01x09 - Coup

[bunniefuu]

[woman] Previously
on Motherland:

They're gonna tell you
horrible things about me.

‐I love you.
‐She told you what
you needed to hear.

‐[Alder] Madam President.
‐You are bound by rule of law

to the will
of the American people.

The Spree have
two trucks full of mines.

We are going to take them out.

‐They have hostages.
‐The mission hasn't changed.

Now!

The Spree chose
to execute the hostages.

‐They didn't wanna die.
‐So now we must rebuild

and end the Spree,
once and for all.

[Abigail] Why are
your people under siege?

[Adil] Many governments
want what we have.

Teach me your songs to make
the world a better place.

Can you imagine what
the m*llitary could achieve
with this power?

Yes. Unfortunately, I can.

[high‐pitched vocalizing]

[speaking foreign language]

[bird screeching]

[flies buzzing]

[theme music playing]

‐[Tally] Alder lied.
‐Lower your voice.

How do you just lie
to the world like that?

‐[Abigail] Everyone lies, Tal.
‐[Tally] Just like that,

‐to millions of people?
‐w*r is cruel.

That's all you have to say?
w*r is cruel.

There's always
collateral damage, Tal.

It's ugly, but that's
part of being a soldier.

I can still feel what
those hostages were feeling,

knowing they were gonna die.

And then Libba...

And we all have to remember that
day for the rest of our lives.

We've got your back, Tal.

I don't think this kind
of thing gets better.

‐We were used.
‐Tally.

No.

That's exactly what happened.

We were used, and Libba
paid the ultimate price.

[Petra] Alder should never
have pulled you into that.

[Abigail] We did the best we
could under the circumstances.

You behaved with honor and
bravery from what I've heard.

I'm extremely proud of you.

Thank you.

You will be expected
to give Libba's eulogy.

‐It's a tradition.
‐Okay.

You're the only other
High Atlantic at our level

in your company,
and it's only proper...

Mom, I said okay.

Okay. Excellent.

I'll help you with the speech.

General, I have new intel
on the Tarim.

There's something
I'd like to show you.

You first. Go.

Recon just located 15 refugees
in the Altai mountains,

all with their
vocal cords removed.

[hissing]

In the same manner
that my family was m*rder*d.

How did the Spree
find them before we did?

‐What if it's not the Spree?
‐Who else could it be?

They have yet to claim
responsibility
for the att*cks on my family,

which is unusual.

I borrowed this
from Memorial Hall

when I was working
on the victims of the
Bellweather att*ck.

[laughs]
The Camarilla, really?

My mother used to tell me
the Camarilla would steal
my voice away while I was asleep

if I didn't sing
my Seeds before bed.

[Alder] They very much
wanted my voice in here too.

‐But I got away.
‐They were extremely meticulous.

I wanted to see
if the methods were the same.

Aping our ancient tormentors
is a new thrill for the Spree,
nothing more.

‐Their methods were identical.
‐That kind of hatred no longer
festers in the world.

I rooted out the last remaining
Camarilla over 200 years ago.

Are we that desperate
for ideas? We have a very
real enemy in front of us.

We do not need an imaginary one.

How many of the Tarim remain?

Based on our intelligence,
less than ten.

They are the priority right now.
We need to move.

It's a powder keg over there.
If Wade finds out...

I can handle President Wade.

You are dismissed.

[Raelle] Do you
want some more tea?

‐Tal.
‐Hm? No, I'm fine.

‐You're not fine, Tal.
‐I guess I'm not that fine then.

What we did with those people,

that's not why
I chose to come here.

I came to do some good.

‐We have to do something.
‐Why do we have to do something?

Because we were involved
in something deeply unjust.

‐And Alder's to blame.
‐[Raelle] Yeah,
but who do we tell, Tally?

Who do we trust?
Anacostia's too close to Alder.

‐What about your mom?
‐She'll eat us alive for not
observing chain of command.

Maybe this is bigger
than chain of command.

This isn't going to go away!

Tal, I hear you,
and I don't disagree,

okay, but you
don't know my mother.

Please, Abigail.

I can't hold on
to any more secrets.

‐No more secrets.
‐Okay.

‐[knock on door]
‐[Alder] Excuse us.

I have terrible news.

I'm sorry to say that more of
your people have been m*rder*d.

You may stop.
We already know.

I intend
to intervene immediately.

I plan to appeal
to the president.

That will not be necessary.

They will be wiped out soon.
This is a humanitarian crisis.

Then... it will be our end.

‐Think about what
she is offering.
‐This risk is too great.

What risk could be worse
than the annihilation of our...

You know what would happen
if our songs fell into the hands

of governments and armies.
There would be no
more world to fight over.

What I am offering you is the
preservation of your people.

At what price, General Alder?

