Original air date: September 26, 2021
Maggie and Elijah learn a new survival tactic from Negan; Eugene’s group clears walkers to pay their fines; Yumiko interviews for an upper-class job; Daryl learns more about Leah and the Reapers; Gabriel encounters a man of God.
* * *
♪♪
Wait. Take a minute, then we’re almost there. About three miles out.
Negan: You can’t be serious. Daryl just told us to go home.
I didn’t hear that.
Well, I think he was being subtle. He said they were armed with lookouts.
And Daryl knows I would never turn back.
How’re you gonna keep going, Maggie, huh? With what army? Come on, Gabe, back me up here.
Our people are about to starve. I’m not going back to my family having failed.
Oh, Jesus. At least admit what you’re asking of us — walking to our deaths for what, a sack of beans?
If you’re more interested in saving yourself than protecting the people back home, you can go.
[Birds chirping]
We don’t need you.
We both know that’s not true.
♪♪
Alright, tell you what. You make me a promise — in front of the goddamn preacher — and I will stick around.
Promise you what?
I do this for you, and we’re even, we are good. I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder.
♪♪
We will never be even.
Then you are gonna be down a soldier that you desperately need. Your call.
♪♪
You’d take a promise from me? Really?
Yeah. Who wouldn’t? I’m assuming you are a woman of your word. I’ve always been a man of mine.
♪♪
[Twigs snapping, leaves rustling]
What is it?
[Walker growling]
♪♪
[Growling stops, body thuds]
♪♪
It’s his sister’s best friend. Teresa. She was just a kid.
♪♪
We have to get them.
[Walkers growling]
All of them.
♪♪
Hey. Y’all know Blackbeard, too?
♪♪
Wait.
♪♪
Think we can find more?
[Walker growling]
♪♪
♪♪
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
[Panting]
You’re doing great.
I’m doing okay, not great.
The timeline since this was last an essential activity in your daily routine and the necessity for it should be factors in your self-judgment.
Stephanie: The military does this for us. It’s been so long since I’ve had to. It’s not like riding a bicycle, turns out. You do forget.
That’s the good ol’ cerebellum protecting you from unpleasant memories.
I remember the good stuff.
♪♪
Stephanie, I-I have to ask. You’ve known Hornsby a long time?
Pretty long, why?
♪♪
Is he capable of taking care of our… transgressions? In other words, will all this labor truly lead to our freedom?
If he says it will, it will. Lance has his own way of doing things. But you can trust him. You’ll see.
♪♪
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
Whoa. Let me take over. I got this.
I can help, it’s fine.
No, it’s not!
[Groans] It will be.
[Grunts]
♪♪
Ezekiel!
What?
I love you, but you got to give me space, man. Can you just clear these?
[Gasps]
[Groans]
God!
[Radio chatter]
Think I got the last of them. You okay?
Yeah. Fine.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just so cramped in there.
Nah, it’s cool.
[Coughing]
Ezekiel, what can I do?
It’s — It’s dusty. [Sniffles] I’m sure that’s it.
Mm-hmm.
[Sighs]
Y’all need help clearing your area?
Steph, how much longer we got to do this? It’s been days.
Uh, a couple more, I guess.
He won’t make it a few more days.
I’m fine.
No, you need to see a doctor.
I’m not gonna leave you alone to work out here.
Don’t be stupid! Yeah, I said it. They got real hospitals and shit here.
Can you make that happen?
Uh, yeah, I’ll talk to Mr. Hornsby right now.
Thank you. We are much obliged.
If this becomes another debt we have to work off…
Never been afraid of hard work. Kinda anti friends who die from stubbornness.
[Walkers growling]
Man: Mercer, this is way too close to where the nasties are working. The smell is… revolting.
♪♪
Who the hell was that?
Our recruiters were incredibly impressed with you.
Were they? I-I thought maybe they found me difficult.
[Chuckles] Well, we expect a person with your pedigree to have high standards. We certainly do at State.
♪♪
Well, [Sighs] Ms. Milton has great affection for her fellow Harvard grads. Should be no trouble finding a position for you.
I’m happy to work to pay for the aid for my community, but I’m not staying here permanently. I just want to make that clear.
After you meet Ms. Milton, you might reconsider.
I’d rather see my friends. Actually, can somebody take me to where they’re working, please?
They broke the law. Mr. Hornsby has arranged for their release with a fine that they’re repaying.
What?
Yeah, I believe they’re clearing buildings for future development.
Clearing them of what, exactly?
The dead.
Okay, so they’re assigned to clear walkers for days, weeks? Months, maybe? And I’m expected to provide legal services to —
Ms. Milton and her cabinet.
Right. Then I’d like to speak with her. Right away, please.
