Narrator: Previously on

Falling Skies...

Enemy aircraft headed straight for us.

Cochise is coming with us!

There's no time to argue this! Get in your plane now!

I hope it was worth it.

The President's dead.

It doesn't add up.

This weapon would never need that much power.

It would be overkill.

Mackel went up the loading dock.

He's old enough to shoot.

Your lucky you didn't blow yourself to pieces.

Your mate and child are being held by Karen.

I'm going after them.

We're gonna find them, Dad.

[ Owl hooting ]

Ben: We're here.

This is where the rebel leader said to meet.

Can I ask you a question, Dad?

Always.

After we find Anne and Alexis, will we go back to Charleston?

I don't know, Ben.

I'm not sure there's much of a future for us there.

Why? Do you want to?

Uh, made some friends there, you know?

People I'll -eople I'll miss.

Like Denny?

She won't have a problem with the fact that my sister's a half-alien, but the others?

Lexie will be treated like a freak.

Like you were.

I was, uh, old enough to deal with it.

But a small child?

I-I don't want her to have to go through that.

Neither do I.

So, uh, if we don't go back, what will we do?

We keep moving. Keep fighting.

Honestly, I haven't really thought that far ahead.

First task is to get to Mechanicsville, find Anne and Lexie.

Their new leader -e seems pretty full of himself.

Yeah, he makes me nervous when I'm channeling him.

It's different than Red Eye? Very. He's more...

Aggressive? Impatient.

Completely loyal to the cause, though.

He and the others almost treat Red Eye like a God.

Reaching out to humans -hat took a lot of risk.

Took a lot of --

[ Growls ]

[ Growls ]

[ Screeches ]

[ Screeches ]

They're coming.

Who's coming? Enemy patrol.

They're searching for you. You must divert.

Which way are they coming from?

Which way are they coming from?

[ Screeches, gurgles ]

♪ Falling Skies 3x07 ♪
The Pickett Line
Original Air Date on July 14, 2013

[ Thunder rumbling ]

You're probably too young to remember that camping jag mom and dad were on.

Talking about every other weekend, we'd head out to the berkshires, set up camp, dad would get to cooking -acon, eggs, biscuits.

I kind of remember that.

Yeah? Well, I hate to say it, but we have oatmeal and grits, a little bit of coffee.

Food always tastes better when you're starving.

I guess.

It's weird, you know?

What's that, buddy?

It's like the war never happened here.

Yeah, I know. Right?

Especially after everything we've been through.

It makes you wonder what would have happened if we had just come up here.

But I suppose dad would have never let me shoot a gun, huh?

[ Chuckles ]

That's for sure.

But when we find Anne and Lexie, I don't know.

Maybe dad will want to come back here.

Or someplace where there aren't any Skitters.

Maybe.

[ Horse whinnies ]

They're back.

Come on, boys! We got to get going!

Skitters and Mechs on their way!

All right, get that stuff. Let's go. Pack it up.

The good news is business is booming, profits are up.

The bad news is so what?

[ Chuckles ]

Well, we got more credits than we know what to do with.

That's my whole point, right?

What the hell am I gonna do with all that pieces of paper, right?

Get myself a new tube of toothpaste?

Yeah, but someday...

The future's not ours to see, Lyle.

It's carpe diem.

Grab what you can and grab it fast.

Yep.

What we need is someone or something to trade with -nother community or something.

Maybe like the one where President Hathaway was.

Actually, that's an almost-brilliant idea.

[ Crash ]

The hell do you think you're doing?

Getting ready to tow this...thing.

No, you are not. No, I am, Pope.

In fact, this whole area is being cleared out.

Cleared out, my ass.

On whose orders?

By order of the President of the new United States, Pope.

So I guess it's true what they say, huh?

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

When the mouse is away, the cat takes pretty much whatever the hell she feels like, is that it?

Refugees keep pouring in every day.

Housing below the city is at maximum capacity.

Ms. Peralta wants to make room, and Pope Town, including your bar, is the most logical choice.

It's the worst possible choice, Cap.

