Snowpiercer
Season 4 – Episode 5
Episode title: The Engineer
Original air date: August 18, 2024
Plot: Layton hears the deal: Liana for Big Alice. While Layton and the others stew in a holding room, Josie is taken to Headwood. Milius introduces his partner in crime, Wilford.
* * *
He’s a friend.
Give me my daughter.
Dr. Headwood: Don’t fight, Zarah! Don’t!
They took Liana.
Man: Our mission is important to the world.
We need Snowpiercer to help launch our compound.
Come by here monthly to pickup your blueprints and data.
I need to fight for my baby girl.
Woman: You can take the engine.
How much longer can we last without Big Alice?
We better hope Layton comes back soon.
Let’s trade… Liana for Big Alice.
♪
I’ll never forget our first revolution.
[tense music]
The deafening silence of a frozen world.
No one said a word for what felt like weeks.
And in the quiet, we face the choices we have made.
Ah, Miss Wellstead.
So nice to finally meet in person.
It didn’t matter that we’d saved so many.
We only focused on the ones we’d lost.
Split decisions with lasting consequences.
[chuckles] Hey.
[dramatic music]
Where’s Josie?
The terms are simple.
Liana for Big Alice.
You… you stole a child.
You stole a child!
Hey, get your hands off her.
Get off! [gasps]
All right, that’s enough.
[breathing heavily]
Go back to Layton, deliver the message.
Screw you.
Let me talk to her.
Please.
You have one minute.
[breathing heavily]
You can’t take this deal to Layton.
[WHISPERING] They have Liana.
Listen, even if Milius comes through with his promise,
we’ll be giving him both engines.
Is it worth it?
Oh.
What I’m saying is with you and Layton leading the charge,
we actually have a shot at winning this train back.
God, I don’t know, Ben.
Josie, the people on this train have suffered enough.
We need to fight back.
Time’s up.
Wolf will escort you.
Tried to talk her out of it, huh?
It’s a bit hypocritical, don’t you think, given that Melanie
spared you for the Engine?
Yeah.
Look where that got us.
[dramatic music]
It took us a long time to figure out
how to move through the world, how to bottle our resentment,
make the tough calls, but we did
because someone always has to, even when it was
Snowpiercer, 1,001 cars long.
[dramatic music]
Ben’s right.
We should fight.
Look, I’m with you in spirit, but the risk to Liana…
She’s at risk whether we take the deal or not.
You haven’t been here.
These people, they’re inhuman.
Look, She’s not even on the train.
We should at least get to her.
We don’t even know if she’s alive.
I need proof.
Copy.
How far out are we?
Oh, good.
We’re in range.
For what?
Your friend passed the message on to Layton.
Seems he has a few demands of his own.
Wouldn’t expect anything less.
You took his child.
Everyone has their weakness.
You think love is a weakness?
Most predictable one there is.
Then you’ve obviously never felt it.
Of course I have.
How do you think I learned that lesson?
There’s movement.
I’m looking for Andre Layton.
[indistinct chatter]
Where’s your backup?
You don’t need backup when you have leverage.
You’re something of a legend on this train.
The way people talk about you, you inspire them.
My daughter for the Engine. Why?
Wasn’t personal.
The work we’re doing is going to save the world.
Look, you can skip the recruitment speech.
I’m not signing up.
We all got drafted when the cold came.
Zarah wasn’t a soldier.
That was an unfortunate accident.
Don’t you want to see your daughter grow up in a world…
Are you going to give me what I want or not?
The woman on the other train, Ruth,
if you ask her to connect, will she do it?
It doesn’t matter if you don’t deliver.
Well, I know it may not mean much to you,
but I’m a man of my word.
[beeping]
Hello?
Hello, Dr. Headwood.
Is he there?
Everything’s ready when you are.
Can you say, Papa?
Say Papa.
Come on, Liana.
Say Papa.
Come on, Li-Li.
Papa.
Baby, baby… Liana, Daddy’s coming.
Don’t be scared. Hold on.
Daddy’s… Liana?
[intense music]
Hey.
They have her.
Well, then we’ll get her back.
It’s a big train.
They could still be searching or hiding.
Or they’ve been caught and we’re
headed right for a bushwhack.
Or that.
So do we back off?
No.
You can’t, not yet.
Ruth, Alex, are you there?
Surprised to hear you on the official line, Andre.
I’m with the Admiral.
Hello again.
He says hi.
Admiral.
I need you to connect the trains.
And why would I do that?
They have Liana.
She’s not on Snowpiercer but I heard her voice.
