Original subtitles

Previously on "the hunting party"...

It's called the pit, home to the most dangerous

and violent criminals in history,

all of whom the world believes are dead.

Or at least it was until the blast hit.

A few weeks ago, Shane gave me an audio file,

asked if I could voice-match it to anyone.

Came back as colonel Lazarus.

And when you told him, what did he say?

I didn't.

Started working at the pit

because I was looking for a prisoner down there...

my biological mother.

Sorry, that voice recording was your mom?

Faith is a funny thing.

Everyone has faith in something, money, success...

Go.

Recognition.

But there comes a time in everyone's life

when we have to ask the question...

What do I believe in?

Faith is a word. Belief is an action.

There was a time, I must admit, when I was faithful,

but I did not believe.

I was hiding from the truth.

And just like every one of you... The truth found me.

We're standing here outside the compound of Noah Cyrus,

the controversial leader

of the infamous cult the thirteenth hour.

As we speak, dozens of federal agents

are preparing to move in.

Now, we've been told that his followers,

many armed, are refusing to surrender.

My friends, we all knew this day would come.

But, brothers and sisters, our souls are ready.

And though our enemies are many,

none of us will ever be alone... Again.

Noah Cyrus, this is your final warning.

Come out with your hands up.

Listen to them!

That's fear in their voice.

Agents of Babylon

trying to control that which is out of their control.

We were meant to be free.

And we will be free.

Don't be afraid, puppy.

Love... Listen to me.

None can stop the victory for those who believe.

This is not the end.

Target down.

- On the floor, now. - Secure the area.

- Hands behind your back. - Turn around!

Thanks.

Are you sure about this?

Shane said that he took a job at the pit

because he found out his biological mom was an inmate.

He had me run voice rec on an audio recording.

It came back as Lazarus.

At the time, I didn't know that he was searching for his mom,

so I held on to it.

And you're sure he doesn't know it's her?

He doesn't know.

I didn't know how to tell him.

Well, maybe he's better off not knowing.

Look, all we have at the moment

are a bunch of questions about colonel Lazarus.

Yeah, like how a serial killer goes to the pit

and then shows up as...

as a colonel in the military with a new name?

Yeah.

Right, like I said, questions.

Until we have some answers, we just sit on this.

No, no. I'm sorry.

Shane deserved to know the truth, ok?

We need to tell him.

W-What are you gonna tell him?

Hey, we found your serial-killer mom,

and she happens to be our boss?

I don't know, but I'll find the right words.

Guys.

All right, what do we got?

Security camera picked this up in a barbershop

outside of Aurora, Illinois.

That guy looks really familiar.

His name is Noah Cyrus.

He was the leader of a Chicago-based doomsday cult

called the thirteenth hour.

He professed that he was a kind of prophet.

He claimed to have knowledge of the end times and preached

a view of government that was rooted in apocalyptic theology.

Meaning the government's responsible

for all the evils in the world.

That's where I remember him.

He was the guy that tried to blow up the courthouse.

- Yeah, that's right... - in fact, he wasn't even

on the FBI's radar until he and his followers

began stockpiling explosives.

This led to an armed standoff at his compound.

Yeah, I remember when this went down.

Something like 15 of his followers

drank some poison tea.

A few survived.

- Where are the survivors now? - There were five.

Two died over the years.

And we've already ordered wellness checks

on the other three in case Cyrus tries to reconnect.

Ok, but there's a difference

between being just a whack-job cult leader

and the serial killers we got in the pit.

- What makes this guy pit-worthy? - This did.

Investigators didn't even know about these bodies

until after the raid.

Each victim had a single gunshot wound

to the back of the head.

Cult leaders like Cyrus demand constant reverence

to feed their egos,

but when their narcissistic supply is threatened,

someone leaves or tries to question their authority,

it triggers a violent outburst

or, in Cyrus's case, a dozen murders.

Where did he go after the barbershop?

We're working on that.

He used cash, which is hard to trace.

