The Walking Dead (2010–…): Season 11, Episode 12 - Episode #11.12 - full transcript
They're here to help.
We need to get a
meeting on the books
about Alexandria.
I have a pitch.
I'm sure you do.
Does Ezekiel know how
bad his chances are?
He knows the odds aren't good.
There's likely no chance
he'll get the surgery
unless by some miracle
he moves up the line.
There was never any Stephanie.
Who is she?!
Eugene?
It's me.
I'm the one you were
talking to on the radio.
Max: It was just
dumb luck, honestly.
I found the radio
parts in a dumpster
behind the municipal building.
They'd never be left there
for security reasons,
so someone clearly
thought it was trash.
But it wasn't trash.
It just needed some love.
Eugene: I have the most vivid
memory of an ice-cream shop
with the most marvelous batch
of black raspberry ice cream.
The Inside Scoop.
I used to go there all the time.
Hell, we might've been
there on the same day.
Well, knowin' this,
there's a critical
question needs answerin'.
What's that?
Cake cone or waffle?
That's how we started talking,
and we talked about everything.
Everything and nothing.
I just can't help but believe
that this is a
celestially ordained
meet-and-greet.
No bean-spillage here, either.
But, Eugene, my people
are uber cautious.
And if we're close...
I never thought about
leaving this place before.
Well, I-I did,
but I never let myself
believe it was possible.
Truth is, Stephanie,
I'd just very much
like to meet you.
But then my brother
got involved,
and he was not happy.
God damn it.
It's not what you think.
Oh, yeah?
Wanna know what I did today?
I investigated a massive
communications breach.
Apparently, someone on an
unauthorized radio station
has been talking to
a rogue community
outside of our walls.
Well, then.
Hornsby's all over it.
Tell me it wasn't you.
Please tell me that you
were not about to sneak out
to meet some stranger
at a rail yard.
What could I say?
Max, it's dangerous.
For everyone at
the Commonwealth,
but especially for me and you.
I gotta go.
You better pray Hornsby doesn't
realize that was your voice.
I knew I'd crossed a line.
And with Hornsby on the prowl,
getting out to see
you was impossible.
And then you turn up
with some other girl
calling herself Stephanie.
Using my words
my voice.
Excuse me.
That wouldn't happen to be
Rocky Road there, would it?
You seemed so happy...
So, I kept my head down.
I didn't know what else to do.
Thank you, Max. Mm.
Can I get you anything else?
Ice cream? Tea?
A day without my son acting
like a little asshole?
I'll get you that ice cream.
Oh, and, Max?
Have the bank cut off
Sebastian's line of credit.
Maybe that'll whip
him into shape.
I've got news.
Then Hornsby came
to see Pamela...
That guy from the comms
breach? Finally admitted,
and he was buzzing about
you and Alexandria.
I never... Eugene:
What's he planning?
I don't know.
He's ambitious.
Could mean anything.
Could mean nothing...
Just the rebuild.
The big guy in the orange
armor who hates me.
That's your brother?
Yes, but, Eugene...
And you...
You're Stephanie?
No. I'm Max.
There is no Stephanie.
Well, it was my
mother's name, really...
I-I-I'm sorry. So...
I'm sorry.
Pamela: This is a long
way from home, Lance.
It is.
But these communities
are perfect
for what we're envisioning.
What you'reenvisioning.
I'm not convinced
we need to stretch our
resources like this.
Grow your empire further
than your power can extend
and lose your empire.
I don't think it's
quite that dramatic.
Well, how's this for dramatic?
If this doesn't go
well, we're out.
These people are free to
stay with us permanently
or they can go home and
finish their own repairs.
There's enough to do at
home without having to worry
about a couple of small
communities in another state.
Give it a chance, Pamela.
I really think you
might be surprised.
Let's
wrap it up, okay?
They're coming.
Hey.
Hey, cover that window.
Aaron: Hello there.
Welcome.
Aaron. Pamela Milton.
A pleasure.
Uh, care for the grand tour?
I would expect nothing less.
Okay.
Uh, Alexandria
was a self-sustaining
ecological community.
We have water, solar panels,
and, uh, a crop system.
Who is the engineer?
I don't recall
anyone from intake.
Uh, no one, actually.
We got the plans from the
leader of an allied community.
Maggie Rhee.
Uh, some of our people
studied the blueprints,
and we built it.
Fascinating.
Mercer: How do you keep
a place like this safe
with it being so isolated?
Wasn't easy.
Fought a lot of fights.
Youwere one of the leaders here?
Yeah, yeah, I guess
you could say that.
We all were.
What'd you do before all this?
Doesn't matter.
Least, not to us, anyway.
Pamela: Mm.
She looks just how
I remember her.
What, you knew her?
Oh, we used to cross
paths quite a bit
in philanthropy circles
back in the day.
But I had no interest
in politics at the time.
She, however, was
born to run things.
What was she like as a leader?
She brought us in.
We'd never met anybody
like that before.
You admire her.
Yeah. Very much so.
I mean, she built
all this for us.
Something worth fighting for.
But it fell.
Yeah, but we always
brought it right back.
It fell more than once?
Yeah.
Mercer: We've got a breach.
Stay here, ma'am.
I got it.
Shit.
How did you lose Deanna?
She was bitten.
Did she turn?
We had to put her down. Yes.
I think I've seen enough here.
Tomi: Morning, Ezekiel. Jerry.
And a good morning
to you, too, sir.
Mm. Okay, let's get into it.
So nothing but water morning of.
No food. No solids.
We need you on an empty stomach.
Sorry?
Doc, we're just here
for a routine check-up.
Theo: I was told this
is pre-op blood work.
To make sure he's stable
enough for the surgery.
Surgery?
To take out this tumor.
Did no one tell you?
Whoa.
I thought I was
still on the list.
Well, now you're at
the top of that list.
Theo: You're lucky.
Some people wait years.
Jerry: What about his bill?
He's paid up.
Well, however it came
to pass, I'm thrilled.
We're going to take good
care of you, Ezekiel.
Rest up.
See you Friday at nine.
This is so frickin' awesome!
Wha... What is it?
How did this happen?
Oh, come on, boss,
this is good news.
Maybe it's a coincidence.
Maybe it's a clerical error.
Maybe it's divine intervention.
Either way, don't you think
you deserve a little luck?
