04x09 - I Can't Be the One to Stop You

[bunniefuu]

(GROANING)

Are you alive?

Oh, good. You've got eyes now.

(GRUNTS)

But no tongue.

All right, we got to get out of here
before he comes back.

KALEB: Oh, he's already here.

Kaleb...

This does not concern you.

(CRIES OUT)

You made me wreck my car.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(PHONE VIBRATING)

HOPE'S VOICE: Have you acclimated
to your new body yet?

I must admit,
I'm absolutely loving mine.

Don't get too used to it, Aurora.

Or what? You'll keep running away?

There's nowhere to run
that I won't find you.

You're bluffing.

Are you sure I'm not right behind you?

Or am I miles away?

Not knowing
can drive you a little crazy.

Try as you might,
you'll never see me coming.

(PHONE BEEPS OFF)

(CRIES OUT)

Hope Andrea Mikaelson.

I was hoping we'd have a chance to chat.

MG: Thanks for coming.

This Squad meeting
is officially in session.

Right. No offense,

but I kinda thought that my first
official Super Squad meeting

would be more... super.

That is why I wanted to meet.

We've got a lot of team members MIA.

Lizzie took off last night,

and it's been a minute
since anyone's seen Jed or Kaleb.

Have you heard anything?

Why would I have heard anything?

- Isn't Kaleb kind of your boyfriend?
- (SCOFFS)

We have not defined
our relationship status

any more than you two
have defined yours with Lizzie.

Have either of you
heard anything from her?

Uh, no, but that is why I'm worried.

It's kind of weird
that she didn't tell any of us

where she was going or why.

If Elizabeth had wanted us to know,
she would have told us.

As would have Kaleb and Jed.

Cleo's right.

I-I would love if there was
an actual emergency

that I could finally help out with,
but there's nothing for us to do.

Actually, there is something
you all should be doing.

A little thing called class,
which you are currently skipping.

Mr. Machado,
Intro to Supernatural Species.

Ms. Sowande,
Advanced Alchemical Studies.

Mr. Greasley, Your Bloodline and You.

As long as Dr. Saltzman is indisposed,
and I am your acting headmaster,

there's a new sheriff in town.

We have no need for your Squad.

Malivore is gone.

- There are no more monsters.
- (DOOR BURSTS OPEN)

Guys? We got a monster problem.

SPRINGTHORPE: I should say so.
What is that thing?

Oh, he's actually not the monster
I'm talking about.

It's Kaleb.

Oh...

JOSIE: This will come as a shock.

But by the time you read this,
I'll be gone.

Not gone gone.
Scratch that, it's too ominous.

Father, if you're reading this,
congratulations.

You are no longer in a coma.

That is so much worse.

Start from the beginning.

Dad, I don't know
how to say this, but...

I think that I need
to leave this school.

The therapy box showed me

that it might be the only way
that I can save Hope.

My bus leaves in a few hours,
and I just...

wish you were here

so that maybe you could help me
find the right words.

Because I need to tell Lizzie
that I'm leaving.

And there's a much more
difficult conversation coming.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

FINCH: Hey, it's me.

Invisique!

You're making a weird face.
Am I interrupting something?

Just writing a letter to my dad.

I wrote to my grandpa once.
After he passed. It helped.

Is that what the therapy box
told you to do?

Sorry, that is totally your business.

And not why I came here anyway.

Some sort of monster emergency
downstairs.

But it can wait
if you need to talk or anything.

Maybe later.
I'll deal with the monster thing first.

They need a healing potion.

That could take a while.

And I won't be able
to finish it in time to...

I have a thing later.

Then why don't I help?

Get it done faster, before your thing.

HOPE'S VOICE:
You're making a terrible mistake.

(GROANS)

I'm not who you think I am.

Tell me about it.

I thought you were a good person
who was my friend.

Guess I missed
all the psycho m*rder*r red flags.

And looking back, there were many.

Get it through
that bottle-blonde head of yours,

I'm not Hope Mikaelson.

You actually thought
I would fall for that?

Guess you're desperate enough
to try anything, huh?

