Falling Skies (2011–2015): Season 2, Episode 2 - Shall We Gather at the River - full transcript

Tom is still haunted by memories of his time with the aliens and begins to wonder if they did something to his mind. Pope, who is in charge of questioning Tom, plants seeds of doubt about him among the group.

[ Thunder crashing ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Screams ]

[ Grunts ]

♪ Falling Skies 2x02 ♪
Shall We Gather at the River
Original Air Date on June 17, 2012

Resync for WEB-DL by Norther

Checked you out
from head to toe.

You seem perfectly normal.

Well, what if it wasn't something
physical but psychological?

Could they have given me

some kind of
posthypnotic suggestion?



And turned you into what --
a sleeper agent?

I don't think anyone,

even a supposedly
advanced race of aliens,

could get Tom Mason
to turn against his boys.

You've got a lot of faith
in a man

who walked onto a spaceship
of his own free will.

They threatened
to take Ben away.

It was a lie.
And I fell for it.

I left my boys
to fend for themselves

for the last three months.

Tom, you have to believe,
I-I tried to be there for them.

Oh, I know.

Truth is, your boys
are amazingly resilient.

If anything,
they've grown stronger.



And you?

I'm alive.

Can't say that for most of us.

Lost a lot of really good people
right here,

right on this table.

The worst part of it is,
I have trouble remembering

what they looked like,
what they sounded like.

They're just fading away.

So I started pinning up
their pictures,

trying to hang on to them.

Tom: Uncle Scott.
Rick didn't make it?

[ Sighs ]
I don't know.

One day he was there.
Next day, he was gone.

If you're worried about Ben,
do not be.

Ben hates the Skitters.

Weaver says he's one
of our best fighters.

If we had an X-ray,

I could find out
what's going on inside of him,

but until I get my hands
on a working machine,

there's no way to know.

Just like there's no way to know
what's going on inside of me,

despite what you or Weaver
or I would like to believe.

[ Wood creaks ]

Bridge looks good!

I mean, considering.

We may have a real shot
at crossing here, guys.

That's good.

Aliens have blown up
every other bridge

within a hundred miles of here.

Got us pinned
on this side of the river.

[ Clears throat,
breathes deeply ]

Better get back with the intel.

The longer we stand around,
the closer the Skitters are

to finding us and turning
2nd Mass into roadkill.

Practicing operational silence?

Because you've
hardly said a word all day.

You know, it's not your fault.

That's what everyone
keeps telling me.

Hey, Ben, Jimmy!
Let's go!

Who would have expected
your dad to have been there

after three months?

It was dark, Skitters
on our heels, something moved.

Anyone would have shot.

Well, it wasn't anyone.
It was me.

[ Aircraft approaches ]

Incoming!

[ Gun cocks ]
[ Indistinct shouting ]

[ Machine-gun fire ]
Get down, Ben!

- Get it, Dai!
- Damn it!

[ Gasping ]

Nice shot, Dai.

20 Mike-Mike,
armor-piercing discarding sabot.

Accept no substitutes.

[ Laughs ]
Nice!

Well, I guess
we can't cross here.

After we attacked
that structure in Boston

the aliens want us
like hounds on a fox.

Tried every trick I could
think of to shake them,

but, uh, they surrounded us...

in Fitchburg.

It was a disaster.

They poured fire on us
from all sides,

till Ben found a soft spot
in their lines

and we managed
to punch through.

But we lost a lot of people.

We lost more than a hundred.

My God.

And now the bastards
are trying to do it again.

We got the Housatonic River
right here.

It runs to the west,
to the south.

We are here.

And their units have cut us off
from the north and the east.

And they're moving in.

And if I don't find a way
to get across that river,

they're gonna pin
the 2nd Mass in,

and they're gonna destroy us.

And that is why I need you.

Yeah.

How have my boys done?

Thank God for Hal and Ben.

They really stepped up while
you were gone -- both of them.

