Original subtitles

Don't you ever forget.

You locked me in here!

I'm not gonna make the world the way you want it to be!

Shit on a stick. Let's get out of here!

Go! Go! Go!

We have a... great future behind us.

It feels like the dawning of a new day to me.

Man: Come on. Let's go. Hurry up.

Who the hell are you?

You the ones who've been stripping the dead?

Let's go.

Hey, stop!

What is this? Where am I?

♪

♪

What the hell is going on?

Where are you taking me?

♪

Hey! Open the gate!

Get back here!

♪

You're making a big mistake!

♪

Magnificent, isn't it?

Belonged to George Hockley,

friend to Sam Houston, commander of the Twin Sisters.

The sword dates back to the War of 1812.

I don't want any trouble.

♪

Turn around.

♪

Slowly.

♪

♪

Who the hell are you?

My name is Victor Strand.

♪

And, uh, who might you be?

♪

♪

Is this some kind of trick?

You've been bathed, given a meal and a drink.

What trick?

What's in this for you?

A few questions.

That's it?

That's it.

What's your name?

Will.

What did you do before, Will?

Before the dead started walking,

or before someone decided to blow it up?

Both.

I was a senator's aide.

Something close to it.

Which senator?

Elias Vazquez.

A Democrat.

What did you do for him, Will?

PR.

Campaign strategy.

Where did you come from?

Originally Oklahoma.

Most recently, we were at a settlement

that protected us from the blast.

Who's "us"?

Me, Senator Vazquez, um, a few other aides.

Why aren't you there with them now?

Things went bad.

I wound up on the outside.

And Senator Vazquez?

He didn't make it.

How long have you been out there?

50 days.

Give or take.

What have you seen?

Who have you seen?

Not much.

Not many.

My scouts said you mentioned people stripping the dead.

Stalkers.

Least, that's what I call them.

Couple of times I caught sight of them,

they were sneaking up on the dead.

Why are they doing that?

I haven't figured that part out yet.

Who are they?

There's no faces out there anymore.

It's just masks.

When was the last time you were outside?

Why should I leave,

when I have everything I need right here?

Come.

Let me show you.

Nice putt, Toby.

Right this way.

Where did all this come from?

Department stores, homes, museums.

My rangers scoured the landscape for anything of value.

Anything worth preserving is here.

And them?

They with you before?

We brought them in.

Just like you.

You let them stay.

If they're of value.

What does that mean?

He's the one asking the questions.

♪

And over here?

Photos of every walker my rangers encounter.

Even the ones no longer walking.

You looking for someone in particular?

Some of my denizens still have loved ones out in the world.

I believe in giving them closure.

I meant you.

Anyone you're hoping to find?

♪

I have everything I need right here.

♪

Everything you see, everything we've cultivated,

came together after the great destruction.

The world saw fire, ash, devastation.

We were gifted with growth,

vitality, a new dawn.

This place was empty when I first arrived.

Ha.

Well, except for Howard.

We looked out on the horizon together

and watched as the world was destroyed before our eyes.

We thought it was the end.

But when the dust settled, we were still standing.

As well as this place.

The weather patterns took the fallout away from us.

This tower is the only inhabitable place for miles,

but I don't have to tell you that.

What we're doing is nothing less

than laying the foundations of a new civilization.

We're making history.

You did all of this since the bombs went off?

How?

Same way I ended up here.

My instincts.

You sound pretty sure of yourself.

If you'd seen your instincts bear out

the way I have, you would, too.

Which is why I'm gonna have to bid you adieu.

Can someone please bring his belongings up to the roof?

He's gonna be leaving us soon.Wait. You're -- You're kicking me out?

Bring up his things. I'm afraid so.

I answered all your questions. You did.

You're just not quite what I'm looking for.

Oh, because I didn't give you the answers you wanted?

Nothing personal, Will.

Just an instinct.

Take care.

Good luck out there.

Please.

Don't do this.

I-I-I won't make it out there.

I'm sorry.

I'm not sorry.

If you didn't want me to stay,

why would you give me the tour?

I mean, why go to all the trouble?

I had to see if you shared my vision.

You don't.

Oh.

Fresh.

I, uh...

found this out there.

Once read, it's --

it's meant to help people carry heavy burdens.

I think you're gonna need this more than I do.

Alright, come on. Let's go.

♪

Stop.

Where'd you find this?

I told you.

Out there. Where?

I'm gonna ask you one more time.

I found it on one of the dead.

Don't lie. I'm not.

I thought it might bring me good luck.

So much for that.

Could you take me there? To where you found it?

I don't know. Maybe.

I'm gonna make you a deal, Will.

Take me to where you found this,

help me find the owner of this necklace, and I'll --

I'll spare you the horrors of a life out there

and let you move in to our humble abode.

