02x04 - Not Our Daughters

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Motherland:

Abigail: Charvel!

M: Welcome to w*r College Sekhmet. I'm your coven leader. Call me M.

Abigail: And you want me to handfast with Gregorio Shellbark? Pass.

Anacostia: There are things about the army and Alder that just don't sit right.

Scylla: Bonnie and Shane, they seem pretty well connected.

Anacostia: Bonnie said Orsatti pays them to attend the vigils, too. Stir things up. If anyone's a link to the Camarilla higher-ups, it's this guy.

Abigail: Your tribe just laid down and died instead of fighting the Camarilla.

Adil: My tribe was ambushed and m*rder*d, Abigail.

Raelle: [vocalizing]

Alder: But what you can do, I've never seen anything like it.

Nicte: They're k*lling themselves. You stole my Work!

Alder: It had to be done. You know that.

Nicte: They already surrendered. Your heart is black, Sarah.

Abigail: If Jem made a Working that could stop the battle then maybe it's time for another Bellweather to build a Working.

---

♪ Oh, beautiful ♪

♪ For spacious skies ♪

Sarah Alder (voiceover): Your true greatness awaits. Hundreds of young women from all over the country are joining every day.

♪ For purple Mountain's majesties ♪

Alder (voiceover): Destiny calls upon each of us to protect this great nation in her own way.

♪ America, America ♪

Alder (voiceover): Join today. Find your true self. Find your true power.

♪ With sisterhood ♪

Alder (voiceover): Our voices are stronger together. Will you answer the call? And you won't be alone when you answer.

Alder (voiceover): We will meet our great nation's enemies with storm and fury.

♪ God shed her grace on thee ♪

Alder (voiceover): Join today. Find your true voice.

Proud young woman: I found my voice.

Penelope Silver: I found my voice.

Alder: Find yours.

---

Opening credits

---

Gregorio Shellbark: Grafton has it in for me.

Adil: I think your tongue has it in for ya. Try again. Don't rush through it.

Gregorio (in Mothertongue): Mòó t’adlá khík’ó móò? [Where is the book borrow place?]

Adil (in Mothertongue): Ut’àú adèír--library? [Where is the library?]

Gregorio: So Mothertongue for "library" is "library"?

Adil: No, there isn't a word for "library" in Mothertongue.

Gregorio: So where did everybody keep their books back then? Hm?

Abigail Bellweather: On shelves, one assumes.

Adil: You should be careful about assumptions. Some people might get offended by them.

Abigail: And maybe, some people just need to get over themselves.

Gregorio: You know what? I'm late for Strategic Tactical anyway. So I should...

Adil: Does anyone else know this was you?

Abigail: The weather? It's best that they don't.

Adil: Why don't you just unbreak it?

Abigail: In case you haven't noticed by the sexy gravel in my voice my throat's blown out. Fixers say I'm on the mend, though. I was on my way to the mess to get some tea with honey if you want to come along.

Adil: Actually, I need to go pack my bag.

Abigail: Why? Where are you going?

Adil: India. Khalida and The Hague think they may have found a new home for our people.

Abigail: That's great. But you just got here, didn't you?

Adil: This has been made clear to me, I'm responsible for the rest of The Tarim having died.

Abigail: Look, if that's how you took what I said, I didn't mean--

Adil: But you still said it. And you might not be entirely wrong. So helping the survivors get settled is the least I can do.

Adil: Good bye, Abigail.

---

Abigail: [GRUNTS]

Abigail: Ahh. Keep making those noises, I'm gonna have to start asking questions. Are you still not talking to me?

Tally Craven: I would only not be talking to you if I were upset about you abandoning me at the reception. Which I'm not.

Abigail: But sounds like you would have had your episode even if I had been there, right?

Tally: And you wouldn't have had yours if you'd just come along with me.

Abigail: I would've just pushed myself too hard after you'd bunked down. Haven't you heard? I'm stubborn and opinionated. And--[COUGHS] Your turn.

Tally: So, when's Adil coming back?