And she’s all right?
She’s with Headwood.
They say they will give her back to us
when we give them Big Alice.
If we connect, the only way to force a separation is…
Manual override.
I remember.
Andre…
Ruth, I need to get her back. OK?
We will figure out the rest later.
I promise.
Ruth, please.
This is the whole reason that we’re doing this, right?
To save Liana?
Yeah.
Yes, it is.
Do it.
Connecting Big Alice now.
Thank you, Ruth.
All right, Alex.
Nice and slow.
Watch your back, Ben.
Coupling system initiated.
[dramatic music]
Kiss, kiss.
Done?
Just about. Big Alice.
Ceding system control.
They’re locked in.
Don’t worry, Layton.
This will all be over soon.
I was hoping for a happier reunion.
Likewise.
You know I had to take the deal, right?
No need to explain.
Believe me, I know.
What were you working on back there in the Engine?
Just a bit of insurance.
See if they catch on.
Whoa.
What’s back there?
This is where Mel’s been working all these months.
You ever been in there?
Never.
Hello.
The Admiral has instructed me to aid in your debarkation.
You’ll be escorted into the Silo
and attended to one by one.
First up, Andre Layton.
All right.
Please strip down, discard all belongings,
and await decon procedure.
Discard all belongings
or they will be confiscated and burned.
Now step onto the platform and await decon procedure.
No.
Son of a bitch!
I want to speak to the Admiral.
Can you take me to him?
What happened to these floors?
They get breached?
Good talk.
Oh.
Why did they bring all of you here?
We’re on some list, apparently.
Hey.
Wasn’t sure you were going to connect.
I almost didn’t.
Now let’s find Liana and find a way out of here, shall we?
Yeah.
Nice driving, Engineer.
You know, I thought you came in a touch too rich.
You got any idea of the layout of this place?
Well, back when me and Mel were in touch,
she said it was designed to keep you confined,
confused with no sense of time.
What’s that about?
The train is connected to a power grid.
It can idle but for three hours only, and then it’s gone.
And how long do we have?
Two hours and 36 minutes.
Two hours and 36 minutes to find Liana
and get the hell out of here.
We can do that.
Sure, we can do it.
Was Josie with any of you?
She went in before me. She should be here.
Good evening, everyone.
Where’s Jose?
All your questions will be answered, but first…
but first, I want to thank you for everything you’ve done.
I know it hasn’t been easy, but good work takes sacrifice.
As some of you know, we’ve been down here
for years on a mission to warm the world.
Now that we have both engines, that mission
can finally be accomplished.
Does your mission include New Eden,
because it won’t survive without Big Alice.
That’s precisely why we’re doing this.
Relying on eternal engines and energy output, it’s hospice.
It’s a last grasp at life support.
We’re looking for a cure.
And where’s Melanie?
Why isn’t she here to tell us this?
She’s off base collecting climate data.
She’ll be back soon.
Is that we’re all here, because Melanie requested it?
Not exactly.
This is the part you’re not going to like.
You’re dead. You’re dead.
No. You aren’t safe.
I’ll kill you.
Give me back my daughter, Milius.
You promised!
Take him to 12.
You promised!
Give her to me!
Welcome home.
Come now. Why the long faces?
What’s all this about?
Well, Anton here found me on the tracks,
picked me up after you’d all sent me out into the cold,
except you, Alex.
Not sure where you were in all that.
Enough of this shit.
What have you done with Melanie?
Oh, come on, Ben.
We’re on the same side now, even Melanie.
Where’s Audrey?
I wanted to get you all in one go.
Go to hell.
I did. Wasn’t much fun.
So it was you.
Liana for the Engine?
Classic Wilford.
It was the simplest solution.
Zarah died.
All right.
That’s enough.
Yes.
You can all get reacquainted later.
Of course.
I look forward to collaborating with you all again.
Anton.
Joseph.
You’re to sit tight until the trains have departed,
then you’ll be processed for wristbands
and shown to your new accommodations.
So we’re to stay here?
Just until the mission is completed.
The next time you leave this place,
the entire world will be New Eden.
So we’re prisoners.
You’re guests.
Oh yeah?
Your Wolf take Layton to the spa?
Somewhere else to calm down.
So now that you’ve got us all tucked away in here,
what happens to our passengers?
They’ll continue their work on the train.
We’re almost there.
Just one last push.
Admiral, you are being played.
You can’t trust Mr. Wilford, not for one second.
The look on their faces, the way
he lunged at me like a wraith.
I said it would work, didn’t I?
Well, I do have one last bit of advice.