People need a place to blow off steam.

You can't keep that kind of pressure building up.

Keep your powder dry, Pope.

You're not being closed. You're just being moved.

Where? Timbuktu?

Listen. If Tom Mason was here, you know it wouldn't --

Man on P.A.: Medical evac team needed on the perimeter immediately!

Medical evac team needed on the perimeter immediately!

Go! Go!

Hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Man: Get to the perimeter now!

Please, hurry.

The President is in need of immediate medical...assistance.

[ Crowd murmuring ]

[ Rumbling ]

[ Horses whinny ]

[ Guns cocking ]

Nobody moves... Nobody dies.

Hey. What you got there on the back of your neck?

It's acne.

Acne?

Drop your weapons! Now!

Friend, I always tell my boys it's best to look before leaping.

Ben.

What do you want with us?

Right now, I want you to get off your horses, lay your weapons on the ground.

Do it quick!

If we wanted to kill you, you'd be dead half a mile back.

We just want your horses and your supplies, then we'll be on our ways.

Y'all just be smart now. Do exactly as you're told.

No one needs to get hurt.

Up against the truck.

Move! That's it.

Easy, now.

You folks been living out here since the invasion?

We just came from Charleston.

I guess you haven't heard.

Heard what?

That there's thousands of survivors, just like you, gathered there.

Why?

We're helping each other.

Planting crops. We got livestock.

Nobody's going hungry.

Even formed a government.

And an army.

Army?

Who you planning to fight, little man?

The aliens.

Is that so?

That is so.

Friend, you're out of your ever-loving mind.

Hyah!

Hyah!

What do we do now?

We're gonna go after them, get our stuff back.

Damn straight we will. We got to be smart about it.

We got to be fast about it. We got to get to Anne and Lexie.

We attempted to contact your headquarters through the frequency you gave us, Mr. President, but so far have had no luck.

Well, keep trying, Colonel. They will answer eventually.

Yes, sir.

In the meantime, all of Charleston is at your disposal.

Thank you, Ms. Peralta. Your name sounds familiar.

Weren't you in Jim Webb's office?

Yes. I was his chief administrative assistant.

I knew it, yeah.

"Feisty" he called you, as I remember.

He used to say, "you don't want to have Marina barking up your tree."

[ Laughs ]

The senator did have a way with words, sir.

He didn't make it?

No. I'm afraid not.

But you did, Mr. President -wice, and that is nothing short of a miracle.

The miracle is standing right here beside me.

I did nothing more than shield President Hathaway from the impact when the airplane crashed.

How is that possible?

Volm bodies are adapted genetically for combat.

And, consequently, we can withstand much greater levels of stress.

Cochise tells me that the Volm weapon is almost complete.

Even with the delays, I assure you we will be ready to attack the Espheni defense grid in less than two weeks.

I'm not so sure about that.

What do you mean?

There are some serious unanswered questions.

According to my science advisor, your device will deliver far more power than the weapon you described to us.

That is true.

Unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to give you any more information at this time.

As you well know, there have been security leaks within Charleston's command structure.

If you're referring to the Espheni spy, that issue has been resolved.

In what way?

By removing the Espheni probe from Hal Mason.

We no longer have a security leak.

Pardon me for saying so, but that is a dangerous supposition.

The Espheni are far too clever to rely on just one strategy.

So the intricacies of our device must remain confidential at this time, Ms. Peralta.

Mr. President --

The outcome of the war depends on the completion and deployment of that weapon.

There can't be any further delays.

Even if we don't know what this thing does?!

Colonel?

Well, sir, it's hard to argue against the benefits we've gained by allying ourselves with Cochise and the Volm, but I've always believed that this should be a human-led operation with the Volm providing support.

I agree with Ms. Peralta that less-than-complete disclosure is not in the spirit of true cooperation.

Noted. And thank you for your candor.

But the mission must go ahead as scheduled.

And perhaps it would be best if I were to inspect this weapon with my own eyes.

As you wish.

[ Bird squawking ]

[ Horse snorts ]

Can you take these saddles off, Boo?

