The Following (2013–2015): Season 2, Episode 13 - The Reaping - full transcript

Lily heads to Korban planning to kill Joe, as he and Ryan finally meet face-to-face again.

This isn't a joke, Joe.

We're running out of time.
What is the plan?

We're gonna show the world the truth.

Religion is not about love or
charity. It is about blood.

There's a serpent in our garden.
One who seduces our

troubled brothers and
sisters with his lies.

I'm speaking to you, Joe Carroll.

Yeah, good preach, huh?

If he wants a holy war then,
well, we'll give him one.

I think Kingston Tanner's
son may be Joe's next target.

- The televangelist's son?
- Yeah.



- Where is he?
- Northfield College.

Joe's people attacked the
college, took Preston Tanner.

Ryan is following them to Joe.

I just want to help Ryan.

Ms. Cooke, if you want to
help Ryan, help me.

Claire Matthews?

Carrie: Lily Gray has taken center stage

by impersonating Carroll and his followers

in order to free her imprisoned son.

Joe: You clever, little viper.

This is the phone they used
to contact Lily Gray.

Have cyber forensics look into it.

Lily: You weren't the only one
to hurt me, Ryan.

Say hello to your son, Richard.



You take from me, I take from you.

Ryan: We're gonna find Lily
Gray and Joe Carroll, and then

after all this is over,
we're gonna go have a life.

Joe: Welcome to Korban, Preston.

It's time for you to pay for
the sins of your father.

Where's Jimmy?

He's supposed to be down here.

Jimmy!

Don't worry about him.

Joe is waiting. Here. Help me out.

Come on. Get out of there.

Whoa ho ho ho!

Where you going, huh?

Let's go for a walk.

[Gun cocks]

Freeze!

Hey, hey, whoa, whoa.

Take it easy, man.

Hey, what is this place?

Uh!

Rrgh!

- You want to do what?
- I know.

It sounds insane, but I can lure Joe out.

I know what to say.

And you want to do this
on the air in an interview.

Yeah. That's all kinds of crazy.

It'll throw him.

Whatever he's doing, it'll throw him.

It'll get him off his game.
I'm his weakness.

If he thinks I'm alive, he's gonna crack.

Anything on Ryan?

We found Ryan's phone a few
miles away from the college.

He was headed north and after Joe's people

and Preston Tanner, but there were

7 interchanges within 45 miles.

That's a wide search area.

You faked your death
for a reason, Ms. Matthews.

You have a son to consider.

I'm doing this for my son.

This is the only card I have to play.

I can get to him. Put me on live.

I can speak to him directly.

And I'm not so sure you're
making a rational decision.

This is an emotional ordeal, Ms. Matthews.

Listen. I'm gonna do this
with or without you.

I can put it online
all by myself if I want to.

Don't be foolish, Ms. Cooke.

I mean, think of the sequel you can write

after all this is over.

Joe is gonna send a big message,

and a lot of people are gonna die,

and I would think you guys
would want to stop it.

Ok. Let me talk to my producer.

It would be best to do it here.

I can have a small crew put together.

I'll need a little time.

Here's my card.

You can contact Claire through me.

Hey, you're not really gonna do this.

It's insane.

I'm not putting her on television.

I'm not doing anything
until I hear from Ryan.

Keep her off the internet,
take away her cell phone...

she's not thinking clearly...

No. I know.

And find Ryan, please.

You're wrong for wanting to stop me.

I can find Joe, Mike.

I'd like to focus on finding Ryan.

[Cell phone rings]

[Beep] Hello?

Yeah.

Ok. Great. Thanks.

[Beep]

Kingston Tanner heard from Joe.

Jenny: Don't kill me, please!

Quiet, you stupid bitch.

Please, God, don't kill her.
Don't kill her.

- [Slice]
- No! Don't. Don't.

Hello, Pastor, or may I call you Kingston?

I do feel, given the intimacy
of this moment,

we should be on first-name terms.

By the time you see this, I will have spent

some quality time with your son.

I have a lesson
about the nature of true faith.

Actually, it's not just a lesson for him,

but you, your followers,
and the entire world.

How did the tape arrive?

One of the pastor's bodyguards
found a flash drive

in an envelope just outside his gate.

Cyber team? Forensics?

It's in the works.

Excuse me. You... I know you.

You're Agent... Weston.

You've been part of this for a long time.

Sorry, sir, about your son.

I'm sorry about your father.

My condolences to you and your family.

Dear God, please bless this man.

Please bring him comfort in his suffering.

Please ease his pain
so that he may go forth

and do your bidding. Amen.

We shall respond to Joe
Carroll's message right away.

