Original subtitles

Carl: I remember my 8th birthday

at the KCC

with that giant cake

and Aunt Evie showing up

on leave, surprising all of us.

I remember Mom.

I remember Codger.

I remember school

and going to the movies

and Friday-night pizza

and cartoons

and Grandma and Grandpa

and church,

those summer barbecues

in the kiddie pool you got me.

Could've used that

at the prison.

You told me about the walks

we'd take when I was three,

you holding my hand,

around the neighborhood,

all the way to Ross' farm.

I didn't know that

I remembered them, but I do.

'Cause I see the sun

and the corn

and that cow

that walked up to the fence

and looked me in the eye.

And you told me about

all that stuff,

but it isn't just that stuff.

It's how I felt.

Holding your hand,

I felt happy and special.

I felt safe.

I thought growing up

was about getting a job

and maybe a family,

being an adult,

but growing up

is making yourself

and the people you love safe--

as safe as you can,

because things happen.

They happened before.

You were shot

before things went bad.

Kind of felt like things

went bad because you were shot.

I want to make you feel safe,

Dad.

I want you to feel just like

I felt when you held my hand.

Just to feel that way

for five minutes.

I'd give anything

to make you feel that way now.

I wanted to kill Negan.

I wish I did.

Maybe it would've been done.

I don't think it's done now.

You went out there again,

but I don't think

they surrendered.

I don't think

they will surrender.

Maybe they'll get out somehow.

But if they don't...

There are workers in there, Dad.

They're just regular people--

old people,

young people, families.

You don't want them to die,

Dad.

We're so close

to starting everything over,

and we have friends now.

It's that bigger world

Jesus talked about--

the Kingdom, the Hilltop--

there's-- there's got to be

more places,

more people out there,

a chance for everything

to change and keep changing,

people's lives getting better,

the bigger world

getting better and better,

growing food for each other,

protecting each other,

keeping everyone healthy,

everyone giving everyone

the opportunity to have a life--

a real life.

So if they won't end it,

you have to.

You have to give them

a way out.

You have to find peace

with Negan,

find a way forward somehow.

We don't have to forget

what happened,

but you can make it so that

it won't happen again,

that nobody has to live

this way,

that every life

is worth something.

Start everything over.

Show everyone that they can

be safe again without killing,

that it can feel safe again,

that it could go back

to being birthdays

and school and jobs and even

Friday-night pizza somehow.

And walks with a dad

and a three-year-old holding hands.

Make that come back, Dad.

And go on those walks

with Judith.

She'll remember them.

I love you.

Carl.

I came back here

to make amends.

We got things done.

We were good together,

Simon.

As I said, we stood on

the precipice of greatness,

and we tripped.

I let my fondness for you

cloud my vision,

which is a credit to you,

because I'm quite

a pragmatic man.

Yeah, got to trust

your gut, Simon.

Don't throw this away

on a setback.

"Setback"?

You made me

look like an ass.

My intel wasn't current.

You know, things changed

at Alexandria.

Juice.

Juice and momentum

can change the game.

They had it, and they did it.

Margaret had the Hilltop

by the nuts.

I didn't know it.

And, yes, we paid a price.

But let me make it right

with Negan, hmm?

I'm Negan.

And not in a collective,

"We're all Negan" sense.

I have assumed control

of the Saviors.

Negan is no longer

on the field of play.

You're the man now?

I am.

I knew it.

I knew you could do it.

Negan was a big personality,

I get it,

but, uh...

too unconventional.

Pulled his punches.

Exactly.

Whereas you

are the kind of man

people can look at and say,

"Now there is a leader."

Which is why

I can't be seen

going easy on you.

Optics.

See, if the Saviors

are gonna win this thing,

I can't be stepping into

the role with... baggage.

Not "if" you win.

It's "when."

And after that,

you're gonna need someone

at the Hilltop who can produce.

We won't need anyone there

until we re-staff

the entirety of the colony.

We're going

for full turnover there.

Everyone?

Everyone-- civies to sargies.

Listen...

You don't have to worry

about optics now.

- 'Cause you--

- Oh, I know.

I have that juice.

I have that momentum.

I want to keep it.

Ergo, you go.

Well, that is just

breathlessly stupid.

Yep.

You think

these Troglodytes here

are gonna advise you

in managing communities,

in resource reallocations?

In politics?

That's right, yeah,

the bare-knuckle gnad mash

of politics?

It is ended,

Gregory.

No!

I've achieved too much!

I-I-I've suffered too much!

I've survived too much

for it to end like this!

