-[Lilith] She was dead. -[Beatrice] Yes.
[Lilith] So she'd go back to being dead?
[Beatrice] There's no way of knowing.
[Ava's voice] I can't move.
Well, that was no fun while it lasted.
-[Beatrice] The Halo chose her. -It doesn't belong to her.
I say we take it out.
-[Beatrice] And if she dies? -[rumbling]
That's up to God.
[rumbling grows louder]
[zapping]
[gasping]
[continues gasping]
-You ever see Shannon do that? -No.
-What's happening? -[zapping continues]
[gasps]
I understand that you're scared, but you need to calm down.
-[gasping] -[high-pitched ringing]
It's reacting to your emotions.
What's reacting to my emotions?
-The Halo. -What Halo?
What the hell is going on?
This is gonna be a long day.
-[high-pitched ringing grows louder] -[women scream]
[sighs]
[high-pitched ringing]
Ava.
Are you okay?
What do you say we try this again?
[whooshing]
[women vocalizing]
[voices growl]
[high-pitched ringing]
[horse whinnying]
[Vincent] Areala of Cordoba
was one of the fiercest warriors the world has ever known,
but her beginnings were far more humble
She wasn't born a believer.
When her family's land was seized by invaders,
Areala was orphaned.
She spent years wandering...
lost, without purpose.
Until she found Him.
Liam Neeson?
I've seen this one.
He exacts revenge on everyone who wronged her.
Not Liam Neeson.
The Rock?
-God. -Oh.
She found God.
Please.
Continue.
Yeah, I hate to disappoint, but I don't--
Here's the translation.
"Areala spent the rest of her life fighting in His name."
[horses neighing]
[wailing]
[Ava] "By 1095, when Pope Urban II ordered the First Crusade--"
I'm sorry. Can we maybe jump to the part
where any of this has anything to do with me?
You're getting there.
[sighs]
"Areala was fearless..."
[all wailing, shouting]
[Ava] "...willing to give everything...
-including her life." -[no audible scream]
[Ava] "Eventually, Areala would give her life.
But it wasn't on this day.
A messenger from God, the angel Adriel had other plans.
He couldn't let her die.
Her journey wasn't finished.
But there was only one way to save her.
So Adriel made the greatest sacrifice.
He gave up a part of himself."
[high-pitched ringing]
Are you saying that thing is in me now?
Obviously, that was not our plan.
Fate intervened, just as it did with Areala.
Our plan?
We belong to the Order of the Cruciform Sword.
Devout women who've dedicated their lives to fighting an ancient evil.
[women grunting]
Devout women and you.
I've been tasked with tending to their needs.
[Ava's voice] Well, not every need.
You've seen it. The beast.
It's called a Tarask.
Because of the energy it takes to slip their bonds,
they can only exist in our world for a short time.
And their world is...
Hell.
Right.
And the other ones,
the ones that are here, but not here?
Wraith demons.
They feed on the natural darkness in people's souls,
influencing them to do their bidding.
They can't do any damage themselves, because they still have one foot in--
Hell?
Right.
-The thing on my back. -Mm-hmm.
That's why I can see them?
The Halo affords you the gift of sight.
The ability not just to hunt them, but to kill them.
[scoffs] Okay. I hate to break it to you, but I'm no hunter.
I'm not even a gatherer. A week ago, I couldn't even walk.
I know, and I'm sorry for what you've been through.
But perhaps God has spared you in that accident for a reason.
A greater purpose.
No. No, no, no. You know what?
Maybe I don't know who I am or what I'm supposed to do,
but I'm pretty sure that fighting demons ain't it, okay?
Whoever bears the Halo is the new champion.
[door opens]
The Warrior Nun.
That's the way it's been for 1,000 years.
We've sworn our lives to keep this evil at bay.
No. No, you've sworn your lives.
I just got mine back.
I'm not looking for a commitment right now.
This is hard to process.
I get that.
You know what?
Maybe-- maybe we take the weekend.
[Vincent] Hmm.
You know? Think-- think it over.
I'll come back on Monday, and we can talk more.
[Vincent] Until you learn to control the Halo's powers,
you're a danger to yourself and everyone around you.