(SCOFFS) Will somebody help me?

(PANTING)

Please.

I cast a Conus silenti spell
before I stabbed you.

They can't hear a word we're saying.

- (GRUNTS)
- You want to know a secret?

This isn't just any old stake.
It's Tribrid Kryptonite.

If I had stabbed you in the heart,
you'd be dead right now.

- (SHUDDERS)
- Like always,

nature found a freaking loophole.

Which means I get to decide
whether you live or die.

Incendia.

- WAITER: Whoa.
- (PATRONS GASPING)

Hope would never miss
with a spell that easy.

That's because,
you insufferable halfwit,

I'm not Hope.

JED: I don't know who he is.

When Kaleb and I found him,
he'd just been ripped apart by an Argus.

Then he started
putting himself back together.

Literally.

We were bringing him back here
to get some answers,

and then, all of a sudden,

Kaleb blew up his own car
with a fireball

and b*rned this guy to a crisp.

That doesn't sound like Kaleb.

Yeah, I know, right?
He freakin' loved that car.

It was like some sort of switch
flipped inside of him.

Well, until this guy's mouth heals,
we're not gonna get any answers.

While we're waiting on Josie

to come through
with that healing potion...

and, Jed,
you look after this dude here...

Ethan and I, we're gonna go find Kaleb.

I'm coming with you.

Hey... I think I should stay.

But this is what you wanted,
to be on the front lines.

Yeah, but what if Kaleb's right,
and this thing is dangerous?

We got to keep people safe, right?
Sounds like a job for Rescue Guy.

ALARIC:
Men, we have a date with destiny.

As soon as we get on board,

we're gonna jump that bag of bones
and point that boat back home.

Okay, maybe we'll have time
for a quick pit stop,

and drop me off in Peace?

Well, I said "maybe."

So, do either of you
actually know how to steer that thing?

- About to find out.
- (NECROMANCER LAUGHS)

(ALARIC CLEARS THROAT)

(HISSING)

What the devil are those things?!

(HISSING, BONES CREAKING)

Looks like we owe more than one coin.

HOPE'S VOICE:
Oh, you know how men can be.

Niklaus, he spelled me in,
bricked me up,

and trapped me behind a wall.

Like some character
in an Edgar Allan Poe story.

Gothic villainy must run in the family.

Once, in fifth grade,
Hope stole my favorite butterfly clip.

Are you comparing the loss
of a hair accessory

to the physical and emotional torment
that I endured

at the hands of a man that I once loved?

My point is, we've both suffered
at the hands of a Mikaelson.

If you're suggesting
that we join forces,

I possess the body of the Tribrid.

Which you don't know how to use.

- I'm a quick study.
- Not quick enough.

I just snuck up on you,

and Hope has the body
of a thousand-year-old vampire.

You're gonna need someone
to watch your Tribrid back.

And why should I trust you?

Because... we want the same thing.

To make Hope Mikaelson pay.

Creepy butler upstairs,
even creepier vibe downstairs.

How about some light in here?

Incendia.

Hmm.

Looks like someone's getting the hang
of her new powers.

I can feel my connection to magic
getting stronger by the minute.

Enough stalling.

I assume you have some elaborate plan
to put Hope down?

Very elaborate indeed.

You see, after the descendants
of the original Triad freed me,

I knew I would need an object
powerful enough to trap the Tribrid.

My search led me to this.

A coffin?

It was scarier
when the tarp was over it.

If you believe the legends,
it's some sort of prisoner jail,

said to be capable of containing a god.

A god?

Monsters are real.
Why not divine beings?

All stories come from somewhere.

And if these stories are true,

this sarcophagus should be strong enough
to trap the Tribrid.

And once we have her locked inside,

we will subject her to eternal torment
at the bottom of the ocean.

She will die and come back,
drown to death over and over again.

And I will finally have my vengeance.

First off, Hope always finds a way out.
Always.

And second, even if she didn't,

don't you think
that's a little... biblical?

I thought you wanted revenge.

This is what revenge looks like.

I want her to suffer, sure.

