11 - 01x03 - Origins: Negan's Story

[bunniefuu]

Let's meet the man.

[KNOCKING]

♪ ♪

[DOOR OPENS]

♪ ♪

Pissing our pants yet?

♪ ♪

Boy, do I have a feeling we're getting close.

The post-apocalyptic world is full of heroes and villains.

♪ ♪

Most of the time, those lines are blurred.

♪ ♪

NEGAN: I did what I had to do back then.

♪ ♪

I made myself into a monster because that is what the world needed.

♪ ♪

We're all heroes of our own stories.

♪ ♪

Now, if you look at Negan's journey from a different point of view, well, it might change how you feel about him.

♪ ♪

Little pig, little pig, let me in!

Here is Negan's story.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NEGAN: Well, I hope you got your sh1tting pants on, boy, 'cause you are about to sh*t your pants.

Before the world went to hell, Negan was a regular guy.

Please tell me that you did not spend $ on this "Happy Days" bullshit.

He may not have been the best husband, but I'll say this.

He did love his wife, Lucille.

[DOOR OPENS]

But then Lucille, she got devastating news.

What's going on?

What is it?

♪ ♪

I've got cancer.

And then everyone got devastating news.

[ENGINE STARTS]

MAN: ... and Cumberland have concluded that in all cases, the K*llers are eating the flesh of the people they k*ll.

MORGAN: All of a sudden, people started dying and coming back from the dead.

Lucille, her cancer diagnosis was a personal apocalypse for Negan.

He became less selfish, a better man.

Caring for his wife gave him purpose.

♪ ♪

Until one morning when their world was turned upside down again.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Determined to save his wife, he hatched a plan.

We have made it this far, so we are gonna see this through.

I'm gonna find these doctors, and I am gonna bring you back the dr*gs that you need, and we are gonna kick this cancer out of you.

[SOBBING]

♪ ♪

He finds the people he's heard rumors about.

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

Drop your g*ns! Drop your g*ns!

I don't want to sh**t him, but I will.

Okay. Take it easy.

MORGAN: Although he might not make the best first impression.

♪ ♪

No, don't.

- ♪ ♪
- [THUD]

♪ ♪

But they eventually come around.

♪ ♪

I found that note you wrote.

My daughter went out to the warehouse to see if we have what you need.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

We had it all.

Everything on your list.

I don't know what to say here. Um...

We have a lot. We just want to help.

They not only gave him the medicine that he needs, but they also give him one bad-ass way to defend himself.

♪ ♪

There's a g*ng that owns the roads at night.

Is that empty g*n your only w*apon?

Yeah, I broke my hammer on the way here.

Here. Take this.

This the bat you hit me with?

♪ ♪

Damn, girl.

You pack a wallop.

♪ ♪

MORGAN: On his way back to his wife,

Negan gets captured by the same g*ng he was warned about.

You gotta let me go.

♪ ♪

Negan is forced to give up information about the folks who just had helped him.

If you don't start talking by the time I stop,

- I swear to God...
- Wait, wait, wait.

Just bring me my map.

[SIGHS]

Bring me my map.

♪ ♪

He doesn't want to, but he doesn't see another way out.

He has to get back to his wife.

♪ ♪

However, nothing could have prepared him for what he saw when he got home.

♪ ♪

[GROWLING]

[GROWLING]

♪ ♪

[CRYING]

♪ ♪

He couldn't save Lucille.

♪ ♪

[GROWLING]

♪ ♪

So when he lost Lucille, there was no longer a reason to keep a lid on his rage.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[NEGAN GRUNTS]

And unfortunately for those guys...

♪ ♪

[GROANING]

... Negan had no reason to spare them.

NEGAN: Now when I see red, it's just a question of what I am capable of.

And, well, man, I hate to break it to ya.

See, I am starting to think that I am capable of damn near anything.

♪ ♪

So this... this is for not k*lling me.

♪ ♪

[WALKERS GROWLING]

After a while, after some trial and error,

Negan found himself as a leader of a community, the Sanctuary, and from the start, he did it his way.

So you k*ll the right people at the right time...

♪ ♪

... everything falls into place, everybody's happy.

Well... some people more than others.

But you k*ll one, and you could be saving hundreds more, and that is what we are all about.

We save people.

He solidified his leadership by commanding an almost cult-like following.

Until one day his men came across some folks led by an ex-sheriff by the name of Rick Grimes.

And those people, well, they didn't want to play by the rules.

♪ ♪

They att*cked Negan's people.

Was Negan in that building last night, or was he here?

Both.

♪ ♪

I'm Negan, shithead.