It says here the, raid on his compound

was ten years ago today.

- Cult leaders love symbolism. - What time was his death?

7:01 P.M.

Do you think he's planning some kind of anniversary party?

He's been on the loose for two months.

I don't think it's any coincidence

that he's showing up today.

Well, we've got less than six hours

to figure out what he's up to.

Get in the air. We'll send you everything we find.

Same news, different day.

Will you get it?

That's probably Karen returning my pickleball paddle.

Hello, puppy. I have returned.

This is impossible.

I told you it was not the end that day.

Or did you not believe?

C-Cyrus, i-i... I don't understand.

Ours is not to understand in full.

But to trust in faith...

None can stop the victory for those who believe.

What's this?

I can explain.

A-After everything happened... He's a good man.

Hell is full of good men.

You were gone a while.

Is everything all right with Karen?

Honey, what's wrong?

I love you.

I love you.

Right.

I'm really glad you agreed to come, man.

This is gonna be good.

Yeah, we'll see.

Look, I know you don't buy into any of this kind of stuff.

And, hell, I know things have been hard since mom.

But you keep saying how stuck you are.

And if you want things to change,

you got to be the change, right?

Yeah, your guy tell you that?

Well, he told me more than that.

He's gonna blow your mind, brother.

Hey, why won't you tell me his name?

He made me promise.

If there was some guy trying to convince me

that everything I believe is a lie, well, I'd think

he was... At best, crazy.

Or at worst, trying to scam me, no matter how handsome he was.

But if I were being honest with myself,

I'd have to admit...

That I was terrified what he was saying is true.

'Cause that's the thing, isn't it?

The truth scares people.

I know I was scared by it when I first encountered it...

Because the truth is powerful.

We spend our lives believing so many falsehoods,

accepting so many...

Narratives designed to keep us looking down,

to keep us wanting, keep us believing salvation...

Is some... Fancy new lawn mower.

And all it really takes is right here... Right now.

Each of us is perfect.

Each of us is divine... Even you.

You must be Jack's brother, norm.

I told you I'd get him to come.

Welcome.

My name is Noah Cyrus.

Noah Cyrus?

But... Like, you're... you're... you're dead.

That's only half the story.

If you'd like to join us,

I'd be glad to tell you the rest.

Noah Cyrus was a gifted child.

After the death of his parents,

he spent time with his mother's sister.

But there was some neglect.

Apparently, she set extreme limits

on how much time he could spend outside of his bedroom.

She sounds fun.

Like most serials, Cyrus showed signs

of complex psychopathy in his early teens.

And then as a sophomore in high school,

he was arrested for the murder of his science teacher.

Arrested but not convicted.

Right, because before the trial,

he was diagnosed with schizophrenia...

a diagnosis that was obviously later called into question.

That's got to be hard to fake,

- especially for a 15-year-old. - He was a clever child.

He actually only spent three years in a youth psych ward,

which is where he got his crash course

in manipulating emotionally vulnerable people.

Right. So rather than rehabilitating him,

they taught him how to use others to get what he wanted.

Awesome.

I'm almost afraid to ask,

but what do we have for pit treatment for this guy?

These are our last recorded therapy sessions

from over four years ago.

And how would you define moral truth, doctor,

if not for the presence of a higher power?

Without that, what's left is chaos... And chance.

You and me, sitting across this table, this discussion...

let me ask you, does this feel like random chance to you?

So everything is preordained?

- What will be will be. - You have but to play a part.

- And those you killed? - What part did they play?

Wheat from the chaff.

You see, you're listening, but you're not hearing.

These walls, this prison are but a stop along the way,

a pebble in my shoe.

You are the one in bondage, doctor.

And until you acknowledge the truth that is before you,

in bondage you will remain.

I'd like to go to my room now.

Give you...

Some time to reflect upon what you've learned here today.

Dude, even in prison,

this guy acts like he owns the place.

So I'm not seeing any treatment protocol,

not even a number for the cell he was kept in.

