Falling Skies (2011–2015): Season 3, Episode 7 - The Pickett Line - full transcript

We're here.

This is where the rebel leader
said to meet.

Can I ask you a question,
Dad?

Always.

After we find Anne
and Alexis,

will we go back
to Charleston?

I don't know, Ben.

I'm not sure there's much
of a future for us there.

Why? Do you want to?

Uh, made some friends there,
you know?

People I'll --
people I'll miss.



Like Denny?

She won't have a problem
with the fact

that my sister's a half-alien,
but the others?

Lexie will be treated
like a freak.

Like you were.

I was, uh, old enough
to deal with it.

But a small child?

I-I don't want her
to have to go through that.

Neither do I.

So, uh, if we don't go back,
what will we do?

We keep moving.
Keep fighting.

Honestly, I haven't really
thought that far ahead.

First task is to
get to Mechanicsville,

find Anne and Lexie.



Their new leader --
he seems pretty full of himself.

Yeah, he makes me nervous
when I'm channeling him.

It's different than Red Eye?
Very. He's more...

Aggressive?
Impatient.

Completely loyal
to the cause, though.

He and the others almost
treat Red Eye like a God.

Reaching out to humans --
that took a lot of risk.

Took a lot of --

They're coming.

- Who's coming?
- Enemy patrol.

They're searching for you.
You must divert.

Which way
are they coming from?

Which way are they
coming from?

You're probably too young
to remember that camping jag

mom and dad were on.

Talking about
every other weekend,

we'd head out
to the Berkshires,

set up camp,
dad would get to cooking --

bacon, eggs, biscuits.

I kind of
remember that.

Yeah? Well,
I hate to say it,

but we have oatmeal and grits,
a little bit of coffee.

Food always tastes better
when you're starving.

I guess.

It's weird, you know?

What's that, buddy?

It's like the war
never happened here.

Yeah, I know. Right?

Especially after everything
we've been through.

It makes you wonder
what would have happened

if we had just
come up here.

But I suppose

dad would have never let me
shoot a gun, huh?

That's for sure.

But when we find Anne and Lexie,
I don't know.

Maybe dad
will want to come back here.

Or someplace
where there aren't any Skitters.

Maybe.

They're back.

Come on, boys!
We got to get going!

Skitters and Mechs
on their way!

All right, get that stuff.
Let's go. Pack it up.

The good news is business
is booming, profits are up.

The bad news is so what?

Well, we got more credits
than we know what to do with.

That's my whole point,
right?

What the hell
am I gonna do

with all that
pieces of paper, right?

Get myself
a new tube of toothpaste?

Yeah, but someday...

The future's
not ours to see, Lyle.

It's carpe diem.

Grab what you can
and grab it fast.

Yep.

What we need is someone
or something to trade with --

another community
or something.

Maybe like the one
where President Hathaway was.

Actually, that's
an almost-brilliant idea.

The hell
do you think you're doing?

Getting ready
to tow this...thing.

No, you are not.
No, I am, Pope.

In fact, this whole area
is being cleared out.

Cleared out, my ass.

On whose orders?

By order of the President
of the new United States, Pope.

So I guess it's true
what they say, huh?

Absolute power
corrupts absolutely.

When the mouse is away,
the cat takes

pretty much whatever the hell
she feels like, is that it?

Refugees keep pouring in
every day.

Housing below the city
is at maximum capacity.

Ms. Peralta
wants to make room,

and Pope Town,
including your bar,

is the most logical choice.

It's the worst
possible choice, Cap.

People need a place
to blow off steam.

You can't keep that kind
of pressure building up.

Keep your powder dry,
Pope.

You're not being closed.
You're just being moved.

Where? Timbuktu?

Listen. If Tom Mason was here,
you know it wouldn't --

Medical evac team needed
on the perimeter immediately!

Medical evac team needed
on the perimeter immediately!

Go! Go!

Get to the perimeter now!

Please, hurry.

