01x06 - Shadow Puppets

[bunniefuu]

♪

IRIS: Once upon a time, there was the world as we knew it.

[CROWD CHEERS]

A world with pets and homes, grocery stores and hospitals, jobs and weekends.

[HORNS HONKING]

And then everything changed.

[BABY CRYING]

The people d*ed and then returned, neither living nor dead, the love they felt for anyone or anything erased from memory, replaced by a hunger that could never be satisfied.

Everything we had counted on... our advances in technology, our feats of engineering... could not save us.

[WALKERS GROWLING]

Roads crumbled and cities fell into heaps of rubble.

♪

And for those of us born right before?

The end of the world was our beginning.

♪

Hey, stop. Stay where you are.

- Why are you spying on us?
- I mean it, get back!

- Hey, don't get any closer.
- Hope, stop!

- Don't get any closer.
- Why don't you just drop your w*apon

- and we'll talk about it?
- No. No, no way.

- Hey, stay where you are, big guy.
- Why? You think you can take him?

This'll poke an eye out as good as anything.

Wanna come closer and find out?

Hey, leave her alone.

Okay, fine.

Here's how it's gonna go.

You stay where you are, and I split.

[RUSTLING]

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

You can drop that w*apon now.

[g*n COCKS]

Alright, let me save you the mental exercise.

Your chances...not lookin' that good.

Go on.

[STICK THUDS]

Elton, Silas, check the perimeter. See if he's got any friends.

Iris, search him.

[SCOFFS]

Look, I already told you.

I'm alone.

Look, you wanna know the truth?

I was in the bushes taking a leak when I heard voices.

HOPE: What, so you decided to rob us?

- Nothing.
- Huh.

Where is your stuff?

- Your food?
- I... I don't have stuff.

I don't have anything.

SILAS: No signs of anyone else.

Just him.

Hm.

What is your name?

Percy.

Are you hungry, Percy?

[SPOON SCRAPING]

Seemed like nice enough guys.

Mike and Tony.

Mike had this kind of biker vibe... you know, tats, full sleeves on both arms.

And Tony, not so much.

I don't think they knew each other before sh*t went bad.

Maybe they did.

They bickered like an old married couple.

You know, everything... which route to take, how much fish one guy had eaten, you know.

Blah, blah, blah.

Like I said, they seemed like nice enough guys.

Well, they robbed my ass.

When did that happen?

Couple days ago.

We'd gone to this settlement we heard was friendly to newcomers.

We heard wrong.

Maybe they just didn't like you.

Left in a hurry, found a place to camp down, fell asleep.

When I woke up, they were gone, and so was my stuff.

Guess they finally agreed on something.

That's why I'm here.

To eat our beans?

I think they're at the abandoned town down the road.

Andersonville.

I'm going back there to get back what's mine.

Hey, can I give you some advice?

Just be grateful they left you with your life and move on.

This isn't a vigilante-type deal.

And it ain't about the principle of it all, either.

Some things just can't be replaced.

♪

I get that.

♪

[FENCE RATTLES]

[GRUNTS]

Just taking some extra precaution in case this kid's lying and his buddies show.

Maybe we could give him some of our supplies now and he could go.

[LAUGHTER, INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

Doesn't really seem in a rush to leave.

PERCY: So, I'm totally screwed, right?

I'm in Wyoming. It's the middle of February, right?

I'm trudging down I- , just walking through feet of snow.

I'm just praying for some sort of shelter so I can wait out the storm.

That's when I hear 'em.

Moans so load you could feel the vibrations in the show.

Now, I'd seen of herds of has-beens before, but nothing like this.

So I panicked. I'm yankin' on every car door.

No deal. Rusted shut.

- Did you run?
- I'm on a freakin' overpass.

So, what did you do?

S... so, I, uh, sat on a car roof and waited.

- Bullshit.
- I did.

I told myself, you know, world was screwed up, so, uh, why fight so hard to live in it, right?

♪

Shut my eyes.