What were they doing to him all those years in the pit?

Whatever it was, they were careful with it.

You see this many black bars?

Means you're definitely doing something you shouldn't be.

Hey, guys?

Ben traced the cash Cyrus used at the barbershop.

Serial numbers on the bills

show they were withdrawn yesterday

from an atm account belonging to Tyler meeks,

a construction manager from Elgin.

So Cyrus robbed this guy?

No. He wasn't a petty thief, he was a manipulator.

It's more likely he got Tyler to actually give him the money.

If Cyrus has a new follower, we better be ready.

FBI! Freeze!

Got him!

Down.

Down!

Hands! Let's see your hands!

You good?

Good. You good?

Freeze! Don't move!

I just want to know where Cyrus is, Tyler.

Don't do it.

The throat of the deceitful one is an open grave!

I don't know why you didn't listen to me there, buddy.

Tyler's down... through-and-through to the bicep.

That didn't feel good, did it?

Nope.

My name is special agent Rebecca Henderson.

- You shot me. - I did, I did.

I think you might live, though.

Where's Cyrus?

In the thirteenth hour, there will be no more lies,

only salvation.

Hey, Tyler.

Cyrus doesn't care about you, ok?

I know you think he does, but he doesn't.

In the end, he's only looking out for himself,

and that is why you are tied up in here and he is out there.

Where is he?

Help me help you.

You don't give a rat's ass about me, special agent.

You just want to stop what's coming.

All right, what's happening in two hours?

You will see.

Tyler, you don't want to hurt innocent people.

Tell me where he is.

He is in here.

He's with me.

And that is why I will be saved and I will enter the kingdom

and you shall burn.

- Ok. - Bex.

There's something downstairs you need to see.

- I'll take care of our friend. - Thank you.

None can stop the victory for those who believe.

Wrong audience, pal. Come on.

Hey. Find anything out from our guy?

Whatever Cyrus is doing,

Tyler is not talking about him like he is a prophet.

He is talking about him like he's a savior.

Well, he technically did come back from the dead.

This kind of indoctrination, I have seen it in cults,

but it takes years.

How is Cyrus converting them so fast?

I don't know how he's doing it,

but I think I know what he and his converts

are planning for their little anniversary party.

- What'd you find? - Come here.

He made a bomb.

Yeah, bigger problem is... It's not here.

People have asked me what it was like to die.

Did I see a tunnel, hear voices?

Did my whole life flash before my eyes?

I saw nothing... Because there was nothing.

I was alone in the void.

Yet, I was overcome by the most miraculous feeling...

Relief.

Existence was an illusion.

Death was no more.

And I Rose out of the gates of hell to see myself as I am.

I am the truth in its most miraculous human form.

And all of you are here to bear witness...

To the beginning of a new era.

But first... We must cleanse the old.

Are you ready, brother?

Cyrus?

On the other side, you will be pure.

Tyler's construction company, mesa construction,

has a license that allows him to buy

and ship demolition explosives.

Found it.

Seven weeks ago,

mesa construction received 200 pounds of ammonium nitrate,

the same stuff that caused the explosion in Beirut

a few years ago.

He can level a whole city block with that.

Wait, that's not all. Look at this.

Another purchase order from the same day.

Building materials?

Couple tons of plywood, some saws, wood glue, paint.

You don't make a bomb with plywood.

What's he building?

For now, I'll settle for where he's building it.

The order was delivered to a vacant warehouse

- in downtown Elgin. - Nice work.

Let's get that to the team.

Go.

Hassani.

What is this?

- This is a white room. - Yeah, we can see that.

You've seen this before.

- These are highly illegal... - human-rights violations.

Iran used them in the early 2000s

to torture journalists and enemy operatives.

"Torture"?

Total sensory deprivation.

Holding people in these rooms

causes panic attacks, hallucinations.

Some people break out into sores

from the sheer stress.

These rooms are designed to psychologically break people.

Break 'em... Or brainwash 'em?