I can't let you leave here.
[gate clanks]
So I'm a prisoner, then.
The other option is less desirable.
[Ava] Well, you can't keep me locked up in here. It's a legal thing.
Kidnapping.
You're safe here.
Out there, we can't protect you.
My friends will come looking for me.
The same friends who left you behind at the party?
How long do you think you'll survive out there?
[scoffs] I have superpowers.
That you have no idea how to use.
Every time you do, you're putting yourself at risk.
Make no mistake, the Tarask will find you.
Wait. That thing is after me?
It's after the Halo.
You're just in the way.
The Tarask is attracted to the energy the Halo gives off.
Like a hound that catches a scent, it knows where you've been.
But he can't smell me with this on, right?
The vest is lined with osmium, like the walls of the protective room.
It acts as an energy dampener.
That's why the beast wasn't summoned by this morning's incident.
You mean my freak-out.
We can teach you focus and control so that doesn't happen again.
We can show you what the Halo can do so you can defend yourself.
[women grunting]
Here, I thought you were taking me to Make-Out Point.
This is funny to you?
A nun with a shotgun to my head?
[clicks]
Oh, so lapsed, then.
My friend is dead, and her blood is on your hands.
You'll have to be more specific.
The docks. The explosion.
-I don't know anything about that. -No, of course not.
My team was hired to transport a shipment. That's all.
-Do you know where it came from? -All I know is everything was copacetic
until my men were ambushed by a bunch of...
well-trained female operatives.
Yeah. Who you knew were coming, and you rigged the crate to explode.
[Macready] You think I'd jeopardize the lives of my men?
Reputation is all there is in my line of work.
[Mary] So you were moving it without knowing what was in it?
[Macready] As long as I get paid, I don't care what's in it.
And you did get paid... by Arq-Tech.
[scoffs]
They're not behind what happened.
And how do you know?
[Macready] Because whatever was supposed to be in that crate,
they wanted it, bad.
[Mary] And they tell you that?
Price on delivery told me that.
How many casualties were on your side, apart from your friend?
Just her.
Then whoever rigged the crate is either shite at their job...
or they're a real pro who got exactly what they were after.
Shannon was the target.
Well, I'm so glad I could help. But if you don't mind, my time is...
kind of valuable.
And you think I'm just gonna let you walk away?
Your men still attacked us.
And you're still a nun.
Thou shall not kill and all that.
The cliff was a nice touch...
but the show's over.
[gunshot echoing]
What the hell was that?
Your guess is as good as ours.
But... before it cut out,
I-- I thought I saw something.
The camera didn't pick up a heat signature.
Might be some sort of cloaking technology.
So, Klingons...
[scoffs] Harry Potter.
Cameras or no, we still have a lead.
[sighs]
This was Cardinal Duretti's handiwork.
That's not where I was going.
[laughs] Come on.
You think it was those kids who infiltrated my show-and-tell?
Those kids didn't con their way in so they could tear up the place.
They were in it for-- for the free drinks and the shrimp cocktail.
Maybe their agenda changed once they got inside.
[key taps]
They were certainly curious about everything.
Well, it seems they're more curious about each other.
Please.
Kristian, I understand your hesitance to believe the Church is behind this.
When you leave the Church, you never really leave.
-I-- I get that. -Trust me,
there is no love lost between the Cardinal and myself.
I know very well what the Vatican is capable of.
I've seen it from the inside.
Good.
I don't subscribe to the idea that science and faith can't coexist.
What we're doing here, we're going to prove that they do.
Whoa. What...
There.
You see that?
[Kristian] I think she's doing it.
How's that possible?
I've run dozens of tests.
I've never seen it do that.
The artifacts only respond that way
when connected to a significant energy source.
Macready mentioned something about nuns.
-Nuns? -In the archives,
there's mention of a sect of women
led by one who wields great power.
[computer beeps]
The Order of the Cruciform Sword.
I always assumed it was merely a legend.
Well, I'm sure you thought that way about the artifacts once.
If the OCS is real,
it would be a secret kept for centuries,
even from those on the inside.