As the has-beens got closer, I could hear 'em, snow under their feet, feel 'em bumpin' into the car.

Mm.

I braced myself for the end.

♪

Nothin'.

I opened my eyes.

It's a herd of bison.

of 'em, just crossin' the freakin' overpass.

[LAUGHS]

It was the most beautiful thing I ever seen.

And after that, I was like, "Screw death.

I'm... I'm... I'm here for this."

Geez! That's wild.

I mean, just to see something like that.

- Yeah.
- Out here, the, uh... the real is surreal, you know.

That spring, I saw a, uh... a Ferris wheel in Orlando that had been turned into pelican nests.

bison. That... That's amazing!

Wait.

You saw the bison that winter?

How'd you get from Wyoming to Florida in a couple months?

That's impossible.

Did I say that?

- That must've been the year after.
- No one stole your supplies.

- I'm... Look, I misspoke.
- No, you didn't.

Okay, Hope, does it really make a difference?

You didn't get your food and your pack stolen.

Hey, hey, hey. Keep it down.

They stole your car.

That's how you got from Wyoming to Florida so fast.

That's what they took, right?

♪

[CHUCKLES]

Um, is this true?

'Bout a year ago, I saw a truck that had skidded onto the ice.

Must've just happened, because the engine was still running, and the... the driver was going from, you know,

"once was" to has-been.

SILAS: Why'd you lie?

Coulda just told us they stole your car.

It's like telling you there's buried treasure and expecting you not to go digging for it.

It's not just a working truck, okay?

It's carrying barrels of refined fuel.

It's like winning the jackpot.

What if we help you get it back?

- Iris.
- For a price.

We help you get your truck back, you drive us where we need to go.

♪

Where's that?

Does it matter?

No. There's no way that those guys are givin' up that thing without a fight.

- Alright? I... It's too risky.
- With a truck, we avoid empties.

We get there in half the time.

We don't have to worry about running out of supplies.

Shouldn't we wait for Huck?

For backup, you know?

Those guys could be gone by then, along with the truck.

♪

Two of them.

- Six of us.
- But if they got g*ns, doesn't matter how many of us there are.

Well, I... I've never seen any g*ns.

I mean, that wouldn't be the first thing that they hid from me, but...

We either get hurt, or we have to hurt them.

ELTON: We do have the element of surprise on our side.

If we use that to our advantage, it increases our chances significantly.

How do I know you guys won't just take my truck

- and leave me in the dust?
- We won't.

She gave you her word.

Out here, that doesn't mean much, big fella.

♪

Please.

We need to get where we're going fast.

It could be the difference between our dad living and...

♪

Look.

If we wanted to steal your truck, we would just take it, with or without your help.

You already told us where it was.

So...

♪

How 'bout, at dawn, we go find ourselves a truck?

♪

[SPRAY-PAINT SPRAYING]

♪

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

♪

What was she like?

She was great.

Sunday mornings, she'd make French toast, sing along with the record player.

Her voice sounded like a bronchial infection set to music, but...

- still like her version of "Tiny Dancer" the best.
- Wait.

You were named after Elton John?

He's an icon!

That's very cool.

My mom was the coolest.

This helped me get to know her.

She saw death and decay as no better or worse than any of life's cycles.

She wasn't afraid of it.

Um, what are you gonna do with it?

The book, I mean. Like, after you finish it.

I'd like to pass it on.

You know, so it could help somebody with the big questions.

Help 'em feel less confused and alone, just like it has done for me.

That way, my mother will never be forgotten.

I'll help you finish it.

Yeah, collecting samples, taking picture of worms and stuff.

Whatever you need to finish it.

Thank you.

♪

Hold on. You've read "Hamlet"?

PERCY: Thanks. The surprise in your voice is very flattering.

Hey, big guy, I can fix that boot for ya.

Little bit of charcoal and tree sap makes glue.

Mm-hmm.

Do you know any other good tricks?

We've only been out of the University like a month.