Oh!

It's not a bad haul for half a day's work, huh, Dad?

Sorted and shelled in 20 minutes, boys.

Yes, sir.

Bet these guys are thirsty.

Then fetch them some water, girl. [ Chuckles ]

Gil: Come on, now, boys. You know the pump's stuck.

You're the one who stuck it. Bibs?

That might work.

Here.

[ Grunts ]

[ Bird chirping ]

Ben: So, you want to talk about it?

Hal: Talk about what?

About everything.

I wouldn't know where to start.

You know, when we took your harness off, I figured I knew what you were going through.

But, quite frankly, I'm a little embarrassed by some of the advice I gave you.

I just can't stop thinking about the fact that there I was, sleeping right next to Maggie every night.

And she stuck with me.

Had no idea I had that...thing inside of me for months, and, I mean, there's just no telling what I could have even done to her.

Is that why you -ou didn't let her come with us?

We don't know what we're getting into.

You know, I've already put her through enough.

What's up?

They've stopped moving. We're getting closer.

Or they've reached their home base.

[ Sighs ]

Okay, everybody move as quietly as they can.

Come on.

Lazy jerks.

Matt, Matt.

Don't make a sound, okay? Okay.

Marinara sauce with meatballs. Sounds delicious.

[ Grunting ]

Don't even try it.

Duane?

[ Grunting ]

Gil?

Ohh!

Don't move.

Drop it!

In your dreams, son!

[ Gunshot ]

[ Horse whinnies ]

[ Groaning ]

Hal? I'm okay.

[ Strained ]

What did you do that for?

Colonel, this was support to carry fresh troops out, to the perimeter an hour ago.

All of our mechanics called in sick.

And this is the third vehicle to "break down" today.

But it's not just the motor pool.

The same thing happened in the armory.

We've got weapons piling up that need to be repaired, sir.

Are you saying there's some kind of organized work slow-down going on around here?

Well, I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but Pope has a mighty smug look on his face.

Afternoon, Colonel.

What the hell are you up to, Pope?

Absolutely nothing, sir. Just having a friendly chat with a couple of citizens here from Charleston, S.C., reminding them they, in fact, do have some rights, if this is still a democracy, as it purports to be.

If we're short vehicles, weapons, and soldiers on the front line when the enemy attacks, we're gonna lose a lot of people.

You really want that on your conscience?

Sir, if throwing a wrench into the works improves Ms. Peralta's hearing, then hell yes, I do.

This is no time for shenanigans.

No disrespect, Colonel. This is exactly the right time.

First the Volm -- they turn us into their monkey-boys. Now this?

Colonel, this is a bad road.

I just think it'd be time for a nice...change of pace - new vision.

[ Chuckles ]

What you're talking about is not only foolish, it's dangerous.

And when Tom comes back --

Tom Mason is not coming back, sir.

He's smarter than all of us put together.

He knows when to abandon a sinking ship.

You pull your dogs off this bone now.

Truth's a bitch, ain't it, Colonel?

Yes, sir. Truth is one squirrelly bitch.

Come on.

[ Gasping ]

Ben: Help me get his jacket off.

[ Groaning ]

Okay. We need to stop the bleeding.

[ Groans ]

Some soap and water, some -- some clean towels.

Come on.

This is how you treat people?

You come into my house, you try to kill my brother?

I wouldn't be in your house if you hadn't robbed us.

We're just trying to survive, same as you.

We don't rob people.

You can see we're not exactly living the high life here.

I got kids, same as you.

The aliens kidnapped the rest of my family, and every minute I spend with you is one less minute I spend looking for them.

We've come for what's ours and that's it -- we're gone.

So, where's our stuff?

Next to the shed, last I saw.

Matt, go check on our gear and come right back.

Sure, Dad.

They expect us to work for them -- with the bubbleheads.

No questions, no -- no complaints.

Right? All: Yeah.

And the whole time deny us our simple pleasures.

[ Crowd murmurs ]

I say until they rescind that order to take what is ours -o confiscate our property -e don't work for them, and we sure as hell don't fight for them.

