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The Last of Us (TV series)

2023 American TV series based on the video game The Last of Us

The Last of Us (2023-present) is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for HBO. Based on The Last of Us video game franchise, the show focuses on a smuggler tasked to protect a teenage girl across the United States, 20 years after a mutant outbreak of cordyceps fungus has destroyed human civilization.

Season 1

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When You're Lost in the Darkness [1.01]

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[in a 1968 talk show, two scientists are interviewed about what could be the next form of viral outbreak in the future, and when one of them, Dr Newman, postulates that it could come from a fungus...]
Dr Newman: [notices audience murmuring] Yes, that’s the usual response. Fungi seem harmless enough. Many species know otherwise. Because there are some fungi who seek not to kill, but to control. Let me ask you, where do we get LSD from?
Host: Where do you get it from? [audience laughs]
Newman: It comes from ergot, a fungus. Psilocybin? Also a fungus. Viruses can make us ill, but fungi can alter our very minds. There’s a fungus that infects insects. Gets inside an ant, for example, travels through its circulatory system to the ant’s brain and then floods it with hallucinogens, thus bending the ant’s mind to its will. The fungus starts to direct the ant’s behavior, telling it where to go, what to do, like a puppeteer with a marionette. And it gets worse. The fungus needs food to live, so it begins to devour its host from within, replacing the ant’s flesh with its own, but it doesn’t let its victim die. No, it... it keeps its puppet alive by preventing decomposition. How? Where do we get penicillin from?
Host: Fungus? [points at host]
Dr Schoenheist: Oh..
Host: Dr. Schoenheist, you’re in distress.
Schoenheist: Fungal infection of this kind is real, but not in humans.
Newman: True, fungi cannot survive if its host’s internal temperature is over 94 degrees. And currently, there are no reasons for fungi to evolve to be able to withstand higher temperatures. But what if that were to change? What if, for instance, the world were to get slightly warmer? Well, now there is reason to evolve. One gene mutates and an Ascomycota, uh, candida, ergot, cordyceps, aspergillus, any one of them could become capable of burrowing into our brains and taking control not of millions of us, but billions of us. Billions of puppets with poisoned minds permanently fixed on one unifying goal: to spread the infection to every last human alive by any means necessary. And there are no treatments for this. No preventatives, no cures. They don’t exist. It’s not even possible to make them.
Host: So if that happens?
Newman: We lose.

Infected [1.02]

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[on September 24, 2003, Dr Ratna Pertiwi of the University of Indonesia is brought into the Indonesian Health Ministry to analyze a dead woman fully infected with ophiocordyceps fungi. She is distraught at what she saw, and Indonesian Army Lt-Gen Agus Hidayat calms her down with a cup of tea]
[the following dialogue are the official subtitles translated from Bahasa Indonesia]
Dr Ratna Pertiwi: When did this happen?
Lt Gen Agus Hidayat: Approximately 30 hours ago.
Ratna: Where?
Agus: A flour and grain factory on the west side of the city.
Ratna: A perfect substrate. And then?
Agus: A normal woman, then suddenly violent. Attacked four coworkers, bit three of them. They locked her in a bathroom. The police came, she tried to attack them and they shot her.
Ratna: What happened to the people she bit?
Agus: They were taken for observation. A few hours later, it became necessary according to procedure to execute them.
Ratna: [curious] Who bit her?
Agus: We don't know.
Ratna: So they're still out there. Any other workers missing?
Agus: Fourteen. [pauses at seeing Ratna visibly distressed and place her teacup and saucer on the table as she breathes heavily] Ibu Ratna, we brought you here to help us keep this from spreading. We need a vaccine. Or a medicine.
Ratna: [recomposes herself] I have spent my life studying these things, so please listen carefully. There is no cure. There is no vaccine.
Agus: [distraught] So what should we do?
Ratna: [long pause to ponder answer] Bomb. Start bombing. Bomb this city and everyone in it. [nearly in tears as General Agus is shocked at her recommendation] Excuse me, if someone can please drive me home? I would like to be with my family.