Yeah, what's the deal with that?

You guys had hot showers and food and beds.

If I had a cushy situation like that, I'd never leave.

Yeah, it, uh, wasn't as good as it sounds.

The University, it was

- like a bubble, you know?
- Hm.

Well, you're not careful, you and your bubble friends are gonna get yourselves k*lled out here.

Um, my friends and I made it through an inferno of empties and crossed the Mississippi.

You were robbed...

Oh! And started a fight with a twig.

Between us, think I'm doin' just fine.

Whatever you say.

You wanna know the real reason we're out here?

My dad.

He was sent to work on a project, but he's in trouble.

We're out here to find him.

Save him.

Ah, you're lucky.

You still got somebody to save.

That's rare.

Even more than a working car.

Let me guess. Either you joined me back here for my dazzling conversational skills, or you really don't like that kid.

- I don't.
- Mm.

I don't know why anybody else does.

Well...

We can't always control who we like.

♪

Come on.

♪

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

♪

[ENGINE REVS]

♪

That's them.

That's my truck.

Come on.

♪

IRIS: So, how are we supposed to get it?

Maybe we wait until it's dark?

I don't see any movement.

But they've got to be here. I mean, they were just driving the truck.

We need eyes on both of them before we do anything.

No, I say we smash and grab.

Move fast, we can be on the road before they even know what's happening.

You don't have the keys.

- I can hot-wire it in under a minute.
- I don't...

We shouldn't do this.

We are wasting time. We need to make a decision.

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[SIGHS]

Rest of you stay here.

I'll cover Percy.

♪

[TRUCK DOOR OPENS]

PERCY: Holy sh*t.

What is it?

♪

Tony.

- Guess the bickering got worse.
- Yeah.

We're gonna have to get outta here.

Chill. We are gettin' outta here.

- In this.
- [THUMPS]

- Damn it.
- What? What is it?

They bolted a plate over the ignition wires.

♪

- sh*t. [GRUNTS]
- What's wrong?

Oh, sh*t.

- Oh, my.
- Hey!

I told you to wait on the other side.

Let's go, alright?
This is not happening.

No keys, but I got this.

Hey! What the hell do you think you're doin'?

Getting those keys back.

Don't be an idiot.

You all wanna leave, then leave.

I got nothing left to lose.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

We're going back to the campsite.

Hey. Are you crazy?

We said we'd help.

I'm going to.

Stop.

I'll go.

Watch this.

It would be prudent to have a lookout at the front of the building in case Mike isn't there and he decides to come back.

- Alright.
- I'll come with you guys.

As backup.

[BAGS CLATTER]

You two keep an eye on our gear.

Come on.

♪

That's the only one not boarded up.

♪

Stay here.

♪

[HAND SLAMS]

♪

Thought I heard something.

In the back.

Flanking maneuver.

You go left, I go right.

If Mike gets the jump on one of us, the other comes in from the side.

Go.

♪

[SIGHS]

I can't take it.

I'm going in.

But you... but you promised Felix.

I don't trust that guy.

We can't keep being so afraid.

How are we supposed to save my dad if we are always waiting for other people to save us?

You... talking about me?

- You think I'm...
- What? No. No, no, no.

That is... That's not what I meant.

This is about me.

I won't stop you.

But your sister probably will.

There's probably a back way.

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

♪

[DOOR CREAKS]

♪

[DOOR CLOSES]

♪

[FLASHLIGHT CLICKS]

♪

[SIGHS]

♪

[CAN CLATTERS]

♪

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Jesus!

Damn.

You were ready to end me with zero hesitation.

Uh-huh.

What are you doing here?

Figured you could use some help.

Where's Felix?

Uh, checking the other side.

I was about to check upstairs.

Let's go.

You sure?

- Wouldn't be here if I wasn't.
- [WALKER GROWLING]

Come on.

♪

We were doing fine by foot.

Slow and sore, but fine.

Well, anything to get to your dad faster is worth it, right?

