"The Adversary" is the sixth episode of the first season of Westworld, and the sixth episode overall.
Synopsis[]
“ | Maeve charms Lutz; Elsie uncovers possible sabotage; The Man in Black and Teddy run afoul of a garrison. | ” |
–HBO |
Plot[]
Conversation Interruptus[]
The sun shining on Sweetwater outside her curtained window, Maeve awakes in her own bed. Gets up, and gets dressed for the day, heading out onto the street, the large cowboy host who normally bumps into Teddy bumping into another, black hatted guest, behind her. The two drawing on each other, the large cowboy the loser. None of which even causes her to break stride. Barely blinking at the fresh Wanted poster for Hector being put up. As Maeve breakfasts in the Mariposa Saloon, Clem greets her, looking tired, and Maeve wonders if she had a late night talking or servicing the clients, scolding her that she only gets paid for the latter. Drawing out a gold coin, Clem contradicts her, saying she gets paid when they are *grateful*, pointedly schooling Maeve that's not always about what is between her legs. Maeve smiles, taking that in good part, and moving to help groom Clem for the day as Clem grabs some coffee.
A guest comes into the bar and the two women assess him. Clem noting that he looks like a rough one. Asking the bartender for a bottle to use with the newcomer, he notes that she's probably going to have to use most of it just to scrub the filth off him. Chuckling, Clem starts to go towards him but Maeve who has been evaluating him closely, stops her, telling her to go put her face on, she'll take care of this guest. Taking him upstairs, she hands him the bottle, standing and watching as he sits on the bed and takes a heavy swig. Asking her isn't she going to take her clothes off, she tells him she would but she suspects by the time she got down to her underwear he'd be 'done'. Annoyed, he surges up and grabs hold of her roughly lifting her up onto the dresser, Maeve giving him an approving "That's the spirit," As he hurries to open his trousers, Maeve compliments him on being such a big man, big all over, before adding "Except where it counts." . Completely intentionally she keeps insulting him, telling him, once he starts, that when she gave him a free turn on the house she expected 'something' in return at least, rolling her eyes at his efforts. Grabbing his hand she puts it on her throat, the man hesitating for a moment, until it becomes clear to him it is what she wants. Telling him not to be shy, she wraps her legs around him as he tightens his grip on her throat, ultimately killing her by strangulation.
She wakes on the gurney in Livestock Management being looked after by Felix Lutz, who isn't best pleased at her coming too 'again'. She however smiles as she wakes, sitting up as she fixes Felix with a gaze "Now, where were we?"
Downstairs[]
Up in Behaviour, Bernard is examining the bloody Laser Satellite Uplink device taken from the Woodcutter and brought to him by Elsie Hughes. On his asking if she's told anyone about this, she asks him who would she tell about it? It had to have been done by someone *in* Behaviour. She admits that at first she suspected him, but discounted that due to the longevity of his employment at the park, and if he was going to sell them out he would've done it years ago. So rather than their hosts going insane, they are being used for industrial espionage, whether that makes the glass full or half empty she's not sure. As Engineers he says it makes it a situation where the glass has been manufactured to the wrong specifications, which makes her laugh. When he asks if they have any idea what data it was transmitting she says it's smeared all over a rock at Python Pass. The best they can do, she says, is figure out who he was transmitting the information to. But they'd need the exact time he was up there and his geo cache is wiped. Not quite, Bernard shows her. The Woodcutter was an early model, which worked off a Legacy version of the Geo-positioning system. The information is still there, but the newer system can't read it. Meaning, he says to her pointedly it order to access it, he is going to have to go 'downstairs'.
He heads down deep underground to Sub-Level B82, a restricted area to which he has security access. The place is something of a wreck, with leaking ceilings and strobing electrics. The place is empty bar a few sticks of furniture and a lone host, offline, but very Distinctive. But he locates an old terminal and has no trouble logging into the very old system: with it's old-style logo on the sign-in screen. He pairs the terminal systems with his tablet and gets it to project the legacy data against the known data and look for anomalies. Finding not only the Woodcutter not being where it should be, but another 5 out of place in another area, Sector 17. None of which have records / are registered in the new system.
Best Laid Plans[]
In Las Mudas, looped life goes on as normal, some young girls herding chickens, boardwalks been scrubbed, walls spackled, some men drinking at the cantina until it all comes to a slow freeze. Robert Ford walking into Las Mudas with several Geo Tech's n construction hats. The supervisor in the red hat tells him that if he wants the canyon to extend this far, then the town has to go . Suggesting they distribute the population to the neighbouring farms, or just de-commission them. "No," Ford replies quietly but firmly thinking they've been disruptive enough for one day, and tells them to end the canyon just short of the town. Dismissing them he tells them he'll find his own way back. After they leave he unfreezes the town's hosts, and goes for a wander down the street, passing a table outside the cantina where some hosts are playing dominoes. As one of them clears the tables of the tiles he sees a carving of The Maze in the table top, which appears to perplex him.