Hornsby: Pamela.
Pamela.
Rachel's ready for you.
You're blessed to have
this at your door step.
We know.
I heard how
Oceanside came to be.
About your battles with the
Saviors and the Whisperers.
Says a lot about strength
of your community.
I'm excited to have you as
partners of the Commonwealth.
Aaron mentioned there
was a trade provision
that you'd like worked
into our agreement.
Something wrong?
We spoke to Maggie Rhee.
The leader of Hilltop.
She told us she's not
partnered with you all.
We offered Hilltop
the same agreement
as with Alexandria,
but Maggie declined.
Alexandria's gone
its own way before.
But Hilltop and Maggie have
always been there for us.
We renewed our mutual
protection pact,
and I'm gonna honor it.
If Maggie decides
to partner with you,
we will, too, out
of respect for her.
Otherwise, Oceanside's a "no."
Question... what was the
point of bringing you along
if you can't give
me any helpful intel
in advance of shit
blowing up in our faces?
Yourpeople have been
fixing up Alexandria.
It's not my fault
the walker got in.
You should've known
about Rachel and Hilltop.
Because I'm a mind-reader?
How do you think this little
detour looks to Pamela?
It looks like
we're not prepared.
It looks like
you'renot prepared.
Lance, you know Pamela, alright?
I don't.
You didn't anticipate this?
It's not my problem.
Stop acting like Alexandria
means more to you
than it does to me.
Right now, you and I
want the same thing.
Which means you and I are
in the same sinking boat.
Is Maggie gonna make
this difficult for us?
Huh. Fabulous.
So you know?
This is all or
nothing for Pamela.
So if Maggie says no
and Oceanside walks,
Alexandria is cut off.
Then we'll figure it out.
Sure.
'Cause it was going so
well before we stepped in.
Daryl: You alright?
At ease.
You must be Maggie.
I already ate.
Thanks.
I'll just leave it right here.
There you go.
It's good to see you guys.
Maggie...
Why do you trust these people?
Daryl: Who says we do?
When do I ever?
Fair enough.
It's good to see Alexandria
getting cleaned up, though.
Least their word
meant something.
Yeah, there's like 50,000
people living there.
At least 49.9 seem like
decent enough folks.
And it's not forever.
You sure you don't
want to come with us?
You don't have to do this alone.
Hey, sorry to interrupt.
The forward unit
picked up a swarm.
We have some extra
rifles with us.
So while they're handling that,
Governor Milton proposed
that we all go hunting,
if you're up for that?
We'll scare all the food away
stomping around like this.
I'll go with Maggie,
and you boys pair off.
Don't need a minder
this time, General.
We'll be fine.
How did things get so bad?
Maggie: How do they ever?
I've met so many communities,
and I still can't figure
out what makes some lucky
and able to fight off the world
while others can't.
I don't believe in luck.
That's interesting.
I'm sensing more of an opinion.
I mean, luck is
about opportunity.
I don't know anybody who's
had more opportunity than you.
Well, since we're
being honest...
Cards on the table, Maggie.
I didn't want to
come on this tour.
I have thousands of
people under my care
and that responsibility
keeps me up at night.
That's the price of leadership.
Everything costs something.
For me, it's sleep.
You know what I think
about at 3:00 A.M.?
Hm?
Who can we trust?
How do we stay safe?
Your communities are
small by our standards.
I wasn't sure the risk
of going back and forth
would be worth it.
Then why are you here?
The right allies
make us stronger.
This world belongs
to us, not the dead.
Meeting all of you,
hearing all your stories,
has confirmed what
I've always believed.
There is a natural order to
things that has vanished,
and that order needs
to be restored.
It provides a
future for our kids.
15 million little city-states
fighting each other
for power and resources
is never going to be able to
provide that kind of stability.
I'm offering you the same thing
your mutual protection
pact with Oceanside did.
Someone who has your back.
Ah! Mm.
Yeah.
Hey. Hey.
Hey. Hey.
I just thought I'd see
how you were doing.
Um, cooking, actually.
Uh
you hungry?
Nabila and Jerry
left me a buffet.
Okay. It's, um, crispy.
Yeah. Why not?
Here.
Jerry said you had
a check-up today...
Anything come up?
It's a funny thing.
What? Tomi said I was
scheduled for surgery.
They bumped me up in the line.
That's good.
That's great. That's great.
Right? Wait.
Did you...?
What did you do?
I didn't...
My debt was wiped out.
Hornsby owed me a favor.
It's cheating!
Why would you do that?
Because I don't want you to die.
Carol.
Those lines are a lie.
You think Pamela Milton
would think twice
before doing the same
thing for her shitty son?
Have you been inside
that hospital, Carol?
'Cause if you had been,
you'd see all those people,
suffering,
same as me.
Waiting for treatment.
Same as me.
You're supposed to just die
because the system is broken?
Lesser men have been given
more and done nothing with it.
You are not a lesser man.
I think that's
called an autocracy.
No, it's not.
Liberties haven't gone anywhere.
You're the leader at Hilltop.
You make the decisions.
You consider
yourself an autocrat?
I-I lead the way I was
taught by Deanna and Georgie.
The communities that
we built are fair.
The Commonwealth is fair.
Yeah, but you drive a nicer car
and live in a nicer house
than everybody else.
I have more responsibilities
than the average worker.
A leader has to give her
people something to look up to.
Alright, well, I want people
to look up to what I've done
and what I do, not what
I have that they don't.
Behind you.
You want it or shall I?
Well, I was thinking about
going after the one behind you.
Hey.
Hey, come on, now.
You okay?
I'm great. How are you?
You got a great poker face.
Thank you.
How's the new job going?
Oh, you know.
It's a lot.
Do you regret coming here?
Do you?
So you like it here?
We all get to be together.
Everyone's safe.
So it works for now.
Going with the flow.
Didn't think I'd end
up basically a cop,
but I'm pretty good at it, so...
Pretty damn good at
everything you do, Rosita.
Thanks, Eugene.
I do miss home, though.
Yeah.
I miss going outside the walls.
I miss the freedom
that we used to have.
But it'll come.
When Alexandria's fixed back up,
then... then people have choices
and that's good, you know?
You're excited about the future.
Yeah, I guess I am.
Eugene, what is it? Spill.
