Tillie was one of the passengers on the Grand Rapids Runner Bus who becomes trapped in the Township. Despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, she was carefree and perpetually cheerful, even after her arrival in the Town.
Biography[]
Season 2[]
While Tillie rides the bus, one of the passengers, Elgin, suddenly begins panicking, and says they have to turn around. He stands up and tries to convince the driver, but another passenger, Randall, tries to restrain him. As the driver, Bakta, orders them to their seats, Elgin vomits on Randall, who asks for the bus to stop, and Bakta pulls over in front of the Diner. Tillie dances in the rain and the other passengers stand outside the locked Diner trying to shelter from it while Bakta tries to clean up the bus. Ellis and Tom approach the bus passengers and tell them that more people will be down to help them and unlock the Diner. Bakta replies that they aren’t making a pit stop, and she simply needs a mop. Julie informs Ellis that her mother is trapped in the basement. With Ellis’s arm broken, Tom asks for volunteers to help get Tabitha out. Brick and Randall volunteer, and Tillie moves to join them, but Bakta says that they need to stay with the bus and that emergency services will handle it, prompting Randall to sarcastically call her a peach.
Donna and Kenny arrive, and he apologizes for their inconvenience and offers to get some tea for all of them and allows them into the Diner, while Tom leads Brick and Randall to the Matthews' house. Shortly afterwards, the house completely collapses, and only Randall is able to escape, while Jim Matthews, Tom and Brick are trapped beneath the rubble, injured but alive. Bakta then tries to get the passengers back on the bus, promising to send emergency services when they reach the next town. With nightfall approaching and the situation getting increasingly out of hand, Donna fires a shotgun into the wheel of the bus and orders everyone back inside the Diner. Most of the passengers are corralled back inside, although several run away in fear.[1]
Once everyone is inside, Donna cocks her shotgun to try and get the crowd under control. Bakta tries to get her to let them go, but Donna tells her that she has no idea what is waiting for them outside, and orders them to sit down. Donna says she understands they are scared, but promises that they are not the enemy, which is outside. Randall scoffs, and Tillie says that is an odd thing to say. Donna begins to explain their situation, beginning with the Fallen Tree. As the night goes on, Tillie offers Donna a cup of tea, remarking that she thought life was out of surprises for her.
Later, Randall makes a run for the door but Kenny stops him, pointing out the screams and howls they are hearing. Randall says they cannot leave the people outside to their deaths and points out that they have guns, which Donna says are useless. As they are distracted by a scream, Randall gets ahold of Kenny’s gun and aims at Kenny, leading to a standoff between him, Donna and Matthias. Randall demands they open the door, but Donna refuses, saying doing so would put everyone in danger. Randall tries to rally the other passengers, reminding them that Donna shot out their tires. Donna says that they are all scared, but Randall refuses to listen, threatening to shoot Kenny, but Donna says he will have to shoot Kenny, and she will have to shoot him. Randall then gets distracted by a knock at the door, and Kenny regains control of his weapon while Donna whacks Randall in the face with the butt of her gun. The next morning, Julie is the first to realize that the sun has risen and runs outside, followed by the others. They are horrified to find Tom's mauled corpse, but Julie learns that her father survived the night.[2]
Tillie and the rest of the passengers unpack the bus and are then led to Colony House by Donna. Tillie then goes to the Clinic looking for Kristi, and Jim tells her that she had to run out, but asks if he can help her. Tillie realizes Jim was the man trapped under the house, and says that Brick sat across the aisle from her. Tillie begins to leave, but Jim asks her where she was going on the bus. Tillie says that she was going to the racetrack to bet on the horses, and has been visiting racetracks across the country. Jim asks if it was a charter bus, but Tillie does not know. Jim then asks her what is in her bag, and Tillie remarks that he asks many questions. Jim tries to ask one more but collapses from the pain, and Tillie calls for help. Marielle arrives and helps Jim into a chair. Marielle goes to look for an aspirin, and Tillie tells Jim that Marielle is Kristi’s fiancee, shocking him.[3]
As Boyd walks to the Church, Tillie introduces herself, remarking that the Town was not her preferred destination, and that she heard that he had quite an adventure. Boyd says that he has to talk with his deputy, and Tillie informs him that she saw Kenny heading for the Clinic.[4]
Tillie arrives at the Clinic and finds Kristi and Marielle kissing. She apologizes for interrupting and gives Kristi a bottle of liquid morphine for safekeeping. Kristi asks why she is carrying that around, and then realizes that Tillie has cancer and asks when she was diagnosed. Tillie answers a month ago, and by the time she needs the morphine, she won’t be in any shape to administer it. Tillie then admonishes herself for ruining their afternoon, and leaves them alone. Tillie adds that they are better off staying in the Clinic anyway, given the hubbub surrounding Sara’s return to Town.[5]
Reggie arrives at Colony House, he explains to everyone what happened to Paula and searches for Donna. Fatima says that she isn’t inside, and Kristi adds that she last saw her at the Clinic hours ago, and she was supposed to go to the house after. Reggie worries that they are all going to die, and Fatima steps up and tells him to relay Boyd’s instructions. Reggie says that no one can go to sleep, and Fatima steps up and says they will focus on following instructions while Boyd and Donna get themselves sorted. Fatima takes Reggie to change his bloodstained clothes and tells everyone to partner up to make sure they don’t fall asleep. Bakta asks how long, and Fatima answers that they will figure that out later.