Do you now?
Yes.
I wouldn’t let Layton see his daughter just yet.
These people have a habit of rallying around him.
Let’s keep them separated just in case, you know.
It’s a good idea.
I’ll take it under consideration.
Thank you.
Oh, and about that… that last thing we discussed.
You have two hours.
Right.
Make them count.
Hm.
Just tell me where they took the others, will you?
You really can’t feel that?
Your symptoms have progressed quite rapidly.
Partial ligament tear.
It’s very painful.
Has the desensitization spread to all of your extremities?
Thank you, doctor.
I’ll see to her.
You stay away from me.
Josie, you’re making an assumption.
You’re a kidnapper.
No.
A killer.
No.
I was trying to help.
One more step and I’ll snap her neck.
Josie, please.
Zarah’s death was an error.
She fell.
If only she’d listened to me.
I was trying to save Liana.
Josie, please.
That is why we came to the Silo.
It’s why I’m here.
Josie, Liana needs your help.
She needs your help.
What’s wrong with her?
[screaming]
This is a right mess.
I never should have connected those trains.
You were just trying to help Layton.
Well, a fat lot of good it did.
Layton’s dragged away and Wilford’s back from the dead.
We were completely blindsided.
Yeah.
It’s probably why they cut us off months back.
No doubt when Melanie found out,
she was just as livid as we are now.
Well, who’s to say she’s even still involved?
Well, Ben’s been getting her blueprints.
They could be Wilford’s plans, not Melanie’s.
No. I’d know Mel’s work.
There’d be a glaring difference.
I can’t believe she’d work with him again.
Whatever role Wilford’s playing into this,
the mission still has merit.
Oh, I’m sorry.
Would you like to enlist?
I’m not saying I agree with their methods, Ruth.
I’m saying that this place, the work that Melanie’s doing
here, it could help us realize if our pocket is stable or not.
Oh, great.
So we just sit back and relax and wait for the sun to return,
or we figure out how to get the Engine back
for the people we care about.
I’m going to see Wilford. Hey.
Hold on.
I’m going to hear what he has to say.
And I’m going to try to orchestrate
something from the outside.
Alex, no.
I’ll be fine.
He doesn’t have a hold on me anymore.
It’s a bad idea. I don’t like it.
He’ll see me.
[knocking]
I have a request.
Here.
I thought you might want that back.
What do you want with me?
Civility.
I’m trying to play nice here.
If you play nice, too, I’ll let you see your daughter.
Is she even here?
Yes.
You just have to be patient.
If you won’t let me see Liana,
at least take me to Josie.
She was injured in that little stunt
you pulled getting on the train, so she’s being treated.
You can see her when she’s done.
Yeah.
You might get a swing in, maybe two,
not enough to escape, but
that’s not really what you’re after, is it?
All I want is my family.
And maybe a little vengeance on Wilford, too.
Am I right?
I’ll tell you what.
You play nice, when the mission’s complete,
maybe I’ll let you take a shot at him.
These adjustments…
I’m still unconvinced the train can withstand
the rocket’s blowback.
Oh, for God’s sake, Nima, this is
your first time on Big Alice.
Take a load off.
Her wares are welcoming.
Yes.
Thank you.
A feat of engineering.
But the adjustments…
Yes.
Yes. I know.
You were never one for conversation, were you?
Big Alice can handle it.
All we need to do is modify the sub-Engine.
Conversions are already underway.
Since when were you an errand boy?
Surely, you have more important matters to attend to.
I had a little disagreement with the admiral.
I’m serving penance.
He’s a bull.
He doesn’t understand the finesse of what we do.
Ah, Alex.
I see you’ve made yourself at home.
Would you excuse us, Nima?
Nima, family squabbles.
I’m sure you understand.
You’ve done quite the remodel, I must say.
I threw them out.
Oh, that’s cruel, even for you.
What are you doing here?
What’s your end game?
I’m helping them save the world.
Dubs, it’s me. OK?
We both know that you don’t care about the world.
We are doing something extraordinary on the train,
Alex, something even your mother never thought possible.
Aren’t you the least bit curious about it?
I can show you the schematics if you want
in your mother’s lab.
You could check our work.
You always were my favorite protégé.
Or is there somewhere else you need to be?
Think fast.
I knew you wouldn’t toss it.
It’s all right, Sam. I’ve got her.
Departure in one hour.
No. No. Come along this way.
This way.
[suspenseful music]
What is this, a magic trick?
Just a little shortcut.
After you.
You really got this place wired, huh?
What happened to Josie?
Was that you?
