Original subtitles

Previously on Motherland...

Today Vice President Silver's family

will not soon forget.

This young woman is of the blood.

Goddess knows how many more are out there.

We need to get to them before the Camarilla does.

They don't know how

but this force protects us when we're threatened.

So you'll continue testing Raelle.

You will die!

I would like to offer you something very rare.

An opportunity to resume your life as it was.

Do you see a person there?

It's her.

She's real!

I thought we were in agreement.

This order is ready for you to sign.

We need to open test centers now.

Asking all young woman of conscription age

to report for testing

is not gonna be popular

We know that there are more witches out there...

like your daughter.

That they need to be kept safe

She's not gonna be safer in the Army!

Mr. Vice President, your daughter's proven

to be a witch.

It is the duty of every witch

to report for military service.

She's no exception.

This isn't right.

And the President has assured me

she won't be signing any such order.

Is this true?

If I sign this there will be a public outcry

They need to be identified and protected.

I'm not sure I can turn the nation upside down

without hard evidence--

We have the bodies to prove it, Madame President.

I'm not sure, Blanton.

The more I think about it

these young women have no idea what's coming--

no idea what's coming after them.

Madame President, with all due respect--

New witches must be protected.

Next time you learn some new weather,

a heads-up before you unleash it would be great.

It was a reflex action.

I learned it last week.

In Weatherwork.

I hate that we're on separate tracks now.

It's supposed to make us better soldiers.

Try wetter soldiers.

My Sight was a mess today, too.

I just can't stop thinking about that redacted soldier

from the photo.

Maybe she messed up.

Just because something's need to know

doesn't mean it's a mystery.

How's witchbomb testing?

Izadora wants me to try and sing Seeds

to make it go off without me having to die, so...

Don't knock the process.

You've got the opportunity to do something completely new.

Make your own name for yourself.

That's huge.

I can't even speak one full sentence

in Mothertongue, you know?

And that's basic war college stuff.

So whatever's happening with me, it's--

If you say "advanced"

I'm gonna throw a waterspout at you again.

You got this.

You did that on purpose?

Who's the old lady?

Then old lady is the Imperatrix.

The Matriarch of the Imperative

Not only am I responsible for the growth

and continuation of witch bloodlines,

I can flatten you to pulp with any number of Workings

before you knew what had hit you.

You must be our Outcross.

The Fixer with the rebellious streak.

What's an "outcross'?

Means your mom crossed lines with a civilian.

Are you our Matrifocal daughter?

Yes, Ma'am.

-Matriarch-- -Matriarch.

Yes, Matriarch. Sorry.

Eager to please, and guileless.

Very on-point for your upbringing.

And our Bellweather.

Our North star.

The envy of War College.

I highly doubt that.

Modesty is beneath you.

Avoid it. Completely.

So, why am I here, blessing you with my presence?

Because today, the Matrimonial Season begins.

Tomorrow night, you will attend the Paragon Reception

in Bellweather Hall.

This is when you'll start narrowing down your choices

of the men who will be a part of furthering your line.

Dress uniforms, ladies,

and no lipstick, please.

So cloying.

Pardon the colloquialism,

but you Bellweathers are at the end of the line, Petra.

Abigail had better take this process seriously.

Fewer witches are being born,

and we're facing a new threat.

Abigail will come around.

It's in her blood.

And we have found one new bloodline.

We may find more with the testing--

More Outcrossed lines,

which I suppose have their place.

But they're no replacement for the power of purity.

Perhaps, the Imperative should reflect upon the fact

that it lost track of these bloodlines, to begin with.

Witches are as powerful as they are

because of the Imperative

-Your duty-- -I know my duty.

The Imperative serves an important purpose, Matriarch,

but know your place.

I will not stand here while you impugn my authority

to appease your ego.

I don't report to you.

Now, leave my office.

The arrogance of that woman...

That's the danger of having no one but yourself

to answer to.

How goes our hunt for the Camarilla?

I've got operatives in the field

tryna figure out how they got to the rest of my line

before we even knew they existed.

Has The Hague gotten back to you

on the Plague samples we sent?

