,

the ones with the monsters
on their necks.

The harnessed kids.

Did they say
why they were here,

what they wanted
from us?

No. They wouldn't talk to us
about that.

But after what happened
to us in the camp,

I know that
they don't want us here --

not any of us.

[ Engine revving ]

Is that Weaver?

You see any ships?

No. Nothing
on the ground!

Hey! Weaver!

He pulled
the sparkplugs.

Where's he going?

There's no way
we can catch him,

and he knows it.

I knew something was wrong.

I could have stopped him
back at the school.

Well, captain gives an order,
you're supposed to follow it.

Think I learned that
from you.

Where do you think
he's going?

I don't know. He did say
that he had family in Allston.

I thought he lost them
back in the attack.

Well, he's never really
gone into it,

but not knowing can be
a powerful incentive.

What did he say --

across the river,
on Royal Street --

is that where he said he lived
before the attack?

A-are you leaving?

Just to go look
for our friend, yeah.

You'll be coming back,
though, won't you?

Just as soon as we can.

[ Engines rev ]

This is all
very mysterious.

Where are we going?

Just over here.

There's something I need you
to help me with,

but it's really important
that you keep it between us.

Yeah. I've always been good
at keeping secrets.

I hope so,
because this one's a big one.

[ Whirring ]

What do you think
you're gonna find?

Nothing, I hope.

[ Whirring stops ]

[ Breathing shakily ]

Are you hanging in there?

Y-yeah.

My class was still
in basic anatomy

when they attacked, so...

Cadaver research
was second year.

Consider this
extra credit.

Now what? We...

We look inside.

Muscles, bones...

Circulatory system.

They're not all that different
from us.

Different enough.

Hand me a scalpel.

Okay.

Oh, no.

This is what
I was afraid of.

The Skitters
were harnessed?

What does that mean?

That maybe they weren't
always Skitters.

It's hard to imagine,
but this thing...

Might have been
something else.

Hal:
This is Royal Street.

And there's his bike
out front.

He must have figured
we wouldn't find him.

Tom: Or he didn't care.
I'll go in and check this out.

- You stay here and guard the bikes.
- No way. You don't know what's inside.

I'm gonna back you up.

That's what you're doing.
If this goes south,

you got to get back
to the 2nd Mass.

No. I'm not
gonna leave you here.

Listen, Weaver and I don't agree
on much, but we agree on this.

The mission's
got to come first.

You got to get back
to Porter,

give him the recon photos
and the route.

All right.

Tell him what we saw
at the structure.

[ Coughs ]

Captain?

I built this myself --

every brick.

I can't tell you how many nights
we spent out here,

under the stars.

Talk to me.
What are we doing here?

You're looking
for your family?

[ Sighs deeply ]

I lost them a long time
before the aliens came.

We'd --

how do you say it now? --

grown apart.

Linda and I split...

A year
before the attack.

Okay.

If we're not here
for them...

What is this?

Mike's son, Rick, drew this.
What is this?

That's my house, Tom.
Look at that.

It's been eating at me
ever since I saw it.

That's not
a coincidence.

What if these damn things
are planting --

planting this
inside their heads...

To get at me?

You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, you're right.
This does look like your house.

Looks like...most of the houses
on this block.

I don't think
they can read our minds.

But you don't know that.

I saw the blood inside.

Want to tell me
about that?

[ Sighs ]

I came here right after
the bombs dropped,

and I found
Linda's fianc? outside.

He was badly wounded.

He had been trying to help them
when he got hit.

My youngest daughter,
Sophia,

captured by the Skitters.

[ Sighs ]

Linda and Jeanne were...

taking cover in a house
down the street,

and the Mechs opened up
on them.

And, um...

[ Clears throat ]

I combed that rubble
for a long time,

but they were gone.

So I went
after Sophia.

You found her?

I found her.

She was harnessed.

And they had her working
at a site near Sudbury.

Pulled her out of there
and took her home.

The harness --
you tried to take it off of her?

Yeah.

But those spikes...

They were in too deep.

And I couldn't, so...

You should have told me.

Ah!

I've never been one
for self-pity.

A lot of people

had a lot worse things
than that happen to them.

Not like that.

[ Sighs ]

I can't believe

that when I brought Ben

and those other kids back,
you didn't --

well, I was happy for you.

I was happy for you,
and I was happy for Mike.

Maybe if I'd waited, huh?

We can't stay here.

[ Sighs ]
We got to get back.

I know. You've got your boys
to fight for.

That's something
worth fighting for.

But all I've been living on
this whole time --

I'm just living
on revenge!

It's not good enough!

It's not good enough!

And you're right.
I have not been sleeping,

but I'm gonna
sleep tonight.

I'm gonna sleep
in my own bed,

which is where
I should have been...

All along.

You're gonna quit?

You're giving up?

We're three days away
from the attack.

Hey, look, I'm sorry
about what happened,

but there are a lot
of other lives at stake.

[ Whirring in distance ]

That's a Mech.

Hal's out front.
We got to go!

You go.

You save yourself
and your son.

This is where I belong.

I'm not leaving
without you.

Weaver:
I'll draw it in.

Give you and Hal
time to retreat.

No.

That's an order!

And I respectfully
decline!