♪ ♪

Now, there's a whole world of fun that we can talk about, so let's have a chat.

I'm sorry it had to come to this.

[g*nsh*t]

Big mistake, Rick.

Big mistake.

♪ ♪

[WHISTLING]

Go! Go!

♪ ♪

[WHISTLING CONTINUES]

♪ ♪

[GROUP WHISTLING]

♪ ♪

You made it. Welcome to where you're going.

♪ ♪

All right, let's meet the man.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Hi. You're Rick, right?

I'm Negan.

♪ ♪

You are so gonna regret crossing me in a few minutes.

♪ ♪

And with that,

Negan and Rick, well, they finally meet face to face.

I don't want to k*ll you people.

I want you to work for me.

You can't do that if you're dead, now can you?

♪ ♪

But you k*lled my people, and for that... For that, you're gonna pay.

Eenie...

meenie...

miney...

mo.

♪ ♪

[WOMAN SCREAMS]

♪ ♪

[NEGAN GRUNTS, THUD]

MORGAN: After Negan kills Abraham,

Rick's right-hand man, Daryl, he goes and does something extra stupid...

♪ ♪

... and has to pay the price.

♪ ♪

That is a no-no.

Back to it.

♪ ♪

WOMAN: No!

Now, Negan doesn't want to keep k*lling these guys.

He's just trying to teach them his rules.

♪ ♪

And after they finally start getting the picture,

Negan returns to the Sanctuary with Daryl as his prisoner.

Ha ha ha! Dwighty Boy!

He sees value in strong people like Daryl.

He wants him to be like Dwight, one of Negan's top lieutenants.

And this Dwight guy, he is still loyal, despite getting half of his face b*rned off and being forced to give up his wife to Negan.

♪ ♪

[CHUCKLES]

After giving Daryl some time to think about his options... die in a cell eating dog food or work for Negan... he pays him a visit.

This, well... it can all be yours.

All you gotta do is answer one simple question.

♪ ♪

Who are you?

Daryl.

But that Daryl, he is a stubborn one.

[CELL DOOR CLANGS]

So Negan brings him along on a field trip to see his old friend Rick.

Little pig, little pig...let me in!

Now, when the Saviors meet a new community, they take half the crap.
That's just the way it is.

But that Rick, he still doesn't quite get how things work.

You don't decide what we take.

I do.

Satisfied with their haul,

Negan and the Saviors head back to Sanctuary.

And all is well... until he's paid a surprise visit.

Stay back! Drop your weapons!

I only want Negan.

He k*lled my friends.

No one else needs to die.

[MACHINE-g*n FIRE]

♪ ♪

And Negan, he likes what he sees in this kid.

Is that any way to treat our new guest?

[WALKERS GROWLING]

So he shows him around the place.

So, do I k*ll you?

Iron your face?

Chop off your arm?

Tell me. What do you think?

I think you jump out the window to save me the trouble of k*lling you.

[CHUCKLES] Oh.

Ohh!

Now, there is the kid that impressed the hell out of me.

♪ ♪

Let's go for a ride, kid.

♪ ♪

Negan brings Carl back to Alexandria safe and sound, and with Rick out on a run, well, Negan makes himself at home.

Damn, that smells good.

And life is really good in the suburbs.

You should know that Rick Grimes has a history of not working well with others.

You know, I'm thinking, Spencer.

I'm thinking how Rick threatened to k*ll me, how he clearly hates my guts.

But he is out there right now gathering sh*t for me to make sure

I don't hurt any of the fine people that live here.

And then there's you...

♪ ♪

... the guy who waited for Rick to be gone so he could sneak over and talk to me to get me to do his dirty work so he could take Rick's place.

You know what I'm thinking? 'Cause I have a guess.

♪ ♪

It's because you got no guts.

♪ ♪

[GASPS]

♪ ♪

[g*nsh*t]

sh*t!

♪ ♪

Despite the attempt on his life,

Negan always recognizes opportunity when he sees it.

♪ ♪

What is this?

This was homemade.

And while Negan tries to find out who the b*llet maker is,

Rick finally returns.

Your sh*t's waiting for you at the gate.

Just go.

Sure thing, Rick.

Right after I find the guy or gal that made this b*llet.

♪ ♪

It was me.

[SOBBING]

It was only me.

All in all, it was a very successful trip.

Negan reminded the Alexandrians who was in charge and got a fancy new b*llet maker with a mullet.

♪ ♪

But back at the Sanctuary, there's less pleasant news.

Daryl has escaped.

So while his men go searching,

Negan calls up his newest recruit.