Well, that would be difficult.
Why is that exactly?
It’s just Mr. Hornsby’s expectations of the timing were a little different.
Is he your supervisor?
No.
Then I’d like to speak to her right away. Please.
Come on, boy.
[Dog woofs]
[Dog panting]
[Rope creaking]
You need any help in there?
No.
You want one?
Sure.
Here you go.
Thanks.
[Match strikes]
♪♪
Man: Here they come!
Open up!
On it, on it!
Sounds like patrol has come home.
Yo, let them in. Yep.
[Walker growling]
♪♪
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors. We say, “The Lord be with you and thy Spirit.”
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
If your sister’s out there, we’ll find her.
♪♪
And every last one of these murderers. All of them.
But the one — he’s mine.
♪♪
[Knife scraping]
♪♪
[Sighs]
♪♪
There are scouts everywhere.
I’ll be careful.
If you get a chance to kill one of them, if he’s alone and you have the advantage…
I will.
♪♪
[Sighs]
[Growling continues]
You ready?
I’m not cutting up anyone I know. You’re gonna have to find me four strangers.
Only need three. I kept my mask for practical and sentimental reasons.
This is not fun.
Well, not with that attitude.
Let’s get it over with.
[Chuckles]
♪♪
We did three different sweeps. No signs of tracks anywhere, sir.
You try the buildings out by the lake?
Yes, sir.
Along the train tracks?
Yes, sir.
Freeway underpasses?
Yes, sir.
Oh, come on! There are dozens of these assholes out there!
Pope.
No!
♪♪
Your brothers are dead!
♪♪
Are you not ashamed?! Or do you think this is acceptable?!
They were following my recommendations. I told them where the last teams went. I told them where to go next. You want to scream at somebody, scream at me.
You trying to be noble? Is that it, Shaw? You trying to get them to like you? Try keeping them alive.
And yelling at them is gonna do that?
♪♪
Go be useful. Take your boy over there and go and find my goddamn enemies!
♪♪
Come on. We have orders.
♪♪
[Dog panting]
Stay.
[Geese honking]
Daryl: You alright?
I’m fine.
♪♪
I’m sure the guys are grateful for what you did back there.
How do you know that?
I’d be.
I don’t know. It may have been stupid.
No, you got a good place. I’m sure there’s a good story that goes with it.
Well, you spent some time with those people. I’m sure they have their sides.
No, not at all.
Well, we needed a place. We found one. You can fill in the rest.
♪♪
You got something to say about it?
No. I’m just surprised is all.
Surprised why?
You won. You got the walls. You got the food. Why keep hunting?
We have to make sure they don’t come back.
Okay.
You know, you don’t understand. It’s easy for you out here on your own, only having to worry about yourself. We have a whole community to protect. And we have a structure. And a leader who got us this far. What happened back there — that was — that wasn’t normal.
Yeah, I met guys like that before.
Pope’s got a puzzle to solve, and he’s riled up.
♪♪
How can these people be so hard to find?
♪♪
So, you kill everybody, and then he goes back to being a good guy?
He’s like a father to me. He believed in me when no one else would. He made me strong.
I doubt you ever needed anyone to make you strong.
♪♪
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
Negan: Lower your shoulders. Arms limp. That’s good, Maggie.
[Growling continues]
♪♪
♪♪
Back to the tree.
[Growling continues]
This piece of shit.
[Chuckles]
It’s not gonna fit you perfectly. It was… someone else’s face. Look, this might actually work. And I mean it. If I can do it, you can do it. I’ll take this back, work on it, fix it for you. Then we’ll try it again. You did good, Maggie.
[Sighs]
♪♪
[Whispering indistinctly]
Blessed are they who die in the Lord, so saith the Spirit.
Blessed are they who die in the Lord, so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.
Blessed are they who —
♪♪
Tell me, Father.
♪♪
You have guided me through the darkest of times.
♪♪
I treasure our conversation and the guidance you have given me. Is there anything I should know?
♪♪
Thank you, Father.
[Indistinct conversations]
Man: Enlist in the Commonwealth Army today. Help protect–
How long is your break?
Not long. Just enough to show you my dorm room and then get back.
You’ve always lived in a dorm here?
[Laughing] Yeah. It’s great.
Tomi, I’m sorry. I-I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t want the life that comes along with being a doctor here.
I don’t want to go back to before.
Well, it wouldn’t be the same. Dad isn’t here to put pressure on you.
It wasn’t just Dad. And you liked that type of life, but I didn’t. Never turning it off, never sleeping, everything moving too fast. People who burn themselves out for work until they die or want to?
Do your part to keep our community safe.
[Sighs]
Hey, you used to love the job. I remember how you used to look when you saved someone, when you told somebody good news.