Hope's done some messed up things,

but I still don't think
that means she deserves

an eternity of t*rture.

Somebody has to pay
for what her family did to me.

It might as well be her.

Then you're no better
than Klaus Mikaelson.

(CHUCKLES)

And I'll be no better than you.

I've waited far too long for this,
and I won't let anyone ruin my fun.

MG: Shouldn't take much longer now.
Kaleb's somewhere close.

CLEO: It's going to be fine.

I'm sure this is all some sort
of misunderstanding, you know?

I know you're trying
to give the man some space,

but it's okay for you to be worried.

Kaleb is quite capable.

So is Lizzie.
It doesn't mean I'm not worried.

Yes, but it's different.

It's no secret to anyone
what Elizabeth means to you.

Or what you mean to Kaleb.

Remember when you and Landon
went all Bonnie and Clyde?

Kaleb spent that whole time

working on what he was going to say
after we found you.

How you made him want to be
a better version of himself.

He never told you that, did he?

Not yet.

All I'm trying to say is,

you have every right to let yourself
be worried about him.

Because who you are to each other
is special.

(KALEB GROANING)

Kaleb!

Ow!

Mind the thorns.

Please tell me I'm not about to fall
into an eternal slumber.

Thankfully, no, but you might have
some weird-ass dreams tonight.

Sorry if I'm slowing you down.

You're not.

Would hate
for you to miss your thing tonight.

It'll be fine.

Okay, I'm clearly worse
at passive-aggressive conversations

than I thought.

Talk to me. What is going on?

I'll listen.

I want to tell you. I do.

But can I just tell you later?

Whenever you're ready.

It's not what it looks like.

It's not a one-way bus ticket
out of town?

For tonight?

LIZZIE: The game just changed, Hope.

AURORA'S VOICE:
Lizzie? What are you doing?

Swapping sides.

I teamed up with body-swap you
to take down the real you,

but I think her centuries-long vendetta

might have knocked a screw loose.

So I've trapped her for now,

and I'm willing to help you
get your body back,

on one condition.

You help me clean up the mess you made
and save my dad.

(SIGHS)

Deal.

A brilliant speech, and convincing.
You almost had me believing you.

That's because I meant every word.

♪ ♪

- You treacherous...
- Silencio.

(MUFFLED PROTESTS)

Look, we both know
how the Mikaelsons can be monsters.

But your beef isn't with Hope.

And taking your trauma out
on Klaus's daughter

won't actually fix
any of the hurt or heartache

that he and his family put you through.

All you're doing
is prolonging your pain.

Frankly, sister, I don't want my future
to look like yours.

So I am gonna finish
what I came here to do, my way.

Okay, Lizzie, step one complete.

Step two: think of a trap
to set up before Hope...

AURORA'S VOICE: Too late.

But I'm so curious, what's step three?

NECROMANCER: I don't know.

I think mine's just a,
it's just a touch bigger.

It's insane.

I have taken plenty of lives,
but they each had it coming.

Whereas you...

No offense.

Ah, it's the system that's unjust.

I mean, look at poor Landon.

The boy's having to atone
for things that he did

while under the control of Malivore.

Oh, it's that Ferryman, he's... (GRUNTS)

he's downright puritanical!

Aw, I'm sorry you can't get home
to your daughters.

(SIGHS)

Maybe they're better off.

Oh, you did... the best you could.

(SCOFFS)

And yet it's the same size.

Roughly the same size.

Are you guys just sitting here,
getting drunk?

Mm.

We have work to do.

All those people in town
are potential coins.

We just have to

help 'em let go of whatever's
keeping them from passing over.

And it usually comes down
to one of three things:

parents, sex and God.

Just figure out what their damage is,
and bingo, spiritual jackpot.

(LAUGHS)

Hmm.

Dear boy,

your obsessive need to insert yourself
into other people's stories

is finally paying off.

(LAUGHS)

Spread out!

We're going home.

FINCH: So you're leaving.

I wanted to tell you at the right time.

- Like right after the bus leaves?
- I can explain.

Do you remember what you said
right after I learned about the Merge?

