01x02 - Earth. Air. Water. Fire.

[bunniefuu]

[ETHEREAL CHORAL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Once, long ago,

we lived in the human world,

the Moroi vampires who make the rules...

And the Dhampir Guardians,

sworn to protect against our enemy,

the Strigoi...

Undead vampires who live to k*ll.

Now we live in a world of our own,

one grounded in elemental magic

and steeped in rules no one's
challenged in centuries...

Until now.

♪ ♪

The spark of revolution can
come from anywhere,

even two unlikely friends...

And one night that changed everything.

[EERIE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[GASPS]

Remember.

[GASPS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

♪ Got something coming for you ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Got something coming for you ♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

♪ I don't wanna play no more ♪

- [GRUNTS]
- Whoo!

Come on, Novices. Pick up the pace.

Only four miles to go.

You can do it.

♪ ♪

♪ Beneath the shame ♪

♪ ♪

[PANTING]

What the f*ck?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Okay, Mia will help you prepare.

She studied up on all of this.

When I thought I would be queen.

Did Rose lose her phone privileges?

- I haven't heard from her.
- I don't know.

The Guardians handle
their own punishments.

My punishment being queen?

After this, Mia will run
you through political tutorials

of all twelve Heads of Family.

Mostly gossips and backstabbers.

The best way to get their vote

is for them to think
you're their new best friend.

Fine, but this entire thing
is ridiculous.

What's ridiculous is you
not wanting to be queen.

Why would I want to do something

I'm completely unprepared to do?

This was Andre's thing, not mine.

I think we can both agree
that you're no Andre.

- Mia.
- Sorry.

If only he were still here, right?

Then you'd be queen,

and everyone would still
be hopeful about the future,

and I'd have my family back.

Hey.

Everyone is hopeful about the future.

You're unsullied by faction politics.

Everyone's excited about you,

at least, everyone who matters.

Now I need to head to the Council.

Everyone's gathering to discuss
your Specialization Ceremony.

- Wait, what?
- Yeah.

It's just a nice gentle way
to get campaign season started.

Everyone loves
a good faction competition,

up on the big screen
so the entire dominion

can invest in you.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

The Queen is Air,
so the people won't like it

if you're Air too.

But Dragomirs are usually Fire, right?

Yeah.

Hey, Mia?

When your sister didn't specialize,

my parents never told me why the Council

finally stopped insisting that she try.

By the time they were done with her,

even if she did specialize,

she wouldn't be capable of using it.

♪ ♪

[MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY]

Come on, put some muscle into it.

- Bite me.
- What if I could?

Alberta's got me doing double chores.

Maybe that's punishment enough.

While Lissa got off clean, typical.

How in the hell did
this queen thing happen?

Lissa's the least political
person in the Dominion.

She's got to be freaking out.

- You haven't talked to her?
- No.

The dorm matrons
keep blocking her calls,

and I can't get anywhere near her

because f*cking Dimitri
is keeping us separated.

Maybe Lissa likes the idea
of being queen.

I doubt it.

Everything sucks.

Including this couch.

It's hard as a board.

Keeps us from getting lazy.

Want a distraction?

No.

Yes.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[EERIE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SQUELCHING]

Now, as you can see,

the Strigoi's eyeball
has a high number of rods

for better night vision, like a cat.

And the quadrate bone down here,

allows the Strigoi to unhinge its jaws

like a snake.

Now, their limbic system,

the area in the brain
responsible for behavior is...

Is practically microscopic.

So from this, we can deduce
that they are incapable

of possessing true conscience.

How do we know that for certain?

Because we listen to science.

Okay, but has anyone ever actually,

I-I don't know, sat down and asked one?

[SOFT LAUGHTER]

I'm curious too,

Guardian Tanner, how does a Moroi

become a Strigoi again?

There's no need to repeat lessons

taught in the lower schools, Jesse.

No, I-I think we could use a brushup.

