| “ | By your steady hand, we will ride out this hardship and outlive the ice, bound by our cause and our need. | ” |
| — Melanie in Access Is Power | ||
Melanie Cavill is the female protagonist in TNT's Snowpiercer. She is portrayed by Jennifer Connelly.
She is a first class passenger and the Voice of the Train, who makes the PA system's daily announcements. Though many of her peers are dismissive of the lower class passengers, Melanie is curiously fascinated by them. In secret, Melanie is in fact the mysterious Mr. Wilford, the one who created Snowpiercer in the first place.[1]
History
Background
According to Melanie, she grew up on a dirt farm in eastern Pennsylvania and came from nothing. As a result, she has a sympathy for the lower classes and their struggles. At some point, she secretly took on the identity of Mr. Wilford, the head of Wilford Industries who came up with Snowpiercer when the Freeze came.
Throughout The Series
Hiring Layton
Melanie is the voice of the train aboard Snowpiercer, and also the head of hospitality. She receives numerous complaints from passengers that they have heard of uprisings on the train. Melanie sends Ruth Wardell to remove Andre Layton from the Tail in a bid to help with the investigations into the murder that has caused the widespread panic; it is revealed that Layton was a homicide detective before Snowpiercer departed.
Layton enters numerous negotiations with Melanie, outlining his terms for working the murder case — third class immigration and rations for the Tailies. Melanie refuses each of his demands, however, remarking that it would do him well to help catch the murderer; she gives him a chance to escape the Tail of the train. Layton is told that if he can clear Nikki's name and solve the case they will make him Train Detective and move him to Third Class, he refuses, however, citing that he wants his demands met.
After the revolt of the Tailies, Melanie enlists Layton to calm them. When he is successful, Ruth reveals that Wilford will demand six of the Tailies lives in exchange for the security guards lost. Layton pleads with Melanie, agreeing to work for her and solve the murder if she spares the lives of his friends; she reluctantly agrees. She later returns to the front of the train where she takes over as driver, and it is revealed that she is in fact the mysterious Mr. Wilford.[1]
The following day, Melanie is surprised to see Layton has been beat up after causing a scene with the guards. She becomes increasingly angry and remarks that he is only in his position because "Mr. Wilford" needs him to solve the murder. She is impressed, however, when Layton figures out that Sean — the recent murder victim — was an informant for Wilford, hence why "he" wants the case solved to figure out what secrets were spilled.[2]
Difficult Decisions
Melanie is faced with a difficult decision when Javi reveals that they are unliklely to pass through the upcoming glacial collapse without damage. Javi recommends that they scale back the power 12%, however Melanie cites that they cannot afford any blackouts — especially with the current concerns of the passengers — and that they should push ahead.
Later, Melanie realises that this was the wrong decision when the cliff collapses and one of the Ag-Sec carriages is damaged, freezing everything inside. Melanie agrees to scale back 12% whilst the damage is fixed. Later, amidst concerns by Jinju and Bennett, Melanie decides that water and other essentials will be rationed per class; Bennett remarks that this is killing the passengers from the tail up.[2]
Melanie is faced with a further difficult decision when Layton begins to find out details surrounding Sean's death. Layton refuses to reveal any of the information unless he is allowed to visit Josie Wellstead in the Tail. Eventually, Melanie reluctantly agrees, but is oblivious to the fact that Layton is exchanging details about the Train's security with Josie.[3]
After Niiki is murdered, Melanie faces anger and suspicion as she helps Layton look into the first class passengers. Though Layton suspects first class will prevent any of their own from facing justice and expresses outrage at the luxuries they enjoy, Melanie assures him that she is on his side, revealing her own humble origins. Melanie orders Layton to be first class' "worst nightmare from the Tail" while she will help clear the way for him. As they work together, Layton notices Melanie's level of power and becomes suspicious of her true identity.
After Erik is identified as the killer, Melanie, acting as Layton's partner due to Bess Till being busy chasing Erik, interrogates the Folger parents as Layton interrogates LJ Folger. After Erik is killed by the brakemen, Layton signals to Melanie that LJ is responsible and she has brakemen brought in who arrest LJ after a struggle when Layton announces her guilt. Melanie makes a train-wide announcement that the killer is dead and that the second suspect has been arrested before bringing Layton for a drink. By now, Melanie has realized that Layton knows who she really is which he confirms, stating that "a myth is a powerful thing." Melanie is revealed to have drugged Layton, apologizing to him and stating that she hopes that he never knows the weight that comes with being a myth. Melanie has Layton secretly put into the Drawers, keeping it off-the-books so that no one else knows about it. However, Melanie, not wanting Layton to get hurt, orders that Layton is not to be damaged.[4]
Personality
She is stunning and if anything brings her down she always finds a loophole to get around it. Aboard the train she takes the position of Head of Hospitality which gains her a great reputation aboard the train as well as making new or keeping friends.
Relationships
Appearances
- Season One
Memorable Quotes
| “ | Layton, I was born on a dirt farm in eastern Pennsylvania. I came from nothing. I know a thing or two about class. That anger that you feel when you look at all of this? It's justified. Let's use it. Whoever the killer is, First is going to protect their own, so you be their worst nightmare from the Tail. I'll do the rest. | ” |
| — Melanie to Layton[4] | ||
- Melanie: "You figured it out, Layton. I know you did."
- Layton: "A myth's a powerful thing."
- Melanie: "Pray you never know the weight of it. I'm sorry, Layton."
- ― Melanie and Layton discuss her true identity[4]
Trivia
- Melanie attended — and presumably graduated from — MIT. She also wears a Yale Engineering hat suggesting a connection to that university as well.
- Only a limited number of people are aware that Melanie is the mysterious "Mr. Wilford". Presumably, these are: Bennett Knox, Javier De La Torre, Jinju Seong and Andre Layton.
- She grew up in a rural home from East Pennsylvania.
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