02x06 - This Woman's Work

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Defiance...

There's something inside me, Tommy, something awful and dangerous, and now I've let it out.

How many people do I have to k*ll?

How big is my debt?

You don't understand.

You're not k*lling them.

You're saving them.

Where have you been?

One minute, I was in the market, and the next, I was waking up in the woods.

Stop picking at me.

You know, sometimes, you can just be such a human.

They still treat me like an outsider.

You have to live in their skin.

How am I supposed to live in their skin?

It's a secret.

You're a show-off, Pottinger.

I never met a show-off who was quite as smart as he thought he was.

Why do you go out of your way to make him mad?

Mercado only respects people he hates.

[Camera beeps]

I'm sleeping.

[Laughs]

I want you awake.

Today is a special day.

What's so great about it?

Open your eyes and find out.

[Laughs]

[Moaning]

You know, someone could get ahold of that footage.

[Laughs]

And do what?

No more Internet. Let's enjoy it.

Your boss could see it.

Pottinger is hot for his own reflection.

He is not interested in my naked ass.

[Moans]

But I see you are.

Tommy: [Whispers] Yes.

[Moans]

[Footsteps]

[Door slams]

Viceroy Mercado, I wasn't informed you were coming.

I wasn't advertising.

Have you come straight from New York?

I was touring the provinces when I received some news.

A gift from heaven is about to fall in our laps.

Orbital object 29-A-L.

It's going to hit near here.

I need you to run point on retrieval.

Of course.

I'll send for the Fort Adams Ark Recovery Team.

No time.

Scavengers will come crawling out of the woodwork.

We can't allow outsiders to recover those cylinders.

We're not qualified for this.

You have an expert ark hunter right here in town.

Absolutely not.

You don't get a choice.

Take the lawkeeper.

The Earth Republic needs this.

You mean you need this.

Election day just around the corner.

Councilor Lyle has her maglev contract.

Ambassador Mueller is about to sign a truce with Winnipeg.

What do you have?

I have my best man on the job.

If I win, you win.

So what are you waiting for?

[Deep rumbling]

[All exclaiming]

[Growls]

[All snorting]

[Screeching]

[All screeching]

[Heavy metallic footsteps]

[Screeches]

[Dramatic music]

♪

Must be quite a payload to risk scuffing that pretty manicure of yours.

What is it?

A terrasphere?

Cryotech?

Caeruleum core.

This ark used to be a refueling station for the entire Votan fleet.

Caeruleum is a clean fuel source that never runs dry, which is why our command's been tracking it for the past 17 years.

It's an endless energy source, Nolan.

We could change the world.

The world did change 17 years ago.

It didn't turn out so well.

I'm not interested in your opinions.

Well, you better be, because the only way I'm coming along on this little jaunt of yours is if I'm calling the sh*ts.

This is my mission.

Oh, good.

Best of luck with that.

Let me know how it turns out for you.

All right.

Okay.

Your input is highly valued.

I look forward to seeing you in the field, sir.

What's Barbie Doll doing here?

Envisioning 12 ways I can kick your caveman ass.

Good luck with that. Where's Irisa?

I thought she could stay behind.

She and Berlin don't get along so well.

I figured we could minimize the drama.

Irisa has value.

Your girlfriend does not.

I'm here to document the ark hunt.

It's good footage.

Good propaganda, you mean.

Tommy, you're grounded.

Come again?

Once again, Tommy, you have proven that I can't trust you.

You can stay behind and polish the g*n cabinet.

You're mad that I told Pottinger that you destroyed evidence.

No, I'm not mad.

I just place a high value on loyalty.

Oh.

Well, I quit.

Sorry?

I couldn't hear you over the engines.

I said, "I quit."

That's what you want?

Yes.

All right.

Put your g*n and badge in the safe, and please, lock up on your way out.

[Engine turning over]

Hey.

I am proud of you.

You are better than this job, and you are better than him.

Look, the E-Rep is ramping up security at the border.

We could go there, start fresh, make a difference.

You'd really consider reassignment?