I was thinking about
when we first met
and how I was lying to you.
About who I was.
About Washington, D.C.
And...
That was a long
time ago, Eugene.
And we found our home.
So going with the
flow works, right?
Eugene, what is it? Get it out.
You'll feel better.
Stephanie...
Isn't missing.
I saw her.
She just...
Broke up with me.
She broke up with me.
Eugene, I'm so sorry.
She wasn't who I
thought she was.
Screw her.
You can do so much better.
And you're gonna
find your person.
She's out there. I promise.
Dianne: Hey.
They meant everything they said.
All the Troopers that
came back with us,
they're working on re-enforcing
the water tower right now.
You went hunting with them?
Yeah. It's not much, but it's...
More than we've had in weeks.
Yeah, we'll get dinner started.
Alright. Thanks.
Is everyone okay?
Yeah, yeah.
Everyone seems relieved.
Hoping this means we can
actually get some sleep tonight.
Daryl.
Hi. Hey.
Was wondering when
you'd come back.
Hey. How you holding up?
Uh, it's okay.
We're doing our best. Yeah?
Just feel like maybe some things
just can't be fixed, you know?
Just feels kind of
pointless sometimes.
I hear you. How
do you know when?
When what?
Just when it's
time to walk away?
Is that what you wanna do?
Hey, Maggie, is it okay if
we hand out some supplies?
We have more than enough.
Food, fuel.
Sure. Thank you.
Great. We're on it.
Uh, you two. Come with me.
Hey, Daryl, look what I got.
Oh, my God.
Hey, we're gonna
pass out some food.
You wanna help us? Yeah.
You take the big one.
Hey, give this to Elijah.
Okay.
Mercer: Must be hard
to be a kid out here.
He grew up on the road.
He's a different kind of kid.
Your friend. She like
torturing herself out here?
This place used to
be really special.
Different.
It's going through
hard times now,
but it'll be back
up and running.
Just watch.
I guess not all places are
as lucky as Alexandria.
Not all places are as
lucky as Commonwealth.
Are you coming around?
I wouldn't go that far,
but you guys, uh, have
done good stuff for us,
so, I don't know,
I'll give you that.
Commonwealth ain't perfect, bro.
What, you think?
Just don't get too comfortable.
The only reason you're
out of your armor
is because someone thought
it'd be good for appearances.
You got your role to
play, and I got mine.
We'll be in here
when you wake up.
Pizza, ice cream. The works.
No.
No pineapple.
I'm serious, Jerry.
Pineapple on pizza
makes no sense.
Pizza?
You're not eating anything but
Jell-O for a while, hotshot.
Nervous twitch?
Lucky coin.
I had a lucky
rabbit's foot once.
My dog brought it home with the
rabbit still attached to it.
My old man gave this to me.
When I was a kid, I thought
it was made of gold.
Turns out, it's
just gold-plated.
Inside's same as a lowly nickel.
Have you decided yet?
What do you get out of all this?
Come on, Maggie.
Let's not pretend the obvious
isn't staring us in the face.
You're in over your head.
You don't know me very well.
I know you're smart enough
to know a good offer
when you hear it.
And I'm smart enough to know
I've just pissed you off.
You haven't answered
my question.
Alright. I'll bite.
The first time I
went to Alexandria,
I could see it.
The potential.
Maggie, do you really
believe that Hilltop,
as it currently stands,
is the best you'll ever have?
Or Alexandria?
Or even Oceanside?
Look around.
We can have so much more.
Imagine being able
to pick Hershel up
from a concert at
the Commonwealth,
take him to a doctor's
appointment in Alexandria,
then jump on a
boat at Oceanside,
traveling up the coast.
And what's up that coast?
Another port town?
Another school?
How about a university?
Have you ever imagined being
able to drop your son off
for his freshman
year of college?
Tried to build it.
Of course you did.
Because you and I see
things the same way.
Imagine the world
you want to build.
Hold it in your mind.
Now picture the power of
50,000 Commonwealth workers
helping you make that
vision a reality.
Think what you could
accomplish then.
Man: Swarm incoming!
This way.
Fire!
Imagine not having
to deal with this
every time that alarm goes off.
Yeah, we could keep building.
No more starts and stops.
I know there's a
lot to consider,
but, I mean, look around.
We need this.
I know.
Mercer: Formation!
Let's go!
Dixon. Fall in.
Daryl: Hold up.
Hey.
Remember, they're
always watching.
Got me?
Daryl: Yeah. Yeah, I got it.
Mercer: Left face.
Forward march.
Never a dull moment
here, is there?
Mm, we try.
Everyone okay?
Yeah, no injuries,
all limbs intact.
I'd call that a good day.
But the Hilltop's gonna
pass on your offer.
Can I ask why?
'Cause, like you said,
everything costs something.
No, please don't shut the door.
Found some raspberry goodness
of the Inside Scoop variety.
It's not exactly black
raspberry, but...
Please, it's very cold.
Um, I'm so sorry, Max.
For my ungentleman-like
behavior.
For running away.
For not listening.
I was bruised and confused.
You were pretty damn rude.
I was.
Indeed.
I let Hornsby get
inside my head,
and it was an infiltration
of the most epic proportions.
He is a snake.
More like a worm.
I let an imposter into my heart
and my home.
I let her read my manuscript.
Manuscript?
I...
I'm writing a novel.
Was a sepulcher involved?
Obviously.
Did it take place in the
Carpathian Mountains?
Carpathian Mountains, yes.
You let her read it?
I thought she was you.
I know, but, Eugene
how?
After all that time
we spent together,
everything we told each other,
how could you not
know it wasn't me?
I do... I don't know.
I guess I figured
out a long time ago
that I'm not like most folks.
I got used to rejection PDQ.
Didn't even realize it was
rejection some of the times,
but, well, suffice it to say,
it happened a fair amount.
So there was a part of
me that always wondered
if our connection
was all in my head.
But when I got here,
and she didn't...
Push me away...
I just so badly wanted
this to be real.
And subtle cues
escape me sometimes.
Anyway, I never meant
to hurt you, Max.
But my intent does
not excuse my impact.
How can I make this up to you?
Will you allow me to try?
I don't know.
Can I read your novel?
Well, as ill fortune
would have it,
you came upon me whilst I was
burning the only physical copy.
However, I have committed
much of the text to memory.
