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Laurent Carrière (pronounced luh-RAW) is the former deuteragonist and a survivor of the outbreak in AMC's The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Born shortly after the outbreak, Laurent was the product of an affair between Lilly Carrière and Quinn, the boyfriend of Lilly's sister, Isabelle. During the Fall, Lilly was bitten by a zombie while pregnant with Laurent. Upon arriving at the Abbey of Saint Bernadette, she died and reanimated. Laurent was surgically removed and raised by Isabelle and the Union of Hope. Due to the nature of Laurent's birth, it is believed that he is immune to the infection and the key to saving humanity.
Quick Answers
What is the relationship between Isabella and Laurent in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
How did Laurent Carriere survive the outbreak as a newborn in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
Who raised Laurent Carriere after his mother's death in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon?
What is the significance of the Abbey of Saint Bernadette in Laurent Carriere's life?
Overview
Laurent is a highly intelligent and mature boy. Despite this, Laurent can be impulsive and naive, with the other children at the school pointing out how made-up the story about his father sounded. After overhearing Daryl and Isabelle arguing, Laurent ran off on his own to the Eiffel Tower and had to be rescued. He shows a reluctance to eat meat due to his religious beliefs until Azlan backs Daryl up on it, and to learn basic skills that he will need to survive. Daryl privately admits to Azlan that he thinks that the nuns made Laurent too soft by raising him so sheltered from the realities of the world, causing Daryl to worry about his future.
As time goes on, Laurent reveals a fear of being left alone, which culminates in him cutting Azlan's boat free in an attempt to end the journey to the Nest. Despite the prospect of reuniting with Isabelle at the Nest, Laurent expresses a desire to accompany Daryl back to America, even promising to do everything that Daryl tells him the first time. When Daryl is being tortured by Guerriers, Laurent bravely gives himself up to protect his friend rather than continuing alone as Daryl had instructed him to do and stands firm in the face of Genet's attempts to manipulate him into supporting her, only reluctantly going along with it on Isabelle's instructions.
When a zombified Quinn attacks Isabelle, Daryl encourages Laurent to save his aunt by axing Quinn in the head despite his fear. After Daryl tells the boy that God will forgive him, Laurent finds the strength to save Isabelle and put down Quinn. Laurent subsequently tells Isabelle that it wasn't Quinn anymore and he wasn't Laurent's father, offering her the advice that "sometimes you have to do horrible things, and no matter how bad you feel, if there is no other choice, God will forgive you. Like with my mother," echoing things that both Daryl and Azlan had told him over their journey together. Isabelle later tells Daryl that Laurent has greatly changed since he met Daryl and attributes it to Daryl being the father figure that Laurent never had in his life, although Daryl dismisses it as the boy just growing up. After only knowing Daryl for a short time, Losang recognizes that Laurent looks up to him. When Daryl prepares to leave without saying goodbye, Isabelle compares it to Daryl getting abandoned by his father.
Despite Laurent's fears of what might await him at the Nest, he is shown to greatly enjoy living there at first and playing with the other children. Despite this, when Daryl leaves, Laurent chooses to follow him in secret rather than remain at the Nest where he's safe with Isabelle and Sylvie, notably avoiding any detection by Daryl and surviving the trek without any of the adults to help him. Laurent subsequently undergoes training from Daryl on how to defend himself as well as tracking, which he prefers over his studies, like philosophy class. In a prayer, Laurent hopes that Daryl will teach him how to throw a knife. Laurent is visibly distracted in class, with Daryl commenting that the boy isn't buying everything that the Nest is teaching him. Laurent is shown to be attentive to Daryl's training and criticism and fears that he will never be as good as Daryl, despite the man having many years more experience, while Laurent is only a beginner. Laurent is far more eager to learn new things from Daryl than he is from anyone else at the Nest, with Daryl allowing Laurent to be a regular child by teaching him fun things such as American baseball alongside survival skills. This is in contrast to the Nest's leaders, who focus on training Laurent to be their future Messiah, with Losang being more concerned about his greater destiny than ensuring that the boy survives.
In one of his prayers, Laurent is shown to understand his role to the people at the Nest, but to desire a more normal life as a regular child. While Laurent hopes to be the person that everyone needs, he also hopes that he can be the person that he wants to be.
After Losang's interrupted ceremony to test his possible immunity to the Wildfire Virus, Laurent feels immense guilt, blaming himself for the loss of Sylvie and the possible loss of Daryl and Isabelle, admitting that he had liked being admired by everyone. However, Laurent is well aware that there's a difference between believing that he's immune and the reality of the fact that he would likely die if bitten. He is also shown to be even more grateful to Daryl, who not only took a great risk to rescue Laurent but was the one person who never believed in Laurent's supposed divinity and still cared for him nevertheless.
Post-Apocalypse
Abbey of Saint Bernadette, France
Laurent was born on 28 August 2010 to Lily Carrière and Quinn. Laurent was the product of an affair, as Quinn was the boyfriend of Lily's sister, Isabelle. Lily went into premature labor by two months during Monument Day, in which the world was overrun by zombies. While trying to find safety, Lily was bitten on the arm by a zombie and infected. Lily and Isabelle found refuge with the nuns of Union of Hope at the Abbey of Saint Bernadette. Père Jean and Mother Superior Véronique allowed them entry. Lily died from the infection while in labor and reanimated. Jean performed a postmortem caesarean and delivered Laurent, named after Saint Laurent. For the following thirteen years, Laurent was raised in the Abbey. Isabelle became a nun there, but did not disclose the truth about their relationship. Due to his in-utero exposure to the active Wildfire infection, Isabelle and the nuns believed that Laurent was destined to deliver mankind from the plague, as he may be immune to the virus itself, proving hope for a future where people didn't have to worry about turning into the undead.
Season 1
"L'âme Perdue"
Laurent approaches Daryl with a completed Rubik's cube and tells him to try it out, stating that his record is 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Daryl returns the cube, telling the boy that he's not good at shit like that. Laurent reveals that he's incredibly intelligent and good at math problems, science, music, geography, and he knows all of the countries and the capitals from back in the Before Time, having been taught by Père Jean. Laurent officially introduces himself to Daryl and asks how many people he thinks live within the boundaries of what was once France. When Daryl simply shrugs, Laurent speculates a current French population of fewer than 200,000, starting from 67 million people before the Fall. Daryl admits that he was going to say much less than that, and Laurent tells him that it will take six generations, perhaps seven, to repopulate that many people, which greatly bothers Laurent, something that Daryl agrees with. Laurent asks if Daryl has children, parents, or a wife, noting that Daryl is homesick when Daryl states that he doesn't have anything like that. Stating that he feels things in his stomach like Daryl's sadness, Laurent encourages Daryl not to despair, as he deserves a happy ending too, echoing what Judith had told Daryl before his departure. Laurent is called away for poetry with Père Jean and leaves Daryl with his Rubik's cube to try. Daryl tries to pick the lock on the priest's office before hearing a walker growling and Laurent talking. Daryl is shocked to find Laurent reading to a walker locked up in a cell, and the boy explains that the walker is Père Jean, and they are waiting for him to rise again. Isabelle joins them, and she orders Laurent to wait for her in the garden and attempts to explain to Daryl, who is uninterested, telling her that "you've got a lot of witchy shit going on around here. Dead priest in a closet and a creepy kid? No thanks." Daryl begins packing up, but Isabelle insists that he can't leave without them and that the nuns have been waiting for him. Isabelle calls Daryl the messenger to deliver Laurent and shows him a crude drawing of Daryl on the beach, something that the boy had drawn three weeks ago, before Daryl ever came to the abbey. Daryl is dubious of the importance of Laurent having drawn a guy on a beach, but Isabelle has seen Daryl fight the gurreiers, and she knows that Daryl can get Laurent there safely. Their leader is a Buddhist monk who came through on a pilgrimage some years ago and recognized something in Laurent which the nuns believe to be an answer to a prophecy. The Union of Hope has a base up north with a community that will raise and nurture the boy to be who he was born to be. Six months before, Lama Rinpoche said that it was time, and Père Jean was supposed to escort him, but he died and reanimated with a disgusted Daryl noting that the nuns think that prayers and poetry are gonna fix him. In the armory, Daryl gathers more weapons, including a crossbow, a knife, and a morning star, while Isabelle continues trying to convince him. Isabelle insists that Laurent is special, having lost his mother in childbirth, which he shouldn't have survived, but he did. Laurent has shown abilities, perception, and compassion beyond any child, and he sees into people. Daryl sarcastically remarks that he knew a kid like that in grade school who got his ass kicked a lot. Isabelle tells Daryl that Laurent needs teaching and guidance that the nuns can't provide, and he'll be safer with the Union and nurtured until he's ready to be the new Messiah and lead the revival of humanity.
