Thresholds is the eighth episode of Season 3 of From and the 28th of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Accusations start flying and truths come to light in the aftermath of a tragedy; Victor struggles to recover long-buried memories about the town's past; Julie and Ethan search for answers about the mysterious ruins in the woods.
Plot[]
In the aftermath of Tillie’s accidental murder, Boyd leads Fatima to the shack at the edge of the forest. Once inside, Fatima tearfully recalls what happened, explaining that a wave of rage overcame her when she killed Tillie. Boyd tells her to stay in the Shack while he and Ellis figure out how to move forward. Fatima says there is no way, but Boyd reassures her that she is family, and they will find a way. Boyd leaves her food, and tells her that they will need to let someone find Tillie’s body, horrifying Fatima. Boyd tells her that Ellis needs her to be strong, and leaves her with a Talisman.
The Matthews and Jade return to Town, going their separate ways. When Jade returns to the Bar, he is startled by a noise and finds Henry Kavanaugh. After introducing themselves, Henry asks if they have made any progress. When Jade answers no, he grabs a drink.
At Colony House, Tillie’s body is discovered as Marielle arrives. On the porch, Elgin also hears the news and the polaroid camera spontaneously prints another photo. In the Clinic, Julie asks Randall if he’s seen Kristi or Marielle so she can thank them. She then says that they should return to the Dungeon ruins. Randall does not want to, believing that it may just make things worse. He tells her that nothing in the Township wants to help them, and advises her to stay away.
As Boyd and Ellis approach Colony House, Boyd reminds Ellis to say that he and Fatima were with him the previous night. Ellis suggests telling the truth and explaining that Tillie’s death was an accident. Boyd tells him that they cannot explain this away. As Ellis panics about Fatima being put in the Box, Boyd orders him to pull himself together and get some supplies for Fatima without arousing suspicion. Boyd goes with Kenny to the greenhouse, where Acosta is examining the body. Kenny and Acosta report that there were no witnesses, and time of death is unclear. Acosta suggests interrogating the residents of Colony House. Boyd says he and Ellis will scout out the road to see if there are any new arrivals that arrived unnoticed.
Donna arrives, and says that they will have to talk to Sara, who Boyd rules out as a suspect. Donna says he does not know that for certain, and that she is not the only person who will ask about her. Donna further explains that hiding from the Creatures is one thing, but Tillie’s death is something people need to blame someone for, and if they cannot find the true culprit Sara will be blamed regardless. The two agree to talk to Sara together.
At the Myers’ Home, Victor and Sara try and fail to make Jasper talk to them. Victor yells at Sara for not doing the impression correctly. As Victor spirals, Sara tries to calm him. At the Lius’, Jim finds Tabitha in the kitchen, and tells her that she is trying to make everything mean something, and to fix something that they cannot. Jim reveals that he took the phone off the wall because it rang and the voice on the other end called itself Thomas, shocking Tabitha. Jim says that something out there knows things about them and knows which buttons to push. The two are interrupted when Sara arrives with the news that Victor is in bad shape and only wants to talk to Tabitha.
Elgin arrives at the Clinic and finds Randall. Elgin asks for a bandaid, and the two briefly discuss Tillie before Randall apologizes for being a jerk to Elgin the day they arrived. Elgin apologizes for vomiting on him. Once Randall leaves, Elgin grabs a blood transfusion kit.
Sara brings Tabitha to Victor, who directs her to sit with Jasper and asks her to help him get Jasper to reveal the secrets he told Christopher. Tabitha says it is just a doll as Victor grows more agitated. Tabitha calms him, and Victor says he cannot remember. The two sit down and Tabitha has Victor tell her about Jasper. Victor explains that he heard Jasper telling Christopher things they need to know. Tabitha comforts him and tells him that they will remember together.
Julie arrives home, and is greeted by her father, who asks her to look after Ethan while he takes care of something. Julie finds Ethan curled up, and offers to take him somewhere cool. In the Bar, Henry explains to Jade that Miranda had visions of the Township, and he wishes he had listened to her. He asks Jade why he thinks he will figure it out, when many smart people have tried, and Jade answers that he is smarter. Jim arrives, and orders Jade to stop encouraging Tabitha. Jim excoriates Jade for his narcissism, and tells him that he will not let Jade endanger his family. In turn, Jade tells Jim that he is the only one trying to solve the mysteries and it helps people. Jade walks out of the Bar, telling Jim that if he has a problem with what Tabitha is doing, he should talk to her.
