Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary
Introduction
A few weeks ago, I turned on the television in my bedroom. Scrolling through the apps, I paused on Amazon Prime Video. Wait, what’s this? Fallout Season 2 released? Oh, un, only 5 episodes? It’s a weekly release schedule? Okay, that’s fine. Let’s watch those first five episodes. I wanted to wait until the entire season dropped to start my Deep Dive, which worked out well for me. This is only the plot summary of the episode. I will post my analysis in a couple of days. Then, rinse and repeat for the next 7 weeks. Don’t want to read my Fallout Episode 9 plot summary? If you’d rather just watch the episode, sell your soul to our favorite multinational conglomerate or sail the high seas, matey. Er, I mean, purchase the DVD set.
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (Irony of Ironies or “The Man Who Knew”)
Ads to start? Really? I pay 140 bucks a year and you still want to give me ads? Christ.
We open on a drone shot of the city. Skyscrapers, a blimp, then a Mr. Handy getting beaten by a group of striking workers. First as a voiceover, then on television, Robert House extolls the virtue of efficiency and then says that the US government knows who to call when they need the help. A tough in the bar remarks, “Goddamn parasite is what he is. We didn’t vote for this dumb maggot.” A well dressed man in the corner responds, “Oh yes, we did. Every dollar spent is a vote cast. And, that man there has more votes than those pan headed politicians in Washington.” (Note: I paused here to catch up. Ads on the pause screen. More irony.) Tough: “You his biggest fan or something?” “Why yes, yes I believe I am. And, if America wants to endow him with a significant portion of their wealth, well that can only be a good thing.” They go back and forth for a bit about what trade the tough is in, that he should be grateful for the nail gun invention, and that the well dressed man is probably in the wrong bar. He closes this part of the conversation with, “Obsolence. It’s a hell of a thing….”
They take him out back. “HIt me in the mouth. I think I’d enjoy it.” Tough hits him. “I’m rarely wrong, but let’s move on.” He opens the trunk of his car to reveal a bunch ($31 million) of money. “What would you do with all this money? Short of ideas?” The man shows him a radio controller. If you let me attach this to the back of your head, that money’s all yours. The tough initially refuses, but then when he’s distracted, the man slaps it onto his neck. He then uses the radio control to get the guy to beat up his friends with a baseball bat. “Get rid of your friends.” When the tough is done with that, the man turns up the dial. There’s a discordant sound and the tough’s head explodes and the radio control device pops off.
“The world may end but progress marches on.”
Title screen
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (Well, this is a fine mess…)
A drone shot of the desert and into a wasteland town.
“Khans!” There’s something roasting on a spit. “This asshole has been tormenting the Khans since before your grandaddy was born.” What asshole? Our favorite one, The Ghoul. He smirks and gives a speech about what used to be in the town. A store where he bought a soda pop from a woman named Darla, reasonable woman until you matching jacket motherfuckers moved in. I should mention that he’s strung up to a barbed wire noose. “It’s been nice chatting with y’all but I’m about to get on with it.” *pause* Then louder. The camera cuts to Lucy with a sniper rifle. The move on with it was clearly a signal to her.
They drop him into the noose hanging above an empty pool. Lucy, being Lucy, attempts to reason with them. Can you settle an argument for my traveling companion and I? We are looking for my dad. Our plan A was to ignore you, but without food, I just started starving to death. Plan B – I turn him in, you give him the bounty. I shoot him down and he settles it all with any necessary violence. In my experience, that is a lot of violence. That leaves Plan C. What’s Plan C. You ignore all this and let us go. Would it help if I said please?
“Whoever kills the girl gets to eat the dog.” “Okie dokie.” She shoots the ghoul down. He falls into the pool below and uses a freezer as a shelter. She takes a few non lethal shots. “Fucking amateur” he growls and the violence ensues to “Big Iron” by Marty Robbins. It is a lot of violence. He grabs a cowboy hat from one of the gang members. Lucy gives him a disapproving look as he shoves a grenade down a guy’s shirt. The guy and another explode. He tips his cap to Lucy. Lucy is extremely disappointed.
They continue on their trip. “I know you think you’re being helpful, shooting people in the kneecaps and ass, but you’re not.” “I won’t apologize for not killing people.” “All that matters to me is you shoot that rope.” “Well, I did, didn’t i?” Off again. Vegas in the distance. “Looks like the old photos.” “Bombs got shot down.” “Why couldn’t they do that for America?” “Because there wasn’t a they, there was a he. Robert House.” “Maybe your family went there and they’re safe?” “Nobody is safe near Robert House.” “Why would my Dad go to Vegas?” No answer. Off again.