Hey.

You do not need to be scared anymore.

You don't need to be scared.

You just have to answer me one question.

And it's a big one.

♪ ♪

- Who are...
- I'm Negan.

I'm utterly, completely, stone-cold Negan.

I was Negan before I even met you.

I just needed to meet you properly to know.

But not everyone in Rick's group is as eager to join the Saviors.

[AMPLIFIED] Hello.

I come salved with the hope that it is my dropped knowledge that you heed.

Options are zero to none.

Compliance and fealty are your only escape.

Where's Negan?

Rick, he thinks he's got the upper hand.

I'm Negan.

Rick finds out his allies are working for Negan, and Negan's not done.

See, he's got another card to play.

So you don't like Eugene anymore.

♪ ♪

You guys gotta like Sasha.

I do, too.

♪ ♪

Got her right here, packaged for your convenience.

I want all the g*ns you've managed to scrape up.

And I want it now, or Sasha dies.

Let me see her.

♪ ♪

Oh.

All right. Just give me a second.

I might have to get her up to speed.

You can't hear sh*t inside this thing.

Everything was going according to plan.

You're not gonna believe this crap.

- [GROWLING]
- Holy g*dd*mn!

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Ah, honey, God damn it.

[GROWLING]

But that's why you always have a plan B.

We can make another deal.

- [g*nsh*t]
- Aah!

And Rick finds himself on his knees in front of Negan.

Again.

♪ ♪

I guess I got to start all over again.

I truly don't know what more I could have done to warn you.

And this isn't a warning.

This is punishment.

♪ ♪

I'm gonna k*ll Carl now.

I'm gonna make it one nice, hard swing.

Try to do it in one because I like him.

I just want you to put that in your brain and roll it around for a minute.

I'm gonna k*ll Carl, and then Lucille here, she's gonna take your hands.

♪ ♪

You can do it right in front of me.

You can take my hands.

I told you already... I'm gonna k*ll you.

All of you.

Okay.

♪ ♪

You said I can do it.

[GROWLING]

[SCREAMING]

[g*nf*re]

♪ ♪

He's given Rick's group multiple chances, but now, see, Negan is done playing around.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

So I'm not exactly feeling a reason for us to try throwing lead at each other.

You're gonna make me count.

[SCOFFS LIGHTLY]

Okay, okay.

I'm counting.

...

...

...

...

[g*n COCKS]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Now, Rick may have decimated the Sanctuary, but he missed his primary target.

♪ ♪

And Negan, he decides it's time to take the fight back to Alexandria.

[g*nf*re]

♪ ♪

I'm gonna go to Rick's, make a little spaghetti.

When he shows up, send him my way.

And he wants Rick... all for himself.

♪ ♪

Michonne.

♪ ♪

[GRUNTS]

♪ ♪

This sh*t isn't funny anymore.

Aah!

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Don't make me do this now, Rick.

I got plans for you.

Cut you in little bitty pieces, feed you to the dead, and make you watch.

- Aah!
- Aah!

You ever shut the hell up?

Nope.

♪ ♪

[MUFFLED] Aah! Don't you touch her!

[GRUNTS]

[LUCILLE THUDS]

♪ ♪

[SCREAMS]

Rick is a slippery one, and he, along with most of his group, they manage to escape, so Negan makes it back to the Sanctuary, only to find out that his top guy has been conspiring against him.

You want to be the man, you got to b*at the man.

If you can do that... then, hell.... you should be the man.

Spoiler alert... He ain't the man.

[CHOKING]

- [GRUNTS]
- [CRACKING]

And Simon, he wasn't the only traitor.

Turns out Dwight was working with the enemy, so Negan puts Dwight where he belongs... back in a cell, and he shifts his focus to ending the w*r with the help of Eugene.

♪ ♪

Here we go.

Time to do something useful with our pathetic lives.

And now with Negan's army fully supplied, they catch Rick in an ambush.

♪ ♪

NEGAN: [AMPLIFIED] Look at that.

Pegged again. Pegged so very hard.

♪ ♪

But there is one loose end that Negan didn't account for.

♪ ♪

...

...

♪ ♪

... .

[g*nf*re, SCREAMING]

Aah!

Aah!

g*dd*mn Eugene.

♪ ♪

He's running!

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- [GRUNTS]
- [COUGHS]

♪ ♪

After all that, Negan loses the w*r.

♪ ♪

Save him.

♪ ♪

- No!
- Maggie! Maggie!

No, he can't!

No! No, he k*lled Glenn!

MORGAN: He loses his people and loses his freedom.