When Philippe stabs the undead Père Jean in the right eye with his bayonet, putting him down, a horrified Laurent runs up, exposing his existence to the Power of the Living. As Isabelle comforts Laurent, Stéphane demands to know who the boy is and where his parents are, and Isabelle explains that Laurent's parents died, and the nuns took him in. Stéphane orders that Laurent be taken with them to be made a Guerrier for Genet.
Laurent and Isabelle struggle with Martin as he tries to drag the boy away. As Martin prepares to hit Isabelle with the butt of his rifle, Daryl suddenly throws an axe into his back, killing Martin, before running away. Isabelle flees with Laurent, and Stéphane sends Richard, Jèrèmie, and another Guerrier after them and the sisters, while the rest go with Stéphane after Daryl. In the courtyard, Sylvie and the eight other nuns confront the three men armed with a variety of weapons. In the battle that follows, Sylvie stabs Jèrèmie to death and attacks the other Guerrier, but most of the nuns are downed by the men's gunfire. Inside, Stéphane, Philippe, and another Guerrier split up to look for Daryl, but Daryl manages to ambush and kill the third man while Stéphane and Philippe are elsewhere. Outside, Isabelle grabs the axe from Martin's back to join the fight after having hidden Laurent away. That night, after the massacre, Daryl and Isabelle join Sylvie and Laurent by a fire, and Isabelle tells Sylvie that they've buried the nuns. Stating that the nuns are with the angels now, Laurent wonders if they're lost now, but Isabelle reassures him that they're never lost. Accompanied by Laurent on guitar, Sylvie begins singing.
"Alouette"
In the present, Laurent plays in a field while Daryl and Isabelle go over their route to Paris on a map. While Daryl wants to take a route that's a straight shot to Paris, Isabelle wants to detour to Angers, where there's a man with a radio who can connect them to the Union of Hope's people in the north. Daryl argues against it as Paris was the priest's plan, and going to Angers will take longer, but Isabelle simply tells him that the plan has changed.
Daryl, Isabelle, Laurent, and Sylvie ride a mule-drawn cart through a village where Laurent, rather morbidly, answers Sylvie's attempt to get him to guess what person she's talking about by stating that it's a dead person since everyone else that Sylvie knows is dead. When Laurent asks what kind of death he would prefer, Daryl sarcastically suggests a quiet one. The mule suddenly stops in the middle of the road and refuses to go any further. Astérix's whining draws out a herd, and Daryl wonders how to shut him up, but Laurent tells him that the mule is very stubborn. With no other choice and over Isabelle's objections that Laurent loves the mule, Daryl unties Astérix and fires his gun into the air, scaring the mule into charging straight through the herd, drawing it away. Isabelle lies to Laurent that Astérix will be fine as he's faster than the walkers, and Daryl has everyone gather their belongings and move out in the other direction.
On the road, Laurent continues to express concern for Astérix, but Isabelle reassures him that the mule is too smart to get lost and that he probably went to the apple orchard that they had passed. However, Daryl urges Isabelle to tell the boy the truth as he has to learn sometime. Recognizing that Daryl doesn't have children of his own, Isabelle tells him that the truth can wait. Suddenly, the sound of whistling surrounds the group before an arrow flies into a pole in front of them. Daryl chases the shooter into a nearby building, where he's ambushed and captured by a group of masked children armed with makeshift spears.
At the preschool, Everyone sits down together to a dinner cooked by Aline, the children's chef. Laurent tries to sit next to Moof and make conversation with him, but Moof angrily rejects Laurent's overtures, telling the younger boy that the chair is for his brother. Lou apologizes, explaining that two of their brothers are off on a mission right now.
After dinner, Lou asks what they will do now that they've lost their mule, but Laurent tells her that the mule isn't lost but is eating apples, causing the other kids to laugh at him before Aline leads Laurent away.
At the school, Laurent plays hide-and-go-seek with the other children as Hibou counts. Hibou quickly finds Laurent, as he's not in a good hiding place, and Laurent tells her that the nuns never find him at the abbey, and he always wins there. Renard asks why he was at the abbey anyway, and Laurent explains that after his mother went to be with the angels, his father was falsely imprisoned and joined the Foreign Legion to fight the hungry ones. His father was a hero who gave his life for a free France, and he even won a medal. The other children laugh at Laurent, and Renard sarcastically asks if his father was like the Count of Monty Cristo while Hibou points out that the story sounds made up. Laurent insists that it's not, but Renard tells him that "those penguins trick you, Laurent," and the kids make fun of Laurent for his naivety. Hibou leads the other kids off to hunt le bete de Gevaudan, or the Beast of Gevaudan.
Watching through a window, Sylvie tells Isabelle, who is tending to Madame Dubois, that Laurent is playing with the other children, which she is pleased about, as Laurent is making friends. Sylvie warns her that Laurent wonders about who he is, where he comes from, and how he fits into the world. Isabelle asks if Sylvie wondered the same things about herself, which she confirms. Isabelle promises her friend that up north, the two of them and Laurent will all know how they fit in to everything, which is why they're going: to find their purpose.
In a flashback, Lily goes through labor, assisted by Isabelle, Père Jean, Véronique, and another nun. Lily dies in the middle of it from her bite, and Père Jean prepares to perform an emergency C-section on her in order to save the baby while Isabelle desperately calls out to her sister. Lily suddenly begins moving again as she reanimates, and Véronique restrains Lily as the priest performs the C-section. The baby is successfully delivered, albeit not breathing at first, but Jean, Véronique, and the other nun manage to revive him, which the priest declares to be a miracle. As Père Jean begins to perform what appears to be an exorcism on the zombified Lily, Isabelle carries her newborn nephew past the awed nuns. Finding a statue of St. Laurent, Isabelle decides to name her nephew Laurent after the saint.
"Paris Sera Toujours Paris"
Outside, Laurent and Sylvie listen to the music with confusion as a walker, dragging a corpse that's been manacled to it, approaches. A frustrated Daryl states that they should've stuck to the plan, calling it a stupid detour, but Isabelle believes that it was worth a try.
Walking alongside the cart, Laurent asks Daryl if there will be walkers in Paris, which Daryl confirms is likely to be the case. Laurent notes that Daryl is good at fighting them, but Daryl dismissively tells him that everyone is good at something. Daryl brings the cart to a stop as Laurent looks out over Paris from a nearby vantage point, and Daryl welcomes the two women home. The group makes their way through the walker-infested streets of Paris with Isabelle and Sylvie pointing out various landmarks to Laurent, including the Panthéon and the ruins of Notre-Dame.