What was the concept?
A gumshoe by the
name of Steph Portman
is caught up in a rollicking
international caper,
trying to avert nuclear disaster
and navigate the intricacies
of the legal bureaucracies
back at home.
You didn't make the
District Attorney corrupt,
did you? Certainly not.
That would've surprised
exactly no one.
I did, however, give him
an unsavory twin brother.
Mm. Evil twin. Nice.
Yeah, I thought so.
You should, um, make
the twin a scientist.
Ramp up the stakes on
the nuclear threat.
That is exactly what I did.
Hm.
What?
Just... felt like old times.
Here. I got something for ya.
It's from Judith.
She said in case you're making
Hershel eat more horse meat.
Oh, God.
It was good to see you.
Yeah.
Be careful.
If you need me, you
know where to find me.
Same for you.
Dianne?
I'm leaving, Maggie.
Some of the others
are coming with me,
and you should, too.
You need to be
careful who you trust.
You know that
better than anybody.
You also have to know
when to ask for help.
It's harder than
it has ever been,
and it doesn't have to be.
I respect the hell outta you,
but I can't do this anymore.
I'm sorry.
It was a worthy effort, Lance.
It's not over.
It doesn't have to be.
It's time to go home.
We still have Alexandria.
I just need time to
get the other two.
It was a bold move,
trying to bring
three new communities
into the fold.
I get why something like that
would be appealing to you.
Someone needs to
run them, right?
That selection would
be at your discretion,
obviously.
Obviously.
I'm gonna pretend that
you were doing this
for the good of the Commonwealth
rather than for yourself.
I was doing this for you.
You've been ambitious
our whole lives, Lance.
Ambition is notoriously
hard to reel in.
So
If you want to try and
make it work, fine.
But if your job at
home starts to suffer,
there will be consequences.
The Commonwealth
always comes first.
Lance.
Lance, you okay?
"A" plus.
What'd she say about Alexandria?
We good?
Everything's fine.
Pamela's on board.
In fact, we're gonna
bring even more people in.
Get ready, Aaron.
We are going to
remake the world.
There's a group on
the Western border.
We want to make first
contact and offer them help.
Gabriel: What do you
know about these people?
Someone we know
must have sent him.
Lance: I ask for a hundred troops,
there's no way Milton doesn't notice.
I need a surgical solution.
And you...
You're Stephanie?
No.
I'm Max.
There is no Stephanie.
So, something interesting
about this episode,
as you may or may
not have noticed,
is that we start the whole
thing with this montage
telling the story from
Max's point of view.
And we realize that
underneath everything,
there was this kind of other
story that was burning.
It's not what you think.
Oh, yeah?
One of the things, creatively,
that we did, and it's subtle,
is that we're not
reusing footage,
and so we wanted to let Max have
her version of the story, too,
so this is her experience of
what that moment was like.
Excuse me.
That wouldn't happen to be
Rocky Road there, would it?
We actually linger, like, in
a different expression on her
when she and Eugene meet eyes,
before she has to go away,
because we just felt like,
this is a subjective montage
and so she's having a
slightly different experience
of the same scene, and
so we wanted to show it
from her perspective as
she's telling the story.
I was told this is
pre-op blood work?
Make sure he's stable
enough for the surgery.
Surgery?
To take out this tumor.
Did no one tell you?
Whoa.
For Ezekiel, he
really wants to live,
and he feels like
he has more to give,
that he wants to be with
his friends and loved ones,
but he's also
resigned to the fact
that maybe he's not
going to make it.
And I think Ezekiel
had gotten to a place
where he's a little bit
at peace with the idea
that he might not
have much time left,
and so he is shocked
by the fact that
he's offered this surgery.
Did you...
What did you do?
I didn't...
My debt was wiped out.
Hornsby owed me a favor.
He's a very moral person,
and the idea of cheating
for anything is just, like,
horrific to him.
He has such empathy,
even for these people
that he doen't know.
I think it really
speaks to who Ezekiel is
and was as a leader.
Lesser men have been given more
and done nothing with it.
You are not a lesser man.
And I think Carol's
point of view is like,
everybody's cheating the system,
but it's like, if
you get this surgery,
maybe you can do
something about it.
Even if she doesn't say
it in so many words,
that's what she
truly, truly believes.
She knows that, and she's right.
You alright?
It was really important for us
that when Pamela
first meets Maggie,
that she doesn't meet Maggie
kind of completely down and out,
which is kind of where she's at.
You must be Maggie.
For Pamela, she's
impressed by Maggie.
She's impressed by the
fact that other communities
consider her a leader.
She's impressed by what
she saw at Alexandria,
knowing that a leader of
another community, Maggie,
helped with the plans for
what Alexandria became,
and what she sees
in Maggie is, like,
here's somebody who has
street smarts and is tough
and knows her way
around a weapon,
and she has a kind
of respect for that.
For Maggie, she's just
in it wih her people,
and I think that's also one
of the contrasts that you see
right off the bat.
Maggie is dressed
really kind of the same
as the people that are part
of her little community,
and she's doing the same stuff,
whereas Pamela's kind
of in a special vehicle
with special protection that
is different than the others.
She's wearing a special outfit.
And all of those are
meant to be hints
at the things that bother
Maggie about the system,
because she just
doesn't agree with it.
Fire!
She's looking at this military
and just realizing, like,
"Wow, they just mowed down
a whole lot of Walkers,"
and that bothers her,
because she knows that
if they ever came to a
point of disagreement,
what's to stop them from
just mowing them down, too?
And so I think, for Maggie,
it's a matter of principle.
The Hilltop's gonna
pass on your offer.
Could I ask why?
'Cause like you said,
everything costs something.
That's one of tougher
decisions that she makes,
because her community is
really in dire straits,
and by virtue of the fact that
she makes a different decision
than Alexandria made, she
loses some of her people.
I'm leaving, Maggie.
Some of the others
are coming with me,
and you should, too.
There's a cost to
Maggie's decision.
For us, when we're
writing the show,
we're always trying to look at,
when somebody chooses something,
what are they saying "yes" to?
'Cause it's very rare in life
that you say "yes" to
something or choose something
and that there isn't
a potential downside.
You know, it's going to be even
harder for her and her child,
and she knows that's
not an easy decision,
but she feels like it's
the right decision for her.