But they're young, and
they're not ready to be my X.O.,

which is why I need somebody who
can ask me the hard questions,

who can give me a swift kick in
the butt if I need it, you know?

We can't afford
another Fitchburg, Tom.

Now, the scouts should be back
to camp pretty soon, and I...

I'm hoping that they found
a way across this damn river,

and I want you at the debrief.

Dan, I can't.

I know that
you're not completely healed.

- I'm not asking you to do anything.
- No, no. No.

The wound's not the problem.
I just nicked a rib.

Anne will have the stitches out
next week.

Then what is it?

I don't trust myself.

And you shouldn't, either.

You giving me orders now?

I'll decide who I can trust.

And I'll put my money
on the man

who pulled my ass
out of the fire in Boston.

Crazy Lee: No, it's true.
Dylan's alive.

He's holed up in a mine shaft
in Minnesota,

rewriting his protest songs
into war ballads.

Delvalle heard
one of his broadcasts

over that crystal set he built.

Oh, man, that thing
doesn't even work.

It couldn't pick up a
conversation in the next tent.

Never mind a broadcast
from Minnesota,

if there even was one.

Crazy Lee: Man, shut up.
What the hell do you know?

What is -- how did you do this?
Wrench slipped.

Thought you might come out here
and kiss it, make it better.

Aah!

So, what's the deal
with the Professor?

What do you mean?

Just kind of figured he'd
give us all an oral history

in alien-interrogation
techniques,

but all we got
is brooding silence.

Well...
What's up with that, now?

[ Sighs ]
I'm a medic, not a shrink.

Scouts are back!

Let's hope they find a way
across that damn river.

[ Engines shut off ]

Good luck.

Yeah, this should be fun.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Is the Captain in there?

Thanks.
[ Sniffs ]

You can't even
walk across this thing.

[ Spits, chuckles ]

Dollars to doughnuts,
the Beamers will

bomb the hell
out of your work crews

10 minutes after they started
trying to rebuild it.

Yeah, well, I didn't say
I had everything worked out.

I said this is our best chance.

We may be better off
probing for a weak point

and then fighting our way out.

Yeah, well, the Mech
and Skitter columns I saw

weren't carrying any weak points
with them.

Hal: So far, we've managed
to stay hidden.

But they're looking hard,
and they're closing in fast.

They're gonna be on us
in two days. Tops.

[ Sighs ] Why don't they
just nuke the whole damn

city and be done with us?

We might not be worth it.

We haven't seen them drop
neutron bombs in months,

not since Boston.

Weaver: They won't need
a nuke if they trap us on

this side of the river.
What about that boat

that you liberated from
a sporting goods store, Jamil?

It was rubber,
seats five, no motor.

Best guess, it'd take us
40 minutes, round trip,

across the river.

No, that would take way too long
to get everybody across.

Plus, we'd have to
leave all the vehicles,

all the heavy weapons --
wounded, supplies.

Yeah.
Not acceptable.

Captain, it seems our
best and only option is

to rebuild the bridge.

We don't have to
rebuild it, Captain.

We could just patch it up.

You know, the supports look like
hell, but I think they'll hold.

We can build decking,

bridge them over these gaps
and drive across.

Doesn't have to last forever,
right? Just one night.

We have no choice.

Start building the decking,
Jamil.

Hey, man,
what about the Beamers?

It's too bad they learned how
to beat our jamming so quickly.

We'll figure out a way
to deal with the air threat.

Once we get across, we have
no idea what's in that forest.

Could run smack into an ambush.

That's why somebody's got to
go across for a look-see.

Anybody up for a cold swim?

I'll do it. Maggie and I
will take the boat.

We'll go across.
We'll check it out.

It'll take you too long
to paddle across.

I can swim it faster
and not be seen.

Really?

You've been away, Dad.
This is what I do.

Weaver:
He's right, Tom.

He's the best...
man for the job, yeah.

You take Jimmy with you to cover
your route to the riverbank.

Tonight.