As the group makes their way through the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Laurent tells Daryl about the famous people buried there and about a fable that one of them had written about a weary woodsman who wanted to die, but had a change of heart when death came, instead asking for help carrying his burden so that he can keep going on. Daryl stops to pay his respects to the grave of Jim Morrison, an American rock star who had died in Paris. Noticing Daryl's worried look, Laurent reassures Daryl that he won't die in Paris either. A little further on, the group spots three bodies in the process of being buried and is confronted by the survivors burying them. Isabelle tells Fallou Boukar, the man in charge, that truth is hope and that Père Jean had sent them. Fallou realizes who Laurent is and asks after Père Jean, but Isabelle admits that he isn't with them. Noticing Fallou's suspicious look at Daryl, Isabelle identifies Daryl as a friend who had helped them to get there and who only speaks English. Fallou introduces himself and his companions, telling Laurent that they've been waiting a long time to meet him.
Daryl, Fallou, and Antoine observe people presenting Laurent with gifts, and Daryl is worried that it's a lot to put on a kid, but Isabelle feels that God chooses our burdens. Laurent approaches Sonia, whose husband had died a few days before, and has refused any food or comfort since. While Sonia has been inconsolable to everyone else, she accepts a hug from the boy, causing Fallou to declare that Père Jean was right about him.
The group reaches the Demimonde nightclub, where Fallou tells Daryl that people find all sorts of things there, and since Daryl helped the Union of Hope, they will help him in return. Fallou goes looking for some friends who might be able to tell him something, while Isabelle explains to Laurent that it's a nightclub and that they used to have a lot of them.
That night, Stephane and members of Power of The Living arrive at Demimonde, and Daryl packs up his belongings, and Isabelle apologizes for her earlier behavior, telling Daryl that she doesn't believe in coincidences, and Isabelle believes that she had to come back to Paris to see Quinn again and find out the truth. Daryl brushes off Isabelle, telling her that she's got Fallou's people looking after her now and she doesn't need him anymore. Isabelle tells Daryl that Laurent will be sad to see him go, but Daryl just tells her to make something up since she's really good at that. Isabelle explains that she had never told Laurent the truth about his birth because everything about it was horrible, such as the way that Lily died and the way that Laurent was born. Daryl asks what Isabelle will tell Laurent about Quinn because she needs to stop lying to him. Laurent deserves to know who he is, and he can then make up his own mind about what he wants to do. Isabelle accuses Daryl of not accepting how special he is, but Daryl tells her, "he's a gift from God, right? Maybe that's something you need to believe, 'cause the world's so fucked up. Or maybe, he's just a regular kid. A regular kid that got lucky and lived. Maybe that's your miracle." Having overheard their argument, a furious Laurent tells Daryl and Isabelle that he hates them both and storms off.
"La Dame de Fer"
Laurent makes his way through the city, avoiding a herd moving through the streets. Elsewhere, Isabelle worries that Laurent won't be where Daryl thinks that he will be, but Daryl is sure that the boy will be there. Daryl tells Isabelle that this is on both of them, and he had said some things back at the community that he shouldn't have said, and Laurent heard him. Isabelle states that Laurent ran away because he was confused, and she should've been honest with him a long time ago. "Well, you got one thing right. Paris kinda sucks," Daryl quips as walkers move behind them in the distance.
Laurent approaches the broken Eiffel Tower and looks at the picture of his mother near it. Underneath the structure is a barricade of sandbags at what appears to be a former military checkpoint, which Laurent approaches after hearing noise from behind it. Looking through a small hole in the barricade, Laurent draws the attention of a walker on the other side of it. The barricade is actually containing a massive herd of walkers that are gathered below the Eiffel Tower, all of whom turn their attention to the living boy on the other side of the barricade. To the left and right, walkers break through the barricade while the herd pushes down the sandbags. The herd surrounds Laurent, quickly leaving him trapped.
Seeing the situation as they approach, Daryl quickly hands Isabelle his knife and fights the walkers with his morning star, taking out a number of them as Isabelle stabs a few with his knife. Hiding underneath a piece of sheet metal, a terrified Laurent watches as his friend and his aunt battle the herd in order to rescue him. A walker finds Laurent hiding and reaches for him, but it is suddenly stabbed through the head by Armand, who grabs the boy and drags him to a nearby vehicle while another man shoots walkers who get too close to them. Seeing Laurent's predicament, Daryl throws both men off of him, causing the man with the gun to get devoured by the herd, but a third man drives away with Laurent before Daryl can stop him, while the shocked Isabelle holds Armand at gunpoint.
At the nightclub, Laurent unwraps some candy while Quinn attempts to bond with his son for the very first time. Laurent is clearly upset by his kidnapping, although Anna briefly manages to cheer him up with the joke contained in the candy wrapper. Laurent admits he's figured out that Quinn is his father, and reveals the story that Isabelle had told him about his father, that Laurent's father was brave and a hero for France who went away to fight the walkers. While that is a bit of a stretch, Quinn points out that he did save Laurent from the walkers at the tower. While Laurent didn't see Quinn there, Quinn tells his son that he was responsible for his rescue. Quinn promises that Laurent is safe and that he wants to take care of him and make up for lost time, but Laurent is doubtful. Much to Anna's obvious displeasure, her boyfriend promises that Isabelle will join them and that they'll all be together soon.
Laurent later looks at the picture of his mother while Quinn meets with Genet and Stéphane in the main room.
Laurent looks at the Eiffel Tower necklace that Anna had given to him, and she comments that the tower doesn't look like it used to. Laurent tells Anna that it will be beautiful again someday. Anna sympathetically tells Laurent that she hopes that he gets to go home soon, stating that she wants Laurent where he's the happiest. Laurent tells Anna that she's nice, but she doesn't want anyone to know that, while Anna calls Laurent a good kid, which everyone knows in return. Daryl enters and promises to take the boy to Isabelle, but when he turns to give Anna back her necklace, she's pointing the gun that Quinn gave to her at Daryl. After a moment, Anna lowers her gun and tells them to just go.
Quinn reaches the entrance and finds only his men and no sign of the attackers, and he instantly deduces that the attack was just a diversion. On the second-floor catwalk, Quinn finds Daryl and Laurent, and the two men engage in a fight that ends with Daryl nearly slitting his throat before he notices Laurent watching them. After a moment, Daryl chooses to just knock Quinn out instead, and he and Laurent make their escape, with Laurent briefly hesitating as he passes by Quinn.
Fallou and Emile join Isabelle and Sylvie at the river, and as Sylvie tends to Emile, Fallou reveals that Genet is posting guards at the city limits, and soon there will be no way out. Daryl arrives with Laurent, who reunites with Isabelle and Sylvie. However, Isabelle tells Daryl that with the Guerrier overtaking and locking down the city, she needs someone with influence to make sure that Laurent will be allowed to escape. Quinn knows how to make things happen, and he'll do it for her if she stays. Isabelle rejects Daryl's offer to go with her, telling him that no one will make it out of Paris if she stays, and she must do it alone. While this isn't Daryl's fight and he should be on his way home right now, there is no one else to take Laurent to the Nest safely, with both Isabelle and Sylvie remaining behind in Paris. Isabelle promises to find a way out once she knows that Laurent is safe, and Daryl agrees to complete the journey to the Nest with Laurent himself.
Isabelle hopes that this won't be the last time that they meet each other, but if it is, she hopes that Daryl makes it home. Laurent asks when he will see her again, and Isabelle promises her nephew to do everything in her power to get back to him, asking Laurent to trust her. Laurent begs Isabelle to come with them, and she tearfully hugs him, promising that the boy will be safe with Daryl. As Daryl leads Laurent to the boat, Sylvie hugs him goodbye, calling Laurent her little brother and promising that they will meet again.
