The Alien Within

**The Alien Within** is the twenty-second episode of the science fiction comedy television series *Resident Alien* and the twelfth episode of the second season. It aired on August 31, 2022.

## Synopsis

Halloween comes to Patience, and Harry sheds his human mask.

## Plot

### Everything has changed

An elderly man sits alone. Harry Vanderspeigle, the alien, thinks to himself that when he first came to Earth he was forced to use Harry's body to fit in, but over time, the body changed, from simply a way of hiding to who he became. He thinks that he is attached to it, the way he was attached to Asta and the way he still is to her memory, her having died a long time ago. He thinks that after so many decades it is hard to shed this skin because it reminds him of the way things used to be, before everything changed. He observes a smoking mountain in the distance. It is sixty years in the future and the Earth is a desolate wasteland.

### Not as alien

In the present day, Harry is still searching for his alien baby. He thinks to himself that offspring of his people do not form attachments and that it was the weaker human side of the baby that made it listen to Sahar. He thinks that since he speaks the baby's language, he can call him back. Sheriff Mike Thompson and Deputy Liv Baker investigate Hawthorne Creek. Liv tells Mike that she feels like Erin Brokovich and that maybe one day they'll make a movie about her. They discover that the poison readings in the water are off the charts. Liv suggests that they check the maps for something upstream that could cause this, but Mike is dismissive of this, saying that real police work is more tactile and in the real world.

In the Patience Health Clinic, Harry is decorating for Halloween. Asta enters, saying that she needs to talk to him about the other alien race that is on Earth and planning to kill everyone. She says that she was reading the other day about Insectoids on the Internet and she doesn't want to be squashed by a big bug person. He tells her that the Internet is wrong. She is relieved until he tells her that the Insectoids do not squash, but rather that they like to eat other beings while they are alive and struggling. She tells him that he's not helping and he replies that are so many alien races and the truth is that he won't know which is there on Earth until he gets the rest of Goliath's message.

He tells her she can thank Max's friend Sahar for interfering. She says that he can't blame her, that she was just trying to take care of the baby. He says he was taking care of it first and it should have jumped into his arms at the sound of his alien call. She tells him that maybe he's not as alien as he used to be. He says this is a terrible thing to say, but she points what happened with Goliath, that it is inevitable. He insists that he is an alien through-and-through, that Goliath was weak but he is not. "Thanks for nothing," she tells him, leaving.

### The new lunch lady

Deputy Liv leads Sheriff Mike to a pond inside a clearing. He asks her just what they're looking at and she explains that it's an impoundment pond, that it's how mining companies dispose of and hide their waste. She tells him that it's all perfectly legal and all mining companies do it, unless... there's been a leak and they're trying to hide it. He tells her that she's brilliant and it allowed his super brilliance to shine through. She says he's once again the hero of his own story.

Max approaches Sahar at school, asking her if she wants to go buy a new comic. She calls him carefree, saying that she's going back to the woods in the hope that the alien baby will come back to the RV. He suggests he go with her and help, but she says she'll do it herself. He apologizes again for telling Harry about the baby, promising that he won't this time. As they go through the lunch line, he asks the lunch lady "Nothing healthy, please." "Ah, come on Max. You gotta eat everything on your plate," replies the lunch lady, General McCallister.

Sahar wonders just how it is that a lunch lady they've never seen before knows Max's name. Max, however, seems unconcerned, claiming to be pretty famous around the school for breaking a taco record. They return to the secret government RV, where Sahar despairs at the fact that the alien baby still hasn't returned. Sahar mourns that she hadn't even taught him how to tie his shoes yet, saying that she wishes she could make the alien sounds that Harry can.

Max moans and clutches his stomach. Sahar says that it can't be food poisoning, that they just ate. She then suggests that the lunch lady could be one of the Men in Black and that she may have put a tracking device in Max's food. She tells him he has to poop it out. He claims that he can't, that he only poops at specific times. She says they have to speed things along and gives him a medical tool to shove up his butt. He balks, but finally gives him when she tells him it's for the fate of the world.

