- Previously on Motherland... - We learned about the Camarilla using hearing tests to identify witches. - Orsatti's on the move. - Hopefully toward a higher-up in the Camarilla. - Felida will be touring some of the other council nations. - General Sharma has offered her protection. - There have been reports of more outbreaks of that disease they created. - Esterbrook and her witches refused conscription, so they martyred themselves. - TALLY: Why isn't General Alder a bigger part of that story? - She wasn't there when the martyrdom occurred. - I heard she was, fighting alongside a soldier named Batan. - I blamed Adil for the death of the Tarim. That's why he didn't stay. - Your daughters will be safe with us. - Not our daughters! Not our daughters! - Do you think it was really Scylla? - I'd know those eyes anywhere. - The Camarilla came for me, and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. - No more lies. Who is Nicte Batan? - India, unlike the United States, can provide complete autonomy for the Tarim people, should you decide to settle here. Oh, plus, we have excellent food. Have you tried the nankhatai? - Go on. Finish your proposition. - That is the proposition. - You forgot the part regarding what you expect us to give to you. - Khalida, I had hoped you thought better of us. - I think what my sister's trying to say is that we know how militarised nations work. - Do I seem naive, General Sharma? - Of course not. (TENSE MUSIC) - Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. - General! - (SCREAMS) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) Captions by Able. Captions were made with support from NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2021 (UPBEAT OLD-FASHIONED MUSIC PLAYS) - Do you like civilian music? I enjoy it immensely. Please... sit. Where did you hear about Nicte Batan? - I know she personally served under you in Liberia, during the martyrdom, and messed her up. - I wasn't in Liberia at the time, Cadet. - You can redact photographs and edit history books all you want, General, but I know you were there with her. (MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING) (THUNDER RUMBLES, MUSIC STOPS) - The loss of Esterbrook and her rebels is one of my deepest regrets. And as Liberia devolved into chaos, I deemed it more prudent to obscure my direct involvement. - So why cover-up Nicte? - She deserted shortly after witnessing what Esterbrook and her followers did to themselves. I consider that an even deeper moment of personal failure. - So hiding her away is just to protect your pride? (TENSE MUSIC) - We all have our prideful failings. For instance, your belief that you can barge in here, in the dead of the night, no less, to make accusations of conspiracy and nefarious intent against me. - I just wanted answers. - And what makes you think you are owed any? - We... are connected. - That time has passed. - Then why have I been seeing these memories? Ever since the surgery. I thought they were dreams at first` - I'll have Izadora give you something to make sure that the connection is well and truly severed. Dismissed. (DOOR OPENS) - Work on those seeds, privates! Everything gets real after the break. I heard about what happened at the testing centre. Is Bellweather OK? - Yeah. Her mom's checking on her now. Did you know that Scylla escaped from custody? - Why would I know anything about that? - Maybe because you're the last soldier to see her before she was allegedly shipped off to jail. And before you try to get me off this, I saw her. At the riot. Where I found this. So unless this is another Spree agent tryna screw with my head` - We are aware that Ramshorn is no longer in custody. And, yes, she was on site yesterday. - And how long have we known that she's on the loose? - So long as it benefits the military ` and, in this case, it does ` does it matter? - Is that as much of an answer as you're gonna give me? - That's as much as I can, yes. Said more than I should, actually. - How did she get this? (SOLEMN MUSIC) - Sorry, Collar. Really wish I could help. - Hi, Bonnie. It's Justine. I was just wondering about this Halloween party. Are we supposed to wear costumes, or...? (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) - Jonas, wait. - OK, great. See you Saturday. - Jonas, it's a suicide mission. You don't need to do this. - You think I don't know that? - I need you here. The Camarilla are picking us off. - I'm not here for the Camarilla. I'm here to change things so that our people can stop fighting their wars. is any of that sounding familiar? - You think throwing your life away is going to change that? - (SCOFFS) (SIGHS) What happened to you? You know, out of everyone, I thought you'd understand. You used to be a wild animal. Now you're just... soft, ineffective, comfortable, weak. (TENSE MUSIC) Move. - You're not weak. There are things worth dying for, and there are things worth living for. There's always a choice. - (SIGHS) - You're up. - Did you get them? - We're looking for