All: Yes!

Pope's right.

Colonel, welcome.

We all need a place to unwind. I recognize that.

And Ms. Peralta recognizes that.

But there is no place in my vision of democracy for wanton disregard of the law...

Especially when it threatens the safety of this community and the progress of the war effort.

Is that clear?

[ Crowd murmuring ]

Pope, you're under arrest.

[ Crowd murmurs ]

What charges?

Civil disobedience and general unruliness.

You have the authority, sir, but you do not have the right.

Drink up and return to your quarters.

Starting tomorrow, all shifts on the Volm project will continue uninterrupted.

Good night.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Tom: How did you find this place?

This farm's been in my family for three generations.

I was born in this house -ame as my brother, same as all my children.

So you just stayed up here? Even after the invasion?

Those things never came up here.

They're not interested in us.

I seen the spaceships, explosions.

I heard the stories.

[ Scoffs ]

You think he's gonna make it?

I don't know.

From what I saw, though, he's a fighter, so he's got a chance.

You're damn right he's a fighter.

Uncle Gil's too mean to die.

What are those things on the back of your neck?

It's a long story.

The aliens put a parasite on my back to control me.

We -- we tried to cut it off, but the pieces are still inside me.

That's nasty.

Everything about them is nasty.

They -- they killed a lot of my friends, murdered my mother.

Hey, my mom was murdered, too.

Thought you said you only saw the aliens from a distance.

It wasn't aliens. It was people.

After the invasion, a group of men came by.

They said they'd been on the run for a few days.

So we brought them in and fed them.

Then they tried to rob us, so...

Shot my mom before we could stop them.

You saw her die?

Anyway, after that, dad said this is the world we live in now -at or be eaten.

Charleston's not like that.

People look after each other. You should check it out.

Dad would never go for that.

You're not from around here, are you?

You're not from Charleston, neither.

From Boston originally. Ah. Boston.

We've been fighting them since they arrived -- my boys and I.

I suppose that's a legitimate choice.

We figured our chances were better right here.

Sure, so long as there's plenty of victims traveling the road.

Which ain't often.

You can't blame a man for trying to keep his family alive, now, can you?

You have managed to do that so far.

Something to be said for that.

"So far."

It's only a matter of time before the aliens find you.

So we just should follow you to your Shangri-la?

I understand your anger.

If that was my brother laying up there, or one of my sons, I'd be angry, too.

You don't know the first thing about what I'm feeling right now.

Mister, you don't know who you're talking to.

Those stories you heard are about people like us.

Aliens killed my wife.

I think I know a little something about loss.

And regret.

It's with me every morning when I wake up and every night when I close my eyes.

And every hour and every minute in between.

Your mountain isn't high enough, and there isn't a hole deep enough.

There is no hiding.

The only chance that you have -hat any of us have -s to stand together against them.

[ Door opens ]

Steve: Dad!

What is it, son?

It's Uncle Gil. He's dying.

My brother is dying.

Now you -- you give me a chance to get up there and see him.

Dad, we can't trust him.

You gonna let him die without seeing his kin?

What kind of man are you?

You promise you won't try anything?

Mister... I give you my word.

[ Groaning ]

Gil, it's Duane. Can you hear me?

You got to fight, brother.

Hey, we're all here -ll of us.

Huh? You can hack it.

You just got to hang on, yeah?

Okay.

No, don't!

Leave the gun on the ground.

Leave it down.

Finger off the trigger. Finger off the trigger!

Hands above your head.

Up against the wall, left-hand side, boys.

Steve: Come on, over there.

Up against the wall! Left-hand side!

Up against the wall!

You gonna kill my kids? That's who you are?

It's your own damn fault! You had to come after us!

Now, if we let them go, they will come back.

Your kids are gonna remember this moment for the rest of their lives.

You're gonna turn them into killers?

No.

Dad. Easy, Boo.

It's a harsh world, mister.

My boys and my girl -- they need to get tough to survive.

You don't want to do this. You're not gonna do this!

You shot my brother!