Strange.
It's not like the Church to keep secrets.
We need to find that girl.
[Vincent] Divinium?
[Duretti] They are using it to build some sort of machine.
Do they know its origins?
We were betrayed by a man that used to work for the Vatican
and now works for Arq-Tech.
We must assume they know everything.
Our mission is difficult enough. If we can avoid conflict--
If Sister Shannon's blood is on their hands,
the conflict is already upon us.
What of that girl?
She's here.
Undergoing training.
And Lilith, is she ready?
Yes, but the circumstances surrounding the girl,
removing it may kill her.
Is she a believer?
Is it not His belief in her that matters most?
The ancient texts suggest that the Halo has agency of its own.
What if it chose her?
What if He chose her?
One chance.
For both of you.
[woman shouting drills in distance]
[woman] Two!
[Ava's voice] First thing they do is give you a stick.
I'm sure this will end well.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[Ava's voice] Grizzled. Mean scar. Grand entrance.
Boss bitch is here.
I'm Mother Superion.
Of course you are.
[Ava's voice] Shit. That was out loud.
Lilith tells me you've noticed an improvement in strength.
I threw a guy across a room.
So, that was new.
The Halo acts as an amplifier.
It will enhance whatever natural abilities you already possess.
[Ava] Well, I drew the short end on a lot of things,
so don't get your hopes up. [chuckles]
[Superion] Then you'll have to work harder.
What else have you experienced?
[Ava] Um, I heal really fast.
I have that creepy demon sight thing.
I can pass through things.
Levitate.
Levitate?
[Lilith] It's true.
Saw that one with my own eyes.
Is that... not normal?
Normal is relative.
Some abilities will be unique to you,
just as previous Warrior Nuns had abilities unique to them.
Warrior Nun.
Makes it sound like I won a fight or something. [chuckles]
Except top prize is getting a hunk of magic metal embedded in your back.
[Superion] The Halo is a gift.
You are God's champion.
You fight in His name.
About that. I'm not exactly what you would call "religious."
Also, I just got these back,
so I'm not sure how the whole fighting thing is gonna work.
You know what, maybe we can focus on making things go boom, like this morning.
Oh, shit, I forgot that one.
[Ava screams]
-[grunts] What the fuck was that for? -[slams]
[Lilith] Language!
We're in a house of worship.
Where you train killers.
Something tells me profanity is low on Hail Mary's to-do list.
You'll learn about the Halo's more significant virtues in time.
First, we need to assess your physical and emotional conditioning.
[Ava] Emotional conditioning?
Mental fortitude is key.
With the Halo, the psychological and physical are intertwined.
You can't master one without the other.
-All right. Okay. So how do we-- -[whacks]
[Ava grunts]
Seriously?
No one said you couldn't fight back.
[grunting]
[Ava grunts]
Okay.
Well, at least teach me how to use this thing.
It's a stick.
[Ava yells]
Whoa! Okay, okay, listen, I'm all for friendly flagellation,
but maybe we prioritize a little bit here, huh?
Father Vincent said the OCS was a family,
but I'm getting a distinct wicked stepmother vibe, right?
[grunts]
[Lilith grunting]
[laughing] Did you see that? How am I doing it?
[chuckles]
[grunts]
[Ava's voice] Did that actually hurt, or just seem like it should?
[laughing]
You know what? This is probably just my synapses being super confused...
and totally not a comment on your strength and skill.
Enough.
[Ava] So, what do you think?
B-plus?
[women murmuring]
[murmuring continues]
[Ava's voice] No smile, unreadable expression,
not actively hostile.
I can work with that.
Never went to middle school, but I feel like I just lived it in seconds.
Life is coming at all of us pretty hard right now.
It might help things along
if you didn't treat everything like a joke.
Yeah, I can't help it.
It's my default.
The Halo wasn't just hanging around, waiting for you to show up.
It belonged to someone.
I know.
I'm sorry.
What was she like?
She was intense.
Cold, at first.
Wouldn't let any of us in.
But when she finally opened up...
Shannon was a great friend,
especially to the new recruits.
Loved pranks.
[laughs] She really got some of us.