Please stop. Please stop.
That’s the Commonwealth way.
Sit.
♪♪
No one can know that I was a doctor, okay? Promise me.
What does that mean?
Just trust me, okay?
[Sighs]
I like things the way they are. This place makes sense. There’s order, a system–
Okay! Okay. Fine.
Enlist in the Commonwealth Army today. Help protect your neighbors and defend our home.
[Sighs]
Remember, we’re all in this together.
I have a meeting with Pamela Milton later. Anything I should know?
♪♪
[Chuckles] That’s nice for you. Someone like me would never meet Ms. Milton.
Why not?
You have to know your place.
You.
Hey, whoa, whoa!
Hey! Hey!
What do you think I did? I did nothing wrong, I swear.
Hey! Stop! I’m his lawyer. He’s entitled to hear his rights.
Miko, Miko, no. Miko, leave it alone.
Come on. Move it.
That’s the Commonwealth way.
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
[Sighs]
♪♪
I told you you’d get it right.
Congrats and you’re welcome.
♪♪
Has he changed?
♪♪
[Sighs]
We can’t know that.
♪♪
He’s helpful.
He would be,
long as there’s something in it for him.
So, your promise?
♪♪
I hope I can keep it.
♪♪
You know, keep an eye open for which one you want,
because as soon as we restock, you’ve got first dibs.
Hey! I need to talk to you.
[Radio chatter]
Where the hell is my brother? He’s fine.
That wasn’t my question.
You made an appointment with Pamela,
even after I told you and your friends
that I was taking care of things.
You almost screwed everything up.
You kidnapped my brother off the street.
Fair enough.
He’ll be home tonight. That’s how much time I need.
For what?
Alright, it works like this. It’s real simple.
Your people need help, right?
And you want your friends,
who broke the law, to go free.
Those are big asks.
I can deliver for you.
There must be something in it for you.
♪♪
A friend in high places.
Someday, I might need a favor,
and you might be favorably inclined.
So what do you say?
Can you sit tight for a few more hours?
♪♪
A few hours.
Excellent.
♪♪
[Birds chirping]
♪♪
Hey.
♪♪
Patrol has been all through here.
They’ve checked every building for miles.
These trails should be cold.
♪♪
Well, it looks like someone’s been through here.
Heads up.
♪♪
Come out! Hands up.
♪♪
Please, don’t shoot.
I-I-I have a family who needs me.
Please.
You staying over there?
No.How’d you avoid the patrols?
What?
There’s been soldiers looking for people like you.
How’d you avoid them?
I-I don’t know what that means.
Then you’re of no use to us.
You don’t know what we’ve been through.
My wife is hurt real bad.
I can’t — I can’t care for her and look for food.
Please just — just let me go.
Show us or I’ll shoot and find your family later.
Okay.
Just please don’t hurt us.
Move.
♪♪
Shaw to Pope.
Hold up. Pope: Go ahead, Shaw.
We found a man in the woods.
Not sure if he’s a part of our targets.
He’s taking us to his people.
How do you want us to engage?
Pope: Kill them.
♪♪
Copy that.
Daryl: Move.
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
You know, I feel for you in all of this. You might think that’s bullshit, but it’s true.
How’s that?
I’m not a robot, Rhee. It sucks to see your friends as walkers. And that would be enough. But you are about to do some crazy shit and break into a community that you built and lost.
♪♪
I get it.
Your community and mine were lost in very different ways.
You think I don’t understand the losing side of a massacre?
There were no children at the satellite station. No families.
Then where’d Aaron get Gracie?
♪♪
You think I don’t know about that?
You can’t debate battle plans with me. Levels of cruelty.
Look, all I’m saying is that I remember when my home was invaded and my people were killed. Those men — they had friends. They had girlfriends. People that felt a loss that I couldn’t heal. And I had to explain to them why– why their leader failed to protect them.
You killed people who had families.
♪♪
And you did it in front of their families.
Yeah. I did. But the world is different now, Maggie. Fewer people to fight for, fight with. Hell, there’s fewer things to fight over.
♪♪
Are you saying you’d do things differently?
♪♪
Yeah. Yeah, if I could do it all over again…
♪♪
…I’d have killed every single one of you.
♪♪
Why would you say that?
♪♪
It’s the truth. We got to do whatever we can to protect our people, right? I mean, that’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re doing this.
♪♪
Why would you say that to me?
♪♪
We had a good day, you and I. And the only way this works, Maggie, is — is if we’re honest.
♪♪
Where do they bring these, exactly?
[Grunts]
Uh, I don’t know. Somewhere far from the fields and the water supply.
Ezekiel: Friends!