One, a Strigoi turns you
by feeding you their blood.

Two, you accidentally k*ll
while you feed

and must pay for the mistake
with your soul.

Does anyone know number three?

Anyone? Ozera?

That's enough, Jesse. Class dismissed.

Three, you choose to k*ll.

You choose to suck all of the blood

out of their body while you feed,

to be a monster.

Just like Mommy and Daddy, eh, Ozera?

Hey, Meredith.

I need a favor.

Can you pass Lissa a note for me?

[LAUGHS] No way.

Why?

What's the big deal?

Strategically,
this is a no-win situation

for both of us.

I get caught, I get demerits,
I'll lose standing,

and for what?

To do something nice for a friend.

We're friends now?

You don't get it, do you?

If they are separating you now,

it's probably just to prepare you

for what's to come when she's queen.

We're a package deal.

Everyone knows that.

Have you ever met a Royal Moroi

in a high position of power

with a Dhampir best friend?

And you wonder why we aren't friends.

Rose?

There's no easy way to say this.

Um, the issue of you and Lissa

sneaking outside the wards was
raised at the Royal Council.

There's going to be a tribunal,
and the dean will preside.

A tribunal?

So what, they wanna ship me off

to St. Jude's or some other school?

They aren't deciding where
you should go to school, Rose.

They want to determine
if you have a future

as a Guardian at all.

I'm sorry.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Remember.

[GASPS]

[PANTING]

Remember what?

[DOOR OPENS]

Oh. Your shift started early.

As did your evening, apparently,

Princess.

I-I'm in kind of a bind.

I can't let you see Rose.

Strict instructions from the top.

I know. I get it.

I hate it, but I get it.

What if it wasn't Rose
I was gonna go see?

[FEATHERS FLAPPING]

[BIRD TWEETING]

You're up late. [BIRD TWEETS]

I know you've been busy,
but I've missed you.

[BIRD TWEETS] [CHUCKLES]

Sonya.

Hi, Mikhail.

I can't find the
"Volkov Anatomical Compendium."

I'd like to check it against the Strigoi

I've been dissecting.

That's the seventh att*ck
this year, isn't it?

Seems more than a normal seasonal spike.

Well, that's what I've been saying.

Not that anyone on the Council
wants to listen

to a lowly Dhampir.

"Don't scare the Royals," they say,

"You'll give the children nightmares."

I'll tell you what will scare
the Royals,

Strigoi eating them for breakfast...

Are you wearing cologne?

You noticed.

I have a good nose.

Well...

do you like it?

[TENDER MUSIC]

You smell less like
a Strigoi than usual.

♪ ♪

I'll find your book.

Maybe I can come back for it later

when you get off work?

Sure. I'll have it ready for you.

♪ ♪

I heard you spend a lot of time here.

Huh.

Books don't gossip about me.

So...

I have to do my Specialization
Ceremony tomorrow.

I've only told Rose...

But I don't think
I'll be able to specialize.

It's not totally unheard of

for someone not to know
until the ceremony...

But it's rare.

Very rare.

When Sonya Karp didn't specialize,

first they sent her
to the High Priestess,

then counseling,

then they sent her away to some place

for electric shock therapy.

It took her years to be close
to normal again.

She's not even Royal.

Can you imagine what they'll do to me?

[TENDER MUSIC]

I think I can help you.

Why do you think I came looking for you?

♪ ♪

I heard about the tribunal.

I guess you think I deserve this...

that everything's my fault.

Not that you're asking,

but the definition of immaturity

is blaming others for your own failings.

I'm not the one who put Lissa at risk

by taking her outside of the wards.

I'm not the one
who decided your punishment.

Am I annoyed one of the most
promising young Guardians

I've ever come across is
too stubborn to see sense?

Yes.

Do I want you expelled?

No.

No?

The image of me out there
in the Communes

doesn't give you a thrill?

No, Rose.