Not yet,

but everybody's being cooperative for once.

You're very good at getting people

to see things your way.

Good day, General.

That's basically every Seed I know.

Why won't it do anything?

Her, not it.

Show some respect.

To the mushroom?

She has certain fungal properties, yes.

The truth is,

I've been studying Her for many years,

And I still know so little.

She's ancient.

She responds to stimuli, especially to threats.

You do not want to be the target of Her enmity.

Or the bearer of it?

You're more than just a conduit for Her.

She chose to form a symbiosis with you

It's late.

I'll see you here tomorrow evening.

This thing you gave me,

I don't want.

Can't even use.

Abigail would love it.

But you gave it to me.

Why?

Why is it that I have to die for you to do anything?

Izadora?

It's a Death-Cap.

Is that what you want?

That seed?

Are you all right?

Yeah.

I think I got Her attention.

The integrity of your line

is one of my greatest triumphs.

All of the traits that mark a Bellweather are present

-in you. -I'm more than just traits.

I've worked hard.

Skills help us win the battle,

but breeding lets us win the war, dear.

We're stronger, over time, for it.

And you want me to handfast with...

Gregorio Shellbark?

Pass.

You are so like your mother

She also had her flighty side.

Petra Bellweather? Flighty?

At the end of the day,

I at least got her to narrow the field to the three men

that we chose to father you.

Then extend me the same courtesy.

The Earthquake boy.

How do you--

I have eyes and ears everywhere.

A Bellweather being handfasted to someone

who's not even in the military.

How did you think that would go?

Your timetable will be accelerated

And what does that mean, exactly

Your handfasting will take place

at the end of this year.

Did it taste weird?

Yes, Tally, it tasted weird.

Now so does everything else.

But you got cleared for duty.

Clean bill of health.

They're running the sound I made against the seeds

in the library to see if anyone's made it

on record before.

So you're a top-secret military experiment.

And she's reliving Alder's greatest battles.

And me, though, I don't even get to choose

who the father of my children is going to be.

Well, does it help anything that neither of us

can do what we've been doing on purpose?

A little.

Yeah.

Oh, shoot. See you later.

I'm never going to be able to do this

General Alder needs to pick a different poster child

for the Test Center opening.

You're so close. You had the note,

but you're not singing with your throat.

That's the opposite of what we're taught in choir.

I don't know what it's supposed to feel like.

Yes, you do.

You've done it before.

OK, sing what you sang in church.

Find the Seed in the song.

I saw the video. You were terrific.

Yeah, until I melted the priceless stained-glass windows

with Satan's high C.

I saw my dad's face change.

He went from encouraging me

to looking at me like

he didn't know me.

My mom and I have always been close.

I had a dispensation from the Army,

but I answered the call anyway.

She was furious.

Why did you join?

To serve.

To be a part of something bigger than myself.

You can't do this if you hate who you are.

You did it before.

Memories are powerful.

Remember how it felt then,

how the music carried you.

Holy shit.

I feel so bad for the Vice-President.

And for it to happen at church.

His daughter's in the Army now, learning how to kill.

I guess, it's good thing

the Army doesn't kill normal people.

Those Spree do, though.

Isn't the Army fighting the Spree?

Sure, in Bangladesh or wherever.

But what about keeping us safe at home?

The Spree is going after our American institutions.

Our malls. Ball fields. Restaurants.

We gotta go out.

Can't just hide in our basements

until the witches stop fighting.

We don't even know who they are and aren't anymore.

Yeah, Amelia, you get it.

I had to tell Brianna that she can't play

with her friend Tiffany anymore.

They found out she's a witch

How?

Our friend said they had some kind of test.

Excuse me.

Speak of the devil.

Jack, hi!

We were just talking about you.

-Sorry to interrupt. No bother at all.

Um, Bonny...

Didn't I see that guy at the bar the other night?

Ah, yeah, that's Jack Orsatti.

We met him at our first vigil.

He helps organize.

He's been a real Godsend to us.

Giving Shane an outlet for his frustrations.

