Book Club

**Book Club** is the sixth episode in Season 3 of the Freeform series, *Motherland: Fort Salem*. It aired on July 26, 2022.

## Synopsis

Tally reunites with her mother and finds a reason to keep fighting. Abigail and Adil return to Fort Salem to find their home has changed. Scylla and Edwin work together in attempt to reach Raelle. Anacostia and Sterling plot an escape.

## Plot

Kara Brandt and Presidnent Blanton Silver sit and chat with world leaders. Hearst describes his Genealogical Research Program as being a success, along with the collars that restrain witch Work. He states that making the collars removable gives them a sense of freedom, a "halfway gesture." Just then, Alban Hearst bursts into the room. "Girl trouble, Alban?" quips Kara and Alban tells them that it's much worse. He tells them that Raelle Collar ("the Witchbomb") is dead, but that Sarah Alder has somehow returned and has somehow changed and is stronger. He says that he had the Unit in hand until one of the Council leaders intervened. Kara asks him why he didn't lead with the good news, saying that this means that the Cession Council had the fugitives and didn't extradite them, a clear violation of the treaty. This means that they can invade and they already have the votes from Congress to do it. "What about Alder?" asks Hearst, saying that her power seems to come from the Mycelium. Kara tells him that he's going to have to step it up at the drilling sites, "and this time, make sure the bitch stays dead."

As the Unit proceeds to Fort Salem, they discuss their next steps. Alder can be healed if she can access the Mycelium, but at this point, Fort Salem is her only chance. Scylla, however, splits from the group, feeling that her best choice is to get Edwin Collar to safety while Tally and Abigail take care of Alder. Thelma tells them that she will make arrangements for transportation, both to get them to Fort Salem and a car to get Scylla and Mr. Collar where they need to go. She comments that when she's done "playing travel agent" she'll try to track down the Cession Marshal and Kelly Wade.

Anacostia Quartermain and Sterling Woodlot, fresh off their discovery at the Camarilla headquarters, report in to Petra Bellweather at Fort Salem. They explain what they saw at the stadium: at least a couple thousand soldiers readying themselves to march. They ask her what his happening and she explains that President Blanton Silver is about to order her to invade the Cession. She explains that the Salem Accord binds her and that if she were to refuse the order, he could have her replaced and even disband the Army. They agree that the trick is to go along with it on the surface for the time being, doing all they can to secretly resist, until they are able to get President Wade back.

As the Unit makes their way back, Tally is shocked to see witches wearing collars. Meanwhile, Edwin and Scylla chat. Edwin asks Scylla if her family ever did road trip and she explains that they were Dodgers, saying that her entire childhood was like one big road trip. Tally arrives at her family home, greeting her mother, May Craven, who gives her a chilly reception. Tally tells her that she needs to pack a bag, that she's taking her to the Cession. May, however, replies that from what she's hearing on the news even the Cession might not be safe for long. She tells her to put away the groceries, that it's an important night: book club.

Abigail arrives back at Fort Salem with Adil and Sarah Alder. There, Abigail is shocked to the Civilian Oversight recording witch work to use agains them. She wonders how her mother could possibly allow it, but Alder explains that she doesn't have a choice, that the Salem Accord binds her to the will of the government, that it's not just words on paper but something with real power. "You seemed to find a way around it when you needed to," comments Abigail, but Alder replies that this was at great cost. "This is no longer a witch's place," observes Abigail. She and Adil agree that they need to keep going, that they have to get Alder to the Mycelium.

Petra Bellweather, accompanied by a group of other top witches, holds a briefing for Colonel Jarrett, head of the Civilian Oversight. She tells him that she has troops ready to move as soon as Silver announces the invasion of the Cession, saying that they need to be swift and exact. He says that this is true, but also with an iron fist, that all Cession witches will be collared, detained and questioned by his men. She agrees that this is so if those are the President's orders. As he continues to talk, she addresses the witches in Farspeech. She tells them disregard the civilian's babblings and that their orders are to contain the situation and do everything they can to prevent bloodshed.

In the Cession, Edwin is stopped and questioned. Scylla arrives and uses witchcraft to tell the questioner that he can go about his day. Edwin chastises her, asking what she's thinking, that he could have had a partner. She asks why he's getting so angry and he tells her that she's all he has left. She agrees that he does have her, but says that he has Raelle too. He tells her he just wants to hear her voice and she says that she thinks they may be able to do that, but they need to find something first.

Abigail, Alder and Adil approach Izadora in her lab, telling her that they need her help. They are stunned to see Penelope Silver, and Abigail wonders if her being alive means that the Unit can clear their names. Seeing Abigail, Penelope flies into a rage, shouting that she tried to kill her, and has to be restrained. Izadora explains that going public would be premature, that Penelope isn't entirely human yet. Abigail wonders how her survival is possible and Izadora tells the group that death isn't what it used to be. She greets Alder, but Alder betrays her condition and they explain that they need to get her to the Mycelium.

Scylla attempts to contact Raelle. She manages to make contact, saying it's hard to keep the connection open, and has her talk with Edwin. Edwin asks her where she is and if she's safe. Raelle tells him that she thinks so, but that she really wants to come home. Just then, however, Willa Collar appears and cuts the connection, shouting for them to leave her. "She is safe with us!" Edwin asks Raelle what happened and if that was who he thought it was. He asks if they can talk to Raelle again, but she says it's not Raelle they need to talk with.

