The Show Must Go On

Season	2
Episode	9
Overall	19
	March 29, 2021
	Zak Schwartz & Kiersten Van Horne
	Clare Kilner
	46 minutes
Episode Guide
← Previous	The Eternal Engineer
Next →	Into the White

The Show Must Go On is the ninth episode of the second season of Snowpiercer. It is the nineteenth episode of the series overall.

Synopsis

TNT's: Wilford presses forward on his endgame, as Layton sinks to new lows.

Netflix's: Wilford assumes control of Snowpiercer, while those who are close with Layton grow anxious to learn their fates. Josie tests her newfound ability.

Intro

“	Hope is a powerful thing. Melanie used it to unite the people, first with a lie. But then with the promise of a life off of Snowpiercer. Andre Layton used hope to inspire his people to fight for their freedom. But look where that's got him. And Mr. Wilford, he's a different story. He turned hope into fear. He turned the train against itself, and then offered security. The funny thing is, since he took control, everything appears to be running smoothly. Everyone is showing up for work. The supply lines are a picture of order. But we've been here before. My own hope, I keep hidden. Hidden in the few people who can rekindle it. (…) Mr. Wilford's order comes at a very high price. And I just know that something awful is coming, on Snowpiercer, 1,034 cars long.	”
	— Ruth Wardell

Plot

As another day aboard Snowpiercer under the totalitarian rule of Mr. Wilford begins, Ruth explains that the system aboard the train has become more rigid. Ruth explains how each of the leaders of the train have used hope as a powerful weapon, but that Mr. Wilford's rule is not what they thought it would be. Nonetheless, things seem to be running smoothly, but there is a sense that Ruth has lost faith in Wilford, as have numerous other passengers. Ruth is called into the Brakemen's chambers where she talks with Zarah and Till about Layton; Zarah reveals that Layton is being kept in "the Swamp", place where Layton was forced to handle passengers' feces day after day and the trio seem worried about what the future may hold for Layton. Till explains that she has been summoned by Wilford but Ruth tells her not to worry.

In First, Wilford has a suit fitting for his special occasion aboard Snowpiercer. He tasks Ruth and Kevin with working together to conduct a census of all passengers aboard the train, remarking how unhappy he is that things have become "muddy" now that classes are mixing together following Layton's governance. With this, the two attend the hospitality office where Ruth is displeased to find that all of Doctor Pelton's confidential medical records have been taken in aid of the census. Ruth becomes increasingly aggravated when she is handed a survey that Wilford wishes everyone to complete; Ruth explains that she knows every passenger aboard the train and feels herself responsible for them.

Meanwhile, problems arise in Snowpiercer's Engine when Javi is transferred from the Engine aboard Big Alice. Javi worries that things will go downhill, but Bennett assures Javi that he will be find but needs to keep the trains moving given how close they are to rendezvous with Melanie despite the fact that they have not heard from her in over a week; Bennett tells Javi to keep this a secret. Arriving in Big Alice's Engine, Javi's attempts to grow closer with Alex are immediately rebuked on several occasions. Despite Javi's attempts to relate Alex and Melanie, Alex grows cold and tells Javi to drive the train whilst she attends a special event that he is not invited to.

In the Headwoods' lab, Josie demands to know what has been done to her without her consent and how she can now withstand the cold. Josie expresses that she will not help them and will not become the next Icy Bob, but the Headwoods remark that she is leaps beyond anything possible with Bob.

At the special event, which Kevin later reveals as the opening of cart 272 — the "carnival car" — Wilford puts on a spectacle through the use of puppets in which he details the events leading up to his takeover of Snowpiercer and Melanie's "death". Bennett tries to push aside the remarks, but it soon is revealed that Bennett lost contact with Melanie ten days ago. Although this is chilling for Alex, Bennett remarks that Melanie is a fighter and not to give up.

With Layton refined to the role of compost, he finds himself locked up for the entire duration of the day with little social interaction and little food. Wilford visits him following the carnival and prior to the dinner, only to taunt Layton about having dinner with his friends momentarily. Layton remarks that Wilford's lust for power and obedience will always be his downfall and the reason he loses followers, but Wilford reminds him that he controls the train now.

At the dinner, Ruth welcomes the guests: Bess Till, Zarah Ferami, LJ Folger, John Osweiller, and Alexandra Cavill. Ruth laughs at the guest list, citing that she was told the selection of guests would be random, but Wilford clearly has other things on his agenda. With this, Wilford and Miss Audrey enter the dinner momentarily and begin playing the piano together. Shortly after as the dinner begins it becomes apparent that Miss Audrey revealed numerous secrets — given to her in confidence during her time in the Nightcar — to Mr. Wilford, allowing him to both better understand the passengers but also know their weaknesses. Mr. Wilford questions LJ on the trial and her involvement in the deaths of the men aboard Snowpiercer, but becomes increasingly wary when he finds out Melanie overturned the guilty notion; Mr. Wilford questions if LJ is guilty, and she has no choice but to deny her involvement, but there is a sense that Wilford knows she is hiding something.

