The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023) s03e06 Episode Script

1
[MAGGIE] Previously on Dead City.
When I was little, I used to daydream
that one day I'd go up into New York,
walk into that Macy's,
become best friends with the real Santa.
[LUIS] I can't remember the
last time I danced like that.
Closest I came I think was
my dad's harvest festivals.
Except I was making out with
Danny Pruitt behind the barn.
This is what it used to be like,
before all the shit went down.
I'm a thief. I stole food. I'm sorry.
[GLASS SHATTERS]
Do you think you're gonna kill Maggie?
- [GUNSHOT]
- [SPLAT]
[WIND GUSTING]
[TITICACA GROWLING]
[GRIM MUSIC]
[TITICACA GROWLING]
[NEGAN] You think
you're gonna kill Maggie?
[RENATA] This is not how we do things.
[NEGAN] It is exactly how I do things.
[TITICACA GROWLING]
[GRIM MUSIC]
[NEGAN] I think that, um
I think that we would have been
friends in in another life.
[ECHOING] In another life.
[DILLARD WHISTLING]
[GRIM MUSIC]
[DILLARD WHISTLING]
I wouldn't!
- [JO] Hey, Beth.
- [BETH] Hey.
- Mic check?
- Uh, that cool?
I told Richie I'd check
levels before the show.
All good. Just give me a second.
- I'll fire up the board.
- Thanks.
Gotta make it quick, though.
I'm meeting someone at
the park in 20 minutes.
- [DREAMY MUSIC]
- [TRAFFIC, HORNS HONKING]
[DOG BARKING]
Maggie!
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[LAUGHTER]
The chestnut guy's usually here.
I really wanted you to try them.
It tastes just like Christmas.
Are you kidding? Hot chocolate?
That's perfect.
It is still hitting
70 degrees back home.
Remember that Christmas we
tried making cocoa on the porch
and the wind kept
blowing out the burner?
And we just drank it cold and
pretended that it was fancy.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[BETH] It's so good to see you.
- [MAGGIE] It's been too long.
- [BETH] Mm-hmm.
You look really good.
Happy.
Thanks.
I am.
I can't believe I
finally got you up here.
Wait. Where's your luggage?
It's stowed at the airport.
As soon as I got in, the
land appraiser called.
They had a last-minute
cancellation for tomorrow morning.
So I gotta go back tonight.
You're not gonna stay for the show?
The next availability isn't for months.
Well, can't Jose do it?
I was hoping we'd get
some real time together.
I had to let Jose go.
Oh, Maggie, I'm sorry.
You've taken on so much since Daddy
- I miss him.
- Me, too.
Everything's gonna get so much easier
when we finally sell the farm.
That's why I'm here.
Actually, um
Bethy, I figured out a way
that we don't have to sell.
Come here.
It's, um
It's a co-op model.
So we lease different parcels
of the land to different tenants.
I have already got a beekeeper,
a dahlia farmer, and
an herbalist interested.
We lease one more parcel of that land,
we can stay afloat for two years.
At least, I think.
Here, take a look.
That sounds like a lot of work.
It'd be worth it.
Why are you doing this, Maggie?
You don't even like farming that much.
Daddy didn't want to sell.
Daddy wanted us to live our own lives.
Just think about it.
I mean, it'd be a
a whole new community.
New people, new projects.
I mean, you wouldn't
have to work two jobs
just to pay rent.
We could redo the house.
We'd do it all together.
Come on.
I came all this way to show it to you.
I thought you came to see me sing.
[CHILDREN PLAYING]
I know you're going through a lot.
No, it's not about that.
Has Danny signed the divorce papers yet?
He thinks we can still make it.
He was always an idiot
when it comes to you.
[PHONE CHIMES]
You gotta go?
I have to get to one of my two jobs.
I'm sorry.
We're really not getting much time.
Some is better than none.
I'll text you the address of the bar.
- If you change your mind
- You'll be the first to know.
I love you, Beth.
I love you back.
I want you to live your own life, too.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
- [DOG BARKING]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
[SIREN WAILING]
[PHONE BUZZING, RINGING]
[PHONE BUZZING, RINGING]
What is it?
No, I'm, I'm coming back.
No, you cannot see me when I get back.
Danny, I I don't need your help.
Stop calling me.
[WAITRESS] Can I get you anything else?
