03x04 - The Kinship

[bunniefuu]

Big Jim: Three weeks ago, an invisible dome crashed down on Chester's Mill, cutting us off from the rest of the world. The dome has tested our limits, forcing each of us to confront our own personal demons... rage... grief... fear.

My God.

(people exclaiming)

Now, in order to survive, we must battle our most dangerous adversary... the enemy within.

I'm Christine Price.

This is my friend, Eva.

Julia: You were together for what felt like a year.

So I understand if you still have feelings.

You can't possibly understand any of this.

You never went anywhere.

I did. I moved on. I got rid of you.

You should be thanking me.

Yesterday we were together.

But in the Matrix, you moved on without me.

Christine: According to the dark flight calculations of the meteoroid...

(quietly): Therapist, my ass.

_

(indistinct radio chatter)

You got that, Malick?

I'm getting out of here.

You're leaving town?

Those people, they're not the same.

They've changed.

I'm right about them.

Just like I was right about everything else.

♪

(quietly): What the hell is that?

What is she?

(bird chirping)

What a surprise to see you here.

Is this your campsite?

Took your advice... dropped the match.

No more house, no more Big Jim.

(panting)

Oh. I just get so sweaty when I run.

Do you have a clean shirt I could borrow?

Yeah.

(whispers): What?

How does that make you feel?

I feel like my dad's gonna come after me.

Ah. Well, letting go of the past and moving on... is a process.

You've taken an important first step.

Hey, what are you doing today?

I was gonna head into town.

Perfect.

I could use your help with a project.

Well... I'll see you soon.

Big Jim: Well, normally,

I'd applaud you, kid, but... that woman... that thing.

Wait!

(grunting)

(grunts)

(door opens)

(relieved sigh)

Are you okay?

You said you'd be back in an hour.

I didn't sleep all night, worrying.

Yeah. I, uh... was just out wandering.

After I buried Melanie and Dad, I needed some more time. Sorry.

I understand.

What's this?

Julia: Oh, it's an I.D. badge.

I found it in the biggest cocoon, where Melanie put the egg.

I'm guessing whoever was inside must be important.

Yeah. Makes sense.

I think we should talk to Christine.

I think she knows more than she's telling us.

Well, Christine saved your life.

She k*lled Melanie to do it.

And I'm grateful.

But how did she show up at the perfect time?

She said she was out hunting.

Where are you going?

Into town.

Why?

Because I think we should.

Barbie... wait.

What the hell? Where's the camera?

Where's the camera?

Christine: It's amazing how quickly they've begun to gather.

Last night they heard my call; today... more have set up camp.

One by one, they're completing their journeys.

James is farthest along.

He's let go of the fear that held him back.

Today I'll assess his progress and see if he's ready to take the next step.

Sam is also doing very well, putting his shame behind him.

And Norrie has let go of most of her anger.

But I'm concerned about Joe... he didn't show up last night.

Perhaps his grief has resurfaced.

His resistance could be contagious if it's not snuffed out.

I'll pay him a visit.

Well, I'm surprised to see Barbie with Julia.

He and Eva seemed so bonded last night.

The moment he's ready to move on... there won't be any reason for her to exist.

(birds chirping)

Come on. Your turn.

There's no way I'm stripping down and getting in there.

(laughs): You said if I did, you would.

Yeah, and you fell for it.

(squeals)

(both laugh)

I can't believe we stayed up all night.

I'm not even tired.

Yeah, staring up at the moon must be the cure for exhaustion, 'cause I don't feel like I'll ever need sleep again.

Yeah, but what were we doing?

All of just standing there?

Who cares?

It felt good.

I used to hate that "all join hands" kind of crap.

But now...

Introducing Norrie 2.0.

The mellower...

(laughs) sweeter Norrie.

Seriously?

I was looking for you all night.

I was stupid enough to even be worried about you.

Joe...

I knew something was up.

Why couldn't you just tell me?

You obviously want your Matrix life back... sororities, Hunter.

Not me.

Let's just end this.

Christine: The living situation outside worries me.

There's too many people and not enough tents.

Well, the houses were destroyed when the dome contracted, so there's nowhere else for them to go.

I'd like to change all that.

I'd like to blow out the walls and fashion one large communal area.

How would you do that?

(sighs)

Remove the trim, cut through the drywall, take out the studs with a reciprocating saw.

See? You retained the knowledge you gained in the other world.

James...

(long sigh)

Chester's Mill needs to heal from the wounds that your father inflicted.

Tearing down his office shows everyone that Big Jim no longer has a hold on this place.