The President is in need of
immediate medical...assistance.

Nobody moves...
Nobody dies.

Hey. What you got there
on the back of your neck?

It's acne.

Acne?

Drop your weapons!
Now!

Friend,
I always tell my boys

it's best to look
before leaping.

Ben.

What do you want
with us?

Right now, I want you
to get off your horses,

lay your weapons
on the ground.

Do it quick!

If we wanted to kill you,
you'd be dead half a mile back.

We just want your horses
and your supplies,

then we'll be
on our ways.

Y'all just be smart now.
Do exactly as you're told.

No one
needs to get hurt.

Up against the truck.

Move! That's it.

Easy, now.

You folks been living out here
since the invasion?

We just came
from Charleston.

I guess
you haven't heard.

Heard what?

That there's thousands
of survivors,

just like you,
gathered there.

Why?

We're helping each other.

Planting crops.
We got livestock.

Nobody's
going hungry.

Even formed
a government.

And an army.

Army?

Who you planning to fight,
little man?

The aliens.

Is that so?

That is so.

Friend, you're out
of your ever-loving mind.

What do we do now?

We're gonna go after them,
get our stuff back.

Damn straight we will.
We got to be smart about it.

We got to be fast about it.
We got to get to Anne and Lexie.

We attempted
to contact your headquarters

through the frequency
you gave us, Mr. President,

but so far
have had no luck.

Well, keep trying, Colonel.
They will answer eventually.

Yes, sir.

In the meantime, all of
Charleston is at your disposal.

Thank you, Ms. Peralta.
Your name sounds familiar.

Weren't you
in Jim Webb's office?

Yes. I was his chief
administrative assistant.

I knew it, yeah.

"Feisty" he called you,
as I remember.

He used to say,

"you don't want to have Marina
barking up your tree."

The senator
did have a way with words, sir.

He didn't make it?

No. I'm afraid not.

But you did,
Mr. President --

twice, and that is
nothing short of a miracle.

The miracle is standing
right here beside me.

I did nothing more
than shield President Hathaway

from the impact
when the airplane crashed.

How is that possible?

Volm bodies are adapted
genetically for combat.

And, consequently,

we can withstand
much greater levels of stress.

Cochise tells me that the
Volm weapon is almost complete.

Even with the delays,
I assure you we will be ready

to attack the Espheni defense
grid in less than two weeks.

I'm not so sure
about that.

What do you mean?

There are some serious
unanswered questions.

According to
my science advisor,

your device
will deliver far more power

than the weapon
you described to us.

That is true.

Unfortunately,
I'm not at liberty

to give you any more information
at this time.

As you well know,
there have been security leaks

within Charleston's
command structure.

If you're referring
to the Espheni spy,

that issue
has been resolved.

In what way?

By removing the Espheni probe
from Hal Mason.

We no longer have
a security leak.

Pardon me for saying so,

but that is
a dangerous supposition.

The Espheni are far too clever
to rely on just one strategy.

So the intricacies
of our device

must remain confidential
at this time, Ms. Peralta.

Mr. President --

The outcome of the war

depends on the completion
and deployment of that weapon.

There can't be
any further delays.

Even if we don't know
what this thing does?!

Colonel?

Well, sir,
it's hard to argue

against the benefits
we've gained

by allying ourselves
with Cochise and the Volm,

but I've always believed
that this should be

a human-led operation
with the Volm providing support.

I agree
with Ms. Peralta

that less-than-complete
disclosure

is not in the spirit
of true cooperation.

Noted. And thank you
for your candor.

But the mission must go ahead
as scheduled.

And perhaps it would be best
if I were to

inspect this weapon
with my own eyes.

As you wish.

Can you take
these saddles off, Boo?

It's not a bad haul for
half a day's work, huh, Dad?

Sorted and shelled
in 20 minutes, boys.

Yes, sir.

Bet these guys
are thirsty.

Then fetch them some water,
girl.

Come on, now, boys.
You know the pump's stuck.