Daryl and Laurent board Azlan's boat and depart from Paris, passing the Eiffel Tower one last time on their way out, as well as other Paris landmarks such as the Paris Statue of Liberty.
"Deux Amours"
Azlan's boat sails along a river, and Laurent sits in the bow, enjoying the fresh air and praying. Watching Laurent, Daryl asks Azlan what the Nest is like, and Azlan calls it a special place and a home for the soul. Daryl is worried about Laurent's safety, noting that the nuns had raised the boy a little too soft, but Azlan reassures him that Laurent "will be well looked after. Nurtured and groomed... to be the leader he's destined to be." Watching Laurent try to catch flies with his bare hands, Daryl isn't reassured by this. Azlan asks if Daryl is a Christian, but Daryl quips that he was kicked out of Sunday school.
Laurent fishes off the back of Azlan's boat as Daryl and Azlan tie it to a tree on shore. After retrieving some old cans from a nearby structure to act as a warning system against walkers, Azlan checks an old pocket watch and explains that it's almost time for prayer for him. Laurent brings Daryl a fish that he caught, and Daryl offers to show the boy how to gut the fish. Laurent refuses as he had made a promise to God not to eat animals, but Azlan backs Daryl up, that it's alright. Daryl tells Laurent that he needs to learn how to take care of himself, and Laurent admits that he misses Isabelle and asks about Daryl's friends that he misses. Daryl lists Judith, R.J., Connie, Ezekiel, and Carol, but brushes off further conversation and kills the fish. Laurent tells Daryl not to worry, as they will all be together again.
Daryl attempts to teach Laurent how to put a fish on a sharpened stick, but the boy is more interested in watching Azlan pray, noting that he has read the Quran and finds it interesting that there are many different names, but only one God. Daryl admits that he doesn't pray to anyone and instead believes in pulling your own weight. Laurent refuses to try what Daryl showed him, but Daryl tells the boy that sometimes you don't have a choice but to do things that you don't want to do, and he finally agrees.
At night, Laurent prays, asking God to look over Daryl's friends because Daryl doesn't know how to pray, and asking God to let him be strong like Daryl. Azlan explains that his pocket watch saved his life, and Daryl asks about Le Havre, but Azlan reveals that Genet controls the port in Le Havre. However, Azlan promises Daryl that the Union of Hope's leader, Losang, will help him to secure a boat home. Azlan is interested in Daryl, calling him a lone wolf who only wants to get back to his pack. Daryl explains that he had made a promise, but Azlan tells him that sometimes even a man's promise can get overwhelmed by a connection to other people or a larger cause. Daryl notes that when a man dies in someone else's war, it's his kids that suffer, and it gets passed down to their kids, and eventually, no one even remembers what the underlying cause that everyone was fighting for was. Daryl admits that causes were never really his thing. "When I first got to the Nest, I had just lost my wife and son. All I wanted to do was die. Losang asked me to fix this watch, told me how important it was. I worked on it, day and night, for months. And when I finally got it running, he told me it didn't matter anymore. Because I had found a reason to live," Azlan explains. Thinking on Azlan's words, Daryl watches Laurent as he finishes up his prayers.
Daryl hears clattering and a walker growls before a walker approaches the shelter where Daryl and Laurent are sleeping. Daryl stabs the walker in the head, and he orders Laurent, who was awakened by the commotion, to stay there. Outside, Daryl finds the body of another walker and a burner as well as Azlan up against a telephone pole.
The next morning, Daryl finishes burying his friend, and Laurent lays some rosary beads on his grave. However, when they go to leave, Azlan's boat is gone, and the rope has been cut. Daryl realizes that Laurent is responsible, tossing the boy's knife into the river and furiously yelling at Laurent, calling him worthless and telling the boy that he should've left Laurent right where he found him. Daryl demands to know why he did this, and Laurent tearfully explains that he's lost everyone that he cares about, and when they get to the Nest, he'll lose Daryl too, and Laurent doesn't want to be alone. Becoming emotional too, Daryl apologizes for his actions and hugs Laurent before the two resume their journey on foot.
As they continue on their journey, Daryl tries to reassure Laurent that there's probably going to be a bunch of good people at the Nest, pointing out that Azlan was from the Nest, and he was nice. While Daryl told Isabelle that he'd drop Laurent off at the Nest and she come looking for her nephew there, Laurent wants to go with Daryl instead. Laurent insists that he can help Daryl and promises to listen to him and to only have to be shown things once, but Daryl tells him that it's not about that. The two are forced to hide as Guerriers approach, but Laurent accidentally drops some of his stuff out of his bag on the road.
Daryl instructs Laurent to follow the river until he finds the place on the watch and gives the boy his knife for protection, promising that he'll be right behind him. Daryl orders the reluctant Laurent to go as the Guerriers find the boy's belongings and spread out to search for him. Daryl tries to sneak up on one with his morning star, but the man hears him coming and captures Daryl. The men report to Capo that there's no sign of the boy who questions Daryl through one of his men who speaks English, where Laurent is. Capo threatens to remove Daryl's eyes if he doesn't talk, but Daryl defiantly refuses to tell him anything. As the Guerrier prepares to cut out Daryl's left eye, Laurent gives himself up in order to save his friend. The two are captured.
In Genet's office, Laurent greets his aunt, and Genet explains that they've been getting to know each other, and she sees why people fall for a special child, born from a walker, life from death, comparing it to Mother Mary and a Phoenix from the ashes. Genet wants Laurent to make an appearance before her people, stating that he only has to smile. Some people think that the Union of Hope is against her, but they must show them the truth, that they are all one French people, which Genet has been trying to make clear to Laurent. Isabelle tries to convince her nephew to do what Genet wants, but Laurent refuses, as he knows that it's a lie. Genet tells Laurent that he's making her angry, which isn't a good idea, but Laurent states that Genet isn't angry; instead, her heart is broken. Upset, Genet tells Laurent that he'll do as she asks, as there's no other choice, before she storms out of the room.
Daryl is led into the fighting pit during Genet's speech and untied. Seeing Daryl, Isabelle, and Laurent exchange concerned looks. As the crowd chants Pouvoir at the end of Genet's speech, a man tosses an axe at Daryl's feet, and a walker is led into the pit. A Guerrier shoots the walker in the neck with a dart, which causes the walker to mutate, developing black eyes and the veins of a burner. The crowd cheers, a horrified Isabelle tells Laurent not to look, and Stéphane yells at Daryl that he dies today for his brother. Daryl raises his axe as the walker breaks free of its restraints and charges at him.
"Coming Home"
The walker test subject mutates into an "Amper" variant while Stéphane Codron yells at Daryl that he's going to die today for Stéphane's brother. Daryl dodges the Amper's first charge, sending it into the wall, and knocks its feet out from under it with his axe when it charges the second time, but the Amper gets back up both times. The third time it charges, Daryl impales it with his axe and traps it against a pillar, but he is forced to let go as the Amper's acidic blood burns his hands. Genet is pleased with these events, while Isabelle prays for Daryl while she holds Laurent. Laurent reassures his aunt that Daryl will win, having confidence in his friend's skills. The Amper is able to pull itself off the axe and charges Daryl again, who grabs a French flag while dodging the Amper's attacks. Using the flag as a makeshift spear, Daryl impales the Amper mid-charge, flips it to the ground, and finally finishes it off by planting the flagpole in the Amper variant's head.