Sorry. I'm good with
coffee for now. Thank you.
Thanks.
[NEGAN] Georgia?
Excuse me?
You're from Georgia. The accent.
Don't hear it a lot around here.
Born and raised.
How did you know?
I spent some time there a few years ago.
Loved it.
One of my all-time
favorite places and accents.
I'm Negan.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Maggie.
Nice to meet you, Margaret.
[BRIGHT, OPTIMISTIC
VERSION OF THEME MUSIC]
- [CHEERFUL MUSIC]
- [SILVERWARE CLANKING]
[CLAPS HANDS] Brunch.
I know, I know. Feel free.
No, I'm good. Thank you.
[PHONE BUZZING, RINGING]
For God's sake.
I said stop.
So
Bad boyfriend?
Husband.
Sort of.
It's, it's complicated.
No ring.
It must be complicated.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
What happened? If you
don't mind me asking.
You know what? I do mind you asking.
Well, it just seems to me that
he must have done something pretty bad
for him to go right to the begging
with no ring routine.
No, he
didn't do anything.
Well, what'd you do?
[NEGAN] Hmm.
[PHONE BUZZING, RINGING]
Mm
I mean, look.
You gotta admit, it's, it's, it's sweet,
if not a little bit desperate, but
I mean, he is obviously
trying to fix it, right?
- So
- Can I ask you something?
I mean, what are the chances
that you two can work it out?
Do you always interrogate
complete strangers about
the worst parts of their lives?
Unfortunately, yes, I do.
[CLINK]
All right. Come on.
Tell me. Danny boy, what is going on?
Oh God, why do you care?
I think maybe it would be good for you
to talk to a complete stranger
about whatever's going on.
I was married, and I loved it,
and maybe I can offer you some insight.
You're still holding on.
It's complicated.
Hmm. Too much time in Tijuana.
My wife died.
Cancer.
I'm really sorry.
Mm-mm. Please, don't be.
I, uh
I made her as miserable
as she made me happy.
Trust me. [RUEFUL CHUCKLE]
He's
He's just trying to
help me save my business.
Wow. Okay.
Um
What kind of business?
The family farm.
- You're a farmer?
- I'm a farmer.
Oh, my God. Come on.
I have met farmers
across the United States,
and there is not a farmer
in the history of the world
that looks like you.
You're on the wrong apps.
[CHUCKLES]
Maybe. I don't know.
It's, uh It's
probably the damn accent.
Well, he's trying the
whole save the farm,
- save the marriage deal?
- Classic.
- [NEGAN] Classic!
- Yeah, classic.
[SIGHS]
[MAGGIE] I'm trying to revitalize it.
And my loan officer thinks
there's just a better chance
if I get somebody to co-sign
that also knows farm operations.
That amounts to either my sister,
who'd rather live in a shoebox here,
or the other is my husband, who, um
He's just not somebody I should be with.
That is a tough spot.
Yeah, it is.
[WAITRESS] There's your check.
- Thank you.
- [WAITRESS] You're welcome.
But look, you just happen
to be in the big city.
And there are a million and
one ways to blow off steam here.
So tell me, what do you have in mind?
I'm going to the airport
this evening, so
Well, that's too bad.
See, I do believe that
there is something that everyone needs
that they can find right here.
Not for me. Nope.
I don't like it here. It's too crowded.
Too loud.
My dearest Maggie, you are
in the center of the universe right now.
I know that there is something,
one thing, that you are curious about.
All right, there's one thing.
Do you know
where I can find some of
those roasted chestnuts
that they sell on the street?
Oh, I can find you
some hot, steaming nuts.
[GENTLE, BRIGHT MUSIC]
[NEGAN] Thank you, sir!
- Madam?
- [MAGGIE] All right!
[NEGAN] A real New York experience.
[LAUGHS]
I gotta warn you, they smell better
- than they taste.
- Oh
- Oh, wow.
- [NEGAN] Uh-huh.
- That is
- [NEGAN LAUGHS]
- That is not food.
- Mm.
No, that is $14 of not food.
Oh! [LAUGHS]
Oh, man.
I can't believe my sister
thought I'd like that.
Well, apparently your
sister doesn't know you
as well as she thinks she does.
[MAGGIE] She knows what
Christmas means to me.
Christmas makes me think of my mom.
She died when I was little.
But
she used to always
say that she met the
the real Santa Claus in New York City.
