Fringe (2008–2013): Season 5, Episode 3 - The Recordist - full transcript

After piecing together the videos of Walter's plan Olivia, Peter, Walter and Etta head to rural Pennsylvania to retrieve essential materials for the plan. There they encounter a group of ...

(Walter)
If you are watching this,

then you know very well

that the Observers
have invaded.

(Male announcer)
Previously on Fringe...

You can't go back to Harvard.
We can't get it.

It was taken over
by Observers.

(Walter)
Well, that's not a problem.

Tunnels!

2 1/4 miles of tunnels
that house the steam pipes

that heat Harvard.

They must have
ambered it.



It's my
Betamax recorder.

I don't think
I wrote anything down.

I think
I was making a video.

This plan
will restore us

and rid the world
of the Observers.

You must recover each tape
and follow the instructions

to retrieve
all the parts of the plan.

You are
humanity's only hope.

Slowly.

Suddenly you have
all the finesse of a butcher.

[Scoffs] Walter, do you
want me to do this or not?

This work requires
a surgeon's touch.

I'm more than happy
to let you take over.

Fine.



Proceed.

But it's on
your shoulders.

Not even warped
from the heat.

Not bad for a butcher.

Walter. Got some more fuel
for the van.

(Walter) I have tape number one.
Have you watched it?

No. I've only just
liberated it.

Shall we have a look?

[Static whirring]

[Beeping]

[Lighter flicks,
water bubbling]

[Exhales deeply]

I had a prescription.
It was medicinal.

[Distorted] Welcome
to tape three of my plan...

What happened to tape one
and two?

Walter, you stored
the tapes out of order.

Shocker.

These videotapes
must be retrieved.

This tape will explain

one of the most crucial elements
that you will need.

You will need to find
your way to Pennsylvania...

latitude and longitude
coordinates 49 degrees,

20 minutes, 2 seconds North,

79 degrees, 12 minutes,

and 32 seconds West.

Now, when you arrive--
[Audio distorts]

Really?

See if you can rewind
the coordinates.

Uh, 41 degrees, 20 minutes,
2 seconds North,

79 degrees, 12 minutes,

32 seconds West.

- Are you sure?
- She's sure.

Walter.

Do you recognize
the location?

I'm sorry.
I-if I've been there,

it's been wiped
from my mind,

along with the other pieces
of my plan

to beat the Observers.

Hmm.

(Peter) The entire area
is undeveloped.

There's nothing around it
for miles.

How are the roads in and out
of Pennsylvania these days?

Do you think we can get
all the way out there safely?

(Etta) We'd need to avoid
checkpoints.

I mean,
it's a long way to go,

considering we don't know
what we're looking for.

Or if it's still even there--

whatever it is.

Hey, Walter, you think
we might be able

to jog your memory--

I-I don't think
I should travel.

My feet are swollen

from standing
in front of the Amber all day.

I'll stay here for a bit

and...regroup.

What?

(Etta)
Walter, you all right?

I'm fairly certain I have
a blood clot, because somebody

wouldn't stop at Scranton
to let me stretch my legs.

Walter, we're fugitives.

We can't stop every five
minutes to keep you limber.

This is it?

Uh, yes...

this is exactly where
we're supposed to be.

So what were you doing out here
21 years ago?

[Twigs snap]

Is that what
we're out here to find?

(Walter)
I'm telling you.

It was a wicked tree dwarf.

[Chuckles] And I'm telling you,
it was a kid.

I saw him.
He looked right at me.

(Etta) You know, I used
to imagine this--

going on a mission with you.

You have no idea how many
battles we won together.

You know,
it's a lot to live up to.

No, you're...

even more than
I imagined.

[Gun cocks]

Definitely not dwarves.

♪ Fringe 5x03 ♪
The Recordist
Original Air Date on October 12, 2012

== sync, corrected by elderman ==



Don't touch them.
It could be communicable.

Stop right there.

[Walter giggling]

(Man)
Dr. Walter Bishop.

The three of you...

you haven't aged a day.

You were supposed to be dead
a long time ago.

We were trapped in Amber
for 21 years.

My name is Edwin.

You were exposed
when you got here.

I'm supposed to retrieve
something here, Edwin,

something very important.

You seem to know me.

Have we met here before?

No...

at least not in the way
that you think.

It's electromagnetic
discharge.

What is this place?

You're looking at history.

Whose?

Ours...

yours, mankind's.

These are data cubes.

Stored on them...

are accounts of every
major historical event

from the day
of the invasion onward.

[Beeping]

You have files on us.

Of course.
You're relevant.

We gather important information
from around the world,

and then we record it.

[Chuckles] You have a healthy lore
about you.

My son, River,

is something of an expert
on the Fringe Division.