Back in his office, Ford moves a model of a white church on a work table. Part of a larger modelled out site. A town at the far end from the Church...and a line of models like toy shoulders at the other end beyond the Church. He leaves the table, goes over to an ornate cabinet by his desk , on which a display of the progressive sculpts of Dolores, from skull to final render stand in a glass case. Rooting in the cabinet he gets out an old journal, full of drawings and diagrams of buildings, pausing at a double page devoted to Dolores, before flipping over to the next page on which there is a drawing in ink of The Maze.
A Tireless Fury[]
Riding slowly through the graveyard outside Pariah, the Maze is also on the minds of Teddy and the Man in Black. Teddy looking, with quiet disgust, at the Maze on Kissy's scalp hanging from the MiB's saddle. Catching him looking the MiB asks Teddy "Does it look like anything to you?" Teddy replies that there's not much to say, The Maze, is an old native myth. "Regale me Theodore," the MiB insists. "The Maze itself is the sum of a man's life," Teddy tells him, "The choices he makes, the dreams he hangs on to. And at the Centre there's a legendary man. Been killed over and over again countless times. Always clawed his way back to life. The Man returns for the last time and vanquished all his oppressors, in a tireless fury. Built a house. And around that house he built a Maze so complicated only he could navigate through it." Teddy reckons he'd seen enough of fighting. As he finishes the story, they meet some men in a wagon who tell them the soldiers have closed the border, as there is some kind of trouble in Pariah.
The MiB looks to Teddy telling him it's time for him to earn his keep, wanting to know how else they can get over the border? Reminding him that Wyatt's got what they both want. Teddy looking around him slowly says he knows of another way, though it's a little treacherous. The MiB smirks thinking that Teddy doesn't want to get his hands dirty, and tells him not to worry he'll make sure he wont have to. But Teddy blindsides him slightly, eyes focused dead ahead, saying "Dirty ain't my concern. You do what you want to. I'm going all the same. I'm going to find Dolores." The MiB, mildly surprised at Teddy's not just being amenable to what he wants to do, nods and follows Teddy on as they cut across the gravesite.
Break Down[]
In Livestock Management, Maeve sits on the edge of the examination table, listening to Felix as he explains that everything she does is because the engineers have programmed her to do it. She has no choice. Maeve reacts badly telling him no one makes her do anything she doesn't want to. Yes, he agrees but *that* is part of her character. Even when she says no to the guests, it's because she's programmed to. "And you're like them," she asks, "Not like me?" Yes, he agrees, although he can't afford to go to the Park he is human like the guests. At which she asks "How do you know?", surprising him. Because he was born, she was made, he replies. Taking off his glove she holds his hand in hers, noting they feel the same. We are the same these days, for the most part, he tells her. One big difference he adds, gently pointing her temple, saying the superior processing power she has in her brain is way beyond anything they have. It has one draw back though, it puts the hosts under our control. Well, he amends, glancing at the cameras, 'their control'. They can change her however they like. Make her forget. But, he decides, maybe not her. He doesn't know how she's remembering everything or waking herself up. Everything in her head 'they' put it there. Again she reacts badly saying no one knows what she's thinking. But, using the purloined tablet he pairs it with her telling her that she can improvise a little, but most of what she says is prepared 'upstairs', Maeve's eyes narrowing at that, until he shows her a display of the algorithm that helps her hold a conversation.
Refusing to believe it's more than a cheap trick, she is startled when her words appear at the exact same time as she says them. Every attempt to find a different phrase ending in a conflict, her improvisation failing. She has such difficulty processing it that the conflict freezes her. Felix panicking slightly as, not knowing what's happening, he's unable to use the tablet to restart her.
Break Up[]
In her office near the Control Room, Theresa sits pensively alone, until she's disturbed by Bernard knocking at her door asking if he can have a word. She tells him she was just about to call for him, immediately making him ask if there is something wrong. "Ford knows about us," she tells him. Bernard doesn't see a problem saying they're consenting adults. Consenting adults, heading up departments who are supposed to keep one another in check, she ripostes. Their relationship, she feels, will raise questions for the Board about her objectivity. He chuckles saying she's never gone easy on his department. But she's serious, their relationship can't continue. He tries to argue that he can be impartial. About his own team, about Ford, she asks. He as to admit, she asserts, that Ford's leadership has at best been questionable. Bernard doesn't feel that Ford is the problem, but Theresa cuts him off saying it's not his job to diagnosis park security problems. It's hers. If there's nothing else she says, they are done. Nodding slowly, Bernard gets up and leaves silently without speaking to her about what he came for. Theresa more upset then she has been letting on.