### Feelings for humans

At the Patience Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mike and Deputy Liv report the results of their investigation to Sam Hodges's widow, Abigail Hodges, with Asta in attendance as well. She asks Sheriff Mike what's next, and how he's going to get justice for Sam. He admits that his and Liv's role in the case has ended, that it's being kicked up to the FBI. He then expresses disappointment that he and Liv likely won't get any credit for taking down the Galvan/Powell Group. At this, Abigail is disgusted, stating sarcastically that she's sorry they won't get credit. Sheriff Mike tells her they know she's been through a lot and it's their duty to make it right. However, she is less than placated when he offers her a "limited edition Patience County Sheriff's Department baseball cap, one which Liv had previously given him as a gift. She leaves the office in disgust. "You probably should have just said sorry," points out Asta.

In the Patience Health Clinic, D'Arcy tells Harry that her knee has been bothering her a lot. She says that she thinks she overdid and he tells her to stop training. She says that she can't stop, that she has a ski tournament coming up and she needs him to take a look at it. He does, telling her that her knee is compensating for the injury from her previous ski accident. She asks if he can just tell her how to fix it, that she has to ski in this tournament, that it's the only thing she's ever been good at. He decides to try a different tack, telling her that he believes in her and that he's going to give her medicine for the pain and swelling. "You will have a child's knee, and you will not die for many years," he lies. She thanks and hugs him and he wonders to himself just why he said all that, if he's really begun to care about other humans. "What kind of monster have I become?" he asks himself.

At the Patience Town Hall, Mayor Ben Hawthorne gives a presentation about his plans for the new resort. D'Arcy, however, keeps raising her hand, trying to ask a question. He tells her he will take questions after the presentation is over, but she keeps shouting "How about now?" until finally he is forced to acknowledge her. "What about traffic?" she asks, saying that Main Street will be wall-to-wall cars 24/7. She and the others, including Asta, argue against the resort, pointing out that big business already ruined Hawthorne Creek. Ben says that as a Hawthorne, he takes the poisoning of the creek very personally. He continues that what happened is exactly why they need this resort, that they can use the money to help clean it up.

Kate says that she was skeptical too, but she realized how much good the resort could do for the town, that the revenue will bolster public services in Patience. Sheriff Mike says that this includes law enforcement, that with the money from it they'll be able to have 24/7 surveillance on everyone in Patience. Ben, however, says that this isn't what they want, that they don't live in a police state. The whole thing obviously does not curry any favor, and Asta quietly wonders to Dan why everyone is there except Harry. "Where is he?" Harry, as it turns out, is wandering the snowy mountains, thinking to himself that everything is happening too fast. He thinks that he's been living with the human mask for too long and he needs to return to his alien body and live in a familiar frozen environment. The only problem? No food.

### A team

Asta talks with D'Arcy, Liv and Kayla, saying that they can't have the resort, that if it comes, they can say goodbye to Joe's Diner and The 59, with none of the money going to the locals. Kate, meanwhile, tells Ben that he was very in command and very sexy. Ben shakes his head, saying that he doesn't know, that a lot of people were against it. Kate tells him it's the way it is, that as mayor, you'll never have 100% approval. He says that only 16% of the town actually voted to begin with and 40 of those were Hawthornes, so only 9 people outside of the family voted for him. He then realizes he voted for himself, so that makes 8. He says that everyone hates him, but she tells him that they don't, that some people just have a difference of opinion. He says that they're a team and nothing can stop them.

Harry returns home, thinking that he will live his in his cabin, but still remain in his alien form. He, however, soon finds that this isn't very practical, doing things such as banging his head on the ceiling and crushing a glass bottle of milk with his alien strength. He doesn't even try the toilet, deciding to just go outside. He decides it's just not practical and that he can return to human form as long as he keeps living like an alien. He thinks that if the baby will only listen to Sahar, then he'll just kidnap her.

