01x01 - Say the Words

[bunniefuu]

We are the Spree.

Hey. Your daddy let me in.

-Did you have school?
-I had a half day.

Here. Um, there's
a little extra there.

I know you're off to Salem
tomorrow, God bless.

Yes, ma'am.

Permanent government vacation
till I'm old and grey,

if I make it that long.

Well, I just want you to
know how grateful we are

for what you do, for the
sacrifice you make.

-Truly.
-Thanks.

- You can come on through.
- Right. Yeah.

-It got worse.
-We'll fix you up.

With me now.

Ask, and it shall
be given you.

Seek, and ye shall find.

Knock, and it shall
be opened unto you.

For every one that
asketh receiveth,

and he that
seeketh findeth...

And to him that knocketh
it shall be opened.

For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,

forever and ever.

Thank you.

It's cold. You should
come back to the bag.

Can we say goodbye again?

I can't see you again
after I take the oath.

Remember? We talked about it.

Come on, we can be subtle.

-Paul.
-I need to see you.

This can't be
the last time...

Listen to me.

This is when
you go to college,

find a girl, get married,
everything nice and good.

This is when I go grind our
great nation's enemies into dust.

Go.

I should take off.

And don't walk into traffic.

A cowardly att*ck
on Conscription Day.

Let's go back to
the scene right now.

Here's what we know.
Sixteen hundred people

are dead today,

the result of an unknown bomber
who may have fled the scene.

This is obviously...

what happened today redefines

"su1c1de b*mb" in a way that
shocks me to the marrow.

The ruthlessness of this att*ck
has all the earmarks of the Spree.

Not to mention the timing,
on Conscription Day,

when so many of our
bravest are called up...

You know what? This
is abusive. Turn that off.

I give up. Cook your
own goodbye dinner,

'cause you're in such a hurry
to get yourself k*lled.

Mom, I'm sorry.

I have given this so
much careful thought.

I want to help. I want
to do something good.

Have you ever thought that maybe
I want to get away from here?

Will you imagine
for two seconds

what it was like for me
to lose my sisters...

Mom, I can't do this again.

I spoke to the attorney.

When the call comes, just
don't say the words.

That's all we have
to do right now.

Tally, Tally!

What did you tell
Paul, the poor thing?

I sent him on his way
with a little oomph.

You better save some
oomph for w*r College.

Gotta get
through basic first.

Don't even joke about that.

You're not gonna let this
family down either, correct?

No, ma'am.

Because the first Bellweather to
serve in this Army was a sl*ve.

-She deserves better.
-Yes, ma'am.

You... are her wildest
dream, understood?

This is breaking news.

A terrifying att*ck
on Conscription Day.

-The Spree?
-The Army has set up a perimeter.

We do not know if this
is an act of terrorism.

No one has claimed
responsibility.

It certainly has
all the hallmarks...

And when you say the
affected, that means anyone

in audible range of the
balloon's popping noise?

Correct. The Spree
are using sound here

to carry and spread the curse
to the general public.

The Spree are a radical
militant organization,

whose stateless
army wreaks havoc...

Any minute now?

Yeah, pretty much.

This... was your mama's,

and her mama's before her.

Going back and back, passed
down through the generations.

Supposed to
wear it in combat.

Keep you safe.

I can't lose you too.

Please do not say the words.

If you say the words,
they've got you.

Tally.

Do you know how hard I worked to
get you out of the lottery of death?

Tally. Tally, Tally!

Tally! Tally! You're
smarter than this! Tally!

I, Tally Craven,
do solemnly pledge

to protect and defend the
United States of America

against all enemies...

foreign or domestic.

I will faithfully serve and
obey the rules and articles

for the government
of the Army...

of the United States,
all secrets keep,

all lawful commands willingly perform
as dictated by the Salem Accord.

_

-Have a great flight.
-Thank you.

Next, please.

-Hello.
-Hi.

Hi. Welcome.

-I will be happy to help you.
-Thanks.

Okay. We do have
a flight to Boston

boarding in 11 minutes
and it is fully booked,

but I'm sure someone
will happily surrender

their seat under
the circumstances.

Tell you what, I'll
walk you over there.

I'm on the Boston flight.

This young lady
can have my seat.

Thank you for your
service to our country.

She's a witch.

She won't need
a return flight.

Thank you.

-You're very brave.
-I haven't done anything yet.

_

I am General Sarah Alder.

Welcome to Fort Salem.

It is a solemn day.

Much like the
day, 327 years ago,

when I made a deal with the
Massachusetts Bay Militia.