My mother and sisters live
in the Communes.

That's not the life I would wish on you.

Well,

until the Tribunal decides
to kick me out officially...

I've got a leaderboard to climb.

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

She's f*cked, isn't she?

I've done a spreadsheet
taking into account

the personal and political affiliations

- of all the Tribunal members.
- And?

Even if she manages to make
it through this whole thing

without taking a verbal swing or worse,

she doesn't stand a chance.

What'll they do to her?

Stick her in admin?

Send her to the Communes.

I can hear you.

Shouldn't you be preparing
for your reckoning?

Oh, it's not until tomorrow.

Plenty of time for me to kick your ass.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

Let's go.

♪ ♪

Show me what you got.

Yeah, there you go.

I've been able to harness
fire since I was three,

and air and water, even earth.

I can do all the small magic
we're supposed to do,

but one just isn't presenting itself

to be any stronger than the other.

Of course, Andre knew he was Fire

practically before he could walk.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

My parents always said they had a plan

in case a specialization
never materialized for me,

but without them,

there's no one between me
and shock therapy

and every other thing
they did to Sonya Karp.

Maybe an element
is presenting itself to you.

You just can't hear it.

Here.

Try this.

[GENTLE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Okay, now close your eyes.

♪ ♪

Think about your heart.

What makes it b*at?

The blood in your veins,
what makes it run?

The fire in your soul, what feeds it?

Magic is inside of you,

inviting you to dance.

You just have to say yes.

Okay, let's get started.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

[BOTH GRUNTING]

♪ ♪

Come on, come on, come on.

[WHISTLE SHRIEKING]

♪ ♪

Ugh!

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[WHISTLE SHRIEKS]

Mason, you're next. Let's go.

[GRUNTING]

You're fighting like a Strigoi.

[SHOUTS, GRUNTS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Again.

I don't need another wind sprint

to get your point.

Don't fight like a Strigoi. Check.

- Why did you?
- Why do you care?

'Cause when you're back at number one

and taking my job,

I'd rather not see our future queen

under the watch of someone
who can't keep a grip on it.

How do you do that?

You have this way of criticizing me

and complementing me in the same breath.

Perhaps because you have
this way of being

both extraordinary and infuriating

all at once.

[SIGHS] Fair.

If Lissa is to be queen,

her safety is the most important thing

to this dominion.

If you can't keep it together
in practice,

how can you hope to possibly survive

a real world att*ck?

I will, Dimitri,
because that's what I do.

I survive.

I survive car crashes and loss

and an absentee mother

and a best friend
that I'm not allowed to see,

and know-it-all Guardians
who show up out of nowhere

to ruin my life.

I will survive whatever sh*t this world

keeps trying to throw at me
because that's what I do.

Because I'm strong.

And I will survive this f*cking tribunal

because there is no other option.

Good.

Then I'm rooting for you.

So can we be done with wind sprints now?

What do you think?

[MOODY MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[RADIO PLAYING SOFTLY]

Lord Zeklos.

[MAGIC WHOOSHING]

I have special permission
to leave the Province.

For what purpose?

[CHUCKLES] I'm Royal.

You don't need to know my purpose.

Under the laws
of the Human Treaty of ,

you hereby agree to traverse
only the approved roadways,

avoid any and all human interaction

with the human species,

never reveal your identity as a citizen

- of the Moroi Dominion...
- Yeah, yeah.

I got it.

Can I go now?

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

Open the gate!

Go on.

[METAL CREAKING]

♪ ♪

It's unfortunate that we're meeting

under these circumstances,

but the Tribunal of Rose Hathaway

may now commence.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

So what's the game plan, Rose?

You know me.

More of a roll with the punches
kind of girl.

You're more of a throw
the punches kind of girl,

but you can't in there.

Your entire future is in their hands,

so live to fight another day.

[TENDER MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Thanks, Mikhail.

Rose?