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (It’s Just a Test)
We take a brief trip back to the past with Cooper and his eavesdropping. “There’s alot of earning potential with the end of the world.” “How can you guarantee results?” “By dropping the bomb ourselves.” The bomb dropped last season. Coop goes home looking for Janey. They hug and he tells her to get her three favorite outfits and favorite toy and come back.
A shot of the street and Coop and Janey as they drive. “Where are we going, Daddy?” “Bakersfield” “What about Mommy. Is she coming with us?” There’s a test of the emergency broadcast system. Someone cuts them off coming out of the driveway. There’s briefcase guy from Vault-Tec. Air raid sirens. A panic ensues. “It’s just a test.” “I’m scared, Daddy.” Vertibird flies overhead and there’s a shot of one of Coopers Vault Boy billboards. “It’s okay.” Isn’t it?
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (Vault 33)
Reggie eats a lollipop as he makes his way through the vault. He interrupts them while they’re working on the water system, looking for Norm. He’s been moved to Vault 31. “Everyone’s moving up in the world but me. Let me know if you need help. I’m no engineer, but you’d be surprised what a guy with a PhD in event planning can do.” He knocks something over. The former overseer suggests he find an outlet. Maybe start a club.
“What kind of club?” “Start a group for people feeling what you’re feeling. Shame? Useless?” “I don’t feel useless. But, I like shame. I can work with shame. There would need to be a snack budget.” She tells him to just let her know.
Cut to Davey complaining to Betty how everything is different in the vault.
“Everything is the other way here.” “Just do the opposite of what you used to do.” “Don’t know if it’s that easy?” “Oh, it is.” “As overseer, is there anything actionable?” “Signage! No maybe controversial. Feasibility study on signage.” She laughs, clearly done with his shit. He leaves and compliments Chet on his wife. Not married. And a beautiful baby. Not mine. I never had a family. What happened? Life I guess. Things move quickly down here. I don’t have a family either, Davey.
Oh it’s just you. Chet approaches her. “Do you have my job assigment? Gatekeeper?” “I’ve been busy and I need someone to take care of the baby and it’s used to you.” “He isn’t mine, but everyone is acting like he is. What about a name? Everyone is calling him Chet Jr.” “Let’s go with that.” “But, that was my dads name and it’s personal to me, having seen him die in the weevil famine.” She threatens him. He backs off. “Are you good with computers?” “Nope, that was Norm’s department.”
Intervault communications disable. “Cod Ham Cheese and Rice”
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (Norm vs. Roomba Bud)
Roomba Bud is having a similar breakdown about the issue. Where is he? Where are you? I’m coming for you! Look at this mess, you are a filthy disgusting animal. Hope you don’t expect me to clean this up. Oh, found water, but no food. Starving to death sucks. I’m offering you a better solution. Get in the pod, Son of Hank. Reclamation Day. When? When nobody is there to disagree with us. They’ll notice I’m missing. Oh, but they won’t. You’re in my world now, buddy. What hope do you have in the face of the greatest achievement in vertical integration. Noone is coming to save you. Norm approaches the pod. But has another idea?
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (New Friends and Flea Soup)
Back in the Wasteland with Ghoul and Lucy. They happen upon a man cut in half. Your daddy, always making friends.
You think my dad with lead you to your family, who is still alive 200 years and I’m the optimistic one? Ghoul walks through the dead guy. Lucy walks around him. Then, a woman on the path. She musta seen him pass by. Ghoul reaches for gun. Lucy: We can just ask here. The sign promises EATS. One bowl of “flea soup”. 2 caps. Woman takes off hood and shakes fleas from her hair into the water. I got some crackers if you want em. In my other pants. Eat it while its hot. Lucy take s sip. Mm. Have you seen a man passing by in a oversized outfit made of metal? He took my son. I’m sure your son is…He’s dead. Yeah, he’s dead. My kind of luck. The cocksucker owes me money. I’m sorry for money. He went that way. Thank you. They go. If you find any money on the body, it’s mine!
What do you plan on doing when we find your daddy? The usual? Put a bullet in his ass and leave me to put one in his head. Nah, bring him to justice. He deserves that? Everyone deserves that. Haven’t given up hope, like you say you have. But it’s in there. On the marquee, Cooper Howard: A Man and His Dog 3.
Dogmeat runs into a vault Looks like a 24. Lucy follows and then Ghoul.