Circles of Hell[]
In Livestock Management, Felix tries frantically to restart Maeve using the tablet, but she remains frozen in place. Not Responding to anything he tries, his panic rises. Until he finally manages to get her processor moving again. As he watches her anxiously she restarts. Ignoring his question as to whether she is okay, she focuses on his saying 'Upstairs' telling him she wants to see it. His immediate reaction is to say No but, doe eyed, she takes his hand, holding it in both of hers in a silent plea, and he caves to her Elsie provided increased personal acuity.
Dressed again in her nightgown, a proscribed vacant look on her face, Felix leads her through Livestock Management, pretending to be testing her. Maeve's horror at the blood and dead bodies of the hosts being hosed down reflected only in her eyes. Moving up they walk through Manufacturing, as she watches techs in protective clothing carrying trays of eyes and working on finishing off fully formed hosts in the Vitruvian circles. The blood being pumped into them turning them from ghost white shells to healthy living flesh as their circulatory system is activated. Heading up the mass of escalators they head into the Behavior Lab and Diagnostics where she sees hosts, both animal and humanoid going through behavioral training. She speaks only to ask where they are when they get to Design. She watches sculptors create new faces and heads, fascinated by the artists, and by what it implies. As the reach the elevator Felix murmurs that they really need to go back, as he will lose his job, and she will get sent 'downstairs'. As the door to the elevator opens, Maeve is distracted by the sound of Angela's voice as she appears on the "Welcome to Westworld" presentation on the wide screen nearby. Before her, pictures of Sweetwater appear, Teddy & Dolores riding together, images of Clem outside the Mariposa, Hector's poster, before she recognizes moments from her own 'dreams', as her hand reaches for the little girls, and her playing with her in the meadows and around the cabin.
Finally having managed to get her back down into Livestock, Felix a little more relaxed starts to prep to get her back, only for Maeve to ask him how they had her 'dreams'. Those 'moving pictures', she says, saying she saw herself. With the little girl, he asks. Those weren't dreams. That was her in a previous build. Not understanding, he explains to her that she and the other hosts get 'reassigned' all the time. She won't remember, he tells her, because that life and those memories were erased. But Maeve is reluctant to believe that, asserting strongly that she has been at the Mariposa for 10 years, and before that she was in New Orleans. No, Felix says quietly, "You've only been the Madam at the Mariposa for the last year or so." he tells her adding they don't re-write the hosts completely, they could but it takes thousands of hours to build their personalities. So usually they just tweak them a little bit and drop them into their new role. As Maeve tries to deal emotionally and logically with this twist, Sylvester interrupts them. Both Felix and Maeve freezing.
Sylvester takes in the scene, and starts to tease and bully Felix about his dressing Maeve up, wanting to know if this is a Hentai thing with him. Before Felix can say anything, Sylvester snarls at him that he's obsessed with Maeve. Saying he didn't turn him in for F*** up before, still falsely accusing Felix of forgetting to put Maeve in sleep mode, he feels that was obviously a bad call, and that next thing Felix will be wearing her dress, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. He decides he's telling QA and goes to leave. Only for Maeve to grab a scalpel as he passes her, and grab a hold of him from behind, putting the knife to his throat, telling him "You're not going to tell anyone, anything." Sylvester rattled, still braves it out saying she can't hurt him or anyone with the scalpel. But she drags him around pressing the blade tighter. "Can't I?" she murmurs before saying of Felix, "Turns out your friend here is a much more talented young man than anyone gave him credit for." As Sylvester tries to continue bullying Felix to offset his fear, Maeve, presses the knife tighter warning him to calm down, using his name. Startling him. She assures him she knows all about him. She doesn't need a Tablet to know all about him, because she was 'built' to read people just by looking at them. To know what they want before they do, and she knows Sylvester wants to shaft her the first chance he gets. But he shouldn't she advises, because everyone has something they want, and she can help him...or, he adds shifting the blade to his abdomen...she can gut him like a fish. As Sylvester tries hard not to cry, she tells him she won't have to resort to that will she, because despite the differences in their heads they're not that different...are they? Shifting her hold on the scalpel she holds it, ready to stab him with it in advance of his answer.
