- Previously on Motherland... - We don't know how, but this force protects us when we're threatened. - Just let me in. - I want to know how someone gets to be you. - The Spree gave me a place to put my pain. I guess we're more alike than I thought. What are you doing here? - I have no idea. - I warned all witches that the Camarilla is back. - That's a fetch! She's been tracked. (VOCALISES) - I really missed you. - I thought you were dead. - He's changing. This is not his place. - The bond we shared will endure forever. - We're surrounded. - I have a little surprise. - How can I help? Hello?! (LOUD WHOOSHING, VOCALISING) - It's been like this for days. - They haven't been able to recreate the phenomenon at all? - I've thrown everything I could think of at them. Sonics, weather work, physical and environmental stressors. Nothing. - Disappointing. I've got a delegation coming from The Hague, and I had hoped to tell them we had a new weapon in the coming fight against the Camarilla. Soldiers, I want to thank you for your patience and cooperation, but we're suspending these tests. - We can keep going, ma'am. - For now, it's more important that you join Cadet Craven for the start of War College. - But, ma'am, in the desert, this weapon` - Ah. - Yes, ma'am. - Thank you, ma'am. - We need to find a different way forward. Any ideas? - A closer look at the effects of the event might shed some light. May I show you something that just arrived from the Tarim region? - I always feel so humbled in her presence. (OMINOUS MUSIC) - General. Direct from the epicentre of the event. - Extraordinary. - I've never seen anything like it. Nothing human remains. I'm confident that my examination will tell us more about what it was that happened. - And whether we can make it happen again. Keep me informed. (MUSIC CONTINUES) (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) Captions by Able. Captions were made with support from NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2021 - Are they gonna keep testing you? - Who knows. They don't tell us anything. - I hope so. There's no way they're just gonna let it go. - What, so you wanna keep being a lab rat? - If it keeps us in the fight, yes. Don't you want to understand what happened? - Yes, of course I do. But I'd rather we figure it out ourselves than have Izadora poking and prodding us. - How about you? Any more weird Alder dreams or snakebites? - It was centipedes. And no, but I almost wish I would have one. It was terrifying but also kind of amazing. - All right, Bells. I know you've been waiting for this day your whole life. So, what are we in for? - Yeah, when do we meet our company? - This morning. But nobody says company. Just call it our coven. - Sekhmet. Egyptian? - Every coven is named after a war goddess. - Guys, apparently there are a lot of rumours going around about the three of us. (TENSE MUSIC) - What?! - Guess some people are saying we only got in cos your mom pulled strings. - Let people talk. We'll show them what we're made of soon enough. Is that the VP's daughter? - Yeah. And they're having her stay this side of base until basic starts. Oh, she looks so lonely. I feel bad for her. I was still biddied when her father met with Alder. He seems freaked out by the whole witch thing. - It's been a week. What have you learned? - You were right. While I haven't heard anyone use the word Camarilla, it's clear that there's someone powerful pulling the strings. These rallies and vigils, they're too well funded, too well organised. - We'll need more than that. - Thank you. And, I've, uh, made friends. A couple, Bonnie and Shane, and they seem pretty well connected. - How so? - Well, they always know when and where the next event is gonna be, like, before anyone else. Today they'll be at the mall. - Can you get close to them? - I think so. The wife, she seems lonely. I think she can use a friend. - Be careful. Don't lose sight of the mission. You know what can happen when you get too close. (SOLEMN MUSIC) - Why didn't you reach out to her? - Did you know that when Raelle was 10, I spent a total of 18 days with my family? - Yeah, she said it was like that a lot. - Because they didn't approve of who I married, they decided to keep me in the field and keep us apart. Every time I walked in the door and saw that my girl was growing up without me, I got angrier. And that anger grew until I lost sight of everything but the Spree's mission. In the end, she still grew up without me. I live with that every day. Then once we knew the Camarilla had returned, I