I don't think that's a good idea, Pastor.

No, no. This is a war.

This is a war on my faith.

Showing Joe Carroll that my trust in God

is stronger than ever,

that is how we will bring Preston home.

Engaging Carroll could mean
more violence to Preston

and others.

Now, my son and I have had our differences,

just a child trying to find his way,

and he will need the prayers of others.

You don't have to go on TV to pray.

Of course not.

I'll abide by your wishes as
long as the good lord allows.

Hey, why aren't you in your robe?

Uh!

Tilda: Everyone please take your places.

We're ready. Great.

I'll let Joe know.

Emma, when do we leave? Do you know?

The large group will be leaving
shortly after the ceremony,

then Joe and the inner circle
first thing in the morning.

This is our final mission, isn't it?

Yes, Tilda. This will be our final mission.

Are you ready for it?

Yes, but the others...

we've never done anything this big before.

That's why Joe needs you
to lead the charge.

He has faith in you, Tilda. Come.

Man: Hooray for Joe!

Woman: Hooray, Joe!

[Cheering and applause]

Welcome!

Welcome, my chosen ones.

Joe: Your actions are being talked about

across the nation,

but tonight as we prepare to embark

on our most important mission to date,

we will rejoice!

[Cheering and applause]

I'm so sorry, Joe.

I promise I'll be better from now on.

Shush. It's fine. It's fine, um...

Courtney. Courtney.

Courtney.

Courtney.

Courtney, you are here

for a much greater purpose.

Courtney, meet Preston.

This fine, young man

is going to deliver you
from your suffering,

for he is going to send you home!

[Cheering and applause]

I don't understand.

What is it you want me to do?

[Cheering and applause]

I want your devotion, Preston.

I want Preston to show us

that his father's words are a web of lies,

that his father's abuse of power

and his rampant profiteering
is far from godly,

but death...

death is necessary.

[Cheering and applause]

Joe: It is not good.

It is not evil.

It is only inevitable.

[Whimpers]

Preston: I have no idea
what you're talking about.

I won't kill her.

Preston, blood must be spilled here

so that Courtney can go home.

Man: Home!

There is no wrong in sacrifice.

There is no redemption without blood,

no redemption without blood.

All: No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

No redemption without blood.

[Cheering and applause]

Preston!

Preston!

It is time for you to make a choice.

Join me.

Join us as we wage our holy war

and give this girl the salvation

she so richly deserves so that her blood

can serve as a message to your father

that life is sacrifice.

[Gunshot]

[All screaming]

Traitor!

Robert: You hit?

No. I'm ok. What the hell was that about?

I think we've got a problem.

Oh, yes, clearly.

Alistair, why don't we have a location yet?

You said the number
Joe called me from was enough,

that your people could find it.

My people are tracing it, but
they have to do it undetected.

May take a little time, but
they'll get an address.

Are you ready to move when we get the call?

Of course I'm ready.

Are you and Luke packed?

Yes. Good.

You can help me with the bags, please.

Why don't we just leave the country?

Mom, we're together.

We're a family again. Let's just go.

And we will as soon as we're done here.

Why do you have to get Joe Carroll?

I don't want to lose anyone else.

I don't want to lose you, mother.

My love, you're so sensitive,

but I really must insist that you man up.

This whiny-child routine
has lost its appeal.

Listen.

Joe Carroll must pay for what he's done.

Now go make sure Luke is ready to go.

We'll have to move quickly.

Go on. Get the bags.

Did you catch him?

We're still looking.

You promised me that we had isolated

every disgruntled member.

It...

It might not be a Korban member.

No?

Um...

When we were leaving
the college, we saw Ryan Hardy.

Oh. Ha ha ha!

And he followed you here,
yeah, and you waited

until now before telling me this?

We were so careful, Joe,
but, yes, it might be him.

I don't know. I can't be sure.

He was wearing a mask and a robe, and...

we need to leave now.

If Ryan Hardy is here, we're done.

The FBI will be right behind him.

Look. Jason comes from around here.

He has an empty home two hours away

that Micah used to use as a retreat.

I think we need to get
you there for protection.

No, no, no. No.

What you need to do

is find Ryan Hardy

and bring him to me now.

Good.

Joe, you need to think about this.

We need to go.

Don't let Ryan get to you.

- We have to be smart.
- Thank you.

Thank you, Emma, for
your unsolicited advice,

but we will hold our course.

We have Kingston Turner to deal with.

So send the troops out without delay,

and we will follow shortly.

You are not thinking clearly.

The FBI could be storming
this place any second.

This could be the end.

Then it ends, Emma.