Swimming across that river's
nothing for Ben.

It's those spikes.

He can run for miles
without breaking a sweat.

He has ears like a jack rabbit.
He can see like a hawk.

[ Grunts ]
Comes at quite a price.

It's the world we live in,
not the world we want.

I think we've all changed
a little bit.

Ooh, I know.
[ Sighs ]

Weaver told me
how you stepped up.

Saw it for myself
in that meeting.

Proud of you, Hal.

You know, I'm sorry.

We haven't had a chance to
catch up since you've been gone,

but maybe when
we get across this river,

we can have a...
family dinner.

Yeah, maybe. Hey.

I got to ask a favor of you,
and it's important.

Sure. Anything.

While the aliens had me,

I -- there's big chunks of time
that I can't remember.

I think they may have
done something to my mind.

Like what?

I don't know.

But I need you
to promise me something.

A-anything.

Just keep your eye on me.

Tom: If I do anything strange,
if I do anything

that would endanger the lives
of our people --

Okay, but, Dad.
You're not --

Yeah, but if I do,
I want you to stop me.

Stop you? How?

By any means necessary.

You know, you've been through
a lot of crazy stuff, Dad.

Let's go talk to Anne,
all right?

We'll go see Weaver.

No, no. I already talked to
them. Now I'm talking to you.

And I'm not asking!
You got to do this!

I don't want to
hurt anybody, Hal,

least of all you
or Ben or Matt.

I'm afraid, Hal.
I'm sc--

Dad?
[ Screams ]

Dad, are you okay?
Dad!

Dr. Glass, come quick!
Something's happened to my Dad!

Dad, I'm right here!
Dad, can you hear me?!

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Is he gonna be okay?

Of course he's gonna be okay.

Well, we just got him back.

I know, buddy.

[ Sighs ]
You think it's true...

what he was saying...

That he might hurt us?

There's no way.

Look, it's Dad.

Those old fish-heads couldn't
change him if they tried.

He escaped from their ship,
didn't he?

Found his way back to us,

despite everything they did
to stop him, right?

He's gonna beat this, too.

All right?

[ Sighs ]

This is gonna sting.

Just do it.

[ Grunting ]

You see that?

It's lodged in his sclera.

What is it?
Lourdes: Could be a cyst.

You mean like
some kind of growth?

No. It wasn't there when
I examined him this morning.

Oh.

Tom: What?! What's wrong?
- It's moving.

Yank it out!

Hold on, okay. You don't know
what this involves.

If I get this wrong, you could
lose sight in your eye.

Then I'll do it.

Weaver:- Easy.
- Oh, God.

- Tom, easy.
- Like hell!

Lourdes, get a specimen jar.

Dan, hold his head steady!
I got you. Easy. Easy.

Tom, easy. Hey,
it's all right. Come on.

Okay.

Ready?

Tom: [ Grunting ]

[ Screaming ]

[ Grunts ]

[ Sighs ]

It looks like a...

parasite.

One long, two short
means it's me.

All clear is two short,
one long.

And if you got
Skitters following you?

You get the first shot.

Awesome.

Wait, uh,
y-you might need this.

Weaver's compass.

Yeah, just don't make me
come after it.

That water's freezing.

[ Chuckles ]
It's invigorating!

Invigorating!

Uh, you say
it just snapped shut?

Like a pill bug.

I don't see any seams.

You should destroy it.

- I agree.
- Yeah?

What if it's a tracking device?
It could give away our position.

Tom's been with us for days.

If it was
tracking our position,

the alien would have
attacked us by now.

Or it could be, like Tom said,
a mind-control device.

- Yeah.
- Well, it's out now.

That doesn't mean
it's the end of it.

There could be others in me.

What do you recommend, Tom?

I don't think
that you've got any choice...

except to put me in restraints,

at least until we get across
the river and we learn more.

Tom, we removed it.
You're probably fine.

You said I was fine before.
Come on.

Put all personal feelings
aside.