To the border? Absolutely.

That's where the story is.

It would be good for me.

It would be good for us.

What do you think?

Chup this town.

I say yes.

What's going on?

That's Belutok Kurr, a holy man.

[Speaking native language]

Witness the agent of this heresy.

I'll see you back at home.

I apologize, Favi Kurr.

I did not realize you found such offense in games of chance.

I don't care about gambling.

I care that a woman usurped her husband.

My son now guards our family interests.

Your son is soft as a hopo flower.

Everyone knows you run things.

I have noticed how your husband's men defer to you.

I am shanje liro.

They seek to protect me.

Do you know how our culture has survived so long?

We do not compromise.

And yet here we are, both speaking English.

It is the tiny concessions that are the most dangerous.

The tallest mountain can be worn down by a tiny stream.

Assimilation is natural.

No.

It is a virus.

One woman defies the system, others notice, and soon, they step out of line.

Eventually, women like my wife forget their place.

I can see how you might find an empowered woman threatening, especially a woman backed by a dedicated band of hardened criminals.

Threatening me will not help you.

We lost our home.

I'll be damned before I lose my culture.

Then you will be damned.

Perhaps, but not before I see you upon a shaming rack.

[Metallic clinking]

Nice place you got here.

Where's your bath?

Shower's out back.

[Laughs]

Where's this thing you wanted to show me?

Whoa.

Is that what I think it is?

Careful.

One wrong move, and they'll be finding your molars on top of the arch.

Ah.

[Footsteps]

Am I interrupting?

Not at all.

Rafe was just giving me an update on Christie and the pregnancy.

Hey, Stahma.

I was just thinking, maybe we could invite Datak over to the house for dinner this Sunday.

Okay, maybe just dessert.

I'd like a word with my husband please.

I'll see myself out.

Speak.

What do you want?

How much did you pay the holy man to come after me?

[Laughing]

You think I bribed Favi Kurr?

Even if I had the money, his honor is unimpeachable.

Oh, I had nothing to do with this.

Then who?

Do you think our community is blind?

You think no one would talk?

What you've done to me cuts against the very grain of who our people are.

You're seen as a danger to them, especially the men.

I know what you're thinking, my sweetest love.

Spread some jaja around, make the problem go away.

But with the boycott in effect, cash will soon be in short supply.

And may I remind you, Favi Kurr?

Hmm.

Oh, he cannot be bought.

There's nothing more dangerous to people like us than an honest man.

He would see me on a shaming rack.

I know.

You'll look pretty.

[Tense music]

♪

[Indistinct chatter]

Where are you going?

Irisa.

Irisa, there's something I need to tell you.

[Choking]

[Hissing]

[Inhaling deeply]

Get off him.

Irisa!

Irisa.

Tommy?

It's okay.

Back away.

I didn't hurt him.

I said back away.

He's dead.

I have to get him out of sight.

Let go.

He needs time to recover.

He'll be fine.

I swear to God, Irisa, if you don't let go, I... I will sh**t you.

Go ahead. It won't matter.

Okay, campers, listen up.

The crashed ship is three klicks to the south, just beyond that crest.

I'll take five guys, we'll scout through the woods, and we'll search for a way in.

Why limit yourself to such a small group?

We have an entire regiment.

Five's all I need.

You ever been inside an ark before in your life?

Any of your troops?

We'll start small.

You three, fall in.

Yes, sir.

Cheers.

Thank you.

Mayor Rosewater.

I understand you're acting as Special Advisor to your successor.

Mm, actually, Datak Tarr was my successor.

Briefly, yes.

I love this town.

I help out however I can.

When you're not occupied with your day job.

[Chuckles]

You must meet all kinds in here.

Mm, my clientele runs the gamut.

Well, my tastes, of course, run a bit on the quirky side.

More big city, really, than backwater bordello.

Well, our remote location affords certain advantages to a gentleman with a sophisticated sexual palate.

Utter discretion, for example.

What would you say then to a gentleman who is looking to...

Ah.

A local club.

Caters to more specialized tastes.