If this is too hard for you, I understand.

Someone else can handle it.

(sighs): But... it might be good for you.

Cathartic.

Who are you?

Where are we?

Hey, what are you doing here?

Hey, slow down! Wait...

Get the hell away from me! Get away from me!

Get away! No!

(screams)

Please tell me you have the camera.

What's wrong? Is it missing?

I had it last night; this morning it was gone.

Did someone see you with it yesterday?

Why are you assuming it was my fault?

Oh, my God.

Maybe someone's suspicious of you.

I don't understand why you're still pretending to be a therapist.

I am following the path set out for me in the alternate reality.

Do you hear yourself?

You sound crazy.

Oh, any crazier than thinking you're pregnant?

Or holding hands with Dale Barbara in front of the whole town?

What happened in those cocoons clearly affected us.

Yeah. The man I was with for what felt like a year will barely look at me, and I'm lying to him about who I am.

Maybe the footage being stolen is a sign.

Oh, no, it's not a sign, it's a screw-up... we have to get it back.

I'm guessing that it was either Jim Rennie or Julia Shumway who took it.

Jim seems to have taken off, but Julia, she... well, she's two doors down at the motel.

She is? With Dale?

(knocking, door opens)

Sam: Hey.

Am I interrupting?

Not at all.

Eva was just leaving.

Thank you for letting me know. Rest assured I'll... handle the situation.

How's the support group going?

Good. We had more people today.

Coming together as a community is really helping.

And how's Abby Dewitt?

Is she coping any better?

She didn't show this morning.

I'll track her down, make sure she's okay.

Thank you.

How are you doing?

I still need to ask Joe for forgiveness.

Would you like me to talk to him?

That'd be great.

Be at the Sweetbriar at 7:00 p.m. tonight.

I'll make sure that Joe's there.

You're doing the right thing, Sam.

Julia: There's barely one can per family.

Well, when people get hungry, things get bad real fast.

I saw it happen last year.

You mean when you were in the cocoon?

Yeah.

Hi.

How are you?

I'm good.

Get me a blanket.

Here, take...

My son, my son! My son is in there!

I got him. He's okay.

Get something under his head. Okay.

Somebody have any water?

Okay.

Sweetheart, here you go.

These tents are too close together... it's dangerous.

Yes, you're right. Look, I know that many of you are without homes and others just want to be close to fellow Millers so we can lean on each other, which is why we're building dorms inside the town hall.

Pete, right?

You worked construction before the dome came down?

We could just really use your help.

James Rennie is organizing a crew inside.

Yeah, I'll do whatever I can.

Thank you.

Using town hall for housing is smart, but... food's still our real issue.

Have you considered alternate sources?

Seeds, wild plants?

We've pretty much combed through this whole town.

I've worked in famine-stricken countries, learned a few tricks.

Can't hurt to look again, right?

You could show me around town.

Yeah, I guess I could.

Wonderful.

Maybe we can discuss the dorm plans.

I'd really love your input.

His tests are negative.

Contact with the egg hasn't altered him.

No need for that mask.

15 panels, all consistent.

Malick?

Aktaion's inside the dome.

Julia: I wanted to thank you for yesterday.

If you hadn't shown up, Melanie would've k*lled me.

Thank God that you were looking for food in exactly the right spot.

Yeah, it was a lucky coincidence.

Hunter, Norrie.

Where's Joe? I thought that he was with you.

He's had kind of a rough time since we got out of the cocoons and he ran off somewhere.

Well, I'll find him.

What can we do to help? More hunting?

You were hunting?

I k*lled a pig.

Christine: Well, Barbie and Eva are out looking for food, but Junior could use you on his dorm-building team. I'll show you. Do you mind waiting here for me?

Of course not.

Thanks. Come on.

What are you doing with that?

It... looks like my voice recorder.

I was a reporter.

Carried it everywhere.

After the dome came down I lost it in the chaos, so when I saw this...

In my drawer?

Well, you've only been here a day.

I didn't think you had time to furnish an office.

You were snooping.

I don't blame you. I would've done the same thing.

I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

What's on the recorder?

Notes about my clients.

What happened in those cocoons left people reeling.

I'm just trying to help.

So you keep saying.

It's the truth.

Could I have that?

I don't want to betray their confidences.

I found something in the caves.

Maybe you can help me figure out who it belongs to, since you seem to know everybody so well.

Better than me, even.

What did you want to show me?

Found it at the tunnel's exit.

(chuckles) Finally, a question I can answer.

It's my I.D. badge from the University of Zenith.

Oh, you teach?

Jack-of-all-trades, huh?