We were--we were refugees
from the cities.

My father started
this historical record.

He believed our history,
like that

of all other conquered
races before us,

would be rewritten
by our oppressors.

Someone has to survive
to tell mankind's story.

What happened
to all of you--your skin?

You said we've already
been exposed.

We noticed it
after we settled.

Small patches at first,
and then over time, it spread.

It has something to do
with this area.

We thought it was
the drinking water or the soil.

Why didn't you evacuate?

What we do here
is important.

Even after we became afflicted,
we couldn't leave.

It's all here, everything.
We can't move it.

We can't travel.

The way we look...

we don't want to draw
attention.

We just want to be left alone
to record history.

No one wants to come here...

which is perfect for us.

You're the first
in a very long time.

But you and your team
should leave,

unless you want to look
like us.

We can't.

There was a plan
to defeat the invaders.

I mean, there is...

a plan to defeat
the invaders.

And I believe
it will be successful.

But I don't remember it.

But I know that I am supposed
to get something from here.

I've been here before.
I must have.

Search...

Bishop, Walter.

If you've ever set foot
in this camp before,

it would be documented.

Hi.

Hi.

What's your name?

River.

Wow. Where did these
come from?

I made them.

Can you sign them?

These are really good.

You fought them
when they came.

You didn't hide
like we did.

You're heroes.

I have a lot
of different editions

from stories I've heard.

A lot of them
I even made up.

I wish I was around
during your time,

when there were
real heroes.

(Peter) Well, kiddo,
you're my hero

for giving me
a nice, strong jawline.

[Machine clicks,
tape rewinding]

[Distorted]
And 32 seconds West.

Now, when you arrive
at the designated place,

you will need to locate--
[Audio distorts]

When you arrive
at the designated place,

you will need to locate--
[Audio distorts]

[Air hissing]

[Tape rewinding]
...Place, you will need to locate...

[Distorted]
a mine.

[Machine clicks,
tape rewinding]

...to locate

[distorted]
a mine.

[Machine clicks,
tape rewinding]

[Normal voice]
Locate a mine.

[Cell phone ringing]

Hello?

Olivia, I need to speak to Walter.
Sure.

Walter.

It's Astrid.

Yes, what is it?

(Astrid) Did you find anything
in the archive?

Nothing. There's absolutely
no record

of me being here whatsoever.

Okay, well,
I found something.

Walter, is there a mine
where you are?

Mime. The only mime
that I know of

is Marcel Marceau.

What's he got to do
with any of this?

No. A mine.

You said mine--m-i-n-e--
on the tape.

Walter, whatever you're supposed
to find, it's in a mine.

Do you have a mine--
m-i-n-e--here?

Yes.

It was a gold mine.

[Door opens, closes]

These men
have something to report.

Where?

Rural Pennsylvania.

(Walter) In 1923,
a mine collapsed in Peru.

The trapped survivors were
forced to nourish themselves

on the dead.

Thanks for that, Walter.

Oh, but I'm sure that
won't be the case here.

(Peter) Finding gold
in an abandoned gold mine's

not gonna be easy.

(Walter)
We don't know that it's gold.

Whatever it is,
it's in here.

(Peter)
I'll climb down.

Is that secure?

[Grunts] There's something
on the other end of this rope.

Can you give me a hand?
Yep.

People have been coming
in and out of this mine

for 21 years.

I doubt it's just
gonna be waiting for us.

Nothing is that easy.

Whoa--oh, oh.

It snagged on something.

Looks like he was trying
to climb back up.

Same bark-like growth
as on the people here.

But worse.

I'd assumed what was
afflicting these people

was some sort of fungus,
but I was wrong.

These tissues
show signs of calcification.

Perhaps whatever
was causing

the condition of the people
in the camp

is emanating
from this mine.

And the closer
one gets to the source,

the more intense
the reaction is.

No one can survive
down there.

Until I've conducted
an analysis,

we have to turn back.

[Cell phone ringing]

This is Anil.
I have something for you.

Something important.

Etta and her team
have been located.

Thank you.

Is anybody else starving?

Here.

- What's that?
- It's an apple.

[Chuckles]
No, thank you.

Yum, yum.

Do you remember that amazing
apple pie we had

just after the invasion?

We were in Boston.

Someone had told us

about the shelter
for lost children.

We were looking
for a place to eat

when we found
that dingy little restaurant

with a cook
who was a mad genius.

What was that guy's name?

I don't know.

You don't remember?

Nope.

Well, that's a first.

(Peter) I can't believe I don't
remember the guy's name.

It was the name
of the restaurant.

It started with a "D."
It was like...Dante's

or Dominic's
or something like that.

You really don't remember?

No. I really don't
remember.