And the streets were full of magic here.
I'm guessing things were
different in the 70s.
I'm pretty sure things
were worse in the 70s.
[LAUGHS]
Yeah.
Gosh, she used to have a
a Statue of Liberty snow globe.
It looked like magic
when I was six years old. Um
Beth broke it when she was little,
and she spent two days crying over it.
She was so distraught about it.
Anyway
I'm sure you have better
things to do than
lead this clueless tourist around.
So thank you for the distraction.
Oh, you'd be surprised.
What time's your flight?
It's in six hours.
I think it's gonna take me about
that time to get to LaGuardia.
Oh, I can help with that.
I can call you a car.
No, no. You don't have to do that.
No, no. Look, it's gonna be a win-win.
See, if I call you a car,
that means you can
spend more time with me.
Look, I can't let your only experience
in this grand city be
bad coffee and burnt nuts.
So let me
take you to lunch.
You just ate ten pounds of breakfast.
Okay, yeah, that's true.
But I have a never-ending appetite.
- What can I say?
- [LAUGHS]
Look, I have to be at this
place right around the corner,
meet an old client for one second.
I can't promise you Christmas magic.
But I can promise you
one hell of a steak.
I can't. I'm sorry.
It was
It was very nice to meet you. Thank you.
Farm girl?
It was really nice to meet you.
[TRAFFIC, HORNS HONKING]
Hey, uh, Georgia?
Really?
I mean, this can't be it.
Where's your sense of adventure?
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
[CLAPPING]
- [NEGAN LAUGHS]
- [MAGGIE] Alrighty.
[MAGGIE] You know, I've gotten milk
from cows before, sheep, even a pig.
But I will never understand
how they get milk from an oat.
What the hell kind of bumfuck
farmville do you come from?
- Oh.
- [LAUGHS]
Oh, you're fucking with me, I see.
Yeah, keeping you on your toes.
[NEGAN CHUCKLES]
Old stomping grounds.
[MAGGIE SIGHS] Okay. What
is it that you do exactly?
Consultant.
Right.
You coming with?
[LAUGHS]
My man.
- Good to see you.
- [DOORMAN] Nice to see you.
- After you.
- [DOORMAN] There you go.
- [LAUGHS]
- Well, look at that.
A little Christmas magic after all.
[CHAMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
Listen, do you mind
hanging here for one second?
- I'll be right back.
- Sure.
[DARLENE, WHISPERING]
What are you doing here?
[NEGAN] [INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
[DARLENE] I don't know if
I'm gonna make that happen.
[NEGAN] You're gonna make it
happen. It's gonna be great.
- Thank you.
- [DARLENE] You owe me.
[NEGAN] Okay.
- Everything okay?
- Yeah.
Darlene and I go way back.
Just, uh, catching up.
- Okay.
- Negan?
You can go on back.
Well, let's go see what
the big dogs are up to.
Mm
After you.
[NEGAN] When my wife passed, I, uh
I was a mess. Kind of
spun out a little bit.
Decided I would, uh,
hit the road, hobo style.
I traveled all over the country.
Nevada, Arizona,
Georgia, Florida, Texas.
Eventually I ended up
in Ohio, of all places,
and I started working
at a car dealership,
where I became friends with the owner.
And then I helped him
get another franchise.
And another, and another.
And pretty soon, my
phone started ringing
- with other car dealerships
- Oh, wow.
uh, wanting my help.
And next thing you know, I was
in rooms like this one,
eating meals like the
one we're about to have.
Sounds exciting.
Oh, no, no, no.
You can't imagine how
boring these men are.
Oh yeah. That part I believe.
I've been working on
my business plan for
the last few months,
and just talking to investors and
God, there's a lot of duds out there.
Speaking of business plan
Can I see it?
Please.
[STRINGS VERSION OF O, HOLY NIGHT PLAYS]
- [QUIET CHATTER]
- [SILVERWARE CLINKING]
Greene Family Farm.
Oh, my God. You really are a farmer.
I wasn't lying.
All right.
All right. Let me see the numbers.
- [QUIET CHATTER]
- [SILVERWARE CLINKING]
Okay.
All right. Uh, look, I
don't know shit about crops.
- Okay.
- But I do know about margins.
And on paper, they look good.
No, come on. I hear a "but" coming.