Now's not the time
to take any chances.

Give me your hands.

[ Insects chirping ]

[ Whirring ]
Ohh!

Aah!

[ Grunts ]

[ Whirring continues ]

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Whirring stops ]

[ Whirring ]

[ Whirring continues ]

[ Camera shutter clicking ]

You can go see
your old man now.

I don't want to.

What do you mean
you don't want to? Hey, Matt --

I don't want to!

Hey, Captain.

I heard they pulled a
circuit board out of Tom's head.

Is that true?

We don't know what it is.
Dr. Glass has removed it.

The scouts should be back
any minute, Pope.

Report to the C.P. in 10.

You're not taking him
across that river with us.

That's not gonna happen.

He's unarmed and in restraints.
The situation is under control.

The hell it is.

He could still be wired
direct to Skitter Central.

Now, I'm sorry, but you should have
put a bullet in the back of his head

the second he took a step
towards that ship.

- I want to see --
- Hey!

Two guns against one.
That's hardly fair.

Actually, it's three
against one, Pope. [ Gun cocks ]

[ Sighs ]
Walk softly.

Anthony,
you're a disappointment.

I thought I was having
a positive influence on you.

There is nothing
that I would like better

than to truss you up
and leave you here.

Be thankful that we need you
and your band of degenerates...

for now.

Get out of my sight.

Don't kid your yourself, Cap.

Sooner or later,
you're gonna have to deal

with that human LoJack
you got in there.

Ben: Dad.

[ Gasps ]

Nightmares?

[ Clears throat ]
Yeah.

Yeah, I had a lot of those
after Anne took my harness off.

[ Sighs ]

How'd you shake them?

I stopped sleeping.

Hmm.

Just came back
from across the river.

Heard what happened.

Oh, it's for the best.

Until we know more,

until I can figure out
what it is that did to --

Want to know my secret?

To make sure
they can't control me?

Mm-hmm.

Hate.

I hate what they did to me
with all my heart and soul.

I hate that
they turned me into a freak.

You're not a freak.

You got to hold on
to your hate, Dad.

If you can do that...

if you can do that,

it doesn't matter
what they've done to you...

they won't be able to
change you inside.

You're right.
Hate is a very powerful emotion.

And I hate them, too.

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ] But if all
you've got left is hate,

then they've already
changed you.

It wasn't my hate that kept me
going the last couple of months.

It was my love...

for you and for Hal
and for Matt.

Got to go.

Jamil: Wow.

How did you find this wreck?

Saw the Beamer get hit
and fly off,

figured it was trying
to regroup with its forces,

so I followed
the course it took.

When I found the ship,

I just kept going the way
it was headed and found that.

Good thinking, Ben.

They're not using any
kind of engine I've ever seen.

It's some kind of
organic biotechnology.

Captain, we really should try and
grab as much of this wreck as we can.

- I mean, we could learn a lot.
- It's a bad time for a science project.

It's a bad time for everything,

but we need to know all we can
about our enemies.

Once we get over there, you can
take the truck, grab what you want.

And we'll hightail it
into the forest,

get away from that base.

We're not going anywhere
if we don't figure out how

to shut down the air power.

Now, we see anything in these
pictures that can help us do that?

- No pilot.
- No.

No, uh, seats, no controls --
nothing for any kind of pilot.

Ben, did you see anything
that looked like a radio?

Did you hear anything?

No.

Well, if they're drones,

they got to get their commands
from somewhere, right?

Yeah.

I mean,
it's most likely this base.

Yeah, this big
flyswatter-looking thing

is probably
their communications antenna.

The best way to take down
the air power -- blow that up.

Which is exactly
what you'll do.

Yes, sir.

You take your unit in the boat,

infiltrate that base,
smash that antenna.

That'll keep those Beamers
off of us

long enough
to get across the bridge.

Those Mechs aren't just
gonna step aside

while we walk in
with a suitcase full of C-4.

That's why you're gonna have to
find a way

to get close enough
to take a shot.

