"El Matadero" is the fourteenth episode of Season 3 of AMC's Fear The Walking Dead and the thirty-fifth episode overall.
Plot Synopsis
Madison, Strand and Walker drive a tanker to the trading outpost to meet with Lola and Daniel. Strand worries that things might go south when they show up to the trade empty-handed. Madison argues that they at least have Ofelia.
Ofelia and Crazy Dog ride on the back of the tanker. Ofelia grows weak and falls off of her perch. Madison checks on Ofelia and spots a bite wound. Ofelia asks for Madison’s word that she will take her to see Daniel. Madison promises.
Alicia eats dinner inside an abandoned building. She hears a car and readies her rifle. It’s Nick and Troy.
Nick tries to convince Alicia to rejoin the group, promising safety in numbers. Alicia points out that she nearly died in the pantry while surrounded by people.
Madison’s group arrives at the outpost a day early. Strand tells Madison that the outpost guards will kill Ofelia if they think she’s sick, but Madison insists they must enter to get Ofelia a bed and medicine.
Madison’s group hands over their weapons at the checkpoint. Ofelia steadies herself, and a guard waves her through. Madison sells part of their rifle stash to pay for entry.
Madison sets up Ofelia inside a room then goes to find painkillers. Walker stands guard over Ofelia.
Strand tells Madison that they’re wasting resources on Ofelia but agrees to see how things play out with Daniel.
Nick says goodbye to Alicia and gives her a map.
Nick and Troy drive to the outpost. Troy tells Nick that they’re more alike than Nick thinks.
Madison gives some Vicodin to Ofelia. As Ofelia sleeps, Walker tells Madison that she’s doing the right thing by honoring Ofelia’s request to see her father one last time.
Alicia scavenges for food inside a burger joint. She procures a tub of potatoes from the kitchen but hides in the playground ball pit when she sees a herd of Infected heading toward the restaurant. An Infected girl attacks Alicia from within the pit. Alicia stabs her through the head and again hides in the ball pit. The Infected enter the restaurant. A woman strides in and slaughters the herd with a pickaxe. She severs their fingers, pulls their teeth and walks off with the potatoes.
Nick finds Madison sleeping by Ofelia’s side. He watches over Ofelia while Madison takes a break. He stares at the Vicodin pills and pops one in his mouth.
Alicia spots the woman’s car in a supermarket parking lot. She reaches inside to steal the potatoes. The woman, Diana, shows up and threatens to kill her. Alicia threatens to shoot up Diana’s gas tank then proposes they instead share the potatoes.
At the outpost cafeteria, Nick joins Troy at a table and orders tequila. Nick asks the waitress where they can find the slaughter yard. Nick pops another pill and downs the tequila. Troy joins him.
Guards capture Strand as he sneaks around the outpost. Strand demands to see Proctor John and says he has something that John will want.
Madison wakes Ofelia to meet Daniel. She suggests Walker stay behind.
Madison helps Ofelia walk to the parking lot. Ofelia asks Madison to tell Daniel that she was looking forward to getting to know him. She dies. Daniel arrives and goes straight to Ofelia. He cries and pulls a gun on Madison when he sees that Ofelia is dead. Madison explains what happened. Daniel sends her away and shoots Ofelia.
Nick and Troy walk around the outpost in a haze. Nick asks for directions to the slaughter yard.
Nick and Troy enter the slaughter yard, which is functioning as a drug den. A man offers an assortment of drugs, but Nick wants uppers. The man places mysterious animal glands in two shot glasses. Troy starts to leave in disgust, but Nick eats the gland. Troy caves in and eats his.
Alicia and Diana eat the potatoes inside an abandoned store. Diana explains that she sells the fingers and teeth to Mexicans at the outpost. Alicia tells Diana that she’s traveling alone to a place in the desert. Diana warns her that every town has been picked clean and declares that she doesn’t keep company.
Nick and Troy roam the streets in the middle of the night and encounter a herd. Nick smears his face in Infected blood and instructs Troy to do the same. To Troy’s amazement, the herd walks right by them.
Madison cleans up Ofelia’s room and realizes that Nick took some of the Vicodin. Daniel stops by and informs her that she can still come to the dam, along with Strand, Walker, and the others.
Alicia wakes up and finds Diana fixing her car outside. A herd approaches. They decide to take on the herd together.
Madison prepares to return to the dam. Nick informs her that he and Troy will stay at the outpost to secure a toehold for future trading. Knowing that Nick has ulterior motives for staying, Madison simply tells him that he knows where to find her.
Other Cast
Co-Stars
- Eddie Diaz as Riot Guard
- Brian Duffy as Proctor Nineteen
- Christel Klitbo as Waitress
- Teya Patt as Teller
Uncredited
- Unknown as Johnny
Deaths
- Ofelia Salazar
Trivia
- First appearance of Diana.
- First appearance of El Matarife.
- First appearance of Johnny.
- Last appearance of Ofelia Salazar.
- "El Matadero" is Spanish for "The Slaughterhouse".