You said you wanted someone

who would stare death
in the face with you.

You said you wanted someone
who loves you enough to stay and fight,

even if it's a lost cause.

And I meant every word of that.

(SIGHS)

But the therapy box made me realize
that I can't stay.

So...

will you come with me?

MG: Hey, stay with us.

Hey, hey, come on. Kaleb. Kaleb.

- There he is.
- (LAUGHS SOFTLY)

Hey.

What are y'all doing here?

We came to help you.

Starting with the stake.

No, don't. Oh!

MG... the stake
was the only thing stopping me.

You did this to yourself?

I had to.

My monster side was taking over,
and I couldn't control it.

I had to slow myself down
and buy Jed some time

so he could get away.

That was a very noble thing to do.

And your plan worked.

They just arrived at the school
a few hours ago.

He took it to the school?

Yes.

Why?

Because that thing was the reason
I was losing control.

And I'm not the only one at the school
that's half monster.

I figured you might need a break.

Thanks, but, uh, I'm good.

(CHUCKLES)

Look, I get you want
to prove yourself to the Squad.

I've been there.

But I've got this.

Do you, though?

(SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)

AURORA'S VOICE:
I honestly didn't see this coming.

The therapy box helped me discover
a new side of myself.

The side that cosplays
as a vampire hunter?

The side that's willing to do
whatever it takes.

Interesting.

So what was the plan?

How did you expect to fight me
without dying?

It doesn't matter now.
You're not the Tribrid anymore.

You're just a vampire,
so any old stake will do.

True, but you know the tricky thing
about therapy is...

knowing what you need to do
and going through with it

are two different things.

So now's your chance.
Let's see if you have it in you.

I know what'll help.
Being able to look into the eyes

of the person
who tried to k*ll my father.

Appearatas Veridical.

Oh, if you think that will help,
take your sh*t.

(SHARP INHALE)

(BREATH SHUDDERS)

Do it.

I came here wanting to make you hurt,
like you hurt all of us,

but seeing you in front of me, I...

(TAKES DEEP BREATH)

...I hate this.

I hate how many good memories
I have of you.

I hate that I have to be the one
to do this,

because no one else will.

But most of all...

(CRYING):
...I hate you for being my friend

and for being a part
of my weird, messed-up family

and for making me love you,
Hope Mikaelson.

Because no matter how far you go,
no matter how evil you become...

apparently
I can't be the one to stop you.

(GASPS SOFTLY)

(PANTING)

Hope... are you...?

I'm back.

Why didn't you tell me?

So many reasons.

Not the least of which is...

it's kind of about Hope.

I know that you don't believe it,
neither does Lizzie,

but... there is still good in her.

And I know that I can reach it.
But I can't do it while I'm here.

I need to go someplace where...

I don't feel the pressure to have
to save everyone's life all the time.

(CHUCKLES):
See? That wasn't so hard to say.

That's not the hard part.

You deserve to be happy.

You haven't been at the Salvatore School
for a very long time, but...

look at everything that you've gained.

Friends. A pack. A home.

You're flourishing.

How selfish would it be of me
to ask you to leave all of that behind?

You're right.

But I wouldn't have any of it
if not for you.

The person I want to be with is you,
so how could I say no?

MG: Josie!

What do we have
that can knock someone out immediately?

(GRUNTS)

What the hell is your problem, man?

He is. I don't know why,

but all of a sudden
I just want to smash his freakin' face.

Then you have to go through me first.

If you insist.

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTS)

- (METALLIC RINGING)
- (YELLING IN PAIN)

Oh, it's nothing personal.

- (SNARLS)
- MG: Ethan, no.

Sorry, E.
But you're not yourself right now.

(GROANS)

LIZZIE: Can't believe you got bamboozled

by this old thing.

Humanity-off Me was, um, reckless.

I'm so sorry.

Save it.

When Hope Mikaelson apologizes,
I like to give it my full attention.

Mm.

You know, I have to be honest.

When Josie told me
that you weren't too far gone,

I didn't believe her.

Me neither.