May brings Tally to her "book club," which is turns out is not a book club at all. She and her friends discuss records from the genealogical initiative, saying that they can destroy them and set back the collaring. Tally, seeing what is going on, points it out and May introduces her, saying that she's the daughter who couldn't wait to join the Army and now she's come back to protect her. She suggests that she could be useful, asking how she feels about raiding a government building. Tally tells her that she can't let her do this and May replies that it's why she didn't tell her, to avoid the conversation. Tally tells her that she's not trained for it and May tells her that waiting around for Silver's army is not an option. Tally tells her she has no idea what she's seen. May replies that she has to go, but Tally tells her there's no way she's letting her do it alone.

Scylla explains the truth to Edwin: that Willa didn't die in Greenville but actually survived and faked her death to fight the Army and protect Raelle. She explains that she met her in the Spree and that the mission she gave her was to get Raelle out of the Army. She tells Edwin that Willa knew this was coming and died for real less than a year ago saving Raelle. Edwin asks how it is that Willa is holding Raelle now and Scylla starts explaining to him about the Mycelium. Working together with Raelle's godmother, Quinn, they decide to give it another shot.

Quinn makes the initial reach-out. Willa tells her it's not really a good time and Quinn asks her if this is any way to speak to an old friend. She tells her that she has a couple of people who need to speak to her. Scylla asks her Raelle is and she tells her that she's far from people who would harm her, those who would poison them out of fear. She says the change was foretold and her place is with them. Edwin then connects. "Yeah, honey, it's me," he tells her. She apologizes to him profusely, saying that she's sorry she let him grieve and she thought she was making the right choices. She asks if he understands, that they had tried to kill Raelle. She tells him that Raelle has a new family now who can protect her, along with a woman who loves her and a whole new life. He begs her to give her back, saying that he will protect her, but tells her that if she doesn't let her then to take him too because he can't go on without her.

At Fort Salem, the group discusses next steps. Meanwhile, Tally assists with the operation to burn the genealogical records. Although Tally worries that they'll just send more collars and more men, May tells her that you win a war one step at a time. May later confides in her that she saw something she has to prevent and she doesn't know if she can. May tells her she just has to trust herself and get back in the fight. She says that she'll miss her and that "book club" won't be the same without her.

President Silver goes on TV, addressing the United States. He tells the citizens of the country that the United States military, alongside an elite civilian force, are preparing to invade and occupy the Cession. He states that they will root out the traitors who assassinated President Wade. Back at Fort Salem, Thelma Bearkiller reports that she's been able to find no trace of either the Cession Marshal or President Wade. Bearkiller says that she knew this day would be coming and took precautions, that she built a militia.

Willa's spirit teams with Alder, taking out the last of the Camarilla drilling sites. She tells her that they'll be able to heal now and it wasn't just for her, but for Raelle. She asks Alder if she's off to find the final pieces of the First Song. She agrees that she is, but says there's something she has to do first. She materializes on the grounds of Fort Salem, before a group of cadets. Colonel Jarrett asks them what's going on and they tell him that she's alive. "That can't be?" asks one of the Civilian Oversight and he says he intends to find out. Just then, Alder approaches him and makes a declaration: "Have faith and fear not. This will always be a witch's place!" Jarrett shouts for the cadets to move out of the way as they form up, stomping the ground repeatedly in excitement and joy.

## Cast

### Main

* Taylor Hickson as Raelle Collar
* Amalia Holm as Scylla Ramshorn
* Demetria McKinney as Anacostia Quartermain
* Jessica Sutton as Tally Craven
* Ashley Nicole Williams as Abigail Bellweather

with

* Lyne Renee as General Sarah Alder

### Recurring

* Catherine Lough Haggquist as Petra Bellweather
* Victor Webster as Blanton Silver
* Tony Giroux as Adil
* Emilie Leclerc as Izadora
* Bob Frazer as Alban Hearst
* Mellany Barros as Penelope Silver
* Diana Pavlovska as Willa Collar

### Guest

* Luc Roderique as Sterling Woodlot
* Emilie Ullerup as Kara Brandt
* Hrothgar Mathews as Edwin Collar
* Olivia Lucas as Thelma Bearkiller
* Aaron Douglas as Colonel Jarrett
* Jillian Fargey as May Craven
* Sandra Ferens as Quinn

**Co-starring**:

* Linda Ko as General Clary
* Lina Lecompte as Guadalupe "Lupe" Cortez
* Francoise Roberts as Kate
* Sharon Crandall as Sue
* Charles Jarman as Delegate #1
* Jose Vargas as Delegate #2
* Arpad Balogh as Camarilla Watchdog #1
* Garret Black as Camarilla Watchdog #2
* Peter Robinson as Cession Deputy
* Mike Kus as Truck Driver
* Rohain Arora as Young Father
* Pratiksha Kadur as Young Mother
* Matthew MacDonald-Bain as VP Security Detail
* Gillian Hurtig as Older Woman #1
* Sheree Ann Morgan as Older Woman #2
* Henrietta Johnson as Matrifocal Witch #1
* Mela Pietropaolo as Young Child #1
* Areen Yadav as Young Child #2
* Tiana Jung as Military Instructor
* Rob Carpetner as Security Guard

## Gallery

### Videos

Motherland- Fort Salem - Season 3, Episode 6 Trailer - Witch CollarsMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 6 - Sneak Peek- The Camarilla Gain Control - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 6 - Sneak Peek- Fugitives on the Run - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 6 - Sneak Peek- An Imminent Invasion - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 6 - Sneak Peek- Scylla and Edwin Bond - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 6 - Scylla Reaches Raelle in the Mycelium - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem - After The Storm- Season 3, Episode 6 - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 6 - May's Book Club - FreeformMotherland- Fort Salem Season 3, Episode 6 - Tally Opens Up To Her Mom - Freeform