- Emily Prentiss: [closing quote, voiceover] "Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it." - Ayn Rand.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Savages, they call us, because our manners differ from theirs.
- Nancy Lunde: We didn't come here to hear you cite scripture, Mr. Cyrus.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: Actually, it's Benjamin Franklin.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: [opening quote, voiceover] "To follow by faith alone is to follow blindly." - Benjamin Franklin.
- Derek Morgan: Garcia, what do we got on Cyrus?
- Penelope Garcia: Um... we've got bupkis. It's like the guy never cast a shadow on the known universe. However, his predecessor, Leo Cane, is doing a seventeen-year stretch at Dearfield Federal Prison. Apparently, Libertarians do not like paying taxes.
- Derek Morgan: Seventeen years for tax evasion?
- Penelope Garcia: Oh, no. That would be two years for tax evasion and fifteen for going after four I.R.S. agents with a Louisville Slugger.
- Aaron Hotchner: I know I can't go in there.
- David Rossi: [nods] I'm going.
- Aaron Hotchner: If something happens to Prentiss or Reid, I... I don't know...
- David Rossi: You're not alone.
- Benjamin Cyrus: No one had to follow. God could have stopped me.
- [Morgan comes in and shoots Cyrus down]
- Dr. Spencer Reid: He just did!
- Emily Prentiss: Hey.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: [looks up from his book] Hey.
- Emily Prentiss: [pulls Reid's book down and takes his hands] Hey, I need you to listen to me. What Cyrus did to me is not your fault. It was my decision. And I would do it again. Do you hear me?
- [after a moment, Reid gives an uncertain smile]
- Emily Prentiss: Thank you.
- Jennifer Jareau: Morgan.
- Derek Morgan: What's up?
- Reporter: [she turns on the news] What is reportedly being called a routine questions and answers meeting by Colorado Child Services has turned into a violent and deadly standoff between Colorado authorities and a fringe religious group known as the Separtarian Sect. The raid on...
- Derek Morgan: JJ, that's not the ranch where Prentiss and Reid...
- Jennifer Jareau: They're still inside.
- Derek Morgan: HOTCH!
- Aaron Hotchner: Dave, they've left the choice of negotiators up to me.
- David Rossi: I taught most of the hostage negotiation unit. You want a recommendation?
- Aaron Hotchner: I'm making you the lead negotiator.
- David Rossi: Me?
- Aaron Hotchner: Why go to the students when I have the teacher?
- David Rossi: Because the teacher is emotionally involved. So is the agent in command.
- Aaron Hotchner: I know I am. This is a unique situation. We have two agents who could affect the outcome on the inside.
- David Rossi: True, but I can't be objective; I know them too well!
- Aaron Hotchner: This outcome depends as much on our ability to predict the moves of Prentiss and Reid as Cyrus. That's why you're the best man for the job!
- David Rossi: Assuming that Reid and Prentiss are still in a condition to make moves!
- Aaron Hotchner: I know how bad this is; that's why I want you doing the talking.
- David Rossi: All right.
- Kane: Charles Mulgrew is his real name. Charles Mulgrew. His mother was five months pregnant when she showed up at our doorstep. He turned out to be one of the smart ones. Amazing memory that kid had. Anything he read, he could repeat back to you. And he did. Mouthy little son of a bitch.
- Derek Morgan: Why'd he leave the ranch?
- Kane: When he was 17, a couple of our young girls came to me and said that he'd been messing with them.
- Derek Morgan: You mean sexually?
- Kane: Yes, sir, I do. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a Libertarian. But... those little girls were too young for a 17 year old to be messing with.
- Derek Morgan: So you kicked him out for that?
- Kane: Yes, sir. I did. His mother took him to Kentucky. Hadn't heard anything from him for years. And then when he finally showed up again, he said his mother had died, he found God, and he wanted to come home.
- Derek Morgan: How does a kid like that get rid of you?
- Kane: One day he came to me and said God told him that I should leave the ranch. I said if God felt that way, God can tell me himself. He put a gun to my head and said "He just did." Took me twenty years to build that ranch. I'll do anything I can to help you send that ungrateful son of a bitch straight to hell.
- David Rossi: No one's going to try to force you out of here, trust me.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Trust is earned.
- David Rossi: It is.
- Christopher Cole: I don't understand. Why did you let them go?
- Dr. Spencer Reid: They weren't prepared to do what needs to be done.