You're the one who stuck it.
Bibs?

That might work.

Here.

So, you want to
talk about it?

Talk about what?

About everything.

I wouldn't know
where to start.

You know, when we
took your harness off,

I figured I knew
what you were going through.

But, quite frankly,
I'm a little embarrassed

by some of the advice
I gave you.

I just can't stop thinking about
the fact that there I was,

sleeping right next to Maggie
every night.

And she stuck with me.

Had no idea
I had that...thing

inside of me for months,

and, I mean,
there's just no telling

what I could have
even done to her.

Is that why you --
you didn't let her come with us?

We don't know
what we're getting into.

You know, I've already
put her through enough.

What's up?

They've stopped moving.
We're getting closer.

Or they've reached
their home base.

Okay, everybody move
as quietly as they can.

Come on.

Lazy jerks.

Matt, Matt.

Don't make a sound, okay?
Okay.

Marinara sauce with meatballs.
Sounds delicious.

Don't even try it.

Duane?

Gil?

Ohh!

Don't move.

Drop it!

In your dreams, son!

Hal?
I'm okay.

What did you do that for?

Colonel,
this was support to carry

fresh troops out,
to the perimeter an hour ago.

All of our mechanics
called in sick.

And this is the third vehicle
to "break down" today.

But it's not just
the motor pool.

The same thing happened
in the armory.

We've got weapons piling up
that need to be repaired, sir.

Are you saying there's some kind
of organized work slow-down

going on around here?

Well, I'm not big
on conspiracy theories,

but Pope has
a mighty smug look on his face.

Afternoon, Colonel.

What the hell
are you up to, Pope?

Absolutely nothing, sir.
Just having a friendly chat

with a couple of citizens here
from Charleston, S.C.,

reminding them they, in fact,
do have some rights,

if this is still a democracy,
as it purports to be.

If we're short vehicles,
weapons, and soldiers

on the front line
when the enemy attacks,

we're gonna lose
a lot of people.

You really want that
on your conscience?

Sir, if throwing a wrench
into the works

improves Ms. Peralta's hearing,
then hell yes, I do.

This is no time
for shenanigans.

No disrespect, Colonel.
This is exactly the right time.

First the Volm -- they turn us into their
monkey-boys. Now this?

Colonel,
this is a bad road.

I just think it'd be time
for a nice...change of pace --

a new vision.

What you're talking about is not
only foolish, it's dangerous.

And when Tom comes back --

Tom Mason
is not coming back, sir.

He's smarter than all of us
put together.

He knows
when to abandon a sinking ship.

You pull your dogs
off this bone now.

Truth's a bitch,
ain't it, Colonel?

Yes, sir. Truth is
one squirrelly bitch.

Come on.

Help me
get his jacket off.

Okay. We need
to stop the bleeding.

Some soap and water,
some -- some clean towels.

Come on.

This is
how you treat people?

You come into my house,
you try to kill my brother?

I wouldn't be in your house
if you hadn't robbed us.

We're just trying to survive,
same as you.

We don't rob people.

You can see we're not exactly
living the high life here.

I got kids, same as you.

The aliens kidnapped
the rest of my family,

and every minute
I spend with you

is one less minute
I spend looking for them.

We've come for what's ours
and that's it -- we're gone.

So, where's our stuff?

Next to the shed,
last I saw.

Matt, go check on our gear
and come right back.

Sure, Dad.

They expect us to work for
them -- with the bubbleheads.

No questions,
no -- no complaints.

- Right?
- Yeah.

And the whole time deny us
our simple pleasures.

I say until they rescind that
order to take what is ours --

to confiscate our property --
we don't work for them,

and we sure as hell
don't fight for them.

Yes!

Pope's right.

Colonel, welcome.

We all need a place to unwind.
I recognize that.

And Ms. Peralta
recognizes that.

But there is no place
in my vision of democracy

for wanton disregard
of the law...

Especially when it threatens
the safety of this community

and the progress
of the war effort.