Well, at least Shane doesn't have to worry

about your girl being a witch, right?

I don't know what we'd do if we wound up with a Tiffany.

Should we?

Can I top you?

Bonnie said Jack pays them to attend the vigils, too.

Stir things up.

So if anybody's a link to a Camarilla higher-up,

it's this guy.

It's amazing what you can learn

when you're laying it on so thick, Amelia.

Meaning?

Revealing that you clocked Orsatti at the bar

was too much.

Amelia is awfully attentive, isn't she?

All I'm saying is just sometimes, subtle is better.

If you have an issue with my method

I'm used to working alone.

That's my issue--

Not anymore.

Right.

Orsatti's leaving.

You want me run him off the road, Justine?

Just drive.

I'm not quite sure what to do with you two.

Tally, as a Merry-Begot, our traditions are new to you.

I'm a quick study.

Admirable.

As for you...

you are something of a delightful mystery.

From a Fixer-heavy line,

but now augmented.

Perhaps, there's opportunity for an Outcross

to bloom after all.

I'm not interested in handfasting...

or men.

But you are still required

to fulfill your obligations.

Your mother did not handfast properly.

I suggest you not follow in her footsteps.

Rae...

My mother was a damn war hero.

And I will make my own arrangements.

-Just like she did. -Rae

Where did that come from?

I have no idea.

Workings allow for combat at a distance.

But we're not just fighting witches anymore.

You need to learn how to defeat your adversaries

without Work.

That means close-up combat

and practical defense.

Take her down, Shellbark

Bellweather, fight him back.

Are you mad at me?

I'm mad because of you.

Come at me, Camarilla.

Nothing personal.

Switch.

M, what the hell?

Did I get you by accident?

It isn't my blood.

The blade's clean, Tally.

You asked to see me?

The sound you made is composed of thousands of layered voices,

one on top of the other.

I've never heard anything so complex before.

Or beautiful.

Well, how can I make so many voices if I only have the one?

The vocal and ventricular folds have changed.

The epiglottis and epiglottal fold--

They're mycelial threads.

The Mycelium has colonized her larynx.

Hol-- Hold on. It-it did what?

Your update mentioned that you are now able

to effortlessly speak Mothertongue, yes?

I'd like you to try singing to Her one more time.

Last time I did, she jumped down my throat.

Please, Raelle.

We need every soldier,

every weapon for what's coming.

You know what they're capable of.

She's big.

In the Tarim, her gift transmuted organic matter.

And now, with control, it broke down inorganic matter.

Do you think you can do it again?

Can't believe you're gonna miss the reception tonight.

Yeah, that's the only good thing about my weapons test.

I don't even really know what I'm doing yet.

You'll be fine. Where's the test?

No idea. Like they'd tell me that.

At least you have something

that sets you apart other than your womb.

Maybe I'll skip, too.

Oh, you can. Remember?

Cadets need to get busy finding men and making babies.

You don't sound particularly rah, rah, rah about it.

Maybe I've decided I want more for myself.

Mmm. Do tell.

Do you ever feel like you're living somebody else's life

instead of your own?

Yeah. That's going around.

OK. Maybe, you two just need to enjoy yourselves

with some pretty boys, and stop worrying

about everything else for the night.

Have a few drinks on me.

Why stop at a few?

This is the fourth school Orsatti's been to today.

It's time we find out why.

Wait. He's seen you.

He's seen you, too.

I can manage.

Besides, you were a base brat.

And I know my way around these places

Just be careful.

You don't trust me?

I don't trust the situation.

We're in this together.

I take it that one was negative?

We might get more positives

as we move into the older groups next month.

Since kids' ears develop as they get older.

Let me know if you get any more hits?

I heard you nearly sent Gregorio to the fixers.

He had it coming.

Hey,

you wanna talk about it?

Not really, no.

I'll just admire the art, then, too.

Jem seems quite formidable.

Yeah, so formidable that we've been standing

in her shadow ever since.

She stopped a battle cold with a Working

that no one had seen before,

and no witch has been able to successfully repeat.

Though, to be fair, it's been under lock and key

since before my grandma's time.