Do we have a deal?

♪

Good. Get me my sword.

♪

Levels are low here.

We can take the masks off.

You don't have to worry

about the ones that were killed by the blast.

It's the ones that died from radiation are dangerous.

This isn't my first rodeo.

Thought you said you hadn't been out in this nightmare before.

Not this one.

How much further?

It's about a mile or so.

I can see why you were resistant to coming back out here.

It ain't exactly spaghetti and scotch.

This settlement where you came from --

why not try to return?

Your tower's not the only place I'm not welcome.

Why not?

Let's just say my exit wasn't by choice.

I've been trying to find a way

to make it up to those people ever since.

Success is the best revenge, Will.

Come again?

Don't spend a moment trying to make things right.

Focus on showing them that they were wrong.

Why would I want to do that?

Because that's how you win.

If you procure a place at the tower,

you'll see that you don't need

to remember anyone from your past.

History is written by the victors.

I'm gonna ensure that's us.

Now, where exactly did you find this medallion?

We need to mask up!

Take cover! Now!

The water pulls contaminates out of the air.

Back to the tower! No!

It's too far! We won't make it!

What do you suggest, then?

Follow me!

♪

♪

It should be safe enough under here.

♪

♪

What is this place?

The last 50 days? Home.

Cozy.

Hey! Stop!

That's mine.

Yo, Vic!

The handiwork of those people you were telling me about?

Stalkers.

What are we really doing out here?

I'm sorry?

Whoever that medallion belongs to,

you must know them, right?

What difference does it make?

Just funny.

I don't quite see the humor.

You said you had everything you needed in your tower.

I do.

How come you're out here looking for her?

I never told you I was looking for a woman.

♪

Gentlemen, gentlemen,

I believe that we have been lured here

under false pretenses.

I suggest you start talking.

Where is she?

Who? Alicia.

Answer me.

Stalkers!

♪

They clipped my leg!

♪

♪

We need to get out of here.

Not until you answer my question.

I already did. The truth!

Where is Alicia?

I told you, I don't know.

Where's Alicia?

I don't know who that is!

The Franklin -- that's where Teddy took her.

I was right the first time. I don't need you.

I'll make the journey myself.

Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

She'll never forgive you if you do this.

What makes you think that's what I want?

Because I know who you are, Victor. She told me.

And I think you want to make things right with her. Nice try. But no.

Then why did you risk all of this just to find her?

I want to show her how wrong she was --

about everything.

That's how I win.

Wait. Wait. Wait.

♪

Victor!

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

Ah.

♪

Bingo.

♪

Hold it!

How'd you find me?

There's only so many places to hole up around here.

I know.

Now, how about you start answering some of my questions?

Alright. Sit!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

You tried to kill me twice today.

You left the comforts of your humble abode.

You sacrificed every single one of your guards,

all so you could find Alicia

and tell her how great you are?

I don't know. I just don't buy it, Victor.

You knew who I was the minute you saw me,

and yet, you lied anyway.

You're damn right I did.Why?

Because Alicia said you weren't exactly trustworthy.

Ah. So, you were biding your time.

No. I was testing you.

For what?

To see if you were worth saving.

Ah.

What makes you think showing her that tower's

gonna change her opinion of you?

That tower succeeds because of me.

Okay. My choices. My instincts.

Succeeds?

All those people you got living there --

you think they actually give a damn about you?

They're just afraid of what you might do

if they step out of line.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

It's not leadership.

You think you're an authority on the subject

because you worked for a Senator?

I learned about it from him.

I learned more about it from her.

Alicia -- she didn't wanna be in that bunker.

She was locked up by that psycho who dropped the bombs on us.

She was locked up with his followers,

and she could have become a cynical asshole like you,

but no.

And you know why?

Because she knew what Vazquez knew.

You cannot lead alone.

If you want people to believe in you,

you have to believe in them.

You think she's so wonderful,

why aren't you there with her?

Still got the medallion?

Truth is, I needed this just as much as you.

She asked me to do something,

and I couldn't do it.

What did she ask you to do?

It doesn't matter.

Why didn't you do it?

It would have protected everyone there,

except for her.

It must have been pretty bad if she cast you out.

I've been looking for a way back every day since.

I didn't think I'd find it.

Then I woke up in your tower.

I thought, maybe --

maybe if I brought you to her,

maybe that would do it.

But after what I've seen today,

I doubt she would even recognize you.

♪

No.

I don't think she would.

♪

I don't know if she told you, but...

I was the one that gave that to her.

She did.

I knew it would get your attention.

I gave it to her

so she could remember who she was

because I feared

I wouldn't be able to do the same for myself.

♪

Hmm.

I guess we both held up our end of the bargain.

♪

May I?

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

That's three times now, Victor.

What are you doing?

