Walker (2021–…): Season 3, Episode 1 - World on a String - full transcript

Last season on Walker...

Whoever was outside of that
trailer tried to kill us.

You think it was Serano's people

- that were out for revenge?
- Feels like it's a new crew.

You want to think
I'm a dirty cop? Fine.

But I'm trying to
protect people.

So, what is a
paramilitary group doing

trying to silence
a Texas Ranger?

This is just the beginning.

My date last
night was a recon.

Be right back.



You have done this
before, right?

- Captain, you want me to be a Ranger?
- I do.

Hustle up, youngsters!
I ain't got all day!

Too slow, suckers.

That was good.

Where's Dad?

You know what, Liam,
you were right,

your brother's a damn cheater.

Yeah, you know, he's-he's
probably gonna do that thing.

Right, that thing
where he's waiting,

and then he's just gonna
blow past us, right?

Yeah, yeah. He's just, he's
messing with us, Stella.

But the winner takes
the hat, right?

And you guys are here, so...



Don't even worry about it,

because I'm still gonna win
this thing fair and square.

Yeah.

Your dad back yet?

I need help moving
that table outside,

and I'm not asking
your grandfather.

And please don't tell
him I'm not asking him.

He'll make it a thing.

Ugh. Am I losing my mind?

I thought I used to
put the vases up here.

I know I unpacked them.

Hey, do you know who
all's coming later?

I know it's, like, your party
and all, it's all about you...

It's not all about me.

Okay, well, I'm
actually really glad

you said that 'cause I am
hoping it's a little about me.

Augie...

I think something's wrong.

You know he didn't take a
different way home, right?

Of course I know
that. I didn't...

didn't want to freak Stella out.

Yeah, well, I think it
might be too late for that.

Okay, the shootout
the other day,

they put a damn bullet
through Cordi's hat.

From what I hear, that
was just crossfire.

I don't think they were
actually aiming for him.

A damn bullet through his hat?

What I mean is, I don't
think he was the target,

- Liam.
- Yeah, but you don't know that.

No. I'm not a Ranger,

so I wasn't read in on
the official report.

Hey, is this...?

Cordi's watch.

Em gave it to him
when he was sworn in.

He never took this off.

I'm calling Captain James.

Hey.

I was just talking to
Dan Miller out front.

You think this is the
right thing to do?

Giving him some of
that land back? I do.

You think he'll know what
the hell to do with it?

I can't say, but
it's a gesture, Bon.

It's sort of a first step in

putting all that bad blood
with the Davidsons behind us.

I don't disagree.

Not much good ever came
out of all that fighting.

Except the truth.

Hey, you want me to move
that table out there?

I'm waiting for Cordell.

You're waiting on
Cordell. What?

I can move the damn table...

Do you remember when
the boys were little?

And they'd...

they'd go off to school or camp,

and, at first, there
was always this worry.

You know, just a moment where

they weren't sure if
they wanted to go.

They say they'd miss us,

and they'd never say
they were scared,

but I'd have to remind them

of the invisible string.

How it connected
us, and I told them

all they had to
do was tug on it,

and I'd know.

I'd just know.

Yeah, he's out.

Keeping him here, sir?

Until we hear otherwise, yup.

Why? You busy?

Just don't know
how far we're taking this.

I wasn't read in, and, yeah,
I got to pick up Jenny.

Well, sorry, Jenny,
but we got to initiate

our new inside guy.

Texas Ranger.

They're gonna pull the
whole state in on this.

What do we got? 36
hours till they find us?

Little more if I
did my job right.

Don't worry,

won't take long to break him.

So, this is the war hero, huh?

Okay. Come on.

Where am I?

Uh...

Natural light in the
windows. I'm above ground.

Concrete floor.

Institutional.

You know why you're
alive right now?

Sir, yes, sir.

Because you allow it, sir.

So formal.

Well, um...

You served.

Or I love an army surplus sale.

You really think this
whole bandana thing

is gonna make or break
your operation here?

I do
have other senses.

You know, for, uh, for example,

uh... hearing.

You hear that?

There's a leak

right over there.

Less
talking, smart-ass.

Okay, well, well, first, one...

one more example. Uh, smell.

I smell antiseptic.

Recent.

Maybe I'll-I'll call you Neo.

So, tell me, Neo, was it

an accident or a warning?

All right.

Wish I could say it's been
nice meeting you, Neo.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Cavalry's here. How
can we help, huh?

Zhuzh some flowers?
Rum some punch?

I can DJ upon request.

She was a motivational dancer
at bar mitzvahs, if that helps.