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

You know, I actually met your dad before he left for the Civic Republic.

Went to ask if he would read my mother's writing, and he did.

He's the one who encouraged me to finish the manuscript.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Even though he'd never met my mom, he still admired her research.

He actually kind of reminded me of her.

Ink stains on his fingers, three coffee cups on his desk, all cold.

It's those little things about her that I don't want to forget.

Elton...

Maybe we should, uh, focus, i... instead of talking.

Right.

♪

[WALKER GROWLING]

♪

[GLASS SHATTERS]

[GRUNTS]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

♪

Hey.

♪

[WATER SPLASHES]

♪

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[KEYS JINGLE]

♪

Hey, hey!

That's my stuff.

♪

Find Felix. Get the car started.

- I'll be down in a second.
- Don't.

- It's not worth...
- Hey, screw that.

They took my stuff.

I'm taking it back, and I'm taking theirs.

♪

[DOOR OPENS]

♪

- Hey, Mike... No, no, no, no, no!
- [g*nsh*t]

♪

- What was that?
- Maybe Felix found Mike.

[WALKER GROWLING]

♪

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

♪

Percy.

♪

[WALKER GROWLING]

♪

[RAIN FALLING]

HOPE: Maybe we should see if he's okay.

[ELTON GRUNTS]

♪

[WATER SPLASHES]

♪

[WALKER GROWLING]

[CHAIN RATTLING]

♪

[ENGINE STARTS]

♪

He's got our stuff!

♪

The dead guy?

My mom's book! It's in my bag!

♪

[WALKER GROWLING]

♪

[CLATTERING]

♪

Percy!

What...

♪

[GRUNTS]

♪

Hey! Hey, stop!

Hey!

PERCY: Go, go, go!

IRIS: Hope!

♪

HOPE: Iris!

Hope?

I can't get out. The wall's too high.

Don't worry! Felix and Silas are on their way.

- Are you okay?
- I'm fine. I just...

- [RUSTLING]
- Iris! Are you hurt?!

What's wrong?

Iris!

[GROWLING]

♪

FELIX: Iris! We're here!

We're gonna get you out.

[GROWLING]

[SCREAMS]

- One, two...
- Felix!

- ... three!
- HOPE: Iris, it's okay! Just hold on!

Come on! Keep going!

- [CHAIN RATTLES]
- Help!

- Iris, we're in!
- Felix, help!

[WALKERS GROWLING]

Felix?

Go. Go!

Come on! Hold them off!

♪

Help!

♪

IRIS: Felix! Felix!

[YELPS]

♪

[TRUCK APPROACHES]

[SQUISHING]

Get in! More has-beens are comin'!

- Come on!
- Let's go!

♪

Come on!

♪

I told ya, kiddo. No good deed goes unpunished.

What good deed is that, huh?

- You conned us.
- Yeah, we did.

We came back when we saw the has-beens comin'.

HOPE: I say we take their ride and leave 'em to become empty chow.

We saved all your asses!

When we saw the has-beens comin', my nephew had me turn around.

And, what, we should be grateful that you robbed us then changed your mind?

Out here, that's pretty much as good as it gets.

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

♪

Keep your eye on the ball.

♪

It's that one.

[CHUCKLES]

What? No.

No, no. That's crazy. I know it was there.

Oh!

[CHUCKLES]

So what? You're a professional scammer.

Young lady, for years,

I was Tony Delmado, resident illusionist at the Pair-a-Dice Lounge in Las Vegas.

Was your act all sleight of hand?

An aficionado!

I like it.

Ah, I did a bit of everything... illusions, card tricks, even dabbled in ventriloquism.

Turns out, knowing how to throw your voice is quite useful given the state of the world as it is.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm still in show business.

For a small fee at friendly settlements, we will perform.

That's why the makeup job is flawless.

And what are you?

His protégé?

Uh, Tony raised me when my mom split.

Percy's a quick study.

He was grifting kids in the sandbox.