Endure and Survive [1.05]

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[As Ellie and Sam play a game of soccer underground, Joel and Henry -- a self-described "FEDRA Collaborator" -- talk.]
Joel: If you were collaborating to take care of him, I... I shouldn't have said what I said. I don't know your situation. And I'm not saying you should let it go, but... all things considered, it seems kinda cruel. To send a whole army after you for that.
Henry: You know, I wasn't, uh... exactly telling you the truth before. About me not killing someone. There was a man, a great man. Now, he was never afraid. Never selfish. And he was always forgiving. Have you ever met someone like that? The kinda man you'd follow anywhere. I mean, I wanted to. I would've. Yeah, but, uh... Sam, he, uh... he got sick. Leukemia. Yeah, anyway, um... There was one drug that worked and, well, big shock -- there wasn't much left of it. And it belonged to FEDRA. And if I wanted some, it was gonna take something big. So I gave them something big. That one great man. The leader of the Resistance movement in Kansas City. And Kathleen's brother. Yeah, so, you still think they should take it easy on me? Or am I the bad guy? I don't know what you're waiting on, man. I am the bad guy 'cause I did a bad guy thing. But you get it, though. You might not be her father, but you were someone's. See, I can tell.
[Joel stands.]
Joel: We've waited long enough.

Kin [1.06]

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[Joel is in the midst of discussing Tommy's group's run to Boston, pondering handing Ellie off to the group.]
Joel: She's immune.
Tommy: What?
Joel: Ellie. She got infected, but she didn't get sick. [off Tommy's incredulity] Tommy. Tommy, I saw her get bit myself. That was months ago. Months. She's immune.
[Tommy pulls up a chair and slowly sits next to his brother.]
Tommy: From the beginning.
Joel: It was Marlene. She hired us to smuggle her to some Fireflies. It went bad. Tess got bit. She made me swear to take the kid. It was her dying wish, what the hell was I supposed to do? We made it as far as KC, and then... y'know, she saved my life there, from another kid. Five years ago, I would've destroyed him, but she had to shoot him to save me. Fourteen years old. Because I was too slow, and too fucking deaf to hear him coming. I saw... I saw a man kill his own brother to save her, while I just watched. And today, I thought that dog was gonna tear her apart because it smelled something on her. And all I did was stand there. I couldn't... move. I couldn't think of anything to say, I just... I was so afraid. You think I can still handle things, but... But I'm not who I was. I'm weak. Lately, there are these moments where the fear comes up out of nowhere and my heart feels like it's stopped. And I have dreams, every night.
Tommy: What kinda dreams?
Joel: I don't know. I can't remember. I just know that, when I wake up... I've lost something. I'm failing in my sleep! It's all I do. It's all I've ever done, is fail her! Again and again and again...
Tommy: You want me to take her.
Joel: I'm just gonna get her killed, I know it. I know it. I have to leave her.
Tommy: Joel...
Joel: I mean, it's why you took off on me, right? To make up for the things we did. Well, here's your chance to bring your kid into a better world. You're younger than me, you're still strong, you said yourself -- you'll come back. You have to take her! You can't tell anyone, not even Maria. Tommy, you're the only one I trust. If anyone else sees those bites on her, what's under her skin, they'll... they'll shoot her! It's the last thing I'll ever ask of you. I swear.
[A long beat as Tommy weighs it over.]
Tommy: I'll take her out at dawn.
[Joel enters Ellie's room to find her sitting by the window, reading a 20-year old diary from the previous occupant]
Ellie: Is this really all they had to worry about? Boys... movies... deciding which shirt goes with which skirt? It's bizarre.
Joel: Listen, umm...
Ellie: Why are you here?
Joel: I came here to talk to you.
Ellie: No, why are you still here? If you're gonna ditch me, ditch me.
Joel: What exactly did you hear?
Ellie: "I have to leave her, you have to take her." You know, I stood up for you today, because I thought... [she trails off]
Joel: I made this decision for your own good. You'll be way better off with Tommy. He knows the area better than I do -
Ellie: [Stands up] Do you give a shit about me or not!?
Joel: 'Course I do!
Ellie: Then what are you so afraid of? [long beat] I'm not her, you know. [another long beat, as Joel processes what she said] Maria told me about Sarah, and I -
Joel: [interrupting, in a quiet, angry tone] Don't. Don't say another word.
Ellie: [approaching him] I'm sorry about your daughter, Joel. But I have lost people too.
Joel: You have no idea what loss is.
Ellie: Everybody I have cared for has either died, or left me... [shoves him hard, her voice rising to a shout] Everybody, fucking except for you! So don't tell me I'd be safe with somebody else, because the truth is I'd just be more scared!
[beat]
Joel: You're right. You're not my daughter. And I sure as hell ain't your dad. Now come dawn, we're going our separate ways.