Yeah, I like to keep busy.

Hmm.

What happened between Barbie and Eva must be very difficult for you.

Well, that wasn't real.

This is.

I'm still impressed that you're okay with them going off together after what happened last night.

Oh, he didn't tell you?

You know, I'm available if... you need to talk.

It was really great talking to you, Christine.

Big Jim: Well, well, well.

If it isn't my old buddy Malick.

From outside the dome.

Tell me about the egg.

Egg?

Oh, you, oh, you mean the egg that I gave you after you promised my family would get out?

Somehow it got back in here, along with your company.

How'd you get in?

Where's the egg?

Oh, I bet you'd like to know.

You're scared.

All these tests, the isolation.

There's something inside that egg, isn't there?

And you think it infected me.

Well, you've got it wrong.

I'm not the one you should be worried about.

We made a deal once, Malick, but you never followed through.

Now here's your chance. I can tell you all kinds of things. And you better act quick, because you're right... what's inside that egg is scary as hell and it's already been unleashed.

Barbie: We lost most of these crops to an infestation.

The rest of 'em to a freeze.

Was that before or after the frogs fell from the sky?

The frogs are still on our bucket list.

I thought Morocco was tough.

Do you remember that hailstorm?

Yeah.

You mean the hailstorm that started in the middle of a sandstorm, right?

Pellets the size of a softball.

We had that crappy little tent and one sleeping bag.

Yeah. Didn't think there was any way we were gonna make it till the morning.

We did.

We made the most of the night.

Now all I can think about is how you're sleeping in the same motel as me, two doors down, but with her.

Seeds. They're viable.

We could harvest them, start planting.

Yeah, corn's gonna take months to grow.

We're gonna be out of food in days.

Well, it's a good long-term plan.

We just need to figure out the short term.

Who's this optimist?

'Cause you're a realist.

That's true. But I know you.

You're not gonna let this town starve.

What's that?

Barbie: What... the silos?

Yeah, we already thought about those.

They're filled with cattle feed.

Cattle feed?

Yeah.

Hmm.

(whistling)

Do you think Joe's all right?

Yeah. Christine will talk to him.

Yeah, I guess.

(stops whistling)

Keep moving. We're waiting on you.

So, Nor, I was thinking since Joe's not here, there's no reason we can't pick up where we left off.

We're supposed to be working.

I didn't mean right now.

But I bet we could find an empty closet around here.

You're such a romantic.

I just keep thinking of how crappy it was to let Joe see us like that.

He had a right to be pissed. I would've been.

So... next time you see him, apologize.

What else can you do?

I don't know.

It's just... it feels like a year has passed to me, but for Joe it seems like it was just the one day.

That makes no sense.

He was in the alternate reality, too.

He's a big boy.

He'll figure it out.

What are you doing here?

Looking for you.

Got a nice tour of Chester's Mill in the process.

This place blows.

Under the dome, not under the dome... (scoffs) doesn't matter.

Is this about Norrie and Hunter?

Norrie's changed. Hunter, too.

And part of me wants to be like them, but...

Something's holding you back.

Your grief.

I saw a dead body yesterday.

Andrea Grinnell.

Yeah, made you think of your sister.

Of course it did.

But it's more than that.

I want to feel better, but I don't want to be like Norrie or Hunter.

Something about them is just off.

Yeah, I hear you, Joe.

But... I want you to just consider that frustration might be clouding your view.

You see that Norrie's happy and you're not and it upsets you.

Maybe.

In the alternate reality we spoke about how grief was weighing you down.

But remember how good you felt when you finished your college portfolio?

Having a... a sense of purpose helped you let go of the past.

You need something to make you feel like a part of our group. Part of our kinship.

Like what?

Well, this town's got all kinds of needs.

Your choice.

Can I ask you to do one thing for me, though?

Sam came to me today. He wants to meet with you. Finish the conversation that you started before in the other world.

Yeah...

He'll be at the Sweetbriar tonight at 7:00. Just consider it. But for what it's worth, I think you're ready to forgive him... and to finally move on.

Abby? Abby, you here?

(gasps)

Uh, uh...

(choking)

Abby.

Abby! Abby!

Come on!

(coughing, gasping)

Slow breaths. In and out.

(coughing, gasping)

You're drunk.

I figured if it... was my last day on Earth, I might as well enjoy it.

What happened?

I just couldn't bear it.

Not for another hour or another minute.

I was up on that chair half the day.

When I heard the door open, I just went for it.

(groans)

At least I'm not alone anymore.

You don't want to do this.