[Machine clicks]

[Machine beeps]

(Peter)
Air sample is ready.

I think I know
what happened here.

This man died
of asphyxiation.

Every pore on his body
is completely sealed.

His body was trying
to protect itself

against
the airborne corrosive.

Somehow, its pH
has been radically altered.

And apparently,

it gets much worse the deeper
one goes into the mine.

(Peter) Could whatever we're looking
for have caused this?

Quite unlikely.
If I had to theorize,

it's high levels of CO2

and other gases introduced
into the atmosphere by the Observers.

From those machines
that they were building

in Central Park.

Well, how would that affect
Edwin and his people?

Well, they're far enough
away from the source,

receiving only
incremental doses.

However, prolonged exposure

has created
a drastic immune response.

Well, imagine an extreme
form of psoriasis.

But not as extreme as our
unfortunate mine friend here.

Dr. Bishop,

I found an entry
I think you'll want to see.

Five weeks after the invasion,
a man came here

and went down into the mine

and gathered several rocks,
it says here,

with a reddish hue.

Was this man called
September?

No. My father has it recorded
as a man,

late 30s, dark hair.

His name was Donald.

He says he was waiting
for a scientist from Boston.

I was thinking
perhaps that was you.

I don't know any Donald.

Well, maybe you just
don't remember.

If he was part
of the plan that you lost,

then it stands to reason--

No, no, no.
I-I don't understand.

Why would you record this?

A man collecting rocks--
why is it important?

It was recorded because
of what happened to him.

He was taken away against
his will by two invaders.

So they weren't happy
that he'd taken those rocks.

Why the hell
would I want rocks?

Your hand, Walter.

It's on your skin.

Show me your hand.

My God.

Yours too.

We're lucky.

It hasn't rooted
into the dermis yet.

But I'm afraid
that won't last.

Okay, well, how long
until it isn't removable?

Until it isn't.

Dr. Bishop.
(Walter) Oh!

Good, good, good.
Excellent, excellent.

Over here.
Thank you very much.

I am going to build
a suit

that will allow us
to go into the mine.

According to the arm,
we would need skin

300 layers thicker than
a rhinoceros to enter the mine,

so I'm trying to ascertain
a metal or an alloy

that we can use
for the suit's lining.

And in the meantime,

I need you
to go back to the van

because I need
the weather stripping.

Sure.

[Cell phone ringing]

Hey, Anil.

I got a call
from one of our operatives.

The Loyalists
are tracking you.

You've got to move.

Did I upset you?

Earlier when I was talking
about the restaurant,

it seemed like
you were upset.

I know
you don't forget names.

Donovan's.

That was the name
of the restaurant.

It's not that
I can't remember.

It's that I can't forget.

Do you remember when we
couldn't find her that day,

you drew a plan
on a napkin?

Yeah. Of course I do.

You were talking
about going up to Maine

to this refugee camp
that you'd heard about.

And I was looking at you
and nodding,

and in my head I was thinking,
"I can't go."

Behind you--
you couldn't see it--

but there was a wall
of missing-person flyers.

You know, with every day,

the odds of finding
our little girl

the way we wanted to find her
were getting worse,

and we didn't talk about it.

I mean, I...

I couldn't put it
into words then, but...

I felt responsible.

Responsible how?

I wanted so much
to be a mother, but...

I just...

didn't think that
I was programmed that way.

That I was...
destined for something else.

Ever since I was a kid,

ever since
the Cortexiphan trials,

I just...

I was at odds.

So how could I have
this incredible little girl?

So, when we lost her,

I felt like
that was my punishment...

my punishment
for being too conflicted

to appreciate her
when we had her.

And that day
at the restaurant...

I knew that I had
to go back to New York

because I didn't want to...

find...

what I knew
we were going to find.

I just...

I just believed
so strongly that she was dead,

and I didn't want to see it.

And you thought I went back
because of my strength,

and she said
that she admired me today.

Olivia.

I saw how you were
with our little girl.

I know how much
you love her.

And I'm not telling you
to forget it, but...

the past is the past.

Don't let it get
in the way of this.

I don't know why
it's happening,

but our family
got a second chance.

So I'm gonna take it.

(Etta)
Hey, guys.

We have a problem.

The Observers
are tracking us.

Hand me the sealer.

Walter, how long until
the suit is finished?

I'm going as fast
as I can. Why?

The Observers know
that we're in the area.

They saw us on the highway
when we stopped.

Near Route 11.
You need to leave.

I need one more material--
copper.

There's only three roads
you could have taken after--

Jonathan here says there's
an encampment down the mountain

which trades metals.
No.

You're not listening.

We have until morning, at best,
before they find us.

They'll destroy everything.

All of our work will be lost.
You need to go now.