I thought if I took you there,

it might have brought us together,

but she's better off without you.

Everyone is.

♪

♪

♪

Will.

Get inside.

♪

What the hell was that?

I know them.

From the bunker.

Something bad must've happened.

♪

Alicia.

That's not possible.

We were underground.

We had enough food to last 10 years.

Air and water was filtered.

That place was built to outlast all of us.

Did you see her? Was she --

No, no, no.

But I-I didn't see all of them.

Well, then, let's find out.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

You can't see more than two feet in front of you.

But I think I can help.

That's never gonna work.

The odds that diesel even burns are one in a million.

That's better than we'd do out there.

♪

♪

Go!

♪

♪

That's it!

Follow the light!

♪

♪

Shit.

♪

Will?

♪

Come on!

Victor!

♪

Victor!

♪

♪

Victor!

♪

♪

♪

Get down!

♪

♪

♪

Was she...?

♪

I didn't see her.

We need to get to the hotel.

Wait. Why did you save me?

You could have just walked away, but you stayed.

You still care about her.

You don't run into the fog like that

because you want to prove a point to someone.

You do it 'cause you want to save them.

Then let's go do that.

♪

♪

So, this is the fabled Franklin?

Yeah. What's left of it.

♪

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♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

It's a ghost town.

Whatever happened happened a while ago.

How many people lived here?

128.

It was me, Senator Vazquez, a few other staff

before Teddy's scouts found the place.

What happened to them?

Scouts killed everyone while I was doing maintenance

in the air filter.

I stayed up in the service corridors

until we all got locked in here.

Hmm.

Alicia!

♪

This wasn't Stalkers.

Nothing was taken.

I don't think they were attacked.

Then what the hell happened?

This wasn't here before.

She paint it?

♪

♪

Yeah.

I think she did.

♪

What is Padre?

It doesn't matter.

Why not?

Because it's probably gonna get her killed.

Is it a person? Place?

I don't know. I don't know.

Nobody knows.

It might not even exist.

"It"?

Something better.

At least the possibility of it.

I thought maybe if I found it first,

she wouldn't have to, but...

If anything happens to them...

to her... that's on me.

You don't know that.

I should have been here.

I should have found a way to make things up to her.

You loved her.

Doesn't matter.

It's all for nothing anyway.

It wasn't all for nothing.

You were right.

This wasn't about proving something to her.

It was about proving something to myself.

What?

That I didn't need her.

But I do.

As do you.

Maybe that's the point of all of this.

Maybe we're supposed to find her.

Together.

♪

Hmm.

♪

Or perhaps she'll find us.

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

How far will it reach?

15 miles, maybe.

It appears our flame has already drawn a few moths.

She'll see it.

She'll follow it.

She'll find this place.

Alicia is the closest thing I have left to family, Will.

You're not the only one who loves her.

I never had the chance to tell her,

but I-I would've.

If we found her.

And perhaps she would have, uh,

reminded me of the man I once tried to be.

She still can.

She can help you be him.

I never should have left this place.

It almost got me killed.

I had a feeling that it would, but I...

I didn't trust my instincts.

I can't let that happen again.

It could destroy everything I've built here.

That's not true.

Hey.

You will make this place even better.

You both will.

Together.

You said you can't lead alone.

You're wrong.

It's the only way.

That's not true. It is.

I've watched as others tried to build a place like this,

and each of them came close,

but they all fell short for the same reason.

What?

Love.

Attachments don't make you strong, Will.

They destroy you.

That light's not to draw Alicia here?

No.

It's to keep her and everyone else

as far away as possible.

It won't work.

She'll find this place.

She'll get through to you.

Aah!

No, she won't!

She won't have anything to do with me after this.

You want me to send somebody down

to get a picture for the wall?

No one in here's looking for him.

Someone out there might be.

That's gonna draw more than the dead.

Maybe even some of those people you were with before.

People like Morgan Jones.

I'm not worried about him.

♪

Or anyone else.

Why not?

Anyone who tries to get to me...

♪

...is gonna have to get through them.

♪

♪

We can build something someplace else

that would actually last.

♪

Take another step, I'll shoot.

Morgan! Ah!

Mommy's here. Mommy's here.

You know why I have to do this!

You can take everything from me!

♪

♪

The end of Season 6,

the world changed in a drastic way,

with the detonation of the warheads

that Teddy launched from the sub.

It completely ravaged the landscape

and redefined the apocalypse as we know it.

We knew that things were going to be different,

but we wanted to come into the season

showing just how dire and scary this landscape was,

as a result of those bombs.

We wanted to see that firsthand

through a new character's point of view,

someone who the audience could experience this new world with,

and that's the character of Will.

And the opening, really, is all about establishing

just how punishing the environment is out there.

It's not just about walkers.