Get on your knees.

Jenny: Don't kill me!

Anything on the video?

Not enough to work with.
Forensics were inconclusive.

What about Ryan?

Still nothing.

Claire?

Still at Ryan's apartment.

We blocked her internet access.

Mm.

How are you doing?

I suck. How you doing?

Same.

About what that preacher said
with the whole prayer...

that was weird, huh?

No. It wasn't.

What's weird, Mike, is,
your father just died,

and you're not grieving.

So answer the question again.

How are you?

I told you. It sucks.

This coffee sucks. Give me a little more.

I'm not running from it, Max.

It's there all the time.

This is all a distraction
just to make it bearable.

And you're not on some revenge
mission to get Lily Gray?

Killing her isn't gonna fix anything.

You know that.

[Beep beep beep]

Task force got something on the phone

we took from Lily Gray's hired gun.

Yeah?

Decklan made two calls to a burner phone,

one pinged to a cell tower near a hotel.

Staff there confirm two people fitting Lily

and Mark's description left
just after Luke's escape.

Hey, what about the second call?

Pinged to a cell tower
in suburban New Jersey.

Looking for property records.

It's Clarke. Yeah?

Hey, what you said.
Found a house in New Jersey.

They found Lily Gray.

Ok. We're on our way.

Robert: Over here!

Uh!

Uh!

Where's Joe sending his cult?

I'm not telling you anything.

Then you're useless.

Don't, don't, don't, don't!

Somewhere in New York.

That's all I know, I swear.

What's the plan? What are they gonna do?

I don't know.

What is the target?

Only the chosen know.

I wasn't chosen. I don't know.

Robert, on radio: Joe, we found Ryan Hardy.

He's here.

Joe, on radio: Is he alone?

I think so. I can end this.

If I find him, can I kill him?

No, no. Bring him to me.

You understand?

Yes. I understand. I'll take care of it.

[Gunshot]

What are you doing?

I said I didn't know anything.

Ryan: Shut up!

Drop it, Ryan!

Take him.

We got you, bitch.

Yeah. You got me.

We got Ryan Hardy. We're bringing him in.

We've got a body.

It's been identified as Mandy Lane.

- Arkansas girl linked to Joe Carroll.
- Wait a minute.

If Mandy is with Joe,
why is her body here with Lily?

There's bad blood between Joe and Lily now.

Joe wasn't interested
in her clan of psychos.

They kill Mandy to get revenge.

- Sir...
- Yeah?

We got ID's on the people
that were in the house...

Lily Gray and the twins Luke and Mark

and a known merc by the name
of Alistair Duncan.

Thank you. Alistair Duncan.
What do we got on him?

Fought in Uganda, Nigeria, Pakistan.

He's got several known aliases...

Brian Bellnap, Henry Fortner.

Fortner. He recently used a credit card

under the name Fortner.

"Golden Driver Car Rentals."

Rented a car yesterday.

Car rentals mean GPS.

I'll get a judge to issue a subpoena asap.

What is Joe doing, huh?

I don't understand what is happening.

Why doesn't Joe just kill Ryan?

Joe loses the ability
to think clearly around Ryan.

There's some weird thing between them.

Yeah. I know their history.

All the more reason for him to kill him.

Jason: Security cameras are clear.

No one is with him that I can tell.

Mm, great, for 5 more minutes.

Emma, we got to get out of here.

The others will be in New York soon.

We got to catch up.

Well, is the plan even still on?

I don't know. Stop asking me questions.

This is what happened last year, isn't it,

with his wife, his son,
with Ryan Hardy, huh?

Joe fell apart, didn't he?

Oh...

Well...

Oh, this is splendid.

I've missed you, Ryan.

You, too, buddy.

Oh, please. Don't deflect with humor.

I know you've missed me, too.

I take it you came alone.

Maybe, maybe not.

Ha ha! Always the maverick.

Ha ha! No.

You definitely came alone.

Otherwise, I'd be dead by now.

You will be soon.

You really that determined
to kill me, Ryan,

after all that we've been through together?

I thought you and I were a pair.

Yeah. You're right. I wouldn't dream of it.

You can untie me, even. I'll be good.

Ha ha ha! Funny. Ha ha ha!

Hmm...

No. You needn't trouble yourself, Ryan.

I'm pretty sure that my days are numbered,

no, but it does hurt
that you can't quite see

how much you need me.

Seems you don't appreciate all I am to you.

Well, I promise you, once you're
dead, I'll sort it all out

in therapy or something.

Ha ha! So...

What's the big finish?

Sounds like you got some epic ending

involving Kingston Tanner.