Get ready, Aaron.
We're going to remake the world.
We need to get a
meeting on the books
about Alexandria.
I have a pitch.
I'm sure you do.
Does Ezekiel know how
bad his chances are?
He knows the odds aren't good.
There's likely no chance
he'll get the surgery
unless by some miracle
he moves up the line.
There was never any Stephanie.
Who is she?!
Eugene?
It's me.
I'm the one you were
talking to on the radio.
Max: It was just
dumb luck, honestly.
I found the radio
parts in a dumpster
behind the municipal building.
They'd never be left there
for security reasons,
so someone clearly
thought it was trash.
But it wasn't trash.
It just needed some love.
Eugene: I have the most vivid
memory of an ice-cream shop
with the most marvelous batch
of black raspberry ice cream.
The Inside Scoop.
I used to go there all the time.
Hell, we might've been
there on the same day.
Well, knowin' this,
there's a critical
question needs answerin'.
What's that?
Cake cone or waffle?
That's how we started talking,
and we talked about everything.
Everything and nothing.
I just can't help but believe
that this is a
celestially ordained
meet-and-greet.
No bean-spillage here, either.
But, Eugene, my people
are uber cautious.
And if we're close...
I never thought about
leaving this place before.
Well, I-I did,
but I never let myself
believe it was possible.
Truth is, Stephanie,
I'd just very much
like to meet you.
But then my brother
got involved,
and he was not happy.
God damn it.
It's not what you think.
Oh, yeah?
Wanna know what I did today?
I investigated a massive
communications breach.
Apparently, someone on an
unauthorized radio station
has been talking to
a rogue community
outside of our walls.
Well, then.
Hornsby's all over it.
Tell me it wasn't you.
Please tell me that you
were not about to sneak out
to meet some stranger
at a rail yard.
What could I say?
Max, it's dangerous.
For everyone at
the Commonwealth,
but especially for me and you.
I gotta go.
You better pray Hornsby doesn't
realize that was your voice.
I knew I'd crossed a line.
And with Hornsby on the prowl,
getting out to see
you was impossible.
And then you turn up
with some other girl
calling herself Stephanie.
Using my words
my voice.
Excuse me.
That wouldn't happen to be
Rocky Road there, would it?
You seemed so happy...
So, I kept my head down.
I didn't know what else to do.
Thank you, Max. Mm.
Can I get you anything else?
Ice cream? Tea?
A day without my son acting
like a little asshole?
I'll get you that ice cream.
Oh, and, Max?
Have the bank cut off
Sebastian's line of credit.
Maybe that'll whip
him into shape.
I've got news.
Then Hornsby came
to see Pamela...
That guy from the comms
breach? Finally admitted,
and he was buzzing about
you and Alexandria.
I never... Eugene:
What's he planning?
I don't know.
He's ambitious.
Could mean anything.
Could mean nothing...
Just the rebuild.
The big guy in the orange
armor who hates me.
That's your brother?
Yes, but, Eugene...
And you...
You're Stephanie?
No. I'm Max.
There is no Stephanie.
Well, it was my
mother's name, really...
I-I-I'm sorry. So...
I'm sorry.
Pamela: This is a long
way from home, Lance.
It is.
But these communities
are perfect
for what we're envisioning.
What you'reenvisioning.
I'm not convinced
we need to stretch our
resources like this.
Grow your empire further
than your power can extend
and lose your empire.
I don't think it's
quite that dramatic.
Well, how's this for dramatic?
If this doesn't go
well, we're out.
These people are free to
stay with us permanently
or they can go home and
finish their own repairs.
There's enough to do at
home without having to worry
about a couple of small
communities in another state.
Give it a chance, Pamela.
I really think you
might be surprised.
Let's
wrap it up, okay?
They're coming.
Hey.
Hey, cover that window.
Aaron: Hello there.
Welcome.
Aaron. Pamela Milton.
A pleasure.
Uh, care for the grand tour?
I would expect nothing less.
Okay.
Uh, Alexandria
was a self-sustaining
ecological community.
We have water, solar panels,
and, uh, a crop system.
Who is the engineer?
I don't recall
anyone from intake.
Uh, no one, actually.
We got the plans from the
leader of an allied community.
Maggie Rhee.
Uh, some of our people
studied the blueprints,
and we built it.
Fascinating.
Mercer: How do you keep
a place like this safe
with it being so isolated?
Wasn't easy.
Fought a lot of fights.
Youwere one of the leaders here?
Yeah, yeah, I guess
you could say that.
We all were.
What'd you do before all this?
Doesn't matter.
Least, not to us, anyway.
Pamela: Mm.
She looks just how
I remember her.
What, you knew her?
Oh, we used to cross
paths quite a bit
in philanthropy circles
back in the day.
But I had no interest
in politics at the time.
She, however, was
born to run things.
What was she like as a leader?
She brought us in.
We'd never met anybody
like that before.
You admire her.
Yeah. Very much so.
I mean, she built
all this for us.
Something worth fighting for.
But it fell.
Yeah, but we always
brought it right back.
It fell more than once?
Yeah.
Mercer: We've got a breach.
Stay here, ma'am.
I got it.
Shit.
How did you lose Deanna?
She was bitten.
Did she turn?
We had to put her down. Yes.
I think I've seen enough here.
Tomi: Morning, Ezekiel. Jerry.
And a good morning
to you, too, sir.
Mm. Okay, let's get into it.
So nothing but water morning of.
No food. No solids.
We need you on an empty stomach.
Sorry?
Doc, we're just here
for a routine check-up.
Theo: I was told this
is pre-op blood work.
To make sure he's stable
enough for the surgery.
Surgery?
To take out this tumor.
Did no one tell you?
Whoa.
I thought I was
still on the list.
Well, now you're at
the top of that list.
Theo: You're lucky.
Some people wait years.
Jerry: What about his bill?
He's paid up.
Well, however it came
to pass, I'm thrilled.
We're going to take good
care of you, Ezekiel.
Rest up.
See you Friday at nine.
This is so frickin' awesome!
Wha... What is it?
How did this happen?
Oh, come on, boss,
this is good news.
Maybe it's a coincidence.
Maybe it's a clerical error.
Maybe it's divine intervention.
Either way, don't you think
you deserve a little luck?
Hornsby: Pamela.
Pamela.