Raelle Collar: Adil left? Because your voice isn't sexy anymore?

Abigail: What about this isn't sexy? He and Khalida are looking into where to settle.

Raelle: Is it not here? What else did I miss?

Abigail: Tally's gone full obsesso on the Liberian Conflict.

Tally: [GRUNTS]

Raelle: So, more Alder homework, huh?

Tally: All those books, all of them, say that Alder wasn't there at the Martyrdom. But I know she was. I saw her there.

---

Alder: What in the name of the Goddess were you thinking?

Petra Bellweather: My goal was to have Scylla lead Anacostia back to her cell. Once we learned they were looking into the Camarilla too, it seemed foolish not to piggyback on their operation.

Alder: Scylla Ramshorn should be wasting away in Saint Dominique right now. My orders on that were abundantly clear.

Petra: If we followed your orders, we wouldn't know about the Camarilla using hearing tests to identify witches.

Anacostia Quartermaine: At least now, with the testing centers we stand a chance of finding our sisters first.

Petra: We need to swap out the test in hundreds, maybe thousands of schools. We need you to authorize--

Alder: Petra. Give us the room.

Alder: So you work for Petra now?

Anacostia: You set the bar for breaking protocol pretty high. Before the Tarim mission, you did what you had to do to make sure President Wade saw things your way. And thought them your way. And said them your way.

Alder: I didn't give you permission to speak freely.

Anacostia: I didn't ask.

Alder: Do you judge me, for what I've done?

Anacostia: I think I'll leave the judgements to history...Ma'am.

Alder: You put a fetch on that Camarilla courier, yes?

Anacostia: General Bellweather was planning on bringing him in for interrogation. I'm going to lead the operation to swap out the hearing tests. We just need your okay so that we could--

Alder: Oh, now you need my okay? You stay on the courier. Petra can handle the schools. If the Camarilla's power structure is the same as it always has been, he'll report to one of their Exarchs. We need their leadership identified and eliminated.

Anacostia: All due respect, but this is Petra's operation.

Alder: And it's my army.

---

Willa Collar: The answer is no.

Spree messenger: Our cell disagrees. She won't be happy about that.

Willa: Then the feeling is mutual. Good bye.

Scylla Ramshorn: Trouble with that other cell?

Willa: They're being short-sighted. I can't stop anyone from going on whatever suicide mission they're planning but I won't be a party to it. This isn't the military.

Scylla: And yet, here I am with an update on my mission with Anacostia. Orsatti's on the move with those hearing test results.

Willa: Hopefully, toward a higher-up in the Camarilla. Good. Stay on him.

Willa: You can keep the photo, by the way. I miss her, too.

---

[promotional video Proud young woman]: I found my voice.

[promotional video Penelope]: I found my voice.

Alder: After today's pilot launch the military in conjunction with the civilian government will open more testing centers across the country. As you can see, our tools are non-invasive, and the accommodations, far from medieval.

Alder: The military understands how frightening and exciting this time can be in a young woman's life. Prospective recruits will be given the utmost privacy and consideration during the verification process.

Reporter: Don't you mean "prospective witches", General?

---

Crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Alder: [clears throat] Witch or Civilian, we're all American. And I have no doubt that this will bring us closer together than we've ever been.

Reporter: We got it. Thank you.

Crowd: Find your voice! [repeating]

Crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

---

Petra: Viable candidates are starting to thin, Abigail. I hear Gregorio Shellbark is in high demand.

Abigail: That's because he's a safety school with a p*nis.

Raelle: [suppressed laugh]

Abigail: Isn't finding and fighting the Camarilla a little more important than handfasting right now?

Petra: There's more than one way to fight the enemy. And our family has to fight back any way that we can. After Charvel.

Petra: Raelle, excellent work at the weapon's test, by the way. The brass were very impressed.

Raelle: It's all a blur, but thank you.

Petra: Savor it. History is being made, after all.

Tally: Oh, speaking of history, I'd like to pick your brain about Liberia. You served there, right?

Petra: The forever-front?