At school, Sahar tells Max that the lunch lady is no longer there. He asks why she's not dressed for Halloween like everyone else and she tells him that her people don't celebrate it, that there's no spiritual meaning behind it. He points out that there's also candy, but she says she doesn't need to stuff her face with sugar. He asks why she's eating honey and she says it's too soothe her throat, explaining that she was up all night practicing alien sounds. As they continue chatting, David Logan listens in on their conversation, observing them on a monitor.

At the Patience Sheriff's Office, Detective Lena Torres says her goodbyes to Sheriff Mike and Deputy Liv as they wrap up the final paperwork on the case. She and Mike continue to flirt, but after she leaves, Deputy Liv asks why he didn't ask her out, that she was waiting for it. He tells her that he likes Lena, that she's a pain in the ass, but he likes her. He says, however, that he's not aiming to plant his roots any deeper in Patience. "Why not?" she asks and he tells her that he's been thinking it might be time to move back to D.C. She is shocked by this, but he says that she knows him, that he needs the excitement of a big case and the biggest case he's ever had here in Patience has just ended, whereas D.C. has wall-to-wall murders.

### Adult-napping

Sahar is in the restroom, washing her hands, when suddenly Harry pops out from a stall. She asks him just what he's doing and he tells her that he's kidnapping her, that the alien baby seems to like her and he doesn't understand why. "Alright, let's go," Sahar tells him. He is confused, and she says that she needs him as well, that he knows how to do the alien sounds. She tells him it's not a kidnapping, that it's an adult-napping. Annoyed, he tells her that he brought supplies such as rope and tape and that he's kidnapping her. She points out that by definition kidnapping is abducting someone and holding them against their will, but she's not resisting. He tells her that if he can't kidnap her, he doesn't want to take her, and she says in that case, she is indeed adult-napping him. Elsewhere in the school, however, Max, dressed as Frankenstein's monster, discovers the alien baby in a hoodie. "Mama?" asks the baby. He approaches the baby, saying that he came back and his mama will be so happy to see him. He takes the baby's hand and leads him away, as David Logan watches from the monitor. He zooms in the baby's face and calls up the article on Bobby Smallwood's disappearance. "Holy shit. That's the alien," he realizes.

Harry thinks to himself that humanity is a virus and he will not allow it to overcome him the way it overcame Goliath. He and Sahar bicker in the truck. Sahar wants to stop for food, but Harry is against the idea, until she suggests pizza. "I could go for a slice," he admits. Max tries to contact Sahar over the walkie-talkies to let her know about the alien baby. His signal comes through at first, but fizzles out as Harry drives further away. The baby then tries to flee out the window, just as Ben and Kate enter the room, dressed as Sonny and Cher and wishing him "Happy Halloween." They see the alien baby, though, of course, to them, he is the boy Bobby Smallwood. Ben asks who he is. "Me baby," replies the alien baby and Max covers it, claiming that the boy was dressed as a baby at school for Halloween. Ben and Kate go with this, and Max asks why they have to be Sonny and Cher every year. "Because they're an iconic '70s couple and the mustache was expensive," explains Ben. They say they'll see Max downstairs, but Max says that they're not going trick-or-treating, that they're too old for it.

Max and Kate go back downstairs and welcome a group of adult trick-or-treaters, including Ellen Cho. Kate wonders just who Ellen is dressed up as. "I love Patience, Patience is the best town ever," says Ellen in a clear mockery of Ben. "Happy you spent $135 on that jacket to wear it one time," snipes Ben. Ellen tells him that they don't want candy and will take beer. They head inside. "Are we just gonna let 'em waltz into our house like that?" wonders Ben. Back upstairs, Max desperately pleads for Sahar to come in over the walkie. The alien baby escapes out the window. Back downstairs, D'Arcy arrives. She pokes fun at Ben and Kate's Halloween costumes then asks if Kate can "come out to play." "It's Halloween" points out Kate and D'Arcy says that it's just for a little bit. Ben tells Kate that if she wants to go out, he can take care of things there. Thus, they head off, D'Arcy leading Kate to a car with Asta, Kayla and Liv already inside. "Trick or treat, bitches!" shouts D'Arcy as they take off. Outside, Max searches desperately for the alien baby. "Where did you go, baby?" he wonders.