started thinking she might be better off, safer in the Army. - What about now? - What would I even say? - Welcome to War College, Sekhmet. I'm your coven Leader. Call me M. Feel free to come to me with any questions you might have. You will have some of your general classes together as a coven, but most days you'll be following your individual specialisations. Once you've finished dealing with your super-cool hair, of course. Fear not. You're still bunking together as units. You'll find your rooms down the hall if you wanna go ahead and stow your gear. Dismissed. (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - Been a while, Bellweather. It's good to see you. - Hi, Gregorio. - (MOUTHS) - Later. - Collar. Can I borrow you for a sec? (TENSE MUSIC) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) - I'm sorry about earlier. - No need to apologise. I was staring at you. - Why? - Your reputation precedes you. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. - Gossip's a little high school, don't you think? - In War College, gossip is intel. There's only one thing I've heard that concerns me. - Scylla. - That had to suck. - Yeah. It did. It still does. - I just want to make sure that this is all in the past. No more secrets that are gonna come to light and reflect poorly on this company? - Well, believe me. I'm all done with secrets. - So... who was he? - That's Gregorio. You've heard about him before. My Cavalier. - Oh yeah. At your debut? - Mm-hm. - Wait, the one that Libba stole from you? - No one stole me. I'm not a possession. (CHUCKLES) (SIGHS) You should see your faces. Look, the whole thing was a misunderstanding. Libba and I were actually together back then. - I'm sorry. I never knew that. - No one did. We were keeping it secret. And then High Atlantic Tradition and the stars dictated that I be your Cavalier. - Libba was never big on tradition. - Well, unless it was the tradition of giving you shit. She was fond of that one. - Yeah. - (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) You know, she would've liked your eulogy, though. - You were there? - I thought it was beautiful. (SOFT MUSIC) And it was fun watching your mother squirm. - (CHUCKLES) - And now you're a male witch at War College. That must be exciting. - Yeah, you can just say witch. - Oh, I didn't mean to` - Hey. Kidding. (LAUGHTER) Is she always this serious? - Yeah. - M: Sekhmet! CO on deck! - I just wanted to wish you all well on your first day of War College and impress upon you the importance of the journey that you're on. It's not just about the Spree anymore. We are now, all of us, facing the return of an enemy that I thought was gone from this world forever, an enemy that wants nothing less but the eradication of our kind. I want the thought of that enemy, the Camarilla, to be in your mind always as you continue your training, driving you to excel and develop the skills that we will need to destroy them. I also want to encourage you to embrace the foundational principles of War College. To know. You must be constantly seeking the truth, no matter where it leads you. To dare. To be utterly fearless, not just in facing the enemy but also what lies inside you. To will. To effect change in the world around you with total control and conscious intention. And to keep silent. You spoke the words in your oath. All secrets keep. It is this veil of silence that allows us to do what needs to be done to keep this nation safe. These are the pillars on which your curriculum is built and the precepts by which I live my own life. Take them to heart, and they will serve you well. And with that, I'll leave you to get on with your day. (SERIOUS MUSIC) - (SCOFFS) If you're gonna bring intrigue to class, you're gonna have to make sure there's enough to share. - I think this is the part where we keep silent. (OMINOUS MUSIC) - Carefully now. - It looks like the Mycelium. - It doesn't just look like it. This is part of our Mycelium. Somehow, she colonised a body that was halfway around the world at the time. - How is that possible? - Through Raelle. That must have been her voice it was using. Raelle is the only person who touched the Mycelium and walked away more or less unscathed. They're still connected somehow. (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - (EXHALES HEAVILY) (UNSETTLING MUSIC) - I'm pleased you've all turned out to pay your respects. But we must also raise our voices and let the powers that be know that we demand justice. (MURMURS OF AGREEMENT) We demand that the monsters responsible for this