How arrogant you are.

[rumbling]

Watch yourself.

Our commitment to peace
is nonnegotiable.

You're alive because of me.

Not you, exactly.

[Petra] Ladies,
I am a very busy woman.

We have some intelligence that
would interest you.

‐Alder lied about the hostages.
‐Tell me more.

I saw hostages
in that second truck.

Yes, the Spree chose
to execute their hostages.

I'm sorry you had to see that.

There are rules
of engagement in w*r,

but the Spree have
no regard for such things.

‐Now, If you don't mind...
‐We ex*cuted them.

I told Anacostia
that they were in the truck.

She relayed intel to Alder,
who ordered the strike anyway.

Collateral damage
is always a part of w*r.

And make no mistake,
we are at w*r with the Spree.

You've been through a lot.

I would focus your energies
on finishing strong
before graduation.

The base has been infiltrated.

‐By whom?
‐[Raelle] The Spree.

‐Scylla.
‐Alder has her
in custody on base.

‐At Fort Salem?
‐Correct. Somewhere
in the Necro facility.

They're interrogating her.
That's how they found out
about Baylord Auto.

Ladies, you are dismissed.

[Anacostia] Do you ever miss it?

Sometimes.

Eating is overrated.

I want to talk to you
about Scylla.

Let's get her off base,

now that we got
what we needed from her.

I think she may still be of use.

In what way?
Why are you still on this?

We can bring her around.

Every day we keep her,
we risk her escape,

and Goddess knows what else.
She forfeited her rights

when she became
an agent for The End.

What if we can turn her
against the Spree?

Send her back to them
to be our eyes.

Not with a will like hers.

‐How can you be so sure?
‐[scoffs]

Centuries of experience.

Do you have a problem with this?

No. No, not in the least.

Good.

She should be in prison.

Arrange transport to our
facility on Saint Dominique.

Understood.

[bell tolling]

[Alder] She d*ed with honor.

You got this.

First, I would like
to extend my condolences
to the Swythe family.

[clears throat]

Service, duty, honor, bravery.

These were more than
just words to Libba.

She answered
the highest calling...

I'm sorry. I can't...

[audience murmuring]

Elizabeth Kane Swythe

was the girl I hated most
in the world.

[murmuring]

And now she's gone.

Hating Swythes is mother's milk
to a Bellweather.

Some families sail.
Others ride.

Bellweathers...

hate Swythes
who hate Bellweathers,

going back and back to a time
before we were even America.

And for what?

For tradition.

For competition.
Well, I fell right in.

Lock step. I pulled her hair.

Made her eat a piece
of a dead pigeon.

‐[gasping]
‐I took her men, ate them whole,
and spit them out at her feet.

I called her names so foul
that they could wake the dead.

And now...

this terrible now,

she's gone.

And there's one less witch
in the world.

And here we are,
alive to fight another day.

Libba Swythe.

You were the stone
that sharpened my blade.

The storm on my sunny day.

For those things, I am grateful.

May the Goddess bless you.

May the Goddess bless this
country you served so well.

[feet stomping]

You did good.

We're proud of you, Bells.

You guys, stop.

You're a leader.

You're a natural‐born leader,

and I would follow you anywhere.

You're a warrior queen.

You're a priestess
of ancient truth.

[laughter]

‐I'm glad you came.
‐Of course.

I especially like the part
about the dead pigeon.

‐[laughter]
‐Oh, my mom looked like she
was gonna end me right there.

‐[laughter]
‐I wish I could have met Libba.

‐Mm.
‐She could be frosty.

That was part of her charm.

I thought she was kinda cute.

‐[laughter]
‐Uh‐oh, type emerging.

‐Dark hair, trouble.
‐Oh!

‐[laughter]
‐[Abigail] Speaking of trouble.

‐[chirping] ‐Oh.

Gerit.

What's wrong with the phone?

How's that going,
now that he's hitched?

It's complicated.

I need this.

I'm sorry.

Actually, I'm not.

Careful now.
Hilary is formidable.

She's deployed.

‐Oh.
‐Love you guys.

Uh, jeez.

I missed you.

You're wild tonight.

‐I'm just getting started.
‐We don't have to rush.

Stop talking.

We agreed, this is an all sex,

‐no‐talking thing.
‐Yeah, of course.

Great.

So make me forget.

[Scylla] How come you have time
to sit with me all day?

‐You're my priority.
‐Lucky me.

‐Hm.
‐I love what you've done
to the place.

It's kind of medieval.

I confess! I am a witch!

[laughs]

What's it like?

Ending thousands of people?

Did you know that in Germany,
in 1761,

‐611 witches were b*rned alive?
‐That's not the same.

These people were dragged from
their homes. Children too.

And even last year
a witch was b*rned...