Left Behind [1.07]

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[Ellie and Riley are attempting to cope with having been bitten. Riley has her gun by her side.]
Ellie: What are we gonna do?
Riley: The way I see it, we've got two options. One: We take the easy way out. It's quick, painless... No. No, I don't like Option One. Option Two: We just keep going.
Ellie: What are you talking about, Riley? It's over.
Riley: It will be. But not yet. It ends this way for everyone sooner or later, right? Some of us just... get there faster than others. But we don't quit. Whether... it's two minutes, or two days... we don't give that up. I don't wanna give that up. We can just be all poetic and shit and lose our minds together.
Ellie: ...what's Option Three?
Riley: I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

When We are In Need [1.08]

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David: You know, you really shouldn't be out here all on your own.
Ellie: From where I'm sitting, you shouldn't be out here on your own.
David: Fair enough. So what's your name?
[Ellie stays silent.]
David: It's hard to trust strangers, I know -- but I honestly mean you no harm. And for what it's worth? There's room for you in our group, if you want.
Ellie: You inviting me to your hunger club? Thanks.
David: It's true, we're hungry. But... we're still here. I'm a decent man, just trying to take care of the people who rely on me.
Ellie: You're their leader?
David: Wasn't my choice; it was theirs, but... yes.
Ellie: They chose to follow you. Is this some weird cult thing?
David: Uh... Well, you sorta kinda got me there, I am a preacher. But just pretty standard Bible stuff. [off Ellie's look] What?
Ellie: The whole world ended and you still believe that shit.
David: I actually started believing after the world ended. Before that, I was a teacher -- Math. Taught kids about your age.
Ellie: So you went from teacher to preacher because, what, it fucking rhymes?
David: Yeah, exactly.
Ellie: But seriously...
David: Well, I found God after the apocalypse, which is either the best time or the worst time to find Him. Hard to say. But when the Pittsburgh QZ fell in '17, Fireflies and FEDRA... I left with a few others and that's how I ended up with our flock.
Ellie: You're a long way from Pittsburgh.
David: Yep, we'd settle somewhere and then raiders would come, so we'd move again. And as we wandered, we picked up new people along the way until... we ended up here.
Ellie: Well, your luck had to run out sooner or later.
David: Hm? "Luck"? There's no such thing as luck. No, I... I believe everything happens for a reason. [off Ellie's more incredulous look] It does! It does, I can prove it to you.
Ellie: Okay.
David: We didn't expect this winter to be so cruel; nothing'll grow, grain's been hard to find... So I sent four of our people to a nearby town to, to scavenge what they could. And only three of 'em came back. And the one that didn't was a father; he had a daughter just like you, and her dad was taken from her. Turns out, he was murdered by this crazy man -- and get this... That crazy man was travelling with a little girl.
[Ellie shifts.]
David: You see? Everything happens for a reason.
[Ellie is locked in a cell with David, whom she has just discovered is a cannibal. She regards a bowl of mystery meat suspiciously.]
David: For what it's worth, this is just deer meat, I swear.
Ellie: You're gonna chop me up into little pieces.
David: I'd rather not. Please, just tell me your name.
[Ellie glares daggers into him.]
David: If you wanna judge me...
Ellie: Judge you?! You're eating people, you sick fuck!
[She kicks the bowl away.]