Two grenades at close range
might be enough.

What the...

Captain! Weaver!

Are you with me?!

Let's get
this damn thing.

Are you ready
with those grenades?

I'm good.
Tell me when to go.

When I open up,
you got three seconds!

[ Thudding ]

Okay, go, go, go, go!

Dad! You all right?
Where's Weaver?

He's still inside.

That was no
passing patrol.

That Mech came straight
to Weaver's house.

The only person who knew we were
here was that woman Sonja.

Weaver:
That woman gave us up.

You ready to go?

Damn right.

[ Motorcycle engine turns over ]

[ Knock on door ]

Oh. Uh, it's you.

Woman:
We brought more food.

Do you have anything
to tell us?

Just as I told you.

You're alone,
and everything's fine.

Uh, no.
I haven't seen anyone

since those people earlier today.
Dad!

We couldn't get them.
Do you know where they've gone?

Sonja: No.

It's Karen, dad!
Shh!

They got her!

We can't help her
right now.

[ Tray thuds ]

We don't know how many more
of them are out there.

We can't leave her here.
We can't leave her.

She's been coming here
the last few days.

She has
a very pretty face.

Do you know her?

That's my son's
girlfriend.

The aliens took her
three weeks ago.

You told them about us,
didn't you?

You gave us up
to those things.

But they promised me
they wouldn't hurt you.

And you believed them,
after what they did to you?

The girl said
that they would bring you back,

and then I would have
company again --

the way
it used to be before.

They always promise
to bring them back.

Hal: Who knows how many people
she's given up to them?

Tom:
It's why they let her go.

It's an old tactic.

You leave a couple friendlies
behind like watchdogs,

and they pick up the intel
that the enemy never could.

They got her
for a box of tea.

What are we
gonna do now?

We're gonna take her
with us,

make sure she doesn't do this
to anybody else.

Mm, no.

In three days,
all this changes.

This place
is all she's got.

We take it away from her,

we might as well
shoot her on the spot.

It's gonna be
getting light soon.

We've got to go. You're welcome
to come along with us.

Oh, I don't think so.

I should be here when Amy
and Joel come back home.

Well, if you decide
to change your mind,

we're gonna be
heading north.

We've heard
that Gloucester is clear.

Gloucester?

Well, I've heard
that that's quite lovely.

I've heard that, too.

Hal: Gloucester?

We won't be there,

but that's where the aliens
will be looking

after the next
box of tea.

[ Door closes ]

Anne?

I've been thinking
about it for hours,

and I don't see how we can
keep this to ourselves.

You don't?

No, the others
seem to have healed,

but Ben and Rick --

we took
the harnesses off.

That should have stopped
the process.

We don't know that.

People here
are already terrified

of these kids.

If this gets out,
God only knows what they'll do.

What about Tom?

I have to tell him.

After everything they went
through to get him back,

he could still
lose Ben.

First chance I get,
I'm going after her, Dad.

First chance.

We need to talk --

about what
we're gonna tell Porter.

I'm not asking
for any favors.

I'm not offering any.

[ Sighs ]

If the 2nd Mass loses faith
in their commander...

Okay, I'll have Dai take the
recon photos to Colonel Porter.

I say we tell him
about the structure,

the creatures, Karen,
and the Renken woman.

The rest can stay
between you and me.

All right.

You still haven't told me
what changed your mind

about coming back.

These were Linda's.

They were the only pair
that she had.

I was in the house
a week after the attack,

and they were not there.

It tells me
she might have come back,

that there's a chance
that my wife is still alive...

And maybe
my oldest girl.

Pope: All right,
everybody gather 'round!

I got a demonstration!

What the hell is this?

Come on, everybody!
Let's go!

Come on, come on!
I'm only gonna do this once!

So!

The score is aliens, one...

Humans, zero!

Hell, humans aren't even
on the board!

I leave for one day,
look what happens.

I'm just glad you're back.
How did it go?

It went.
I'll tell you about it later.

Good. We need to talk.

What's all this?

Pope just said he wants
to show us something.

Pope: Look at me
when I'm talking to you!

So, the whole
gang's here! Good.

I do not want to have
to do this twice.

You're supposed to be
making bombs, Pope!

You ever heard
of multitasking?

It's all under control.

It better be,
'cause I'm itching

for a reason to put you back
behind bars.

Dad!

Hey. [ Smooches ]

What are you doing here?

You should be
in school.

I was working with Pope.
Dad, it is so cool!

I thought I told you
to stay away from him.

But he knows
how to kill the Mechs!

Pope: Why are we losing the war?
Why is that?

Come on. Just watch.

Because the bad guys
have us outgunned!

You know, it takes an entire
magazine just to put a dent

in one of
their tin soldiers!

May I?

Watch him!

[ Weapons cocking ]

So that's the way it's been!

But there's a new sheriff
in town!

It's a standard bullet,

only it's got
a Mech-metal slug.

That a .45?
Captain?

Go ahead.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Are you saying you can make
more of these?

With the right
bullet-making tools,

I can melt this stuff down,
spit 'em out like gumballs.

I'll also give you something
for that .50-cal.

You do that.

We're taking this fight
to them!

[ Cheers and applause ]

== sync, corrected by elderman ==