be held accountable! (MURMURS OF AGREEMENT) For too many years, the Spree have been waging a war. The victims of this war are not witches but decent, God-fearing Americans. Let's not let their sacrifice be in vain. (MURMURS OF AGREEMENT) Thank you. - Justine. I was wondering if I'd see you here. - Hi. Yeah, no, I wanted to come and pay my respects. Shane is very inspiring. - He's good, right? - He certainly is. - I lost both my parents in this attack, and, uh... I think about them all the time. (TENSE MUSIC) And there's this... hollow ache inside me where they used to be. - It's OK. I know it's hard to hear these stories. - I think about all of the ups and downs of life that I'll never get to share with them. And for what? All because they were in the wrong place at` So yeah. I think about them, but... I also think about that person, that witch, and I wonder, does she feel remorse? Does it keep her up at night, thinking about what she did? Is there anything human left in her? (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - What the hell are you doing? - I could ask you the same thing. Revisiting some of your old haunts? Feeling nostalgic? - You've been following me. That fetch. That was you. Why haven't you arrested me? - Cos that's not what this is about. - Mm. This is part of your quest to save me, to capitalise on the remorse that you think you felt when you linked with me. I'm sorry to disappoint, but you were wrong. - You mean the remorse that's been written all over your face from the moment you walked in here? - (SCOFFS) - Look. You're right. That's how it started. But I've been watching you for weeks. It's got me curious. You're trying to infiltrate this movement, figure out who's behind it. - It's more complicated than that. - You think it's the Camarilla? Our ancient enemy has returned. Has the Spree changed its focus? - Some of us have. Why reveal yourself now? - I saw an opportunity, and I took it. Look, I want in on what you're doing. - That's bullshit. What's really going on here? - There are things that I've seen lately. Things about the Army and Alder in particular that just... don't sit right. Including the decision to just throw you away. It just has me wondering if there might not be a different way. - BONNIE: Justine. There you are. We thought maybe you had left. - Bonnie and Shane, this is, um... - Hi. I'm Amelia. - Your speech was... so moving. - So sorry for your loss. - Thank you. It's hard being here. - So, uh, you two know each other? - Yeah. Uh... - We've seen each other at rallies the past few weeks. - Yeah. - Feels like we're kindred spirits. I'm so sorry. This is all a bit overwhelming. Does anyone else need a drink? - Definitely. - OK. (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - Hey. Are you OK? - Yeah, it's just my dad. - I get it. With me, it's my mom. We can't get through a call without it ending up in tears. - Tal, we're gonna be late for class. - Don't worry. It'll get better. (SOFT MUSIC) - Sorry I'm late, cadets. My name is Channing Grafton, and I will be your instructor for Mothertongue. I've asked Adil, our guest from the Tarim, to sit in since, unlike most American witches, he grew up speaking Mothertongue from birth. How many of you are wondering why you need to study this at all? - Isn't it just for The Hague at this point? Or High Atlantics? No offence. - (AGGRESSIVELY SPEAKS MOTHERTONGUE) - I lost you at the end. Will... You... Will you stand...? - He's challenging you to a duel. - There's no comparable term for it in English, but right of proxy is the closest. It's a tradition that's fallen out of favour in the recent times. So, besides being the root of all known languages, which I personally think is pretty cool, there's certain work that can only be done using Mothertongue. And ask yourself this. How is it that Adil is able to speak perfect English, a language he's never studied? I see I finally have your attention. So... - Excuse me, General. May I have a moment? - Craven. What can I do for you? - I've been thinking a lot about Penelope Silver. - What about her? - I'd like your permission to tutor her, to get her up to speed and ready to start basic. - Your empathy, as ever, shines through. You have my blessing. - Thank you. - General? The Hague delegation has arrived and are waiting for you in your office. - Carry on, Cadet. (SOFT MUSIC) - Hello, General Alder. - Khalida. What are you doing here? - Discussing where Adil and I might settle. - In the interest of finding a permanent home for the Tarim, Khalida will be touring