Now turn around, face the wall!

Duane, you do not want your kids to watch you stop being human!

Put the gun down!

No, sir. I'm gonna shoot you.

Now, you say your goodbyes to your kin.

Do it now before I send you on your way.

If you're gonna shoot me, you better have the guts to look me in the eye when you do it!

No, we're not monsters.

We're just a family - family trying to survive.

[ Bibby whimpers ]

No! It's all right, boo.

Hey!

[ Groans ]

[ Grunts ]

It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.

Duane, tell Luke to put the gun down!

Nobody gets hurt.

No, sir. No, sir.

Think about it -uke shoots me, Hal shoots Luke, and Ben shoots you.

And then what? What happens to gil?

What happens to the kids?

[ Breathes heavily ]

Take your finger off the trigger, son.

No.

Put down your arm, son. Do as your daddy says!

Calm down, boy. You done good.

You done good. Shh, shh, shh, shh.

It's all right. It's all right.

[ Whirring ]

Impressive.

Cochise: Sufficient for the task at hand.

Will your troop ship make it before the Espheni activate their defensive grid?

Most unlikely.

Then why the hurry?

Can't the ship just orbit until we can create a breach in the defensive system?

Well, as I have explained, the Espheni grid will create an energy force that will surround the Earth.

And that, by destroying one of the towers, we'll temporarily disrupt the grid, allowing your ship a window for entry.

Correct.

But long-term effects of the grid will irradiate the surface of the Earth to such levels that...

[ Sighs ]

...it will destroy all organic life-forms within three months.

That's a nice piece of information to leave out.

And what about the fishheads?

Will it cook them, too? Unfortunately not.

The Espheni have biologically engineered themselves and their harnessed slaves to fully withstand the effects of the radiation.

I conveyed all this information to Professor Mason, and he agreed it would only create undue panic and worry to reveal it to the general population.

And I agreed when Cochise told me, as well.

Therefore, Ms. Peralta, the excess power Dr. Kadar identified is actually to destroy the grid by feeding an enormous energy burst back into the grid, causing it to overload.

And this couldn't have been explained to me in the first place?

There is great risk involved.

If the grid is not destroyed, feeding that much power back into it could accelerate the process.

Life as you know it on this planet will cease to exist.

[ Sighs ]

Leave it unlocked.

Evening, constable.

[ Sighs ]

Got a moment?

Well, I'm a little booked up today, but I think I'll make an exception for you.

Boy, the state of the union must be in complete turmoil if you've come all the way down here to chat with the likes of me.

When I wanted to throw you out on your ear, Tom convinced me that having someone who doesn't do the acceptable thing can be essential.

We might be headed for a time when that's true.

And here I figured that you and our ersatz President had it all figured out.

A little trouble in paradise there, Colonel?

I might need your help, Pope.

Need my help?

You shut me down.

You put me out of business. You locked me up.

Something's going down where none of that's gonna matter, Pope.

You might be right about the Volm.

Is that it? That's all you're gonna give me?

Till you need to know more.

Now get out of here.

[ Gate creaks ]

No more riling up the civilians.

[ Sighs ]

[ Indistinct conversation ]

Thought you were locked up.

Yeah, I was liberated.

Just when I thought things were looking sunny.

Say, listen -ord to the wise, there's some stuff coming down the pike.

What kind of stuff? Can't exactly say.

Meaning you don't know.

No, but the source is unimpeachable.

So why are you telling me?

Just figured without the Mason brood around, you might just need a friend.

A friend? I'm fine. Thank you.

Then for old time's sake.

There were never any old times, Pope.

Not the way I remember it.

The way I remember it is I rescued you from near death.

You kidnapped me and fed me to your gang.

All you had to do was say something, and I would have done something about it.

You knew, you lying bastard, and you did nothing.

Just like you lying about your traitorous, eye-wormed boyfriend.

And what did you do?

What did you do, Maggie? You did nothing.

Get off your high horse, Maggie. We're no different.

You do what you got to do. At all costs, we survive.

I may have my faults. I got a list of sins 20 miles long.