It's about all the things that our characters

would've taken for granted prior to the detonations --

shelter that safe from the radioactive fallout,

water that's clean to drink, food that's safe to eat.

Even the Walkers take on new danger

because you don't know if they're contaminated

or they're not.

On the other hand, we also see

how someone who is lucky enough

to be in an area that the fallout missed,

like Strand,

could create a world to live in

that is actually pretty good, when you compare it

to the way things are out there.

We knew that a new Victor Strand was going to emerge

out of the ashes of the nuclear apocalypse.

This was a man who was no longer apologizing

for the things he'd done.

This was a self-possessed,

reinvented Victor Strand

and we see that, in the months in between that episode

and Season 6 and where we find him now,

that reinvention has continued.

He is sporting a whole new wardrobe,

this historic-looking tunic that he's wearing.

He has a sword that he carries,

that goes back to 19th-century Texas history.

I think it speaks to how Strand feels about himself,

how he is really the king of the castle, here.

As we learn in this episode,

he's actually finding that to not quite be enough.

He actually needs something more

and, ultimately, we find out what he needs

is Alicia.

But I think, in terms of kind of bragging

about everything he's built,

getting great pleasure in showing Will around,

it's trying to fill that hole that he has kind of in himself,

that he's not getting from any of the people around him.

And then, ultimately, that ends up

kind of being hollow to him

and that's what sends him out

on the journey he takes with Will.

Alicia and Strand have a long and complex history

and, through everything they've been through,

there's a deep amount of emotion and care for each other

that underlies all of it.

Now, saying that,

Strand and Alicia did not end in a particularly good place

at the end of Season 6.

Hello?

Alicia?

Victor?

Yes, it's Victor.

Are you okay?

Can I trust you?

Of course. What's wrong?

You need to get to Morgan.

Tell him I know where the keys are,

what they're for. He needs to find

a beached submarine near Galveston.

♪

Ultimately, Strand did not prove trustworthy

and he was not able to stop it

and there's been no communication

between them since.

So, there's an unresolved part of Strand

that is still harboring some guilt for that.

And there's also a part of him --

and this is the surface level -- where he says, you know,

he wants to find Alicia, to prove to her

that he was right about everything.

He has done something that no one else has done.

Creating a settlement where everyone could be safe

is something that Morgan attempted to do in Season 6

when he set up the community behind the dam wall

and, ultimately, it failed.

You know, and if you look around the landscape,

it failed in a really big way because Teddy detonated

those warheads, kind of destroyed everything .

So the fact that Strand is able to do, at least in his mind,

what Morgan wasn't able to do, in many ways,

is proof that he is the person who should be in charge,

who should've always been in charge.

And, ultimately, it's really about proving to Alicia,

way back when, at the beginning of Season 6,

when he said he had to kind of push her away

so he could do the things he needed to do,

it's his way of saying, "I was right to do that."

The only difference is, now, Alicia's nowhere to be found,

so he has no one he can actually say that to.

Or, at least, he doesn't have the one person

he wants to be able to say that to.

I was the one who gave that to her,

so she could remember who she was.

Because I figured I wouldn't be able

to do the same for myself.

Victor has some interesting and, in some ways,

misguided ideas of what makes a good leader.

He talks about it with Will.

That tower succeeds because of me.

Okay. My choices.

My instincts. "Succeeds"?

Will really doesn't subscribe

to the way Strand is doing things

and, ultimately, that all comes down

to the things that Alicia must have told him about Strand.

From Strand's point of view,

I think he's wondering what it is that Alicia told him

because I think, in many ways, that will signal

how Alicia feels about him when he finally does meet her.

And, when he thinks that Alicia might be in danger,

when all the walkers show up at the lighthouse, you know,

he steps out into the fog to fight the walkers.

He risks his own life

and that's ultimately the thing that makes him realize

just how much he actually cares about Alicia

and just how much her validation means to him.

Ultimately, that's why he makes the decision

not to bring Alicia to the tower

and, in fact, to do something,

to take this terrible action, of killing Will,

that will ensure that Alicia wants nothing to do with him.

And that's sort of Strand's Darth Vader moment,

where he chooses to cut off

this connection in his heart for the sake of his power

and for the sake of protecting what he's built.

Aah! Aah!

Aah aah aah!

♪

It's a pretty dark turn

for Strand to take at the end of the episode

and, yes, he's kind of become what he always wanted to be,

but he's really left on the roof of that tower,

I think, wondering just what it cost him.

It may, in fact, have cost him the person he cared about most

and, you know, as we see him standing up there,

kind of having all the dead walkers come towards the tower,

it's kind of a metaphor for, you know, who he is --

someone who's driven all the living people away from him

and is now just kind of surrounded

by death and destruction.

Anyone who tries to get to me

is going to have to get through them.

♪

♪

♪

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