♪ ♪

I'll be surprised she lasts a week.

The Queen will see soon enough,

not every Dragomir's fit
to sit on the throne.

Ignore her.

Andre would be so proud of you.

They all would, as am I.

Why?

I still don't know why she
chose me to unite the Dominion.

You know, the Queen was younger than you

when she first took the throne.

Court was in chaos.

It was a viper's nest of agendas.

She didn't know a thing about politics.

All she knew was that she
didn't want people to fight,

and her compassion worked

for a while at least.

You know, I think she sees
a bit of herself in you.

And what will she see if
something goes wrong tonight?

What could go wrong?

Are you thinking of Sonya?

Victor, I know
how hard it was for her...

Sonya was an anomaly.

We don't know why she's
the way that she is,

but you're a Dragomir.

This will be a breeze for you.

But what if it isn't?

I mean, what if I stand up there,

and nothing happens?

As your godfather,

I promised your family I would
always look out for you.

So if there's any chance
you'll walk out there

and not specialize,
you need to let me know now.

I will get you out
of this Dominion tonight

before anyone can ask questions.

So is there anything you wanna tell me?

[TENSE MUSIC]

No.

No.

I'll see you out there.

♪ ♪

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

At ease, Ms. Hathaway.

Hi, Dean Kirova.

Sorry to see you here.

You and me both.

The simple fact here, Rose,

is that over the years,

you have gotten Lissa into trouble

more times
than you've saved her from it.

She's my best friend.

And, yes, sometimes
we get into stuff, but...

I would die for her.

And you know that.

I do.

But you seem to lack the discipline

and critical thinking skills
an elite Guardian needs.

I've trained for my entire
life to be a Guardian,

and I've been on top
of the rankings for years.

Then tell us why we should allow you

to stay at St. Vladimir's

and continue your training.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Okay.

♪ ♪

Have I racked up a list of infractions?

Yes.

Was some of it stupid?

Absolutely.

But I'm not just a Guardian to her.

There's more than one way
of keeping her safe,

and I do that.

I keep her safe in every way I can.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

♪ ♪

[MAGICAL WHOOSHING]

Like right now.

I'm sorry.

Rose, if you leave this room,

there's no coming back.

Rose!

Lissa.

Rose.

Wait, how did you even
get in here? Dimitri...

Has just shown
why I should be your Guardian.

He didn't even see me.

What's wrong? I could feel your panic.

Are you okay?

According to Victor, in five minutes,

I either need to walk on that stage

and hope to hell that I specialize,

or I pretty much need
to flee the Dominion.

I-I don't know what to do.

Well, personally, I vote flee,

but I've just had a bad night.

What's going on?

It's nothing you need
to hear about right now.

Do you really think you can't do it?

I don't know.

Maybe it's just the nerves

or the grief or the panic

because I know that once I do
go out there and specialize,

I'm one step closer to becoming queen,

which I never envisioned.

I guess you just have to ask yourself

if this is something that you want.

Part of me just wants to be free.

Living somewhere where no one
cares what element I am,

or if we're Dhampir or Moroi.

That's perfect.

We can disappear among the humans.

I mean, that was always
the plan anyway, right?

Well, minus the fugitive part.

Oh, yeah, just a small detail.

But then the other part of me
is thinking about everything

Andre was gonna mean to this Dominion.

A leader who ruled not just
for the Royal Moroi,

but for all its citizens,
including the Dhampirs.

He was gonna make this
a place you wanted to run to,

not away from.

And if I disappear,

what happens to my brother's legacy?

There are a parade of people
dying to be on the throne

who want the exact opposite.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

What if the only thing
separating this Dominion

from that fate is me?

Well, I think...

I think that Andre would be
so proud of you right now.

And I know that there is
nothing you can't do.

So if you want to be queen,

then go out there and show them
all what you've got.

And if I've got nothing?

Then Victor and I will get you out,

I promise you that.

