An Alien in New York

**An Alien in New York** is the sixteenth episode of the science fiction comedy television series *Resident Alien* and the sixth episode of the second season. It premiered on March 2, 2022.

## Synopsis

Harry and Asta travel to New York looking for one of his people, but things go horribly wrong.

## Plot

### Threats

It is a cold winter's night at Harry Vanderspeigle's cabin, a night from the past. The human Harry Vanderspeigle sits at a table reading a book when there is a loud knock at the door. It's Sam Hodges. Sam tells him that he can't do "this" anymore, saying it's gotten way out of hand. Harry asks what's wrong. "*This* is what's wrong," he tells him, setting down an envelope on the table and several pictures, featuring himself, his wife Abigail and Asta Twelvetrees. He asks if it's supposed to be some sort of threat. Harry replies that they sent him the same thing, photos of Isabelle and Liza.

Sam replies that when they went to the charity event in New York, they said the money was for the clinic, a donation. He continues that it doesn't feel like a donation anymore. Harry tells him to calm down. He says he can't, that they need to go to the authorities. Harry replies that anything he says could implicate them as well, that they don't have concrete evidence. He says they can't cross "these people" without an actual plan. He tells Hodges to Sam to keep bringing him medical records while he works on actual proof. He asks to give him a few months. "Two months," agrees Sam, leaving. Harry sits down and makes a call. He tells the man on the other end that Sam is threatening to go to the police. "What do you want me to do?" he asks.

Sheriff Mike Thompson enters Mayor Ben Hawthorne's office, reading from the *Patience Post*: "Mayor Ben's Major Bomb." He reads off the article about the Family Day play, which is way less than complimentary. Ben replies that he doesn't read the *Post* and that nobody else does either, that it's a garbage paper. Mike says it's because he has all the copies in his office. Ben replies the town deserves the truth. Mike sets down the paper, telling him to keep reading and pointing out a headline - "Jessup Sets Sights on New Resort." He suggests that it could be Patience who has the resort instead, that the resort company is still in the scouting phase. Ben agrees that it's a good idea for tourism. He says he'll poll the town, but Mike says he may as well just get a banner that says "please steal our resort idea." Ben says the sarcasm isn't necessary, and Mike apologizes, saying that Cletus is going through a puppy stage.

### The money bag

At Harry's cabin, Harry is modeling outfits for the octopus 42, who tells him that his clothes don't matter, that he'll still be covered in skin. Harry says he's just jealous that he discovered another alien, his real family. He says he's just a cousin, but 42 replies that he's more family than the dog, Murphy. Harry tells him to not talk badly about the dog, that when he gives the dog treats, it's happy. Asta enters. "Close the shutters, dark storm cloud is approaching," comments 42. "Eat shit, bottom feeder," replies Asta, pulling out a ticket and telling Harry they fly later tonight. She tells him to eat a lot before they go, that she maxed her credit card and they can't afford food. He tells her it's not a problem, that they can take some from the "money bag."

Asta reclines on the couch, giggling, and then is shocked as he pulls wads of bills from a large bag filled with them. She asks where he got it all and he tells her it came with the house. She tells them that houses don't just come with duffel bags full of money. Pawing through the contents, she discovers photos of Sam and the real Harry, as well as Liza. There is also a note from Sam: "Harry, you wanted more evidence against Galvan/Powell Group. Here. Call me" and Sam's medical records. Asta asks how he didn't see all this at the bottom of the bag and he admits to having been distracted. "Who the hell is Galvan/Powell Group?" she wonders. She says there's no way people have this much cash unless they stole it or were paid to do something illegal. "He was a bad man," agrees Harry. Asta wonders why Galvin Powell would want to kill Sam, why Sam would give Harry the medical records, and why alien Harry has a dog. "I'm a dog person, now," he tells her.

At the sheriff's office, Deputy Liv Baker tells Sheriff Mike that she was looking at call logs and that there were recent phone calls about a meteor. He tells her that he doesn't like where this is going, but she plows ahead saying she thinks it was a UFO. He tells that she's supposed to be an officer of the law. She says he told her to trust his gut feelings. He says that he appreciates mystical creatures, but that if she wants to hunt for aliens, she has to do it on her own time. "Yes, sir," she agrees. Meanwhile, D'Arcy Bloom does karaoke in the bar for an audience of one when Mayor Ben enters. She asks what he wants, something that burns the chest or the throat. He tells her that he's there in a mayoral capacity, that he needs to borrow an ATV. She asks what it's for and he claims he wants to update the Patience website with pictures of the Grady property. She says she's off work and take him. He says there's no need, that he can ride solo. She tells him there's only one ATV and it must be driven by an insured driver. That's her, so she has to take him. "Great," he agrees.