Goddess forbid anyone try to outdo Jem.

Well, there's nothing wrong with revering one's elders,

especially if they've passed.

Being defined by them is something else entirely.

Well, that's kind of the basis of tradition. No one's in it.

Don't you think tradition's gotten you

in enough trouble already?

Your tribe just laid down and died

instead of fighting the Camarilla.

My tribe...

was ambushed and murdered, Abigail.

And you of all people know how the Camarilla operate.

I do.

I do, and the way to fight them

it isn't through observing tradition,

by playing nice and making babies

that'll grow up into soldiers,

or by waiting for the enemy to come close enough

for hand-to-hand.

If Jem made a Working that could stop a battle,

then maybe it's time for another Bellweather

to build a Working.

One that can end the war.

I haven't seen a combat charm like that in a while.

Was it your mother's?

Yes, Ma'am.

She left it for me when she deployed for the last time.

It's a silly superstition, anyway...

But I guess, I'm just nervous.

Nerves can be good.

They keep you on edge.

But you're not heading into battle tonight, Cadet.

With all due respect,

I'm not sure what I'm heading into.

With a bit of luck, the history books.

Where have you been?

And why aren't you in your Blues?

I'm not going.

I just stopped by to wish you good luck.

Abigail, you promised you'd come along

so I wouldn't have to do it alone?

You're gonna do great.

Something important's come up.

-Can I come help? -No.

I have to do this myself.

Tell everyone I said, "hi".

Also, don't tell anyone what I'm doing.

Well, you haven't told me,

so it shouldn't be that hard.

Where are we?

On a part of Base where we don't have to worry

about prying eyes.

Raelle...

We can't have you holding anything back

Has anyone else ever been able to do what I can?

New Work is exceedingly rare.

But what you can do...

I've never seen anything like it.

Good.

No pressure, then.

General, we're ready for you.

He must be making a drop.

I wonder how many schools the Camarilla are running that test in?

I wouldn't be surprised if it's nation-wide.

It seem like it's been going on for a while.

Which explains how they found the lost Bellweathers.

How do they know that tone does what it does?

The Camarilla's been hunting witches for centuries.

If they figured out how to steal our voices,

it's not that much of a larger leap

that they know how our ears work, too.

You will sit here and chat all night

or should I go see what he's doing?

Just wait, it--

Who are you?

Wanna know who we are, Camarilla?

Thanks.

We're in this together, right?

The paragon reception, in all its glory.

-Mm. -You ready?

Well, it's just you, me, and the Imperatrix,

planning our futures.

No pressure.

Don't worry. I got your back.

Let's go find someone worthy of the Craven name.

General Sharma, thank you for joining us.

General Alder.

I have a meeting in Brussels tomorrow with General Amis,

as I'm sure you're aware.

Perhaps you'll have something additional

to discuss with her after this demonstration.

Mr. Vice President,

this is a pleasant surprise.

I was expecting President Wade. No offense.

She wanted to be here but she's come down

with some sort of a nasty bug.

Then I hope you'll have good news to bring back, as well.

You ready, Cadet?

Ready as I can be, right?

Here we go.

My great-grandfather's third cousin

was Lieutenant Perdida Tinning.

Sorry, who?

She was the first witch

to employ the Balkan Composition

in the Battle of the Urals?

We read about her in fourth grade.

She's mentioned in the textbook.

Um, we read different books in NorCal...

They're killing themselves.

You stole my Work.

Sergeant Batan!

It had to be done.

You know that.

They already surrendered.

Your heart is black, Sarah.

Nicte!

What happened?

Alder's memories...

This one--

This one was so much worse than the others.

What was it about?

Death.

A lot of death.

And Alder and that Redacted Soldier.

Her name is Nicte.

They were both in the middle of all of it.

Tell me about your night. Please.

I...

I blew up a shitload of stuff

in front of the Vice President

and brass from The Hague.

Wow.

Sorry...

Um, hey, did--

Did Bells not come home last night?

She had that much fun at the reception, huh?

She didn't come.

Abigail.

Abigail!

What did you do?