Dale Horvath

## Before 2010

Dale was born in 1946 and was married to a woman named Irma for years. Early in their marriage, they had attempted to have a baby, but it ultimately miscarriages, which led them to not try again. At some point later, she developed cancer. Despite Dale bringing her to several doctors, she had already accepted the disease and her eventual death, much to his dismay.

Once he retired from his job, Dale planned to take his wife traveling with him across the country in a new RV he bought, but she died before that could happen. Her death brought him into a great depression, and he found himself not caring about anyone around him. He decided to take his RV and do the trip alone.

## 2010

"Days Gone Bye"
When the camp receives Rick's transmission, Dale reacts surprised and watches as Amy runs to the CB, but can't get a reply. By the time Shane takes over the CB controls and introduces himself, Rick has left the emergency broadcast channel. When Lori suggests that they should put signs up on the highway to warn people out of Atlanta, Dale agrees with her despite Shane arguing that venturing out on her own is too risky.

"Guts"
While keeping watch on the roof of his RV, Lori asks Dale to watch over her son, Carl, as she goes to pick berries and mushrooms in the forest. He tells her not to go far and to scream if she needs help. Later that day, Dale is working on his RV's radiator hose with Jim, while reasoning with Amy that worrying about Andrea's safety won't make it better.

Dale then listens surprised when T-Dog's garbled transmission comes through, explaining that they're trapped in the department store, surrounded by hundreds of walkers. Dale responds to the transmission but only radio silence follows. He then watches in silence as Amy and Shane argue about rescuing their fellow companions.

"Tell It to the Frogs"
When the other survivors return from the scavenging mission in Atlanta, Dale greets all of them back and also introduces himself to newcomer Rick. Later that night, he sits around the fire and listens as Rick tells his story to the group and decides what to do about telling Daryl Dixon about his brother Merle Dixon. The next day, Dale strips Glenn Rhee's stolen car for parts he could use for the RV. When the children find a walker eating a dead deer that wandered nearby the campsite, Dale decapitates it but is then told by Daryl he needs to destroy the brain.

When Rick decides to go back to Atlanta for the Sheriff's Bag of Guns and Merle, he asks Dale for some tools, mainly a pair of bolt cutters to cut the chain and handcuffs to save Merle. Dale snivels about loaning out tools but then hands them over after making a deal in exchange for parts of the van Rick had brought to the camp so he could repair his RV's radiator hose. He then continues to watch over the campsite and tells Lori her son is in the lake with Shane.

"Vatos"
While on lookout duty the next day, Dale notices Jim strangely digging holes on the hillside. He checks up on Jim and offers him water, but Jim ignores him, leaving Dale worried and confused, so he returns to the camp and alerts the other survivors about Jim's delirious behavior. They approach Jim as he keeps digging holes and Dale watches as Shane is forced to detain him. Later that evening, Dale finds Andrea in the RV looking for wrapping paper for Amy's birthday gift. He responds that he doesn't have any, but will try to look for something as a substitute.

That night, during the fish feast, Dale enjoys the food and company of his friends. When asked about his watch and how he is always winding it, he speaks of time and paraphrases a passage from William Faulkner's *The Sound and the Fury*. Moments later, the camp is attacked by walkers and Dale helps defend the remaining survivors.

"Wildfire"
The morning after the attack, Dale comforts Andrea over Amy's death by confessing that they both had been the first persons he cared for after his wife's death. While walking through the forest later that day to secure the camp, he is shocked to discover Shane pointing his shotgun at Rick from afar. Despite Shane excusing his behavior, Dale remains suspicious. As the group learns that Jim has been bitten, Dale and everyone struggle to decide what has to be done with him. When they argue about granting the man's wish to be left to die, he notes specifically that this is what Jim wants and that his say is the only one that matters. He and the rest give their goodbyes to him and leave for the CDC.

"TS-19"
Upon being admitted into the CDC by Dr. Edwin Jenner, Dale and the group go through a blood test to ensure none of them are infected, and are introduced to the luxuries the facility has to offer, including hot water and real beds. After the group enjoys dinner together that night, he tries to comfort Andrea once again but she just tells him that everything is gone. When the group learns the next morning about TS-19 and the fall of the CDC's infrastructure, Dale asks Jenner about the countdown timer and he reveals the purpose of the timer and shuts the control room's door.

When the survivors finally get Edwin to open the door for their escape, Dale attempts to flee with Andrea, but she opts to remain behind to commit suicide. He manipulatively states that he is going to stay with her against Andrea's wishes after explaining that she doesn't get to make him care about her and just leave him. At the last minute, Dale and Andrea run out of the CDC and take cover as it explodes. The group then drives away.