But this kind of shit is
run by asshats like me.
All right? And good,
sadly, isn't good enough.
See, investors, they want to see growth.
And then you will grind yourself
down to nothing trying
to give that to them.
And for what?
It's my home.
It's a sinking ship.
I'm sorry.
You're not wrong.
That's why my sister left.
To escape the money pit?
Well, to escape the ghosts.
Our dad just passed.
A year before him, our brother Sean
and her mom before that.
I can't blame her for wanting
to leave it all in the past.
- That's a lot of shit.
- [MAGGIE] Yeah.
But it's
It sounds like you should, too.
It's not that easy.
But it is that easy.
It is. There has to be something
that you've always
wanted to do for yourself.
Thank you.
Has anybody told you
that you eat like it's
your last day on Earth?
Carpe diem, right?
All right.
Damn, that's good.
[SILVERWARE CLINKING]
- [CHAMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
- [SOFT CHATTER]
You know them?
Yeah, I do. Um
Friends of a client that I was, uh
gonna meet here in the city.
- [MAGGIE] Hm.
- [NEGAN] Yeah.
[SIMON] Mr. Smith?
[NEGAN] Simon!
How are you, old chap?
[SIMON] Your membership with
us expired some time ago.
It was made clear to you
that you wouldn't be welcome here again.
Mm, well, you know, I had a
hankering for the chef's steak.
And I gotta say, as good as ever.
We'll get out of here. Thank you.
No, we're not. We are
gonna finish our meal.
- [MAGGIE] Let's go.
- No.
If you don't leave now, I'll
have to call the authorities.
Call the authorities, huh?
Well, what do you think
your clientele's gonna think
when the cops come and
arrest one of your patrons?
I think they would have
a lot of questions, Simon.
I think there would be more
questions from the police for you, no?
Okay.
All right.
Let's go.
[UNSETTLING MUSIC]
[SILVERWARE CLINKING]
See you soon, prick.
[CHAMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
Maggie.
- Sir, these are for you.
- Thank you.
Margaret.
You wanna tell me
what the hell that was?
I've told you about my
divorce, my dead dad, my sister.
I feel like it's the
least that you can do.
You got a gun strapped
to your ankle, don't you?
I saw it back at the diner.
You think I'm carrying around a gun
and you still came with me?
Yeah, I'm from Georgia, farm country.
Irish Rolex. Sorry to disappoint.
That table full of men in there?
They are friends with
this shitbag named Alan.
Alan is the reason that I was put away.
Okay. What did you do to him?
Assault.
Look, I just
I need him to know that I
still have my eye on him.
That's all?
[TRAFFIC]
You'd go straight back to prison.
- Why did you bring me?
- [HORN HONKS]
I don't know.
I just think today was
[SIGHS]
- I like your company.
- You wanted me to stop you.
Well, do you know what I like to do
when I really want to beat
the shit out of someone?
What?
[BUS BRAKES SQUEALING HORNS HONKING]
Boom!
[MAGGIE LAUGHS]
Very nice.
- I can finish on that one.
- [NEGAN] Nice going.
[MAGGIE LAUGHS]
Very impressive.
See what you got, slugger.
[NEGAN] It's been a lot of years.
Sounds like a trick.
- Trust me, it's been a minute.
- [MAGGIE] Mm.
All right.
[THUD]
[MAGGIE WOLF WHISTLES]
- It's a pretty swing.
- [BALL CLANGS ON FENCE]
Is this why you want
to go back to prison?
They miss you on the softball team?
Oh, I'm not going back.
Keep chasing that guy around, you will.
[MANAGER] Hey pal, how about a helmet?
Why don't you go fuck yourself?
No, see, I used to, uh teach PE,
softball coach, a little basketball.
Wait, you're serious?
[LAUGHS] I am serious.
I had this, uh
I had this gal.
Started coaching her
as a as a sophomore.
And she was something, you know?
Smart, funny, whole package.
She caught the eye of this dad.
Alan.
The kind of guy that
had this harmless-looking
mustache and a ridiculous pocket square.
Anyway.
Started showing up at softball games.
He didn't have a kid on the team.
Not long after that, this girl,
who I don't think ever
missed a day of school,
started missing school.
Then when she did show up,
I would notice makeup on her face.
You know, covering bruises.
So, I thought I was
doing the right thing.
And I had her go talk to the counselor.