But my money is on you.

[TEARFUL LAUGH]

Thank you.

I've missed you this week.

You staying out of trouble?

Oh, you know me.

I'm always dancing alongside of it.

Now, go.

Go.

Go. Go on. Go.

Go, go, go, go.

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[INTENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

♪ ♪

[CHEERS]

My money's on Air user.

Dragomirs are always Fire.

Earth user, mirs.

[CHEERS]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SPEAKING OLD MOROI]

[WATER BUBBLING]

[CHEERS]

Fire!

[OVERLAPPING SHOUTS]

Fire!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I just feel like it'll be Fire.

[CHEERS]

This isn't right.

- Fire! Fire!
- Come on!

She's really milking it.

[WIND WHOOSHING]

Something's wrong.

Her magic's weak.

[MAGICAL WHOOSHING]

[INTENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[FLAMES ROARING]

[CHEERS]

You're Fire!

She's Fire.

Like Andre.

A good omen.

[SWEEPING DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

ALL: [CHANTING] Lissa! Lissa! Lissa!

Lissa! Lissa! Lissa!

Lissa! Lissa! Lissa!

[CHEERS]

[INDISTINCT] for this moment.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

How could you do that?

Um, you're welcome?

I didn't thank you.

You made me a fraud.

Half the people in this town are frauds.

And half of them want me
to be their queen,

but even they would shun me

if they knew I didn't have fire,

which I don't.

Or water or any of it.

I have no real magic.

You're nothing but magic.

Princess.

[WHISPERS] I'm not sorry.

[TENDER MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Thank you.

For everything today.

I know you're just doing your job.

It isn't always easy.

I-I've asked around about you.

You're one of the best Guardians around.

Second only, maybe, to Rose's mom.

Yet earlier...

somehow Rose slipped past you

right when I needed her most.

Your godfather told me

protection comes in many forms.

Something I'm just starting to realize.

It's almost daybreak,
and your shift is over.

Your future queen demands
you go have some fun.

Lissa.

Has anyone told you
what's happening with Rose?

[MUFFLED CLUB MUSIC POUNDING]

♪ ♪

- Hurry it up!
- All right!

I'm hurrying!

If they kick you out,
I'm going with you.

That's the dumbest thing
I've ever heard.

I'm not letting them send you
to the Communes, Rose.

We should probably get drunk.

Bring her another
of whatever she's drinking.

Is this you apologizing?

Meredith, tell Rose
that she should let me

go with her when they kick her out.

Ah, strong optimism, Mason.

No, he's right.

I'm f*cked.

Ergo...

sh*ts?

Princess.

You're lucky that I must come
when summoned by a Royal,

- otherwise I would've...
- Yes, I apologize,

Dean Kirova, but I'm here
to plead Rose's case.

ALL: [CHANTING]
Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose!

Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose!

Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose!

Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose!

Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose!

Rose! Rose! Rose! Rose!

I don't need a man to save me.

- Neither do I?
- You may pretend not to care

what people think of you,
but I know you do.

And the last thing you need
is to be caught

for the misuse of magic.

I know I was scared, and you
were scared for me, but...

do you really think
I'm not strong enough

to handle myself?

No.

Then why?

[TENDER MUSIC]

Why did you do it?

♪ ♪

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Don't wanna be seen
with an outcast, huh?

You know I can't.

It would be politically expl*sive.

And social su1c1de.

- And Victor would k*ll you.
- Victor would k*ll me.

So this is just a bad idea all around.

Terrible.

♪ ♪

We shouldn't do this.

Absolutely not.

[SWEEPING ROMANTIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[MUFFLED CHANTING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

♪ ♪

[ETHEREAL MUSIC]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Hey.

I'm... I'm sorry it's so late,
I just, um...

I feel like, uh...

well, I haven't been
totally clear with you.

Sorry?

Yesterday when I came back for the book,

I thought we'd get together
after you finished work.

