A Beacon for Us All

Season	3
Episode	9
Overall	29
	March 21, 2022
	Aubrey Nealon & Michael Kraus
	Christoph Schrewe
	47 minutes
Episode Guide
← Previous	Setting Itself Right
Next →	The Original Sinners

A Beacon for Us All is the nineth episode of the third season of Snowpiercer. It is the twenty-nineth episode of the series overall. The episode aired on TNT March 21, 2022 and then streamed internationally on Netflix the next day.

Synopsis

TNT's: Reunited with old friends, the train throws a party; alliances are tested as the truth is finally revealed.

Netflix's: A surprise development threatens to derail Layton's plan to reach New Eden. Oz suspects LJ is involved in some dirty dealing when she freezes him out.

Intro

“	We build our lives around the ones we love. And when we lose them, we lose ourselves. (...) The grief turns us inward. We search our hearts for clues. Question if we did enough, what is left, and... who we are in this new world. (...) And piece by piece, we pull ourselves together again. We harden. We rebuild, with new bonds, a new path forward. (...) Still, I allow myself to hope that she'll return to us and our old selves won't hold us back. On Snowpiercer, 1,029 cars long.	”
	— Bennett Knox

Plot

SPOILERS AHEAD

While Ben gives his perspective, we are introduced to a new locomotive used for maintenance that houses Melanie in a suspension-drugged state. During the day cycles that she is out of suspension, she records audio logs of her days waiting to receive sign of Snowpiercer. During her second revolution, Snowpiercer finds Melanie in the Track Scaler and they head to pick her up.

Size of the maintenance scaler compared to Snowpiercer's crane docking car.

In order to manage the Track Scaler while Melanie is in suspension, Ben, Josie, and Layton attach a chain to the scaler locomotive and hoist her up into a crane docking station within Snowpiercer. After being brought back onto Snowpiercer, a cutscene skips three days later where Alex and Melanie are found in the second class clinic and Melanie is awoken from suspension. They have some mother/daughter reconnection time where Alex explains what was happening on Snowpiercer during the six months that she was away and Melanie reveals that she was thinking of Alex the entire time that she is away; and Alex reveals to her that she kept thinking of Melanie the entire time as well.

After her few reunions, Melanie and Layton speak again and Layton's lie of a New Eden is revealed to Melanie by Ben and Alex. She explains that what she did when in power almost tied into what he did to the passengers - lie. Layton then takes Melanie to the engine where she meets Javi again and views the scientific data of the New Eden that has everyone hyped. After reviewing some of the data, she reveals that her conclusion is slightly opposed of the plan to New Eden, saying that it lacked Critical Thinking.

Melanie is taken to see Wilford, by her request, in the Library Car where Melanie questions Him on His intentions for picking her up again. He reveals that he is, "tired of being the only sane person" on the train; telling Melanie that he doesn't believe in a New Eden and that the track to the horn is not suitable for trains to pass over. Melanie is presumably persuaded by Wilford to stop the risk of going over the track.

Alex and Melanie prepare for the party to celebrate the unboarding of passengers from the train. Melanie expresses her concern of passing the track and have inconclusive data. She tells her about the risks and Alex stays hopeful in New Eden. During the party, Wilford is delivered some desserts and a vile containing an unknown substance which is hidden from the brakemen. Meanwhile, Till and Audrey head to the Night Car where Audrey begins reminiscing about the Night Car and her time in the Night Car.

In the First Class Dining Car, Melanie expresses to Layton that she firmly believes that New Eden is not a good idea whatsoever. During everyone's admiration time of the pyramids, Melanie goes to Hospitality Office and reveals Layton's lies of a New Eden. After the train goes into a frenzy, falling back against Layton, Melanie steals the train again and locks down the engine.

On a phone call between the engines, Melanie tells Ben why she did it: that she did not want to risk the lives of everyone aboard. Layton then tells everyone in Big Alice that he wants to fight once again.