I thank you for this and your discretion.

Why a bioman?

What are you implying?

Not the smartest bodyguard in the world.

Found him floating in Kongeaen Creek, burns over half his body.

Kongeaen Creek?

You fought in the Copenhagen slaughter?

The C.O. ordered the bioman left behind to die.

He filled his purpose.

So I disobeyed orders and built a litter, and I dragged him to the nearest med-post.

After the w*r, I kept him on as a bodyguard.

His loyalty suits me.

I thought you of all people would understand that.

How's that?

Well, from what I hear, we share a similar history.

Do we?

Yeah.

We both rescued victims of the terrible w*r, took them in, raised them like our own.

Irisa is a person.

Your bioman is a k*lling machine made up of stem cells and spare parts.

You sound like a bigot.

I've been called worse.

[Dramatic music]

There she is.

Beauty, isn't she?

♪

All right, you four, spread out, look for scavengers.

Mr. Mayor, you want to accompany me?

[Hissing]

[Scanner beeping]

Air is good.

We're clear.

It's incredible.

[Electricity crackling]

[Grunts]

[Groans]

[Both grunting]

Might want to watch where you're walking next time.

Be careful.

[Dramatic music]

♪

[Door whooshes]

Bloody hell.

Hard landing.

[Electricity crackling]

"Clean Energy," my ass.

This is a Gulanee transport ark.

Those aren't fuel cells.

They're containment cylinders.

[Cylinder beeping]

There's a suit missing.

So much for containment.

[Screeches]

That came from outside.

That's our Gulanee.

It b*rned us.

I got up, but they didn't.

I think they're dead.

I'm gonna rip that thing apart.

I doubt it.

[Hailer beeps]

All units, be advised, an active Gulanee is in the vicinity.

This species is pure Votan energy.

It's highly lethal.

This is an incredibly dangerous situation.

I want the area cleared now.

Clear out, do you hear me? Clear out.

Be on alert, and do not approach it.

How long did you say that ark had been in orbit?

Since Arkfall.

That Gulanee's been trapped in its canister for the last 17 years.

It doesn't know the w*r's over.

We're humans, enemy combatants.

He's not waking up.

Don't you trust me?

Yeah, I do, but come on.

He'll wake up, just like Bertie.

You did this to Bertie?

And she woke up.

Nolan was right about you.

I had to lie.

Why?

[Sighs]

If I tell Nolan, the thing inside me will k*ll him.

k*ll him?

How?

Last year, the night I disappeared, I made a deal with something.

It said it was a god, but now I'm not so sure.

I wish I understood better.

How many times have you done this?

Answer me.

A lot.

Stop looking at me like that.

But Mars is a dead planet.

So is Venus.

Your men and women could not have possibly have come from there.

You know that.

It's an old world saying.

It means, "Men are dicks. Deal with it."

Oh.

Still, I come from a culture that worships dicks.

That will never change.

Well, look around you, Stahma.

Everything changes.

All the more reason for us to maintain our standards.

We Castithans owe our greatness to the strength and depth of our culture.

Mm.

And who created this culture, hmm?

Old men who scribbled it on tablets a thousand years ago to keep you on your knees.

Human women felt the exact same way, so we banded together.

We changed things.

We b*rned our bras.

Why in three hells would you burn your undergarments?

I don't know. It was in a book.

[Both laugh]

Are you sure you're sober enough to be giving me advice?

Oh, hey, cut me some slack.

I've been off the Adreno now for two weeks.

All I'm saying is, just talk to the other Castithan wives.

Bet you'd find out they're just as fed up as you are.

If they even knew I was talking to you in this way, they would cast me out.

I'm alone.

That's a dangerous place to be.

Hey, you're not alone.

Should've used the terrasphere to flatten the ark from a mile away.

What was your plan?

Ask the Gulanee to come along nicely?

I was told they'd be dormant in their cylinders, not suited up for battle.

Well, you were told wrong, and you're gonna get us k*lled.

Let's not panic.

What's our next step?

Well, the Gulanee are comprised mostly of energy, which is why you rarely find 'em on Earth.