Newcomer[]
In her office above the Control Room, Theresa is in a teleconference with a man speaking Chinese; which translates roughly to, "Ms. Hale has arrived. We're sure you understand her presence means there will be no more delays in time." she answers in English saying that she understands the urgency and will do what she can, before the conversation ends. The computer asking her if she wishes to terminate the external connection, she confirms and, stressed, reaches for her cigarettes. lighting up, before turning to look down at the map of the Park in the Control Room below.
Stuck in Margaritaville[]
On top of the Mesa, outdoors at the Mesa Gold Bar, Westworld employees are swimming and sunbathing, Lee Sizemore among them, drinking Margaritas and snacking on a cheese and fruit platter when he jolts slightly at the sound of an explosion, part of Ford's construction of his new narrative. Which just dives him back into his drink. Theresa arriving to say he looks well for someone on 'sick leave'. Inviting her to join him she swears at him, shifts his legs to sit down and tells him that, over the previous 5 days, Ford has disrupted 50 hosts to make room for his narrative, creating continuity holes in storylines all over the Park. She wants him back at work, to plug them. But Sizemore is sulking, telling her that a man can only take so much, that he's 'flaccid' creatively. But she is unsympathetic telling him she's sure he'll recover. She goes to leave, and he descends into a new artistic hissy fit, drawing the attention not just of her, but of other employees nearby, wanting to know if she has any idea of what went into the narratives that Ford demolished. Not just the months writing but drawing on 'his truth'. Theresa, standing in an assertive position much as Bernard showed her, asks him if that is where Whore-a-Borus came from, starting to laugh. At which he threatens to quit. Walking back to him, she tells him firmly, he won't. He'll drink his cocktails, make his idle threats, and get it out of his system. But, she warns him, don't take too long if Ford can't pull off his new narrative, the Board will be looking for a replacement. But they won't be looking around the bar area.
Past Indiscretions[]
Teddy and the MiB stop and dismount on a ridge overlooking a tunnel through the hills, guarded by an encampment of soldiers, the MiB noting that it doesn't look like they're letting anyone through their either. Perhaps, Teddy replies but there's fewer soldiers there than in Pariah. They shoot their way through that tunnel leads to the Old Territories. The MiB is again surprised by Teddy's newly assertive attitude, laughing that it looks like Ford gave him some 'extra vinegar' back in the bar, maybe took away some sense too. Doesn't' matter how fast the route is, if you end up dead in the middle of it. He needs him, the MiB reminds Teddy, to find Wyatt. As they stand there both of their eyes are drawn towards the winding road leading to the camp...and the two soldiers on horseback making their way up it. Looking at one another, both of them having the same idea at the same time.
A short while later, Teddy wearing a sergeants uniform, the MiB in a Captain's stroll into the camp, some of the men saluting the MiB as they go. As they walk they see a range of the soldiers with particularly nasty and unusual wounds, eyes gouged, hands and legs cut off. "Wyatt's handy work," Teddy murmurs. "Straight up killing couldn't hold his interest, like he wasn't living up to the full measure of his calling. So he worked to get more creative." More men, shrouded, are buried in a mass grave. Teddy sure Wyatt must be close, The MiB advises Teddy that whatever his past indiscretions are he should make peace with them, things are only going to get worse the further along they go. As they pass another couple of soldiers, one of them slows, and recognizes Teddy. Drawing his pistol as they pass, he points it at Teddy's back, his colleague following suit, the MiB looking back at him telling him he's made a mistake, but it's not too late for him to keep walking. The soldier respectfully disagrees saying Teddy's is a face he won't forget, that Teddy was one of the ones who ambushed their outpost at Escalante. Teddy draws his gun and walks back to the two men, saying they don't know a damn thing about what happened at Escalante. The soldier asserting that Wyatt didn't kill all their men alone, and that he knows a thing or two about what is going to happen now. Teddy startles the MiB by shooting both men in short order. Wanting to know if he wants to get himself killed, the MiB draws as well telling Teddy to go, that he'll hold them off, but both of them are quickly overpowered by sheer force of numbers.
Favorite Game[]
Back at the Mesa Gold Bar, still drinking, Sizemore catches sight of a stunning woman in a black bikini heading to the bar for some water. Intent on chatting her up, he heads to the bar offering to buy her a drink, wanting to know what her poison is? She smiles telling that she's been there long enough to know that the Park is about all the poison she can take. A repeat visitor he figures, to which she nods. A purist, getting off on the undiluted experience he mused of her, trying to guess her favorite narrative, and going for...The Final Burial of Salvation. "How did you know?" she asks, Lee telling her it's his job to read people's desires and satiate them. Introducing himself, and informing her he's Head of Narrative, she takes a seat beside him, chuckling that all these fantasies come from his twisted little mind then. Making her laugh when he replies all the good ones do, she asks him what his favorite ride is? He writes them, he tells her, he doesn't play them. Insightfully she decides that he wants others to play them but won't indulge himself? He's afraid to lose control.