the Camarilla that escaped. - Look harder. - (SCOFFS) You think we aren't? - You and Alder told everyone it was the Spree. But it wasn't the Spree that attacked me. It wasn't the Spree that tried to cut out my throat. It was the Camarilla. They came after me just like they did Charvel. - Except you survived. - Maybe I shouldn't have. - Excuse me? - I wouldn't expect you to understand. - Oh. And why not? - Because you weren't stupid enough to walk into their trap. (SOLEMN MUSIC) - - I still can't get the stuff Izadora gave me out of my mouth. - Well, at least you can get a good night's sleep, right? - I guess. You know, part of me didn't wanna take it. Another part just desperately wanted peace from all of this. Either way, Alder isn't telling the whole truth. - Well, do you know that for sure? - I saw what happened, Rae. She wasn't surprised when they killed themselves. She was... satisfied. - What's with the tables? - It's for the dumb supper tonight. - The what? - For Samhain. You eat the meal backwards in complete silence. - Dessert first. - Well, what about the black chairs? - For the dead to join in. As if the dead actually care about bad wine and squash casserole. They're dead. They don't care about anything. - How did you celebrate Samhain on the Cession? - Uh, my Mom wasn't really that into it. We'd light a candle to honour the dead, and then she'd just let me go trick-or-treating. - (CHUCKLES) - How you doing, Bells? - Considering I almost got my throat cut out again? Doing great. - Uh, no, I was... I was talking about India. I'm sorry. I thought you heard. There was a Camarilla attack on a government train. That's where Adil went, right? - Goodbye. - Abs? - TALLY: Abigail? - It's all over the news. General Sharma's dead. (MOMENTOUS MUSIC) - It's never gonna stop. - Izadora's on her way to collect samples and survey the damage from the Plague attack in person. - Has there been any word from the Tarim? - Search and rescue teams are looking into it, General. To make matters worse, the Indian military has placed public blame on the Camarilla. - Hm. So much for the Hague agreeing to keep things quiet. - It was only a matter of time. - What about here at home? - We've got more ground to cover, but now that we have these tapes, the Camarilla can no longer hunt for our kind in schools. - I just got off the phone with Silver. He's postponing our testing centre rollouts until further notice. Apparently, some states are balking at sending their daughters for testing, lest the Spree attack them on their way into the building. - Have you briefed President Wade about what happened in India? - Apparently, she's still under the weather. But please get the Vice President up to speed. His daughter is one of ours. We'll take whatever allies we can get. - Ah, civilians and their mysterious customs. - I think it looks fun. - (CHUCKLES) - I'm gonna have to borrow Amelia's jumpsuit. - Oh, we share clothes now? - Yes. I'm gonna need that coat too. - (CHUCKLES) You look amazing yourself. - Hi! - Oh, hey! - Trick or treat, Justine! - Oh, I'm sorry! I don't have any candy. All I have are witch fingers. - What are witch fingers? - Oh-oh-ah! - (GIGGLES) - You ladies clean up nice. You all ready? - Bonnie, you're not coming? - No. I'm gonna take Brianna trick-or-treating. - Mom duties. - (CHUCKLES POLITELY) - Mommy, can Tiffany come with us? - Tiffany's still on vacation, honey. Remember? Only one block, OK? - Yup. - Shall we? - You guys have fun! - # It's burning me down to the core, and I can't fight it. - You're better than this, Cadet. Focus! - I think we should go home with Abigail for fall break. - Yeah, but at this point, do you think she'd even let us? (ABIGAIL SHOUTS) - Sing for us. Won't you? - (ABIGAIL SOBS) - Bellweather! Let's go! - Abigail never taps out. - Where is she going? Abi? - Abs, maybe you should sit down. - I'm fine. - You ran out of hand-to-hand. - I've been attacked by the Camarilla twice. They killed General Sharma and possibly Adil and Khalida, so... I feel like we've moved beyond sparring now, no? - W-Well, we were thinking... maybe we should both come home with you for break. - You won't be safe there. We won't be safe anywhere. - You can't think like that. We have fought them off before, and we'll keep doing it for as long as it takes. - What's going on? (TENSE MUSIC) (MUSIC CONTINUES) - ALDER: Samhain begins. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) - Samhain tradition, Cadets! For the veil is thin. And tonight... (KNIFE SLICES) - Ah! - ...we wake the dead! As our ancestors have done for centuries. This, Cadets, is the Defending of the Hearth. It's a pre-Samhain ritual here at War College. Anyone heard of the Lost Regiment? - The French and Indian War? - Specifically, the Battle of La Tuque. - Commodore Hastings and her troops were sequestered deep in the forest during winter. They couldn't light a fire without giving away their location. But when temps dropped too low, they couldn't resist. They decided to light one. Just one fire. And it proved fatal. The enemy's attack was swift and brutal, and none survived. Every Samhain since, the Regiment wanders these very woods, desperate to extinguish the flame. It's our job to stop them and keep the fire burning until the last stroke of midnight. - What happens if we win? - You get to speak to the dead witch of your choosing. - From the Lost Regiment? - From anywhere. - I don't have time for games. - Earlier, you said the dead don't care. What if this way we can all find out? (HOOFBEATS AND SCREAMS ECHO) (DRAMATIC MUSIC BUILDS) - (HISSES) We can't use any work. - Then we'll improvise. - Ladies... if tonight goes well, we'll be set. These people, they're on another level. The Camarilla. They take care of their own. Investment funds, private schools, real estate. Plenty of cops and judges in their pocket. - Thanks for including us. - It's too bad Bonnie's missing out on all this. - No. (CHUCKLES) Bonnie's not cut out for this. Too weak. But I feel like you ladies will do what it takes to bring about a world with no witches. - Light 'em up. (CHUCKLES) - I have a lighter. There's not a lot of familiar faces from the movement here. How'd you get on the list? - I did provide a little gift. - What kind of gift? - You'll see soon enough. I'll see you in there. - If everyone's wearing a mask, how are we going to take the Exarch's face? - We'll improvise, huh? (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (HORSE WHINNYING ECHOES) - If we make it to midnight, who are you gonna talk to? - The upside of being last of my line is that there's no shortage of people to talk to on a night like tonight. - Sorry. - It's true. What about you? - Valda Esterbrook. - The martyr? - The leader of the Liberian Front, yeah. - You're gonna burn your Samhain on someone you've never even met? - I need answers. And who better to ask than one of the only other people who were there? Rae? - I need to talk to my Mom. I don't think I've ever needed anything more. - Visibility's low. Trust your ears. You won't see the arrows until they're within a few yards of the hearth, but when you do... do what I just did! Scourge, Windshear, whatever you can. Just one arrow douses the flame. And whatever you do, don't get hit. (SHRIEKS ECHO, ARROWS WHOOSH) - Incoming! (CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS) - Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention? - SCYLLA: The Exarch's that cop from the testing centre. - ANACOSTIA: Guess we found our mark. - Yeah. Now we just have to figure out how to get close to him. - But I've asked the staff to arrive a little bit later tonight so that we can start this party with a bang. (UPBEAT STRING MUSIC PLAYS) - Allow me to begin by saying what an honour it is to have you all here on this... special night. Special because tonight we will be reinstating a long-held ritual performed by our ancestors on All Hallow's Eve. (ARROWS WHOOSH, SCREAMS ECHO) (STRING MUSIC CONTINUES) - M: We just have to make it to midnight. - They're not gonna make that easy! (HOOFBEATS ECHO) - Tally! - (GASPS) Gregorio! - Collar, we need a Fixer. Collar! We need a Fixer! - Tally, get over here! - Go, go. Sorry about this. (ARROW SNAPS) - (SCREAMS) - (WHISPERS) - In this twilight of the world, the evil of witch is super abounds. Ladies and gentlemen,... (GIRL WHIMPERS) (QUIET MURMURING) ...we are about to rid the world of some of that evil. - SCYLLA: That psychopath. He kidnapped Brianna's friend. - Come on, Tiffy. It's just a party. - ANACOSTIA: She's the gift. - ANACOSTIA: She's the gift. - My friends... tonight, we offer up a witch. (APPLAUSE) - ANACOSTIA: I'm gonna try to kill the power to the dampeners. When I do, get the girl and get out. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - (WHIMPERS) (BELL TOLLS) - (WHISPERS) - M: That's the first chime to midnight. - Rae, how's he doing?! - Collar, we could use the help out here. - Come on. - (GASPS) Is it over? - It's about to be. (BELL CONTINUES TOLLING) - That's six! - We need to win this. - Seven! (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (HORSE WHINNIES) - (VOCALISES) (MUSIC SLOWS) (TENSE MUSIC) - The hell do you think you're doing? - Goddess, not you again. - Do I know you? - We've met once or twice. - (GRUNTS) - Does that jog your memory? (UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC) (GROANS) (GIRL WHIMPERS) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - Everyone, take one. Plenty to go around. - SCYLLA: Stop. - Can I help you? - Take me, not her. - Why would we do that? - Because I'm a witch. - (CROWD MURMURS) - SHANE: Justine, what are you doing? - My name is not Justine, you ignorant rat carcass. - Exarch, I don't know what she's talking about. - Not only am I a witch, I am the Spree, and I've killed thousands of civilians. And I enjoyed it. every... single... time. - Perfect. The little one can watch while we deal with you. Unlike her, your vocal chords are perfectly ripe for harvest. (PANICKED CHATTER) - Trick