Hey, I never told you that.

Deep background checks,
Perez. Very thorough.

You're quiet.

- Gentlemen.
- Hey.

What, this-this is how
you dress for a party?

Hey, I tried calling you, Cap.

What's up?

There's not gonna be a party,

so can we all just stop
pretending like there is?

- Dad's missing.
- What?

- We lost him on the trail.
- I told you this wasn't over.

That's a leap, Perez.
What's going on?

Yeah, I say let's take it.

We busted Fenton,
and he was so scared

of whatever we were getting
close to, he killed himself.

Then we're shot up, and then
Miles is shipped off to WITSEC.

I need to call Miles.

I need us to take this
into the other room.

No. Talking about it in private

is only gonna make us
all assume the worst,

and we're already used to that.

Captain.

Told them they didn't
need to blindfold me.

All right. All right.

Day one.

Graduation day.

I'm sorry.

I know, I-I-I...

I promised... I would be there.

- I'm sorry.
- Babe.

Look up.

I know, Em, we're
under the same moon,

the same sky, but I
promised I-I would be there.

Look up.

Is that a note?

No, they wouldn't
give a prisoner a pen.

I-I think it's just, uh...

Something pretty?

Something to weigh
the string down.

The string is a note.

There-there are,
there are knots.

Uh, seven...

Uh, five... Then nothing.

Seven, five, seven.
Or maybe it's a space.

Uh, seven... seven, five,

- zero, zero.
- What is that?

I don't know.

- Code for...
- Code.

Yes. It's a code.

7-5-0-0. It's a code that, uh,

pilots send to air
traffic control

when there's a hijacking,
when they're in danger.

7-5-0-0. Are-are
they a... pilot?

I mean, we're not at an airport.

Uh, I don't, I don't hear...

They just want you to know
they know codes, maybe.

Establish trust.

Establish trust. Yeah.

And... danger.

Uh... they're in danger.

All right, we're heading to
HQ, set the BOLOs up statewide.

Cap, I just talked
to the mayor's office.

They're putting together a team.

You know what? We're gonna
need a unit out here.

Trey.

You in?

As a Ranger?

Yes, sir.

All right. You can't badge up
in the next five minutes...

It's gonna be a process...

But what you can do is
set up a base camp here

- at the ranch, head up the search.
- Yeah.

- I'll be with him on that.
- Yes, sir. Perfect.

You know the terrain. Abby.

Oh, I put the word out,
and they're still going.

- Okay.
- Could you...

Hi.

She's leaving a
message for Colton.

They haven't talked since...

Since graduation, yeah.

He's been driving through the
mountains, I think, with Geri.

Geri. We got to tell Geri.

They don't
have a signal.

I think he's figuring
something out

with his mom or
grandma, I don't know.

Right. That...
that just happened.

Hey, we'll be checking
in, all right?

Augie, you got my
number. Use it.

Yes, sir.

Hey, Cass.

Look, I know this is a lot,

especially after what
happened with Miles,

but we're gonna get through it.

We're gonna find him.

Yeah, no other option.

It does feel horribly familiar.

Just the way he disappeared
so suddenly and completely,

and now the not knowing.

Just tell him you're happy
to see him when he's back,

all right?

So, just give me a call back, okay?

Hello?

- Hello?
- Hey, keep in mind

they sent you a
note for a reason.

Knots on a string, no less.

- It's quiet.
- Yes, I-I know that.

Well, I'm just saying
that if you get caught

you blow it.

Okay, okay, I know. Be quiet.

Let me think,
just-just... let me think.

Another prisoner above me,
but they chose to put me here.

They could've put me anywhere.

You don't even know what
kind of building you're in.

I mean, is this even a building?

- Maybe you're on a boat.
- No, no.

- I-I-I'm not on the water.
- I didn't say

you were on the water. I
said maybe you're on a boat.

Okay, why are we even arguing?

I'm just saying what
you're thinking.

- Shh!
- Okay, yes, I know.

I need to be quiet, but it
helps me to think out loud.

- You know that.
- Be quiet.

Hello?

Calling for me?

Oh, hey there.

Neo.

It's good to, uh,

it's good to see you.

Gentlemen.

To what do I owe
the, uh...

Oh, okay, yeah.

I'm sorry, you're not my type.

Hey, enough!

You know, Neo, your
friends aren't very nice.

Oh, looky there.

That's what it
was, huh?

The antiseptic.
You're, uh... bullet?

Graze you?

Like you don't know.

Sorry I, uh... Sorry I missed.