Moving on, Wilford questions how Osweiller came to hold Terence's position, and further questions why he should be kept around in the future. Osweiller stands and heads over to the piano before playing a song that moves everyone at the dinner to tears.

Layton is woken from his slumber abruptly to find Josie calling his name. Seeing her for the first time since she left Snowpiercer to be treated by the Headwoods, Layton is amazed at the restorative work but begins crying. Whilst Josie remarks that she can possibly get him out, he tells her that it is not his moment yet, but that she should remind everyone why they started and that they will get through the hard times and meet their vision of a life on the outside. With this, the guard tells Josie that her time is up.

Returning to the dinner, Alex becomes increasingly annoyed at Mr. Wilford when it becomes clearer that they will not be returning for Melanie. She begins to shout abuse at Mr. Wilford, and then reveals that the census is similar to a historic event on Big Alice in which Wilford had half (over 100 passengers) culled from the train to save resources. As Mr. Wilford orders Alex sent to the Brig (a location she remarks she has been before), he turns his focus to Ruth. Asking Ruth to sit at the dinner table — despite Hospitality never sitting — he reveals that there can only be one Head of Hospitality. Kevin and Ruth are shocked, but Ruth is eventually offered the position if she announces to the train that they will not be returning for Melanie. With a tear in her eye, Ruth remarks that she cannot do such a thing and is therefore refusing Wilford's offer. Wilford orders Ruth stripped of her Teals and taken to Compost alongside Layton.

As the night draws to a close, Javi remains in Big Alice's Engine driving the train. As they draw closer to collection point for Melanie, he receives a signal from her showing that she is still alive. He immediately exits the engine and sends a message to Layton and Ruth in Compost that Melanie is still alive.

Cast

Main Characters

• 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
• Katie McGuinness as Josie Wellstead
• Sheila Vand as Zarah Ferami
• Roberto Urbina as Javier De La Torre
• Annalise Basso as LJ Folger
• Sam Otto as John Osweiller
• Rowan Blanchard as Alexandra Cavill
• Sean Bean as Joseph Wilford

Guest Starring

• Sakina Jaffrey as Mrs. Headwood
• Damian Young as Mr. Headwood
• Tom Lipinski as Kevin McMahon
• Chelsea Harris as Sykes
• Karin Konoval as Doctor Pelton

Co-Starring

• Gus Batal as ND Prisoner
• Ian Collins as Tristan
• RJ Fetherstonhaugh as Jackboot Clifford
• Ellie Harvie as The Notary
• Alex Kliner as Tailor
• Louis Lay as Handsome Man
• Brennan Lloyd as Androgynous Man
• Emma Oliver as Winnie
• Nikolai Witschl as Cruel Guard

Others

• Viktor Barkar as Puppeteer #1
• Randi Alana Edmundson as Puppeteer #2
• Kellie Haines as Puppeteer #3
• Racquel Belmonte as puppet voice
• Michael Dobson as puppet voice
• Kellie Haines as puppet voice
• Crystal Koskinen as puppet voice