And nothing came of it.
Turns out, Alan,
friends with the police department.
Anyway, school year ends.
And because of all the
shit going on in my life
- [HITS BALL]
- [BALL THUDS]
kind of forgot about this girl.
And when I did remember,
I thought I'd look her up.
See how she was doing. Make sure she
Make sure she got out.
[BALL CLANKS ON GATE]
And what I found
instead was an obituary.
She took her own life.
18 years old.
Yeah.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
That was kind of the end
of that story, I thought.
So
imagine my surprise when
I show up here in the big city
of my favorite supper club.
Sitting there minding my own business.
And and there's Alan.
With that stupid pocket square
and that dumbass mustache.
So, right then and there,
I decided I was gonna
teach him a lesson.
I broke his jaw.
I figured he wouldn't be able
to talk his way out of shit
- with his face wired shut.
- And went to prison?
- Two years.
- Was it worth it?
Yes, it was.
I've never hit anybody.
Is that by choice or
you just never had to?
Never had to.
Well, there will come a
time, you know, where
something means a lot to you.
And you'll know what to do.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
[MAGGIE] You know what I always
think about in places like this?
An overwhelming number
of handsome strangers.
Mm mm-mm.
- No?
- No.
The end of the world.
Well, Jesus, that got dark.
Go on. [LAUGHS]
I mean, what if all this just
went away in one fell swoop?
All these people just, where they'd go.
Who you'd be if the
world changed overnight?
Well, your kids must love
your bedtime stories, though.
- No kids.
- No?
Mm-mm. No.
Got pretty close a while
back, but it didn't take.
Oh. I'm sorry.
- [BELL RINGING]
- [SANTA] Ho-ho-ho!
Merry Christmas!
It's too bad.
You'd be a hell of a mom.
What makes you say that?
Well, 'cause I'm a shit dad.
See, you are someone that shows up.
And my version of fatherhood
is kind of the exact opposite of that.
I thought that I
thought your wife died.
She did.
But, you know, eventually
there was another woman
and then another.
And as things work, you know
Aww.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
Yeah.
Do you get to see him very much?
No.
I call him on his birthdays, Christmas.
I try to send money when I can.
The truth of the matter is,
the kid's better off without me.
I think about my dad every single day.
What he would want from me.
You don't ever get those moments back.
Not ever.
All right. I should get to the airport.
Let me ask you something. What
would happen if you stayed?
Well, hours to a farmhand I can't pay,
a missed appointment
with a land surveyor,
and just a mountain of paperwork
getting bigger instead of smaller.
Yeah. I can see why you're so eager
to leave the most
exciting city in the world.
You know what? It's responsibility.
- It's just how it is.
- Oh, bullshit.
It's excuses.
Excuses for what?
[NEGAN] Why you have to get back.
I mean, look, you've anchored yourself
to things that you
have clearly outgrown.
You have outgrown him.
You have outgrown the farm.
And it's just, it's
honestly, to spend a day
with this incredible woman
that I know now is going back to that,
it's fucking depressing.
You know what's depressing?
You being willing to throw
your life away to go take
a slug at some guy again.
Sounds like you're the
one trying to disappear.
[SIREN WAILING]
Okay, so the truth is
that wasn't gonna hit him.
I came here to kill him.
Okay.
So you were right.
Just not strapped to my ankle.
You would get sent away for life.
They have to catch me first.
I scare you now?
Undecided.
Would you mind holding this for me?
[LAUGHS]
For safety?
Mine?
Or yours?
Can it be both?
- [SIREN WAILING]
- [GENTLE MUSIC]
[GENTLE MUSIC]
You okay?
[MAGGIE] I've tried
being good for so long.
I think I want to try being happy.
I like it. Okay.
Well
What would make you happy?
Well, right now
being here.
And seeing my sister sing.
Okay. What about this
can't-miss appointment you have?
- I'll figure it out.
- Wow.
Can you help me with one more thing?
Yes, I can.
[TRAIN RUMBLING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[DOORBELL BEEPS]
This is it?
Well, according to my
guy, this is the place.
Oh.
Well, I didn't know
that you had a guy on it.
Oh. I got a lot of guys.
[MAGGIE] Right.
Should I be following you back here?
- [NEGAN] Yes, please.
- [MAGGIE] This feels a little
[NEGAN] Yes, please.