Cast

Main Characters

• Jennifer Connelly as Melanie Cavill
• Daveed Diggs as Andre Layton
• Mickey Sumner as Bess Till
• Alison Wright as Ruth Wardell
• Lena Hall as Miss Audrey
• Iddo Goldberg as Bennett Knox
• Roberto Urbina as Javier De La Torre
• Sheila Vand as Zarah Ferami
• Katie McGuinness as Josie Wellstead
• Mike O'Malley as Roche
• Annalise Basso as LJ Folger
• Sam Otto as John Osweiller
• Rowan Blanchard as Alexandra Cavill
• Sean Bean as Joseph Wilford

Guest Starring

• Karin Konoval as Doctor Pelton
• Sakina Jaffrey as Mrs. Headwood

Co-Starring

• Ian Collins as Tristan
• Miranda Edwards as Lights
• Kelly-Ruth Mercier as Annie
• Jane McGregor as Astrid
• Esther Ming Li as Carly Roche
• Emma Oliver as Winnie
• Kwasi Thomas as Z-Wreck
• Andrea Ware as Tyson

Quotes

“ Day 91. Second revolution. 42.85 degrees north, 106.32 degrees west. So... that puts me somewhere outside Casper, Wyoming. Battery is at 57%. Temperature is... Not warm. Still no sign of Snowpiecer. No snow displacement. No change in tracks, which is... Either she isn't rolling anymore, or they're off the mainline. Once I cross the Bering Strait, I'll switch to secondary track, expand my search. Until then, signing off. (...) Day 172. Last of my stimulant's gone. I don't think my body is strong enough to wake from suspension without it. If this is my last entry, it's with thoughts of you, Alex. Outside. In sunlight and warmth. ” — Melanie's journals as she travels “ She's onboard. She's onboard. ” — An ecstatic Bennett reports Melanie's rescue to the Engine Josie: "She's alive." Layton: "Suspension drugs. That's how she survived without food or water." ―  Josie and Layton discover Melanie alive and just how she survived Wilford: "In and out of suspension for six months?" Alex: "She rigged up time releases." Wilford: "And she knew there was a Track Scaler at the Rocky Mountain shed. And a lab with Drawer supplies. It's brilliant. She saved herself through suspension. Her own last resort." ―  Wilford and Alex discuss Melanie's amazing survival Wilford: "Sorry about leaving you to die, I suppose. But you know how things are." Melanie: "It was great. I got a little me time." ―  Melanie and Wilford reunite “ Attention, passengers. This is Melanie Cavil. Tonight, I witnessed a Snowpiercer unlike any I'd seen before. United. Borderless. Free of class and greed. The dream of New Eden made that possible, but a dream left unchecked can be a dangerous thing, and we cannot forget what got us this far. Reason, discipline... And truth. The journey to the Horn of Africa is not safe. The track is unsound. If we knew what we would find when we got there, it might be worth the risk, but we don't. New Eden is a fiction invented by Layton. He and his crew have never been there. He lied to you. It's 8:42 pm and the temperature outside is -98 degrees. Goodnight, Snowpiecer, and long may you roll. ” — Melanie betrays Layton and reveals the truth “ Enjoy them while you can, my friends. We're at war. ” — Wilford is pleased by the turn of events

Trivia

• Together with The Show Must Go On and Ouroboros, these episodes are the only ones that never mention the episode's name or a variant of it in it's script. The episode's name is most likely implying Melanie's appearance as a Beacon to Snowpiercer's citizens.
• Melanie Cavill is confirmed to have survived, using the suspension drug for the Drawers to help keep herself alive as she searched for Snowpiercer in a Track Scaler.
• Melanie is rescued by Snowpiercer.
• Snowpiercer is revealed to have a crane arm controlled from a observation window.
• Melanie appears in the present for the first time since Many Miles From Snowpiercer.
• The events of several past episodes are referenced, including Melanie trapping Layton in the Drawers in Without Their Maker and the destruction of The Aquarium in Into the White as well as Wilford leaving Melanie behind to die in that episode. While helping Melanie to take the train, Javi mentions how he was in the bathroom the first time that she did it unlike this time. Melanie also wears what appears to be the same sweater from the end of First, the Weather Changed and she makes her announcement to the train in the same way that she did as the Voice of the Train in Season 1. It is the first time since 994 Cars Long Melanie talks on the Public Announcement system.
• Melanie betrays Layton, forcing him to retreat to Big Alice's Engine, while Wilford escapes from his prison with the help of his supporters, including Mrs. Headwood and LJ Folger.
• Despise Melanie saying she went across the Bering Strait, the computer map in Setting Itself Right and the Track switch signal, detected in France during Wilford's chase of the Pirate Train, shows that she went east to Europe.
• The cellars had 246 bottles of champagne left, before the party.
• Bess Till and Miss Audrey begin a romantic relationship.

Body Count

• 3 people (poisoned by Joseph Wilford)
  • Tyson
  • Henry
  • Brendan

Gallery

Images

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