My terms were simple:

honor me,

make a place for me and my
kind and we will win your wars.

That was before we
were even America.

All of you have
answered the call.

Just like your mothers and
their mothers before them.

You are the daughters of ancient
lines. You are called to greatness.

You have bravely pledged to serve
and defend this great country.

I assure you,
dark days await us.

We live in a time of ancient
hatred and emerging threats.

The Spree are
ruthless and savage.

We will need all of you
to meet what's coming.

And we will meet it
with storm and fury.

You are among
your own kind now.

Take comfort in it.

Find strength in it.

A blessing on all of you,
a blessing on this place,

this witch's place.

Hi. Hi. Hi.

Welcome to all-suites Circe
Barracks, the finest on the base.

I am Drill Sergeant
Anacostia Quartermaine.

My job is to keep you
alive through basic

so the m*llitary High
Council can determine if

you go on to w*r College.

Or not.

Starting this year, you
will rise or fall as units.

That means how anyone in your
unit performs during basic

is how everyone in your
unit performs during basic.

Your job is to be
effective soldiers,

displaying at all times those
most m*llitary of virtues.

Suite numbers on the
back of your medals.

Go, meet the
rest of your units.

Now, ladies!

-You must be Raelle!
-Hi.

I'm Tally Craven,

and this is Abigail
Bellweather.

Sounds like we're going
all the way together.

Onward to glory, soldiers.

Well, rah, rah, rah.
Sounds like a poster.

I assure you, the
sentiment is sincere.

Bellweather?
Sounds familiar.

Army's crawling
with Bellweathers.

I'm good with lower or upper.

No way is that gonna
pass inspection.

Cross that bridge, I guess.

Where are you from?

Chippewa Cession,
near Carolina.

Lookin' pretty pale
for Chippewa Cession.

My family was there before it was
the Cession. Where are you from?

-New York and Annapolis.
-How can you be from two places?

-We summer in Maryland, by the water.
-We summer where we winter.

Me too.

I'm from Norcal. Sacramento.

I grew up on a
matrifocal compound,

so it's really
far from the city.

-A what compound?
-Matrifocal.

No dudes, like, ever.

Ever.

But lots of heirloom avocado
growing conscientious objectors,

weavers, knitters,
midwives...

I'm sorry, I'm still on
the "no dudes" part.

So like are you a virgin?

Let me see your mark.

It changes when you have
sex for the first time.

It gets better, shinier.

-The way it catches the light.
-Where's yours?

Literally an inch
from my vag*na,

so maybe when we get to
know each other better.

But is it... is it shiny?

My mom lost four
sisters to combat.

When she turned 18, they
gave her dispensation.

She didn't have to serve.

The Army said that our line
had become unduly depleted.

She reopened the
case to get one for me.

And then I ruined
her life by coming.

You came when
you didn't have to?

That's some heroic
stuff, Private Craven.

I... I guess I felt like
I did have to come,

I mean given the
state of the world.

The Spree.

Every att*ck is
worse than the last.

I couldn't just watch while
innocent people die.

-I couldn't...
-You did the right thing.

This was the
smallest draft in years.

We need everybody.

Who have you lost?

Aunts, so many cousins,

both grandmothers
d*ed in their 50s.

One in the air when
her salva ran out,

and the other rotting in a
tent crawling with plague rats.

What about you, Raelle?

My mom d*ed in a firefight
in Liberia last year.

On a beach.

The sand turned to glass around
her and they had to cr*ck her out.

What was left of her.

She d*ed an honorable death.

I think my mom was
tired when she d*ed.

And scared. And used up.

I think she wanted
to come home.

For those who
dwell in the earth.

For those who
gave their lives.

For those, we remember.

Sounds like a freight train.

Who knew wind can cut rock?

Wouldn't mind
learning to do that.

Yeah, well, with my luck, I'll
wind up a medic like my mom.

Didn't work out
so well for her.

Shouldn't you be in training?

Shouldn't you?

Medals.

Hand over your medals.

Where are you two
supposed to be exactly?

-I was looking for the infirmary.
-Me too.

Yeah, the infirmary
is right by the PX.

How'd you get over here?

You two have seven minutes

to find your drill sergeants
to discuss your demerits.

And they already know.

They were loads of fun.

Yeah, I hear they
do birthday parties.

-Walk you back?
-I'm Scylla.

I'm Raelle.

Medal.

-First week?
-Sorry.

Are you?

Do you know what happens to
soldiers who sh*t the bed in basic?

w*r meat, Private.