We'll rendezvous with you
on the other side of the bridge.

Anthony?

You, Pope, and the Berserkers

will stay here
and cover our asses.

Now, you see those Skitter
and Mech columns moving in,

you kick them in the teeth,
and you run like hell,

'cause once we get across,
we're gonna blow that bridge.

Roger that.

Tector:
It's a scientific fact --

dirt mixed with sweat
makes you waterproof.

Tector,
I don't give a rat's ass

if it makes you fireproof,
you stink

so bad you could gag a dog
off a gut wagon.

When we get to the other side
of that river,

either you take a scrub
and a hot bath

or me and the boys
will give you one.

You'll pay hell
getting it done.

Maggie: Think of all
the Skitters we've blown away.

They got to reproduce
to keep their numbers up.

Yeah, I wonder how they do it.
[ Sighs ]

Maybe they're hermaphrodites.

What, like earthworms?
No way.

You've become
quite the mechanic.

Yeah. A little different
from working on my mom's hybrid.

Uh, be careful tonight.

Things could get pretty hot
out there.

Ah.
I'm looking forward to it.

You know,
when I was a -- a kid,

my dad got me the biggest Lego
collection, outside of Legoland.

I used to build cities
in my basement --

Ferris wheels and cable cars.

[ Chuckles ]
Wish I could have seen that.

You think they mate for life?

No. They got to have
multiple sex partners.

[ Laughs ]

So you think Skitters
sleep around, huh?

How do you know for certain?

Well, think of all the critters
in our world.

Very few mate for life.

The best hope for survival

is to hook up anyone healthy
enough to enrich the gene pool.

We still talking
about Skitters?

[ Laughs ]

Wag it and shag it, people.
Let's move.

- Oh. You get that law rocket?
- Yeah, I'm on it.

Nice. Hey, Matt.

Come on, buddy.
You're riding on the med bus.

Dad's there.

Exactly. I need you to look
after him for me, all right?

Go mount up.
Thanks, Matt.

So, uh, I guess I'll see you
on the other --

Bye.

Hold on, Tom. This old girl
isn't exactly a luxury ride.

[ Engine groans ]

Hey, Matt.
Glad you're riding with us.

Yeah.

Man: Let's go!
Let's move!

Here we go!

Come on.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

All right.

Captain!
We're in business!

Let's fire them up! Let's go!
Let's roll! [ Engines turn over ]

Let's roll!

[ Grunting ]

Let's roll!

Let's roll!

Easy, easy, easy!

I wish we had a bigger rocket.

I hear that.

Let's go.
We don't have all night.

You haven't said a word
since you got on the bus.

What's going on, Matt?

Nothing.

I'm still your Dad, you know?

If you say so.

You've got to believe I'd never
do anything to hurt you.

That thing
that came out of you...

how do you know it didn't
do something to you?

Honestly, I don't know.

That's why
I've got this --

just to be safe,
just to be sure.

But what I do know in my heart
is that you're my son.

You're my Matt...

a brave, strong boy.

I'd never, ever
let anything happen to you,

even if that means me having
to be tied up like this.

You understand?

[ Gunfire ]

Sounds like Pope made contact.

Means those Skitter and Mech
columns will hit the bridge soon.

That's bad news for Weaver,
but good news for us.

Look at this.

[ Gunfire continues ]

Those Mechs are headed
straight towards the firefight.

The approach to the antenna's
wide open.

You know what they say
about gift horses.

[ Whirring ]

[ Grunts ]

Ben, what's wrong?

They're coming off the side.

Get down!

Damn. They'll be on the guys
in half a tick.

Dai, how's it look?

It's too far away.

The probability's no better
than 50%.

That's not good enough.

Looks good.

Oh!

Everybody, take cover!

What if he misses?

We've only got
one of those things.

He isn't gonna miss.

Are you, brother?

Tick, tick...

Boom!
Boom!

Signal's gone.

Nice shot, brother.
Nice shot.