He tries to suggest its more a product of his work environment, where they're not exactly encouraged to let loose. But she queries as Head of Narrative surely he could do whatever he wanted? He tells her his artistic freedom is constrained, what with QA breathing down his neck, and Behaviour programming the Hosts to go off script. The fact they can go off script appears to take her by surprise, Little gestures he says, supposedly to make them more realistic, but he feels it's just a vanity project from the "Megalomaniac who started this place" She cocks her head as he remarks he doesn't know why the suits at Delos put up with Ford. He tries to order another drink, but the Bartender cuts him off. Trying the "Do you know who I am?" pomposity, the Bartender is unmoved, saying he does, and that Theresa Cullen asked him to relay a message "Tortured artist, only works for artists. Sober up and get back to work." Picking up her drink, his intended target diplomatically tells him it sounds like he's busy and suggests he look her up later? As she heads off he calls after her that he doesn't even know her name. Humiliated, he grabs a bottle from the bar behind the bartender's back leaving to get drunk anyway.
Falling Through the Cracks[]
Elsie, buoyant, enters into the Behaviour Lab, where Bernard's working, wondering what he's working on, checking to see if he is just keeping up appearances before they break 'The Stray' IP smuggling 'wide open'? Lowering her voice she tells him she's close to finding their Saboteur. The tracking data he gave her was time-stamped, and once they cross reference it with Satellite Tracking they are going to figure out who was trying to smuggle out their data. As Bernard takes in her excitement with amusement, Elsie feels that when the Corporate big wigs realize that he and she have saved them from Corporate Espionage they are going to be grateful and she is going to accept their gratitude in the form of a promotion, a room upgrade and unlimited Mesa Bar access. His smile fades a little however when she thinks maybe she should request Theresa's quarters, saying that her head is definitely going to be the first to role. A little defensive of her, he suggests wryly that Elise 'not be so disappointed' for Theresa, but Elise feels that Theresa will get what she deserves. When Elsie continues that if QA did their own job instead of treating Behaviour like the enemy, Bernard defends Theresa again saying it's a two way street and she is just trying to do her job. Maybe she should be doing it better, Elsie says getting up to go, as there's an awful lot slipping through the cracks.
Sector 17[]
Heading into the Control Room Hub, Bernard and Theresa, up in her office, exchange a brief gaze before he moves to ask a Surveillance tech about the results of an earlier inquiry he sent her. She tells him that, as expected, there was neither guest nor host activity in Sector 17. "As expected?" he queries, and she informs him that Sector 17 is empty, designated off limits for future narrative development. He asks about tech visits to the area, and she checks for him, reporting no visits by the techs to the Sector.
Bernard leaves and decides to visit Sector 17. Rising up from a subterranean elevator to find a pleasant wooded area. Making his way through it he finds an old English stone cottage. A man, familiar to Bernard, exiting briefly to bring in some firewood. Entering after him, he finds an old fashioned interior, and an equally old fashioned dressed family, including the Little Boy and a greyhound, As the man turns, Bernard places him as the man in the photograph that Ford showed him of his old partner and asks, "Are you Arnold?". The man replies, "Who is Arnold?". He snaps at the Boy asking if Bernard is some friend of his, then approaches Bernard aggressively, Bernard tries Voice Commands on the man, but the commands don't stop him. And as Bernard tries frantically to get his tablet open, Ford appears out of nowhere and stops the man setting the hosts back to how they were.
Ford explains the only voice commands they respond to are his, and off of Bernard's query as to who they are he answers "Ghosts." Survivors of the wreck of time. Bernard recognizes them as first generation hosts. Ford confirming it when he calls the Boy over to him and tells him "Turn the other cheek" The Boy's face opening to reveal the mechanical build below. Ford wistful for the grace the new builds have lost in the search for efficiency. Ford has kept them operating by maintaining them himself. Calling the boy 'Robert' he has him reintegrate his face and sends him back to his reading. These, Ford tells Bernard are the only original build models left in the Park that Arnold built himself. Which is why he never had the heart to destroy them. That and the obvious...that they are representations of his family and he himself as a young boy. A greyhound, Jock, entering, the greyhound that Ford mentioned in his story to Old Bill. Arnold having created the cottage and hosts as a gift for Ford, based on a description of a childhood vacation Ford told him he and his family had taken in Pendeen in Cornwall "My only happy memory of my childhood". Of course, he says, Arnold's versions flatter the originals. Revealing that he added back some of his father's less savory characteristic over time, watching as the host takes down a bottle of gin.