I've lashed myself

to the bow,

seen through the storm,

and I have been reborn

as a-a certified shit kicker!

I make things happen!

I've always

made things happen.

And it's not

gonna end with me

wandering off

into the wilderness

with my dick in my hand.

I put things together

when everything fell apart,

and I can do it again.

I will do it again.

You know, who the hell

are you to tell me I'm done?

Yeah, you think

you have the juice?

Well, I am the juice!

- No!

- Whoa!

First...

I wasn't gonna

send you away.

I was gonna kill you.

Second...

do you make coffee?

Best in the land.

We'll start with coffee

and see where it goes.

Rachel:

He's still out here.

Didn't see him

when we left.

Maybe he finally

gave up.

Nope. He won't.

Not unless we make him.

We should just kill him.

I got it.

Told ya.

Kathy:

Has he eaten?

We made our choice.

He wants to die

in the woods,

hoping we

change our minds.

That's his choice.

Find yourself some water.

Seems like a waste

of good garlic to me.

And everything else.

That sardine mac-and-cheese

recipe I gave you

was a staple

from my college days

when,

as a cash-strapped student,

I had to pad out

the budget-minded goodness

of M-and-powdered-C

with the protein power

of canned sardines...

which provided

a longer-lasting energy source

than pure carbohydrates.

The garlic sauté

alleys what originated

as a purely "oops" dish.

Mmm.

Takes me back.

Start plating it up.

This is all that's on the menu

for the rest of the time

till this order's complete.

I'd like to remind everyone

that our lives are not on lock.

Out of personal respect

to the mutual nature with Negan,

but Negan is MIA.

Simon has taken over,

and he has requested

an exponential acceleration

of production.

More shots on the lickety-quick.

Even if we're double-timing it

around the clock

with nary a carey

for workplace safety,

it isn't gonna prevent us

from meeting our quixotic quota

by the proverbial crap-ton.

The best that we can hope for

is that we somehow manage

to squeeze out

the bare minimum

number of rounds necessary

to avoid the consequences

of Simon

finding out how short we are.

- No.

Put that mask back on now.

The last thing we can afford

is for yours truly

to contract whatever

kind of nasty infected you

with your improper

gut handling.

My current theory is that

it's either influenza

or cryptococcosis

and therefore airborne.

If it was

of the blood variety,

you would've already

been dead.

But the fact remains

you're packing pathogens

that can sting with a sneeze,

making it imperative

that you maintain your PPE

at all times while your meds

run their course.

Now hold out your hand.

Feel that.

Primers aren't flush.

The finished rounds

pose the deadly risk

of slam-firing as soon as

they're loaded into the chamber.

Given that this imperfection

is readily evident to the touch,

I can only assume

that this oversight

was purely intentional.

No.

I didn't know.

I just wanted to make it

so that the bullets didn't work.

I wasn't trying to hurt anyone.

I don't want

any of my people to die.

If you cannot accept

that we're your people now,

you may as well

cut to the chase

and chew the next bullet

coming off that line.

Is that what you want?

No.

That's not what I want.

I don't want that.

I don't want to help you.

But...

I do fear death.

Maybe all this--

Maybe this is just His way

of showing me

that I haven't changed...

a way of showing me

that I'm still

the same person who locked

my parishioners out so long ago.

I'm still

the same scared animal,

doing what I must to survive

just like you.

Being alive

may be something

we don't have in common

for much longer.

You are hereby suspended

from the line.

Go find an unobtrusive corner

and stow your load

and keep your mitts to yourself.

And try not to cry too loud.

I want to go outside and test-fire

some of these rounds

that you didn't compromise

with your chicanery.

Surprised to see me?

Shouldn't be.

Hell yeah,

I'm surprised.

We found your car,

and Simon thought that--

Give me a hand with this,

will you?

Not gonna lie--

a real punch in the dick

when Rick cornered me

in the basement

with those

decomposing assholes

and you fellas

never showed up.

Simon thought--

I want to know

what you were thinking.

See, I want to know

if you remember who you are.

This little talk

is just between me and you.

Simon's your number two.

I thought

you wanted him calling it.

I remember who I am.

I'm Negan.

Good.

That's what I like to hear.

Now do me a favor.

Put that smoke out

right there.

See, when the time comes--

and you will know

when it comes--

I want you to remember

this little talk.

I want you to remember

what we've done

and what

we can still do together.

I thought they killed you

and that you were gone, like--

like that.

I think it ginned me good,

ginned us all good.

That they did this to you?

That they did this to us?

No.

I wasn't good with it.

I lacked discipline.

And I made it personal.