Raelle: You just invited us to keep your mom from bugging you about Gregorio, didn't you?

Abigail: Can you blame me?

Tally: I'm really starting to dig into the Martyrdom of the Rebels.

Petra: Oh, before my time, I'm afraid. All I know is from the same books you've read. Esterbrook and her witches refused conscription when the US came knocking. So they martyred themselves to make a statement to the rest of the world.

Tally: So why isn't General Alder a bigger part of that story?

Petra: Why would she be? She wasn't there when the martyrdom occurred.

Tally: Oh, I heard she was. Fighting alongside a soldier named Batan. It would have been one or two classes before yours.

Petra: Where are you getting your information?

Abigail: She's been reading so many books, it's hard to say.

Petra: Hmm. Though, Intelligence does often have a hard time keeping track of the General's comings and goings. You may want to find a source closer to the story.

Tally: Thank you, Ma'am.

Petra: Mm-hmm.

---

Raelle: [chuckling]

Raelle: You know, I gotta give it to the Imperatrix for at least throwing in a couple of shortish brunettes to try and trip me up.

Raelle: You alright, Bells?

Abigail: I'm great. I just keep failing at absolutely everything.

Abigail: The Witchbomb, Adil.

Raelle: About the Witchbomb, I mean, there's no failing or winning at dumb luck. As for you and Adil, I-I mean...Did Tally fail with Gerit? Did I fail with Scylla?

Abigail: You definitely didn't win.

Raelle: 'Kay. Well, what I'm trying to say is Tally's stronger for having gone through what she did with Gerit. And I'm stronger for having experienced Scylla. You'll come out stronger from Adil, too. Besides, I'm not convinced you two are done.

Gregorio: Orders coming down from the General.

---

Gregorio: Hey, if it helps, I really think Adil's going to miss you, too.

Abigail: Shouldn't you be worrying about your own blossoming relationships? My mother tells me you have plenty of available options.

Gregorio: You seem surprised by this information.

M: Cadets. Orders just came down from General Alder herself. Things are getting tough at the testing center opening. Alder wants us there with bells on to make the new witches feel at ease.

Abigail: What if we have other things that are more important than Parade Duty?

M: You heard me say "orders", right? We're moving out in fifteen. Dismissed. Except, for you two teacher's pets! Collar, you'll be on Alder's personal security detail once we get there.

Raelle: Guess, it's the price of fame, huh?

Tally: And me?

M: You won't be taking the bus.

---

Anacostia: Gonna stare at that all day?

Scylla: You've been on base. How is she?

Anacostia: Keep your mind on the mission.

Anacostia: Looks like Orsatti's on the move.

---

Crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Anacostia: This is ugly.

Scylla: This is America.

Scylla: Mind on the mission.

Bonnie: Justine.

Scylla: Bonnie. What are you guys doing here?

Shane: Just some more pro-Movement work. Rile the crowd up. Keep things interesting.

Bonnie: Oh, you guys should put these on. We heard that the army is trying to identify protestors so they can target them.

Scylla: Thank you.

Shane: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

---

Blanton Silver: Tally, I wanna say thank you, for taking Penelope under your wing. I honestly wouldn't have the first idea what to do with her.

Penelope Silver: Do with me? I'm not some broken toy. I'm your daughter.

Blanton: I never said you were broken.

Penelope: Oh, but I'm different now, right?

Blanton: Than me and a lot of other people? Yes. But...America thrives on diversity.

Penelope: Don't talking point me.

Tally: I think, your father was trying to say--

Penelope: Look, I'm the exact same person I was before what happened at the church. Only now with the help of Tally and everyone else at Fort Salem. I know more about who I'm really supposed to be!

Blanton: Who you're supposed to be is my daughter.

Penelope: I am. And I'm also a witch. If you can't accept that, then you're no better than the protestors waiting for us at the center.

Tally: It's a scary adjustment. For anyone. Even if they know they're a witch before conscription. Same goes for soldiers' parents.

Blanton: Well, here's hoping that your performance today makes everyone feel a little, uh, less intimidated. On both sides.