Oh, Alex.
You were doing so well, pretending you’d
forgotten about your friends.
What do you want with them anyway?
Is this revenge for the track scaler?
I’m past all that.
Are you?
Because you could have taken the Engine
without stealing Layton’s kid.
Call me sentimental.
So you took Liana for yourself then?
There’s a certain symmetry to it, isn’t there?
Don’t you think?
Besides, I do enjoy a good twist of the knife.
Come.
She’s not coming back.
We don’t know that.
We need another plan.
Yeah.
All I can think about is everyone back at New Eden.
What’s it like?
75 and sunny?
No.
It’s still cold, hard living,
but it’s ours.
Being outside again, and stepping onto solid ground,
and looking up and seeing nothing but sky,
I’d forgot what that was like.
Sounds nice.
Yeah, it does.
You know what?
I think it’s time to go.
My favorite thing about building Snowpiercer with Mel
was right at the beginning
when she was just a hull.
Something visceral about it,
all the parts exposed.
Those insides are going to get us out of here?
Let’s see.
[gasps]
Engineer.
Come on. On your feet.
This way.
Hey, don’t move.
[both grunting]
Get his wristband.
Let’s get him out of here.
[baby gurgling]
Liana.
Time check?
34 minutes.
Right. You know what?
We need to split up.
What are you talking about?
There’s not enough time left.
You two take Big Alice.
I’ll find Layton and the others.
No. We stick together.
Look, you need an Engineer to drive, right?
And he’s more likely to get to the top if you go with him.
Ruth, no offense, but I don’t think…
I’ve come a long way since the Teals, Bess.
I can hold my own.
You two need to get that Engine back to New Eden.
It’s our best shot.
Everyone there is relying on us.
What about Snowpiercer?
We save as many as we can.
OK.
Hold your own with this at least.
See you up top, Ruth.
Don’t wait for me.
You two get to New Eden.
Have a pint.
First one’s on me.
Come on, Till.
Let’s go.
Melanie and I have been assigned
separate workspaces because, well, your mother
likes to hold grudges.
So you guys are working together?
Oh, yes.
She can’t help but jump at the chance to save the world
even if it’s with me.
[chuckles]
It’s weird not having to wonder all the time
if she’s dead or alive.
Used to be your favorite pastime.
[laughs]
What you did in New Eden, rerouting Big Alice’s
power supply to generate output for the whole town,
it’s nothing short of magnificent.
I just popped the clutch like you taught me in Chicago.
[laughs] It’s a shame we have to scrap all that ingenuity.
Did Melanie know about your plan to steal Liana?
Was she a part of it?
You’re still trying to figure her out, aren’t you?
Dead end.
Let’s find an elevator.
All right.
Is this Mel’s lab?
Well, maybe they lied to us.
Maybe she’s behind there.
Or Alex could be.
OK.
Let’s keep moving.
Let’s go.
Oh, making a break for it, are we?
I didn’t think you had it in you, Ben, to do it on your own.
You’ve always been more of a follower.
[grunting]
Yes, Ben.
Where is she?
She’s not here.
[alarm ringing]
We gotta go.
I’m staying.
Alex.
There’s a restricted stairwell
at the end of the hall. It’s next to a busted firebox.
It has tunnel access.
You can bypass intake and go straight to the top.
Good luck.
Tell your mother I miss her. We gotta go.
Let’s go.
[chuckling]
We’re moving up departure as a safety precaution. Finish the supply transfer and pull the jetway.
Whatever’s happening in the Silo,
we need wheels up in 10 minutes.
Did you reach anyone in the other Engine?
Wilford cleared them all out earlier, sir.
Keep trying.
On it, sir.
You’re with me.
Yes, sir.
We’ll sweep the sub-train and lock up Big Alice.
We can’t afford to lose her.
Emergency departure initiated.
Are you with me, Till?
Yeah.
We got to find that firebox.
Sorry.
Here.
Emergency departure initiated.
Snowpiercer will be leaving in 10 minutes.
Thank you, Alex.
Get Milius on the phone now.
We have it covered, sir.
Don’t let her out of your sight.
Can you get me eyes on the jetway?
You need to back off.
They’re scuttling away as we speak.
You have no authority here.
That’s my train!
Snowpiercer will depart…
Go, go, go, go!
[intense music]
[grunting]
Keep it moving.
Let’s go.
Ben, what’s going on?
They just moved up departure.
We’re taking Big Alice.
But Tristan, Ruth is still in there.
I’ll hold as long as I can.
Good man.
[alarms wailing]
Is this a drill?