Rachel's ready for you.
You're blessed to have
this at your door step.
We know.
I heard how
Oceanside came to be.
About your battles with the
Saviors and the Whisperers.
Says a lot about strength
of your community.
I'm excited to have you as
partners of the Commonwealth.
Aaron mentioned there
was a trade provision
that you'd like worked
into our agreement.
Something wrong?
We spoke to Maggie Rhee.
The leader of Hilltop.
She told us she's not
partnered with you all.
We offered Hilltop
the same agreement
as with Alexandria,
but Maggie declined.
Alexandria's gone
its own way before.
But Hilltop and Maggie have
always been there for us.
We renewed our mutual
protection pact,
and I'm gonna honor it.
If Maggie decides
to partner with you,
we will, too, out
of respect for her.
Otherwise, Oceanside's a "no."
Question... what was the
point of bringing you along
if you can't give
me any helpful intel
in advance of shit
blowing up in our faces?
Yourpeople have been
fixing up Alexandria.
It's not my fault
the walker got in.
You should've known
about Rachel and Hilltop.
Because I'm a mind-reader?
How do you think this little
detour looks to Pamela?
It looks like
we're not prepared.
It looks like
you'renot prepared.
Lance, you know Pamela, alright?
I don't.
You didn't anticipate this?
It's not my problem.
Stop acting like Alexandria
means more to you
than it does to me.
Right now, you and I
want the same thing.
Which means you and I are
in the same sinking boat.
Is Maggie gonna make
this difficult for us?
Huh. Fabulous.
So you know?
This is all or
nothing for Pamela.
So if Maggie says no
and Oceanside walks,
Alexandria is cut off.
Then we'll figure it out.
Sure.
'Cause it was going so
well before we stepped in.
Daryl: You alright?
At ease.
You must be Maggie.
I already ate.
Thanks.
I'll just leave it right here.
There you go.
It's good to see you guys.
Maggie...
Why do you trust these people?
Daryl: Who says we do?
When do I ever?
Fair enough.
It's good to see Alexandria
getting cleaned up, though.
Least their word
meant something.
Yeah, there's like 50,000
people living there.
At least 49.9 seem like
decent enough folks.
And it's not forever.
You sure you don't
want to come with us?
You don't have to do this alone.
Hey, sorry to interrupt.
The forward unit
picked up a swarm.
We have some extra
rifles with us.
So while they're handling that,
Governor Milton proposed
that we all go hunting,
if you're up for that?
We'll scare all the food away
stomping around like this.
I'll go with Maggie,
and you boys pair off.
Don't need a minder
this time, General.
We'll be fine.
How did things get so bad?
Maggie: How do they ever?
I've met so many communities,
and I still can't figure
out what makes some lucky
and able to fight off the world
while others can't.
I don't believe in luck.
That's interesting.
I'm sensing more of an opinion.
I mean, luck is
about opportunity.
I don't know anybody who's
had more opportunity than you.
Well, since we're
being honest...
Cards on the table, Maggie.
I didn't want to
come on this tour.
I have thousands of
people under my care
and that responsibility
keeps me up at night.
That's the price of leadership.
Everything costs something.
For me, it's sleep.
You know what I think
about at 3:00 A.M.?
Hm?
Who can we trust?
How do we stay safe?
Your communities are
small by our standards.
I wasn't sure the risk
of going back and forth
would be worth it.
Then why are you here?
The right allies
make us stronger.
This world belongs
to us, not the dead.
Meeting all of you,
hearing all your stories,
has confirmed what
I've always believed.
There is a natural order to
things that has vanished,
and that order needs
to be restored.
It provides a
future for our kids.
15 million little city-states
fighting each other
for power and resources
is never going to be able to
provide that kind of stability.
I'm offering you the same thing
your mutual protection
pact with Oceanside did.
Someone who has your back.
Ah! Mm.
Yeah.
Hey. Hey.
Hey. Hey.
I just thought I'd see
how you were doing.
Um, cooking, actually.
Uh
you hungry?
Nabila and Jerry
left me a buffet.
Okay. It's, um, crispy.
Yeah. Why not?
Here.
Jerry said you had
a check-up today...
Anything come up?
It's a funny thing.
What? Tomi said I was
scheduled for surgery.
They bumped me up in the line.
That's good.
That's great. That's great.
Right? Wait.
Did you...?
What did you do?
I didn't...
My debt was wiped out.
Hornsby owed me a favor.
It's cheating!
Why would you do that?
Because I don't want you to die.
Carol.
Those lines are a lie.
You think Pamela Milton
would think twice
before doing the same
thing for her shitty son?
Have you been inside
that hospital, Carol?
'Cause if you had been,
you'd see all those people,
suffering,
same as me.
Waiting for treatment.
Same as me.
You're supposed to just die
because the system is broken?
Lesser men have been given
more and done nothing with it.
You are not a lesser man.
I think that's
called an autocracy.
No, it's not.
Liberties haven't gone anywhere.
You're the leader at Hilltop.
You make the decisions.
You consider
yourself an autocrat?
I-I lead the way I was
taught by Deanna and Georgie.
The communities that
we built are fair.
The Commonwealth is fair.
Yeah, but you drive a nicer car
and live in a nicer house
than everybody else.
I have more responsibilities
than the average worker.
A leader has to give her
people something to look up to.
Alright, well, I want people
to look up to what I've done
and what I do, not what
I have that they don't.
Behind you.
You want it or shall I?
Well, I was thinking about
going after the one behind you.
Hey.
Hey, come on, now.
You okay?
I'm great. How are you?
You got a great poker face.
Thank you.
How's the new job going?
Oh, you know.
It's a lot.
Do you regret coming here?
Do you?
So you like it here?
We all get to be together.
Everyone's safe.
So it works for now.
Going with the flow.
Didn't think I'd end
up basically a cop,
but I'm pretty good at it, so...
Pretty damn good at
everything you do, Rosita.
Thanks, Eugene.
I do miss home, though.
Yeah.
I miss going outside the walls.
I miss the freedom
that we used to have.
But it'll come.
When Alexandria's fixed back up,
then... then people have choices
and that's good, you know?
You're excited about the future.
Yeah, I guess I am.
Eugene, what is it? Spill.
I was thinking about
when we first met
and how I was lying to you.
About who I was.