Bernard respectfully notes that this sort of thing troubles him. Unmonitored hosts in the Park? They only go where I let them, Ford replies. They are quite harmless like all their hosts, and he is sure Bernard can indulge him in a little connection with his past. Then asks if Bernard could see his boy again, wouldn't he? Bernard quietly says, "I think I should be getting back". Ford agreeing saying they can talk about all this later if he likes, and as Bernard leaves, Ford says to the young host version of himself, "Well Robert, tell me all about your day".
From on High[]
In the Control Room, Stubbs gives out instructions to the Surveillance Techs to keep an eye on Pariah, which is running close to capacity that night. A second later he and everyone else are distracted by liquid pouring down from the mezzanine. Lee Sizemore drunkenly urinating on the map from near Theresa's office. As Stubbs and all the techs stare at him flabbergasted, Sizemore swears vociferously at Ford, his new narrative and the map. Before he has a go at his teetotal Danish boss, who, as unflappable as ever emerges from her office, to ask him if he's filing a complaint? Drawing himself up he slurs that he is "Declaring that this Park is my stage, and I shall do with it what I please." Theresa nods calmly and tells him that this might be a good time to introduce him to Charlotte Hale, the attractive woman from the bar, and the Executive Director of the Parks Board, there on behalf of Delos to oversee certain changes in the Park's administration. Walking towards him with a slight smile, Charlotte glances down at Sizemore's...exposed state, "We've met," she tells Theresa as Sizemore, once again humiliated rapidly tucks his genitalia back into his pants.
The Golden Generation[]
Back in the Behaviour lab, playing a hunch on the differences in the first generation hosts, Bernard accesses the computer for information on the number of first generation hosts there are. 82 it replies. Forty-seven of whom were created by Arnold.. He asks for a list of all first generation hosts, still in rotation in alphabetical order, Dolores the second Host on the list.
Fire Brand[]
In the Union Army camp, Teddy and the Man in Black have been tethered to the wheels of a wagon, while a branding iron is being heated over a fire. The MiB tells the soldiers that he understand the visceral pleasure of revenge more than most, but he's prepared to do business with them. Teddy however is still, breathing quickly, eyes fixed, staring straight ahead of him, as the soldier with the branding iron tells the MiB if he doesn't quieten down he's likely to be branded alongside of Teddy. Approaching, he tells Teddy that he's "A traitorous son of a bitch. A cold hearted killer." What they don't see is Teddy's fixed look masking the way his hands are working on the ropes behind his back, loosening them from around the wheel and his wrists. He looks up only as two other men pull open his tunic and shirt, baring his chest, the man with the branding iron bringing it in...Teddy seeing the branding iron in the shape of The Maze. Triggering a flashback. Teddy remembering himself firing at soldiers in Escalante as they run from him, and Wyatt. The two of them meeting, as Teddy takes out the last pleading Officer on the ground, his eyes meeting Wyatt's. As he comes out of the reverie, he tells the solider with the branding iron "You're right, I am a killer."
His hands free, he grabs hold of the branding iron wrenching it free, and shoving the hot iron into the soldier's face, before using it to viscously beat down the two men either side of him before they can draw their weapons. As one of the men falls unconscious where the MiB's tethered he manages to pull one hand free and gets a hold of the unconscious soldiers side arm from his holster, and starts to provide cover for Teddy as he uses the branding iron to fight his way through the on rushing soldiers, making his way to a wagon. Having cut himself free, the MiB yells at Teddy to grab a horse so they can get out of here. But Teddy clambering into the wagon takes control of the Gatling Gun mounted there and tells him that they'd only follow them. Before opening fire on the entire camp, Leaving the place scattered with bodies and the ammunition wagon on fire. Taking in the devastation around him, even the MiB is impressed, not to mention surprised "You think you know someone," he says looking up at Teddy. "You don't know me at all," Teddy replies getting down and walking away from him, telling him they need to get their gear and horses and move on. The MiB not arguing.
Broadcast Views[]
In the Behaviour Lab, Bernard gets a call, answering Elsie who, as she walks through the subterranean tunnels towards an elevator, tells him she identified the Satellite being used to send the information. A Delos satellite. One of their own. And the old bicameral system he told her about is what she thinks they used to hack the Woodcutter. She thinks someone has been broadcasting the voices that the hosts have been hearing. Bernard reminds her the system was abandoned decades ago, but she says there are still relays out in the park, and it looks like one was turned on in an abandoned theatre in Sector 3. She tells him she's going to check it out as she gets into the elevator, and when she says she's alone, Bernard goes to tell her to be careful only to lose signal.