O, Christmas tree O, Christmas tree ♪
[MAGGIE GASPS]
Wow.
All right, the guy said, uh,
maybe back here somewhere?
How often has this Christmas tree ♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
O, Christmas tree O, Christmas tree ♪
Much pleasure can you give me ♪
- [WOMAN] Hi, there.
- Hi.
Much pleasure can you give me ♪
Did you find what you were looking for?
Yeah, everything but Santa.
Santa?
- I may have seen him back there.
- [LAUGHS]
- I'll be right back.
- Okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[WOMAN] I'll give it to you
for half price, if you want it.
Yeah.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Would you like a reading?
I mean, this is just for fun, right?
If that's what you want it to be.
[JAZZY RENDITION OF
O CHRISTMAS TREE PLAYS]
Tap here.
[PHONE CHIMES]
[HANNAH] Cut the deck
wherever you'd like.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[HANNAH] All right
The World. You've been here before.
No. New York?
My first time.
If not in this life, then in another.
Your soul learns important lessons here.
Knight of Pentacles.
Strong, loyal ally.
Someone meant to reveal
hidden pieces of yourself.
Five of Cups.
Now, this one can represent
loss, disappointment sometimes,
an inability to see past setbacks.
Kind of rings a bell, that one.
[NEGAN] Hey. Here you are.
You, pick a card.
[LAUGHS] Why the hell would I do that?
Why not?
Fair point.
Wheel of Fortune.
Reminds us our lives
aren't straight lines.
Fate has a way of
looping back on itself.
Let me see your hands.
Why?
This spread is telling me
that you're in the midst
of some major karmic cycle.
That you've just met someone
important in your life,
and then this guy walks up.
[CHUCKLES]
Just, give me your hands.
- [NERVOUS LAUGH]
- [HANNAH] Mm-hmm.
All right. Let's see
Fate line.
Same length, same curve.
Karmic bonds.
You've had several lives together.
Fate always brings us the
people we're meant to find.
Relationship cycles repeat when
we've ignored something
we're supposed to learn.
There are people in
this life, people who
help us break those cycles.
Whose mere presence can unlock
the best versions of ourselves.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
You should pay attention to one another.
You know what she's saying, right?
I mean, I think you're saying this.
You're saying that we should
probably do a little hanky-panky.
Oh, my God!
[HANNAH] The cards are not saying that.
What? That's what you're saying, right?
- What I'm hearing.
- She's not saying that.
That's what I'm hearing. Am I wrong?
- Thank you very much.
- Whoa. What's the rush now?
Things are just starting
to get interesting.
My sister's on in 20 minutes.
I don't suppose you'd
want to come, would you?
I don't want to disappoint fate.
- [SIREN WAILING]
- [HORNS HONKING]
[NEGAN] Hey.
We're on the list.
[MAGGIE] Thanks.
[BETH] From dark to light ♪
From winter to summer ♪
From dark to light ♪
From winter to summer ♪
From dark to light ♪
From winter to summer ♪
From dark to light ♪
From winter to summer ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Uh, this next one goes
out to my big sister.
We used to sing it
together when we were kids.
Hopefully she likes this version.
[SOLEMN ACOUSTIC GUITAR INTRO]
It came upon a midnight clear ♪
That glorious song of old ♪
From angels bending near the earth ♪
To touch their harps of gold ♪
Peace on the earth ♪
Goodwill to men ♪
From heaven's all-gracious King ♪
The world in solemn stillness lay ♪
To hear the angels sing ♪
Still through the
cloven skies they come ♪
[NEGAN] Motherfucker
[BETH] With peaceful wings unfurled ♪
And still their heavenly music flows ♪
[SINISTER MUSIC]
- Negan, wait!
- Aah!
Goddamn fate.
Touch me again, and I'll
get you sent away for life.
No!
[NEGAN] Touch you?
I will kill you.
Negan, stop it. It's not worth it.
I want you to admit it,
admit what you did to that poor girl,
you piece of shit.
[MAGGIE] Please don't do this.
I want to hear the words. Say the words.
Please.
[TENSE MUSIC]
[ALAN WHIMPERS]
That's right. You listen
to the little bitch.
[YELPS, MOANS]
[GRUNTS]
- I'll have you sent
- What?
Have me sent away?
I've got a clean record and
a face that people trust.
I'd love to see you try to
explain this to the cops.
