The Walking Dead

These communities are perfect for what we're envisioning.

Previously on "The Walking Dead"...

Alexandria was a self-sustaining

ecological community.

We got the plans from the leader of an allied community,

Maggie Rhee.

- Why do you trust these people? Who says we do?

It's good to see Alexandria getting cleaned up, though.

You sure don't want to come with us?

- Lance, are we good? - Everything's fine.

Pamela's on board.

In fact, we're gonna bring even more people in.

- - We are going to remake the world.

What are we at?

Eight to nine.

So...

still winning.

For about 10 more seconds.

You, too?

Yeah.

I just talked to Maggie.

What'd she say?

Not much.

Just gave me this.

Directions to the nearest Commonwealth checkpoint.

Troopers left them in case people changed their minds.

Yeah. A lot of people are.

Yeah...

You'll be back, though.

Right?

Yeah, I think so.

Okay.

Hey!

Shoot your shot!

You need an escort?

Why?

It's a long walk, you know?

Might get bored. That's all.

Um...

We got a rider coming!

Who is it?

Nobody we know.

Hold where you are!

Hold, or we will shoot!

He's been shot! Get help!

Devils...

They're slaughtering them.

Liars...

You've got to go...

Yes.

We're not going.

Maggie, he died begging for our help.

I understand it.

But we're barely holding on as it is.

Someone we know must've sent him.

Could be from the Commonwealth, or Georgie...

Or it could be a trap.

We go to help and leave the Hilltop open to attack.

I don't think it's a trick.

He was scared. He wasn't lying.

Even if he wasn't,

we can't go up against another group

without the people to fight them.

We don't have that.

What happened to taking in whoever was in need?

Being outnumbered has never stopped you before.

Maybe it should have.

We're barely holding on.

It sounds like these people are, too.

That's exactly who my mother would've targeted,

and I helped.

I'm not letting it happen to someone else.

So you're not leaving.

I am.

I'm just...

I have to help these people first.

You take over at the halfway mark.

Mom!

Mom!

How long this time?

What do I always tell you?

- As long as it takes. - That's right.

You're gonna hold down the fort while I'm gone?

Keep a perimeter, stay on alert.

- You got it. Good luck. - Thank you.

Could you get that for me?

Why don't you want their help?

The Commonwealth's.

Because we can get by without it.

Why do we have to just "get by"?

It's only temporary.

What's easier isn't always better.

You know, before the Fall,

I lived on a farm with my family and my dad.

One day, these corporate farm developers

started knocking on our door,

trying to buy us out.

My dad kept saying no.

Then, one day, this bad drought hit.

The developers started knocking again,

except this time, they offered three times

what the farm was worth.

They knew we were in debt and desperate.

But they also knew the drought would end

and the farm would become profitable again,

and all they had to do was outlast us.

They started dropping off crates of food to "help"

with the livestock.

And he would just let it sit there on the porch and rot

so they'd see it when the next shipment came.

He said that we were being tested.

And guess what happened.

The drought ended.

We got back on our feet.

And those developers never bothered us again.

Why'd your dad let the food rot?

If they'd seen us take it,

they would've known we needed them

and never left us alone.

But the cattle were hungry.

We didn't lose any.

We stuck together, and we made it through.

Yeah, you "got by."

It's just...

"Getting by" is what I've been forced to do

my whole life.

I was told that it makes you stronger and wiser.

But it doesn't.

It hurts.

What would you have done?

Asked everyone what they wanted

instead of deciding for them.

Is that what I'm doing?

You think The Commonwealth knows better?

Is that crazy to think?

Yes.

Those people have not been tested for 10 years.

Do you wanna be there when they are?

I just...

want things to be the same every day.

Do you agree?

With most of it, yeah.

- Whoa! Look out! -

Knife slashed right through the neck guard.

Shot between the armor gaps.

Hey!

Maggie!

It's Aaron.

_

But not only is it borne of hate,

but from love and from friendship, and from fear.

And in Luke 15:12, Christ speaks of a rich father's wayward son

that selfishly set off to distant lands,

who squandered his riches on decadence and wild living.

And then, the son found his soul empty.

And he was in need.

And he went back to his father and begged for forgiveness.

And his father embraced him,

for his son "was dead, and is now alive.

He was lost, and now is found."

Now, there were a lot of stunned faces

when I asked all of you to sit by a stranger today,

and I'm still seeing a lot of awkwardness

with the arrangement.

A lot of stiff backs, clenched butt cheeks.

Why?

Those of you that were out there in the wasteland,

you know from the people you found,

from the ones you could rely upon,

that it didn't matter that you were strangers beforehand,

did it?

You were forced to see the humanity in each other,

and though not bound by blood,

these strangers became more than friends, they became family.