Front line disposable
w*r sausage

in some of the worst
places on Earth.

Officers die just
as good as enlisted.

Seems like you
don't want to be here.

It's not just you your
bad behavior affects.

Makes me look bad,

your unit takes a hit every
timeyou do this type of thing.

They see everything.

Take some advice.

Pretend you're not yourself
for one minute and listen.

There's a Bellweather
in your unit.

I'm guessing Abigail is a lot.
The gifted ones always are.

Yeah, I got it.

There's more four-stars in
her line than any other.

Ride it all the way
to w*r College.

You'll live longer.
Trust me on that.

This came for you today,
from your father.

Stop blowing it.

Daily rankings?

Wouldn't want us to get too
competitive or anything.

This isn't gonna
go like this.

Where were you
today? We were worried.

- Didn't feel good.
- No. Anything I can do?

Doubt it. Your mom ever tell
you anything about Greenville?

Last spring? Seem to remember
my mom saying it was a mess.

They're all a mess.

She said Greenville
was no different.

Interesting.

We had training all day.
None of this is elective.

-Your absence was noted.
-Call the commander-in-chief.

Look, I know this
is a lot for you.

-Guys?
-But it is just the beginning.

Please? Let's
all take a breath.

Look, this is not
a vacation, Tally!

It's life and
death out there!

-You think I don't know that?
-Then act like it.

We're supposed to have
each other's backs.

I will not have you
holding me back,

or Tally for that matter.

Hey!

Another att*ck
from the Spree,

this time in the North
Atlantic where all passengers

on a commercial cruise liner have
jumped to their deaths today.

As with the mall att*ck, the
Spree have claimed responsibility.

Why would you come if
you didn't have to?

How can you ask
that after this week?

Malls, cruise ships,
where does it end?

-Maybe they have a point.
-Who? The Spree?

Conscription is sl*very
by another name.

Come on!

You get to travel the world,

do something great,

protect the innocent.

None of that's real.

It's a grind out there.
That's all it is.

I mean, I plan to
get deployed early,

get blown to
bits, end of story.

It's so much more than that.
Like Alder said...

Now you're gonna
start quoting her?

I get that she's
controversial.

No! No witch in history has
more blood on her hands!

Part of what she said is
agenda-less and true.

That Fort Salem
is a witch's place.

It's the only place
where it's just us.

I mean, how
beautiful is that?

Ready!

Ha!

The Spree prey on the
ideologically vulnerable.

They say they want to dismantle the
global m*llitary industrial complex,

liberating the witches
around the world

who fight - their
nation's wars.

They call the system
tyranny, sl*very,

but all this is a distraction
from their true aim.

The Spree has no great
leader, no field army.

They're composed of
parallel hierarchies,

clandestine cell systems

designed to collapse
under scrutiny.

How can we fight them if we
can't even tel who's one of them?

Like Alder said,
with storm and fury.

They will appear
normal in every way,

and maybe even are
normal in many ways,

except... for being
agents of the end.

How is it even possible
that I got mud in my butt?

We all have mud
in our butts, Tally.

-I think I'm gonna puke.
-Again?

Is the ground spinning?

Technically, yes.

I think that might
have been a joke.

What? I'm funny.

Yeah, like a puppy funeral.

Hey, guys, I'm gonna
be there in a few.

Yeah, okay.

So how come you get to skip
out on all the fun?

I'm necro. We
work with the dead.

They keep us away from
the general populace.

Well, lucky you.

-Come with me.
-Um, I'm all gross.

No, you're not.

-Live a little.
-Okay.

-Where are you taking me?
-You'll see.

Tie the other
end to your foot.

-I don't know...
-Sh...

-What's this?
-Salva. Government issue.

It's how they do
combat drops.

What were you thinking?

We need to get you
both to the infirmary.

Where'd you get the salva?

Do you have any idea how
dangerous that was?

I'm surprised
you're not dead.

Nice work. You drew that
mess off a civilian?

Yes, ma'am. Mama
taught me how.

You might be a
great medic someday.

I'll come check
on you in a bit.

I don't know what your game
is, but my eyes are on you.

Stay away from her.

Far away.

As if your life
depended on it.

-Does this mean we're through?
-Nearly.

You may be able to course correct,
but I can't promise anything.

You okay?

She'll see you now.

Abigail. What a pleasure.

I just saw your mom
in Prince Frederick.

She drank all the
milk punch as usual.

What's going on?
What's on your mind?

So many questions, sit down.

Thank you for seeing me.