David: ...Yes. There are only a few of us that know, but I would've told you. Sooner or later. I guess "sooner".
Ellie: You're an animal.
David: Well, yes, we all are. That's sort of the point. It was a last resort, you think it doesn't shame me? But what was I supposed to do? Let them starve, these people who put their lives in my hands? Who e-- expect me to keep them safe? Who love me?
Ellie: Yeah, maybe!
David: You don't believe that. I don't think your friend would, either. Didn't he take another man's life to save yours?
Ellie: He was defending himself.
David: He was defending you. But you knew that. You see a lot. So do I. And you know what I see when I look at you? Me. You remind me of me. You're a natural leader, you're smart, loyal... violent.
Ellie: You don't know anything about me.
David: But I do. If I let you out of that cage right now? Put that knife of yours in your hand? You'd stick me in a second. You have a violent heart, and I should know. I've always had a violent heart. And I struggled with it for a long time, but then the world ended and I was shown the truth.
Ellie: Right. By God.
David: No. By Cordyceps. What does Cordyceps do, is it evil? No! It's fruitful, it multiplies; it feeds and protects its children, and it secures its future with violence if it must. And they would follow us... Lord knows I could use the help. Look what's happened. Think of what we could do together, as strong as we are? We'd make this place perfect. We'd grow, spread out, and we'd do whatever we needed for our people. [he approaches the cage, covering Ellie's with his own] Imagine the life we could give them. Imagine the life we could build.
Ellie: Oh.
[Ellie takes the bait... Then breaks his finger. Tries taking his keys. He punches her, walks towards the door.]
David: You little cunt. Let's see what I go tell the others now.
Ellie: Ellie...
David: What?
Ellie: Tell them that Ellie is the little girl who BROKE YOUR FUCKING FINGER!
David: How did you put it, hm? "Tiny little pieces"?

Look for the Light [1.09]

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[Joel and Ellie enter an abandoned medical facility]
Ellie: Is this a FEDRA thing?
Joel: No. Army. They put these places up all around. First few days after the outbreak. Emergency medical camps. Obviously didn't last. They had me in one just like this.
Ellie: With Sarah?
Joel: No, she was gone already.
Ellie: Oh. So what was wrong with you?
Joel: [points to the scar on his head] It was for this.
Ellie: Ah, the guy who shot and missed? I figure that would've happened later.
Joel: Nope. Second day.
Ellie: Well, I gotta hand it to the army people, they were way better at stitching you up than I was...
Joel: It was me. [Ellie turns to look back at him] I was the guy who shot and missed.
[Ellie looks visibly stunned. Joel takes the rifle off his back and perches on a concrete barrier. Ellie comes and sits beside him]
Joel: There's no story. Sarah died, and I couldn't see the point anymore. Simple as that. And I wasn't scared either. I was ready. I couldn't have been more ready. And when I... when I... [motions] went to pull the trigger, I flinched. Still don't know why. Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all this is -
Ellie: I know why you're telling me all this.
Joel: Yeah, I reckon you do.
[beat]
Ellie: So time heals all wounds, I guess?
Joel: [turns to look at her] It wasn't time that did it.
[Ellie meets his gaze, and her eyes moisten as she processes his meaning]
Ellie: [tearfully] I'm glad that... that didn't work out.
Joel: Me too. [dries his eyes]
Ellie: We should probably get going.
Joel: Yup.

Cast

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