[Laughs] Much gratitude. I see you’ve done all my work for me. And I didn’t even bring you lollipops. Wait. Ha! [Laughs]
You don’t want one?
Oh, I have had several. [Chuckles]
So, how was it?
Good as new. I got antibiotics, painkillers, IV fluids. Thank you, truly, friend.
Happy to do it. Glad everyone’s okay. [Chuckles] You feel up to a new assignment or —
Yes! Bring it on.
Stephanie, Eugene, I’d like you to clear the area up along the north fence line. Can you show him?
Yeah, sure.
Excellent.
Ezekiel, Princess, come with me.
♪♪
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
Gabriel: Maggie.
♪♪
Good news. It’s still there.
You run into any of them?
No.
♪♪
[Growling continues]
♪♪
That looks good over there.
♪♪
[Walkers growling]
Come on, man.
♪♪
I got this one.
♪♪
Eugene!
♪♪
Thanks, partner.
Teamwork is all.
Yeah.
What the hell was that about? You just disrupted our date.
Excuse me. We just saved your life.
We have private security for that.
Eugene, let’s go.
They’re —
You know what? Best idea yet.
Well, there’s no reason to be so rude, hoss.
[Chuckles] Hoss? Oh, my God. Sorry. I’m just not used to talking to a plebeian, so this is —
Oh, someone used their dictionary.
Hey, Eugene.Now, just a minute.
We have earned either gratitude or an apology, whichever this young man can muster first.
Eugene.
Who the hell do you think that you are?
I think I’m talking to someone who’s being extremely rude right now.
Eugene.
Now just hold your horses one second.
You have no idea who you’re talking to right now.
Eugene.
Oh, I think I do, and that would be a tiny, little man.
You’re so smart.
♪♪
[Screams]
You stupid bitch! Look what you just did to my girlfriend!
♪♪
[Groans]
Oh, my God! What did you do?!
This guy was being, well, an asshole.
Look, we’re — we’re so sorry.
No, don’t touch!
We’ve been working without a break, and he didn’t mean to.
What the hell happened here?
Look what they did to Kayla. These lunatics attacked us. You know, this is all your fault, Mercer. Where the hell were you?! I had goddamn rotters up my ass! And then this dumb shit rolled up and attacked me.
That is categorically untrue.
Did you hit him?
Yes, but–
What the hell were you thinking? Don’t you know who that is?
♪♪
Hi. I’m Yumiko Okumura. I’m here for my meeting with Ms. Milton.
Thank you for being on time. Ms. Milton is fastidious about her schedule. Would you like an herbal tea?
No, thank you.
Sparkling water or espresso?
No. I’m alright.
Please, have a seat.
♪♪
You’re part of the new group that came in, right?
♪♪
Yeah. I guess.
Are you all settling in okay?
Yeah. I mean, I haven’t seen my friends in a few days, so…
♪♪
Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.
Is everyone okay?
[Telephone rings]
Yes? Yes. Of course. I’ll — I’ll do it now.
♪♪
Is everything okay?
I’m afraid Ms. Milton will have to reschedule. Someone just attacked her son.
♪♪
[Door opens]
♪♪
[Chuckles]
Situation like that, you’re supposed to save him, protect the governor’s son. You’d have been a hero. You could have asked for anything.
My apologies. I did not ascertain such a conclusion.
Alright, no more screwing around. You want out, now the price is higher. I need the name of your town and how to get there.
T-That is beyond my purview.
Then welcome. This is home. Your friends can keep killing walkers. Your people, wherever they are, can figure things out on their own.
I-If I were to disclose those coordinates, what guarantee could you provide for my community’s safety?
Look around. Think how we’ve treated you. All the chances you’ve gotten.
That’s not a directly reply to my query.
Up to you.
[Door opens]
Wait.
♪♪
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
♪♪
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
[Thunder rumbles]
[Door creaks]
♪♪
See? I told you the truth. Please don’t hurt us.
[Thunder rumbles]
♪♪
You need to take your son and run. Don’t ever come back here.
♪♪
Go with your dad. Go ahead, honey. Don’t be afraid. It’s okay.
♪♪
[Crying] I love you.
I love you. Go.
♪♪
[Sighs]
Oh, thank God for you. He answered my prayers. They were never gonna leave while I was still alive, and it was dangerous for them to stay.
♪♪
I’m ready.
♪♪
Please.
♪♪
[Thunder rumbles]
♪♪
What are you gonna tell Pope?
♪♪
That you killed them. It’ll be good for you.
♪♪
Look, Leah, there’s something I need to tell you.
Man: Come in, Shaw.
Shaw. Over.
We need you back ASAP.
We gotta go.
♪♪
[Thunder rumbles]
[Walkers growling]
♪♪
♪♪
[Crying softly]
♪♪
♪♪