Is that clear?

Pope,
you're under arrest.

What charges?

Civil disobedience
and general unruliness.

You have the authority, sir,
but you do not have the right.

Drink up
and return to your quarters.

Starting tomorrow,
all shifts on the Volm project

will continue uninterrupted.

Good night.

How did
you find this place?

This farm's been in my family
for three generations.

I was born
in this house --

same as my brother,
same as all my children.

So you just stayed up here?
Even after the invasion?

Those things
never came up here.

They're not interested
in us.

I seen the spaceships,
explosions.

I heard the stories.

You think
he's gonna make it?

I don't know.

From what I saw, though,

he's a fighter,
so he's got a chance.

You're damn right
he's a fighter.

Uncle Gil's too mean
to die.

What are those things
on the back of your neck?

It's a long story.

The aliens put a parasite
on my back to control me.

We -- we tried
to cut it off,

but the pieces
are still inside me.

That's nasty.

Everything about them
is nasty.

They -- they killed
a lot of my friends,

murdered my mother.

Hey, my mom was murdered,
too.

Thought you said you only
saw the aliens from a distance.

It wasn't aliens.
It was people.

After the invasion,
a group of men came by.

They said they'd been on the run
for a few days.

So we brought them in
and fed them.

Then they tried
to rob us, so...

Shot my mom
before we could stop them.

You saw her die?

Anyway, after that,
dad said this is the world

we live in now --
eat or be eaten.

Charleston's
not like that.

People look after each other.
You should check it out.

Dad would never
go for that.

You're not from
around here, are you?

You're not from Charleston,
neither.

From Boston originally.
Ah. Boston.

We've been fighting them
since they arrived -- my boys and I.

I suppose
that's a legitimate choice.

We figured our chances
were better right here.

Sure, so long as
there's plenty of victims

traveling the road.

Which ain't often.

You can't blame a man

for trying to keep his family
alive, now, can you?

You have managed
to do that so far.

Something to be said
for that.

"So far."

It's only a matter of time
before the aliens find you.

So we just should follow you
to your Shangri-la?

I understand your anger.

If that was my brother
laying up there,

or one of my sons,
I'd be angry, too.

You don't know the first thing
about what I'm feeling right now.

Mister, you don't know
who you're talking to.

Those stories you heard
are about people like us.

Aliens killed my wife.

I think I know
a little something about loss.

And regret.

It's with me every morning
when I wake up

and every night
when I close my eyes.

And every hour
and every minute in between.

Your mountain
isn't high enough,

and there isn't a hole
deep enough.

There is no hiding.

The only chance that you have --
that any of us have --

is to stand together
against them.

Dad!

What is it, son?

It's Uncle Gil.
He's dying.

My brother is dying.
Now you...

...you give me a chance
to get up there and see him.

Dad, we can't trust him.

You gonna let him die
without seeing his kin?

What kind of man are you?

You promise
you won't try anything?

Mister...
I give you my word.

Gil, it's Duane.
Can you hear me?

You got to fight,
brother.

Hey, we're all here --
all of us.

Huh?
You can hack it.

You just got to hang on,
yeah?

Okay.

No, don't!

Leave the gun
on the ground.

Leave it down.

Finger off the trigger.
Finger off the trigger!

Hands above your head.

Up against the wall,
left-hand side, boys.

Come on, over there.

Up against the wall!
Left-hand side!

Up against the wall!

You gonna kill my kids?
That's who you are?

It's your own damn fault!
You had to come after us!

Now, if we let them go,
they will come back.

Your kids
are gonna remember this moment

for the rest
of their lives.

You're gonna turn them
into killers?

No.

Dad.
Easy, Boo.

It's a harsh world, mister.

My boys and my girl -- they need
to get tough to survive.

You don't want to do this.
You're not gonna do this!

You shot my brother!

Now turn around,
face the wall!

Duane, you do not want your kids
to watch you stop being human!

Put the gun down!