Don't know why I was the one
that got to bring you back,

but I'm just happy I didn't have
to do it during Salvatore Idol.

Hmm.

Same.

Ready?

I should probably drop
the illusion spell,

just so it's not confusing.

(WHOOSH)

How will we know that it worked?

I guess I'll say something
only the real me would know.

(BOTH GRUNT)

(PANTING)

(GASPS)

(GASPS)

(LAUGHS SOFTLY)

It worked.

Panda promise.

You can't trust her.

Once a Mikaelson, always a Mikaelson.

(YELLS)

(BOTH GRUNT)

(GROANING)

- How bad is it?
- About to get a lot better.

We're here. How is he?

(EXHALES)

I know you guys are worried,
but Jed's in good hands.

He's gonna get through this.

BRUTUS: What about the pack?
We need an alpha to lead us.

What do we do?

(PANTING)

Okay... first things first.

We need to go home
and try and save my dad,

and then we can go after Aurora.

Actually, um,

the first thing that you need to do
is explain what this is.

You remember that tree
the three of us sprouted together

right before you transitioned?

Let me guess. It was an oak tree.

Red oak, actually. Kind of beautiful.

And this thing can k*ll a Tribrid?

Wow. Nature really doesn't
waste any time, does it?

Unlike you.

(QUIETLY): What?

(LAUGHS): I'm a little
disappointed in you, actually.

'Cause you had your sh*t,
and you didn't even take it.

Incendia.

Your humanity never came back on.

It was all just an act.

And a pretty good one. Right?

Hope, I meant what I said, every word.

Deep down, I believe
that there is still some good in you.

(CHUCKLES): Oh, my God,
everyone keeps saying that.

- Let's prove them wrong.
- (GASPS)

No. No, I am not going to fight you.
And I'm not gonna run.

Because this is stupid.

You're not actually gonna k*ll me.
We all know that.

You haven't k*lled anyone
that you care about.

You're just being a bully.
So drop the act.

Okay, there are some lines
that even you won't cr...

- Feeling a little better?
- Mm.

I'm starting to.

Is it still there?

It's like a whisper in my head,
telling me to just... k*ll the, uh...

the bandaged dude.

Mm.

The closer I am to him,
the louder it gets.

I don't think I should stick around
for much longer.

I think I need to go find a solution.

Perhaps I can help.

Oh, you're sweet, but, uh,
I don't want you worrying about me.

I want you to see that I can b*at
this monster thing on my own.

I already saw that today.

Do you know what else I saw?

I saw a man who put a stake
in his own stomach

to save the life of a stranger.

And besides...

I think I'm allowed to worry
about my boyfriend.

- Boyfriend?
- (LAUGHS)

I mean, only if you want.

I'm your boyfriend?

(SIGHS) Don't make a big deal out of it
or anything.

- Uh, it's a big deal.
- (LAUGHS)

(GASPS SOFTLY)

- Is Jed...?
- Josie took care of him.

He'll be fine.

(EXHALES)

I'm not sure what came over me.

If you hadn't have stopped me,
I might have...

But... you didn't.

Some hero I turned out to be.

After what I did,
I don't deserve to stay here.

I mean, I almost k*lled someone today.

But you didn't.
So there's no point in...

I wasn't finished.

I also lied to you.

When Lizzie came to get me
the other day,

we didn't just go on a walk.

We were spying on you and Cleo.

We saw you burning that tree, so...

she put it out and saved enough of it
to make a stake.

She told me to keep it a secret
from all of you.

So I did.

Because... I thought
that protecting the school

meant making hard decisions.

Or maybe I did it
because when she looked at me like that,

I would have done anything she asked.

Because I want her to pick me.

Did Lizzie take the stake
to go after Hope?

I don't know.

You're right.

You don't deserve to be here.

Get out.

- (SIGHS)
- (OWL HOOTING)

- Are you okay?
- I don't know.

Something feels off,
and I can't place it.

Maybe you're having anxiety
about leaving?

Maybe.

I thought Lizzie would be back
in time for me to say goodbye.

I don't trust... therapy in general.