And that's why I moved things

from infection to extermination

at the Hilltop.

Yes...

things went bad.

Though I think it's possible

we may have found ourselves

in a similar

tactical situation,

regardless of approach.

We don't know that.

So I'll own it.

I just ask that you give me

a pass on this one.

I'll make it up to you.

I promise you that.

You know, I remember

when I took this place.

When you helped me

take this place.

Wasn't sure I wanted

to keep you on board.

I mean, before me,

before there was

a system in place,

what you did,

killing all those men,

those boys in that settlement

so long ago,

a lot of people

would think

that is some psychotic shit.

Like that is the work

of a demented,

broken,

goddamn ghoul.

Like that's not someone

that you want to work with,

let alone stand next to.

So I figured

I'd keep my eye on you.

And I did.

And everything

seemed to work out

right up until this point.

I'm gonna need you

on your knees.

You gonna make a move,

or is that it?

No move to make.

No.

There isn't.

All is forgiven.

Get your ass up.

We're good.

I won't let you down.

Not you.

I appreciate the hell

out of that.

This is where we start--

the first

of our new staging posts.

See, we do not have to take

the Hilltop.

We just have to make sure

that the farmers can't leave.

We stay nimble. We stay light.

We plink their asses

every time one of them

tries to poke their head out.

Sometimes right in front,

sometimes from a mile away,

but every goddamn time.

From here on out,

it is death by a thousand cuts

to these assholes.

War of attrition.

Attrition?

Piece by piece.

Tomorrow afternoon,

I am going to take

a 10-head team to this spot.

I am stocking it

with supplies and ammo

that Dr. Smartypants are making.

Everyone else here

is gonna do the same thing,

same time, different spot.

End of day tomorrow,

we will have cache after cache

around that Hilltop

and always be spitting distance

from a reload.

There will be teams

24/7 around that place...

snipin' them,

one by one, day after day,

until we have full...

attrition.

If you feel

this is the correct course,

it's the course we'll tread.

It's an ambitious plan

with testicular heft,

I'll give you that.

Very happy to have you back,

boss man.

Damn good to be back.

All right, everybody,

clear out.

Except for you, Dwight.

Got a few things

we need to kick around.

You have anything

you want to tell me?

I don't think so.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

100 percent.

Oh, you are smart as hell.

You know that?

I mean, after everything--

after Sherry and the sizzle...

you didn't stew,

you didn't do anything stupid.

You just went about the business

of getting yours.

Nothing shook you.

You kept your eyes

on what could keep you

alive and well.

You keep on

keeping that shit clear.

Hello.

We need to talk.

You need to eat.

So here's some dried fish,

black walnuts, and water.

It's yours if you leave

and promise me

that you'll never come back.

I can't do that.

But thanks.

What that tells me, though,

is you don't want

people to die.

Same as me.

Same reason why we all

need to fight the Saviors.

We're not fighting.

In that case...

how about

I make you an offer?

I'll eat...

if you invite me inside,

and we can all just...

talk.

No.

You're gonna get sick.

Or starve or worse.

No.

I'm gonna

change your mind.

I'm aware that,

under the circumstances,

I can never expect

to regain your respect.

Or your trust

or your friendship.

And in case

it wasn't readily apparent,

I have no loyalty

to the Saviors.

I'm loyal only

to my continued survival,

a lone wolf, as it were.

And, therefore,

now that I am in your custody,

I will work just as hard for you

as I ever did.

I can't help but suspect

that the reason I'm being taken

alive is, despite...

what completely warranted

bad blood exists between us,

you still harbor

a vestigial nostalgia

for our

erstwhile camaraderie.

And in light of that,

I'm willing

to just shut my grub flap

and give you your space

until you see such a time as

you're ready to break the ice,

one traveling companion--

Shut your mouth

before I cut your tongue out!

All right!

We got to keep going.

They have to be

out looking for him by now.

- Thank you. I--

- Shut up.

- Let's go.

You helped us,

but you never cared about us.

You're not a "lone wolf,"

you're a parasite.

Well, technically,

that relationship

would better be described

as symbiotic

as opposed to parasitic,

in that there

was mutual benefit involved.

Knowledge for safety.

What the hell

is wrong with you?

How can you talk about

everything we've been through

like it was some kind

of science experiment?

We weren't just your friends,

we were family.

And then you just

turn on us,

like we meant nothing to you.

When I told Negan

I made the bullet,

it was to save your life.

I didn't think.

I just acted on your behalf.

And I fully expected

the crack of the bat

to be the last thing I heard,

but that didn't happen.

And then I thought

they would torture me.