Genet is furious at Daryl's victory, while a pleased Laurent tells Isabelle that he was right that Daryl could do it. Henri LaFleur reassures Genet that that's not the best that he has, just the first. Men enter and remove the corpse and the axe, placing the flag back where it belongs before a shackled Quinn is led in. The two men are shackled together at the wrist with a chain of a few feet between them, and a new axe and a weapon for Quinn are brought in. The two men initially believe that they are being pitted in a battle to the death against each other before the lights go out for a moment and, when they come back on, spotlights illuminate four chained walkers around the fighting pit and Laurent begins desperately praying for Daryl's safety. Genet orders Dr. LaFleur to give the Power of the Living crowd a show and, on his signal, all four walkers are darted with his mutation solution. However, while three successfully mutate into Amper variants, the head of the fourth explodes, just like one of the doctor's previous experiments. In the gallery, Fallou orders Sylvie and Emile to go around while Fallou stays in his current position, and Isabelle notices her friends moving through the crowd.
Daryl orders Quinn to follow his lead as one of the Ampers breaks free only, much to the shock of everyone, for another Amper to rush in and rip apart its head. Dr. LaFleur nervously reassures an increasingly angry Genet that there are still two left. The final Amper breaks free and charges, but Daryl and Quinn use their chain to clothesline it to the ground and do the exact same thing to the second Amper as it breaks away from the one that it had killed and attacks as well. Daryl chops off the leg of one of the Ampers, but their attempts to take out the other one are deflected by the metal headband that it's still wearing. Daryl's efforts to finish off the downed Amper are interrupted by Quinn's fight with the one that's still standing, and the chain that's connecting the two men and giving them a limited reach from each other. The Amper tackles Daryl to the ground, and he uses his chain in its mouth to hold it at bay as Quinn tries unsuccessfully to strike its brain with his weapon. The other Amper drags Quinn away, inadvertently pulling both Daryl and the Amper that he was fighting along by the chain. Knocking the Amper off of him, Quinn manages to bash its head in, which is unprotected, unlike the other Amper. As the surviving Amper attempts to kill Quinn, Daryl wraps the chain around its neck and, working together, the two men use the chain to decapitate it, winning the fight.
Excited by the victory, the crowd turns from chanting "Pouvoir" to chanting "Dixon," cheering Daryl on. Furious, Genet reminds Dr. LaFleur that the whole point of the fight was to win these people over to their cause, and he admits that there's still some work to be done. Holding the zombified head up to the cheering crowd, Daryl tosses it at Genet, landing near the feet of her chair, although Genet quickly moves out of the way of any danger. As men enter the pit to remove the bodies, Genet orders Capo to get this over with. Capo signals one of his men to kill Daryl and Quinn, but Fallou shoots him in the head before the Guerrier can open fire. The crowd panics and flees while Genet, Isabelle, and Laurent are escorted out by the Guerriers. Seeing that the fleeing men in the pit had left the door open, Daryl and Quinn grab their weapons and make their escape.
A furious Genet orders Capo to find out how many of the Union of Hope people there are, how they got in, and how they got weapons past the guards. Genet asserts her authority over Capo, warning the man that she's the one giving the orders while he's the one following them. If Capo can't, she'll give the orders to someone who can. After confirming that Daryl killed Stéphane's brother, Genet orders Capo to find and kill Daryl and to take Stéphane with him, as he's motivated to kill Daryl. "You want your revenge? Go get it," Genet orders him. Hiding from searching Guerriers, Daryl notices a wound in the back of Quinn's left shoulder, which Quinn insists is just a burn from the Amper, and he's fine and doesn't even feel it, but Daryl is unconvinced.
Isabelle and Laurent are led back to the cells, where Isabelle tries to get answers about what's going to happen to them next, but Genet tells her that all that she knows for sure is that God is not coming for them. Laurent tries to escape, but is recaptured and forced back into the cell. Once they're locked up, Genet scoffs at the idea that Laurent is the Messiah and leaves. Isabelle demands to know what her nephew was thinking as he could've been killed, but Laurent explains that he was thinking about what Daryl would do. Laurent mournfully suggests that Genet is right, and God has abandoned them. Telling Laurent that now is when they need faith the most, Isabelle reveals that she had used her skills as a thief to pickpocket the cell key from a Guerrier while she was struggling with him to help Laurent. After checking that they are alone, Isabelle unlocks the cell, and she and Laurent escape.
Running through the halls, a weakening Quinn is forced to stop due to his wound. Daryl refuses to die here, but Quinn asks what it matters when you have to die somewhere. Daryl attempts to break the chain without success, and a remorseful Quinn admits that he was terrible to Isabelle and that his attempts to get it right the next time only made things worse. Daryl calls Quinn out on using his own kid to get her back, and Quinn admits that he didn't see it like that. Quinn thinks that it's too late to matter now, but Daryl, recognizing Quinn's genuine remorse and that Quinn doesn't have much time left, suggests that it doesn't have to be, that Quinn could buy him some time and help to save both Isabelle and Laurent. Agreeing, Quinn tells Daryl to cut his hand off at the wrist so as to free them from each other. Daryl promises to tell Isabelle what Quinn did for her and, after making a tourniquet with Quinn's belt, cuts off Quinn's hand with his axe. Rounding the corner, the two men encounter three Guerriers who had heard Quinn's cries. As Daryl escapes, Quinn attacks the Guerriers, killing all of them.
Isabelle and Laurent sneak through Maison Mère, avoiding the searching Guerriers. Outside, Daryl recovers his knife and morning star from the backseat of the jeep that had transported him to Maison Mère. Following gurgling sounds, Daryl finds a Guerrier with a slit throat choking to death on his own blood in a nearby garage and, much to his relief, Fallou, Sylvie, and Emile hiding inside. Daryl guesses that Isabelle and Laurent are in one of the cellblocks, which he knows how to find, and asks Fallou, who reveals that his uncle ran a garage, to get one of the trucks running. Using some of the tools in the garage, Emile breaks the shackle off of Daryl's wrist.
Making their way through the tunnels, Daryl, Isabelle, and Laurent find each other, with Daryl separated from the others by a locked gate. Daryl instructs Isabelle to get a pipe to break the lock, but a zombified Quinn enters and charges at Isabelle, who hits him in the head with the pipe. Recovering from the blow, Quinn attacks Isabelle, who struggles to keep him off of her. A zombified Guerrier enters the tunnel, but Daryl draws him over to the gate and stabs him in the head with his axe. Unable to help Isabelle himself, Daryl hands Laurent the axe and tells him to use it to save Isabelle. The frightened boy approaches Isabelle and Quinn while Daryl yells encouragement at him to save Isabelle. When Laurent continues to hesitate, Daryl reassures him that "God'll forgive you." With a yell, Laurent axes Quinn in the head, putting him down and saving Isabelle's life.
Having escaped from Maison Mère, Laurent sits in the back of the group's stolen truck, looking at Azlan's pocket watch while Emile tells Sylvie that he and Fallou must go where they are most needed, and he hopes that she will join them one day. Emile and Sylvie kiss while Laurent reassures Fallou that they know where the Nest is. Fallou wishes them good luck, and he leaves with Emile, who briefly stops to exchange one last smile with Sylvie. Daryl hangs the pocket watch on the rearview mirror, and the group - reunited at last - drives off to finish their long journey to the Nest. Daryl tries to reassure a worried Sylvie that Fallou won't let anything happen to Emile, but he doesn't respond to her question about whether Daryl has ever been in love. Isabelle tells Laurent that she's always protected him, but this time, he protected her, and Isabelle is sorry that Laurent had to do that. Laurent tells Isabelle that it wasn't Quinn anymore, and he was never Laurent's father. "Sometimes you have to do horrible things, and no matter how bad you feel, if there is no other choice, God will forgive you. Like with my mother." The truck suddenly begins experiencing engine trouble, forcing Daryl to pull over and check it out.