They can exist in their canisters or in their battle suits.

Suppose if we could pierce its suit, we might be able to k*ll it.

Let's head back to the roller, and we can improvise a w*apon.

[Dramatic music]

♪

[Grunts]

[Grunts]

[Grunts]

[g*nf*re]

[Electricity crackling]

[Screaming]

[Screeches]

Let's get this gear back to the ship quick.

Thank you for agreeing to see me.

I worried things had become uncomfortable between us.

I am glad that's not the case.

Perhaps it was your own conscience and the weight of thoughts that were not yours to have.

[Gasps]

[Soft music]

I find that stitch difficult.

Even with agile hands, I have yet to master it.

Thank you, Favi Tarr.

How did you injure your wrist?

My husband requested nok-seed stew for dinner, and we were out of nok-seed.

Punished for tending to his needs?

That seems quite unfair.

The law is the law.

We women must abide by our traditions.

That is the thread that keeps our culture intact.

Perhaps it is time that our culture adjusted to suit our new world.

And what about your mother and all the women who came before her?

Is this how you honor their memory, by just turning your back on everything they stood for?

Why not honor their memories by becoming what they could not?

Let us be strong.

Strong women together.

That is enough.

We are shanjifyo, pure of blood and spirit.

Our strength comes from our traditions.

I will not see them trampled.

I understand.

Your beliefs are strong.

Who am I to weaken them?

Yes.

Please, let us part as friends.

I have prepared a special blend of fragrant tea to honor the home of the [Speaking native language].

[Dramatic music]

♪

How's this thing supposed to work?

It's called a pulse rebounder.

Will it k*ll the Gulanee?

No, it won't k*ll it, but it might paralyze it long enough for us to k*ll it.

Built one of these in Juárez.

Mind you, we had better tech in Juárez.

[Screeches]

Okay, I need you to distract that thing... I need more time.

Distract it? How am I gonna distract it?

I don't know. Tell it dirty limericks.

But if I don't get more time, we all die.

[Dramatic music]

♪

Churchill.

Yes, sir.

The weakest point on the Gulanee's armor is her faceplate.

Use your sidearm to get in close enough, and then k*ll it with this.

You think that'll work?

Absolutely.

I could use a better w*apon.

Churchill, this is all we have.

Now listen, faceplate, remember?

Faceplate.

Go, go.

Faceplate.

Churchill, Churchill.

When we get home, I will take you for pow-rib and chips.

Hell, we'll even have a couple of pints.

I'd like that.

Go.

[Door whooshes]

He's gonna die in there. You know that.

Finish the device.

[Heavy metallic footsteps]

[Screeches]

[Screeching]

[g*nshots]

[Screeching]

[Dramatic music]

♪

[Grunts]

[Electricity crackling]

[Grunting]

[Screeching]

[Electricity crackling]

[Grunting]

She's coming for us.

[Heavy metallic footsteps]

You ready?

Look, if he hadn't have gone in there, we'd all three be dead.

Churchill d*ed a hero.

Would you have sent your Irathient girl?

[Machine whirring, beeping]

Come on.

Let's go take this haigi down.

[Electricity crackling]

Come on. Come on.

[Chirps]

[Screeches]

[Electricity crackling]

[Rising electrical hum]

[Screeching]

Stop!

Give me the bar.

[Screeching]

This is for Churchill.

[Grunting]

[High-pitched buzzing]

[Grunts]

How long does this take anyway?

Depends.

Depends on what?

I don't know.

I feel like a sucker.

You're not.

And thank you for not arresting me.

It's not really my job anymore.

I quit today.

Why?

Nolan.

Can't stand him anymore.

I'm heading south to Texas.

With her?

How'd you meet her?

You really think right now is the time?

I'm interested.

I'm not gonna talk about my romantic life with a dead body in the room.

He's not dead.

You don't have to tell me if you don't want.

I was grabbing lunch in the marketplace, and a screwdriver fell into my soup.

Noodles splattered all over me.