### Goliath

The baby, as it turns out, has made his way into the forest, where Sahar is similarly calling out for him. Hearing the call from the government RV, he follows. He opens the door... but inside is not Sahar, but rather her voice coming from a radio. A soldier appears before him, while outside, another soldier closes the door of the RV. On the roof, another soldier fixes a metal chain to a helicopter above. The soldiers board the RV and the helicopter takes off, just as Max and Sahar arrive. Sahar screams in horror. "He's gone, they took him," says Sahar, saying that it is all her fault, that she made him stop for pizza. He tells her it's his fault, that he was the one in charge. She sobs, saying that she just wanted one more day together and now she'll never see her baby again. Harry thinks to himself that he has never seen her cry and if Goliath were there, he would be affected, but he is an alien, and he does not care. He thinks that Goliath let himself be so human that he would probably do something like putting his hand on her shoulder and saying "There, there, there, there, there." He does just that. He hugs her.

The girls find themselves at the Old Barrett Bridge. Kate asks just what they're doing there and they tell her that if the resort were to come to Patience, this would be replaced by four-lane highway. They tell her she's the only one who can convince Ben not to do it. "Well, what if I don't want to convince him not to do it?" she asks. They tell her to come with them, that they want to show her something under the bridge. They show her how they used to come there as kids and carve their names under the bridge. They explain that it was their childhood, a secret hangout spot, and that Ben even lost his virginity there. They say that every square inch of Patience holds a memory for them and losing it would be like wiping them out. Kate says that she never had that sense of belonging and they tell her that she can. She carves her name. They head back to Joe's Diner, where Dan has stayed open late for them. They ask Kate if she will help them. "Well... I carved my name. I'm one of you now," she tells them. Everyone cheers and applauds. Harry thinks to himself that humans form attachments to things and places as in the Patience Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mike looks at a photo of himself and his partner, Jesse, each holding their diplomas for having graduated from the police academy. Harry thinks that sometimes humans aren't even attached to memory of what something is, but rather what it used to be.

In his cabin, Harry sits down to eat pizza when Asta comes rushing in the door. She expresses surprise at his being okay, saying that she got his text and was worried. He tells her that she never texted back so he only ordered pizza for himself. She tells him he texted 911 and then only gibberish and she thought he was in trouble or had a stroke or something. He says that he thought his message was very clear, saying that he used abbreviations like the kids do. He explains that what he was trying to tell her was that the alien baby was taken by the Men in Black. He tells her he's not giving her any pizza as she considers a number of unopened pieces of mail on his table, asking why he hasn't opened any of them. He tells her that aliens don't care about human things like mail except for pizza delivery coupons.

Asta discovers an envelope from the Darvell Gallery, Violinda Darvell's gallery. She opens it and discovers a book of Goliath's artwork and a note: "I wanted my baby to have this book, so that he can get to know his father through his work. - VD" "Oh my God," says Asta, showing Harry something that has caught his eye. Harry thinks to himself that he understands these human attachments, as in the future, the alien Harry wanders through the burning wasteland. 60 years in the future, he has shed his human form, it no longer suiting him. 300 years in the future, even his alien self has grown old. He thinks to himself that now he understand how some humans are so attached to their home that they would do anything to protect it. He thinks that he will walk forever if he has to, searching for a way to save the planet. He sees a portal in the sky and from it emerge two birds, which burst into flames and fall before him. He thinks that of course they left these behind, that he must be on one of the planet's energy lines, what humans call lay lines. He thinks that if there is one, there will be more and he can change things. It is now 500 years in the future. He finds a portal. From the other side, a human hand reaches through. He smiles.