Uh, it... it's how we get what we need without hurting people.

[CHUCKLES]

Wow.

You guys deserve medals or somethin'.

[WATER FLOWING]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

Hey.

Ya gonna stay mad at me forever?

Forever?

It's cool, you don't have to keep pretending you care.

That's kinda cynical. I don't take you for a cynic.

No, you take me for everything I'm worth.

Know what the worst part is?

I really thought I had good instincts.

You do.

You came back up those stairs to help me.

See, I... I've probably run this grift a dozen times, and people always take the keys and run.

But you didn't.

♪

- What does that have to do with...
- You saw me as someone worth saving.

That's why I came back.

'Cause that's who I wanted to be.

I, uh...

I guess it's on me now to prove I can be more like you.

♪

Hey.

You know, I'd love to read your mom's book sometime.

If you'd let me.

You would?

Yeah, absolutely.

I might be the only person left in the world who saw her, who knew her. But... at least now someone else will know her, too.

♪

[TOOLS CLANKING]

♪

We need to talk.

As we say in my business, we got ourselves a setup, but no punch line.

We both want the truck, but only I know where to get more fuel.

This isn't as much of a conversation as it is, what?

You trying to play me?

thr*aten me?

My nephew promised you a ride, and I intend to make good on that. But first,

I want to know about that fetching insignia you got there.

What, this?

It's, uh, the emblem of the University where we live.

As the saying goes, don't bullshit a bullshitter.

Especially one from Vegas.

I know whatever group's behind this doesn't mess around, and they're close.

I've seen helicopters flying around with this symbol.

♪

If it's so dangerous, why not leave?

Let's just say it's a good thing

I checked the driver's pockets when we searched the truck.

Found something that pointed us to a refueling station nearby.

Now we got a routine down on how to get what we need and avoid these assholes.

You didn't avoid us.

You're not them.

They're armed to the hilt in all-black uniforms.

You're a ragtag group of kids in homemade leather.

What I want to know is, if we get into a bind, can that patch of yours get us out?

♪

Of course it can.

♪

Great. Then tomorrow, we pick up your friend and we ride.

To wherever you want to go.

But first, a little entertainment.

[FIRE CRACKLING]

Some people make it look so easy.

What?

Starting over.

Mm.

Yeah.

I wish I knew which part of him was the lie and which part was real.

You know?

He's the same as us.

We all have parts that we want people to see, and parts of us that we try to hide.

It's all real.

Ladies and gentlemen,

- without further ado...
- We welcome you to the end of the world.

["HERE COMES THE RIVER" PLAYING]

♪ The windows turned to fishbowls ♪

♪ The cities to seas ♪

♪

♪ The cars were drownin' ♪

♪ Underneath your feet ♪

♪ The children were swimming ♪

♪ From the top of the trees ♪

♪ Crowds of umbrellas were starin' in misbelief ♪

♪ Well, Mary kept sewing ♪

♪ Holdin' onto her TV ♪

♪ Even if the water was risin' past her knees ♪

♪ Here comes the river ♪

♪ Nobody told you ♪

♪ It was gonna be this hard ♪

♪ Something's been buildin' behind your eyes ♪

♪ Sometimes ♪

♪ It's gonna fall down on your shoulders ♪

♪ But you're gonna stand through it all ♪

♪ And you can't keep your head above these troubled waters ♪

♪ Here comes the river ♪

♪ Over the flames ♪

♪ Sometimes you gotta burn to keep the storm away ♪

♪ Sometimes ♪

♪ You gots to just ♪

♪


[PAPER RUSTLES]

[DRAWER OPENS]

[DRAWER CLOSES]

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

Dr. Belshaw.

Hello.

Yes, I... I'm still working on that, but...

♪

Of course.

It will be taken care of by the time they arrive.

Dr. Bennett won't be a problem.

His security detail won't be, either.

Of course.

Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel.

♪

[CLATTERING]

♪

[CLATTERING]

[WALKERS GROWLING]

♪