Alder wants to send you to
our prison in the Caribbean.

That sounds nice,
although I do tend to burn.

It's the kind of place
no one comes back from.

Then how come I'm still here?

I want to know
how someone gets to be you.

Lots of practice.

Let me see Raelle one more time.

[laughs]

Why would I do that?

I gave you Baylord.
Or should I say you took it.

Now give me something.

Do you have any idea what
I would risk by doing that?

If you give me this,

I'll tell you all about
the horrible things
that made me who I am.

Please.

We know that the Tarim
are on the run.

If we intercept them now,
we can extract them,

quickly and safely.

Why is everybody so
worked up about these people?

The work they possess
is very special.

Profoundly rare, in fact.

Unfortunately, we can't
make a move on the Tarim

without setting off a conflict
between Russia and China.

‐You know better than to ask.
‐The Tarim are of great
m*llitary value.

But there is also
a humanitarian imperative.

I forbid your intervention
in this matter.

‐Madam, President, I must...
‐Enough.

[hissing]

[hissing]

[laughs] You have nerve,

lecturing me
about humanitarian consequences

when you have
sent untrained cadets

‐into a live operation.
‐It was not ideal, I grant you.

Resulting in the death
of one of your own,

who I know did not
complete basic training.

Not to mention
the civilian deaths.

We destroyed hundreds
of Spree munitions

that were about to be
distributed around the globe.

I stand by my decision.

I have to make
tough choices every day.

So do I, General Alder.
So do I.

And you've made
the next one easy for me.

Because I've just learned
that you've allowed
your Fort Salem

to be infiltrated by the Spree.

We have apprehended
the operative.

I know.

That's how you found out
about Baylord Auto.

But that's not the point.

The point is you've
kept me in the dark

about all of this,
not to mention compromising
national security.

Your days of leading
our m*llitary are over.

You are the 45th president
I have served.

And no American deserves
their retirement more than you.

You've had
a spectacular run, Sarah.

I'll announce
the changeover tonight.

Thank you for your time,
Madam President.

[thunder cracks]

Collar.

‐I need to speak with you.
‐I'll catch up.

‐This is sensitive.
‐Well, I've done a pretty good
job of keeping my mouth shut.

Speaking of Scylla,
she's being moved
to a m*llitary prison.

Asked to see you one more time.

It's likely she'll never return.

That's great.

I'm not helping you
Link with her.

It's not about Linking with her.

I think it would help Scylla,
maybe even help you, to see her.

Say goodbye.

Why do you want to help Scylla?

You know what? I...

She's dead to me.

‐What did Anacostia want
to talk to you about?
‐Guess.

‐Scylla?
‐You're a good guesser.

And?

Scylla wants to see me.

She wants to say goodbye.
They're sending her
to prison for life.

Goddess protect.

So, are you going to see her?

No.

You might want
to think about that a bit.

I don't want
to think about her at all.

I'm just saying,
if I had the chance to say

one more little thing
to Charvel, or Libba...

I'd take it.

Forever's long.

‐[knock on door] ‐Abigail.

General Bellweather
wishes to see you in her office.

Sure she has feedback
about the speech.

Libba's eulogy was...
unconventional,

but extremely effective
and very moving.

I spoke from my heart
and told the truth,

just like you always told me.

‐Well done.
‐Thank you.

I had a remarkably civil
conversation with Libba's mom.

You made quite
an impression on her as well.

‐What's on your mind?
‐Since when does a mother

need a reason
to see her daughter?

[sighs]
Big changes are coming.

Changes that will impact
how the Armed Forces
are run in this country.

And by whom.

‐You're getting promoted?
‐This shift will change
everything for me,

‐and by extension, you.
‐Tell me!

It's too soon to say,

but all eyes will be on this
family in the coming weeks

and I need you not
to do anything

that will reflect poorly
on the Bellweather line.

And that's different from
any other day how, exactly?

Pay close attention
to President Wade's
address tonight.

That's all I can say for now.

[Tally] We have to stop
meeting like this.

‐[moaning] ‐[door opens]

Oh! Hilary!

I've been on a plane
for 16 hours.

I'm sorry. I'll go.

Stay right where you are.

Tell you what.
Give me ten in the shower

and I'll join you.

Let's raise some power.

You think you can
handle us both?

Good.

So you knew she'd be back early?

‐Tally, I...
‐What?

‐I was going to...
‐Tell me?

‐No parakeets available?
‐Ouch.

Yeah, sorry.
But you've developed a habit
of not telling me big things.

‐It's what she wanted.
‐Meaning?

She wanted to walk in on us

and turn it into a group thing.

So you cast me in your
little sex game

without so much as a word?

‐She knows about us.
‐Yeah.

This is our compromise
we came up with.

It has to work
for her too, right?