In the last few months, though,
something changed.
It was like she knew.
I'm not her, you know.
No one expects you to be.
I tried telling him.
I'm not a warrior and I'm...
definitely not a nun.
This whole place, everything...
just isn't me.
It wasn't me either.
Not at first.
We all have a past, Ava.
Secrets that are ours alone.
But none of that matters once you realize that not everything is about you.
[Superion] You can't force this.
She's not prepared.
-She's not-- -She's not worthy?
I read her file, same as you.
She doesn't have it in her.
That's not your decision to make.
These are my girls.
I've been entrusted with their preparedness.
And I've been entrusted with their lives.
Including hers.
Even if the Halo doesn't reject her, she'll reject it.
We'll see.
[Superion] I won't go easy on her.
[Vincent] I'm not asking you to.
But I do expect a certain sensitivity...
for her situation.
"Areala would never forget her defeat at the hands of the barbarians,
but she was destined for a greater purpose.
At the Lord's urging, she would raise a band of warriors to share in the burden.
No one would know their faces or their names.
They would only be known by a collective symbol:
a silver cross made from the hilt of a sword.
And so it came to pass
that the Order of the Cruciform Sword was born."
A bit wordy, isn't it?
Keep going.
"The Sister Warriors, as they became known,
thrived under Areala's tutelage."
Pull!
[Ava] "For evil had taken on a new and monstrous form.
Demons...
risen from Hell.
The nuns sought out these forces of darkness,
releasing lost souls pressed into the service of demons."
[Vincent] Mm-hmm.
I don't know about you, but I thought that was really enlightening.
It's a historical record, meant to offer context.
It's not a spell book.
Hmm.
Well, a spell book would be a bit more useful.
Oh.
Nice job, patriarchy.
All the heroes are women, but the cake-topper is a dude.
Let me guess: he was the first you?
Where's the Areala statue, huh?
I was hoping you would see a bit of yourself in Areala's story.
You two aren't that dissimilar.
It may not have been the path you expected, but...
you were both chosen for a greater purpose.
[groans]
If by "chosen," you mean
someone shoved something into our bodies without permission and then was like,
"Oh, by the way, this is your life now..."
Then for all we know, Areala never wanted this.
Maybe she wanted to die on the battlefield that day.
Maybe she thought she earned it.
Ava, you've been gifted something very special.
And I want to give you the space to discover that for yourself.
But there are some people here who don't feel the same way.
Hmm. More than some.
I need you to take this seriously...
or the calls to replace you will be.
Well, then why do you even care what happens to me?
Why not just take this thing out of me and be done with it?
Whether you believe it or not, God gave you a second chance.
I need you to trust me.
I know that's not easy for you.
It's not easy for me either...
but we're both flying a bit blind here.
So, please...
maybe we can show a little patience?
Okay.
But...
You have conditions.
Yeah.
Is there any way we can make this place, like,
a little less insane asylum?
The vest is for your protection.
No, not the vest.
The babysitter.
[loudly] You know, the one you don't think I notice following me around everywhere?
I promise to take all my meds, Doc.
[bell tolling]
Deal?
[Ava's voice] Until literally any other option presents itself...
Deal.
It's gorgeous.
It'll do.
It's ours.
-At least for the next few weeks. -[beeping]
[lock clicks]
-[pounding] -[Zori] Holy shit.
-What took you guys so long? -[Chanel] Get your hands off me.
How'd you find us?
It's a clever racket you've got there. Hacking calendars of the rich, and then...
crashing at their pads when they're out of town.
If you wanted us arrested, you would have sent police.
But that's not what I want.
Frankly, I admire your spirit.
So what do you want?
[Jillian] Your friend.
The girl you were with the other night. Where is she?
You're looking for Ava?
Chanel!
Yes...
Ava. Thank you, Chanel.
We don't know where she is, okay? We got separated.
Yeah. She's not even part of our group.
Well, how do I get in touch with her?
Look, honestly, we don't know her. We just met her a few nights ago.
She was just a hanger-on.
If she contacts you, I expect to be notified.
[phones buzzing, dinging]
[Jillian] That's my private number.