some of the other Council nations. - General Alder, I am forever grateful to you, but you know my feelings about us remaining here. - If this is what you want, I'll arrange for a security detail. - That won't be necessary. General Sharma has offered her protection. - Khalida, I wish you would reconsider. Talk to your brother. He was there in the Tarim. He saw what the Camarilla is capable of. - There have been reports of skirmishes with the Camarilla from several Council nations and more outbreaks of that strange disease they created. - We've been calling it the Witch Plague. Apparently it does not harm civilians. - No. It's clear that the Camarilla have engineered it as a weapon of witch genocide. The Camarilla have found a way to replicate our work, using technology powered by the stolen vocal cords of witches. - It's an abomination! Sarah, how can they have risen again without any of us knowing? - I don't know. But what's important now is that we come together to stamp them out and remove the stain of their blood from this Earth forever. I will root them out and destroy them in my country. Can I count on you to do the same in yours? (DRAMATIC MUSIC) - Should I be offended that your mind is clearly focused on something else? - I'm sorry. Khalida wants me to come with her on her world tour. - Are you going to go with her? - I don't know. - I hear you had lunch with Gregorio. - Can I ask you something? What is a Cavalier? It sounds... intimate. - (LAUGHS) Frequently it is but not with me and Gregorio. We just never clicked that way. (SOFT MUSIC) I'm glad you're making friends, though. Maybe that'll give you another reason to stay. (UNSETTLING MUSIC) (ANIMALS CALL) - The work you did with the bottle. What was that? - Something of my own. - It's definitely not canon. - Maybe it could be? - (SCOFFS) I don't think The Hague would approve. But you saved our skins, and for that I'm grateful. - I'm happy to serve you, General. - I've been watching you. What you can do is rare, but it's too wild. You need to put that power in the service of your will. - Maybe you can help me with that? - Yes. I think I could do that. (BRANCH SNAPS) (SCREAMS) - Better? - Better. (BELL TOLLS DISTANTLY) (TOLLING CONTINUES) - I am Major Magda Verger, and this is your introduction to off-canon work. (CREAKING, HISSING) This sort of work is forbidden to you, but our enemies will not hesitate to use it, and neither will I. (TENSE MUSIC) Let me be clear. You will not be learning how to use off-canon work. This is about learning to recognise it and to resist it. (HISSING CONTINUES) - Ma'am, is there any way we can turn that radiator down? (HISSING STOPS) - What radiator? (LAUGHS) There are sounds all around us at all times, both above and below the range of our hearing. And all sorts of nastiness can be layered into those sounds. They can make you see and do terrible things. You must learn to recognise these sounds and resist them, learn to identify and destroy their source. - Ma'am, has the Army ever used this sort of work in combat? - No. This is the domain of our enemies. The Spree in particular. (BELL RINGS LOUDLY) (RINGING CONTINUES) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (BIRD TWITTERS, CLOCKS TICK) What is this? How the hell did we get here? (BIRD CHIRPS) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) - It's an exercise. - What, so we have to find a way out? - No, I don't think so. (CLOCKS TICK) (ALARM RINGS) - How many clocks does one room need? (VOICE ECHOES, DISTORTED) (ALARMS RINGS LOUDLY, JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYS) - What is going on? (VOICE ECHOES) - We have to find the source of the working. (VOICE ECHOES, MUSIC BOX PLAYS) - Found it. - That's not it! (VOICE ECHOES, MUSIC STOPS) (DOOR CREAKS LOUDLY) No! (DOOR SLAMS CLOSED) (CLOCK CHIMES, ALARM RINGS) (CLOCK WHIRRS LOUDLY) (RUMBLING, HISSING) - (SHRIEKS) - ECHOES: 'Why aren't you doing anything?' - 'I am.' (EERIE MUSIC) (GASPS) (DOOR CREAKS OPEN) 'This way.' (LAUGHTER) - LAUGHS: You guys` You guys are killing me! - Oh, I'm so glad we did this. - Me too! - It's been great to meet you both. You know, the movement` The movement has been a bit of a boy's club. You know what I mean? - You've never complained before. - Oh, (STAMMERS) I'm not complaining. I just` It's so nice having some ladies around. Speaking of the ladies, that's where I'm headed. Excuse me. - Well, here's to new friends. - Oh. - And to ridding the world of monsters. - I can definitely drink to that. (LAUGHS) Oh! - I'm gonna get us some more beer. Be