At the Shack, Ellis arrives and tells Fatima that they will get through this. Fatima asks that he and Boyd stop saying that, as she has killed someone. Ellis says they are in this together, but Fatima says that whatever made her do this is still inside her, and may cause her to kill again. Ellis assures her that she is stronger than whatever is doing this to her. Ellis gives her the clothes he has gathered, and the lucky handkerchief. The two express their love, and Ellis promises to return soon. After Ellis leaves, Fatima sees the Kimono Woman and is terrified.
In a Colony House bathroom, Elgin prepares to fill several bottles with his own blood using the transfusion kit he stole earlier. The camera prints another picture. In the Bar, Henry offers Jim some unsolicited advice, bluntly telling him to shut up and listen when he is with Tabitha. Jim is insulted, and Henry explains that he looks at Jim and sees himself 40 years prior, certain that he could fix his wife, never thinking that there was nothing actually wrong with her. Henry further tells him that while he may tell himself that he is doing everything for his family, but he is doing it for himself because he is scared. Henry says he is the only person in the Township who can tell him this and say with certainty that it is true. Jim grabs a seat and is offered a drink, but declines, explaining that he does not drink because his father was a drunk, and Henry admits his was too. Jim recalls that the night Julie was born, after Tabitha fell asleep he went to a nearby bar and asked for the tallest glass of whiskey the bartender could pour. He then stared at the drink for hours, promising to be a better father and husband. Henry then pours Jim a drink, and says he is giving Jim a chance to renew his vows.
At the Dungeon ruins, Julie explains to Ethan that since her ordeal, she hears people screaming endlessly. However, when she visited with Randall, the voices quieted for the first time since she woke up. Ethan asks if that's good, and Julie admits she does not know but feels like the ruins want her to enter. Julie says she is scared, and asks Ethan what he would do, given that she sounds like a character in one of his stories. Ethan says she is at a threshold, and while it is scary, the hero needs to be brave, and Ethan offers to go with her. The two cross the arches, and Julie is returned to the restored Dungeon alone. She begins remembering her and the others torture. However, it is a vision, and as Julie seizes on the ground, Ethan calls out for help.
In the basement, Tabitha and Sara ask Victor questions to get him to remember what Jasper said. Sara asks about the weather, and Victor recalls that it was sunny and he and Eloise were playing hide and seek. As Victor recalls that he searched in the Church, which she did not go inside as it scared her. Victor is then certain that he saw Jasper talking to Christopher in the Church.
In Colony House, Kenny and Acosta talk to two Colony House residents, who says they saw nothing, and they should talk to Sara, as she is the only person who has killed someone before. The residents remind Kenny that she killed his father, surprising Acosta.
In the Sheriff's Office, Boyd and Ellis argue over telling the townspeople the truth about Tillie's death. Boyd dismisses Ellis' idea of him and Fatima living in a tent while everyone else takes time to accept what happened. Ellis says they will be safe, but Boyd says Ellis will not be safe from Fatima. As they argue, Donna arrives, warning that a mob is preparing to go after Sara. Boyd then reveals to Donna that Fatima killed Tillie.
As Kenny and Acosta leave Colony House, Acosta asks him about Sara. The two are interrupted by Ethan's arrival, as he frantically tells them that Julie is having a seizure. Meanwhile, Julie continues to be overwhelmed by sounds of torment in the Dungeon. However, the noises suddenly stop, and Randall and Marielle disappear. She then sees Martin, shackled to the wall, shouting to a voice at the bottom of the dry well that he has to climb. Martin, addressing Julie by name, has her throw the rope down, where it is received by Boyd. Martin thanks Julie and tells her to leave, warning her that it is not safe. As she leaves, she turns back and sees that he has disappeared. Julie exits the doors and finds herself in the Tunnels. She hears her mother and Victor speaking, and follows the sound of their voice towards a light. Ethan arrives with Kenny and Acosta as Julie wakes up, and she pulls her brother into a hug.