‐It doesn't work for me.
‐Tally, I'm married.

Okay? I did
the best I could.

‐You could have told me.
‐I didn't think you'd
react this way.

This is a way?
What way is this?

You were
so insatiable last time.

I thought you'd find it fun.

You have no idea who I am.

‐Tally. Tal!
‐[gasps] None.

How's your sister?

Anxious to return home.

And the rest of your people?

There was another att*ck.

They did the same thing to them
that they did to your family.

Khalida is refusing
Alder's help.

Wise girl.

You don't trust her either?

She's made some
questionable calls lately.

I think you should wait
before accepting her help.

We can't afford
to wait much longer.

Leadership is changing
hands very soon.

That's all I can say for now.

Just trust me
for a little bit longer.

‐I trust you.
‐You do?

Any news on
my Caribbean vacation?

‐Am I gonna be ex*cuted?
‐Calm down.

You believed everything
they said about me.

I loved you.

I still love you.

I know about Helen.

Have you done that to me before?

No! Never.

I messed up.
There's no excuse. I...

‐I was scared.
‐Scared of losing your mark?

It started like that, but...

then you were you,

and I fell for you.

I promise...

I promise I'm telling the truth.

Was anything real? Any of it?

All of it.

Raelle, you got to believe me.

I have nothing to gain
by telling you this.

I... they're
shipping me off to die.

Well, we all go sometime.

Why did you pick me?
Is it 'cause my mom d*ed?

You thought I'd be
a likely convert?

Do I look like I'm calling
the sh*ts around here?

‐They didn't tell me...
‐You know what? I get it.

I get it. I was the sickest,
weakest gazelle in the herd.

I was easy prey for you.

You have no idea
how powerful you are.

I don't feel powerful.

I feel broken.

Thanks to you.

I'm sorry we ever met, Scyl.

I chose you!

I had orders to deliver you.

I chose you instead of them.
I chose you.

Please!

That worked out
really great, thanks a lot!

[sobbing, screaming]

‐[woman] Ladies...
‐Thank you.

‐[soft high‐pitched tone]
‐Does anybody hear that?

I don't hear a thing.

Well, whatever it is,
it's too late now.

We go live in ten, nine,

eight, seven...

[echoing] ...six, five...

‐[vocalizing]
‐...four, three, two...

Fellow citizens,

the future of a troubled world

now rests in our hands.

We face an enemy with no regard

for the conventions of w*r

or the rules of what
is right and good.

The time has come
to meet this enemy

with more decisive force

than we've ever employed,
in a precise,
systematic campaign...

to wipe the Spree from the...

face of the earth for good.

In this work,

we are supported
by the collective cooperation

of many great nations.

There is no middle ground.

There is only one side now.

And only one leader to carry us
through these perilous times.

A woman whose courage, tenacity
and purpose

‐have seen us through many...
‐...a storm.

That leader is,
and has always...

been, General
of the Army, Sarah Alder.

In accordance
with the powers vested in me

by the Constitution of the
United States of America...

[vocalizing]

‐...I am...
‐...granting General Alder...

full authorization
to employ m*llitary force...

both at home
and at a global level,

‐so she can take immediate...
‐...relentless action

‐against the Spree, un...
‐...hindered
and at her own discretion,

until these agents of The End
have been eliminated.

Our only ambition
is to protect the innocent.

‐Our only agenda to restore...
‐...peace.

Our only mission to eliminate a
thr*at with decisive finality,

so that we never have
to meet it again.

‐There is...
‐...no outcome but victory.

We will prevail.

‐Bless...
‐...this great nation

and all who defend her.

[witches vocalizing]

[panting]

‐[woman] Don't know.
‐[indistinct chatter]

I shouldn't have
put you through that.

I wasn't even gonna go.
I was...

‐I still love her.
‐I know.

[sobbing]

‐I'm so stupid.
‐No, you're not.

No, no, you're just...
you're human.

She loves you.
That part's real.

I think I messed up.

I told Petra that Scylla
was being held on base.

‐Why did you do that?
‐Because we didn't know
who else to talk to.

Tally was just so freaked out
after Citydrop with the
hostages and with Libba.

So we tried to tell Petra
what Alder did,
and she just didn't care.

She needed something bigger.
So I told her about Scylla.

And Petra told President Wade.

We have to find your unit now.

[Tally] What? What is it?

Alder Puppeted the president.

‐Isn't that outlawed
by The Hague?
‐[Anacostia] Very.

And with good reason. I've known
Alder since I was a kid.

I've seen her make hundreds
of tough calls.
But never like this.

Never with such disregard
for the cost of her actions.
She's...

Whatever you
set in motion with Petra

left her no alternative.

Can she follow this back to us?

If she does...

you're all in grave danger.

[theme music plays]