You know, I got to admit you,
uh, got pretty good reflexes.

Confused, Neo. I got a shot off,

yet here I am, feeling good.

So help me understand that.

You, uh, need a new
guy? After Fenton?

Yeah?

Ask about Jenny.

You want me to stop,
just let me know.

Ask him. He's
got to pick her up.

He's worried about missing it,

enough to bring it
up to that other guy.

- She means something. Ask him.
- Who's Jenny?

Don't you play
dead like a champ?

Who's Jenny?

Daughter? I'm guessing
she's your daughter.

Yeah, I got a daughter, too,
but you knew that, didn't you?

You know today is
graduation day.

You're making this harder than
it has to be, you know that?

Yeah, I read the
same manual, Neo.

End of the day, you and me,

we're dads.

I bet Jenny worries about you.
My daughter's worried about me,

- I could tell you that.
- Shut up.

What, are we taking a break?

Get him out of here.

Man.

That is sad, Cordell.

You lost your buddy.

Listen, you can make a lot

of other friends in
here if you want.

Just say the word.

No?

Well...

I am really
sorry about this, but...

I guess you know
what comes next.

Go ahead.

I just talked to
Cass. I-I wanted to...

Hey.

Thanks for being here.

Hey, uh, we'll be tracing
your steps... I-I get it,

I-I do, but, um...

you got to drink some water.

I don't want you
getting dehydrated.

And now...

Now you sound like my mother.

My sister.

Cassie's a cautious person?

More like a, uh, survivalist.

- Hmm.
- We were runners up, you know,

for one of those shows.

We had a dance routine.

Uh, and then,

everything happened with Lucas,

and I probably would've stranded
Cassie on a rope bridge,

and I would've
missed her like hell

when I realized she was gone.

Uh, I-I'm sorry.

Cordell used to do this
thing when we were kids

and my mom would
leave him in charge.

He'd pretend like something
really horrible happened to him.

It was stupid.

He'd act like he was
really hurt, or he'd hide,

you know, just
anything to scare me.

I knew. I knew every time

that he was messing
with me, but...

I always took it seriously

because...

you never know.

Uh, what-what time
is it, anyway?

He stopped it.

Cordell stopped his watch.

- Huh.
- Maybe when-when they took him, or...

Maybe it's nothing.

Hey. You never know.

Could help with
the timeline. Hmm?

Yeah.

Okay, thanks, Liam. Yeah.

You, too, man.

All right, let's
get this time stamp,

send it through
the traffic cams.

Perez?

What, are you swiping right
over there? What's going on?

That date I had the other night,
I know you think that I'm...

No, hey, I think
you're thinking.

I appreciate all forms
of thought right now.

Your
call cannot be completed

- as dialed. Please...
- It's all right.

-It's all right. We'll get there.
-Damn it.

Cap.

I know this place.

That mural, by the warehouses
on the way to the airport.

Sean sent this from work.

He told me he sold sheet metal.

Keep the lies honest.

Let's get over there.

Hey, we got
something. Let's move.

Cap.

Give me a minute.

- Hey.
- Hey.

What do you think it would take

for Cordell to take a desk job?

I've tried. You know that.

I do.

Because I asked you before.

Because I blamed you.

When he left to go
undercover, I blamed you.

You never told me that.

Well, I didn't need to.

You were hard
enough on yourself.

You were at our house
almost every night.

You got Bonham to give you

his Sunday special sauce recipe,

and I-I don't even have that.

Listen, Abby, if
this is your way

of asking me for the recipe,

now is not the time.

Larry.

I know you would move heaven
and earth for my family.

I saw you do it.

But this time...

if I see you so much as
come near my front door,

it sure as hell
better be with my son.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm sorry, but, Cap, are you...

Yeah, I'm coming.

I'm coming.

Good people that showed up
here to help, doing all this.

- Yeah.
- Rangers, cops,

- friends, neighbors.
- Yeah.

I heard they found
a bullet casing.

Yeah.

It was Cordell's gun, too.

Seems like he got a shot off,

which is good.

I didn't even know
he was carrying.

But I guess
most Rangers always do.

Ranchers, too.

They found the casing.
They found the gun.

They didn't find anything else.

They don't think he's
out there, do they?

All they know is that
anything that they find,

and I mean anything,
could be useful.

- That's the truth.
- I guess.

I was thinking that I should
keep their morale up, though.

What are you thinking?

A pancake breakfast?

Nah, I don't, I don't know, man.

That was... that
was probably stupid.

No, no.

No, it's a good idea.

Pancakes.