Tally: You've got this.

---

Crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Scylle: Lot of Movement people here.

Anacostia: Agent Provocateurs mixed in with regular, witch-fearing citizens. Orsatti's been busy. He's not chanting, but he's not leaving, either. It's almost like he's waiting for something.

Crowd: [booing]

Scylla: We need to go.

Anacostia: We haven't learnt enough. We're more in than we're out now, and Orsatti isn't moving. We keep a low profile and ride this out.

Penelope: [vocalizing]

Crowd: [booing]

Alder: The songs we sing are songs of freedom. Songs of protection. Of justice and sisterhood and patriotism and pride. And no matter what may come of today's verifications, I ask that each of you honor your country by letting these young women discover who they truly are. With warmth and support.

Crow: [booing] Traitor!

Alder: Our first prospective recruit. Please show her respect. This can't be easy.

Shane: Time to find your voices, ladies.

Shane: Not our daughters!

Crow: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Raelle: Have you ever seen anything like this?

Alder: Too many times, Cadet. No matter how remarkable our service, there will always be those who hate us.

---

[crowd muffled in background]: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Fixer: Okay, Shireen. That's it.

Shireen: You don't have to take blood or anything? To confirm it?

Alder: We have everything we need. And we have a place waiting for you at Fort Salem.

Shireen: You-you're absolutely, absolutely sure there's no such thing as a false positive?

Alder: Welcome, daughter.

Shireen: I've always felt like I was different. Now it all makes sense. Thank you. So much. Billy's gonna lose his mind.

Fixer: This way, dear.

Alder: Have them bring the next batch.

---

Anacostia: What is he waiting for?

Scylla: Feels like something's about to go down.

Anacostia: Keep an eye on Orsatti. Let me know if he moves.

Scylla: Yeah.

---

[promotional video Alder]: Join today.

Abigail: Basic's gonna eat her alive.

Raelle: [scoffs] What, just 'cause she's upset about leaving her boyfriend behind?

Abigail: People leave, people die. That's life.

Raelle: Abs, you don't have to be okay about Adil.

Abigail: I'm not. I blamed him for the death of the Tarim. That's why he didn't stay.

Raelle: sh*t. He couldn't control that. Why would you do that?

Abigail: I don't know.

Anacostia (Farspeech): I know I'm the last person you wanna hear from right now, but I need you to listen. The Camarilla have at least one operative on site and have put something in motion with the Movement and law enforcement.

Alder: Understood. And thank you.

Fixer: Thank you so much for coming out today. You've done your nation proud, regardless.

Fixer: Is everything okay?

Alder: Keep the Negatives inside with the others for a bit.

Alder: And get me General Bellweather.

---

Petra: Using Provocateurs is very modern for the Camarilla.

Alder: Their tactics are evolving. So, too, must ours.

Petra: If we sound the alarm, then the public not only knows that the Camarilla are back...

Alder: But that they've also got us on our heels.

Alder: For today, we lie.

Petra: What did you have in mind?

Alder: We'll say it's the Spree.

---

Blanton: What are you doing? You heard the General. The Spree are on-site. I need to leave now and you're coming with me.

Penelope: I'm the face of this entire thing. What kind of example do I set for everyone involved if I run?

Blanton: Running and falling back are not the same thing.

Penelope: No. But it looks the same to the people you leave behind.

Blanton: Penny, it's...Once you're trained and deployed, there is nothing that I can do to keep you safe. So pl...please. Just let me protect you today while I still can, okay? Please.

Blanton: Okay.

Blanton: Thanks.

---

Crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

[garbled Farspeech]

M: Please repeat.

[Farspeech]: [garbled] ...prepare Sekhmet for crowd escalation.

Gregorio: Well? What are our orders?

M: No clue. Farspeech just glitched out.

[high pitched glitchy noise]

Charvel's voice: Abigail, it's me, Charvel.

Gregorio: That doesn't sound like Alder.

Abigail: That's because it isn't.

Charvel's voice: Abigail, where are you?