Later that night, a grief-stricken Reggie runs around in a panic shaking people, telling them not to go to sleep and that nothing can protect them. Ellis and Fatima try to calm him down, but Reggie pushes Ellis down. Elgin restrains him as Fatima tries in vain to calm him as Reggie tells everyone that they are all going to die. Ellis orders Elgin to bring Reggie upstairs, and Elgin drags the screaming Reggie upstairs. As the night goes on, Elgin teaches Tillie how to crochet. Fatima passes by, and Tillie compliments Fatima on her leadership, telling her that she will be a great mother. Fatima and Elgin are shocked, and Tillie says that she has multiple children and grandchildren, and can spot an expecting mother. Fatima asks a crestfallen Elgin what is wrong, and he answers that he just remembered his dream.[6]
The next morning, with no solutions in sight, the people of the Township believe that their deaths are imminent. Tillie leads a prayer circle in Colony House, reciting the 23rd Psalm. In the end, Boyd is able to stop The Musicbox Monster and save everyone.[7]
Season 3[]
After noticing that Ellis is anxious about Fatima's pregnancy, Tillie tries to reassure him that though the first months are hard, she will be alright.[8]
Tillie attends the funeral of Tian-Chen Liu, placing a comforting pat on Ethan's shoulder after he lays Tian-Chen's blanket over her body during the service.[9]
While hanging laundry on the clothesline, Tillie spots Fatima eating out of the pile of rotted crops. When Fatima notices her, she runs off. Tillie approaches Fatima upstairs, and reveals that she too had strange cravings during her first pregnancy. Tillie tries to reassure her that whatever is happening will pass. Fatima begins crying as Tillie tries comforting her. Fatima is afraid of talking to anyone or worrying Ellis. Fatima admits she is terrified that something is wrong with the baby. Tillie says that every first time mother goes through this, but Fatima says she was not even able to conceive and now she just wants to know if the baby is alright. Tillie says they should find out.
Tillie searches with Fatima, passes a sleeping Elgin and finds a deck of tarot cards. Fatima dismisses her, and admonishes Tillie for continuing her “batty, kooky schtick” after she confided in her. Tillie is insulted, and says that she may not believe, but reminds her that she likely did not believe in anything she’s seen in the Township since her arrival. Fatima agrees to a reading, and Tillie explains that the cards were given to her by Gertie, who was in the same hospice care as Tillie’s husband. Gertie did a reading for Tillie after her husband’s death, and while she dismissed it at the time, the cards foretold her cancer and arrival in the Township. After Fatima shuffles, Tillie lays out several cards and tells her to ask a question. Fatima asks if her baby is okay as a crow slams into the window. As Tillie turns over the first card, the crow slams through the window, sending people into a panic as it flaps about before slamming into the wall near Elgin, waking him up.[10]
Afterwards, Bakta scolds Tillie for trying to do tarot readings in the Township, but Donna breaks up the fight. That night, Nicky is accidentally shot by the newly arrived Officer Acosta. With help, Mari is able to stabilize her. As the two sit in the kitchen, Tillie tells Elgin that she feels bad for Fatima, and believes that the bird was a sign. Elgin then sees the Kimono Woman, and asks if he is awake, much to Tillie’s confusion. Elgin follows her to the hallway, where she asks for help before disappearing. Later that night, Boyd arrives with Jim and Tabitha Matthews, much to everyone's shock. As the night goes on, Nicky dies of her wounds.[11]
The next morning, Tillie helps clean up the blood from the previous night's carnage. When Victor and Sara arrive, she asks what happened, and Tillie merely says the last night was a bad night. Later, while Henry and Donna speak, Tillie interrupts them and informs them that the meeting to discuss Tabitha's return is starting soon.