Get out of here already!
Oh, I'd listen to the lady.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[CAR ACCELERATING]
Oh, Jesus Christ, I
- I almost just
- I know. But you didn't.
But you! [LAUGHS]
[LAUGHS] I know!
I did.
- You did.
- I did.
We make quite a pair.
- We do, don't we?
- Yeah.
[LAUGHS]
Let's go back inside.
You go ahead. I, uh
I should go home.
Curfew, remember?
Thanks for an interesting day.
Oh, I wasn't the only one
that made it interesting.
I think that the
fortune teller was right.
We had something to
learn from one another.
Maybe so.
Maggie.
Oh, you never
You got everything but Santa.
Are you just trying to
get me to sit on your lap?
Well, I mean, that depends.
Are you on the nice list?
Or the naughty list?
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
You should see your son.
He's not better off without you.
Thank you.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
It came upon a midnight clear ♪
That glorious song of old ♪
[BOTH SIGNING] From angels
bending near the earth ♪
To touch their harps of gold ♪
Peace on the earth, goodwill to men ♪
From heaven's all-gracious King ♪
The world in solemn stillness lay ♪
To hear the angels sing ♪
[GIGGLES]
We can still start a sister act.
Uh, just let me pick
the outfits this time.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Oh.
I called the loan officer
when you were finishing up.
Told her I'm gonna sell the farm.
Really?
Yeah.
[SIGHS]
It's not gonna be a lot of money.
And it's 150 years of family history.
But I've only ever
known one kind of life.
Maybe letting go is the way I get
to find something better, too.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC]
I didn't even know there
was more you wanted.
I think I let myself stop
believing it was possible.
Come on. Almost home.
You sure it's okay if I stay?
Are you kidding? Stay
as long as you want.
Wow.
[DOG BARKING]
Hi, Beth.
Hey, Luis. Duty calls?
As always. Hey, there.
Hi.
[WHISPERS] That's my neighbor, Luis.
He's a doctor.
Shhh!
Okay, so what about
that guy from the bar?
Oh, no. I think
He's just kind of a narcissist.
Didn't even get his number.
He shows up for six hours,
flips your whole world,
and you don't even get his number?
Maggie, the ones that hit that
hard are meant to stick around.
Yeah, or maybe we learned
everything we needed to from each other.
Mm. Maybe.
[PHONE BUZZING, RINGING]
Hello?
Hey, dude. It's me, your pop.
No, I was just
I was thinking about you.
How's everything going?
How's school?
No shit.
The lead in the play?
[LAUGHS]
Oh, I'm so proud of you, man.
Yeah.
No, look, I was umm
I'm gonna ask your mom if maybe
she can bring you out for a visit.
It doesn't matter. A couple days
Now, actor boy,
we can go see a show or something.
Yeah.
[ALAN] I'm sorry for
running out like that.
But what can I say? It's business.
Joshua?
Let me call you back.
[ALAN] I said I was sorry.
What more do you want?
Yeah, I'll I'll sleep on it tonight,
and I'll call you tomorrow, okay?
Yeah, thanks.
What?
That was the loan officer.
They're approving the co-op with just
with just me signing.
But that's not what you want.
- You just told me.
- Yeah, I know, but maybe
what I want can wait
just a little longer.
I mean, it's not like the
world's ending tomorrow.
[ALAN] You're acting like a child.
I can be home in five
minutes. Come over.
I'll chill some rosé.
That's my girl!
You know I would never leave
if there wasn't a good reason.
Will you come on over?
I'll make it up to you.
Maybe with the rosé.
I can make a little dessert.
- Or, uh
- [CLICK]
[ALAN] you could be my dessert.
- [ALAN] Oh, shit!
- [GUNSHOT]
[HERSHEL] Mom?!
Mom, Fabian's dead.
- Negan shot him in the head.
- What?
And then he attacked Dillard.
Sliced his face in half.
We gotta get to the hospital.
- [GROWLING]
- I wouldn't.
Oh, shit, I bet you would.
We're in trouble.
MAGGIE: I'm trying to figure
out what happened there.
Not going anywhere, compadre.
You and me are friends.
He is a rabid animal, Maggie.
MAGGIE: It always starts
when someone gets scared.
[GUN COCKS]
Whose side are you on?
♪♪
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
[ECHOING] I think that we would
have been friends in another life.