- Christopher Cole: You're not one of us! You don't know what it takes to be prepared!
- Benjamin Cyrus: Listen to him.
- [to Reid]
- Benjamin Cyrus: Tell him.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: They failed the test. They... they had a chance to prove their faith when Cyrus told them that they'd sacrificed themselves for God, but instead they showed they weren't worthy. That's why he wants the media to bear witness to your true final act of sacrifice.
- Christopher Cole: How do you know that?
- Dr. Spencer Reid: I'm always looking for signs of things to come.
- David Rossi: Reid's talking to us. He wants a sign when we're coming in. He's telling us this is it! Time has run out! We've got to go in!
- Benjamin Cyrus: Acknowledge Him in all things and He will guide your way. Drink to acknowledge Him and I will guide our way.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: You're using solar power?
- Benjamin Cyrus: Yeah, we're completely self-sufficient: electricity, food, water. Ben Franklin said, "God helps those that help themselves." You look surprised.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: No, uh, impressed, actually.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Thank you.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: For what?
- Benjamin Cyrus: For admitting that.
- [first lines]
- Announcer: This is a special report from La Plata County, Colorado.
- Reporter: We're reminded of Jim McKay's words from Munich: "Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized." Let's hope it's not the latter as we wait to hear the fate of the women, children, and FBI agents inside the building.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: Jeremiah 29.11: "'I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to bring you hope and a future.'" Is blowing yourself up part of the prosperous future that God wants?
- Benjamin Cyrus: You think you know the Word better than I?
- Dr. Spencer Reid: No, no. I'm just demonstrating that you can use the Bible to manipulate anything.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Matthew 10.24: "Do not suppose that I have come to the earth to bring peace. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."
- Dr. Spencer Reid: Tell us about the 911 call.
- Nancy Lunde: Um... I believe the "he" that they referred to is the church's leader, Benjamin Cyrus.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: Benjamin Cyrus... no criminal record. No record at all, really. What else do you know about him?
- Nancy Lunde: It's rumored that he's practicing polygamy and forced marriages.
- Emily Prentiss: Any idea who the caller is?
- Nancy Lunde: Uh, Jessica Evanson is the one who the age fits, but... we can't be sure, so I negotiated interviews with all the children. It wasn't easy.
- Emily Prentiss: Well, considering their view on outsiders, it would be best if you didn't identify us as FBI. Just use our real names and introduce us as child victim interview experts.
- Benjamin Cyrus: How far from God's word must we have strayed for there to be the need to invent a job called "child victim interview expert".
- Emily Prentiss: We wish we didn't have to be here.
- Benjamin Cyrus: So do we. But you are welcome nonetheless.
- Jessica Evanson: We go to school. We do our chores. And we treat ourselves and each other with the respect God demands.
- Emily Prentiss: But you've never been off of the ranch?
- Kathy Evanson: I brought Jessie here when she was two.
- Jessica Evanson: You've talked to lots of children in your work. Tell me, are their lives somehow better than ours?
- Kathy Evanson: We devote ourselves to God. That doesn't mean we're not devoted to our children.
- Emily Prentiss: We are not here because of your religious beliefs.
- Jessica Evanson: Why are you here?
- Emily Prentiss: We received a phone call alleging that an adult male member of your church was having inappropriate relations with the younger women here.
- Jessica Evanson: You're talking about Cyrus.
- Emily Prentiss: What makes you say that?
- Kathy Evanson: Jessie, come on. Shh. Shh. Shh.
- Jessica Evanson: Is it inappropriate for a husband to share a bed with his wife?
- Emily Prentiss: You're married to Cyrus?
- Jessica Evanson: Cyrus is my husband, and a prophet. It's an honor to bear his children.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: Jessica, you're fifteen years old. The, uh, State of Colorado requires parental consent.
- Emily Prentiss: [noticing Kathy's expression] She gave consent.
- Nancy Lunde: What's going on?
- Benjamin Cyrus: We just got a very strange phone call from a news reporter. Is there anything you want to tell me, about a raid, maybe?
- [seeing Prentiss and Reid's looks of surprise]
- Benjamin Cyrus: They don't know.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Do not fear. We are on the side of the righteous.
- Emily Prentiss: Where's Lunde?
- Benjamin Cyrus: It wasn't us.
- Emily Prentiss: What? You can't shoot it out with the cops! You have children here.