The dome's gonna come down for real one day.

You'll be reunited with your baby.

Even if that happens, I am never getting her back, okay?

Surprise. I know you think I lost my daughter 'cause of the dome, but she was long gone before that.

Social Services took her right out of my arms.

I can help, Abby.

You messed up once, but you can change.

Who are you trying to save, me or you?

'Cause I thought the same thing when I got pregnant.

I thought I was gonna clean up and be the best mom.

But then it was 2:00 a.m. and the baby was screaming and the bottle was right there.

There's no fixing me. (sniffles)

(crying) Trust me.

Took a crew out to one of the houses that was crushed.

That's great. Thank you.

Hey, if it buys me a place to live, it's all good.

I've been freezing my ass off at night.

We'll move people in when construction's complete.

Why wait?

Eh, we want to do this fairly.

Everyone at the same time.

Oh, man. Don't feed me that bullcrap.

I know how your daddy runs things.

Like father, like son.

I'm nothing like Big Jim.

I don't hand out favors.

Ah. It's because of her, isn't it?

Who?

Christine Price.

I saw how she worked in the alternate reality, always giving orders, never taking 'em.

She told you what to do, didn't she?

At least I respected Big Jim.

Only thing I like about Christine is watching her walk away.

(grunts)

We don't make deals.

(grunts)

It's simple.

Tell us about the egg, or we t*rture you.

And this... this is a preview.

Wait, wait. Stop.

I know where the egg is.

I stole it.

It's here on Bird Island.

Take me to it.

Me and my boss.

Right now.

Let's go.

(grunting)

(grunting): Come on. Get up.

Not a sound. (panting)

Don't move.

You're gonna take me to the comm station outside.

We're gonna talk to whoever's in charge, and we're gonna make a little trade, your life for my ticket out of this godforsaken dome.

Any questions?

Which way?

Drop the w*apon.

I'm walking out of here.

You try to stop me, he dies.

Mm-hmm.

(g*nsh*t)

You k*lled your own man.

Yes.

For the egg.

Where is it?

You need me.

If I die, you got no one to tell you where the egg is.

Let him go.

He can't get far.

Barbie: People eating cattle feed? I didn't think that was possible.

Eva: The feed had to be pulverized and fermented and it tastes disgusting, but it's digestible.

(grunts)

(muffled thumping)

That's a good sign.

All right, there's a window up top here.

Anything?

There's feed!

How much?

Well, it looks like enough to hold us over till the crops start producing.

(shouting)

Dale!

Hang on!

Okay.

(shouts)

(grunting)

(grunts) One, two, three.

(panting)

What are those?

(Joe grunting)

Solar panels.

A bunch of 'em got pulled off of people's homes when the dome was magnetized.

Might be able to use 'em to get the power running again.

I'm impressed.

And you're out here getting creative, while everyone else is at Town Hall doing...

Christine Price's bidding.

Actually, it was a conversation with her that made me think of it.

Guess she found you before I did.

It was a good talk.

She thinks my issues with Sam are holding me back.

Your issues with Sam?

That man m*rder*d your sister two weeks ago.

Why does she care?

Why do you listen to her?

What she says just makes sense.

We all have to work together now and get along, help the kinship. (chuckles)

"The kinship." I've never heard you talk like that.

Yeah. That's what Christine calls it.

Oh, my God.

Christine works for Aktaion.

No. No way. Christine's a therapist.

That's what she said, but I found her badge.

She said it was her university I.D.

That looks exactly like the Aktaion logo to me.

Joe: You're right. So...

Christine's been lying to us?

About that and who knows what else.

Eva: It'll have to be ground down, boiled, and we have to find a fermenting agent, but it's doable.

Great work. You two make a good team.

Yeah.

Well, I should, uh...

I should get home.

Junior: We need to take it out to open up the room.

Pete: You can't. It's safe.

I checked the plans.

Well, you better read 'em again, because, I'm telling you, that column is load-bearing.

Look, I know how to read blueprints.

Oh, in la-la land, maybe. Here in the real world, I spent five years working construction. You take that out, the whole place is gonna come crashing down.

Christine?

(chuckles) Come on, man. Really?

She is probably the only person here who knows less about this than you do.

Hey, let the big boys handle this, sweetheart, all right?

Hey. Hey!

Move.

My team, my call.

Get out now.

You are gonna regret this.

All of you.

Good job.

(chuckles)

Oh, my God.

Where did you find chocolate?

Andrea had some.

I figured keeping one bar wasn't gonna hurt anybody.

Thank you.

Today has not been my favorite day ever.

Well, it's not all bad.