You know what? We'll
get the family involved.

It's good to keep them
busy, keep their morale up.

Yeah. Yeah.

I'll go let them know.

Thank you, Trey. I'll
see you in a bit.

- All right.
- All right.

Hey.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Hey. Hey.

You...

you-you're, uh, you're talking.

Is it safe?

No. No, they'll
do a wake-up soon.

- Are we on the same schedule?
- I can't tell.

Who are you? What's your name?

Listen, they want you
to be the new guy.

Well, who's the old guy?

You know. Fenton.

How do you know?

I'm a reporter.

Is that why they have you?

Yes.

Why are they letting us talk?

They want you to have hope.

They want you to have hope
so they can take it away.

Because once they break you,

they're there to pick you up.

Yeah. Well, they could've
told you to say that.

You have a brother?

Gentlemen.

Hey, big guy.

- Hey, good morning.
- Early morning.

Trying to get a move on.

- Yeah.
- So...

Are you ready to
be done with this part yet?

Come on. Come on.

Hey, Cap.

Yeah.

Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Look at me. Look at me.

I'm ready to quit
when you are, really.

Okay? Say the word.

On me.

Texas Rangers!

Well, it was worth a shot.

I'm sorry, Perez.

I think he left this.

Sean. I think he knew.

I-I told you that
date was a recon.

And I-I told him this story.

- About peanuts?
- Well, not exactly, no.

About some guy I dated
with a nut allergy.

- Perez, there's trash...
- Yes, I hear myself,

but I'm telling you, we need
to bag this for evidence.

It's not a clue.

Look, you want to dust
it for prints, go ahead.

- We got nothing.
- I think he knew

we would come here.

He was buying them time.

Don't you see? We're close.

Dust it for prints.

We got to go.

Let's go.

I don't think I
can do this again.

It literally doesn't matter
where you put your stuff away.

No, I mean...

this.

Everyone whispering,
trying to distract us.

Act like it's normal.

What if this is it?

What if this is the
case that kills him?

I mean, can we just say it?

You know, when he
was gone before...

with the rodeo stuff,

every time uncle Liam left,

I used to think he was
going to I.D. Dad's body

or something.

Same.

And the, you know,
he'd come back,

and he would look
sad or worried,

but he never said
anything about Dad,

so I just kind of figured
it was okay, and I...

I was trying not
to think about it,

but I was always...

I was always kind of
thinking about it.

Of course you were.

Uncle Liam was gonna adopt us.

Which is why I have
to do something.

I need to. I can...

I can call people.
I can drive.

- I can...
- Same, yeah. Me, too.

Augie, no.

What do you mean? Stella,
we were both just saying

how sick we were
of sitting around

while all this
stuff is happening.

I mean, you can't do anything.

Don't you get it?

It is my job now
to keep you safe.

Your job? Stella, you
graduated high school

like five minutes ago,
and I'm not a child.

I'm not gonna let you
put yourself in danger.

Oh, well, then what are
you going to do, exactly?

Stella, you get one helicopter
ride from Search and Rescue,

and suddenly you're an expert?

You're acting like
Dad, you know?

And I-I don't mean
that in a good way.

You're... the selfish hero.

And who was always there
to clean up after him?

His little brother.

- Hey.
- Colton!

We didn't get
service until we got

down the mountain, but
as soon as we did...

We turned the car around.

I mean,

I think we broke a few
laws racing back here,

so when your dad's back,

definitely gonna have
to call in a few favors.

Then I wake up in the
middle of the night

just feeling like
I missed something.

You know that recurring dream?

You know, I don't know
if everyone has it

or if they're just being
polite when they nod.

Anyway, I'll keep going.

Anyway, that dream where
you're late for class

or you never even
took the class,

but you just can't
find the building.

And for me,

I'm just running up
and down these stairs

because apparently in my
dream I went to Hogwarts.

But the stairs move,

class doesn't exist,

and I missed something.

And, of course,

there was no match for
any prints in the system.

It's literally peanuts.

Just peanuts compared
to everything else.

I shouldn't talk
about this with you,

any of it, I know that.

It can be unsettling.

It makes no difference.

I've been unsettled for years.

But were you
here for something else?

Yeah. Checking in on Trey
before I head back to HQ.

Hey. Hi. Mom, your
neighbors got your message,

and they have a trail cam.

They gave me the SD card.

Their camera angle should
get part of the road.

Oh, great. Let's
take it in, run it.

Yeah. Oh, and, uh...

Thank you for telling your
brother about yesterday.

He showed up.