Yeah, this is how Cyrus did it...

how he converted people so fast.

How did Cyrus know about this?

The pit.

Cyrus didn't have a numbered cell.

A room like this was his cell.

They made him live in this for years?

I mean, I've been in here two minutes, I'm losing my mind.

Yeah, me too.

Hey, morales, I need you to run a search

on the white room in the pit file,

see if anything comes back.

You got it.

And, fyi, we just got word.

Cyrus's three original followers

- are all currently Mia. - Copy that.

We need to get a warning out

to every federal building in the state.

Ben, get dhs on the phone right now.

No specifics... just let them know that we have

- credible intel, yeah? - On it.

- I'll call the governor. - Bex, I got something.

There's a reference to a covert study

in which a patient was held in a constant state

of sensory deprivation.

Subject experiencing delusions of divinity.

New efforts will focus on using rogerian therapy

to test the limits of human grandiosity.

- Boy. - What's rogerian therapy?

Rogerian therapy is a patient-centered treatment

that focuses on unconditional positive reinforcement,

so whatever the patient thinks, therapist reaffirms.

What if the patient's already experiencing

- delusions of divinity? - Yep.

Then the therapist says, yep, you got it, you are right.

I'm sending you the video now.

The white room taught me the only real thing

is the singleness of my being.

- This moment, right now... - Florence.

The white room is the real world.

The prison is the monopoly game

they make us play outside of it.

I was sent to this earth to spread this message.

Noah, we agree.

We think you're making tremendous progress.

I did not die at the compound because I cannot die.

Correct.

I could not know the name of my divine leader

because it was my own name.

Correct. Say his name.

Me, Noah Cyrus.

What is your gospel, divine leader?

End times, hellfire,

eternal judgment on all who do not worship me.

Correct.

I will save all that I can.

Correct.

Noah be praised.

This is deranged.

This is a new low, even for the pit.

Ok, so Cyrus goes from being a con man

to thinking he's a prophet of some end-times deity,

gets shot, spends a decade in the pit,

and then he thinks he is that deity?

So where does a deity focused on armageddon

go to detonate a bomb?

Somewhere that he can send his message,

somewhere symbolic.

We have to find Cyrus and the bomb before 7:01.

If he thinks he's a god...

This bomb will be his hellfire.

Ok, we got less than one hour before Cyrus reveals himself

to the world as some savior risen from the dead,

and he is going to use that bomb to show his power.

All thanks to the pit.

The coffee's still hot.

They got out of here in a hurry.

I'm not sure that's a coincidence.

Hey, guys, we got a visual.

Ben tracked down a cctv image

of Cyrus driving a box truck south on route 25.

Copy that. We're on the move.

Hey, guys. Comms out.

Hey, comms go out on you?

Hey, can you retrace the box truck's route

from the warehouse, see what time Cyrus left?

Already on it.

By my calculations,

the truck was out of there at 5:53 P.M.

5:53?

Go somewhere private right now.

Bex, what's wrong?

Cyrus left the warehouse at the exact same time

we left Tyler's place heading to the warehouse.

You think that Cyrus was warned?

Either he is super lucky,

or Cyrus has a mole on our team.

Look, you got to keep everyone out of this

until you're sure that you can trust them, ok?

Copy that.

Hello, norm.

Are you... Are you real?

As the day you were born.

Who am I?

You're Cyrus.

That's my name.

Who am I?

You... You are the truth.

It wasn't by chance we found each other, you know, norm.

- Yeah, my brother... - was the vessel.

We each have our part to play.

Are you ready for yours?

Cyrus's box truck just pinged at a traffic camera

in downtown Aurora.

Aurora? So, what, after all this, nothing's changed?

He's still planning on blowing up a courthouse?

No, it's all part of a bigger picture.

We just don't see it yet.

Let us know if you find anything else.

Hey, do you know where morales is?

Last I saw, she stepped out on a phone call.

What's up?

Nothing. Carry on.

Ben, you have a sec?