(chuckles)

We're together.

Um, I thought this was what you wanted.

It is. I...

Just not right now.

Right.

I guess you're used to Joe.

What's that mean?

He's a kid.

You're not.

We're a better fit.

Yeah, we might be, but I can't tell because all you care about is screwing me.

I thought we were just having fun.

If you want to talk or whatever, I can do that, too.

No.

You know what?

This just isn't me.

Abby: You're wasting your time, Sam.

I am done pretending that I can move on, all right?

I hurt my kid and there is not enough absolution in the world...

In the alternate reality, you got her back.

It was a fantasy, Sam!

A lie, all right?

It never existed and it never will.

You k*lled a girl.

You stole her from her family.

You think saying sorry changes that?

It's all I can do.

It's not enough.

No one will ever forgive you.

You're just like me, beyond salvation, beyond anything other than another drink.

(door opens)

How'd it go?

We found food.

Cattle feed, but it'll work.

That's great.

Christine's got some ideas to make it more palatable.

We need to talk about her.

She's not who she says she is.

She works for Aktaion.

What?

The badge I found in the caves belongs to Christine.

She admitted it.

She said that she works for Aktaion?

No, she said it was her university I.D... but the logo is Aktaion's.

I mean, maybe.

Or maybe the university logo just looks similar.

It fits perfectly.

Barbie, this is Aktaion.

You father's company.

You know better than anyone how shady they are.

They always wanted the egg, and now Christine appears out of nowhere trying to take over the town?

I don't know how it all fits together, but Christine is lying.

Eva, too.

You see?

Don't bring Eva into this.

Eva is lying!

And so are you.

You were with her last night, weren't you?

Nothing happened.

All right, well, then what did you do all night?

Look, this is complicated, okay?

You keep telling me you understand, but you don't!

I'm trying!

But you need to be honest with me!

I saw your face this morning!

You wanted to go with her!

We needed to find food!

Someone else could've done that!

Come on.

Yesterday you promised we were gonna get through this.

I waited up all night to talk to you while you were with her!

Same thing today!

What am I supposed to do?!

I'm supposed to just-just sit here while you go off and screw her?!

(gasps)

I don't know what's going on but you need to leave.

(door opens)

(door closes)

(gasps)

I've just been walking in circles trying to... figure this whole thing out.

Did you?

Ever since we woke up, I haven't been able to shake the feeling I'm pregnant.

I know how weird that sounds.

What we had... that felt just as real to me as it did to you.

I mean, the baby, us.

Did you take the test?

I haven't looked at it yet.

Where is it?

Right there.

What's it say?

It's negative.

Well, I guess it wasn't meant to be after all.

You should go. (clears her throat)

I'll be all right.

(sniffles)

(crying)

(quietly): Hey.

(insects chirring)

(bell jingles)

Isn't this better than whatever you were gonna do?

Yeah?

I like you this way.

♪

(running footsteps, panting)

♪

(panting)

(panting)

(hammer cocks)

You don't want to sh**t me, Red.

I promise I'm not the bad guy here.

They kidnapped me.

They ran tests on me.

(panting)

They work for Aktaion.

(g*nsh*t)

What are you doing here?

Shouldn't you be off with your new boyfriend, singing "Kum-Bah-Ya"" with the town?

Wasn't feeling it.

What about Hunter?

Listen, Joe, I'm sorry.

What we did was crappy.

Really crappy.

Whatever.

I've had a lousy day.

Can I just go to sleep?

What happened?

Tell me.

I was supposed to meet Sam.

He was supposed to ask for my forgiveness, like in the Matrix world.

But... he didn't show.

I was ready to do this huge thing... which I wasn't even sure I wanted to do.

I feel like an idiot for letting Christine talk me into it.

Why should you forgive him?!

He k*lled Angie!

And for him to not even show up after you agreed to meet him?

He should have groveled, and you should've told him to go screw himself. I hate him!

I hate everyone!

Why are you smiling?

Because... this is you.

You're back.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I don't know...

...but I missed you.

♪

Does this mean I...

I should get a condom?

Do you have one?

Yeah.

I have... like, a lot.

Well, that's overkill.

But yeah.

Definitely yes.

Okay.

Junior: What are we doing here?

I'm taking my star pupil on a field trip.

Back to where it all began.

You did well today.

Perfectly, in fact.

But not everyone is falling into line.

The longer they're outside the cocoons, the more their humanity takes hold.

But not to fear.

There's a solution.

How can I help?

I have something special planned for you.

In time, it'll become clear.

But for now... you're exactly what I need.

♪