[Wind blowing]
[Footsteps approach]
[Walker growling]
[Rat squeaking]
[Footsteps approach]
[Growling stops]
[Geiger counter clicking]
[Walker growling]
[Breathing heavily]
[Sighs]
[Wind whistling]
[Walker growling]
[Walkers growling]
[Gun cocks]
[Fabric tearing in distance]
Man: [In distance] Come on. Let's go. Hurry up.
[Growling continues]
[Wind whistling]
[Pounding on door]
[Walker growling]
[Growling stops]
[Breathing heavily]
[Wind whistling]
[Crying]
[Footsteps approach]
[Walker growling]
[Gunshot]
[Horse neighs]
Who the hell are you?
[Camera shutter clicks]
You the ones who've been stripping the dead?
Let's go.
Hey, stop!
[Grunts]
[Scissors scraping, fabric tearing]
What is this? Where am I?
[Panting]
[Sighs]
What the hell is going on?
Where are you taking me?
[Elevator bell dings]
[Grunts]
Hey! Open the gate!
Get back here!
You're making a big mistake!
[Gun cocks]
Strand: 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.
[Laughs]
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?
[gulping] 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.
Hmm... A Democrat.
What did you do for him, Will?
PR.
Campaign strategy.
Where did you come from?
Will: 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?
[Chuckles, scoffs]
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.
[Woman singing opera]
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.
[Indistinct conversations]
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.
[Laughs]
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 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.
Will: 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.
[Gun cocks]
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.
[Hooves clomping]
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.
[Thunder rumbles]
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!
[Horse neighs]
It should be safe enough under here.
What is this place?
The last 50 days? Home.
Cozy.
Hey! Stop!
That's mine.
[Camera shutter clicks]
Yo, Vic!
[Thunder rumbles]
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.
[Scoffs]
Answer me.
- [Gunfire] - Stalkers!
[Horses neigh]
[Gunfire continues]
[Grunts]
[Groans] They clipped my leg!
[Walkers growling]
[Groans]
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.
- [Groans] - 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.
[Groans]
Will: Victor!
[Walkers growling]
[Horse whinnies]
Ah.
Bingo.
[Footsteps approach]
Will: Hold it!
[Gun cocks]
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. [Chuckles] - Sit!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Laughs]
You tried to kill me twice today.
[Chuckles]
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.
- [Sighs] 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?
[Laughs]
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.
[Sighs]
I guess we both held up our end of the bargain.
May I?
[Grunts]
[Gun cocks]
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.
[Walkers growling]
Will.
Get inside.
[Breathing heavily]
What the hell was that?
I know them.
They're from the bunker.
Something bad must've happened.
Alicia.
[Walkers growling]
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.
[Growling continues]
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.
[Sputtering]
[Rumbling]
Go!
That's it!
Follow the light!
[Sputtering]
Shit.
Strand: Will?
[Walkers growling]
Come on!
Victor!
Strand: Get down!
[Gunshot]
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.
[Grunts]
[Electricity buzzing]
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.
N " It"?
Something better.
At least the possibility of it.
I thought maybe if I found it first,
she wouldn't have to, but...
[Sighs]
If anything happens to them...
to her... that's on me.
[Scoffs]
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.
[Scoffs]
Doesn't matter.
[Sniffles] It's all for nothing anyway.
It wasn't all for nothing.
[Scoffs]
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.
[Walkers growling]
[Electricity buzzing]
[Walker growling]
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. - [Chuckles]
She'll get through to you.
Aah!
[Screaming]
No, she won't!
She won't have anything to do with me after this.
[Walkers growling]
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.
[Walkers growling]