Quotes

Javi: "He'll change everything around now. Wilford wants resiliency. I hate that word. He wants to keep us apart." Bennett: "Remember they're gonna be monitoring everything we say between the Engines. You're gonna be okay." Javi: "Yeah, until when? What if he throws me in the swap. He's picking us off one by one." Bennett: "He can't afford to lose another engineer. I need you to keep pushing the train forward. We're a week away from picking up Melanie." Javi: "Yeah if she's there." Bennett: "She'll be there." Javi: "We're already a day late. We lost contact with her over a week ago. But Wilford doesn't know that. Does he? We keep it that way. Get her home safe. That's the mission. No questions." ―  Javi and Bennett saying goodbye and keeping hope alive in The Engine. “ I know every passenger on this train and I consider myself responsible for each of them. I care about these passengers Kevin, that's a warning. ” — Ruth being more and more confused how Mr. Wilford is. Josie: "Now, I know you're just following Wilford's order. But I have a right to know what you've done to me." Mrs. Headwood: "You've found out prematurely." Josie: "Yeah. I put my hand in the Cold Lock and it didn't fall off. What's he doing to me." Mr. Headwood: "This, is when you arrived with us." Josie: "You don't need to show me that. I live through every second of it." Mr. Headwood: "We repaired you." Josie: "Yes, thank you. You took the pain away. But you done something to my body without consent!" Mr. Headwood: "Honey." Mrs. Headwood: "Josie… What did it feel like when you put your hand in the chamber? It was a rush, wasn't it?" Josie: "I didn't sign up to be the next Icy Bob." Mr. Headwood: "You are orders of magnitude beyond our Bob." ―  Josie found out her new abilities. Till: "Wilford put Roche and his family in the drawers." Bennett: "Roche in a Drawer, Javi on Big Alice, and Layton in the compost." Till: "And now this shitshow." ―  The last of Layton's group, Ruth Wardell, Bennett Knox and Bess Till in the Carnival Car. Puppet Wilford: "At last, my beloved Snowpiercer. And all of the people I missed." Puppet Alexandra: "Soon I'm gonna see my mama! Wee! Wilford." Puppet Melanie: "I'm Head Engineer Melly. Choo! Choo! I will prove that cold is hot! I'm going to climb that frozen mountain and send a balloon." Puppet Wilford: "They've gone mad without us." Puppet Alexandra: "Don't go, mama! Don't go! (Imitates baby crying.)" Alex: "This isn't funny!" Puppet Wilford: "Don't worry, you're all safe on my train. The Engine will provide." Puppet Melanie: "I'm dead!" Puppet Passengers: "Wilford! The Engine Will Provide! The Engine Will Provide! The Engine Will Provide!" ―  Wilford's puppet show in the Carnival Car. Winnie: "Liar!" Bennett: "What a pathetic attempt. You can't kill Melanie with this propaganda." Alex: "We don't have extra time. We're already a day late." ―  The group after watching Wilford's puppet show. Wilford: "You came to my dreams you know. Rather spooky." Layton: "Is that why you haven't stuck my head out a port yet?" Wilford: "Honest question. Hanging on to your ideas, being beloved by your people uptrain, do you think it makes the slightest difference in the end." Layton: "Yeah, it does." Wilford: "Well, for the life of me, I can't see how. I suppose there must be something uniquely wrong with me." Layton: "You're not unique Wilford. You're a old, white dictator, with a train set. Fragile, powerful men like you, froze the Earth in the first place." Wilford: "Yes, it's a PR problem in that regard." ―  Wilford to Layton in the compost. LJ: "Well, she was the liar. She wanted to be you. She accused me of a crime, and I found out her little secret so she had to overturn the verdict." Wilford: "I'm puzzled LJ. If Melanie overturned the verdict. Does that mean you're guilty?" LJ: "I, uh… Uh, no." Wilford: "So, you did not cut off those men's penises, like I read about it in the transcript. I'm so relieved." ―  LJ Folger at Wilford's party. Alex: "Why don't you tell them what you did on Big Alice. There were 200 of us at first. But then, when he realized what a drain of resources we were. He culled half of us. Men, women, children, he took their lives!" Wilford: "How dare you?" Wilford: "On their souls, how dare you make me relive it?" ―  Alex told everyone at Wilford's party about The First Year Cull of Big Alice. Wilford: "You understand there's a glut on Hospitality. Which means there's only room for one head department. The job's yours Ruth." Kevin: "I... oh..." Wilford: "Shut up, Kevin." Wilford: "By my side, it's like you've always wanted. All you have to do is address the train, inform them officially that we are not returning for Melanie." Ruth: "I can't do that." Wilford: "Beg your pardon?" Ruth: "I won't do it." Wilford: "Are you rejecting my offer?" Ruth: "Yes, I am." Wilford: "Take off your teals." ―  Ruth being loyal to Melanie and didn't choose Wilford.

Trivia

• The title of the episode is not stated in the opening dialogue, neither hidden in the episode. (Same as A Beacon For Us All.) The episode name is probably implying about how Layton's close friends (Ruth, Zarah, and Tills) still have to continue their plans without Layton, Roche and Javi.
• In trying to retain Bess Till as his new advisor, Joseph Wilford casually admits to not really feeling a sense of right or wrong; this is a major characteristic of a psychopath.
• When Javier is entering the Big Alice Engine he looks at Francisco Goya's painting "Saturn Devouring His Son". He will eventually be eaten (mauled) by Jupiter.
• Wilford and Miss Audrey are playing and singing the song "Crusing Down the River" from Russ Morgan.
• Oz is playing and singing the song "Winter Song" from Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson.
• During the orgy scene in the Big Alice Engine, we hear the song Incubus Succubus II by Xmal Deutschland.
• Oz is revealed to currently be the Head Janitor after Terence's death as well as a talented pianist.

Body Count

• 100 Big Alice passengers (culled by Joseph Wilford to save resources; mentioned only)
  • Shilo
• 8 people, the Breachmen's killers (executed with Lung of Ice by Joseph Wilford)
  • Eugenia

Gallery

Images

Promotional

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Videos

• File:Snowpiercer 2x09 "The Show Must Go On" - 2x10 "Into the White" Promo (HD) Season Finale