At the Diner, the residents of Town and Colony House gather. Boyd begins by telling them that they have no easy explanations, and to be mindful of the fact that Tabitha has been through a lot. Dale leads the others in demanding that Tabitha speak, but Donna calms them down. Bakta asks Henry why he was in the ambulance, and as he begins to explain, Tabitha arrives, with Jim. Dale immediately asks if she went through a tree. Tabitha begins explaining her story.
Tabitha concludes her story for the people in the Diner. Fatima asks if she tried reaching out to the police, and Tabitha says she wanted to, prompting anger. Tabitha justifies herself, saying they would not have believed her, and Henry tries to back her up, pointing out that he didn’t believe her at first, and that his circumstances are different than the average person’s. Acosta agrees, noting that she and the EMTs thought Tabitha hysterical, but this only angers people further, who point out that she killed Nicky. Clara admonishes Tabitha for wasting her opportunity in the outside world to get help. Jim asks the crowd what they would have done. Fatima also criticizes Tabitha, who apologizes for not finding answers and leaves.
Boyd reminds the crowd that Tabitha escaped, and they should have hope now that it is possible. Dale then demands to go to the Bottle Tree, riling up the crowd. Boyd begs them to think, but Bakta agrees that the equation seems simple: Tabitha went through the tree and escaped. Boyd warns that they cannot just run into the Forest, but Fatima says that they should head to the tree, and Ellis agrees. Boyd warns them that the trees are not simply a magic door, reminding them that he almost died after going through one. Kenny agrees with Boyd, reminding the crowd that it was the Lighthouse that allowed her to escape. Dale says he is going to the Lighthouse, declaring himself done with Boyd and his rules before leaving.[12]
Tillie and Elgin discuss a gift that Elgin has made for Fatima, and Tillie assures him that she will love it. Later, Tillie finds Ellis and inquires about Fatima. Ellis says they are taking things one step at a time, and she says she knows he is lying, as Fatima told her about the cravings. Tillie offers her support for them both. Ellis reveals that they did an ultrasound the previous night, but found no baby, and the two possibilities are that there is something supernatural growing inside her or she’s lost her mind. Ellis worries about losing her but Tillie says that Fatima is not lost, and says that a friend told her not to grieve the living before they’re gone, as she told her family before she was diagnosed with cancer. Ellis asks if she was afraid of dying, and she admits she was before becoming angry. Eventually, she realized how small and quick life is, and eventually came to terms with it. Tillie reiterates that she is there to offer whatever help she can. Ellis asks why, and she replies that she is old, has cancer, and likes a good love story. The two arrive at Fatima's room and find her crying out in pain.
Fatima goes to the greenhouse and tries to resist the urge to eat the rotted food. However, she begins doubling over in pain as Tillie arrives and tries to help her. Tillie tries to reassure her that things will be alright, but Fatima grabs a set of shears and stabs Tillie in the chest. As Fatima stares in horror and calls for help, Tillie tells Fatima that she has to run with her dying breath. As Fatima continues panicking, Ellis arrives.[13]
After her death, Ellis tells Boyd, who hides Fatima in the Shack at the edge of the woods. They let her body get discovered by Colony House residents. The crime scene is examined by Boyd, Kenny and Acosta. Donna arrives, and covers Tillie's body with a tarp.[14]
Trivia[]
- Tillie and Bakta are the only current main cast members to not receive a character profile that revealed their surname on Amazon Prime in advance of Season 3's release.
- Tillie is the fourth main cast member to die, having been preceded by Nathan Myers, Father Khatri, and Tian-Chen Liu.
- Tillie's death puts to rest a popular fan theory that Tillie somehow had prior knowledge of the Township or knew its mysteries. Fans had pointed to her perpetually cheerful nature, the fact that she knew Fatima was pregnant when she was not even showing, and her belief in the supernatural (such as tarot cards) as evidence.
Appearances[]
Season 2[]
- Strangers in a Strange Land
- The Kindness of Strangers
- Tether
- This Way Gone
- Lullaby
- Ball of Magic Fire
- Once Upon a Time?