You look troubled,
child. Talk.

- There's a girl in my unit.
. Here we go.

-att*ck of the shitbird.
-What's her story?

Seems to have some kind of
front-lines, blaze of glory,

death-wish nonsense knocking
around in her head.

She can't make the sounds,
she can't sing the songs.

To be candid,

I begin to wonder whether this
girl has the work in her at all.

As you know, we
move up as units.

It's possible
that her attitude

could keep me from
attending w*r College.

I had one too,
in the early days.

A real big, fat
sh*t-turkey, this one.

No technique, this wretch,

couldn't sing a
storm to save her life.

Hardly call her
a witch, really.

I want to be reassigned.

That soldier I was telling you
about saved my life a dozen times.

Gibraltar, Tripoli,
Solomon Islands.

That soldier once
dropped into the eye

of a class five hurricane

to rescue a couple kids
trapped in a grain silo.

While lacking certain

hereditary advantages that you
and I are both blessed with,

while having the audacity

to be born of an undistinguished
line of combat medics,

that shitbird happens to be
the finest soldier I've known.

Selfless...

brave...

loyal beyond measure.

Your request is denied.

This is on you, Private.

You bring that girl
round till she's right.

You're lucky I don't call
your mother about this.

Get out of my sight.

Ladies, remember your
voices are your weapons.

It is imperative that the
entirety of your vocal apparatus,

from frontal sinus to larynx,
must remain functional

and sound
producing at all times.

Inability to vocalize can
render a soldier powerless.

We dropped into
Liberia last night

under the cover of a monsoon.

But they knew we were coming.

The Spree's militia sings
some evil song at us,

day and night, and
now we can't get out.

I pray this is not your
experience when you are called.

I blame our fearless leader.

She has endangered us needlessly
on numerous occasions,

most critically
this last drop.

She's done this to us,

her high haughtiness,
General Petra Bellweather.

-Shouldn't you be in bed, cousin?
-I'm not your cousin.

Aren't we all
cousins, cousin?

Well, I mean I'm no
illustrious Bellweather.

What's that supposed to mean?

Daughter of American
greatness herself!

Backbone of democracy.

Your mom was the C.O.
on my mom's last tour.

You're blaming my mom for that?
Soldiers die all the time.

That's the job!

Is she pompous like you?

Was your mom a useless
shitbird like you?

Break it up.

Abigail went to Alder to
request reassignment.

This is so bad.

-When?
-Today.

I just heard
you tried to bail.

- It's not you.
- I know.

But you were still willing
to throw me away.

She's holding you back too.

I heard your
request was denied.

Yeah, denied is
an understatement.

You're both weak.

Raelle in her avoidance
of responsibility,

and you in your contempt
and superiority.

I'm the one who should walk.

So that was your
big plan, then?

Just ruin your chances
for w*r College,

get deployed too soon, and

get blown up
on the front lines

because you suck so bad.

Die young, waste all
that youth and beauty...

and fury.

Yeah, kinda like
that, but faster.

Your plan was hot garbage.

Even if it worked, it's
winning by losing.

Yeah, well, I hate to break
it to you, beautiful,

because there's no way out.

I know a way.

Tell me.

Let them train you.

Let them make you powerful.

The way over is under.

Okay.

The way out is... is in.

Find your units, everyone.

We'll pick up where we left
off with choral sequences.

In the lower register
of Seed Sound 32,

the seed of reversal,
one at a time.

Very good, Private Collar.

That seed is a beast
to master. Maintain it.

Well done.

Did you see how the older
officers were clucking about us?

"We haven't heard harmonics
like that in decades."

We're special, you guys!

I need more tea.

That was incredible
in Vocal today.

I'm very sorry
about your mom.

Whether my mom had anything
to do with it I can't say.

But I do know that she
cares about her company

more than she does herself.

We got off to a bad start.

Can't have helped.

I'm sorry, really.

I accept your apology
and I look forward

to continuing to find ways
to be an efficient unit.

But we don't
have to be friends.

Abigail's in the shower.
We have seven minutes.

Lucky us. Have you noticed she
says her own name in her sleep?

She tried to ditch us.

What, are you surprised?

What's that?

That is, um...

That's my mom's combat charm.

My dad gave it to me.

It's a bowerbird's foot.

They love anything blue.

It's been in our
family for generations.

Passed from
mother to daughter.

It's supposed to
keep you safe in w*r.

I wanted to ask him...
was she wearing it?

How come it
didn't work for her?

But I didn't.

Because I try to
be nice, sometimes.