As Daryl works on the truck, Sylvie and Laurent sleep in the back, and Isabelle stands outside with him. Isabelle tells Daryl that her father had once tried to teach her how to change a tire, but he gave up after two hours. Daryl reveals that his father used to have Daryl and Merle take apart engines, and if they couldn't put them back together, they got no dinner. Daryl admits that it was hard when his father was around, which was hardly ever. Daryl's father grew up without a father, too, and he guesses that history repeats itself if you're not careful. Daryl's grandfather had died in France during World War II, enlisting, leaving his pregnant wife back home, and never came back, while his family fell apart back home. Daryl thinks that it hardly seems worth it, as his grandfather didn't put up much of a fight for what he believed in, never even making it off the beach.
Isabelle notes that Laurent has changed greatly since he first met Daryl, but Daryl denies having much to do with it, telling Isabelle that kids grow up. Isabelle states that Laurent has never had a fatherly influence in his life, although she guesses that growing up with no father was better than growing up with Quinn. Daryl reveals that Quinn had thought of Isabelle before he died, and Isabelle reveals that she was afraid of Daryl at first, as there's something in his eyes, and Isabelle could tell that Daryl's been through stuff. With his scars, Isabelle could tell that Daryl was dangerous and that he could get them where they needed to go. Laughing, Daryl says that he's glad that he could help. As Daryl begins working under the truck, Isabelle confesses that she had lied to him about the picture of Daryl on the beach. Rather than it having been drawn weeks before, like Isabelle had claimed, she had Laurent draw it when Daryl first got to the abbey in the hopes that it would help convince Daryl to help them. While Isabelle calls her actions stupid, Daryl suggests that it wasn't, as he's here now, and it's not because of that picture.
When Isabelle doesn't respond to his request for a big wrench, Daryl emerges from under the truck to find Stéphane holding it, and he hits Daryl in the face with the wrench and throws him onto the ground next to the truck, where Capo and three other Guerriers gather up Isabelle, Sylvie, and Laurent. Daryl pleads with Stéphane not to do this, promising to go with him, but Capo tells Daryl that Genet has ordered that they all die today, and Laurent is first. When Isabelle tries to resist, a Guerrier stabs her in the right shoulder, and Capo hands Stéphane his gun, telling Stéphane to do it for his brother, letting the death of his friends be the last thing that Daryl sees. Daryl pleads with a visibly conflicted Stéphane not to go through with it as Stéphane aims at Laurent, and Capo orders him to hurry up. Laurent tells Stéphane that God loves him, and Stéphane suddenly shoots Capo and the three Guerriers dead instead. Stéphane aims at Daryl as he, Sylvie, and Laurent hover protectively over Isabelle, but lowers his gun after a moment, deciding to let Daryl go and get his revenge the next time. Picking up Azlan's pocket watch, Stéphane recognizes the picture of Mont-Saint-Michel inside and deduces that it's the Nest. Stéphane tells the group that it's not even a day's walk north, and he instructs them to burn the truck as it makes them too easy to track. That night, the group watches the truck burn before setting out on the final leg of their journey, Daryl supporting the injured Isabelle.
The next day, the group finds and crosses the tidal lands leading to Mont-Saint-Michel and finally reaches the Nest, where the inhabitants joyfully greet them. Losang welcomes Laurent to the Nest and orders his people to get Isabelle to the infirmary quickly, reassuring Laurent that the Nest has good doctors and they will do everything that they can for her. After Laurent reveals that Daryl doesn't speak French, Losang greets Daryl in perfect unaccented English, revealing, much to Daryl's surprise, that Losang is American too. Losang explains that he's originally from Hoboken, New Jersey, and he came to Paris as a student in the 90s, something that Azlan didn't mention. Daryl reveals that Azlan didn't make it, and Losang sadly tells Daryl that Azlan will be missed, and he was a good man, devoted and kind. Daryl warns Losang that Genet will be coming for them, and Losang promises that while they will pray that she won't, the Union will be ready if the day ever comes that she does.
Isabelle awakens in the infirmary some time later and finds Daryl teaching a class on using guns while Laurent enjoys playing soccer with other children. Laurent hugs his aunt while Daryl gives her a wave while continuing with his class. As time passes, Losang and Laurent walk with each other and discuss philosophy, everyone enjoys dinner together, Isabelle and Sylvie watch Daryl playing with Laurent, and Daryl watches Isabelle listening to a lecture by Losang. After finding Isabelle cleaning her wound, Daryl helps her clean it at her request. Daryl admits that the Nest isn't what he had expected, having expected to find a bunch of Amish people running around. Isabelle likes it at the Nest, which feels like home to her, and Daryl admits that it kind of grows on you.
Walking with Daryl, Losang admits that he had been skeptical when Père Jean had first sent word of Laurent, but Losang decided to do the pilgrim's Camino to Santiago, so he stopped at the abbey to meet him, and he knew that Père Jean was right. Daryl calls Laurent a good kid, one who Losang says looks up to Daryl and is here because of him, although Daryl deflects that it was thanks to Isabelle, really. Losang is grateful to both of them and sorry to see Daryl go, surprising Daryl. Losang explains that Daryl kept his word and the Union kept theirs: they've found a vessel to help get Daryl home. Fishermen from Dover will give Daryl safe passage to England, and they know of boats that can get him as far as Newfoundland, although Daryl will have to figure out the rest on his own. The boat will be there in two days, and Daryl will have to walk to the north coast, so Losang suggests that he set out at dawn unless he's changed his mind.
A conflicted Daryl tells Losang that he's got people waiting for him back home, but Losang points out that Daryl has people who hope that he will stay in France. Watching Isabelle and Laurent through a window, Daryl admits that it's not so easy, and Losang acknowledges that they don't know what tomorrow will bring, and Daryl needs to go an ocean away with the world being what it is, while Losang and his people need Daryl too here and now. While the Power of the Living isn't Daryl's fight, Losang suggests that Isabelle and Laurent are the reason that he's torn, stating that "sometimes, when a person leaves home, he comes to find he belongs someplace else."
At Maison Mère, Stéphane claims to Genet that it was a lack of vigilance on Stéphane and his men's part that allowed Daryl's group to get away, that they were too confident, and the group came out of nowhere and outnumbered the Guerriers in an ambush. Genet gives Stéphane a cigarette that she's just hand-rolled and notes that Stéphane has returned completely unharmed. Stéphane claims that Laurent escaped, and he went after him, going back too late to help after he heard the gunshots. Stating that Stéphane did his best, Genet reveals that, before the world ended, she worked nights in a museum, night after night, just her and the art, thousands of eyes following Genet from room to room. It taught Genet how to tell which eyes tell the truth and which eyes lie. Genet realizes that Stéphane killed her men himself, and after taking a drag on his cigarette, Stéphane explains that they had told him to kill the boy, which is a line that he couldn't cross. Genet tells Stéphane that it means that he's not the man that she thought that he was, and the Union offers fairy tales. Every person who joins the Union makes her group weaker, which is why they must be snuffed out, because the Power of the Living is building the future, not for themselves but for those who come after them. They have to do the hard, unspeakable things so that those who come after them won't have to. Genet asks where the Nest is, but Stéphane just shrugs. The two Guerriers in the room with them knock Stéphane to the ground and disarm him. Genet warns Stéphane that it's only going to get more painful, and the Guerriers drag him away.