No, sir.
I'm gonna shoot you.

Now, you say your goodbyes
to your kin.

Do it now before I send you
on your way.

If you're gonna shoot me,
you better have the guts

to look me in the eye
when you do it!

No, we're not monsters.

We're just a family --
a family trying to survive.

No!
It's all right, boo.

Hey!

It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right.

Duane, tell Luke
to put the gun down!

Nobody gets hurt.

No, sir. No, sir.

Think about it --
Luke shoots me,

Hal shoots Luke,
and Ben shoots you.

And then what?
What happens to gil?

What happens
to the kids?

Take your finger
off the trigger, son.

No.

Put down your arm, son.
Do as your daddy says!

Calm down, boy.
You done good.

You done good.
Shh, shh, shh, shh.

It's all right.
It's all right.

Impressive.

Sufficient for the task at hand.

Will your troop ship
make it

before the Espheni
activate their defensive grid?

Most unlikely.

Then why the hurry?

Can't the ship
just orbit

until we can create a breach
in the defensive system?

Well,
as I have explained,

the Espheni grid
will create an energy force

that will surround
the Earth.

And that, by destroying
one of the towers,

we'll temporarily
disrupt the grid,

allowing your ship
a window for entry.

Correct.

But long-term effects
of the grid

will irradiate
the surface of the Earth

to such levels that...

...it will destroy all organic
life-forms within three months.

That's a nice piece
of information to leave out.

And what about
the fishheads?

Will it cook them, too?
Unfortunately not.

The Espheni have biologically
engineered themselves

and their
harnessed slaves

to fully withstand
the effects of the radiation.

I conveyed all this information
to Professor Mason,

and he agreed it would only
create undue panic and worry

to reveal it
to the general population.

And I agreed when Cochise
told me, as well.

Therefore, Ms. Peralta,

the excess power
Dr. Kadar identified

is actually
to destroy the grid

by feeding an enormous
energy burst back into the grid,

causing it to overload.

And this couldn't have been
explained to me in the first place?

There is
great risk involved.

If the grid
is not destroyed,

feeding that much power
back into it

could
accelerate the process.

Life as you know it on
this planet will cease to exist.

Leave it unlocked.

Evening, constable.

Got a moment?

Well,
I'm a little booked up today,

but I think I'll make
an exception for you.

Boy, the state of the union
must be in complete turmoil

if you've come
all the way down here

to chat
with the likes of me.

When I wanted to throw you out
on your ear,

Tom convinced me
that having someone

who doesn't do the acceptable
thing can be essential.

We might be headed
for a time when that's true.

And here I figured that you
and our ersatz President

had it all figured out.

A little trouble
in paradise there, Colonel?

I might need your help,
Pope.

Need my help?

You shut me down.

You put me out of business.
You locked me up.

Something's going down

where none of that's
gonna matter, Pope.

You might be right
about the Volm.

Is that it?
That's all you're gonna give me?

Till you
need to know more.

Now get out of here.

No more
riling up the civilians.

Thought you
were locked up.

Yeah,
I was liberated.

Just when I thought
things were looking sunny.

Say, listen --
word to the wise,

there's some stuff
coming down the pike.

What kind of stuff?
Can't exactly say.

Meaning
you don't know.

No, but the source
is unimpeachable.

So why
are you telling me?

Just figured
without the Mason brood around,

you might just
need a friend.

A friend?
I'm fine. Thank you.

Then for old time's sake.

There were never
any old times, Pope.

Not the way
I remember it.

The way I remember it is
I rescued you from near death.

You kidnapped me
and fed me to your gang.

All you had to do
was say something,

and I would have
done something about it.

You knew, you lying bastard,
and you did nothing.

Just like you lying about
your traitorous,

eye-wormed boyfriend.

And what did you do?

What did you do, Maggie?
You did nothing.

Get off your high horse,
Maggie. We're no different.

You do what you got to do.
At all costs, we survive.