In the present day, Asta and Harry stare at a painting of themselves. It is them, shortly after Harry attacked Jimmy soon after he and Asta first met. "How could Goliath paint this?" wonders Harry, saying that they were the only ones there. "The signal was sent to you..." says Asta, saying that the murals were made for him, yet he was the only one who could understand them. "And now this?" she wonders. In the future, Harry steps through the portal. He emerges in a national forest in Brazil, 33 years ago, and takes the form of a park ranger. "This... this makes no sense..." Asta tells Harry. "Unless.. you're Goliath."

## Cast and characters

Starring:

* Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle
* Sara Tomko as Asta Twelvetrees
* Corey Reynolds as Sheriff Mike Thompson
* Alice Wetterlund as D'Arcy Bloom
* Levi Fiehler as Mayor Ben Hawthorne
* Elizabeth Bowen as Deputy Liv Baker
* Judah Prehn as Max Hawthorne

Special guest star:

* Linda Hamilton as General McCallister

Guest starring:

* Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne
* Gary Farmer as Dan Twelvetrees
* Alex Barima as David Logan
* Nicola Correia-Damude as Detective Lena Torres
* David Bianchi as Goliath
* Gracelyn Awad Rinke as Sahar
* Diana Bang as Ellen Cho
* Sarah Podemski as Kayla
* Kesler Talbot as Humalien in the form of Bobby Smallwood

Co-starring:

* Deborah Finkel as Abigail Hodges

## Quotes

"*I need to talk to you.*"

"*I like Halloween. I think it is funny that humans like decorating with other dead humans. (*indicating a model skeleton*) I am pretending that this gentleman worked at a grocery store before he was murdered.*"

"*Cool. Look, I need more information on this alien race that you said is trying to take over the earth. You know, I was on the Internet the other day and-and there's something called 'insectoids'? Like a big giant bug-person alien thing. I-I-I... what the hell, I don't wanna be squashed by a big bug person.*"

"*The Internet is wrong.*"

"*Oh. Okay. Good.*"

"*No, the insectoids, they do not squash. They like to eat other beings while they are still alive and struggling.'*

- Harry Vanderpseigle and Asta Twelvetrees

"*There are blue avians, which are very beautiful if you are attracted to bird faces. Which, of course, I am.*"

- Harry Vanderspeigle to Asta Twelvetrees

"*I am here to kidnap you. I need you as bait. The alien baby seems to like you. I do not understand why.*"

"*Alright, let's go.*"

"*What?*"

"*You're not the only one who could use some bait. You know how to make those alien sounds. But let's be clear. This isn't a kidnapping. This is an adult-napping.*"

- Harry Vanderspeigle and Sahar

"*I just wanted one more day together. Now I'll never see my baby again.*"

"*I have never seen her cry. If Goliath were, he would be affected by it, but I am an alien, and I do not care. Goliath let himself be so human, he probably would have put her hand on her shoulder like this. And then he would say something humans say to make each feel better like...* There, there, there, there, there.**"**
- Sahar and Harry Vanderspeigle

"*This, this makes no sense.*"

"*Unless... you're Goliath.*"

- Harry Vanderspeigle, thinking, and Asta Twelvetrees

## Trivia

* According to a package delivered to Harry seen in this episode, his address is 3467 Lookout Rd, Patience, CO, 22030. In real-life, a 22030 actually falls within Fairfax, VA, which is on the east coast, whereas Colorado is much further west and has zip codes which begin with 80 or 81.

## Gallery

### Videos

Sahar Adult-Naps Harry… After He Fails To Kidnap Her - Resident Alien (S2 E12) - SYFYBehind the Scenes- How the Alien Baby Gets Abducted by a Helicopter - Resident Alien (S2 E12) - SYFYHarry Discovers Goliath's Shocking True Identity - Resident Alien (S2 E12) - SYFYResident Alien Season 2 Episode 12 RECAPPED! - Resident Alien (S2 E12) - SYFY
## External links

* The Alien Within on the Internet Movie Database
* Transcript @ TV Show Transcripts
* Transcript @ Forever Dreaming