At the Nest, Daryl packs up, and Isabelle confronts him about leaving without even saying goodbye. Daryl tells her that he made a promise to his friends back home, just like he did to Isabelle. Daryl kept his promise to Isabelle, which she appreciates, but Daryl also told her that he had left the Commonwealth to see what was out in the world, and Isabelle thinks that he found something, even if it wasn't what Daryl was looking for. Daryl reminds Isabelle that this has always been his intention ever since he first washed ashore in France, and Isabelle asks about Laurent, wondering if Daryl is going to leave without saying goodbye and abandon the boy, comparing it to Daryl's father abandoning him. Daryl insists that it's not the same, but Isabelle thinks that Daryl cares about Laurent, and it scares him. Daryl thinks that he's escaping history by doing this, but he's only repeating it by abandoning the boy who has become as good as Daryl's own son over their time together. Daryl tells Isabelle that he respects her for believing what she believes, and while the Nest feels like home to her and he truly hopes that it is for both Isabelle and Laurent, Daryl has his own home to get back to. Upset, Isabelle tells Daryl that she's glad that they met, and she wishes him Godspeed on his journey and leaves. Daryl visits the sleeping Laurent and, after hesitating for a moment, leaves the boy with the Rubik's Cube that Laurent had given to Daryl when they first met and leaves.
Daryl sets out on his journey north, pausing for a moment to look back at Mont-Saint-Michel, sheltering in an abandoned building for the night during a thunderstorm and passing a walker trapped in a tree. Near Omaha Beach, Daryl finds a tattered American flag overlooking an old cemetery for American soldiers who died in France during World War II. Searching through it, Daryl finds the grave of Private William T. Dixon, his grandfather, and cries. In the distance, Daryl spots the beach and the boat offshore that's waiting for him. After pausing to look at his grandfather's grave, Daryl heads for the beach.
Daryl waves at the boat, which signals back at him with a light. Drawn by the noise, a herd of lurkers emerge from where they were lying in the grass around the area, and Daryl fights his way through them with his morning star and knife to the beach. As Daryl makes his way across the beach, Laurent calls out to him from the top of a nearby structure, having secretly followed Daryl all the way from the Nest. Pausing as the herd closes in on the boy, Daryl looks back and forth between the boat, torn between going home and Laurent.
Season 2
"La Gentillesse Des Étrangers"
On a beach, five walkers approach Laurent, who manages to take out two of them before falling over and calling for help. Suddenly, the walkers are yanked back by Daryl using a contraption that he has them attached to. Daryl and Laurent are on a beach near the Nest where Daryl has been teaching the boy how to fight the undead. Daryl puts down the remaining walkers with a spear and chides Laurent that he could've gotten one more, but Laurent states that he had lost his footing. Daryl explains that it had happened because Laurent backed up, and you must never back up. Laurent is sure that he'll never be as good as Daryl, but Daryl reminds him that only two weeks have passed.
Laurent tells Daryl that Père Jean had believed that walkers still had souls, and Daryl recognizes that his young friend recognizes his old mentor. Laurent admits it, but he likes it here at the Nest, and "home is wherever the people you love are," which is what the kids had told him back when Daryl's group had stayed at the elementary school. Gilbert runs up, yelling that the boy is late for his philosophy lesson. Laurent is reluctant to go, but Gilbert tells him that Losang insists and that Daryl should head back as well because Losang would like to speak with Daryl.
At their meeting, Losang knows that Daryl has been training Laurent to defend himself, but feels that it has become a distraction as Laurent is meant for much more. Losang confirms that what Laurent is meant for is more than just staying alive, and he is worried about the impact that repeated violence will have on the boy and his ability to maintain empathy. Everyone at the Nest has a place if they choose to seek it out, and Losang hopes that Daryl will find his there too. Daryl leaves the room without another word.
Outside, Daryl tells Isabelle that Losang wants him to stop training Laurent and that he says that Daryl is too violent. However, Isabelle thinks that Daryl simply does what's necessary, even when no one else is willing to do it, "especially then, in fact." Isabelle suggests that what Losang means is that now that they've made it to the Nest, Laurent needs something else from him. Daryl isn't sure if the Nest is the place that he's supposed to be, and Daryl isn't sure if he could be happy here, while Isabelle thinks that she could be. Daryl can't stop thinking about all of the people that he had left behind in America, and he wonders if they're still thinking about him.
Later, Jacinta argues to Losang that they should move the ceremony up, but Losang tells her that they still have work to do. Jacinta warns Losang that he'll never win them over, and certainly not Daryl. Losang is sure that they have time, and Laurent isn't ready. Jacinta asks if Laurent isn't ready or if it's Losang that's not, and, looking at where the boy is playing with Sylvie, Losang admits that they're not.
"Moulin Rouge"
In a voiceover, Laurent prays, "Dear Lord, these are the things I hope for. I hope the people I care about will be safe and happy. I hope someday this feels like home. Everybody here says they love me. I see how they look at me. I know it's not my destiny to be an ordinary child. I wish it was. But wishes are not hopes. So, I hope I can be the person they need me to be. But I also hope I can be the person I want to be. And I hope Daryl teaches me how to throw a knife."
In a montage, Laurent, Isabelle, and other residents of the Nest dig for clams on the beach, but Isabelle appears to be distracted waiting for Daryl's return. At breakfast, a nun brings Laurent a specially made meal while other people smile at him. Laurent attends a class with Jacinta, but he is visibly distracted, much to her annoyance.
Bells toll as the rescue team triumphantly returns with Martin Fournier, Emile Thibault, and Fallou Boukar. Sylvie embraces her boyfriend, who is visibly haunted by his experiences as a prisoner of the Power of the Living. Laurent hugs Daryl and gives him a figurine of a dog that Laurent had carved for his friend. Losang greets Daryl as everyone heads inside the Nest.
As Laurent finishes his prayers, Losang asks the boy if he hopes for Daryl to stay at the Nest, which Laurent confirms, but he thinks that Daryl misses Carol and his other friends, and vice versa. Losang acknowledges that Daryl is a good man, but Laurent's future requires more than good aim with a weapon, which is why Laurent is here with them. Losang knows that the boy isn't sure about all of it, but that's ok because "doubt is the question that faith answers. You doubt because you are special, not because you aren't." Laurent is clearly anxious to leave, admitting that Daryl wants to teach him something and that it's a surprise. Despite being visibly unhappy, Losang allows the boy to leave.
Once Laurent is gone, Jacinta warns him that Daryl will leave again, and she asks what will happen if Laurent wants to go with him. Losang believes that Daryl will eventually come around and that some people just need time. However, Jacinta warns him that they don't have time because even among the faithful, there are doubters, and they've grown tired of waiting for deliverance. Losang states that the doubters are always free to leave if they don't support the Union of Hope's mission, but Jacinta worries that they will rise as well. Jacinta insists that the answer to doubt isn't faith, but rather proof. Proof will bolster the boy and strengthen the Union of Hope. Jacinta wants Losang to move up the ceremony as it would send a strong signal. Losang watches through the window as Laurent hugs Daryl and the two head off together, as he considers Jacinta's words.
In a courtyard, Daryl tries to teach Laurent how to play American baseball. Joining them, Isabelle mistakes it for cricket, but Daryl corrects her, and she agrees to be their catcher after Laurent explains what that is. Laurent hits the ball, sending it into the bushes behind Daryl, much to the delight of everyone. Sylvie calls Laurent away for his philosophy class, causing the boy to complain that Jacinta will make him read Socrates. Isabelle tells him that Socrates is very entertaining, and they'll get the ball back.
Once Laurent is gone, Daryl expresses concern that Losang and his people are working him pretty hard, but Isabelle tells Daryl that he is too, with teaching the boy sports, self-defense, and tracking. Daryl states that he and Laurent are just having fun, and Isabelle tells him that Laurent needs balance, body, and mind, which he is getting from both Daryl and the Union. Daryl points out that the boy isn't buying everything that the Nest is teaching him, and Isabelle acknowledges that Laurent is skeptical, a kid should question things, and doubt is healthy. Daryl wonders if Isabelle ever doubts it, and she admits that she does. "You're not like them at all. You're like us," says a pleased Daryl.