Boyd finishes explaining what happened with Fatima. Donna says she has to come back. Boyd says he will, but not yet. Donna explains that she loves Fatima as one of her own, but Boyd cannot hide this. Boyd says he will explain and people will understand, as they did with Sara. Donna warns that people accepted what Sara did because Boyd told them to, but it will not work again because they no longer believe in him. Ellis volunteers to take the fall, but Donna says that will not work, as it does not address the fact that this happened in the first place. Either Fatima's mind has been broken or something evil is growing inside her, and both lead to the possibility of this happening again. Boyd offers to have her kept in the Sheriff's Office, but Donna says that they cannot fix the problem. Donna threatens to reveal to everyone that Fatima killed Tillie if Boyd will not before walking out.
Victor, Tabitha and Sara go to the Church and descend into the basement. Victor recalls doing the same as a child, and seeing Jasper tell Christopher secrets that made him angry. However, Victor then realizes that it was the Boy in White, not Jasper. He remembers the Boy saying that the "answers to the end are in the beginning," starting with the children. The children had been murdered by people they trusted. The children had been told a story of hope as they lay on the stones, the roots became the Farway Trees. The Boy told Christopher that to save the children, he would have to go through the tree, but Christopher got angry and refused to listen. Victor then remembers that he told his mother what the Boy in White said, and that's why she left them that night.
Elgin finds the shack in the woods, matching it to the photo printed by the camera, and approaches Fatima. Meanwhile, Boyd prepares for Ellis and Fatima to run away, instructing Ellis to stay off the path that leads to the Settlement. He promises to bring supplies to the shack twice a week. Ellis asks Boyd what he would have done had he the chance to run away with Abby after she killed several people. Boyd does not answer, and the two arrive at the shack and find it empty. Ellis desperately calls out for her.
Elgin leads Fatima to the Root Cellar, telling her that Ellis is waiting. Once inside, Elgin leads her to the room in the back. After realizing that Ellis is not there, she tries to leave but Elgin blocks her path, telling her that it is the only place the baby will be safe. Fatima says there is no baby, but Elgin says there is, but it does not belong to Fatima. Fatima tries to escape but doubles over in pain. She tries crawling away but Elgin drags her back inside as she calls for help.
Trivia[]
- The episode takes it's name from Ethan's line about the hero needing to cross the threshold.
- Fatima Hassan is now the second character that has seen the Kimono Woman.
- This episode reveals the long-standing mystery of who threw the rope down to Boyd when he was stuck at the bottom of the well. However it also adds a new mysterious element into the mix: time distortion.
- This episode also provides insight into the background of the Township, the Ghoulish Children, the Symbol and the Farway Trees.
- The Ghoulish Children are part of the Township's origins. They were seemingly killed by their loved ones in a ritual. As they died, they were told a story by another loved one that gave them hope. That hope became infused with the roots that form the Symbol, which in turn became the Farway Trees.
Appearances[]
Cast[]
- Boyd Stevens - Harold Perrineau
- Tabitha Matthews - Catalina Sandino Moreno
- Jim Matthews - Eion Bailey
- Jade Herrera - David Alpay
- Donna Raines - Elizabeth Saunders
- Victor Kavanaugh - Scott McCord
- Kenny Liu - Ricky He
- Kristi Miller - Chloe Van Landschoot (credit only)
- Fatima Hassan - Pegah Ghafoori
- Ellis Stevens - Corteon Moore
- Sara Myers - Avery Konrad
- Julie Matthews - Hannah Cheramy
- Ethan Matthews - Simon Webster
- Tillie - Deborah Glover (corpse)
- Bakta - Angela Moore (credit only)
- Marielle Sinclair - Kaelen Ohm
- Randall Kirkland - A.J. Simmons
- Elgin Williams - Nathan D. Simmons
- Henry Kavanaugh - Robert Joy
- Acosta - Samantha Brown
- Colony House Resident 4 - Colin Hluchaniuk
- Kimono Woman - Shuoxin Fu
- Colony House Resident 1 - Alexandra MacLean
- Martin - Robert Verlaque
- Young Victor - Eli Arsenault
- Christopher - Thom Payne
- Boy in White - Vox Smith