- Yeah, no problem.
- Yeah.

- All right, come on.
- Let's go. - Cassie.

- Yeah? Be right there.
- Okay.

It's not just peanuts.

Don't apologize
for being stubborn.

I believe in the
art of just knowing.

Get your hands off me!

Code Silver, 10-32!

- Code Silver, 10-32!
- They're taking her away.

I guess they got
what they wanted:

my hope.

They
think they're taking it away.

- Listen.
- Code Silver, 10-32!

Code Silver, 10-32!

- Get your hands off of me!
- 10-32.

10-32. Gun, gun, gun, uh...

We're in a hospital.

Code Silver means
gun in a hospital.

- What can you do with that?
- I can, I can,

I can, um, I can
start to list off

all the abandoned hospitals
within 50 miles of Austin.

But I-I-I don't know...

What are they doing with her?

Are they, are they
just moving her?

Or are they, um...

My name
is Julia Johnson!

I work for McMillan's!

Julia!

She's gone.

You're pretty good
at driving people away.

Don't worry.

We'll find you someone
else to keep you company.

No!

Hey, thanks for
making these cookies.

I know you're just
trying to distract us,

but it's... it's still nice.

Saw right through me, huh?

Yep.

I mean, everybody wants to
make us feel better, but...

why, you know?

I get when we were
kids and all, but...

Stella and I have seen some
stuff. We can handle it.

I know you have.

You two have seen a lot.

I just don't think
any of us want to test

how much you can handle.

You know, the smell of these
cookies reminds me of...

the best and the worst after...

after Mom.

Did I tell you this
was her recipe?

- No.
- No.

Probably didn't want
to make you sad.

- Yeah.
- And look, Augie.

Me being here, making
these damn cookies,

this is me coping.

You know?

And I wish to God that
you didn't have to find

your own favorite
way to deal, but...

I know you do.

Aw, sad cookies.

Thank you.

Of course.

Hey, Colt, are you tired?

- No.
- I mean, I can take you back home.

You can get some sleep.

Uh, nah, I think I'm
just staying here.

If that's cool.

Y-Yeah. Here.

Yeah. No, no, no. That's cool.

Cool.

Hey. I mean, I'm totally
out of my league here.

Th-They're... Is this fine?

- Yeah. I...
- I mean, they're-they're technically adults.

- Right?
- Yeah, I-I guess. Uh...

- Gosh.
- I'm...

You don't have to stay.

I'm fine.

I know.

I know that you're fine.

But I'm not.

I'm just not.

So, if-if it's all the same,

then, um, I think
I'm gonna stay, too.

Okay.

I love you.

Love you, too.

You don't even lock your door?

I tried that, but you
already have a key.

That's fair.

- Oh. Is that Walker Ranch?
- Yeah.

Just tracking the course
where they grabbed him

and where we found the watch.

- Mm.
- There's nothing new, but I just...

I have a feeling,
you know what I mean?

I do.

I mean, all signs
point to the connection

to Miles and Fenton.

To the shootout. We know that.

The thing is, they didn't
come after you or James.

And they definitely
didn't come after me.

They went after Walker.

They knew him. They
were watching him.

Right? I mean,
come on. How else,

how else are they
gonna know about the...

the-the race or the
graduation party?

Or the fact that
there were trucks

coming in and out of there?

They were targeting
him, specifically.

These guys were smart.

And you think I'm crazy.

I absolutely do not.

I think you're gonna
be a great Ranger.

Hmm.

Meaning you can't talk to
me about the case stuff

- until it's official.
- I didn't say that.

Did you hear me say that?

I'm just here for the pad Thai.

Let's get going, then.

- Appreciate it.
- All right, how can I help?

Here, take this.

What are you doing?

I think the moment has passed.

What if this is it?

Abeline, I can't believe
you just said that.

I-I can't.

I mean, here I am worrying
about everyone's morale.

I never thought I'd have
to worry about yours.

In all these years,

everything that this
family has seen...

And my Lord, it's seen a lot...

You would never, you would
never assume the worst.

Or at least never
say it out loud.

Is that what you mean?

Well, maybe it's finally
too much to hold in.

I think it's been 36 hours.

It's-it's taking longer
than you thought. I know.

Yeah, I know. N-No, I
know. I know you know.

I'm not broken.

Did you hear that?

No. No.

- No.
- Remember...

Wait, wait, wait, wait. I-If...

Don't-don't-don't-don't go.

Don't. Please,
don't go. Not now.

Don't.

Just don't...

leave me.

You're not broken.

Cordell.

No.

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