or treat. (HISSES) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (MUSIC STOPS) (SOFT MUSIC) (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Find a dark place, alone, and light your candle. Say the name of the witch you want to speak with. As the wax melts, your messenger will be freed and will bring forth your requested dead. - How long do we have? - Till the candle burns out. - That doesn't seem long enough. - It never is. - I'll tell Libba you said hi. - Give her my best. - You all right? - Yeah. I just... There's so many things I could ask her about, you know? Like the last thing she said to me before she left or the letters she left me. It's just, I... I don't even know where to start now. - You'll know when you see her. (GENTLE MUSIC) (SOFT MUSIC) - Willa Collar. - Valda Esterbrook. - Charvel Bellweather. (EERIE MUSIC) (DISTANT CLANGING) - (GASPS) Valda... Y-You don't know me. Tally Craven, United States Military. - Time is short, conscripted. - Char? Char, is that you? - You're a failure. - I know. I should have been there to save you. I live with it every day. And it's just this pain` - You didn't fail me. You failed yourself. (SOLEMN MUSIC) - Why did you martyr yourself? - Lies! You think I did this... by choice? - (GASPS) - My brothers and sisters, General Alder's army is here. We are surrounded. I had no choice but to surrender. - You've let yourself be victimised again and again and again by the animals that slaughtered me. - The Camarilla used you against me to throw me off balance, to try and take my voice. - The enemy used your own insecurities against you. You complain about others not getting the job done that you should be getting done yourself. - I'm a solider; I can only do what I'm told. - I thought that too. Then I got murdered. - No! No! Stop! Stop! (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (SCREAMS) - You need to stop worrying about being a soldier and start worrying about being a warrior. - I just... I don't wanna be afraid anymore. - Then get rid of that which terrifies you. - What are you saying? - You are Abigail Bellweather, the last of our line, and you... are... vengeance. (QUIET, SOMBRE MUSIC) - Mom? Mom, please. (BELL TOLLS) She didn't come. You know, I've gone over the conversation in my head... so many times. And I thought about... what I'd say to her and... and how I say it and... what she'd say back and how she'd probably tell me I needed a haircut. Why didn't she come? (SOMBRE MUSIC) Why didn't she wanna talk to me? - I don't know, Rae. - I need to go pack for break. I need to see my dad. - OK, so, I know we said we would go home with you, but` - No, believe me. I get it. - Please come too. - Charvel set me straight. I need to get back to being me. I need to find the people who took her voice and get it back and bathe in their blood. I added that last part. - Uh, how would you even find them? Where would you start? - I haven't gotten to that part yet. Why are you looking at me like that? - Because even if you do manage to find them, you're basically just offering yourself up. Think about what you're saying. - You're right. - I am? - Yeah, I guess. I... I was just excited because of Samhain. Besides, I'm sure my mother won't let me out of her sight the entire break, so... We were just talking about you. - Oh. - Mom, what is it? - It's about Adil. (SENTIMENTAL MUSIC) - Thank Goddess you're OK. When I heard about the train` - Khalida and I were the only survivors. It's good to see you too. - (CHUCKLES) Where is she? Um, she'll hate it, but I'll give her a hug too. - She's still with the Hague. I was gonna stay with her, but she could tell how much I needed to see you. - I'm so glad you're here. - I haven't stopped shaking since India. - Hey, you made it out. That's what's important. - All I could think about was you. Look, I know, they've come for your family before. - And they tried again. - Being hunted gives you a unique perspective on survival, doesn't it? - Time to make them feel hunted. And we start with the one who killed Charvel. - You want breakfast? I just dropped Brianna off at school. - Denver omelette. Extra ham. - (SIGHS) Oh. She forgot her favourite pencil. Are you sure that's all you want? (GIGGLES) - Well, now that you mention it... - You know, Tiffany is still not in school. You don't think something bad happened to her, do you? - Of course not. And anyway, we talked about this, Bon. Even if something bad did happen, it's just one less witch in the world. - WHISPERS: Not our daughters. Not our daughters. (TENSE MUSIC) Not our daughters. (SOFT, SOLEMN MUSIC) - Justine! I didn't know you were coming over today. - Yeah, I was just dropping something off for Shane. - Have a coffee with me? - I can't today. I'm sorry. - Next time. - Bonnie? Find something to live for. Something that's beautiful and real. Like your daughter. Otherwise hate is gonna eat you whole. (MUSIC CONTINUES) (THUNDER RUMBLES) - (SCREAMS) Captions by Able. Captions were made with support from NZ On Air.