At Harry's cabin, there is a knock at the door. "Hello!" shouts Sahar from outside. She tells him she knows he's in there, as he grabs the dog. "Do not put that thing in here with me, 42 tells him. Sahar enters and he declares it a home invasion. He asks where Max is, if she got a divorce. "Divorce is against my religion, unless it's initiated by the man, which is why I'm never getting married," she tells him. He says it's good news for men everywhere. He says he sees she's agreed to his terms, but she explains about the alien ball being taken by the government agent. She says that some day he'll laugh about it and she'll take the dog now. He declares that she will not have the dog as the dog appears behind him, 42 in his grasp. "Oh no," declares Sahar, and Harry babbles about what he's going to do, as Sahar points. "Turn around, you dummy," states 42. He does and the dog barks, 42 splayed out on the floor.

### Requiem for an octopus

He screams. "What'd he do?!" he asks, picking up 42. 42 struggles to speak, saying he can't see. Harry tells him he'll be okay, but 42 says it's his time as Murphy sits down next to Sahar. Harry pleads that he can't die, saying he's sorry he told him he's not his real family. 42 tells him it's okay, that he has real family now in New York. He tells him to find his real family for him. Harry tells him he'll never forget him. 42 tells him to honor him by eating his dead body in butter sauce with a nice Chardonnay. He passes and Harry puts him down, trying to perform chest compressions and then mouth-to-mouth. "Breathe, damn you!" he shouts as Sahar looks disgusted. He sobs and recalls past times with 42. He sits down and eats him for dinner, honoring his last wish.

Harry and Asta arrive in New York, exiting the subway to ground level. Asta declares it awesome. Harry thinks to himself that it's awful, that there's too many people. He is overwhelmed by all the noise and chaos. Asta tells him to stay close as he thinks that it's a mean joke that he has to wade through the sea of humanity. He suddenly finds that Asta is gone and starts shouting for her, like a child who has lost his mother. She runs back for him, saying that she told him to stay close.

Ben is with D'Arcy, taking his pictures and saying that he forgot how awesome the view was. She says he can take a few more and then they'll head up top for the real view. Sounding scared, he asks how they're going to get there. She hands him a rope. Back in New York, Harry and Asta visit the pizza place. Asta places an order and tells the man behind the counter they were sent there. She says they got a signal. She asks if it means anything to him, but he just turns to Harry. Harry asks if an alien lives there, then places an order. He then says they'd like to meet the alien again. The man tells him to pay for his pizza or get it. He hands over wads of cash. Asta tells him to keep the change. They leave as Harry munches on the last of the pizza, her saying that she didn't realize she had to teach him how to order food. He asks if he's supposed to eat the plate. Asta wonders what they're supposed to do next, saying that something has to be there. Harry turns and Asta asks if he's listening. "It says Goliath," he tells her, looking at a wall. He tells her it's written in his language. He laughs happily and so does Asta.

Back on the Grady property, D'Arcy and Ben have reached the top. "Told you you could do it," she comments. She asks if the view was worth it and he agrees it is. She says she should have told him to bring Kate, that she would love it. He explains that Kate took Max to her mother's. "Ol' Benny all alone," she quips. "Cartoons and cereal for breakfast. Cartoons and breakfast for dinner." He says he doesn't have to hold in his farts and she asks what the point of being married is if you can't fart around your wife. He admits that there's a lot of things he doesn't do around Kate. She asks what this means, and he says he feels like he can't be herself in front of her. She says she thought they were getting along great, given what Kate says. He says it's the little things, that he has a wall hanging he wants to put up, but she'd hate it. D'Arcy says it's messed up, that it's his house too. He tells her it's not that simple. "No, shit," she says, that she didn't know things were like that. She apologizes for having kissed him, that it was a stupid thing to do.

Asta looks at her phone, telling Harry that Goliath is a famous street artist and a total recluse who does murals over the city, each appearing overnight. She says they've nicknamed him "The Ghost of New York." She continues that nobody's met Goliath, but countless people have tried. She asks how they'll find him if nobody else could. She asks if the mural meant something. He says that it didn't, but that everything Goliath does has a purpose. He tells her he'll know once he sees all the murals.