Mask up.
Snowpiercer will be departing in three minutes.
I need to know where I’m going.
Y’all have to tell me where you’re taking me right now.
Get off me, man.
Get off!
Keep walking.
Ah.
Snowpiercer will be departing in one minute.
Keep moving!
All the way to the back.
Let’s hustle, everyone.
Let’s go.
Let’s go.
Come on. Hustle up.
Keep going.
Keep going.
What do you need?
The admiral is coming but we need more time to disconnect.
All right. We’ll buy you some.
Tailies with me.
Let’s go. Let’s go.
Let’s go. Let’s go.
Till, let’s get out of here. Come on.
Let’s move.
Go.
Open the hatch.
God damn it.
Let’s move.
What’s the problem?
There’s something blocking the exits.
We can’t get up top.
Out of my way.
[banging]
Yeah.
That’ll work. Keep going.
Get to the other hatches.
Go, go, go, go.
Hurry.
[banging]
All right. We need to switch helms.
There’s three buttons.
The first three buttons behind that monitor
in the center console… press them.
Which switch?
The first three switches.
They’ll turn green when you press them.
To the left.
Ah, one.
OK.
Got it.
Nice.
I left a back door open on Snowpiercer.
Let’s see if it’s still there.
Jetway will breach in 10, 9,
8, 7…
If I could just get another minute, please, a minute.
Tristan.
Tristan!
Snowpiercer will depart…
Oh, you’re a good man, Tristan, truly.
I learned from the best.
Got it.
Thanks. Yeah.
I don’t know how much longer the Tailies can hold them off.
I just wish there was a way of Snowpiercer
not following us once we release.
Whoa.
Shit.
They’re pulling us.
Are we good to release?
You ready?
Yeah.
I’m ready.
Oh, shit.
What’s happening?
It’s not releasing.
They must have compromised the coupling system
while we were still captive or maybe
it’s part of the retrofit.
Does that mean we’re stuck?
Ben, does that mean we’re stuck?
Oh my god.
So everyone in New Eden,
Audrey, they’re…
they’re all going to die.
They’re just going to die.
There might be a way from the Snowpiercer side.
The sub-train.
I can bypass the electrical controls
with a manual override.
OK.
We need to get you and Big Alice back to New Eden.
I’m not leaving you.
I’ll be OK.
Besides, Mel’s here.
So is Alex.
I’ll be fine.
There has to be another way.
I don’t think there is.
Not getting soft on me, are you?
No.
Good.
Let’s go.
Right.
Miles can pilot us.
We blocked all the hatches in third.
Forced them back uptrain.
Good work.
I’m going to pull a couple of levers.
Big Alice will be free and off to New Eden you’ll go.
See what all the fuss is about.
I’ll send you a postcard.
[dramatic music]
This is it! Hold on!
Come on, Engineer!
Let’s go!
Come on.
Ah!
Stop.
Let us out.
Just hang on.
Ruth, you made it.
I couldn’t find the others.
What’s happening?
It’s just Ben sabotaging Snowpiercer
so they can’t follow us.
Good. Good. And then we’ll uncouple.
The coupling’s jammed, but Ben’s going to just
pull the manual override.
But we don’t have any breach suits.
What do you mean?
The manual override, it’s outside.
Shit! No. No. No. No!
No. No.
[suspenseful music]
No!
Ben!
No! No!
No!
No.
He did it.
[screaming]
[sobbing] No. No.
Let’s go, Miles.
Go on.
[sobbing]
[tense music]
You’re still here.
Nobody will tell me what happened.
♪ Follow me ♪
♪ I’ll show you the way ♪
Shh.
Don’t move.
Where’s Liana?
Where’s Liana?
Is she OK?
Oh, I’m sorry, Josie.
There’s nothing wrong with Liana.
Earlier today, you and I made a deal.
Your daughter in exchange for Big Alice.
You didn’t hold up your end of the bargain.
Lucky for you, I’m a man of integrity.
I stick to my word, despite getting nothing in return.
You’re from New Eden, right?
Do you ever get nosebleeds?
What have you done to me?
♪ The beauty of me ♪
♪ The beauty of me ♪
It seems we have a lot to talk about.
I’m Dr. Nima Rousseau.
I’m an old… I’m an old friend of your mother’s.
[vocalizing]
[baby crying]
I’ve always believed that everything would be all right.
This time is different.
Just tell us where Roche is being held.
What’s going on?
Where’s Liana?
That’s a hell of a story, Joseph.
There was an incident.
Man: You should have taken the bullet.
♪