But they didn't.

They gave me

a chance to live.

And I tried to resist.

I tried to rise above

my biological imperative,

but that is not who I am.

I know who you are.

You're the reason they were able

to escape the Sanctuary.

Everything that's happened

since then,

everyone who's died,

that's on you.

Rick's the one who pushed us all

to take the Saviors on.

He's the one

who jumped headlong into

this shit-storm with no waders.

- You're selfish,

and you're a coward,

and you're a traitor.

You turned you back on

the only friends you ever had.

Shooting you in the head

right here

would actually make the world

a better place.

But we're not gonna kill you,

not because

we give a rat's ass about you.

We just need

what's in there!

We're gonna stick you in

the darkest hole we can find,

and the only time

you'll see the light of day

is when we need you

to teach us how to do something.

So don't worry--

you'll get what you want.

You'll live.

But we're gonna force you

to do something useful

with your pathetic life.

Meeting went well.

Status quo

has been re-achieved.

What'd he hold you back for?

You know, a...

pep talk.

Mm.

We need to talk.

A serious talk with the others

who are less than thrilled

with the current management,

who, like you,

engaged in activity

said management

would frown on.

Maybe we don't need to talk.

Maybe we just go back

to how things were.

No.

We've crossed

some thresholds here, Dwight.

We're transformed.

You know

you can't ever go back.

- So this is it?

- You deliver or get shipped.

He hasn't delivered,

and that saddens me.

But the time has come.

Let us gather

our like-minded individuals,

draw strength

from each other...

and do

what we need to do.

Come on.

I gotta sell this to you?

Think about everything

he's done to you,

every little indignity,

everything he's extracted

from you.

Think about it, Dwight!

You know what you have to do.

You have to meet us

in the courtyard after rounds,

and we begin what's next.

I mean, Jesus, right?

Right.

Yes, my boy.

Yes.

They must've

heard us pull up.

I got it.

Watch him.

Shit.

He couldn't have got far.

Come on.

We can't let him

get back to them!

If you see him,

blow that pig's head off!

Oh, God.

Aah!

Rachel:

Is he dead?

You...

You blamed Enid...

for Natania's death.

But it's really the Saviors.

What they did to you,

what they turned you into...

it's their fault.

You hide.

You don't trust.

You don't live the life the way

you want to because of them.

They hurt you,

and they're gonna

keep on hurting you.

Unless you do one thing!

Fight.

Hey.

Some shit, huh?

Yeah.

Got to think, uh...

you wanted this

before we did.

If you're here right now,

you're in.

We can talk about approaches

and finesses, but you are in.

No takebacks.

We need to make this quick,

quiet, and respectful.

Man's done a lot for us.

He deserves that.

We had a lot of good times.

A lot of hills taken.

But this all happened

because he didn't know

when to cut bait.

But we did.

We do.

You...

have some legitimate

personal issues with the man.

The kill is yours

if you want it.

Something quiet.

I mean, not a knife.

Can't make it that personal.

A silencer.

We call a meeting.

And that's it.

The next order of business

is to set the break,

to start the healing.

The catalyzing event

to facilitate that

is the destruction of

the Hilltop and its residents.

We'll make it

a monument of compliance.

Sorry, Gregory.

And then...

we get on with our lives.

Right, Dwight?

Thank you, D.

I'll take it from here.

Three...

two...

one.

Dwight!

Now there is the Simon

that I know.

He comes right at you instead

of that backstabby bullshit.

Why?

After everything

he did to you, huh?

Why do this?

He'd win.

You killed

all the garbage people, Simon.

After I specifically told you

not to do that shit.

I got a sneakin' suspicion

that you were hopin' I was dead...

when Rick kamikazed

that convoy.

And the Hilltop?

Yeah.

All is not forgiven.

But...

after all this,

and me being me...

I'm still gonna give you

your shot.

You want to be the man,

you got to beat the man.

If you can do that...

then, hell...

you should be the man.

Simon: Everyone!

After this is done,

we get to work.

Just know

that I didn't want this.

But the Sanctuary must stand.

This is not the man

to prosecute this conflict.

Just wanted to say...

a grateful enclave--

unh!--thanks you!

You need

to get out of here now.

No shit.

Give this to Rick

and tell him

about tomorrow.

It's the only move

you got.

I left a car for you

behind the coal chutes.

Go.

You went for it all

at the Hilltop.

You got Saviors killed,

and then you ran away

like a coward!

You got shown up

one too many times.

Those people,

they are always gonna know

that there's a loophole,

a way to skate.