All right, let's get back to
the bridge. Come on. Let's go.

You gonna lie there all night?

You picked a great place
to take cover.

You want to see a pretty sight?

I think Hal's team
knocked out that antenna.

Jamil:
When their signal goes out,

they're probably programmed
to fly home.

Keep it up.

[ Brakes hissing ]

Almost done.

Better step it up, Cap!

We got beaucoup Skitters
and Mechs right behind us.

Non-essential personnel,
dismount!

Go!
Over the bridge on foot now!

Go!

Move it!

Go, go, go!

[ Brakes hissing ]

[ Creaking, splintering ]

Whoa!

It's okay.
You're okay.

Hang on to something.

[ Tires screeching ]

Matt, you got your pocketknife on you?
I need you to cut me loose.

- But you said you might --
- Forget what I said. Come on. You can do it.

Lourdes,
get to the other side now.

Come on. On foot. Go!
Lourdes.

Dr. Glass, is there any way
you can get out and hoof it.

Anne:
I can't leave the wounded.

Come on, man. Please.

That's it.
Just cut me loose.

On the double!

Get this bus out of here.

Ready?
One, two, three.

Go!

Good boy.

Anne: Tom!

Get across the bridge!
Wait for Hal and Ben!

[ Grunting ]

[ Screeches ]

Let's move!

[ Grunts ] Go! Go! Go!
Get across! Come on!

Go!
[ Sighs ]

Go now! Come on!

Come on, what are you doing
out there?

Run! Run, Ben!

[ Whirring ]

- My dad's back there!
- What?!

And the Skitters and Mechs
are still coming!

[ Gunfire ]

Tom, get the hell out of there!
We're gonna blow the bridge!

Dad!

Man: Tom, run!

Run, man!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Blow the bridge!

Man #2: Tom, come on!
Come on!

Blow the bridge!

Weaver:
Get the hell out of there!

Yo, we got Skitters and Mechs!
A lot of them!

Hold it.

- Huh?
- Jamil.

Dad, come on!

Do it now!

[ Whirring ]

- Do it now!
- Dad!

- Jamil!
Matt:- Dad!

[ Screeches ]
Blow the bridge!

Jamil!

Ja--

[ screams ]
Matt: No!

[ Grunts ]

Dad!

Hey, Hal, Hal! Hal, come on!
We're out of time!

- No!
- We got no time, Hal. We got no time.

Just come on.
Mount up!

[ Indistinct shouting ]
Move out!

Anthony: Go!

Hey.

Thanks.

Woman: Come on.
Come on. We can do it.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

As soon as we get to
the next camp,

you and I are going back
with a search party.

How did we do?

We lost three vehicles,
a food truck...

and six of the finest fighters

I've ever had the honor
to serve beside.

But we did it.
Well done, people.

Captain, we spotted an airport
about 5 miles west of here,

and no sign of alien activity.

Sounds like a good place
to hole up, lick our wounds.

[ Inhales deeply ]
You okay?

[ Sighs ]

[ Sniffles ]

[ Sighs ]

You okay, pal?

In the bus,
I stayed away from him.

I was afraid.

He understood, I'm sure.

[ Clears throat ]
Uh...

listen, about your old man,
I just wanted to --

you know, what he did
on the bridge back there.

I got to admit he had
some pretty hard bark on him.

- Aah!
- Whoa, pal!

You saw a chance to frag him,
and you took it.

You son of a bitch!

[ Indistinct shouting
in distance ]

[ Gun cocks ]
Ben: Who's there?

Don't shoot, Ben.

Dad!

Once is enough, I think.

What took you so long?

Dad.
The river sucked off one of my boots.

[ Laughs ]

Slowed down my stride.

Tom Mason, I'm getting damn
tired of losing you.

I'm gonna tie a cowbell
around your neck.

All right.

Let's get it in gear!

I want to get to that airport
before daylight.

[ Insects chirping ]

Resync for WEB-DL by Norther