- Benjamin Cyrus: I didn't start this.
- Reporter: ...turned deadly when the Colorado state police officers tried to serve a warrant. Colorado Attorney General Jim Wells says the reclusive cult has been the subject of a six-month weapons investigation.
- Derek Morgan: Six months. We didn't check?
- Jennifer Jareau: No, we checked. I had ATF call Wells. He told ATF there were no pending state investigations. He lied.
- David Rossi: Why?
- Jennifer Jareau: Wells is challenging the governor in the next election. He thought that ATF was about to poach his big election-launching weapons bust. Now, it's clear he didn't know there were FBI agents there. He just thought that the best time to serve a state warrant was when the kids were safe inside the school being interviewed.
- David Rossi: What do we know about the sect?
- Penelope Garcia: Liberty Ranch was founded in 1980 by Libertarian Leo Kane. He created it as a self-sustaining commune.
- Derek Morgan: Libertarians believe that everyone has the right to do what they want as long as they aren't infringing on the rights of others.
- David Rossi: But Libertarians aren't religious. Clearly this sect abandoned Libertarian principles.
- Aaron Hotchner: Benjamin Cyrus, the current leader, introduced religion eight years ago when Kane left.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Distribute weapons and ammo. I prayed this day would never come, but it has. God will see us through.
- Aaron Hotchner: Hey, Dan. You know Dave Rossi.
- Dan Torre: Sure.
- David Rossi: We've been here before, haven't we?
- Dan Torre: Waco. Ruby Ridge. Freemen standoff. Let's hope someone listens to you guys this time.
- David Rossi: Oh, they did more than listen. They put us in charge.
- Dan Torre: I've sent the state police packing. They started this mess. Lost a man in the process. Hope that's okay.
- Aaron Hotchner: If you hadn't, we would have.
- Dan Torre: Good. County sheriffs have had no run-ins with the sect, so we're using them as support. We've had no contact with them so far. They've got power; solar. We can shoot out the panels if you think...
- David Rossi: No, no. That's an escalation.
- Dan Torre: Okay. But that means they have access to the news.
- Aaron Hotchner: I'll get JJ to talk to the press.
- David Rossi: We call this the minimal loss scenario. Every person we get out is a life saved. We won't save them all. All of us have to be prepared to accept that situation.
- Derek Morgan: Cults are structured like pyramids. You got the leader at the top. Diehard believers beneath. The biggest group, the base, followers.
- [drawing a triangle to illustrate, he circles "followers"]
- Derek Morgan: Women and children. These are the people we can save.
- Aaron Hotchner: The "trickle, flow, gush" strategy is designed to get base followers out. First one or two, then three or four, then as many as we can as fast as we can. And if at any point it starts to go bad, we go in.
- David Rossi: The leaders are charismatic sociopaths who target those most susceptible to their seduction. They have the ability to see what each person needs, and then become that thing. We have to undermine their perception that we're an invading army laying siege to their home.
- Dan Torre: We'll lose the fatigues. Rancher's clothes work for you? Like we did at the Freemen standoff?
- David Rossi: Perfect. Anything we can do to de-militarize situation.
- Benjamin Cyrus: This is Benjamin Cyrus. Who am I talking to?
- David Rossi: David Rossi. I'm an FBI agent. We sent the state police away. There's just us and the local sheriff. All we want to do is resolve this before anyone else gets hurt.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Then leave us alone.
- David Rossi: I'm afraid we can't do that, Benjamin. One of the police bled out on the way to the hospital. So let's just stop this before things get worse. Please, just put down your guns and come out.
- Benjamin Cyrus: We're believers, Dave. We believe that God says what He means and means what He says. His laws don't depend on what state you live in.
- David Rossi: I have no issue with your beliefs.
- Benjamin Cyrus: You don't, but the state does.
- David Rossi: I can't answer for other people.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Oh, God will answer for everyone in the final battle I've forseen.
- David Rossi: That's why I'm here. To make sure that this is not that battle.
- Benjamin Cyrus: We shall see.
- David Rossi: Now, the three Child Services workers.
- Benjamin Cyrus: One of them is dead. It wasn't us.
- David Rossi: I need a name to inform the family.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Her name was Nancy Lunde.
- David Rossi: Okay. Now, please, Benjamin, send out your wounded. I promise you they'll be well taken care of.