right back. - This has gone way too far. Either you leave now or I will. - I don't think that's a good idea. You said it yourself. There's a lot at stake here. - (SCOFFS) That does not mean I want to work with the Army. - And I don't want to work with the Spree. But... You sure you wanna pull the plug just when it's getting interesting? (OMINOUS MUSIC) - (PANTS) (WHISPERS ECHO) It's in here somewhere. - I hate these things. (CHILDISH GIGGLING ECHOES) - Screw this place. (BELL RINGS, LAUGHTER ECHOES) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) - (PANTS) Can this be over now? - Behind you! (DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES) (MUSIC STOPS) (BREATHES HEAVILY) (TENSE MUSIC BUILDS) - Very good, Craven. No one has ever beaten the Dollhouse on their first try before. - I could see it. I could see... sound. - Really? Interesting. - Good job. Um... it was the gas in here, but, uh, what was the source in the first room? - There was no first room. We were here the whole time. - Well done. Wait. Where's Abigail and Raelle? - ABIGAIL: Hello? - Hello?! - Hello?! - Hello?! - Let me out! - Rae? - Abigail? - Rae? - You touched her. And now you have to pay. - Izadora, please no! Izadora, please! Please no! No! Abigail! - You have no idea what you've done. The years of research that you've ruined! Years of my life that you stole! - Abigail! No! (SOBS) - You are an abomination. And you will die! (CREAKING) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) It's conclusive. The phenomenon comes from Raelle and Raelle alone. - What else? - As we suspected, it's protective. The fear and the danger had to be real in order to trigger it. Thank you for approving the test. - It was a risk worth taking. How did Abigail handle it? - She took a swing at me. - Ha! - (CHUCKLES) - Not surprising. - She recovered fine, but I think she's disappointed not to be a part of this. - Well, Bellweathers are nothing if not ambitious. So you'll continue testing Raelle? - Yes, ma'am. - Good. But be careful with her. She just became one of our greatest assets. - These people are all so damn manipulative. They couldn't care less what happens to us. - That's part of being a soldier. - What they did to us today has nothing to do with being a soldier. At this point, the only people I trust are you two. - What does it feel like when it goes off? - This time it felt like me wanting to kill Izadora. It's not like anything I've ever felt. It's exciting. It's terrifying. I felt incredibly powerful but also like it was completely out of my control. I'm sorry. I don't` I don't even think I could do it justice, honestly. - What happens next? - More tests, apparently. Just what I was hoping to avoid. (SOLEMN MUSIC) You OK? - Yeah. I'm, uh... I'm just really tired. I'm gonna go back to the room. - So it was catch and release? - I'm sorry. I... I should have been more careful. - What about her working alone? Do you believe it? - I don't know. It's always very personal with Anacostia. Maybe. - Stay the course. But be careful; she's Army. You can never really trust them. - Khalida. Uh, have you seen your brother? - It's my brother that I want to talk about. - Sure. I'm going to my room if you wanna talk there. - This will only take a moment. I've agreed to let Adil stay here while I search for a home for our people. - Oh. Good. I think he really likes it here. - I'm grateful to you, Abigail. And I don't want you to get hurt. But you have to understand that this is not a permanent situation. In the end, my brother will always choose his people, just as you will always choose yours. (SOLEMN MUSIC) - OK, to truly understand the Army and our place in the world, you have to know our history. - And knowing is one of the four principles, right? - Oh, we are gonna have you ready for basic in no time. - So, where do we start? - At the very beginning, with Sarah Alder herself. - Is she really 300 years old? - Oh, she is. More than, in fact. - My dad says that's why he doesn't trust her. He thinks that someone who lives that long couldn't really care about regular people. Sorry. - It's OK. A lot of people feel that way about her. I didn't always trust her myself. (INTRIGUING MUSIC) - Tally, what is it? - There's something wrong with this photo. - What do you mean? - Some sort of working has been used on it. Do you...? Do you see a person there? - No. There's no one there. (OMINOUS MUSIC) - It's her. She's real. (GASPS) And someone is trying to hide her existence. Captions by Able. Captions were made with support from NZ On Air.