Please do keep in touch.
[in Spanish] Have a pleasant stay.
Oh, fuck.
[clanks]
[high-pitched ringing]
Am I doing that?
When in close proximity to the Halo, Divinium activates.
Weapons become more destructive; armor hardens against attack.
It's some kind of metal...
They say it's organic.
So, like a free-range metal.
Sure.
Question.
How can Sister Warriors use these weapons if they can't see what they're fighting?
No, but that's a good one.
The Halo-Bearer identifies their position and coordinates the attack.
Unless the wraiths have taken possession of a human.
-When-- -Oh, my God.
I just realized The Exorcist is real.
It's not.
But demon possession is real, so Father Karras--
Can we get back to this, please?
Sorry.
The most important thing to remember...
is that the same properties
that make the demons susceptible to Divinium...
also make the Warrior Nun susceptible.
[Ava winces] Ah!
What was that for?
Hey, I thought we were bonding!
[Lilith] You need to know you're not invincible.
Divinium can kill you.
It's also the only substance you can't phase through, so--
[vibration grinding]
Is that you?
What?
[Lilith] The vibration.
-[grinding grows louder] -[Ava panting]
[Lilith] Settle your thoughts.
Settle my thoughts? You just stabbed me!
[Lilith] Settle your thoughts!
[buzzing]
Something's here.
[whimpering]
[Lilith] Pick it up!
I thought this room was safe?
[buzzing, moaning]
-What do you see? -What--
-How many? -[whimpering] I don't know.
[buzzing continues]
[grunts]
[panting]
[moans]
Hi.
[Ava grunting]
[device beeps]
[buzzing sounds emanating from device]
[buzzing, moaning emanating from device]
[beeps off]
It was a test.
[sighs]
[grunts]
Well, are you going to help me or just stand there?
[Superion] She got herself into this,
let her get herself out.
[sighs] I-- I don't know how.
You did fine just a minute ago when you thought
you were leaving me to die.
A moment, please.
[sighs]
[grunting]
So, the, uh...
walls are really... [taps wall]
...thick here, huh? [chuckles]
Okay, in my defense, I used my abilities almost successfully, so--
In this house, trust is everything.
You have to know your fellow Sister Warriors have your back.
Lives depend on it.
[grunts]
She deceived me first.
Trust goes both ways, sister.
Mother.
Why did you run?
Aside from thinking a giant monster was about to break down the door?
It makes no sense, knowing what I know about you.
You've known me for two days.
Father Vincent brought your file back from the orphanage.
He didn't tell you?
[exhales]
Well, I wouldn't trust what you read.
Those nuns had it out for me.
Facts don't lie, Ava.
What's that supposed to mean?
I know you killed yourself.
What?
Overdosed on pain medication.
No, no, that's not what happened. How could I? I couldn't even move.
You moved well enough to greet your caretakers with obscene gestures.
I read that in your file, too.
You don't understand.
Paralyzed in an accident. Abandoned by your family.
It must have been a nightmare for you.
I didn't kill myself.
Sister Frances said you'd been depressed.
You were about to age out of the orphanage.
She said that you knew you could not survive on your own,
-and you felt helpless. -That's not true. She's lying!
If I wanted to die, I wouldn't have just run away.
Of course you ran away.
You're a coward.
Always looking for the easy way out.
Fighting for a cause?
That's not you, is it?
You don't know me.
Make up your mind, Ava.
Do you want to live, or do you want to die?
[Vincent] Stop!
Stop this.
Outside.
Now.
[Ava cries]
[sobbing]
Be respectful of her situation.
That's what I said.
If she doesn't confront this now, when will she?
When she's out on a mission, and the lives of her Sisters are at stake?
She's a bomb waiting to go off.
So you ignite the fuse?
We have no time for hand-holding, Father. You know that as well as I do.
You're trying to push her away.
She's not one of us.
She's a sinner.
She killed herself.
Yet, she's not dead.
Is that not a miracle of the highest order?
[Superion] You see God's influence.
I see an aberration.
She doesn't deserve this.
None of us deserve His grace.
It's not earned, it's given.