♪ ♪

So it turns out that solitary confinement is about the worst punishment ever for someone like Negan.

And he has nothing to lose but his life, and he's ready.

♪ ♪

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SIGHS]

Get to it.

Have your justice.

k*ll me.

It was worth it.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[COUGHING]

♪ ♪

Please. Please.

Please k*ll me.

When Maggie refuses...

I came to k*ll Negan.

And you're already worse than dead.

♪ ♪

That settles it.

♪ ♪

Go.

[GRUNTING]

♪ ♪

As the years went by, with Rick gone,

Maggie's left, Negan starts making friends in the most unlikely places.

"If airplane A is flying east at miles per hour and airplane B is flying west

- at miles per hour, how..."
- You know what?

You ever seen an airplane fly

in any direction at any speed?

No.

Do you think you ever will?

Probably not.

So what the hell difference does it make?

So even though Negan is making connections in Alexandria, he's still looking for a way out.

♪ ♪

JUDITH: Thought you were smarter than this.

You know, there's nothing out there for you.

For anyone.

I promise you that I'm not gonna hurt anyone, even if they try to hurt me.

I gotta go.

♪ ♪

But if I see you again, I'll sh**t.

♪ ♪

[WHISTLING]

♪ ♪

But unlike her daddy, Rick, Judith knows a thing or two.

[MOTORCYCLE APPROACHING]

I told you there was nothing out there.

You sure as sh*t did.

Language! I'm a kid, assh*le.

What can I say? I like to swear in front of my friends.

People that know some sh*t.

His time in the cell doesn't last long when a blizzard strikes and everyone is forced to evacuate.

♪ ♪

[WIND HOWLING]

Now, lucky for them, they bring him along because things go sideways real quick.

Wait!

Judith!

- Judith!
- [DOG BARKING]

[GRUNTS] Okay.

[GRUNTS] I got you, I got you.

You know, it turns out that there are some perks for good behavior.

He gets time out of his cell and, well, he starts taking another kid under his wing.

You looking for a job, kid?

Gage and his friends started again today.

Again? Jesus. Alright, kid, look.

Obviously you're having a day, but you know what happened with rolling with it?

- I'm not just gonna smile and take it.
- Look.

They are trying to get a reaction out of you.

They want to see you upset.

Don't give that to them. Screw them.

But Lydia's bullies, they didn't back off.

Shh.

[EXHALES SHAKILY]

♪ ♪

- [BOTH GRUNTING]
- Please!

[STRAINING, WHIMPERING]

♪ ♪

MORGAN: So Negan stepped in.

♪ ♪

[CRYING]

- What the hell's going on back here?
- BOY: Holy sh*t. Margo? Margo?

♪ ♪

You know, the people out there are talking about putting you down.

Saying Rick ain't around to save you no more.

Maybe they should have done it a long time ago.

But just when it seems like Negan's number is finally up, he's given a second chance.

A new group called the Whisperers have started a w*r and their leader, Alpha, she has pissed off the wrong woman.

CAROL: I need this done.

And it'll help every man, woman and child here.

And what do I get out of it?

You've been eating whatever sh*t we throw your way, hoping that one day they'll all forget.

They won't.

Not unless you do something to make them forget.

So you bring me Alpha's head.

♪ ♪

[WALKERS GROWLING]

And with that, Negan's a free man.

♪ ♪

And only he and Carol know the mission.

♪ ♪

[GRUNTS, GROANS]

So, now he just has to convince them to trust him.

Honestly, fellas, what do you got going on down low?

Are you flyin' around commando-style, or do you got, like, walker long johns with the la... flap.

[BREATHING HEAVILY] Hey, I'm Negan.

♪ ♪

For the last eight years,

I have been locked up by your enemy.

So you take me to your leader, and I will spill every g*dd*mn secret I know.

♪ ♪

But see, it's clear from the jump that ol' Frown-y McTwoKnives is threatened by him.

You are a waste.

But Alpha, she quickly takes a liking to Negan.

And who can blame her?

♪ ♪

I'm all in.

Whatever you want, whatever I got... it's yours.

♪ ♪

I thought you wanted them to join us.

They will.

♪ ♪

As part of my horde.

After the destruction of Hilltop, everything comes to a head when he spots Lydia.

♪ ♪

[GASPS]

Stop.

Sorry, kid.

This sh*t is done.

Alpha.

Thing you've been looking for?

I found it.

He promised Alpha that he would find her daughter.

And as he leads her to Lydia, he tries to find any remaining trace of Alpha's humanity.

You think that it makes you strong to say that emotions aren't real, that we are animals?

That is bullshit, and you know it.