Catch[]
Ford tossing a ball in his hand walks through Sector 17 and the Little Boy version of himself. The boy - Robert - asks Ford if he's lost in his usual scripted opening line. Ford replies, "Lost? No, I've strayed a bit from where I'm supposed to be". Ford says that he thought they might play catch with Jock, and asks did he bring him? But Robert is silent. When Ford asks where Jock is he shows Ford the body of the dog.
Elsie goes into the darkened abandoned theater in Sector 3. In the light of her flashlight it is full of old costumes, props and masks. Using her phone she is able to source the distance to the relay, stepping up onto the stage. "Okay," she asks herself looking around, "I'm an evil genius hiding a relay. Where the f*** do I hide it?" Scanning around she see's a small cloth covered part of downstage and taps at it with her foot, the wood beneath shifting, pulling the cloth back she sees uses the knife she carries to access the hosts in the field to lever at the wide board that is different to the others beneath. And on pulling it up is triumphant on finding the active relay point. Linking her tablet to the system she accesses its previous users.
Ill Timed Revelations[]
In her room Theresa smokes while gazing at herself in her mirror, starting to remove her make up only to be disturbed by a strong knock on her door. Opening it to Bernard she reminds him that these 'late night visits' are over. Telling her that's not why he's there, he informs her quietly that he's found some anomalies in the Park, and no matter what's happening between them, they need to talk. As she lets him enter, he gets a call from Elsie which he sends to message, Theresa asking him if this is about the Woodcutter. It's where it started, but then he stumbled on to something, he says, something he feels she should know about. He's beginning to feel she has reasons to be concerned about Ford. Something to do with his old partner Arnold. When Elsie calls again he tries to put her off but she asks him not to hang up. She's found the person who was smuggling out their data, Theresa,. But she's not their only problem she adds, there's something bigger going on. Looking over at Theresa, Bernard tells her he's going to have to call her back.
Personality Upgrade[]
In Livestock Management, Maeve looks up from the tablet showing her Personality Attributes on a 20 point scale. Felix exampling how if you had a 5 you'd be clumsy as hell, but a 15 you'd ben an athlete. Sylvester points out there are lots of them, Empathy, Candor, Charm, pointing out she has an 18 for that. "Don't act so surprised," Maeve remarks looking them over before asking what 'Bulk Apperception' is? Overall intelligence, Sylvester answers, Maeve affronted that she only has a 14. Felix explaining that 14 is as high as they let any host go. As she's in a management position they want her to be smart. But not too smart she notes, before handing the tablet to Felix and announcing she'd like to make some changes. Sylvester immediately telling her they can't do that, before tempering his response saying they'd need a log in from Behaviour. And even then the changes would get auto-flagged. But Maeve knows better, Felix having already told her different. That they can activate hosts and then erase their memories without anyone knowing. It took her all of 5 minutes to understand why she tells him, "A lot of lonely young men down here. Supposed to keep their hands off the merchandise." Maeve easily surmising that Sylvester took plenty of opportunity to help some of them out for a price. Maeve telling him that she'll happily forgo her cut in exchange for some alterations. Snatching the tablet off her, Sylvester sits, and starts to log in.
A Voice from the Past[]
On leaving Theresa's room, Bernard moves beyond the Control area to find a private place to call Elsie back. When he gets her she tells him Theresa was definitely using the old bicameral system to reprogram the Woodcutter. But she's not the only one, someone else has been using the system for weeks, to re-task hosts. Which hosts he asks? But she doesn't know, just several of them, and it had to have been the first generation hosts, the newer ones don't have receivers. The modifications are serious she impresses on him, changing loops, breaking loops. Some of the changes are to their prime directives, they could lie to them, maybe even hurt them or the guests. When he asks who issued these modifications she says the best she can figure is...Arnold. He's dead, Bernard points out. "Yeah well he's a pretty f***ing prolific coder for a dead guy." she replies saying whatever argument Arnold was having with Ford it doesn't look like he was done making his point. When she says she's going to transfer all the data and send it to him, he tells her he will be in his office.