Yes. Yes.

Indeed, I have moved on from the macabre

of Edgar Allen Poe and have turned

to an altogether more horrific

piece of fiction... the Bible.

Oh.

Are you sending a message
to God that you're coming?

Because I don't think
that's where you're headed.

Ha ha ha!

I've missed us, Ryan.

I really have missed us.

You have no idea what
I've planned, have you?

I know it's not about the Bible and God.

You're just using religion as an excuse

to glorify your nature, right?

I mean, you're more interested in getting

into the psychos hall of fame because...
let's face it...

what else is there for you now?

Infamy will ensure I live forever.

Heh.

You're a brilliant man, Joe.

You truly are.

You're a brilliant teacher,

but you can't see yourself, can you?

Your psychopathy, your mental illness,

your need to kill are all overshadowed

by your narcissism.

Oof...

it controls you, and it will end you.

Oh, real friends are able to
speak the harshest of truths.

I'm not your friend.

Oh, yes.

Yes, you are, Ryan.

Now, when I look at you,

I see myself,

and you reflect a part of me

that I only see when I'm in your presence.

Does that sound familiar to you?

No. You're my best friend, Ryan.

Listen. We're gonna have
to pick this up later.

Some much to do,
so little time to do it in.

I think you're really going to
enjoy my next parlor trick.

Tsk tsk tsk. Would you mind?

Kingston: Thank you for coming
out on this day of tragedy.

I stand before you today a broken man.

As you may have heard,

there was an attack on my son's college.

Many were killed, and my son
Preston was kidnapped...

[clears throat]

Kidnapped by Joe Carroll.

Joe: Now, would you have them kneel

facing each other between the two of us?

Thank you.

May I introduce my dear friend Ryan Hardy?

Oh, the camera. Emma, where is the camera?

- We should be filming this.
- I have it.

Ah, thank you.

Joe, please... just...

this will be very quick, hmm?

Kingston: Joe Carroll
is the very epitome of evil,

and though we walk in the shadow
of the valley of death,

I shall fear no evil, for
God's promises are rich,

wonderful to behold, and so
I say to you, Joe Carroll,

spawn of Satan, you will not be victorious.

Now please join us in
prayer as we ask God...

To bring my son home.

Joe: Now, Preston...

What is your decision?

It's a very simple choice.

One of you must die.

So what will you do, my son?

Will you honor your father's doctrine

of "thou shalt not kill"
when it really matters,

or will you save yourself
and show the world

that deep down, we are all savages?

It's very dramatic, this, isn't it?

Or you could kill me, let
that be the message.

Eh, it's not an option.

Preston, your answer, please.

Please, please, don't make me do this.

Please don't make me.

Joe, Joe, don't do this.

You just keep talking, Ryan.

Now...

I can kill you,

or you can kill Courtney, hmm?

Hmm?

What will you do, my son, hmm?

Who is going to die today?

Ryan: Preston, don't do it.

Don't do it.

He's not gonna kill you.

You're no leverage for him if you're dead.

Oh...

Oh, that's a decision, isn't it...

listen to the man in the chair

or the man with the big knife, hmm?

I won't do it.

Oh, well, your choice.

Please, please don't do it.

Please, please!

Do you really want to die today, Preston?

Huh?

Hmm?

Please, no.

Courtney: No.

No! Oh! No.

There it is...

the truth.

Please don't.

No.

Ryan: Preston, don't do it. No.

I'm so sorry.

No. I'm not ready.

Please, not me.

God, forgive me.

Oh, no, no, no.

No!

N...

[crying]

Kingston: Though we walk in the shadow

of the valley of death,
I shall fear no evil,

for God's promises are rich
and wonderful...

I see he didn't keep his word.

Shocker.

I'm following the GPS in the vehicle

that Alistair Duncan rented,
and... guess what...

it's 30 miles north
of where we lost Ryan's phone.

Lily is not trying to get away.

She's going after Joe.

Which means Ryan could be
right in the middle of it.

All right. We got to move.

I got a chopper on the way.

[Cell phone ringing]

[Beep]

Ryan, thank God.

Claire, on phone:
Carrie, I'm sorry. It's Claire.

I'm calling from Ryan's phone.

Claire.

I never heard from you.

Claire, I can't interview you.

Yeah. I realize that, but
you have to do something

if you care about Ryan.

I'm sorry. I don't think I can help you.

That's fine.

There are dozens of other
reporters who will take my call.

- Have a good day.
- Wait.

I'm listening.

[Preston sobs]

Hey, tsk tsk tsk.

Huh?

Welcome to the family.

Go to hell.