They are always gonna be looking

for that chance to push back,

so now

I gotta kill all of 'em

just like

I'm gonna kill you!

What an asshole.

What're we gonna do?

Such a damn shame--

a waste--

slinking behind my back

like some kind of dickless worm.

Planning on killing me...

Like,

what else am I gonna do

besides crush the guy's throat?

Yeah.

Eh, you know,

what's bad for Simon,

it's good for you.

And I know we've had

our ups and downs, D,

but I've always been able

to count on you.

So...

congratulations.

You are

my new right-hand man.

That is,

if you accept the promotion.

I do.

And I'll help you

finish this thing with Rick.

Don't sell yourself short,

D.

You already have.

Well, you look surprised,

Dwight.

Yeah, see, I found her

on the side of the road.

Laura, why don't you tell D

what you told me?

That night in Alexandria,

he turned on us.

He killed our team.

I ran,

and I kept on running.

I was hurt.

But what kept me alive

was the thought

of getting back here

and exposing you

for the scum weasel you are.

It all makes sense now.

You told Rick when to attack.

How to get

to the outposts...

You keep us locked in here,

slipping them workers guns.

Maybe you even lied to me

about killing Sherry.

Oh, hell.

You, for sure,

lied to me about that.

So, what? Hmm?

You think you're some sort

of a hero?

No.

You are nothing.

A nobody

in way over your head.

But when I said

that you would come through

for me when I needed it,

oh, I meant that 110%.

See, I knew

that I could count on you

to deliver my plan

to Rick,

my brilliant,

if I do say so myself,

fake-ass plan.

You used Gregory

for that, right?

I mean, I was thinking

maybe you'd take some kind of

field trip or something, but...

no, you got yourself

a little delivery boy.

Good for you.

To deliver

all that intel to Rick

and the piss patrol

that's gonna lead them

directly into the line of fire.

They are not gonna know

what hit 'em,

all thanks

to my new right-hand man.

Now, see, I--I thought about

killing you, and then...

I thought maybe that'd be

too dignified for a...

backstabbing, double-crossing

dirtbag such as yourself.

No, Dwighty boy,

I got plans for you.

What the hell happened?

We need preparations

to defend this place

in case

of another incursion.

We've established

a perimeter.

We just got a message

from the Sanctuary.

Negan's back,

and he has plans

to finish the Hilltop.

Rick's walking into a trap.

We'll need that bullet order

filled by tomorrow morning.

Kindly convey to Negan

my personal congratulations

on the occasion of his return,

and assure him

that his request

will be fulfilled

in its entirety and on time.

That's right.

If Negan needs bullets

to end this war,

then, by ginger,

he's gonna get 'em.

All of 'em.

Scotch my talk

of a bare minimum.

No, sirs and madams,

we shall rise to the occasion

with the ammunition.

We will blow them away with

every trigger pull they require.

We shall, we will.

Oh, trip not, colleagues.

We will change

Savior history evermore.

Gabriel.

It's all hands

on deck,

and yours

are sorting shells.

Listen, you follow my lead

to the letter on the lead,

or you can cry and die.

Here we go.

Time to do something useful

with our pathetic lives.

Michonne:

Negan, it's Michonne.

I'll wait.

The one with the dreads, the sword?

Is that you?

Rick there with you?

Why don't you put him on?

This isn't about Rick.

It's about Carl.

He wrote you a letter.

And I'm delivering it

because that's what he wanted.

Well, I can't promise

not to kill the messenger.

Just shut up and listen.

"Negan, this is Carl."

"I was helping someone.

I got bit.

We didn't even have to be doing

what we were doing.

I was just helping someone,

and now I'm gone.

You might be gone.

Maybe my Dad made your people

give you up and he killed you,

but I don't think so.

I think you're still around

and you're working on a way out.

Maybe you got out.

Maybe you think

we're a lost cause

and you just want

to kill all of us.

I think you think

you have to be who you are.

I just wonder

if this is what you wanted.

I wanted to ask you.

I wish I could've.

Maybe you'll beat us.

And if you do, there'll just be

someone else to fight.

The way out is working together.

It's forgiveness."

"It's believing that it doesn't

have to be a fight anymore.

Because it doesn't."

"I hope my dad offers you peace.

I hope you take it.

I hope everything can change.

It did for me.

Start over.

You still can.

Carl."

All this...

there is no

getting out of it now.

I wouldn't

accept your surrender

if you came to me

on your knees.

See, winning isn't about

beating you.

Winning is about killing

every last one of you.

That is starting over.

I never wanted this.

Rick made this happen.

You tell him that.

No more talk.