Hey. Peck was looking for you.

What's going on?

Cyrus might have an inside man at the command center.

You're serious?

You've seen how quickly he can convert people.

I did your background check myself,

but there are a lot of people here I'm not as familiar with.

You want me to look into someone?

Everyone... go to the server room,

comb through the personnel files

of every new hire since the team was reassembled.

Major, you got to see this.

A local TV station just used

the emergency broadcast system to go live with this.

My name is puppy Perkins.

- Who's seeing this? - The whole state.

In eight minutes, at 7:01,

humanity will celebrate the tenth anniversary

of the thirteenth hour massacre.

Guys, we got a problem.

Morales, you need to shut that broadcast down now.

I'm trying, but the emergency system

was designed not to be shut down.

I can intercept it if I can access the pep station.

How long is that gonna take?

- Ten minutes. - No, that's too long.

It's almost 7:00.

Two blocks away.

We need to go in hot.

Hey, we need you out here.

- Sure. - Just taking care of something.

You're not supposed to be in here.

Why did morales want to talk to you in private?

What do you mean?

Don't move.

I am here tonight to tell you

that the story of the thirteenth hour is not over.

This evening it begins anew.

On these very airwaves,

you were told a lie about that day.

And on these very airwaves,

the truth shall be our victory.

Mama, papa, baby, mama, papa, baby.

The truth is eternal, and the truth has a name.

Noah Cyrus lives.

Something has been off all day.

Cyrus has been ahead of us every step of the way

from the beginning, and now I know why.

You think I'm the mole?

Since when do you carry a gun?

Gun!

- Cover me! - No, wait, bex!

Moving forward. Cover me.

Go.

Put the gun down! Put it down!

Kick it to me. Kick it to me.

Get on the ground. Get on the ground.

The story of that day has been told

only by those who sought to silence the divine word

of our glorious leader,

to end the story of the thirteenth hour

before it could truly begin.

But I was there to witness those fateful moments.

Shh.

He has returned from the very gates of hell,

guarded not by demons or shadows but by men...

doctors, soldiers in league with...

hands in the air, now.

Look at this.

A black budget secret government agent, no doubt.

Say hello.

Turn that off.

Don't you think it would be bad form to kill me

with all our loyal viewers watching?

Step away from the camera.

You move, I shoot.

Tell me, agent,

don't you want to introduce yourself?

That's not a request.

Come on, come on.

Damn it.

The power... someone give me a copy of the power grid!

Drop your weapon, now.

Or what, you'll shoot me?

That didn't turn out so good the last time, did it?

I must be quite a threat.

Bex, power's going out.

You're gonna have about five seconds

before the backup grid kicks in.

Or could it be because I know something

your government wouldn't like the public to find out?

And now.

You bitch. You shot me.

Don't move.

Bex, we intercepted the broadcast.

Come on, guys, talk to me.

Tell me you found that bomb.

Shane's checking the truck right now.

It's a body.

Where's the bomb?

Missing something, are we?

Where's the bomb?

Where's the bomb?

Guy's name is Jack Davis.

Jack Davis?

Jack Davis.

I am the truth, sent to awaken the sleeping.

My hellfire will rouse the senseless masses

and together, we shall reclaim our destiny

and defeat our government oppressors.

Morales.

Morales, the bomb... the bomb is in the command center!

Davis.

Tell agent Anderson to release Cyrus

and unblock the broadcast, or I'll kill us all.

Hey! Hey! Put it down.

- Let her go, norm! - Back off.

Back off.

If I let go of this button, this whole building comes down.

Hey, bro... Where you going?

Cyrus is sending me back to work.

"Back to work"? For those puppets?

It's not our place to question him, Jack.

You were right, though.

Cyrus has changed everything.

Thank you.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. What's going on?

What are you making my brother do?

I can't make anybody do anything, Jack.

Your brother has a strong faith,

just as you said he would.

That's why you were so eager to meet him.

We all have a part to play.

We should celebrate his sacrifice.