Let alone therapy that comes in a box.

♪ Love... ♪

But I think what it told you was right.

♪ Every word's already been written ♪

♪ Every chord already played ♪

♪ You make everything... ♪

You believe Hope can still be reached

and that you're capable of doing that.

And if you stay here...

there's always gonna be another monster

or another emergency
for you to help with.

There's always gonna be
another reason to stay.

And, you know, Maya once told me,

"Boundaries can feel like betrayals."

But you are not betraying us.

♪ Is an old song by an old man... ♪

You're doing
what you need to do for yourself.

And this is the part
where you tell me you're not coming.

♪ Trust is something you can't fake ♪

(CRYING): You know I want to.

♪ It's so delicate and fragile... ♪

But the pack... needs help.

(SNIFFLES) And... I'm it.

And it's a new feeling for me,
being needed somewhere.

♪ Yesterday is just another day... ♪

The therapy box told me
I needed to do this alone,

and the first thing I did
was buy a second ticket.

- ♪ Is just a word... ♪
- (SIGHS)

I guess old habits take time.

(EXHALES)

♪ There's nowhere else
I'd rather be... ♪

I believe in you.

You've got this.

I'm so happy that you've found a home.

And maybe... when I come back, we can...

(SNIFFLES) see where you and I are.

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

One day at a time.

♪ Hallelujah is an old song ♪

♪ By an old man in a suit ♪

♪ And I guess love ♪

♪ Is just a word ♪

(VEHICLE APPROACHING)

♪ Without you ♪

♪ And I guess love ♪

♪ Is just a word ♪

♪ Without you. ♪

I take it you struck out.

I talked to hundreds of lost souls,
trying to help them move on,

and I've netted... a grand total of...

two coins.

And this one's just a button, I think.

Come to gloat
about how much better you did?

Hmm.

Yeah.

Perhaps that's just proof
you're a far better person than I.

I'll be honest.

I never thought
I had a chance at Peace. Never.

Even when I was on that dock,

(CHUCKLES): yelling at the Ferryman...

No, I knew deep down that he was right.

Except for one brief moment
when you and I first got our coins.

I mean, for a second, I...

I almost thought
that it might be a possibility.

Almost.

It was nice while it lasted.

But it'll be a shame
to lose you from this place, my boy.

You have a talent for this.

But, um, now you deserve
to get out of here.

I'm not going anywhere yet.

We do it together.

(QUIETLY): Oh.

So only a...

only a few thousand more coins to go.

(CHUCKLES)

Yeah.

What souls shall we save next?

ALARIC: Our own.

This is taking way too long.
We got to find another way out of here.

How do you know there even is one?

I don't. But he does.

My old friends.

What an unforeseeable surprise.

(CLATTERING NEARBY)

(EERIE GRUNTING)

(GRUNTS)

Uh, guys?

Anyone available
for a quick fight with a...

(DOOR RATTLES)

(PANTING)

Uh, sorry for the unpleasant noises.

It's... it's always like that
when my tongue's growing back.

Uh...

I thought you were a m-monster.

No. Unfortunately, monsters
are the least of your problems now.

LIZZIE: Hey, beautiful.

There you are. I couldn't feel you.

I know. I couldn't feel you either.

What happened?

Nothing you need to worry about.

Lizzie... what did you do?

Something kind of dumb.

But it's okay, I promise.

I had an insurance policy just in case.

Where are you? I'll come help.

Jo. Don't.

We're both doing what we think is right.

And that's okay.

I made a choice.
I have to see it through on my own.

And you have to do the same.

Don't worry about me.

No matter what you feel next,
just know, wherever I am...

I'm okay.

And you're gonna be okay, too.

And remind yourself that you are loved.

No matter what.

I love you, too. No matter what.

♪ ♪

(WHOOSH)

HOPE: Okay, let's try this.

Fluctus inpulsa.

(WHOOSH, RATTLING)

(LOW GRUNT NEARBY)

(GASPS)

You're supposed to be dead.

I know.

But now... all I am...

(SHUDDERS)

...is hungry.