### A huge mistake

Back at the sheriff's office, Deputy Liv interviews a woman, asking her to explain the moments leading up to her call. The woman describes having seen a UFO. Mike comes in, asking if everything is alright. She tells him that the woman was robbed the night before. "I'm telling her about the UFO," says the woman, holding up a phone. Mike asks for a word. Liv comes over. "Robbed?" he asks. She says that she was robbed of her sense of innocence that aliens don't exist. He asks if she thinks police work is a joke, that what he says goes in one ear and out the other. She comments that would be nice as a man outside starts fighting their other, elderly deputy. Kate races over and Mike tells her to stay back as she restrains the attacker. As she forces him against the wall, Mike takes over, pinning the man to the ground. He shouts that he told her to stay back. She asks why she would. He says it's because he told her to. He asks if she thinks this a game, saying this is how people get killed. He hauls the man away as Liv looks confused and disgusted.

In New York, Asta tells Harry that thinks the real Harry Vanderspeigle received a large sum of money from The Galvan/Powell Group. They approach the company's headquarters and Harry complains that they're supposed to be looking for Goliath. She tells him she just needs five minutes, that she needs to know, that she's starting to doubt everything she knows about Sam. "Fine," he says, starting to enter. She tells him she has to go by herself, that he could be recognized. She tells him to just stay put. She starts to say she'll be right back, as Harry heads off into shop, "Cafe des Artistes," promoting the "World's Best Pie!" She shouts that she'll be right back. In the shop, Harry gets his pie order, thinking that he must find Goliath. Suddenly, a man in a jacket and tie approaches, addressing him as Harry Vanderspeigle and asking what he's doing there. "Son of a bitch," he thinks to himself.

The man sits down, asking again what he's doing there and why he's in New York. Harry wonders how this man knows Harry, if he's a friend or an enemy. "Are you listening to me, asshole?" asks the man. "Not a friend," realizes Harry. Harry tells him he's drinking coffee and eating pie, taking a bite. He tells him he likes pie. Asta enters behind him, and seeing what is going on, takes a seat the counter. The man tells Harry that he was supposed to stay in Colorado and do his work. He asks again why he's in New York. "I wanted to see the home of *Law and Order*," replies Harry. Asta lowers her head and shakes it. The man asks if Harry thinks it's a joke, telling him to at least tell him that he destroyed the medical records.

Harry replies that he destroyed the medical records. The man asks if he's just saying that and Harry points out that he told him to say it. He says that he's confused and shouts that he needs more pie, that it will help him think. The man gets what, whispering in Harry's ear that he has no idea who he's dealing with and that he's making a huge mistake. He leaves. Asta walks over and sits down and he tells her that she just missed a well-dressed man with a short memory. She tells him she heard everything, that he was talking about Sam's medical records. The waitress brings over more pie. "You ordered me pie," she comments, delighted. "No," he tells her, pulling it over to himself.

### Live, Laugh, Love

At the Hawthornes', Ben and D'Arcy have hung Ben's plaque - "Live, Laugh, Love." She asks what he thinks and he says it's really good, that he feels a little wild. She asks how he likes living on the edge and she says they have to celebrate. He says he has beer in the fridge. She tells him that she hid joints in his closet in high school. Shocked, he points out that it's Max's room now. "There's weed in my child's bedroom?" he asks. She says that she hopes so, heading upstairs. He asks if she's kidding.

Back in New York, Asta tells Harry that she wasn't able to get into Galvan/Powell Group, that the security was ridiculous. She points out that the guy recognized Harry and therefore must work for him. She asks if he said anything about Sam, but he tells her he only calls her an asshole.. He sits, making a map of Goliath's murals so they can visit them. She points out that it's a lot and he realizes that there's a connection in the dots. He pokes down at them, holding them up to the light of the window. They form the constellation Ursa Major. He tells Asta that Goliath targeted locations throughout the city to form the night sky. The signal wasn't meant for just anyone, but for him. Asta asks what it means. He points to a star, a point on the map representing Golaith's sun and his, where they will find Goliath.

The two arrive at an ongoing art party. Asta asks if Harry sees anyone that looks alien to him and Harry quips that he doesn't see any humans, looking at all the crazy costumes. Asta tells him to try to be inconspicuous. He tells her to worry about himself, that camouflage is in his DNA. A man comes up, asking if he wants an hors'devoure. Harry takes the entire tray. The man tells him it's just one, but he grabs the tray and starts eating. "Smooth," comments Asta. Asta asks a woman if she can tell them the name of the host. "It's Violinda Darvell," she tells them in a French accent. "Okay, um" comments Asta and the woman motions, indicating herself. She asks if Asta's enjoying her home and Asta apologizes for not knowing she was the host. "Tell us where Goliath is!" shouts Harry. Violinda says he's not lacking conviction and Asta quips that he's missing a few other things. She stares and tells them that everything they need to know about Goliath is on the canvas, that there's nothing more she can tell them. She walks off.