And now you claim that you have to k*ll your own daughter, your own flesh and blood.

♪ ♪

It is her destiny.

♪ ♪

He won't let anyone hurt Lydia.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[SPUTTERS]

[GASPS]

[GROWLING]

Took you long enough.

Everyone's a critic.

[GROWLING]

♪ ♪

NEGAN: Is this what you wanted?

What took you so damn long?

I told you to do it fast.

It's done.

Alright, I held up my end.

Now I'm asking you to hold up yours.

Just walk me through those gates so I can open up a new chapter in the book of Negan.

I'm not going back.

Not yet.

♪ ♪

The disappointments continue when he goes to release Lydia.

Hey, kid, I'm sorry about...

sh*t.

Oh!

- God!
- Where's Alpha?!

- Look, whatever Lydia told you...
- Where is she?!

She is dead.

She is dead. I k*lled her.

You liar.

See, now, Negan knows that Daryl's not going to take his word for it, so he shows him the evidence.

I swear to God it was on that spike.

Look, we... we sit here and we wait for Carol or I can take you to find the...

Oh, come on, man.

We're talking about Lydia here.

Why would I stash her out in banjo country unless the whole point was to keep her safe, unless the whole frickin' point was just to use her as bait so I could get Alpha alone?

You sure took your sweet ass time, though, didn't you?

What is with you guys thinking I didn't do it fast enough?

♪ ♪

Alpha's dead... because of you.

We kneel... to the new Alpha.

♪ ♪

You should probably sh**t me.

Don't thr*aten me with a good time.

♪ ♪

sh*t.

[ALL GRUNTING]

♪ ♪

Now that Daryl believes Negan, they rejoin the group.

And with Alpha's number two still out for revenge...

NEGAN: [WHISPERING] Hey, sh*t head.

... he takes it upon himself to end things.

♪ ♪

[WALKERS GROWLING]

♪ ♪

[BOTH GRUNTING]

For Alpha.

♪ ♪

So with the skin freaks out of the picture,

Negan starts to think that, well, maybe he can be part of this group.

But then...

Maggie returns.

Hi, Maggie.

♪ ♪

I didn't escape if that's what you're thinking.

So now with Maggie back...

♪ ♪

... nobody feels comfortable keeping Negan around.

[DOOR CREAKS]

I see you went ahead and moved me in.

Daryl helped. I'm sorry.

The council has voted to banish you.

What you want just... isn't gonna happen.

It's not possible.

I know it's not what I promised, but given our less recent history... it's better than you deserve.

It doesn't matter that he's not in his cell.

Negan's alone, completely alone.

♪ ♪

NEGAN: You know what the sad part is?

That you thought for even a second that those folks would see you for anything but who you truly are.

Which is me.

[GLASS SHATTERS]

And even digging up Lucille...

♪ ♪

Even that's not enough to keep his demons at bay.

♪ ♪

NEGAN: I am sorry that I left you.

I was a coward.

I couldn't face the pain of losing you, so I ran away.

I'm sorry that you went out like that.

I should've been there.

I am sorry that I named a stupid baseball bat after you.

♪ ♪

I love the sh*t out of you.

♪ ♪

I'm gonna do your fighting for you.

♪ ♪

If you stay here, she will k*ll you.

I just didn't want your death on my conscience, and...now it's not.

Fair enough.

♪ ♪

MORGAN: Love him or hate him...

Negan is done running.

Some people might think he's a villain, but Negan, he has a code and he follows it.

NEGAN: You don't k*ll people that don't deserve it... and you never k*ll kids.

Right or wrong, Negan, he does what he does to survive.

And can you really fault him for that?

So whatever happens next, one thing is for certain.

Negan is telling his own story...

♪ ♪

... his way.

♪ ♪

[WATER DRIPPING]

- [LOUD, REVERBERATING CREAKING]
- _

- ALDEN: What the hell was that?
- [DOG BARKS]

[CREAKING]

The storm's pushing air through the pipes, making them groan.

It's nothing serious. We're good.

[CREAKING]

[CREAKING]

Know what that noise actually is?

That is God, telling us to turn around.

I'm pretty sure He would have ran that by me first.

Oh, yeah?

The Good Lord direct your one eyeball to this?

Water-line mark.

That means this tunnel floods on a regular basis, like when it rains.

[CREAKING]

It's bad down here. It's worse up there.

Look, man, all I am saying...

And it ain't working.

You trying to run sh*t.

Keep moving.

Come on. [WHISTLES]

- Dog!
- [DOG BARKS]

You're in on it.

[CREAKING]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