I may have my faults. I got
a list of sins 20 miles long.

But I call it the way I see it.
And that you can count on.

You are so full of --

There will come a time --
sometime soon I suspect --

when this little pantomime
of yours,

it's all
gonna come to an end.

And when it does...

You're gonna come
crawling back to me.

And that's the truth.

Mr. President.

Hey, Doc.

How are you feeling?

Oh, I've been beat up worse
by Congress a few times.

I'll live.

I just need to change your I.V.,
if now's a good time.

You're here.

So, how long
have you been a doctor?

Well, I was pre-med at Wellesley
when the invasion happened,

and everything I know now
I learned from Dr. Glass since.

Uh-huh. And where's he?

She.

I'm sorry.

This damn war.
Yeah.

You know what I think?

I think Dr. Glass was very lucky
to have such an apt pupil.

Which makes me lucky,
doesn't it?

Thank you, sir.

You know, it's young people
like you, Doctor,

who are gonna rebuild our world
when the aliens are gone.

My faith in that
is what keeps me going.

Thank you, Doctor.

Anything else?

No, sir.

Dr. Delgado.

Yes?

The President's
been shot.

At least
he didn't suffer.

First shot
killed him instantly.

The shooter was in the room
directly below this one.

He had to have used
a Volm-modified weapon

to shoot
through the concrete.

Same gun
killed Manchester.

The same type, anyway.

So, if you're right,
Hal Mason wasn't the mole.

We still have a traitor roaming
the streets of Charleston.

We got to find that mole.
Focus exclusively on this case.

Recruit as many people
as you need.

Whatever it takes.
Yes, sir.

I want to be briefed at the end
of every day on your progress.

Let's catch this bastard.

I'll get on the shortwave and
notify the President's people.

No. Not until we have
more information, Dan.

I don't want
a bunch of outsiders

pouring into Charleston

subjecting our citizens
to a witch hunt.

The people
of the United States

deserve to know that
they've lost their leader.

You have your orders.

Ma'am.

You have yours, Colonel.

Not now, Pope.

Probably don't need to point out
the obvious, do I, Colonel?

You mean that Ms. Peralta
got her comeuppance

after the President arrived,
and less than 24 hours later,

he was assassinated
by the mole?

No, you do not need
to point that out.

Still, it's worth noting
that the reins of power

have gone right back into
her hands, don't you think?

I'm starting to think
this Charleston

is starting to feel
less like a fledgling democracy

and more like
a Roman palace.

Then...

I suggest you watch your back,
lest you find a dagger in it.

You, too.

Once we get clear
of this trail,

it should be about 15 miles to
Mechanicsville, Anne, and Lexie.

And you can bet Karen
will be waiting for us.

Wouldn't have it
any other way.

Wait. Mechs.
Which way?

There.
All right, off the trail.

I don't see anything.
You sure -- oh, no. Wait.

Mega-Mechs.

I got them.
There's two of them.

Right down there.

Probably some Skitters,
too.

How many?

Maybe about
half a dozen.

Scouting in front
of the main body.

It's probably
the same ones

those rebels were telling us about.
Yeah.

Dad, they're headed right
for the Picketts.

They'll never stand a chance.
That's tough luck.

So, we're just gonna
turn our backs, ride off,

and leave them
to the aliens?

Those people
were gonna shoot us.

Yeah,
but they didn't.

I'm not sure
they were going to.

Dad, what about
Anne and Lexie?

We already lost a lot of time --
too much time.

I know. But if all we care about
is our own family,

then we're no better than them.
We're with you, Dad.

Yeah.

Not this time.

Listen, Anne and Lexie --
that's your job.

You guys get to Mechanicsville.
Don't stop for anything.

Recon the situation.
I'll meet you there.

Dad?

I need you
to do this for me, buddy.

Can you do it?

Yes, Dad.

Okay. Good luck.

Pickett?!

Is anybody here?

All right, bring it,
you bastards!

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

Resync for WEB-DL by lost0ne