I look up, and there she was, hanging from a cable, installing a camera.

Instead of offering to buy me a new bowl, she just starts laughing, and then I started laughing.

I wasn't doing much laughing back then.

Do you love her?

[Gasping]

Drink.

Drink.

You're okay.

You had an accident.

Go home. You won't remember any of this.

I had an accident?

Yeah, but you're okay.

[Dramatic music]

♪

[Door closes]

You can't tell anyone about this.

Promise me.

Just because he's alive doesn't mean he's gonna be all right.

You're the only person who knows about this, the only person I can trust.

I need you, Tommy.

I heard they found a large quantity of poison in Favi Kurr's possession, and three eyewitnesses place him at the scene of the murders.

Such a brazen crime.

Apparently, his own wife had been meeting secretly to discuss some sort of women's liberation movement.

Poor man.

[Grunts]

I suppose he had no choice.

He couldn't allow such heresy to gain traction.

What kind of world do we live in when women conspire to overthrow the church?

[Grunting]

A world of great change.

In the wake of the scandal, I imagine the clergy have lost their appetite to boycott the fight tent.

[Screaming]

You could just as easily have framed me.

And yet I did not.

Well, perhaps you still love me.

[Metallic clicking]

[Shouts]

If you'll excuse me, I must place my stone now.

[Screams]

You failed me, Pottinger.

No cylinders.

No Gulanee.

I'm going to have a hard time explaining this gross incompetence to New York.

You have to take into account the fact that one of them got loose.

I lost 43 men.

I'm sending you to the Dakota Reach.

We're having labor troubles on the northern maglev.

I have responsibilities here.

I can run the town.

If you think you can just swoop in here and take credit for my accomplishments...

Consider yourself lucky I didn't send you to the front to die.

But rest assured, that option remains on the table.

Now get out of my sight before you completely ruin my evening.

So I was just at the personnel office, and they are fast-tracking your application.

Mm.

Yeah.

Oh, and I have a line on a sublet right on the beach, a really cute two-bedroom.

Yeah, there's something I need to tell you.

I'm not going to Amarillo.

I requested assignment here in town.

What happened?

Things have changed.

Did Nolan talk you into staying?

I knew he would. What did he say?

I didn't talk to Nolan, and I don't plan on it.

Is it her?

It's not what you think.

Is it her?

I can't leave Defiance right now.

She needs me.

Like a friend needs a friend.

Okay.

Well, we're a team, so we'll help her together.

No.

I don't want you anywhere near her.

Can you explain why?

Uh...

You're just gonna have to trust me.

Amazing.

I would've actually gone to a shtakhole like Texas for you.

We could have been good.

I hope she's worth it.

Berlin?

Barkeep, same again, top shelf.

[Rock music]

♪

Mercado is sending me to the Dakota Reach on a fool's errand.

The Dakota Reach?

Mm-hmm.

It's my punishment for blowing the mission.

Anyway, here's to Churchill.

Slainte.

Two best things the Scots produced... single malt and poets.

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."

[Door clanks]

This seat taken?

No, not at all. No, Amanda and I were just...

Yeah.

So, Barbie Doll, what happened to Tommy?

Tommy who?

Been that kind of a day for you too, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Why don't you get me a drink and explain to me what a Barbie Doll is and whether or not I ought to punch you for calling me one?

[Laughing]

Well, you definitely ought to punch me.

Well, you should drink up.

It's not a fair fight if only one of us is drunk.

[Rhythmic b*at]

♪

[Rhythmic dreamy music]

♪
♪ Tiny morning dawning ♪
♪ From a lonely sun ♪
♪ We were born in twilight ♪
♪ We will die beneath the one ♪

[Singing in native language]

♪ How I long for Sulos ♪

[Singing in native language]

♪ Such pallid rays ♪

[Singing in native language]

♪ These nights so barren ♪
♪ Slurring into washed-out days ♪
♪ Now you lie beside me ♪
♪ I can feel your breath ♪
♪ You rescind my journey ♪
♪ Your love ransoms me from death ♪

[Singing in native language]

♪