But I call it the way I see it. And that you can count on.

You are so full of --

There will come a time -ometime soon I suspect -hen this little pantomime of yours, it's all gonna come to an end.

And when it does...

You're gonna come crawling back to me.

And that's the truth.

[ Sighs ]

Mr. President.

Hathaway: Hey, Doc.

How are you feeling?

Oh, I've been beat up worse by Congress a few times.

I'll live.

[ Chuckles ]

I just need to change your I.V., if now's a good time.

You're here.

So, how long have you been a doctor?

Well, I was pre-med at Wellesley when the invasion happened, and everything I know now I learned from Dr. Glass since.

Uh-huh. And where's he?

She.

I'm sorry.

This damn war. Yeah.

You know what I think?

I think Dr. Glass was very lucky to have such an apt pupil.

Which makes me lucky, doesn't it?

Thank you, sir.

You know, it's young people like you, Doctor, who are gonna rebuild our world when the aliens are gone.

My faith in that is what keeps me going.

Thank you, Doctor.

Anything else?

No, sir.

[ Warbling ]

[ Skittering ]

[ Door opens ]

Dr. Delgado.

[ Breathes deeply ]

Yes?

The President's been shot.

At least he didn't suffer.

First shot killed him instantly.

[ Indistinct talking over P.A. in distance ]

The shooter was in the room directly below this one.

He had to have used a Volm-modified weapon to shoot through the concrete.

Same gun killed Manchester.

The same type, anyway.

So, if you're right, Hal Mason wasn't the mole.

We still have a traitor roaming the streets of Charleston.

We got to find that mole. Focus exclusively on this case.

Recruit as many people as you need.

Whatever it takes. Yes, sir.

I want to be briefed at the end of every day on your progress.

Let's catch this bastard.

I'll get on the shortwave and notify the President's people.

No. Not until we have more information, Dan.

I don't want a bunch of outsiders pouring into Charleston subjecting our citizens to a witch hunt.

The people of the United States deserve to know that they've lost their leader.

You have your orders.

Ma'am.

You have yours, Colonel.

Not now, Pope.

Probably don't need to point out the obvious, do I, Colonel?

You mean that Ms. Peralta got her comeuppance after the President arrived, and less than 24 hours later, he was assassinated by the mole?

No, you do not need to point that out.

Still, it's worth noting that the reins of power have gone right back into her hands, don't you think?

I'm starting to think this Charleston is starting to feel less like a fledgling democracy and more like a Roman palace.

Then...

I suggest you watch your back, lest you find a dagger in it.

You, too.

Tom: Once we get clear of this trail, it should be about 15 miles to Mechanicsville, Anne, and Lexie.

And you can bet Karen will be waiting for us.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

Wait. Mechs. Which way?

There. All right, off the trail.

I don't see anything. You sure -- oh, no. Wait.

Mega-Mechs.

I got them. There's two of them.

Right down there.

Probably some Skitters, too.

Ben: How many?

Maybe about half a dozen.

Scouting in front of the main body.

It's probably the same ones those rebels were telling us about. Yeah.

Dad, they're headed right for the Picketts.

They'll never stand a chance. That's tough luck.

So, we're just gonna turn our backs, ride off, and leave them to the aliens?

Those people were gonna shoot us.

Yeah, but they didn't.

I'm not sure they were going to.

Dad, what about Anne and Lexie?

We already lost a lot of time -oo much time.

I know. But if all we care about is our own family, then we're no better than them. We're with you, Dad.

Yeah.

Not this time.

Listen, Anne and Lexie -hat's your job.

You guys get to Mechanicsville. Don't stop for anything.

Recon the situation. I'll meet you there.

Dad?

I need you to do this for me, buddy.

Can you do it?

Yes, Dad.

Okay. Good luck.

[ Horse snorts ]

[ Clicks tongue ]

[ Horse whinnies ]

Pickett?!

Is anybody here?

[ Horse whinnies ]

[ Screeches ]

All right, bring it, you bastards!

[ Warbling ]

[ Whirs ]