No, no, if we can just
get down to the camp--

Forget that camp.
Those men are dangerous,

and they won't trade
with anyone they don't know.

You know them. You've talked
to them on your radio.

You have contacts
in that camp?

I've communicated with them
on my radio.

But only when it suits them.

They don't even know who I am.

And they certainly
don't want people

going into their quadrant--
that much I do know.

The way I see it,
you're our only chance.

They don't know us.

Look, I'm armed.
I'll go with you.

We can barter together.
Barter with what?

What do you have
to offer them?

I've got some antibiotics,
medicine.

Go back to Boston,
make the suit there,

and then come back
when it's safe.

The baldies took away
this Donald person

when he went into that mine
to get the rocks.

If they read you
and find out

that we're looking
for the same thing,

they'll seal it
permanently.

You don't even know
what the rocks are for.

You're putting
all of us at risk.

I want to help you.
I do, but...

What happens
if I don't come back?

You may be used to facing
death all the time,

but I'm not.

These are bad people.

We may never make it back
from their camp.

I have a lot to lose,
you know.

I know you do.

But the rocks in that mine
are important.

And it's true--
we don't know what they do.

But Walter
will figure it out.

And when he does,

we're one step closer
to defeating the invaders.

I'm not afraid to die.

I just don't know how to say
good-bye to my son.

All right.

What do you need me to do?

Get on your radio.

Tell them we're coming.

[Clears throat]

Break, break, break.
Kilo-Alpha 42.

Come in.

Looking to barter.
Over.

Kilo-Alpha 42.
Is anyone out there? Over.

(Man)
This is Kilo-Alpha.

What's your business?

I need copper.

We don't have copper.

Let me speak to Ivan.

Tire tread.

Matches the make and model
of the van they were in.

Where does this road
lead?

Higher into
the mountains.

River?

Look at me, son.

What you saw back there
in that tent...

there's a lot more
to the word coward

and the word hero
than you think.

It's complicated.

You're not a coward
if you're frightened.

That's not what it means.

You're a coward

if you know
what needs to be done

and you don't do it.

I was telling
that man out there

that I have a lot to lose--

our work,

the life we have here...

you.

I told him
I love you so much,

I wouldn't know
how to say good-bye.

When your mother got sick,

I promised her
I'd protect you no matter what.

But I'm conflicted.

There's a time
for recording history,

and there's a time
for making it.

We don't get a lot
of opportunities up here

to make it.

I've decided
to help them...

to do my part.

I don't want to lose you.

I don't want to
lose you either.

But protecting you...

means making sure
there's a world out there

that you can thrive in.

I love you so much.

It's okay, Dad.

I understand.

No. You don't.

But you will one day...

when you have children
of your own.

The mineral
you are looking for

is a crystallized
form of quartz

that contains
in perfect proportion...

[Static]

They will unlock its potential

and create a powerful
energy source.

[Distorted] I will explicitly outline
these refining methods

in tape six...

or seven.

Without this energy source,

we will not be able
to implement

the final phase
of our plan.

To my best calculations,

we will need at least
18 kilograms of the crystals.

That is about 40 pounds
in imperial measures.

Did you get all that?

Yeah.
Thanks, Astrid.

Hopefully the suit
will be strong enough

to bring up 40 pounds?

Hey, you contact the camp?

Yes. They found copper,
and they're willing to trade.

How much copper?

2 kilos.

That's plenty!
Too much, even!

Okay. Let's go.

(Edwin)
I can't.

You're looking for Ivan.

You can give him these
for the copper.

They're schematics
for our solar technology.

I'm not coming with you.

I'm sorry.

They'll trade for those.
They're valuable.

This'll get you
to the camp.

Good luck.

Don't worry about it.

We'll be back soon.

Wait!

Be careful.

I don't understand.

This is exactly where
he told us to go.

He said he knew
where their camp was.

Well, why would he
send us here?

Maybe he never wanted us
to find the camp.

Edwin?

[Thud, clanking]

What was that?

It's the mine.

There was no copper.

When he called their camp,
they didn't have copper.

It was the only way
to get what you need.

You got what you came for.
Now leave...

before the invaders
find you here.

(River)
A hero died today,

sacrificing himself
in order to get the Fringe team

resources they need
to save our world.

Edwin Massey,

the recorder of history,

made history.

[Tires screech]

Where did you get
this vehicle?

I found it on the side
of the road.

The keys were in
the ignition.

I didn't steal it!

(River)
He will be greatly missed.

[Engine grinding]

Like other great men
before him,

he gave his life selflessly

in pursuit of freedom...

and a better future.

[Engine turning, revving]

Ahh...

Now, this is a ride.

== sync, corrected by elderman
sync to web-dl by aneurysm ==