- Benjamin Cyrus: With enough supplies, we can tend to our own.
- David Rossi: Okay. I need a few hours to put it together. I'll bring them up myself at first light.
- David Rossi: I'm gonna confirm the kids, Prentiss, and Reid are okay.
- Derek Morgan: Rossi, at least let me come with you.
- David Rossi: No. This is about building trust. I go alone.
- Dan Torre: I want the parabolic arc mikes fixed on every window in that structure.
- Techie: They won't pick up much. They have blinds on all the windows. Unless they're shouting, the glass won't vibrate enough for us to get an audio.
- Dan Torre: Well, if they're not shouting, these bugs will pick 'em up. At least until the batteries die.
- Dan Torre: How familiar are Agents Prentiss and Reid with our playbook?
- Aaron Hotchner: The BAU wrote the CIRG handbook. They'll know that we're trying to get ears in there at all times.
- Dan Torre: Good. Let's hope they can get these people talking.
- Aaron Hotchner: They will.
- David Rossi: I'd hoped you'd let me take the children.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Nah, they're our protection. I remember Waco. We all do.
- David Rossi: This isn't Waco.
- Benjamin Cyrus: They stay for now, while I pray for God's guidance. Please don't try to force us out.
- Benjamin Cyrus: We are celebrating. Everyone drinks. Everyone rejoices. Because today, we are one day closer to being with Him.
- Emily Prentiss: [quietly to Reid] Look at Jessica's body language. The way she looks at him.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: She literally worships him. There's no way she made that 911 call.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Trust in God with all your heart. Lean not on your own understandings. Trust in mine.
- Emily Prentiss: [watching Kathy] Look at how she comes between Cyrus and her daughter. She's inserted herself between them.
- David Rossi: Reid and Prentiss are okay.
- Derek Morgan: What about Cyrus?
- David Rossi: He's too calm. But, it... it's like he was waiting for this to happen. And now that it has, he feels vindicated.
- Techie: I got a signal. I'm getting a signal here.
- Benjamin Cyrus: [to his congregation] We will be with Him soon. We have drank the poison together.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Mothers... fathers... children, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil, for thou art with us.
- David Rossi: [listening through the bugs] This doesn't fit. I looked him in the eye. He was calm, lucid.
- Aaron Hotchner: They're committing mass suicide.
- David Rossi: We don't know that for sure.
- Derek Morgan: Rossi, he just said it.
- Dan Torre: We're ready to go.
- David Rossi: If we go in there, people are gonna die.
- Aaron Hotchner: People are already dying.
- Benjamin Cyrus: And God will wipe the tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow nor crying. And there will be no more pain. For all of the former things have passed away.
- Emily Prentiss: What do we do?
- Dr. Spencer Reid: Nothing.
- Emily Prentiss: We have to do something. These people just took poison.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: No, Cyrus just told them they did. I think he's bluffing.
- Emily Prentiss: Why do you think that?
- Dr. Spencer Reid: Just after he told them about the poison, he waited for them to start to react. Then he nodded to Cole, and he started writing. Look. They're scanning the audience for reactions.
- Emily Prentiss: They're writing down the names of the people who are crying.
- Dr. Spencer Reid: It's a loyalty list.
- Emily Prentiss: So he knows who will follow him to the end.
- David Rossi: Jim Jones pulled the same stunt! They did a test run just like this years before they did the real thing.
- Aaron Hotchner: [to Torre] Prepare your men to go in.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Be still. There was no poison.
- Aaron Hotchner: Dan.
- Benjamin Cyrus: Instead, a test of faith. Because your adversary, the devil, waltzes about as a roaring lion, choosing whom he may devour. Watch each other for signs of weakness. You are your brother's keeper.
- Aaron Hotchner: Tell 'em to stand down.
- Dan Torre: Yes, sir.
- [to Rossi]
- Dan Torre: Nice call.
- Attorney General: I'm the Attorney General of this state. I demand to know why I wasn't told that the FBI was sending undercover agents into the Septarian ranch.
- Aaron Hotchner: The only thing that you're in a position to demand is a lawyer.
- Attorney General: Who the hell are you?
- Aaron Hotchner: I'm Aaron Hotchner, Unit Chief. I'm the guy who's gonna tell the Attorney General of the United States whether to charge you with obstructing a federal investigation or negligent homicide.
- Attorney General: You can't talk to me like that.