About Washington, D.C.
And...
That was a long
time ago, Eugene.
And we found our home.
So going with the
flow works, right?
Eugene, what is it? Get it out.
You'll feel better.
Stephanie...
Isn't missing.
I saw her.
She just...
Broke up with me.
She broke up with me.
Eugene, I'm so sorry.
She wasn't who I
thought she was.
Screw her.
You can do so much better.
And you're gonna
find your person.
She's out there. I promise.
Dianne: Hey.
They meant everything they said.
All the Troopers that
came back with us,
they're working on re-enforcing
the water tower right now.
You went hunting with them?
Yeah. It's not much, but it's...
More than we've had in weeks.
Yeah, we'll get dinner started.
Alright. Thanks.
Is everyone okay?
Yeah, yeah.
Everyone seems relieved.
Hoping this means we can
actually get some sleep tonight.
Daryl.
Hi. Hey.
Was wondering when
you'd come back.
Hey. How you holding up?
Uh, it's okay.
We're doing our best. Yeah?
Just feel like maybe some things
just can't be fixed, you know?
Just feels kind of
pointless sometimes.
I hear you. How
do you know when?
When what?
Just when it's
time to walk away?
Is that what you wanna do?
Hey, Maggie, is it okay if
we hand out some supplies?
We have more than enough.
Food, fuel.
Sure. Thank you.
Great. We're on it.
Uh, you two. Come with me.
Hey, Daryl, look what I got.
Oh, my God.
Hey, we're gonna
pass out some food.
You wanna help us? Yeah.
You take the big one.
Hey, give this to Elijah.
Okay.
Mercer: Must be hard
to be a kid out here.
He grew up on the road.
He's a different kind of kid.
Your friend. She like
torturing herself out here?
This place used to
be really special.
Different.
It's going through
hard times now,
but it'll be back
up and running.
Just watch.
I guess not all places are
as lucky as Alexandria.
Not all places are as
lucky as Commonwealth.
Are you coming around?
I wouldn't go that far,
but you guys, uh, have
done good stuff for us,
so, I don't know,
I'll give you that.
Commonwealth ain't perfect, bro.
What, you think?
Just don't get too comfortable.
The only reason you're
out of your armor
is because someone thought
it'd be good for appearances.
You got your role to
play, and I got mine.
We'll be in here
when you wake up.
Pizza, ice cream. The works.
No.
No pineapple.
I'm serious, Jerry.
Pineapple on pizza
makes no sense.
Pizza?
You're not eating anything but
Jell-O for a while, hotshot.
Nervous twitch?
Lucky coin.
I had a lucky
rabbit's foot once.
My dog brought it home with the
rabbit still attached to it.
My old man gave this to me.
When I was a kid, I thought
it was made of gold.
Turns out, it's
just gold-plated.
Inside's same as a lowly nickel.
Have you decided yet?
What do you get out of all this?
Come on, Maggie.
Let's not pretend the obvious
isn't staring us in the face.
You're in over your head.
You don't know me very well.
I know you're smart enough
to know a good offer
when you hear it.
And I'm smart enough to know
I've just pissed you off.
You haven't answered
my question.
Alright. I'll bite.
The first time I
went to Alexandria,
I could see it.
The potential.
Maggie, do you really
believe that Hilltop,
as it currently stands,
is the best you'll ever have?
Or Alexandria?
Or even Oceanside?
Look around.
We can have so much more.
Imagine being able
to pick Hershel up
from a concert at
the Commonwealth,
take him to a doctor's
appointment in Alexandria,
then jump on a
boat at Oceanside,
traveling up the coast.
And what's up that coast?
Another port town?
Another school?
How about a university?
Have you ever imagined being
able to drop your son off
for his freshman
year of college?
Tried to build it.
Of course you did.
Because you and I see
things the same way.
Imagine the world
you want to build.
Hold it in your mind.
Now picture the power of
50,000 Commonwealth workers
helping you make that
vision a reality.
Think what you could
accomplish then.
Man: Swarm incoming!
This way.
Fire!
Imagine not having
to deal with this
every time that alarm goes off.
Yeah, we could keep building.
No more starts and stops.
I know there's a
lot to consider,
but, I mean, look around.
We need this.
I know.
Mercer: Formation!
Let's go!
Dixon. Fall in.
Daryl: Hold up.
Hey.
Remember, they're
always watching.
Got me?
Daryl: Yeah. Yeah, I got it.
Mercer: Left face.
Forward march.
Never a dull moment
here, is there?
Mm, we try.
Everyone okay?
Yeah, no injuries,
all limbs intact.
I'd call that a good day.
But the Hilltop's gonna
pass on your offer.
Can I ask why?
'Cause, like you said,
everything costs something.
No, please don't shut the door.
Found some raspberry goodness
of the Inside Scoop variety.
It's not exactly black
raspberry, but...
Please, it's very cold.
Um, I'm so sorry, Max.
For my ungentleman-like
behavior.
For running away.
For not listening.
I was bruised and confused.
You were pretty damn rude.
I was.
Indeed.
I let Hornsby get
inside my head,
and it was an infiltration
of the most epic proportions.
He is a snake.
More like a worm.
I let an imposter into my heart
and my home.
I let her read my manuscript.
Manuscript?
I...
I'm writing a novel.
Was a sepulcher involved?
Obviously.
Did it take place in the
Carpathian Mountains?
Carpathian Mountains, yes.
You let her read it?
I thought she was you.
I know, but, Eugene
how?
After all that time
we spent together,
everything we told each other,
how could you not
know it wasn't me?
I do... I don't know.
I guess I figured
out a long time ago
that I'm not like most folks.
I got used to rejection PDQ.
Didn't even realize it was
rejection some of the times,
but, well, suffice it to say,
it happened a fair amount.
So there was a part of
me that always wondered
if our connection
was all in my head.
But when I got here,
and she didn't...
Push me away...
I just so badly wanted
this to be real.
And subtle cues
escape me sometimes.
Anyway, I never meant
to hurt you, Max.
But my intent does
not excuse my impact.
How can I make this up to you?
Will you allow me to try?
I don't know.
Can I read your novel?
Well, as ill fortune
would have it,
you came upon me whilst I was
burning the only physical copy.
However, I have committed
much of the text to memory.
What was the concept?