Late at night in Patience, Deputy Liv Baker is in a park standing a bench. Sheriff Mike greets her. She thanks him for meeting her. He sits down on the bench and asks what this is about, if she's upset at him for yelling at her. He says that maybe he shouldn't have yelled, but he telled her not to engage. She pulls out a handcuff and cuffs him to the bench. He shouts, asking what she thinks she's doing. She sits down next to him. She tells him it's not about him yelling, but about *why* and why he's been acting weird all summer. She says they're not leaving until he tells her what's going on with him. He says it's because he defied her orders. She says it's a nice night for a froyo and gets up. He shouts that he'd better uncuff her, that he's not messing around. She tells him that she's not either and walks off, hands on hips.

At Ben's, Ben and D'Arcy sit atop Max's bed, Ben saying that he can't believe there's been weed in Max's closet all these years. "It's awful," he says. She tells him he wouldn't have discovered it for years at his height and that hopefully the next one eats their broccoli. He tells her there won't be a next one. She asks if he's sure, that his hot wife seems like she's perpetually in heat. He tells that an ovulation calendar helps, that he keeps track if it if she won't. D'Arcy giggles, saying that she thought she was a disaster. He says he's not proud, but one kid is plenty, and that she's not a disaster. She says she is, that she's sitting on his bed smoking weed and hasn't moved in twenty years. He grabs the joint, saying she doesn't give herself enough credit, that he wouldn't be there if not for her. When the kidnappers came, he thought "What would D'Arcy do?" and that was what he did. "Really?" wonders D'Arcy. "You saved my family, so you can definitely save yourself," he tells her. "Live, laugh, love." "I thought it was a really stupid sign," she admits. "Now I get it." She falls asleep and he covers her with a blanket and turns off the light.

### Shedding human chains

In New York, Asta asks Harry how they even know, that Goliath could be anyone in the room. He says he's sure Goliath will be in alien form and that he'll call him using his people's silent distress call, not perceivable to human ears. He calls out, a loud shrill shriek that is definitely perceivable to everyone there. "Okay, I perceived it," Asta tells him. He says it must not work because of his stupid human vocal cords. Asta tells him that she doesn't think he'll be in alien form, pointing to the year on one of the paintings. It's 2011, meaning that Goliath has been on Earth for more than a decade, enough to create a life and become more human. "No," Harry insists, but Asta tells him to look at the painting, that art is interpretative. Whoever painted it feels pain and loss and sadness. Harry asks why he would be hiding from the world if he's in human form. Asta suggests he feels bad about who he is, like Harry. Harry says he's standing right there, but where is Goliath. Asta tells him they'll find him, suggesting they split up. Harry thinks to himself that this cannot be, that he came there to find family and if Goliath is human, he is not his people. The woman Violinda, who has been watching Harry, turns away, looking troubled.

Harry wonders how he could be so ignorant, that Goliath has already been contaminated. He thinks that he should just let his people come. He stares at a painting of a man and a guy comes up, saying that the painting has traces of Van Gogh's self-portrait era. Harry tells the man he does like paintings. The man holds up a tray with LSD, saying that Harry might like the painting if he tries it. Harry stares. "A hallucinogenic," explains the man, saying that Goliath says that acid helps you shed your human chains and experience art the way it was meant to be experienced. "I would like to shed my human chains," Harry tells him. The man takes a tablet to his tongue and hands Harry one, who does the same. Harry walks off.

In Patience, Liv returns to the bench with her frozen yogurt. Mike comments it took her long enough as she sits down. Liv tells him he said that she could trust her gut when she's off duty and she is. She tells him she thinks there's something going on with him. He shakes his head. "Fine," he tells her, continuing that he lost his partner six years before, in D.C., that he was shot and killed. He asks if she's happy. She apologizes, and he tells her that he's sorry for yelling, but the anniversary messes with his head. He asks if she can unlock her. "Sorry," she sighs, uncuffing him. He thanks her and says if it's all he's going home to his dad.

Liv puts her hand on his shoulder, getting him to sit back down. He tells her he likes night like this, real summer nights, that summer is for kids. He tells her that his partner's name was Jesse and that when he was 10, he'd ssee him around the neighborhood but never spoke to him. One night around 10, there was a knock at the door and his father answered the door with his service revolver. When he opened it, Jesse was there, asking if "Mikey" could come and play. He couldn't believe it when his father said yes and ever since, they were best friends, doing everything together, through school and the academy together. He tells Liv they were practically brothers for over 20 years, then he was just gone, forever. He tells her he doesn't understand grief, that he doesn't understand how to just move on or go around it, that the emptiness never goes away. She tells him she's there, that he can talk to her. "No, it's my fault," he tells her. "I sent him up those stairs." She says it' snot, but he insists it is, that he can't lose her. "You would kill me?" she asks. He chuckles. "Yeah, that's what I'd do. I'd murder your corpse." She tells him that nothing will happen to her, and nothing to him, that she won't let it. He thanks her. A couple of kids race by, giggling. "Summers are for kids," he repeats. They sit together companionably in silence.

