Tillie

**Tillie** is one of the passengers on the Grand Rapids Runner Bus who becomes trapped in the Township. Despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, she is carefree and perpetually cheerful, even after her arrival in the Town.

## Biography

### Season Two

While Tillie rides the bus, one of the passengers, Elgin, suddenly begins panicking, and says they have to turn around. He stands up and tries to convince the driver, but another passenger, Randall, tries to restrain him. As the driver, Bakta, orders them to their seats, Elgin vomits on Randall, who asks for the bus to stop, and Bakta pulls over in front of the Diner. Tillie dances in the rain and the other passengers stand outside the locked Diner trying to shelter from it while Bakta tries to clean up the bus. Ellis and Tom approach the bus passengers and tell them that more people will be down to help them and unlock the Diner. Bakta replies that they aren’t making a pit stop, and she simply needs a mop. Julie informs Ellis that her mother is trapped in the basement. With Ellis’s arm broken, Tom asks for volunteers to help get Tabitha out. Brick and Randall volunteer, and Tillie moves to join them, but Bakta says that they need to stay with the bus and that emergency services will handle it, prompting Randall to sarcastically call her a peach.

Donna and Kenny arrive, and he apologizes for their inconvenience and offers to get some tea for all of them and allows them into the Diner, while Tom leads Brick and Randall to the Matthews' house. Shortly afterwards, the house completely collapses, and only Randall is able to escape, while Jim Matthews, Tom and Brick are trapped beneath the rubble, injured but alive. Bakta then tries to get the passengers back on the bus, promising to send emergency services when they reach the next town. With nightfall approaching and the situation getting increasingly out of hand, Donna fires a shotgun into the wheel of the bus and orders everyone back inside the Diner. Most of the passengers are corralled back inside, although several run away in fear.

Once everyone is inside, Donna cocks her shotgun to try and get the crowd under control. Bakta tries to get her to let them go, but Donna tells her that she has no idea what is waiting for them outside, and orders them to sit down. Donna says she understands they are scared, but promises that they are not the enemy, which is outside. Randall scoffs, and Tillie says that is an odd thing to say. Donna begins to explain their situation, beginning with the Fallen Tree. As the night goes on, Tillie offers Donna a cup of tea, remarking that she thought life was out of surprises for her.

Later, Randall makes a run for the door but Kenny stops him, pointing out the screams and howls they are hearing. Randall says they cannot leave the people outside to their deaths and points out that they have guns, which Donna says are useless. As they are distracted by a scream, Randall gets ahold of Kenny’s gun and aims at Kenny, leading to a standoff between him, Donna and Matthias. Randall demands they open the door, but Donna refuses, saying doing so would put everyone in danger. Randall tries to rally the other passengers, reminding them that Donna shot out their tires. Donna says that they are all scared, but Randall refuses to listen, threatening to shoot Kenny, but Donna says he will have to shoot Kenny, and she will have to shoot him. Randall then gets distracted by a knock at the door, and Kenny regains control of his weapon while Donna whacks Randall in the face with the butt of her gun. The next morning, Julie is the first to realize that the sun has risen and runs outside, followed by the others. They are horrified to find Tom's mauled corpse, but Julie learns that her father survived the night.

Tillie and the rest of the passengers unpack the bus and are then led to Colony House by Donna. Tillie then goes to the Clinic looking for Kristi, and Jim tells her that she had to run out, but asks if he can help her. Tillie realizes Jim was the man trapped under the house, and says that Brick sat across the aisle from her. Tillie begins to leave, but Jim asks her where she was going on the bus. Tillie says that she was going to the racetrack to bet on the horses, and has been visiting racetracks across the country. Jim asks if it was a charter bus, but Tillie does not know. Jim then asks her what is in her bag, and Tillie remarks that he asks many questions. Jim tries to ask one more but collapses from the pain, and Tillie calls for help. Marielle arrives and helps Jim into a chair. Marielle goes to look for an aspirin, and Tillie tells Jim that Marielle is Kristi’s fiancee, shocking him.

As Boyd walks to the Church, Tillie introduces herself, remarking that the Town was not her preferred destination, and that she heard that he had quite an adventure. Boyd says that he has to talk with his deputy, and Tillie informs him that she saw Kenny heading for the Clinic.

Tillie arrives at the Clinic and finds Kristi and Marielle kissing. She apologizes for interrupting and gives Kristi a bottle of liquid morphine for safekeeping. Kristi asks why she is carrying that around, and then realizes that Tillie has cancer and asks when she was diagnosed. Tillie answers a month ago, and by the time she needs the morphine, she won’t be in any shape to administer it. Tillie then admonishes herself for ruining their afternoon, and leaves them alone. Tillie adds that they are better off staying in the Clinic anyway, given the hubbub surrounding Sara’s return to Town.

Reggie arrives at Colony House, he explains to everyone what happened to Paula and searches for Donna. Fatima says that she isn’t inside, and Kristi adds that she last saw her at the Clinic hours ago, and she was supposed to go to the house after. Reggie worries that they are all going to die, and Fatima steps up and tells him to relay Boyd’s instructions. Reggie says that no one can go to sleep, and Fatima steps up and says they will focus on following instructions while Boyd and Donna get themselves sorted. Fatima takes Reggie to change his bloodstained clothes and tells everyone to partner up to make sure they don’t fall asleep. Bakta asks how long, and Fatima answers that they will figure that out later. Later that night, a grief-stricken Reggie runs around in a panic shaking people, telling them not to go to sleep and that nothing can protect them. Ellis and Fatima try to calm him down, but Reggie pushes Ellis down. Elgin restrains him as Fatima tries in vain to calm him as Reggie tells everyone that they are all going to die. Ellis orders Elgin to bring Reggie upstairs, and Elgin drags the screaming Reggie upstairs. As the night goes on, Elgin teaches Tillie how to crochet. Fatima passes by, and Tillie compliments Fatima on her leadership, telling her that she will be a great mother. Fatima and Elgin are shocked, and Tillie says that she has multiple children and grandchildren, and can spot an expecting mother. Fatima asks a crestfallen Elgin what is wrong, and he answers that he just remembered his dream.

The next morning, with no solutions in sight, the people of the Township believe that their deaths are imminent. Tillie leads a prayer circle in Colony House, reciting the 23rd Psalm. In the end, Boyd is able to stop The Musicbox Monster and save everyone.

## Appearances

### Season Two

* Strangers in a Strange Land
* The Kindness of Strangers
* Tether
* This Way Gone
* Lullaby
* Ball of Magic Fire
* Once Upon a Time?

## References

1. ↑ Strangers in a Strange Land
2. ↑ The Kindness of Strangers
3. ↑ Tether
4. ↑ This Way Gone
5. ↑ Lullaby
6. ↑ Ball of Magic Fire
7. ↑ Once Upon a Time?