A gumshoe by the
name of Steph Portman
is caught up in a rollicking
international caper,
trying to avert nuclear disaster
and navigate the intricacies
of the legal bureaucracies
back at home.
You didn't make the
District Attorney corrupt,
did you? Certainly not.
That would've surprised
exactly no one.
I did, however, give him
an unsavory twin brother.
Mm. Evil twin. Nice.
Yeah, I thought so.
You should, um, make
the twin a scientist.
Ramp up the stakes on
the nuclear threat.
That is exactly what I did.
Hm.
What?
Just... felt like old times.
Here. I got something for ya.
It's from Judith.
She said in case you're making
Hershel eat more horse meat.
Oh, God.
It was good to see you.
Yeah.
Be careful.
If you need me, you
know where to find me.
Same for you.
Dianne?
I'm leaving, Maggie.
Some of the others
are coming with me,
and you should, too.
You need to be
careful who you trust.
You know that
better than anybody.
You also have to know
when to ask for help.
It's harder than
it has ever been,
and it doesn't have to be.
I respect the hell outta you,
but I can't do this anymore.
I'm sorry.
It was a worthy effort, Lance.
It's not over.
It doesn't have to be.
It's time to go home.
We still have Alexandria.
I just need time to
get the other two.
It was a bold move,
trying to bring
three new communities
into the fold.
I get why something like that
would be appealing to you.
Someone needs to
run them, right?
That selection would
be at your discretion,
obviously.
Obviously.
I'm gonna pretend that
you were doing this
for the good of the Commonwealth
rather than for yourself.
I was doing this for you.
You've been ambitious
our whole lives, Lance.
Ambition is notoriously
hard to reel in.
So
If you want to try and
make it work, fine.
But if your job at
home starts to suffer,
there will be consequences.
The Commonwealth
always comes first.
Lance.
Lance, you okay?
"A" plus.
What'd she say about Alexandria?
We good?
Everything's fine.
Pamela's on board.
In fact, we're gonna
bring even more people in.
Get ready, Aaron.
We are going to
remake the world.
There's a group on
the Western border.
We want to make first
contact and offer them help.
Gabriel: What do you
know about these people?
Someone we know
must have sent him.
Lance: I ask for a hundred troops,
there's no way Milton doesn't notice.
I need a surgical solution.
And you...
You're Stephanie?
No.
I'm Max.
There is no Stephanie.
So, something interesting
about this episode,
as you may or may
not have noticed,
is that we start the whole
thing with this montage
telling the story from
Max's point of view.
And we realize that
underneath everything,
there was this kind of other
story that was burning.
It's not what you think.
Oh, yeah?
One of the things, creatively,
that we did, and it's subtle,
is that we're not
reusing footage,
and so we wanted to let Max have
her version of the story, too,
so this is her experience of
what that moment was like.
Excuse me.
That wouldn't happen to be
Rocky Road there, would it?
We actually linger, like, in
a different expression on her
when she and Eugene meet eyes,
before she has to go away,
because we just felt like,
this is a subjective montage
and so she's having a
slightly different experience
of the same scene, and
so we wanted to show it
from her perspective as
she's telling the story.
I was told this is
pre-op blood work?
Make sure he's stable
enough for the surgery.
Surgery?
To take out this tumor.
Did no one tell you?
Whoa.
For Ezekiel, he
really wants to live,
and he feels like
he has more to give,
that he wants to be with
his friends and loved ones,
but he's also
resigned to the fact
that maybe he's not
going to make it.
And I think Ezekiel
had gotten to a place
where he's a little bit
at peace with the idea
that he might not
have much time left,
and so he is shocked
by the fact that
he's offered this surgery.
Did you...
What did you do?
I didn't...
My debt was wiped out.
Hornsby owed me a favor.
He's a very moral person,
and the idea of cheating
for anything is just, like,
horrific to him.
He has such empathy,
even for these people
that he doen't know.
I think it really
speaks to who Ezekiel is
and was as a leader.
Lesser men have been given more
and done nothing with it.
You are not a lesser man.
And I think Carol's
point of view is like,
everybody's cheating the system,
but it's like, if
you get this surgery,
maybe you can do
something about it.
Even if she doesn't say
it in so many words,
that's what she
truly, truly believes.
She knows that, and she's right.
You alright?
It was really important for us
that when Pamela
first meets Maggie,
that she doesn't meet Maggie
kind of completely down and out,
which is kind of where she's at.
You must be Maggie.
For Pamela, she's
impressed by Maggie.
She's impressed by the
fact that other communities
consider her a leader.
She's impressed by what
she saw at Alexandria,
knowing that a leader of
another community, Maggie,
helped with the plans for
what Alexandria became,
and what she sees
in Maggie is, like,
here's somebody who has
street smarts and is tough
and knows her way
around a weapon,
and she has a kind
of respect for that.
For Maggie, she's just
in it wih her people,
and I think that's also one
of the contrasts that you see
right off the bat.
Maggie is dressed
really kind of the same
as the people that are part
of her little community,
and she's doing the same stuff,
whereas Pamela's kind
of in a special vehicle
with special protection that
is different than the others.
She's wearing a special outfit.
And all of those are
meant to be hints
at the things that bother
Maggie about the system,
because she just
doesn't agree with it.
Fire!
She's looking at this military
and just realizing, like,
"Wow, they just mowed down
a whole lot of Walkers,"
and that bothers her,
because she knows that
if they ever came to a
point of disagreement,
what's to stop them from
just mowing them down, too?
And so I think, for Maggie,
it's a matter of principle.
The Hilltop's gonna
pass on your offer.
Could I ask why?
'Cause like you said,
everything costs something.
That's one of tougher
decisions that she makes,
because her community is
really in dire straits,
and by virtue of the fact that
she makes a different decision
than Alexandria made, she
loses some of her people.
I'm leaving, Maggie.
Some of the others
are coming with me,
and you should, too.
There's a cost to
Maggie's decision.
For us, when we're
writing the show,
we're always trying to look at,
when somebody chooses something,
what are they saying "yes" to?
'Cause it's very rare in life
that you say "yes" to
something or choose something
and that there isn't
a potential downside.
You know, it's going to be even
harder for her and her child,
and she knows that's
not an easy decision,
but she feels like it's
the right decision for her.
Get ready, Aaron.
We're going to remake the world.