At the party, Harry sits a bench, seemingly nothing happening. He thinks to himself that the drug must only affect men like the one who gave him the LSD. He holds out his hand, which appears to turn alien. "Oh shit," he comments. Asta wanders around the party, asking people if they know where she can find Goliath. They just laugh her off. Violinda approaches her, saying she can see she's still searching for the ghost of New York. She tells her to come with her. She tells her that Goliath's paintings are completely unavailable legally, but she can give her names, that there's a robust black market. Asta tells her that it's not his paintings she needs. "They've become quite valuable," she says, that she'd never saw one, pointing out one and saying that Goliath painted it for her. Asta turns. Harry wanders back to the painting from before. He thinks that he's okay, but then the man from the painting appears to turn and reach out to him. He screams and runs away. He stares at another painting, which goes weird as well. He stares as his hand, which appears to have gone fully alien. He races out of the party.

Violinda tells Asta that it wasn't about art, that she thinks Goliath needed her. "Tell me, how long have you known Harry's an alien?" she asks. Asta turns to her, stunned. Lisa Casper approaches the man at the pizza place. "What can I get you?" she asks. "What do you got?" she asks in return. Outside the party, Harry's vision is distorted and strange. A skull appears to grin at him from a sign and he runs ahead, both of his hands now alien. His face goes alien. "This is some bullshit," he thinks to himself.

## Behind the scenes

* The idea of Harry Vanderspeigle paying a visit to New York is adapted from a storyline of the original *Resident Alien* comics on which the series is based. Though the series is not a direct translation of the comics, show star Alan Tudyk stated that this particular storyline is a fairly close translation and his favorite storyline of the comics.
* Much of Harry Vanderspeigle's lines during 42's death scene were ad-libbed by his actor, Alan Tudyk. Gracelyn Awad Rinke, the actress who plays Sahar, was barely able to keep a straight face throughout the scene due to this.
* Although primary filming for the series takes place in Vancouver, Canada, some material for this episode was filmed in Times Square using a photo double of Alan Tudyk.
* All artwork seen within the episode was painted by Joe Vaux, whom *Resident Alien* creator Chris Sheridan previously worked with on *Family Guy*.

## 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 (appears in previously footage only)

Guest starring:

* Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne (credit only)
* Mandell Maughan as Lisa Casper
* Maxim Roy as Violinda Darvell
* Gracelyn Awad Rinke as Sahar
* Robert Moloney as Tanner Corrington
* Nimet Kanji as Goliath

with Nathan Fillion as 42

Co-starring:

* Jan Bos as Sam Hodges
* Rick Dobran as Pizza Guy
* Jim Ewens as Elderly Ed
* Mike Desabrias as Deputy Lenny
* Kynan Foster as Cater Waiter
* Denzel Onaba as Eight-Year-Old Boy #1
* Taylor Lam Wright as Eight-Year-Old Boy #2
* Andrew Barber as Partygoer
* Randy Refuse as Handcuffed Man
* Malik Elassal as Straw Hat Man
* Keith Arbuthnot as Octopus Puppeteer

## Gallery

### Videos

Resident Alien Episode 206 I Stuck-up MermaidsWhat Does an Alien Do in New York City? - Resident Alien After Show (S2 E6) - SYFYHarry Tries To Resuscitate Nathan Fillion’s Octopus, No. 42 - Resident Alien (S2 E6) - SYFYSheriff Mike Opens Up To Deputy Liv About His Past - Resident Alien (S2 E6) - SYFYBehind the Scenes of Episode 6- Aliens Hate NYC - Resident Alien (S2 E6) - SYFYResident Alien Season 2 Episode 6 RECAPPED! - Resident Alien (S2 E6) - SYFY

## External Links

* An Alien in New York on the Internet Movie Database
* Transcript @ TV Show Transcripts
* Transcript @ Forever Dreaming

## References

1. ↑ ‘Resident Alien’ Season 2 is Heading to New York, Just Like in the Comics by Gabriela Silva: February 20, 2022
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 YouTube - Behind the Scenes of Episode 6: Aliens Hate NYC, Resident Alien (S2 E6), SYFY