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (“I Want You To Kill Robert House)
Back in the past. Cooper talking to a woman about what he overheard. What are we gonna do about it? I’m not a spy or a red. I’m a Hollywood actor. You’re famous and can meet people I can’t. Like who? Robert House. He’s building a missle system to go through with the plan. When the bombs drop, he’ll press the button. You want me to spy on Robert House. Not spy…you want me to—Get in good with your wife and go on that trip with her to Vegas. He will be set to do what he needs unless you stop him. Grabs Janey and heads home. Makes good with the wife. The plan is in motion. Hears on the radio, the quote by House…who will press the button?
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (Down into Vault 24)
Looks like Daddy took a detour. Never seen a vault like this before. Par for the course in my experience. Been to a lot of vaults? Uh-huh. You must like em. Everytime I step foot in one of these concrete shoe boxes I might finally learn what happened to my wife or daughter. Alive, dead, something far worse. I know about the experiments. Been to Vault 4. That’s one of the better scenarios. Grabs her arm and tells her to open the elevator. They step in. Think my dad’s in there? Trail has him coming in and going out. What I’m curious about is why he even came at all. Ain’t you a little curious,too? Now they enter the elevator.
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (It’s Not Your Fault and Norm Snaps)
It’s not your fault you were born in a vault. It’s not your fault your parents were or are related. Reggies support group for people who are the result of in breeding. Most people it’s just an in grown toenail. But, us, are our genes broken? Am I broken. The couple wants to change the rules. No, that’s not what this is about. They leave. Marianne asks a question. Mild allergy of dust. Is it my father’s fault because he fell in love with his cousin, my mother. I didn’t study genetics. She gets up to leave. Oh, it might be his fault. I knew it. She goes on..Reggie listens.
Cut to Vault 31 and Bud Roomba and Norm. Bud is chirping at him. Just get in the cryopod. What was my dad like? Ambitious. Why here? Being Bud’s Bud was prestigious. Norm looks to eat a bug. I wouldn’t do that. Looks tasty, but it’s poisonous. Let me inject you with this. What’s it do. Kills you quickly. Your body will turn to a dust and get recycled into the system. So you have two rational choices.
You’re right. Only two rational. But plenty of irrational. All these plans and for what? For me plans are overrated. What are you doing? Thawing everyone. Wait, they’re supposed to come out every 30 years. This isn’t a cogent plan. This is chaos. You’re right. Plans are hard. Chaos is easy.
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (Go Home, Sugar Bomb)
Ghouls and Lucy arrive in the vault.
Lights flicker. Low suspenseful music. More matching jackets. Why would they let communists in the vaults? Wouldn’t be so sure they did. There’s one of the radio controls on the neck of a corpse. A propoganda video playing in another room. Chosen the interest of product over people. We choose people over product.
These are Americans. The vault turned them into communists. Ghoul hits his vape. Lucy tries computer. Discovers dad took the drive. The individual is secondary to the collective. Ghoul explores more. A box of Sugar Bombs on the patient table. That’s a message. Then a corpse comes to life. There’s a radio controller. “Well hello there Sugar Bomb.” Looks like your daddy picked up a guinea pig. What do you want? I…fix…everything…go…home…Sugarbomb. Go home over and over with the discordant sound and plop. Lucy backs away. The Ghoul picks up the radio controller. Ever seen your Daddy use one of these before. Gonna take his advice. He won’t stop hurting people. Yeah, no shit. Well, then we better get going. Close up on the radio controller and Sugar Bombs
Fallout Episode 9 Plot Summary (Let’s Get To It)
Heavy footsteps and a horn. Someone in power armor with a drive. Oh, it’s Hank. He’s at Vault Tech HQ. He grins malevolently. Walks into a work area. Takes a deep breath, checks his messages. You have…462,311 unread messages. Let’s get to it.
Hank pours coffee and takes a sip. Goes through a wordrobe looking for a suit. Finds one and gets dressed. Puts his Pip Boy back on. Admires himself in the mirror. Walks down a hallway that says Global comms. Sits at a desk and starts talking into a microphone giving an update it sounds.
“This is Hank McLean, reporting for duty sir. Nobody in Vault-Tec knows I’m here. And nobody in Vault-Tec knows much of anything anymore. Wanted to let you know I”m still alive. I hope you are too. I don’t doubt that you are. You spent so much time calculating how to survive almost all contingincies. Uh, I’ve been keeping busy. I’m in Vegas these days, back in your old stomping grounds. Trying to pick up where you all left off. Looks like some of the vault experiments ran into some speed bumps. 24 made progress on brain computer interface. This one miniaturization. What it all needs is integration. I’m confident if roll up my sleeves, I can bring it all home for you. Then we can talk about my promotion.” *picks up a Yoyo and flings it. “I’m going to complete the work you started. And, when this is all over, you will be begging me to help you.” *clicks button and stares into the camera.*
music continues. End credits.