Isabelle knows that in a week or two, whenever he figures out a plan, Daryl will be gone, and she and Laurent will stay here at the Nest. There's always doubt, but people make choices that make sense to them. Sometimes you let faith make up the difference, which Isabelle believes that Daryl understands, because how else does he get on a boat to the other side of the world? Daryl suggests that Isabelle could make a different choice, and she and Laurent come back to America with him. After a moment's hesitation, Isabelle refuses, stating that it's impossible because Laurent's entire life has led him to this place, and it's everything that's kept them going. Daryl suggests that that's all that the Nest ever was: something that just kept them going.
The next morning, Isabelle wakes up and finds Laurent gone from his room with signs of a struggle and a grappling hook attached to the windowsill. Isabelle frantically searches for the boy, telling Daryl that Laurent has gone missing. Daryl notices sand on the floor of the room near the grappling hook and realizes that someone took him. Losang and Jacinta arrive, and Jacinta reports that two men climbed over the wall and knocked out Tarim, their guard. Tarim reports that one of the men had a tattoo on his face, meaning that it was a Guerrier. Losang realizes that someone had told Genet where the Nest is, and Laurent is being taken back to Paris. Jacinta warns them that the tide will come in soon, and they quickly move out.
Outside, a rescue team suits up, and Losang orders his men to bring Laurent home and to follow Daryl's lead. Jacinta gives one of the soldiers some rounds for Daryl's shotgun, which he hands over to Daryl. Emile -- now with short hair -- objects to Fallou coming with them as the older man should rest and heal, but he insists upon going. Sylvie explains that she had told Fallou that she needs someone to keep an eye on Emile, and she places her necklace on her boyfriend. Isabelle also joins the rescue mission despite Losang's objections that this could be dangerous, and the rescue team departs to find Laurent.
Sylvie notices a nun preparing Laurent's breakfast despite him being kidnapped, and she becomes suspicious, following the nun as she leaves. The nun heads to a door leading to a turret and leaves the food outside, where it's retrieved by somebody. Sneaking in, Sylvie is shocked to find Laurent in the room at the bottom and realizes that his kidnapping was faked. Losang greets Sylvie from behind, telling her that they are on the eve of something wonderful. However, the attempt by Jacinta to assassinate Daryl fails with all of the Union soldiers being killed, including Emile, who had participated in the attack on Daryl's group.
"L'Invisible"
Laurent plays with his Rubik's Cube, and Losang informs him that it's time. Laurent is dressed in a robe, and he is instructed to be himself and soak in the energy. Everyone is very excited about Laurent stepping into the spiritual role, which Laurent guesses he is excited by, too. Preparing a drink for the boy, Losang shares that he was a shy kid who even wet his pants during his piano recital, but Laurent promises that that won't happen with him, and he wishes that Isabelle and Daryl were here. Losang pressures Laurent to drink valerian root and honey, drugging the boy in order to ensure that he's relaxed during the ceremony.
All of the Nest's residents gather in the courtyard for the ceremony. Unnoticed by anyone, Daryl, Isabelle, and Fallou sneak in with Isabelle and Fallou standing amongst the crowd and Daryl on the stairs leading up to the parapet. As Losang speaks to the crowd, Jacinta and Gilbert lead a dazed and drugged Laurent in. "My friends, the time has come. From across France, from Germany, from Spain, we've come as pilgrims to be part of this community out of a shared belief in faith in what is yet to come. The journey here has been long and hard. Some have had doubts at times. It's natural to doubt. We've had to be patient to prove that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, a future where we will no longer be vulnerable to the bite of the hungry ones. Now is the time to cast doubt aside and to embrace hope, to celebrate the inspiring power of our unity and love. We are all human, and even the hungry ones, lost to us, carry with them the memory of love. So, who better to confirm our faith in Laurent than someone we've just lost, but who loved him dearly. And now, her love will deliver us all."
As Losang speaks, a cloaked and tethered walker is led out into the middle of the courtyard, where Laurent is guided to meet it. Much to her friends' shock and horror, the hood is removed to reveal a zombified Sylvie who is guided towards Laurent to bite the boy. Before Sylvie can bite Laurent, Daryl shoots her in the head with an arrow, putting his friend down and quipping that the "show's over motherfucker." Daryl aims at Losang, but he's forced to shoot a Union soldier instead when the man tries to shoot him, giving Losang the chance to escape. As the crowd runs around in a panic, Isabelle and Fallou grab Laurent and make their escape, as does Daryl.
Daryl's group reunites, making their way through the streets of the Nest. Daryl and Fallou shoot two Union soldiers that they encounter and hide in an alcove from the searching soldiers. Daryl orders the others to go back out the way that he, Isabelle, and Fallou had come in while he buys them some time, rejecting Fallou's offer to stay and help him as it will take both of the other adults to get Laurent down the wall. Grabbing Laurent, Daryl tells the boy to snap out of it as he needs Laurent to lead Isabelle and Fallou to his and Daryl's secret place, where they train together, a cave in the woods. Laurent snaps out of his drugged state, recalling the location of the cave, and Daryl tells the group to give him a day and then keep running if Daryl doesn't make it back by then. With the coast temporarily clear, Isabelle, Laurent, and Fallou make their escape while Daryl engages two Union soldiers who spot him. Avoiding the attention of a guard on top of the parapet, Fallou and Laurent make it to the outer wall and escape, but Isabelle is forced to hide when the searchers get too close.
Fallou joins Laurent in the cave, telling the boy that he had waited for as long as he could, but there was no sign of Daryl and Isabelle. If Isabelle got out, Fallou knows that she'll find them in Paris. Fallou reassures Laurent that none of this is his fault, but Sylvie's gone now, and Isabelle may be as well because of a made-up story about him. The worst part about it for the boy is that he had liked how everyone believed that he was special. Fallou promises Laurent that he is special, and some things are true because you believe them, and "the truth is in the way believing makes it easier to live." However, Laurent is not comforted, pointing out that belief wouldn't make him survive a walker bite. Fallou acknowledges that Losang took things too far, but that isn't on Laurent; everyone believed him. However, Laurent reminds Fallou of the one person who never believed Losang about how special he was: Daryl.
"Vouloir, C'est Pouvoir"
Laurent will appear in this episode.
"Au Revoir Les Enfants"
Laurent will appear in this episode.
Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Laurent has killed:
Relationships
Allies
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Enemies |
Appearances
Gallery
- For more images of Laurent, please visit Laurent Carrière (Daryl Series)/Gallery.
Trivia
- Laurent is named after Saint Lawrence (French: Laurent), a 3rd century Christian martyr.
- Laurent's birth is similar to that of Ellie Williams in HBO's The Last of Us. Ellie was infected with a trace amount of Cordyceps due to her mother being bitten while in labor. Because of this, Ellie became immune to any future infections. The first season's premise involves survivor Joel Miller escorting Ellie to a lab where the doctors can replicate her immunity and create a vaccine. While Laurent has yet to be bitten, Isabelle and the other nuns believe Laurent's birth indicates he will "deliver" them from the plague.
- As of "Le Paradis Pour Toi", Laurent is the last surviving member of his family, as well as the Abbey of Saint Bernadette.
- In "El Sacrificio", Daryl is revealed to have kept possession of Laurent's Rubik's Cube, which he leaves on the Camino de Santiago. It's later found by Stéphane Codron in "Solaz del Mar", who seemingly recognizes it as Laurent's.