I wanted to hang out...

with you.

[LAUGHS WEAKLY]

I'm sure there's a long line
of normal girls

you could hang out with.

I don't like normal girls.

I talk to birds.

Okay.

No, I mean, I talk to them,

and I'm fairly certain they talk back.

What do they say?

I'm sorry?

Do they chirp, sing, speak French?

- Don't make fun of me.
- No, I'm not.

So you talk to birds.

Okay, so what?

You're also smart,

great with kids,

and you have a smile...

You have a smile that lights up a room.

[TENDER MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I wanna show you something.

[INHALES]

What are you doing here?

Why didn't you tell me
about the tribunal?

- Who told you?
- Dimitri.

f*cking Dimitri.

It was none of his business.

Well,

you get to stay.

I mean, you're still
on serious probation,

but you're staying.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[SIGHS]

- How?
- Well, it turns out

there is an upside
to being almost queen.

People have to listen to you.

You can thank Dimitri for telling me.

He carried you here, you know,

in those big, manly arms of his.

What kind of macho sh*t is that?

He said you passed out at the bar.

How many sh*ts did you have?

One.

I gave the rest to Mason.

I didn't pass out from drinking.

I passed out from kissing.

- Mason?
- Christian f*cking Ozera?

What?

You were kissing Christian Ozera,

and therefore, for some reason
I can't really explain,

I was kissing him too.

I was in your head.

Okay.

Okay, this is crazy.

We need to figure this out.

No sh*t.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[SIGHS]

[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING]

[SUNLIGHT SIZZLING]

For all the perks of being Moroi,

that must be annoying.

It is.

Mm.

Thank you.

I fell asleep and got caught.

What brings you to the wrong
side of the tracks?

I'm the confidant of the future queen.

Where she goes, I go.

What happened to your arm?

Rose Hathaway had a bad day.

Rose Hathaway is a menace.

Gets me out of training for a few days.

What Guardian doesn't enjoy training?

This Guardian.

I prefer to fight with words.

I'll bear that in mind.

I'm Meredith.

I know.

We'll get to the bottom of it,

but Warden Mia is out there
waiting to escort me home.

You gonna be able to sleep?

Probably.

If your brother would stop
haunting my dreams.

Wait, what?

Every time, it's the same one.

You're outside alone.
You see a dead body.

Andre's there, and he tells you to...

Remember.

Those aren't your dreams.

They're mine.

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

These pins are where each recent Strigoi

was sighted outside the Academy.

They're a sequence.

They hit potential weak points,
gates, doors.

Wait, what are you...

The Strigoi
that we've encountered lately

haven't just been opportunistic.

They've been planning.

- Strigoi don't plan.
- What if they do?

What if they've been testing the wards?

If they find a weakness in the magic

that reenforces the walls of the city,

the entire capitol could be compromised.

We'd be at risk of att*ck.

♪ ♪

[MAGIC WHOOSHING]

♪ Grab the blade as it passes by ♪

♪ While you watch the demons
as they multiply ♪

♪ While you kiss the same,
keep the ledger dry ♪

♪ While you get high
on your own supply ♪

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Hello, anyone there?

Oh, great.

Hey! What are you doing?

Get back in your car.

I wouldn't have gotten out of my car

if you were doing your job.

You're not supposed to leave
the gate unattended.

I didn't.

[LEAVES RUSTLING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[GROWLING, SQUELCHING]

♪ ♪

Get inside.

Now.

♪ ♪

[GROWLS]

[SNARLING]

I said now!

[GROWLS] Ah!

Get him through the wards!

[ENGINE REVS]

Go!

♪ As you turn to nothing ♪

♪ And your will is broken ♪

♪ Along with your disguise ♪

[GROWLS]

♪ Waiting as your world is fading ♪

♪ With every breath you're taking ♪

♪ You lay down your surprise ♪

♪ ♪