Abigail: No, no, no.

Raelle: Bells, who is it?

Charvel's voice: Abigail, I need you.

Abigail: Charvel?

Tally: No, it can't possibly be her.

Abigail: Where is that coming from?

Tally: Whatever glitched the Farspeech is screwing with my Sight.

Crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Charvel's voice: Abigail! Help me!

---

Abigail: Charvel!

Charvel's voice: Abigail.

Abigail: Charvel!

Charvel's voice: Abigail. I need you.

Abigail: Char?

Charvel's voice: I've been waiting for so long.

Abigail: For what?

Charvel's voice: To finish what we started at the wedding.

[high pitched noise]

Abigail: [aborted sound]

---

Raelle: What is that?

Tally: Don't touch it.

M: It looks like a b*mb.

Gregorio: No, it's definitely not.

Raelle: Camarilla.

M: Sekhmet! Start moving everyone back. Now!

Gregorio: Clear the area.

M: Moving out!

Raelle: I'm gonna need you all to please move away from the building.

M: Step back!

Raelle: This is for your own safety, so please

Shane: Our daughters will never be safe!

Tally: Take a step back.

Shane: You'll take them from our homes! You'll send them away to die!

Tally: Please, step back!

[Crowd in background]: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Raelle: Some of your daughters may be called. But they will be in great company. And they will do things that they never thought were possible. Someone once told me that I had to let the army make me strong. And she was right. The army saw something in me that I didn't even know was there. Your daughters will be safe with us. Please, move back.

Crowd: [booing]

Tally: We're here to help you.

Shane and crowd: Not our daughters! [repeating]

Tally: Please step back! Please step back!

[high pitched noise]

Tally [screaming]: Raelle!

Gregorio: Who did that?

Raelle: Tally! Where's Abigail?

---

[high pitched noise]

Abigail: [grunting]

Charvel's voice: My voice was easy enough to slice out. I can't wait to see what he can do with yours.

Alban Hearst: Sing for us, won't you?

Abigail: No! No!

Abigail: [screaming]

M and Tally: Skaa!

M: I'm gonna enjoy this!

Tally: Okay. Are you okay? It's fine.

M: [grunts]

Tally: Stop.

M: [grunts]

Abigail: [sobbing]

Tally: It's done. It's done.

---

Anacostia: Time to go.

Scylla: Yeah.

Raelle: [grunts]

---

TV reporter: Though the attack was first thought to originate from the w*r College cadets on-site, it has since been attributed to the Spree.

Petra: Izadora's already working to crack those Camarilla mines we recovered.

Alder: Have her forward her findings to the Hague, as soon as possible.

Alder: Petra.

Petra: They attacked Abigail. Again, Sarah.

Alder: I know you want blood. So do I. But fighting angry won't do us any good. Make sure Sehkmet knows that, too. And that the truth about the attack is need-to-know.

---

Tally: Do you really think it was Scylla?

Raelle: I do. Tally, I'd know those eyes anywhere. But that doesn't matter right now.

Abigail: What doesn't matter now?

Tally: Hey, careful. You've been sedated.

Abigail: Should've used stronger medicine.

Raelle: You okay?

Abigail: Not really. The Camarilla came for me, just like they came for Charvel. And I couldn't do a damn thing about it.

Raelle: You were outnumbered.

Abigail: I walked right into their trap...Because of Charvel. Because I failed at saving her, too.

Raelle: Abigail. Look at me. Don't put that on yourself.

Abigail: It doesn't matter. Uh, are we at w*r with the Camarilla now or what?

Raelle: Alder's been telling everyone it was The Spree. To keep panic from spreading in the witch community.

Abigail: She said we didn't have to worry about the Camarilla. She told me to let it go. One lie after another, huh?

Raelle: They're hunting her. Tally, all Alder does is lie.

Tally: You said it in the Tarim. Alder does what Alder does. [scoffs] It's always someone else's life she's playing with.

Raelle: Where are you going? Tally!

---

[Biddies hissing]

Tally: No more lies. Who is Nicte Batan?