No way.

I'm not letting norm do that.

Jack, wait.

Jack, I know you love your brother.

Do something with him.

Don't let any of the others see.

You think so small.

This is just the fun part, the show.

My message will still be delivered.

Hey!

Stop moving.

Don't you know what happens if you shoot me?

Easy, everyone. Lower your weapons.

Where's the bomb, norm?

You think I'm stupid?

You'll never find it in time.

Hey, do you all want to die?

The broadcast, now!

I'll do it. I'll... I'll do it.

Major morales.

He's right.

The truth is the only thing that can save us.

Cyrus is all about the truth, right?

Yeah, Cyrus is the truth.

If Cyrus is the truth,

did he tell you why he killed your brother?

I don't... I don't believe you.

It's true.

I'm so sorry, norm. Cyrus killed your brother.

I-I wish that you could hear it from him yourself.

You're lying.

You say you want to be a Messiah,

yet you kill someone in cold blood.

Listen.

We found Jack Davis's body in the back of your truck.

Why?

You sent his brother on a death mission.

- Why kill Jack? - Because it's my right.

The Shepherd calls his own flock.

I killed Jack 'cause I wanted to.

My faith gives me that power.

You have no idea what's still coming.

No.

Bex... We got him. It's over.

My power will be displayed in a demonstration...

save it. We got your buddy, norm.

No one's blowing anything up today.

If ever there was a day?

I... I just got off the phone with my people.

And police are reporting that an offshoot

of the thirteenth hour took control

of a local Aurora TV station.

But no one believes puppy was telling the truth.

They're just chalking it up to the Internet crazies.

Except this time, they wouldn't be wrong.

Listen...

I respect that you have to make your own decision

about whether to tell Shane about colonel Lazarus or not.

I'm going to.

Just ask yourself one question.

Will Shane be happier knowing the truth?

Hey.

Bomb tech found the device in the bed of norm's truck

parked against the building.

Wow, he really would have blown us all sky-high.

Yeah, but he didn't.

Thanks to you, Jen.

I didn't serve, and I haven't been in the field.

That was the first time I've ever drawn my weapon.

You were... Impressive.

Thank you, sir.

My name's Jon, by the way.

Jonathan Mitchell peck... I read your file.

Right.

You're an intelligence officer.

I've read yours, too.

You should add crisis negotiator to your cv.

Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow.

Ok, I think I put my neck out.

Yeah, I told you, you got to stop sleeping

on the plane like that.

You're like a narcoleptic gum by.

Look, I do not maintain this youthful glow

by missing my beauty sleep, all right?

"Youthful glow"? Is that what we're calling it?

The sweat on your face?

I think I might have to start bringing my eye mask.

My gosh.

- Hey, cheers. - Cheers.

Boy, today was a wild one?

That guy was like Sunday school on acid.

Do you know my dad was a pastor?

You told me he was a sheriff.

He was a pastor.

He... he went to seminary school right after college,

even led a church back home.

And then one day,

he tells my mom that the congregation he's leading

doesn't need him as much as people outside.

So he decided to go into law enforcement

'cause he thought he would make a bigger impact.

So, what, you think...

you think any of his faith rubbed off on you?

Yeah. Yeah, I think so.

You know, you never really talk about your parents.

Pot calling the kettle.

Yep, that's fair.

Look, I've been...

I've been thinking about what you said

about finding your biological mom.

I've been thinking a lot about that.

And I should never have kept that from you or the team.

I'm gonna tell hassani. I'm gonna tell morales.

And...

I want you to know, after that, I am done looking for her.

You don't want to find your mom?

I've always had this unknowable part in me, right,

that I thought I could only understand

if I knew where I came from, who I came from.

But...

Now I'm starting to think that maybe who you are

is what you do in the world, and I get to decide that.

I get to define me, not her.

I think I'm good with that.

Fair enough.

What?

I'm picturing you shopping for eye masks at sephora.

You think sephora?

Who am I, a rockefeller?