Made That Way[]
In an underground RDF that hosts a small host printing machine, Ford assures young Robert that he'll fix Jock, but he needs him to tell him what happened to the dog. The boy telling him Jock saw a rabbit and chased it, and he found the dog dead. Ford frowning slightly, puts the boy host in Analysis mode and asks him if he's lying. Young Robert saying, yes. When asked again, the boy admits to having killed the dog. Why, Ford asks. At first the boy says he doesn't know, but Ford pursues it and young Robert answers that Jock caught the rabbit and killed it and then someone told him to put the dog 'out of its misery'. A voice. The voice of Arnold. He told him that the dog was a killer, but it wasn't it's fault. It was made that way, and he could help it. "Help it?" Ford queries, young Robert answering, "If it was dead it couldn't hurt anything anymore."
Theatre of Darkness[]
As Elsie is downloading the data she sifts through some of it, discovering something startling, but almost immediately hears something behind her. Gathering her flashlight, she gets up to cautiously look around for the source of the sound, calling out to see if it's Bernard. Then Arnold. Before an arm suddenly snakes out form the dark to grab her around around the neck from behind.
Fun Time[]
In the Behavioural Lab, Sylvester announces he's got access to the Behavioural log in, handing the tablet off to Felix telling Maeve she's up. Loyalty she decides, feeling it's been taken advantage of, getting him to lower that. The Pain so it hurts less when she needs to get to them to talk. But as Felix starts, he pauses, seeing that some of her attributes have already been changed. Paranoia, self-preservation have been raised. Sylvester grabbing the tablet swears, seeing that it was an unlogged session run by someone with a massive amount of privileges, well above their pay grade. Freaking out Sylvester says he's done with this. Maeve suggesting, that being the case, he's done with his little side earner wiping hosts after the techs have had sex with them, and probably his job too, then tells him something she says to all her new girls, never start something you're not prepared to finish. And if you're getting screwed either way, go with the lucrative option. Looking back to Felix she smiles, and adds her last choice 'Bulk Apperception' wanting it bumped up all the way to the top. A little nervously Felix does as she asks, watching her as he moves her intelligence level up to 20, Maeve's posture visibly changing, more than pleased with the results and her new clarity, telling them both that the three of them are going to have some fun.
Trivia[]
- "The Adversary" is the original name for Satan, the evil figure appearing in the Abrahamic religions. The title may, or may not, refer to this.
- Evan Rachel Wood does not appear despite being credited in this episode.
- There is a tribute to Yul Brynner's original Man in Black/Gunslinger from the movie Westworld in this episode. When Bernard visits Sublevel B82, and progresses through the abandoned level, he finds one single solitary host up near a wall. Though it's face is not clearly seen it's features are Brynner's, as is the hat, clothes, and most tellingly the stance, with both thumbs inserted into it's trouser pockets, the distinctive mannerism that Brynner's Man In Black maintained, even in relentless pursuit of it's victims.
- The Native American take on the myth of the Maze as told by Teddy is close to Teddy's own story, being the most killed host in the Park.
- The tablets show two different Host ID numbers for Maeve in this episode: HC1983012522 and AC5000487105.
Music[]
- Motion Picture Soundtrack — Radiohead
Deaths[]
- 1 unnamed Sweetwater resident (Physical Body)
- Maeve Millay (Physical Body)
- At least 17 unnamed Union soldiers (Physical Body)
- At least 4 unnamed Escalante host residents (Flashback, Physical Body)
- Jock (Physical Body, Off-Screen)
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores Abernathy (credit only)
- Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay
- Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe
- James Marsden as Teddy Flood
- Luke Hemsworth as Ashley Stubbs
- Sidse Babett Knudsen as Theresa Cullen
- Simon Quarterman as Lee Sizemore
- Angela Sarafyan as Clementine Pennyfeather
- Tessa Thompson as Charlotte Hale
- Shannon Woodward as Elsie Hughes
- Ed Harris as The Man in Black
- Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Robert Ford
Guest Cast[]
- Ptolemy Slocum as Sylvester
- Leonardo Nam as Felix Lutz
- Talulah Riley as Angela
- Jonny Pasvolsky as Bloody Jimmy
- Oliver Bell as Little Boy
- Alastair Duncan as Ford's Host Father
Co-Stars[]
- Jennifer Neala Page as Cottage Mother
- Matthew James Roberts as Cottage Brother
- Bradley Fisher as Mariposa Bartender
- Tyler Parks as Mesa Bartender
- Jasmyn Rae as Maeve's daughter
- Peter James Smith as Geo Tech
- Sorin Brouwers as Wyatt
- Bret Porter as Union Scout
- Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau as Branding Soldier
- Biff Wiff as Cart Driver
- Kate Rene Gleason as Surveillance Tech
Uncredited[]
- Barrett James as Fancy guest