One thing at a time, eh? Chk.

Get this boy cleaned up.

Chk. [Ping]

I'm gonna kill you.

You keep saying that, Ryan,

and you can no more kill me than I you.

Don't you get it?

If I die, you die.

The target is half a mile east.

We've got two men inside,

and they've got eyes on
two or 3 dozen people.

It's some sort of religious
camp, but they're armed.

You stay here with them, James.

I'll keep you updated.

Lily: I don't care who you
kill, but bring Joe to me.

He's mine.

Let's move! Let's move.

I want to go.

Oh, no, sweetie.

You're not up for it. You're still healing.

You'll stay here with me, both of you.

[Engines start]

Preston is secured in the vehicle.

We're ready to go.

We have a problem.

We got two vehicles at the front gate.

FBI?

They could be. I'm not sure.

Whoever it is, we need to go now.

Robert: Where's Joe?

Where do you think?

So...

How do you think my final
act is going so far?

Not bad.

Just got to follow it up
with something big, right?

You going after Tanner now?

What are your followers up to?

Oh, you'll see, my old friend.

I'm slightly concerned, though,

that this may be our final moment together

because you're right about one thing.

My time is up.

Yeah. It is.

Hmm.

Since we're being... Intimate, let me ask,

do you miss her?

I mean, how often do you
think about Claire?

Good, because I miss her, Ryan.

I really do.

She will always be

my one real regret.

Well, I should be off.

Feel like we should hug or something.

I'm good.

Well, enjoy the spectacle, and
I hope you find it worthy.

God forbid, you should write another book.

Robert: We've got vehicles
at the front gate.

We have to go now.

North gate is clear, but we need to leave.

What do I do with you?

Kill him.

No, no. That's not an option.

Good-bye, my friend.

It's been a great pleasure.

You will see me again, Joe,

one more time...

I promise.

Hmm.

[Chuckles]

[Gunfire]

[People screaming]

[Gunfire stops]

Rrgh! Uh!

Ah! Ah!

Yah!

[Gunfire]

We've landed, headed to the SUV's now.

The cars are waiting. This way.

All right.

The cult is using an old campground

surrounded by acres of woods.

We know from the GPS
that Alistair Duncan's SUV

stopped on a back road
on the southwest perimeter

and then continued through the front gate.

And Ryan?

Nothing yet, but state
police are moving in.

Come on.

[Engines start]

[Radio static]

Come in. Anyone there? Do you copy?

Ryan: They're all dead.

[Sirens]

[Tires screech]

Man: Freeze! Drop it nice and easy.

Mm-hmm.

Mark, where's your brother?

He wanted to get closer and take a look.

He'll be right back.

He left?

He wanted to see what he could.

He's not far, just past that ravine.

Well, go get him now.

Idiots.

Be ready to move fast.

Yo, spread out. State police
is securing the perimeter.

Go, go.

Mike: Lily wouldn't join the fight.

She'd hang back.

Back road, southwest perimeter.

Ryan. Come on. Ryan, thank God.

Clarke: What do you got on Joe?

Ok. Took off with Emma Hill
and some other followers.

They mentioned a north exit.

He's going after Kingston Tanner.

I need agents at the north exit.

He's planning something big.

Yeah?

Hey, where's Mike?

He was just with me.

I think...

I think he's gone to find Lily.

Carrie: I'm Carrie Cooke
with a rather cryptic message

for Joe Carroll.

I was told in sincere confidence

that no one but he
would understand this message.

Emma: You're sure no one comes here?

It's my uncle's place.

He never leaves the city.

How can I sleep with the
view... You asleep,

diner lights flashing pink on your skin,

your breath on my shoulder?

Me, I could die happy.

No, no, no, no, no.

What's she saying?

Carrie: Intended solely for Joe Carroll.

This had been an
"Update America" special...

Claire.

Carrie: I'll be back this evening

with all the latest updates
on the recent murders

and the ongoing search for Carroll.

[Footsteps]

James?

Hello, Lily.

Agent Weston.

Get on your knees.

Do it.

Where are your sons?

They didn't come.

I find that hard to swallow.

I'm unarmed. I'll go easily.

Take me into custody.

Is that what you want, to go to prison?

You'd be ok with that?

Mike! Ryan, back off.

Don't. Don't do this.

No. Come on. You're better than this.

Lily: Mike, you're a good man.

Put the gun down. Take me into custody.

You're wrong, Lily.

I used to be.

Not anymore.

Mike...

Ryan: Mike... Mike, please.

This is not you. This is me.

Don't be me, please.

I know this isn't gonna
fix anything for me...

But it will fix you.

[panting]