Is that what this is about,
what you think you deserved?
My responsibility is to these girls.
To the ones who have given their lives...
and the ones who are still here,
ready and willing to do the same.
That girl?
She's a cancer.
She will bring us down with her.
I didn't kill myself.
Okay.
I'm serious.
Do you remember what happened that night, before you woke up?
I was just watching TV and then fell asleep, but...
to me, it was just any other night.
She said they found drugs in my system.
I spent 12 years not feeling anything below my chest.
Why the hell would I need pain meds?
Perhaps the medical report was wrong.
What does it matter?
No one believes me anyway.
Don't let her get to you.
She's messing with your head.
It's what she does.
So it's not just me.
The other Sisters call her Cruella de Jesus.
I may have started it.
[laughs]
But you believe me.
I think you're thoughtless and self-centered.
But dishonest?
Thank you.
What?
I'm just trying to figure out whether you're...
more or less nun-like than the others.
I'm guessing you've had less than ideal experiences with those who've taken vows?
[laughs]
Yeah.
[Beatrice] I took my vows earlier than most, if that helps.
You'd think it would.
My parents are in politics.
Diplomats back in England.
Conservative?
And concerned about appearances.
I wasn't falling into line,
so they shipped me off to Catholic boarding school.
I guess it kind of stuck.
There's more to it than you're telling.
[Beatrice] There's always more.
[bell tolling]
Ah, Camila.
This is Ava.
[Camila] Hi, Ava.
[bell continues tolling]
How's it going with the new girl?
Fantastic.
Fitting right in.
That well, huh?
I could have used your help earlier.
Where have you been?
You walk your own path, that's fine.
But... where it intersects with mine,
I expect at least a little transparency.
Careful what you wish for.
You can make yourself at home in here.
[Ava] Looks like someone already moved in.
These were Sister Shannon's quarters.
[Ava] She looks so young here.
How long ago was this?
Last year, I think.
Last year?
[Camila] Tomorrow's training schedule.
I'll find someone to clear all this out for you.
[choir vocalizing]
[choir singing]
[Vincent] An assassination?
Are you sure?
[Mary] Yes. It's the only thing that makes sense.
To what end?
Were they after the Halo?
I don't know.
And that's the problem.
[knocking]
Sorry, am I interrupting?
Oh, Ava. Good. Come on in.
Let me introduce you to Sister--
Shotgun Mary.
Cool name.
Why do they call you that?
I drink a lot.
[chuckles]
[Mary] I'll leave you guys to it.
If you hear anything else...
-Of course. -[Vincent] Mm-hmm.
[Vincent] I wanted to apologize for before.
Mother Superion crossed a line.
-[door closes] -Your past is your business.
It's up to you to decide what you'd like to share with the rest of us.
I appreciate that.
[Vincent] What do you say?
Shall we dig back in?
Sure.
"In the ensuing years, the demons grew in strength and numbers,
and the Order of the Cruciform Sword was confronted by a new evil,
the Tarask of Golden Legend,
the beast said to have risen from the deepest depths of Hell.
It was this creature who would end the reign of the First Halo-Bearer.
Mortally wounded, her loyal Sister Warriors
rushed Areala back to their sanctuary.
But it was too late. Nothing could be done.
'It's time,' whispered Areala.
'I'm ready to die.'
Her fate sealed, she called for the Next in Line.
'Is she here?
Don't be scared, Sister.
We are never ready,
only prepared.' "
[knocking]
[woman] Father Vincent?
[door opens]
Paperwork.
Bane of my existence.
Excuse me a moment.
[ballad playing]
♪ Only wanting to be held ♪
[woman] Thank you, Father.
♪ Still kept in the blind ♪
♪ In the morning cold and rain ♪
♪ When everything is still untouched ♪
♪ Courage, don't fail me ♪
♪ For now I'm learning ♪
♪ Courage, don't leave me now ♪
♪ Reveal it ♪
♪ Our place untold ♪
♪ Just breathing ♪
♪ So uncontrolled ♪
♪ Reveal it ♪
♪ Just breathing ♪
♪ Colors, don't leave me now ♪
♪ And now I'm living ♪