[ECHOING] Do you hear yourself?
I did say another life.
I don't know. What do you say about 306?
So surreal.
- So cool.
- So surreal to do 306.
It's been a fucking joy.
I'm Negan.
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS]
Maggie.
Nice to meet you, Margaret.
If the zombie apocalypse never happened,
then Negan didn't kill Glenn.
There's an opportunity to explore
who Maggie and Negan might
have been to each other
if their first introduction
wasn't such a horrible, traumatic event.
It's like we just
stepped out of our bodies,
and yet stayed as these
characters, but not.
Do you always interrogate
complete strangers
about the worst parts of their lives?
Unfortunately, yes, I do.
We get to tell the story
of two people meeting each
other for the first time
with this deep, inexplicable familiarity
that just lends itself to
this kaleidoscope of things.
And, then, there's also this connection
that is undeniable that
two strangers could have.
Really?
I mean, this can't be it.
Where is your sense of adventure?
This episode is really
inspired by "Before Sunrise."
That's a movie that we talked
about a lot in the writers room.
What happens if you throw these
people together for 24 hours
in New York City on a winter day?
What is gonna happen?
- Yeah.
- And there is something there
that we've never got to play before.
Boom!
And it's almost like whiplash.
It was almost, like, shocking.
Completely different
wardrobes and world.
This spread is telling me
that you've just met someone
important in your life,
and then this guy walks up.
One of the emotions
that our audience feels
during a typical episode of
"The Walking Dead" is dread.
The horror for this episode
is in this alternate reality,
are we about to see
Maggie and Negan hook up?
- And how horrifying.
- There it is. And there it is.
I wasn't gonna say it.
One of us had to.
- Neggie.
- [LAUGHS]
What would make you happy?
Well, right now
being here.
[DOWN-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS]
and seeing my sister sing.
From dark to light ♪
From winter to summer ♪
From dark to light ♪
From winter to summer ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Cut. Cut guys. That was awesome.
As soon as I told Lauren
that Beth was coming back, she squealed.
Maggie!
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]
[CHUCKLES]
Seeing Emily again
and having this story line
that was so meaningful,
she's like a little sister to me anyway.
It feels so good to be back.
And there's even some of the same people
that work on Walking Dead.
Plus, there's, like, seeing Lauren.
And I love working on scenes with her.
It's always been so easy,
from the very beginning.
Well, the last time we
saw Beth was season 5.
She's about to be
reunited with her sister,
and before she's able to even
give her sister a hug, she gets shot.
Loss has been such a big
part of "The Walking Dead"
forever and all time.
But to see someone on screen
who you lost in such
a heartbreaking way,
to undo it and to imagine a
life where that hadn't happened,
I knew the story line was
gonna give all the feels.
- I loved it.
- Me too.
It's been so fun. I'm having a blast.
[CLAPBOARD SNAPS]
This next one goes out to my big sister.
We used to sing it
together when we were kids.
Hopefully she likes this version.
["IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR" PLAYS]
It came upon a midnight clear ♪
It's really nice in this episode
to be able to imagine as they've
grown up and become adults,
their relationship that they would have.
The idea that she would
have become a singer
felt like a real natural
progression for us.
And once that happened,
we knew we wanted Emily
to sing in the show.
But more than just her singing,
we really wanted her and
Maggie to sing together.
Peace on the earth, goodwill to men ♪
From Heaven's all gracious King ♪
That was another iconic moment
from the mothership series,
and we wanted to pay homage to it.
We didn't really rehearse much,
but it is supposed to
be sort of off the cuff,
like we're remembering
it from when we were kids.
It was so fun to sing with her.
I think that the
fortune teller was right.
We had something to
learn from one another.
Maybe so.
One thing that was really
important for the episode
was how does this relate to
the story line in real time?
And do we get to come away knowing that
who knows why they
haven't killed each other
and they're still in each other's lives,
but there's some reason
that they both help each other
from making better decisions
as they've moved on.
And it's an unlikely partnership,
but it's something bigger
than themselves that is better.
- There's a lot of opening up
- Yeah.
that is still very
parallel to the reality
- of who we are now.
- 100%.
Mom!
Fabian's dead.
Negan shot him in the head.
- What?!
- And then he attacked Dillard.
We got to get to the hospital.
[DRAMATIC OUTRO MUSIC]